Hbbiton Party Thing! (post roleplay style)

[shisteer of nothing much]

Teer shook herself thoroughly, not sure why Sheev had poured several gallons of water onto her head. She supposed it was his way of problem solving, which was, to be fair, a good way of solving his problem. He can't move the Taniwha into the lake so why not move the lake onto the Taniwha?
Still, Teer was glad Verdauga had teleported everybeast away before they had drowned.
"You all appear to be a bit wet. There are towels on that log, if you want them. Personally, I'm happy to let myself drip-dry. The atmospheric conditions have been very favourable. Oooh, Verdauga is that the complete collection of Hillare Ballock's poetry? Ah good, the jug is boiled. Just a moment, I'll go get the tea ready."

[Ebantu the Kararehe]

Ebantu shook her head in annoyance. "Hilaire Belloc. I like his poems. They have morals."

[shisteer of nothing much]

Teer pushed the tea trolley out of the kitchen and closed the door, shrugging in response to Eb's correction.
"Whatever. Thirsty? What kind of tea do you want?"

[Ebantu the Kararehe]

"Yes. Rooibos, if you have it. No honey, splash of milk." Ebantu sat on the ground and leaned against the tree trunk. "Anybeast know where Whatitiri is? I haven't seen him in ages."

[Verdauga]

Verdauga sighed and rested his head in his hands. "The book is One Dozen Nursery Rhymes for Children. I feel like a moron." When Ebantu asked about her eagle, he replied, "I could teleport him here, if you want."

[Ebantu the Kararehe]

The wildcat frowned and shook her head. "I wouldn't if I were you. You might ruffle his feathers, and he might try to kill you. But thanks for the thought."

[Verdauga]

Verdauga nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense, but I think I'll be fine." After speaking thus, he teleported away, returning some moments later with a suitably thick book in his hand. "Is this that Hillair Belloc book you were talking about?"

[Ebantu the Kararehe]

"Hilaire Belloc. Yes, that's the one. Read 'Rebecca, who Slammed Doors for Fun and Perished Miserably'. It's Hilaire-ious."

[shisteer of nothing much]

Teer passed Ebby her tea and grinned broadly.
"I know some of it. At least the first verse. Here, I'll see if I can recite it:
A trick that everyone abhors
In little girls is slamming doors.
A wealthy little banker's daughter
Who lived in Palace Green, Bayswater,
(By name, Rebecca Offendort)
Was given to this furious sport.

She would deliberately go
And slam the door like billy-ho
To make her uncle Jacob start.
She was not really bad at heart
But rather very rude and wild.
She was an aggravating child.

Now it happened that a marble bust
Of Abraham was standing just
Above the door this little lamb
Had carefully prepared to slam.
And down it came, it knocked her flat.
It laid her out! She looked like THAT!

Her funeral sermon (which was long
and followed by a sacred song)
Mentioned her virtues, it is true,
but dwelt upon her vices too.
"I... can't remember the rest of it. What does it say in the book?"

(OOC) Yes, I did do that from memory and no, I can't remember the rest. Google is so useful.

Spoiler

A trick that everyone abhors
In little girls is slamming doors.
A wealthy banker's little daughter
Who lived in Palace Green, Bayswater
(By name Rebecca Offendort),
Was given to this furious sport.

She would deliberately go
And slam the door like billy-o!
To make her Uncle Jacob start.
She was not really bad at heart,
But only rather rude and wild;
She was an aggravating child...

It happened that a marble bust
Of Abraham was standing just
Above the door this little lamb
Had carefully prepared to slam,
And down it came! It knocked her flat!
It laid her out! She looked like that.

Her funeral sermon (which was long
And followed by a sacred song)
Mentioned her virtues, it is true,
But dwelt upon her vices too,
And showed the dreadful end of one
Who goes and slams the door for fun.

The children who were brought to hear
The awful tale from far and near
Were much impressed, and inly swore
They never more would slam the door,
— As often they had done before

-Hillaire Belloc

[close]

[Booklover]

"Good poem." Booklover said. "Once, at school, there was a solar-powered policeman that danced. What would happen is people would hide it to annoy the teacher, but one day they put it on the door, and it broke when the door was opened."

[Verdauga]

"Well, for what it counts, I was rather surprised by the draconian punishment, but okay." Verdauga muttered. Raising his voice (to audible level) he asked, "What happened then?"

[Ebantu the Kararehe]

Ebantu sipped her tea. "Nothing. She died; the end. Now, my turn.
'The Wild, the Free, by Lord Byron.
With flowing tail and flying mane,
Wide nostrils never stretched by pain,
Mouth bloodless to the bit or rein,
And feet that iron never shod,
And flanks un-scarred by spur or rod.
A thousand horse, the wild, the free,
Like waves that billow o'er the sea.'."
OOC: Deepest apologies if the punctuation is incorrect.

[Verdauga]

Verdauga clapped in applause before thumbing through the poetry book. "Hmmm.... Ah; this is short enough. 'The Night Has a Thousand Eyes' by Francis Bourdillon.
The night has a thousand eyes,
And the day but one;
Yet the light of the bright world dies
With the dying of the sun.

The mind has a thousand eyes,
And the heart but one;
Uet the light of a whole life dies
When a love is done."

[Ebantu the Kararehe]

  Ebantu smiled. "I like that one.
Run from me, hide from me,
Still my shafts will find you.
All you vermin of the sea,
I must bring swift death to.
Lutra's holt has not yet gone,
By my bow I swear it so.
I alone will carry on,
Wreaking vengeance where I go.
Run from me, hide from me,
Hear my longbow singing,
Grath of Lutra's family
Sleep to you is bringing.
That poem doesn't have a name, but it's from The Pearls of Lutra."

[Booklover]

"Do you always put a tune to it when reading it? I do, for some reason." Booklover asked.