I.100 *grumble grumble grumble* Sitting in the little booth, Roark pats the again-but-normally asleep Cardinal's head. He wakes from his doze and rolls over, losing his grip on his nice red hat. As he reaches down for it.... *GRUMBLE GRUMBLE GRUMBLE* They both look at the Cardinal's stomach. "Uh-oh," Roark says, "I think we need to feed you some lunch. Help? Someone? A king size bowl of Ramen for the Cardinal, please..." User: Roark : Be warned...we have major power tools... Date: 13-Oct 05:00 PM 750531652
I.101 Mmmm.. braids. can i have my own office???? huh??? can i? can i??? User: SIREN Date: 13-Oct 05:13 PM 750532393
I.102 <Slurp> My that was a big noodle. The Cardinal is enjoying his bowl of Ramen noodles...when he notices an extravagantly (un)dressed woman in the booth with him. "Who are you?" "I am an interior designer. They call me....ROARK" "Oh, where the hell am I? The last thing I remember was a glass of coffee..." "We're on the Blue Room of the VVV Cafi. Don't you remember?" "coffee. coffee. Why the...! Now I remember. I was drugged! I have to talk to TRAVELER! Now!" He begins to jump up, but finds himself restrained by a pair of nylon cords. "Not yet, dear," whispers ROARK, "it's been three incarnations since I've seen you. Trav and the poisoned coffee will wait. I'm not done with you yet..." Join us next time when the Cardinal utters what is bound to become his catch phrase: "Perfect." User: Advantage #3849i to being a Cardinal: Long lost lovers. Date: 13-Oct 05:24 PM 750533097
I.103 An unnatural scent wafts in, preceding SYLVAR, whose person is adorned with chem-lab goggles. "I think I've got it," he says, indicating the test tube held by the clamp in his right hand. "The soil in my greenhouse was much more alkaline than I expected. I wondered if somebody had been trying to poison my beans -- or my clientele. But anyone who added the poison to my coffee *plants* would run the risk of being discovered if my plants died. "Only a master botanist would be able to do that. I realized that natural causes were much more likely. Later, when I was browsing through Olsen's Standard Book of Virtual Monera, I realized I had found the culprit: a fungus on my bean plants which had gotten onto some of the beans. "I inadvertently included seven fungus-covered beans in my last grind. Now that I know what caused the poisoning, I can avoid it in future -- but this was a close call." TRAVELER adds, "Yes, Jon. Too close. Do you know how the fungus got on your plants?" "No. I don't. I'm still working on that." User: Jon Vallee, returning to his lab for more detective work. Date: 13-Oct 05:56 PM 750535125
I.104 ALBATROSS chuckles quietly to himself as he carefully waters the sensitive plants in his half of the greenhouse. Jon Vallee glares at him from between two rows of coffee plants. "Do you really think I would waste my time trying to spoil such a lovely crop of plants? Please! Any kind of damage that your plants could receive could just as easily spread over to my half of the greenhouse. We are both professionals and know our business. Give me some credit." ALBATROSS then walks over to the northern end and looks down upon his garden where WOLFIE is busy arranging the pebbles in a new formation. "Ah, I am glad to see that my apprentice is hard at work in his new found craft. So few show an interest in what appears old fashioned. Come look, it's quite lovely to look upon from this vantage." Jon Vallee just grumbles and continues to pamper his plants. User: Albatross needs a grow room. :) Date: 13-Oct 07:01 PM 750538915
I.105 Meanwhile, in a hidden laboratory just outside of town.... Secret Agent Freddings: "I was able to get a sample of the coffee beans from the VVC." *puts coffee beans on table* Dr. Venkman: "Good work, Freddings. Now we can analyze these beans and see what's in them that causes those people to post hundreds of silly lines." *begins analysis of coffee beans* Later...... Dr. Venkman: "My God! It's just as I suspected!" Secret Agent Freddings: "What is it, doctor?" Dr. Venkman: "The caffeine level of these beans is 12000% higher than that of normal coffee beans. Every time someone drinks a cup of VVC coffee, it's like taking 173 doses of amphetamines." Secret Agent Freddings: "Whoa! How can we stop it, Doctor?" Dr. Venkman: "Freddings....prepare the Valium gun." (To be continued....) User: VENKMAN Date: 13-Oct 10:00 PM 750549628
I.106 Hmm...I get the feeling the virtual police towed someone's car today...? Ask them if they'll take a cash payment... ...and when they say "yes," pay them in Monopoly money! 8} Meanwhile, back at the cafe... Cado, taking a five-minute break, sits at the bar, enjoying a nice hot cup of... ...hmm...better not risk it... ...He pours the coffee into the sink behind the bar and washes it down the drain. A momentary vision comes to him of Traveler talking to a local plumber...(I don't know what it was, but it ate the HELL out of your pipes!!!) He instead fills the cup with water, downs it, and returns to his post. User: Cado...The hell with Physics...I'm going to bed. Date: 13-Oct 10:56 PM 750553092
