RP:No Longer a Rabbit
Smithing Supplies
Ezekiel had sent a letter not long after her latest reply, to meet with him in Frostmaw when she- or he had the time. Since this had become a pressing matter, he was able to leave as soon as he could, and as much as he hated the frozen city, he'd take up residence in the inn. There were plenty of things to keep him busy while he waited, like fixing a few more of the catapults that had been damaged in the war. So it's here in the workshop provided by the city, he stands with a rather large wrench in his right while loosely hanging onto a screwdriver with his newly built left. Sleeves were rolled up and its creation quite visible. He disassembles a large gear for now.
Satoshi has hardly left the fort since the war had come to a close. For while the fighting is over, the damage and wounds will be long in healing, and the city's fort is a victim like many others. With over half of the immense structure collapsed, and more threatening to join in, Satoshi and a swarm of workers have begun to hastily draw up plans to restore the fort--and improve it. At present, she's been sent to retrieve some supplies from the commons workshop, where Ezekiel happens to be--okay, maybe she knew this already, and is using the fetching task as an excuse to take a break to see her apprentice. With Satoshi, it's always difficult to tell just how much she knows. But once she enters the room, the kit moves to prop herself against a wall and silently observe Ezekiel at his work. It's while she's admiring his newly built arm that the magus whistles in appreciation, forgetting she was aiming for silence, "That's impressive work you've done~."
Ezekiel pushed with his body and shoved the wrench against his chest while he strained to break loose some rust in a stubborn bolt. It was right about the time she whistled it broke free, and he was sent staggering forward while the tool clanged noisily off the ground. Startled, he'd turn to face the Queen with an exhausted nod. “Satoshi.. long time no see.” He'd glance down at his left for one of two reasons: first to address the work she complimented, his own biased ego immediately drags his attention to the arm, and second for there was no screwdriver in his hand. He'd dropped it with the wrench, although it was hard to tell. “Did you get my mail a while back? I wanted to show it to you first.” He squats while the prosthetic hangs limp, fingers reach slowly for the tool. It was still taking some time to learn its control.
Satoshi lifts her hand in a salute to Ezekiel's greeting. When he stoops to retrieve the dropped tool, the kit watches, face unreadable. "It takes a while. To get used to holding things again, I mean, when you can't feel them in your hand." Unconsciously, her left hand grips the forearm of her right, the limb that had been lost and replicated in ice. It had been over a year before it had begun responding to her magic again, and longer still until it was able to move without thought or focus. So although Satoshi's methods are different from Ezekiel's, she can understand where he's coming from in this. "I still feel nothing with mine, although," here Satoshi lifts her right hand to waggle fingers at the mage before the digits fuse into a dagger of ice and back to fingers again, swift as blinking, "it does have its advantages now. Yours, however, now that's a piece of art."
Ezekiel had heard this once before, and while he thought she might have just been kind, Satoshi reinforces Josleen's claim. To be quite honest, he's a little taken by surprise. “Thanks.. I honest wasn't expecting it to work, I was going out on a limb-” he snickers, “mostly testing a new theory out.” He'd brush the tool with his fingers while only three curled. It took a couple swipes, but on the fifth, he managed to pinch it in between thumb and middle finger. He'd stand back up while the limb remained limb and simply plucked the screwdriver up with his right. It was encased in a silver shell, at least the most vulnerable parts. Several plated bits of bone from a clinics stand up skeletal model were used, so it's shape and size was virtually the same as his right. He kept pieces of the clockwork exposed mostly as a way to humor himself and poke at when bored. “A while back, the mage Lydrain and I, we'd made a wonderful discovery. Several times had I manifested objects of a physical property using what I'm to assume is just raw energy. A spear, a shield.. in one instance, an amr.” He'd shrug, with two shoulders this time- oh how he missed this feeling. “I wanted to talk to you about that, actually; how that came to be.”
Satoshi's eyes follow Ezekiel's prosthetic, her own memories flickering at the back of her mind. It's clear to her that Ezekiel is progressing swiftly, albeit not in a way she had anticipated. But progress is progress, and not all mages are meant to function identically. So when Ezekiel mentions that he had wanted to talk to her about it, Satoshi's ears swivel forward as she says, "I'm listening."
Ezekiel tossed the screwdriver onto the workshop table and left the wrench on the ground. He'd have to get low here soon enough. So for now he'd cross around the table and lean up against it while crossing his left arm. The left still just sort of.. hung there; in time little guy, don't worry! “I'm sure you can relate to the phantom limb syndrome?” He smiles modestly, “You said surprise attacks, sudden actions, pressure and anxiety would do me best. Well, it has.. to some extent. While I don't have an intimate knowledge of every spell in my tome, pushing me to unleash my magic has been somewhat of an irrelevant point. I have the control- mostly, I just lack the knowledge. However, it's in times of stress and anxiety is when I've produced these.. these..” he fights to find the word, “Objects? Here, for example; when I'm least expecting it, throw something at me.” That's all he'd say about that. “When I lost my arm, for weeks I'd tried opening doors, catching falling objects, scratching my nose- anything out of reaction, really. I've noticed this is the case with the arm. I'd like to study this subject more, to be quite honest.”
