[Mechanical Marvels] More People! (Nel, Murdoch)

by **Alistair deGrey** on March 30th, 2010, 3:02 am

This thread is continued from here

OOC :

Blinking seemed to be a common occurrence since these two entered the proprietorship. Alistair deGrey blinked a few more times, surprised by this woman's forthrightness. His hand autonomously extended to meet the Konti's while he keenly stared at her eyes, keeping his face neutral. There was something about strange and curious people that was attractive to deGrey. Not sexually, not at all. It was just sort of a trait he enjoyed surrounding himself with, even if he could not represent such a view himself. When deGrey uses the word surround, it usually involves one person for a limited amount of time. However, it was these types of people that could hold deGrey enraptured for quite a while. Well, this was of course assuming Alistair's first impression was correct. But how normal could a Konti wearing nothing but black be?

This person already appealed to Alistair, as long as they would remain an active participant in the store's affairs. However, he supposed that he should at least get a recommendation from someone. With perfect timing, the man that entered with her chimed in. His mercurial tongue rolled off a short sentence relating her competence at salesmanship and such. Alistair's black cloud had dissipated since contact with the cheery couple, but he felt it necessary to maintain some semblance of irritation so as not to appear sold too soon. deGrey turned to Nel, "right, I am sure you are a superlative saleswoman. However, I am inclined to ask for a small trial by fire so as to prove your worth." deGrey's eyes flickered over the two people, wondering what their relationship was. "I will not ask for much, nigh anything would prove to be more helpful than my last employees." When they had first entered, he believed them to be a couple.
As such, I will only ask for three days." However something the man had said resonated in his brain, "Can talk to just about anyone, so far's I've seen." It seemed to imply to him that these people were acquaintances, which seemed odd to Alistair. "If after three days you prove to be satisfactory, you will have secured work." Why would somebody wander around Syliras with someone they barely knew? Alistair would have to think about this.

But first he addressed the man, "So my good sir, who exactly are you?" Obviously not a lover, not a brother, age and race both eliminated father and son, respectively. This man was curious indeed. Almost as curious as Nel, due to his circumstances as opposed to personality though. Regardless, deGrey was interested.

by **Murdoch** on March 31st, 2010, 9:58 am

"Murdoch Kin'rath," he answered immediately, holding out a hand and offering a friendly grin. "Nel's an old friend of mine, just moved to the city so I'm helping her get settled. I remember hearing you were looking for help and figured this might be a good fit for a pair of clever hands. Or at least a pair of small ones," he laughed.

Almost all of that true, or bordering enough on truth that no one would know the difference. And, should Alistair ask around, Murdoch's name would likely bring stories of a friendly neighborhood fixture, buddies with a few of the older knights, a gambler who made most of his money at the Spinning Coin; a bit of a roguish character in many ways, but one who people simply laughed and shook their heads about since he was so damned charming.

by **Nel Sayo** on April 3rd, 2010, 5:15 am

She'd grasped deGrey's hand in a firm shake; like someone had told her once that a firm handshake is the best kind, and so she did her best to oblige, every time she shook someone's hand. Her vivid blue eyes held the gadgeteers, as well, unshadowed and bright as a glance of the sky at mid-morning.

"Okay. Three days. Got it. You just gotta show me what to do and where to do it, and we're good." She rocked onto her heels, and then back again, stuffing her hands into her pockets and glancing sidelong to Murdoch as AIistair began asking him about himself.

She looked around the store, sort of automatically tuning the two men out, because that's what she did. Not because they weren't each interesting, but because her attention span had a tendency to wander. To the shelves upon shelves of gadgets, or the windows with the city bustling on outside. The spiraling motes of dust that kicked and pirouetted through shafts of sunlight spearing in. If her eyes distanced themselves, it wasn't because she lived in her own mind, but rather that she lived every bit of herself moment to moment, exploring.

"Doc and my brother were friends," she said distractedly, blinking back into the conversation with a guileless smile. "Did you make all these yourself?"

by **Alistair deGrey** on April 3rd, 2010, 8:18 pm

The firm, rather too firm, handshake broke off and Alistair nodded at Murdoch. That does not sound quite right, but whether my analysis is incorrect, or he is lying, is now the question at hand. "I see, it is good of you to aid your friend." Nel spoke up now, indicating that she would need instruction. If Alistair was correct, a lot of it. Perhaps it will not be too catastrophic. I may even learn something. deGrey loosed a wry smile at his internal thoughts. As unlikely as it sounded at the moment, he would inevitably learn something from this inspirational person before him. Perhaps that was why he was so open to hiring her. Incompetence can be remedied, but lack of inspiration cannot.

Nel's attention had been wandering. A good or bad sign, Alistair did not know. Her He followed her eyes to the walls where she appeared to be examining his gadgets. Then she quickly piped up, informing Alistair that Murdoch and her brother had been friends. Interesting. "Yes, I did make all of these. There are a few exceptions where other expertise is needed though. For example, I cannot make my own crossbow. But otherwise, yes. Alistair stepped back and leaned against the counter, putting some distance between Nel and himself while not looking as if he had extricated himself on purpose. "If you care to learn, you may add your ideas to the display room as well. I find creativity to be appreciative." Alistair flickered back and forth between the two, wondering what exactly was going to happen next. The ambiguities of conversation. It was all so awkward.

by **Murdoch** on April 3rd, 2010, 8:24 pm

Doc just rolled his eyes and shoved his hands in his pockets. "You, your brother, whatever. It's not like it matters. You're here now," he chuckled. His smile was indulgent, as if he were terribly fond of Nel despite - or perhaps because of - her eccentricities.

