Patchwork Universe

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 380 Location: The Museum

[OOC: Dr. Odom enters from "Jones: Never Deal With a Dragon (Take 2)"]

Dr. Odom stepped backwards through the mist and continued for a few steps. He was getting a little used to walking on this uneven ground and made sure his feet were actually touching the ground before putting his weight on them. He stopped about three yards from the mist, far enough away to get a clear look at the others when they came through and close enough that he could get a careful look.

He was thinking about the last trip past the school. More specifically, he was thinking about the matches he felt compelled to pocket rather than discard. He wanted to see if this place had any effect on Kalyndis.

Dr. Odom stood comfortably and watched. smoking with one hand while he tucked the fingers of the other lazily into his vest pocket. Several matches and the ends of a few cigarettes were still there.

Kalyndis · Good Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 205 Location: Kerya

Kalyndis strode through the mist and smiled at Dr Odom.

"Is this a patch that you and Doctor Jewel have already visited?"

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 380 Location: The Museum

"We have been here before, yes. Twice. I would like to return some time when I have the leisure to let the headmistress of the school know about the Museum's group rates for students." Dr. Odom waved vaguely in the direction in which he knew the distant complex lay.

Dr Jewel · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 8:55 am Post subject:

Dr Jewel emerged from the mists and was relieved to see that nothing worse than a polite conversation appeared to be happening.

"I wonder if the Open Day is still in progress?" She said. "Or if the school has had any other visitors from the adjoining lands?"

Kalyndis · Good Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 205 Location: Kerya

Kalyndis breathed deeply. "At first glance, this place seems not unlike Jones's, but there is a different feel to the air. And more buildings. What is an 'open day'?"

Dr Jewel · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:57 pm Post subject:

"An 'Open Day' is a day when parents can come and look around the school to see if they want to bring their children here." Dr Jewel said, belatedly wondering whether anyone had mentioned that this patch was a school for human children. "There was one in progress when we last came here."

She looked at Dr Odom.

"I hope that it all went well here for the school." She said. "But something's been bugging me about it. Specifically that Miss Mercury talked about parents arriving, and we could see all those cars, but where did they actually come from or go to? The neighbouring patches are hardly likely to have supplied them."

Dr Jewel · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:06 pm Post subject:

"I think we discussed this last time we were here as well." Jewel continued. "But not enough time had passed that we could be sure that they hadn't simply been in the patch when the Open Day began. However, now, it looks like the car parks are less populated. So what's going on? Can some people walk through the mists and just not go to the next patch?"

Kao Sheng · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 7:40 pm Post subject:

Kao Sheng, having stepped through the mists even as Doctor Jewel spoke, looked around for a moment with with an air of approval.

"If it would not be unacceptably offensive to provide an answer to a question not specifically directed at oneself, it would be possible for this disappointingly uninformative person to make it known that the answer is yes, although the conditions which comprise the solution are distressingly complicated."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 380 Location: The Museum

"I'm afraid I shall have to put off yet again meeting Miss Mercury properly." Dr. Odom ambled along south, carefully not looking up. He eyed Kalyndis as he said, "As distasteful as the task is, I would rather not put off breaking the news of Michael's murder to his people."

Dr Jewel · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 10:26 pm Post subject:

Jewel felt that she was conducting two conversations at once.

"I agree we should move south swiftly." She said to Dr Odom. "Although, for safety's sake, I would be keen to head east before the mists. That would take us into the Map Room and then south to Michael's domain rather than entering new territory. At least it should be easy enough to find Michael's church."

She thought about this for a moment.

"Although sometime churches in my world can be found close together." She amended. "However, there won't be that many in a small spread of land. We can go to each in turn until we find the right one. I guess his name will be on the door."

She wondered who they might find to tell about Michael. Jewel was not that familiar with the Catholic church and was not sure whether there was such a thing as an assistant priest and what they might be called. Perhaps the church would have some instructions posted on it of what to do in an emergency. Did people have spiritual emergencies?

I probably count as a spiritual emergency, Jewel thought ruefully to herself, although I'm not sure that I'd like the treatment. I'm still not convinced it wouldn't include exorcism.

She left this, personally depressing, line of thought and returned to the more pressing matter of finding someone to tell.

Kao Sheng mentioned another priest. She remembered. So maybe they'll just be in the church or in a house nearby. Then there's the whole question of what to say to them. And what not to say to them. Perhaps I should speak to Kalyndis, asking him to keep quiet. Although, perhaps that'll make him even more likely to launch into some speech about Michael being valiant for a human. No, I'll just have to speak first and hope he'll pick his words carefully.

Finally she thought over Kao Sheng's last statement.

"So some people can just go back to the lands on the other side of the mist?" She turned with surprise. "But my land must be different, because nothing's coming or going. Or, wait a minute, did the curse take effect before coming here?"

Kao Sheng · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 8:28 am Post subject:

"Such is unfortunately the case," was the reply. "As such your own circumstances do differ from those which might otherwise be expected, in wider terms than merely the immediately obvious. However, it is at least possible that this situation may ultimately be to your benefit..."

Dr Jewel · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 8:58 am Post subject:

"To my advantage?" Jewel mused. "I suppose it might well be. I can see things that are possible for me here that wouldn't be outside."

She walked in silence for a few minutes.

"What about the Museum?" She said. "That should still have visitors surely?"

Kalyndis · Good Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 205 Location: Kerya

"South it is then. Kao Sheng, if some people can go through the mists without entering a new patch, can we give them messages to take back to our native worlds?"

Kao Sheng · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 7:08 pm Post subject:

"The answer to your question, O honoured Kalyndis, may depend upon the conditions that you intend to bring into being by means of such an action. The most immediate impediment in your own case may be that you would have to locate a suitable candidate for the expedition from amongst those with whom you currently have contact, but I recommend that you continue to investigate and contemplate the current situation before embarking upon such a course.

"As to the Museum, O insightful Doctor Jewel, there are of course a considerable profusion of possible variations in the individual expression of any of these areas, and a comperable diversity of causes which may generate such variety."

Looking towards Doctor Odom, he inquired, "Is the presence of visitors to be considered a commonplace observable property of the Museum, O accomplished sir?"

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 380 Location: The Museum

"The Museum out to be filled with visitors. The first five floors are usually quite busy, but there are also visitors we arrive with bedrolls and provisions for many days' climb to visit specialized exhibits. I would not have bothered to step outside if not for the startling lack of visitors."