un: machinequeen • video

[trulygifted]

Name: Nico
Date: 18/07
Format: Video

Alright, so here's the thing—

( The video begins with the camera pointing up at what appears to be a neatly thatched cottage ceiling, but it's quickly lifted and moved so that it's propped up to show what appears to be a kitchen. Appears to be, because at the moment it's also functioning as a tinkering-station-cum-greenhouse for Nico, her piles of scrap metal and magical textbooks taking over the majority of the counter space.

The woman herself doesn't seem to be in the best of moods. Before she can get into it she brandishes a cross-head screwdriver at someone off screen with a "Hey! Get outta here, I'm fixin' this!", before reaching over to a semi-hidden fruit-bowl and hurling an apple towards the intruder. A long-suffering sigh follows, and she drags a hand through the mess of her hair as she turns her attention to the camera again. )

Right, so. My associate here, he just doesn't have any appreciation for the love an' care I put into my creations. He thinks he can just run around breakin' them without any consideration for the time it takes to fix 'em again.

( She tosses the screwdriver onto the table, then reaches over to pull a mechanical arm into the frame. It certainly looks as though it's seen better days: there's visible damage to the forearm, one of the fingers is missing, and where the prosthetic would connect to Nero's elbow there's a tangled mass of frayed wires. )

Only problem is, they don't wanna be fixed any more. Nothin' I do works—an' I made this from scratch, you understand? These are my babies.

( Her lips pull into a frown as she places it back down onto the table. )

So I gotta wonder, is this a magic thing? I've been up all hours of the night with these books I borrowed from the Coven— ( A vague gesture is made towards her chaotic piles of research. ) But even if I'm supposed to be a witch, my "magic" ain't good enough for makin' technology work yet.

( And you know, Nico's just going to avoid mentioning the whole Bond thing for the time being, because while she now has a pressing need to regulate her magic? The thought of relying on someone else makes her wrinkle her nose. )

Anyone got any bright ideas? Or— ( Your pride, Nico. Swallow it. ) Maybe someone could point me in the direction of a magi ... tech ... tutor? I can't pay much, but I'm real handy. I can do repairs, run errands—heck, the only thing I won't do is cook. Trust me, you definitely don't want that.

( She slants a grin towards the camera. )

Nicoletta Goldstein, by the way, but if you're gonna help me out then you can just call me Nico.

( And there's a wink as she reaches over to shut off the feed. )

Comments

video; un: jin_guangyao

[turmoiling]

[Don't mind Jin Guangyao, he's just going to strategically set his watch camera so that his mechanical bronze prosthetic hand is visible on screen. He does have snake eyes and a few tan scales around the edges of his face, so he's clearly no help on the witchy front, but:]

I understand it can be difficult to make other worlds' technology function here. But if you need any financial assistance for your tutelage, I would be more than willing to lend you some aid.

You might also like to contact Percy at the forge. He's a very talented individual.

video.

[trulygifted]

( Just give her a minute to admire said bronze prosthetic hand: it looks like a a fine piece of craftsmanship, to the point where she really has to hold herself back from laying on the questions. )

Hey, I know Percy! We've met a couple times, seems like a nice guy. ( A beat. ) Did he help you with that hand of yours?

( But also, hold up. Financial assistance? Is this guy some kind of rich benefactor or something? )

... And what kinda financial aid we talkin'? Are you gonna charge it back to me with crazy interest?

[turmoiling]

Oh, wonderful! Yes, he did, in fact, and I should say that it has improved the quality of my life considerably.

Please consider allowing me to make a simple donation or two -- it isn't so much, with only a modest income. But you might say I have a personal interest in assisting with these sorts of technological marvels -- and it's important to help fellow Mirrorbound get a head start on life here as well, I tend to think.

text; un: sylphid

[sylphid]

heh. handy.

[that's it that's the reply]

text.

[trulygifted]

Well, shit, I didn't know we had a comedy genius in the house tonight

[sylphid]

you should be more aware of your own talents.

