Challenge post
Challenge: [126] Wings
Title: Pride Before the Fall
Word Count: 581
Spoilers: None
"You have heard the story of Icarus, haven't you?"
"I have."
"Then you know what happens at the end." Stony silence met those stinging words. "You shouldn't be doing this then."
Dilan gave Even a decidedly annoyed look. "But where Icarus failed, I will succeed. You make it sound like I want to reach the sun, Even. We all know it's a ball of gas burning millions of miles away."
"Still."
Even looked at the dubious contraption made of wood and cloth. If humans were meant to fly wings would have been included in the design. Dilan didn’t see it the same way. After a marine biology trip to Zarkand Bay and seeing the steel-grey gulls, Dilan had concocted an idea for flight that wouldn’t let him rest until it was completed. The end result, a glider fashioned after the design of the gulls, laid waiting for its passenger on the rooftop. The wingspan was thirty feet across, and though Dilan was practical enough to double-check every detail, Even nonetheless had a bad feeling about all of this.
"C'mon! We're waiting!" Braig's voice, amplified by the bullhorn, reached from where the rest of the group waited, a hundred feet below them. "Move your butt, Dilan!"
Even stalked to the edge of the weather tower, looked down while curling his lip in indication of his discontent. Braig was easy to spot from the distance, wearing a loud yellow shirt. "He's making a final check, you buffoon! If he dies because you wanted him to hurry up, then you can clean up his brains after they've been spattered everywhere!"
A long pause followed. Vaguely Even thought he could see Braig's expression. The oldest apprentice thoughtfully chewing his lower lip, then raised the bullhorn again. "I'll make a memo of that. What gets bloodstains out best? Bleach? Vinegar?"
Growling in frustration Even walked away from the edge. There was less of an urge to throw something at Braig if he didn’t see him.
"Thank you so much for the encouragement," Dilan murmured, lifting up the wings and with Even’s help, fastening his invention onto his broad back. "Even, make sure the third wing strut -- the left one, see? -- is secure."
"I don't see why you didn't talk Ienzo into doing this.” Tightening the buckle, Even tugged on it experimentally. It held. “He's far lighter."
"And afraid of heights. Check the cloth on the tail end. Make sure that the seams won’t loosen."
"Why not Elaeus?"
"He's heavier than I am. These wings were built with my body weight in mind."
"Well, why not Braig? We won't miss him for a few weeks if this goes horribly wrong and he ends up concussed."
"Because," Dilan lowered his goggles over his violet-blue eyes. "If this succeeds then we will never hear the end of it from him. It is my project and I am the one who has the first rights to testing it."
Looking at the small data terminal he tried to be hopeful. “You have perfect weather conditions. The thermals are just right.” Still, Even frowned. "Like Icarus, you have too much pride."
"Ah,” Dilan raised his index finger and pointed it at his friend, “but that won't be what kills me one day."
Hollered encouragement coming from the others at the base of the tower, Dilan checked the currents, nodded a final time to Even, then took a running jump off the platform and let the wind catch his fall.
Title: Pride Before the Fall
Word Count: 581
Spoilers: None
"You have heard the story of Icarus, haven't you?"
"I have."
"Then you know what happens at the end." Stony silence met those stinging words. "You shouldn't be doing this then."
Dilan gave Even a decidedly annoyed look. "But where Icarus failed, I will succeed. You make it sound like I want to reach the sun, Even. We all know it's a ball of gas burning millions of miles away."
"Still."
Even looked at the dubious contraption made of wood and cloth. If humans were meant to fly wings would have been included in the design. Dilan didn’t see it the same way. After a marine biology trip to Zarkand Bay and seeing the steel-grey gulls, Dilan had concocted an idea for flight that wouldn’t let him rest until it was completed. The end result, a glider fashioned after the design of the gulls, laid waiting for its passenger on the rooftop. The wingspan was thirty feet across, and though Dilan was practical enough to double-check every detail, Even nonetheless had a bad feeling about all of this.
"C'mon! We're waiting!" Braig's voice, amplified by the bullhorn, reached from where the rest of the group waited, a hundred feet below them. "Move your butt, Dilan!"
Even stalked to the edge of the weather tower, looked down while curling his lip in indication of his discontent. Braig was easy to spot from the distance, wearing a loud yellow shirt. "He's making a final check, you buffoon! If he dies because you wanted him to hurry up, then you can clean up his brains after they've been spattered everywhere!"
A long pause followed. Vaguely Even thought he could see Braig's expression. The oldest apprentice thoughtfully chewing his lower lip, then raised the bullhorn again. "I'll make a memo of that. What gets bloodstains out best? Bleach? Vinegar?"
Growling in frustration Even walked away from the edge. There was less of an urge to throw something at Braig if he didn’t see him.
"Thank you so much for the encouragement," Dilan murmured, lifting up the wings and with Even’s help, fastening his invention onto his broad back. "Even, make sure the third wing strut -- the left one, see? -- is secure."
"I don't see why you didn't talk Ienzo into doing this.” Tightening the buckle, Even tugged on it experimentally. It held. “He's far lighter."
"And afraid of heights. Check the cloth on the tail end. Make sure that the seams won’t loosen."
"Why not Elaeus?"
"He's heavier than I am. These wings were built with my body weight in mind."
"Well, why not Braig? We won't miss him for a few weeks if this goes horribly wrong and he ends up concussed."
"Because," Dilan lowered his goggles over his violet-blue eyes. "If this succeeds then we will never hear the end of it from him. It is my project and I am the one who has the first rights to testing it."
Looking at the small data terminal he tried to be hopeful. “You have perfect weather conditions. The thermals are just right.” Still, Even frowned. "Like Icarus, you have too much pride."
"Ah,” Dilan raised his index finger and pointed it at his friend, “but that won't be what kills me one day."
Hollered encouragement coming from the others at the base of the tower, Dilan checked the currents, nodded a final time to Even, then took a running jump off the platform and let the wind catch his fall.