Nexus. The Black Dog. The Knight Errant and His Squire Part 2

[dens_extra_pups]

Continued from here



Don Q: *sighs and drinks some of the broth of his stew* You're too kind.

Mirage: *slight head shake* I nearly went into shock the first time I stumbled into the Backwater.

tShowtime: *will sip from her drink, winglets flicking slightly as she tries not to think too long on how she arrived in the Backwater*

Mirage: And my first encounter with humans... well, it was shocking. I had never met anything made of flesh and blood before.

Don Q: *looks surprised. Doesn't notice two hands over his plate cutting the meat up into itty bitty easily eaten bits*

tShowtime: *quietly* My first encounter with humans was shocking because they were bigger than me at the time.

Don Q: *turns toward the little blue lady* You were a child?

tShowtime: *headshake* I was an adult. I was a very small adult. Men where I'm from are human-sized.

Don Q: Ah. I see. *looks at Mirage, then over to a hulking bayformer creature who just burped and got punched for it* ...Yuck.

tShowtime: *winglets up as she looks that way*

Mirage: *slight throat clearing sound of apology for noticing someone so crass* Long Haul is of the same race as Showtime and myself.

Don Q: So he is a giant.

Mirage: No. The people where I come from are just of a small strain. We've never needed to be large and strong, because we've never been at war.

tShowtime: *small nod* The people where I come from are also of a small strain, but we had an ongoing war... Which is almost over, from what a pastor friend of ours has told me.

Don Q: *tentatively* And your women are always smaller than your men?

tShowtime: *headshake* Not always. Just in some instances.

Mirage: *thinks of how to explain things* Do you know there are different realities, senior Quixote?

Don Q: *nods, looking rueful* Yes. A man named Charlie made sure that I understood about that in the same way that he taught Aldonza the art of bone alignment.

Mirage: My wife and I are originally from different realities. In my reality, women are often a little smaller, like the women of your people. Some aren't. As Showtime said, the difference is more noticeable among her people. Among Long Haul's people anyone can be any size. I know of several women who are taller than him, and many men who are smaller.

Don Q: *absently feeding himself well minced stew, and eating the bread that's being poked at his mouth* *quietly, after he swallows* Amazing.

tShowtime: It's something you'll more than likely see more of here in the Nexus.

Don Q: *sighs as he chews up more bread* We won't be here often. I would not have come today, but Aldonza insisted.

Aldonza: *scowly woman feeds him more bread*

tShowtime: It's good to learn what's out there. And where to get good food. *nods*

Aldonza: We came here because it's raining. Senior Charlie said to come here if we ever had a strong need of something. *uses bread to silence her master's rebuke*

tShowtime: *amused winglet flutter, will lean against Mirage a bit*

Aldonza: *quietly* You're hurt, and the rain was making you feel worse. I'm supposed to take care of you, senior!

Don Q: *throat clearing sound, and pats her hand awkwardly* We'll speak of this later. *turns and apologizes to Mirage and Showtime*

Mirage: *slight smile* No apology needed. Really.

tShowtime: *nods in agreement* *attention goes to where one of her sisters is being cheerfully rowdy. Cringe*

Mirage: *ignores the disturbance, as always* Senior Quixote, forgive me for being forward. But I think you need a home.

tShowtime: *attention back on the conversation*

Don Q: *shakes his head and smiles slightly himself, though it seems to hurt a bit because of his bruising* I'm a wandering knight. I have to keep moving to deal with the things that I was brought to that world to deal with. I have no time to be going back to a home.

tShowtime: *quietly* It would give you a safe place to rest between journeys...

Don Q: *shakes his head gently* There is too much road to cover.

Mirage: *looks at his wife, then musingly databursts her an image of that vardo they saw in an old book a few days before*

tShowtime: *optics brighten as her wings flick* Well, what about a home you could bring with you?

Don Q: I beg your pardon? *puzzled, but polite look for the little blue lady*

tShowtime: Something like a wagon that you could sleep in at night... And that you could bring with you on your journeys. Then you'd have a home, but you could still travel and deal with the things you've been tasked with dealing with.

