[Infirmary] Long Day (Iggy)

by **Minerva Agatha Zipporah** on July 28th, 2012, 6:09 am

Why not?

She frowned, wishing the guy would stop looking at her so pathetically. It wasn't very fair... he was a grown man, and here he was pulling the same evil, twisted little tricks Mikey pulled on her to keep getting his way. She almost would have snapped and gotten angry with him... except he was being so nice to her. No one was EVER this nice to her! Praising her, calling her 'brilliant' and 'perfect.' Usually people called her 'crazy' or 'strange.' Usually people never wanted to spend time around her like this.

Tock didn't have many friends. She had Monty, and Nai. Maybe Kaeson, though their relationship seemed to be more strictly professional. But that was about it. She had a few acquaintances at the University. A few other people she'd met once or twice, like Iris or Wart, but hadn't really gotten to know yet (though it would turn out that would change, later in the season). But for the large part, Tock was very lonely.

No one really got her. No one understood. Monty accepted her, at least. Nai was nice to her, but often seemed off balance around her babies, and didn't seem to full embrace them. Others were sometimes downright scared of them (which was ridiculous... why would anyone be afraid of a magic walking axe?)

It felt nice to be called brilliant. To meet someone who finally realized and acknowledged just how great she was!

Why not?

Finally, she gave a reluctant nod. "Aye," she said, still hesitant, but having a hard time to resist the persuasion (little did she know the magical influences at work, pushing her in the man's favor). "But'cher done gonna learn 'er my way!" she added in a demanding tone, wagging a finger at him, with Handy mirroring the motion. "I ain't takes no slackers, dodgers, o' layabouts, aye? If'n ya done wanna learns what anythin' from me, yer done gonna 'as ta does 'er right, does what I says, an' ain't been no arguin'! Gots 'at, mate?"

She may have been persuaded by his words and his magic, but Tock was still a stubborn bitch. It was her way, or nothing at all.

by **Ignotus Everto** on July 29th, 2012, 2:43 am

Ignotus noted the stark change in mood his begging caused. Being aware of any changes in a mark's mood was vital for his art. Fail to notice a twitch of an eyebrow, or a curl of the lips, and one could expend precious energy trying to appeal to a nonexistent need, or stumble all over a hidden peeve. He'd tried to look small and helpless, and it had ticked her off. Playing on vulnerability was a big no for her, then.

Unless she was deciding against it and he'd managed to jar her thoughts... "She doesn't suspect anything... Does she? Of course she doesn't, she can't, she'd be coming at me with a knife, or shouting, or something... Right?" He felt like his heart had lodged itself in his throat. Had he overlooked something? Ignotus couldn't see Tock mulling over his request, and he immediately assumed the worst. She'd figured him out. She was debating whether or not to kill him now, or wait until they got somewhere with less witnesses. Should he defend himself now? No... The nurses would never believe him. They never believe the talking corpse. He swallowed uncomfortably and started to turn his cheek to the side in anticipation of the imminent- did she just say yes?

"By the Gods, she did..." Ignotus just stared at her in shock. He... He did it! He actually did it! He was going to learn Animation! He could hardly believe it! A stupid grin started to form on his face before he was jerked out of his stupefied state by Tock's rules. "I ain't takes no slackers, dodgers, o' layabouts, aye? If'n ya done wanna learns what anythin' from me, yer done gonna 'as ta does 'er right, does what I says, an' ain't been no arguin'! Gots 'at, mate?" Ignotus nodded eagerly before giving her an improvised salute. "Yes ma'am!" he chirped giddily. "You won't hear a peep of complaint from me!" He was starting to feel light headed... "Name's Ignotus, by the way." he added amiably. Might as well get it out of the way now, before she just decided he was "mate."

by **Minerva Agatha Zipporah** on July 29th, 2012, 3:44 am

Tock shook a finger at him again and said, "Ain't no 'ma'am,' aye? 'At's rule one! I's 'Tock,' an' jus' 'Tock.' Ya done goes 'round callin' me Miss o Ma'am o' any o' 'at garbage, an' she's off, aye?"

The name Ignotus tickled at her mind. Had she heard it before? Meh, she shrugged it off. Names weren't very important to her, and she'd likely forget his soon enough anyway.

