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Hearts and Diamonds

HarleyBarley 07 Oct 10 at 9 a.m. GMT

As per Miss Quin's request, I have sped up the mini-mystery Hearts and Diamonds. While the title refers to the two red suits in a deck of playing cards, the story itself has nothing to do with playing cards. And, it's not Agatha Christie fan fiction; it's just a random story posted here in the forum.

That being said, I hope everyone enjoys this.

Please do not respond until the go-ahead is given. I've had a nasty argument with the character counter, and it keeps telling me I've exceeded the character limit even though my Microsoft Word character counter insists I've written just enough.

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54 replies

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ivi21 18 Oct 10 at 2:56 p.m. GMT

MissQuin

Leather jacket, check shirt, designer jeans, very cool, then bright motley patterned socks pulled up high. That's cool with a odd twist! Ok, I'm sorry, I won't make more suggestions to your characters.

Ivi when is your summer holidays?

So it might be Heisei's turn, if no one comes forward  I might go next..

MissQuin

Leather jacket, check shirt, designer jeans, very cool, then bright motley patterned socks pulled up high. That's cool with a odd twist! Ok, I'm sorry, I won't make more suggestions to your characters.

Ivi when is your summer holidays?

So it might be Heisei's turn, if no one comes forward  I might go next..

MissQuin

Leather jacket, check shirt, designer jeans, very cool, then bright motley patterned socks pulled up high. That's cool with a odd twist! Ok, I'm sorry, I won't make more suggestions to your characters.

Ivi when is your summer holidays?

So it might be Heisei's turn, if no one comes forward  I might go next..

I usually have summer holidays from the half of June. But it depends on exams.

TheButlerDidIT 18 Oct 10 at 2:30 p.m. GMT

It's funny looking back at the first few stories we posted. Mine were mostly awful, I have to admitt but liked guessing at the solutions for other people's stories. Such fun.

On another note, I was comparing my messages from then and from now and they are completely different in style. Blame Dickens for making me sound posh over the internet lol

dinagoj 18 Oct 10 at 9:46 a.m. GMT

wow it is fascinating to see how many people have the talent for writing. as a keen reader i would be very intested to read some of your stuff (your as in any one of you really) if you would be kind to put it up. Looks like we already have quite a few stories to keep us going till Xmas, so lets play :))

HarleyBarley 17 Oct 10 at 11:32 a.m. GMT

Tryphena Salt? Well, that sounds interesting. I suppose I'll have to lie patient before I can see the rest, though.

MissQuin 16 Oct 10 at 2:49 p.m. GMT

I have. it's just not quite ready. It had a title

Bainton Gray and The Secret Of Tryphena Salt

HarleyBarley 16 Oct 10 at 2:42 p.m. GMT

Ha! Actually quite interesting. I once mentioned in an early draft of the previous story (not this one, Chantelle's story) that Vincente has a small Harlequin-themed collection at his (admittedly messy) flat. Most likely just a shout out from me, though.

Do write something, Miss Quin!

MissQuin 16 Oct 10 at 2:37 p.m. GMT

Leather jacket, check shirt, designer jeans, very cool, then bright motley patterned socks pulled up high. That's cool with a odd twist! Ok, I'm sorry, I won't make more suggestions to your characters.

Ivi when is your summer holidays?

So it might be Heisei's turn, if no one comes forward  I might go next..

HarleyBarley 16 Oct 10 at 1:15 p.m. GMT

@ivi21: If so you wish (and if you have the time for it), feel free to drop by with a little tale! It'll be fantastic for all of us.

@Miss Quin: Why, I'm not sure myself. I tend to picture him as a tad bit eccentric, but not exactly full-blown eccentric. Just a bit odd sometimes. The leather jacket might suit him, though.

ivi21 16 Oct 10 at 12:42 p.m. GMT

Great story, I thought it was aunt Ida, who sent the letters, because she wanted to find a boyfriend for her niece. But I wouln´t guess the rigtht answer.

And I also like writing stories. I wrote one with a murder month ago and I´m going to continue as soon as I´ll have enough time.What, unfortunatelly, means probably during summer holidays :-(

But I´d like to read more from you.