Don Q: *light frown* We have but two hufers, and I do not think they would care to be harnessed to a heavy Rom waggon.

tShowtime: *soft clicks as she thinks. She knows there has to be a solution to this, but she's not sure what it could be*

Mirage: *silent for a moment, but then he speaks up again* Well, you don't need something too big. You're already used to living light. You just need something that lets you sleep off the ground, and keeps the rain off you.

Aoife: *had been wandering over with a choccy botbeer for tShowtime. Perks quizzically as she hears Mirage's words* *as she offers the drink to the little blue lady* What's he talking about, Show?

tShowtime: *looks, will reach for the offered drink* We're trying to think of a house that could work for Sir Quixote and Aldonza, since they travel as part of their duties...

Aoife: What kind of propulsion do they have? And what kind of materials? *glances to Aldonza, who is distracted from Don Q by the sight of the lady in pants*

tShowtime: They've got two hufers... *looks to Mirage, wondering if he'd know what materials would work*

Aldonza: *speaks up* We have a lot of basket willows. And there's stuff made from the gut of some big animal that's waterproof. Would those help?

Don Q: *discussing possibilities himself, with Mirage, and discounting all the eager young artist's ideas*

tShowtime: ... *looks to Aoife for her verdict. Knows next to nothing about human dwellings*

Aoife: *slight grin, and then claps her hands together lightly and pulls them apart to show a holo screen from her wrist computer*

Aldonza: 0_0; *looks like she's going to bolt*

tShowtime: *curious* When did you get that upgrade, Aoife?

Aoife: *chuckle* It's not an upgrade. I just finally realized that I could link with my wrist computer like I can other computers.

Aldonza: *relaxes slowly* Oh. It's a computer on your wrist.

Aoife: Yup. *shows her the largish wristwatch*

tShowtime: Has Legacy seen that?

Aoife: *slightly embarrassed and exasperated but proud grin* Who do you think suggested it?

tShowtime: *soft chuckle*

Aoife: But look at the picture.

Aldonza: *head tilt as she looks at the picture, and then brightens* It's small, but there is room to sleep.

Aoife: *turns the image of the light, two wheeled vehicle with the basketwork base, and the arched, material covered roof* Yup. And you could put a net in the upper part, and stow your gear there.

tShowtime: And it looks like it wouldn't be too difficult for a hufer or two to pull.

Aoife: *nods* One could pull this, and carry her rider too. *studies the image, and than changes it so that it has four wheels* And if we leave the one side open, you could extend the roof material down, and use that as the entrance. *shows said entrance flap held up as an awning, and adds a picture of Don Q. sleeping inside*

Aldonza: *peasant girl is full of wonder at the wonderful moving picture*

tShowtime: *soft chuckle at Aldonza's expression*

Aoife: You said you knew what material would work for the roof? *looks at the Spanish girl*

Aldonza: *takes a moment to realize she's been spoken to, but then she's nodding* Oh yes, senora. It's a kind of gut. And it would let in the light, too.

Aoife: Do you think the willows would be strong enough for the wheels?

Aldonza: *slow and uncertain nod* We could buy the good tires for them too.

Aoife: Good tires?

Aldonza: They are black, and they take a very long time to wear out. I saw a set at the market once, on one of the merchants' carts.

Aoife: *slight side glance, and then nods herself and adds thin black tires to the wheels, as well as making the roof and side translucent*

tShowtime: If you got some foam, that would make for a lightweight, but soft bed...

Aldonza: *shakes her head* Rice straw would be cheaper.

tShowtime: *blink blink* Oh...

Aoife: Do you know what foam she was talking about?

