Patchwork Universe

Jones · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 6:47 pm Post subject: A Boaring Conversation

Away from the guest bedrooms, at the other end of the long corridor that ran across the second floor of the pub, the Jones family was congregating in the Private Parlour.

It was an unusual room. Not so much because of the decoration. That was in Jones' established style. Comfortable armchairs, with cotton covers in floral prints, predominated. A rocking chair with a bag of knitting hanging from the handle was Jennifer's accustomed seat. A small hand loom showed that Juniper spent some evenings here instead of retiring with Jack to their own cottage. A board marked with red and black squares, with carved wooden pieces, showed a game in prgress between Jareth and Jane.

But the impression any visitor would have of the room could not fail to be influenced by the vast array of picture portraits that filled the room. They stood in the surface of tables in silver frames, were hung on the walls in frames of wood, sketches had been bound into a book that stood open near the door and from all around they gazed with painted eyes. Jane's scowl, Jessica's smile, Jack's grin, and all the rest of the family expression's stared from every angle, executed in charcoal, oils, crayon and every medium possible. Even children's scrawls, barely identifiable as people, had been lovingly preserved behind glass.

Jessica Jones, entering the room, didn't even notice the portraits any more. Glancing at her mother, sitting in the rocking chair, she said:
"I'll be off to the cottage then, mother. Jane's putting the gentleman to bed," she pursed her lips around a smirk, and her reflection echoed her expression from the mantlepiece, alcove and oddments table.

Jones · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 7:49 pm Post subject:

"All right then, see you tomorrow," Jennifer lifted her head for her daughter's kiss but did not encourage her to stay or to elaborate on her reference to Jane. Families that lived so close to each other could esily become fractious and she knew both her daughter and son-in-law had been more annoyed recently at what they saw as Jane's sulky refusal to do bar-work. Jennifer kept the peace by refusing to take sides in her own family.

"The gentleman's in the yellow room," Jessica said before she left. "And I've taken his jug down for shaving water tomorrow. By the way, Jareth says he doesn't rightly know what to do with all that roast boar. It's been another slow day for custom and it'll all go to waste..."
"Oh, I'm sure we can make use of it," Jennifer said calmly. "Cold for lunch tomorrow, or perhaps a broth. Don't worry anyway, darling. Get to your rest, you've earned it."
Well, thank you," Jessica looked as if she might have liked to stay and gossip but she sensed her mother's mood and retreated instead.

Jenneifer watched her leave and then turned to look at a nearby portrait of her eldest daughter.
"Well, you have a point," she murmured to herself. "Fewer and fewer guests every day. It'll be boar soup and boar stew for a week unless custom picks up..."

Jones · Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 10:16 am Post subject:

From her seat Jennifer heard the sound of steps coming upstairs and recognised her husband's walk. But accompanying him was a lighter tread. Had the lighter footsteps seemed to be dancing she would have thought the rose maiden had come to visit them again but this must be some other visitor.

As the door of the private parlour opened inwards she looked up with a pleasant smile for the newcomer.

Arnora · Average Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Yggdrasil

Arnora followed Jones into the room. The walls were covered with pictures, some of which she could recognise as people she had already seen behind the bar and sat at the tables. Some of the others she did not think she had seen but they were recognisable as family members. An odd collection and it touched on something that Arnora had noticed about men. The faith and attatchment to family, something that she had lost any track of a long time ago.

Arnora smiled to the woman and bowed her head gracefully. "Please do not trouble yourself, your husband has kindly allowed me to take my dinner upstairs rather than in an empty bar. I am Arnora, servant of Yggdrasil. I thank you for your hospitality."

Jones · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 9:02 am Post subject:

"Jennifer Jones," the woman said, with a pleasant smile. "Please do sit down and take you ease," she gestured to one of the comfortable armchairs.

Jones himself placed the tray he had brought up on a little table, having divested it of a couple of minatures and knickknacks, and brought it up to the chair at Arnora's side. Smiling to indicate that she should eat, he crossed to his wife's rocking chair and bent down to kiss her cheek.
"Arnora and I have been having a most interesting talk, dearest," he said. "But it seems there'll be no more customers tonight."

"Fewer and fewer every day," Jennifer agreed. "And all that wine we laid down for the Cardinal uncollected for a month or more now. And at the rate Jane's been sloshing down that Yrrch lifewater we'll be out of that as well. Seems funny since when Smight gave it to us we thought w'd never use it up."
"But what does it all mean?" Jones asked, glancing towards Arnora. "I was saying just now that heroes ain't what they used to be. But why is that? My two-year-old grandson shows more spirit than some of the mimsy lot we had in today."

Arnora · Average Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Yggdrasil

Arnora sat quietly eating and thinking over what was being said. It did not just seem to be her who needed there to be heroes in this place. The news did not seem all that encouraging.

It almost seemed that if Jones was right and the people here were heroes and collected as such that maybe they needed some persuasion and the right circumstances. There had certainly not been many of those she had met so far who had been at all what she was looking for.

Jones · Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 11:06 am Post subject:

"I don't know," Jennifer shook her head. "But I can tell you something... I'm going to have to think of a lot of recipes for using up roast boar. I've been racking my brain and I think soup and perhaps slices of cold meat, and I might be able to make a pie or a pate..."

She was ticking these options off on her fingers and eventually looked up at her husband with an expression of doubt,
"Any way, I think maybe you had best tell Jack not to bother with the butchery until custom picks up. There's always broth or stew, after all."

"Absolutely not," Jones said with unaccustomed sterness. "Even if we're eating boar for the next fortnight. This tavern depends on us being able to provide the best food and drink for miles around.... Besides, custom is bound to pick up."

Jones · Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:31 pm Post subject:

Barely had he spoken when down below a doo slammed open and an agry voice could be heard to declare in ringing tones:
"IT'S A PUB! You don't have to knock!"

"That sounded like Jane," Jennifer said, tilting her head, to try and hear more.
"It sounded like a customer," Jones replied, standing up. "A customer she's probably insulting right now. "If ye'll excuse me, miss Arnora, Jenn, I'll go and see what's up downstairs."

[ooc note: Jones now moves to the current Public Bar thread]

Jones · Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:31 am Post subject:

Jennifer and Arnora stayed silent for a while after the publican's departure but it soon become clear that a large number of people had arrived. Below stairs they could hear people walking about and indistinct voices coming from the saloon bar; as well as louder voices and rather more people settling into the public bar.

Jennifer's face brightened at the arrival of more customers, many more customers, and stood up from her comfortable chair.
"I think Jones is going to have his hands full from the sound of what's going on downstairs, and I can't rely on Jane to help him."
She looked apologetically at Arnora.
"Will you excuse me?" she said. "You're welcome to sit her awhile, or your room is the other end of the passage. The one marked 'Green Room'. Or again if you're feeling revived you're welcome to come and join the company." She smiled in a friendly way. "Whichever is your pleasure. Meanwhile, I'd best me about my business."

Taking Arnora's finished tray from the side table on which it rested, she opened the door and made her way downstairs.

[ooc: Jennifer has now left this thread.]

Arnora · Average Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Yggdrasil

Arnora smiled as Jennifer left and thanked her.
It was tempting to head to the 'Green Room' and give herself some time to think. Too many things had been happening in a short time recently. There did not seem to be much chance for consideration or proper decisions.
However this speedy world of men did suggest to her that perhaps she should head downstairs to meet the new arrivals. If any of them proved to be what she was looking for it would be to miss them.

Arnora gathered her gown and headed out of the room.

[OOC Arnora leaves this thread]