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Post by Sixteen on May 28, 2008 12:28:28 GMT -5
Neighbours of the Beast is to be 667's mass groupfic. There is a one-sentence minimum for every contribution, but there's no pressure to go over that. Hopefully, in this way, we can get as many contributors as possible and make a really great story. I'll start us off with the first sentence.
Remembering all I had heard about this place and, more importantly, about its inhabitants was making me especially nervous as I took the first step into my new home: 667 Dark Avenue.
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Post by Hermedy on May 28, 2008 12:35:24 GMT -5
The lobby of the apartment building was completely silent and empty. It was also quite dim, because it was a cloudy afternoon and none of the lights were on. I wondered if there had been a power failure. I walked slowly to the concierge desk. There was a plaque that read: "Snicketface, Receptionist." Just as I was about to ring the bell for assistance, someone jumped out from under the desk.
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Post by Triangle Eyes on May 28, 2008 13:53:43 GMT -5
It was a girl pretending to be a dog. She started licking my leg, barked and then said, "Hi! I'm Zavi!" I wasn't quite sure how to react. I didn't have time to say anything to her because I heard someone coming to the door, labeled "Office" behind the desk. The door then whipped open.
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Post by Hermedy on May 28, 2008 14:04:21 GMT -5
Out stepped a very receptionisty-looking girl. She spoke very quickly.
"I'm Snicketface! You must be the new resident. Please excuse Zavi's behavior, and I'm sorry that I wasn't here to welcome you at the door. I've just come back from class. Everyone else is still at school or work and won't be back for another hour or so. I work as a receptionist to help cover rent and my college tuition. Anyway, I see you have a lot of boxes to move in. You're in luck! They recently had the lift repaired. We didn't have a working elevator until recently. The residents like getting their exercise walking up and down the stairs. There are sixty-six floors, you know. But then..."
SnicketFace was interrupted the elevator making that elevator dinging noise. The doors opened and out came a very grumpy looking girl in a wheelchair. She wheeled very quickly toward the revolving door, muttering something about being late for an appointment.
"Well, we really had no choice," she finished. "Everything in this apartment building has to be handicap accessible because of Triangle Eyes' condition. She's usually very friendly and speaks to everyone. I think she's in a bad mood today because she had her identity stolen and it's causing all kinds of problems." I started to ask why all of the lights were out, but she interrupted me."Wait here, I'll see if I can track down someone to help you move your things from outside."
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Post by Triangle Eyes on May 28, 2008 14:24:53 GMT -5
She came back with a young boy. "This is Ernist," she said. "Hello. I'm Ernist. I missed school today because I'm not use to the time zone. I'm use to using newfoundlandtim. I've been reading about dragons today. I'm a dragonologist. I am so glad to be helping you!"
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Post by Shelly on May 28, 2008 19:50:51 GMT -5
I stared blankly at them. "Ooookay." I picked up a suitcase, and followed Ernist down the hall.
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Post by PJ on May 28, 2008 20:12:13 GMT -5
As we walked, I took a moment to break through the fourth the wall .The title, "The Neighbours of the Beast" is just downright incorrect, I thought. There had been a thread, a long time ago, I recalled, which settled once and for all that 667 Dark Avenue was across the street from the Beast, really, and so could only be called a neighbor in the most loose definition of the word.
My inner monologue was rudely interrupted when a naked man burst from a side-door, knocked me aside, and sprinted down the hall hooting wildly. "Bloody spammers," Ernist said, frowning slightly, the fake-tattoo of a dragon he had his mum tattoo on his face the night before wrinkling slighly as he did so. "They've been a problem as of late. I don't know why," he continued, as we traipsed further down in the darkness, the cries of the spammer fading away in the gloom.
What kind of place had I gotten myself into, I wondered.
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Post by trish on May 28, 2008 21:23:41 GMT -5
"Well, here's the lift... you're on floor six, room three. I hope you like your neighbors." As Earnest said this he gave a happy wink.
ting.
The elevator opened, and it wasn't empty..
