Like Clockwork [carolin]

[jack]

His bottom lip had been teased between his teeth for so long that it was swollen slightly, the shadow of blood upon it from where startling moments had sunk the boy's teeth into the much more tender flesh, ripping it apart. The teenager had been sitting here for nearly five hours, his eyes open wide with concentration and his lip between his teeth. Careful fingers had delicately been putting piece to piece together, taking them apart and changing the order or object in the place as though he were making a particularly intricate puzzle. But the object in front of him was no puzzle, at least...not to normal people. As for what it was, well, not even Sprocket really knew.

"Okay. I think...I think that's it." With a grin, the boy sat up, wincing in pain when his back--having been hunched over for all that time--was forcibly straightened. After a short moment of mumbling in pain--his fingers roaming over the sore spot quickly--his attention was once again on his treasure, a strange little box of sorts that he'd put together with dozens of tiny gears. There were figures in there too, pieces for work and pieces for display that should--if he did it right--appear when a certain spot was pressed. On his shoulders, where he had been watching as studiously as Sprocket had been working, Cogs peered a little closer, his inquisitive eyes whirling a wary yellowed blue.

The Bronze very carefully touched His's mind with his warning thoughts, a slideshow of the last attempts at this same item flashing between them. Sprocket pouted, turning to give a half-hearted glare at the creature, but Cogs didn't back down, rustling his wings purposefully. "Well alright! So I was wrong last time! This time, I'm right. Its done. It'll work!"

Confident in his prowess the gray-haired boy pulled his goggles down over his eyes from where they'd been nestled in his hair, and Cogs lifted up and into the air, gliding to a remote area to watch. Giving a scoff at his flit's distrust, the Candidate reached out, and pressed the small indented bit of metal on the side of the box. Immediately he could hear the spring and lever inside begin to click, gears starting to spin a moment later. With a pleasant ringing--from the metal bits clicking against each other--the box began to shift, a few of the pieces that made up its top slowly pushed up to show the very tops of the figures within. Beaming with victory. Sprocket shoved up his tinted goggles to get a better look, just in time for a screw to pop loose and pieces to fly everywhere.

With a squeal of pain the boy flew back into a startled roll, clutching at the left side of his face. Blood strained through his fingers from a light wound, a small gash on his cheek and forehead from a passing gear and a passing piece of steel. Huffing angrily he sat up, pouting as he stared at the smoking parts. Still bleeding, but already sure he had been more startled than injured and was a-okay now, he crossed his legs beneath him and glared at the pieces, one hand over his face as he grumbled. "Say anything and I'll throw this at you, y'over grown salamander."

[carolin]

The sun was bright and warm against his skin as Javert sat back against a wall looking up at the sky. He had found a little nook to sit and tune in. He loved the way that the sun warmed his skin and made him feel content, if not a little sleepy. He wasn't to far from the candidate Barracks, which meant he could hide in his little nook for a longer time then he could if he had found a place at the other side of the bowl. It wasn't that he was hiding, he just didn't want to be in the way of anyone. He took care to not be under foot, since the dragons and riders, and other weyr folk had work that they needed to get done. He had things he needed to do as well, but he took care of them rather quickly since it didn't take him that long at all.

A yawn left his lips as he sat against the wall. Maybe he was a little more tired then he thought he was. Maybe a nap would be a good idea. He wouldn't be asleep that long. He could never sleep that long, or maybe just going inside to cool down a little would help him to not be as tired as he was feeling. He looked up in time to watch a dragon make lazy circles down towards the bowl of the weyr. His fingers strummed over the strings of his harp. It gave him a new idea for a song. IT was a lazy one but the tempo sped up as the dragon's circles got closer to the ground until he had landed. He practiced the song a few times and was rather content with the way it sounded. It was not a master piece, but it was a simple tuning that he would be sure to remember.

Slowly the sun warmed Javert stood up and stretched out his muscles. Having been sitting in that spot for a few hours he figured getting up would be a good idea. After all he did not want to tense up to much. He carefully put his harp down, resting it against the wall. He didn't want anything to happen to them. He stretched out his arms first, before moving to stretch his legs. Once he felt he was all stretched out he picked up his harp and cradled it in his arms as he made his way towards the barracks. He was still rather drowsy. He walked in just in time to see a huffy pouting candidate sitting cross legged with a gash on his cheek. He wondered what had happened to him.

