Patchwork Universe

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:09 pm Post subject:

After a pause that was rather longer that might have been considered decent, Lady Violetta looked up from the animated, if somewhat one sided, conversation she'd been having with a caterpillar she'd found in the folds of her skirts.

"Erm, sorry? I got a bit distracted. I was explaining the Patchwork to Cecil here. He's had a good education, but sadly his diminutive stature means that his experience has been somewhat limited. Where did everyone go? Are there more exciting things like the chairs to see? What do those boxes do?" She pointed at one of the vending machines.

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 1:28 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately, Peri had become entangled with the complaining businessman once more, and was not currently listening to Lady Violetta. Placing Cecil on her shoulder, she decided to investigate the mysterious boxes more closely for herself. They seemed to contain a number of bright packages containing what Lady Violetta could only assume were preserved larvae of various species of insect, although the flat yellow things were probably wings. Obviously entymology was held in high regard here, which was odd given that there seemed to be no outside to speak of. And as to why anyone would need so many dessicated samples in the same display, Violetta was completely puzzled. "Don't worry Cecil, I won't let them put you in a box," Violetta assured her diminutive companion.

At this point, she spotted the smiling woman standing at a nearby desk. Noticing that she had been noticed, the uniformed assistant snapped into life almost like a tape machine turning on.

"May I help you, miss?"

"I suppose you may, if you would like to. I'm supposed to be writing a travelogue, so I suppose I ought to go somewhere to start doing that. Where would you suggest, Cecil?"

"We have a variety of destinations, miss, listed on the boards."

"Erm, yes, quite so. Excuse me a moment." There was a brief pause. "Cecil says that he would very much like to experience your catholic omnibus service, since he has hitherto never experienced any public transport with a religious bent. To be quite honest, I think he's just saying that to seem sophisticated - I'm pretty sure that he never travelled anywhere before catching your marvelous illuminated train. Still, yes, we would like to go to this Territory."

If the assistant was confused, it certainly didn't show in her expression, which remained the same rigidly fixed smile, but the moment the name of a destination was mentioned, she efficiently handed over a ticket. "If you'll follow the signs to the bus terminal, the catbus will be waiting for you, miss."

"Does Cecil need a ticket too?"

"That shouldn't be necessary, miss. Have a nice day."

"I'm sure I will, thank you."

Lady Violetta strode off following the signs, and the assistant returned to her previous impassive pose. "You know I'm sure that there was something I was supposed to be doing, Cecil," Lady Violetta remarked as she wouuld her way through the passages of Terminus. "I'm sure it will come back to me if it's important though. Things have a way of working out, I find. Riding tackle in particular, although mama says that's just because I don't take sufficient care. She may well be right you know."

Arriving at the bus depot, she was surprised to come upon an enormous cat with windows for eyes and a door in the side, purring in a low contented manner. She would have been uncertain what to do next, since the bus was clearly empty of people, but there was a sign saying "The Territory" above it, so she stepped inside rather nervously. The inside of a cat did not, after all, seem like a very safe place to be, although she did pat the side of the bus reassuringly as she entered.

"Cecil, are we inside a giant cat with windows?" Lady Violetta asked, not unreasonably. Cecil's reply was, as usual, inaudible, at least from the catbus' perspective. "No, I suppose it's not very likely. It's probably one of those halucinations mama keeps warning me about then." She sat down on one of the comfortable furry seats as was just in time to brace herself as the Catbus closed its door and leapt up and out of the underground garage, clearly glad to be away.

At first the catbus seemed to be running through a maze of underground tunnels but eventually it emerged into a brightly lit day. There was a brief stop under a large leafy oak while the catbus had a bit of a nap, and the route was somewhat eratic, but eventually Lady Violetta realised that they were coming up upon a large fog back. Pluging through the mists, the catbus disappeared from Terminus.

[Lady Violetta moves to The Territory - In which our heroine is once more alone, at least briefly.]