No 14203, Monday 17 Jun 2024, Pixie Dust

Artwork by Prasanna

Solution to 18D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Jumped when Superintendent of Police called (6) SPRANG {SP}{RANG}

5   In disguise, Ram went with a boater (8) WATERMAN {RAM+WENT+A}*

9   Neutral peacemaker's stationed around capital of Indonesia (8) UNBIASED {UN}{B{In...a}ASED}

10 Suggestion from religious woman involving a church (6) NUANCE {NU{A}N}{CE}

11 These are marks of significant pause after processing income loss (10) SEMICOLONS*

12 Some crazy or exciting time long past (4) YORE [T]

13 Small fish and fruit (8) SHADDOCK {S}{HADDOCK}

16 In a graceful manner Bill has a try capturing focus of visitor (6) ADAGIO {AD}{A}{G{visItor}O}

17 My ailment discussed in an oppressive atmosphere (6) MIASMA (~my asthma)

19 How Neo could be a Star Wars spin-off? (5,3) ROGUE ONE {NEO}* [RA]

21 In Jerusalem, old man going to and fro (4) ABBA <=>

22 Unable to slip away and marry say, one from the Melon family? (10) CANTALOUPE {CANT}{(~elope)ALOUPE}

25 Kudos! You finally designed puzzle (6) SUDOKU {KUDOS+yoU}*

26 Control large numbers crossing Atlantic basically to reach Edinburgh on 31st December, say (8) HOGMANAY {HOG}{MAN{At...c}Y}

27 One with a strong desire starts to tantalise husband in rather sexy, totally enchanting robe (8) THIRSTER Acrostic

28 Force told to stand by (6) WEIGHT (~wait)

DOWN

2   Queen Nephthys sampling rounded kind of pasta (5) PENNE [T<=]

3   Criminal ability to waste time and last bit of money for a cover story (5) ALIBI ABILIty*

4   Go out playing, welcoming beginnings of spring! Supremely enjoyable! (7) GUSTOSO {GO+OUT}* over {Sp...g} and {Su...y}

5   The Reverend guided tramp to union! (7) WEDLOCK (~led walk to wedlock)

6   Country's embroiled in a suit (7) TUNISIA*

7   Dreamy ad about lingeries, essentially bought off the shelf (5-4) READY-MADE {DREAMY+AD}*{l..gEr..s}

8   Grant gets one working instrument (9) ACCORDION {ACCORD}{1}{ON}

14 Bihar's unusual urgency to find something keeping locks in place? (9) HAIRBRUSH {BIHAR}*{RUSH}

15 Four divas freaking out? Shame! (9) DISFAVOUR*

18 Description of a cold judge (7) A?C?U?T (Addendum - ACCOUNT {A}{C}{COUNT} - See comments)

19 Cowboy took flight with revolutionary leader at last (7) RANCHER {RAN}{CHE}{l...eR}

20 Girl abandoned goals to work in city (7) GLASGOW {G}{GOALS*}{W}

23 West Asian citizen seen in Romania (5) OMANI [T]

24 Appropriate way to cook (5) POACH [DD]

Reference List

Peacemaker = UN, Church = CH, Small = S, Bill = AD, Time = T, Revolutionary = CHE, Girl = G