The timid Javert disappeared for a moment as he made his way over to the other. He had a rather worried look on his face. "Are you alright?" He wanted to make sure the other wasn't in any danger, and maybe then talk him into letting him at least clean the wounds up. He knew they were superficial wounds, and wouldn't be a danger to the other, but it didn't hurt to take care of them so they didn't leave scars.

[jack]

Just as the blood was beginning to cover about 50% of his entire face, and was dribbling down his neck, the thought crossed Sprocket's mind that he might want to go to the infirmary. Cogs seconded the idea, sailing in from his safety spot to perch on the boy's clean shoulder, eying the river of red suspiciously. But while the thought was still brewing--the man's attention still mostly on the failed invention that would be repeated momentarily--the infirmary seemed to have come to him.

"Huh?" Blinking at the intrusion he looked up, looking quite the sight with blood pouring down one side of his face, "O-Oh. I'm fine." He replied, a lop-sided grin in place as he found himself unconsciously looking the boy up and down, landing his eyes on the man's face and being good enough to keep them there. "Just bleeding. Its not all that new. I'm always making things explode, unfortunately."

Giving a dry laugh he shifted slightly, attempting to stand up, but deciding a second later it probably wasn't the best idea, "Uhm..I don't suppose you could give me a hand? I'm starting to get a bit dizzy."

[carolin]

Javert looked at the river of red that ran down the others face and neck. He frowned. The other was not fine in the least, and he knew that. Loosing so much blood would be bad for someone. He put his harp down carefully on the nearest bed and walked over to the other and carefully looked at his wounds. "Stay here. I will be back." "He looked up at the flitter on his shoulder. "Please make sure he doesn't move?"

He turned and left the barraks. It didn't take him long to find all of the different things he would need to clean the wound. He came back to the barraks rather quickly and put the small basket of supplies on the bed. He carefully started to clean up the blood. "No matter what, please do not move." His voice was rather calm as he worked on cleaning his face. He was worried that something had hit a major blood vessel but luckily it hadn't. Luckily he wouldn't have to do any stitches. He carefully put a cloth to the wound and put pressure on it to try and get the would to stop bleeding so bad. "What where you doing that caused you to get such a wound?"

He tried to bring up a conversation so he didn't think about what Javert was doing. Sometimes talking made others forget that they were hurt or being treated. His mother had used that tactic on him many times when he was hurt. He hoped that it would work with this candidate. He made quick work of the wounds though and soon had them covered with a salve and bandaged the best that he could. He moved back and checked his work. "That should hold for now, but I would go to the infirmary later on just to be on the safe side."

He blushed and moved away taking the basket with him and walked over to the bed he had placed his harp down on.

[jack]

Blinking his one working eye, Sprocket gave a half-smile and nodded, Cogs giving an affirmative dip of his own head as the boy scurried off. Already the Bronze was approving of this youth, who had effectively pinned his oblivious Mine to one spot. Sprocket, meanwhile, was chuckling to himself, eyes on the newcomer's backside until it disappeared and he gave a soft huff, looking back to his failed machine to entertain himself. But quicker than he could completely give in to the urge to set back to fiddling, Javert had re-arrived.

Smiling at the boy's arrival, Sprocket followed his motions with his eyes, blinking that one eye as the boy knelt. Carefully, he moved his hand away from the injured part of his face, keeping that eye closed as the Candidate set to cleaning. "Yessir." He responded to the order, clearly amused at the manner in which it was delivered. Calm, shy, but stern. He couldn't have disobeyed such an order if he'd wanted to! Which was funny. "Oh I was just up to my usual antics." He replied lazily, Cogs crawling on top of his head to get a better look at the healer's work, "I like to build things--to invent things." He chirped, smiling at the other, "Buuut...sometimes I mess up. And things explode."

The grey-haired smith laughed then, eyes crinkling in amusement, almost as though the idea of things exploding was the greatest thing in the world! Which to him, it might have been. When you fail, you learn. When you succeed, you've learned nothing at all.

