ꙮ Zaedulf’s Workshop, at mid-day by the Beast’s everpresent clocks. (There’s a huge one right by the Bazaar, tall as can be with eight different faces so that no matter what direction you’re looking at it from, you can see it clearly, unless your view is occluded by the Queen’s Castle, but then the Queen had an enormous clock face installed on the back wall OF the Castle to cover that eventuality.) Zaedulf’d sent a message via Saranzaya that he’d dug the Mysterious Prototype out of the pile it was waiting patiently in, and put it through what of its paces he could, without the hunter for whom it was designed.
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- Yazhn Ravhi, the Hierophant
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#zaedulf
#hunter
#saint
has mostly finished sorting out materials, setting up those unneeded for sale, and acquiring a few other that were needed for Various Projects at this point, and makes his way back over to the workshop after getting word.
intercepts him before he goes in. “Hey. I got a message that … I might want to tag along for this? But I wanted to make sure you wanted a tag-along.”
: “Fine by me.”
makes a sound of some mix of exasperation, relief, and confusion, before bumping his shoulder and heading in.
is inside, standing in front of a big sign on an even bigger easel that’s half-finished, made out of some kind of soft metal he’s carving strips and chunks out of to give the sign incredible depth and texture; you can make out that it’s eventually going to read ‘VYSOKVETR“ once it’s finished. He’s got his arms crossed and he looks like he just got done swearing creatively and in astonishing depth and specificity at it a few moments ago, but that might just be his default resting work face?*
: “What’s Vysokvetr?” She says by way of announcing their entrance.
: “Oh, hey, you two!” His ears perk up utterly flagrantly and his tail thuds loudly against a nearby workstation. “Zaedulf, of Clan Vysokvetr. Although usually I’m on Queen’s Business rather than clan business.” He laughs. “Nephew just ascended to Clan head last month and he wanted a new sign. Said the old one was old fashioned, but I think he just wanted his own that someone in-clan made. Been a while since I did this kinda work. Don’t know how to manage something that isn’t tryin’ to singe my whiskers off, honestly.”
: “Looks like it’s coming along well.”
does not smile at the familiar over-expressiveness of metahuman features, but it’s a near thing. “Congratulations to your nephew as well.”
grins, proudly. “He’s done well for us. Good head on his shoulders. You here ‘bout the prototype, or hopin’ to find more boxes I’ve got stashed away that’ve been sealed for years? I’m afraid I’m fresh out of the latter.”
: “Yeah, hard to imagine there’d be more laying around here.”
: “I mean, y’never know. I checked, though.”
: “He’s here about the prototype,” she says, nodding her head at Aurelius. “I’m here because Zaya invited me on both of your behalfs. And because I’m nosy.”
: “Gwahahah! You’re in the right place for nosy. Just don’t push any buttons that say ‘don’t push this button unless you know what you’re doing’, I think I labelled ‘em all.” He pushes off the table he’s been sorta leaning against, and waves over his shoulder for them to follow him back into– there’s not really rooms per se, as much as there are workspaces delineated by shelves full of Stuff, and one of them’s got a fairly wide concrete space with some fascinating blast marks singed into it.
follows along, giving the workshop another glance around.
: “Yeah she said I’d either see something really cool or need to immediately seek medical aid for one or both of you. Hoping for the former.” She does spare a glance to where Annarr’s workspace was, with its pile of papers.
tries not to be too fascinated by the blast marks.
: “Ehh, it probably won’t explode. Not this version, anyways. Two prototypes ago and I was glad I was wearing my good goggles!” He beelines for a very specific shelf without looking or checking, reaches his hand out. Pulls out– well, it looks like a greatsword, albeit rather impressively large, and from the way he holds it, it looks incredibly light and well-weighted for how large it is. It’s got some kind of intricate mechanism built into the hilt that looks like a rotating barrel holding cartridges of some kind, and there’s some kind of brightly-glowing crystal inlaid into the fullers on both sides of the blade.
raises her eyebrows at Aurelius, watching his reaction. Or for any reaction.
stares at it for a few moments before frowning slightly. “…Hmm. That explains that thought came from, I suppose.”
: “Oh, yeah?” He gives it a practice swing or two - tiny rippling gnosis-trails get left behind in the air as he swings, quick to dissipate, before handing it over carefully to Aurelius. It’s not sharpened yet, but it’s still a weapon.
takes it into his hands, turning it around to take in the details. “Yeah. Had an idea very similar floating around in the back of my head ever since we got here, which had seemed kind of random at the time, but apparently was not.”
ꙮ It’s… expertly-made. Honestly, this version pretty clearly isn’t just a prototype - the mechanism is polished, the barrel rotation’s smooth as silk.
: “Huh.” He scratches at the back of an ear, and smiles a little. “Built the thing from some of Annarr’s specs in the first place, it was his idea. Fuckin’ brilliant, if you ask me. Stores up charges of gnosis in the barrel, see, and then you can release it into the entire blade, or even fire it out as a projectile dependin’ on how you set it up in advance.”
lets out a low, appreciative whistle. “How long did it take you to make it?”
nods. “Yeah.”
