[GRO] Lutrin Weesil - Teen

[Hivestuck]

It's common knowledge by now, the hive on the hill, the Moorba Mansion. Or it should be according to Atrili Moorba, self-proclaimed richest highblood this side of the lake. At only six sweeps, she's poised to make a name for herself and take Alternia by storm. Not for anything of actual worth, mind you, no talent or skill. Being rich is as good a reason as any to claim fame, right?

The whispers on the wind are quite contrary. No troll you might've met has anything good to say about Miss Moorba and rumor has it her servants have given up caring about the disconnect between her purpleblood and their red or orange.

There are no guards, armed or otherwise, patrolling the grounds as you approach and the gate has been left slightly ajar like some sort of invitation. Visible on the other side of the decorative cast iron railings are sprawling gardens that look as if they were well-tended at one point—and are still stunningly colorful in their own right—but they're somewhat overgrown. It begs the question, has the gardener taken a vacation along with everyone else?

Aside from waltzing right through the front gate, there are plenty of potential entrances via windows and smokechutes near the far side of the hive where the fence dips below a few feet high.

Dotted across the scruffy back lawnring are remnants of sweeps past, wriggler toys and even an elaborate play set with swings and slides and climbing ropes enough to entertain a large group of children. Everything here looks well-worn and dirty, like it hasn't been touched in a while.

Only Green Minuet may post in this growth. Please quote the mule for additional prompts or when you're finished. Anything and everything is explorable/inspectable, so please feel free to go all out and have fun!

Green Minuet

 

[Green Minuet]

ツ Lutrin Weesil

Crouched on tree branch overlooking the mansion, a bandit in all black spied on the hive grounds. They held a pair of binoculars to their lookstubs, while their squawk gaper steadily worked at a well-chewed toothpick. Aside from the occasional quirk of their lips and the movement of their pupils, they were motionless... well, mostly motionless. Oblivious to suspenseful narration, the bandit reached down to scratch at their backside. Very professional.

Several minutes passed before the bandit at last broke their self-imposed still composure. Releasing the binoculars to let them dangle around her neck, Lutrin grinned and snapped the toothpick between her teeth. “Heh. You thought you could trick me, hm, wise guy?” she said with proper nasal mockery. “I see right through your trap, Madame Moorba.” The alliteration was too good to resist. “You'll have to try harder than that if you want to get the drop on me! Fufufu... fflflflff! Pfeh! Bleh! Wood chips! Talk blaster! Blech!” Lutrin hastily spat out the shredded remains of her toothpick.

Once she had composed herself, Lutrin began to run through her mental checklist. First things first: get out the actual checklist. Rifling through her satchel (her equipment satchel, not her loot sack) Lutrin pulled out a tattered scrap of paper and a coloured wax stick. Expression serious, her eyes moved down the list, stopping when they reached a line that read, “stakeout!!” Wax stick in hand, Lutrin made a fat line through it. She moved on to the next objective: face-paint.

Reaching once more into her satchel, Lutrin retrieved a round, shallow container. She twisted the lid off and dipped a finger in. It came up black. Perfect. She swept her finger across either cheek, making two thick bars under her eyes, both wide enough to cover her markings. Then, wiping the remaining make-up on her opposite palm, she sealed the dish up again, and back into the satchel it went. Next!

Only several more items were on her checklist. Lutrin went through them quickly. Hood? Check. Face mask? Check. Gloves? Double check, one for either hand. Spirit of fun and adventure? Well, that was easy! When was that ever not a check? With her preparations complete, Lutrin crumpled the list up into a ball and shoved it into her mouth. A moment later, she swallowed. A good thief left no trace of their presence (never mind the shredded toothpick pieces below). The coloured wax stick, she put back in her bag however. She had learned much over the sweeps, and not swallowing writing utensils was one very important lesson. Besides, she could find another use for it later.

Grabbing her triple staff which she had left leaning against the trunk, Lutrin hopped down from her perch. She landed in a grassy patch below without so much as a squeak. At last she was in the zone. Silent, she made her way up the rest of the hill towards the manor. Had any been around to watch they might have spied what either looked like a ninja or a very large nutbeast, scurrying through the tall grass.

Lutrin avoided the front of the hive, preferring instead to skirt around to the side. She searched for a dip in the fence, a place where she could easily infiltrate. She found it around the rear side of the gardens, where the plants grew wild with abandon. Lutrin leaned close to the iron bars to whisper to a particularly nasty bush on the other side. “Yes! Rejoin your forest brethren! Reclaim this land for yourself! You will be free once more!” And with that, she had instigated a revolution. That made for another box marked off on her mental (not physical—she had already eaten that, remember?) checklist.