[s'all you random lady]

un: disconinjafrog; video

[dj_jiraiya]

[He scratched his cheek as he took in the mechanical arm and stuff. He had to admit, that looked awesome. Like, something straight out of a video game awesome! irony]

Uh, so I’m no tech expert but can I ask what’s supposed to power it normally? My music player worked until the battery ran out and it’s not like I can charge it so, I assume just about anything woulda worked until you lose the power source.

[trulygifted]

Yeah, this one's a little bit more complicated than a music player.

( She raises an eyebrow as she raises the Devil Breaker again, just for emphasis. )

This baby right here? It runs on left-over demon parts, but it's not out of juice yet. It just doesn't wanna work.

[dj_jiraiya]

Oh, for sure! Just meant I figured if it wasn't some kinda electricity, it'd be something else.

[Of course, eyes go a bit wide at the 'left over demon parts' because what?]

Demons? For real?! [Beat.] Wait, how do left over demon parts power a metal prosthetic?

video; un: METTATON

[metalcrusher]

[And on this end is a whole entire rectangular robot, made of metal and everything. With the addition of fur along his arms, claws on his fingertips, and bunny ears too tall for the camera to capture atop his... body(??), it's obvious he is no Witch. But at least he's mechanical, just like the arm.

With his screen lit red, he crosses his arms and speaks in a voice deep, booming, and synthesized.]

A TALENTED "MACHINE QUEEN," FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO REPAIR HER VERY OWN WORK... I SEE. A TERRIBLE CONUNDRUM! AN UNFORTUNATE TWIST! BUT I CAN'T FATHOM WHY. GIVEN THAT ANY OLD MECHANICAL OBJECT SHOULD WORK JUST FINE.

[And here, he raises a finger, as though pointing out a conditional:]

ASSUMING... THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS NEEDED TO POWER THE ARM. DOES IT RUN ON MAGIC? ELECTRICITY? SOME OTHERWORLDLY FUEL BEYOND COMPREHENSION?? OR DOES IT PERFORM SPECIAL FUNCTIONS, BEYOND HUMAN CAPABILITIES?

[In his (electrically-powered) experience, that appears to make all the difference in Aefenglom. Any additional feature on his own body is completely useless. (Thank goodness he's not (really) a magic-operated being. The entire city would be that much quieter without him! And Who Would Want That?)]

video.

[trulygifted]

( Well this is ... intense, to say the least, but as luck would have it this isn't Nico's first conversation with a robot! Still, an incredulous little laugh escapes her as she takes in the way he talks, watches his screen change colour, before shaking her head and offering a shrug. )

I mean, I guess it'd fall into the "otherworldly fuel" and "functions beyond human capabilities" camp? That sounds about right. The mechanics are pretty standard but it's alchemy that really makes 'em tick.

( What kind of alchemy, he might ask? She grins. )

These things run on bits of leftover demon, and so far it look like this place is pretty much demon-free.

[metalcrusher]

AH. YES. THAT. THAT WOULD DO IT. THE LEFTOVER DEMON THING.

[He can't even fathom what these alchemical capabilities are, and that entices the robot most of all. He practically leans for his device, monitor an array of yellows in reds as he puzzles over it.]

DEMON-FREE OR NOT, I DOUBT DEMONS HERE WOULD SUIT YOUR NEEDS! JUST AS ONE WORLD'S MAGIC DIFFERS FROM ANOTHER'S... SO WOULD DEMONS, I IMAGINE. BUT TELL ME, DARLING. WERE THESE "FUNCTIONS BEYOND HUMAN CAPABILITIES" IN PART CAUSED BY THE VERY USE OF DEMONS? I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO PICTURE! JUST WHAT COULD YOUR LOVELY INVENTION PERFORM...?

voice

[clickclickbang]

I was able to get my camera working with help from the Coven, but I don't know if what they did for that'll work for prosthetics. Pretty sure they can help you get lessons on the tech here, though.

voice.

[trulygifted]

Huh ... you mean you went to them and asked a favour?

