Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format
Seas Of Erin > Cecilia > Who shall ask for more?


Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 09:13 PM
Well, it seemed that Spider hadn't been far off. Having his foot splinted had really helped, and Jochy was pleased that it was healing better than it had before. The open wound was closed now, and though the skin was fresh and raw, it no longer showed much signs of pus or infection. In a few more days he hoped that he could lose the splints, if not the cane.

Bones took a longer time, and he suspected a few of them had been shattered. The foot had so many tiny bones that would have been inevitable. He would probably have a limp for the rest of his life.

Still, he was alive. And so were Knocks and Sylvie.

So, at the moment Jochy was dangling rather precariously over the railing near the prow, good leg tangled in a rope for stability. He appeared to be working on something on the hull of the metal ship, at least if one would judge by the scraping sound.


Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 17 2008, 09:21 PM
"Don't fall," said an an amused voice from behind him. The slender redhead was waiting, hands folded behind her back, unfocused eyes vaguely pointed in his direction. "You're not planning to jump, are you?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 09:25 PM
"Not planning to..." Jochy didn't pop his head up, but instead focused on getting the little rune just exactly right. Wardings were tricky... wards on metal? Even more so. "If I fall it will be more of a graceless floundering. Besides, I can swim."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 17 2008, 09:35 PM
"Oh?" the woman asked, taking a step backward. She smirked, deep dimples showing like divots in her cheeks. "Shall I push you to see?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 09:39 PM
"Now..." Jochy's head popped up then "... -that- would be evil." He swiftly pulled himself up completely, giving the woman a glare of mock-annoyance.

"Have some mercy on a woulded man, alright? Not that people tend to, but sometimes would be nice..."

He had tanned deeply by now, his hair startingly blonge against the skin. He did look rather cecilian actually.


Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 17 2008, 09:42 PM
"You say that to the blind lady," Cara retorted musingly.

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 09:44 PM
"The blind lady whom I thought was a man first. I might as easily be confused and think you are not blind at all." Jochy offered the last helpfully, but made sure to pull his splinted foot back just in case.

He leaned against the railing, watching her. "You've got everybody wondering you know. What exactly you are doing here. There is, in fact, a betting pool..."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 17 2008, 09:50 PM
"Is there?" Cara asked "And what's your money on?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 09:54 PM
"Now that would be telling." Jochy nodded, eyeing her again. Suffice to say I went for one of the bad alternatives, because if I am right, then at least I win money. If I am wrong, I don't really worry about losing some."

He shrugged "Not that you should feel picked on or anything, they had a betting pool on me for a while on the last ship I was on."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 17 2008, 09:59 PM
The woman laughed. "Would it make you feel better if you knew that I'm not sure why I'm here, either?" she asked. "What if I asked you what you think I'm doing here? Would that be a better question?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 10:05 PM
"Well, you were sent by the Pommers." He had caught on to Spider's way of talking about the Aquitinians. "That mean either you are a spy... a blind one at that. Or you are some sort of secret weapon... or tied in to Kuleliti somehow. Hell, maybe yer bait, plain and simple."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 17 2008, 10:08 PM
"Pardon me?" Cara asked. "Tied into Kulay-what?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 10:12 PM
"Oh, you don't know? Kuleliti. Crazed cannibal pirate captain who we are supposedly the ones that shall capture. Thought she might have had something to do with why you were aboard."

Jochy smiled thinly, if she was faking it, she was doing a good job.

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 17 2008, 10:17 PM
The girl's tongue moved around inside her mouth, distorting her cheek with a skeptical expression. "We're capturing a cannibal pirate?" she asked. "No. No, I definitely know nothing about that. I am neither an expert in cannibals, nor pirates, and to be honest, I would be rather useless in a fight."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 10:20 PM
"You could always lie down so people would trip over you?" Jochy offered helpfully.

"And yes, apparently we are. This is a proper navy ship now and all, but if anyone tries to get me into a uniform I'll sock 'em."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 17 2008, 10:32 PM
"No offense," Cara retorted, "but you would look terrible in red."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 10:38 PM
"Says the girl who is -supposedly- blind." Jochy shot her a grin. "Not gonna tell on you, but yer having something else isntead, right? Yer don't move like yer blind. Nor like you can see. But... there are ways to go about fixing that."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 17 2008, 10:42 PM
Cara gave the man a sly smile, and removed her hands from behind her back, offering his a delicate pair of brass binoculars, with a set of switches and gears along one lens.