I.107 meanwhile, Maharet makes her rounds of the warehouse district.. only a few blocks away from the cafe. Something is wrong. She can feel it in the air- a kind of high tension adrenalin held taut by the electricity of the storm blown winds. Like the sizzle of a radio set to the void she feels a presence. Walk on, around the corner, more trash cans and shuttered gates.. the occasional stray, the infrequent bum, splashed with the dim light of the street lamps and bathed in the fine mist of rain. _Something_ is out there. Not like the usual soemthings she senses.. the fear of rodents, the warmth of people, or the darker somehtings which shift just outside of sight.. not even the rust-taste of the Man in Black, who feels like everyhing being turned off and torn apart... similar but somehow.. more like the smell of death and machinery. With a twitch of her tail, Mahie makes for the safety of darkness. That _something_ is coming closer all the time, claws out, teeth barred. User: Maharet (as rendered by Zoro) Date: 14-Oct 00:44 AM 750559533
I.108 (Zoro dozes by the open window. His sleep is troubled by the ill wind which has whipped up over the bay and into the office building. Arrayed on his desk are police reports, a fuzzy black photo, obits, and a blotter on which is scrawled 'Man in BLACK'. Also there is a neatly typed sheet saying: For the benefit of Traveler(Read to him whenever he looks confused): vaxmafia-Farrah link owner Indigo Toucan Inn==competing cafe with ties to mafia Pallas--former employee of farrah- busboy at Indigo Toucan The phone rings) Zoroaster: Hullo? Banzai Irregular: Hey, boss, I been staking out Farrah's place like you said. I seen the red-head you tell me about go inside and leave half an hour later. I think you nailed youse spy, boss. Zoroaster: Thank you, mugsy, the next drinks on me. *click* Now to ask Pallas a few penetrating questions. (Zoroaster loads his gun, and leaves food out for Maharet.) User: ZOROASTER Date: 14-Oct 01:02 AM 750560537
I.109 In the White Room, the strange old sailor has finished off most of an expensive old bottle of port. Dated 1920(i), it was indeed the oldest vintage ECSTASY could find in the cobwebbed corners of the wine cellar. Now the sailor gets up slowly from his barstool, leaning on his cane, and begins slowly walking towards the Red Room. X, Trav and a few others look after him suspiciously. TRAVELER nods to X, and she slowly follows the sailor around the Bar (which, you'll recall, circles through all the rooms of the Cafe). He passes through the Red, Black, and Blie Rooms, and finally reappears in the White Room, having made a counterclockwise circuit. He looks around, then heads for the front door. Trav blocks his path. "Excuse me, sir, don't forget to take care of your bill." The old sailor looks at him with hate. "Don't be crossing me, laddie!" he spits, and slams his cane down on the floor. Just then there is a crack of lighting outside, followed by thunder. "Everyone must pay their bill." Trav looks him in the eye calmly, but can't help feeling a chill. This man is staring right into my soul, he thinks. The old man finally turns and makes his way back to the bar. He grabs the almost empty wine bottle and swigs down the rest of its contents; then he fishes in a pocket and brings out a large, irregularly shaped gold coin, which he tosses on to the bar. He snarls, and begins to stump towards the entrance again... User: TRAVELER Date: 14-Oct 01:29 AM 750562179
I.110 "Aye, everyone must pay in the end," he mutters. ALBATROSS happens to be walking across the White Room just then. "Hope this rain doesn't drench any of my new plants," he says, not seeming to notice the grim atmosphere. But then he wanders into the path of the old seaman. Slowly, he turns, and their eyes meet. The old man puts a hand out and grabs ALBATROSS's shoulder. It feels like a hook sinking into him. "Are ye the one?" he says. His breath smells like rotting seaweed; his face is a piece of old leather cured by salt and sun. But above his toothless mouth and crooked nose, his eyes shine with a fierce intelligence. "--the HELL?" says ALBATROSS. "Who are you?" The old man's hand claws into his shoulder, and his glittering eye seems to hold him there. "My tale's a long one...and 'tis not over yet." Finally he releases his grip. "But we'll meet again. Never doubt it." He grins twistedly as ALBATROSS rubs his sore shoulder. Then he heads for the door. At the threshold he turns and slams his cane down again, commanding the room's attention. "Thankee for so kindly inviting me in," he says, in a not-very- friendly way. "And we'll all meet again, I swear on the darkest deeps! We'll all meet again...hehehe..." Cackling, he makes his way out into the rain, hobbling down the path towards the Marina. LOUCH closes the door, and everyone breathes a sigh of relief. "Not for a while, I hope," says TRAVELER. Soon the strange visitor is forgotten. User: TRAVELER Date: 14-Oct 01:39 AM 750562783
I.111 "What are you guys staring at me for?!?!?" ALBATROSS asks them. "I'm just as clueless as the rest of you. I'm just a humble gardner..." Feeling a bit uncomfortable by the looks he's getting, ALBATROSS heads outside towards the gardens. User: ALBATROSS Date: 14-Oct 03:18 AM 750568698
I.112 Roark, fully dressed (as always), gets out the Acme Industrial Stength Ice Cold Water Hose and aims it at the hallucinating Cardinal. "Set phaser on 'Reality Check'..." User: ROARK Date: 14-Oct 11:56 AM 750599786
