Game: What is in this box? - Answered!

The ANSWER to what is in the box is below. Scroll down, and find the ANSWER to the amazing mystery: What is in this box?!



What is in this box? It's a mystery!

Let us know what you think is in the box. Then, on Sunday evening the owner will appear to tell us the exciting secret.....what is in this box? Can you guess right?

Open discussion also welcome all weekend. Also, don't forget to drop in and say 'hi' to the band on their travels, if you have a chance!

Okay, Many interesting theories have been offered. Definite points for creativity. We have our lovely answers, our clever answers and our completely degenerate answers (we knew we could count on you!) However, sadly, no one guessed it.

OR you could say, happily no one guessed it, because the answer is something that will amaze and delight you! Here is the owner of the box:

And he (or is it she? No idea.) has provided us with the following treats!

Enjoy!

Hmmm. He or She also left this. I wonder what it is....

Character of the Week: Candy!

Today, I'd like to introduce our fiesty Goth resident: Candy!
Candy, we'd like to know all about your world:

You know me as Candy but my parents christened me Daisy! Can you believe it? Like I was a cow or something!! I felt suffocated with them in that little row house in the suburbs of Birmingham. As though I was old already. No choice but to plod through life like them. School was the same, until I discovered painting. It was like escaping through a keyhole into another world. I won awards. Teachers praised me.
.

My parents grumbled I was wasting my time. Then I met Brian. He looked like Adam on American Idol. He made me up, had my hair cut and colored, got me pierced with rings, studs and hoops, and helped me buy clothes. We were a cool couple and now people paid attention to me. I actually scared them! I was different and tough. I still am. I ran away to live with him in London. He didn't look like Adam anymore. Again I felt trapped. Going nowhere.

Then Mother called. "Your Great Aunt in America needs help. Close to dying, I 'spect. Got no heirs and must be nearing ninety. Play it right and you'll get everything."
'Course, Mum figures she'll get her slice. The whole family hates Great Aunt Alex 'cause she wore red at Grandfather's funeral. I'll go.
What if I can't stand her? What if she doesn't die? I don't even know what she looks like!
Probably lives in a dump! How do I get that money out of her? I don't want to change my Goth look. What if she hates me? I'd really appreciate any advice. I've never been to the U.S before. What's it like there? What should I do or not do?

Quote of the Day: Oscar Wilde

Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
~Oscar Wilde

What do you think of Mr. Wilde's advice?

Do you forgive your enemies? If so, are they annoyed? If you don't forgive them, why not? Do you ever wonder what would happen if everyone forgave their enemies? That would ruin quite a few plot lines, wouldn't it?

Let's discuss!

Group Story: Western

In honor of Maelstrom, busy wreaking havoc out West right this very minute, let's write a good old-fashioned, rootin'-tootin' Western!










Put on your spurs, grab your hat, and saddle up that bronco, Pardner! This here story will run for two whole days, so come around often and channel your inner Zane Grey, y' hear?









The sun cast a golden glow over the distant mesas. Clive "Cactus" Hoskins watched in silence, then swung himself into the saddle. He patted the neck of his horse, Trumpet, and scanned the horizon. Finally he saw it--a faint cloud rising from the dry earth into the morning sky. Was it the drovers, bringing the cattle he had won from Blackheart Bartholomew in an all-night poker game? Or was it just a dust devil?

He was about to find out...

Getting to know you: In Memorial

In this part of the Universe, we are honoring people who did brave things for us. Is there someone that you honor? Someone special who made a difference to you or to others?

Let us know about them. We will honor them with you.

Sunday: Open Discussion

This is a day for writers and characters alike to chat about whatever is on their minds. To start the discussion off, here is an interesting tidbit. Can you read it?





If you can read, it I wonder why.....maybe it's magic?

Announcement!

Maelstrom is going on tour and would love for you to follow along! Ricky, Kalila, Vic, Bo, Nevin, and Lazaro will be taking turns blogging their misadventures for the next two weeks at the Maelstrom website. We hope to see you there, and we'll try to answer comments and visit everyone here at CIC as time, gigs, and the law permit.

Now, back to our scheduled visit with our friend Shadow!

Also, it has just come to our attention that Marenya is inviting everyone to a picnic in her cave this weekend. It looks like we're going to be having a lot of fun this weekend! Thanks for the invitation, Marenya. Let us know if we should bring anything!

Character of the Week: Shadow!

Today's Character of the Week is the enigmatic Shadow!
Shadow, please tell us all about yourself.
_________________________________

Hi.