Satoshi nods along. "It's perfectly understandable. My own aura," she indicates the fogs and frost that coalesce around her like a cloak, "began to respond to my unconscious reactions, often forming a 'phantom limb' to compensate for my dead one. Times of stress can produce unexpected results, and reflexes you weren't aware you had. Although... at this point, I think we can ease up on the ambushes with you. Spells will come in time. You obviously have gained control over the raw energy, which seems to suit your needs just fine. So yes, I agree, you should continue to study this. It will surely prove useful to yourself, and the guild as well in time." As she speaks, the air behind Ezekiel begins to shimmer as moisture gathers to form a sphere. Once the casual snowball has taken shape, Satoshi murmurs a soft, "Duck" before it's flung at the back of his head. Yes, she'd been tempted to toss the wrench at him, but she'll behave for the sake of maintaining conversation.
Ezekiel thinks if you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a.. snowball? “Hm?” He was just about to put in for a request when her choice of animal threw him off. Too focused on the conversation was he to pay attention to his instruction which is exactly what he was hoping for. He'd turn around just in time to see the ball of powdered ice heading straight for his face before he reacted. Both left and right came up this time, but because of the angle, the left was the front most limb. Working as if he'd been using it his whole lift, silver tipped finger hum faintly while the snowball is caught, but only partially. It detonated on impact and it's frosty shrapnel sprayed his face. Shortly after the limb would collapsed and clunk off the desk only to hang limp once more at his side. He'd face her with a face caked with snow. “Well..”
Satoshi echoes Ezekiel. "Well." And then she whistles again, clearly impressed. "It certainly works when you're not thinking about it~. That's quite a step forward you've taken. In fact... I think you're about ready for a promotion. Traditionally, we test a candidate with combat but, I believe you and I have just established that your specialty is elsewhere. We need a test that suits yo-" Satoshi trails off then, struck by an idea as her gaze wanders over the workshop. Ding! The kit's eyes practically light up as her mind starts working. Excitedly she gestures to the fort around them. "This! Right here, this fort. I'm sure you saw how much damage it suffered from the war. We're rebuilding it. But I want it to be bigger and better than it was. It's defenses were purely its size and the guards stationed on the walls. What can -you- cook up for it? We can consider that a more than ample test, don't you agree~? I'll even give you free reign to visit the ruins to the west. There are remnants of ancient wars there, and magical objects long forgotten when the elves left." Study, dissect, and build, that sounds like an Ezekiel thing to do.
Ezekiel busied himself with wiping the snow off his face using the sleeve of his shirt. Refreshing; if he weren't awake then, he is now. But when she comments on his promotion, he leans in eagerly. He'd heard of Kovl's and saw the staff as reward, and he couldn't help but think of his own. It was only natural. “I've never done anything architecturally, however I can dig up more than enough information in Cenril's library. I know a man who knows a foreman..” He hints with a waggle of his brows. It was so different to see him like this, in this light- in this confidence; conversationally at least. “I've created these-” he points to the catapults, “with only Hildegarde's idea to work off. I'm more than positive I could create something. Repeating turrets? No- maybe arcane cannons.. to trivial, perhaps- hm.” Already the gears in his mind begin to tick. “Forgive me if it's rude to ask, but will I be compensated for this? I only ask because, well.. things are different from when you first met. I've got a house to pay and food to keep on a table. If not, that's perfectly understandable. But yes, defenses. These I can build.”
Ezekiel totes mentions like, his left arm was curled up and his fist balled against his chin- like srs thinking pose. Reaction!
Satoshi can't bring herself to call Ezekiel 'Rabbit' anymore. There's nothing rabbitish about him now. He's confident, thoughtful, and eager, a far cry from the man with the soiled pants she'd met before. Grinning, either at the memory or Ezekiel's question, Satoshi offers a nod. "Of course you'll be compensated for supplies and services rendered. What you create will be your test, but everything else is work that should be paid for." Satoshi's never been one to short-change an honest worker, whatever Hildegarde's state of affairs may say--Satoshi can't be blamed if all the gold and items given to the knight are then given to others.
Ezekiel beams with excitement. He hadn't had a job since Hildegarde's catapults, and if he were to make this line of work.. well, work, he'd have to get his word out there and his projects requested. This was perfect in so many ways. “Excellent. I promised Josleen I'd not stay long, she won't be too happy about me working back up here, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. I would however like to make a day's visit to Cenril to pick up some archives and perhaps buy some scrap in Rynvale. I'm hesitant about the ruins, well, for obvious reasons. Either way, I can start on this as soon as possible.”
Satoshi nods. "Then on your way out, speak to the guard manning the doors. He'll have your first payment." Slipping those strange, stolen shades onto her face, Satoshi pushes herself from where she's been leaning and heads for the door. She pauses there to add, "I look forward to what you create, Ezekiel~." And with that, the kit is gone.