Patchwork Universe

John Angelis · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 10:47 am Post subject: Exploration #1, continued.

Angelis rushes headlong through the mists, and collapses, gasping for air.
He lies on the sweet grass for a moment, catching his breath.

Sweet grass?

Angelis looks up in wide eyed surprise. These are not the mountains he'd expect to find out of Jotunheim. Around him stands a grand golden city, and he is lying on a immaculately kept green amidst tall buildings. Dominating his view, however, is a land mass just floating in the air above him. He stands stupid, and just gawps.

The Underground doesn't go here... where the hell is this place?

Yarrow · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 3:05 pm Post subject:

The trolley tracked two long lines behind it as it came rolling through the grass, and an old woman peered over it to look at John standing gaping up at the floating island.
"B'aint natural, is it?" she said, with a smack of her lips.

As his eyes rolled around to stare at her instead she nodded, adjusting the rackish tilt of her flower-pot shaped woolly hat to an even less favourable angle. She had the disreputable appearance and a goodly portion of the unsavoury smell of a bag-lady but her eyes were as bright as the sharpest busker, alive to the rhythmns of the intangible universe.

"They do call it the Academy," she explained. "But I ain't here to stay. All that up and up gives me neck ache.... Tell you what, nice set up young lad like yourself, how would you fancy helping an old lady home?"

John Angelis · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 7:58 pm Post subject:

John breaks into a roguish grin.

"But of course! Of course, you'll have to help me help you, as I've no idea where you live."

John felt better now. You knew where you were with a mad old woman. The underground was full of them.

Yarrow · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:32 pm Post subject:

"That's all right, my dear. We can have a nice chat along the way." The old woman nodded approvingly and then stretched a bony finger to point in a northern direction.
"This way," she said. "But keep hold of your wallet. There are some rough types about."

John Angelis · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 10:04 am Post subject:

John trails along after her, all the time rubbernecking like a tourist.

Yarrow · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 4:14 pm Post subject:

"This place is called Alcos," the old woman said, helpfully putting on the manner of a tour guide which was rather ill at odd with her general demeanor. "And like I said, that's the Academy hoverign over our heads like the world' biggest bumblebee."

"Now the way to my house isn't exactly in this direction but we'll get there faster for going the wrong way first. You probably understand that a bit better than most folks would. Anyway, for now we're off to the Slums."

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 22 Location: The Academy

Following the edge of the patch, a blue-haired figure appears, muttering to herself as she prods and peers at the mist, her usually large eyes squinted almost shut as she attempts to examine it.

"OK... so I can take things through, but throwing them doesn't work. What if I throw something, then catch it while it's half-way through... Oh, hello there!"
She turns, blinking in the manner of an academic disturbed mid-sentence, to address the strangers.
"Are you from that other fascinating place? What was it called.. the Foundry? I'm Meirian, by the way."

John Angelis · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 7:56 am Post subject:

John looks confused.

"The what? No, I'm from... I don't know.... I'm John."

Yarrow · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:07 pm Post subject:

"Yarrow," the old woman says, leaning rather wearily on the handle of her trolley. Her eyes travel over Meirian thoughtfully. "And how are you enjoying your day out, miss?"
_________________
There's a crying at my window and a hand upon my door /
And a stir among the yarrow that's fading on the floor

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 22 Location: The Academy

Replying in a puzzled fashion, Meirian answered;
"Well, I've had an interesting day, certainly. You don't happen to know what this edge stuff is made of, do you?
And.... John, wasn't it? ... if you're not from there, and you're certainly not from here, then there must be other places here, too, probably all cut off from their own world. I wonder why and how this happened?"
"Yarrow-sama... are you alright?" She turned toward the woman in the respectful manner afforded to the old, concern radiating from large blue eyes.

Yarrow · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 11:22 pm Post subject:

"I'll be alright, thank you, dearie," Yarrow looked grateful for the attention and revived somewhat as she beamed at Meirian. "It's just I've been trying to make this quilt and you know how it is, the warp and the weft, it's always more tricksy than you expect."

She glanced absently about and then added in a mutter:
"Well, we'll have to see if this arrangement works out any better..."

She glanced down at her trolley and her eyes gleamed as they shifted from John to Meirian.
"Tell you what, while we're here, can I interest either of you in a bargain? I've got all sorts for all customers, reasonable prices too. How's about it? A little something to help you on your way?"

John Angelis · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 4:26 pm Post subject:

"Uh... Yeah, I suppose. What do you have?"

John looked vaguely concerned at what the woman might pull out of that cart of hers. He pulled some change from his pocket.

"I've got some cash... Is this any use to you?"

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 22 Location: The Academy

Meirian looked intrigued, her eyes widening further as she began unconsciuosly to bounce, all distraction now gone. "You made this place..? Well, all I really want is some information about how it's been put together. Umm... "
She rumaged in her pocket.
"Let's see... I have.. a yo-yo? It lights up when you use it... er.... a small round brass thing, I've no idea what it's for.... oh, and a key to a bike lock I no longer have. The rest is science equipment and my PDA, I'm afraid it all belongs to the department so I can''t really give it to you." she looks apologetic. "I could always go back and get something?"

Yarrow · Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 5:43 pm Post subject:

"Two pieces of silver is the customary rate," Yarrow said, with a nod at John. "But I likes all sorts..."

Her eyes gleamed again as Meirian produced her hoard of objects. Her eyes travelled with longing from the yoyo, paused for an intrigued consideration of the brass object and ended with poorly-disguised lust as she considered the bike lock.
"They're all very fine," she said. "Pity the rules say I can only swap one..."

"That one," she said, finally with a deciseiveness instantly dispersed by the look of regret she shot the two unchosen items as her hand reached out for the yoyo.

John Angelis · Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 8:56 pm Post subject:

John fished around in his hand, and produced a couple of coins. One of them was seven sided, the other round and milled edged. Both had a woman's head on one side, and a roundel logo on the reverse.

"These are silver, though they might not be made of silver. I'm not sure what they're worth, to be honest. Best as I can work out they're both worth about the same."