Patchwork Universe

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 40 Location: The Academy

Meirian led Moon and Harlequin into the golden walls of Alcos, which quickly became a bustling city filled with beautiful soaring architecture, and the occasional phallic looking tower.

The inhabitants seemed a little unusual. Meirian was not the only one with brightly coloured hair and large eyes; in fact, this seemed positively normal, as did the long thin limbs and tight clothing. A few people wandering about appeared to be partly cat, complete with tail, whiskers, and ears. Most of the girls were quite scantily clad (and were often leered at by the little old men), and most of the young men wore glasses and fell over things a lot. Old ladies sold food at every street corner. The children radiated cuteness from every pore.

As for wildlife, trees and plants of all types abounded. Pets were small strange looking hybrid animals, often floating in mid-air, and ocasionally talking to their owner in worried tones.

Most of them seemed to give Meirian a certain amount of respect, possibly due to her clothing, which it now appeared was a uniform of some sort.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 153 Location: The Zoo

Taking Moon into Alcos proved to be a little like leading a small child into a toystore. His eyes round with wonderment, the little man scampered about, pointing at things and jabbering excited gibberish in the direction of Harlequin and Meirian every time a new miraculous creature caught his eye.

But something was still bothering him and eventually he trotted back to Meirian and tugged at her sleeve. "Scuse me, pretty blue-hair lady," he began. "Your city so full of mazements and marvelling, Trubshawe give me gold star when he see it. Just though one thing, what is that in sky and how it not fall on people heads?"

He slowly raised his eyes to gaze apprehensively at the floating island.

Harlequin · Average Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 52 Location: Chimera

Harlequin was similarly agog, but perhaps for different reasons. Where did all these people come from? They were obviously Charismocrats with all their bright colours, but they certainly weren't from Chimera. Had he really been away from civilization for so long that an entire city had been built without him hearing about it?

He was so busy gaping that he accidently jostled one of the people going the other way. He turned to apologise, but it died on his lips as he noticed the pointy ears and whiskers of a cat's head. As the cat-person sauntered past, Harlequin could only gawp at its tail.

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 40 Location: The Academy

Meirian looked briefly incredulous at the little man's question, and then comprehension dawned.

"Oh - that's the Academy. I'm not entirely sure how it floats there myself; but there was some kind of science research project a few decades ago which resulted in the island which housed the Academy drifting upwards and coming to rest above the nearby city of Alcos. I'm sorry; I forgot that you'd not have heard of the Academy, of course. You're definitely not from my world; everyone there knows of the Academy! And I"
she added proudly "am a Professor there"

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 153 Location: The Zoo

Moon was delighted by this news.

"A professor! Trubshawe professor too! When you meet there can be many talkings and walkings and stroking of chins!"

Harlequin seemed somewhat lost in his thoughts, so Moon decided he could risk monopolising Meirian's conversation.

"So... what sort professor are you? Professor of Zoology, or some not so good type?"

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 40 Location: The Academy

"My speciality is in theoretical physics and philosophy. Who's this Trubshawe person? I take it his professorship is in Zoology?"

"There are a few Zologoy professors here, too. The head of department's called Bengal. He's an Angsty - that means he only really does stuff at night time, usually on the roof in showers of cherry blossom."

"Of course, I don't know how different the laws are where you're from. Does it rain there? Do people have rooves? If not, where do the Angstys go when they're in brood mode?"

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 153 Location: The Zoo

Suddenly Moon understood. When Harlequin had offered to take him to this place, it had been to see two famous zoological academics, "Bengal and Peacock", not big cats and wildfowl! He chuckled at his misunderstanding.

"Yes yes, Trubshawe definitely big broody angster. When he in bad mood, he come in search of Assistant Zookeepers for administer sound flogging. Not throw any of us off rooves yet though, have to catch us first!

"So, Professor Peacock he is zoologist too?"

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 40 Location: The Academy

Meirian blinked in confusion.

"Professor Peacock? There's no such person as far as I know"

"Incidentally, we're nearly at the Tower now - look!" She pointed to a large trianular tower painted red and white. The top of it appeared to be missing a large chunk. "The keep trying to rebuild the top of it, but it keeps getting blown up, or struck by lightning, or something"

"That's how we get to the Academy. You want to come visit?"

