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FLUX'S FORGE - LATE MORNING
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Mia pokes her head into the forge, to look about. She's dressed in a short skirt and a somewhat tight top. She's found that this sort of thing gives her a little more attention from the general public, and rather likes that! She calls out "Flux. You there?"
Flux pokes an arm out from behind a shelf, waving in the general direction of the door before eventually popping out from behind the shelves, dragging a sheet of metal along behind. The elemental is... Well, small, having assumed the shape of an otter, though a third the height as Flux tried to get the metal from behind there. Giving Mia a nod, she is finally greeted. "Good morning! How can I help you today, Mia?" As Flux approaches the workbench with the sheet of dull looking metal dragging by it's side, ashes slowly gather toward the growing smith, drawn across the floor into it's body until standing at normal height and carrying the plate under the left arm.
Mia: "Well, actually. I was thinking to help you a bit!" She pokes her head in a little bit more "I remember you saying that you were struggling a bit with getting out of the forge, and I was thinking..well, maybe I could help? I'm still awkward around people, but maybe we could awkward together?"
Flux gives a curious hum while rounding the workbench, laying the metal plate down with a thud. "Hm? Did I? Maybe I did... To be honest, I'm not good at remembering conversations... At least, outside of the work. But if I did, I am glad you'd like to help!" Flux smiles at her, ashes crumbling from around whiskerless lips. "What's first?"
Mia: "Well..I think the first thing is deciding how you look!" She's going along with how she learned it "You can look like loads of things, but maybe there's some form that feels more you than anything else?" She doesn't quite know how this works, so is just sort of..diving into it, experimenting.
Flux ponders, scratching at his chin for a moment. "That... Hm. That form isn't very useful for working, but I could show you. Maybe you know better?"
Mia: "Well. This wouldn't be for working. It would be for doing stuff that isn't working, and just..well, relaxing outside work?" She pauses "Ah, do you do stuff that isn't work?"
Flux chuckles a few puffs of smoke out. "Melia has tried to get me to do more than smithing, but I start to feel... Empty? When away for too long." The otter approaches the forge while speaking, unceremoniously tossing itself into the maw after it finishes. A vague sigh of satisfaction echoes in the room. "This... Is comfortable." A ball of glowing coals rolls toward the edge of the mantle, a column of ashes beginning to slowly swirl around it, supporting the hot globe and feeding it a current of air. "No arms... No legs... No tools." The voice is definitely coming from the orb, though it has an unearthly quality without even the ashy lips to form words.
Mia looks on curiously "So, is this satisfying for you?" She understands, abet a little dissappointed that they were perhaps not quite as 'earthly' as she was hoping for. "Well, if that's what makes you happy, then I wouldn't want to force you out of your comfort zone just for companionship"
Flux rotates on the spot, noting Mia's tone. Flux isn't completely unfamiliar with someone being dissatisfied with something the elemental had done. The ashes grow denser, encasing the coals until a grey lizard is sitting on the edge of the mantle, frowning at Mia. The shape is a strong mirror of Nesseth's, though the frills seem to have been abandoned. "Did... I do something wrong? That is the easiest, most physically comfortable shape I can take. My base. If it isn't good for out there, I can take any other."
Mia shakes her head "No! Not at all. I..just think I'm disappointed that you're not interested in the things that I was hoping you would be. That's not your fault" She pauses "If that's not the sort of person you are, then you shouldn't feel bad, and you certainly shouldn't try to change!"
Flux tilts his head, clearly a little confused. "I'm not sure we are striking the same anvil, Mia. You didn't want to do something outside the forge?"
Mia: "Yeah...but. You don't, and I don't want to make you do something you don't want to do"
Flux laughs Nesseth's laugh, shaking his head a bit. "I don't know anything outside of the forge, beyond what Melia has shown me. Most of that was open nature beyond the wall. How could I want what I don't know?" He hops down from the mantle to walk toward Mia, collapsing from the lizard back to the shorter otter again, mostly because it's closer to Mia's height.
Mia: "Well. Okay! That makes sense" She ponders "You don't eat, do you? So no food. Have you ever thought of trying clothes?"
Flux glances down at an ashy, but indeed undressed body. Granted there is currently a lack of features one might wear clothes to conceal. "I haven't thought much about them since I stopped being Cavro." The elemental chuckles, smiling at Mia. "Just as I haven't ever thought about eating, either."