Javert finished up and Sprocket shot him a blinding smile, checking the injury curiously with the pads of his fingers before getting to his feet and following after the suddenly-more-shy boy. "Thank you." He crooned, leaning over the teen for a moment before pressing a kiss to his cheek, winking as he straightened and returned to his machine, hunting down the shot-pieces. "You've done me quite a service!" Arms full of gears, he turned back to Javert, grinning as he thrust out a hand, metal falling to the ground only to be ignored, "My name's Sprocket, and this little dreamboat is Cogs! Mind if I ask your name?"

[carolin]

Javert didn't think anything of what he did. He just wanted to make sure that the other was safe and wouldn't become sick from infection. He would have done it for anyone. He didn't think anything of it. He looked up at the other. "Please be careful though. If something worse happens you could loose a finger..o..or a hand." That would be horrible and not be something he could take care of. Then the other would have to go to an actual trained healer.

Javert was a little interested in what he was talking about. What sort of things would he be inventing that would explode? He wanted to know, but he felt to weird to ask. He felt good that his handy work was solid. It hadn't been to bad to treat. "If..something like this h..happens again..just..come and find me. I am usually right outside of the b..barracks." He whispered, but he knew the other could hear him.

His cheeks turned a bright red when the other kissed his cheek. He had not expected that at all. He watched as some of the gears fell to the ground, but looked back at the other. A smile spread across his lips. Something about the other felt infectious. He reached out and shook his hand. "My name is Javert. IT is nice to meet you both." He moved his hand away from Sprocket to scratched the bronze's eye ridge. It didn't last long. He moved to kneel down and picked up the gears that had fallen, carefully. He stood up and gave the gears back to him. "Please be careful."

[jack]

With a soft smile, Sprocket set to organizing his load, moving certain pieces to certain places and pocketing a couple that looked as though he might have to replace them. "I'll do my best," He replied, shooting the other an amused look, "But I can't guarantee. Doing this kind of thing is my life--I became a Smith just so I could." He laughed, leaning in to inspect a particular gear, "I can't keep myself away--even if I have to lose a limb in the process, I'll keep at it." He lifted his eyes, catching Javert's, "Isn't there anything in your life you'd give your life to do?"

Chuckling, he went back to organizing his mess, Cogs watching him, but mostly watching Javert. Curious, the flits stare stayed on him as though it was glued, and he tilted his head with an almost dragon-level attempt at comprehension. "I'll be taking you up on that option, boyo." Sprocket chirped, glancing up at Cogs, "I can guarantee that much. But Cogs seems to like you okay--if I'm ever dying of bloodloss he'll wing over and drag you in." With a laugh that told he wasn't entirely serious, he winked, reaching up to pat Cogs's head. The lizard leaned into the touch, his tiny eyes whirling with amusement.

"Javert, huh? That's a nice name. I like it." Cogs gave a rare chirp of agreement, arching into the attention with almost uncharacteristic glee. Sprocket arched a brow at the Bronze's actions, but said nothing. Cogs was probably relieved to find His calm around someone lately--the stress of so many girls around had sent the poor gray-hair into a bit of a fluster.

"I'll do my best." He replied, taking the gears easily before plopping down on the floor, spreading them all out to pick out the ones he wanted and the ones he'd need to fix, "So, how long have you been here? I haven't very long--was Searched recently by the blond with the Yellow...P'nay, I believe. I'm a Journeyman Smith by trade, but he was convincing...so here I am. What about you?"

[carolin]

Javert was relieved when the other said he would do his best not to get hurt. He knew that some times some lines of work required a little bit of danger, but it didn't mean that he still wouldn't worry. He was just that sort of person. "As long as you try..that will make me happy. I..I know sometimes it's hard not to." He smiled slightly. When he talked about giving his life for something, it set his mind into motion. "I am neither a healer or a Harper..but if I could give my life to save some one elses...that would be worth it." He smiled.

Javert watched Cogs. He was so cute. At times he wished he had his own flitter. He wondered if Cogs liked music. He sat down on the edge of the bed near Sprockets. His fingers gently caressing the strings of the harp in his lap. Without thinking to much of it his fingers danced a crossed the strings, filling the room with a pleasant song, that was neither to fast or distracting. All of the notes seemed to mesh together and flow like the water in a stream.

