(Untitled)

[variaswrath]

Who: variaswrath and ergaleomancer
What: Xanxus is curious what this clockwork can do, Theta is curious about this city, and lord only knows how it'll end.
When: A day after Theta's arrival, a bit after their first chat over the network.
Where: Starting out near the theater, but location is subject to change.
Warnings: Who knows, with Xanxus involved. PG-13 at the most I

Comments

No worries. We all have lives to attend to, ne? ^_^

[ergaleomancer]

He certainly looked strange, but Theta wasn't against people that looked strange. Theta herself looked strange. She couldn't help but see the scars, but with a sense of propriety that in her world at least was clearly (and even stereotypically) associated with the English, she kept her eyes on his, not batting an eyelash or pausing to stare. She wouldn't have wanted him to stare at her leg, after all

[ergaleomancer]

At that, she did deflate some, and she nodded quietly. "I've been asking around where I can. My work is more quantitative than investigative, though. From what I hear all the normal means have been tried--leaving by way of walking out or scaling the walls hasn't worked, so why on earth try more of the same?"

She smiled, but it was a much more genuine smile this time, much less a part of the 'stage production' of her life. "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Why would I be the one to walk out and return home when so many before me have failed? My advantage lies in my -perspective-. I have an idea that I haven't heard /anyone/ else speaking of."

[variaswrath]

While he had another plan altogether, he was unable to put it into action for the time being and thus resolved to keep it to himself. There was no reason to tell people about what you couldn't do yet and why. "And not just the idea, either." After all she was probably capable of building a device like that- he simply doubted it would work the way she had in mind. Just like his flames could normally destroy anything they came in contact with would never put a scratch on the wall, whatever she would build would still only work within the limitations of the City. Another thing she didn't need to hear.

"That's why I'd like to help you," he said instead, looking at her as he did, meeting her eyes. No reason to lie to her about doing this out of kindness (which was a rather foreign concept for him anyway), but if there is nothing else to bargain with, any trade starts with favors.

[ergaleomancer]

She smiled cheerily, but there was something guarded about her mannerisms--after having been fooled by the paparazzi on numerous occasions, Theta was finally, albeit slowly, learning to consider people more carefully before jumping in head first.

"That's very kind of you. And in return?" It was all but obvious that there was a catch, but she was pleased enough with herself for having gotten that much.

[variaswrath]

"I will help you come up with the tools you need so you can set up your workshop. In return, I'd request you build a clockwork for me before you start on the teleporter." Hints of a smirk appeared on his face as he spoke, it amused him how quickly she caught on. "Of course it won't be nearly as complex."

[ergaleomancer]

Oh, now that was perfect. Her face lit up and she grinned cheerily. What harm could come of that? If he was willing to be paid in clockworks in exchange for tools and materials...she would want for nothing. Even if it was only a one-off, she could use the tools to build more and charge only in materials and.... Yes.

She nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds like an ideal arrangement. I'd be more than happy to do such for you. What sort of clockwork is it you need?"

[variaswrath]

His smirk widened a fraction. Things were working more in his favor than he had anticipated. "In the cathedral, there are entrances to the catacombs that run underneath the city. These are guarded by all sorts of creatures, and if our captors are to be believed they can be rearranged at their whim. I want a way to map them."

That left only one question, even if he was certain he already knew he answer.
"That should be possible, right?"

[ergaleomancer]

That question, the operative one, was where her arrogance completely and abruptly shut down. She continued to smile, cheerily even, but her answer was firm and unashamed. "I shall do my best, but I cannot offer you a guarantee. I refuse to let my mouth make promises I am not certain of."

[variaswrath]

"Ah?" He did not appreciate the disappointment. Not one bit. But that flash of anger was masked quickly, since no matter how much he disliked things not going his way, it was better that she told him ahead of time.

"Well. So you do have limits. I'll make sure to have a simpler request in mind, should this one prove impossible." Xanxus paused, already having a few things in mind that would be useful to have around. Even if all it did was cook that would give him an extra pair of eyes hands and feet to do his bidding by giving Belphegor time off.

"But first, I'll need to know what sorts of tools you need and where you want your workshop to be."

[ergaleomancer]

Theta didn't like admitting her limitations, either. But, plain and simple, the answer wasn't no. It just would take a bit of doing to plan it out and try. "Limits were made to be tested. It's not something I've done before, so I can't just assume that it's possible, but I will say this. Not a single thing that I've attempted has proved impossible. Not a one. It's a matter of determination far, far, far more than anything else

[variaswrath]

The remark on determination put a smile on his face, though it was a smile people instinctively knew didn't bode well, but that expression faded quickly as he listened to her request. His thoughts wandered off when she started listing her tools, simply from the certainty that there had to be a more efficient way to go about this. Nodding as she had finished, Xanxus paused only for a moment.

"Hmm... You'll excuse me for a minute, I hope? There might be a way to save us a lot of time."

He was already tugging the communicator out of his pocket by its chain as he spoke.

[ergaleomancer]

She saw him go for the communicator, so she stilled her tongue and nodded quietly, letting him do as he wanted. The ball was in his court, so she didn't think it prudent to interrupt.

[variaswrath]

He pushed a few buttons on the communicator, stepping a few paces away from her. Not really out of earshot for her but that wasn't his concern. He spoke at the silver, watch-like device in rapid Italian, occasionally waiting for a response. His tone made it clear that it was business, curt description and no formality, all the while pacing as he spoke. A growl that occasionally slipped into his speech betrayed irritation, at least to some degree, he was obviously a man used to being listened to and followed, with no room for questions or debate.

The conversation was over quickly, and the communicator was shut and stowed away without a word of thanks to whoever he had been talking to. Once again the hint of a smirk was back on his face when he returned to Theta, giving away that it had apparently gone well.

"It looks like it'll be much easier than I expected to keep my end of the bargain," he announced. "And you might not have to set up shop from scratch."

[ergaleomancer]

Theta recognised the sound of Italian, though not as anything more than a recognition of the sound. She couldn't speak a word of it. It was interesting listening to his mannerisms as he spoke, though, as though she could get a feel for him and the nature of man that he was from listening to his speech patterns.

She smiled cheerily when he spoke of having a shop available to her, and she nodded agreeably. "That's wonderful. I can begin work as soon as there is a place ready."

[variaswrath]

As he'd expected, she did not show any signs of having understood a word he'd said to Belphegor over the network. At the same time he knew that this woman was by no means blind or unobservant, hence why he kept to a different language. There were things she did not need to know about him.

"We can look at it right away. It's not that far off." He gestured down a street that led away from the theater.

[ergaleomancer]

She moved to follow him immediately, seeing nothing wrong with following him off somewhere. "That would be ideal, actually." It was a -bit- odd to just trust someone so implicitly, but...there was little to be done about that, she supposed. It was trust him or flounder in this place.