Patchwork Universe

Jones · Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2004 1:12 pm Post subject:

Jones, disappointingly didn't seem to be at all phased by this request.
"The time differences can be confusing for some people," he agreed equitably. "One of our customers, Mr Groever, used to wear multiple watches to keep up with the changes."

"But Jones' tavern is prepared to cater to the needs of any guest. We have some excellent lamb chops which come with potato, swede and wintergreens. Unless any of you company have an adversion to eating meat? It'll take a half hour for your food to be ready. Would you care for a drink while you're waiting?"

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 171 Location: The Zoo

In for a penny, in for a pound, thought Trubshawe.

"That sounds delicious, Jones!" he cried, slapping the man on the back. "We'll take it, times three. And as for drinks - a tall scotch for myself, a small dry sherry for Lady Violetta and a pint of darkest stout for her manservant. That should do our party very nicely.

"Before you go, though, Jones - you wouldn't happen to have seen that pallid bookish cove any time recently? You know, Dr Odom?"

Jones · Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2004 3:13 pm Post subject:

Jones seemed strangely distracted. His genial expression had faded as he gazed into the distance, apparently looking in the direction of the group in the window seat. Furrows creased his brow and his lips moved soundlessly for a moment as if speaking to himself before he blinked and turned back to Trubshawe.

"...scotch, sherry and a pint of stout," he repeated back automatically and then his eyes tracked back to the zookeeper and he pinned his smiled back in place. "Very good, sir."

"And, no, I'm afraid I don't know the man you describe. He hasn't visited my establishment that I know of. But you can leave a message for him in case he reappears while you yourself are away."

Arnora · Average Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 45 Location: Yggdrasil

To Arnora the public bar was looking more alive than when she had first arrived. She wasn't sure how many it was usual for there to be for breakfast but Jones had sounded worried the previous night before the arrival of the Navy and Pirates.

Glancing round the room she saw Jane sat in a corner with the kid on a quest for a god and Karl. She would have to join that conversation at some point - she had a promise to keep. The pirates around the room were in various states of awake but Kerry did not seem immediatly ready to continue their conversation of the previous night.

Turning towards the bar Anora heard and then a large red faced figure she recognised and a brightly clothed figure who was dressed in a way stranger than most she had seen so far.

Having decided that it looked the most promising direction for the moment Arnora headed over to the bar.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 171 Location: The Zoo

"Oh, it's you again," said Trubshawe to Arnora, not unpleasantly, "the Queen of the May."

He gestured at a nearby barstool. "Care to join us for supper? Or whatever mealtime it is for you. This place gives new meaning to the phrase 'all-day breakfast'."

Arnora · Average Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 45 Location: Yggdrasil

Arnora smiled - "I wouldn't give myself such a title, there are many who fit the part more than I do. My name is Arnora. I was about to ask about some breakfast. I take it from your confused sense of time that you have been travelling around this strange collection of realms?"

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 171 Location: The Zoo

"I assure you, Madam, that it is not my sense of time that is confused," replied Trubshawe, "but that of this motley ragbag of places I have been brought to every bit against my will. Even so, you are more than welcome to join us for supper. But I suggest you order quickly if you wish your food to arrive together with ours."

Arnora · Average Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 45 Location: Yggdrasil

At Trubshawe's comment about ordering food, Arnora turned to Jones and asked if there was still breakfast available. Trubshawe didn't seem the patient type.

He was however the first person she had talked to who openly seemed to be against his position in the collection. Many had so far been curious or confused but no so openly, well annoyed.

"Do you have thoughts on how you intend to rectify your situation? I would be interested to hear if you had thoughts on how to return to the world you are used to? I have been seeking those who may help with my own situation but I am also interested in how others are dealing with their own."

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 171 Location: The Zoo

"It's early days yet," said Trubshawe. "But as you can see, it has taken me a mere half a day to explore a good chunk of my surroundings, make contact with some of the brightest fellow rats in this maze, and begin taking measures to thwart the enemy's disorientation tactics. I'd call that a good start.

"There's a young chap called Liason running around. Bit gullible but his heart's in the right place. Apparently he's actually bumped into some of our abductors, told me they're swanking around styling themselves as gods, of all the cheek! If he can point me in their direction I can do a bit of snooping around, find out what we're up against. And when we've got their measure - we take 'em down. Gods never like science up 'em, and the bigger they are, the harder they fall."

