Patchwork Universe

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 12:40 pm Post subject:

Violetta really didn't know what to make of Liason's outburst, but her recent brush with death had perhaps taught her a modicum of caution. Studying Abigail she took a step backwards, but could see no obvious threat from the small cartoon girl.

"I think you're mistaken Mr. Liason. I'm almost certain she's a small girl, albeit a somewhat oddly coloured one. Do you happen to be guarding any sigils, dear?"

Abigail · Poor Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 88 Location: Toon Town

Abigail jumped back in fright, and tried to circle around behind Lady Violetta, so she was shielded behind her new friend, while keeping a safe distance from both of these strange people.

"I don't know what a sigi-thingie is! I'm not guarding anything! I'm just a little girl! I was in Toon Town, and I came through the mist, and now I'm here!" She was babbling, and looking nervously around to see if anyone else was going to start threatening her.
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That's all folks!

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:42 pm Post subject:

Lady Violetta reached her hand back to pat Abigail reassuringly. "You must be mistaken Mr. Liason. Think about how many odd things you've seen since arriving in the patchwork. It's quite clear that extrapolation from known fact is next to useless. This is part of the reason I'm writing my travelogue, you see. So that everyone can be better informed about the nature of the world, and not end up having little misunderstandings like this."

liason · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:15 pm Post subject:

Liason holstered his pistol, but more because the guardian was now so close to Violetta that any fire might hit her. He hoped he would not have cause to regret his missed opportunity to engage it.

"You make a good case, milady. Equally, though, one cannot assume that everything that declares itself benign is necessarily so."

Addressing Abigail (or so he hoped - there was little of her visible around the edges of Violetta's skirt) he asked, "If you are a young girl then what is your name and who are your parents ? In which land does Toon lie ?"

(The word 'Toon' Liason pronounced as 'Tuhn', barely using his lips at all.)

Abigail · Poor Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 88 Location: Toon Town

Abigail peeped round the edge of Lady Violetta's skirts to confirm that Liason had put his gun away. Seeing that he had, her confidence returned.

"My name is Abigail. I used to have parents, but I don't anymore. Toon Town is in Toon World, of course." She paused, and looked properly at Liason for the first time.

"Who are you? Why are you going about threatening to shoot people? Where are we?"
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That's all folks!

liason · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 10:32 am Post subject:

"I am Ambassador Liason of the Imperial Foundry," Liason bowed slightly, "and if you stay within the Patchwork for long you will discover soon enough why I carry weapons. As for where we are, I leave that question to the two ladies since they are both travel guides who know a great deal more of such matters than I."

Who would create such a being as this ? Liason wondered, Her reference to a Toon world suggests she comes from a Patch of her own. But how is it possible for a sigil guardian to wander so far from its point of binding... Unless this is simply a more artful magic than any yet seen in the Empire.

Abigail · Poor Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 88 Location: Toon Town

"I can carry weapons, too!" Abigail pulled a gun from one of her pockets. It looked rather like Liason's, except that it was about twice as big, bright red with yellow accents, and equipped with a long row of buttons in different shapes and sizes.

"But you shouldn't just point them at people you've just met! That's rude!" She returned the gun to her pocket with a disapproving look at Liason, and turned, more enthusiastically, to Lady Violetta, and to Peri in the distance.

"Travel guides? Wow! So you know all about this place? Tell me everything!"
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That's all folks!

Peri · God Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 70 Location: Terminus

Peri had been drawn aside into a conversation with a very desperate-looking man, wearing a crumpled suit and much decorated with shaving cuts in the chin area. His eyes rolling from too much vending-machine coffee, he'd been repeatedly asking her if she knew how he could get to his board meeting. Peri, having said she didn't know, had been trying to inspire him with alternate travel plans, but he didn't seem to be interested in the idea of floating in the blue, nor yet fraternising with cats (though there had been a funny glint in his eye when she'd described that option), or any of the other things she'd suggested. Finally he stomped off across the hall.

Peri, watching him go and looking rather nonplussed, felt her ears prick up at the words "travel guides". She turned, saw the newcomer, and hurried over to say hello.

The little girl was fascinating to look at, especially the edges where she ended and the rest of the world began, which made her eyes hurt in a strangely enjoyable way.