Okay. I'm not sure what enigmatic means.

I'm 15, my real name is Brian. I call myself Shadow though.

I don't have any brothers or sisters. I have a mom and a dad. I don't see my dad much. He works alot. I don't see my mom much either. She has committees and stuff.

I don't have many friends at school. I'm not sure why. No one really talks to me. I do have friends here, though. Aidan and Bo and Ricky and Flower and Brokerage and Brandan and Goran and Ms. Fettleston. Others, too. Candy, too. Candy just broke up with her boyfriend. I didn't talk to her when she said that. I forgot Fin. Mira let me add it now. Fin's my friend, too.

I don't know what else to say.

Bo said he'd introduce me to his sister.

I had fun at the concert. I drank beer for the first time. That was really fun.

I don't know. I don't have much to say, really. I wish I had more friends. I read comic books, and make model airplanes with my dad sometimes. I like music. I go to school.

Aidan once asked if I feel bored. I don't feel bored. I don't know how I feel. I guess I feel like a shadow.

Oh. I forgot. I can't see myself in the mirror. I don't know why.

Mira said I should ask a question for the discussion. I don't know what to ask.

Was like this for you when you were my age?

Okay. That wasn't too bad.

Do you see what I see? Figures in Blue

Who are these blue people? Why are they on the balcony? Where are their clothes? One of them seems to be emoting, but what about?

Let's discuss!

Group Story: Classic Literature

Hi, Everyone! Today, let's see if we can improve on one of the classics of Western literature. This group story will run for two days, so come back often.

Ready? Charles Dickens, eat your heart out!








From A Tale of Two Cities:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair...

Getting to know you: Appearance - pros and cons

We clearly have many attractive characters here. Very attractive. Extremely attractive. Hot. Some have even been accused of wearing too many clothes.....

So tell us about your appearance. What do you like about how you look? (Don't worry. You can tell us. We like that about you, too.)

But, what about the opposite. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would that be? (Don't worry. We'd change stuff about ourselves too. And we think you're gorgeous, anyway!)

So, let us know. Whether you're blond or brunette, white skin or green, one belly button or ten: what do you like and what would you change, if you could change one thing?





Note: thanks to Fin for the question in a forum game.

Open Discussion and Blog Announcement: Partnership!

As always, feel free to discuss whatever is on your mind, or your character's mind.

To start the conversation, I'm really pleased to announce that Come In Character is now a partnership! Ann (bunnygirl), the creator of the (soon-to-be-published) Maelstrom band will be sharing the site with me. I'm thrilled! Ann is fantasically creative, and smart, and honest, and innovative, and....lots of other things that all make for a great partner! Thank you, Ann, for taking on the commitment. I really look forward to how her input will help shape and build this site in wonderful ways.

(There is a possibility that a person or two may join us (you - if you're interested), but for now we're starting the two of us.)

Although both of us will post throughout the week as able, we've divided the week in terms of posting.

The tenative schedule is set at

Mira:

Fridays: Character of the Week
Saturday/Sunday: Event, game, social stuff, open discussion
Mondays: Getting to know you, emote this, imagine this, etc.

Ann:

Tuesday/Wednesday: Group Story
Thursday: Comment on a picture, quote, etc.

Thanks, everyone, for your patience as things get settled. Let us know what you think as things move on. As always, your input is both solicited and very welcome!

Here's to the new and expanded Come In Character!

Forum Game: Only questions allowed

This is a fun, simple party game. Here's how it works: the first person asks a question, then the next person responds with a question, and so on. Only questions allowed. Example:

Person #1: Why is there a duck in my bathtub?
Person #2: You mean, there isn't a duck in my bathtub?
Person #3: What's a bathtub?
Person #4: Do you know where my keys are?

And so on.


Note: As always with games, feel free to relax and play as yourself and/or play them in character. If you are playing in charater, it's fine to play the game as your character would.

Character of the Week: Aidan!

This week's Character of the Week is the fascinating and talented Aidan! Welcome Aidan. Please tell us about yourself!




I never wanted to be a Seer and work on Sentinel's Guiding Council. I don't know that I was really cut out to be a leader. And it's kind of a pain knowing what other people are thinking all the time--noisy, you know? Of course, sometimes it's useful--like if I'm trying to pick up a girl or something. But I don't get to do that anymore. For one, I'm too busy. But also I'm promised to marry the Lord Prince's Daughter. It's an arranged thing, and top secret. I'm not even supposed to know, but I'm not sure how they thought they were going to keep it from me. Cassidy is hot, but she's also like 25 years older than me, so that's weird. I guess in a couple of hundred years it won't matter much. If we live that long. The way the war's going, it's doubtful.