Aldonza: No. But rice straw is cheap, and fluffy.

tShowtime: I'll be right back. *sets her drink on the table, PINpoints out*

Aoife: -Where are you going?-

tShowtime: -To get one of the cushions Den gave me.-

Aoife: -Why?-

tShowtime: -It's got the foam I was talking about, and it's big enough that they could both lay on it comfortably.-

Aoife: *feeling of gentle kindness toward her eager friend* -But don't you think using local materials would be better?-

tShowtime: -... I don't know how comfortable rice straw would be with an aching back though.-

Aoife: *sends a feel of the puffy, softly crackly mattress she lay down on once*

tShowtime: -... Huh.-

Aoife: *chuckle* -Why not grab an afghan instead?-

tShowtime: -We have plenty of those.- *will pick out one that is warm and soft*

Aoife: *amusement* -The one with flowers.-

tShowtime: -It's one I made...- *quiet pride*

Aoife: -Aww. You got the daisy maker? I didn't realize they made square flowers.-

tShowtime: -Yeah... It doesn't make as many gaps...-

Aoife: -Don Q. just realized you're missing.-

tShowtime: *meeps and PINpoints back*

Don Q: *startles* Oh, there you are, my lady.

Mirage: *quizzical grin for his wife*

tShowtime: I went to get something... *will hold up the afghan*

Mirage: *perks* For our friends?

tShowtime: For our new friends, yes.

Don Q: Ah. I couldn't take that from you...

Aldonza: *scowly*

tShowtime: It's alright. I've made so many that I've had to start giving them to friends.

Mirage: So that we've got room for the ones by other artists that she's collected. *fond smile for his wife*

tShowtime: *ducks her head sheepishly*

Don Q: *a bit puzzled by blanket makers being called artists, but he graciously accepts the red and gold blanket before glancing at Aldonza to see what she wants to do with it*

Aldonza: *hasn't noticed it. She's raptly watching Aoife manipulate and change the image of the waggon*

tShowtime: *very soft clicks*

Aoife: *glances over as she senses the old knight noticing her diagram* I think we have it figured out.

tShowtime: *curious glance*

Aoife: *enlarges the image, and shows her the holes for poking cords through on the corners so that the flap will wrap around and keep out drafts, the handy little caddies on the inner walls to put small things into, and the net overhead for larger gear. Shows how there will be space to sit up in bed even for the tall knight, and how bearings can be used in the wheels because of the excellent roads on that world*

Aldonza: *doesn't get some of that, but what she does get has her eyes shining. It will be good to have a house again!*

tShowtime: That looks like it will be a comfortable house. *small smile*

Don Q: Oh, but...

Aldonza: *flashing eyes that threaten harm if he rejects this*

Don Q: 0_0; *angry peasant girl. HALP*

tShowtime: And this way, your back won't bother you as much.

Don Q: *turns the deer in headlights look from his wife to her, then blinks* Ah. Yes. True.

Mirage: *pat pat for the Aldonza shoulder*

Aoife: *too amused*

tShowtime: *happy winglet flutter*

Aoife: *hands in her jacket pockets* Okay, who has a wish?

Don Q: ...I beg your pardon?

Mirage: *checks his pockets*

tShowtime: *checks her pockets*

Aoife: A wish. So we can get this thing made. *frowns* I think somebody I know raided my pockets and ate all mine.

tShowtime: *headshake and moves to go buy a jar of wishes when she comes up empty-handed*

Mirage: Wait, Showtime. *pulls out a twist of flimsy that is softly glowing*

tShowtime: *pauses, looks, grins* Will that work, Aoife?

Aoife: *studies the twist with surprise* It'll work, but I don't recognize the maker.

Mirage: It was a green-haired girl named Maacah. She was visiting here with her crew, and gave me this saying that I'd need it soon. *offers the twist to the little technopath*

Aoife: *takes it and sets to work opening the twist* Huh. I hadn't felt any new Changelings in the neighbourhood... *pauses and studies the little light* Oh. A halfbreed. No wonder I didn't notice her. They're on a slightly different wavelength. *chuckle*

Don Q and Aldonza: *lost*

Aldonza: *finds herself with stew. Nom nom*

tShowtime: *confused headtilt* Halfbreed?

Aoife: She had a birth parent who was full blood. Like Violet and Zanoah.

tShowtime: Oooh. *small nod*

Aoife: *looks at Don Q* You like this?

Don Q: *helplessly, a true man who knows nothing of home* Err. Aldonza wants it very much.