"I am glad that Cogs likes me." He smiled but then got serious. "As long as I am here, I won't let you die of blood loss." He meant it to. He wondered if he would be lucky enough to walk in if he hurt himself again. He was relieved when he said he would do his best though. It was all he could really ask for.

"I have been here for a while. I am not sure how many days.." He looked down at his harp. "I was searched..when I was at the Harper hall with my mother. I don't remember who it brought me here. I was to busy..being nervous." He blushed. He had been so silly when he had first arrived, but he had calmed a little since he had gotten here.

[jack]

"Oh yah?" Sprocket glanced up at he boy curiously at his statement, his fingers already sliding two gears on their respective poles and connecting them together blindly, "That's...a double sided coin, isn't it?" Bemusedly, he glanced away, staring absently up at the ceiling as he fitted to other pieces together solemnly, "Call me selfish, but I don't think I'd so eagerly give up my life for another's--especially if it wasn't someone I knew." He gave a light, dry laugh, and looked back to his work, skillfully sliding the two gears into their place in the metal box. "Wouldn't you rather save the lives of many, rather than give it up for one?"

The teen bit his lip absently, but shrugged, deciding the matter was too far over his head to matter. He set to fitting several more pieces together instead, a tiny screwdriver appearing in his grip as he set to tightening a couple screws that had survived and not moved, reattaching the one that had come after him in search of blood. He paused at the sound of music, glancing up for a moment before--with a soft smile--he set back to work. Cogs seemed more interested in the tone, although his naturally serious nature didn't allow him to sway as many would. But a curious flit, he perked up at the sound, leaning in slightly as though trying to inspect the instrument. Unlike many of his kind, Cogs had never really been around music, his Mine usually straying away from where music would be. Music meant crowds. Crowds meant girls. Girls were not a good thing.

"That's good to know." Sprocket chirped after a moment, shooting the boy a lop-sided grin, "Its always good to know that someone is making sure I'm not dead. Cogs has gotten pretty good at it though, haven't you lovely?" The Bronze was silent, a flash of pleased emotions all that the Smith got as the creature butted his head up against Sprocket's jaw, a familiarly fond action.

Back to working, Sprocket didn't look up as Javert spoke again, his goggles already lowered over his face as he leaned in to deal with a spring that had already taken its anger out on him a few hundred times before. "I think everyone's a bit nervous at first." He mused aloud, wincing when the spring moved in a way that made him think it was getting ready to attack, "For different reasons, of course. I was, my first couple days. But you learn to adjust--and to avoid...certain things. Then its just another place to live, another step towards an interesting goal." He lifted his goggles, glancing back at Javert with a smile, "Don't you agree?"

[carolin]

"It's true, I would rather save the lives of many, but sometimes saving one life can be just as important. I..I don't want to die." He looked over at him as he fit the pieces together. It was almost like him playing his harp. He could do it without really thinking to hard about it. "B..But I am not a trained healer, so I don't think I would ever have to make a decision like that one. I just help people that get hurt on accident." He smiled.

Javer watched as he worked. It was interesting the way he had the gears fit with each other. He wondered what he was making. He had never really watched anyone make something like that before. He didn't even seem to notice what he was doing. His fingers moved on their own. It seemed to happen when he was not worrying about anything.

Javert smiled as he watched Cogs as he headbutted Sprockets jaw. It was such an adorable act and almost made him giggle, but he stopped himself. "That's good, to have someone watch over you. It looks like Cogs has done a good job so far."

Carefully he watched as the other worked on the spring. He worried that he was going to hurt himself again, but this time he would be here and if he did get hurt he could bandage him up right away. He listened carefully to what the other said to him. He looked from the box with gears up at Sprocket. His eyes locking with the others, causing his cheeks to brighten slightly before he looked away. He was not very good with looking people in the eye when he talked with them. "I do."

Javert stood up and placed his harp down on the bed. "You should really eat something. IT will help to heal. I will go get us something." He left quickly. He needed to relax. It was odd. He was actually rather happy to have someone to talk to. It was a nice feeling. Especially when it was another candidate. Maybe he could actually talk to him about some of the things that worried him.