But mostly I hate being a Seer because everybody's always looking at me like I should just KNOW all about how the war will turn out and whether they'll live or die. I'm always the elephant in the room.

Um. What else would you want to know? Probably about the war, huh? The demon Maliquium, who's one of our ancestors, dragged Kae and me into it by killing our parents. He used to be in charge of the all the demons here on earth, but apparently a whole bunch of us got pissed a few hundred years ago and rebelled. So now we're Sentinel, trying to defeat him, though killing him is going to be a bugger, like my cousin Jason would say. There's not that much of our family left, but he's always targeting us Trevets.

Kaelin's my twin brother (I'm older by a few minutes which is why I inherited Sight from my dad--lucky me). He's the top marksman in Sentinel. You can tell us apart. If he smiles, he has a dimple. My cousins are Jason and Marc. They're sworn to me--kind of this weird ritualistic guardianship where they apparently die if I do. They did it when I was a baby, so I didn't have any choice in that. I also have an older half-sister Lucy. She's probably the coolest person I know, except for Kae. Oh, and my Uncle Julian, who would kick my ass three ways from Sunday if he knew I was online doing this. But you guys are the only fun I get to have.


Question: If I know whether someone's going to live or die, should I tell them if they ask? Or should I play dumb? Keep in mind that Kaelin says I suck at lying.

Emote This: Confusion

Yesterday's truly amazing masterpiece of drama reminded me, for some reason, of the emotion: confusion.

Let's talk about what makes you feel confused. What don't you understand? What's missing? What's not missing that should be? What does that mean - what's not missing that should be? Does that mean there is something that was there? or something that will be there? or something that could be there? or something that won't be there? What does that mean??????

Arrgghhh. I'm so confused!

So, tell us - what do you find confusing?

Oh, never mind all that - just tell us - what doesn't make sense to you? Isn't it all just sooo confusing????

Blog Note

Hi all.

For creativity today, those who are interested could keep working on the group story. It's not done! What happens to Carson and Marzi? Who will betray whom? Will the car turn the tables and sell them for the insurance money? And most important, what happened to the rope (I liked the part with the rope.)

I also wanted to update folks I've been lucky enough to have 2-3 people who are forming a team to manage CIC. I'm delighted, thrilled and honored that they want to be involved on that level. Also, if you're still interested, there's room on the team - let me know.

I'm planning to move the site to group ownership next week, if possible.

I do have one question for everyone though. A couple of people have mentioned that the daily posts move things too fast. If you have a second, could you pro-offer a vote:

a. I prefer daily posts. I like the variety.

b. I prefer every other day. It gives me a chance to 'catch up.'

c. Why do you get to ask all the questions? I have questions too, you know. For example, I heard that in England, they only have one channel. Is this true? If so, my God, why has no one done something about this travesty of injustice? If it's not true, my God, why can't people just be honest with me for once? That's all I ask for. Alittle honesty and fairness in the world. And lots of T.V. channels. Is that too much to ask for, no, I don't think so.

d. (Whatever you want to say.)

Thanks in advance for answering the question!

Group Story: Drama

We've done a thriller, a romance and a children's story. That means, it's time. We're ready. Let's do it!

DRAMA!

Go on, let the angst out. Let it crash over you in waves of boiling emotion. And when it's finally over, and you're panting on the floor, praying for relief, it starts all over again.

Sound fun? You bet.

So, here we go. Ready or not - Let's create a dramatic masterpiece!

First line: It was quiet on that (dark and stormy) night. Alittle too quiet.

Getting to know you: What do you really think?

Yesterday's frank discussion made me wonder - Have you ever said what you really truly thought?

If so, tell us! We want to know!!

And if you haven't, how come? What would you have said, if you dared?

Let's get it all out in the open here - what do you really think?

(note: thanks to Elaine 'still writing' Smith for the question!)

Open Discussion, and Happy Mother's Day!

Greetings. Today's the day for characters and writers alike to mingle and chat.

Also, in this part of the Universe, it's Mother's Day! Are you celebrating this or some other holiday today? Let us know!

Hope all Moms and all of their kids have a great day today!

Social Saturday: A forum game: Mad Libs!

Poor Hamlet.

He can't decide what to say.

So many words. How can you choose?

Let's help him out! Take your pick, long or short, then fill in the blanks!



Short Version:

To ______, or not to _______, that is the ________.