Mia: "Well. Why not try both? I don't -need- to eat, but I like to eat, and..well, it makes me feel like I'm still a person" She pauses "I..think that's important? To be with people, and still act like them"
Mia was genuinely asking the question!
Flux nods, looking toward the door. "I would be happy to, yes. Now? I have nothing to get back to here, right now."
Mia: "Okay!" She nods "Is there any colours you like that you can't just make yourself be?" She asks as she steps out into the street.
Flux hums, looking at itself in the sunlight. "Also haven't thought about it... I think I was black and white when in Cavro's shape, but haven't tried since. The elemental concentrates for a few moments, trying to picture a different color for it's body. It manages to become slightly more beige in tone. "I... Don't believe I can do anything like blues or greens." He looks to Mia. "I do really enjoy violet flowers, though."
Mia: "Well, I rather like the violet colour myself. Maybe we could try something that" She would head towards the clothes shop, looking back to make sure Flux is still about "I suppose they'll need to be heat proof too..I think I can enchant something up for that though"
Flux blinks, following along beside Mia. "Enchant? You can do work with magic?" The otter looks up at the clothes shop sign, vaguely recognizing it from a delivery at one point or another.
Mia: "Oh yes, very much so" She pushes into the clothes, giving the clerk a smile and a wave. The clerk sighs, and goes back to what he was doing. He's..starting to worry how normal all this insanity is getting to be. "I used to have no real word for it..but..maybe technomancer? Sounds nifty, right?"
Flux chuckles a puff of smoke, nodding. "That title has a ring to it, sure." Unlike when at the forge, Flux manages to keep most of it's ashes in check, not wanting to lose mass quickly outside of a place that has ready supply available.
Mia: "Okay, so..is anything appealing to you?" Mia isn't sure what Flux might like, so they're focusing on simpler stuff, like pants, shorts, blazers, shirts "I'm really not sure where to start!" She giggles "I'm worse at this than May"
Flux looks about the racks and shelves of clothes, tilting head this way and that, though after leaving finger streaks on a few things, the elemental does try to avoid unnecessary touching. He pauses, staring up at a mannequin wearing a nicely crafted suit, mostly in greys though with a striking blue neck piece and kerchief to match.
Mia: "Oh, that's very fancy looking!" She nods with approval "Do you want to try it on?"
Flux hums, nodding after a few moments. Looking to Mia with a grin, the elemental shifts forms, gaining the height appropriate to fit the suit, though without a source of ashes to bulk up his deer shape winds up looking light and honestly a little chiseled, notably free of antlers.
Mia: "Hmm. You know, that look sort of suits you!" She nods, but waits until he's got the clothing on to make any more comments.
Flux smiles, nodding. "I do feel a bit... Drifty." He picks the pieces from the mannequin with the help of the shopkeep, who doesn't look thrilled about letting the ashen one make a mess of the clothes, though he knows the smith for making good sewing equipment. Flux manages to memorize the order of the clothes, starting to dress before he's directed to a change room, which seems odd to him considering. A few moments later, he steps back out of the room, dressed up and... Comfortable. "Well?"
Mia claps her hands together "It looks great!" She nods with approval "How do you feel though? Does it make you feel any better having them on?"
Flux hums, adjusting the jacket a little. "I didn't know I was missing something... A nice experience, though. I like it!" He smiles at Mia, nodding.
Mia: "That's great" She adjust's Flux's jacket a little "Do you mind if we do something?" She asks as she goes to pay for the clothing "I want to add a little enchantment. I learned with Melia that the elemental body thing can work poorly with clothes. So I made something to help with that"
Flux blinks as Mia adjusts the jacket further, chuckling a bit. "Ah, of course! Where do we need to go?" He doesn't notice she'd paid for the clothes, not having much concept of what such an outfit would cost.
Mia didn't want to worry Flux about such concepts "Oh, nowhere" She reaches into her pocket and takes out what looks to be a chunky lapel badge "Hmm" She considers it, and goes and takes out a violet flower decoration, and attaches it on "So, this goes on your clothing, and makes it that your clothing are on the same magicy wavelength of your elemental body. It -should- stop your body from damaging your clothes, or falling off if you teleport" She hmms "It's not tested though, so we want to be careful, okay?"
