From: JBrandt@AAA.UOregon.EDU (Thyra)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Re: Introductions and stuff.
Followup-To: alt.callahans
Date: 22 Jan 1993 21:26:25 GMT
Organization: the Polyhedron Group
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: aaa.uoregon.edu

In article <1jfc04INN7c5@shelley.u.washington.edu>,
lazuli@stein.u.washington.edu (Fred Sloniker) wrote:
> 
> As various and sundry patrons of the Saloon greet Laz, mostly in a quiet,
> emailish way, his initial panic subsides into nervousness, then a quirky
> curiosity.  For good or ill, some force has brought him here, and the least
> he can do is find out why and how before he sets out for home.  First things
> first; this is, after all, a tavern of sorts, and he could use a warm drink.
> 
> Walking up to the bar, he places the rice-paper bill handed to him earlier
> on the counter, addressing the gentleman behind it.  "Um, is this enough for
> a hot chocolate?" he asks hopefully, glancing about the bar to see if he can
> spot the faintly familiar figure he spotted earlier.

A femine chuckle comes from right behind Laz, startling the he-- out of
him. He could swear there was no one there a minute ago. Fortunately
Mike(?), the bartender, hadn't handed Laz his drink yet. The woman's voice
said "All drinks are a dollar, or the nearest equivilent in whatever
currency you choose to pay Mike in. That one NuYen note Itosu gave you is
just right." 

Laz turns to look into a pair of startlingly blye eyes, framed in a
feminine but feline face. Her fur is golden-brown, but her shoulder-length
hair has been dyed cyan blue with white highlights. He looks down, seeing
that her form is generally humanoid, and quite attractive, with a feline
tail twitching near her ankles. She's wearing a black velvet minidress with
a low neckline, and a matching inch-wide velvet choker, set with a single
sapphire. She's smiling at him. And she -does- look familiar, but he just
can't place her.

Then Laz does a double-take, 'cause the last time he saw this woman, he
could swear she was six feet tall, and had blue markings on her face,
around her eyes. Now she's the same height he is - just four feet tall. She
giggles at his reaction. "It's all right, Laz. Your eyes aren't playing
tricks on you. I -did- shrink to your size. My name's Thyra, and I'm a
shapeshifter. I thought you might be more comfortable talking to someone
who didn't tower over you. Tall women seem to make some men nervous."

Laz manages to mutter "Er, you know me? Have we met?"

She smiles again. It's a very nice smile. "You've forgotten already? Oh
Laz. Remember that moonlit night a week or so ago in your hometown? I still
have the Identity card you gave me. See?" She holds up her hand, and an
identacard from his homeworld appears in her hand. It has a photo of her on
it, but in the photo she has medium brown hair, not blue. "We only met that
once, but you were most kind to me. I asked you over for a drink, and,
well, here you are." <giggle>

"Would you like to join me for a drink? We can talk about the differences
between your homeland and where you are now, and perhaps figure out a way
for you to pass between the two places when you wish."

She gestures to a nearby table. As Laz makes up his mind, Thyra orders a
'Shogun coffee' from Mike, paying for it with what looks like a short,
plastic chopstick. Mike takes the stick, inserts it into a small machine,
and hands it back when he delivers her drink. The bands of color at one end
have changed. Is this a strange form of money? The drink she is holding is
topped with whipped cream and cinnamon, and smells faintly of oranges. So
much to learn about this place. Hmmmmmm.

Hugs and Purrs,
Thyra