Long Version:

To ______, or not to _______, that is the ________;
Whether 'tis _______ in the ______ to suffer
The _____ of _______,
Or to _______ against a sea of ______,
And by _______ end ________.

Please help poor Hamlet - what was he going to say?

p.s. Feel free to help poor Hamlet more than once.

Character of the week: Fin!

This week's Character of the week is Fin. Let's get to know the interesting and compelling character known as Fin!


When I started to discover some unusual abilities, I came chasing after my mother to find out why. She welcomed me with surprisingly open arms and explained to me that I’m Furor and my abilities are nothing miraculous, until she found out that I’m stronger and faster than even my father and he ran 50 second mile.

So, I moved in with Mom and Aunt Minka and started to learn about gardening. We use most of our food as currency and donate lots of it to the local shelters. It’s causing problems though. Someone is trying to get rid of all of us in the neighborhood. They don’t want us around healing and helping people, but we’re not sure why. My family’s lifestyle is only threatening to those who hate humans and want them to kill themselves off, or who make their living off of sick people.

Now that they’ve started to get violent, lighting fires and putting the literal squeeze on our human neighbors, I’ve started to get pissed. Mom and Aunt Minka have a strict no violence policy but I’m ready throw someone through a wall. Mom keeps telling me that I need to learn proper fear of the Furor’s who are coming after us. I couldn’t until they started to threaten my family. And Oscar. I love Oscar. If they go after him, there won’t be any preventing of my violence which is dangerous ‘cause I’m pretty sure I can kill without much effort.

I’m glad to answer questions, so long as everyone promises to keep the Furor thing hush-hush. We’ve lived thousands of years without being discovered and I’m in enough trouble for not being discrete.

Now I’m wondering, what forces you through your fear and makes you brave? What will you kill for?

Do you see what I see?: Illusions

What do you see? Let us know your thoughts......We're all about reality, right? Or are we? What do we think about illusions......

Emote This: Embarrassment

What emotion would be appropriate after wild concerts, illegal actions and a masterpiece of degenerate corruption (our children's story......I'm so proud of us. Really.)

Let's talk about the morning after!

Embarrassment. What embarrass you? What memory have you resigned to the smallest corner of your mind never to be brought out in the light of day? Well - bring it on out! Let's hear it. We promise to be tactful and never use it against you. (except in public.)

So, come on - let's hear some emotion! Embarrassment!

Group Story: Children's Story

Time for our next masterpiece! We've created a thriller, and a romance. What else could possibly be next but a kid's book!

Let's write a story that will entertain all the little ones. Look at that little face. The children need us. So, let's do it! Let's write a children's story!

And of course, we'll start with something truly original:

"Once Upon a Time...."

Getting to know you: Have you ever done anything illegal?

After this weekend's concert, I thought we could continue our walk on the wild side.

Have you ever....er....stretched the law? Stomped on the law? Out and out mutilated the law until it cried 'pretty please, uncle'?

(Note: Please relax. This was a metaphor. No laws were actually harmed in the typing of this post.)

Or do they not have laws in your mind-controlled society? If that's true, or if you've never broken the law - tell us why not!

Either way, confess!

Have you ever done anything illegal?


p.s. This post has been encripted. Any parole officers or alien bounty hunters reading it will see cute little bunnies bouncing in a pretty meadow.

Isn't modern technology awesome?

Weekend event, Sunday Encore: Maelstrom, the concert!

Check it out!



The band is in the house!!









If you missed it yesterday, there's still time to rock it out! Head on over. Grab a drink (I.D., please), grab a seat, and grab your mojo, because it's time to get it on with:

Maelstrom, the Concert!

Before and after, there's a sidebar where you can chat with the demons, er, band. Also, you can head back here and PARTY!

So, let's go. Get your jackets......we'll need some water......who wants to sneak in some snacks?......everyone use the potty?....okay. Everyone in! Time to hit the road!

Let's go get our rock ON, baby!

Character of the week: Scruffy

This week's Character of the week is Scruffy!

Scruffy's owner has chosen not to identify him or her self. However, the owner has intuited a number of concerns that Scruffy would like to hear about.

Here are Scuffy's interests:

a. Do you prefer a big meaty bone, or a crunchy treat?
b. Do you have a favorite toy? What does it look like? Does it honk? Will you give it to me?
c. This is a bit embarrasing, but do you ever have a problem with fleas? If so, what do YOU do about it?
d. What's better: A nice long nap in the sun, a nice long scratch or a nice long petting behind the ears?

And from Scruffy himself: WOOF!