RP:Inventor, Designer, Problem Solver

From HollowWiki

Summary

Part of Things Are Looking Up

Alvina and Kreekitaka have a chance, but highly productive meeting which covers such topics as space travel and attacking Schezerade.

The RP!

Alvina made her way through the Cenril market. The sea breeze ruffles the canopies of the stalls, various vendors call out to attract buyers. The bard herself has a small basket of fruit and has stopped at a weapon’s stand to discuss the metals used in the merchandise. Behind the counter is a younger woman, grease staining her face. They discuss various techniques and Alvina offers the woman her address if she wants to expand her skill set. The sun is already high enough to case a small mist of sweat to stain her brow, even when other points of the land might expect snow or heavy cloaks. She’s taking a slow, leisurely slow outside the perimeter of the stalls. The waves roll casually by in the distance. It’s easy to be caught in their alluring metronome.

So many victories so close to one another had Kree in the mood for a bit of actual threadwork for the first time in a while. This, he'd decided, was going to be a tapestry dedicated to all he'd accomplished recently. There would be a section dedicated to the victory in Chartsend, a section dedicated to the clearing-up of the curse, a section dedicated to his victory over Nicolau... it was going to be brilliant, and he was going to craft a smaller version afterward to wear as a kilt. He decided a good place to craft the masterpiece was on the steps of the door to his Cenril store, hopefully attracting attention and business to his place of business. He was working through a particularly complicated series of stitches when his glodular eyes happened to catch a familiar face--ah, of course, how could he forget, the woman who had been partially responsible for making his evening at the Yule Ball so many months ago so memorable. And... sporting an interesting prosthesis which reminded him somehow of Muzo's addition to his face. Curious. He'd have to ask about it. He waved with a claw--he'd have gotten up, but that would have disturbed the piles of thread which surrounded him.

At the moment Alvina caught sight of Kree's wave, she was laughing. The evening sun glinted off her golden prosthetic and her mirth appeared to shrink to polite acknowledgement as she moved to approach. The bard thanked the woman to whom she spoke and twisting to face the Uyeer on the steps, weaving through the small crowd that gathered to gossip about the famous designer. "My, it's been ages." She smiled just so that the corner of her lips twisted up. The token he'd sent to cash in on a free dress sat heavily in her satchel. "What marvel are you constructing?" Whatever progress he's made on the tapristry will draw her attention with curious consideration. She squints with amusement, trying to discern the various intricate markings from this distance.

Kreekitaka nodded and continued working as she spoke, clenching his facial crushers in gratitude--a marvel, she'd said! Excellent, it meant he hadn't lost his touch. He gestured to a part of the tapestry he'd finished already. "HHHTHis is a recorDAH! of ao my accompyishmenTAH!s recenTAH!yee. Here is where I heppeDAH! cure ao HHHTHe worohDAH! of VakmaHHHTHaras's curse. See how HHHTHe yighTAH! fyows from HHHTHis poinTAH! TAH!oo HHHTHe resTAH!, showing how I broaDAH!casTAH! HHHTHe sounDAH! ao over HHHTHe pyaneTAH!." He pointed to another place. "Here is where I unyeasheDAH! my DAH!inosaur knighTAH!s aTAH! CharTAH!senDAH!." And another. "Here is where I beaTAH! a naga in an arena for HHHTHe proTAH!ection of my frienDAH! Muzo." He pointed to the little Muzo figure in particular, where his face had multiple colors, half of it shiny, and a red eye. "He's changeDAH! since I firsTAH! meTAH! him, an' I was reminDAH!eDAH! of him when I saw your arm HHHTHere."

Alvina’s lips curl into an encouraging grin as she nods in agreement. “I do recall that portion.” She’d been part of the concert that had been broadcast by those constructs with her crystalline violin. “Impressive pieces of equipment. Infinite possibly for inclusion in regular, less curse breaking performances.” Curios emerald eyes follow his gesture to the next panel. Dino-knights? That’s something she’s never heard of before and she’s heard of quite a few things. Not that she’s a snooty expert! The following intricate design is examined with just as much interest. “A naga?” She repeats, a note of fear in her voice. “Sven above.” She tries to imagine what might have happened of Lady Arien had fought Jaize in an arena all those years ago when the bard herself had been on the receiving end of Naga protection. It would have been a sight, surely. Alvina squints at this little Muzo figure, fixated on the rich crimson that makes up his eye. There’s no mistaking the metal surrounding. “What exactly…” she starts, pauses, wondering if it’s too rude a thing to ask. “I mean to say, does he also have a prosthetic…?” On his face? This little red mark surrounded by shiny threads? “Ah, and a follow up question, sorry. Who made it?” Anxiety wells up in her stomach, the same nervous excitement that might numb limbs on Yule day morning while children eagerly wait to unwrap gifts or overindulge on sweets. A peer in metal working?! A like-minded engineer!? Anything is possible.

