So.....this being my first NEST and hearing about the kidnappings made me curious enough to give it a go myself. So Kevin (Kevin_kidnapped) and I filled out the application months in advance to be kidnapped at NEST 2017. (That’s a lot of “kidnapping”). Kevin didn’t even remember what we had filled out on the application, but I still remember nearly every question, especially the fact that for a scenario, we chose an idea for a game very similar to “The Newlywed Game”. We were asked questions about each other; only in this case, if we got a wrong answer, we would be tickled.
Apparently, the kidnapping team thought that this idea we had was the most creative, and they had a lot of fun carrying it out. So....details, details!
Kevin and I had a blast at NEST all weekend (read my blog), and we had fun watching the minions kidnap various couples and individuals over those few days – each with their own well-thought-out scenario. We weren’t sure if we were going to get chosen or not for the kidnappings, but we just went about our merry way not giving it much thought – we were too busy getting tickled with fellow NEST’ers to worry about minions coming after us. But it was always in the back of our minds. I for one was a little hesitant and unsure if I wanted it to actually happen or not. Even in a private conversation with a few of our friends, I casually asked aloud if one could back out if they changed their mind. I truly didn’t want to back out, but the anticipation and wondering if and when it would happen was definitely there.
This “wondering” led to one of the friends who were in that group to then ask during the kidnapping orientation this same question. Everyone in the room immediately began laughing and the answer was a resounding “No!” Basically they were saying, “Once we kidnap you, your ass belongs to us!” Haha!
By Sunday evening and with only two hours left to go in the entire NEST event, I figured that the kidnappings were over and we were most likely not going to be chosen. I began to let my guard down. I was also already pretty exhausted from the tickling I’d been experiencing for the past couple of days. So in those last few hours, after another session with a close friend of our’s, we all decided to head down to the main room to watch the Auction for a bit – which we did. While we were standing there watching, Hardy came up to me and mentioned that he had forgotten his watch in our room after I had had a session with him earlier that day. I was feeling a bit warm and tired, so I suggested we all go up to the room and retrieve it for him then and there.
As we exited the main room where the Auction was in full swing, TickleChgo pulled Hardy aside and into NEST HQ to ask him something. Kevin and I continued heading to the elevators when I turned to him and said, “TickleChgo just asked to speak with Hardy. I wonder what that is all about?” We didn’t think much of it because he rejoined us at the elevators just as we were headed up. We got to the room and Hardy retrieved his special watch and proceeded to chat with us about it. Then he suggested that we all go back downstairs to the main room to finish watching the Auction. I said I’d rather not and that I would like to have a bit of a nap. Hardy continued trying to convince us that we needed to return downstairs again. I was hesitant, but after he told us that they were going to wrap it up in just a few minutes with goodbye and picture takings, etc....he had me convinced. Kevin and I returned downstairs with Hardy, who was surprised at first that we didn’t follow him into the main room. I thought nothing of it when I told him “Be right there” as Kevin and I settled into the chairs in the lobby. I was feeling a bit warm and didn’t want to return to the main room right away. So then Hardy told TickleChgo that we were in the lobby. TickleChgo then told Hardy, “Great job, Hardy!” and shook his hand.
As we were sitting there in the lobby with another friend, I got a text on my phone by yet another friend wondering where Kevin and I were. I told him that we were in the lobby and asked him if we wanted us to come up to him or if he’d come down to see us. He didn’t answer me and few moments later, breezed into the lobby and had a seat. He proceeded to text on his phone before standing up and walking around casually. Moments later, he saw minions approaching and said calmly, “It looks like there’s another kidnapping going on.” Kevin and I naturally got out of our seats with curiosity, wondering who was going to be kidnapped this time and what sort of a theme would it entail.
We got up to peer down the hallway, only to see them marching straight towards us and the near empty lobby. They immediately surrounded us both and I looked at Kevin with a wince and said, “Daaaang it!!! " LOL One of the minions said in an intimidating deep voice, “Are you Kevin and Erika? Come with us.” A minion grabbed each of our arms and began escorting us down the hallway for our tickle torture. As we were going down the hall, one of the minions said, “So you like game shows, huh?” Kevin had no idea what he was referring to, but I do remember exactly what he was talking about from our application.
We were led into a room with a terrifying number of Ler’s standing in a circle around a cot - a very intimidating image for a shy girl like me. I was quickly ushered into a side room and told to sit on the chair in the corner next to the TV whereupon I saw an enormous collection of tools laid out across the foot of the bed. The TV was blaring a hockey game, no doubt purposefully set on that particular channel for the Canadian that I am.
