Patchwork Universe

Jones · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:12 am Post subject: Small Soldiers

Jessamin and Jonathan Jones had been installed in the Saloon Bar and had taken up seats at the long table. Normally they would have chosen one of the leather padded cubby hole tables but Jessamin had declared self importantly as they entered:
"A warrior never sits in a place she can't get out of."
"Well, a warrior doesn't sit on a chair like a customer either," Jonathan replied, conscious of the need to go one better. "He turns it around, like this, so there's wood between him and anyone else."

"A warrior..." Jack Jones said quellingly. "...is alert to anything that might happen and quiet so he can hear what's coming. He or she trusts their sword-companions and watches out the lonely nights with them in stillness and silence."

Two small faces set seriously and two small heads nodded.
"Yes, daddy." Jonathan said, going to sit at the table.
"Sorry daddy," Jessamin added, turning her chair around in the way her brother had described.

"Jennifer'll come in and check on you," Jack explained. "All luck, little warriors..."

ooc: Jack leaves this thread for now.

Jones · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 3:40 pm Post subject:

When Jennifer arrived it was with a pile of fabric and some pieces of cane that were generally used in the garden to tie up plants.
"The Doctor and I will be working in the kitchen," she explained. "While we do that here's a job for you... what do you think about making a big kite?"

Jonathan and Jessamin looked at each other. A kite seemed awfully babyish but if it made their grandmother feel better they'd do it.
"Alright," said Jessamin. "What's it for?"

Harlequin · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 90 Location: Chimera

[OOC: Harlequin arrives from the Nightfall thread]

Harlequin's pale face peered around the door.

"Mind if I join the production team?"

He was greeted by the cynical looks of the children, who felt themselves too old to be 'entertained' by a clown.

"Oh, do excuse my manners," he said, misinterpreting their reaction, "allow me to introduce myself. Harlequin, at your service."

He bowed low with his stolen hat sweeping the floor. He was so earnest in his exaggerated politeness, that Jessamin started to giggle.

After the introductions were made, Harlequin sat down on the floor next to the piles of material, and outlined his plan to the children. They were soon busy with their project.

Jones · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 11:59 pm Post subject:

"How big is it supposed to be?" Jonathan asked, as he concentrated on taping the canes to each other. "And what is it for?"

Jessamin was sorting through the colours of the the pieces of fabric available and looked up to announce with complete confidence.
"It's a patchwork dragon," she said. "Harlequin's going to ride it through the sky and then swoop in from above and flame the monsters."

"If it catches fire it'll burn up," Jonathan said scornfully but Jessamin shook her head.
"Not if we attach a flame-thrower to the front," she said. "We could fill the big garden hose with oil, maybe..."

Both children's eyes lit up at the idea and they turned to Harlequin hopefully.

Harlequin · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 90 Location: Chimera

"Hmm, a patchwork dragon. That's a good way to put it. But surely you've been kite-flying before? I was hardly on the ground at your age!"

Jonathan and Jessamin looked at each other.
"What, you mean you flew in the air with a kite?!" asked Jessamin.

"Goodness me, yes! I really don't think I can be in Chimera anymore." Harlequin looked rather saddened, but brightened at the prospect of a flame-thrower. "Hmm, that could work," he said. "We'll probably need to make some kind of harness, as I don't think I could aim properly if I was holding on to the string. We'd best make a start on the kite first though."

When Jennifer next popped in to see how things were going, she found fabric strewn everywhere, and had to stop Jonathan jumping off the bar with a parachute-shaped piece. However, she could see Harlequin and Jessamin working on a cane frame, which looked near completion. Satisfied that they were mainly keeping out of trouble, she left them to it.

Jones · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 9:16 am Post subject:

"What's the Kite's name, Quin?" Jessamin asked chattily as she threaded a darning needle and began to sew together the pieces she'd been given. "Grandad says any good weapon needs a name."

"My mace is Bommyknocker," Jonathan put in, carefully sticking a circle of yellow fabric on to a red oval.

"And my knives are Bite and Scratch," Jessamin added.

Harlequin · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 90 Location: Chimera

[OOC: I've been keeping this thread running slowly so as not to overtake the outside threads. Looks like it's just about time for me to finish the kite though... I'll post properly later today]

Harlequin · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 90 Location: Chimera

"Hmm, a name. I think I shall call it Firefly. Sums it up nicely!"

Firefly was taking shape. A large kite, with a kind of canvas bag strung underneath for Harlequin to hang in. Jessamin had sewn red and yellow patches together to match Harlequin's shirt, and Jonathan had helped put the frame together. The messy, but firm, stitches of the harness-bag were Harlequin's work.

"Now, about this flame-thrower. Maybe something like a soda siphon and a hose filled with oil or alcohol?" asked Harlequin.

Jones · Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 11:34 pm Post subject:

Jessmain and Johnathan looked at each other and then their gazes travelled to the store of alcohol behind the saloon bar.

"Soda siphon!" said Jessamin, pointing.
"Drinks!" added John with a grin.

Dr Jewel · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 1:14 pm Post subject:

Dr Jewel looked over Juniper's shoulder into the Saloon Bar.

"It's a kite." She said wonderingly. "Does it fire things at the monsters from above?"

She looked from Juniper to the two children and Harlequin.

"We were planning to go out." She added. "See if we could help with the search. And the fight."

Jones · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 4:00 pm Post subject:

"It's called Firefly," Jonathan informed her. "Look," he pointed out two bright yellow circles tacked on either side of the kite. "Those are its eyes," he claimed, "I made them so it can see. One of the pirates said ships have them so I thought Firefly should too."

Jessamin paid her brother no attention. Looking at the new arrivals her gaze swung from Dr Jewel to Juniper.
"Mum," she said. "That lady just walked through the side of that table. Like it wasn't there!."
One small hand had taken a tight grip on a dagger and her face was very white.

Dr Jewel · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 4:36 pm Post subject:

"I'm a ghost." Jewel admitted.

She saw the small hand fastening tightly on the dagger in a worryingly competent fashion.

"A friendly ghost." She added hurriedly. "I'm from Maypole Hill, a patch to the southwest of here, just beyond the Map Room. I'm Dr Jewel Hart and it's nice to meet the three of you."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 349 Location: The Museum

Dr. Odom called from the public bar. "It's getting kind of noisy out there. If we're going to help we should go soon." He hesitated. "That is, I hope we'll help. You know, good intentions and all that." His voice trailed off.

Dr Jewel · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:57 pm Post subject:

"I agree." Jewel used the excuse to back hurriedly out of the Saloon Bar.

"On both counts." She added in an undertone.

Jones · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 1:05 pm Post subject:

"It's alright," Juniper reassured her daughter. "She's a friend."

Turning back, she also retreated to the public bar.

ooc: Juniper now moves to a new thread entitled 'From Bad to Worse'