I.113 STEFAN decides to risk entering the greenhouse. He is so caught up looking at the intersesting flora that he does not notice the tentacle slithering up behind him. He foot is suddenly grabbed by the tentacle and he crashes on his face. "The hell???" He is dragged towards a green, gaping, mouth. He pulls out his standard issue Virtual Magnum and starts wasting the plant. The plant squirms in pain and shortly expires. STEFAN walks up to inspect the corpse and notices a identification sign. 'Venus busboy trap' "I think I should talk to the boss about this," he mutters. STEFAN leaves the greehouse, heading for TRAVELER's office. User: STEFAN Date: 14-Oct 12:02 PM 750600149
I.114 After preparing an emergency bowl o' ramen noodles for the Cardinal (at the request of a *very* preoccupied Roark), Daricell returns to her regularly scheduled menu... Cornish game hens, stuffed. Although she had planned to have some vegetables on the side (someone's got to keep these coffee-and- alcohol drinkers healthy!), she had been told by Traveler that it wasn't "advisable" at the time being to use any of the produce from the garden. "There's some sort of fungus problem. Vallee's checking it out." Fungus? Hmmm... Well, there were always the canned vegetables from last year(i)'s harvest, and the things in the deep freeze -- not as delicious as fresh produce, but they'd do. As she revised her menu to include these things, she absentmindedly watched Diqman spread flour on the table and begin to roll out a big ball of pastry dough -- crusts for the pies he would be making later. Daricell wandered over and snitched a bit of the dough. "Hey! Stop that!" Diqman protested. "I mean, um, begging your pardon, master/mistress chef, but that's all intended for the pies..." "It's just a little bit, it won't hurt anything." to be continued... User: the Copper Pot Date: 14-Oct 01:26 PM 750605193
I.115 Daricell added "creamed corn" to her list. "I'm going to get the stuff out of the deep freeze," she told the baker. "...just keep your hands out of my pie dough," he mumbled, but only once she was beyond the range of hearing. The deep freeze was out back, in the utilities shed which is not on Traveler's map, but was located near the produce gardens and greenhouse. The rain was pouring as Daricell dashed to the shed, opened the door and stumbled inside, soaking wet. Her list was unreadable now. Shrugging, she dropped it on the table next to the door, and pulled open the heavy metal door of the deep freeze. It was one of those big walk-in units, where Daricell and Diqman froze and stored extra goods for the times when they threw the big parties Traveler loved to give. Daricell leaned against the doorway, suddenly dizzy, and pressed a hand to her head... Why were things spinning? They were moving everywhere... Daricell tried to shake it off and she went into the deep freeze and began pulling the canisters of frozen vegetables from the shelves. The dizzy sensation wouldn't go away, however, and with one muffled, questioning cry, she slid to the floor... Behind her, a hand pushed the door closed... User: the Copper Pot Date: 14-Oct 01:45 PM 750606336
I.116 ECSTASY pulls out the book of British Romantic Poetry that she always carries with her in case of emergency. Flipping frantically through the selection of first generation romantics, she finds what she is looking for. Groaning loudly, she grabs her whip and leaps over the bar to find TRAVELER. "TRAVELER, I think we need to talk about your recycling of plots. Hmmmm?' ECSTASY cracks the whip towards the door and snaps shut his office door. "On your knees, boy." User: ecstasy Date: 14-Oct 01:54 PM 750606869
I.117 <<Just keep your hands out of my pie dough.>> Perhaps he was being a bit rough on her, Head Baker DIQMAN thought. He understood that the whole menu was being thrown apart, since the whole coffee thing... (As the baker starts into the flashback, an eerie music drifts over the scene. The baker hesitates to name it, since it's up to the music director to add the soundtrack). -it is now 20 minutes ago, for those of you playing at home- <<I'll just check my mail real quick, then start making those pies. Sure. Telnet tarheel.math.virtual-ufl.edu... *damn, this system is slow!*...>> The baker, surprisingly enough, knows how to handle the computers as well. -stuff about passwords, mail handlers and stuff- <<Oh, my God! I can't believe it... can this really be happening?>> For, in a mail message from a friend in the real part of the world, the baker finds that a friend of his from back in the pre-VVVC days was in a car wreck... and now is dead. (To protect the baker's "macho" exterior, we'll skip back to the present time)... -It is now now, virtually- <<*Sigh* I suppose I had best apologize... I had no business snapping at her.>> Heavy in thought, the baker makes his way out in the rain, out to the deepfreeze room, where the Mistress/Master Chef was supposed to be. Outside, however, the baker stops, silently, at one of the patches of plant life outside... standing still, looking at the sky, he allows his thoughts to drift for a few minutes. The last thing he needs is to let personal problems interfere with the working relationship... Finally going to the deep-freeze door, Head Baker DIQMAN is amazed to find it still closed. <<So much for good intentions... *try to be nice...*>> About to turn back, he remembers that he will soon need more peach filling to fill the danish with, and that there is some inside. <<I may as well get some good out of this trip.>> Opening the door, he starts to make his way back, when he notices the Master Mistress Chef DARICELL, seemingly the captive of a person whom he will not name here, in the interest of suspense. User: ...diqman... Date: 14-Oct 02:06 PM 750607628
