Patchwork Universe

Dr Jewel · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 7:41 am Post subject:

"I think I'm the only one qualified to go and take a look." Dr Jewel said.

She walked over to where Jones was standing.

"If this works, you won't need to unbar anything." She told him. "You see, I'm a ghost. I'll go and find out what's happening outside."

Dr Jewel walked up to the main door and put her hand out gingerly. Once she was satisfied it could really go through it, she made the rest of her body follow.

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

"Mr. Jones, if she doesn't return in a reasonable time I would like to borrow that axe. Nobody need go with me. In the mean time, might I get another drink?"

John Angelis · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 8:00 am Post subject:

Harlequin · Average Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 73 Location: Chimera

Harlequin sidled up to Jessica.

"We do seem to be having an adventure, dear! However, I'm afraid I left the house without a weapon, so I'm wondering if I could perhaps borrow one. I would ask for a sword, but I never really progressed past the wooden sticks in my fencing lessons, so perhaps a club would be better suited. Nothing too heavy though!" he added, rather embarrassedly.

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 8:22 am Post subject:

Lady Violetta felt the full weight of the exceptionally long day(s) she had been having, but wearily conceded that now was probably not the best time for a little nap. Watching Dr. Jewel disappear through the door seemed to fluster her not at all, and perhaps surprisingly actually cheered her up. "Oh, she's a ghost. Well I suppose the normal proprieties don't apply when you're dead or something like that. Still, trousers. I suppose she must be some sort of ghost of women's suffrage - aha, got it. Anthropomorphic personification of the concept. Well, ghostonification anyway. Which is to say that she is the spirit of women emancipated. So it's probably alright to dress like that, although I hope she won't be offended if I don't. It's terribly risque."

Struck by another thought, she stopped short and sternly addressed the room in general. "Gentlemen, I am astonished that you would allow a lady, albeit an incorporeal one, to place herself in danger in this manner." There was another abrupt change in tone, and Violetta continued more sheepishly. "Oh, she's already dead, isn't she? I don't suppose she's in danger then. Don't mind me. Do carry on with exactly whatever it is that we appear to be doing."

Jones · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 8:27 am Post subject:

Jones had gaped for a second when Jewel passed through the door but he recovered himself quickly and turned to Jack.
"Take the children into the saloon bar," he said. "Johnathan, Jessman," he looks down at the two serious faces of the young children. "Do you have your weapons with you?"

"Yes, grandad," the ten year old boy said and drew a stone mace from the bag of root vegetables that the newcomers had brough with them. His eight year old sister produced a crimson pronged dagger from the pocket of her skirt and brandished it in an alarmingly professional manner.
"Good lad, well done lass," Jones said proudly. "If any monsters come near you, stick it to them."

Barely had Jack taken the children into the saloon when Jessica returned from locking the back door.
"Dad, I'm locked the back and checked the cellar," she said. "The ward didn't fail. But it's like a dungeon out there... some of the monsters must have got out..." Her face was drawn into tight lines of tension as she added.
"And Jareth will still be at the cottage with Jeb... and Jane isn't back yet. We have to go out there."

"All in good time," Jones told her. "We should prepare properly before doing anything rash. Go now and check the windows upstairs, Juniper help her. There's some of the monsters that can fly, remember. The change your clothes quickly. And look for Jane, she might have slipped in while no-one noticed."

Finally turning back to the customers and addressing them directly, Jones explained briefly.
"As you may have guessed, this is place isn't always as benign as you've found it. Monsters lurk in the dungeons beneath this patch and I fear that some of them may have escaped."

On her way to the stairs Jessica muttered rather distractedly to Harlequin, in reply to his question. "Ask Dad about it. There's weapons in the store room."

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

"Sir, I said I had a friend out there!"

It hit him for the first time as he said it.

Grabbing a length of wood from by the fireplace as a club, Dr. Odom began fumbling at the bolts that had just been closed.

Jones · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 8:59 am Post subject:

"Here now... No. you don't!" Jones said quickly, approaching Odom. "Your friend seemed to know what she was about and you won't help her by opening the doors to what's out there."

He placed a large hand firmly in the centre of Odom's chest and pushed him back from the door.
"Besides my son-in-law and grandchild, and my youngest daughter are all out in that and we'll be off to collect them any moment. You're welcome to come with us and look for your friend but on your own... " he shook his head. "If you have death-wish man, I'm sure Mr Kalyndis will be happy to oblige ye right here. Or I'll run you through myself if it makes you feel better. It's preferable to what you might get out there."

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:07 am Post subject:

"Oh, and I should rescue Blackie too. Mr. Jones, I realise this is somewhat irregular, but under the circumstances, do you think we could bring my horse in here. It doesn't seem very safe outside."

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

Dr. Odom stood nose-to-chin with Jones, trembling, hefting the piece of wood in his hand.

"If you know what is happening, sir, please tell us now. If, on the other hand, you know no more than I do, I would appreciate the loan of your axe, but I will be out this door despite you or dead on your floor."

Dr. Odom glared up at Jones. He had gon through similar confrontations with Dr. Eddison, only one of which had actually ended in blows.

The thought of birds haunted him.

He dropped his cigarette and ground it out.

"Get out of my way or let me know why."

Dr Jewel · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:14 am Post subject:

Dr Jewel appeared through the wall, she landed on the floor near the bar, then scrambled to her feet a look of terror on her face.

She gazed at the point she had come through for a moment. Then another moment. She wondered why there was nothing following her.

"Monsters." She gasped. "Lots of them. From the northeast. I think I saw something on the ground, but it could have been one of them."

She took another step back from the wall.

"Some of them are... I mean they could hurt me."

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

Turning from Jones with a snort like one stallion might give another, Dr. Odom rushed to Dr. Jewel.

"Are you okay?" he asked, every bit of his concern evident in his voice.

Dr Jewel · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:42 am Post subject:

Dr Jewel turned slowly to him. She managed a small smile.

"Yes." She said. "It seems I can run pretty fast when I have a monster or three chasing me."

She looked from him to the rest of the room.

"Is everyone in here alright?"

Father Michael · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 10:05 am Post subject:

Father Michael had said nothing in the past few minutes. He had renounced violence long ago, and even if he had been tempted to go back on his resolution, he doubted either that Jones possessed a shotgun, or that he would be prepared to lend it to a priest. The only thing that seemed to surprise him less than he had expected was Dr Jewel's disappearance. When he had seen her pick up her drink through its holder the thought that she was incorporeal had passed through his mind, but he had quickly supressed it. After all, the last thing he needed was a ghost to deal with. Now, however, her exit and entry left him with no choice but to believe. He stepped forward.

"Mr Jones," he said quietly, "I had worried that as a priest I was of little practical help to you. However, it may be that there is something I can do to help after all. If there are things out there that can be a threat to Dr Jewel, then perhaps they will be vulnerable to exorcism. I would like to accompany you when you go to fetch the rest of your family."

John Angelis · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 11:04 am Post subject:

"I've some experience with dealing with monsters, things, also. And I really do think we need to get at least the children out of this patch if there's monsters on the loose."