Patchwork Universe

Yarrow · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 12:43 pm Post subject: At the Top of the World

ooc note: This thread picks up from 'In the City'

In the travel room Meirian concluded her conference with John Angelis, slightly disappointed that he hadn't stayed to see the Academy, and turned to speak to Moon and Avvineyya.

But she had barely begun to tell them of what lay ahead when the lift arrived once more, more speedily than Meiran had expected.
"Perhaps John-kun changes his mind," she said turning to look.

But the passenger disgorged by the lift bore no resemblance to John Angelis. It was an elderly woman, dressed in a bedraggled grey shirt and a middy old blouse, a hat shaped like a squashed flower-pot perched on her head. She was pushing a small trolley with squeaky wheels.
"I'm back," she announced cheerfuly before her eyes travelled to focus on Moon with suddenly baleful look. "And I've something to say about cats and cages," she added.

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 57 Location: The Academy

Mieirian bounded over enthusiastically, wondering how to hug her in a respectful manner.

"Yarrow-Sama! I'm pleased to see you again."

She decided to settle for a short bow followed by a bear hug.

"I gave your rose to Athene, she'll get it planted in the gardens. How are you? Do you hve any more answers for me? Do you know if Harly-kun is ok? What's the matter with John-kun?"

As she spoke, a voice began to speak, echoing over the platform from hidden loudspeakers; "Could all passengers please take their seats. We will reach the Academy in 10 minutes. Please fasten your seatbelts and prepare your boarding passes."

Yarrow · Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 1:06 am Post subject:

Yarrow seemed surprised by the hug but not unpleasantly so.
"Harlequin's alright," she said. "He's been showing some kiddies how to make a kite. John, well John's a miserable sort of chap, but he did something very brave recently. Pity he won't be sticking around, but there you go. You win some, you lose some."

Glancing around and about the room she said:
"So where do I sign up for my magical mystery tour then? And is here somewhere I can park me trolley during the ride?"

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 57 Location: The Academy

"Oh - yes; there's a rack at the end of the aisle for trolleys and pushchairs and things. I'll show you."

She led Yarrow to the rack discribed. It already contained a pram, an annoyed looking Gerbole in a cage [cross between a gerbil and a mole] tugging haughtily at his glasses, and an eight foot tall, two feet wide sword.

While the two crossed the platform, Athene slipped out of the crowd and stood smiling beside Moon as he watched in awe the sight of Alcos from above.
"Hello there - Mon-Sempai, wasn't it? Where do you come from?"

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 297 Location: The Zoo

All thoughts of seatbelts driven instantly from his mind, Moon beamed toothily at the red-collared girl.

"I from Trubshawe Zoo, greatest zoo in galaxy, coming soon to planet near you! Assistant Zookeeper number three, Moon, that me, at your surface."

He caught sight of the Gerbole cage near where Yarrow was parking her trolley. "Hey! You keep cage animals here too? Hope you have proper licence, or else much much trouble."

He wagged a finger in mock severity.

Yarrow · Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 5:05 pm Post subject:

"Yup," Yarrow's mouth stretched in a wide grin. "At the moment I've a very fine exhibit of an Assistant Zookeeper in my shop. Large as life and twice as natural."

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 57 Location: The Academy

Athene seemed mildly curious.
"Oh? I'm afraid I haven't heard of your zoo, Moon-sempai. Where can it be found?"
She turned to Yarrow, and bowed in a precise fashion.
"Sama, I do not believe I recognise you. Are you also from the zoo?"

At this point, Meirian interrupted, smiling nervously.
"I do apologise, Athene-sama, but we really ought to take our seats now. I'm sure my friends will be willing to speak to you once we have arrived at the Academy."

"Of course", Athene replied "I shall look forward to it"

Meirian led the others hurriedly away from the student council member and towards a group of empty seats at the back of the cluster.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 297 Location: The Zoo

Moon, whose mouth had dropped wide open once the implications of Yarrow's chilling utterance had had time to sink in, took care to strap himself in as far from the clutches of the old woman as he could.