As he went to the lower caverns he avoided as many people as possible, trying to make sure he was not in there way. He managed to scrounge up a large plate of meatrolls and fruit, and two mugs of <i>klah</i> and made his way back to the barracks. Sprocket seemed busy, so he worried that he might not have eaten at all today, which would be a bad thing, and cogs deserved something as well. He came back into the barracks with the plate and mugs and made his way over to the bed he had been sitting on. "I got us something to eat.I wasn't sure if you had eaten today or not.." He whispered as he put the plate down on the bed and put down the mugs.

[jack]

Sprocket grinned as Javert agreed, going on to talk about who he could help, but didn't reply, his goggles back down as he wriggled the spring into place. Cogs kept a close eye on that spring, staring at it as though his glare could keep it in control, and as it fit to its spot with a cling, he gave a soft humph that made it sound like he maybe though it did. "Yes, he really has." Sprocket agreed, reaching up to gently rub the creature's eyeridges before setting back to work, "We've been partners for a while now...but ever since he hatched he's kept me out of a lot. He thinks he's as big as a dragon--chases away anything that could plague me."

Laughing, he glanced for a moment from his work, smiling at the other's offer. "Food would be nice." He agreed, but as the other dashed out he gave a lop-sided smirk. It wouldn't have mattered what he'd said--Javert was off like a rocket. What a strange, sheepish fellow. Was that how he seemed to girls? Nah. He was much worse.

While Javert was gone, almost all of the pieces had been put into place. Three gears had been replaced, the cracked remains of the originals at his side as he set to tightening another screw, and began to fight with the last spring. Just as the boy returned, however, the spring fought back, shooting out of the box to bounce off of Sprocket's goggles and towards Javert. Quick as a whip, however, Cogs had betweened and blocked its route, catching it in his claws with a grumpy huff. He glided back to Sprocket and handed him the spring, even as the boy laughed and rubbed at his goggles. "Sneaky thing, isn't it? S'why I wear these lovely beauts."

Grinning as happy as could be, he finally turned to Javert, eyes lighting up at the sight of food. All the hours of not eating sprang back to him immediately, an his stomach growled on cue as he walked on his knees to Javert's side. "The savior has returned!" Laughing, he snatched a meat roll and a red fruit, handing the roll to Cogs before digging greedily into the fruit, plopping to sit cross-legged on the floor. "You guessed right." He chirped, licking juice off of his lips before pausing, trying to lick a bit off of his chin before surrendering to wipe it away, "I've been a bit caught up. Started this sucker...eh...last night, wasn't it, Cogs?" The flit grunted around his snack, an agreement, "Stopped long enough to snatch him some bits of herdbeast from the kitchens before they cooked it and a mug of klah this morning...but that's it."

[carolin]

Javert was a little startled when the flit came out of no where and saved him. He was glad he had brought extra for him. "It's best to eat. It helps the healing process." He sat back and watched the two of them eat. He wasn't very hungry and was content just to have his <i>klah</i>. He sipped his mug and took a piece of fruit himself. He preferred the fruit over the meatrolls mostly, but there were times when he only wanted the meatrolls, but after having run to the lower caverns and back the sweet fruit felt nicer on it's way down.

Laughing he watched as the other try and get the juice from his chin but did not succeed. He felt himself relaxing around these two, which was something very new to him since he always seemed to hide away from everyone. "You really do need to eat though. If you do not you might get sick. I will just have to keep my eye on you, and make sure that you eat." He smiled. After all he did want to make sure the other didn't get sick. It was a lot less lonely when he was able to spend time with someone else. Even if he just met the other.

After he finished with his mug he carefully placed it on the ground by his feet. He brushed his bangs from his eyes and sat back. Really he did not mind running to get food. If that was all he could do then he would. "Please eat as much as you want, I will get more if your still hungry." He looked over at Cog. "You too. Eat as much as you want." He smiled. He reached out and scratched his eye ridge. "Thank you for saving me, Cogs."

[jack]

"That does make sense." The Smith replied, already through the fruit and on to a meat roll, "'Course, I've always healed up pretty quickly. Comes from my father's side of the family, I'm sure." With a light smile, he slowed in his devouring, already thinking of his father "slaving" away in his lab...blowing things up and cackling as he runs about the house covered in soot and convinced he'd found the secret of the universe. He had an apprentice living with him now--if the letter delivered by the boy's flit had been any evidence--which was a relief. That man--as much as Sprocket--should never be left alone for too long.