I.118 Jon Vallee meanders through the White Room, utterly absorbed in a book. He wanders into the Blue Room and absently seats himself at a glowing terminal. --begin transcript-- IFAS Biota Database online. Login-ID: valleej Password: >> search "fungus" and "coffee" and countermeasure "FUNGUS" -- 12993 entries. "FUNGUS" AND "COFFEE" -- 17 entries. "FUNGUS" AND "COFFEE" AND COUNTERMEASURE -- 2 entries. Entry 1: Coffeefungus mandelbrotiae. Symptoms after ingestion: Hallucination followed by certain death within two hours. Countermeasures: none known. Entry 2: Coffeefungus venkmaniensis. Symptoms after ingestion: Hallucination followed by extreme silliness. Countermeasures: 1500-2000mg caffeine orally. >> bye Thanks for using Biota Database! Worship Skippy! Kill Venkman! --end transcript-- User: Jon Vallee, e-sleuth e-xtraordinaire Date: 14-Oct 02:20 PM 750608534
I.119 "I've got it!" Jon shouts triumphantly. He runs into TRAVELER's office. "Senqor Traveler, I have found our criminal. Look at this printout." TRAVELER studies the printout solemnly. Before he can respond, Jon rushes out to spread the good news around the Cafi -- the coffee is safe once again. He then runs up to his plants, carrying a null-fungus spell. He invokes the spell and his coffee plants are filled with vigor and life. Then he runs downstairs to brew a monster batch of cafi Cubano for the Cardinal. "Oh, Cardinal..." he calls. "I've got a yummy treat for you..." User: Jon Vallee Date: 14-Oct 02:28 PM 750608924
I.120 DIQMAN gasps. It's press-on headwaiter PALLAS! "I thought you'd been kind of quiet lately, Lee. I see now what's been on your mind." PALLAS wields a two handed rolling pin, featuring 4d6 of damage. Diq steps back, and sees that DARICE, though lying on the floor of the freezer in a dramatic swoon, appears to be breathing. "This is only the beginning!" says PALLAS. "I always wanted to work in the kitchen, but Traveler made me a stupid waiter! Thanks for inviting me! Now I'll get rid of both of you, and be promoted to head chef!" "You'd actually kill us?" "That won't be necessary. I can just send you on a long leave, featuring sick!" Diq realizes that PALLAS is also holding a syringe. "But this is ridiculous. You can't even cook!" "Yes, and?" Diq can see that Pallas is shivering; he appears to be standing just under a cold air vent. He carefully adjusts the thermostat control without Pallas' noticing. "So...uh...well, then what?" "Then...then I'll...Farrah...he'll..." Pallas seems to be having difficulty speaking. He starts to walk towards Diq, but then stops in midstep. It worked...he's frozen! (Of course this is a virtual freezer, so he's not harmed. He's just a Lee-press-on-cicle [or an "i"cicle?].) :) User: TRAVELER Date: 14-Oct 03:29 PM 750612605
I.121 Zoroaster walks in the front door, pausing long enough to sneer at Cado's demands for an I.D. "I.D. this!" he growls, showing the hilt of his gun. "Now I must speak with your boss." Zoroaster walks to Traveler's office door, which is closed. As he knocks, he hears the sound of a whip being cracked. Heroically he throws the door open, only to see Ecstasy waving her whip at an ashen faced Traveler. "I can see you are busy, pal. I'm just here to ask your Head-waiter a few questions, dig? So I'll, uh, catch you later. Good day to you, too, miss." Zoroaster nods to Ecstasy and queitly closes the door. He winces as he hears another *crack!* "Now were's that Pallas.. hmm?" He says to himself and goes to look for the devilish head-waiter. User: ZOROASTER Date: 14-Oct 05:02 PM 750618140
I.122 Jon walks into the booth in the Blue room with 5 large pots of Cafe Cubano. (It might be enough.) His timing, however, couldn't be much better. The Cardinal is beginning to hallucinate again. He is gazing lustfully at ROARK, and if it weren't for his restraints...well, let's just say the picture probably wouldn't be pretty. XIMINEZ looks up and sees two beautiful naked women carrying a tray of shining pots between them. "Here, your emminence, drink this," their voices echo in his ears. He tries to reach out and fondle their breasts, but can't quite reach, so instead, he reluctantly takes the cup...... ...Three minutes and a buttload of coffee later, the Cardinal looks up at Jon, fortunately fully dressed, and asks him "What the hell is going on?" "My coffee was poisoned, and you got the brunt of it." "And I didn't self-destruct?" "No, fortunately HORST gave you an emercency dose of chocolate at the last minute, which calmed down your system until I was able to figure out what it would take to cure you." "I wouldn't say calm..." mumbles an unthrilled ROARK. User: << Continued >> Date: 14-Oct 05:44 PM 750620747
I.123 "My net.god, what happened?," asks the Cardinal showing obvious distress. She answers by motioning to the restraints, "See those? They're the only thing that kept you in that seat. You must have been imagining me as a willing partner. . . . I wasn't." The last sentence is said strongly enough to topple CADO. (In fact, at the door, CADO loses his balance for a moment. He has no idea why, and quickly regains his composure.) A look of honest terror fills the Cardinal's face, nay, his whole body. He looks as if he may be ill. "If there is any way in all the realms of Cyberspace for me to apologize...." "I'll take that as an apology. I just have one question. Are you back to normal now?" "Just a moment....All systems are functioning within normal parameters." "Good," ROARK whispers as she punches him in the jaw. "Perfect..." he says as he rubs his rapidly swelling chin. "Friends?" User: < Continued > Date: 14-Oct 05:56 PM 750621382
