middleofsomewhere | Day Twelve, Conclusion

Day Twelve, Conclusion

All battles come to an end. Professor Chill and his henchpeople is defeated, the ice giant slain by the brave heroes of purple team. The townspeople led out of the tunnels and due to some extraordinary pun-hacking skills by Kaito the weather machine is de-powered.

Being a magical snowstorm the shutting down of the weather machine causes it to vanish, snow begins to melt and then evaporates into the air before it can become a larger problem in terms of a flood. The temperatures rise, going from dangerously cold to a warm spring day, warm enough that the voidtreckers will soon be too warm all bundled up as they are. The clouds disappear, the sun shines. Within a short period of time the streets are dry, the mountainsides are green and the trees are bright with flowers.

The streets are still a mess, property is damaged and the clean up operation is going to be intense but it doesn't look like there is any lasting ecological damage at least.

The ice labyrinth vanishes and those inside it will find themselves suddenly standing in the field below. For red team, the journey to the top of the mountain took four days in the blizzard but with the weather clear and going downhill they will reach the valley by the end of day eleven.

The army has arrived and mostly taken over gathering the injured and dealing with the more serious damage but there is plenty to do for those who still wish to help. Houses need put back to rights, streets and paths need sweeping of debris.

Help out, find your friends, swap stories. Celebrate a job well done.

Towards mid afternoon of day twelve a beeping from their SCA's should draw everyone's attention. The map leads them to a place just out of sight from the town and there is the Voidtrecker Express. It is time to leave.

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"Oh," he grins, "that won't be a problem."

With the knife in his hands, he reaches out for the trunk and puts slight marks at different points.

"So long as some of the work is done here first. Now how many staves could I manage...."

"Staves?" He perches nearby and watches curiously.

"Like, for staffs or....?"

Fingon considers that for a minute.

"I could do that," he says, "but that was not what I had in mind. A longbow, you see, is created from a stave. And I prefer bows to swords, when it comes down to it."

With a few small guestures, he indicates where he could cut- where he could create a weapon that fit his hand.

"Normally, I would prefer a different kind of bow- one made with horn and sinew, as well as wood. But for now... I could work with this."

"Ooooooh." He leans forward interestedly. "I've not actually seen anyone make a bow, before. Not common in my world these days. What difference does the horn and sinew make?"

"The horn is stronger than wood, and the sinew more flexible. That means you can make the bow smaller, without sacrificing the force of the shot. A wooden longbow is a deadly thing, but it's most useful when the bow is near as tall as the archer."

He looks a bit regretful at that. "I can compromise, though, for now. Perhaps there will be something else useful at our next stop."

Some animal horn, perhaps. Or feathers. Or even animal glue that he doesn't have to make himself, inducing murder on the train.

"Cool." He says and looks thoughtful.

"Does it have to be horn and sinew? You could ask Tony-san about plastics mebbe..."

"Plastics?"

He tilts his head to the side.

"I don't believe I've heard the term."

"It's an artificial material. Not entirely sure how it's made? But it's lighter than metal, but more flexible. Not as strong though."

Lighter than metal, but more flexible.

That's... genuinely interesting, actually. He has to stop and consider things, with that strange idea in the air.

Still, though... "I suppose it couldn't hurt to look into it," he acknowledges. "though I would have to know more about the material to say for sure whether I'd care for it."

And after centuries of crafting his own, relying on a bow made by someone else would be a considerable irritation- though it probably wasn't fair to judge anything on that.

"It's a pretty modern material... chemically formualated, not at all natural, I think."

He nods. "Lots of different types too - some are soft and some are hard... but you're probably better off asking Tony-san about that! Do you normally make your own?"

And that was a bit more concerning.

But who knew, maybe he was worrying over nothing. Perhaps he would take it up with Tony, just out of interest.

"Not always- there are people who do nothing else, and their work is always art. But I like the task, and it allows me to make my weapons to suit my own preferences."

Fingon is absolutely right to be concerned, but plastics ARE terribly useful, so there's that...

He tips his head curiously. "What do you mean, 'their work is always art'?"

"Let me put it this way," Fingon says with a laugh, "you could teach me one of your card tricks right now, correct? And in an hour or a day, I might become competent enough to try it on someone else. But how long would I have to practice before I knew the deck the way you do? And could I do it with your particular flourish?"

He begins some quick cleaning while he talks.

"A true master craftsman is like that- they have long experience at what they do, and a touch more inspiration than the rest of us. But they cannot make everything, can they? The world has room enough for good sculptors and my aunt Nerdanel, and good swordsmiths and Telchar of Nogrod. And I am not a master bowyer, but I am a fairly good one- and certainly better than the rest of my kin here."

Well. Maybe not Feanor, but as usual Feanor is a statistical anomaly and should not be counted.

"Oh!" He nods. "That makes sense, yeah. I'm guessing you became good at making bows coz you liked using 'em, then? That's usually how it seems to work for people."

And then because he's curious. "What makes your aunt's stuff so amazing? I admit, I'm not much into sculpture..." Unless it has shiny jewels attached with legends that might suggest a lead to Pandora.

Fingon chuckles.

"She used to put her sculptures up in her front garden," he says. "Not all of them, but some- painted and dressed up so that they looked like living beings. People used to walk by, and try to speak to the statues- they were so lifelike, the passerby didn't realize they were statues rather than people."

Kaito stares and then laughs so hard he nearly overbalances.

"For real? That is awesome do you think she'd do that here? Would she accept a commission?"

THE PRANKS HE COULD PULL

"I am not sure how easily she could obtain materials," he shrugs. "But you can always ask."

"Hm, true. A full sized sculpture probably takes a lot... I suppose I could go looking for something next stop..."

"Well," he tilts his head to the side, "You certainly could. Or you could ask her about what she could work with. I am probably a bit out of touch with her latest few media."

A few hundred years years, a few thousand years. One of them has to be right.... errm, right?

"You aren't much into sculpture then?" He nods. "Fair enough! Well, she seems pretty sensible though. Dunno if she'd indulge me like that."

"I attended some of her workshops," he shrugs, "but she had more attentive students, even among her nephews. As for sensible... well, of course. In comparison to some people."

Of course, in comparison to some people, his father is considered sane and reasonable too. And his father charged the devil.

"But I have to point out, she did willingly marry my uncle. And raise seven boys with him."

"You know, you elves keep saying things like that, and I keep getting the impression there's so much you ain't telling us."

"Have you met my uncle?"

Because the man is inexplicably popular on the train.

"Because you should know, he developed a reputation as a mad tinkerer who might blow a building up at about the age of twelve."

"He criticised my cape once." He says mournfully, the effect ruined by the wide grin.

"And... yeah, I could see that, considering he's friends with Tony-san."

"That would be how he is with everyone. I would not take it to heart."

Not that Kaito is, apparently.

"So yes, there is a great deal that I haven't spoken of. But to actually try and do so would take a remarkably long time."

Which is true. And beyond the actual point (do not go to the elves for counsel, Kaito, for they know how to lie without telling an untruth).

Day Twelve, Conclusion

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oh god kaito no

bad kaito. think about what your girlfriend would say

that's never stopped him before....

its a wonder he still has a girlfriend at all, then

SHES NOT HIS GIRLFRIEND THEY JUST FRIENDS

YEAH SURE THAT'S WHY WHEN SHE GETS ON THE TRAIN SHE TALKS ABOUT YOU FIRST THING

T-THAT'S... THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS. THAT'S ALL!!!

SUUUURRE

JUST FRIENDS!!!

KEEP TELLING YOURSELF THAT, KIDDO

HE WILL sob

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end here?

yus