|
|
|
4,783 posts
|
164 likes
|
|
AH, you're lying! More fire!
|
|
|
E List
|
Post by Silaluk on Jul 11, 2015 21:34:55 GMT
Victoria reaches for the tool and places it in his hand with a nearly inaudible sigh. "You know, on second thought, that whole 'bowing at your feet' thing sounds pretty good," she mutters, sitting down on a stool next to his workspace. She purses her lips thoughtfully before pulling out the leatherbound journal Judas had given her from her skirt's pocket. "What was in those boxes, by the way?" Victoria asks, retrieving a pencil as well.
|
|
|
|
|
5,359 posts
|
236 likes
|
|
:3c
|
|
|
Administrator
|
Post by Copper on Jul 12, 2015 1:03:19 GMT
"Just some sheets of metal. I need to build some new machines from scratch. It's almost Christmastime and that's when shoppers flood the store. I have some blueprints for music boxes and ballerinas almost done, actually."
|
|
|
|
|
4,783 posts
|
164 likes
|
|
AH, you're lying! More fire!
|
|
|
E List
|
Post by Silaluk on Jul 12, 2015 13:46:46 GMT
"Ahh. Yes, the hat shop was pretty busy too around this time last year. And the bakery the year before... But at least the snow's nice to watch." She looks up at Judas, flipping to a blank page near the back of the book. Victoria touches the pencil to the paper, but pauses and scoots the stool back a bit before beginning.
|
|
|
|
|
5,359 posts
|
236 likes
|
|
:3c
|
|
|
Administrator
|
Post by Copper on Jul 12, 2015 18:40:31 GMT
Judas continued working, streaks of oil on his arms, hair, and cheek every time he withdrew from the machine to grab a supply or a bit of chalk. They made his tattoos look darker, though even below the thick liquid, the pale lines seemed to glow. Every so often, he consulted his notes, written messily and in Portugese.
|
|
|
|
|
4,783 posts
|
164 likes
|
|
AH, you're lying! More fire!
|
|
|
E List
|
Post by Silaluk on Jul 12, 2015 18:59:00 GMT
Victoria bites her lip, her pencil quick and rough as she writes. But every time she looks up, her gaze lingers just a little longer. Now her paper's being filled with lines, curving and connecting, without her even realizing it. Her jaw tightens as she focuses on small details, adding careless swipes of the lead here and there.
|
|
|
|
|
5,359 posts
|
236 likes
|
|
:3c
|
|
|
Administrator
|
Post by Copper on Jul 12, 2015 19:03:53 GMT
With an inaudible sigh, Judas reached for some copper wire, twisting it into a desired shape before poking his arms into the machine again, almost-imperceptible, sparking currents of magical energy traveling up and down his tattoos. The machine lifted its head, gears whirring and humming to life. With a satisfied sort of glint in his eyes, the alchemist began to screw closed the back hatch.
|
|
|
|
|
4,783 posts
|
164 likes
|
|
AH, you're lying! More fire!
|
|
|
E List
|
Post by Silaluk on Jul 12, 2015 20:12:31 GMT
Victoria inspects her work once she's finished, glancing back up at Judas momentarily and brushing away eraser shavings. She lets out a puff of breath, smudging some of the lead markings with her finger. "It looks nice," Victoria mumbles to Judas, still staring down at her book. She knows she probably should've been taking some kind of notes, but...
|
|
|
|
|
5,359 posts
|
236 likes
|
|
:3c
|
|
|
Administrator
|
Post by Copper on Jul 12, 2015 21:57:45 GMT
"What were you drawing? Notes and diagrams, I hope."
|
|
|
|
|
4,783 posts
|
164 likes
|
|
AH, you're lying! More fire!
|
|
|
E List
|
Post by Silaluk on Jul 12, 2015 22:05:56 GMT
"What?" Victoria's eyes flick upwards and she snaps the journal shut. "Of course!" she answers defensively, heat rising to her face with the fear of her lie being found out.
|
|
|
|
|
5,359 posts
|
236 likes
|
|
:3c
|
|
|
Administrator
|
Post by Copper on Jul 13, 2015 1:05:59 GMT
"Sure," Judas sighed sarcastically, eyebrows raised. "It's not that big a deal, relax. This is all basic stuff you know already, isn't it? Just show me what you really drew."
