The Beginning: When Harv Met Vera - Page 6

zelda_pinwheel · 06-30-2009, 05:46 PM

thank the squirrels, hugo has a plan !

(get a move on pshrynk, or the otters will get you !)

badgoodDeb · 06-30-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

So that's where you've been. Welcome back, Deb! Did you have a good one?

Yuppers! Got to play with the itsy bitsy nevvies & nieces all the way up to the bigger ones. Did a little kayaking (too little -- I should have tried it before the last day, cuz I really enjoyed it!) and some other hobbies too. Too bad I had to return to w**k!

pshrynk · 07-01-2009, 03:05 PM

Major Biggles stepped off the gangway onto Cuban soil. He felt rather confident in his ability to blend in with the population, having done some research in the library before getting on the steamer in Miami. The librarian had been quite helpful when he'd asked for modes of dress in those latin countries down south. He wasn't too certain why she had giggled so much, though. Must have been a very jolly young woman...

He retrieved his trunk and went through customs and immigration. He tried to just show his Diplomatic Passport, but for some reason, the Customs agents insisted on going through every single one of his posessions, piece by piece. He was getting very annoyed by all the attention, but he did not wish to blow his cover story.

"So," said the Agent, "Senor -- ah -- Beegleso -- what brings you to our country? Busines or pleasure?" The Agent looked as if he were having a hard time not laughing.

"El pleasuro, por favor!" Biggles was quite proud of himself for memorizing many parts of the phrase book on the journey down here. He felt that he would easily pass as a South American business man here to check on the sugar trade.

"Ah. Then you will have no extra money with you?" The Customs Agent had tried speaking Spanish at the ridiculous American, but had given it up as a lost cause very early.

"No!" At least the cerro could get that right.

Stifling a laugh, once again, he waved Biggles through the line. No way could someone that stupid cause any problems in the country!

Harv stood by the wall of the port, scanning potential patrons. He hoped to soon be able toget back to flying if he could just find the right sucker and or bankroll to get him up there. So, he hung around the port most days.

Out from the Customs Office came a pale white man dressed in Bermuda shorts, a white cotton collarless shirt, a serape, brown sock and sandals, with a gaudily colored Mexican Sombrero on his head. Harv decided he should follow this man. It would be amusing to watch what happened...

badgoodDeb · 07-01-2009, 03:11 PM

Wonder which of us was that oh-so-helpful librarian, with the giggly manner!

zelda_pinwheel · 07-01-2009, 07:25 PM

"He felt rather confident in his ability to blend in with the population, having done some research in the library before getting on the steamer in Miami."

completely infallible, that method.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 07-01-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Out from the Customs Office came a pale white man dressed in Bermuda shorts, a white cotton collarless shirt, a serape, brown sock and sandals, with a gaudily colored Mexican Sombrero on his head. Harv decided he should follow this man. It would be amusing to watch what happened...

I was wondering what the librarian had him wearing!

pshrynk · 07-03-2009, 10:01 AM

Vera was beginning to think that she was not in immediate danger. Immediate as defined by, "not in the next ten seconds." She decided that she was willing to hear Dr. Montsnmags out, even if she did want to fill in the blanks for him at times.

"Slick and I have a good... arrangement. But we really need a third... player to make it happen the way we would... like. You have showed some... skills in cards and certainly a... grasp of the situation. How would you like to go to... Havana?"

"Havana? As in Cuba? What's there?" Vivaldi started emitting a distressing odor.

"The biggest poker... tournament in history starts there... next week. We have... purchased three seats."

"Wait a minute! There are two of you! How did you know you were going to need a third?"

"We had made... arrangements to have a third player join our little... enterprise when we got there. However, we just learned that he is... not availabe at the moment. Let's call it... providence that you came along when you did."

Vera thought for a moment. What could go wrong? She immediately thought of at least twelve things. But, she'd never been to Cuba, and the riverboat scene was starting to get stale. And dangerous, if those men from the Julia Belle Swain ever got their memories back... "Okay! I'm in!"

"Ex... cellent!" Dr Montsnmags could work a pause into a one word exclamation. "When we get to... New Orleans, we will board a steamer for Havana and... arrive just in time for the tournament.

"In the meantime, might I suggest that you give your dog a... bath?"

Vivaldi started to growl.

zelda_pinwheel · 07-03-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Vera thought for a moment. What could go wrong? She immediately thought of at least twelve things. But, she'd never been to Cuba, and the riverboat scene was starting to get stale.

well, like my old grandmother used to say, "it's not even worth getting out of bed for, if you can't immediately think of at least 12 things that could go wrong with it."

so, was the third player originally the squid ? the small blue frog ? slite ?

pshrynk · 07-03-2009, 04:53 PM

He'll turn out to be a man of mystery...

zelda_pinwheel · 07-03-2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

He'll turn out to be a man of mystery...

well i certainly hope so. i'd have been disappointed otherwise.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 07-03-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

He'll turn out to be a man of mystery...

