Guns and gobs and flowers
Tenebrae - Wednesday, December 30, 2015, 7:19 PM
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A12: Memorial Gardens District *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Among the gardens, scents mingle: green, loam and subtle sweetness, wafting from the meticulously groomed grounds. The lawns are richly green, dense and close-cropped, bordered with polished pale marble stones the size of a human man's fist. The pathways are smoothly cobbled in muted tones that subtly echo and contrast with the surrounding greenery, shaded by the lush canopies of tall, straight trees whose branches arch over the walkways to form open, airy tunnels. Elegantly ornate, tall mana-lamps of wrought black iron keep the paths softly lit in the evenings; they are often situated near benches of matching material and style. It is peaceful, here. Somber. It is also curiously warm and green no matter the time of year; leaves do change color in fall but remain on the trees until spring comes again.
At the heart of the park where the paths converge are large marble pedestals supporting bronze or marble statuary, chiseled letters upon the heavy bases naming the subject of each piece. The previous sculpture celebrating the union of Alexandros with Myrddion has been removed from the center of the garden and replaced with a gorgeous statue of the Crown Princess Lianna Rena and a marble walkway that leads to the Monument of Heroes - a newly-raised edifice celebrating those who fought and died on behalf of others. Tribute is still given to the friendship between Myrddion and Alexandros in the form of the paired standards mounted above the entrance to the Monument of Heroes: one from each nation. The flagstaffs are crossed and held by a Myrrish Knight and an Old-Alexandros Miner.
Taking a deep breath, Arisha lets a breath out of her nose before she looks to the flower...then to the gobber. "I swear you gobbers are weird. I point a gun at you, and you're not even scared." She then shakes her head. "it is a nice flower though."
Krom wanders beneath the trees, enjoying the unseasonable warmth of the Gardens. The arrival of a giant armored bird draws the northman's attention and curiousity. Talk of guns and gobs and flowers rouses a bit of curiousity as well.
Solace's expression of dismay deepens as the quiet garden ends up becoming more full. He's standing near one of the fountains by an arrangement of bronze and glass flowers that, apparently, he may have built. They /tick/, which really can't be good for anything. "The average goblin has dealt with things far more terrifying than a gun," he suggests. "And, ah, thank you again. It...well, here, let me show you." He moves forward, despite a certain discomfort on his face, to touch a small dial at the bottom of the arrangement. The ticking intensifies, and the glass 'blooms' start to glow. "Don't look right at it," he warns. Probably a good idea, because the blooms open and a prism of rainbow colors spills out, upwards into the sky. Getting in the way of one of those would be...well, dazing at the very least. Color Spray Flowers!
"A fearsome weapon! Though, I fear no evil from Her Sacred Warsticks, may their music dance above the drums forever," the gobber replies, his hands neatly tucked behind his back, and his spine at a graceful arc, as lean as an artist's paintbrush. His words come with a Fire-filled rush, and the quiver of ears of the fanatic, before he looks to the artificer. And the flowers. And: "..."
He stares. Entranced. Entranced enough that he notices nothing else. He takes an involuntary step forward.
Pelka is still surveying the garden. His gaze falls on the gobber and gun-wielding Elf. He blinks and then peers at them curiously. "Are you all right...?" He says a bit uncertainly.
Arisha shakes her head. "I think you're going to have a serious admirer for a while." She says before she starts to walk away, still rubbing her left shoulder.
Krom eyes the artifice 'flower' with mild curiousity, though mindful of the warning, tries to not look directly at it. "Krom wonder at choice of location for display. Think near Hall of Artifice be better."
Solace moves with Chach, hovering near the contraption in a protective manner as the goblin approaches. It's not that gobbers MEAN to blow things up, exactly. Not ALL the time, anyway. But things happen, and he doesn't want them to happen to his work. He offers a smile and a brief nod to Arisha, then eyes the other two. "It was not meant to be displayed. I simply wanted a place to test it where it was not likely to be seen, at this time of night..." Mission FAIL. He reaches over to turn the dial back down, and the glass blooms close again.
"Praise the Lady of Unintentional Explosions," the gobber breathes, perhaps in response to Pelka. He straightens as slowly as the paintbrush delicately lifted, its ink-line straight again upon the page. "A thing of beauty!" He half-turns to the egalrin, and gestures to the blooming flowers--or what had been flowers. "Today, we stand in the presence of greatness! Of--" he breaks off again, staring at the artificer's hands. "--art!"
Pelka takes a few quick steps forward to get a better look at the contraption. "What is it?" he finally blurts.
Krom frowns mildly, and shrugs. "Krom not know art, but Krom know what like. Krom prefer regular flowers."
Solace clears his throat. "It's not art. It's an experiment. A trifle. That's all." Despite that, he frowns at Krom's statement, and is quick to defend the virtues of mechanical foliage. "Real flowers attract insects, and require food and water. These require nothing but effort and time. Admittedly, real flowers do not blind or stun people who get in the way of their bloom...but that's immaterial." He coughs. "Anyway. What brings all of you out at this time of the evening? I had expected to be largely alone."
The gobber makes a motion with long fingers--a sinuouos twist of wrist, forearm, and hand that suggests it doesn't matter--but does so in the most elaborate way possible. Because Ceinaran. "What does it matter when you encounter art such as this," he breathes, backing up gesture with words. He does a slow circle of the flower, before looking to the artificer. And unsettlingly, winks his way, before sashaying off. This is, obviously, supposed to be sexy.
But you know.
WARTS.
Also: see ref: Gobber!
Chach has left.
Pelka blinks. Alone? Ah! Alone! "I came here because it is the most open place around - other than the river I suppose. And there there is so much water." He spreads his hands out and mimes flying. "It's so much quicker to jump from the mountain here. But you have to be careful where you land!"
Krom shrugs. "Warm and green here. Remind Krom of home. For time..." he shrugs again "Evil does not sleep. Krom should not be caught napping."
A look of horror flits across Solace's face at the flirtatious wing. Oh god. His sigh of relief when Chach moves away is audible. He reaches up and pinches the bridge of his nose, wearily. When Pelka speaks, though, he turns his attention back to him. "Ah. That makes sense, of course." Krom gets a little sidelong look. "Technically, it depends on the evil. I mean, your average evil wizard? Definitely sleeps. Often snores."
Solace waggles a hand in Pelka's direction. "It's hard not to draw a distinction at /some/ point, considering the cosmological orientation of the world." He gives Krom another sidelong look. "Ah. How...diligent of Good, then. Well, have fun with that, I suppose. For myself, I suspect I've caused enough disruption for one evening. I'll take my leave. A pleasure to meet you both, I'm sure." The Charnese half-Mul gathers up his bronze flowers with haste, and starts to move away from them both.
Solace has disconnected.
Kailin has left.
Pelka looks about akwardly. "Well, I suppose it IS getting late..."
Krom peers at the sky a few moments. "Almost getting early. Good time to start new day."
Pelka considers that and then nods. "I suppose it's all in how you look at it. Well either way I'm off. Nice talking with you." He backs away a few steps before turning and heading off. He casts one glance over his shoulder as he goes.