Chaz started and flailed for a moment, making the hammock roll over and deposit him onto the ground. He held the small metal thing up so that it didn't hit the ground and got to his feet, groaning and rubbing his nose.
You sounded like my dad.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Post by Sir Kerag on Sept 16, 2011 12:36:53 GMT -5
Kerag couldn't keep from laughing, Chaz's comment sending him over the edge. He clutched his stomach, bellowing a deep guttural laugh, wiping a tear from his eye. He patted the cat on the back and shook his head.
"I'm probably old enough to be your dad Charles, but in any case my apologies for the rude interruption, I was curious when you would be able to fix the back door to my house."
Post by Sir Kerag on Sept 16, 2011 14:55:24 GMT -5
"Excellent, let us make haste Charles"
Kerag and Chaz began to walk out when the orc gave a thumbs up.
"The safe works perfect, I'd still like the hole fixed of course, but yes for a rush job I'm certainly satisfied. Good work on the jail by the way, you've made all of our jobs at the Guard much easier. We were running out of closets to throw suspects in."
Post by Sir Kerag on Sept 16, 2011 19:36:05 GMT -5
Kerag's face lighted up.
"Sounds like magic Charles, impressive."
He rubbed his chin, thinking of the implications.
"You must show it to me when you've completed it. I'm sure the Guard will compensate you considerably for making more of these Iconographers. If we could take our criminal's mug and put it on paper, why it would make our jobs more efficient. I could put together a records department on all known suspects...yes I'll even pay you good gold for one myself."
Chaz walked in proudly, carrying the envelope marked very officially with the House Helvana seal. IT was from Anri. He peeled it open and sat in his chair, reading it.
My Chazzy,
Nikole and I are settling in well. I think it'll do her some good to spend some time around her fellow Drow. No offense, Charles, but having a Drow girl act like a cat would be unbecoming. She'll be back to see you very soon, so don't be jealous of me.
I'm fascinated to hear of this picture machine you sent a drawing of. Make sure to send me some pictures of yourself if you get it working! I'll keep one in Nikole's crib for her.
My mother is better, but not well. I know you didn't like her, so I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say magical illnesses aren't very pleasant. I'll be in Wistvale soon, love. Don't you worry.
With love, Anri.
He sighed. The envelope even smelled like her perfume. He put it in a wooden box to read later and went back outside, more work to be done.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
All the parts together, Chaz worked late into the night. He had a magnifying glass he set up on the table, and some tweezers to work with the small parts. Gears clicked, pegs spun, springs tightened, the case coming together. Eventually a shape came together; a brass rectangle, with a turncrank on the side and a glass lens on the front. It took hours, but he didn't feel it. This was his element, putting something together, creating, figuring things out as he went. The blueprint, his lifeblood for the longest time, was merely a guide. He ended up ignoring half of it as he found out it wouldn't work. But at three in the morning he picked up the lantern and adjusted it, throwing more onto his creation.
It was complete. And now the moment of truth. He fed a piece of paper into the side, turning the crank until it stopped, then pointed the lens at himself. He pressed the button, the shutter clicked, and there was a tapping as the image was transferred to the paper. He spun the crank the other way, letting the paper out, and then laughed. There it was, his face on the paper, black and white and still there. He tried it again, taking another picture of himself, laughing like a madman, pulling up his goggles. He kissed the machine and put it on the workbench, taking up another piece of paper.
My dear Anri,
It works! The Iconographer works! I'm so excited I can barely write. I'm going to be sending you a package with the Iconographer in it and instructions; take a few pictures of the baby and yourself and send it back. I've also included some pictures of myself. Show them to Nikole! Just be careful, I'm not sure how fragile the device is yet.
Love, Your Chazzy
He packed up the Iconographer into a small wooden box, carefully, putting the letter and his pictures inside it. He tied up the package with brown paper, put it near the door so he would remember to send it, and then fell backwards into his chair, asleep before he hit the fabric.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Chaz ran into the house, grinning even wider than he usually does, holding a package under his arm. It had gotten back faster than he had anticipated; Anri must have paid to have it expressed by magic or some way. He threw the package on his workbench, tearing the paper off and taking the iconographer out carefully. A small envelope came out with it, with the letter attached with a wax seal. He set the icono aside and read the letter.
