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Post by Zdena Kilvorion on May 13, 2011 18:20:14 GMT -5
"A visit to the future would be most enlightening." Zdena nodded in agreement, "And it would be a simple matter for me to assist you. But, why would you need for such a menial task? Unless..."
Zdena paused as she considered the problem, "A byproduct of your peculiar troubles prevents you from leaving. Or at least traveling very far. Very odd, indeed..."
There were so many factors to consider. Zdena would need to know more.
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Post by DeaeExMachina on May 14, 2011 2:22:59 GMT -5
"Yes. You've hit the nail on the head." she sighed giving her a shrug of defeat. "I can't leave and so I need you to carry out these menial tasks."
Angelina stood up and walked over to her visitor and sat down in her lap. "If you must... I have nothing to offer you, in return, but my own services. As meager as they are."
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Post by Zdena Kilvorion on May 14, 2011 5:42:25 GMT -5
The inventor had to move Effie as Angelina moved to her lap. Why she felt the need to share space on her chair was beyond Zdena. Especially when she had just left a perfectly good chair go do so. Some people just acted so irrationally. Perhaps this behavior was another product of frequent time travel?
"Do not worry." she said, "I will assist you. Much of my time is spent in the library as it is. I will see what I can find and return that information to you. It is a simple matter. Although, I would like to see more of this house. It intrigues me and I simply must learn how it works."
There was an ever-so-slight shift in the young inventor's features. This marked a sudden realization. "Of course." she said, as she returned to her normal expression, "I should have remembered them. No, but they need more tests, first."
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Post by DeaeExMachina on May 14, 2011 9:30:48 GMT -5
"Thank you." she said gratefully giving her a small peck on the forehead. As a gentle smile stretched across her lips, Angelina stood up and grabbed her hand and pulling Zdena up.
"Very well. If it's the house you'd like to see then I'm more than happy to show it to you." She said starting to act more like a hostess. "The kitchen, the dining room, the living room are all on this floor. My laboratory is in the clock-tower and the second floor has a number of unused rooms and my wife's room." Scratching her head, she looked around again and decided to start with the lab. She walked over to the staircase from before and right in front of her wife's room, she pulled down a trapdoor. "Alright that's the lab." she said pointing up.
Pausing as her friend realized what her actual purpose in the Western Lands were, she smiled and walked up next to her. "I want to see your brassmen in action. So show them to me?"
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Post by Zdena Kilvorion on May 14, 2011 11:36:53 GMT -5
Zdena rose to her feet as Angelina hauled her up. Not that she was one to talk, but Angelina was a bit on the odd side. Of course, she would acknowledge that she had her own quirks. And that was putting it mildly. All of these details were insignifcant when compared to the fact that she was in a house that wouldn't be built until sometime in the future. There was also a woman locked in time. And apparently the house could move, not only through time, but space as well. How else could occupy such a treacherous territory.
Her hostess led her through the house and was bringing her towards the lab. This would prove interesting. Zdena enjoyed labs. Even though her own was nothing more than an illusion, it was still her workplace. And the labs at Rom Royal Industrial were some of the best she had ever seen. But, she had never seen what a lab from the future would look like.
"How interesting." she said, looking up at the trap door, "What do you primarily work with?"
Her attention turned back to the countess as she inquired about the brass men, "Certainly. However, I have been making some improvements on a newer model. A more efficient design, should everything work properly. Those were the Clock-Guard you probably saw with my carriage. They are only prototypes, but they should perform adequately. I may need to make adjustments. Upon conclusion of this tour you are welcome to observe their trial run. Though I cannot promise on the quality. Normally I must be certain of their perfection before I hold any public demonstrations. Circumstances being what they are, I willing to allow you to observe. I only ask that you keep this test run confidential."
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Post by DeaeExMachina on May 14, 2011 19:51:49 GMT -5
"Alright then." she smiled and pulled down the staircase leading to the top. "I'm sure you'll like my lab. It is rather differentl." She promised as she ascended the stairs all the way up to the top.
Inside the tower was a single landing(where they were standing on now) with the inside of the great clock right in front of them. "You see it's rather strange for a lab but I'm not complaining. This is another rather interesting consequence to being fused with your house. Watch." Angelina said and walked over to the wall putting her hand on it. Suddenly, a bronze-colored cog appeared. "Bring out project FO2861." she commanded and the image of the cog started to glow.
The landing started to shift under their feet as bright colors swirled around them. Suddenly things started to appear on the landing. First a table followed by blueprints, diagrams, notes and blacksmithing tools started to appear, covering the walls, the floor and most of the space on the table. Finally, a sword with a clock on the guard appeared on the remaining patch of space on her work table.
