DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Modern/Historical DUC: Durham University Campus The Golden Fleece

The title of “York’s Most Haunted Pub” makes the Golden Fleece a must visit in York. The ancient building which can be traced as far back as 1503, stands opposite the historic Shambles and is easily accessible for students approaching from Fossgate or Piccadilly.





Further into the pub and down to the second bar (having two bars is surely a reason for a place on this list), you will find Saul Goodfellow sat at the bar.



Now I can hear you asking “Who on earth is Saul Goodfellow?” and you would be right to ask that question. The man's skeleton seems to move each time I visit; sometimes more than once! The Golden Fleece is considered to be so haunted that Ghostly Inns Ltd are currently compiling a book about the ghosts that reside within the pub and there is a spooky ghost tour starting at 6:45pm every night which will take you through the streets of York and back to the Fleece to get that last pint in. Perhaps the ghosts are enticed by the last orders bell which seems to ring a good forty five minutes after other local pubs – great if you want to stop off for that last drink before heading home!

The Golden Fleece is also one of the 12 real ale pubs near the university and it serves good food at a reasonable price.



The gang had arranged a rendezvous this evening, not sure how many of the original group would show.

Levon
He was glad that most of those who were with him on holiday (as those Brits say) were going to meet for some grub and beer. The Golden Fleece was a good choice for the gathering. It had good food and the ale flowed rather freely.

The recent few weeks had been rather stressful for him. His studies had become a burden lately with him having signed up for some classed he assumed would be a cakewalk but ended up requiring hours upon hours of study. Part of the problem was the accents. Figuring out conversational British was tough enough, but he had a history professor that spoke with a deep Scottish accent and another professor, a sociology professor that spoke like he was raised in Calcutta. Those classes required him reading and studying the text deeply. He didn't mind reading but it was not how he learned best. His felt like his brain was about ready to melt in his head. He needed a drink or ten and an evening where he could just unwind.

That made him early. He saddled up and placed his coin on the bar as he ordered a pint of ale to get him started. He hoped that the others wouldn't be too late.

{Skye}

She was running late, having just made arrangements for someone to cover her shift at the Shelter. The schedule on Skye's phone was booked solid - except for that dinner on Thursday night. Cancelled because Kate had said last night, "it's not you, it's me..." or some shit like that.

"Gaawddess!" Skye burst through the pub door emphasizing the word like an expletive with her un-distinctive California accent. She spotted Levon queued up for a pint. Even from here, he made her smile and feel a bit better. Life and work were tough - but she loved her mates!

Henri

Stifling a yawn as he steps through the doors of the pub, he looks around and then spots Levon at the bar. He gives an acknowledging wave and disappears for a couple of minutes to wash up in the men's room, only to come back to find Skye has also arrived.

"Hello, hello!", he says to both. Being almost a year now here, his English is improving and he is catching himself from interjecting French words more often than not. "What's the house drink tonight?"

Henri does silently remind himself to be careful in not ordering too much. While volunteer work looks great on his resume, it does little to help his wallet.

Emma
Emma came in after Henri, and wave to everyone, looking a little distracted and a bit windblown. "Sorry! My da called, and..." a quick eye roll, "Me going out... He worries..." It was said with an exasperated affection.

With that she flashed a smile at the three already there, as she slid into an open slot. "Lord it is good to see you all!"

The bar is busy as it usually is at this hour, mostly students and a few familiar faces. A girl comes over. It is Miranda whom Some of them know from the martial arts group. Her two friends hang back as she orders drinks for the three of them.



"Hey Levon, Skye. Have you seen the notice that went up today? There is to be a martial arts inter university competition at Durham university. They are asking for those who want to compete and plan to fill a coach so others can come and support too. A week away from classes! What not to like?"

{Skye}

They all seemed to converge to the bar at the same time. Skye was in her latest rock-style creation of a super-short jacket dress, that elicited some stares. A dagger-eyed look cut off one bloke’s attempt at a cat-call. Part of her outfit’s inspiration was from Atomic Blonde - and there was no doubt she would kick the guy’s ass!

She high-fived Henri and then Skye gave Emma a hug and laughed, “If it’s not one parent, it’s the other!”

Miranda bounded up all excited. The girl seemed younger than the rest of them somehow, but she was still likable. The martial arts tourney sounded intriguing. Skye had not heard about it yet.

“It would be fun to beat up on someone besides Levon for a change!” She give him a tickle-jab between the ribs. “Right, champ?” She winked.

Henri

He turns to Emma returning his own smile to her as she arrives and says, "Bienvenu!"

His attention then shifts to the three newcomers. Not being a part of the martial arts group that Levon and SKye are in, Henri flashes a smile at the pretty Miranda, but will remain quiet while hoping someone will speak her name.

Dating for him has been more miss than hit lately, and at this point Henri is always looking for a woman that might be receptive to him.

{Skye}

Weaving away from Levon's inevitable swipe back, Skye caught Henri's shy silence looking over at Miranda. **So cute!** she thought with a big heart-swell.