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 153 Location: The Zoo

"Good golly yes!" exclaimed Moon happily, but then a thought struck him.

"We not get blown up, or struck by lightning, or something, right?" he asked apprehensively.

Harlequin · Average Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 52 Location: Chimera

Harlequin shook his head to dislodge his mounting confusion. All the words of the surrounding conversation were familiar, but it was as if they'd been put together in a different order. Although he couldn't detect anything tangibly wrong, he had a feeling that all wasn't as it should be. He felt that he should be making more of an effort to participate in the conversation, but he probably ought to pay more attention before butting in.

Harlequin · Average Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 52 Location: Chimera

He had listened to the Professor and the Assistant Zookeeper for a few more minutes, but still they were talking of things alien to Harlequin. For the first time in his adult life, Harlequin felt out of place. He didn't want to reveal his ignorance, and so came up with a plan. He would go to the court villa and ask a minor Charismocrat to bring him up to date with all the recent news and gossip, and then come back to explore this excellent place.
But first, he thought he would go home for a drink and to freshen up.

"Madame Meirian; Master Moon. I'm afraid that although I would love to visit the Academy with you, I have a pressing engagement at Court. Please do accept my most humble apologies."

He bowed extravagantly and, refusing all attempts by Meirian to return his hat, returned back the way they had come.

[OOC: Continued in "At the barrier"]

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 40 Location: The Academy

"Oh". Meirin looked momentarily upset at Harly-kun's sudden deparure. However, Moon's natural enthusiasm called to her own, and she soon brightened up again.

"There's no need to worry about getting hurt - there's all sorts of safe guards on the rest of the tower; it's just that there's never enough time to put any of them into place for the very top. RThey still keep trying, though; it's sort of a city joke by now, people would protest if it didn't keep being rebuilt and then destroyed."

They arrived at the tower, and Meirian led Moon onto a lift. There were far more people here wearing a similar uniform to the blue-haired professor, althouh most of them had a different coloured square collar thing - green, as opposed to her white. Three people were in the lift with them. the first was a young cat girl with red hair and a skirt so short it should have shown things but somehow wasn't, standing with one leg crossed in front of the other and hands behind her back, rocking backwards and forwards slightly on her toes in a bored fashion. The second was a young man, also in uniform, with glasses and floppy black hair; for some reason, he kept having trouble with a bleeding nose whenever he looked at the third occupant. Said third occupant was a girl, again in a skirt-unifrom, this time with a deep red collar and silver trimmings. She stood demurely and calmly; however despite her demeanor, the other occupants - including Meirian - were polite and respectful, immediately acquiescing to her quiet request for more space.

[OOC note: Sorry for current infrequency of posts, I have exams coming up and a whole lot of work all of a sudden. Feeling a bit stressed; will post whenever possible]

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 40 Location: The Academy

Meirian turned toward the red-collared girl.

"Excuse me.. Athene..."

The other turned and smiled at her. There was something odd about the expression, but it was difficult to determine precisely what.

"Yes Meirian?" Her voice was serene and perfectly neutral.

"I know that you are in charge of the gardens; and I have a new rose cutting to add to them."

"I am not in charge; that honour belongs to the head gardener. But I shall pass on your request." She held out her hands for the cutting. Meirian dug around in her rucksack for a while before pulling out a black plastic sack.

"Thank you". That same smile again.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 153 Location: The Zoo

Moon was intrigued by this exchange, and prodded Meirian in the ribs surreptitiously.

"Hey," he announced to the entire lift in a stage whisper, "who these people? Botanists maybe?"

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 40 Location: The Academy

"Er... forgive me, Athene-sama; my friend here is new" Meirian said to the strange girl, whose response was once more the same eerrie smile. She turned to Moon.

"Moon-kun; Athene here is a member of the Student Council. They're... extremely important in the runing of the Academy. Athene here is known to have a particular liking for flowers."

"Ah; I believe we have reached the travel room. We might have to wait a few minutes for take-off."

"Then again", she added with a sideways glance at Athene, "perhaps not".

The dors of the elevator opened, and the passengers disembarked onto a large criclular platform. In the centre, red padded seats with various straps clustered together majestically; around the edge was a crackling blue energy barrier, aginst which a few people were leaning and pointing at theview excitedly.