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* Michelle unlocks the door and announces "Hall's Open!" * Jaret strides into the Hall, his mild limp all cleared up." Good evening!" * Michelle returns behind the bar carrying a soft package wrapped in brown paper and tied with coarse string. She is wearing a black, high-collared, sleeveless sweater and a black skirt. Her moon earring has just begun to wane. Her hair is unbound for once. * Zoya sweeps in, a softly glowing red ball floating after her, bobbing about a foot off the ground and roaming around like a curious puppy. <Michelle> Good evening Jaret. The usual? ::Michelle puts the package underneath the bar.:: <Michelle> Good evening Zoya. Who's your friend? <Jaret> ::walking to the bar:: "Please." ::he notices Zoya's entrance:: "Zoya! Good evening to you, high priestess!" ::drops into a deep, flourishing bow:: <Zoya> ::glances back at the ball:: It's a variant of surge-sphere, I think. I haven't completely analyzed it, yet. <Zoya> ::smiles at Jaret's enthusiastic greeting:: Good evening, m'lord. How are you this lovely evening? * Glossaria following in a heartbeat after Zoya, catching the tail end of Michelle's question. "I'm Glossaria, her Tower librarian. Has it been that long since last I was here? ::her elfin face twisting into a puzzled frown:: <Zoya> ::to Michelle:: I'd like a cider, if you would. ::leans on a stool and watches the ball bouncing around the room:: <Jaret> I am well. Life smiles on me, and showers me with all its bounty. Glossaria! A pleasure to see you again! ::bows to her:: * Alranis slips in, and sidles up to the bar a small distance from the other patrons. * Nacheyla walks downstairs, holding a largish book up to her nose and feeling her way down the stairs with one hand... * Michelle opens a bottle of Arabellan Red and fills a glass. "Here you go Jaret." <Michelle> ::To Zoya:: Did you make it, or did it spontaneously appear? <Jaret> Thank you, Michelle! ::gratefully downs a quarter of the glass's contents:: <Glossaria> M'lord Jaret. ::dropping a careful curtsey:: * Michelle pours a cider for Zoya and sets it down in front of her. * Nacheyla plunks down on a bar stool. <Nacheyla> Evening, boss... can I get a beer? <Zoya> ::looks a bit sheepish:: I'm not... entirely certain. <Michelle> Weider's Alranis? * Alranis nods. * Michelle pours a beer for Nacheyla, "You know Nacheyla, you could just call me Michelle." Michelle sets the beer in easy reach for Nacheyla. "Oh, by the way, Maeli gave this to me to give to you." Michelle reaches under the bar and retrieves the package she placed there. <Zoya> ::takes a deep swig of cider, watching the ball around the mug:: I was doing an experiment on the ball I've already got, and I sort of... passed out. ::looks distinctly embarrassed:: When I woke up, the old ball was still there, and this one had appeared. * Michelle fills a mug for Alranis and sets it down in front of him. * Nacheyla opens the package and smiles as she pulls out her cloak. * Alranis takes a sip. "Thanks." * Nacheyla examines her cloak very very carefully. <Nacheyla> What a wonderful job... I should give her another couple of gold for this... * Glossaria watches the ball interestedly, walking a full circuit around it before sitting down at a bar stool. * Michelle shakes her head, "Just don't do that experiment around Yb. Hell, until that thing stops following you, you probably shouldn't even be leaving the Tower." Michelle gets a frightened look on her face, "Yb can't enter the Tower can she?" <Michelle> What would you like to try this evening Glossaria? <Zoya> ::smiles at Michelle:: I haven't been able to get this one to surge at all, so I think it's pretty safe. As for Yb... given her... unique abilities, I have no idea what she can and can't do. But I don't think she's ever been in there. * Michelle shudders, "Sorry. It's just a VERY frightening thought. Like letting someone play with hand grenades in a warehouse full of perchlorates." <Nacheyla> Do what with a who? ::looks up from her book:: <Zoya> ::laughs:: If it makes you feel any better, the Tower can, will, and *has* turned itself into a magic-null zone if something sufficiently dangerous is unleashed. Yb carries a surprisingly strong personal magic field with her, but it would certainly dampen her