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 10:50 PM
"Ooooohhh...." Jochy accepted the binoculars with careful reverence. "These..." He pondered them, twisting and turning. "Not wards. Have never seen anything like it."



Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 17 2008, 10:50 PM
"Oi, Jochy!" The pale girl came trotting up behind the two of them, flagging a hand over her head to catch the man's attention. "Not right now, but when you've got a spare moment, I'm meant to be measurin' everyone for uniforms. Just swing 'round and find me, won't take a minute."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 17 2008, 10:55 PM
The redhead cackled, nudged Jochy, and reached for her spectacles. "What were you going to do to yourself, was it?" she asked. She nodded in Spider's direction. "My companion, unfortunately, has decided to commit honorable suicide rather than submit to wearing red."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 11:00 PM
Jochy handed the binoculars back, making a face at Spider's revelation. "Seriously?"

He smirked a bit at Cara's revelation. "I actually said I'd sock them. But since it's Spider I give up already. She's way more dangerous than I'll ever be."

He wasn't really mocking her, he still remembered what she'd done to his foot.

"Uniforms? For all of us? The red kind? Oh for the love of..." He did look slightly devastated.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 17 2008, 11:05 PM
"Of course," Spider replied, perfectly sober before Cara. "We've got to do this thing properly or not at all. Captain's already told me to do all the requistions I'm gonner need from now 'til whene'er, get it all out of the way at once." Her eyes twinkled briefly at Jochy as she tucked her hands behind her back.

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 11:09 PM
"Seriously?" Jochy groaned, in abject dismay. "But... but they are -red-. Trust me, I look horrible in Red."

He had stolen Seth's clothes more than once, mostly because they were always clean.

"Do I get to be an officer at least? We should all get medals." He was only half joking.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 17 2008, 11:14 PM
"Oh, do shut up," Spider replied cheerfully. "Who's gonner see you but us? I'll explain when I take your measurements." The girl took a quick look down at Jochy's foot, to see how much weight he was putting on it.

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 11:18 PM
"The day I shut up is the day I die." Jochy grinned and followed her gaze. "The foot is a lot better. Wound's closed up, skin is healing. Bones are gonna take a bit longer, but I figure the splint can go off in a few days."

He ran a hand through his wind-swept hair. "And I get to see myself. That's the worst bit."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 17 2008, 11:29 PM
"Speakin' from this end, I'd say the worst thing is that the rest of us have to see you . . . " She laughed. "Ah, kidding. There's worse things to worry about than what you get to wear to your own funeral, mate. I were more worried about the foot. I know he's got you danglin' half off the ship, just be careful how you come down on that thing."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 11:37 PM
"It's walking that's the worst. Or rather, running. Expecially from damn dogs, which I by the way is so happy we are rid off." Jochy was still leaning on the rail.

"Climbing is easier, got three points of balance that works then instead of one. You ought to know." He shot Spider a smile.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 17 2008, 11:43 PM
"Aye, and I also know how it feels to get absorbed in somethin' up there and come down all of a sudden and remember too late you got no support under that thing." Spider smirked at him. "Balls, just take it as friendly advice."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 17 2008, 11:47 PM
"I really need to get better at that, don't I? Taking advice?" Jochy looked a bit sheepish, scratching the back of his neck.

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 17 2008, 11:51 PM
"Fancy that, and I never pictured you as the type to shy from advice," Cara said wryly, flicking at the rings on her goggles.

She smiled at Spider, nodding her head. "You're the captain's wife?"

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 17 2008, 11:58 PM
Spider pulled up at little straighter at being addressed. "I am, miss." It was a lot easier just to say it rather than go through the rigamarole of their actual relationship, and besides, the woman was from the Empire. "How d'you do?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 18 2008, 12:02 AM
Jochy fell silent, watching the two women for a moment.

