Patchwork Universe

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 155 Location: The Zoo

Lady Violetta's aristocratic tones were alien to the robot's voice recognition software. Nevertheless, its decision-making program decided that owning up to this would be relinquishing a tactical advantage.

"The Head Zookeeper - will be here - any moment now - do not attempt - to flee," it reiterated confidently.

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2004 11:30 pm Post subject:

"Oh, hello," came back the same plummy tones, more confidently and consequently a little louder. "I didn't think there was anyone here, but it's good to hear a friendly voice. I'm looking for a sign. Made of brass. About so high. With an arrow on it. Can you help me at all."

Kalyndis · Average Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 105 Location: Kerya

Kalyndis called, "I haven't seen one around here, but I haven't looked far." He took a step towards the gate before saying to the robot, "Shall we greet this new arrival together?"

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 155 Location: The Zoo

"NEGATIVE!" buzzed the robot angrily.

"You are - being detained - do not attempt - to flee."

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:14 pm Post subject:

It was at about this point that Lady Violetta was distracted by the sight of a rather excitable looking assistant zookeeper running towards her waving his hands about. Unsure what to do, and for the first time in this odd little adventure vaguely nervous, since the man did not look at all pleased to see her, she reached into her saddlebag and laid a hand upon the reassuring presence of the revolver, turning Blackie with the other hand to greet the new arrival.

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 186 Location: HMS Justice

Those now within the zoo, dealing with the enraged robot, might just be able to hear snippets of shouting coming from the lawn, out of sight beyond the gates. (e.g., Poxy whoreson! - Bloody! - Thrice Bedamned!)

The speaker is obviously somewhat vexed, and the cursing rather salty and quite colorful, not to mention detailed. The tirade continues for no more than a minute, and then ceases. Anyone rushing to the gates might just catch a flash of blue and gold disappearing into the wall of mist in the east.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 155 Location: The Zoo

[Point of information - the Zoo is theme-park rather than funfair sized, so unless anyone has very sharp senses indeed they won't see or hear things going on at the east border from the gates near the south edge.]

"They've spotted us, Weekday!" yelped Daltrey, performing a quick pirouette to place the Janitor between himself and Lady Violetta.

His voice quavering he addressed the horsewoman from behind his human shield. "Who are you and what are you doing? Can't you see the Zoo's closed?"

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 12:51 pm Post subject:

Lady Violetta looked somewhat relieved, since the assistant zookeeper, while hostile, didn't seem to be actually going to attack her.

"Ah. Hmmm. Yes. I mean, that is, well, the lack of an an accessible ingress indicated as much. My name is Lady Violetta Kingsley, and as to what I'm doing, that's a very good question. There are of course, several possible correct answers to that question. In a broad sense, I'm trying to become unlost, although I do happen to know exactly where I am. I am in front of a zoo. However, things seem to get a little more complex after that, and I have no idea where Aldersley's got to, so I think you could say that's the sense in which I'm lost.

"I expect things are going to start making sense, oh, some time in the imminent future, but what sort of sense is a more vexing issue. What I mean to say is, just because something makes sense to me, it doesn't necessarily mean anything to you. For example, if I were to tell you that your aura is a colour which has no natural analogue, but for the purposes of taxonomy I have decided to label tangerise, although now I think of it, perhaps vioreen would be more accurate, then you probably wouldn't believe me, but to me it's plain as day. Although that's got much less plain of late. They seem to be lasting all sorts of non-standard times.

"Where was I? Oh, yes, your question. In order to impose order upon the encumbent geographical chaos, which I firmly believe to be real, although my parents are sure to express some doubts on the matter, I've been following these brass signs with arrows on them, in the hope that the person who put them there might know a bit more about the status quo than I appear to. However, if there is a sign here, it would appear to be within the boundaries of this zoo, so I was trying to see if anyone was inside.

"There are certain other philosphical niceties that it might be appropriate to discuss at this point in relation to your question, but I think that for brevity's sake they are probably best left alone for the time being."