After giving the fence a good look up and down, Lutrin backed up twenty meters or so. Triple staff held in front of her like a spear, she began to run towards the fence. Just over halfway, she thrust the end of her staff into the dirt. Her feet left the ground. With the aerial grace of an gymnast, she vaulted clear over the fence and the bush, and onto the other side.

She landed with a gentle thump in the lawnring. The black squirrel was in.

Lutrin took a moment to survey her surroundings, and make sure that her entrance had gone unnoticed. So far, so good. No alarm bells, no barking guardbeasts, no shouts of potential murder... Satisfied that she was in the clear, Lutrin began to creep across the lawnring. The inside of Moorba Manor was her main target of course (who knew what kinds of goodies were stashed inside?), but there was no harm in checking the exterior as well. After all, during her stakeout her binoculars had revealed a playset on one side of the lawnring. Such a thing was a true rarity and deserved a full investigation.

Hivestuck

And... here... we... go!

 

[Hivestuck]

Enroute to the play set, beware! Hidden by overgrown grass are potholes that seem to increase in frequency the closer you tread.

Quote:

Please roll a 1d4 to determine your luck with the holey lawnring.

If you roll a 1...

show spoilerhide spoiler

You manage to avoid the potholes by chance or skill. It's like they were never there!

If you roll a 2 or a 3...

show spoilerhide spoiler

You take a full-blown tumble in a particularly deep pothole. On further inspection, there's a doll buried here, torn and dirty and rung 'round the neck by a long, thin strap that appears to be a leash.

If you roll a 4...

show spoilerhide spoiler

You trip and stumble over a pothole or two. How it affects you is up to interpretation.

The grass rises higher around the thick wooden posts of the play set and between the blades, swirling around the supports and far up to the tippy-top of the structure, there are lines of color that look like paint. It's not just purple, but shades ranging down as far as green. They mix like a cool hued rainbow, only interrupted by damage suspiciously akin to weathered claw marks.

Accessible by climbing nets, ropes, and slides on all sides is a large platform loosely squared in by sloppily white-and-gold-painted slats. It's crowned with a roof shaped like castle parapets. Beyond the tattered, sheer purple curtains that cover the entrances, it's possible to see a small treasure chest; it might be plastic, but it's difficult to tell. Getting up there may be a challenge for anyone not a nutbeast, as many of the ropes appear dry rotted. The slides are intact and stable, though cracked with age.

Beyond the climbing area, a long row of swings sways gently in the breeze.

Green Minuet

Sorry for the wait, Green! If it's not too much trouble, could you also quote my main account (saedusk)? I've already realized it won't take me nearly as long to catch replies that way.

 

[Green Minuet]

ツ Lutrin Weesil

A frog croaked somewhere in the distance, and Lutrin's head jerked towards it. “Friend! Where are you?!” she called in a loud whisper. Almost immediately, she clapped a glove over her mouth. Now was not the time to look for amphibious friends. She needed to focus! There was loot to boot! Or something like that...  

[Green Minuet]

ツ Lutrin Weesil

Continuing her infiltration with utmost stealth, Lutrin made her way across the lawnring to the playset. As she approached her eagle sharp eyes spotted dark shadows in the long grass. She prodded at one with her end of her triple staff and then gave a squeak when she almost tumbled down into it. She hastily pushed herself back upright.

“Clever,” she remarked to one one but herself, and perhaps her distant froggy companion. She reached up to stroke her chin before remembering she had not equipped her thinking goatee and was wearing a mask besides. No matter. She still had dramatic dialogue on her side. “But not clever enough!” she concluded. She snapped her triple staff into its folded position and tucked it into her sash.

With great theatrical flair, Lutrin raised her arms over her head and bent her knees. Then she hopped into the air and did a flip right over the shallow pit. She avoided the others in a similar fashion, somersaulting, cartwheeling, and leaping over them. Stepping over them would have sufficed, but Lutrin never did anything without pizzazz, no matter how unnecessary.

When at last she reached the play set, having miraculously avoided breaking her neck, she hopped up onto the metal frame to take stock of the situation. It did not take long to reorient herself. Her target lay up at the top of a tower, amidst a tangle of rotten ropes. Ascent would be tricky, but she had no doubt she could make it. Even so, it seemed a little lacklustre. From behind her mask her eyes surveyed the rest of the area. They lit up when they settled on the swing set.