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 18 2008, 12:13 AM
"Well," Cara replied. "If not for the fact that your friend here is on the verge of falling into the ocean. And please, not Miss, of all the honorifics you could append to my name, Miss is hardly necessary. I hear you're having a child? Congratulations are in order."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 18 2008, 12:15 AM
"Sorry, habit." The apology was brief, frank, and well-meant. "And I am. Just a wee bit at the moment, though. Anything you'd prefer to be called, then?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 18 2008, 12:24 AM
"I was not on the verge of falling in." Jochy protested loudly. "It ain't that easy getting wards placed there, the whole ship is bloody metal!"

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 18 2008, 12:30 AM
"Wards?" Cara asked. "You mean as in magical wards? Is that what you were doing out there?"

She dipped her head to Spider. "Cara. Or Kataly. Or Professor, although technically I've been dismissed from my post, so I don't actually profess anything anymore. Is this your first?"

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 18 2008, 12:31 AM
"Oh, no!" Spider looked surprised and amused. "I been sailing for years."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 18 2008, 12:40 AM
Jochy choked back a laugh.

Then, trying to keep from chuckling he nodded at Cara. "Yeah, that'd what I did before I became a sailor."

He sounded as if that was something far less exotic than being a sailor.

And really, for him it was.

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 18 2008, 12:51 AM
"I meant your first baby," Cara replied, chuckling, then turned to Jochy. "Is it? You are going to have to tell me more about that I have always had a...penchant for studies of natural magic."

"But please," she said, nodding to Spider. "Do not let me keep you. The sooner you turn our friend into a lobster, the better."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 18 2008, 12:59 AM
"I realised what you meant about two heartbeats after I answered," Spider said, a little clipped from embarrassment. "Aye. First. So far it's the worst bout of food poisoning I've e'er had in me life."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 18 2008, 01:06 AM
"I hope what pops out in the end will be a wee bit cuter and less smelly though" jochy offered helpfully.

He grinned at Cara, chuckling a bit. "If yer want to."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 18 2008, 01:16 AM
"And here I thought you were joking," Cara said to the other girl. "I'm very pleased to say I have never been in your position. Not that there's...anything wrong with it, but I am not cut out to be a mother. Not at all," she said with a laugh. "Apart from the fact that I wouldn't know where to start. That, and it requires finding a man I want anywhere near me"

She laughed, then turned to Jochy. "You show me your wards; I'll show you my work. Fair trade?"


Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 18 2008, 01:22 AM
"Well, findin' a man does seem to be the major startin' point. After that things tend to develop without much imput on your part." She looked half-joshing, half-resigned, and put a hand over her stomach--a gesture she had picked up as of late. She gave Jochy a small questioning look, her invisible brows drawn together.

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 18 2008, 01:28 AM
"To be fair, for some women I've heard finding a man becomes important after the fact. To be all proper like." But then again, it was fairly obvious what women Jochy had mostly known of.

At Spider's look he gave her a near imperceptible nod, then turned to Cara.

"If our captain approves of course, I wouldn't want to slack off too much."

The way he figured it, they knew so little about the strange woman that it was worth the risk.

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 18 2008, 01:33 AM
"You are happy about it, aren't you?" Cara asked the other girl. "I apologize if I've been...presumptuous on that count.

She laughed at Jochy. "The problem with that sort of woman is that they find too many men," she pointed out. "And I'll take very little of your time, I promise. I simply want to study the comparative theoreticals. I was curious, the ship...is it entirely mechanical, or does it use magic?"

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 18 2008, 01:39 AM
"You'd have to ask the dwarves about the ship," Spider said. "They're real tight-lipped about things, and not a lot of 'em speak enough Common to explain stuff proper. They mostly just point and say 'go here' and 'this one'."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 18 2008, 01:49 AM
"Comparative theoreticals..." Jochy laughed, shaking his head. "You weren't kidding about the university. Gotta warn you though, I am not that much of a theorist. I like getting my hands dirty too much."


Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 18 2008, 01:54 AM
"And what, I don't?" Cara asked, flicking at her spectacles again. "I'm a craftsman first, a theorist second. But there's no craft without the theory, wouldn't you say?"

