cool inventor of things ⚙️ declɑn steelsong (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
clockworksoul) wrote2023-04-30 08:50 pm
clockworksoul) wrote2023-04-30 08:50 pm
[ The idea of multiple planes of existence that... well, coexist alongside one another within one realm isn't too farfetched, especially for someone like Juniper whose life has been so thoroughly shaped by her experiences in such planes. Intellectually speaking, to wrap her head around this business of an "on" and "off" world and so on so forth shouldn't be too awful, but...
...Juniper has never been an intellectual sort.
So instead, after the initial excitement of a new adventure!! has worn off, tutorials and what not completed, she is left feeling... confused, and most of all hungry. If she's not careful, she could veer right into the territory of being hangry.
Which brings her now to the banquet hall of Dodo, where one (1) Juniper Veltris is piling pretty much anything she can find onto a plate before she turns on her heel and nearly collides into someone— ]
Woop! Sorry, I didn't hear you there!
...Juniper has never been an intellectual sort.
So instead, after the initial excitement of a new adventure!! has worn off, tutorials and what not completed, she is left feeling... confused, and most of all hungry. If she's not careful, she could veer right into the territory of being hangry.
Which brings her now to the banquet hall of Dodo, where one (1) Juniper Veltris is piling pretty much anything she can find onto a plate before she turns on her heel and nearly collides into someone— ]
Woop! Sorry, I didn't hear you there!
[Has Declan taken to exploring the Dodo house as a fresh new arrival? Well, so has someone else. Or two someones, to be precise. One that lopes ahead a little faster than most, with a quiet yet powerful feline gait.
Turn a corner a little too fast or a little too obliviously, and Declan might literally run into what appears to be a huge black panther, all fangs and claws and taut, coiled muscle. It startles to a stop, ears pinning back in annoyance, tail sweeping back and forth. A low, rumbling sound emanates from the hollow of its throat, looking at him with red eyes.
Hi, it’s a big kitty.]
Turn a corner a little too fast or a little too obliviously, and Declan might literally run into what appears to be a huge black panther, all fangs and claws and taut, coiled muscle. It startles to a stop, ears pinning back in annoyance, tail sweeping back and forth. A low, rumbling sound emanates from the hollow of its throat, looking at him with red eyes.
Hi, it’s a big kitty.]
Edited 2023-05-05 01:16 (UTC)
[ If Declan had a copper piece for every time he’s found himself in a place… disconnected, let’s say, from home, he’d have two copper pieces. Which is not a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened twice. Barovia had proven to be alien in a lot of ways, but this place really, really takes the cake. The clothes, the technology, the vague recollection of a life he surely has not really lived tumbling around in his head.
It’s enough to give even a brilliant mind like his own the beginnings of a headache. Well, if Gideon were here, he’d say it was high time to raid the liquor cabinet – so that’s what Declan’s set off to do. This charming and strange and charmingly, strangely magical house must have a bottle of wine stashed somewhere right?
So distracted is he by looking around, he sure doesn’t realize someone else is right there and they nearly go running right into one another. ]
Gah!
[ He skirts back a step or two, nearly falling flat on his ass, but he manages to catch his balance. ]
It’s quite alright, I’m sure we–
It’s enough to give even a brilliant mind like his own the beginnings of a headache. Well, if Gideon were here, he’d say it was high time to raid the liquor cabinet – so that’s what Declan’s set off to do. This charming and strange and charmingly, strangely magical house must have a bottle of wine stashed somewhere right?
So distracted is he by looking around, he sure doesn’t realize someone else is right there and they nearly go running right into one another. ]
Gah!
[ He skirts back a step or two, nearly falling flat on his ass, but he manages to catch his balance. ]
It’s quite alright, I’m sure we–
[ Wait a second.
Wait a godsdamned second.
POINTS!!! ]
Juniper?!?
Wait a godsdamned second.
POINTS!!! ]
Juniper?!?
[ Declan sure is looking around! There’s a lot to take in, and so, so much of it is completely different from what he’s used to. His attention is being pulled in a dozen different directions at once, so of course Declan “single digit passive perception” Steelsong isn’t looking where he’s going!
He runs smack into that cat and he does not scream, thank you. He yelps. But like… with dignity. ]
Ah… um. Hello there kitty. Out for a walk, are we? Heh… please don’t eat me?
He runs smack into that cat and he does not scream, thank you. He yelps. But like… with dignity. ]
Ah… um. Hello there kitty. Out for a walk, are we? Heh… please don’t eat me?
