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RESPITE GENERATOR - AFTERNOON
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Brunilda stands behind the door to the generator building. The possum is mildly frowning, then takes a deep sigh and jumps up enough to reach the door handle and with an effort of will somewhat beyond a creature of her size, manages to open the door. She calls in: "Maybelline? You in here?"
Maybelline raises an eyebrow from her drawing table, unused to folks just letting themselves in quite like that. She glances over at the stranger, "Err... yes? I'm here? Can I help you?"
Brunilda steps in to view, giving a sheepish grin: "Er, hey. Hi. Sorry I haven't been around lately. Had... difficulties of sorts. Everything okay in here?"
Maybelline stares at the possom blankly for a moment, trying to figure out if she knows her, or if she should remember some appointment, or- "Oh hells, Brun! Brun, is that you? I'd sorta heard something about err... this!?" She hops down from her stool to look her over, "Are you alright?"
Brunilda winces a bit, but then nods with a weak smile: "Yeah, it's me. And I'm fine if..." she looks up and realizes she's even shorter than May: "...whole lotta less, kinda."
Maybelline gives Brun a tight hug, "Ahh, first the stuff with Mia, and now this? But you're alright, right? Like... ugh... sorry! This... Yeah... yeah, everything's fine here... sorry... Just... this stuff hurts my head. I can't imagine how you feel."
Brunilda looks at Maybelline: "Shorter." She pauses, then sighs: "And okay, a whole lot of other emotions as well, but I am trying to not overthink this while we wait for Fiora's sister to locate a cure for us."
Maybelline blinks, "Fiora's... sister? Huh. Well... that's good! Cures are... good! Magic, stuff, am I right? Things have been running smooth here... maybe too smooth? I don't know... it's been weird." She points over towards the generator, "She's been running at optimal levels despite the additional power draw from the new infrastructure, though she's been a bit nervous about the weather shield tests. Can't say I blame her, after that initial field test, but I'm trying to convince her things won't get that intense again."
Brunilda raises an eyebrow at Maybelline, then turns to look at the generator: "Huh. Mind if I have look-see at the meters and whatnot?" She takes a step forward, then pauses: "Err, if I know how to get up there. Dangit."
Maybelline leads towards the ladder, one usually unnecessary for Brun, but May has fully installed his kind of stuff for folks her size. "Sure! Just climb right up here, and that ramp leads up to where I take the readings. I'd love a second opinion on this stuff, honestly, but I know you've been busy... and err uh... then this."
Brunilda giggles despite herself: "'This stuff' being your climbing help, or the generator itself?" She starts climbing, bit unsteady on her paws but not falling back down either. "This is so weird", she comments to no one at particular.
Maybelline chuckles, "The generator itself, and the readouts. The climbing stuff is just all here cause uh, it's necessary for me, and I mostly just think of it as being for myself, but if you've got input on that, I'd love to hear it as well!"
Brunilda smirks as she makes her way up: "Well, I don't certainly weigh anything now, but this all feels sturdy." She gets to the meters, observing them for a moment: "...huh. That is pretty impressive, considering. Nothing has happened in the meanwhile, though, that would cause this?"
Maybelline shakes her head, "No clue! Well uh... some clues... It really all started after the incident with Mia... err, you know. 'Strix', but then, the whole amplifier thing and now she's Mia. After that, output dipped for a bit, and then suddenly spiked back up. I can tell you my theory but..."
Brunilda glances at the meters again, before leaning on the railing and looking down at Maybelline... from a height she'd normally need just to stand up to be at. Disorienting thought, but she pushes that aside. "What's your theory, then? This is almost freaky good performance."
Maybelline puts her hand on the generator, feeling it hum against her. "So, this is... highly speculative, and not something you want to talk about openly but... I think something in the generator has 'woken up'... if that makes sense."
Brunilda raises an eyebrow as she also leans on the generator, not feeling anything specific: "Woken up? In like... what kind of way? It's not going to start talking to us or anything?"
Maybelline tilts her head, thinking, "I don't... think so? But I definitely think she's awake and aware in there... I don't even know if she's a 'she', I mean, that's just a Sarn thing... naming your work. I was calling her 'Amee' on my blueprints for awhile now, so I've just kept at it. Everything she's done has been benevolent... honestly, she seems like she just wants to run better."