I don’t know what was happening in the other room with Kevin – you’ll have to read his blog to get the other side of the story; but I can only assume that they were asking him the same questions that my kidnapper was asking me. My mind was racing a mile a minute, trying to take all of this in suddenly, that I couldn’t think straight, and had a hard time answering the questions. At first, my kidnapper sat down on the edge of the bed with all the tools and the remote thus shutting off the TV by accident and having to holler out – “Hold it! I sat on the buttons!" and we had to wait until she turned on the TV again so that I couldn’t hear what was happening in the next room. Once the questioning was completed, I was led into the room with Kevin and the incredible number of Ler’s where I saw that Kevin was stripped down to his boxers and tied down to the cot on his back. I don’t remember if I was told to undress, but some woman came up behind me and quickly pulled my t-shirt off over my head. I was standing there in my jeans and my hot pink and lacy bra. I slipped out of my jeans because I already had my play shorts on, knowing that at some point during this weekend, I could possibly be kidnapped. I was told to lie down opposite of Kevin on my back so that we were head-to-foot. The Ler’s teased us in that they said, “You didn’t think we were going to get you this weekend, did you?” The Ler’s surrounded us then and began their questioning of us. Every time we got an answer wrong, we would be gang tickled. We answered several questions correctly which resounded in a few cheers and applauses, but there was always a lot of laughter and enthusiasm with the Ler’s when we answered incorrectly. There was a bit of confusion with the questioning as to who was being asked what or who was to answer which questions, but it was all hilariously fun! It was so hard to focus on answering with the pressure of the Ler’s and the tickling/taunting that they were giving us.
Everyone had an awesome time and Kevin and I stuck around for a few minutes afterwards chatting with a few of the Ler’s, getting to know them – and they found out quite a few things on us with their questioning. We even received the exclusive “I got ‘napped” ribbon to add to our nametag. So cool!
Hindsight, it was wild to see how they had actually come up with the carefully orchestrated plan right from the beginning to kidnap us. I had no idea that they were keeping tabs on us all weekend long. Who we were talking to, hanging with and where we were going all the time. They were so stealthy, we had no clue whatsoever! Then we realized at what point, they had been getting ready to carry out their plan. Hardy, who was pulled into the NEST HQ by TickleChgo when he wanted to come up with us to get his watch was told to make sure we come back down with him and return to the main room where the auction was happening. So when we didn’t go into the room with him, Hardy told them where to find us. That’s when I got the text from our friend wondering where we were and I had said we are in the lobby. So he came down and his casual texting while seated in the lobby was to alert the minions that he had found us and to come get us. I think that our friend was told to keep an eye on us so that we wouldn’t go anywhere else. When I questioned him about this, I asked him, “Did you know Kevin and I were to be kidnapped when you came into the lobby moments before the minions?” he replied, “What makes you ask that?” So I said, “Your text moments before. Lol”. Our friend then said to me, “I can neither confirm nor deny such a wild accusation.” Haha!
It was a crazy fun adventure! Amazed how they pulled it off and am thrilled that we were chosen – the icing on the cake at NEST! I’ll never forget it as long as I live. Soooo much fun! Thanks to everyone involved! Great first NEST! Be sure to read Kevin’s (Kevin_kidnapped) blog on his viewpoint of the kidnapping as well!
~ Shygirl aka The Barefootmaiden
Apparently, the kidnapping team thought that this idea we had was the most creative, and they had a lot of fun carrying it out. So....details, details!
Kevin and I had a blast at NEST all weekend (read my blog), and we had fun watching the minions kidnap various couples and individuals over those few days – each with their own well-thought-out scenario. We weren’t sure if we were going to get chosen or not for the kidnappings, but we just went about our merry way not giving it much thought – we were too busy getting tickled with fellow NEST’ers to worry about minions coming after us. But it was always in the back of our minds. I for one was a little hesitant and unsure if I wanted it to actually happen or not. Even in a private conversation with a few of our friends, I casually asked aloud if one could back out if they changed their mind. I truly didn’t want to back out, but the anticipation and wondering if and when it would happen was definitely there.
This “wondering” led to one of the friends who were in that group to then ask during the kidnapping orientation this same question. Everyone in the room immediately began laughing and the answer was a resounding “No!” Basically they were saying, “Once we kidnap you, your ass belongs to us!” Haha!
By Sunday evening and with only two hours left to go in the entire NEST event, I figured that the kidnappings were over and we were most likely not going to be chosen. I began to let my guard down. I was also already pretty exhausted from the tickling I’d been experiencing for the past couple of days. So in those last few hours, after another session with a close friend of our’s, we all decided to head down to the main room to watch the Auction for a bit – which we did. While we were standing there watching, Hardy came up to me and mentioned that he had forgotten his watch in our room after I had had a session with him earlier that day. I was feeling a bit warm and tired, so I suggested we all go up to the room and retrieve it for him then and there.
As we exited the main room where the Auction was in full swing, TickleChgo pulled Hardy aside and into NEST HQ to ask him something. Kevin and I continued heading to the elevators when I turned to him and said, “TickleChgo just asked to speak with Hardy. I wonder what that is all about?” We didn’t think much of it because he rejoined us at the elevators just as we were headed up. We got to the room and Hardy retrieved his special watch and proceeded to chat with us about it. Then he suggested that we all go back downstairs to the main room to finish watching the Auction. I said I’d rather not and that I would like to have a bit of a nap. Hardy continued trying to convince us that we needed to return downstairs again. I was hesitant, but after he told us that they were going to wrap it up in just a few minutes with goodbye and picture takings, etc....he had me convinced. Kevin and I returned downstairs with Hardy, who was surprised at first that we didn’t follow him into the main room. I thought nothing of it when I told him “Be right there” as Kevin and I settled into the chairs in the lobby. I was feeling a bit warm and didn’t want to return to the main room right away. So then Hardy told TickleChgo that we were in the lobby. TickleChgo then told Hardy, “Great job, Hardy!” and shook his hand.
