"Indeed" adds Thanos Black, looking at the paradoxical man of the cloth with the allegiance to hell with renewed interest. Well, not SO paradoxical, he thinks after a moment. He wondered how many others in this grand ball bore such rings, or wore them openly. All of them, probably. As he looks at the cards Oscar deftly deals to him "as far as differences go, cosmopolitan London has her share of those. Even in this here ball you will see men, devils and rubbery men mingle freely". Then he laughs "Where else would one have the chance to play cards against an octopus and a Blemmigan?"[/quote]
"yes London does have a dream like quality, I had heard of it on the surface all those years ago, but you don’t grasp the comic absurdity of it until your down here, that the bishop lives in the same city as devils and we aren’t at out and out war, marvellous and terrifying in the extreme. But anyway we must defeat the tentacled menace" edited by the old man on 1/10/2020
[quote=Shadowcthuhlu]
Evensong gives a wry smile. "Some say it was a game created in the second city, brought over the sea as that city was destroyed. Some say it was taught by a spider council to teach the first rules of Vestiture. Some say it was created by peasants plotting revolt. I figure that anyone who claims to truly know is a lair. Do you wish to play?"[/quote]
"Well of course," The Marchioness replies with a smile just visible under her mask. She scoops of the hand she claimed from Evensong and shuffles it back into the deck.
As she shuffles, she continues to speak. "Rostygold and Moon-Pearls should make for fine chips. This may not be any kind of actual gambling den, but I have no wish to even risk the anger of the masters by gambling in Echoes."
Then the Spidery Marchioness deals a hand to herself and Evensong. When she picks up her own hand, she makes a completely inscrutable "huh" sound and tosses a rostygold ring and a moon-pearl on the game table.
Iris retreats to a spot near the card game. She gets comfortable, watching from enough of a distance not to cause a stir. She hasn’t played much, but is hoping to learn through observation.
the old man sits at the decidedly less mystical card table and smiles. "You know i spent the entirety of yesterday going to penstocks, I’ll probably spend the entire of tomorrow enmeshed in the game, but today I get to sit down and play a game of pocker with friends like up on the surface." A single tear rolls down the old mans cheek barely distinguishable through his bandages (13 melancholy will do that to you) edited by the old man on 1/11/2020
The good Preacher falls silent. Looking at the bandaged man,he says, in a low, soft voice:
"Indeed".
After six hearbeats, he puffs out a slow mesh of smoke.
"The Surface, so long ago. And to think there is still a sun,Above…"- he whispers to himself.
"But, alas, down here we are! And there is also marvelous happenstances here! And,as the fine Mr. Black said, were else would we play cards against an octopus?- he said, bowing courteosly to Oscar.
"So let us play and be merry,my friends! I would ask,how long has it been since you last saw the Sun, if I may not intrude? And- he pauses,and looks at the Blemiggan accompanying Mr. Black- excuse me,but perhaps we have not been introduced…?"- he adds, adressing not only him but also the lady watching the game in the back, somewhat awestruck of her,and hoping to meet her also.
(New Ones,new ones. This bodes well) edited by Preacher Tzara on 1/11/2020
[quote=Preacher Tzara]I would ask,how long has it been since you last saw the Sun, if I may not intrude? And- he pauses,and looks at the Blemiggan accompanying Mr. Black- excuse me,but perhaps we have not been introduced…?"- he adds, adressing not only him but also the lady watching the game in the back, somewhat awestruck of her,and hoping to meet her also. edited by Preacher Tzara on 1/11/2020[/quote]
"This is Truffle, my fine companion" Thanos says merrily "as to your question, I’ve only been here a few months, three or four at most, so my memories of the Surface are still rather fresh. But so is my amazement at the wonders the Neath offers, things and sights, peoples and customs, mysteries and dangers, so as yet I don’t often feel nostalgic of the sunlit world I left behind of my own volition."
He pauses, and drinks a long sip of his wine "Occasionally though, yes, I too miss the moonlight, the stars in the open sky, the cool breeze of spring". He brings his speech to a sudden stop, realising his words may further burden his friend’s melancholic mood. edited by Thanos Black on 1/11/2020
[quote=Preacher Tzara]The good Preacher falls silent. Looking at the bandaged man,he says, in a low, soft voice:
"Indeed".
After six hearbeats, he puffs out a slow mesh of smoke.