Lady Violetta finally got around to considering her confronter's conduct, and decided that it was rather lacking in the area of good eriquette. She therefore gave the man a stern stare, which totally failed to be in any way ominous, and took her glasses off to clean them with her handkerchief.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 155 Location: The Zoo

"She's a madwoman!" hissed Daltrey into the Janitor's ear. "We've got to do something. Can you distract her or something while I get into the Zoo? Be careful, I think she's got a weapon in her saddlebag, and that riding beast of hers looks pretty fierce too."

And a little more loudly to Lady Violetta: "We don't know anything about any signs! We're a Zoo! Come back when we're open!"

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 2:13 pm Post subject:

Lady Violetta was now wearing her most polite "I know you're talking about me, but I'm going to be a lady and rise above it" expression, which was a clear indication that she mightn't be as good at "rising above it" as she might have wished for. Placing her glasses back on her nose, she replied "I shall depart presently, but I would like to finish the conversation I was having with the gentleman inside the zoo first. I'd have thought he'd be here by now. He didn't sound that far away."

Kalyndis · Average Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 105 Location: Kerya

Kalyndis said to the robot, "Don't be silly! I'm not attempting to flee, I'm just going to see who's at the gate. You might as well come too." Kalyndis began to walk towards the entrance.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 155 Location: The Zoo

"The g-gentleman?"

Relief surged up inside Daltrey's breast. The other Zookeepers were still alive, and everything was going to be alright again.

But his heart sank as he saw appearing on the other side of the entrance barrier, not Trubshawe's dear scowling face, but the unfamiliar visage of Kalyndis. Accompanying this trespasser, this infiltrator was one of the Zoo's security robots, looking disconsolate.

"You're not Trubshawe!" wailed Daltrey, pointing a finger rigid with accusation at the strange man.

Kalyndis · Average Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 105 Location: Kerya

A slender, long-limbed and strikingly handsome young man walked up behind the robot and leaned casually over one of the turnstiles.

"Ah, honoured Janitor! How delightful to see you again. And might one of your companions be the Head Zookeeper?"

His skin was a reddish brown that faded to a dark gold on his palms and under his chin. A tangled mass of copper-coloured hair that had apparently never known a comb ran halfway down his back. A plain white robe hung from his right shoulder, leaving his left shoulder and chest bare. His twinkling emerald eyes played over the new arrivals with open curiosity.

Why on earth is that female sitting on the back of that peculiar animal? It looks like some sort of short-haired llama.

The Janitor · Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 10:54 pm Post subject:

"Calm yourself Daltrey, I don't believe they will cause you any harm."

The man in grey turned to Kalyndis.

"Ah, no I don't believe he is the Head Zookeeper. I was just assisting him in returning to the Zoo. He might be able to tell you more of where the Head might be though."

He then addressed Lady Violetta.

"My Lady, if you are looking for the arrow, you will find that it points to the east. Hmm. Perhaps putting it in the Zoo itself was a mistake. I didn't anticipate that there would be difficulty in entering."

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 2:14 am Post subject:

[Clarification: Lady Violetta's post describing Kalyndis as an animal did not happen - he does not look like one.]

Lady Violetta stared open-mouthed at the janitor for a second or two before enthusiastically dismounting and courtesying in one smooth movement. "A pleasure to meet you, sir. I am Lady Violetta Kingsley, and you must be my forebear, in that you came before me and laid down these signs. I suspected they would lead to you, but I appear to have been mistaken in that assumption, since you are, well, here, and if you assure me that the sign points east, that must mean I'm not wherever it's going, so it can't be going to wherever you are. I think.

"You must forgive me, I appear to have become a little confused - I'm told it's a fairly common trait of mine, although if it is I must say I'm noticing it far more of late. Someone seems to have been doing odd things with time and space, although I did have rather a nice cup of tea.

"So what I was hoping to be able to ask you was whether you understood how going from place to place works. Where a particular fog leads to doesn't seem consistant, and as such I'm afraid I've completely lost track of where Aldersley is. While I think of it, you," Lady Violetta then turned to Kalyndis, "and *you* should feel free to come to tea at Aldersley any time you like." After which she looked pointedly at the assistant zookeeper before returning her attention to the grey clad man. "But yes, even compass directions don't seem to stay the same so I was wondering if you knew how the fog worked - it's all very well sleeping on the moon, but I find myself hankering for my own bed, you see? Oh, and where do the signs lead, if you don't mind me asking?"