Flux tilts his head to look at the badge, smiling warmly at her over the decoration. "Oh, that is very clever! I thank you, Mia. You're very kind!"
Mia: "Ah! Wait until it works before you thank me, okay?" She attaches it, and keeps the 'turn off' button safely in paw "Okay, lets see" She activates it, looking closely for what happens
Flux stands up straight, looking down at the clothes curiously. He suddenly shivers, though it only lasts for a moment. "It... They feel cold to the touch. Strange... Is it counterbalancing my heat?"
Mia: "Uh..." She hmms "Oh, I think that it's just carrying around extra weight? Is it uncomfortable? I can turn it off if it's a problem"
Flux hums, shaking his head after considering it. "No, that is alright. Let us get something to eat, while I'm decently dressed." He offers an arm to Mia, smiling at her.
Mia: "Okay then" She hmms "There's a place that does chilli. It's very spicy food. Maybe that should be a good start?" She takes the arm happily, smiling in return "If you've tried food before, maybe you can give some extra advice"
Flux shakes his head a little. "Not once, but something hot does sound very nice. Lead the way."
Mia: "Okay then" She leads the way! Towards a small stall with outdoor seating. There's a ferret doling out food "Okay, could I get a chilli platter, and go real heavy on the jalapeno's, okay? 'This fellow is literally made of fire' level heat!" She smiles "Oh, and a milder serving for me. I'm much more a lightweight"
Flux chuckles a puff of smoke, nodding to the questioning look the ferret throws his way before they take a seat, waiting a minute for their food. "Spicy and mild? What other variety does food have, or is that all?" He looks around at the other vendors as he asks. "There seem to be quite a few, there must be more."
Mia: "There's lots of flavours! I was just settling as a good starting point. If you don't like spicy food, you can try mine, or there can be loads of other foods you can try" She hmms "So, I'm thinking you should be able to process food into energy. How do you get energy in right now?"
Flux nods to the ferret as they receive their respective meals. "I consume." The statement is simple, and true as he mimics what others have been doing around them, spooning some of the spicy food into his mouth. He doesn't seem to react to the flavor at all, but seconds later the chili's burnt to nothing and simply added to the mass of his ashes. He does nod in satisfaction after the next bite, though. "It's good."
Mia: "Okay! So..." She ponders "You probably like really energy dense food" She eats her own food again "Wait! I know what you might like" She gets up, and does a little zip to another stall, before coming back with!..a block of cheese "Uh.." She stops "Oh! Sorry, I..uh..I think I'm experimenting again. Which is pretty rude, isn't it?"
Flux blinks as she races off, continuing to eat his food until she returns with the cheese. "Oh... Oh? I wouldn't know, is it?" He eyes the cheese, shaking his head after a moment. "I ah... Don't see the appeal of that. It has no... Well, life." He gestures at the empty chili bowl. "This still had traces of natural magic in it, and a lot of physical material."
Mia ponders "So, you want the physical material, right...and natural magic? Do you mean the beans? So, you like vegetable matter then? Cheese would be organic too. It's just based on animal products and..uh..well, it's sorta complicated, but it's mostly just milk" She shrugs, and has some cheese herself. She likes cheese! "I'm glad you liked the Chilli though!"
Flux hums, reaching out to break off a piece of the cheese to try. "Well... If you like it, it must have some value..." It melts shortly in his hand, making a bit of a mess of his for a bit, though the cheese seems to dry up moments later, beginning to brown just before his ashes fold over it and hide the rest of the process from sight. "...So much time from the source, but... Still quite a bit of energy. No magic, but that's not terribly important." He smiles at Mia, nodding once. "Thank you for sharing."
Mia: "Huh. Well, you may not enjoy it, but you could certainly toast it very well" She smiles "There's no trouble. I'm trying to find something you enjoy doing" She gives him a smile "I know that you're happy in your forge, but I'm hoping that maybe there's more out here you can find fun"
Flux nods, finishing his chili before speaking up. "Well this has been nice, I thank you for including me, it was very thoughtful of you. I have plenty of energy, what more in there you wish to share?" He seems to be more eager about experiencing new things than the moments before leaving the forge. The forge. He turns at the end of his question, looking almost directly toward the smithy for a second, despite the buildings between them and there. He returns his attention to Mia as if nothing happened, smiling at her.