She gestured for him to follow her, and started heading down to the city proper. It was late, but not too late. The general store would likely still be open. "First thing's first," she said. "Ya wanna build golems, ya needs tools. Can't Animate a baby what wit'out a body, aye? An' can't git a body what wit'out buildin' one. Ya gots tools? Cause ya can't use mine." She didn't share her tools with anyone. Allowing someone to touch her tools was as intimate as kissing them. Or worse. "'En once we done gets ya some tools, ya gotta git parts, cause ya can't use mine." She'd share some of her wood supply, sure. She had a whole tree's worth of that. But parts were expensive, and she couldn't just spare her iron or leather supplies.

"I's shows ya 'ow fer ta make the special parts," she continued as they walked. "Gears o' joints o' whatever. Ain't no place what sells much good stuff pre-made, aye? I mean, easy stuff, sure. Ya can find a 'inge o' somethin' down what at the store. But like 'ese," she pulled Grippy from her hip, touching the handle to extend the metal arm, the X's that formed it unfolding, the large gears on the handle and claw spinning in unison. "What 'ad ta smelt 'im all from scratch, aye?" She flicked her thumb across the handle to snap Grippy's claw a few times, then retracted his arm and re-holstered him.

"What kind o' baby ya wanna make?" she finally asked. She had a few designs of her own to work on, and she could build something of her own while she was teaching him. But if he wanted to make his own babies, they would need to be his. His designs, his hands that sculpted them, his soul that gave them life. That was how she viewed Animation.

And she was going to teach him her way.

by **Ignotus Everto** on August 4th, 2012, 2:27 am

"Ain't no 'ma'am,' aye? 'At's rule one! I's 'Tock,' an' jus' 'Tock.' Ya done goes 'round callin' me Miss o Ma'am o' any o' 'at garbage, an' she's off, aye?"

So that was her name. He smiled politely, bowing his head a little to her as he scurried after the redheaded Animator. "Of course. Sorry, I didn't know what to call you yet. Tock... What an interesting name..." he mused as he followed her down the ambling streets. His brow creased slightly when he heard her talk about building things. Him? Build? He had the dexterity of... Well... A corpse with rigor mortise setting in. Ignotus slowly shook his head at Tock when she asked him if he had tools. He'd never built anything before. Ever! Now this lady was expecting him to make a baby right in front of her, with his coin! But he already promised not to complain, so what could he do but just follow her? He could already feel his wallet emptying. "I's shows ya 'ow fer ta make the special parts, gears o' joints o' whatever. Ain't no place what sells much good stuff pre-made, aye? I mean, easy stuff, sure. Ya can find a 'inge o' somethin' down what at the store. But like 'ese, what 'ad ta smelt 'im all from scratch, aye?"

Ignotus could do nothing but stare in thinly disguised horror at what he was expected to do. It wasn't enough to build something, he was expected to invent new parts for them too. The closest he'd ever been a forge was in front of the sign of a blacksmith's shop! The terrified wizard managed to choke out a few words. He couldn't say nothing to a touch activated gripper. "Heh... That's... Really impressive..."

Good Gods, what had he done? "Right, calm down Ignotus... Breathe. Or don't breathe. Just... Relax. It's just a golem... Something simple... Like a head on legs." He nodded thoughtfully to himself, dimly aware of Tock's question. What did he want to build... Something useful. Something small, and cheap. Glass seemed to be what their eyes were made of, judging by Handy, so perhaps if he just got a glass ball and screwed it into a base... Possibly one with a flat bottom, so that he could add glyphs to it. Give it four legs for easy movement... Wood with metal hinges. Perhaps some nails, for gripping. Yes, that would do nicely... It couldn't be too difficult, either... He smiled at Tock and said. "I think I'll make a little scout... Like your spider, but four legs and a single large eye."

by **Minerva Agatha Zipporah** on August 4th, 2012, 3:25 am

"Scout?" she asked, then shrugged and nodded. "Aye, awright. Sommat 'andy, 'at." Handy, perched on her shoulder, tapped her with his fingers, thinking she was addressing him. She smirked and said, "Oy, not you, sweetie!" She kissed him, then turned back to Iggy. "Now, ya does 'ow ya wants, but seein' 'ow as I's yer teacher, gotta make ya some suggestions..."

