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[clockworksoul]

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duonet id: steelsong

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ABOUT ME

Artificer, inventor, scourge of many an HOA. I will definitely, totally, absolutely get back to you as soon as I am able!

NOTE

May not actually get back to you in a timely manner.

Message @steelsong

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[clockworksoul]

I only have to assume that you like that poem enough to commit it to memory. A poem about small things holding great weight.

[ So, in this, they share the same opinion. Never underestimate the importance of something small. ]

Oh, that would be wonderful! Thank you!

[verselet]

[Hm. He supposes they do share that belief in common, most especially now. Maybe such an idea resonated with him when he was younger, and thus he committed its entirety to memory; but he's sure he lost sight of it in his later years, only to loop back around to this belief once more. Funny how that works.]

Or maybe I just like impressing others with 132 lines of poetry read aloud.

[He smirks. But then he disappears into the back.

Then he returns, two soda cans in-hand.]

Do you prefer... [Squints. Wry:] "Orange 'n Cream" or "Artificially Flavored Grape"?

[clockworksoul]

It was very impressive!

[ Says Declan "eidetic memory" Steelsong. He tugs the goggles back down over his face to resume the process of putting the tattoo gun back together. There's a bit more finesse required here so it's slower going.

When V comes back, he's once again treated to the sight of Declan's cartoonishly giant eyes lifting his way. ]

I am deeply intrigued by the phrase "Artificially Flavored Grape".

[verselet]

[God... those magnified eyes. It's really very comedic, and V's lips twitch, even if he's seen them already.]

...You're a brave soul.

[He sets it down next to him.]

Purple calls to you.

[It matchies Declan, right-]

[clockworksoul]

I'll try just about anything once!

[ And yes, Declan's outfit for the day is indeed quite purple. He flashes a grin, snapping his fingers as if to produce some spark of magic. Of course, it doesn't work, so he waves it off and plucks up the can instead. ]

Well, of course it does. It brings out my eyes.

[ His eyes which are still cartoonishly huge. He's having a real Mister Magoo moment over here. ]

[verselet]

[Yeah, V’s just wearing all black today. Surprise.

Looks like someone expected some magic to spark to life — that’s going to be a difficult habit to break, he muses.

But YOUR EYES, SIR—]

Your eyes which are as big as a saucer plate? Which exude the color of… artificially flavored grape? Oh, I rhymed.

[clockworksoul]

[ It might be a habit that Declan never breaks, which is fine by him. People already think he’s weird. What’s a little more? ]

Look at you. All that poetry is really going to your head.

[ Another grin. He cracks the can open, bringing it to his lips for a taste. He considers it a moment, tilting his head. Another sip seems to be in order, and so he repeats the process again, this time with a bonus smacking of his lips, like that will somehow help him figure out how he feels. ]

Wow. You can really taste the “artificial” part. But I don’t hate it.

[verselet]

[Well, he's in good company.

V crosses back over to his chair, sitting and popping off the tab of his soda. The can hisses in protest.]

It's nothing but sugar that'll rot your teeth.

[And he takes a sip. His mouth twists a little; oh yes, that's very artificial. But it's better than some things he's had.]

But I don't hate it, either.

[clockworksoul]

[ Declan grins at that, raising his can. He turns that bug-eyed gaze back at V, the corners of his too-large eyes crinkling in amusement. ]

To trying new things!

[verselet]

[Oh my god STOP WITH THE EYES, he catches V mid-sip and the sight is again so comedic it nearly has the soda going down the wrong way. He sputters a little, coughing, before he can even hope to raise his can in a toast.]

You- [wheeze] -really need to take those off while we're talking, Declan.

[clockworksoul]

[ You know what?

He just looks right at V, with those giant, magnified eyes. And slowly goes cross-eyed. ]

[verselet]

[Holy shit. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO HIM, HE'S NOT GONNA LAUGH, HE'S HOLDING IT BACK-]

You look... [hhhelp] -ridiculous.