[The feline's ear twitches when Declan lets out a totally very dignified yelp. It chuffs again, lip curling slightly, but then simply decides to sit on its haunches, looking up at the man in a way that's impossible to read. Maybe it will eat him. Maybe it won't. Who's to say?
Thankfully, the second wanderer of these halls makes his appearance before anyone can truly find out. Footsteps sound from... behind Declan (he had lost track of his familiar, okay), and he speaks up in a low tone.]
But fresh meat is its favorite. Stay still, now.
[Is he joking? Hard to say, the smile's so faint. But anyway, V's dressed like this because the offline world took away his peak goth clothes, but he still clutches a cane in one hand.]
Thankfully, the second wanderer of these halls makes his appearance before anyone can truly find out. Footsteps sound from... behind Declan (he had lost track of his familiar, okay), and he speaks up in a low tone.]
But fresh meat is its favorite. Stay still, now.
[Is he joking? Hard to say, the smile's so faint. But anyway, V's dressed like this because the offline world took away his peak goth clothes, but he still clutches a cane in one hand.]
[ Well, since we're comparing, Declan is dressed like this. He still rather conspicuously has his pointy ears and lilac-colored eyes, blond hair swept back into a messy ponytail. Also, there's a smudge of grease on his cheek. Where did it come from? Who knows!
V's appearance startles Declan into turning around, but after that he goes very still. ]
Is this, ah, magnificent creature yours, by chance?
[ Forgive him for staring. He just can't put his finger on why this fellow seems familiar. ]
V's appearance startles Declan into turning around, but after that he goes very still. ]
Is this, ah, magnificent creature yours, by chance?
[ Forgive him for staring. He just can't put his finger on why this fellow seems familiar. ]
[Strange ears, oddly-colored eyes. Even the grease strains. All of these features would be more noteworthy if he hadn’t already seen weirder on the way to the house, or if he simply hadn’t seen weirder in his own experiences.
No, the oddest thing of all is the sudden sense of… familiarity sweeping over him when the man turns around. It stills V, makes his brow pinch together. His mind suddenly feels too crowded with conflicting information. A man he definitely doesn’t know, versus one that he… does??]
I— [Damn. This derailed him from whatever clever remark he was going to make.] …Yes.
[The panther creature stands and strides closer to V, brushing past Declan in the process.]
I would say you should recognize it, but… No, you wouldn’t.
[Hello?? What is this— A bloom of memories that definitely did not have Shadow in them. No, those definitely aren’t right.]
No, the oddest thing of all is the sudden sense of… familiarity sweeping over him when the man turns around. It stills V, makes his brow pinch together. His mind suddenly feels too crowded with conflicting information. A man he definitely doesn’t know, versus one that he… does??]
I— [Damn. This derailed him from whatever clever remark he was going to make.] …Yes.
[The panther creature stands and strides closer to V, brushing past Declan in the process.]
I would say you should recognize it, but… No, you wouldn’t.
[Hello?? What is this— A bloom of memories that definitely did not have Shadow in them. No, those definitely aren’t right.]
[ Juniper's reflexes kick in most fortuitously, allowing her to balance the pile of food on her plate perfectly. But soon enough a familiar voice reaches her ears as they twitch atop her head, and then someone is pointing at her.
Nearly undoing her hard work, she hastily draws a hand away from beneath her plate to POINT BACK!!! ]
You!?
[ Why are they pointing!? ]
Nearly undoing her hard work, she hastily draws a hand away from beneath her plate to POINT BACK!!! ]
You!?
[ Why are they pointing!? ]
It is you!!
[ Sorry to this tray of food, but Declan is closing the gap for a rather enthusiastic hug. ]
It's so good to see you, Junebug!
[ Sorry to this tray of food, but Declan is closing the gap for a rather enthusiastic hug. ]
It's so good to see you, Junebug!
Ah, you've got it too, have you? I remember you, but I have no idea who you are. What a baffling set of memories to have sitting next to each other!
[ He should probably sound more troubled about this than he does. He also seems to have forgotten about the panther — or is at least somewhat confident that while he and the cat's owner are chatting, it won't pounce. ]
[ He should probably sound more troubled about this than he does. He also seems to have forgotten about the panther — or is at least somewhat confident that while he and the cat's owner are chatting, it won't pounce. ]
Mmn.
[V doesn't like it. He's not a terribly big fan of having one's mind fiddled with, and this reeks of it. Still, at least he's not the only one.
