Not now precious, breaking her rule as he caught that look in her eye. Ruth grinned wide, nodding and helping Nairn over the threshold and into Dora’s little abode. It was quaint really and there’d be time for him to be nosy and bother her with questions, but Nairn couldn’t wait. He’d no idea the damage the punch had on the thing keeping his friend alive and breathing.
Meg… gave me this, hold on, hands beginning a search of his various pockets. A ring of stones came out of his pocket, gingerly slipping over each one until finding the right one and slipping it off. Got a schematic too.. Hollow thingy Placing it on the bench, Ruth activated the magic inside, Meg’s hollow of Nairn’s ‘heart’ appearing mid-air.
No idea, you know? turning to Nairn, brow raised. Is that the two who work with you? Just nod or shake your head, she ain't gonna swing at you. Only I get it, don't I Spiderbait? Hope so.
It wasn't an invitation. She sneered a bit when he called her precious, but didn't try to dissuade him with any further comment. His own rules were sobriety was a must and there was a patient in her living area now. Her tools were laid out on the table as she stared up at the schematic hanging in the air, taking it all in. ... it weren't them. She said softly as she looked over to the other man.
Her parents wouldn't have done something like this. The amount of pain that would have been caused from the installation alone, they wouldn't have done it. She knew, deep down, they wouldn't have agreed to do something. Now, I'm assuming you trust Ruth, and Ruth trusts me, so we can trust one another, before I get very intimately acquainted to thst ticker, I'm Theodora. My parents used to run a shop in Kirkwall before the boom. May I?
She was speaking to Narin, but her eyes flicked to Ruth, looking for any tell of needing to be cautious, as she motioned to the cover over Narin's device. I'll swing on you here in a minute Ruth.
Nairn's gaze never left the stranger; even when Ruth wasn't in his immediate sight, he didn't glance to find the other man. Blue eyes fixed, he didn't agree or deny the names and she came to the conclusion on her own soon enough.
Breaths were shallow, and the hand that wasn't cupping his nose, rested against a dagger sheathed on his thigh. Eventually his hand left his nose; still dripping but not nearly as badly, bloodied fingers fiddling with the fabric of his pants.
Aye. He murmured; offering nothing in return about himself. Though the young lady in front of him had given him enough information to make him dangerous; but he was still studying her, though his gaze was less critical, less harsh. More... searching. Flitting towards Ruth, back to the dwarf. Repeat.
Leaning against the wall, of wherever he'd been sat, he'd slowly unbutton his shirt. The process was a laborious one, and he struggled with a few of the buttons, before shrugging his shirt off and out of the way to reveal the dent in the center of the chest plate, a strange whirring-clicking nose, like something was getting caught.
The thing about having one’s own rules was also choosing when and if to break them, which he did, often. It was a lie he’d tell himself and the saps better off not knowing him, to keep them out of reach and outwith the radius of any fallout. Nobody needed to go down with him.
Taking a seat, Ruth’s one eye flickered between Nairn and his swollen wrist. I punched it hard, no magic, but fuck.., offering Dora an explanation of the damage. Then he’d glare at Nairn, He asked me to. So I thought I’d get another in, to try hit home it is stupid. Hence why he’s also bleeding.
Ruth’s head bobbed along with Dora’s words while he turned to finishing his own half-finished job. As the pain eased his eye found Nairn’s, head tilting towards the dwarf, lips curling at the edges. We’ve spilled blood, got her out of a tight spot last time, hence she’s Spiderbait. She’s good Nairn. He’s a shy one, Dora. Took him years to talk to his missus, takes him a while to warm up to anyone. Don’t take it personally, if he just glares, stares, or grunts at you.
Then of course she teased him and he couldn’t have that. His back sliding down the chair to recline, pressing now fixed digits together in a steeple, a wicked grin split his face. Promises, promises, but honestly there’s nothing there, just a black hole. It's a waste of time.
Theo rolled her eyes as she leaned over to the sink and grabbed a clean rag for Narin, wetting one of the corners so he had something to clean the blood up with, offering it to him gently before she pulled her stool up to be right up where she'd need to be to see inside his chest. Ya saw I had no weapons on me when ya came to the door, same holds true now.
She took her spectacles off the table, the ones that made her eyes look six times larger than they actually were, as she slid them down her nose and checked the schematic again, before she very clinically placed the meat of her hand down next to the contraption, and slid a floppy blade where she could see the latches on the schematic. Might just be a matter of popping the top, and hammering that bend out. Might be a gear catching on the inside, won't know for sure till I get the hood open.
She felt tiny next to the half elf. Ruth was taller than her, true, but she didn't quite feel like he could snap her neck before she could get her hands up, next to this man Ruth was vouching for. Feel free to fall asleep, any time Ruth, I dump ice water on you when it's time to go.
She teased, before she wiggled the tool a little, checking the schematic again, and then looking up to Narin, You say something if anything pinches or catches, you shouldn't be feeling anything of what I'm doing so if ya do, somethings wrong and you tell me.
