milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Agnes enters the bar from Jack's world and immediately feels... drafty.

She looks down at the naughty schoolgirl outfit she's suddenly wearing -- the one that shows off far more skin than anyone but her boyfriend has ever seen -- and claps her hand over her mouth to contain the shriek of embarassment.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There is a scream of horror from a table nearby as Shufti discovers she has werewolf feet.

She looks genuinely terrified and clearly hasn't a clue what's going on.

Agnes looks over at Shufti and winces.

"I know. I'm hideous!"

Shufti looks up, terror on her face.

"Are you going hairy too? What's happening?"

"One of Bar's little games, I imagine. It's happening to a lot of people."

Agnes tries to cover her exposed skin with her hands, but there's a lot of skin to cover, so it really isn't working.

She tugs at the fur.

"This is a game? Why?"

Agnes frowns. "Who knows? If we were back on the Disc, I might think it were Soul Cake Tuesday, since so many people are dressed up. They might have something similar like that here."

"What's Soul Cake Tuesday?" Shufti asks, having never experienced this particular celebration in Borogravia.

"It's a holiday we have in Ankh-Morpork and in the Ramtops. It's supposed to mean the opening of duck season, but it's also a night when kids get dressed up and go door-to-door asking for sweets."

"Do people give them any? I'd have just got a clip around the ear."

"Most people do, yes. Those that like kids, anyway. It's this whole celebration. You'd like it. Jack would too, if he were a little older."

A nod.

"I'm not sure I'd want him knocking on strangers' doors, it's dangerous, but still."

She seems to have calmed a little.

"I was meaning to ask you about Lancre. The war in Borogravia is very bad and I'm probably going to be emma-grating."

"Well, they usually aren't strangers; they're your neighbours. And you'd go with him, so it's safe."

At the other part, though, Agnes tilts her head.

"Sure, you can ask me anything."

"Will I be able to get a job that lets me look after Jack?"

"If you came to Lancre? Sure! It's small enough that you'd either do most of your work at your home, or if you had to go someone else, you could take Jack and no one would mind. Might be tougher in a big city like Ankh-Morpork, but Lancre's almost one big family."

This isn't hyperbole, either. There's an inordinate number of Oggs in the area.

"Really? That's wonderful, thank you. And do you happen to know how often the express stage runs?"

She knows this one is a long shot.

Agnes thinks a moment.

"It varies. Ever since the clacks towers came through, there's been less need for the stage service. But there's still enough people who don't trust the clacks to keep the stages coming through. Usually every week or two, I'd guess."

She nods.

"Good, thanks. I don't want to have to walk the whole way if I can help it, and once we're over the Borogravian border we should be able to find it."

Hesitation.

"Please don't tell anyone where we're going, if you see them. I'm... trying not to be followed by someone."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only