clockworksoul | INBOX ⚙️ duocaeli

[It's okay, honey. You tried.]

And that means nothing to me, except that you're a craftsman. Or inventor, which you already said.

[But as for the question...]

They are proof of the contract that binds me and my familiars together. You should instead be asking what Shadow can do. And I can show you.

If you're that interested.

If you take an inventor and sprinkle in a fair bit of arcane know-how, you get an Artificer!

[ Welcome to D&D 101, V. ]

Of course I'm interested! The skill-set of unfamiliar familiar is nothing if not intriguing! [ A beat. ] Provided I didn't just volunteer myself as target practice. I'm terribly squishy.

[He's not sure what he'll do with this knowledge, but it's tucked away for now, all the same.]

No. Not today.

[He's joking. Probably.]

Something a little less violent, then. Shadow. [He says, as though on command, and suddenly the panther melts into the floor like it were made of nothing but liquid... shadow, flattening along the ground and sliding beneath both V's and Declan's feet.]

You might want to hold on.

[Or not! He's not your dad. But it's clearly a very brief warning before something happens, here-]

[ Oh what... that's so weird? But also so cool? He crouches to get a closer look at the pool of Shadow-shadow under his feet. ]

Hold onto what?

[ Says Declan, not holding onto anything. ]

[Well. He was going to suggest like, his shoulder or arm or something. But Declan's crouching down, and V just sort of turns around casually so they're both facing the right direction.]

Down there? My ankles, I suppose.

[But V's not kind enough to afford much more warning than that. Suddenly, that dark mass lifts them a little off the ground, and then... They're off! Zooming down the hallway, gliding along as though they were sailing (somewhat quickly) on calm water. Fragments of Shadow-darkness trail and dissolve behind them the whole while.

Don't fall off, buddy.]

[ Oh my god??? For a mercy, Declan makes his dex save and does not go tumbling off, but he does instantly reach out and latch a hand onto V's leg to keep steady. ]

This is remarkable!

[ He looks like he's having THE TIME OF HIS LIFE. ]

[oh my god

V doesn't react to the grip around his leg. He expected it, given the momentum and speed; that, or Declan would go flying off almost immediately, so maybe he's vaguely impressed that wasn't the case.

Either way, he's using his cane to steer here and there, like a one-handed scooter handlebar. Quite casually:]

Ha. You're easily amused and not easily shaken, aren't you? Not even a shout of surprise.

[weeee 'round a corner they go]

If you could see what I've seen in the last several weeks, you'd know this is by far the best thing that's happened to me in a while!

[ Famous last words to a guy from Devil May Cry. ]

Well... if we ignore the kidnapping and the fake memories.

[(mental wheezing)

He urges Shadow-scooter down another long hall, easing them down a short set of stairs. This is so much easier than walking, and it's a shame he can't get around like this outside of the Dodo's walls.]

And what have you been up to in the last several weeks?

Oh, I've been stuck in a land cut off from the rest of the world by dark magic and impenetrable fog because some lordling threw a fit over being rejected by a girl and turned himself into a vampire.

[ You know, as you do.

At some point when Shadow possibly slows a little, Declan stands up to put a hand on V's shoulder instead. It's easier to chat this way. ]

It's highly depressing at every turn!

[Wow what kind of jerk would throw a baby fit about something like that and then turn the world to shit and become a monster-- oh wait.

Well. This is fine. He's sure the parallels only exist because he's lacking the finer details of this story.]

You don't sound very depressed.

[With Declan standing and now anchored onto his shoulder, V can turn his head slightly to glance at him. He can probably see his arched brow.]

[ Declan raises both his eyebrows in response, seeming unbothered by the observation. ]

Truthfully, you learn to take it in stride as much as you can very quickly, or it will ruin you.

[ He's had his moments, they all have. But he'd rather not think too deeply about the death and the tragedy and everything in between, which is definitely okay and healthy. ]

[If he were whole, he could hardly criticize. His other self... is much the same way. Not as bright as Declan, certainly, but possessing a habit of turning things inward.

Like this? Being the metaphorical heart of a man means certain things are easier to talk about. Or at least he can speak on them more casually.]

Ruin has ways of finding those who try to ignore it the most.

[He'd know! But he smiles, and nearly shrugs as take another curving hallway. Despite what his memories tell him about an old friendship, he doesn't really know this man.]

That's why I have Shadow, after all.

You're quite the poet, I see.