Brunilda shrugs, glancing at the meters: "I suppose... it if, or she, works, we don't probably need to worry?" She sits down at the edge of the catwalk: "Honestly my perspective on what even counts as 'weird' has gotten pretty shaken since I arrived, anyway."
Maybelline nods with a vague hum, "You... can say that again. Yeah... I've done a few test suites and monitored internal pressure, and everything is optimal... it's bizarre, but at least it's weird in our favor this time?"
Brunilda giggles: "There is that. I mean, I'll take this form over another back-burning explosion, too."
Maybelline rubs her side idly, tracing the scars beneath her jumpsuit, "I'd... be okay with a lot of changes if it meant avoiding that pain again, yeah. Still owe you for pulling me out of that fire, you know."
Brunilda smiles down at the stoat: "What else could I have done?"
Maybelline chuckles, shaking her head, "I don't have a good answer for that. I'm just... still grateful." She purses her lips and thinks. "You want to see the side of the generator you never got to see before?"
Brunilda raises an eyebrow: "Now you have me curious. Show me."
Maybelline points back down, and slides down the ladder, leading Brun over towards the maintenance hatch. "I'm sure you read up on all the theory, but there's a lot of delicate work on the inside that only smaller folk like myself can really easily work with." She checks the safety readings, dons a hardhat, and passes one to Brun.
Brunilda follows Maybelline and takes the hardhat, slightly amused just how big it feels now. She peeks from under it: "Heh. New perspectives is something I'm definitely gaining."
Maybelline leads inside, the tunnels built to pretty much exactly match May's height and allow her to comfortably walk through without ducking. "That's not so bad, right?" Her excitement and pride at getting to show off her handiwork is definitely outweighing any unsettling thoughts about the transformation. She points towards a hatch leading downward, "You can get into the city grid through there, it's basically a whole nest of tunnels under the city to distribute power. It's a little cramped though, even for me. Don't think we need to go down there for this tour."
Brunilda is definitely fascinated by all this, if also feeling mildly claustrophobic but she pushes that feeling aside. Because new stuff she never got to really see even when she was building all this! "Oh wow. I mean, I know you did a lot of work down here, but wow."
Maybelline beams with pride, reaching a point where the narrow hall splits, with another ladder leading up. "Containment for the magical energy is up there, with the conversion array over there, and that loops into distribution there, which then goes into the grid. The older generator wasn't nearly so easily accessible, but it had the same principle. I uh... I did a lot of work to make this easy to maintain, while still be solid construction. The little detail work is all mine, but you helped to put it all together."
Brunilda giggles: "I wonder if would be any better at this small stuff now. I suppose in theory?" She shakes her head, smiling at May: "Honestly this makes me appreciate all the detailwork you've done all the more. I am way too big... well, was." She frowns for a second, but then just shrugs.
Maybelline: "There's tools for it, if you were really interested in the intricate work. I'll try and order a set for you, you did enough work for me that I'm sure I can justify the expense." She winks at Brun, "It'll be a gift, on the city budget."
Brunilda blinks: "O-oh? Uh. I mean, yeah... not sure if my big hands and blunt trunk are good for that, but I do want to try." She pauses, shaking her head: "And that obviously won't even matter until later. Thank you."
Maybelline giggles, "It'll have to ship from Sarn, I'm sure, so plenty of time for you to get cured and back to normal."
Brunilda nods: "F-fair. Sorry. Thank you." She then takes a deep breath, pawing at her long red hair: "So... I guess the containment for magic energy or whatever it exactly is, it has worked quite well?"
Maybelline nods, pointing up, "It's basically over our head right now. Here that humming? That's it. We can climb up and look inside. That's where I was in the last generator when it blew... pretty sure the only reason I lived long enough for you to find me is because I fell down the ladder, so the blast wasn't directed straight at me."
Brunilda looks up, then at Maybelline: "Well, let's hope none of that happens this time. Though with your engineering, I doubt it."
Maybelline grins again, "It won't. She's healthy and happy, near as I can tell. And I keep close tabs on everything."
Brunilda chuckles softly: "You're pretty good at that." She looks up, then makes her mind and climbs up the ladder to take a closer look.