Which may make her a hypocrite, Stone knew she wasn't good at voicing her own pains...
Megara. Blue eyes flitted from the woman — settling too close for comfort — before finding Ruth again. Send the boy. Danny. She liked him well enough. Danny was a good lad; and would retrieve the woman quickly and discreetly. Even though he knew it'd be better if Ruth fetched her.
The dwarf settled, resting a hand against his chest and he tensed. She couldn't hurt him, well, she could kill him with a wrong move. But she wasn't a threat. She was just new. Strange.
Mmm. Blue eyes flitted from the girl to his friend. The way they teased one another, the fact Ruth hadn't made any further snarky or sexual remarks. Interesting. Amusing, to say the least. He'd sit there, stoic, as if he were posing for a painting, or perhaps pretending to be a statue.
Lounged in the chair Ruth watched, flicking back and forth between offering Nairn a wink in reassurance, and watching Dora at work. He’d seen her tinker here and there on the road, but this was her workshop, her space, almost like Megara’s place was, well, had been.
He found himself staring at her hands, longer than usual, before her words caught his ears and he was scoffing. Ruth’s brow furrowed bitterly. He hated the fucking cold and they all knew it because it was the one thing he moaned most about. It had him mumble something in Dalish under his breath, then switch to just above his usual volume. Good job there’s a nearby fire, I’ll just strip. Nairn’s already seen the show, but you haven’t.
He sat up a little when Nairn grunted out, nodding and muttering, Yes, yes. I’ll go and get Danny to fetch her home, after Dora’s checked you out. She was clever, with the schematic Ruth was confident she’d figure it out, maybe she’d even be able to smooth it out, improve on it, anything to keep the idiot around.
Her eyes flicked back up to the schematic as she moves along to the next catch, the tool sliding between the edge at the seams, and then around to the next set, until she had everything keeping the panel in place disabled and she lifted the panel free from flesh, going ever so slowly so that if anything was connected to that plate, she'd be able to feel it tug and arrest her moments for a closer inspection. I'm surprised you haven't taken the opportunity to go through all my books, then again, you can only read half as much as you did before hand now.
She paused as she finally got the plate away from Narin's chest, those glasses pulled down to the edge of her nose now as she looked at the dent in it, her mind calculating how much force had to be used, and shaking her head just a little. We still good? She asked the white haired man as she hovered a hand over the whirling machinery, then back to the hollow schematic. She oriented herself to it, completely aware that her sitting on a stool between his legs probably looked ridiculous -- she'd ask later.
How'd you two end up as good a friends as to hatch a scheme like this? And what was the punch supposed to make happen? Another tool was picked up from the table as she took a small bulb hand air blower from the items and started to clean out anything that could get caught in the gears. Her plan was, as far as she could plan for something like this, clean, oil, tap out the bend in the housing, and check for what that catch sound had been and anywhere the silent man might give her any clues about any pain. Then, it would be back on with the panel, and she could then see about sobering the two of them up enough she felt okay turning them back out into the night.
Nairn narrowed his eyes, even as his breathing stuttered momentarily. But he doesn't force the issue; it wouldn't do if Ruth left to retrieve Megara and they came back to find him dying on this stranger's floor. It wouldn't do to leave him with the stranger, either. He'd rather be fixed up and back home in the safe-house, when he dealt with his woman's ire.
She'd be as pissed as she was worried. He knew that without even truly thinking about it.
The only response the dwarven woman receives, is an almost imperceptible nod; things were as fine as they ever were. He'd accepted over the last ten years, that there was always going to be some kind of pain when his chest was being maintained. And even lingering pain after.
She asked a question, trying to judge what their relationship was, his and Ruth's, and he pretended he didn't hear her. She's asking after what the punch was supposed to accomplish, and he exhaled sharply through his nose. No questions.
Shut up about my eye, Ruth snapped, temper flaring before he reined it in. He glared off into the distance, shifting and sinking back into the chair with a scoff. While I bet you’ve prob got a smutty novel or two, scurried away, we’re a little busy for show and tell. They could talk about his eye another day, when he wasn’t so aggravated by the shit the Gods seemed intent on having him wade through.
The follow up was better, how did Nairn end up with such a handsome friend? Of course the assassin was having none of it, No fair! he’d whine, shooting the man a scowl. I can answer my own shit...How’d you think, Spiderbait? flashing her a wicked grin, before answering his own question a moment later. Jobs, bar, parties. There was a mad night once, don’t remember specifics… winking at Nairn, But we’ve been buds a loooong ass time. Even after he was dead. A hand waved towards the contraption. Thought he was dead for a while, I’d like that not to happen again… cos she gonna come for me if not.
He wagged a finger at Nairn, his colouring paled, before another thought caught his attention.
Where’d he put down that bottle rum? Fuck. That was expensive shit too.
The only outward sign that his yelling at her for teasing him about his eyes was that her shoulders tensed some, her hands paused their work, even as she kept her gaze completely impassive, and after a deep breath, she was back to work. Don't believe in romance, so ain't got anything like that.