Blissfully unaware that he was proposing a new Gotterdammerung to a creature with strong vested interests in the perpetuation of Norse mythology, Trubshawe turned back to the bar.

"I say, Jones? If this food is going to take all day, any chance of some nuts to keep us going?"

Jones · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:53 am Post subject:

"Nuts?" Jones suppressed a smile. "Certainly, sir. And here are your drinks."

He placed the three drinks carefully in front of the zookeeper and added:
"I'll put these on your slate then, Mr Trubshawe. The one you started yesterday?"

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 171 Location: The Zoo

"Today, Jones, today," Trubshawe corrected him in a severe tone. "The customer is always right."

Trubshawe plunged his hand into the nuts and crammed a fat fistful into his mouth. "But yes, slate away, Jones, slate away."

Jones · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 10:47 am Post subject:

Jones genial smile was perhaps a bit strained around the edges as he departed the bar in the direction of the kitchen. Jessica, his eldest daughter, remained at her post. In the face of Harlequin's evident confusion she had elected to serve him a glass of sparkling white wine. Now she was gazing in the direction of the lobby, trying to make out the faces and figures of the group of people gesticulating outside the front door.

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:17 pm Post subject:

Lady Violetta finally entered the main bar at some speed, looking a little sick about the gills. Seeing the woman behind the bar, she headed up to her and launched into one of her excessive monologues without need for further prompting. "Hello, Miss. I have a horse outside. He's called Blackie. I tied him to a post, but I imagine you have a more suitable accomodation somewhere. If you could be so good as to send the stable boy out to collect him, that would be very kind of you. Oh, do you need some money for hay or something? I have this pound note here." She removed the large Victorian note from her bag again and waved it enthusiastically at Jessica? "Will that be enough? I'm afraid daddy usually handles the money and things, so I'm not very sure how much you would need. Oh, and a drink of some kind, please. A nice crisp French white if you have it - I'd suggest a year, but I suspect that sort of behaviour might be a bit dangerous around here, since the years are quite probably as arbitrary as everything else, so if you'd just pick a good one, I'll be lead by your taste, which I'm quite sure is impeccable in such matters." By now she was staring slightly wildly about the room, taking in its various different occupants, and spotting Trubshawe, whom she smiled weakly at. "Is that everything, do you think? Is there anything I've forgotten. Hold on, Mr. Sheng told me how to get back to Aldersley, didn't he? That's good. Of course he might be wrong unless I go back there quite soon, but I suppose there's time for a drink at least? Do you think there's time for a drink?"

Jones · Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:41 pm Post subject:

Jessica blinked a few times and decide to lead in with an answer to the last question:
"I couldn't say, miss." Then, taking in the rather worried expression on Lady Violetta's face and, taking a deep breath she continued.

"Jones' accepts all currencies, although I confess we generally favour coins. I'll get you a glass of white wine with pleasure but in the meantime the gentleman there..." she nodded at Trubshawe, "ordered that glass of sherry on the bar for you, I think."

Her gaze clouded over for a moment as she thought through the stream of questions and spotted on she'd missed.
"Oh yes, the horse, that's no problem, miss. We don't have a stable attched to the building but there's one just a few minutes down the road I can have your horse taken to... Just one moment..."

Looking across the bar room to a girl who seemed deep in conversation with two young men she called in tones of surprising sweetness but with a smirk lingering on her face:
"Jane, dear, will you take this lady's horse to the stable please? And ask Jack to bring up more produce from the farm while you're out there, would you?"

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 1:34 pm Post subject:

"Oh," Lady Violetta's face fell. "I didn't think to bring any coins, I'm afraid. But the Bank of England will quite happily exch... oh, hold on a minute. Is the Bank of England somewhere in this quilt thing? Otherwise how do you get your gold transfered into pounds and vice versa? I suppose everyone must just use pounds. That would make life a lot simpler, I think. But without the Bank of England doesn't the money stop existing, anyway, because there's no way you can get your local banker to exchange money if they can't get at their gold or something? I read that in a book somewhere. Well not precisely that, but my question would have to be 'what do you do with the money if you can't spend it?' or maybe the question should be 'Are you Jones, and is this place part of England?' Oh dear, I'm getting terribly confused now. Did you say something about a drink?"