RP:Delivery; At the Eyrie
This is the second chapter of The Delivery. See the rest of the story here!
Frostmaw Northern Outpost
Alvina adjusted her goggles as they approached the Northern Outpost in Frostmaw. "We're here!" she called back to Hudson with rosy cheeks, tapping the wyvern's side. Her hand were raw from wind and the bit of snow they'd encountered on the journey, but thankfully they had both dressed rather warm and the cool weather hadn't hit them for a while so Huds was hopefully dry beforehand. Otherwise he would be wearing an ice cube of a coat. Zi dipped gently towards the first structure they'd been able to make out for quite a while. Of course, when the trees disappeared, it was easy to spot a town or tavern...but it was made a bit hard in Frostmaw due to the almost consistent blank of snow everything donned. Zi's scaled body swirled down, kicking up a small dust cloud of snow when his clawed feet thudded against the frozen fort flooring. Pale white flecks clung to the bard's hat, goggles...and well, pretty much everything else she could see at the moment. Aria stirred in her back, but stayed inside. Alvina waved to the first guard to approach her with a thankful smile. "Alvina," she said as a short form of introduction, "We are here to meet with Lady Hildegarde."
Hudson had mercifully dried off during the journey, though, upon arrival, had gone into his bag to fetch a scarf and hat, as further defense against the elements. His cheeks are pink from the cold, his goggles likewise frosted over, the shaggy part of his hair a touch icy. His legs are sore; he'd forgotten riding - whether it be horse or wyvern - might have that effect. He walks with a bit of a cramp and pauses behind Alvina, his bag slung over his shoulder. "Hi, Hudson," he says, one hand cutting across the air in a wave to the guard, making the brief introduction necessary to establish his reputation as a non-axe-murderer in the company of Alvina. He turns slightly toward her, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur as his arms cross his chest, boxing out a blast of cold air, "Forget how cold this place always is."
Although Hildegarde had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of both Hudson and Alvina with news of their invention, the Steward of Frostmaw was often a busy woman and at times could not be there to greet those she wished to greet. As such, the pair were greeted by an Eyrie member who only urged them to ascend the icy spire that served as the Eyrie's northern outpost. Climbing ever higher, they would see the holes within the icy walls: holes that serves as nests and hovels for the winged creatures that called the Eyrie their home. Hildegarde would be found near the top of the outpost, talking quietly with an elven scout whilst pointing at a map that was unfurled before them both. "I appreciate your discretion in these matters as always, Mistral," she said quietly, before elf and Steward alike noticed their new company. The elf dismissed herself with only a respectful nod, leaving the dragon to attend to the inventive pair. "M'lady Alvina, m'lord Hudson," she greeted them both pleasantly and with a most courteous dip of her head, "you have come to show me your work?"
Alvina thanked the Eyrie guard and asked if he might be able to tend to her mount while they visited before she urged Hudson forward with her up the spire. At the base of the steps, she would halt and withdraw the container for their invention so it could be assembled before meeting with Hildegarde. She gave Hudson a warm, reassuring smile as they ascended and found the stewardess in the chamber above. "Good eve, Lady Hildegarde." The bard bounced into the room after a short bow with unbridled excitement, "We have indeed! Do you have a moment to entertain our silly invention?" Beneath the surface, Alvina's nerves were on edge. What if she didn't approve of the design? What if it wasn't what she wanted? Looking towards the Alchemist, though, gave her a much needed renewal of faith and confidence. They had both worked very hard to construct and deliver this orb to the Eyrie as requested.
Hudson - seeing the spire, of course - is grateful that Alvina has paused at the landing for assembly. He crouches over the chamber for the smoke-creating reagent. Saying the name of 'air' up here is easier than ever, he reflects, as the murmured tone strikes a chord as intended and causes the carbon dioxide to solidify as directed. It emits a little fog, of course, not as much as it might under duress if heated. That would be the last step. He shows Alvina the pH-altering chemicals he's using to change the color of the dry ice, and employs the use of one of them to achieve a blue effect, creating a little bath for the ball of dry ice inside its perch. As for climbing the spire, Huds is generally brave in the face of adversity but that's not to say he isn't cautious. His step is fairly leaden and sure, and his hand gripping the railing, as they scale the spire. At the top of the spire, he shuffles in after Alvina - having paused to make sure the heat source in their device is working - and removes his goggles, placing them on his forehead, to face Hildegarde. (He does the same for Alvina, if she hasn't remembered along the way to do this herself.) With a roguish grin of support, the alchemist passes their invention, which is basically a fog machine, and currently emitting blue fog, to Alvina for her to pass to Hildegarde. "So basically you just have to fasten it somewhere, everything is contained otherwise," he says helpfully.
Hildegarde would wait for the artificers to pass the device to her, which she would hold gingerly and with reservation: she did not know how delicate the device was or how robust for that matter. She assumed it would be robust due to the fact it would be attached to a flying creature! "Well. Tell me more about your creation? How would one trigger it while mid-flight?" she asked, "Or how would one stop it?" The woman paused for a moment before saying with a little smile, "Better yet, why don't you just explain the full specifications of the device to me."
