Phaedra and the Fathers

 

Father Pizzaro and Father Moonwall paid a visit to Mrs. Underby in Clockhaven…

 

[16:24]  Phaedra Underby: Ahh, good evening Fathers.

[16:24]  Father Moonwall: Mrs. Underby.

[16:24]  Father Pizzaro: Good evening.

[16:24]  Phaedra Underby: May I help you?

[16:24]  Father Pizzaro smiles.

[16:25]  Father Moonwall: Might we have a few words with you?

[16:25]  Phaedra Underby: Certainly.

[16:25]  Phaedra Underby: Did you, ah, wish to come in?

[16:25]  Father Pizzaro: You are too kind.

[16:26]  Phaedra Underby: Do come in, then.

[16:27]  Phaedra Underby: Do come upstairs, would either of you care for tea or coffee perhaps? I could send over to the pub…

[16:27]  Father Moonwall: If you must send out, do not bother on my account

[16:28]  Father Moonwall stares at the small trunk

[16:28]  Father Pizzaro: I see you have an interest in botany.

[16:28]  Phaedra Underby nods

[16:28]  Father Moonwall: And an affection for miniature furniture.

[16:28]  Phaedra Underby: I studied under a midwife in New Toulouse who was a great admirer of the natural world.

[16:29]  Father Pizzaro: I see.

[16:29]  Father Moonwall sniffs the bowl by the fire

[16:30]  Phaedra Underby: Did you want some porridge, Father Moonwall? I was just about to eat mine, but you may have it if you wish.

[16:30]  Father Moonwall: You eat your porridge from a child’s bowl, do you?

[16:30]  Father Moonwall: Sitting on a miniature stool, eh?

[16:31]  Phaedra Underby smirks, “It is a birthing stool, Father.”

[16:31]  Phaedra Underby: As I said, I studied under a midwife for some time, the stools are low to the ground to facilitate a more natural pose for birth

[16:31]  Phaedra Underby: and the bowl, I think you’ll find, is quite a typical size.

[16:31]  Father Moonwall frowns

[16:31]  Father Moonwall: Mrs Underby, I shan’t beat about the bush.

[16:32]  Phaedra Underby: Oh no, father? how dissapointing.

[16:32]  Father Moonwall: We have reason to believe you are harbouring the criminal, Pip.

[16:32]  Phaedra Underby: Pardon me, Father, but did your church not bury Pip?

[16:32]  Father Moonwall: We did.

[16:33]  Father Moonwall: The grave is now filled with shreds of what appears to be tree bark.

[16:33]  Phaedra Underby: You are implying that I have stolen a corpse?

[16:33]  Father Moonwall: I am not implying, miss, I am stating outright.

[16:34]  Phaedra Underby gestures to her house, “You are free to look at will, Father, but you will find no corpses here.”

[16:36]  Father Moonwall: Might I look in that trunk?

[16:36]  Phaedra Underby: Certainly. Though only if you promise to handle the contents with care.

[16:37]  Father Moonwall clicks open the trunk

[16:37]  Father Moonwall: Hmmf.

[16:38]  Phaedra Underby: You may search my drawers as well, Father, if it will put your mind at ease.

[16:38]  Father Moonwall glares at the woman

[16:39]  Father Pizzaro raises an eyebrow at Father Moonwall

[16:39]  Phaedra Underby gestures to the little bedside tables, “Those, I meant.”

[16:41]  Phaedra Underby: YOu don’t mind if I sit do you, gentlemen? I’ve been unwell of late.

[16:42]  Father Moonwall: Mrs. Underby, you may imagine us as doddering old fools, but you would be wise to re-access your judgements.

[16:42]  Phaedra Underby: I’ve never thought anything of the sort, Father Moonwall.

[16:42]  Father Moonwall: We have more eyes than just our brothers and sisters.

[16:42]  Father Moonwall: You have been seen walking with the creature.

[16:43]  Phaedra Underby: Are you implying, father, that I have raised the dead?

[16:43]  Phaedra Underby smiles.

[16:43]  Father Moonwall: Since it was not alive, how might it be said to be dead?

[16:44]  Phaedra Underby: Ah, so what you are really implying is that I am, what, some sort of powerful sorceress who has brought the creature back to something resembling life?

[16:45]  Phaedra Underby smiles slightly.

[16:45]  Father Moonwall: I suspect the thing is a construct, and not alive or dead. But we did not get a chance to examine the creature, so how might we know?