Maybelline: [The ladder leads up to a small platform, which May has ensured has all the proper caution and warning labels. There, a small panel can be slid open to look into the containment cell, a stark white donut shaped room with the crackling purple magical energy racing through it with a soothing humming noise. There's a strange feeling as Brun stares in, an uneasy but not unpleasant feeling, but one that is hard to place.]
Maybelline calls up after, "Just slide the viewport open and take a look! The glass is extra reinforced, so it's totally safe!"
Brunilda slides the viewport open, nodding to herself. She then... kind of just stares at the raw magic. "Oh wow. That's... that's something allright. Much different than just seeing the readings out there."
Maybelline nods, watching Brun from below. "It's a Lot of raw power... just pure magical energy, without intent or purpose... at least, none we know of."
Brunilda shuts the viewport, sighing: "I sure hope that's the case." She shakes her head, then makes her way back down, climbing somewhat awkwardly but managing to not fall: "Still, amazing work."
Maybelline nods, "It's kinda strange being up there and looking in... it's kinda calming? Like looking out over the ocean. All this is just to try and control that..."
Brunilda gives Maybelline a warm smile: "It is, if also a bit... unnerving. But maybe that is experience talking? I don't know."
Maybelline: "Just sorta makes me feel a bit small compared to it..." She glances at Brun and cringes, "Err, not... you know... like that."
Brunilda winces slightly, but then just sighs: "...it's okay. I'm now small, and it's just something I got to deal with. Not your fault."
Maybelline puts a hand on Brun's shoulder. "Err, well, for what it's worth, I've dealt with being small my whole life and been pretty happy." She glances up again towards the containment and nods, "And... it is unnerving. But every other generator I've been in, it's always felt... angry? Violent is a better word, like being in the calm before a storm. I don't get that feeling from Amee... maybe just because she's my creation, and not just 'any' generator."
Brunilda looks up as well: "Yeah... I think I can see that. There's a sort of peace in here? It's hard to put to words..." She lifts her hand upon Maybelline's shoulder, best as she is able to reach anyway: "And well, honestly this is so weird it crosses back to 'how do I deal with it', in a way."
Maybelline smiles at Brun, nodding, "Well... best I can say is talk to Fiora about it if it's really bothering you? I pretty much talk all my worries straight to Louma these days. And you and Fiora have been getting pretty close right?"
Brunilda smiles weakly: "Yeah, we have. She's my... well, lover, girlfriend, whatever word you want to use. We're close." She shrugs: "She's better at dealing with all this than I am, really."
Maybelline: "Well, I'm always here to talk too, but uh, magic stuff... it's not my thing? I'm trying though... you're... doing better than I think I would be doing."
Brunilda gives Maybelline a wry smile: "I have someone to push through for, if that makes sense. To try and deal with my worries instead of dwelling in them. I've... maybe succeeded?" She does not actually sound all that certain of that last bit.
Maybelline laughs, "Someone to push through for?" She does hold up her hand with her engagement ring on it, blushing, "It makes so much sense, Brun."
Brunilda blinks: "Oh. Oh! Congratulations!" She smiles: "I guess it would make sense to you, an awful lot."
Maybelline giggles, "Thanks. You're invited to the wedding, of course. In the meantime... I'm more than happy to keep your mind off of things, but I'd say opening up about things to Fiora is your best bet. ...having a partner means having someone who's got your back, and can be strong for you when things get to be too much."
Brunilda smiles lopsidedly: "Even if our strenght has collective sort of poofed now. But you have a point... kinda already knew that, but probably needed someone to also just say it to me like that."
Maybelline guides Brun back out of the Generator, back towards the work floor. "Eh, relationship stuff is... hard? Easy... hard. It all feels like it should be really intuitive, but sometimes the easiest thing is the hardest to do. I just try to be as open and honest with Louma as I can be, and hope we can work out any issues that come up before they blow up into something to really worry about. And... it's worked out so far."
Brunilda chuckles, shaking her head: "I hit her hard enough to break her rib, then kissed her before she was ready, was all kinds of idiot... somehow she stuck around. Either I am the best or the worst at all this, or Fiora's just a special case for me."
Maybelline giggles again, "Well, you know how Louma hit on me right? Cause if not... well, let's just say that special case is most likely."