Oh, now that was curious. This woman hadn't made Muzo's prosthetic! Kreekitaka actually missed a stitch in surprise when she asked that follow-up, and had to go back and fix it. Still, if she had made her own prosthetic, that made her valuable, and the way she talked was enough like Muzo that he was certain she'd be interested in his space program. "TAH!oo answer your questions an' commenTAH!s in orDAH!er: I am yooking into using iTAH! for more purposes HHHTHan curse-breaking, yes, I aoreaDAH!ee have a few iDAH!eas. He was a capabo fighTAH!er. I much enjoyeDAH! our combaTAH!. Muzo DAH!oes have a prosHHHTHeTAH!ic on his face, an'... I was hoping you." He rippled his paddles and clenched his facial crushers, then gestured with one of them at her own metal limb. "Was iTAH! you who mayDAH! your own?"

Alvina blinks multiple times. She's been known to have a curious but bewildered expression at times. Think deer in the headlights. The whites of her eyes outweigh the emerald or the dark, bottomless pupils that stare, vaguely hungry, in the Uyeer 's direction. She sorts the replies in order; nice speakers - using them for more than curse breaking, prosthetic? - yes, who made it? - I thought you did. "Ah no, it's a pity. No one has ever asked me to make an eye before. I'd love very much to pick his brain about who did and how they did so. Call it, admiration." She's wearing a half formed smirk that hints that she's in her own mind, drafting her own fantasy ideas of how this all came to pass in intricate and ridiculous detail. When Kree gestures to her own arm, she flushes with embarrassment. " I did not but... I was taught by the woman who did. I could make another, if I needed to. The uh, plating isn't original... That Ranok fellow is also well known for metal marvels. A rare craft, it feels like these days." Making information on this Naga and his fake eye all the more intriguing. She's already pieced together that something was happening, the what is so far lost in her. She can't quite pin it down."We'd be a rag tag collection, discussing magic metals and prosthetics." She adds, politely watching him work the stitching. She can't tell he's made any errors.

Hmm. Even if she hadn't made the original or Muzo's enhancements, her ability to make another made her valuable. Kreekitaka rippled his paddles up and down and tilted his head to one side. "WhaTAH! if I saiDAH! HHHTHere is such a 'ragTAH!ag group being mayDAH!--noTAH! for prosHHHTHeTAH!ics, buTAH! a much greaTAH!er achievemenTAH!." He paused a moment, still working on his stitches, watching her carefully. "SomeHHHTHing which has never been DAH!one before... ever." Another pause, letting the hype for his words build up.

Alvina continues to watch on with a heightening interest. A project like nothing anyone had ever seen before? Never been done? If that alone didn't get her blood pumping, the idea of mingling with like minded individuals sparked it's own interest. Her emerald eyes still hold their previous frame; wide and groping for more information. As if he was weaving an invitation instead of a proverbial 'list' of personal triumphs. Her head swivels, looking to and fro for anyone who might be overhearing their conversation. No one looks to be eyeing them suspiciously. If this was a trick, consider her conned. As if that's ever been hard to do. "Well -" She answers, flabbergasted by the prospect of such a project, such a group. Nearly breathless, she continues."I..would ask you what it's all about! Without hesitation!" But she had hesitated, waiting for the glare to die down on the words spoken.

Kreekitaka clenched his facial crushers lightly. Perfect. "I am gaHHHTHering as many inDAH!ividuohs as I can, who invenTAH! an' make an' DAH!esign an' sohve probyems, for a singuyar purpose: we are going TAH!oo see whaTAH! yies beyonDAH! HHHTHe sky." Just a little pause this time. He did quite enjoy the sensation of having someone hanging on every word he gave them, dangling little pieces of information out one at a time for them to eagerly snap up. "Up beyonDAH! where dragons soar, pasTAH! where HHHTHere is air an' cyouDAH!s. I wanTAH! TAH!oo visiTAH! HHHTHe moons, HHHTHe sTAH!ars. I wanTAH!--" he held himself back from saying that he wanted to conquer every possible frontier, because some people aren't into that. "--TAH!oo have no yimiTAH!s on where I, or anyone, can go."

With each item Kree listed, Alvina checked off the boxes mentally that applied to her. She was an individual! Who Invented! And Made! And Designed! AND SOLVED PROBLEMS!! Her heart raced expectantly, his theatrical spin drawing her gaze skyward. Here she blinks, trying to comprehend the gravity of what he's asked. Past where dragons fly? Why would he want to do that? Past Clouds and moons?! Stars? She's drawn into the romanticism of it all. To see the sky at night, to be a star on the horizon. What were they made of? A godly light? Where they all little wishes, trapped in solid form until they could free themselves to streak off across the ebony cloak of night? Alvina sighs longingly. Maybe this was something she'd always wanted to, without really knowing it was possible to want. Ultimately, to be free. Her eyes are still overhead when she answers him, a broad and open grin tugging her lips apart. "Has there ever been a greater, more noble cause than freedom?" Her voice is misty, as are her eyes. "I'll help. I'll do whatever I can. I fit all the requirements and then some." A little confidence never hurt. She rights herself, nocks her knuckles into her hips and nods. "I'm the best damn Engineer out there and I want in."