I.124 "I think that would be acceptable." <Ahem> "I'll just step out now," says Jon as he ducks out the door. "NO!!!" shouts the Cardinal. "Untie me first." The coffeeman releases the cuffs from his arms, and all three of them leave the booth together. (Big damn doorway) "So, do you want to go out or something?" asks the Cardinal, appearing shy for the first time in his net.life. "Wh-?!" "Not you Jon. <Plonk> Roark." .... Join us next week when Roark says: ....um, what IS she going to say? User: Cardinal Ximinez with a bit of help from Roark Date: 14-Oct 06:00 PM 750621677
I.124 Roark smiles at the now-researched-and-found-to-be-not-as-famous-and-evil- as-he-thought-he-was Cardinal. She pushes a strand or two of hair out of her mouth, and sighs. "Hmmm...well, ok. But only if I get to call you 'Snugglebunny.' And you have to get me a reeeeeeeee-ly big birthday present", she laughs. She pats the Cardinal on the head, and they go off into the sunset.... well, only to the White Room, where they await a dinner table. User: Roark: me want spaghetti! Date: 14-Oct 06:09 PM 750622179
I.126 Jon looks sheepish and pulls a notepad from his back pocket. He writes down, "Roark's birthday this Sunday. Don't forget to get her something." Then Jon looks at the camera and asks, in a Ferris-Bueller-esque conspiratorial whisper, "You don't think I'm hinting too blatantly, do you?" The camera pans left to follow a fly buzzing past. Jon attempts to attract the camera's attention, but in vain. The fly is clearly more interesting. He walks back to his beloved coffee machine and pulls a bitter demitasse of espresso, which changes his mood real fast. "I'd better see how things are going in the Red Room," he says, and in his haste slams into the doorframe. He bounces back a few feet, aims more carefully, and successfully goes next door. User: Jon Vallee Date: 14-Oct 07:00 PM 750625215
I.127 Cado leans against the front door and regains his balance. This was just not his day. Besides his almost-lived nightmares of the frankenstein cat haunting his thoughts, coupled with the lurking embarrassment of having made a fool of himslef to the bartender (not a good thing to do...especially when the bartender carries a whip), added on to the fact that for some odd reason, familiar people were beginning to brandish guns at him, his day was finally compounded by the unexpected woozy feeling he just had, which made him mysteriously feel like he'd just been dumped. Maybe even God didn't like him today, he began to wonder... ...suddenly, he sees the lady seated next to the Cardinal. The bottom drops out of his mind as he realizes... "...It's the lady in blue!!!" Everyone in the white room whirls around and stares at Cado, who doesn't realize until too late that he actually vocalized his profound thought...rather loudly. User: cont'd... Date: 14-Oct 07:40 PM 750627648
I.128 Roark, realizing that *she* is the one being identified, begins to flush a bit, partly embarrassed, but mostly confused. _Damn!_ thinks Cado, wincing painfully. He walks up to her sheepishly. "*ahem*...sorry about that...I just wanted to say that you're the most fantastic dancer I've ever seen! ...er...well...I'll be going now..." Cado returns to his post, blushing brighter than a beet. Unfortunately, the day goes on... User: Cado...It's a back-dated compliment :) Date: 14-Oct 07:52 PM 750628387
I.129 "Uh, I believe PALLAS is downstairs, thawing out," says a flushed TRAVELER to ZOROASTER, who has just opened the door of his office. "We're busy, uh, discussing English literature right now." Zoro leaves quickly. "Y-you were saying, honey-buns?" Trav turns back to ECSTASY, who cracks her whip again. "I was SAYING, what's this about recycling plots??" "Hey, it's not recycling, it's, uh, playing upon common themes--tapping into ancient archetypes--" "Oh yeah? I'll show you how to tap into some ancient archetypes..." She smiles in a faintly twisted way, and walks towards the seated TRAVELER. Her leather creaks faintly, hugging her curves tightly. He catches his breath, and feels a cold sweat beneath his shirt. Is it fear, or desire? Uh-oh, he thinks, this could get dangerous... He stands abruptly and says "She walks in beauty like the night!" X blinks, startled. "What?" she says. "She walks in beauty like the night..." She sighs. "Byron...oh yes, quote more!" "She walks in beauty like the night/Of cloudless climes and starry skies/And all that's best of dark and bright/Meet in her aspect and her eyes..." User: Traveler hopes he's prepared for his Brit. Romantics midterm tomorrow Date: 14-Oct 11:26 PM 750641181
I.130 ECSTASY leaves a shivering TRAVELER on his knees, replaces her newly-won bow, and goes to find the fainted ROMANTIC. "What happened? Too many tests and papers?" User: ECSTASY Date: 15-Oct 01:16 PM 750691005
I.131 The scene: a lonely state highway. A man stands at a pay phone. He speaks carefully to the person on the other end. "Yeah, I'm the, uh, manager of the Virtual Virtual Vax Cafi. Yeah. There's a car par (A truck rumbles by.) ked outside of my place, and it's blocking the driveway. Yeah. Nope. Uh-huh. Virtual Virtual Vax -- V-I-R-T-U-A-L. Virtual. No, two virtuals. Vax. V-A-X. I've never heard of it either. Cafi. Yes, highway 21 and board 6, just north of Startbus. "Well, of COURSE it's going to be at the owner's expense. No, I can't meet you outside. I'm a busy man. What do you mean, am I sure I'm a man? Look, just get over here and tow this car!" Click. He walks back to his van, which says "VENKMOBILE", and drives away, kicking up acrid clouds of dust. User: Who was that masked man in the Venkmobile? Date: 15-Oct 01:54 PM 750693291