: “Mmm. Been workin’ on it off and on for… a couple of years now honestly. Started really workin’ on this model, uh, ‘bout a month and change ago, and– yeah! Yeah, how’s it feel?”
takes a few steps back and away from the other two before slipping into a stance and getting a feel for the way it’s balanced, before making a few slow and deliberate swings through the air. “Feels just right.”
: “Do you like how it feels?” She asks. Which is the same question more or less, but. Not quite.
grins, leaning back against the wall - and then fiddles with something in his hand, and something made out of little brass rings and crystals hovers, piece by piece, into shape - a vaguely fiend-like figure, clearly designed to look like something that looks menacing, but it doesn’t quite pull off menacing by itself, more “oddly cute training dummy”.
glances between Salme and Zaedulf, before turning his attention to the striking dummy. Lets out a breath, then steps towards it and takes a slow, deliberate swing at it. Then pulls back and takes a few more normal speed strikes against it. Recenters himself, before making a diagonal cut against it and pulling the trigger as the blade connects with it.
ꙮ And, oh, it sings for you. Built for this body and these hands, and the blade releases a burst of aether that sends the brass rings flying into the corners of the proving ground when you connect and activate the trigger.
watches, rapt. But she could watch him work through his forms for … a very long time.
lets out a breath, before setting it down against a nearby wall with a nod. “You’re clearly very good at what you do.”
will definitely accept the compliment. He looks very pleased to finally see the blade in action… “As are you, Aurelius. As was he.” He nods, eyes bright. Puts down the controls for the training dummy, because, stars, the whole system’s going to have to be recalibrated after that. “Anything you think needs balance work?”
thinks for a moment, then shakes his head. “It’s a little odd how light it feels, but that’s not something you’d want to adjust the blade for itself, I don’t think.”
nods a bit. “Blade was a bit of an experiment, ‘cause the mechanism was heavy enough that steel would’ve been a nightmare. Got some gnosis-work lightening the mechanism itself, too, that was- one of Annarr’s tricks, heh. Keeps comin’ in handy.”
: “Yeah. that makes sense. Hmm. You did a fine job bringing it to life. You say it’s a prototype, but you could probably sell it with confidence just like this.”
: “Huh.” He scratches behind an ear, again- looks to Salme, too. “You think it’d do well? Work this custom, ‘d be a heck of a thing to try and mass produce, but I could probably give the specs to some of the nicer workshops and have ‘em make a few…”
: “Feels like there could be a market for it. Good at punching through particularly armored fiends, like the adamantoises. A lot easier than trying to get them over a bomb and then stand still over it long enough for it to detonate, at least. Heh.”
: “Oh, stars, is that still the best trick we’ve got there? That’s a whole untapped market right there by itself…”
laughs a little at that.
: “Old habits die hard. Until something much cooler comes along.”
tilts her head. “Is it a weapon you’d wield, Aury? It looked good in your hands.”
: “Perhaps, though it’s hard to think of many I couldn’t see myself using given the right scenario.”
lets out a soft chuckle. “Coulda guessed that’n.” And then a smile. “Anyways, I hope it goes without sayin’, but that’s yours after I sharpen it up and tweak just a couple more tunings on the crystal inlays, if you want it. And if you ever decide you do want some more work done on it… I’ve got a feelin’ it’d be joyful work.”
puts a hand to his mouth in thought, considering it for a while before eventually shaking his head. “No I… I think you should keep this one. I know you probably don’t have as much need for it as I do but…” He glances over his shoulder, back towards Annarr’s work area. “…Something about coming in and taking everything tangential related to him just… doesn’t sit right with me, you know? This is as much your work - if not more so - as it was his idea and… Hmm. It just feels like you ought to hold this one.”
: “Hmmmm.” He crosses his arms over his chest and looks thoughtful, for a moment. “Sounds like a good opportunity to make some changes that’ll make it suitable for production for sale to other Hunters, then. Maybe I can sell Vysokvetr on it, since they wanted somethin’ new-fangled an’ all!” He punches a fist into an open palm. “Take a copy of the latest specifications, though, will ya? In case you decide to build your own.”
: “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea, I think. And a couple extra blueprints on hand to reference certainly wouldn’t hurt.”
: “Oh, I’ve got backups of my backups. Enough things explode or catch on fire, there’s some mistakes you only make once, and then you teach your students not to make.” He pauses. Glances sidelong to Salme. “…he does keep backups of his work, right?”
blinks. “Uh … well. In a sense, at least?”
: “Ah, I had meant - I certainly don’t object to taking a copy of them for myself.”
griiiins. “Ahhh, I’m just messin’ with ya.”
is now thinking about backups of work and the decided absence of them.
rummages around in a nearby cabinet, and then swears at length under his breath in a low, steady, continuous rumble, before checking another cabinet, and then having a light bulb moment and tromping off to a different corner of the workshop before letting out an echoing, victorious yawp, and returning with a wholeass new leather binder full of notes and diagrams and exchanging that for the blade he’d given Aurelius to test out.
raises an eyebrow. “Whole lot more than one, I suppose.”
: “It’ll give you something to do?”