|
|
|
|
|
4,783 posts
|
164 likes
|
|
AH, you're lying! More fire!
|
|
|
E List
|
Post by Silaluk on Jul 13, 2015 1:14:37 GMT
She shakes her head quickly. "It's really nothing important," she assures him hurriedly, and with a nervous laugh that escapes her lips without warning. Her grip on the book is tight and she can't try to tuck it away unless she wants to look more suspicious than she already does. He'd never let me hear the end of it if he saw...
|
|
|
|
|
5,359 posts
|
236 likes
|
|
:3c
|
|
|
Administrator
|
Post by Copper on Jul 13, 2015 1:31:59 GMT
"It certainly sounds like something important. Come on, it can't be so bad that you can't show me at all."
|
|
|
|
|
4,783 posts
|
164 likes
|
|
AH, you're lying! More fire!
|
|
|
E List
|
Post by Silaluk on Jul 13, 2015 1:49:46 GMT
"I, um..." Victoria sighs, falling silent and looking uncomfortable for a minute or two before she wordlessly hands him the journal. "Fine, just..." She crosses her arms and looks away, avoiding any eye contact.
|
|
|
|
|
5,359 posts
|
236 likes
|
|
:3c
|
|
|
Administrator
|
Post by Copper on Jul 13, 2015 1:52:37 GMT
Judas flipped to the last page, lifting his goggles from his eyes to see the drawing.
|
|
|
|
|
4,783 posts
|
164 likes
|
|
AH, you're lying! More fire!
|
|
|
E List
|
Post by Silaluk on Jul 13, 2015 1:59:38 GMT
Under the beginnings of note-taking is a drawing of Judas working, sketchy in some places and detailed in others. Surrounding it are small bits of notes, alchemical symbols copied from Judas's arms, and smudges from Victoria's hand. Victoria herself sits fidgeting upon the stool, subconsciously tapping the toe of her boot on the floor.
|
|
|
|
|
5,359 posts
|
236 likes
|
|
:3c
|
|
|
Administrator
|
Post by Copper on Jul 13, 2015 2:09:09 GMT
"...Oh." Judas blinked, color rising to his face. "That is, ah... a very nice drawing." Quickly, he closed the sketchbook, handing it back to Victoria without meeting her eyes.
|
|
|
|
|
4,783 posts
|
164 likes
|
|
AH, you're lying! More fire!
|
|
|
E List
|
Post by Silaluk on Jul 13, 2015 2:16:16 GMT
"Don't get the wrong idea," she murmurs, taking back her book. She means to continue with some sort of sarcastic, biting jab, but finds that she can't even think of one. "I, uh... Sorry." You probably think I'm some sort of creep.
|
|
|
|
|
5,359 posts
|
236 likes
|
|
:3c
|
|
|
Administrator
|
Post by Copper on Jul 13, 2015 2:32:55 GMT
"It's... no problem," Judas muttered, face flushed. After an awkward silence, he cleared his throat. "Could you... go to the front of the store and bring me the book of sales records, please?"
|
|
|
|
|
4,783 posts
|
164 likes
|
|
AH, you're lying! More fire!
|
|
|
E List
|
Post by Silaluk on Jul 13, 2015 2:40:29 GMT
"Yes," she answers immediately, practically jumping from the stool to run to the front desk area. She pulls open drawers, pretending to rummage through them to stall. I can't believe I showed him. He wouldn't have known at all, otherwise. Why, oh why did I give in? Maybe it was his insistent gaze, or perhaps the threat of him taking the book from her to look. Either way, Victoria hopes he'll just forget about it eventually.
|
|
|
|
|
5,359 posts
|
236 likes
|
|
:3c
|
|
|
Administrator
|
Post by Copper on Jul 13, 2015 2:46:50 GMT
Judas unrolled a large blueprint, staring at it without processing the actual image. Why would she draw me? I mean, obviously, I shouldn't get the wrong idea from this... but that means she was staring at me. For an extended period of time. A thought began to creep at him mind, before he quickly shut it down. No. No, no, no, no, no. She's your apprentice, you idiot! Of course she wouldn't... and besides, things should stay professional... No matter how much you want things to be... Oh my god. Am I really considering this? You heard what she said! Don't get the wrong idea!
|
|