effects pretty quickly, and tire her out *much* faster than normal. <Glossaria> Hmmm....::folds her hands on the bar, looking at the array of taps, a small frown of concentration between her eyes:: I found this book....::rummaging in her loose robe she's thrown on over her dress, coming up with a small, red, leather-bound volume with the picture of a fat, jolly man in a tall hat embossed in gold on the front cover, pushing it over the counter towards Michelle:: The listing under "rum egg cream" looks interesting. Do you think you could make one? <Michelle> Sorry. Reference from my past. ::thinks for a moment:: Imagine someone lobbing fireballs in a still room. <Nacheyla> oh... that could be bad... ::looks back down at her book:: * Michelle spends several minutes flipping through the book trying to find the correct entry. * Michelle looks up from the book, "This will take a minute or two." Michelle selects a bottle from the shelves and heads into the kitchen * Glossaria smiles and bounces a little on her stool in anticipation, like a little kid. * Zoya 's surge ball bounces around the room. If it had a nose, it would seem to be sniffing at things. It passes Alranis, and the glow seems to brighten. It shoots up in the air and hovers about a foot and a half from Al's face.:: * Alranis blinks, astounded. He sets his mug down. "Uh..." * Zoya looks quite surprised. "I haven't seen it do *that* before..." * Alranis almost reaches out for it. "Is it safe?" He looks at it, considering. <Zoya> I'm not *sure* it's safe, but I don't think it's especially dangerous. * Michelle returns from the kitchen with a pitcher and a tray of coffee mugs and a pot of nutmeg, "Would anyone else care for some eggnog?" * Jaret looks at the remainder of his glass of wine and raises his hand. "I'd be interested in a small taste, if it wouldn't be too much trouble. * Alranis reaches out, hesitantly, and touches it. It seems to fit into his hand rather nicely. "It's... warm." <Nacheyla> ::Nacheyla's star-shaped Ioun Stone zips over to the glowing ball and bounces up and down for a moment before zipping back over to Nacheyla:: <Zoya> ::blinks:: How did you do that? * Michelle puts the tray and pitcher down, then fills three of the mugs. * Glossaria smiles delightedly. "Nog? What an odd name for a drink. I wonder if it's onomatopoeic." <Nacheyla> Sure... me too... <Michelle> Anyone else? ::Michelle starts sprinkling nutmeg on to the mugs she filled.:: * Alranis looks puzzled. "Do what?" He turns the ball this way and that, looking at it. * Michelle pours another mug and sprinkles nutmeg on it as well. <Alranis> I'd swear... :: shakes his head :: Nah. <Zoya> Touch it. I spent most of the afternoon trying to pick it up, and it just slides away from me, like... * Michelle passes the mugs out, keeping the last for herself and perches on a stool. <Zoya> ::frowns:: Like trying to touch two magnets together the wrong way around. * Alranis shrugs. "Don't ask me." He considers Zoya for a moment. "You can have it back, if you want." * Alranis holds out the sphere. * Jaret tentatively sips from the mug. "Mmm. Sweet." * Glossaria looks from Zoya to Al, eyes wide, holding her mug halfway to her lips. She glances down at it longingly for a moment before putting it down and quickly whipping out paper and ever-present notebook as if from thin air. * Michelle sips her eggnog, "The weather isn't quite warm enough for this, but that will probably change in the next week or so." * Zoya gingerly holds out cupped hands. As Al puts the ball in her hands, the ball touches her hands for a moment, then lifts again, but only a few inches. Zoya stares at the softly glowing sphere from three inches away, mesmerized. <Nacheyla> ::looks over at Zoya:: That's nifty... <Zoya> ::After a few minutes, the ball floats up and begins poking around the room again. Zoya stares at her hands, which are glowing ever so slightly.:: * Glossaria looks up from her notebook, folding it away, and tucking her pencil neatly behind her ear as she picks up her mug. "It's cold enough in the Library. There's a lot of stone. And I'm not used to being warm-blooded." * Jaret sips some more of the eggnog. * Michelle looks at Zoya and the sphere, "If it's polarized magic, what would be the opposing pole to chaos magic? Or is it a monopole?" <Zoya> ::looks