Hm? You want to know who took the presents? Well, I couldn't tell you who because I wasn't there myself. But I can tell you what happened right before it...

It was maybe 4:30 PM, and I was sitting around, reading manga, and minding my own business. I was just getting to the best part when all of a sudden, Reddy bursts into my room from out of nowhere! If you didn't know already, Reddy and I live in the same manor. B-But, not like that! I mean, just like residents of the same house, you know? We don't have something weird like that, I promise.

Phew... Anyways, he comes running into my room. "Don't you know how to knock?!" I shouted at him. He's lucky that all I was doing was reading. But he reminds me that the dinner party is in a half hour and tells me to get ready. It's not like he's my mom or anything, so I didn't have to be reminded. I told him I would get ready soon, but when he left, I wanted to finish this part in my manga first.

Well, I had hardly gotten in another five pages when Reddy came bursting in my room again! I can't believe that guy doesn't know how to knock on a lady's door. He started nagging me to get myself all nice and ready. I assured him that I would get ready and he left out in a storm. But first, I had to finish this chapter.

I was right on the last page when Reddy entered a third time! By this time, I was pretty annoyed that he wasn't even making an effort to enter politely. He told me he was knocking, but I don't believe him for one bit. I think Reddy just has an issue dealing with others in his living space... But that's a story for another day.

In a heavy sigh, I finally got dressed and ready for the party (after he left of course). I passed by Lai-chan who was grumbling in the hallway as I left my room. I call him Lai-chan instead of Laian because I think it gets him irritated, which I find funny. He lives in the house with Reddy and me, but he spends most of his time locked up in his room trying to do these funky magic tricks.

And one by one, the guests started arriving and taking their seats at the table. I sat across from Reddy; Elara sat to the left of me, and Leggy sat to my right. Leggy was another friend of mine. Actually... I wouldn't call him much of a friend as much as I would call him creepy. Before the party, he would always call me at random times, sometimes at 3 in the morning. And somehow, I keep bumping into him in the streets (sometimes literally!). And whenever we talked, he would always ramble on and on about his unimpressive achievements in sports and whatever. I think he's just trying to impress me, but believe me, it's not really working.

We had hardly gotten to the third course of the meal, which I think was salmon and turnips (eww), when Leggy started to boast about himself again. "Yeah, so I was working in the gym for 5 hours today," he would say. I tried to ignore him at first, but he just kept talking. "And I was the superstar for basketball. And I got MVP. And all these people wanted picture of my hot..."

And then I couldn't stand it. "Just shut up!" I shouted. "Nobody cares, Leggy! I'm tired of you trying to show off to me! Just leave me alo-- Mmf!" And he shoves a spoonful of turnip in my mouth with this big happy grin on his face.

I'd never felt a greater mixture of awkward embarrassment and complete anger in my life. I spat the food back out at him (I didn't chew it, that would be gross) and he retaliated by flinging more turnip at me! Like a five-year-old! I couldn't stand him anymore so I stormed away from the table. But before leaving, I turned around and tearfully shouted, "You don't deserve a merry Christmas this year, Leggy! I'll... I'll... I'll burn your presents, all of them!" And I ran away from the table.

In retrospect, it was probably a bit of an overreaction. But he was the one that started the whole scene with his gloating, and bragging, and prancing...

"Umm, Someone? About the presents..."

Huh? Oh yeah, I suppose I got carried away there. Well, I didn't return to the table until almost everyone else left. I felt a bit embarrassed from the earlier scene, but I was also starving, so I couldn't sleep without some food. I probably went to bed around 10:00 PM.

Later that night, as I was sleeping peacefully away, I heard some noises coming from downstairs. I went to see where it was coming from, and it was coming from the vault room, where everyone's presents were being kept. But when I looked inside, nothing seemed to be out of place. I shrugged it off and went back to bed.

In the morning, Reddy came into the room without knocking again! This time, when I was still getting my precious sleep. I was pretty angry at him, but before I could get a word out, he told me that all the presents downstairs were missing! So I hurriedly dressed myself after he left and ran downstairs. Everyone from the party last night was there too. And sure enough, the safe where the presents were supposed to be was completely empty! And so that's how we got to the mess that we're in today.

i see, and pray tell, were you the only one that heard this disturbance, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
And was this said vault locked then?if it was open then it was clearly not normal, so you must have opened it yes?Do all the staff members have the ability to open it?
(pulls out notepad and pen).
If you opened it and it wasnt you said culprit could only have been in the safe or have scampered away seconds before, and you never heard that?
can red back up these claims?with his contstant arrivals he must be near youre room, unless hes deaf he should have heard this.
You never saw anyone around when you went back downstairs for food and to investigate?
what time did you hear the noises?
yup, im going to be overly seriously here =p
salmon and turnips eh?
acording to darkpower it was salmon and cheese!
much like the chesse my young friend, there are holes in your story!
back to the note of red constantly appearing did you hear loud music all the while?
according to laian he was playing music pretty loud at this point, and allt he way into the night.
strange it kept laian wide awake yet you slept easily?
when you went passed laian was red already downstairs?