Alvina in all her excitement still wore her hat and goggles from their flight as she explained the device in Hildegarde’s hand, happy to leave the “how” of the dry ice inside to Hudson’s explanation. They were partners on the project, after all. The golden orb she held in hand had a loop on its exterior for easy mounting to a mount with a leather strap of even on the pilot if they should wish. The rest of its shell was humble in design; the metal smooth and slick bore an etching of “The Eyrie” in beautiful letters. The extra aesthetics of the piece made her heart sore…but overall it was the function that kindled the flame of her energy as she spoke. The bard stepped forward. “This button here…” she gestured, “will start the reaction. It will strike at a small flint inside this small container and catch a small pile of kindling on fire. These slivers around the edge act as vents to draw the smoke out, while these slivers act to feed the fire just enough oxygen to let it light and burn inside for a short time.” With skilled digits, Alvina would point to the loop meant for attachment, and then stress of course, that the object (while containing fire and other such things) would be safely handled. “There is a small bit of lining to keep the orb from heating with the small flame…” With that, she’d take a step back to let Hudson explain how the smoke would come into being. Only then did she remember her appearance and thrust her hat and goggles from her windblown hair back into the satchel at her side.
Hudson's hands retreat into his pockets for warmth, and he beams with pride as Alvina goes about introducing Hildegarde to the various features of the smoke machine. His part of the project is a bit easier to explain. "Well if you were to open the orb," he explains, pointing to the mechanism designed for this purpose, "you'd find that, in addition to a fire, there's what we call dry ice inside. Dry ice is... I don't know, frozen... air? That's how I make it, at least." Hands lightly apart, he pantomimes holding some air and speaking a word. "It's called dry ice because it's horrifically cold - so maybe don't touch it without gloves - and I think for the most part it's only really available to rich people, who use it to freeze warts off." He pauses here to grin. "... And now we are using it to create pretend smoke. Dry ice reacts and creates fog when heated in water, which is what the fire's for. The blue is owing to a chemical that reacts with the dry ice. We can also do red if you want." He looks to Alvina, as if checking that he'd covered it all, or had done a passable job explaining. "So yeah."
Hildegarde weighed the item in her hand, glancing down at the fancy orb as Alvina and Hudson alike explained their creation in depth. There had been a lot of thought and clever design put int the creation of this device, that much she can see. "I like it," she said honestly. "I would also like to see it in red, too," she said, once Hudson had made it known a red sort of smoke was available too. "But I am pleased with it, you have both done excellent jobs and for that I am glad. I was right in hiring you both," she said, as she very carefully set the orb down on the desk that was covered in maps. By setting the orb down, she had freed up her hands to release two pouches from her sword-belt: one tossed to Alvina and the other tossed to Hudson, both making a 'clinking' noise with the motion and both being rather heavy in the palm. "Gold for your work," she informed them, though they needed no explanation, "and an invitation for your skill. Alvina, you are already part of the Eyrie... I would like to name you our engineer, if you would accept this title and role. To Hudson, I invite you a place in our Eyrie, also as engineer and alchemist if you wish it. And if you will not accept that, then I offer you a place here in Frostmaw itself. Let it not be said I do not reward people well for their aid and assistance."
Alvina beams at Hudson as he explains, nodding happily as her gaze shifts between the Stewardess and the Alchemist. The pair really put a lot of work into this project and the bard was sure Hildegarde would be able to tell just by the detailed explanations they had to offer. Alvina nervously prayed it was everything the dragoness had hoped for and more…and when Hilde makes it plain that she’s satisfied the bard’s smile expands so rapidly it forces her eyes shut for a few moments. It’s all too much to believe; an official title as an engineer? This had only been her first assignment but Alvina’s heart swelled to bursting nonetheless. Instead of jumping into the air in uncontained excitement, she holds her smile and bows in acceptance. “It would be my honor, M’lady.” As Hudson is offered a position, she glances to him with nervous excitement. Would he accept? Would they be guild mates now as well? And work on future projects together? “We can, of course, make more. For whatever you need. You have only to ask.”
Hudson is mighty chuffed that Hildegarde's received their project with approval, and he nods along to her request to see the fogger in red. His hands smoothly shift to catch the pouch of gold she lobs his way. Kickball skills, now translated to real life: Hildegarde would be OUT! This boyish moment finishes in a grin, though Huds tempers it with politeness, his head dipping in a silent acknowledgment of thanks. He's serious after that; his gaze shifts between Hildegarde and Alvina as the former offers the latter a position. "Congrats," he says to Alvina as she accepts readily. He perhaps shouldn't be surprised by Hildegarde's offer to him, but he is, and he looks to her, eyes grown with surprise. He hadn't considered himself that impressive! But this would be a marked improvement on turning water into wine for catering events. He inclines his head graciously. "That's very kind of you, and I'm very humbled. Just alchemist would be great, the engineering was all Alvina's doing," he says, tilting his head to the woman beside him and briefly meeting her eye before turning his gaze back to Hilde. "I'd be happy to join you. I should be thanking you."