from the sphere to Michelle and shakes her head:: I have no idea. <Zoya> I'm not even certain it's polarized - it just... acts like that. * Alranis takes a sip, and continues watching the ball. <Michelle> Now I'm wishing I had access to my old library. We could probably come up with some pretty interesting theories. * Glossaria takes a sip of 'nog. "Ooooh! It's creamy, like... ::glancing around the room and blushing:: Well, never mind, I doubt you would be interested in the reference. Wonderful, Michelle, thank you." <Zoya> It doesn't seem *particularly* attracted to anything, though. Except... ::narrows her eyes at Al:: Are you carrying any sort of magic items? <Jaret> Perhaps law magic? There are mages in Calimshan and Amn that practice magic combined with numerology, and build clockwork warriors of immense power and precision... ::he looks around, and concludes somewhat sheepishly:: Not that I'd know for sure, of course. * Michelle smiles at Jaret, "That would have been my choice as well, but I've never heard of anyone practicing law magic. Though I'm sure some mages would argue that what we normally call magic is in fact law magic and chaos magic is it's opposite." * Glossaria looks from Zoya to Al and back again. Mistress Zoya, perhaps it's simply *not* attracted to you. If it's somehow magical matter extracted from you, it may have a naturally repellant field around you, to keep it from being absorbed. ::Looking around:: Can anyone else touch it? <Nacheyla> ::glances up at the glowing ball:: May I try? * Alranis raises an eyebrow. "Well, since it's relevant, yeah." He opens his left hand, which sports a plain gold band. <Alranis> Just this... <Zoya> ::waves a hand toward the ball, which is examining the fireplace:: Help yourself. * Nacheyla gets up and walks over to the ball <Zoya> ::looks at Al's ring, without touching:: What, if you don't mind telling, is it? * Nacheyla pokes at the ball, which slides away from her hands... * Alranis shrugs. "It helps me heal." * Nacheyla reaches out and gently cups a hand around the ball... <Zoya> ::frowns in thought:: Healing magic... <Nacheyla> Hmmm... it's sort of like... slippery * Glossaria watching Nacheyla, mind already turning over new theories. "Perhaps its a magic-repellant field? Al's not a magic-user. Jaret? Do you use magic? <Nacheyla> ::Nacheyla's little star-shaped Ioun stone bounces up and down, making little high pitched fussing noises:: <Jaret> Not as a mage does, no. Some of my possessions are magical, but that's it. <Nacheyla> Oh, alright... :: let's go of the ball, although her hand remains glowing green:: * Jaret puts down his mug of egg nog, walks over towards the glowing ball, and extends his hand towards it. * Jaret reaches out to the ball, but it slides away from him as he reaches for it. He stops, and stands with a shrug. "It's not mine to touch." * Alranis shakes his head as he continues to watch. * Michelle walks over and carefully cups her hands around it, bringing it back to the bar, "Hmm...Do you mind if I examine it Zoya?" <Zoya> Go ahead, Michelle. * Glossaria giggles a little. "It's like some sort of children's game. Which would make Alranis the grownup." ::turning a teasing smile on him:: * Alranis shrugs. "I've been called worse..." * Michelle closes her eyes and a pale blue glow begins to emanate from her hands, the red ball floating between her cupped hands, no contact being made. * Jaret picks his mug back up and has another sip. <Nacheyla> ::Nacheyla's star bounces up and down, continuing to fuss at her:: Oh, chill out already... ::grabs the star and dunks it in her eggnog:: * Glossaria takes another happy sip of eggnog and looks at Al speculatively. * Alranis takes a sip from his mug. <Glossaria> Forgive me, Master Alranis, but...have you ever been to the Tower? Perhaps sometime before Mistress Zoya found it, when it stood abandoned?... ::adding under her breath well, more or less:: * Alranis shrugs. "I accompanied her on her visit there." He takes a sip. <Alranis> I did take a look around it before we went, though, but only from a distance. * Michelle opens her eyes and smiles, lets the sphere go, the glow fading from her hands, "Congratulations Zoya. I believe with Erdian's help you've just created the first chaos familiar." * Zoya blinks in surprise