Patchwork Universe

Yarrow · Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:08 pm Post subject:

"Looked to me as if some difficulty was going on even before you left," Yarrow said, indistinctly around her sticky bun. Crumbs dropped liberally into her lap as she added:
"Stuff 'bout how you wasn't to be giving orders and you should be brought back and told off about all the stuff you were doing. Stuff like that." She nodded to herself at Liason's expression. "See, that's why I ain't certain where you stand right now. Wasn't sure if this lot'd let you in or not." She nodded at the old people, who looked at each other guiltily.

"So anyway, while you're 'similating that, have some more tea." She looked to Larkin and nodded at his cup. "You alright for tea there, Larkin?

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 105 Location: The Slums

Larkin looked a little startled at the question, and this was because he had been spending the pairs short conversation filling his pockets with as many ferrari rozzers as possible, in between grumbles. Taking a quick slurp from the cup he said "Yeah I'm fine thanks."

Patting his pockets (which made a bit of a squelch noise incidentally) he looked a little guilty before asking "So, errr, yer mentioned a job ter me earlier, what kinda job issit?" Glancing quickly at the diplomat he added "Or would yer rather not talk bout it right now."

Yarrow · Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 5:33 pm Post subject:

"Weeeel, I can tell you a bit about it," Yarrow decided, "and if Liason wanted to he might even help you with it. It's a two man job see."

She muched down her last bit of bun and poured herself another cup of tea and then went on:
"What it amounts to is that I want to to get two items about so big...." her hands described a square that might have been a metre on either side. "....and bloody heavy although a young lad like you will be able to carry one alright. You'll need to take these two things about a mile away and put them in a specific place at a certain time."

She nodded to herself. "Yup, that's the long and the short of it. You'll need a partner to carry one of the objects ut unless Liason here wants in on it the deal I'm making is with you... you can subcontract whoever you likes and divvi up the fee however you want... see?"

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 105 Location: The Slums

Larkin looked very curious at this rather vague explanation. But keeping his mostly indulgent quesitons to himself for a while he decided to get straight to business. His first couple of questions were "So how much does it pay and how long have I got before I have ter do the job?"

Larkin sipped his tea and leaned forward slighty. Things were starting to get interesting. Turning to Liason he said "So dyu want in or have yer got summat else you want ter do?"

Yarrow · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 8:23 am Post subject:

"Payment can be whatever you likes," Yarrow said expansively, before assimilating the naked greed on Larkin';s face. "That's anything within reason... mind."

She nodded to the cluttered shelves. "Why don't you have a poke about, see if there's anything that takes your fancy? Stickleback'll show you about. There's a deck of cards around here somewhere that you might like, come to think of it."

liason · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 9:02 am Post subject:

Liason looked rather worried and it was a while before he spoke. Eventually, he looked up at Larkin and said,

"I will assist you if you wish and require no fee for so doing, but I must first return briefly to the Foundry. Madam Yarrow," and here Liason nodded towards her in deference, "has been kind enough to offer me warning of a serious difficulty arising. If I do not attend to it soon, the consequences are likely to be extremely severe."

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 105 Location: The Slums

Larkin nodded at the ambassador before saying "Well if yer want, yer can go sort that out first. Thats if we have time."

Larkin scratched the back of his neck, like he normally did when he was a little worried and eventually said "Alright then Missus Yarrow, why? Why dyer want us ter take the things that are so big..." his hands described the same square as hers earlier ".... and put them bout a mile away. We're not gunna be responsible fer the end of the universe or whatever are we?"

Yarrow · Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 1:43 pm Post subject:

"No, no, nothing like that," Yarrow said, shaking her head vigourously. "Why would I want the end of the universe after all the trouble I've had getting things started?"

She smirked at her curtomers and continued:
"I just that there's an opportunity to liven things up a bit and I like a place with a bit of spice to it. Nothing wrng with that. It ain't going to be a bending of the rules even. Just nudging them a bit."