With a chuckle, he moved on to another pie, making short work of what would usually take a person a couple more seconds than it did him. When it came to eating, he did it fast. Taking your time just meant there was that much less time you could use for work! Or play, in his case. "You might have to," He replied absently, chewing thoughtfully as he handed another roll to Cogs, "I'm notorious for this, unfortunately. I never forget Cogs though--he won't let me." Laughing, he reached up to fondly tap the creature on the nose, getting a soft nip at his finger in return.

Sprocket looked up at Javert at his offer, grinning slightly, "Thank you." He said quietly, tilting his head slightly, "I doubt we'll eat more than this though--neither of us are big eaters." Winking, he set into another roll, and Cogs gave a grunt, finishing up his last one before looking to Javert. The creature's eyes whirled a soft blue, and he seemed to nod in reply, rustling his wings slightly. "He's gotten quite good at catching things like that," The Smith rumbled, gently scratching the flit under his chin, "Was smacked with one when he was a baby--started catching them after that."

[carolin]

At the mention of fathers, Javert's mind sent him back to his own childhood. He wondered where his father was now and if he was alright. He didn't get to see much of him growing up since he was a harper. It did make him happy when he got to see him, even if it wasn't for long. He had taught him to play after all. He shook his head and drew himself out of those thoughts. It would be rude of him to ignore the other that he was currently talking with.

"Well that is good. But if you do get hungry again just let me know. I don't mind going to get food. It makes me feel useful.." That blush crept to his face again, he was slightly embarrassed at that admition. He did like to feel like he was useful in some way or another. This was one of those things that made him feel like he was doing more then sitting in a corner. "I don't mind. I will just have to hunt you down every afternoon and make sure you eat." The idea seemed to cheer him up. It gave him something that he could look forward to.

"I don't really eat that much myself." He smiled as he watched them. He looked over at the flit. "Well that would be reason enough to start catching them. I wouldn't want to be hit with flying gears either." He reached out to scratch the flits eyeridge.

[jack]

Grinning, Sprocket set into his klah, eagerly sipping away until a demanding huff at his shoulder lifted the mug to the flit, who reached his long neck into the drink and sucked up a bit of his own. Satisfied, Cogs gave a yawn and curled about Sprocket's neck, licking his maw absently as the teenager finished the drink. "Everyone like to feel useful once and a while." The boy responded, smiling as he took a last bite of a meatroll, setting his sights on his machine, "Its a great feeling, knowing that you've done someone in the world good. Can be addicting, even."

He glanced up, smiling softly, and began to fiddle again, looking down after a moment, "Hunt me down, huh? That sounds a bit like a challenge." Grinning, he lowered his goggles down, setting to work again, "I might have to make it difficult for ya--can't have ya getting to relaxed." He winked behind his goggles--with the dark tint up and off his face, it was easy to see--and then looked down, fitting in a few final pieces and double checking everything. Cogs eyed the box warily even as Javert gave his eyeridges a well-deserved scratch, refusing to move from his place as he flicked his tail. "Hahaha. That's for sure. If I had half a brain in my skull I'd have learned to do the same."

[carolin]

"Oh, don't act like a little trying to get out of taking his medicine." Javert smiled. He had seen so many children run away when it came to having to take medicine. He watched as the other tinkered. "What is it that you are working on?" He tilted his head slightly. He was interested in what it was. He did not move any closer, the distance between them was close enough. He knew that he could very well be to close to him.

"Sometimes some of us don't learn, but if there were not people that didn't learn what work would there be for us healers?" He joked, which was rather weird to hear from him. He blushed slightly and looked away. He reached over for his harp and strummed the strings again. He played a little faster song this time, but it was still calming. "Do you think you will impress?" He whispered. He had his own doubts.

[jack]

After a quick snort at the comment, Sprocket leaned back, scooting until he was pressed against the bed next to Javert. He grinned, tilting his head back to peer at the other, and reached out with a bare toe to poke a panel on the box. "Well. Let's see if we can't find out." He chirped, an oddly ominous thing as he paused, listening to the gears whirl, and added as an afterthought, "...you might want to be ready to cover your face."