Mirage: *politely doesn't notice the other man's confusion. He's checking on Knockout*

Roundabout: *is that tiny thing that just climbed onto tShowtime's shoulder and razzed*

Don Q: *gobsmack* What is that?

tShowtime: Someone's pet... She's got a bad attitude.

Roundabout: *will thrrpt at you too, tShowtime!*

Aoife: Kinda like a small dog, only less yappy. *is intent on her diagram to make absolutely sure everything's structurally sound on it*

tShowtime: And less likely to leave a mess.

Aoife: You didn't see her spill this one guy's drink the other day, and then kick the glass around before running through the puddle and over the arm of his jacket.

tShowtime: ... *sigh*

Roundabout: *booty shaking!* *Showed that guy who was BOSS*

Aoife: -Eclipse, it's ten PM, do you know where your pet is dancing?-

mEclipse: *coming to retrieve the pest* She SHOULD be on her charger.

Roundabout: *NO TINYBOT HERE!* *transforms to alt mode and hides on tShowtime's shoulder*

Aoife: Huh. Hadn't realized she could do that. *momentarily distracted from her project* You need to get a cage. Don't you know wandering pets can be a hazard? *doesn't even blink as someone bounces off the back of the Black Dog*

mEclipse: I upgraded her shell. *one shoulder shrug*

Aoife: Ohhh. *picks up the tiny mechanism and pokes at her* So not a new shell.

Aldonza: *watching with silent curiosity*

mEclipse: It's the shell I transferred her to when I first realized she was there.

Aoife: *chuckle* I don't know if giving her a transform was the smartest idea. *offers small pest to her owner*

mEclipse: *will snort and take Roundabout with her*

Aoife: *attention back to the humans* Alright. So, is the waggon all you guys need?

Don Q: *thoughtfully* Might I ask for one thing more?

Aldonza: *gives him a look of mild surprise that he's actually going to ask for something*

tShowtime: *winglets up with surprise*

Aoife: *can pick up that this request is an unusual thing* What do you need?

Don Q: I've been asked where papers detailing my... ah...

Aldonza: *helpfully* Exploits.

Don Q: *winces and is plainly embarrassed by the word* *slight deep breath* I would like to ask for a typewriter of the sort used on the new world, if I might.

Aoife: *up with a window and shows an image of what looks kinda like an old fashioned pocket watch* Is that the right kind?

Mirage: *startled and confused look for the image*

tShowtime: *so lost. Has never seen anything like that before*

Aoife: Do you need capitals capability?

Don Q: Er... *lifts his brows a little puzzledly* I've never seen a paper printed with them.

Aoife: *nods* Alright. Imagine what the printing on a paper looks like.

Don Q: *steels himself not to hide from the word "imagine"* Very well.

Aoife: *scrolls a panel of a beautifully shaped font across her window* Niiice.

Mirage: *intrigued by the font. Wants to find where to buy it or upload it for free*

tShowtime: *interested in it as well*

Aoife: *gets out a normal little blue wish without noticing that her empty container now isn't and wishes for the typewriter, then hands it to an amazed old knight*

Don Q: *looks from Aldonza to tShowtime* Did this really just appear out of nothing?

Aldonza: *helpfully* It appeared out of little lights.

tShowtime: *very soft clicks, thinks Perceptor might like something similar*

Mirage: *quick thinking, and then comes up with an explanation that he thinks might work* The lights made the typewriter from the dust in the air.

Aoife: *grins at him* Pretty much.

Don Q: And that... is not unusual at all?

tShowtime: Around here, it isn't.

Mirage: *nods agreement to his wife*

Don Q: *decides to be reassured. Turns his attention to the typewriter and presses the button on the top a few time. Checks the paper tape that emerges from the bottom and smiles* This is perfect, milady. My thanks!

Aoife: *grins, and then walks to the edge of the bar to use the big wish*

Don Q: *types carefully but quickly, turning the pointer on the front of the writer between each click*

Mirage: *torn between watching the typing and watching the sparkling that's happening down on the floor*

tShowtime: *soft, indecisive clicks*

Don Q: *looks up toward the clicks* Is something wrong?

tShowtime: *slight start, wasn't expecting to be overheard* *ducks head sheepishly*

Mirage: *gives his wife a look of concern and inquiry*

Aldonza: *is also looking now*

tShowtime: The typing is neat, but so is what Aoife's doing.