I.132 Zoroaster stands outside the deep freezer, slapping the still icy form of Pallas. "Lee, wake up! Hello!" Pallas stirs uneasily.. he moans shivering from the cold... "where am I?" "In the village" snaps back zoro automatically. "Oh no, not again.." says lee deliriously.. opening his eyes.. "Zoroaster! They got you to?!" "No, that was just soemthing I said out of character. Your outside the scene of your crime! Why did you betray Traveler, Diq, even your own daughter?" "Wh-?" exclaims Pallas ("The HELL?!" interjects Dave from somewhere) "I would never do anything like that! What do you mean?" "DON'T play dumb with me! I know you went to Farrah's earlier today!" "Yes of course I did! He uh- is a friend of the family. And then I- uh, uh.. I can't remeber much after that." He finishes sheepishly. Zoroaster glares at him for a long while. Is it possible that Pallas was drugged or hypnotized? Is Pallas really a vile traitor? Who will win the world series? User: Systems consist of idividuals -- Zoroaster Date: 15-Oct 01:55 PM 750693332
I.133 COOPA walks into the cafe for the first time. He looks around, bewildered. He hears a loud crash and turns around to see STEFAN dropping a plate. Strange, he thinks, Very, very strange. Then he sees something that grabs his attention He sees the bar. And what a bar it is. It runs through the entire cafe. COOPA's jaw drops. He takes out his Virtual ID and shuffles over to the coun- ter. He finds a seat and waits for the bartender to return. I could get to like being a regular here, he thinks. He grins as he thinks about what to order. User: COOPA Date: 15-Oct 02:15 PM 750694556
I.134 Jon looks at Coopa. He looks at Coopa's ID. He looks back at Coopa. "So, would you like a Sprite, kid? Maybe a Perrier? You're not even old enough for cafi Cubano." User: Jon Vallee Date: 15-Oct 03:34 PM 750699302
I.135 PALLAS is rather fuzzy. Actually, almost nothing he says can be made out clearly. This will obviously require intravenous injection of SYLVAR's coffee. Meanwhile, the...incident...in TRAVELER's office appears to be over. Neither he nor ECSTASY will say much about what happened, except that it was a test of sorts, involving English literature. The swooned DARICELL and ROMANTIC are conveyed upstairs to the "Penthouse", the small apartment adjoining Trav's office. They are laid out on velvet couches--excuse me, divans--and someone finds some smelling salts to waft under their noses. Tea lady FIREFLYTE sends up a hot teapot full of a delicate, restorative blend she created herself. Soon the two ladies are coming around. Lavish bouquets of flowers seem to have appeared from somewhere, and the whole scene is very _Age of Innocence_. In the kitchen, meanwhile, the other side of sexist stereotyping is being lived out. :) There is the interrogation of PALLAS, which isn't going too fast since he's still half-frozen. There is also a posse gathering to find and retrieve ROMANTIC's mysteriously towed car. CADO, TRAVELER and XIMINEZ are discussing in manly fashion what they plan to do to the blackguard who perpetrated this foul deed. CADO jingles his car keys impatiently. "Let's go!" "Wait." Trav looks around. "Anyone else want to go?" Then he wonders: should he leave the Cafi after all the chaos that's occurred? Someone needs to keep an eye on things. "DIQMAN, can you make sure Darice and Rom are ok?" Next he walks out to the bar. "X, I'm putting you in charge till I get back." User: TRAVELER Date: 15-Oct 03:41 PM 750699702
I.136 COOPA looks at Jon. He grabs his ID out of Jon's hand. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt for you to give me just one drink. Besides it's only virtual alcohol. He grins at Jon trying to evoke some sympathy. How about an Irish coffee? User: COOPA Date: 15-Oct 03:57 PM 750700653
I.137 <<Sure... I'll watch them...>> Head Baker-turned unwitting hero-turned guard DIQMAN said, even though it might mean hearing car-towing stories for the rest of his natural life. That's the price one pays for being virtually part of the plot, he would have thought upon reflection later. "did i mention that i hate tow trucks?" ROMANTIC asked, in her own, virtually lower-case manner. It did take some getting used to, but it was interesting in its own way. After the events of the day, he could begrudge her her lack of capitalization. At least she and the Mistress Master Chef DARICELL were finally beginning to come around, and regain some of their usual Zest(tm). The Mistress Chef, evidently about to respond with a sonnet on the evils of the entire towing industry, but unable to decide which form of sonnet to use, lapsed into regular speech: "Yeah. I have some stories of my own about tow trucks...." If the baker were psychich, he probably wouldn't have been laughing so hard right now, since he imagined the Dark Chef trying to find words to rhyme with truck. As the ladies continued their conversation, with a considerable amount of verbal dexterity, the baker started to look out the window aimlessly, as if he expected some form of plot