Please, not an international one with llama teeth!

Steven Lyle Jordan · 07-03-2009, 06:58 PM

I'm not sure who Dr Montsnmags is supposed to remind me of, but I keep thinking of Keifer Sutherland in Dark City...

pshrynk · 07-06-2009, 02:14 PM

Harv followed the strangely dressed American at a discrete distance. He wasn't sure how far back he actually had to stay, because the American immediately picked up another tail who was basically walking two feet behind him most fo the way and was never noticed.

Harv began to wonder what, exactly, this guy was doing in Cuba. He seemed too dim to be a business man, more obnoxious than the usual tourist, and definitely not the Cosa Nostra types who frequently came down from Miami. Maybe he was a spy. Harv shook his head at that thought. Even Army OSI was not that stupid.

The other tail that was following the American was soon joined by three other young Cuban men who were keeping more disctreetly back. Harv was sure he'd not been sighted, but held back further, just to be safe.

It all hit the fan when the American stopped to purchase a small piece of pottery and tried to haggle over the price.

"I say, old bean! How mucho for el potto?"

The vendor looked around him and espied the tails that Biggles had picked up. "It is free, senor! Please take it and leave!"

Biggles drew himself up proudly and congratulated himself on his negotiating prowess.

"Well, I must say that that was incredibly ea... OOOF!" He crumpled up as the nearest tailing Cuban punched him solidly in the stomach. Soon Biggles was surrounded by four men, each of whom menaced him with a knife. They were screaming at him in Spanish.

"I don't believe that I can follow... OUCH!" said Biggles as a foot connected with his abused belly.

One of the assailants had picked up English at one time. "Give us your money, Bastardo!" he said, holding a knife in Biggles' face.

"Oh dear! I seem to have fallen in with thieves! I wonder what the Manual has to say about this?"

"It probably says that you're better off fighting when the odds are more in your favor," said Harv from near Biggles' head.

The four assailants turned as a man to face Harv. "What makes you think that you can even up the odds, puto?"

Harv got a studied look on his face and said, "Well, I'm a lot better fighter than any of you as far as what I've seen so far. So I could probably bring down two of you in the first three second, which would bring it up to even right away."

"But you don't have no knife! I'll cut you from bottom to top!"

"Ah, well, you have me there! I guess then I'd have to draw on the rest of what the Manual says, which is, 'never bring a knife to a gun fight.'" Harv pulled his arm from behind his back and pointed his Colt revolver at the gut of the nearest Cuban. They all dropped their knives and sauntered away nonchalantly, as if trying out for the Cuban National Synchronized Sauntering Team.

zelda_pinwheel · 07-06-2009, 02:39 PM

"the Cuban National Synchronized Sauntering Team"

now there is a sport i would watch.

but harv, i suspect biggles will notice you following him now...

vivaldirules · 07-08-2009, 09:24 AM

God, this is fun stuff. I must catch up.

07-01-2009, 03:05 PM	#78
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Major Biggles stepped off the gangway onto Cuban soil. He felt rather confident in his ability to blend in with the population, having done some research in the library before getting on the steamer in Miami. The librarian had been quite helpful when he'd asked for modes of dress in those latin countries down south. He wasn't too certain why she had giggled so much, though. Must have been a very jolly young woman... He retrieved his trunk and went through customs and immigration. He tried to just show his Diplomatic Passport, but for some reason, the Customs agents insisted on going through every single one of his posessions, piece by piece. He was getting very annoyed by all the attention, but he did not wish to blow his cover story. "So," said the Agent, "Senor -- ah -- Beegleso -- what brings you to our country? Busines or pleasure?" The Agent looked as if he were having a hard time not laughing. "El pleasuro, por favor!" Biggles was quite proud of himself for memorizing many parts of the phrase book on the journey down here. He felt that he would easily pass as a South American business man here to check on the sugar trade. "Ah. Then you will have no extra money with you?" The Customs Agent had tried speaking Spanish at the ridiculous American, but had given it up as a lost cause very early. "No!" At least the cerro could get that right. Stifling a laugh, once again, he waved Biggles through the line. No way could someone that stupid cause any problems in the country! Harv stood by the wall of the port, scanning potential patrons. He hoped to soon be able toget back to flying if he could just find the right sucker and or bankroll to get him up there. So, he hung around the port most days. Out from the Customs Office came a pale white man dressed in Bermuda shorts, a white cotton collarless shirt, a serape, brown sock and sandals, with a gaudily colored Mexican Sombrero on his head. Harv decided he should follow this man. It would be amusing to watch what happened... Last edited by pshrynk; 09-25-2009 at 12:18 PM.

