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[stressingwitchface]

"Ugh. People"



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[sanityinruins]

I am working on a machine, well, somewhat a machine. Like this [ And here's a short video of a brass, silver and crystal cat that is batting at a glowing sphere held in a clamp among gears of brass and silver. ] and was wondering if you would like this sort of thing.

[stressingwitchface]

.....what is it?

[sanityinruins]

This one is going to be a spider based off the appearance of this one. [ And he swings the camera around so she can see the nightmare fuel of a deep spider - eyeless, long multisegment legs and two extra hooked limbs ending in nasty pinchers.]

Just not as old, so maybe smaller? I would call them clockwork but once built they act independently like a pet would.

[stressingwitchface]

[Kikimora watches, partially nervous in case it's a trap, partially enamored]

It seems delicate for as chaotic an environment as this ship.

[sanityinruins]

Yes, they do seem that way but deep spiders come from the wilds near where my people live. They are very sturdy; one of the larger predators in the ecosystem in fact.

[ He reaches over and raps his knuckles against the deep spider's carapace and gets snapped at by one of the pincers. Flicking his free hand at the head, the pincer lets go and the raw wound knit itself closed within moments. The spider seems to have enough of dealing with the two legged annoyance and swings itself on a few fine silk threads up into the ceiling leaving Ye Zun and his cat and the glittering parts around him alone. ]

I've also came up with a way to keep the limbs from breaking even if it cannot get away from the chaos, but honestly there are few things that would actually harm one of these here. I think the only one that I have lost was when we were shuffled off the Barge and it tried to attack one of those Authority things.

[stressingwitchface]

[She visibly jumps when the spider goes to attack, giving an impressed, high-pitched giggle]

Is it your spy? Is that why you want to give me one?

[sanityinruins]

These? No. Once they're able to move on their own, they are their own things. I can barely keep my personal cat from trying to catch fish or knocking things off of bookshelves. It's quite annoying, especially when she knocks the books on my head when I'm trying to sleep.

I was thinking that you might like the company. Friends are all well and good, but sometimes, it's just nice to have company that doesn't need anything more than being around you. Also you might enjoy building one. They're a bit like a puzzle, fitting the gears together just right.

[stressingwitchface]

[Normally she'd shut up and take the gift without questioning further. But because the flood is pushing on Kikimora's emotions, she grinds her teeth and admits;]

I had pets. I had to either give them away or have them killed in front of me.

How do I know this won't be the same?

[sanityinruins]

For one, you can't kill these without some serious power, and even if you did destroy the body, if the core - [ and he takes the glowing ball of energy within the cage of fine silver wire and and some strange metal that glitters like crystal away from the cat trying to gnaw on it. ] - if this survives, you can rebuild the body anew.

And for another, I make these to pass the time with. I sleep maybe once a month, maybe. I have to do something with my time, and this occupies me far better than harassing people over keeping their feet off the grass. I have no need to do either one of those things to anyone, especially after I gift them to a person.

[stressingwitchface]

Do you give all of your temporary assignments these creations?

[sanityinruins]

No. I've given one to my brother, one to my sister, and one went with Vlad when he left since he had help me with the solidifying the protections around the core.

The human brother in law just wanted a normal watch so there's only the four of them.

[stressingwitchface]

[So she's special. Kikimora gives a pleased little purr, satisfied with this]

...In answer to your question, Warden Zun, I am a quick learner with machinery. Yours should prove no challenge with the right tools.

[sanityinruins]

[ She is, in that weird way of hers that he can see comes from a setting that sounds way too familiar to him. Besides, she sounds like she might be more relaxed if given something a bit less demanding to do around him. ]

Then where would you be comfortable for this build? My room has all the necessary tools, but I can easily move them elsewhere.

[stressingwitchface]

[oh, and her comfort's a priority, is it? As it should be! Kiki considers this, tapping her claw against her face]

I have acquired temporary use of one of the counseling offices here.

[in exchange for - ugh - therapy]

That will do for my workstation.

[sanityinruins]

[ He knows his rooms are odd to outsiders, especially since it was without any light and has the heat and pressure of being underground next to lava that he finds comfortable. It also was his comfort; he did not enjoy having his space invaded. ]

Then if you are not busy, I would like to meet you there and see what is needed. Is that okay with you?

[stressingwitchface]

[In contrast, Kikimora's room is small, intimate, and sized for her. No one else can even fit comfortably there. So having some smelly creature in there is too much for her to take]

Yes, that's fine. I'll clear it with Warden Bright.

[sanityinruins]

Very well. I'll be tehre shortly.

[ He can't help the way his portals just cut into space and reality, like holes of bitter cold and strange colors. It was showy, but he also just didn't see any reason why he shouldn't use the portals to step through so long as he closed them behind him. Still he stood in front of the office doors, not going further while he waited to see what will happen next. ]

[stressingwitchface]

[Kikimora escapes her room to come to the counseling offices. It's obvious she's done her best to make it her work space, from the raising of the desk chair so that she can scale it easily and with dignity, to all the strange little pieces and knickknacks around the shelves. She has no real authority to be in this room but that won't stop her from pretending.

She stares from her place at her desk, eyeing that portal with envy and suspicion.]

Warden Ye Zun. Come in.

[Kiki folds her claws over each other on top of her ledger]

[sanityinruins]

So official sounding.

[ He knows that he sounds mocking at times, even when he wasn't being so. He does a slight dip of his head all the same, right before he steps into the room and looks around. He taps his cane on the floor and leans on it, a few of the dark bees floating around his head before settling again in the elaborately braided white hair. ]

Honestly, Ye Zun is fine in it's own; it's not like it's a name after all, just a title.

[stressingwitchface]

[Ughhh. She gives a wary look, worried about the bees, but guides him to sit]

I prefer to treat my wardens with their proper titles. It denotes respect.