to be sitting outside. Of course, all he saw were some trees, and a big, dull, yellow-looking bus outside. Of course, were DIQMAN in charge, he could adjust the script so that he boldly strode forth and confronted the people of the bus, but, since he is merely a baker (though a damn fine one, one must admit), he remained content to look at the bus from the shelter of the penthouse. Besides, he had the pleasure of guarding the two women, and the bus was dull. He could make out some big letters on the side of it, but most were obscured by the trees... it read: "? ? C O B U ?" Content that this bus was not in any way foreshadowing future events, the Baker returned his attention to the conversation, which was currently blaming all the problems of the world (hunger, war, poverty, tow trucks) on men. Showing remarkable courage, the baker came up with a wondermous retort, then, in the interest of not getting hit, decided against it. <<*what could those letters possibly mean? And why does the baker notice them, when they aren't plot? or are they? Find out later on VVVC.*>> User: (: Diqman :) -- Guard dog to the rich and famous... (: Date: 15-Oct 04:22 PM 750702191
I.138 With a mild flurish, ALBATROSS...stumbles into the room. "The HELL!?!" he asks mildly of DIQMAN. <<It's a long story.>> he explains. <<Where have you been?>> "Well, uh, you see..." and then mildly scratches behind his ear. "WOLFIE and I were...uh...testing out some crops for their....healthiness! (Is that a word?)" <<I don't think I want to hear about this.>> ALBATROSS nods at this and wanders off. "...something to drink." User: Albatross is taping _Henry V_. Date: 16-Oct 01:52 AM 750736404
I.139 ECSTASY smiles after TRAVELER. "Good rules. I hate people speaking for me and/or misquoting me. OR EVEN MISSPELLING MY NAME!" Quieting down, she leans over to polish her whip with its new letters on it. "TRAVELER gets an extra set of....ahem....lashes tonight. In virtual time, of course." User: ECSTASY Date: 17-Oct 11:57 PM 750902334
I.140 The Cardinal looks up from his drink and his conversation with ROARK. "Did someone just say something about rules?" "No, I don't think so." "Oh, ok. Now what were you saying about the whipped cream and chocolate?" Tune in next week when ROARK says: "With ice cream, they make a great sundae." User: Cardinal Ximinez won't put words in anyone's mouth. As for other things.. Date: 18-Oct 01:35 AM 750908159
I.141 Fireflyte skips out to where Ecstacy mans (womans?) the bar as temp.-in-chief... "'Allo!" Ecstacy looks up from the whirl of bottles and liquids that form a glittering visual cacophany in front of her, and blinks... "Did you say 'hello'?" Fireflyte grins, and cocks her head sideways "No, I said 'Allo! , but that's close enough..." Ecstacy pauses, and resumes the eyeboggling display of flickering, flitting liquids... "I was wondering," Fireflyte murrs, "if ye've got the recipe for Norse Spiced Cider? It's a wonderful drink wi' no alcohol, and yet a powerful kick... I know the Lord Sysop is fond of it, as well, and it might do well as an alternate drink for those underage,...besides, it'll give ME something to drink." Fireflyte grimaces. "I canna abide the taste of alcohol--bloody shame, wi' my Irish heritage...I can give ye the recipe if ye like...?" User: Fireflyte... ...likes hot Norse Spiced Cider... Date: 18-Oct 10:23 AM 750939841
I.142 Jon ponders the request. "Hmm...Coopa's right. What could it hurt? On the other hand, if we get our license revoked..." He flips a coin in the air. It flashes in the light. heads tails heads tails heads tails and it lands on its e d g e . "Tell ya what, kid. Here's the coffee. Ecstasy's got the Irish. Go ask her to fix you up." And he puts a cup of fine American coffee on the bar. User: Jon Vallee Date: 18-Oct 12:15 PM 750946583
I.143 LOUCH, who has been sitting on (er...uh...with, that is) Sysop BELGARATH and keeping him entertained and happy, looks at his face and realizes that he's ready to leave. She looks around the cafe and weighs her options. "hmmmm...on the one hand, there IS my job to consider. Of course, it's rather slow in the way of ordinary customers tonight...and on the other hand, if I DO manage to get the SysOp to give the Cafe it's own board..." Without further hesitation, she jumps up off of BELGARATH'S lap, giving him a hand to help him up. Once the feeling returns to his legs, he stands up, throws some money on the table, and the two of them walk out to the DEATHTRAP(tm)... User: LOUCH Date: 18-Oct 12:39 PM 750947992
I.144 Fireflyte inexplicably leaves a hairball in Zoroaster's trenchcoat. :P User: Fireflyte... ...typo this, big boy-ee!!!... Date: 18-Oct 01:14 PM 750950072
I.145 COOPA looks at the coin. Then he looks at his coffee. He slides off the bar stool and moves down the bar in search of ECSTASY. Maybe next time I'll ac- tually get cafe cubano, thinks COOPA. Ah, the joys of virtual reality. User: Coopa, the soon to be virtually inebriated Date: 18-Oct 02:06 PM 750953234