She raised a hand to tick off a point, "First, wheels done been way easier what 'en legs. I's show ya Bitey when we gits ta my place... if'n ya ain't done built nothin' 'fore, ya ain't what gonna think ya can does 'at. Wheels, though, 'ey been easier ta build, an'," she held up a second finger, "easier ta Animate, what fer yer first try. Teachin' 'em ta walk, 'at's 'ard, aye? But teachin' 'em ta roll, 'at ain't so bad."

She held up a third finger and added, "Glass done been 'spensive. One big eye might what cost ya a lot. But if'n ya does like three wee ones," she held her hand in a balled fist, pointing at three spots on different sides, laid out triangular to each other, "'en ya can 'as 'im see in all sides, aye? But 'at's cheaper an' easier what 'an one biggun. 'Ere, see..."

She pulled Handy off her shoulder, his fingers squirming in protest for a moment before he relaxed. She pointed out the glass pieces both on the back of his hand, and down on his wrist-mount. "Let's 'im fer see in more'n one direction," she said, giving an expert nod.

Before long they arrived at the general store. It was getting a bit late, and they got there just as the clerk was about to close up. "Oy, wait up!" Tock protested, waving her hands at him. "Ya gots customers!"

He gave her a tired look and said, "It's late... can't it wait until morning...?"

Tock crossed her arms and scowled at the man. "Oy, I's one o' yer best customers!" she protested. She had bought a lot of tools and supplies here, not to mention bringing him other customers, like Kaeson, and now Iggy. "Big purchases, mate! Gonna done been droppin' gold 'ere tonight..." The man's eyebrows rose. A customer stopping in to spend a few coppers on some minor purchase was one thing. But a big sale...

"C'mon, mate!" Tock pleaded, stepping forward and pulling the door open. "Ain't takes long! In, out, outta yer 'air, aye?" She barged into the shop before he had a chance to really think it over.

The man sighed, holding the door open for Iggy. "Make it quick, yes?" he said.

Tock started leading Iggy around, pointing out the things she thought he needed. "Gotta pick the right ones fer ya," she said. "Gotta feels right, aye? Don'tcha just go pickin' out the first one ya see!" she gave him a stern look and shook her finger at him. "Pick 'em out right, aye? 'Ese's done gonna makes yer babies. Anythin' ya makes, ya put yer 'eart an' soul inta it! 'Specially what wit' Animation! So find the right one... the one what speaks ta ya..." She gestured to the tools, letting him find just the right ones.

Shopping :

by **Ignotus Everto** on August 8th, 2012, 8:54 pm

Ignotus nodded thoughtfully as she ticked off improvements to his original design. It was hard for him to admit it, but... "You're right... I didn't think about it that way," He grinned. "Bet the Uni would've just let me make it with legs and watched me struggle, but not you..." The wizard said in an admiring tone. He wanted to tickle her pride again, to make her feel clever and appreciated, and more importantly, to connect the feeling to Ignotus. For someone like himself, weaving the thread that led from the warm feeling of praise to the man at her side was as easy as uttering a single spoken word. "You're a genius, y'know that?"

Seeing the merchant, Ignotus almost breathed a sigh of relief. He was getting back into familiar territory now. Tock didn't see the meaningful look he gave the man, but he was sure his work softening him up for her was the reason she succeeded. In reality, it was much more likely that the Sunberthan's pushiness did the trick on its own, but that's not how egotists think. He nodded politely to the man, smiling warmly at him. "Of course... We'll only be a moment." The small exchange was long enough to plant an impression of trustworthiness in the man's mind. It was important to keep up appearances, after all... He simply let Tock lead him and took what she recommended after a few seconds of faked thoughtfulness at each item to placate her.

