| The Smoking Lounge; Being a Place For Leisurely and Civil Discussion of Politics and Substance | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 31 2017, 08:37 PM (312 Views) | |
| Mr Chimes | Jul 31 2017, 08:37 PM Post #1 |
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Everyone who visits the House of Chimes has been given at least one tour of the place by Mr Chimes, his silent footfalls and obsequious voice punctuating the luxury of the place. Here is a great lounge full of overstuffed chairs, massive couches, thick tomes, discreetly placed ashtrays and serving bells. Here, guests linger, speaking quietly, reading, playing chess, or indulging other intellectual and social hobbies. Occasionally, tempers grow heated, quickly quelled by polite but firm servants waiting in the wings for disturbances, or to wait upon a member's desires. "Welcome, my guests, to the Smoking Lounge. Here, you may enjoy comfort, luxury, and a pleasant glass or two of your favored refreshment, as well as enjoy literature and civilized discussion of Economics, Science, Politics, and other Subjects of Substance. Please be advised that any loud disagreements that become disturbing to your fellow guests may be curtailed, and remember that fighting in the Smoking Lounge is strictly forbidden. You may, of course, duel one another to the death outside the House of Chimes to your mutual satisfaction, but please remain civil while inside." |
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| Celestine Parlow | Aug 20 2017, 03:58 AM Post #2 |
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For a moment, the sound of light footfalls permeates the Lounge. This mild interruption does come to an abrupt end, however, as a petite female dressed in a smart, midnight-blue evening gown collapses into a lone chair in a far corner of the room. To anyone entering or already present, she'd be largely unfamiliar. However, regular attendee's of her Majesty's Court might experience an inkling of recognition. What was her name? Cecile? Well, in any case, it did seem that the Lady could use some company as she softly dictated her desired beverage to one of the ever-vigilant servants. |
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| Alexander Voight | Aug 20 2017, 03:01 PM Post #3 |
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Alexander had been there for some time, watching a chessboard with his full attention. It was a standard enough chess board, if opulent, with ivory and ebony pieces and a marble board. He was playing Black, and white was winning. After a few minutes, he carefully moved a piece with a gentle but satisfying click. A servant nodded, noted down the move, and scurried away. Alexander sighed and stood, looking around and spotting the newcomer. He pulled a cigar out of his pocket, cut it, and lit it, breathing in a satisfied first smoke. "Evening...didn't I see you at the Court a few times? Alexander Voight. A pleasure to meet you." |
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| Celestine Parlow | Aug 20 2017, 04:14 PM Post #4 |
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As the servant stepped away from the lounging woman, she'd turn a wary gaze towards the gentlemen. After a brief pause, she remembered herself, adjusting her posture and smoothing her skirt so as to appear vaguely more presentable. "Celestine Parlow. The pleasure is mine." At this point the servant would return, their head bowed as they placed a tea-laden tray on the wooden end table to the Lady's left. Celestine looked towards tray with mild disdain, seemingly taking note of the single cup and saucer. "Bring another cup for the Sir." She said curtly, with a dull gesture towards the servant. The youthful female then turned her attentions back to the gentlemen. "Please, sit." It hardly seemed like a suggestion, what with the woman's unwavering, doe-eyed stare. Edited by Celestine Parlow, Aug 20 2017, 07:47 PM.
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| Alexander Voight | Aug 20 2017, 10:26 PM Post #5 |
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Alexander had already begun to rise from his seat before she spoke, his massive height and build obvious as soon as he rose. He took a thoughtful drag on his cigar before taking the next few steps to the seat across from her, nodding. "I'll take the Morelways '72, please. And please, ma'am, 'Captain', if you will. I'm no Sir." |
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| Celestine Parlow | Aug 21 2017, 01:35 AM Post #6 |
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Celestine's lips pursed as she regarded his build. She, though strong for her age and gender, just exceeded five feet, so her surprise was to be expected. With a subtle cough, she'd incline her head towards the servant, and then reach for her tray to retrieve the teapot. "Of course. I meant no disrespect." As she said this, she'd pour a substantial amount of tea into her cup. Then, after setting the teapot back in its place on the tray, she took up her cup. "So, what is it that's brought you here, Captain?" |
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| Alexander Voight | Aug 21 2017, 11:46 AM Post #7 |
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Alexander sipped at his wine, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. "I enjoy the Lounge quite a bit at any day. Today, however, what brought me was a rather prestigious invitation. A game of chess by mail with a Surface grandmaster. It's an honor just to play. I'm afraid to say I'm losing quite badly, but it's an honor, nevertheless." |
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| Celestine Parlow | Aug 21 2017, 05:20 PM Post #8 |
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Celestine paused, glancing off towards the table Alexander had previously been sitting at before taking a sip of her tea. "I imagine so. I do regret, however, that I am not as invested in such academic pursuits." She takes yet another thoughtful drink from her cup, before propping herself up on the arm of her chair with her elbow. It didn't seem as though she enjoyed remaining in one position for a prolonged period of time. "Have you heard anything of the surface through this opportunity?" |
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| Alexander Voight | Aug 21 2017, 10:39 PM Post #9 |
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Alexander waved a dismissive hand, trailing smoke through the air. "The usual, sadly. Vienna inches ever closer towards revolution. The French Empire expands. The young Wilhelm grows restless and ever more obsessed with the Neath and with astronomy. Fascinating, but ultimately trivia, for as much as it affects London." |
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| Louis Ferdinand | Sep 24 2017, 09:41 AM Post #10 |
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Dashing faster than would normally be possible for someone of his lacking height and fitness, Louis barged into the lounge and towards Alexander, barely avoiding crashing into him as he stopped. The front of his suit was drenched in blood flowing from his ears, and his face and hands were covered in scratches and cuts. "There you are!" He spoke at a wild, frantic pace. "I knew you would be here, you really ought to be more careful about leaving your footfalls around where anyone can find them. You're lucky that pack of adverbs that's been passing around hasn't caught your trail, they're getting craftier by the hour. I wasn't followed though, I fooled them good. They should be up to their fangs in trochees by now. But that's not important, I need your help getting these in." Louis' eyes darted across the room. He ensured no one was watching, then retrieved from his pants pocket two small lumps of jagged, black coral covered in blood. "I tried, but they just won't stay put. But they need to. It's the Coleopterans. I told you about them, right? The Beetles? Oh God, they're everywhere. They fly in great swarms from times never come and burrow into your ears. Then they switch their brain for yours and send you back in their bodies. I know, I've been there. They've already tamed half the phonemes and are arranging them with children." Louis paused to look around the room a second time. He studied Alexander's chessboard for a moment before proclaiming "Bishop to f2." His momentary lucidity passed, Louis returned to rambling, now more desperate and afraid than frantic. "That's why we need them. The coral will keep them out of our ears. They're like hounds. Then the Beetles will have to find our mouths, and that's how we'll get them. We'll eat their game, don't you understand? It always falls, it always does. 'They'll find you Louis, they're probably on their way right now', I said. You've seen an awful lot, haven't you? An AWFUL lot." He reached out to grab Alexander's arm, his hands now shaking. |
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