MissQuin 16 Oct 10 at 12:41 p.m. GMT

I'm cheered by that. I looking forward to Hesei's story next. Mine will be a while.

You know I always picture Vincente Jarvis in a stylish black leather jacket. Coulf this be the case?!

HarleyBarley 16 Oct 10 at 12:12 p.m. GMT

I hardly tire of Bainton Gray, Miss Quin. I like to think of him as your Hercule Poirot - that is to say, your signature detective. What's a bit funny is that my Art tends to take more of the spotlight here, while in the original works it's Vincente Jarvis who's the sleuth.

Length does concern me somewhat. I just realised I left some threads loose in this story because I had to trim the length (and did so somewhat sloppily).

MissQuin 16 Oct 10 at 10:01 a.m. GMT

I'm be delighted if other forum members would like to write.

I'm working on a new Bainton Gray one. He's always up for a new mystery, he just tilts his hat in gentlemanly like way and goes off and does his stuff! Ok, I'll be serious- I'm aware this site members might tire of him.

So it'll be his last one in a while. I, on the other hand, still enjoy writing about him when I get time.

If the stories were books, then the length would be ok. But on the foum I'm aware that the stories are very long. But the Vicotian spoke in a way that was longer. ive already trimmed out some amusing passages. BG chaarcter's thought ive sometimes cut out for length. Which is a shame as I don't quite get to write more depth to his personailty.

HarleyBarley 15 Oct 10 at 4:03 p.m. GMT

I wish you best of luck on your imagination, then. I always thought myself a bad writer, but sometimes inspiration strikes and one just couldn't help but putting pen to paper. Who knows if the same will happen to you, someday...

Oh, I suppose I must warn you. These games are hardly consistent. There can be absurdly long time periods between one person's story to another's. There was a long space between my last story to Butler's, and a possibly longer one from Butler's to this one. It has always been that way. Perhaps you might want to try searching the old stories again?

dinagoj 15 Oct 10 at 3:25 p.m. GMT

Dear Harley,

thanks for the offer. unfortunately i suffer from a most tragic lack of imagination... i have no problem with you writing as many stories as you like seing that you do it so well, unless of course someone else is willing to share their stuff??? as long as we continue to play :)))

HarleyBarley 15 Oct 10 at 1:53 p.m. GMT

Thanks, dinagoj. I'm quite relieved you liked it. I had feared everything will come across as forced. Actually, though, now that I've written one story, protocol states I'll have to wait until at least one other person has posted his/her story before adding another of mine. It's...tradition, I think. Do you want to write the next puzzle?

dinagoj 15 Oct 10 at 8:48 a.m. GMT

word to the master of short whoddunit story :)))

that was very cleverly played, i wouldn't have guessed they were all in it together. if you have any more stories like this to share with us, i would be delighted to play :))

thanks

HarleyBarley 14 Oct 10 at 1:56 p.m. GMT

Thank you, Miss Quin. Actually, the "whodunnit without a crime" has become somewhat of my latest preoccupation. I was wondering about all the awful crimes in mysteries, and wonder if I can make some sort of crimeless mystery other than "Who stole the eraser from the teacher's desk?".

I hate to admit it, but actually "erudite" is a bit of my own mistake. I had had the illusion that it was a word still in (un?)common usage. I had never intended it to be a grand red herring.

MissQuin 14 Oct 10 at 1:38 p.m. GMT

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Bravo Harley! Very good. It's an original concept- a whodunnit but without a crime! Of course we want more now.

I did think  Art was involved. But I didn't know why. No I didn't connect erduite.

HarleyBarley 14 Oct 10 at 11:11 a.m. GMT

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Hello, Shinichi! No, actually you've pinned down one of the people involved...sort of. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Oh, and as a sort of explanation. "Erudite" was chosed only because it started with an E. Chronologically, Nina's letters said she was "Divine", "Erudite", and "Splendid".

HeiseiHolmes 14 Oct 10 at 10:43 a.m. GMT

-_-

Wasn't even close... But WOW, what a great story! It was just so good, I wish I'd written it. I love the big chain of culprits. The only thing I didn't like... is that now I want to read another of your stories!