Muddy hazel eyes turned back to find Alistair behind the counter again, and he shrugged as his smile twisted into something more amused. "You give her that kind of reign, she'll come up with a hundred ideas. Better have a quill and parchment handy," he laughed.

by **Nel Sayo** on April 4th, 2010, 5:28 am

There was nothing awkward about Nel.

Destructive, certainly, wild. Unpredictable as a walking bolt of lightning, but she was just as comfortable wandering through a maze of spokes and wheels and ticking cogs as she might have been swimming through a sunken ship, skirting hammer sharks. There simply wasn't time, in the world, she thought, to be uncomfortable over most things. So she followed after Alistair, but not too close, instinctively aware that he wanted his space, if unwilling to let him retreat completely.

She made a face at Murdoch, both in jest and so he'd know to follow along as she bopped down the aisle towards the counter.

"Maybe not a hundred," she sighed hugely, as though truly vexed. Her brother's friend. "At least not in one go."

Leaning down, she peered through the glass paneling beneath the countertop to eyeball the little gadgets within. A fingertip taptaptapping to the glass. Then she thought better of that, and straightened up again, the pale spill of her hair like the tail of a comet as it swept behind her shoulders.

"I've never used a crossbow. Arrows on ships -- no good. But they're neat. I saw this guy once with a thing --" She made a gripping gesture along her forearm. "-- that like held his dagger and then --" A sort of whoosh motion and sound. "--right out of his sleeve and into his hand, it was awesome."

And that was her story. She smiled again.

"So when do I start?"

by **Alistair deGrey** on April 4th, 2010, 6:28 am

There was always something awkward about Alistair.

Uncertainty played through his mind as a pantomime. A quiet performance. When does this one start. Interesting question deGrey didn't immediately answer he question as he walked to the counter, only in the pregnant silence realizing his feet were bare. He padded over to a near empty barrel with one or two wooden canes hooked on the rim. The silence shattered into a thousand pieces that would have cut Alistair's bare feet at one point in life, not every man in Zeltiva was a scholar. "Yes, here it is. I have not made anything quite like what you've described, but..." Alistair grabbed the cane's wooden handle and pulled it from the barrel. Experienced hands ran over the dark wood, examining the metal rods reinforcing its structure, the tiny switches and levers. He tossed the ironwood cane to Nel. "This is similar to what that man had, except probably not as interesting."

There were a myriad of ways to approach the situation, each as interesting as the first. But Alistair tried to take a page from Nel's book that kept deGrey so curious. Reading in a foreign language, by an eye that had been searching for an eternity and more. deGrey began to think, but perhaps a little less than usual as he blurted out, "Now, you start now." No time to regret the consequences, at least, not yet. "We can make something. I don't quite know what yet, but you may lead the way."

by **Murdoch** on April 5th, 2010, 2:11 am

Murdoch watched as the two of them got started, and chuckled a little to himself. Well, this would at least keep her busy with something when he couldn't be around to keep an eye on her.

"Looks like you two have things pretty much handled," he said with a grin. A few steps brought him over to the counter as well, and he nodded to Alistair. "A pleasure to finally meet you, sir, and I hope she works out for you," he chuckled, giving the shopkeeper a teasing wink.

A hand found it's way to Nel's shoulder, and he gave her a small squeeze. "Can you find your way home, little swan, or shall I come fetch you when you're done here?"

by **Nel Sayo** on April 11th, 2010, 2:20 pm

Nel caught the ironwood cane mid-air and swept it down and to the side, as anyone with sword training might have, except she lifted it again almost immediately thereafter and started fiddling with the hinges and switches, trying to figure out what it did and how to make it do what it did, with all speed.

"What?" Totally engrossed, she blinked and twisted about when Murdoch laid a hand on her shoulder. But then she grinned. "I'll be fine -- I can find it. Go, go -- hey, what does this button do?"

She was already bopping over to the counter towards deGrey, attention wholly encompassed by the ironwood cane and making it do something, because she was sure it did something, and that something would be awesome once she got it doing it. Nel enjoyed puzzles, but of course the best part was always solving them.

Without asking, she climbed up to a seat on the countertop with the cane settled across her knees, bright eyes shifting from the contraption to the inventor and back again.

"So do you just sit around inventing things?" she asked, even before he could answer about which switch did what.

by **Alistair deGrey** on April 11th, 2010, 11:23 pm

Curiosity is expansive, encompassing every aspect of one's life. However, incompetence seems to use the same policy. On a more positive note, incompetence can be fixed, curiosity is something one is born with. Nel needs a lot of fixing though...

He did not mind her sitting on the counter, but deGrey made a mental note to thoroughly clean it before ever setting food there again. He did not at all care that she appeared to be abusing the cane in all manner of ways, he doubted she could break it. He found no vexation when she failed to figure out the cane, she could be taught.

However, the last comment struck a note within Alistair. "No I don't just sit around and invent things. I spend much of my time on my feet." deGrey was a little irked by what Nel had said, but he was loathe to begin a confrontation with somebody he had initially liked. There were few enough people he enjoyed speaking with, no need to dispel one of them. So deGrey had made the light hearted comment.

Though deGrey did decide to deny her the chance to discover the cane's secrets for herself. He reached over and flipped a small switch near the handle. A light clicking noise, and a knife sprung out the end.

"Right." Alistair's vexation having already vanished as smoke, "I suppose you might want to view the workshop." He stood up and moved around the corner. deGrey opened the door and turned to the man, "Are you coming?" The inventor's tone was completely neutral, his voice calm as it had been when the pair entered. Without waiting for an answer, Alistair walked into the workshop.