"Didn't know how this happened but hey, there's an infinite amount of space I can use. So I'm not complaining." Angelina picked up the sword and slashed at the inventor in a wide arc. The sword, though, went through Zdena as if it was an illusion. It did not hurt, it did not cut, it just passed through her.
"Now you might notice a startling difference between how you were just a moment ago and how you are now. Now I assume the most startling difference you noticed is how everything seems much taller than they were before. Do not panic. That is a completely natural reaction when one regresses half their age." Angelina said boastingly as she put the sword back on the table and went over to pet the now much younger girl's head.
"You look so cute in your oversized clothes and hat!" she squealed holding her up against her own cheek.
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Post by Zdena Kilvorion on May 14, 2011 21:55:45 GMT -5
The room was impressive, indeed. The concept was not far off from how Zdena used Effie. Only instead of illusions, Angelina could physically interact with the objects created in the room.
"Control of spatial dimensions." Zdena stated, "Most impressive."
She watched as the sword was picked up and swung at her. There wasn't much she could do, as the sudden action took her completely by surprise. The strange thing about it, was it's apparent lack of effect. Were these illusions after all?
As it turned out...no. The change in perspective was abrupt and disorienting. Not that she had been of a commanding stature before the change. Pushing up her now oversized hat, Zdena looked up to Angelina as she explained the effects.
"Half?" while most might find such a situation alarming, Zdena merely gave blink in addition to her monote (if not slightly higher in pitch) delivery. It seemed quite true. Her newly forged armor was not sitting right on her. In fact her entire wardrobe hung loose on her younger form.
Zdena was lifted up quite easily by the woman. Two distinct thuds marked thefall of her boots as they connected with the floor.
"A most impressive demonstration." The now 12 year old stated, "How did you come to create such a device? How was it tested?"
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Post by DeaeExMachina on May 15, 2011 0:14:41 GMT -5
Angelina dropped her on the floor(without her hat) and explained some more while patting her head. "I designed it rather early in my travels. You see, I didn't want to remain 96 forever. Let me tell you that's a terrible age to be, everything and I mean everything aches. So this is my first invention during my travels and I've looked 24 since then."
Angelina slowly stroked Zdena's hair, "My wife and I... Always wanted a daughter. I really like you... Would... Would you like to be ours?" She asked completely serious about the matter. She took off her own red hat and put it on Zdena's head. "I can keep you young like this forever. If you'll only accept."
Suddenly, she stopped and looked as if she came upon a realization. "Hey. Excuse me, that was wrong of me. I can't keep you with me... The effects only last for an hour on the outside though I am able to ensure it never ends. Anything more you'd like to know?" She sighed blushing red like her clothing. "Sorry for my um... Outbreak and my... Desire to keep you as my daughter."
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Post by DeaeExMachina on May 15, 2011 0:29:06 GMT -5
Angelina dropped her on the floor(without her hat) and explained some more while patting her head. "I designed it rather early in my travels. You see, I didn't want to remain 96 forever. Let me tell you that's a terrible age to be, everything and I mean everything aches. So this is my first invention during my travels and I've looked 24 since then."
Angelina slowly stroked Zdena's hair, "My wife and I... Always wanted a daughter. I really like you... Would... Would you like to be ours?" She asked completely serious about the matter. She took off her own red hat and put it on Zdena's head. "I can keep you young like this forever. If you'll only accept."
Suddenly, she stopped and looked as if she came upon a realization. "Hey. Excuse me, that was wrong of me. I can't keep you with me... The effects only last for an hour on the outside though I am able to ensure it never ends. Anything more you'd like to know?" She sighed blushing red like her clothing. "Sorry for my um... Outbreak and my... Desire to keep you as my daughter."
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Post by Zdena Kilvorion on May 15, 2011 0:53:14 GMT -5
How peculiar. The woman had such an odd plan for Zdena. And with such a fantastic method of carrying it out. As she was put back down, she stare up, stoically as Angelina seemed to recover from...whatever had come upon her. Still, she had accoplisged a great deal. Zdena had to respect the Countess.
"Your request, though understandable, strikes me as a bit irrational." Zdena said, "This is just an observation, not a judgement. I am hardly the ideal candidate for the position of 'daughter'. Besides, I still have not performed either task I have agreed to prior to this proposition."
To remain one particular age forever. That almost sounded like immortality. And magic had found a way, first. Although, she supposed it was always there. After all there were plenty of magical creatures that obtained such traits. She would be lying to herself, if she claimed not to have considered it. But, there were obligations that
Ust be carried out.
"I owe you one cure for death and one demonstration of the Clock-Guard." she concluded, "I would very much like to study this location, further. Between the two of us, we may be able to return it to proper working order."