as the ball bounces back over to Zoya, "sniffs" at her boots, then starts bouncing around the room again. <Zoya> But... But I've *got* a familiar! <Nacheyla> ::the yellow star floats dreamily out of the mug of eggnog and starts orbiting Nacheyla's head, humming quietly:: * Glossaria frowns thoughtfully. "You were never there before? Say, when Lord Erdian was alive? * Alranis shakes his head. * Glossaria sips her eggnog and pulls out her pencil again. * Michelle shrugs, "Maybe Erdian's granted you a special dispensation. Or maybe it's a familiar for the next priest." <Glossaria> A chaos familiar? Like a manifestation of the chaos plane? How intriguing....::scribble, scribble, scribble:: <Glossaria> Hm. Maybe it just...likes Alranis, then. * Michelle pours herself a mug of cider and perches back on her stool. <Zoya> ::the sphere is bobbing at Al's feet, glowing just a bit brighter than normal:: * Jaret finishes off his mug of eggnog and sets it on the counter. "Quite tasty, Michelle. Could I get a small glass of water before I go back to my goblet of wine?" * Glossaria tucks her pencil away again and drinks more eggnog. "This is wonderful...the alcohol is so...subtle. <Michelle> Certainly Jaret. ::Michelle gets up and fills a glass of water for Jaret.:: Here you go. * Alranis looks down. "Somehow, I think you're mixed up, little one." * Michelle gets back on her stool and sips her cider. <Jaret> Thank you. ::sips his water:: <Michelle> That's what makes it good Glossaria...and dangerous. <Zoya> ::The ball bounces a few more times at Al's feet, then floats back to the fireplace, glow fading again:: * Alranis shakes his head, then drains his mug. <Alranis> Another, if you don't mind. :: He grins wryly as he rasps:: I think I could use it. <Michelle> Certainly, ::Michelle refills Alranis' mug and returns it to him.:: <Alranis> Thanks. * Glossaria looks at Michelle, eyes wide. "Dangerous?" * Glossaria sips her eggnog. <Michelle> You don't realize how much you've drunk until it's too late. <Zoya> ::The ball completes its examination of the fireplace, and heads back to the bar. It bounces at Nach's feet for a few seconds, then floats over to sniff at Gloss:: <Glossaria> But...::looks into the cup:: I know exactly how much I've drunk. Or can find out with a simple displacement method. ::looking at the visiting ball with a smile:: Hello, little one. I'm Glossaria. * Michelle shakes her head and sips her cider, "I don't think you've ever drunk enough to understand Glossaria. For your sake I hope you never do." * Jaret finishes off his glass of water and resumes drinking his goblet of Arabellan Red. <Zoya> ::The ball bobs up and down a few times, seemingly in greeting, then moves on. It wanders around the side of the bar and begins sniffing at the idle mugs. Ever so faintly, the ball's glow brightens:: <Nacheyla> ::looks up at Michelle:: Oh, everyone ought to get falling down drunk once in a while... <Michelle> ::The mugs look at the ball with some trepidation for a few moments, then slowly smile and finally begin dancing around the ball in a ring.:: <Zoya> ::The ball bounces up and down in time to the mugs' dancing:: * Glossaria smiles. "It responded! Mistress Zoya, I think I like your new familiar!" <Nacheyla> ::grins at the spectacle:: <Glossaria> ::nods agreement with Nacheyla:: Oh, I plan to get drunk at some point, Mistress Michelle. I have to know what it feels like, after all, to catalog it properly. <Zoya> ::smiles:; I'm not sure it's a familiar, but I like it, too. ::glances at Alranis again:: * Michelle shakes her head, "I can't really fault you for that. I've used that excuse far too many times myself." <Glossaria> ::raises an eyebrow:: You've felt you had to have multiple experiences with drunkenness to describe it properly? <Zoya> ::The ball bounces over the mugs, and wanders under the bar, weaving in and out of the intricate tap lines.:: * Jaret has some more wine. <Michelle> No, but I've done plenty of other things that I really shouldn't have on the grounds that I wanted to know what it felt like to do them. * Glossaria blinks a few times. "Is there something wrong with wanting to gain knowledge through experience?" <Nacheyla> ::blinks a few times:: Depends on the experience... I might have my work cut out for me if I learned about being undead