Patchwork Universe

Jones · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 3:29 pm Post subject: The Cutpurse's Quest

[OOC NOTE: This subthread now split from the main public bar thread for clarity. - Jones]

"It's a pub," a bored voice said from a windowseat offering a vantage point of the room. It belonged to a young girl, who didn't look to be any older than nineteen, although her scowl was plainly intended to make her seem dangerous. "A place where people drink and shout at the top of their voices about things they know nothing about."

She looked over Larkin's insalubrious appearance with gradully dawning hope.
"I say," she said. "You're not a pirate, by any chance?"

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 60 Location: The Slums

'Intrested in pirates are ya?" Larkin asked as he slipped past the man at the door into the main room of the pub. Even though the thief was certainly no older than her Larkin had instantly put on a rather mature act for her benefit only.

Settling himself into the seat closest to her he raised his voice a little and said 'Well I am certainly not no pirate alright?' before looking round a little shiftily and saying in a much quieter voice 'I like to think of meself as a vagabond but there's those that would call us a thief.'

Sticking out his hand he introduced himself. 'Larkin Quickgrip, good ter meet yers.' Looking down at her waist he added 'Nice sword.'

Jones · Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 7:15 pm Post subject:

"Jane Jones," the girl said, taking his hand and squeezing it with a bone-crunching grip that was perhaps, trying a bit too hard to prove itself.
"I'm an adventurer really. But my Dad owns this place," her lip curled a bit as she glanced round the room, "and he ropes us all into acting like bar staff."

Producing a half empty bottle of a white spirit she offered it to Larkin in a companionable way, sitting back next to him so the two of them were free to survey the room.
"The reason I thought you might be a pirate is one of the customers mentioned she'd seen pirates about." She flicked him a look from under her dark lashes. "I've always thought piracy sounded like a good lark... don't you?"

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 60 Location: The Slums

Larkin shrugged a little. He had never met any pirates but hated the idea of being stuck on a boat, he got sea-sick but he wasn't going to tell the girl that. Taking the bottle and having a quick swig, which he instantly regretted as he kept down a hacking cough. There was no *way* Larkin was going to lose face now.

That was when he realised what had been nagging him since she had spoke. Thinking back to the paper he had been found before he said "Wait a minute. Didyer say Jane Jones, as in yers would be the daughter of Jones." As she nodded, a little bewildered, Larkin grinned a little to himself and said "Intrestin"

Changing the conversation before she asked any questions Larkin asked "So, an adventurer aye? Where've yer adventured?"

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 60 Location: The Slums

Larkin shrugged a little. He had never met any pirates but hated the idea of being stuck on a boat, he got sea-sick but he wasn't going to tell the girl that. He took the bottle and had a quick swig, which he instantly regretted as he kept down a hacking cough. There was no *way* Larkin was going to lose face now.

That was when he realised what had been nagging him since she had spoke. Thinking back to the paper he had found before he said "Wait a minute. Didyer say Jane Jones, as in yers would be the daughter of Jones." As she nodded, a little bewildered, Larkin grinned a little to himself and said "Intrestin"

Changing the conversation before she asked any questions Larkin asked "So, an adventurer aye? Where've yer adventured?"

Jones · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 12:40 am Post subject:

"Oh... here and there..." Jane's eyes shifted away from Larkin's and she shrugged nonchalantly. "But Dad doesn't like us going beyond the mist..."

She paused. "So what kind of things you do steal? Magical artifacts or temple treasures or are you more of a cutpurse type?"

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 60 Location: The Slums

"Cutpurse" Larkin answerd quickly and confidently. "Although" he added "I'm sorta onna quest at the moment." He said this with a bit of pride in his voice. He pulled out his knife and casually scratched at his neck while she thought on this.

Jones · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 4:35 pm Post subject:

"A quest?" Jane took a deep pull from the bottle of spirit and wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, before handing the bottle back to Larkin.
"What kind of a quest?"

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 60 Location: The Slums

Larkin thought for a second. "Not sure I really wanna tell yer." he said "I mean yer just some girl I met in the pub. If it was somethin illegal or dangerous yer might go rat us out to yer dad or somethin stupid and then where would I be." Sipping the bottle this time he sat back and stared at her.

Jones · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:23 am Post subject:

"So don't tell me," Jane said, with a shrug. Her dark eyebrows drew together in a scowl. "You were the one who brought it up, not me."

She glanced back at the bar-room before adding.
"In fact you'll probably tell my Dad yourself. Everyone who comes here pours out their business to him eventually. They all come whinging and whining about how their life is sooo hard and everything's sooo different..." Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Larkin. "Nothing about being grateful that you're real people and not puppets."

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 60 Location: The Slums

Larkin raised his eyes a little during this mild outburst. He also felt a little offended that she would think he was so careless as to just get drunk and tell anyone anything.

Before she could continue though he said "I was just sayin, didn't mean I wasnt gunna tell yer, but if yer dont wanna know then I wont. An what didya mean bout the puppets anyway." He took a breath and continued "Oh yeah an stop complainin, yerve obviously got quite an easy life here, yer still in your patch. Think how it must be fer those who aint got used to it yet."

Jones · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 11:28 pm Post subject:

"Oh, so now you're the one complaining?" Jane laughed and shifted in her seat to look at Larking with a mixture of surprise and puzzlement. "Come on, you might be a thief but you know you're a hero as well..."

Seeing the look of utter incomprehension on her companion's face she continued. "Heroes get to travel about where they like and have interesting things happen to them because the Gods think they deserve it. Puppets are supposed to stay in one place and serve drinks while the heroes come by."

Draining the end of the bottle with an air of bravado she concluded with the words:
"So don't act all grand and mysterious with me... I already know you're a hero and I'm just a puppet."

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 60 Location: The Slums

Larkin sat and digested this for a few seconds, but it wasn't very long before he said "An, you've just given up then. Yer content ter stay here an remain as a puppet, remain as not a real person till yer die."

Leaning back in his seat he added "Now I obviously aint no philosopher but I believe that yer do what yer want in life an its completely your choice."

Jones · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 1:32 pm Post subject:

"For all that you're not a philosopher you seem to have an opinion on everything," Jane snapped back, but her expression was more friendly then her words and after a moment she added. "And I'm not giving up... I'm just pointing out this isn't as easy a life as you might think and leaving isn't as simple for me as it is for you."

Her eyes tracked across the room to recieve the tail end of a glance from her father, the publican, as he continued serving drinks.
"Anyway," she said, moving closer and giving awarding Larkin her friendliest smile yet. "I'd like to hear about your quest, if you'll tell me about it. And I'll even help you with it if I can..."

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 60 Location: The Slums

Larkin nodded and pulled out the two pieces of paper he had found earlier and tossed them on the desk. "Might wanna read these." he said before adding "I think your mentioned in em somewhere."

Leaning forward and looking a little bit more serious Larkin said "I found the top one a couple of mists back in the big Foundry. The second one was just in the East. I'm lookin for this Yarrow person. Im guessin that I'm bein lead for a reason, just don't know why."

Looking up at her now he said "So, puppet, any ideas?."