The Tree and Lobster

Where are we?
When are we?
Who are we?
Why are we?

Guess there's only one way to find out!

*Shifts the T&L into neutral to do some caosting on the currents of time and space* I found them, man that banana can dance! No missing Red there!

*Sounds of remodeling somewhere in the T&L*

It's me! We need a drumset!

We had a few the last time we went through the TCI zone. Though personally I prefer bongos myself. Much more fun.

Though have you seen Trollhammer ?

Oh hello G0lden dear, how have you been ? I will be a respectable captain and only ask how have you been and not where have you been becasuse I have learned the hard way that asking the second question instead of the first question normally explains why I keep getting decked.

So how are you doing G0lden ?

Now we can get the party started!

*pulls a 4 stringed instrument out from Hammerspace(TM)*

Need a Bassist?

Ah hello Hammer, one year no see! How you been ?

Still falling victim to the whole temporal vortex of doubt and disappointment, but Eddies in the current and I was able to break away. I seem to be at a disadvantage: any metal brought near me tends to set things off on another meander, which really puts a crimp on my forge work. But I can share a mug of brew with a friend!

Is there still some of Ol Maggoty's finest around, perhaps with a plate of something munchable?

I could ask how you have been, but I find it much more interesting and grammatically soothing to ask what or who someone has been, dont you?

Checking the ships log, it seems we were tasked with coming up with a destination idea. In my involuntary bouncing around through eleven some odd million years and over 12 and a half parsecs (which doesnt seem like much, but when you sit still and time moves around you, it ends up sweeping quite a bit by you), I came across this quaint little world that seems to be perpetually in a medeval water empire. It seems that, long ago, the conditions for fossil fuels never occured and so they never developed anything more than horse drawn carriages and the occasional steam powered boat, since wood and water seems plentiful. They seem to run in a odd class system based on ability and talent instead of wealth or political power... though really whats the difference between a bard and a politician? Anyway, there seems to be a little bit of magic there, various bars and guilds to explore, and endless forests full of old artifacts and strange creatures. The people dont automatically lash out or try to cure someone of my own green complexion and seem fairly amiable, and there is very little metal. Indeed, guilds pay for services with unusual gifts, such as magical devices or exotic animals. I didnt get to spend all that much time there before a vortex tore me away once more, but it seemed ok. Theres other places too, just not many with bunny slippers that actually hop onto your feet by themselves.

Ah yes, the perils of time and weird vertoxes vertexes ? vataxes ?? Whatever. Maybe I should reask that, When have you been or about to be ?

*Offers a mug* Havent seen hide nor hair of Old Magg, a good brewer there; got Jack Daniels though...

Are we having a party? Aren't we always? Well...



Alcohol-free versions are of course also available.

And let's not forget the food:

Hmm... it was never clear whether or not Dreamberry Brew was fermented or not, something tells me ol Bearclaw would have been too blitzed from the dreamberry effect to care about if its getting him drunk... or wait, is that the "forgetter juice" or whatever it was Picknose slipped him...?

Regardless, I just want something tasty. Empty vacuum leaves much to be desired. Ill have what you're having if nothing else, and a snack.

I suppose we also shouldn't forget the healthier stuff:

I think the forgetter juice was dreamberry wine. The elves didn’t know how to make wine.

Or maybe it was laced with that sleep powder— maybe he got roofied

Thats what I always had the impression of, that he loved the drink, half the reason he would spend so much time with the trolls, but that they added something more to make him effectively black out during a bet. It might have been the wine itself though, I just figured he favored dreamberries so much that they wouldnt affect him that much... and I just realized deamberries should have the opposite effect on him: he lives in the now normally, but deamberries we created to release a Wolfrixer from the Now of wolfthought, which would otherwise cause them not to remember... dreamberries help them remember, so it must have been a roofie.

*eyes own drink for a moment, then shrugs*

Hows it going, Luna? Seems like its been a few moons. For me at least. Hope its all going well?

I dunno about all that, But I do know where we can find some mighty fine wine right off the vine if you ask me. Then again I am not sure you want to go to 319M41. Its a fun year let me tell you

*Picks up the outrageous captains hat and jacket off a rack nearby and pouts them on, looking like something out of Warhammer 40,000* Its where I got these, fun times really

Suits you!

*While looking snazzy in his new suit* Why thankee, and yes it does

All this talk of clothing and questionably strong drinks od dubius origins gets me to wondering...

If a person's timeline, or series of life events, can be viewed as the threads of fate, would my threads look like lace, or drier lint?

*looks mopy a moment before ordering another two rounds of drinks for everyone present and otherwise, and hangs a pinata up, handing out sticks.*

So, here's how we play it back home: everyone gets a stick, and yer on yer honor to close yer eyes. No blindfolds. You go when you like, and when the candy and prizes start to fall out, its up to you to decide when to go after them, considering theres usuall several sticks swinging around while there's good sfuff left. And let me tell ya, theres spme pretty good stuff in this one... *grinning*

(Edit: I hope I didnt mess things up again, ignore me if so)

Hammer, I believe everyone has a belief in something, and I believe I need another beer. However, your question poses a interesting way of answering.

Namely, your threasds of fate might as well be as if a glass blower with the hiccupesd tried to maske an hour glass for you only for an earthquake to occur the same time he tried. So the Fates dont know if your life is over, just starting, or if you're even who you're supposed to be

Let alone When you're supposed to be

*meanders out of the head where she's been taking up the majority of hot water for a considerable amount of time*

It's amazing how the cleanly void of space can still make you need a hot shower. Well, things are looking lively.

*grabs a drink and ducks out of the way of swinging stick*


what's with all the philosophical talk about fate all about? Is fate even a thing? Is anything fated to begin with? Or is it something we create out of a child's cat's cradle to tangle ourselves up in for comfort? It can be such a more dreadful thing to imagine that nothing but our own choices alone separate us from...well... *swig*

Well kinda explains the reason behind why the water tank is needed refilling.... No seriously hello Evive I forgot you were in there, we didnt block up the door too much I hope

Oh, no worries, I was in there for quite a while. And the only thing you were blocking was all of the steam I created, which created a wonderful sauna effect. I'm glad the hot water held out for so long. I really needed that.

By the way, I think the ceiling might be starting to sag in there. Might want to have that looked at...

*sips (read gulps) from the backpack pouch for a moment. The backpack isnt filled with water, nor is it watered down, if you catch my meaning. Still waxing philisophically while twirling a stick absentmindedly like a conductor's baton*

Well as to fate vs free will, it has been my experience that both perspectives are generally true. I can choose to play along with or against fate, and I am fated to make choices whether I want to or not. For example, I must eat ic I choose to live, but what shall I eat? This plate of brownies has been set before me *pulls a plate of brownies from Hammer Space an places is on the table in front of myself* and i can choose to eat them or find something else *eyes piñata*, or I can choose to starve to death... ...my fate is to choose my fate.

*about that time, in the background, a line from the jukebox plays out ...if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice..."

*grabs a brownie* so why fight it, when those glistening choco chunks are eyeing me with such pleading eyes to help them find purpose and meet their fate... in my mouth... *bites into brownie*

Anyone want to help? There are plenty of them....

Did you do the whole shower-bath-shower Evie, or just the bath via drenching in the shower? Either is great, feels way better than trying to let meteor dust blast me clean in the vacuum of space... those things sting.