She looks hard at the gloves for a minute. "Yeah, these have mites on them too. Just not as many as on your handgun."
She looked up at him. "Do you know what they are? You believe me that I really see them? They're not just imaginary?"
Tam nods.
"Yes I do. And they're not imaginary - you're somehow detecting magical energy. Most people see it as an aura surrounding magicked items, and only if they cast a spell to do so, unless they have magesight by some means. How long have you been able to see them?" as he puts the gloves away.
She looks hard at the gloves for a minute. "Yeah, these have mites on them too. Just not as many as on your handgun."
She looked up at him. "Do you know what they are? You believe me that I really see them? They're not just imaginary?"
Tam nods.
"Yes I do. And they're not imaginary - you're somehow detecting magical energy. Most people see it as an aura surrounding magicked items, and only if they cast a spell to do so, unless they have magesight by some means. How long have you been able to see them?"
"Oh, since forever," she said with a cheerful smile. "It was really helpful for learning some of the fighting techniques at the Temple. The others would get so mad because I could learn faster than they did. They said I cheated. Guess they were right. I mean it's not like I can turn it off."
"Oh, since forever," she said with a cheerful smile. "It was really helpful for learning some of the fighting techniques at the Temple. The others would get so mad because I could learn faster than they did. They said I cheated. Guess they were right. I mean it's not like I can turn it off."
"I guess that could be handy, if the techniques had a touch of magic to them. Remind me to stay on your good side then - I don't want any fists or feet pummeling my cheeks..." and he stops himself before finishing the sentence, shaking his head and laughing quietly.
"Oh, since forever," she said with a cheerful smile. "It was really helpful for learning some of the fighting techniques at the Temple. The others would get so mad because I could learn faster than they did. They said I cheated. Guess they were right. I mean it's not like I can turn it off.""I guess that could be handy, if the techniques had a touch of magic to them. Remind me to stay on your good side then - I don't want any fists or feet pummeling my cheeks..." and he stops himself before finishing the sentence, shaking his head and laughing quietly.
"Don't be silly! I would never hit you! Honestly!" She said, shaking her head and sounding exasperated, the effect of which was totally ruined by her smile.
"I don't think there was any magic to it. The Masters always talked about harnessing the powers of the mind." She shrugged. "Guess it doesn't really matter."
She went back to working on the hoverbike and within ten minutes had the last piece in place.
"There! All done. Now to make sure that it works."
"Don't be silly! I would never hit you! Honestly!" She said, shaking her head and sounding exasperated, the effect of which was totally ruined by her smile.
"I don't think there was any magic to it. The Masters always talked about harnessing the powers of the mind." She shrugged. "Guess it doesn't really matter."
She went back to working on the hoverbike and within ten minutes had the last piece in place.
"There! All done. Now to make sure that it works."
"I know, I know," he says with a smile, holding his hands up in mock surrender, letting her finish with the hoverbike.
"Is it time for a test ride?" he asks, more than a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Don't be silly! I would never hit you! Honestly!" She said, shaking her head and sounding exasperated, the effect of which was totally ruined by her smile.
"I don't think there was any magic to it. The Masters always talked about harnessing the powers of the mind." She shrugged. "Guess it doesn't really matter."
She went back to working on the hoverbike and within ten minutes had the last piece in place.
"There! All done. Now to make sure that it works."
"I know, I know," he says with a smile, holding his hands up in mock surrender, letting her finish with the hoverbike.
"Is it time for a test ride?" he asks, more than a hint of excitement in his voice.
She laughed. "Yes, it is. Here, let me show you the controls."
She went over the basics of the hoverbike with him before turning it on and pushing it out into the street. "Wouldn't want you tearing up the shop just because you had an issue with the steering. Okay, hop on!"
"Don't be silly! I would never hit you! Honestly!" She said, shaking her head and sounding exasperated, the effect of which was totally ruined by her smile.
"I don't think there was any magic to it. The Masters always talked about harnessing the powers of the mind." She shrugged. "Guess it doesn't really matter."
She went back to working on the hoverbike and within ten minutes had the last piece in place.
"There! All done. Now to make sure that it works."
"I know, I know," he says with a smile, holding his hands up in mock surrender, letting her finish with the hoverbike.
"Is it time for a test ride?" he asks, more than a hint of excitement in his voice.