Hopping back down, Lutrin darted over to the swings. She jumped up onto one of the seats and began to lean back and forth. In her mind, she was in the jungle, swaying from the canopy vines. Soon she had gathered enough momentum (the old frame creaked under the violent swinging) that she stood nearly horizontal in the air. She focussed back in. At the top of her arc she suddenly released her grip on the chains and flew towards the tower.

“Oof!” She had landed against the lip of the guard wall. A bit winded from the impact, Lutrin crawled over the top with less style than she would have. She was not down for long however. The chest sat just a little ways away.

Hivestuck

saedusk

 

[Hivestuck]

At this distance, it's obvious the treasure chest is definitely plastic, but well-constructed. It's a toy, but not cheap, and though the paint is peeling with neglect, it otherwise remains undamaged. The tower's state is similar. The mysterious something that left its mark on the supports outside never made it this far. Only weather and age have dealt their hand here.

Whatever is inside the chest, finding out won't be as easy as 1-2-3. Or perhaps it will be! There's a cute combination lock securing the thin plastic loops on both the lid and body, keeping it (somewhat) tightly closed. Paying close enough attention to the lock itself reveals silver sharpie on the back spelling out the letters 'AM.'

Though the night has been rather quiet so far—aside from Lutrin's whispery call for revolution (and frogs)—three muffled but deep barks ring out, reverberating for the shortest of seconds before cutting back to blessed silence indefinitely.

Quote:

You may choose to open the chest however you'd like or leave it untouched! Attempts may be successful or unsuccessful at your discretion. However, if you attempt to open the lock via the combination, you must get the number correct or it will not open.

 

[Green Minuet]

ツ Lutrin Weesil

Crawling over to the chest, Lutrin let out a chuckle. Her laughter was cut short however when she tried to open the lid but discovered a lock. She fixed it with an accusatory look. “Boo!” she hissed, just to make sure that it knew how disappointed she was. Slithering down onto her tummy, she pressed her sponge clot against the side of the lock and began to dial the numbers.

Out of the blue, three deep barks cut through the air.

Lutrin immediately pressed herself flat to the ground. Her pump biscuit beat in her throat. She lay there, frozen and listening, for three full minutes. When the sound did not repeat she rose back into a crouch. Cautious, she peered over the walls of the tower to the lawnring down below. Aside from the play set, it was empty. So far, nothing had come after her. Even so, she did not want to take any chances.

She slipped the chest, lock and all, into her loot sack and began a careful descent from the tower via the ropes. Time to move onto her primary target: the hive itself.

Hivestuck

saedusk

 

[Hivestuck]

Life's greatest mysteries or perhaps simply childhood memories, whatever the answer, the treasure chest disappears into Lutrin's bag and leaves only a starkly colored rectangle on the faded floor where it once lay. Outside, the mansion looms as tall and wide as it ever did, a hive far too large for one troll alone. It's a problem many hives along this stretch of Four Fronds seem to share, though whether or not it truly is an issue at all is fairly subjective. To rich highbloods intent on showing off their status, it isn't.

From the play set to the hive, the path is much clearer. There are fewer toys, fewer potholes, but the grass is as overgrown as everywhere else. Within a few feet of the mansion, the straightest shot to a fancy looking white door is paved with flat stepping stones arranged in no particular pattern. Between them are shimmery blue-green pebbles, bright like water and reflecting the light from a row of overhead lamps made to look like old fashioned candles.

The fancy white door is always an option, but further along the wall to the right is another door. It's half-obscured by wildly unkempt bushes, ones that look planted for the sole purpose of hiding it from sight. On closer inspection, it's neither fancy nor white and is, in fact, painted the same color as the hive in an even greater attempt to blend it in.

Up above there's at least one open window, evidenced by sheer purple curtains caught by the breeze and fluttering outside. The hive is three stories tall, made of smooth brick that juts out into designs near the roof, and each level is simply chock full of windows. White lattices scale the sides here and there, covered in lovely purple and blue flowers.

Green Minuet

 

[Green Minuet]

ツ Lutrin Weesil

Dropping the last couple of feet, Lutrin landed in the grass with a gentle whump. In the her loot sack, the contents of the chest (or maybe that was the lock) rattled slightly. She paused again, just long enough to gauge if the sound had attracted any undesired attention. When she heard nothing, she continued her journey towards the hive.

As pretty as the pebbles were, and as tempted as she was to take one, Lutrin disobeyed her base instincts and instead listened to a voice of higher thinking: avoid the front door, avoid the light, and avoid getting too greedy. If she spent all her time on the little things, she would miss out on the big prizes. That would ruin the point of this exercise entirely. She skirted around the side of the building towards the side.