Declan's right, though. Shadow won't pounce. It settles into a sit next to V, tailed curled around and behind his feet. V, on the other hand, raises his cane and pokes the other man in the chest with it. Gently.]
Just as I have no idea who you really are, but the name resounds in my mind loudly enough. [Poke.] Declan, right?
[V doesn't like it. He's not a terribly big fan of having one's mind fiddled with, and this reeks of it. Still, at least he's not the only one.
Declan's right, though. Shadow won't pounce. It settles into a sit next to V, tailed curled around and behind his feet. V, on the other hand, raises his cane and pokes the other man in the chest with it. Gently.]
Just as I have no idea who you really are, but the name resounds in my mind loudly enough. [Poke.] Declan, right?
[ Yeah, screw this tray of food!! (Sorry to the lovely folks who made it.) She just barely has enough time to haphazardly set it down on the counter, upon which food definitely spills over, but it's way more important to her to return Declan's hug with just as much enthusiasm.
He's here...! He's really here, in this strange new world, along with her!? It had been so strange to her, "logging off," and having these memories of him surface, but now... ]
It is me! It's great to see you, too, Uncle! I can't believe you really are here, too! I-It's been so long!
He's here...! He's really here, in this strange new world, along with her!? It had been so strange to her, "logging off," and having these memories of him surface, but now... ]
It is me! It's great to see you, too, Uncle! I can't believe you really are here, too! I-It's been so long!
[ I'm assuming that this hug includes Declan's feet leaving the ground at some point because Juniper. ]
It has!
[ Or has it? When he thinks about when he last saw her, he gets a couple of conflicting instances tumbling around in his head. ]
At least, I think it has. Funny, usually my memory is a bit more reliable.
It has!
[ Or has it? When he thinks about when he last saw her, he gets a couple of conflicting instances tumbling around in his head. ]
At least, I think it has. Funny, usually my memory is a bit more reliable.
[ Even getting prodded in the chest with a cane seems familiar. Declan's eyebrows go up at that strange sense of familiarity, but he ultimately smiles a little, pushing the cane away with a finger. ]
That's right. I'd say my reputation precedes me but there's something bigger afoot here, isn't there? [ A thoughtful pause. ] You're... V?
That's right. I'd say my reputation precedes me but there's something bigger afoot here, isn't there? [ A thoughtful pause. ] You're... V?
[No resistance whatsoever as his cane's pushed aside, and he brings it back down, leaning on it as he's used to doing.]
Yes. I'm V.
[He tilts his head, considering what to do with this new information. His features at least continue to play at vague amusement.]
Well, in one life, your reputation precedes you online, at least. In another? I can't even guess at it. Either way, the conclusion's clear: someone or something is playing around with the inside of our heads.
Maybe... a proper introduction is in order, in light of that.
Yes. I'm V.
[He tilts his head, considering what to do with this new information. His features at least continue to play at vague amusement.]
Well, in one life, your reputation precedes you online, at least. In another? I can't even guess at it. Either way, the conclusion's clear: someone or something is playing around with the inside of our heads.
Maybe... a proper introduction is in order, in light of that.
Hmmm. Not a fan of that! [ Brightly. Declan, pls.
Well, with all that nasty business aside, V is right. Declan would rather make a real introduction than rely on whatever's been planted in their heads.
He reaches up as if to tip a hat that he is definitely not wearing, and when he realizes that, he frowns a bit, but quickly moves on. He bows with a small flourish instead. ]
Declan Steelsong. Artificer, inventor, and clockmaker-turned-adventurer, at your service.
Well, with all that nasty business aside, V is right. Declan would rather make a real introduction than rely on whatever's been planted in their heads.
He reaches up as if to tip a hat that he is definitely not wearing, and when he realizes that, he frowns a bit, but quickly moves on. He bows with a small flourish instead. ]
Declan Steelsong. Artificer, inventor, and clockmaker-turned-adventurer, at your service.
Edited 2023-05-05 18:42 (UTC)
[ Yeah do you ever just pick your 6' tall beanpole of an uncle up in a hug?? She's gotten stronger since the last time they saw each other!
At his remark, she chuckles heartily. Her memories feel like a weird soup, too, but— ]
My memory is never reliable! But it definitely feels like it's been a while!
[ —when is it ever not a weird soup up there? She gently sets him back down to his feet, though she's not quite ready to let go of him just yet. ]
Though I guess it does kind of feel like we just saw each other here, too?