Mia: "Hmm. Well" She pauses, a bit bashfully "Why don't we have a look at my uh 'smithy', maybe you can see where I work?"
Flux grins, brightening up. "Oh yes, I would love to go back to your place." He stands, offering a hand again. "Lead the way."
Mia takes Flux's hand, and leads him through the city to her little spot tucked away in a side street. After opening up the door, they'd find themselves in a very tidy workshop, with a lot of half finished projects scattered around. A lot of techhy and magiccy stuff. There's a forge in the corner, but it's pretty small sized, and not really the focus of the shop "It's not much, but it's..well, it's mine" If there's any vibe on 'natural'...well, there's not much of the natural world here.
Flux steps into the workshop, looking around with a bit of wonder. "It's cramped. Cluttered, but not... Disorganized. I wager you know where everything is here. And... So many metals and crystals." He breathes out a smoky sigh, voice wavering. "And the myriad of magics~ So many forces with focus here~ Intoxicating~"
Mia: "Yeah. I have all my projects here, and..well, I use metals because I am metal now and crystals..well, because they're pretty" She looks about the place, making a few adjustments (and remembering to turn on a light) before stopping "Are you..uh..okay?"
Flux breathes deeply, seeming to fill out the suit a bit more as he draws in the ashes from Mia's own small forge, turning one of her pieces over in his hands. What Mia may not see if that he's unintentionally pulling samples of all the magic around him until topped up again. "Your work if very good, I am impressed. And I am very well, thank you."
Mia: "Okay! That's fine" It takes a little bit of time, but eventually she notices the shift from a few of her more sensitive instruments "Oh..right" She nods to herself "Okay, okay, that makes sense" She's going to keep a close eye on him, to make sure that everything is okay. After all, Mia's workshop has a distinct magic 'vibe' to it. Probably fine..but still. Better safe than sorry! "That's what I'm working on right now" She peers over his shoulder at what he has "It's a sort of magic shield. It's like the one over the city, but designed to take one shot and break, but that one shot can be a lot stronger than anything the one I made before could take"
Flux nods, handing it to Mia. "Brilliant! I only know how to work steel, you've much more skilled than I."
Mia: "Nah. I've seen your work. You're way better at steelwork than me" She takes the gadget, and activates it, and a shimmering net of energy appears in front of her. She pokes it, and it shatters "Besides. It doesn't work yet. Can't make it take the full force of a blow before it breaks" She puts it back down "I know that the thing will work! I just gotta make the equations balance" She taps her head "But...don't run yourself down!
Mia: Just because my stuff is shiny, doesn't make it better! But..ah" She giggles "I'll accept the brilliant bit"
Flux nods in affirmation after watching her demonstrate the shield. "Perhaps. I appreciate all you've done with me today, Mia. If you need help with anything, steel work or experiments, never hesitate to ask. I'll gladly help if I can."
Mia: "Of course" She taps her arm, where that little plate had been added "You do good work!" She grins "Same goes for you. If you need anything, just ask!"
Flux and Mia continue talking shop for a while, enjoying the company of another in similar situations for a couple hours.
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FLUX'S FORGE - SIMULTANEOUSLY
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Cavro watches from the cafe, sat back with a sandwich in hand as someone enters the Oldhammer. By the time he's nearly done his meal, finishing the last draught of his tea, the stranger and an even stranger sight leave his former workplace together, leaving the badger to pause in drinking. He lets out a nervous grunt, watching them head in the general direction of the marketplace, his eyes darting back to the Oldhammer as soon as they're out of sight. He can't take it any more, he needs to know what that elemental has done to his smithy in his absence. He drops a few coins on the table, hopping down from his chair and carrying the last bites of the sandwich along with him, hastily stuffing the last bite into his mouth before peeking his hooded head through the customer door. With a sniff he can only pick up almost nostalgic aromas of brimstone and oil, letting out another nervous grunt. Pulling his head back to glance in the direction those two had gone, the badger steels himself and darts into the smithy. It's all perfectly familiar... The elemental apparently kept the badger's preferences for organization, though the outgoing stack of completed projects makes the badger a little jealous, both in that the elemental has been allowed to work this whole time, and that it's clearly quite efficient. Cavro's beady eyes slide over the forge, to the workbench, then to the materials racks. Something does seem to be missing as the smith turns back again, eyes locking on to the bellows, cobwebs hanging from the long unused device. He squints a little bit in the dim light, noting it doesn't seem to be broken, only untouched.