She laughed. "Yes, it is. Here, let me show you the controls."
She went over the basics of the hoverbike with him before turning it on and pushing it out into the street. "Wouldn't want you tearing up the shop just because you had an issue with the steering. Okay, hop on!"
Thankfully for him he has some skill in driving. Yay for no accidents or maimings!! :)
Thankfully for him he has some skill in driving. Yay for no accidents or maimings!! :)
She watches anxiously as he tried out the hoverbike, relaxing a bit as she realized that he knew what he was doing.
"So, what do you think? Will it do?"
Thankfully for him he has some skill in driving. Yay for no accidents or maimings!! :)She watches anxiously as he tried out the hoverbike, relaxing a bit as she realized that he knew what he was doing.
"So, what do you think? Will it do?"
The almost ear-to-ear grin on his face is all the answer she needs, but he still says:
"This is awesome! You've really got a gift for this, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise," as he pulls the hoverbike back into the garage and hops off.
"Thorg's a lucky dwarf to have you on his payroll. Speaking of - since no good deed goes unpunished, what do I owe you for your good work?" he asks, still grinning widely. :)
The almost ear-to-ear grin on his face is all the answer she needs, but he still says:
"This is awesome! You've really got a gift for this, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise," as he pulls the hoverbike back into the garage and hops off.
"Thorg's a lucky dwarf to have you on his payroll. Speaking of - since no good deed goes unpunished, what do I owe you for your good work?" he asks, still grinning widely. :)
"Ummm, I...don't know," she said sounding flustered.
"3 gold, 5 if you include skimmer. Skimmer is less work, costs less," Thorg grunted from the back of the shop. "Shop get 1 gold for expenses, girl get 4. That fair price."
Aananda blushed. "You don't really have to pay me, I mean you have to pay for the shop time I guess, but you're my friend," she whispered. "I'd feel kind of weird taking your money, especially after you paid for food and a place for me to stay yesterday."
"Ummm, I...don't know," she said sounding flustered.
"3 gold, 5 if you include skimmer. Skimmer is less work, costs less," Thorg grunted from the back of the shop. "Shop get 1 gold for expenses, girl get 4. That fair price."
"Alright. But just in case I need some emergency work in the near future, let me do this," as Tamrin plops down 10 gold on Thorg's desk.
Aananda blushed. "You don't really have to pay me, I mean you have to pay for the shop time I guess, but you're my friend," she whispered. "I'd feel kind of weird taking your money, especially after you paid for food and a place for me to stay yesterday."
He leans over conspiratorially and whispers back:
"Yeah, but the food and room were for you pointing me in the right direction to find all this stuff in the first place, and for taking time out of the day to come with me to get it and not get ripped off, so we're square with that already, right? And why are we whispering to each other? Thorg's going to think we're flirting or something, especially since you're, uh, blushing.....crap."
He turns bright red, and they both probably glance back at Thorg, hoping he is busy with something else right this second. ;P
Stuff Tamrin would say.
Stuff Tamrin would say.
Completely unable to control her blushing, Aananda turns away.
"I should really get started working on this skimmer. If I want to get it finished before dinner that is."
She starts to work just a little more frantically than usual, mentally kicking herself for ending up in such an awkward position in the first place.
Completely unable to control her blushing, Aananda turns away.
"I should really get started working on this skimmer. If I want to get it finished before dinner that is."
She starts to work just a little more frantically than usual, mentally kicking herself for ending up in such an awkward position in the first place.
He straightens up after she turns around.
"Right! Right - I need to stop jaw-jacking and let you work. Can't just babble the day away...." as he realizes he is babbling, then promptly shuts his mouth.
"Right. I'll be on my bike," he says apologetically as he goes over and sits on his hoverbike, fumbling through his haversack for his datapad so he can scan some data in for it.
**Double order of sole tonight, hold the shoelaces** he thinks to himself as he tries desperately not to envision himself in the role of that chair from last night...
Strecthing, Ryo places his book back into his pack and gets up. Noticing he still has the vampire book, he decides to take it back. Slipping his pack on under his cloak(where it promptly seems to vanish), he leaves a note saying were he went and makes his way back to the library. The chill northern wind doesn't bother him, but memories do, old memories. After returning the book, he just sits outside on a bench for a while, eyes slightly clouded. Finally, he stands and returns to his room, ordering a bowl of thick soup and a cup of hot tea.