She peered through the glasses at Spider, for a long moment, then lowered them. "The dwarves, you say? They would be the short ones with the beards?"

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 18 2008, 01:59 AM
Spider raised her hand timidly to break into the other track of conversation. "I'm sorry, but . . . what are you two talkin' about? I lost you both some time around comparing theo-whate'ers."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 18 2008, 02:01 AM
"Magic stuff," Jochy added for Spider's benefit. "See? This is how i feel when yer try to make me name all the parts and bits of the rigging."


Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 18 2008, 02:08 AM
"Now, now," Cara said smoothly, and she took the contraption in her hand and passed it to the other girl. "You can't very well be so dismissive. If she asked you what knot you'd tied, and you didn't know, would she just walk away? Look through these," she said to Spider. "And then flip this knob here," she said, touching a knob. "This is a practical object. It's been made. It's as if...you've made the knot. Theory is when you imagine a knot and imagine how the rope might pull, were you to tie it."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 18 2008, 02:19 AM
Spider took the object, delicately, and ran a finger around the eyepieces before raising them to her face and turning the knob. "It's . . . flipping things around? Yes, I can see it. But upside-down . . . why would you need it?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 19 2008, 09:02 AM
"It's not that I'm dismissive... it's just... it's really boring to people in general, ennit? It ain't like she's out to become a mage or anything." Jochy waved her fingers in front of the contraption as Spider looked through it, for fun as much as anything.

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 19 2008, 05:06 PM
Cara's pale eyebows popped up, and she gestured at Jochy. "You assume it bores people, but she's the one who asked. I do not consider myself a magician, but a technologist, a maker of mechanical objects. But your study is not considered a true science by any who does not practice it, because magic users have a tendency to be so dismissive. I prefer illumination," she said, and with that, she reached and flicked another switch on the goggles. "Suppose you're hanging by your ankle, or otherwise reversed. Suppose you're doing work in a very small area and want a better perspective on a part that you can reach, but not see."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 05:40 PM
"Oi there!" Jochy crossed his arms over his chest. It ain't a what did you call it, -true- science because not everybody can do it. And most of the magi I know -loves- to talk about it. If yer ever run into Seth, you'd get more than your money's worth." Almost if he realized how that sounded, he ran his hands through his hair, laughing softly.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to be all bristly there. Just wasn't the best student there is, and well... magical theory is still a sore spot."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 05:42 PM
"Oh, so you're afraid that Spider here will learn it faster than you did?" Cara teased.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 21 2008, 05:47 PM
Spider started and jerked the goggles away from her face, glancing up quickly at the sky before she gingerly handed the mechanism back to Cara. "It's not magic, though," she interjected, shyly. "It's . . . it's pretty much just like everything the dwarves put together, innit? I mean, it's complicated, but it's . . . like a windmill. If you know how to put it together then anyone could do it?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 05:58 PM
Jochy grinned at Cara, shrugging. "Probably. She's smart. I'm stubborn." He watched Spiders fascination with the thing, chuckling a bit.

"Yeah, that's what ships and technology are. You can do it if you know how. It's not like Magic, or singing or stuff..."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 06:05 PM
Cara took the goggles back, polishing them on her shirtsleeve. "It's a true science," she insisted. "We can't make wings and fly, but that doesn't refute the laws of aerodynamics that govern birds. Singing is a science as well, the science of oscillation and vibration, of air being pushed through a passage of varying widths. You can know what creates the perfect note even if you're tone deaf or mute. I study optics even though I'm virtually blind. They still work."