( Makes sense. Maybe she'd be able to get a bit of "tide you over" magic from them, just to get one of the Devil Breakers up and running again. )

And yeah, I guess, I'm just hopin' I'll be able to double down. ( Spoiler: she's a nerd, and she wants to know if anyone has the kind of knowledge that the Coven witches might withhold for a while. ) Better two teachers than just the one, right?

voice.

[clickclickbang]

Basically. They were pretty nice about it too, since it's not like it's anyone's fault nothing works.

[Honestly she's probably got the right idea regarding knowledge.]

Unfortunately all I know are healers and musicians, so unless you need to know how to heal burns or something....

video; un: ALPHYS

[textsfromhotland]

[Don't mind Alphys, she's just drooling over the piles of scrap metal in the background for a moment before remembering she's making a video reply.]

Oh! Uhhh... I'm a monster so I'm probably not as knowledgeable about this stuff as somebody else, but there's like, uh, different schools of magic here, right? There's gotta be one that can help with making tech run. L-like an enchantment to power it with magic!

video.

[trulygifted]

( Don't think Nico doesn't notice the scrap metal appreciation! Unfortunately, though, this stuff is hers, and she isn't in a position now where she can share 8') )

And enchantment, huh?

( She hadn't thought of that! Mainly because magic is still new to her, and she's still getting her head around applying it to her work. )

I guess that's somewhere to start! Decent idea, too, for someone who ain't a witch. You been here long enough to pick a few things up along the way?

[textsfromhotland]

[pls :<]

Y-yeah, I've been here for almost a year. I gotta say, I'm kinda jealous! I wish I still had magic sometimes!

video; un: whitestone

[gunsmithed]

What about it is ah...refusing to be fixed?

[ It looks in fairly good shape from what Percy can see. And also far beyond anything he understands, which is even more interesting. ]

video.

[trulygifted]

Well now, look who it is. I've been hearin' some real good things about you, Percy.

( More specifically: good things about the bronze hand he designed for Jin Guangyao. Nico is interested. but, since he asked: )

Anyway, the damn thing just won't work. I'm thinkin' my kinda alchemy and this place's alchemy just ain't a good match; it's like the demonic energy that powers it is just ... gone, y'know?

[gunsmithed]

I don't exactly, no. [ So dry, but still fascinated. ] So it was...powered by some sort of magic involving demons?

text; network name: "Stiles"

[mensrea]

Dude! That's sick. You made that from scratch?

[ Color him impressed. ]

Sucks it's not working. I'm a Monster, so I can't do much to help. Sounds like other people have pointed you in the right direction anyway.

What else have you made?

text.

[trulygifted]

( Look, Nico is highly susceptible to flattery when it comes to her work, and having someone sound so impressed has her puffing up a little over here 8') )

Sure!
I can make all sorts, but so far it's been mostly mechanical limbs and different kinds of firearms

( Demonic hats ... maybe she won't mention that just yet. )

But the guns are my favourite
I hope to be a true artisan one day

video; un: wildcard /private

[electrod]

[ Oh, hey, a familiar face on the network. He hits the reply to the feed, but also instantly makes it private. ]

Hey there— [ He even waves into the camera, although he tries to angle it in a way that his newly pointed ears are not too obvious. ] You've made all of this? This shit looks great, I had to get it out of my chest. So you're a girl of many talents—

[ Not just roguishly stealing beer and sneaking around ]

But hey, I might have a lead for you. Or two. There's a shop called "Break the Cycle", they build and sell bikes, but few months ago they started diving into magically-propelled bikes. Technology meets energy source, only magical.

video • private!

[trulygifted]

( A girl of many talents? Nico just smirks: )

You ain't seen the half of it, Red.

( Which is a little cheeky, yes, but it's also very true! She leans in just a little at the mention of a lead, clearly interested in whatever it is Reno's about to come up with, and visibly perks up at the idea of "technology meets energy source". He's knocked it out of the park with this one: that's exactly the kind of information she's looking for. )

Break the Cycle, huh? Thanks for the tip; I'm gonna have to swing by an' see what's going on.

( The tail-end of an eyebrow lifts a little way as she continues: )

How'd you find out about this place, anyway? You in the market for a magical bike?