"I'm Peri," she told the cartoon girl. "This is my place - I mean, I live here, sort of." Her eyes shone as she went on, "The really great thing about here is all the places you can get to. Are you off to see the world, too?"

Abigail · Poor Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 88 Location: Toon Town

"Yes," said Abigail decidedly. "I'm going to..." She broke off, and, looking up at the departures board, picked the destination with the prettiest name. "Endless Blue. I like balloons. Where are you all going?"
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That's all folks!

liason · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:27 am Post subject:

"Ultimately I plan to visit all the Patches accessible from here. More immediately, however, I must return to the Imperial Foundry."

Liason began to scan the various departure boards for the information he needed.

Abigail · Poor Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 88 Location: Toon Town

Abigail sat down, and drew a piece of paper and a pen from a pocket.

Hmmm. What I need is a self-propelling homing letter. They're bound to exist.

She looked thoughtful for a few moments, then started to draw. Every now and again, she pulled a small white bottle from a pocket, made a correction, and carried on. After some time, she examined her picture, nodded, and the piece of paper gradually grew some strange attachments around the edges. At one side was a bright purple propeller; two blue wings sprouted from opposite ends of another side, and a cheerful face with a pointed nose appeared on another. The piece of paper was still intact between these protruberances, but it was now blank.

Abigail wrote busily on the piece of paper, then folded it up in complicated ways, so that the face was at the front of an aeroplane-like structure, with the wings on either side, and the propeller mounted on a swivel at the back. She looked at the face.

"You are a letter for Jessamin and Jonathan Jones. I don't know where they live, but it's in a pub. Keep flying, and ask people you see if they know where Jessamin and Jonathan are." She looked across at Liason suspiciouly.

"But stay out of reach of people until you find the right ones. And. Umm. If they want to send me a reply, you'll have to fly until you find me. I'm going to Endless Blue, but I don't know what it's like there, so I don't know if I'll stay." Doubt crept into Abigail's voice, and she looked up to see if anyone had overheard.

"Jessamin and Jonathan Jones. Check!" said the plane in a jaunty voice.

Abigail got up, waved at Lady Violetta and Peri and said "I'm off now, but I'm sending this letter to Jessamin and Jonathan. Bye!"

She strode off in the direction of the balloon platform for Endless Blue.
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That's all folks!

Peri · God Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 70 Location: Terminus

As Liason scanned the departures board, some of the letters began to flip over. When they settled down, the board read:

SERVICES NOW RUNNING

LONGSHIP to ORKNEY - NOW BOARDING - THE WHARF
CATBUS to THE TERRITORY - NOW BOARDING - BUS DEPOT*
*Passengers are advised to be aware of local entry requirements
DIRIGIBLE to ENDLESS BLUE - NOW BOARDING - BLIMP AND BALLOON DEPOT
OMNIBUS no. 29a to THE SLUMS - NOW BOARDING - BUS DEPOT*
*Please watch your handbags

TRAINS DEPARTING REGULARLY TO JONESTOWN

HAVE A PLEASANT JOURNEY.

(OOC: When the Departures Board changes, the 'New Departures' sticky thread will be updated.)

liason · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:05 pm Post subject:

'The Slums' sounded to Liason like it might mean Peerblind. It would be interesting to see the city from which Larkin had travelled.

"Good journeys, all !" Liason swept his cloak round and bowed, before departing in the direction of the Omnibus.

The vehicle in question looked a little out of place in a place like Terminus. Liason was no stranger to delapidated machines, however. He boarded the Omnibus and then spent the remaining time until its departure carefully securing all his valuable belongings as far away from the attentions of pilferers and cutpurses as was practical.

[Liason departs to: The Slums - A Gentleman Visits]

Peri · God Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 70 Location: Terminus

"Hmm," said Peri, pulling a folding map out of one of her pockets. She scrutinised it for a moment. "Ambassador, looks like your quickest way might be to hop on that bus to the Slums," she said. "Not too far to go after that. Though maybe you're not into roughing it?"

Turning to Lady Violetta, she asked, "And you? Where would you like to go first? It's a tough choice, I know. So very much to see."

(OOC: Arg! The time bug strikes again!)

liason · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 10:33 am Post subject:

[Aside: No - not the time bug. I actually did post that before you wrote yours. It's a coincidence !]