Then he turned on the merchant. Paying for things was well and good, but he was a bit short on money... For now. His little business venture with Levi would net him quite a bit of gold, but until then, it was prudent to keep spending to a minimum. His success with Tock had puffed up his ego more than a little bit, and he was confident he could sway the salesman. He just hoped Animation didn't use a lot of Djed. "This is quite a stock... I can see why Tock shops here so often," Both Tock and the merchant would feel a small twinge of pride. Ignotus wasn't used to working two people at once, and he silently thanked his inability to sweat. "Unfortunately, my coin purse is rather light at the moment. Classes and expenses... I've gone and invested in a rather profitable enterprise, see, and I'm a little strapped for gold at the moment, though that will change drastically in a week or two; a season at most." A simple bit of magic made sure he perceived it as a week, and not a season.

"In that time, I'll have enough to pay for everything I have here, plus a little extra for your goodwill..." a slight flaring of the merchant's lust for gold here, just to let things run smoother... Tock, in the mean time, would feel a faint pressure to support him. "We can work something out, can't we? You're the kind of man who sees past the present, to the sizable long term gain..." The implication being that it was the reasonable thing to let him walk out without paying. "I want something that works out for both of us, and we really need these supplies now," he said apologetically. "You can trust us, can't you? Of course you can... It's just good business..." Ignotus would have to hope the two of them were enough to wear the merchant down. A bit of bending ensured he looked as trustworthy as he could make himself look, and a pleading stare amplified the merchant's exhaustion. All that was left was to wait and hope.

by **Minerva Agatha Zipporah** on August 8th, 2012, 10:56 pm

Tock blushed a bit when he called her a genius, and shrugged her shoulder. "S'bout time what somebody realized 'at," she said. She knew she was a genius... so why was it SO hard for everyone else to acknowledge it!?

She leaned against the counter, wearing a bit of a scowl when Iggy started haggling with the merchant. She was all about a little haggling to bring the price down, but he wanted to walk out of here, taking everything for free? It wasn't any of her business, but her Sunberthan upbringing made her hesitant to trust anyone at their word. Though for some reason, she felt herself urged to speak up for him. "'E's good people, mate," she told the merchant. Somehow she had the feeling that Iggy was trustworthy... even though she never trusted anyone. But then she thought back to her (mistaken) memory of him helping Mikey up at the infirmary. "'E were 'elpin' out wit' the sick lil tykes up at the infirmary. I's sure the doctors 'n'all'd stick up fer 'im..."

Between the affirmation that someone reputable at the infirmary could back him up, the fact that Tock herself was becoming fairly well-known around the city, and the unseen little hypnotic nudges, the merchant seemed right on the edge of acceptance. "Well..." he said, scratching the back of his head.

Tock smirked and winked at Iggy, then said, "An' if'n 'e dun pay, I gits one o' my magic babies fer ta 'unt 'im down an' drags 'im back 'ere fer ta work it off..." She was serious, too. As much as she was coming to like Iggy and appreciate his flattery, she wasn't about to besmirch her good favor with the merchant by letting him run out on a debt after she'd vouched for him. After all, she had to be able to come back here for her own supplies.

The merchant, having been freaked out by Tock's babies on MORE than one occasion when she brought them in here, quickly nodded. "I think we'd both rather it not come to that, wouldn't we sir?" he said to Iggy. "Though I'll need to get it in writing..."

by **Ignotus Everto** on August 9th, 2012, 2:58 am

Ignotus smiled gratefully at Tock when she winked at him, his eyes shining. "Oh, of course, of course!" Ignotus said eagerly, beaming at the merchant. His mood was much different internally, however. "Why did I have to open my big petching mouth?" Now he had to go and make sure he was seen at the infirmary, which he really had no place being near, would get hunted down by little animated spiders if their big plan didn't work, all because he told Tock his name.

Of course, he would pay. He'd have the money. He'd have it soon. Of course he would. And if he didn't, who'd remember after a season? So it was with some apprehension and a few signed forms later, barring any shenanigans, that he found himself outside with his supplies, his teacher, and a deadline. Ignotus took a deep breath and looked to Tock, his brow furrowed slightly.
"Thanks for that... Really. I'm... Sort of broke right now, see. Went and sank most of my savings into that enterprise, as a matter of fact," he said sheepishly. "He probably wouldn't have agreed to it if it weren't for you." Another thread connecting himself to the warm fuzzies. Barely noticeable, but very valuable to him in the long run. He chewed on his lower lip nervously, wanting to move on from the topic of money and parts, and fast. In his haste, he latched on to something she knew she'd be interested in, and would be important to him.