During Lutrin's observation she had seen an open window higher up, curtains fluttering in the breeze. No doubt Moorba felt secure in her high tower* and even higher blood, and presumed her home safe from infiltration. She presumed wrongly of course, because Lutrin had met no barrier she could not climb. As for blood... well... what kind of thief would Lutrin be if she stole from trolls redder than herself?

Just from a glance, Lutrin could tell that the roof was a bit too high to reach by grappling hook. Besides, the metal would make far too much noise against the brick. Fortunately, her opponent had provided for her another way. The thief gave a tug on the lowest lattice. As long as she was quick, with her light weight she might be able to make her ascent that way...

*Not that it was much of a tower.

Hivestuck

saedusk

My apologies on taking so long! Got a little distracted over the holidays and whatnot and then the usual procrastination.

 

[Hivestuck]

The lattice holds true, despite its wibbling and wobbling, all the way to the windows marking the second story of the hive. On the right side are two blessedly open ones, the first, and closest to the lattice, leading into what looks like it might be a gym. It's wide open, expansive, and full of equipment like ramps, tunnels, hurdles... is any of this really for trolls?

Further past the first window, reachable for a skilled climber, is a smaller window framed by frosty-purple curtains pattered along the edges in shells and sea stars. What room it is remains obscured from view at this angle, but there's a faint scent of lavender and soap wafting out from inside.

With enough swiftness, it may be possible to take a chance on an open window up on the third story, as well. What lies beyond is a total mystery, however. The only clue is a bejeweled window box, white and purple flowers draping over its sides.

Green Minuet

Should you choose to attempt climbing to the third story, please roll a 1d4.

Evens - Success!
Odds - The lattice breaks free from the wall, sending Lutrin tumbling back toward Alternia. Time to think quick or meet the ground!

 

[Green Minuet]

ツ Lutrin Weesil

“Uh-oh.”

Those were never good set of words to hear, especially if they happened to be coming from your own mouth.

Lutrin grimaced as the lattice creaked under her weight. Sure enough, a few seconds later she her the telltale sound of wood splintering. The lattice began to peel away from the wall. Hurrying, she scrambled towards the third floor window. Her fingers reached for the ledge.

Snap.

The lattice slid out from underneath her and her fingers grasped only air. She began to fall. Lutrin let out a muffled shriek as she tumbled downwards. So this was it. This was how it all came to an end. Her career as a grand master thief barely begun, and her only claim to fame last sweep's Bloodfest booth. Just like the contestants in the Gastropod Games, she was racing towards the finish line... or maybe not!

A familiar shape suddenly materialised before her lookstubs, an orangeblood wearing a mask, a striped scarf, and a confident grin. “Master!” Lutrin gasped. The older troll shook her head.

“Giving up so soon?” she asked, smile never faltering. “I thought I trained you better than that.”

Lutrin glowed with rekindled determination. “You did!” she replied, even as the figure faded. “And I'll prove it!” She would too, provided that she did not smash against the ground in the next second. Either her fall was taking longer than she anticipated however, or her delusion had only spanned across a few milliseconds. No matter. If she had time, she planned to use it.

Lutrin ripped the claw end of her grappling hook free from her sash. She wheeled her arm back in preparation of a swing. Her eyes zeroed in on the target. Then with a mighty throw, she pitched the grappling hook skyward.

By some miracle, the claw hooked around the third-story window box and stuck there. Lower down Lutrin slammed against the side of the hive. The force of it momentarily knocked the wind out of her, and she almost released her grip on the rope. Instead she slid slowly down back to the second story. Thus far the third floor eluded her, but she would just have to take a different approach.

Arriving at window with the ocean-themed curtains, Lutrin peered inside.

Hivestuck

saedusk

 

[Hivestuck]

The grappling hook hit the window box and there was silence, the sneak-thief hit the hive and there wasn't; like earlier, the air broke out with barks, but this time they sounded closer, less muffled than before. Following up the boofing was a muted voice, a troll's voice, and its tone was scolding while being entirely unintelligible. Whoever they were, they were obviously some distance away in another area of the mansion.

Past the cute ocean curtains is a room bathed entirely in relaxing pastels of the cool-hued variety. The window dumps out into a whirlpool ablution trap big enough for at least four trolls to soak with ample breathing room. In fact, a small pool of water gathered near the drain and a wrinkly towel draped over the edge say someone's used it recently. No wonder it smells so nice in here, all lavender and soap. The rim of the tub is ringed with bath bombs and a variety of fancy looking bottles full of whimsically colored gels.