"Um. Sorry - I should introduce folks," she interjected. "Miranda - I think you know Emma, but this is Henri. Our resident sound engineer of the Mystery Gang - and quite the dancer too from our pub nights out."

She winked giving him the go ahead to talk the other girl up. Skye had let slip her nickname for their little troupe after their Scooby Doo adventures last winter -- though she had to change it up a bit for copyright purposes.

Miranda

"Oh yes I'd forgotten about your serial killer episode. Must have been exciting? Or scary? And hi Henri."

She nods to Emma and smiles at Henri.

"Are you French?"

Ian

The door opens again and a windswept, tall dark haired lad enters the pub, dark eyes looking around for a moment before lighting on the group and he smiles, heading over in their direction as he shrugs off his jacket. There is no hint of the limp that he had had for a while.

"Hey."

Emma

Em nods back at Miranda. And slides a look at Henri as well, then grinned at Skye. HHmm. The plot, like a good stew, thickens. Match making time? Looks like Skye thought so, and she gave her friend another grin. This could be fun.

As Ian approached Emma gave him a quick appraisal. "Hey yourself. Ian. Moving pretty good there." She dipped her head towards Miranda. "Ian, this is Miranda. Miranda... Ian."

Ian

He smiled at her and nodded, coming over to take a chair and sit.

"Yes, my leg has fully recovered. Hello." he said, turning to look at Miranda.

{Skye}

**Ohhhh, girl's gonna play that game with my boys!** Skye recognized Em's mischievous grin. It seemed a bit high school-ish and very Shakespearean - but maybe a little competition over a girl might be fun. Of course, she'd have to make sure there was a back-up girlfriend - and that they all would still be friends at the end of the play.

"Oh....!" Skye nodded towards Emma as she bumped Henri forward by "accident" between Ian and Miranda. "Sorry. My bad. And not even a pint yet!" She pulled away, hoping her bet would make the best of it. Then circled back to Em's arm spinning them both out just far enough.

"Now let's play nice," Skye whispered conspiratorially.

Henri

He takes a single unwanted extra step towards Miranda with Skye's 'clumsiness' and finding himself a little closer to Miranda than expected. Taking advantage of his position he palms and then reaches up and instantly produces a twenty pence coin seemingly out of thin air.

"Un sou pour une danse?"

He will then look surprised and says with a wider smile, "I hope you'll stay around Miranda, since I have twenty here. And yes, I am from Montréal. I haven't completely developed my English accent yet."

Emma

Emma hid a laugh with a cough. "Promise," she whispered. "All up to them now, Skye. But they look cute together, don't you think?"

Everyone deserved to be happy, and if Miranda was Henri's ticket, then he should get on and ride. Well, she thought, maybe that is a turn of phrase that can wait until they know each other well enough to ride.

Miranda

She says Hi to Ian and takes the 20p with a grin.

"Bribery and entertainment!"

She laughs, then addresses them all.

"Oh please say you'll sign up for the competition and/or supporting. My circumstances have changed and I don't want to go on my own. You guys will be fun."

Levon

Indeed, he did try to swipe back at Skye but his effort was half-hearted. Skye was getting better at martial arts and gave him a challenge, so he allowed her the fib.

"Nice to meet ya Miranda," he said even as Skye pushed Henri towards her.

"Henri, you think you can handle her?" he asked. "Lemme know if you need rescuing."

Finally he addressed the competition. "I guess we should enter that tourney, eh Skye? Show those Brits what Yanks are all about!"

Emma

"Well, as they say, if you cannot be an athlete, be an athletic supporter." A line from one of her favorite movies. "Of course I will be there, cheering you all on."

Henri

Having only seen professional mixed martial arts on the odd occasion when it is on a pay-per-view night at a pub, he is curious what it looks like at the University level.

"Sure, I'd like to come too. We should make t-shirts Emma. Just need to come up with a team name for our fighters."

Miranda grins at Levon whom she knows from the Martial Arts club and looks generally happy that the group are responding positively.

{Skye}

"We're in!" Skye nods to both Levon and Miranda. "And those tees better slap hard!"

Miranda

"Well it depends if we get selected for the team. Mr Harding (martial arts teacher) says they have been asked to send a team of 4. No idea if he will select or get us to compete for a place. Fingers crossed."

She smiles around at the others.

"I need to get a drink."

Emma

"I agree, Henri! We need T-shirts and some kind of cheer that we can do. Intimidate the other team, support our brave warriors... " Wheels in her mind began to turn.

Henri

"A cheer? Hmmm..."

He absently scratches his jaw line in thought as he thinks on what to do for that too. Miranda's suggestion though brings him to say, "Drinks first sounds great."

As he waits to order and get his beer, he adds, "Perhaps if we can find something in common between all the fighters, like a favourite move or something else, then rift off of that."

Pulling out his phone, he quickly does a search for MMA nicknames, and starts looking it over.