I.146 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- InleRah glances back for a moment at the fading image of the Circle, the fog swallowing even the ghostly image that was all that was visable earlier. She eventually turns her gaze southward to view the Cafe below, and taking a deep breath heads down towards it. Slipping through the door into the White Room she offers a quiet nod to Cado and makes her way to the bar where one of X's leatherclad staff asks after her desire. InleRah hmms, "i'll have a bottle of inue." The bartender seems clueless, and upon seeing her confusion Inle explains inue is a thick brightly blue colored intoxicant derived from the inue plant native to Akyri-Rhye, and is known for its halucinogenic tendencies... the bartender still seems lost, but shrugs and searches behind the bar for what the customer has ordered. Oddly enough, (or not. this being virtual, afterall), a tall rectangular bottle of the very stuff sits behind the bottom shelf next to a bottle of Romulan Ale and Draino. ..she hands the bottle over to Inle who thanks her. **Don't forget the bottle that says "WATER OF LIFE--DANGER! USE WITH EXTREME CAUTION!" --Trav** As Inle opens the bottle and mumbles an Akyrian salute, the feline hyperpixie emurges from the Red Room in her unique almost dancing gate. Fireflyte blinks, and then greets Inle with a "Halloo! ..what are you doing here? i thought you were gone. on one of those eysetche' nostae's." InleRah stops in mid drink and grins at 'flyte. "i was. am. but i've come down from the Circle briefly..." her expression darkens a moment "i dreamt in the Circle.. dreamt of the Storm. something called me back here.. to find it. mayhap, ..my work here is not done." The Gypsy SongDancer's eyes seem to sparkle briefly as a smile slowly captures her face. "Washte.. my friend." she says softly, almost purring. InleRah chuckles, and takes a drink of the inue, offering again.. the salute, and the Shunkae's prayer. Afterward The Black Rabbit sits for a long time.. contemplating this odd feeling that has driven her from the vision quest she was on to this strange place. SongDancer interjects a thought as she watches the brooding Inle--Horatio-like "if your mind dislike anything, ..obey it" InleRah turns an amused gaze toward the feline, but shakes her head. "not a whit. we defy Augry." she takes a long drink from the clear ice-blue liquid and adds, "we cannot all be the 'mousie'. though the best laid schemes gang aft agley.. some of us must cast our eye, on prospects drear. and forward though we cannot see, guess and fear." InleRah stands then, and after a pause picks up the bottle of inue with a grin. she hands over to the bartender proper Virtual payment and begins to walk toward the Blue Room. after walking halfway to the door, she pauses, and turns back to SongDancer, raising the bottle in a mock toast. "to the spider.." and disappears into the shadows of the Blue Room quietly. **Heading out of the Kitchen towards the parking lot, Trav catches the tail end of this, and shakes his head, a bit confused but also bemused.** User: Inlerah, via Fireflyte, via Traveler Date: 18-Oct 03:13 PM 750957410
I.147 I dunno, Venk. I have mixed feelings about the VVC. I mean, it's kinda random and annoying (like the vaxtrek everyone contributed to (3.5)), but on the other hand it's good to see so many different people being creative. User: TREKKER Date: 18-Oct 05:29 PM 750965362
I.148 The shivers were definitely going away. Fireflyte's tea, Daricell thought, had amazing restorative capabilities. As she traded anti-male tow truck stories with Romantic, Daricell wondered just what had happened ... --I never pass out, Daricell thought. --I've gotten close, but never actually done it. I've always managed to save myself somehow. So why did I faint this time? She was still too woozy to consider it much, however, and instead concentrated on huddling inside the thick blanket on Traveler's divan, trading quips with Romantic. User: Dark Lady Date: 18-Oct 06:15 PM 750968114
I.149 The interrogation over, Zoroaster has no choice bu to drive Pallas home. His sleek jalopy is buffeted by the winds of the rising storm, and his whimpers fight a losing struggle against the rain in the gathering gloom. Pallas jumps out with a somewhat friendly rain, turning his trenchcoat up and running inside his apartment building. He rubs his hands from the cold and walk quickly up to his room. He opens the door.. 'Don't turn on the light' says a low voice. Pallas numbly stops and looks around. A tall man is silhouetted in thelight of the living room window. 'Sit down' the voice says again. Pallas feels for his easy chair and sits. 'Why do you insist on wasting your time trying to save those who cannot be saved? And you've completely forgotten your true mission. You are under a spell which has made you forget everything!' And pallas says.... User: ZOROASTER Date: 19-Oct 00:27 AM 750990482
I.150 Meanwhile.. across town, Zoroaster is blissfully unaware of trouble at the Pallas Palace. He his on his way to back to the cafe for an overdue discussion with Traveler. He muses over what he knows in his mind... .......well, I know the Man in Black is here, somewhere, ready to strike. Does he wish to bring his evil to the Cafe? Still, this thing with Pallas is not his style.. he enjoys the killing too much himself. .......There is nothing to nail Farrah with yet.. damn Pallas for not remembering anything! Pallas must be innocent.. I know he would not hurt his own daughter. Farrah and his mafia friends must be targeting- "SHIT!" Zoroaster swerves his car wildly, avoiding a giant yellow bus parked alongside the rode as he drives by the cafe. In his musings he had started to drift off the road. Breathing a sigh of relief he peals into the cafe parking lot, parking at his usual spot under the tow away sign. User: ZOROASTER Date: 19-Oct 00:34 AM 750990890