[ He's sure that statement was rather pointedly directed, but he's not going to think about it. He does a lot of that, not thinking about things.

Instead, his eyes flick down to the pool of darkness under their feet, and back up again. ]

And what do you mean by that?

[He isn’t sure whether to feel a surge of pride at that remark, or just reply wryly. In the end, a little bit of both happens.]

I’m more poet than… tattoo artist.

[Haa.]

I told you. Shadow is wrought from nightmares. My own, kept inside, until they were so big that they had to be expelled. Made manifest.

[It’s basically true.]

But you’re having fun on a nightmare, so maybe I just don’t know what I’m talking about.

Hm?

[ For a second, that statement doesn't quite make sense, but then those new memories slide in to provide helpful context. Oh.

Oh gods, then what is his own supposed job??? Help.

But more to the matter at hand— ]

Well, you've taken something deep and dark like a nightmare and shaped it into something useful, not to mention exciting. When life gives you lemons, and all that!

[This man... really does like to twist everything into a note of positivity, he thinks. A part of him wants to appreciate the stubborn effusiveness, the other wants to offset it with his own sardonicism, realism, cynicism, anything.]

Sometimes lemons are just lemons.

[Declan doesn't even know the nature of these nightmares. But that's fine. V wouldn't delve deeper into that subject, besides.

Instead, he loops the conversation back around-]

Does my job in this world surprise you? As I recall it, you've visited the shop now and again.

Only with that attitude.

[ Spoken like a true inventor. Or an optimist. Or an optimistic inventor. ]

I guess I don't truly know you well enough to say one way or another, do I? But anyone who lets me come around and fix things, regardless of occupation, is a friend of mine.

[Spoken like a FOOL-- No, he's not really that put off by it. It's just strange to his ears; sits at odds with his own personality. This one, and the last.

Anyway, they're picking up a little speed now. Just a little.]

As expected of an inventor, who likes to fiddle and build and fix broken things. I also recall, associated with you... death robots.

[He means robots fighting to the death.]

[ Oh. He seems to have noticed they're speeding up a bit and sets his feet so as not to go flying. ]

Death robots? You mean Adelaine?

[ But wait, the more he thinks about it, the more there are... two Adelaines? One is an arcane cannon. He built her with his own hands, and sends her out onto the battlefield to help him and his friends. And the other...

The other is definitely just as cool, if very, very different. ]

Oh!! Botbattles?

[They're just zooming quickly down this hall leading to the front of the house, don't worry about it. There's still time for conversation.

Adelaine. The name rings familiar to V, too, though only dredged up through these planted memories. Declan's secondary realization makes him wonder if he has an Adelaine back home, too, but for now, he raises his free hand and snaps his fingers in confirmation.]

Yes. Precisely that. Botbattles.

[Declan's something of a known entity in those circles, isn't he? My, my, how these memories are amusing, even if not wholly wanted.]

So much carnage. Steel on steel. Battles that showcase only the strongest. I love to see the ones that go flying.

[CALM DOWN V-- (he's always loved a good fight, though maybe this is the real him talking, and not his AU one)]

[ The more Declan remembers about Botbattles, the more it sounds like the greatest thing on the entire planet. He's going to have to take this idea back home with him. Surely fighting robots will be all the rage in the whole if the Sword Coast in record time! ]

I love to see them all! What remarkable feats of engineering!! This world can't be all bad if there's something like that in it, right?

[A sound of amusement again. Such enthusiasm...]

So you'll be picking it back up? This hobby of your other self?

[It must be nice, already having the skill to pick up where these memories left off, so to speak. Unlike V, whose livelihood rests upon being able to ink tattoos into strangers' skin. That sure will be... interesting.]

And did you have an "Adelaine" before?

As much as I would absolutely love to, the technology here is a fair bit beyond my ken! And without magic to aid me, I don't know that I could keep up.

[ A damn shame, that. Well, maybe he'll dabble and see what he remembers. He'd hate to leave such an interesting hobby behind. ]

Oh, yes. She's an arcane cannon that I built to help me in battle! I don't have her here, but she's with me in that other world. I shall have to show you some time.

[Yes, he does want to see her. Color him curious. An "arcane cannon" might not be the sort of "weapon" he's familiar with, but he's always harbored an interest in unique and interesting... arms, shall we say.

But first, he has to be cheeky about Declan not being able to keep up:]

Hmm. Only with that attitude.

[He echoes his words right back at him, very droll.]

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