Introduction

[notallworthy]

"-you are one of the most impudent rascals upon earth."

He had no sooner spoken these words than the ensign, together with a volley of curses, discharged a bottle full at the head of Jones, which, hitting him a little above the right temple, brought him instantly to the ground.

Tom staggered to his feet, clasping a hand to his head.  Blood was

Comments

[cat_inthe_sun]

Jackrabbit was snoozing on the couch, baby tucked under one arm.

The baby, however, was not sleeping.

Mo Chroi was, in fact, quite awake, and, upon seeing the person appear, grinned widely and giggled loudly.

[notallworthy]

Hmmm...Tom has had limited experience with babies. He was one at some point and he has been accused of participating in the manufacture of at least one. (He will neither confirm nor deny.) At a loss he smiles and pulls what he hopes amounts to an amusing face which quickly devolves into a grimace of pain.

[cat_inthe_sun]

"Owie." Mo Chroi wrinkled his nose and smacked Jackrabbit's face. "Mama!"

Jackrabbit jerked awake. "Ow. Mo Chroi."

"Mama!"

[notallworthy]

Tom's brain hears 'Mama' and comes to the only conclusion possible. "How do you do, Madam?"

[three_smiles]

Michael looks at him with undisguised interest--emotions finally register on his face, without his being able to control them, although his eyes are still surprisingly blank of feeling. "Who are you?"

[notallworthy]

"Thomas Jones at your service, sir," he says with a polite bow and a surprisingly chipper voice considering the fact that he is bleeding and obviously in pain. "I pray you tell me where I might find the militia, they appear to have abandoned me."

[three_smiles]

"You are hurting, Thomas." Michael touches the blood sadly.

[notallworthy]

Tom fliched away out of habit. "It will soon be stopped, sir. You need not worry."

[revmother_livia]

"Oh dear, indeed." Livia gave him a leisurely look over. "You're bleeding. Are you alright?"

[notallworthy]

"It is a trifle compared to what I have borne in the past for my lady's honour." He bows to her and upon straightening he wobbles uncertainly.

"Madam, would you mind telling me where I am and where I might find a reputable barber?" Tom flashes her his most winning smile.

[revmother_livia]

"You're in the Mansion and the last thing you need right now is a haircut," she told him matter of factly, unmoved by winning smiles of any variety. "What you need is first aid."

[notallworthy]

Tom was a bit taken aback. "Vanity is the last thing on my mind, Madam. If there is no barber who is to see to my wound?" Something humourous passed through his head and he smiled wryly. "Although I dare say I have been bled eanough."

[jarndyceheir]

"Good god, man, what happened?" Richard moved to offer his assistance. Though the man's clothes were a good century out of fashion, he was an Englishman and clearly in distress.

[notallworthy]

"I am afraid my love's reputation was questioned and when I protested the cur attacked me. Thomas Jones at your service, would you happen to-Owwww!" Tom tried unsucessfully to blink away the blood in his eyes. "I appear to have glass in my wound."

[jarndyceheir]

Richard shook his head. "Yes, yes, introductions later. First, Mr. Jones, your wound needs cleaning and bandaging." He took the man's elbow and began steering him towards his room. Though he wasn't fully equipped as he'd like, he could clean the man up enough to get him to a proper surgeon.

[notallworthy]

"Your help is greatly appreciated. I have money to pay for any inconvenience I may cause and to pay for a barber."

[sweariwontdie]

"Do you need help, monsieur?"

[notallworthy]

"Thank you very much, sir. With you on one side and this good gentlman on the other," he motioned at Carstone, "I shall be like the Channel. Stuck 'twixt England and France!"

[sweariwontdie]

"If only it were that easy to pin down where the Mansion was."

[notallworthy]

Tom's brain stopped for a moment and then threw the sentence aside into its 'For Use At A Later Date' pile. Tom himself barely noticed the proceedings inside his mind and smiled rather blankly.

"What?"