[clockworksoul]

[ Tilts his head, almost owlishly. His eyes are still crossed. ]

Why, I have no idea what you're talking about, V!

[verselet]

[It's the head tilt that does it, really. V's smile twists until it can't really hold anything back any longer, and he just...

Laughs, a low-sounding but sincerely amused thing. Finally:]

I think you do.

[clockworksoul]

[ The laugh seems to be what he was waiting for. Declan laughs in turn, pushing the goggles up his forehead again. ]

Maybe.

[ He offers a cheeky grin, lifting his soda can again. ]

Cheers?

[verselet]

[Fine, he wins. But if his clear show of mirthfulness is what spares him of a bug-eyed Declan, then so be it.

V lets his laughter trail away, clearing his throat.]

Cheers, I suppose.

[Raises his... soda can.]

To new things.

[clockworksoul]

[ He raises his soda, giving it a little tilt like they've just clinked the aluminum together despite being across the room from each other, and brings it to his lips for another drink. He makes a considering face again. ]

Mm. Yep, still don't hate it!

[ And now it's back to work! He tugs his goggles down again and resumes his task of piecing the tattoo gun back together. While he doesn't work nearly as quickly as he did while taking it apart, it's clear he's going to have it back in working order in no time. ]

Do you have any idea if you might have broken something when taking the other one apart?

[verselet]

[He returns to leaning back in his chair, nursing his Orange 'n Cream soda now and again. The taste is very sugary, and very artificial. But V doesn't hate it, either, even if it's not something he thinks he'd normally gravitate to. But maybe he was mistaken. Who knows?]

I'm not sure. I was careful, and I don't think I lost any pieces in the process. But...

[He smirks again. Worrisome!]

We can always test it out after you put it back together. Are you in the market for a new tattoo, by chance?

[This is a joke (probably.)]

[clockworksoul]

One: absolutely not! [ He's so cheerful about that. ]

Two: if you've broken something, I'm certain it will be obvious as I'm putting it back together. In which case I'll need to take the pieces back to the house to fix them properly.

[verselet]

[WOW. Rejected so vigorously.]

And why not? Don't you trust my talent?

[HE SHOULDN'T]

But of course. Do what you must. A lot of good it would do for me to deny you.

[He'd just be left with a broken tattoo gun.]

[clockworksoul]

As of right now? Not at all. Would you trust my ability to create an automaton capable of performing surgery?

[ As much as Declan has confidence in his skills, that particular piece of his supposed life here is way out of his wheelhouse, at least for now. He wants to remember more of that stuff, but it only seems to come to him a bit at a time.

Anyway, all this is being said as he’s tinkering away, and eventually he lifts the tattoo gun, whole once again. ]

Ah-ha! I believe I’ve done it!

[verselet]

Maybe not. But I do need the practice if I want to properly play the part of… tattoo artist.

[Maybe don’t practice on actual people just yet, V.

But he blinks when Declan triumphantly holds the tattoo gun up.]

It looks like you have. Whole again. [Pretty impressive, all said.] I hope you’re able to provide a repeat performance.

[clockworksoul]

Don't they make— [ vague hand motions ] —stuff that you can practice on that isn't real people?

[ Artificial skin? FRUITS??? ]

I feel confident in my ability to do this again. You know, provided you haven't broken anything.

[verselet]

[Yeah, but. Real people, though.]

Of course. But at some point, I have to pull the trigger and practice on a warm body. Why not sooner rather than later?

[But it's hard to tell how serious he is about this, especially when he huffs out in amusement as he rises to his feet. Soda in one hand, he waves at Declan to follow him over to the taken-apart tattoo gun just one section over.]

Why don't you come and look, then?

[clockworksoul]

Because tattoos are permanent, V.

[ You can't just practice!! On!! People!!!

But anyway, he moves over to the other workstation, eyeing the scattered parts before him. After a bit of murmuring to himself, fingers hovering over each piece as he takes stock, he gives a nod. ]

Everything seems to be present and accounted for. Time to get to work!