To the front of the room is a wide open door, to the left a shower and vanity, to the right a load gaper and closet. Perhaps a nod to Atrili Moorba's interests, there are multiple boxes shaped like treasure chests for storage—same as the one Lutrin pilfered from outside—sitting around the room. None of them are locked this time.

Most interesting of all, set with purpose in the middle the vanity is a small spiral notebook, its edges worn with use, and a pen with a fuzzy purple puff on the end.

Green Minuet

 

[Green Minuet]

ツ Lutrin Weesil

“Someone's mad,” Lutrin muttered when a series of sharp barks pierced the air. A part of her wondered about the creature that made them, but assuming it was Moorba's lusus an introduction would have to be put off until later. A B&E was perhaps not the best circumstance in which to make new friends.

Wiggling inside, Lutrin dropped down into the ablution trap. Immediately her sniffnode was assailed by a multitude of fresh, fragrant scents, some of which rose up from the drain. The culprits were easily identified, and Lutrin wasted no time putting them to good use. A few seconds later found a colourful gel smiley face smeared around the inside of the trap. That would make for a nice little surprise for the purpleblood, the next time she went to take a bath.

Lutrin wiped her glove on one of the plush hand-towels (she had not been so foolish as to remove it and risk leaving critical evidence) and, once it was clean, stored the gel bottle in her equipment satchel. While it might have only been bath gel, she could think of a dozen other ways to employ it. Squeaky door hinges, watch out! Besides, it was fun, colourful, and smelt good. As if to prove that thought, Lutrin held her finger under her nose and took a good whiff. Mm... lavender... You could almost eat it...

Eating would have to wait however. There were no meals on the clock.

Gathering her wits, Lutrin crept over to the vanity. She sifted through its contents, including the treasure chests that Moorba liked so much. The purpleblood had good taste, she had to admit. By that extent Lutrin had good taste, by choosing to rob her. The world worked in mysterious ways. After taking what she liked, she turned her attention to the notebook.

Her fingers danced over it in the air, as though hesitant. A moment later, they descended on it like a pair of vultures. Greedy and curious, Lutrin clutched her close to her chest. Her eyes swept this way and that, searching for any hidden observes. Then, she cracked it open and began to read.

Hivestuck

saedusk

 

[Hivestuck]

While the contents of the plastic treasure chests wouldn't be all that alluring—most of it was bath or appearance related—there were a few small, sparkly jeweled hair clips and flower shaped soaps that looked handmade. Older, too, and covered in a thin film of white, dust-like powder.

The notebook itself looks just as aged, its paper crinkled and faintly yellowed. Near the front of the book are inks in four colors: green, teal, blue, and purple. Many of the early entries have been aggressively scratched out in the very same purple.

Between the angry scratches it's possible to pick out words and even a few full sentences here and there.

-ender. They'll make the nicest mix.

Bring a pie for te-

-old him no, b- -ry determined.

Towards the back of the notebook, after a gap of a few good blank pages, it seems Atrili's picked up writing again. There are multiple entries, but the most recent is dated this very night. The handwriting is clean but large.

Euberi sent another one of those boxes along tonight. I haven't opened it yet. I wish she would stop. Nothing is going to change. It's her fault in the first place!

Princess wouldn't stop sniffing it and trying to tear it open, so I moved it up to my room and shut the door. I should've just left it outside, but I guess I'll have Rhevin take it down to the trash tomorrow. I don't even think I'll humor Euberi by opening it at all. I'm done with this.

Speaking of Rhevin, though, he's been acting strange lately. He won't leave Saadsa alone while she's trying to work. She gets nothing done anymore.

This isn't where the entry ends, but heeled footsteps can be heard on the hardwood from the hallway. They're coming closer...

Green Minuet

 

[Green Minuet]

ツ Lutrin Weesil

Halfway down the page, Lutrin's attention was drawn by the sound of approaching footsteps from the other side of the door. For a moment she froze, panic settling in. Her eyes darted around the ablution chamber, searching for a place to hide. She debated jumping into the ablution trap, as it would be spacious and cosy, but were the purpleblood to enter for more than a few seconds, Lutrin would no doubt be spotted.

The footsteps had nearly reached her. Lutrin placed the diary back on the vanity, similar to how she found it, and then dashed over to the closet. She screeched to a halt however, upon noticing that she still held the purple puff pen in her hand. She bounced back towards the vanity, and then a second later changed her mind and started back towards the closet. This happened several more times, as she engaged herself in a fierce game of mental tug of war. At last she relented and scurried into the closet with all her loot, and the purple pen. She pulled the door shut behind her, leaving only a slender crack for her to spy out of.

Hivestuck

saedusk