[She opens her mouth-- she balks-- and then Wysteria pulls yet another scrap piece of paper over the schematic.]
Here is where I would like to experiment with the modification of enchantments. The shape of the rune is part of its power. If it were split here, between hammer and pan, and if both were located directly behind the barrel rather than to the side, it might be possible to control the expression of force by limiting it to the moment when the two halves of the rune come into alignment.
[While speaking, she's drawn out two rough shapes: the hammer of their little handheld cannon ratched back on its mechanism to show some wiggly approximation of a rune and the striking block waiting beneath it with a related squiggle.]
Which is just one possibility. I'd prefer you supply a chemical powder or oil. It would be much easier to reproduce.
[No one here cares what you did or didn't do in the place you came from, girl.]
[Again, the pull of innovation catches at Val. It will not be ignored. He is looking at her sketching nearly the moment her hand begins to move, thinking, weighing, considering.]
But you mean to say that if I could not supply such things, you would be able to create these runes, to fill the task?
[He tips his head to consider the wiggly rune.]
Are these dissimilar to the glyph that a mage might employ?
Well-- because it is a very specialized practice. It would be much easier to replicate a chemical solution than to-- and there is no guarantee I'll be here forever, you know. Sometimes we, Rifters I mean, go-- back.
[Which sounds like a question, but certainly isn't.]
It would be better for the longevity of the project, sir. To attempt some alchemical solution first.
[He's already starting to talk over her, before she's quite finished, taking advantage of how tentative that sounds--sounds like a question, but isn't, and yet the gap is there to be exploited--]
Yes, the longevity--of course, the longevity--how sensible you are-- But in the immediate, of course. In the immediate, we might use this 'specialized practice', yes? So that we can progress the design, and then, we will work on the alchemical solution--I have some ideas to that end at the ready, of course, it is part of my fondest interest--but far more interesting is to see the design put into practice.
You do want to see this design put into its practice, yes? We are surely of one mind on this, you and I.
Well I don't see why I would design it if I didn't want something done with-- yes, of course it should be developed for use. I am merely cautioning that a workable prototype does not necessarily imply a practical--
[Wysteria. She checks herself.]
Who do you mean to source the ore from? The modification of the glyph may take a considerable amount of my attention, and we will need the raw materials and the ability to mold and cast them. I have every confidence that Kenna might oversee the actual manufacture, but the tools themselves will need to be sourced or designed.
[So. He gestures, pleased. They do want the same thing, is what the gesture means. How marvelous, is what the gesture means.]
I can secure ore easily, given the proper time in which to arrange for it. The funding shall be entirely personal, of course. But I must request them by letter, and allow for a suitable time for the conversion to take place--it is all gemstones and real estate, you know, very fashionable but not very practical for such purchases--and for arrangements to be made for the carriage to bring the gold back to me once that business is done. It is all so complicated what one must do for funding, yes?
And all of this while you apply yourself most charmingly to the modification of this glyph. Who is this "Kenna"?
Kenna. Miss Kenna Carrow. She is a smith in the Inqui-- in Riftwatch's employ. She's quite talented. Very keen, with a true spirit and appreciation for the craft of invention.
[Having stopped listening at talented, and turned back to look over the schematics again, Val simply waits until the words stop before he takes his turn to speak again.]
We shall see how she fares, then. I suppose we can always find another if it proves her talent does not prove up to the task. I will take these with me.
[He begins rolling up the paper after this abrupt announcement.]
[The twin smack of Wysteria's hands on the table, pinning the schematic's edge between them and it, is very sharp in the dusty room. At last, she loses the thread of her composure.]
[A little annoyed, but also a little bewildered, Val looks around at her. And he does not relinquish his hold on the schematics, but goes on holding the page--at least the part that he was holding before her sudden crazed outburst.]
Whyever not? You do want to make progress upon this project, yes?
Everyone knows that it is better to work from originals. Even the loosest and earliest of schematics can be used to predict and understand the mind of he--
[Ah, or: he gestures, to Wysteria.]
--or she whose hand rendered the design. I will require both, if there is to be a second refined version.
[But: with great pomp, he lifts his hand away from the parchment and holds it slightly above his head, in the international gesture of you win I'm not touching I give up and I'm being more than a bit sarcastic about it.]
Then again, I suppose you are not me. Your original, mademoiselle. It is yours.
[And here, at last, is a true note of familiar territory. Wysteria straightens, the line of her chin and jaw just faintly elevated in what is that equally universal language for I'm so glad you noticed and your sarcasm had been noted.]
No sir, I am not. Thank you for understanding. --Now, you will of course keep me updated should you run into any trouble acquiring the necessary funding and materials, as either may require a revision of the design. In turn, I will provide you with the original schematics of each iteration once I've copied them. Once we have a working prototype of the firing mechanism, we will take it and the design to the Provost.
[The Provost. Val rolls his eyes, then lets that carry him into one more serene and composed and highly academic. Which means, a little smug.]
I shall find no trouble with funding, I assure you. It will be as nothing.
[But when she puts out her hand, he studies it first, as if it is an exotic creature that he is not sure of what to do with. Carefully, then, he takes it--lightly, by the fingers--turns it over not quite to handshake, but to--
Well, to all at once pull her hand up and plant a kiss on the back of it. There. A moment later and he has released her, turned away to leave, calling over his shoulder--]
I love schematics! I look forward to the sight of them. It will be the most wonderful birthday present to me, Mademoiselle Canon.