She smiled slightly, nodding to Spider. "To a certain degree, yes. The mechanical structure can be recreated, but most mechanical inventors would steer away from magic, and most magicians would scoff at mechanics. The Tuatha are singularly uninventive people because they have their glamourie and fayerie. The Dwarves are mechanical wizards because they are down-to-earth, practical. Think what they could do if they combined their arts?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 06:07 PM
"That's wards." Jochy chimed in before he could stop himself.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 21 2008, 06:11 PM
Spider was trying to decide if she should be offended at what appeared to be a slight to half her family tree. "The Tuatha don't e'en think of what they do as magic, though," she said, still confused. "You should see 'em when you say 'magic' to one of 'em; they give you this look like you just called 'em liars. And they think anyone else what does magic by books is sort of . . . well, cheating. Or stealing."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 06:18 PM
"Wards, but think of all the other practical applications that no one even considers. Iron and fayerie are like oil and water, but really," the redhead said, "magecraft can mix with iron, and fayerie can mix with bronze. And that's precisely my point," she said tot he other girl. "If you have an ingrained, innate ability to do something, you've no reason to study or build something to do it for you. At least, not on a surface level. Assume you could float, indefinitely. Your entire civilization could float, indefinitely, like ducks. Would you ever have a reason to invent a boat? Probably not. The Tuatha are in that kind of position. The rest of us have to build things to do things that they do easily, so they don't need to build those things. But what if they did? They could skip the steps the rest of us need to take, and make something that much better. I built myself eyes," she said, raising the spectacles. "Because my own don't work. But because I added what I know of magery to them, my substitute eyes can do things that normal eyes can't."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 06:22 PM
"Is that what they study at the university? Whether ducks build boats?" Jochy looked utterly thoughtful there for a moment. "Hell. I'd pay money to see them do that. And quite possibly he scared out of my wits. Hell, I knew a guy who was haunted by a duck once. Of course I didn't have anything to do with it at all."

That he had a straight face while delivering this was needless to say.


Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 21 2008, 06:30 PM
Spider looked both fascinated and terribly, terribly uncomfortable. She shrank off a few steps, but seemed unwilling to excuse herself from the conversation entirely. "Is that what you study, how to skip steps?"

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 06:35 PM
"Haunted by a duck?" Cara asked. "Why, did he eat him for dinner?"

She nodded, smiling in Spider's direction. "In a sense, that's exactly what I do. More...teaching other people how to, except for the fact that in Cecilia, as you can imagine, women lecturing at the University is...frowned upon. And agnostic women lecturing at the University is...moreso. So instead of studying, other people paid me to skip steps for them. Which was all well and good until one of my customers apparently got the bright idea to use a dog collar to murder someone, and then Aquitaine decided that that was apparently my fault, and arrested me for it."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 21 2008, 06:37 PM
"They have a habit of doin' that," Spider replied generously.

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 06:39 PM
"Well, we've got a history of wrongful arrests around here, you wouldn't be the first." Jochy shrugged, leaning a bit on his crutch. "And sorry for being a smartass, it is my first reflex at times. Doesn't mean I dislike you or anything. Hell, I'll even talk shop later if yer really fancy doing that." He gave Cara the faintest of bows.

"I've never really heard of any women at the university... but then again, I had more of a private teacher." Oh that was a grimace alright. "Guess I didn't apprechiate it much. I'm not one for books."

He paused for a moment, then added. "And the duck was apparently his pet when he grew up."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 06:42 PM
"I'm not much of a one for books, either," Cara admitted. "But there's no other way to write things down. Books," she said thoughtfully. "Are one way of skipping steps. You read what generations before you have already done, so you can start where they left off and not have to repeat it all."

Her mouth quirked up a little. "I take it the lot of you were all arrested, too, then?" she asked interestedly. "For what, having an iron ship?"

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 21 2008, 06:43 PM
"Just admit it. You're a jackass all the time." Spider pretended to kick his crutch out from under him. Without thinking she nodded at Cara. "That's what it boiled down to. They frilled it up with some piracy charges."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 06:47 PM
"Hey, who am I to argue with facts!" Jochy jerked back a bit, looking very protective about his crutch. "And is that any way to treat your subordinate?"

He managed to look rather sensetive and offended there for a moment before he slipped up and smirked.

"I think the navy just arrests anything they don't like or understand."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 06:50 PM
Cara snorted. "No, they arrest anything they think they can use. I got arrested for murder and ordered to build more of the devices that were used as murder weapons," she informed them wryly.

She nodded to Spider. "I'm glad to hear he's always like this. I've been afraid he was trying to flirt with me."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 21 2008, 06:52 PM
"Oh, he does that too." Spider gave a too-innocent smile toward Jochy, but her grey-green eyes were worried. She raised an eyebrow at him: are you hearing this?

