Hope's Haven ~ A little taste of Gallia

[Skyedaughter]

::: Sancho and Skye are sitting at a table in the main bar, holding hands and gazing deeply into each other's eyes.... :::

"Well, Skye, it looks like we have some hard decisions to make in a short time.  Just wanted ya ta know that I love ya.  Davey thinks the DJC will survive the balancin', and he's asked me to rejoin him.  I've said yea!  Will ye be startin' up Hope's on the other side as well?"

""Oh, Sancho!  I love it here so, and even tho' we've apparently become the "Restaurant at the End o' the Univesre", the staff and I will  carry on valiantly on the other side.  I'm thinkin' your idea of a "floating" Hope's might be good as well... see a bit o' the new Universe while we're rebuildin' our trade and welcomin' our old friends from the current manifestation.  Don't ye worry, Sancho.  Hope's will be back, better 'n ever!""

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:::Skye give Sancho a big kiss and a wink:::

Sorry I am Sancho that I must go, but new cargo just came in today, and I must go below to the hold and check the merchandise and bargain wi' the traders.

:::Skye laughs heartily:::

They always think they can put one over on Skye, but it's generally the other way around, as ye well know.

:::Skye prances a bit:::

And I'm that excited. One trader has brought some blown glass wall sconces for candles that I intend to put in the hot tub rooms, if they have the right look ... a bit more ambience, dontcha know. And then there's those bolts of fabric I need to look over. Some is fer new bed linens ... I had good word that it be bee-u-tee-ful. And of course, some is fer me girls. That much like daughters they are to me, though some be younger and some be older. And we all like to play dress up.

:::Skye blows Sancho a kiss, then walks with determination to a door at the left side of the pub. The sign on the door bears the legend in large type: NO ENTRANCE, and the door is locked beyond any picking. Skye takes out her key, a kind of a plug really that neatly fits into what looks like a place where the door had a brush with a thrown tankard. She opens the door just enough to slide through, and then locks it again from the other side.:::

:::circling around to another staircase that is basically functional and leads straight up to her rooms, Skye dashes up the stairs. She is feeling a pressure against her heart and can't name it. Inside her rooms, more simple than any would guess from the pub and the guest quarters, she dons her black cape, leaves her room and goes back downstairs:::

:::Skye enters the pub through the "secret" door in the back; sits in her comfy chair and feels well hidden with her cape wrapped 'round her. She reaches out and takes a long sip of the Sirius Starshine that Merry left at the table, sighs. A tear escapes her eye.:::

It just not bein' that easy to up an' move Haven. I know Belfast isn't the best place for a pub, but that's why I put her here ta begin wi'. The folks I'd rather keep away... ah, they go fer the flashy clubs with shine everywhere

:::she stops and fondly looks out at the crowd, at her staff, at the Old Earth wooden furnishings and the sterling silver bar; another tear escapes:::

...so the ones who do come ta Haven, it's mostly by word of mouth, an' I have loved every person that has walked through these big wooden doors.

:::sighs, another tear escapes; Skye brushes it away somewhat harshly and takes another sip:::

Now Sancho wants me to up an' put me heart's dream ere else or make 'er into a floatin' palace by puttin' her on a ship. Me heart be full, and I don't know why. Could I move Haven an' also make a Hope's Haven Reprise as a floater? Ah, these be hard questions, an' I'm not thinkin' I c'n rush the answers. Guess I'll have ta think on it fer awhile ... maybe take a short trip wi' Sancho to this new location.

:::Skye stands, pulls the hood of the cape over her forehead, then slips quickly though the secret doors and over to the "NO ENTRANCE" side door:::

Well, in some ultimate CHAO way, I suppose, the truth o' the matter is that wherever Skye goes, Hope's Haven goes wi' 'er.

:::She let's her cape drop on to Merry's arm and gives Merry a kiss on the cheek and a hug, knowing that when her lass saw her go through that door, the signal was 'Merry, leave a drink at me special table, then come and wait for me here':::

Thank ye, me darlin' girl. Now get that cape up ta me room afore anyone discovers my secret. :::Skye laughs; Merry starts up the stairs, blushing a bit from the attention, and Skye walks back into the bar:::