Kannic slips out of the inn unnoticed. He winds his way thru the town, checking various magic shops. He leaves empty-handed from each, until late in the afternoon he finds what he seeks; an ancient bottle embossed with runes.
Kannic slips out of the inn unnoticed. He winds his way thru the town, checking various magic shops. He leaves empty-handed from each, until late in the afternoon he finds what he seeks; an ancient bottle embossed with runes.
Kannic slips out of the inn unnoticed. He winds his way thru the town, checking various magic shops. He leaves empty-handed from each, until late in the afternoon he finds what he seeks; an ancient bottle embossed with runes.
Kannic slips out of the inn unnoticed. He winds his way thru the town, checking various magic shops. He leaves empty-handed from each, until late in the afternoon he finds what he seeks; an ancient bottle embossed with runes.
;)
Kannic knocks on Ryo's door
Kannic knocks on Ryo's door
Kannic hears footsteps moving toward the door. It open without a sound.
"Hm? What is it Kannic?"
"We need to speak in private."
Assuming he's allowed in Kanninc shuts the door behind him and pulls out a black pearl, placing it on the floor. "For privacy", he explains.
"I've received some information regarding our quarry,...your brother. unfortunately those inquiries led to a connection between a missing boy named Keaton and a 3rd Rank Seer. Name of Ryo."
He lets that sink in using his Sense Motive to read Ryo's face.
"It's bad enough that surface people get rattled around Seers, but throw in an out-of-control vampire that's related to one and it gets really messy."
"All the more reason that we find your brother and make sure he doesn't slip away when we do." He pulls out the flask from his vest. It's made of iron, and covered in draconic runes in silver. "This..this might help."
"This flask is used to trap gaseous opponents, lest they slip away. They can be held indefinitely. Or later released. In sunlight if you wish."
"I don't know what your intentions are when we find Keaton, but this may give you another option. Or at least buy you time to develop one." he hands the flask to Ryo, and tells him the command words.
Ryo's face remains black.
"My brother is dead, Kannic. As the creature will soon be. Thank you for the bottle."
Ryo's face remains black.
"My brother is dead, Kannic. As the creature will soon be. Thank you for the bottle."
"Fair enough. I'm sorry, lad."
"The bottle might stop him from going gaseous and escaping. But it can only hold one being at a time. I couldn't find any true sunlight spell items for us, but I'll keep my ears open."
He picks up the pearl, then heads out.
After spending about fifteen minutes on the repairs, Aananda speaks softly. "I'm sorry I was such a twit. I...really don't know anything about flirting. I didn't know whispering would be taken like that. Raised in a monastery, remember?" she added with a self-conscious smile. "Anyways, I didn't mean to put you in an awkward spot."
With that she gets back to work. And a couple of hours later she has finished the repairs on the skimmer.
"There! All done. It's not the prettiest vehicle, but it will run nicely."
"Fair enough. I'm sorry, lad."
"The bottle might stop him from going gaseous and escaping. But it can only hold one being at a time. I couldn't find any true sunlight spell items for us, but I'll keep my ears open."
He picks up the pearl, then heads out.
After Kannic leaves, Ryo talks his most powerful scrying implements and places them around him in a circle. Slowly he takes out his cards. On their own, they float from his hand and slowly move around him. His eyes become so deeply clouded the look like carve marble.
"Show me where the creature is..."
After spending about fifteen minutes on the repairs, Aananda speaks softly. "I'm sorry I was such a twit. I...really don't know anything about flirting. I didn't know whispering would be taken like that. Raised in a monastery, remember?" she added with a self-conscious smile. "Anyways, I didn't mean to put you in an awkward spot."
"You weren't being a twit, Aananda - I'm the twit who brought up the subject. I told you I have a knack for blurting out the wrong things at the wrong time - guess I just proved that, didn't I?"
He puts the datapad up.
"And whispering isn't usually taken 'like that' - so don't worry about that overly much. There's nothing wrong with a little discretion now and then," he says with a small smile.
"Aaaand the only awkward spot I'm in is from me embarrassing you. That smacks of taking advantage of you being raised in a monastery, which wasn't a very nice thing to do. I'm sorry about that," he says as his cheeks get a little red again. He then goes over to the table and packs back up the Caster parts they looked at earlier, trying to space out the next stupid thing he says until tomorrow at least. ;)
With that she gets back to work. And a couple of hours later she has finished the repairs on the skimmer.