Hildegarde offered the pair a broad smile, "Oh, nonsense. The thanks is all mine, for you have both done an excellent job and I think we can put it to good use in the near future," she said confidently. "I am glad you have both accepted my invitation. Welcome to the Eyrie, Hudson. I hope you find it much to your liking," she said kindly, "and you already know myself and Alvina, who I believe is more than capable of showing you around the Eyrie and inducting you in our ways." Not that there were many 'Eyrie ways'. A few basic rules and that was all. "If you spend all your gold at once, I will have to think of more jobs to give you!" she said in jest.
Alvina had done her best to control her excitement this far…but upon Hudson accepting a position in the guild and the guild altogether, she threw her arms around him in congratulatory hug! “Congratulations!” Her voice broke a bit with the haste of the statement and the constriction of her wind passages due to the chilled Frostmaw air. The bard turned back to Hildegarde when she mentions her name. With a slightly embarrassed cough, Alvina steps away from Hudson and smoothes imaginary wrinkles off her riding clothes. “I was thinking of building a more muscular arm,” she joked, flexing her correctly proportioned metallic limb, “with large muscles and intimidating claws maybe!” She laughed; the image was just too silly to actually entertain. “Thank you M’lady! I look forward to building more things and serving the cause! Master Alchemist,” the bard started, turning back towards Hudson, “You need only ask, and I’ll be happy to show you around and introduce you. The only thing you need to think about now is finding a mount! But I can explain all that in time,” Alvina looked back to Hildegarde for confirmation that she was doing all right in the role of ambassador, before bowing towards the stewardess before they departed. “Don’t hesitate to send word again! And do let me know when these are used!” Righting herself, Alvina claps her hands together, “I’m excited to see how everyone takes to them.”
Hudson feels the air sharply leave his chest, as Alvina crushes him in a surprise hug. One of his hands comes up to grip her arm, which he squeezes in a feeble attempt to return it. "Congratulations yourself," he says to Alvina as she unwinds herself from him. They both seem to have suffered some mild embarrassment here, judging by the fading flush on Hudson's features. He side-eyes her somewhat at her mention of a stronger arm. Didn't she JUST squeeze the wind out of him! "A tour would be an excellent start," he says dryly, his gaze sliding back to Hildegarde a beat later. "Perhaps later, I can show you the red fogger, so you've seen them both," he suggests. "Goes without saying that regular, colorless smoke slash fog is doable. Not as fancy, though."
While Alvina and Hudson may seem a little embarrassed, the Steward does not. In fact, she is all smiles and relatively pleased for them both and their various little displays of pride and delight. She offers a very slight incline of her head to Alvina, though, to reassure the engineer that she was most certainly on the right track when it came to inducting the latest member of the Eyrie. "If you let Drargon know that you are of the Eyrie, he will see to it that your lunch is paid for," free food was always a bonus, "and that you have sufficient supplies to come and go as you please," she said courteously, yet with a rather warm smile. "I should like to see that, too. While it may not be as eye-catching or beautiful, it will serve a purpose in the days to come. Everything has some sort of use, after all. But do not let me keep you, I shall let you get acclimatised to your new brood. Once again, welcome aboard, Hudson."
Alvina softly chuckles to keep herself from blushing uncontrollably, before taking a few steps closer to Hildegarde and taking one of the Dragoness’ hands in her own. Sincerity and gratitude filtered into the bard’s optics as met the other woman’s gaze. “I am truly thankful for this opportunity. Lady Cerinii would have been so proud.” All of a sudden the bard looks less like a teenager and more like a grown woman standing before the current Leader of the Eyrie. “I will do my best, no matter what.” Nodding solemnly, Alvina releases Hilde’s hand, springs forward a bit with that childish grin to give the woman a rather unanticipated embrace before making her way back to Hudson’s side to start their tour. She takes his hand with the same ease that she’d approached Hilde with. It seems the woman has no knowledge of personal space most of the time. “Master alchemist! I have so much to show you!!” Her empty palm cocks in a backwards wave with a grin towards the stewardess and she’s all but trying to drag Hudson down the stairs after her, prattling on about this and that about the Outpost and the Eyrie itself.
Hudson manages another courteous nod to Hildegarde, hanging back while Alvina seems to have a grave moment with the Steward. As if reminded of something, he glances down at his arm, covered by his coat, of course, so perhaps he's thinking of the metal wrist band beneath it. Master Alchemist, it says, and one day he hopes that this will be the case. Before Huds can murmur more words of thanks, and even try for formalities, with Hildegarde, he finds himself being nudged in a different direction by Alvina, who is rather boldly tugging him about by the hand. As she sometimes does. Apparently, now in front of Hildegarde. It's only a wee bit embarrassing, him being a grown man and all, and Hilde essentially being their superior; he ducks his head somewhat as they pass, one hand lifting in a sheepish wave. "Thank you again!" he calls out, as they both vanish.