Kreekitaka reached out with a claw to grasp her hand, pausing his stitch-work to shake with her, delighted. "I was hoping you mighTAH! say so. I've a campsiTAH! ouTAH! by CharTAH!senDAH!, an' I'm going TAH!oo be having everyone meeTAH! HHHTHere very soon--for meeTAH!ing each oHHHTHer, an' so I can assign TAH!asks TAH!oo increase our proDAH!ucTAH!iviTAH!ee." He paused a moment, looking both ways, then continued: "I'm going TAH!oo say HHHTHis TAH!oo you firs', since you are an engineer. As SchezeraDAH! is currenTAH!yee unDAH!er Kahran's commanDAH!, an' since iTAH! was HHHTHe firsTAH! pyace I was going TAH!oo go--HHHTHere is such a sTAH!orehouse of knowyedge in iTAH!s yibrary--we mus' eiHHHTHer yiberaTAH! iTAH!, or sneak in an' TAH!ake whaTAH! we neeDAH!. EiHHHTHer way, I'm going TAH!oo require a machine--a powerfo siege weapon--wiHHHTH which TAH!oo eiHHHTHer DAH!istracTAH! his forces or reTAH!ake HHHTHe ciTAH!ee. Can you DAH!esign someHHHTHing which can knock avians from HHHTHe sky from a far DAH!isTAH!ance?"

Alvina exhaled loudly with relief. Once the passion filled her to take on a project, ‘no’ was the last thing she wanted to hear. No, you aren’t qualified. No, we don’t need your specific talents here. No, we don’t believe in your abilities. She’s already prepared a counter to denial, even though her intuition knew better. “That can’t be right! I’ll do whatever it takes!” She’s howled with conviction over the small clusters of people in the shopping strip, metallic digits curled into a ball (further proof of conviction). He’s halfway through talking about Chartsend when it sinks in. Gods above, he’d said YES. The bard laughs too loudly and too unnaturally but she doesn’t correct her error. “Nerves,” She mutters, an afterthought as he speaks of the avian city falling to Kahran. “A stealth mission!” She muffles the exclamation behind her hands, which have moved to cover her mouth as if her body knew more than it let on. His mention of knocking avian’s out of the sky inspires another small gasp behind her hands, which drop to waggle excitedly between them. “Oh, oh - I could modify something already in use. You see-” She starts to explain a long ago project but the backstory is muddy so skip ahead! “I’d put a hefty purse of gold on a weapon that combined the same tech you used during the curse cleansing AND some old plans I’ve got for air cannons.” In trust, they were old plans she could modify to fit this purpose. The gears click and turn behind her eyes, the itch to dig into the meat of an idea backlighting her eyes. A chime goes out over the city - the throaty, metallic groan of an old church bell. Time has passed too quickly in the market, the day was nearly done. Alvina huffs a curse under her breath and digs desperately through her satchel for a card - which she offers to Kree without hesitation. “Do you know the meeting place just yet? Can you send word to this address?” She strains, looking at the moving crowds as little pockets break and scatter with the same realization she’s struggling with. Kids will be leaving schools, work will be ending, and the streets will become overly saturated with Cenril folk before long. It’s imperative she leave soon. “Can you? Please?” She waits, anxiously. The card shows the Landon estate address in Cenril and also lists both Alvina and Hudson’s first names. And even though he knew her name, she repeated it again. You can never leave these opportunities to chance. “It’s Alvina!” She called, as if on the bow of a ship moving out to sea while she surrenders herself to the changing surf of the crowd. “It’s Alvina Landon!” And before she could thank him, the chatter and rush of days’ end overfills the tank of her mind and all things beyond her family are left to sink to the saturated depths for safe keeping.

Kreekitaka paused for a moment at the outburst, tilting his head in confusion--she'd do whatever it takes to what? Didn't she want in? It wasn't until she said "nerves" that he realized she'd been preparing for him to react negatively. Not that he'd planned on reacting negatively, not if she was what she said she was. And the fact that she already had an idea for how to solve his problem cemented it--she was the right woman for this job. Excellent. He clenched his facial crushers gratefully and accepted her card--oh, she lived close, perfect. As soon as he'd selected a time for the meeting, he'd place the summons to her. The time was fast-approaching. The void beckoned.