[008] [Action/Voice] The Boy Is Brooding

[byname_bynature]

[Some grand Shift that turned out to be. Everyone was more confused than harmed or set back. Whatever or whoever was the source of these Shifts, they must have been running out of ideas if the best they could do was widespread perplexity. Hell, Kamui hadn't even realized anything had happened at first

Comments

[Voice]

[soreplaceable]

[Ion hesitates for a moment before answering, seeing as it's Artemis... but then he replies anyway, because it's Artemis. Despite everything, they were still friends, right?]

I know I've seen a few for sale in the shop... and I'm sure if you mentioned they were for the festival, they'd give you a good discount.

[Voice]

[byname_bynature]

[Oh. It's Ion. Artemis' jaw tenses a little seeing his message, but he shoves it down.]

Thank you Ion, I'll be certain to stop by when I have a moment.

[He's curt, though.]

[Voice]

[soreplaceable]

You're welcome. [A small smile.]

...how have you been? We've both been so busy, it's been awhile since we've spoken...

[Ion's been pretty involved with the festival preparation and Artemis... well, it seemed like he was always busy with something.]

[Voice]

[byname_bynature]

My coils are coming along nicely, as I stated. I finished three more sonatas, and I'm continuing the beach landscape I started a few weeks ago. [Artemis detested the artist block that he'd felt when he and Ion went their separate ways. On top of that, he'd had to store so many sketches away from where he could see them. Ion had always been so expressive, so active...]

How are your preparations going? I suspect you'll be attending the festival with Ranka. [Which rankled him to say, but was at least a sure way to ruffle Ion.]

action

[killercutething]

[There's static electricity in the air! Chi is now a puffball!]

Myu!

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[byname_bynature]

[Artemis is adjusting some wiring when he hears a meow coming from inside his shop. A meow...?]

[He looks over, giving the puffball a flat look before shutting down the power and walking over.]

Chi, isn't it?

Re: action

[killercutething]

What did you do to Chi's fuzzy????

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[byname_bynature]

I didn't do anything to your fur, it's static electricity. [Artemis sighs and brings over a plastic comb.] Hold still.

[broken_messiah]

[Well, Kamui isn't exactly the brightest crayon in the box sometimes. Anyway, here he comes to the workshop with your lunch, Arty, you can't go without food all day. He opens the door.]

... you really are in here. Here. [holds out a paper bag] Your lunch.

[then frowns at those... wire things] What is that?

[byname_bynature]

[Artemis looks up from fiddling with the portable generator he'll have to take to the festival--thick gloves and goggles and a rubber apron protecting him. All of it is, of course, too big, but he's made do. He pulls the goggles up when he hears the door open, prepared to tell someone he was very busy and couldn't be disturbed. But it's Kamui... his flighty older brother who always seemed so keen on feeding him.]

[He gets up from his position on the floor and walks over to take the bag. Once he has a moment, he'll eat.]

It is a High Voltage Emission Coil. ...I haven't thought of a better name for it. [He crosses his arms, standing next to Kamui and surveying his work.] Each coil sends an electrical charge upwards, to the sphere at the top-- [He indicates it.] --and once it charges fully, the electricity should release into the air. Like a personal lightning bolt.

[Nevermind that there is absolutely no practical use for such a thing besides harnessing lightning in a metaphorical sense. It manages to make Artemis smile, a

[broken_messiah]

[That because you always forget to eat!]

... that is quite a mouthful. [studies it for a moment] It's a weapon then?

[byname_bynature]

[Guilty.]

No, no, not at all. [Artemis pulls the gloves off, looking at it thoughtfully. How could he make it look less crude?] It's a light show.

[thedicearecast]

...Fishbowls.

[Amelia is willing to try, but she's getting used to the idea of never understanding Legato's brothers.]

[byname_bynature]

Fishbowls. Glass does not conduct electricity, allowing smaller children to watch the coils up close, safely.

[Perfectly logical.]

[thedicearecast]

Right.

[Suddenly glad she's not dating the one with the projects.]

[byname_bynature]

[You're probably not the only one Amelia...]

Your attempts to befriend me are rather weak, aren't they? Perhaps it would be better if you feigned interest in how the coil works.

[See?]

[voice]

[endthem]

Fishbowls?

[he didn't mean to sound skeptical. He'd just prefer it if their sad little family didn't attract any further negative attention. ...Please don't electrocute someone, brother]

[voice]

[byname_bynature]

...this will not be a repeat of what happened last summer. I've tested the device thoroughly.

Besides, any electrical experiment is at risk for fire--even ones conceived by me. That was not a flaw, that was a possible outcome.

[voice]

[endthem]

Forgive me if this all seemed a bit familiar.

We don't need a forest fire added to our list of 'sins', either.

[...between the three of them, the brothers have built up quite the unique reputation]

[voice]

[byname_bynature]

I'm not going to start a forest fire. [His voice is a little sharper. All he gets is discouragement...]

Perhaps if you took an interest you might think it was worthwhile.