"There! All done. It's not the prettiest vehicle, but it will run nicely."
"It looks fine - I'm just amazed how fast you can work on this stuff. I bet you could actually build things from scratch if you put your mind to it. But that's probably a project for later," he quickly adds before she gets any other ideas.
"If the boss is okay with it, why don't we call it a day and get some dinner? It's about that time anyway."
"Hey, Mr. Thorg! Am I done for the day? I'm getting hungry. I think it's time to go get dinner. But if there's anything else I need to do first..."
The dwarf chuckled. "You is all finish for today. Here." He gives Aananda a handful of coins including nine of the ten gold that Tam paid. "Your wages for the day. Now go. You is too skinny. Should eat more."
"Thanks, Mr. Thorg," she chirped as she put the money away in one of the many pouches on her belt. "Oh! I almost forgot! Is it okay if we park these in the shed too? At least for tonight..."
Thorg nodded.
"Come on!" she said cheerfully to Tam. "I'll show you where to park your bike, and then you can help me push the skimmer out to the shed."
Once those two tasks were accomplished, she happily headed over to the tavern with Tam.
"I hope they have some more of those pies," she chattered. "I really liked those last night. Well, I liked all of it really, but those especially."
"Hey, Mr. Thorg! Am I done for the day? I'm getting hungry. I think it's time to go get dinner. But if there's anything else I need to do first..."
The dwarf chuckled. "You is all finish for today. Here." He gives Aananda a handful of coins including nine of the ten gold that Tam paid. "Your wages for the day. Now go. You is too skinny. Should eat more."
"Thanks, Mr. Thorg," she chirped as she put the money away in one of the many pouches on her belt. "Oh! I almost forgot! Is it okay if we park these in the shed too? At least for tonight..."
Thorg nodded.
"Come on!" she said cheerfully to Tam. "I'll show you where to park your bike, and then you can help me push the skimmer out to the shed."
Once those two tasks were accomplished, she happily headed over to the tavern with Tam.
"I hope they have some more of those pies," she chattered. "I really liked those last night. Well, I liked all of it really, but those especially."
"I'm pretty sure those are menu staples - you should be able to get some more. I might grab some of that chowder I saw at another table - it looked solid enough to feed a soldier!" he says with a hungry grin as they make a beeline for the dining hall and a good table.
Aananda promptly orders dinner, especially pie, and having seen her eat the waitress brings enough to feed three people. And Tamrin's order as well. ;)
Aananda promptly orders dinner, especially pie, and having seen her eat the waitress brings enough to feed three people. And Tamrin's order as well. ;)
Tam tries to finish his soup before Aananda devours her pies and starts eyeing his dinner. He ends up losing some bread, but not all of his meal. This time ;P
"So are you this voracious with everything that interests you, or just food and fixing things?" he asks with a laugh as she pauses between plates.
Aananda promptly orders dinner, especially pie, and having seen her eat the waitress brings enough to feed three people. And Tamrin's order as well. ;)
Tam tries to finish his soup before Aananda devours her pies and starts eyeing his dinner. He ends up losing some bread, but not all of his meal. This time ;P
"So are you this voracious with everything that interests you, or just food and fixing things?" he asks with a laugh as she pauses between plates.
She blushed.
"Ummmm, I'm pretty much like this with everything that interests me. But especially about fixing things. And food. But that's just cause I'm always hungry. Maybe it's cause I use up so much energy on everything else." She shrugged. "Master Phon, he's in charge of the Temple kitchens, anyways, he always used to wonder who my parents were that I ended up with such an insatiable appetite. But I think he was joking. Probably."
Kannic follows the scent of food down to the room.
"Ahh, looks like they brought you the appetizer course. What'd you order for the main courses?"
She blushed.
"Ummmm, I'm pretty much like this with everything that interests me. But especially about fixing things. And food. But that's just cause I'm always hungry. Maybe it's cause I use up so much energy on everything else." She shrugged. "Master Phon, he's in charge of the Temple kitchens, anyways, he always used to wonder who my parents were that I ended up with such an insatiable appetite. But I think he was joking. Probably."