As we were sitting there in the lobby with another friend, I got a text on my phone by yet another friend wondering where Kevin and I were. I told him that we were in the lobby and asked him if we wanted us to come up to him or if he’d come down to see us. He didn’t answer me and few moments later, breezed into the lobby and had a seat. He proceeded to text on his phone before standing up and walking around casually. Moments later, he saw minions approaching and said calmly, “It looks like there’s another kidnapping going on.” Kevin and I naturally got out of our seats with curiosity, wondering who was going to be kidnapped this time and what sort of a theme would it entail.
We got up to peer down the hallway, only to see them marching straight towards us and the near empty lobby. They immediately surrounded us both and I looked at Kevin with a wince and said, “Daaaang it!!! " LOL One of the minions said in an intimidating deep voice, “Are you Kevin and Erika? Come with us.” A minion grabbed each of our arms and began escorting us down the hallway for our tickle torture. As we were going down the hall, one of the minions said, “So you like game shows, huh?” Kevin had no idea what he was referring to, but I do remember exactly what he was talking about from our application.
We were led into a room with a terrifying number of Ler’s standing in a circle around a cot - a very intimidating image for a shy girl like me. I was quickly ushered into a side room and told to sit on the chair in the corner next to the TV whereupon I saw an enormous collection of tools laid out across the foot of the bed. The TV was blaring a hockey game, no doubt purposefully set on that particular channel for the Canadian that I am.
I don’t know what was happening in the other room with Kevin – you’ll have to read his blog to get the other side of the story; but I can only assume that they were asking him the same questions that my kidnapper was asking me. My mind was racing a mile a minute, trying to take all of this in suddenly, that I couldn’t think straight, and had a hard time answering the questions. At first, my kidnapper sat down on the edge of the bed with all the tools and the remote thus shutting off the TV by accident and having to holler out – “Hold it! I sat on the buttons!" and we had to wait until she turned on the TV again so that I couldn’t hear what was happening in the next room. Once the questioning was completed, I was led into the room with Kevin and the incredible number of Ler’s where I saw that Kevin was stripped down to his boxers and tied down to the cot on his back. I don’t remember if I was told to undress, but some woman came up behind me and quickly pulled my t-shirt off over my head. I was standing there in my jeans and my hot pink and lacy bra. I slipped out of my jeans because I already had my play shorts on, knowing that at some point during this weekend, I could possibly be kidnapped. I was told to lie down opposite of Kevin on my back so that we were head-to-foot. The Ler’s teased us in that they said, “You didn’t think we were going to get you this weekend, did you?” The Ler’s surrounded us then and began their questioning of us. Every time we got an answer wrong, we would be gang tickled. We answered several questions correctly which resounded in a few cheers and applauses, but there was always a lot of laughter and enthusiasm with the Ler’s when we answered incorrectly. There was a bit of confusion with the questioning as to who was being asked what or who was to answer which questions, but it was all hilariously fun! It was so hard to focus on answering with the pressure of the Ler’s and the tickling/taunting that they were giving us.
Everyone had an awesome time and Kevin and I stuck around for a few minutes afterwards chatting with a few of the Ler’s, getting to know them – and they found out quite a few things on us with their questioning. We even received the exclusive “I got ‘napped” ribbon to add to our nametag. So cool!
Hindsight, it was wild to see how they had actually come up with the carefully orchestrated plan right from the beginning to kidnap us. I had no idea that they were keeping tabs on us all weekend long. Who we were talking to, hanging with and where we were going all the time. They were so stealthy, we had no clue whatsoever! Then we realized at what point, they had been getting ready to carry out their plan. Hardy, who was pulled into the NEST HQ by TickleChgo when he wanted to come up with us to get his watch was told to make sure we come back down with him and return to the main room where the auction was happening. So when we didn’t go into the room with him, Hardy told them where to find us. That’s when I got the text from our friend wondering where we were and I had said we are in the lobby. So he came down and his casual texting while seated in the lobby was to alert the minions that he had found us and to come get us. I think that our friend was told to keep an eye on us so that we wouldn’t go anywhere else. When I questioned him about this, I asked him, “Did you know Kevin and I were to be kidnapped when you came into the lobby moments before the minions?” he replied, “What makes you ask that?” So I said, “Your text moments before. Lol”. Our friend then said to me, “I can neither confirm nor deny such a wild accusation.” Haha!
It was a crazy fun adventure! Amazed how they pulled it off and am thrilled that we were chosen – the icing on the cake at NEST! I’ll never forget it as long as I live. Soooo much fun! Thanks to everyone involved! Great first NEST! Be sure to read Kevin’s (Kevin_kidnapped) blog on his viewpoint of the kidnapping as well!
~ Shygirl aka The Barefootmaiden