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 06:57 PM
"Flirt? Moi?" Jochy looked positively scandalized, then more serious. "No, sorry. I've been having a problem with that, but it seems I'm still bloody incapable to have any interactin with someone without them thinking I wanna pick them up. Not that you ain't charming..." This he added to Cara. "But I ain't looking. I've already got someone that's stolen my heart."

It was true. Far too true.

His only reaction to Spider's look was a a simple smirk of acknowledgement.

He had heard it. And planned to find out more about it.

"So, I hope yer ain't here to field test those... devices."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 07:00 PM
The redhead laughed. "No, I'm here to spy on your ship, but I thought that was already obvious," she answered. "What else would you send someone with a background in mechanics and magic to sit uselessly idle on a ship that's either run by mechanics or magic or a combination thereof?"

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 21 2008, 07:07 PM
Spider actually looked disappointed, as if she wasted a bout of what she thought of as cleverness. "Well, aye, it was sort of obvious, at that," she admitted sheepishly, "but then again, we suspect everyone of spyin' just now."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 07:22 PM
"Or worse." Jochy added heplfully. "You're making our job much easier though, which is good. I suck at interrogations, I talk too much myself."

He smiled sheepishly, then shrugged. "Good luck with the dwarves though, they ain't gonna let yer anywhere near their baby."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 07:25 PM
"Oh, I wasn't intending on looking," the redhead assured Jochy. "I think we're all better off telling Aquitaine that the ship uses extremely powerful magic to run. The trouble is more stalling them finding out otherwise long enough that Monsieur Moreau gets me a new University post."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 21 2008, 07:29 PM
"Except that these bleedin' pommers are already crawlin' all o'er everything. You can tell. They're the ones that have grease all o'er their sleeves." Spider tossed her short hair and sneaked a look over her shoulder. "Wait, I thought you were under arrest?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 07:33 PM
"Seems like -was- is the important word here. Maybe they pulled another deal for her?" He glanced at Cara. "Seems like they ain't really about doing things the straight and proper way. Normally i would approve, except I am being straight and proper now myself."

He looked rather serious and very very annoued. "Bleedin' pommers." It was a rather fair approximation of Spider's accent there.

"I hope you realize..." He turned to Cara "That yer'll still be watched like a hawk. Just in case."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 07:34 PM
The redhead laughed. "I'm completely aware of that. And they think I won't notice because I'm blind. Exactly," she said, nodding to Spider. "I might have been under arrest, but I still had the upper hand. It doesn't help them to let me sit in a cell and rot. I told them I'd only help if I got a post at a University."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 21 2008, 07:41 PM
"Shite!" Spider suddenly brought down her fist. "I'm sorry," she apologised, though not clearly directed toward either of them, "I'm supposed to have been findin' those two new officer-fellows anyways." She snapped her fingers at Jochy. "Measurements when you're done here, and while there's still some daylight for me to work by, what?"

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 07:42 PM
Cara snickered. "Give him some extra flounces, will you?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 07:43 PM
"Alright, I'll be over. Ain't that much more to do here at the moment anyways. A ship is a damn awkward place to ward." He nodded, rather proud of himself that he bit back the comment that he wouldn't begrudge her the chance of getting to feel him up.

No flirting. He was working on it.


Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh May 21 2008, 07:45 PM
"Lace, if I can swing it." Smiling, she jabbed her hands in her pockets and started off across the deck.

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 07:47 PM
Jochy was quiet for a few moments, then preened. "Hell, I'd look good in lace! It's like the woman confused me with someone that has any shame."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 07:50 PM
Cara laughed, and aimed a fake slap at the air in front of Jochy's cheek. "Watch it, you," she warned. She frowned a moment. "As long as you're warding..." she said, thoughtful. "Did you ever consider warding against the Navy?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 07:53 PM
"It ain't working like that." Jochy rubbed his untouched cheek. "Can't fine tune the things that much, there ain't much difference between a sailor and a navy man. Besides, the ship's Iron and I don't have unlimited time and patience. It just ain't something I can slap on. This is just for... emergencies. To give me an edge. I ain't much use with straight up magics these days."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 08:00 PM
Cara's expression shifted "What about something that would make people see something different, if they tried to look close?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 08:05 PM
"That's exactly what I'm working on." Jochy shot her a conspiratory grin. "Used a simpler version once before... it's a bit like camouflage. Not really making people see anything different, 'cause that would be outright illusion, but rather making people just look elsewhere. Fading it into the surroundings. A bit like standing stock still in black clothes in the darkness. If I can pull it off."

