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^ By me and my SS *squiggle hugs*

A sunflower turned the corner, bobbing its head slightly as it made its confident advances down the platform. Roses and lilies of all colours accompanied the sunflower with a few perky tulips bouncing their graceful heads. The soft unmistakable rustle of layered black tulle sailed through the fair, sunny morning and mingled leisurely with the other bustling noises of the station.

The flower bouquet hesitated and twirled a few times as if to get its bearings, apruptly backing into the Headless Horseman.

"Oh good morning, my dear Horseman", exclaimed the sunflower.
"I did not see you there, I was so busy looking for the right train, Monte Carlo is an awful long way and I wouldn't want to be late, I need to instruct the staff on the special care of my flowers, and as you can see everyone needs to be treated as the individual.. err.. botanical individuals they claim to be."
The merrily chatting voice suddenly lowered to a secretive whisper and Eä, which indeed had been completely covered by the enormous botanical cargo she was carrying, gently put down her flower basket. Then she straightened up, brushing her black silver-laced corset and cloud-like black layered tulle skirt, balancing on her toes she put her mouth closer to the Horseman's.. well, where his ear would have been..

"They are such drama queens and sometimes they quite lose their heads, I'm sure you understand. When I joined the flower business I had never imagined what hassle that can be. Having the windflowers constantly teasing the cactus and the bindweed.." Eä rolled her eyes. "You can't turn your back before she tries to trip someone, and don't even get me started on the carnivorous flesh-eating plants."
"And I say this to you in the strictest confidence", she added. "You have always proved a trustworthy friend who wouldn't kill a fly."
A shadow passed over her face for a brief moment but seemed to be gone in a split second as if it had never been.

Eä shot the headless gentleman a knowing smile while sticking a carnation in his buttonhole.
"I understand that dear Kit will not join us for the festivities this year. Sad indeed but I do hope to see many familiar faces nevertheless.

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>>Be the change you wish to see in the world<<



Banner credit: Shadowcat & Nurrantiel Mashiara

A very bright and sparkling figure wandered around the station. She was the most sparkling being that had ever set foot on the platform, with a dress fabricated of the most glittering threads and on her arms and neck she wore the most beautiful, sparkling jewelry consisting of pearls and rare gems. Her bracelets tinkled as Sparkle floated over the platform, her skin and hair almost emitted a sparkling glow as she enjoyed the curious glances of other travelers.

She held a white envelope tightly in her small hands. Anyone looking close enough, would see that it was addressed with curly letters to Miss Sparkle. It was an invitation, but not just an invitation, it was an invitation for a trip hosted by no other than the Headless Horseman. That the trip was co-hosted by another individual who inheritated a complete train company or that the trip involved other guests as well, didn't matter to Sparkle. She had been invitated by the Horseman for an intimate train trip for the two of them.

A radiating smile appeared on her already sparkly face as Sparkle noticed the object of her thoughts. There he was, her Headless hero, accompanied by something that looked like.. -a sunflower. Sparkle walked over to the couple and a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. "Hello Algie," she said breathlessly. "I mean, Mr Horseman..How good to see you again." She then turned to the sunflower, who appeared to be Eä, and said with obviously less enthusiasm: "Eä, you look like a flower.."

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O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

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~~Siggy by Lembas~~

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^ By me and my SS *squiggle hugs*

Crystal Claire was about at her wits end as she made her way onto the platform. Crystal was on vacation. She knew this. She wanted the whole world to know it(she hadn't been on one in years)! However, it seemed her boss at the paper didn't know what a vacation was.

"I got Jones to handle that....He is a competent writer....What? No, I wont look over what he has written. Mary is a good proof reader. You can have her do it....I will be back in a couple of weeks." The frustration was growing in her voice. At this moment Crystal wanted to violently murder whoever had invented the cell phone. Her voice got louder as she walked onto the platform. She could see the train and some very interesting looking people standing there. As she got in ear shot of the train, she figured it was as good a time as any to make a swift exit from her phone call.

"NO! I will not be writing a story about the train ride and sending it to you!... YES! I have heard the rumors....Sir, with all due respect I am on vaca.....I will see you in a couple weeks when I come back in the office....Bye, sir."

Crystal shut her phone deliberately and resisted the temptation to throw it into the path of an oncoming train. As she finally reached the group in front of the train, she calmed herself down and turned off her cell phone(though she still preferred the oncoming train method). She was a bit taken back by the cast of characters. She hadn't really expected to see a headless man today.

"Hello," she said to the headless man with a clipboard, "I'm Crystal Claire. Is this where I check in?"

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Liesl made her way through the throng of people, trying to get to the correct train platform. Dashing her way over here and over there, she looked up to see the sign. Finally, she was here! Finally, after persuading her parents to go on a nice holiday to be relieved of all the stress, she was here. His spirits plummeted for a moment as she remembered that she didn't even say good-bye to her boyfriend, Rolf. Ah well. There were things to do! Hoisting up her two suitcases, she walked over to whom appeared to be the conductor. What took Liesl aback was that. . .he didn't have a head. She checked her brochure. Oh! There it was. . .'Your conductor will be the Headless Horseman.' That made sense. Liesl set her suitcases down and held out her hand.