: “They’re thorough and extensive.” Grin. “As for you.” He turns on Salme, ominously. “Anything I can get for you while you’re here? Other than gettin’ Aurelius some forge time, I’ve already got that handled.”
blinks, then looks to Aurelius, then back to Zaedulf. “I had wanted to. Ask. About Annarr. Who he was to you. But it doesn’t have to happen now.” She thinks for a moment, breathes, and then goes over and takes Aurelius’ hand. “I also know he already introduced himself to you, but,” she looks a little apologetically at Aurelius before saying, “I guess I wanted the chance to introduce Aury as … perhaps the best man I’ve ever known. Brilliant, thoughtful, and thorough with a hell of a sense of humor. Some day you’ll make him laugh and it’ll change your entire world, Zaedulf of clan Vysokvetr. I hope you get a chance to get to know him. On his own terms.” She gives a slightly theatrical bow and then drops Aurelius’ hand, blushing furiously but. She said what she said.
shakes his head slightly at Salme as she finishes, before rolling a small shrug in Zaedulf’s direction.
blushes more, cheeks very, very dark. But she lifts her chin at Aurelius’ head shake. Even if he’s just exasperated at her that’s. Fine.
feels, very strongly, she had to say it. She would not be herself otherwise.
gives Salme a slow, happy grin. “Oh, I like your style. Fearless. You’ll do real good here, you will.” Gives Aurelius a Look but does not, in fact, gently cuff him on the shoulder. Just gives him a look and a very soft chuckle. “As I said. Have a feelin’ if you ever come in for some work, the work’ll be a joy. Lookin’ forward to the opportunity, if it arises. And you and I,” -he gestures at Salme with a sheaf of scrawl-covered paper- “-should get coffee sometime.”
: “Mm, well, I do have at least two things to work on if you really don’t mind me borrowing the space.”
: “And … weren’t you going to give Zaedulf a tomestone?”
: “Oh, yeah, go for it. Like I’m usin’ all this space. Whatcha working on, if it’s somethin’ you’re allowed to talk about?”
: “Some armor and a scimitar… Oh, right, I think Zaya mentioned you wanted one or two…?” And producing two is easy enough.
: “Ahahaha, someone ratted me out that I’d probably immediately take one apart, huh?” He reaches out for both of them, yes, for sure. “Yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem. Got some forge time booked for ya, too.”
: “Armor?” She raises her eyebrows. “For yourself or someone else?”
: “Yes.”
: “Definitely one of those two.”
flicks a crumb (luckily there’s tons of bread on the Beast) at his ear.
: “You’re going to hate yourself when you eventually give someone an ear infection from doing that, you know.”
snorts helplessly, observing the Antics.
: “I have literally never once gotten a crumb in your ear, asshole. Besides, you have protective fluff.”
ꙮ It’s true. That’s what the fluff is for.
: “Mm-hmm, make a note of this conversation for later.”
: “Are you going to manifest an ear infection just to fuck with me? Because then you’ll have to deal with my taking care of you, and Aury? I hover.”
: “No, that would be stupid as hell.”
: “Okay. As opposed to whatever I’m making note of here for later.”
does reach up and runs a finger along the back of one of his glorious, generally inert pinnae.
ꙮ They are magnificent specimens.
rolls his eyes and slaps her in the side with his tail while she’s not looking at it.
ꙮ Thwap!
laughs.
chuckles, and pretends to be preoccupied with the notes and diagrams in his paw.
: “(Anything else you want to say to him, Aury? I can give you space if you need. Or facilitate, if you’d like),” she whispers.
shakes his head.
nods. “Okay. Where are you off to next, and do you want company?”
: “To… get some work done… as we were just talking about…?”
: “Oh! You’re going straight into the forge?”
: “How long did you THINK we were staying in Queenstown?”
: “The iron’s hot, may as well strike.”
rolls her eyes. “I was trying not to make assumptions,” she says with feigned irritation. “I guess you probably don’t want me yelling invasive questions at you while you work with hot metal.”
: “I could probably live without them in that scenario, but also deal with them if you feel you really must and will explode without getting it out of your system immediately.”
: “Honestly, tends to be so loud in there y’can’t hear yourself think, let alone questions.” He grins, amiably.
: “I’m practicing patience. I can give you a couple hours at least. Look at me, I’m so undine now. I’ll find you in a bit.”
pauses and does stand on her tiptoes to kiss Aurelius on the cheek, or as close as she can get. “(I’m proud of you, kulta),” she whispers, then drops back down.
pulls her in for a hug and a pat in the back before letting her go with a nod.
: “Honestly, now might not be a bad time to go for that coffee, considering. Maybe a hibiscus drink, if it’s late in the day for coffee for ya.”
: “Oh, that’d be lovely if you don’t mind.”
: “And it will keep me out of Aury’s hair. And ears.”
: “Wouldn’t ever mind goin’ for coffee with a new friend.” And he fiddles, and rummages, and scoots around the workshop a bit before hitting a button that causes several things to happen autonomously, the effect of which is that the warehouse is TEMPORARILY CLOSED ~ COFFEE BREAK.