Don Q: *looks, just in time to see green twinkles die away and leave a neat little four wheeled waggon in their place* *stands to get a closer look, absently tearing off the tape and laying it on the table as he does*

tShowtime: *will hide against Mirage, feeling a bit shy now*

Nemesis: Get that thing out of my bar!

Don Q: *startles and apologizes*

tShowtime: *very soft snerk*

Mirage: Senior Quixada, might I have this? *indicates the tape on the table*

Don Q: *blinks and looks down distractedly* Oh. Yes, of course. *walks over to the ladder after leaving a coin on the table*

Aoife: *grabs the coin and pokes it back into his purse as she walks over to look down at the waggon*

Mirage: *picks up the bit of tape and offers it to his wife*

tShowtime: *peeks and reaches for the bit of tape*

tape: "Quixote was here."

tShowtime: *snerk*

Mirage: *looks down at her with twinkling eyes* I wonder how much Den would pay for that.

tShowtime: *hand to mouth to muffle her snickers*

hbChromia: *quiet talking as she lowers Don Q. and Aldonza to the floor and offers to carry their waggon out of the building*

Aoife: *has gone to incite minor mayhem against Mutt, since he's up now*

Mirage: *softly* Do you want to go along and see the new home?

tShowtime: *nods* *quietly* Only for a little bit... Knockout does need to rest.

Mirage: *leans down to kiss her helm, and then goes to lift their daughter from her borrowed cradle* So do you.

Knockout: *slight flail and a sigh before she snuggles against Mirage without waking*

tShowtime: *small nod*

Mirage: *gently, as he comes back to her and puts his free arm around her* Don't worry. We'll be bringing Perceptor home soon.

tShowtime: *as she moves to snuggle and brace for a PINpoint trip* I'm glad.

Mirage: And your people won't be without a scientist. *slight smile as he thinks of how the young Perceptor of his reality is working toward going to Showtime's reality to replace her mentor. Then triggers his PINpoint and brings his family out to where the waggon is now parked just inside the enclosure around Ibrahim's house*

Myriam: *sitting in her doorway and watching with interest as a little brass spindle twirls in a bowl at her feet*

tShowtime: *small nod to Myriam, will gently squeeze Mirage's hand*

Aldonza: *already busy transferring stuff from the panniers to the waggon* *to Myriam* Do you want these baskets?

Myriam: *perks* Oh. They can pay the rent for the guest house tonight.

Aldonza: Really? *pleased with that bargain*

Don Q: *smiles at Mirage and family from where he's tucked out of the way, leaning against a front wheel of the waggon with the white hufer and a very pale hyena sniffing close to make sure he's alright* I wish to thank you, friends.

tShowtime: It wasn't any trouble. *small smile*

Mirage: Your company is a pleasure. *smiles that polished smile of his* I hope this will help you to feel better soon. *can't help but notice that even in the pale light of Myriam's lantern a new tail of tape has grown from the typewriter*

Don Q: *ticklish wince as the hufer snuffles his cheek* The pleasure was all mine. *expression says he's gotten a lot of needed reassurances tonight*

tShowtime: Safe travels when you return to your home world.

Don Q: *smiles a smile that is similar to Mirage's* Thank you, my lady. And may yours always know peace.

tShowtime: *small nod* Thank you.

Mirage: I hope we might see you again some time in the future, senior Quixote. I would love to read about your work.

Don Q: Ah. We may come again. But perhaps someone will bring the papers here. *plainly doesn't see himself coming to the Backwater very often* Good sleep, my friends, and God bless you.

Mirage: And the same to you. *can see the weariness in the old man's face*

tShowtime: Good rest. *smiles, winglets fluttering and reflecting her happiness*

Mirage: *will lead his wife away after the old knight bows, and then bring her and Knockout home to their glass wrapped Tower penthouse*

((Written with random_xtras))