Goggles down and arms lifted partially to guard, Sprocket didn't seem to notice as Cogs lifted himself off the boy's shoulders, gliding over to a distant part of the room where he would be safe. The sound of the gears whirling grew louder, the telltale sound of metal clinking against metal creating that same sweet, almost musical noise as it had made moments before attacking Sprocket before. Wise to its tricks, he immediately ducked, prepared for metal shards, but none came. Instead, a tiny panel on the box lifted smoothly up, and a delicate sculpture of a trio of firelizards appeared beneath it, spinning slowly as a long wire unwound and rewound on another ring. Sprocket grinned as the thing froze, unable to go any further once the wires had fully transferred to the otherside. One day he might be able to figure out how to fix that, but for now, it was one performance per winding, and then a long complicated re-winding.

"That's what it does." Sprocket announced, grinning as wide as he could as he reached forwards, scooping up the box to cradle it, inspecting the sculpture merrily. It had been crafted out of clay, and then cast in simple metals, painted the brilliant colors it was with diligent, careful movements. "Still don't know what it is though." Hiding his excitement over his victory, he glanced again to Javert, his eyes twinkling with happiness as Cogs glided back down, plopping on his head. "Impress?" the boy repeated, shoving his goggles up on his head and forcing Cogs to re-situate himself, "To be honest, I have no idea."

He shrugged, standing to move across the room, digging through one of his trunks to find a smaller wood box, "I mean, I've never thought about whether I will or not. I'm very happy with my life. I love being a Smith, and I've always wanted to do as my dad does and make things. So...I just.." He shrugged again and sat down at his desk, undoing a panel of the metal box to rewind it to the proper position, the sound of his tools clicking against it loud even with the harp playing, "I trust the rider who brought me. He seemed pretty sure. But whether I Impress or not...I'm just happy to be here. I've met some interesting people, had some interesting conversations. Sure, it would be nice to ride a dragon, but I don't even know if I'd be happy like that my whole life. So...I don't know."

[carolin]

Javert looked down at Sprocket as he scooted over to where he was sitting. He looked over at the box, worried that it might explode like it had before, not that he didn't trust in Sprocket's abilities. Javert knew that if it exploded they would both be in harms way. He moved his harp behind him, not caring if he was hit with something, but if his precious harp got broken he would be very upset.

The loud whirling sound scared him a little. He was almost afraid that it was going to explode. He looked down at the other when he ducked. He almost did the same, but looked over at the box as a sculpture came from it. He blinked and watched as it popped up. It was interesting. He smiled. "It's nice, I like it." He smiled. "I am impressed. I have not seen anything like it before."

That was just what he wanted to hear. It was enough to calm him down about it as he took up his harp again. If he impressed he impressed. If he didn't why worry about it? At least he had Sprocket as a friend. "I hope I am not bothering you." He looked away. He was slowly going back to his shy self, almost like he was beginning to go back into his shell. He usually wasn't this vocal with anyone, so he found it rather odd that he had relaxed around him.

[jack]

"To be honest, I haven't either." Sprocket replied with a sheepish grin, moving the strange little object around in his grip softly, "I mean, my father gave me the idea. One of his inventions--I think it was supposed to turn a wherry egg--started spinning madly...and it made me think of how I could control that, and make something pretty instead. This is just the start--eventually I'll figure out a way to wind it easier." Obviously already lost in his imagination, dreaming up his ideas and brainstorming of how to make more and more things, he was slow to respond, blinking as he snapped back into the real world.

With a light smile, he tilted his head, chuckling ever-so-quietly. "No, you aren't bothering me." He rumbled, twisting the tool a last time to make certain it was tight enough, "Believe me, I tend to act like a blathering fool when people bother me--I'd be gone by now."

[carolin]

Javert smiled. "My fingers are only good for two things. Healing..and playing my instruments." He watched him winding up the box again. It was such an interesting thing. "You can at least make things that are interesting. I know you will figure it out."

He felt relieved when the other said he wasn't being a bother. It was what he needed to hear. A yawn escaped his lips as he leaned back against the bed he was sitting on. He moved to rest back against the headboard and watched him. "At least I am not bothering you." He slowly dozed off without meaning to.