**Good job, ace. Way to make her all self-conscious in the middle of a nice meal** he thinks to himself as he gets a slightly pained look on his face when she blushes again.
"Okay....maybe I need to boycott talking until I can say something that doesn't embarass you in public. I seem to have a real knack for making you feel uncomfortable today," he says with a dejected sigh as he puts his hand in his chin. After a moment, though, his curiosity gets the better of him again.
"You go full-tilt all the time when your awake, at least from what I've seen of you. The appetite is pretty well-warranted for your energy level," he says quietly. "Maybe being able to see auras burns energy too, and you have to eat to replenish it."
Kannic follows the scent of food down to the room.
"Ahh, looks like they brought you the appetizer course. What'd you order for the main courses?"
"More pie." ^.^
"More pie." ^.^Kannic follows the scent of food down to the room.
"Ahh, looks like they brought you the appetizer course. What'd you order for the main courses?"
**Good job, ace. Way to make her all self-conscious in the middle of a nice meal** he thinks to himself as he gets a slightly pained look on his face when she blushes again.
"Okay....maybe I need to boycott talking until I can say something that doesn't embarass you in public. I seem to have a real knack for making you feel uncomfortable today," he says with a dejected sigh as he puts his hand in his chin. After a moment, though, his curiosity gets the better of him again.
"Huh? Wha-? But I like talking to you," she says, confused.
"You go full-tilt all the time when your awake, at least from what I've seen of you. The appetite is pretty well-warranted for your energy level," he says quietly. "Maybe being able to see auras burns energy too, and you have to eat to replenish it."
"Maybe. That seems like as good of an explanation as any," she said cheerfully as she attacked a large piece of ham on her plate.
"Huh? Wha-? But I like talking to you," she says, confused.
"You're being too nice, but I'll take it," he says with a small smile. "I like talking with you too."
"Maybe. That seems like as good of an explanation as any," she said cheerfully as she attacked a large piece of ham on her plate.
"That poor ham never stood a chance." :D
Kannic follows the scent of food down to the room.
"Ahh, looks like they brought you the appetizer course. What'd you order for the main courses?"
Tam starts slightly at Kannic speaks.
"Oh - hey Kannic. Any more news?" as he kicks a chair out for him. "Is Ryo joining us?"
Kannic plops down in the proferred chair.
"I'm not sure. This is bad business. Best left 'til after dinner."
Kannic orders dinner, but less than he usually eats. He eats slowly, but drinks more.
Kannic plops down in the proferred chair.
"I'm not sure. This is bad business. Best left 'til after dinner."
Kannic order dinner, but less than he usually eats. He eats slowly, but drinks more.
"Fair enough. After dinner then," he says, sharing a puzzled look with Aananda as they dig back into their meal
After another three courses, Aananda finishes off her last plate of food and sits back with a contented sigh.
"It's not often I get to eat as much as I like," she says, happily.
After another three courses, Aananda finishes off her last plate of food and sits back with a contented sigh.
"It's not often I get to eat as much as I like," she says, happily.
"Well, one should partake of good food and good company whenever one can - Rule 27, Tourist's Handbook." he says with a grin as he pushes his plate away. "We've done well on both counts tonight."
Kannic orders a bottle of Troll Fire Water. After it arrives he places a black pearl on the table. People seem to avoid the area for some reason, even the waitress.
"Sorry to ruin the good company part, lad."
"It's a Pearl of Antipathy. It'll block our conversation. It will even cause people to take a different path." He says, in response to their curious reaction
"It seems that young Ryo is a Seer." he pauses to take measure of both of their faces "Seers make people very nervous. Their power is little understood. A bit 'unpredictable'."
"It seems that Keaton is Ryo's brother. It's a dangerous combination; youthful anger, an abundance of power, and a vampire's thirst. Ryo must have been tryin' to find his brother and put a stop to him. Keaton is pushing back."
"Brother against brother is bad business. Throw a lot of power in the mix and it could be bad business for a lot of people."
"If people connect the 2 boys, they may try to kill Ryo in the hopes Keaton moves on."
He pours 3 drinks
"Ryo told me about his being a seer, and the stigma attached to his particular version of it. He didn't mention anything about this guy being his brother. Oh, man..."
Tam says as he takes one of the drinks.
She went pale. "His brother?"
She looked carefully down at her hands.
"It's....hard to strike out against your own brother even if he has become a monster."