Patchwork Universe

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

Trubshawe rose from his seat silently and transferred the glass of sherry from the bar to Lady Violetta's hand, squeezing her fingers shut around its stem with his own gloved grip.

"Drink up," he advised her, gruffly paternal. "Plenty more where this comes from: I'm running up a slate."

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

Arnora blinked at the stream of words which tumbled forth from the young lady who had approached the bar. Deciding that she had probably got the best answer she could out of Trubshawe Arnora smiled and excused herself. There were still many people in the bar she wished to talk to and she suspected that with the arrival of morning many of them would be leaving.

As Jane Jones got up and left the bar she was also reminded of something she had said the previous night and decided that perhaps now was a good time to deal with it.

Noticing that she couldn't see Jones Arnora made her way over to where Jessica was serving and smiled in her direction.

"I wish a breath of fresh air, I shall return to collect my breakfast shortly if that would be no problem for you.."

Receiving a quick affirmative nod Arnora turned and headed out the front door of the tavern.

[OOC Arnora leaves the Public bar]

Harlequin · Average Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 60 Location: Chimera

Harlequin had taken the drink proffered by Jessica and sat on the stool at the end of the bar. He seemed lost for words, thoughts, and any emotion save confusion.
He brightened as Lady Violetta spoke to Jessica, as surely here was someone more confused than himself. He then silently chastised himself for such a selfish thought.

He downed the wine, for way of courage, and introduced himself to the new party.
"Ah, ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce myself. I am *hic* Harle*hic*quin. Oh, do *hic* excuse me, some wine seems *hic* to have gone down the wrong hole *hic!!*"

Jones · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 8:54 am Post subject:

"And I'm Jessica Jones," the young woman behind the bar added. "Jones, my father, runs this inn."

Harlequin · Average Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 60 Location: Chimera

Harlequin tried holding his breath for a while to get rid of his hiccups. So as not to appear rude, he tried communicating this fact with vague hand-waving, whilst his face went a deep shade of red, not dissimilar to his trousers.

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:21 pm Post subject:

Lady Violetta took a deep sip of the drink proferred by Trubshawe, then addressed herself to Harlequin. "I've never met an actual real Harlequin before. Is there Pantaloon and a Columbine too? I would be very much interested in meeting them if so. Or are you merely an actor who plays the part of Harlequin? I don't mean to cause offence, but it seems important to establish such things from the outset." She had clearly calmed down a great deal, and it would have been easy to believe her agitation of only moments before to have been imagined, as she stood now intrigued by Harlequin's presence.

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

Trubshawe too seemed to be concentrating fully on Harlequin for the first time.

"Yes, what's your game, Sonny Jim?" he demanded with his habitual brusqueness. "Run away from the circus, have you?"

Harlequin · Average Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 60 Location: Chimera

Harlequin let out his pent-up breath. He paused awhile to ensure the hiccuping had stopped.

"Ah, that's better. Mademoiselle," he said, turning to Lady Violetta, "I gather you have heard of my Uncle Pantaloon? I am afraid I have not met any Columbine though. In answer to your second question, I am the only Harlequin as far as I know, and I haven't heard of any plays about me, although I have not been to the theatre in some while. I have indeed, as this gentleman exerts, run away from that circus of a Court. I had intended to return sooner, but you know how it is. And now it seems that this mobile public house has moved into the way!"

Jones · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 5:57 pm Post subject:

As Harlequin spoke, Jones came out from the kitchen door, carrying a large tray from which an appetising smell drifted. Heading to one of the unoccupied trestle tables, already covered with a plain linen cloth, he laid out three plates of food holding meat chops, steamed greens and roasted root vegetables.

Cutlery, condiments and a carafe of water accompanied the food and once they had been neatly laid out he tucked the tray under his arm and returned to the bar.
"Your meal is served, Mr Trubshawe," he said, with a polite nod. "Will there be anything else you require?"

John Angelis · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 8:09 pm Post subject:

A man in the somewhat dishevelled dress of a 19th century englishman, carrying a somewhat incongruous nylon rucksack, entered the bar.

He approached the bar, and caught Jones' eye.

"Pint of bitter please!" he said with a smile.

Jones · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 9:23 am Post subject:

"Right away, sir," Jones said, opening the flap that separated the gleaming bar from the rest of the room and crossing through it. As he pulled the pint he looked pleased that one of his customers had not difficulty in identifying the purpose of his establishment. Placing the pint with alacrity in front of the newcomer he said:
"That's be four copper, sir. Unless you'd like to start a slate... Lovely weather we're having, isn't it?"

John Angelis · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 11:06 am Post subject:

Angelis looked about him.

A nice place this. Very nice. Safe He supped the beer - very nice indeed. And the clientelle. From the odd assortment of costumes, fellow travellers? This was a useful place...

He looked up at Jones.

"I've possibly not got any coins that you'd recognise; perhaps you'd be interested in a trade?"

He slid one of the blank station cards across a dry area of bar.

"I understand these to be quite valuable. Would you perhaps trade some food and lodgings for it?"

Jones · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 12:54 pm Post subject:

"We accept all sorts of currencies, sir," Jones said politely. "So you might well have something that'd suit."

Taking the piece of cardboard he look at it curiously.
"Is this what you use for bank notes in your country? Seems to say here that this 'station' is worth 25 units of your currency. I would think that would be ample for room and board."

Perhaps in taking so many different forms of currency Jones had become innured to strangeness, because he didn't appear to spot anything out of the ordinary as he made to put the piece of card away in his cash box.

"Would you like a room key now, sir?" he asked. "I believe the Yellow Room is free."

John Angelis · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 1:04 pm Post subject:

"That would be lovely. Also, I don't suppose that someone could bring some food up to my room? Perhaps some bacon and eggs?"

Dr Jewel · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 4:33 pm Post subject:

Jewel blinked as she stepped inside, trying to adjust to the change in lighting conditions. She looked slowly around the bar, noting more than one familiar face.

Remembering that a drink would be of no use at all to her (and how would she pay?), she waited for Dr Odom, Father Michael and the pirates to follow her.