Brunilda shrugs as she sets the hardhat aside: "Fair, yeah. I guess it's just how relationships work at times... who can even tell."
Maybelline removes her hardhat as well, shaking her head, "Not me. I just work with simple things like complex magical engineering solutions."
Brunilda giggles: "I now weigh less than the wrench I solve a lot of issues with, so I may have to rethink what simple things I even solve."
Maybelline shrugs, "It's never stopped me. Just think of it like you would any other problem. If you're stumped... try looking from a different angle."
Maybelline: "...again, metaphorically... or I guess literally?"
Brunilda looks up at the generator towering far above her: "Well, that part has been covered, either way."
Maybelline giggles, "Yeah... it's not the worst thing. And if you get a chance to, talk to Mia about it. She's... working this stuff out a lot better than I would too, and seems to have found a lot of happiness in it."
Brunilda nods: "Might be worth, that too." She pauses, humming: "Want to go find some lunch? You can help me try and figure my changed palette in that regard too."
Maybelline nods, "Sure! Possum shouldn't be that different from a stoat? We can do lunch and then hit up the bakery!"
Brunilda giggles: "Sounds like a plan." The two head out for a quest for food, and Brunilda even mostly manages to keep all this from making her twitch.
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BETWEEN AEPHIX AND ORELA - ABOARD THE AGW OBERON - LATE NIGHT
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Gareth sleeps on board the ship in the captain's quarters, snuggled rather comfortably up next to Sammi for the trip. The vessel is currently being guided by the first mate on the deck, who Gareth hired for this first trip on a probationary trial run. The ship itself only has a light guard, maybe two new hires, tops, as the ship has nothing of particular note to protect what with it being its maiden voyage. The lanterns are nonetheless shuttered and the decks are quiet as the night draws on.
Narrator: Nigh impossible to spot under the dark seas, a creature from the depths approaches the ship carefully from behind, slightly exceeding pace with the ship before pulling up alongside it. The stingray lady fires a small harpoon into the back half of the ship, lodging into the wood, a rope trailing behind to dangle into the depths.
Lianne Sparr climbs up quickly and quietly, dislodging the arrow once she no longer needs it and letting it fall into the waters below. Lianne activates her magitech device hanging off her belt to help shroud her in darkness before peering between the railings, taking note of the night watch and her openings. Once found, she hoists herself over the railing and makes a dash for the captain's quarters, each step made quieter by the device. She starts to pick the lock, though the owner of this startup transportation business is naive enough to leave it unlocked. She slips inside, smirking to herself, readying a Sai. Once in, she lays eyes on Gareth and Sammi sleeping. So Gareth is the owner of this vessel? How curious. Unfortunately, the job is the job, regardless of how friendly she might be with Gareth. She lowers her Sai, clipping it back to her belt alongside the other one. She sets to work on finding what she came for - The ship's manifest.
Gareth 's ears flick a bit as he catches the sound of wood quietly thudding against wood... specifically coming from inside the captain's quarters, and more specifically near the captain's desk. He wakes up, but doesn't quite stir yet as he listens, just wanting to make sure he's not hearing things. Sure enough, the sound is coming from the desk, which makes him carefully roll out of bed and into a ready stance. Despite wearing nothing more than his pants and a light undershirt, he's ready as he looks at the faint outline of whoever is searching through his things. "Oi... Ye've a lot o' nerve, whoever ye are."
Narrator: With an amused huff to herself, the vague shadowy hand lowers itself towards her waist. With a soft click, the magitech crystal deactivates, and Lianne's form unobstructed appears. Naked, of course, except for the lone belt with her equipment. "When did you become such a light sleeper, Gareth?" Lianne replies quietly, while continuing to search. "I recall you being far heavier."
Gareth 's furrowed brow eases a bit at the familiar voice, as well as the familiar figure in front of him, though it turns into a look of confusion as he eases up on his stance. "I-- wait... Lianne?" He pauses, then shrugs at the question as he moves forward a bit, sparing a glance at Sammi's sleeping figure under the blanket before looking at the ray again, "Mostly been feelin' lighter because o' excitement, I guess. New business venture and all that."