At his remark, she chuckles heartily. Her memories feel like a weird soup, too, but— ]
My memory is never reliable! But it definitely feels like it's been a while!
[ —when is it ever not a weird soup up there? She gently sets him back down to his feet, though she's not quite ready to let go of him just yet. ]
Though I guess it does kind of feel like we just saw each other here, too?
[Pfft. Not a fan is right.]
...No. Not a fan.
[But then V watches as Declan apparently forgets he's not wearing a hat, easing up a dark brow, but listens to the rest of the introduction without interruption. That's quite a list. The panther at V's feet seems less interested, glancing here and there, but Shadow remains seated as the two men speak.]
That's an impressive array of titles, Mr. Steelsong. And what kind of things do you invent?
[They'll loop around to his side of the introduction here in a second.]
...No. Not a fan.
[But then V watches as Declan apparently forgets he's not wearing a hat, easing up a dark brow, but listens to the rest of the introduction without interruption. That's quite a list. The panther at V's feet seems less interested, glancing here and there, but Shadow remains seated as the two men speak.]
That's an impressive array of titles, Mr. Steelsong. And what kind of things do you invent?
[They'll loop around to his side of the introduction here in a second.]
It does. [ He frowns, thinking. It feels as if he's been here his whole life, yet he also knows that to be untrue. ] Some strange magic trying to affect our memories, I'd wager.
[ A beat. ]
Would you mind setting me down, Junebug?
[ A beat. ]
Would you mind setting me down, Junebug?
[ The hat is a staple part of his wardrobe and now it's gone! This is more of a tragedy than their memories being mucked with, okay?
But in answer to that question, Declan digs into a pocket and comes up with a small, mechanical hummingbird made of brass and gold and gears. It flutters to life, emitting a soft purple glow and faint golden sparks. ]
Oh, this and that. You know.
[ The hummingbird flies in a quick circle around Declan, then flits over to V to do the same. ]
But in answer to that question, Declan digs into a pocket and comes up with a small, mechanical hummingbird made of brass and gold and gears. It flutters to life, emitting a soft purple glow and faint golden sparks. ]
Oh, this and that. You know.
[ The hummingbird flies in a quick circle around Declan, then flits over to V to do the same. ]
Edited (whoops you saw nothing) 2023-05-05 21:08 (UTC)
[It looks like such a delicate little thing, that brass and golden hummingbird that Declan unearths from a pocket. Is he always carrying such objects about, he wonders? Maybe that's just the inclination of an inventor. Like something Nico would do.
And then suddenly it's moving, glowing, sparking, and darting around Declan, then V.
He blinks, leaning back a little in surprise. Shadow definitely perks up, reaching up with a large paw to (lazily) swipe at it in curiosity.]
"This and that", he says, like it's nothing. Impressive.
Is this... magic?
And then suddenly it's moving, glowing, sparking, and darting around Declan, then V.
He blinks, leaning back a little in surprise. Shadow definitely perks up, reaching up with a large paw to (lazily) swipe at it in curiosity.]
"This and that", he says, like it's nothing. Impressive.
Is this... magic?
Edited (repetition ) 2023-05-05 21:27 (UTC)
Oh! Sorry, Uncle Dee!
[ She lets go of him and steps back! ]
T-To be honest, I don't know if I really understand everything that's going on here... There was a lot to read and take in all at once, and...
[ ... They know how easily distracted and forgetful she can be. ]
But if you're here, then I know we can figure things out! You're a genius after all!
[ She lets go of him and steps back! ]
T-To be honest, I don't know if I really understand everything that's going on here... There was a lot to read and take in all at once, and...
[ ... They know how easily distracted and forgetful she can be. ]
But if you're here, then I know we can figure things out! You're a genius after all!
I am a genius, aren't I?
[ A small chuckle. He knows very well that Juni probably didn't read or retain everything in the "tutorials" they were provided, and having someone here who is both familiar and someone he can help is something of a balm. ]
Gods. Have you gotten stronger? Surely I haven't been away from Waterdeep that long.
[ Declan, it's been a couple of months at least. ]
[ A small chuckle. He knows very well that Juni probably didn't read or retain everything in the "tutorials" they were provided, and having someone here who is both familiar and someone he can help is something of a balm. ]
Gods. Have you gotten stronger? Surely I haven't been away from Waterdeep that long.
[ Declan, it's been a couple of months at least. ]
Page 1 of 22