[The face she pulls somewhere in the split second between her hand being kissed and released is very much like the one a person might make if they were suddenly the unexpected victim of a chamber pot being emptied from a third floor window. So: stilted and not-yet-revolted, but give her a second. She'll get around to it.]
Mademoiselle-- [(It's not the worst nickname, which makes it more irritating).
Wysteria scoffs. She opens her mouth to say-- well, nothing occurs, and in a handful of strides he is gone from the room. Settling for puffing out her cheeks, she turns back to the schematics and sets her hands frankly at her hips. After a long moment of consideration, an official complaint is lodged with the empty room:]
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no subject
Here is where I would like to experiment with the modification of enchantments. The shape of the rune is part of its power. If it were split here, between hammer and pan, and if both were located directly behind the barrel rather than to the side, it might be possible to control the expression of force by limiting it to the moment when the two halves of the rune come into alignment.
[While speaking, she's drawn out two rough shapes: the hammer of their little handheld cannon ratched back on its mechanism to show some wiggly approximation of a rune and the striking block waiting beneath it with a related squiggle.]
Which is just one possibility. I'd prefer you supply a chemical powder or oil. It would be much easier to reproduce.
[No one here cares what you did or didn't do in the place you came from, girl.]
no subject
But you mean to say that if I could not supply such things, you would be able to create these runes, to fill the task?
[He tips his head to consider the wiggly rune.]
Are these dissimilar to the glyph that a mage might employ?
no subject
[Maybe. Theoretically.]
no subject
no subject
Well-- because it is a very specialized practice. It would be much easier to replicate a chemical solution than to-- and there is no guarantee I'll be here forever, you know. Sometimes we, Rifters I mean, go-- back.
[Which sounds like a question, but certainly isn't.]
It would be better for the longevity of the project, sir. To attempt some alchemical solution first.
no subject
[He's already starting to talk over her, before she's quite finished, taking advantage of how tentative that sounds--sounds like a question, but isn't, and yet the gap is there to be exploited--]
Yes, the longevity--of course, the longevity--how sensible you are-- But in the immediate, of course. In the immediate, we might use this 'specialized practice', yes? So that we can progress the design, and then, we will work on the alchemical solution--I have some ideas to that end at the ready, of course, it is part of my fondest interest--but far more interesting is to see the design put into practice.
You do want to see this design put into its practice, yes? We are surely of one mind on this, you and I.
no subject
[Wysteria. She checks herself.]
Who do you mean to source the ore from? The modification of the glyph may take a considerable amount of my attention, and we will need the raw materials and the ability to mold and cast them. I have every confidence that Kenna might oversee the actual manufacture, but the tools themselves will need to be sourced or designed.
no subject
I can secure ore easily, given the proper time in which to arrange for it. The funding shall be entirely personal, of course. But I must request them by letter, and allow for a suitable time for the conversion to take place--it is all gemstones and real estate, you know, very fashionable but not very practical for such purchases--and for arrangements to be made for the carriage to bring the gold back to me once that business is done. It is all so complicated what one must do for funding, yes?
And all of this while you apply yourself most charmingly to the modification of this glyph. Who is this "Kenna"?
no subject
Kenna. Miss Kenna Carrow. She is a smith in the Inqui-- in Riftwatch's employ. She's quite talented. Very keen, with a true spirit and appreciation for the craft of invention.
no subject
We shall see how she fares, then. I suppose we can always find another if it proves her talent does not prove up to the task. I will take these with me.
[He begins rolling up the paper after this abrupt announcement.]
no subject
You will do no such thing!
no subject
Whyever not? You do want to make progress upon this project, yes?
no subject
You may have a copy. Of the new schematics, which I will first refine. There is very little use in these save as a guide for my revisions.
no subject
[Ah, or: he gestures, to Wysteria.]
--or she whose hand rendered the design. I will require both, if there is to be a second refined version.
no subject
no subject
[But: with great pomp, he lifts his hand away from the parchment and holds it slightly above his head, in the international gesture of you win I'm not touching I give up and I'm being more than a bit sarcastic about it.]
Then again, I suppose you are not me. Your original, mademoiselle. It is yours.
no subject
No sir, I am not. Thank you for understanding. --Now, you will of course keep me updated should you run into any trouble acquiring the necessary funding and materials, as either may require a revision of the design. In turn, I will provide you with the original schematics of each iteration once I've copied them. Once we have a working prototype of the firing mechanism, we will take it and the design to the Provost.
Are we in agreement?
[She puts out her hand, expectant.]
no subject
I shall find no trouble with funding, I assure you. It will be as nothing.
[But when she puts out her hand, he studies it first, as if it is an exotic creature that he is not sure of what to do with. Carefully, then, he takes it--lightly, by the fingers--turns it over not quite to handshake, but to--
Well, to all at once pull her hand up and plant a kiss on the back of it. There. A moment later and he has released her, turned away to leave, calling over his shoulder--]
I love schematics! I look forward to the sight of them. It will be the most wonderful birthday present to me, Mademoiselle Canon.
no subject
Mademoiselle-- [(It's not the worst nickname, which makes it more irritating).
Wysteria scoffs. She opens her mouth to say-- well, nothing occurs, and in a handful of strides he is gone from the room. Settling for puffing out her cheeks, she turns back to the schematics and sets her hands frankly at her hips. After a long moment of consideration, an official complaint is lodged with the empty room:]
Good gods, what an absolute ass he is.