Meirian had seemed very friendly with her. Suddenly the known quantity of the Zoo seemed a long, long way away.

Yarrow · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 11:43 pm Post subject:

Yarrow, in constrast, was looking around quite cheerfully.
"'ve never been to a floating island in the sky," she confided to Meirian. "At least there's this place with bridges, but trust me, it aint all that. So,. what happens next?"

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 57 Location: The Academy

Being a little distracted, Meirian didn't really understand Yarrow's comment about zookeepers, and so decided to ignore it.

"Now, we fasten the seatbelts, and the lift takes us to the Academy. Don't worry about boarding passes; I'm allowed as many guests as I wish."
Sher turned to Moon. "You work at a zoo? That explains the earlier song. At least zoos are obviously something both our homes have in common. What sort of animals do you have there? Are they similar to the animals here?" She indicated Alcos with a sweeping gesture.

As she finished speaking, she began to fasten the harnes atrtached to her seat, and indicated through frantic flapping motions that the others should do the same.

She paused then, hesiatating slightly before bursting out with; "Do be careful what you say to Athene! She seems to be acquiescent and accomodating when she speaks, but I've heard things, and, well, to be honest I don't trust her, or most of the student council for that matter." Her face was astonishingly serious.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 297 Location: The Zoo

Moon strapped himself into his seat with sudden and impressive alacrity.

"Animals here very different from animals in Trubshawe collection actually," he said. "Which why Moon sent. Boldly go where no Assistant Zookeeper gone before, seek out strange new lifeform and put them in cages for study, as per prime directive you know."

A thought struck him.

"Pretty lady interested in exchange program? Your animals for Trubshawe animals, mutual collection expansion compact, much much scientific benefit?"

Yarrow · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:21 pm Post subject:

Yarrow had taken a packet of toxic-looking green boiled sweets and was sucking out slurpingly. Craning her next she attempted to peer out the windows to see the view.

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 57 Location: The Academy

Meirian tilted her head to one side, spikes bouncing. "Hmm... possibly a good idea. You'll have to be careful which animals you take, though - a lot are considered campanions, not merel;y pets."

A man in the now-familiar Academy uniform, minus the collar and plus a flat cap, appeared and smiled at her.

"Evening, Meirian. These all your friends? Good, good. Have a good trip."

He wondered onwards, occasionally inspecting tickets, and offering a respectful bow to Athene. Once this ritual was completed, he disappeared down some teps into an officla loking cabin underne\th the centre of the platform. A few seconds later, a huming noise began, closely followed by an increase in G-force as the travel platform went straight upwards, causing its occupants to be pressed down very firmly into their seats. The beautiful golden landscape dropped away below them. It took barely a minute until decelleration began; this time, the travellers began to rise off their seats, held in place by the harness. Soon, the motion ceased entirely.

Yarrow · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 5:43 pm Post subject:

Yarrow had listened to Meirian's last words with interest and turning to fix Moon with a gimlet-eyed gaze she added:
"That goes for cats especially, young man. Anyone comes to visit your Zoo with a nice well-behaved cat in a basket for which they've even purchased a ticket, you'd do well to remember that pets are not donations."

Nodded her head firmly after this babble she looked around hopefully.
"Any chance of an in-flight meal?" she asked. "I'm a mite peckish."

Meirian · Good Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 57 Location: The Academy

Meirian, already unbuckling her seatbelt as the old lady spoke, looked briefly amused, before deciding that probably wasn't teribly respectful.

"Oh... wel, we're here already. See?" She pointed a thin finger towards the hatch through which they had initially entered, which opened to admit an elevator, gliding upwards as it came to rest at a level with the platform

"C'mon! I'll show you my rooms" she exclaimed, bounding out of her seat.