"The Surface, so long ago. And to think there is still a sun,Above…"- he whispers to himself.
"But, alas, down here we are! And there is also marvelous happenstances here! And,as the fine Mr. Black said, were else would we play cards against an octopus?- he said, bowing courteosly to Oscar.
"So let us play and be merry,my friends! I would ask,how long has it been since you last saw the Sun, if I may not intrude? And- he pauses,and looks at the Blemiggan accompanying Mr. Black- excuse me,but perhaps we have not been introduced…?"- he adds, adressing not only him but also the lady watching the game in the back, somewhat awestruck of her,and hoping to meet her also.
(New Ones,new ones. This bodes well)
edited by Preacher Tzara on 1/11/2020[/quote]
"how long since I saw the sun, its somewhat difficult to keep track of days down here, but I’d say at least two years, I apologise I sometimes have fits of melancholy, do forgive me." The old man returns to his somewhat jovial self. "And for you mr tzara how long have you been down here without the sun, or have you obtained a certain cider?"
[quote=the old man][quote=Preacher Tzara]The good Preacher falls silent. Looking at the bandaged man,he says, in a low, soft voice:
&quotIndeed&quot.
After six hearbeats, he puffs out a slow mesh of smoke.
&quotThe Surface, so long ago. And to think there is still a sun,Above…&quot- he whispers to himself.
&quotBut, alas, down here we are! And there is also marvelous happenstances here! And,as the fine Mr. Black said, were else would we play cards against an octopus?- he said, bowing courteosly to Oscar.
"So let us play and be merry,my friends! I would ask,how long has it been since you last saw the Sun, if I may not intrude? And- he pauses,and looks at the Blemiggan accompanying Mr. Black- excuse me,but perhaps we have not been introduced…?"- he adds, adressing not only him but also the lady watching the game in the back, somewhat awestruck of her,and hoping to meet her also.
(New Ones,new ones. This bodes well)
edited by Preacher Tzara on 1/11/2020[/quote]
"how long since I saw the sun, its somewhat difficult to keep track of days down here, but I’d say at least two years, I apologise I sometimes have fits of melancholy, do forgive me." The old man returns to his somewhat jovial self. "And for you mr tzara how long have you been down here without the sun, or have you obtained a certain cider?"[/quote]
"Two years,but not with the same face. I used to run a little parish down the Chalk,but matters got…heated…and I decided to try my luck here in London. As for the cider, I am yet far from it,and do not know if I would ever use it. Inmortality seems a steep price,aye? All things must fall and crumble,even in this side of the Law"- said the good Preacher,and then fell silent,munching smoke between his lips.
( Oh, the parish and the things before. A land made of bones of old things,and the children,running…Ah,you…)
"I am…I am not a social one. I did not have much time when I falled for conversation. So I wonder, are these events frecuent? And why would you attend? I touhght to come and introduce myself to proper society, Even if I had not yet the chance to salute the host, blessed he may be by the saints. But do you two attend these matters with frequency? I dare say,it is not a easy question,with all these Games and brass Ones around".
"Since my arrival here I have been mostly engrossed with the mysteries of the Neath. Understanding of the Correspondence, experiments with mirrors and honey, endless hours looking at maps showing shores I may or may not ever visit." Thanos chuckles "I have a nearly obsessive fascination with maps. This has left me very little time to socialise, to be honest. The old man was one of the first people I met here, and he graciously took me under his wing. Since then, I have decided to go out into the city more. This here ball is actually my first foray into such society circles. I am hoping for many more in the future though"
oh how I wish no business carries on, this is the first proper break I’ve had in weeks, and I’m very fortunate that thanos was here or else who on earth would I have talked to.
oh how I wish no business carries on, this is the first proper break I’ve had in weeks, and I’m very fortunate that thanos was here or else who on earth would I have talked to.[/quote]
"Is that so?..Hum, I would have supposed otherwise, seeing as you seem respected among here. But I believe I must seem rude,asking all those question, and intruding upon your personal lifes. Do forgive me. I have a side-job as a journalist,so curiosity often gets the best of me,I fear.So, let us turn the tables, even if there is still a octopus we must defeat:any questions? You seemed quite surprised by myself being a man of the cloth, old man,and you, Mr Thanos, looked at my mask and my ring with certain…interest?"