It would be a shame to leave such a powerful device broken. And as with most broken machinery, Zdena was compelled to make repairs...and perhaps even improvements, should it be possible. But, now was the time to fulfill one of her obligations. It only seemed fair.
"Now then. Would you care to observe the Clock-Guard? Unfortunately, without a proper target in the vicinity, I will only be able to demonstrate simple maneuvers. It may take some time to wait for an ogre or some such thing to arrive and provide an adequate test."
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Post by DeaeExMachina on May 15, 2011 9:40:26 GMT -5
"So you are willing?" she asked taken completely by surprise. She did like the girl a lot more now. "Okay cure for death, demonstration of clock-guards and um... Fixing my house?" She frowned and looked at the clock in front of her, there didn't seem to be anything wrong with it. Unless she was talking about fixing it so she could control where and when she would go to, well that was quite possibly one of the hardest things to be done.
Though she had to admit, if anyone could do it, the little girl would stand a better chance than most. "Well then first a demonstration of your inventions is in order!" Angelina smirked and giggled as she watched the inventor walk. "Would you like some of my wife's old clothes? I think they'd fit you better than the ones you have on now,"
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Post by Zdena Kilvorion on May 15, 2011 9:54:50 GMT -5
Zdena looked back down at herself. Yes, it would be rather cumbersome to try and walk around with the oversized armor. As if she didn't have enough to worry about, with carrying Effie every place she went. She looked back to Angelina, "Hm...yes, it would be preferable to change for the time being."
She was still a bit of a comical sight, as evident by the Countess' giggles. And at some point, she thought, she would need her hat back as well. But that would have to wait until later. She had business to conduct, after all.
"In the meantime, perhaps you can provide an answer...how does the house trigger it's shift in time?" she inquired, awaiting Angelina to lead the way to se better fitting attire, "Are you triggering it, or does it happen on it's own?"
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Post by DeaeExMachina on May 15, 2011 12:17:40 GMT -5
"Right then! Let me get something then." she nodded and put her hand on the cog. "Bring out closet02." Again, the lights twirled and danced all around them as the table, the diagrams and everything that appeared before disappeared. Then a few baskets of clothes appeared in front of them and a full length mirror showed up on the wall.
"Right." she nodded and started sifting through one basket marked with a small number 12 on it. "Here try this on." The Countess said as she threw a rather plain dark green dress at her and went on to the next basket and pulled out a pair of white panties and threw those at her as well. "I'm sure you can find a pair of shoes that suit you over there." She pointed at a corner where pairs of shoes were starting to appear.
The idea of seeing this little girl command a squadron of automatons was quite funny. The Countess giggled again watching her pick out a pair of shoes.
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Post by Zdena Kilvorion on May 15, 2011 12:43:02 GMT -5
The clothes sailed into her arms. Already outstretched to hold Effie. Somehow, she had expected they would just move to a different room. But, the curious little space they presently occupied shifted once more. How odd. By all means, she should be used to it by now, but it was still impressive.
Rooting around in one of the other baskets, she found a serviceable pair of shoes. They were plain and appeared well suited for trudging around outdoors. And with that, she shed her armor and baggy clothes. The change was quick and she picked Effie up once more after she neatly folded the items and secured them all together.
The orange globe glowed brighter and the metal armor hovered in the air, behind her. The young(er) inventor turned, not bothering to use the mirror for any sort of inspection.
"We may now conduct the trial run." she said, "Follow me."
Zdena turned and headed for the stairs.
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Post by DeaeExMachina on May 15, 2011 19:47:05 GMT -5
She nodded and pressed her hand against the cog again, "Return to normality." She said and followed her down as baskets after baskets and shoes after shoes disappeared in a flash of multicolored sparks.
She stopped for a moment and closed the trapdoor before following the young inventor down the rest of the stairs and out the door. She was anticipating the demonstration and almost started to applaud when the carriage came into sight but restrained herself, wanting to maintain the image of her calm and collected manners. So she found a rock, and after dusting off its flat top, she sat down. "You can begin!" she yelled out and put her hands on her lap.
Truth be told, her focus quickly shifted from the automatons to the small 12 year old girl directing them. It reminded her of her wife's younger days. Okay... Technically she hadn't known her until she was 16 and that version of her wife only came when she became bored one rainy afternoon. The sword was complete and she decided to kill some time, what resulted from it was something she could never forget. Her wife was, for a lack of better words, simply angelic, especially after she put that dress on her. And... Zdena reminded her of her. The Countess found herself blushing as she imagined her dead wife in Zdena's place. It was quite a refreshing thought and Angelina moved her hand to cover her mouth as the red blush grew to cover her cheeks.
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