Narrator: A voice echoes from somewhere to Cavro's right, causing the badger to jump slightly, turning to look for the source.
Flux: "Hello, how can I help you today?"
Cavro blinks, staring toward the darker corner where all the finished items are stacked, though the voice only barely seemed to come from that far right.
Flux: "I will be with you in a moment, please wait."
Cavro turns more to his left, trying to pinpoint the source, settling on the open maw of the forge. "Take take take your t-time..."
Flux reaches an ashy hand out of the forge, gripping the edge of the mantle as the deer-shaped smith pulls free of the burning coals, a torso sliding across the surface only to stand in front of it a moment later, as if walking through the stone, though legs and hips clearly formed under the abdomen as it left it's shelf. "How may I help, today?"
Cavro watches the bodily formation, unsettled, but not entirely unfamiliar with how the elemental moves at this point. "Ah... Well well well I... Thought you had had had left." His voice shrinks as he faces the elemental, face still hidden in the shadow of his hood.
Flux hums, a stream of smoke leaving the corners of it's mouth. "I did. I am. Mia is..." He pauses, looking slightly up. "Oh that's clever."
Cavro gets a bit more nervous. "What what what is?"
Flux waves a hand slightly. "She made the suit... Hm. Proofed against elementals. It won't burn... I think it's even repelling my ashes from staining it."
Cavro blinks, partially realizing he doesn't seem to have the elemental's full attention. "O...O-oh. That does does does sound clever, yes."
Flux snaps his gaze back to Cavro. "Now you, sorry. What was it you wanted?"
Cavro swallows, shaking a little. He didn't want to confront the elemental at all, only to see his beloved forge again. He glances past the intruder to the oven, then toward the silent bellows. The ringing of hammers on steel isn't unfamiliar yet, he has had work abroad of the building, but it's not the same. He swallows, pushing his hood back and giving Flux as steely a look as he can muster. "M-my... My my smithy."
Flux tilts his head slightly. "Hm? I recognize that face..."
Cavro feels like he's made a mistake coming here, but it's too late to turn back now. "You should, you wore it-"
Flux bows slightly. "I wore it for months, in mistake. Yes." He straightens up, smiling slightly at Cavro. "I am sorry, you are right that this is your smithy."
Cavro snaps his mouth shut on being interrupted, grunting as his eyes narrow a bit. "It it it is, yes."
Flux waves a hand toward the workbench, leaving an ashy trail in the air. "Those are your tools..."
Cavro glances toward the workbench, but only briefly. "They cer cer certainly are. Yes."
Flux steps aside, gesturing to the forge itself. "That is my home."
Cavro nods, tilting his head a bit as he automatically answers. "It it it is- wait. It is my forge."
Flux chuckles. "And my home."
Cavro squints at Flux for a few seconds, humming. "I want to to to come back. To work. This is my passion... You will let me? You you you admit it's my smithy and my tools and and and my forge..."
Flux nods slowly. "Yes, absolutely. I only... Mostly only know this work as life. But I know it's not mine, Phoebe made that very clear. This life isn't mine, either, that mage made that clear, as well. I'm lucky to exist, I would be lucky to be allowed to stay."
Cavro sighs, looking around the room as the elemental's admissions bring him a thin level of calm. "I I I mean... I can't seem to to to hold an assistant here... A partner like you would would would make some things easier." He gives a cautious smile to Flux. "What do do do I call you, then?"
Flux: "Flux. Mia came up with it, I like it."
Cavro hums. "Alright... It it it suits you, yeah." He huffs slightly. "Okay. Show me what what what you've done."
Flux holds up a hand. "Maybe later. It is... Very hard to focus on both of you at once. I will return soon." With that, the ash and coals are drawn back into the forge, leaving the badger 'alone' for now.
Cavro watches the elemental dissolve back into the forge, sighing. [Coward, that wasn't hard at all, what were you so worried about?] He steps toward the workbench, glancing toward the forge every once in a while as he takes inventory, the myriad of things he was worried would happen playing out one at a time just to torment him for thinking that.