[16:45]  Phaedra Underby: Forgive me, Father, but if you believe that, what are you doing in my house?

[16:46]  Father Moonwall: I care not whether it is alive or dead

[16:47]  Phaedra Underby: Look around you, fathers, do you see Pip?

[16:47]  Father Moonwall: No.

[16:47]  Father Moonwall: Neither did I ever see Pip at the Bucket of Blood.

[16:48]  Father Moonwall: Perhaps it is running an errand for you at this very moment. Causing another person to lose an eye or leg…

[16:48]  Phaedra Underby: Fathers, I do not wish to be presumptuous, but perhaps whomever sent you this….information….was merely causing trouble.

[16:49]  Father Moonwall: That may or may not be, but only a full investigation will prove one way or another. Is that what you wish?

[16:49]  Phaedra Underby: You have seen the extent of my house, how much further an investigation do you wish to conduct?

[16:49]  Father Moonwall smiles

[16:50]  Father Moonwall: Oh it can be much much more thorough.

[16:50]  Father Pizzaro smiles benevolently

[16:50]  Phaedra Underby yawns.

[16:50]  Father Moonwall: Your tone is flip, as they all are… at first.

[16:51]  Phaedra Underby: Fathers, I have lived in New Babbage for over a year, and I have seen the extent of your power within this city.

[16:51]  Father Moonwall: Ohh? Do you really suspect so?

[16:52]  Phaedra Underby: Taking Pip in for ‘investigation’ nearly got your church burned to the ground.

[16:52]  Father Moonwall: Oh nonsense.  The church is stone.

[16:52]  Phaedra Underby: I may not be loved, Fathers, but even I can see that if you so much as lay a finger on me there will be hell to pay.

[16:52]  Father Moonwall chuckles.

[16:53]  Father Moonwall: Do you know any of the history of Babbage miss?

[16:53]  Father Moonwall: Witch huntings are practically a national sport.

[16:53]  Phaedra Underby: WERE practically a national sport

[16:53]  Father Moonwall: We shall see.

[16:53]  Phaedra Underby chuckles.

[16:53]  Father Pizzaro smiles benevolently

[16:54]  Phaedra Underby: You probably imagine you stil have the clockwinder under thumb as well.

[16:54]  Father Pizzaro: What makes you say such?

[16:55]  Phaedra Underby: Because I have seen him in the company of my late husband and I happen to have seen my careless husband’s signature on some papers being handled on behalf of the Mayor.

[16:55]  Father Moonwall: We will deal with your ex-husband as well.

[16:55]  Father Moonwall: He is not unknown to us.

[16:56]  Phaedra Underby chuckles, “But first, I suppose, you’ll need to deal with me.”

[16:56]  Father Moonwall: I have made the Pip affair my personal interest, Mrs Underby.

[16:56]  Phaedra Underby: Please do father, but also understand that if I am what you are implying. It would be unwise to raise my temper.

[16:57]  Father Moonwall snorts.

[16:57]  Father Moonwall: Your kind’s time has long since passed.

[16:57]  Phaedra Underby: Oh no, Father, our time is comming. Your time, I think you will find, is comming to an end. Look around your city, rife with superstition.

[16:58]  Father Moonwall inclines his head

[16:58]  Father Moonwall: Again, we shall see.  I hope your optimism serves you well.  For your sake.

[16:58]  Phaedra Underby chuckles

[16:58]  Phaedra Underby: Are you quite done attempting to intimindate me? my porridge is getting cold.

[16:59]  Father Pizzaro: I have seen enough.

[16:59]  Father Moonwall: As have I.  Good day Mrs Underby.  We shall see you again, soon enough

[16:59]  Father Pizzaro: Good evening, Mrs. Underby.

[16:59]  Phaedra Underby: Do be sure you don’t let the dog out.

[16:59]  Father Pizzaro: We can find our way out.

[16:59]  Father Moonwall looks at the small dog.

[16:59]  Father Moonwall: I know who you are, sonny-jim. Your time will come.

[17:00]  Phaedra Underby laughs

[17:00]  Father Moonwall: She will rue that insolence.

[17:00]  Father Pizzaro: Perhaps an you should put in an appointment with the Blue Sparrow before seeing her again, Ora.  They are very discreet.

[17:00]  Father Moonwall nods

[17:01]  Father Moonwall: Very wise, Juris. Come, let us take in the view of the ships.