Jochy sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Problem here is that iron generally reacts to magic very badly. Bit like if you stick one end of an iron rod in a fire, yer gonna burn yer hand. Way fast. A lot faster than you would if it was wood for example. That's why yer ain't have too many magic weapon made of iron out there, and the ones that are, are usually made of the stuff that falls from the skies at times. Apparently a hell of a lot more stable. Silver is the usual metal of choice."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 08:08 PM
"So, what's stopping you from getting some silver screws, driving them into the seams, and setting the wards on those?" Cara asked.

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 08:11 PM
"Nothing but a bunch of angry dwarves, and well... I ain't wanna get just the nails to disappear. They still have to use the hull to connect the thing. About the only bloody thing that's stable on the seas. If it'd been at land I could have run it through the ground, but the sea? Not so much. And air? Nah. Usually not workable. I need the hull as a canvas, that way I can cover everything on the hull."

He pondered, then added. "If I had time and money, I suppose the ship could be inlaid with silver. Enough to make a complete circle. But I ain't that rich."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 08:15 PM
The woman's eyebrows shot up. "You're doing that kind of warding?" she asked. "For invisibility?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 08:19 PM
"Technically not invisibility. That takes a hell of a lot more preparation. Try more... innoticability?" He rubbed his hands together for a moment, then cracked his fingers. "This means that once the ship is seen, it can be seen. True invisibility means that even if yer know it's there, yer can't see a thing. Like I said, this is about... oh, you've ever seen those insects pretending to be something else? This will be a huge bloody ship pretending to be a few waves. Or a duck." He added the last with a straight face.

"Probably several ducks. Without a boat."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 08:26 PM
Cara let out an amused little noise. "What is it with you and ducks?" she asked. "So, what did you do to that poor friend of yours, ward a duck so he couldn't see it?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 08:29 PM
"No, I used the image of his dead pet duck to sneak inside his head when I needed some camouflage. If yer'd ever meet the man you'd understand the hilarity. He was very..." Jochy struggled for a word to sum up Neely "... manly? In control? Not the man you'd picture with a duck. They've had a certain amount of hilarity to me since then."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh hell, he'd kill me if he knew I was making jokes about it."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 08:31 PM
"You..." Cara sounded disbelieving. "Infiltrated someone's head disguised as a duck. Why?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 08:34 PM
"Long story. Needed to talk to him without being spotted, at the time it was easiest to just sneak in through his dreams." Jochy grimaced, then shook his head. "Can't do that shit anymore. I'm pretty much a high functioning cripple. The wards... I can still use. Most of everything else, not so much. I've got the knowledge, but I ain't got the fuel."


Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 08:37 PM
"Interesting," Cara replied. "Why not?" she asked. "You...you're obviously trained. What happened to your abilities?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 08:41 PM
"I... hell, I don't go around asking what happened to yer eyes, do I? Sometimes life fucks you up. Got to deal with it." Yeah,he sounded bitter enough, though not at her.

"Sorry. Touchy subject." He took a deep breath, calming himself down. He would get better at this damnit, he couldn't live the rest of his life just walking off whenever he got upset.

"Simplest way of explaining it, is that I got very badly hurt. The cure fixed that, but at the same time blocked my magic. It's still there, just can't get at it. Has to used store stuff to do anything, including charging the wards once I've done."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 08:44 PM
Cara shrugged. "I've been blind since birth," she answered. "I...could see a little, but it's gotten worse. It's nothing that bothers me to talk about. Would you be as offended if I asked what happened to your foot?"

"So, what do you do?" she asked. "But magic off other mages? Is that...that's interesting," she said thoughtfully.

