Patchwork Universe

Jones · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 9:47 pm Post subject: Nightfall

Jones had turned to go into the saloon bar to check on Karl Groever when he suddenly froze in position.

Outside the windows of the peaceful pub, night had fallen like a black shutter coming down over the sky. There was a crash of broken crockery as Jennifer Jones dropped a plate full of cake on the floor. The sound was like the smash of cymbals in the suddenly silent room.

It was followed by a screech of metal as all four members of the Jones family present drew weapons.
"Jessica, lock the doors." Jones ordered in a voice of harsh command. "Nobody else move. This does not look good."

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 10:12 pm Post subject:

"Oh dear. It would appear that something unsavoury is happening." Lady Violetta was now thoroughly confused, and still apparently holding a gravy-stained fiver, which she replaced in her bag, withdrawing instead the pistol. "Now it's the end with the hole in that's the dangerous one, right?" she asked, waving the weapon perhaps a little too enthusiastically for comfort.

Jones · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:09 pm Post subject:

Jessica Jones disappeared into the back of the pub and it was Juniper who came forward to close the front doors, as Jennifer ran quickly to the side side door, slammed it and drew heavy iron bolts across the top and bottom.

"We need to shutter the windows," Jones announced, hoisting the axe he had produced from behind the bar over one shoulder, as he came out into the room.

John Angelis · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:10 pm Post subject:

Angelis stood up and approached Jones.

"Hold on. What's going on? And why are you shuttering us in? If there's danger, we're no more than a mile and a half away from the patch edge, and the land to the east has always been hospitable when I've passed through. Maybe we should make a run for it?"

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 297 Location: The Museum

"Yes, dear," Dr. Odom said, placing a hand lightly on Violetta's wrist, "and one of the other things I know about firearms is that you really oughtn't point them at anything you don't intend to immediately destroy.

"Shall I take it this is not typical weather in these parts, Mr. Jones?"

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:15 pm Post subject:

Lady Violetta gave the gun a very stern look and moved it gingerly around in an experimental manner. "But Dr. Odom, I think I *have* to point it at something. And there's nothing I want to destroy in here yet."

Jones · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:18 pm Post subject:

As Juniper was endeavouring to close and bar the double doors, there was the sound of an arrival. Jones turned from the window he was attempting to bar from inside with heavy wooden shutters and reached for his axe. But the arrival was Jack Jones with his two young children and they hurried into the bar before Jack turned to help his wife with the main doors.

"It came down like a blanket," Jack muttered to Juniper at the door. "But why?"

John Angelis · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:26 pm Post subject:

Feeling a certain amount of peer pressure on the matter, Angelis also drew a pistol. In addition, he drew and unfolded his Swiss Army knife.

A thought appeared to occur to him. He turned to Kalyndis.

"You know, if there is something bad out there, this would probably be a good time to show off a bit of that draconic majesty of yours."

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Zoo

At the point at which hostilities had begun to flare between Kalyndis and Dr Odom, Trubshawe had melted instantly back to a safe distance, observing the heated exchange with a gleeful smirk playing about his lips. But with the prospect of violence starting to diminish, hearing Jones' urgent words he stepped forward and interposed himself back into the centre of the action.

"What the blazes is going on, Jones?" he exploded. "When one sets foot in a public house one does so on the express understanding that one's life and limb will not be put at extraordinary risk. Let me tell you that I am seriously considering withholding any monies I may have pledged to you in the course of my time spent here."

He eyed the pitch blackness outside the pub windows fearfully.

John Angelis · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:41 pm Post subject:

Angelis grew irritable.

"You. Prat In The Hat. If you've got nothing better to add than that, sit down, drink your free drink, and shut up. "

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Zoo

Trubshawe looked around himself, to ascertain which hatted personage Angelis might have been addressing.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 297 Location: The Museum

Dr. Odom retrieved his beer and returned to his seat. Standing beside it, he carefully and deliberately placed his glasses in one pocket and, after a glance at the map, his notebook in another. Something seemed to be happening, although only the members of the Jones establishment seemed to have any idea what and they appeared to be rather busy. Rather than add to the confusion, Dr. Odom stood out of the way and sipped at his diminishing drink and hoped that there would be someone available to replentish it by time he reached the bottom.

Kalyndis · Average Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 144 Location: Kerya

In reply to John, Kalyndis looked rather petulant and pointed at Odom. "Not until he apologises."

He then muttered, eyes downcast, "Besides, I don't think there's enough room in here."

John Angelis · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:28 am Post subject:

John rubbed his hands together.

"Not enough room? Excellent. If there's something that's going to be more use than a terrifying fire-breating dragon, it's an immense terrifying, fire-breathing dragon."

"As for the Doctor here - he may well have made some ill-advised comments, but given that he doesn't know the first thing about you, or the world you live in, a wise man couldn't call it an insult. You refered to everyone in this room as animals earlier, and really, I could take offence at that if I wanted to, but for all I know the humans you're used to may be no better than animals."

"Everyone here is a kidnap victim, and we're all confused and on edge, and generally finding out things that shock us. But if we're to stand any chance of stopping all this, and getting returned to where we belong, then we're going to have to get over all that, pool our skills and start to use our diversity as an advantage."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 297 Location: The Museum

Dr. Odom blinked and took another of his grudingly smaller sips of beer. He had known Trubshawe was mad, but Trubshawe seemed to have fallen into even more mad company.

"Mr. . . . ah . . . Kalyndis, was it? . . . the Museum has encountered several dragons, and the one sentient enough not to be stuffed and on display could scarcely write his own name. Now rather than threaten me withi whatever it is you think you might be able to do to me -- and I assure you, I dealt with some hefty drunks during my time as Runner and Guide -- why don't you help to calm the folks who know you better than they do me? Everyone seems to have gone mad here."

Then he turned to Angelis.

"What, exactly, is happening. What are we meant to be stopping?"