She paused what she was doing to look at Narin when he finally spoke, Noted.
She had half a mind to throw them both out right that moment, but a brow arched as her eyes flicked over to Ruth, past the schematic, and over to Vera, before coming back to settle on the schematic, identifying the gear and spring she assumed was making the noise. It was the closest, and blowing out the cavity there had done nothing she could tell to lessen the noise.
So instead, she listened to Ruth jibber on about the cordial question she asked, and fell into silence as she worked, the schematic checked here and there, but otherwise, she had a good grasp of the mechanics once she had a good look. She really didn't have to check it past the third glance now that she was finger deep inside the man's chest.
I'll give you a paper saying you were at the mechanics. It was quiet, and low, as she sat back and pulled her magnifying glasses off, dragging a hand down her face and taking a deep breath. You're not going to like it. She waited a moment before continuing. One of the teeth of the front gear here, She paused and pointed, but do not touch. Is broken, it's why you hear thst faint whine every few seconds, the matching gear isn't finding it's slot appropriately. It won't kill you, but it is going to be annoying, and will require a new gear.
She nodded and then picked up the hollow ring and turned it around in her hands, It's this one here, She pointed it out. I can make a new one, I've already taken the measurements and have the metal needed to made and cast it now, but it'll take a couple hours, and I'd want you to stay close by so I can do file tests not against this, She put the ring back aside. But the actual gear in your chest. Then there comes the matter of having to remove and fit the new gear in place, which should really only be a second or two but I'd like Ruth on hand to make sure nothing got too much out of hand.
She rose up off the stool, still a few inches shorter than his sitting form and took a deep breath. After that, we can talk about pay, my going rate, and whether you want the upgrades I've already made mental notes of that would help you run a lot more efficiently, less of the more vital workings being front loaded and move them to be more protected deeper into the chest. It's almost like they put it in backwards from what I would have designed it, like they wanted it easy to break.
Dora shrugged and then stepped a few steps back, her eyes flicking between the two men.
Nairn studied the young woman, icy eyes void of emotion, or thought. Though he was definitely thinking on it. Ruth's jab doesn't fluster him, he simply rolled his eyes and huffed at the other man, before speaking: Coin doesn't matter. He could acquired whatever she asked for in return. Ruth has to send the boy. O-once he does that, the only sign of a stammer, you can fix it.
His face was carefully schooled, though Ruth would no doubt catch the pained expression that crossed his features for just a moment, shortly after he'd stammered over the word 'once'.
His eyes did narrow at her last statement, and he regarded her silently.
The loss of his eye was still a sore point. Ruth was still grappling with adjusting to the new perspective, causing everything to be that little bit off when he was usually so precise. He let out his own deep breath choosing not to answer nor apologise for his outburst. There would be time later, though there was one thing he could do to ease the tension.
Put the dagger away you idiot. Dora hasn’t killed me. Yet. It’s unlikely she’ll kill you. She might even like your company more than mine. Feigning a gasp he’d add, Smart ‘warfy. Smart..
His slight grin vanished though as he recognised the mild slip of Nairn’s usual indifference. Ruth got to his feet, joining the man’s side, palm requesting the knife. C’mon, you gimme that and then I’ll go find Danny. The C tunnel isn’t far from here, so I won’t be long. Would a nerve block sweeten it? Brow rose, offering to relieve some of the pain if it helped, though when he thought about it… he’d glance at Dora, Or… not. If it is going to hinder your work?
He grinned slyly. An upgrade might not be necessary depending on what happens after you get home. So. Knife please. And I will go and tell Danny to fetch your woman and when I come back, I can take you there, or is it back to the library, or dorms?
Oh we'll see, once you hear my rates. Dora knew her worth the moment she had seen the contraption in his chest. It wasn't her parents work, but it would require someone of her skill level for continued maintenance over the years. She drank down an entire cup of cool water before her eyes followed Ruth around the room.
He asked for the dagger, the thing that had kept Dora's mouth from being quite as sharp as it normally was, and if she noticed the studder, she made no outward show of it. Ahh, yes. The boy. We can have a drink while we wait, hmm?
Her eyes finally went back to Ruth, searching out his face for a moment and then nodded. Nerve block is fine, I just need clarity for switching it out so he can tell me if he suddenly starts having chest pains. It means the timing is off and would require an adjustment. She finally wrapped her dress around her form and tied it closed. I'll go fire up the forge and get the metal up to temperature to start making that gear. This will be fifty thousand, by the way. I take bars and diamonds as well. For their going value.
Nairn tensed, as Ruth held out a hand for the dagger. His eyes narrowed, fixing on his friend's face. After a second of staring, the dagger was relinquished, though each finger moved slowly to depart from the polished hilt.
Home. She hadn't kicked him out, yet, and he wasn't going to act like she had. Though when it inevitably happened, he'd let her stay at the house and take to the dorms.