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Post by Hermedy on May 29, 2008 8:29:05 GMT -5
This is going well. I'd just like to note - neighbour: one living or located near another. PJ is an idiot
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Post by C. on May 29, 2008 12:25:51 GMT -5
" Move out of my way!" the person said from the elevator. I swiftly moved out of the man's way. He seemed very mean.
" Who was that man?" I asked Ernist.
Ernist gave me a weird look and laughed. " That's no man, that's ADR, she's something.." He shrugged. " Don't worry, now that I think about it, she does have some manly qualities."
I walked into the elevator and pressed the button to my floor. The door was closing and I heard a voice scream " Wait!" I turned to look at who it was.
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Post by Triangle Eyes on May 29, 2008 13:48:40 GMT -5
It was the receptionist. "I forgot to give you your key!" she said. I thanked her and took the elevator to my floor.
I arrived at my floor and proceeded down the hall to my room. "Room one...room two...room three!" I said aloud. As I opened the door I heard someone shuffle around inside. Fearing it might be another spammer, I proceeded with caution. I entered the apartment and flicked the lights on. There didn't appear to be anyone there. Then suddenly a woman jumped out from behind the couch and threw balloons into the air. "WELCOME TO 667 DARK AVENUE!" she cried.
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Post by Shelly on May 29, 2008 17:11:37 GMT -5
"Who are you?" I asked. There were so many surprises in this place, big and small. Who knew who would turn up and what would happen? Just that very moment a girl wearing trackies and hoodie was walking dreamily down the hallway, past my room. She was carrying a gigantic notebook.
The mystery woman in my room called out to her, "Hey, Shelly!"
Shelly poked her head in. "What? Do you have a request?"
"Yeah, Collide by Howie Day."
Shelly sat down and scrawled in the notebook. Every now and then she stopped and hummed. Then, finally, she tore the page off and gave it to the woman, The woman read it, and smiled. "Thanks."
"Any time. At your service." Shelly replied, and mock-bowed. She then walked out of the room, and I could hear her singing down the hallway.
Even the best fall down sometimes, even the wrong words seem to rhyme. Out of the doubt that fills my mind, I somehow find, you and I collide. . .
I shook my head in disbelief.
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Post by Sixteen on May 29, 2008 17:18:42 GMT -5
Again, I asked the woman who she was.
She looked quite harmless in her boiler suit, carrying a mop, but one can never be sure about these things. "Who are you?"
"My name is Linda, and I'm pleased to be your janitor!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms into the air. "I hope you settle in nicely here at 667 Dark Avenue. As you can see, I've spared no expense in trying to make you feel welcome." She pointed towards a table in the centre of the room, laid out with pastries, sandwiches, drinks and party hats. "Once everyone arrives home from school or work, there's going to be a housewarming party for you! I'll see you there."
As she skipped out of the room, I began to unpack.
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Post by Linda Rhaldeen on May 29, 2008 18:39:24 GMT -5
OT: Hey, I was reading this and totally wanting to be the person that was already in the room, and then I am! And I'm a janitor! You're awesome, Sixteen.
It wasn't long, however, before I heard someone else coming down the hallway, so I poked my head out to investigate.
A strange-looking little man grinned back at my inquiring face and began to speak. "You must be the new arrival, then. I'm having a barbecue over at my place right now and I'd love to have you..." He grabbed my arm and started to lead me down the hallway. Seeing my open door get further and further away, I tried to break away to close it, but his grip was strong and firm. But then...
"Kobolos!" a woman yelled angrily, running towards us. "No barbecuing the new neighbors, remember?"
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Post by Hermedy on May 30, 2008 18:13:33 GMT -5
She had two children at her side. As Kobolos scampered down the spiral staircase, muttering bitterly, she introduced herself.
"My name is Gigi and these are my kids. We've just come back from school. I'm a schoolteacher. My family doesn't live on this floor but I wanted to come and meet you before things get too busy for your welcome party. I hope you like living on Dark Avenue. It's a very nice place but there are things that you have to be careful of. Kobolos claims to want to eat people, but he's joking. I think. He isn't around much anyway. I don't know what he does for a living but his appearances are very rare. And watch out for BSam too. He will probably hit on you before the day is over. What's your name and where have you moved from?"
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