My Chaz,
The device worked! You're a genius! I wish I could kiss you from here, but these pictures will have to do. It worked beautifully, and I got some excellent images of myself, Nikole, and the castle I'm in now. Keep a few of them with you, just as I have...
Oh. And a few of the ones at the bottom are just for fun. As...thanks. And as a gift. Enjoy, darling.
Love, Anri
Chaz gleefully opened the envelope. Inside was a stack of pictures, and he slowly looked through each one, savoring it. There was Anri, winking to the camera, looking adorable. Nikole, a little older than he remembered. His heart panged for a moment, missing them, but he continued. Them together. A picture of the castle, taken from the outside. A few of what looked to be thier room. And the next one was--
He nearly choked. His eyes widened as he looked at it. Surely she hadn't...but she had. It was there. One the paper. In black and white. The next one -- oh gods. He put the pictures down, then picked them back up, then put them down again, staring at the wall for a moment. He felt like something massive had just happened. Something huge, that would change the shape of the world. He looked back at the pictures. There were five of them, in various...kinds. He started to sweat. It was her, right? It was his wife. Why should he be so nervous? If...if he kept them to himself...nothing would happen, right?
Of course not! She had meant them for him....just for him. He wiped his face with his hand. This was a little much. He hadn't, in a million years, thought of this use for the device. Carefully, he put the pictures back into the envelope, taking in a deep breath, and put the envelope next to the iconographer. He'd figure it out tomorrow.
Chaz woke up feeling off. Very off. He fell out of his hammock as usual, thanking the gods he'd put some blankets there, and couldn't get up. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his vision was fuzzy. In a panic he realized; he'd forgotten to wind up his heart. The key was in his pants pocket, and his pants were across the room. As he crawled, his mind raced. Had he forgotten? When was the last time he'd done it? He'd had a few days left, surely. The edges of his vision started to turn black as he reached the key and struggled into a sitting position against the wall. With the practiced manner of having done this a thousand times, he flipped open the panel on his chest. He could hear the gears clicking and whirring, slowing down as the spring lost tension. The light inside was dim, almost unnoticeable. He put the key in its spot as he started to black out, and turned.
Immediately his heart pumped again, missing one beat, even two. He took in a giant ragged breath, feeling lightheaded, panting. He kept his breathing steady as he kept turning, feeling the familiar sensation of the spring deep in his small chest gaining torque. Finally, he was able to get to his feet.
He leaned against his workbench, sweating, deathly afraid. What if he hadn't woken up? What if he wasn't able to reach his key? Now, more than ever, he hated being alone. Calming himself, he laid his head on the workbench, for the first time honestly missing Anri.
He raised his head then, looking groggily up at the camera on its shelf. Slowly he reached for the envelope and took one of the pictures out, the one of Anri and Nikole. He smiled a little. It did help. He hesitated a minute, then with a dab of glue put it on the inside of the small glass panel on his chest. When he shut it, the dim light made the picture glow the faintest bit. He looked down, smiling anxiously. Right near his heart, artificial though it was.
He left out a breath, sinking into the chair. It was in the wee hours now, and he couldn't see himself going back to sleep. He pulled a large piece of paper and started to jot down ideas. Might as well. Kept him busy.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Chaz found himself climbing up a ladder to the top of the smithy building, holing onto a rope. On the other end of the rope was an old spear, modified with some metallic bits and attachments, welded to a small metal box that held it upright. As he climbed to the top of the building he rested, then pulled hte rope to bring up the machine to where he was. As he did he looked at the sky to the west. Stormclouds were brewing, dark and foreboding.
He'd have to hurry.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Drawn by some astral force - one that spoke in a strange, nigh indecipherable accent - Alec decided to swing by the smithy, perhaps to see if the machine he had built parts for was in working order. Cresting a hill, or coming 'round a bend - basically circumventing some form of geography that blocked the building from his view, he stops dead and watches with something approaching bemusement as Chaz hauls something off the ground - with considerable difficulty.
Noting gathering clouds to the west, he turns and continues to the blacksmith. "Chaz!" he calls, once the....thing is on the roof, so as not to make him drop it. "I came for a social visit, but it would appear you might require my assistance once more. Is that the case?"
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.