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 08:49 PM
"Yeah, pretty much. Yer can ward up objects and use them to store energy. I can draw on that and use it. Knows a few magi that refuels them now and again, but I'm better off not using it at all. I also can use... well, the ambient energy around us. But that doesn't do much more than..." Jochy frowned, focusing hard. In the palm of his hand, the faintest flicker of flame appeared. "See? Not much. Not much at all." It was enough to use mindspeech at times, with the right persons.

"And I got shot. In the foot that is."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 08:56 PM
"But theoretically," Cara said, putting a finger up, "if you can siphon off magic from other magi, then there might be a way to let people who don't have their own magic do the same, wouldn't that be a correct assumption?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 08:59 PM
"I... I don't know. Really." Jochy looked a bit thoughtful there. "I usually ain't been hanging around much with people without talent. "Maybe. I suppose. But they wouldn't know much what to do with it unless yer'd warded intent or specifics into the thing, and then yer ending up with yer run of the mill flaming sword or shit. Everybody can use it... but they can't decide what it does. Just pure magic?"

He scratched the back of his neck, looking doubtful.

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 09:03 PM
"Why not? You can teach someone to shape clay," Cara replied. "Even if they've never held a ball of clay in their life. Or glass, or metal. Why not magic, too?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 09:05 PM
"I... I guess 'cause it's possible for them to feel the clay? Maybe this is... like trying how to teach a blind person how to read. No offense there. But it's hard enough to teach this shit to people that -has- talent. And most won't even believe in it."


Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 09:07 PM
Cara laughed. "Blind people can read," she retorted, waggling her hand in the air. "With our fingers. It depends on the book, but some inks leave raised letters."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 09:09 PM
"Really?" Jochy blinked, as if he hadn't even thought of that. "Then maybe.... I suppose it might be possible if they could use other senses to compensate for what they were lacking. I dunno. And from what I know, it ain't never been done. Most magi are pretty anal about their craft, they wouldn't try to teach someone without the Art."


Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 09:12 PM
"Precisely," Cara agreed. "But that's the trick to it; people aren't willing to move outside their comfort levels. Just like I was saying about Tuatha. If a Tuatha were to try to be a builder of machinery, it would be more brilliant than any machines we know, because they have their magic at their disposal. The same would go for other disciplines."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 09:16 PM
"Tradition is a big evil bloody bitch to try to go up against. Hell, the things I've seen since I left home... let's just say that Cecilia is bloody progressive in most things. Well, except their treatment of women but... that goes for many places. It's the other way around in the Erins, we men are considered flakey and untrustoworthy, we think with out dicks most of the time." He shook his head, vastly amused.

"I like trying out new shit. I... most of the things I do, ain't very traditional. But I'm no scholar, I do stuff because I need it, not because I want to find out how it works. And yer stuff... it ain't all proper technology, is it? I get this weeeeird feeling." He made a motion with his hand, towards the contraption she had showed before.

"But I ain't felt anything like it before."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 09:20 PM
Cara's mouth screwed up mischievously. "Like I said," she said softly. "It's the combination of technology with magic, isn't it?"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 09:22 PM
"Well... yeah... you gotta realize that a water mill was pretty much the most advanced shit we had when I grew up. Just the clocks and compasses here... pretty amazing. That? So very far beyond me."

He smirked at his own ignorance.

"As you might have guessed, I wasn't very cosmopolitical. Inland town, pretty backwards."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 09:27 PM
Cara shook her head. "A compass isn't beyond you," she said. "It's just a bit of metal that wants to find its match. A clock is just a weight that wants to stand still set swinging."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 09:32 PM
"See? But to me it's magic 'cause I don't know how it works. Yer can explain it all yer want, it's still weird."

Jochy sighed, giving the girl a smile. "Listen, I've got to finish up this end here so I can go get a bloody uniform without nightfall. But I bet we're gonna talk again. Yer interesting."

That she was. "Oh, and that wasn't flirting. I promise."

Posted by: Cara Artimodaes May 21 2008, 09:34 PM
The redhead snorted. "Thank you for the warning," she said, dryly. "Go get your uniform."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen May 21 2008, 09:35 PM
"With lace if I'm lucky." Jochy smirked, then limped off.

Now if all spies were as forthcoming he might turn out to be less than paranoid.

Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)