Lianne Sparr's full-body wound has healed since their last encounter, a rough, uneven scar present from the severe electrical burns. "Surprised?" She chuckles, finally finding the manifest, which she brazenly pulls out infront of Gareth, turning to face him while opening it. "Business venture, eh? I'm happy for you." She glances past Gareth, towards Sammi, nodding at her.
Lianne Sparr: "Shame I won't be able to celebrate it with you though."
Gareth eyes' Lianne's form, seeing that her wounds have healed quite nicely indeed... and also just because Lianne's quite pleasing to look at anyway, as she no doubt knows. He smiles a bit and shakes his head. "Nah... considerin' how ye healed up after that first fight we had... I'm glad to see ye've healed up well, Lianne." He glances over his shoulder again for a moment, "...Aye, well... after ye left Aephix, a lot o' things happened. O' course, if ye still want to celebrate, ye know I can make time fer ye."
Lianne Sparr glances down at her scars briefly, obvious disdain in her expression creeping through her usual smug charm. She shifts her attention back to the manifest. "Sorry Gareth, though I'm on a bit of a timetable. Another time, perhaps?" She pauses, "Saurian textiles? Fancy."
Gareth nods. "Aye, decided to get in early with those. What with their crafts never bein' seen outside o' Aephix before, there's bound to be folks interested in buyin' them at a good price." His smile shifts a bit and he fixes Lianne with a wry smirk, "So... how often are ye tasked to check on me cargo? I can start makin' copies o' the manifest fer ye if this is more than a one-off."
Lianne Sparr: "I can't tell you that. But you could hire me. . Unless you'd rather me continue working with them." Lianne smirks.
Gareth chuckles a bit and smiles back. "How much are ye askin', then?"
Lianne Sparr: "Something to discuss later. Poor form to negotiate while on a job." She closes the manifest, holding it close. "I'm surprised you haven't asked me whom hired me, though you'd know I wouldn't answer it I suppose."
Gareth nods. "Exactly. I'll admit I'm curious, but I figure it's just a job from a competin' trade company." He pauses, momentarily considering the possibility it might even be a job from his own family out in Vamas, but just brushes that off, "Anyway, yer welcome to the manifest, Lianne. I'll be sure to start keepin' a copy in case o' future jobs like this."
Lianne Sparr: "Why thank you, Gareth." Lianne smiles. "I'd recommend that. If it isn't me, it'll be someone else. O' course, if it's me, I'd prefer the originals."
Gareth chuckles. "If it's ye, then ye can get the originals. Anyone else, they'll be gettin' the sharp end o' me blade." He grins, "Special exception, just fer ye, Lianne."
Lianne Sparr: "Would be an easy gig." Lianne chuckles. "Maybe I'll keep working for then?" She steps closer to Gareth, moving to peck him on the cheek.
Gareth leans in to give Lianne a similar kiss on the cheek in turn, then smiles as he straightens up again. "If they keep targetin' me ship, sure. Easy money fer ye, aye? Probably easier than runnin' interference on other ships instead, and I doubt ye'd want to do any sort o' deckhand work on any o' me trade ships."
Lianne Sparr: "O' course not." Lianne pauses, "If I had, I'd have lost my bonus."
Gareth hums and nods. "And it'd be a shame if ye did lose yer bonus, so this'll work out."
Lianne Sparr moves for the door. "Course, if there's any. . .Misinformation in here." She pauses to wiggle the manifest, "Then that possibly can't be my fault." Lianne innocently suggests, flicking her magitech device back on, concealing herself in a shadowy haze once more. "Good to see you again, Gareth."
Gareth chuckles, smiling as he watches Lianne making her way to the door. "O' course. Ye just came here to retrieve the manifest. Wouldn't be yer fault if the captain had an error or two in it, aye?" He dips his head, still smiling warmly, "And it was good to see ye again too, Lianne. Safe tides fer ye, out there."
Lianne Sparr cracks open the door slightly, peeking out of it. A few seconds later, she makes her escape to the edge of the ship, jumping off into the water.
Gareth watches Lianne's concealed form vanish through the doorway, then hears the splash of something jumping into the water, though it's almost lost amidst the sound of the ship's movements through the waves. He sighs a little, feeling glad that at least the first "hostile" encounter on the seas was actually someone close to him, but he puts it aside as he goes and climbs back into bed for the night, now thinking about how to present the theft to the officials at the port he's sailing to.