by becoming undead... on the other hand... it probably wouldn't be very good for my job.. * Alranis takes a sip from his mug. <Glossaria> Well, within reason, then. After all, the knowledge would no longer be particularly useful to you in the way you need it if you WERE undead. * Glossaria lifts the mug to her lips again as she looks around for Zoya's Happy Fun Ball. <Zoya> ::the ball is under the counter, and only visible to Michelle:: * Michelle notices the ball, "Hello there. Can I get you anything?" <Zoya> ::the ball is weaving in and out of the taps, playing, and quite ignoring Michelle:: * Alranis takes a sip of his beer. * Glossaria peeks over the bar. "Perhaps it wants to learn how to tend bar?" (Gloss gets a musing expression in her eyes....) * Glossaria sips her 'nog absently. * Jaret has some more of his wine. <Glossaria> Perhaps when he returns I'll ask M'lord Moon Dancer if he'd be interested in an information exchange....::smiles to herself:: * Michelle quirks an eyebrow at Glossaria, "Information exchange?" * Nacheyla goes back to reading her book <Glossaria> ::looking mildly excited:: I've found out that people tend to be very hungry for information...strange, since it's so easy to look it up for oneself...but I've been able to gain favors with many townsfolk through information exchange. ::hastily:: Nothing arcane, of course. * Michelle examines Glossaria for a moment, then decides not to push for details and sips her ciders. * Michelle glances around, "Last call everyone." * Alranis shakes his head, as if clearing it. "Wow. Already." <Glossaria> ::noticing Michelle's look:: Well, for example...I noticed that the grocer on the far end of the market, who usually has such excellent tomatoes, had rather sickly-looking fruit this summer...and I recognized the worm-- ::clears her throat:: I mean, the *type* of worm that caused the fruit to look like that. So I suggested a harmless method of insect control, and his tomatoes were beautiful again in less than a moon's time. ::smiles:: * Jaret looks down at his mostly empty goblet. "Oh, it's been a while. I'll have one more please, Michelle." <Nacheyla> Oh... ::looks up from her book:: Where does the time go? ::pulls out a small silver coin and lays it on the bar"" * Alranis drains his mug, and stands up. He sprinkles a couple coins on the counter. * Alranis slips off into the night. * Zoya gulps back the last of her cider and stands. Time to go back to the Tower... * Glossaria finishes her eggnog and licks her lips, not noticing the blob of cream on the tip of her nose. * Michelle refills Jaret's goblet, then puts Alranis' coins in the strong box. * Zoya heads for the door, then looks back, realizing the ball isn't with her. <Nacheyla> Good night all... good night Michelle... Glossy, my dear, you have egg on your face... * Jaret slowly drains the just-filled goblet of wine." Thank you very much, Michelle. That hit the spot." <Zoya> Hmm. Probably isn't quite safe to leave it here by itself... ::looks like she's trying to figure out how to call a surge-sphere when it bounds over the bar and begins bouncing around her.:: <Zoya> Well. That solves that. Good night, friends! <Michelle> Goodnight Zoya. <Jaret> Good night, Zoya! Be well! * Nacheyla walks up the stairs, still peering into her book * Zoya heads into the cool evening, the ball glowing and bobbing around her ankles... * Michelle starts stacking the empty glasses and mugs on her tray. <Glossaria> I do? ::blinks and peers into the bar's mirror, looking embarassed as she wipes her nose clean:: So that's what that phrase means.... <Jaret> Would you like an escort back to the tower, Glossaria? * Glossaria blinks again and starts to hurry after Zoya, tucking her notebook away into the depths of her cloak, nearly dropping it in her haste. "Oh, yes, thank you, M'lord Jaret!" * Jaret grins at Glossaria and offers her his arm. <Jaret> And please, just call me Jaret. Everyone else does. * Glossaria puts a hand on Jaret's arm and smiles. Yes, M'l-- umm....Jaret. * Jaret steps forward with Glossaria and out the door into the Marsember night. * Glossaria sweeps out on Jaret's arm. * Michelle picks up her tray and carries it into the kitchen, then returns, dims the lights, and locks the door. |
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