Some other people might have heard the noise, I dunno. I was the only one down there when I went to check.

The safe wasn't open then, either. But I didn't check very hard, so I could've missed something around the safe.

I remember glancing at a clock when I went downstairs; it was about midnight then.

Maybe the meal was salmon, cheese and turnips!

Reddy lives on the other side of the mansion, so I don't usually hear what he's doing over there.

Reddy was already sitting after I passed Laian (I'm not sure what this has to do with anything).

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to reading Touhou Sangetsusei. :3

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Arctic Wolf (SS82) :

The first serving was something like salad (which I didn't touch) and the second serving was something like small appetizers. From all that, I was still pretty hungry.

I was at the dinner party. Anyone could tell you that.

Someone70 :
Yes, it indeed does make sense. Yet, I would like it if you could tell us more about your "noise check", if it's alraight with you. It should be alright if you're innocent, no?

Arctic Wolf (SS82) :

Well, like I said, it was about midnight at the time. I'm guessing you're talking about what I heard in the middle of the night, right?

I was sound asleep, but I woke right up when I heard this snap coming from downstairs. The vault is right beneath my room, so it was loudest where I was.

I didn't get up right away, though. I thought it was Reddy trying to play some sort of joke on me. He does that sometimes. Like I said, I don't think he knows how to respect others. But there were more noises after the snap, so I decided to go downstairs.

I tip-toed my way down the stairs, making sure I didn't disturb anyone. Even if there was no one there, Reddy would get mad at me for being up so late at night. I slowly came to the room where the safe was, and peeked inside. It was pretty dark inside. I didn't want to turn on the lights because it would be too bright and I just wanted to back to sleep, anyways.

There was nothing out of place when I glanced over the room, though. The safe was closed and there was no one scurrying around inside. I didn't stay for long, and I just went back upstairs after that.

Someone70 :
If it was so dark, do you think it was possible for you to omit seeing a "presence" in the vault? I would also like to know if you heard "Reddy's" music on the way down, and if you need to go through the kitchen/dining room to get to the vault (which is located... where exactly?)

I know these questions may seem irrelevant, but I assure you they are of the upmost importance.







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He lives on the other side yet came to your room 3 time whilst simultaneous playing music?he must be fast...
By his confesion he went to sleep about 11.30,why would he care if you were up at 12.
I hear you publicly returned to the meal,you said most people were gone when you got back.

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thenumberone :

Reddy tends to be on my case a lot, I feel. It was 3 times in the course of half an hour, maybe he was just mad or something.

Because I'm supposed to be in bed by 11. Reddy says going to bed so late will make one sleepy throughout the day.

I assumed there were people there because I actually snuck into the kitchen and ate the leftover food in there... But I heard light conversation coming from the dining room.

Arctic Wolf (SS82) :

I was asleep between those times. Knowing leggy, he was probably showing off in the mirror or playing at the gym or something like that.

Someone70 :
Thank you, but you omitted to answer my question beore that. As I said, it is very important.

Arctic Wolf (SS82) : Sorry, I must've missed it. xP

I wasn't thinking much when I went down to the vault. I don't remember anyone being in there at that time.

I didn't hear Reddy's music on the way down to the vault. He was asleep by the time I woke up.

There are many ways you can go to get the vault room, since the mansion is so big. I didn't go through the kitchen when I went, though.

Oh! By the way, did you write/draw manga that day?

Arctic Wolf (SS82) :

Only Reddy and I actually live in this house. Lai-chan visits and stays in the manor from time to time and he would sleep in the guest room. Elara sometimes stays locked up in the library, and she forgets to go home. =P

I don't have neighboring rooms, last time I checked.

I did a little of both reading and drawing manga. But I'm not very good at making them. xP

Someone70 : I'm curious,
what tool did you use to draw your manga?






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Arctic Wolf (SS82) :

Just paper, pencil, pen. You know, the usual stuff.

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Arctic Wolf (SS82) : Just a regular modern pen that you would be able to find at any store. The only person I know to use those old-fasioned feather pens is Elara.

See, it's right here. *takes the pen from her desk*