07-03-2009, 10:01 AM	#82
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Vera was beginning to think that she was not in immediate danger. Immediate as defined by, "not in the next ten seconds." She decided that she was willing to hear Dr. Montsnmags out, even if she did want to fill in the blanks for him at times. "Slick and I have a good... arrangement. But we really need a third... player to make it happen the way we would... like. You have showed some... skills in cards and certainly a... grasp of the situation. How would you like to go to... Havana?" "Havana? As in Cuba? What's there?" Vivaldi started emitting a distressing odor. "The biggest poker... tournament in history starts there... next week. We have... purchased three seats." "Wait a minute! There are two of you! How did you know you were going to need a third?" "We had made... arrangements to have a third player join our little... enterprise when we got there. However, we just learned that he is... not availabe at the moment. Let's call it... providence that you came along when you did." Vera thought for a moment. What could go wrong? She immediately thought of at least twelve things. But, she'd never been to Cuba, and the riverboat scene was starting to get stale. And dangerous, if those men from the Julia Belle Swain ever got their memories back... "Okay! I'm in!" "Ex... cellent!" Dr Montsnmags could work a pause into a one word exclamation. "When we get to... New Orleans, we will board a steamer for Havana and... arrive just in time for the tournament. "In the meantime, might I suggest that you give your dog a... bath?" Vivaldi started to growl. Last edited by pshrynk; 07-06-2009 at 01:55 PM.

07-06-2009, 02:14 PM	#88
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Harv followed the strangely dressed American at a discrete distance. He wasn't sure how far back he actually had to stay, because the American immediately picked up another tail who was basically walking two feet behind him most fo the way and was never noticed. Harv began to wonder what, exactly, this guy was doing in Cuba. He seemed too dim to be a business man, more obnoxious than the usual tourist, and definitely not the Cosa Nostra types who frequently came down from Miami. Maybe he was a spy. Harv shook his head at that thought. Even Army OSI was not that stupid. The other tail that was following the American was soon joined by three other young Cuban men who were keeping more disctreetly back. Harv was sure he'd not been sighted, but held back further, just to be safe. It all hit the fan when the American stopped to purchase a small piece of pottery and tried to haggle over the price. "I say, old bean! How mucho for el potto?" The vendor looked around him and espied the tails that Biggles had picked up. "It is free, senor! Please take it and leave!" Biggles drew himself up proudly and congratulated himself on his negotiating prowess. "Well, I must say that that was incredibly ea... OOOF!" He crumpled up as the nearest tailing Cuban punched him solidly in the stomach. Soon Biggles was surrounded by four men, each of whom menaced him with a knife. They were screaming at him in Spanish. "I don't believe that I can follow... OUCH!" said Biggles as a foot connected with his abused belly. One of the assailants had picked up English at one time. "Give us your money, Bastardo!" he said, holding a knife in Biggles' face. "Oh dear! I seem to have fallen in with thieves! I wonder what the Manual has to say about this?" "It probably says that you're better off fighting when the odds are more in your favor," said Harv from near Biggles' head. The four assailants turned as a man to face Harv. "What makes you think that you can even up the odds, puto?" Harv got a studied look on his face and said, "Well, I'm a lot better fighter than any of you as far as what I've seen so far. So I could probably bring down two of you in the first three second, which would bring it up to even right away." "But you don't have no knife! I'll cut you from bottom to top!" "Ah, well, you have me there! I guess then I'd have to draw on the rest of what the Manual says, which is, 'never bring a knife to a gun fight.'" Harv pulled his arm from behind his back and pointed his Colt revolver at the gut of the nearest Cuban. They all dropped their knives and sauntered away nonchalantly, as if trying out for the Cuban National Synchronized Sauntering Team. Last edited by pshrynk; 07-06-2009 at 03:12 PM.

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06-30-2009, 05:46 PM	#76
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	thank the squirrels, hugo has a plan ! (get a move on pshrynk, or the otters will get you !)

07-01-2009, 03:11 PM	#79
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,501 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Wonder which of us was that oh-so-helpful librarian, with the giggly manner!

07-01-2009, 07:25 PM	#80
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	"He felt rather confident in his ability to blend in with the population, having done some research in the library before getting on the steamer in Miami." completely infallible, that method.

07-03-2009, 04:53 PM	#84
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	He'll turn out to be a man of mystery...

07-03-2009, 06:58 PM	#87
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I'm not sure who Dr Montsnmags is supposed to remind me of, but I keep thinking of Keifer Sutherland in Dark City...

07-06-2009, 02:39 PM	#89
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	"the Cuban National Synchronized Sauntering Team" now there is a sport i would watch. but harv, i suspect biggles will notice you following him now...

07-08-2009, 09:24 AM	#90
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	God, this is fun stuff. I must catch up.

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