"Your mask is indeed interesting sir, for I cannot fathom what contraption makes it move as it does so. It is delightfully… unsettling" Thanos concludes with a smile "which I assume was the reason behind the choice. As for the ring, well, mine was recently gifted to me and I am as yet uncertain whether I made the right choice in accepting it. It sometimes makes me uneasy to think of it. Still it would be rude to refuse a gift so courteously offered, even by a Deviless!"
"Well of course," The Marchioness replies with a smile just visible under her mask. She scoops of the hand she claimed from Evensong and shuffles it back into the deck.
As she shuffles, she continues to speak. "Rostygold and Moon-Pearls should make for fine chips. This may not be any kind of actual gambling den, but I have no wish to even risk the anger of the masters by gambling in Echoes."
Then the Spidery Marchioness deals a hand to herself and Evensong. When she picks up her own hand, she makes a completely inscrutable "huh" sound and tosses a rostygold ring and a moon-pearl on the game table.[/quote]
Evensong draws her hand, slightly biting her lip. Frustration at a bad hand? Restrained pleasure at a good hand? A fake tell thrown in to mess with her opponent?
She casts a few rings and pearls - doubling the amount thrown in. She was won the first play. She places down a five of bats over one of the princes. "Sadly carried off. Who shall take his place?"j
"Is that so?..Hum, I would have supposed otherwise, seeing as you seem respected among here. But I believe I must seem rude,asking all those question, and intruding upon your personal lifes. Do forgive me. I have a side-job as a journalist,so curiosity often gets the best of me,I fear.So, let us turn the tables, even if there is still a octopus we must defeat:any questions? You seemed quite surprised by myself being a man of the cloth, old man,and you, Mr Thanos, looked at my mask and my ring with certain…interest?"[/quote]
"you’re a curious man a preist with acquaintance to devils, and a side job as a journalist. I suppose their are more intresting things in the neath certainly, but we all do love a mystery." The old man smiles. "Do you recall how we came to this place?"
The woman in the lavender mask sighs. Perhaps she should not have come to this ball. Her feet ache and her head has just begun to pound. She searches for, and finally finds Professor Siankan. “Thank you so much for this lovely ball, but I fear I am not feeling well enough to enjoy it as it deserves. I bid you good night!”
Evensong draws her hand, slightly biting her lip. Frustration at a bad hand? Restrained pleasure at a good hand? A fake tell thrown in to mess with her opponent?
She casts a few rings and pearls - doubling the amount thrown in. She was won the first play. She places down a five of bats over one of the princes. "Sadly carried off. Who shall take his place?"[/quote]
"I suppose we shall have to see," The Marchioness replies, perfectly hiding her annoyance her loss. The pearls and ring that make up her spending money are pittance compared to her actual stores anyway.
She moves onto the next hand, where she wins this time with a Princess, a Crown, and a King. "That almost reminds me Her Enduring Majesty’s eldest. A princess behind the crown, if you would. Did you get the chance to see the Empress’ Shadow on her last visit? I was in court then. I managed to speak with her a few times, and even steal into her quarters once, when her courtiers that day were once short. Or have you heard the Surface news about her son the Kaiser?"
"I suppose we shall have to see," The Marchioness replies, perfectly hiding her annoyance her loss. The pearls and ring that make up her spending money are pittance compared to her actual stores anyway.
She moves onto the next hand, where she wins this time with a Princess, a Crown, and a King. "That almost reminds me Her Enduring Majesty’s eldest. A princess behind the crown, if you would. Did you get the chance to see the Empress’ Shadow on her last visit? I was in court then. I managed to speak with her a few times, and even steal into her quarters once, when her courtiers that day were once short. Or have you heard the Surface news about her son the Kaiser?"[/quote]
Evensong forces a shift of the board with an upside down Jack - an assassin. As they reshuffle, Evensong responds. "We did meet her, at a salon. That was back when my spouse was an author, not a correspondent. As for the Kaiser, it would be impossible not to hear about his recent conflict with his mother. what do you think on the matter?"
the old man sees someone leaving and waves to them goodbye.[/quote]
The woman in lavender notices an old man waiving to her as she steps out the door. She turns, and waves back, a little heartened that a stranger has noticed her despite the failure of her attempts to radiate her normal charm.
the old man turns back to the cards happy to have made someone’s subterranean day a little brighter, he reluctantly hands the last of his chips to Oscar. “I swear he must be cheating”