"By the way... I didn't want to mention it in front of the merchant, but I suppose now's as good a time as any... I know the kid's not recovering as quickly as he should, and I know you care about him. If he gets worse, and I mean much worse... Come find me in the Uni." It was insurance. Should the child recover, he would simply look like a good Samaritan, and lose nothing but a few words. The sentiment alone would benefit him. Should the child near death, however... Well, he'd be a hero then. So what if he'd be making a little boy an undead against his will? He could change the latter part, and he was still alive, wasn't he? Ignotus considered himself very much alive. He had no idea that Mikey would indeed get worse; Much, much worse. He just saw it as some smart long-term investing. Like what the merchant was doing.

by **Minerva Agatha Zipporah** on August 9th, 2012, 3:31 am

Tock shrugged off the thanks, blushing slightly and scratching the back of her head. "Weren't nothin'," she said. "Ya needs tools, don'tcha? So's as we gots ya tools..." She didn't see it as any big thing. She was the sort of person who saw something that needed doing, and did it. Often times not even worrying about whether she got rewarded for it. It wasn't that she wouldn't have accepted any sort of repayment; but she didn't even think to ask for one. She just believed in doing the work that needed to be done, and that was that.

As she started leading him to her home, her mood soured when he brought up Mikey again. the last thing she needed was to be thinking about the damn kid now...

She shrugged and told him, "Ain't what nothin' ya can does. If'n 'ere is, ya already done 'er, right? I mean, if'n ya were one o' 'em magic 'ealer types, ya'd does 'er already, wouldn't ya...?" She stared him down, certain she'd gut him right here if he said no, and told her he'd been withholding some sort of mystical treatment that could have saved the boy's life.

When they reached her home, she opened the door and lit a lamp. There was motion all around the place as soon as she walked in. Naily, her little Animated hammer, rolled up on his tiny wheels and started tugging on her pant leg with his claw. "Shoo, you," she told him, though her tone was patient and loving. The hammer rolled over to the stranger instead, leaning back and peering up at him with glass eyes. His wheels squeaked like a puppy's whimper as he studied the stranger, then he rolled forward and started nuzzling his hammerhead against Iggy's leg.

Tock made her rounds checking on her babies, moving through the messy little cottage, leaving tracks in the sawdust on the floor. She gave Choppy a hug and kissed his blade, whispering to him, "Didja miss Mommy? Aye, ya did, yes ya did!" She nuzzled him with her nose, then gave similar treatment to Cutty and Diggy, before looking around for her firstborn. "Bitey?" she called out, wondering where the spider was. "Bitey come ta Mommy..." She glanced back and saw the wooden spider lurking up on Iggy, having been drawn forth by the stranger's footsteps on the wooden floor, as if by the vibration of a fly struggling in a web. "'Ere ya is!" she said proudly, watching as Bitey prepared to strike, raising his bladed fangs, ready to sink them into the 'intruder's' flesh.

She made kissy noises at him and leaned over, patting her knees. "Come ta Mommy, baby!" she called out, speaking in the tone one might use when addressing a toddler. Programmed to be drawn to her voice, he stopped just short of stabbing Iggy in the ankle with his fangs, and scurried over to her.

by **Ignotus Everto** on August 9th, 2012, 4:42 am

"It's... Not really magic..." he said worriedly. "Call it a costly gamble... I mean, it's a way to fix him, but it's just as likely to kill him as do what it was meant to do, and it's got some nasty side effects, so I'd really not use it unless I had no other choice. You understand, don't you? Of course you do. But really, now's not the time to worry about him, don't you agree? It can't be healthy to be so stressed..." Petch him, he'd done it again. He did his best to soothe her with his words and his Djed, but his chances of success were slim.

Ignotus blinked a couple times in surprise at the sheer number of little moving contraptions when Tock opened the door, smiling softly at the little hammer and reaching down to rub its claw. "Hello there, little guy." he crooned. It really was kind of cute. Sadly, he was too absorbed with the little hammer to notice Bitey getting ready to tear him a new orifice until he went skittering over to Tock. "That's your spider?" The Nuit asked cheerily, completely clueless that she'd just saved him from a trip to the undertaker.