She looked across the room at an antique clock telling what was almost certainly the wrong time and added:
"Only trouble is that there's a time problem. This job's gotta be done by, well in the next couple of days'd be safest. I can get a message to let you know when the right time is but just to be sure you'd be wisest not to dawdle or delay or stop to pass the time weith anyone."

She frowned at Liason. "I'm not sure we've got time for you to be detained and interogated by your bosses back home."

liason · Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 3:39 pm Post subject:

"Then my apologies to you Larkin, but I shall be unable to assist."

Liason rose from the chair he was seated in.

"If you have no objection, Madam Yarrow, I shall take a brief look around your establishment before I leave, with a view to purchasing a thing or two."

Not really expecting complaint, considering this was a shop of sorts, Liason began to explore - searching for something suitable to adapt to his purposes. At length, he selected a large and battered-looking soup pot and what appeared to be a coil of rusty chain.

"If memory serves, two silver coins each ?" Liason asked. He was unsure whether his plan would work, but one thing was certain: the sooner he returned to the Foundry, the better his chances.

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 105 Location: The Slums

Larkin still looked a bit suspicious at the prospect of 'nudging' the rules and 'livening' things up. A dreadful vision of a dragon or something being released upon him and those around him flashed across his eyes. It was a few seconds before Larkin realised he didn't paticularly care. He was far too curious a person not to do it now.

Shrugging a bit Larkin said "Alright Liason if yer problems are that bad." He then turned to the apparent creator of this universe and said "As yer probably know, I don't have no problems with time, but Ive got problems with a partner now." Scratching his nose he said "Any suggestions were I can find one?"

Yarrow · Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 9:19 am Post subject:

Yarrow drummed her fingers on the table, thinking about it.

"Weeeel, there seems to be a macrame club forming to the south and south east. They's tying trees together with rope You might be able to get on of them along with ye but in all honesty they'd be as likely to spend a week debating it."

She thought for another second and went on:
"I'd have to say the pub might be your best bet. 'Tis on the way to where I want you to go and there's a fair chance of picking up a partner there. Mr Groever's there right now but you might do better with the pirates. Captain Magpie's my sort of person. The other captain's bodding about there as well but that might be of more interest to Mr Liason."

"Anyway," she went on. "If you does what I've asked you can come back and claim your fee. Anything reasonable and we've got plenty of choice." She waved at the cluttered shelves of the shop. "In the meantime you'll need this."

She reached under a table and produced a battered leather satchel, bulging oddly where it contained items as yet unseen.

Yarrow · Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 3:24 pm Post subject:

Liason was naturally far to polite to attempt to attract Yarrow's attention with anything more than a polite cough, so a good five minutes had passed before her eye lit upon him. The ambassador was still patiently holding his two pieces of rusting junk and the old woman started to attention as she recollected him.

"Oh yes, me mind was wandering there for an instant," she mumbled and then smiled broadly at the proffered silver. "That'll do nicely, Mr L. And don't take my words too harshly now. You're a diplomat sure enough and anyone who can be polite to those old women," her head jerked at the back of the shop where the three old people were apparently quarreling over the last piece of bunround. "...Well, let's just say you'll go far."

Agrubby mittened hand snatched the silver from Liason's hand and scooped it into her pocket.

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 105 Location: The Slums

"Jones it is then Missus Yarrow." Larkin said. He didn't really want to find out why the club was tying up trees. This was before he looked at the leather bag a bit suspiciously and said "Whats in it?" before he reached over and prodded one of the lumps, a little unsure about what to think.

Looking up he said "An dont worry, I'll be here ter get me fee."

liason · Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 3:48 pm Post subject:

Liason bid goodbye to the assembled company and made his way outside.

He wandered between the ramshackle buildings until he reached the mists to the South, whereupon he stepped from view.

[Liason has returned to the Museum patch]

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 105 Location: The Slums

Larkin took the bag and glanced in before the god had time to tell him. Nodding to the woman he threw it over his back and stood up. "I'll just go sort this out then missus Yarrow." he said, before turning round and strolling back out the door with a grin.