"This is where I'm supposed to sign in, I suppose? My name is Liesl. Liesl from Austria."

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AKA Crutchie


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Everything had been going so well. Clarissa had finally gotten the chance to play the role of a lifetime--Ophelia in everyone's favorite, Hamlet. So what if the play had been drastically changed so that it would be geared for children, with monologues and scenes cut left and right until the Bard's classic hardly resembled its original form anymore? Ophelia was Ophelia. Yes, for once, everything had been going perfectly.

Until, of course, the incompetant fool playing Hamlet had flubbed a line and, in his embarrassment, had started in on a monologue that had been completely cut from the show. Clarissa had had to put her incomparable improvisational skills to the test in order to save the show. Unfortunately, this is what ended up killing the show. In her anger towards her fellow performer, she had forgotten they were performing for children, and a few...shall we say, choice words had slipped out...

And so the show had closed, practically before it even began. Clarissa had left the theatre in disgrace, only to find the invitation to Monte Carlo awaiting her when she had returned to her apartment. If every anyone had needed a vacation, it was her.

Now, with a traveling scarf wrapped around her hair and her suitcases in her hands, Clarissa entered the train, eager to get away from the shame and the critics back home. "Checking in. I'm Clarissa Riordan," she told the headless conductor. "You may remember me from my extremely limited engagement as Ophelia in Hamlet?"

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Sig set and banner by the amazing Nurr!!

Taunaki wasn't scared. She's had pucks fly at her at hundreds of miles of hours, she's had arrows pin her to a wall by her hair ribbons...

Well, that last one was a lie, but she wasn't scared.

If anything, she was nervous.

It was her first vacation since she began working for the Edmonton Oilers and already she was hearing things.

There was something going on about loads of deaths and killers getting away...

At least, that's what her good friend Fuschia Rivers said but she was long gone now, having disappeared to China to study Kung Fu.

"Be careful 'Naki. You remember the stories."

Taunaki rolled her eyes at her friend, "YOUR stories Fuschia. I highly doubt anyone's going to die this time."

Her friend brushed her brightly colored hair out of her eyes, "You'll never know. So be careful okay? Promise that you'll be careful. I don't want you getting killed."

"You should be going," Taunaki told her, "You should be the one going."

Fuschia merely shook her head and turned away, "I've had too many experiances with vacations around this time of year. So no thank you."

Taunaki quickly found she had nothing to say, "I'll be careful. I promise. Be safe in China Fuschia. I'll send letters. If I can."

Making her way to the train, she eyed the others curiously and quickly found herself staring, wide-eyed at the Headless Horseman.

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^ By me and my SS *squiggle hugs*

Taur stepped out of her limousine, wrapped in furs and jewels. She was filthy rich now that she owned the largest train company in Europe. Really, it was very nice of Cousin What-His-Name to give it to her. She didn't wasn't completely sure why he gave it up... something about wanting to become Amish or something and leading a simpler life. Whatever.

As her ultra-attractive chauffeur began unloading her luggage from the car, she walked over to the group by the train. "Good day, everyone! I am Taurquende, owner of the train company and the one who invited you all! But, my, has no one collected your luggage?!" Taur clapped her hands briskly, and the steward of the train appeared. "Prokopy! See that our guests' things are packed in the luggage car! And please get some of your people to show them to their cabins!"

"Yes, Madame!" Prokopy said briskly, and he blew a whistle that was around his neck. The train's attendants promptly came over and began collecting suitcases and helping guests onto the train. Taur beamed with satisfaction. Now that was what she called efficiency!

"Now," she said, turning back to her guests. "I hope you'll be comfortable! Two weeks is a very long time to spend on a train, but I assure you, it's no ordinary train!" Now then, Sergei!!" she called, and the conductor ran up. "Ah, there you are Sergei! Check in and take care of these people! Our Sergei is supposed to be the best in the business," she said to her guests. "He was top in his class at... where ever they go to school to become conductors!"

(OCC: Sergei and Prokopy are this year's Yusef and Pliff. They and the rest of the train crew are your personal slaves to do whatever you wish. )

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^ By me and my SS *squiggle hugs*

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~~Siggy by Lembas~~

Liesl gratefully took the map, and boarded the train. She ventured down one of the corridors, glancing down at the map over and over again to make sure she was in the right place. Taking a left, she continued down to the luggage car. Liesl had to keep opening doors and crossing cars, always looking to make sure she was headed the right way. Finally opening a door, she found herself in Coach A.

Oops.

Looking and spinning around to see if she had taken a wrong turn, Liesl backed up into a door. She fell through and opened it to see a very luxurious bedroom. Smiling, she hauled her suitcases through and plopped them down on the bed. Kneeling down and opening her guitar case, she propped that up in the corner and started hanging her clothes up in the closet. Perfect. She was ready to relax on this vacation.

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AKA Crutchie


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