Niles // Zero (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cyclopticsadist) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
middaeg2020-12-20 10:25 pm
cyclopticsadist) wrote in middaeg2020-12-20 10:25 pm
Entry tags:
Closed
Who: Niles and Near
When: Dec 10th
Where: Near's Toyshop
What: Just trading a butchered deer to the bond of your ex arch nemesis in exchange for enchanted jewelry.
Warnings: None.
[Since L had requested a 'sizeable' portion, Niles had gone all out. The buck he took down had an impressive rack, and plenty of meat. Some of it had been traded to the butcher in exchange for processing the carcass for him, but the majority of it he's now hauling in a large insulated pack. The box itself is fitted with a minor levitation spell, enough for it to glide comfortably on an inch of air over the paving stones as he approaches Near's shop.
He eyes over the wares as he enters. He'd seen the place from the outside a few times back when he was stalking L, but there'd never been a particularly subtle way to follow in after him, so the interior is a new sight. His eye wanders over a marionette, a rocking horse, dolls lined up next to an impressively detailed dollhouse, a handsome carved chess set, a bright candy display, and finally the boy behind the counter.
Or, man? Niles blinks in confusion for a moment. This was undeniably the same naga he'd seen L have tense conversations with back in the spring, but a full decade older. His tail flicks low to the ground, making a quiet thump against the freezer box. For all his curiosity, as he and this man have never actually met there's no way he can just ask about his sudden growth spurt, no matter how much he wants to.]
Ah, you are the owner, correct?
[Just on the miniscule off chance that this man just has an incredibly, twin-like resemblance to a younger brother.]
When: Dec 10th
Where: Near's Toyshop
What: Just trading a butchered deer to the bond of your ex arch nemesis in exchange for enchanted jewelry.
Warnings: None.
[Since L had requested a 'sizeable' portion, Niles had gone all out. The buck he took down had an impressive rack, and plenty of meat. Some of it had been traded to the butcher in exchange for processing the carcass for him, but the majority of it he's now hauling in a large insulated pack. The box itself is fitted with a minor levitation spell, enough for it to glide comfortably on an inch of air over the paving stones as he approaches Near's shop.
He eyes over the wares as he enters. He'd seen the place from the outside a few times back when he was stalking L, but there'd never been a particularly subtle way to follow in after him, so the interior is a new sight. His eye wanders over a marionette, a rocking horse, dolls lined up next to an impressively detailed dollhouse, a handsome carved chess set, a bright candy display, and finally the boy behind the counter.
Or, man? Niles blinks in confusion for a moment. This was undeniably the same naga he'd seen L have tense conversations with back in the spring, but a full decade older. His tail flicks low to the ground, making a quiet thump against the freezer box. For all his curiosity, as he and this man have never actually met there's no way he can just ask about his sudden growth spurt, no matter how much he wants to.]
Ah, you are the owner, correct?
[Just on the miniscule off chance that this man just has an incredibly, twin-like resemblance to a younger brother.]
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[Deadpan is Near's default expression, but he's clearly curious about the large parcel Niles has with him. While it's not unheard of for one of his commissioned toymakers to have someone deliver items on their own time, he shouldn't be expecting anything so soon. Had Ms. Haversham finished the dolls he'd requested the other day? That's record time, even for her.
Though he doubts it, as she's always waited for him to pick them up, and this would be a record turn around, even for her.]
... Is there something I can do for you?
[It's hard to think the man might have the wrong shop. He doesn't exactly have a ton of competition. The sign out front is an obvious image of toys for a reason. No one should be getting his place confused for anyplace else.]
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[He flips the lid on the box to show a well packed assortment of butchered venison.]
He wasn't specific on how much you'd want.
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[It's hardly a question, because of course he did. And of course he hadn't been specific about the amount because why would he be? It's better that there's too much, isn't there?
He'd even told him the day they'd bonded - he's a small man. He can only eat so much, and his freezer is only so big. Near is not buying an industrial sized freezer simply because L is apparently adamant about feeding him.]
I appreciate your efforts. [That much is true. This man had fulfilled his end of the bargain. It's not his fault he was being directed by an oddball.] Though... I'm not sure I can store all this, if you'd like to keep some...
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[He jumped on the crass opportunity before he could really think through the potential consequences of hassling someone clearly important to L. He just couldn't resist. When was the next time he'd be in a situation where someone was talking about struggling to store his meat? Eh, worth it. Surely L knew sending Niles to deliver the gift personally came with these risks.]
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Aside from that, he doesn't respond to the teasing, instead coming over to look at what's been offered. While it would have been easier to have the items brought to his house, he's glad that the address apparently hadn't been given.]
I'll choose what I want and you can keep the rest. I'm sure that will be enough to settle your bargain.
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Have a favorite cut you want me to find for you?
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He looks at the cut of meat as it's laid out. He hadn't known much about his meat preferences before he became a naga, but he's had time to learn.]
... Rib meat. Brisket. Flank.
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He leans a hip against the counter and folds his arms against his chest. He's clearly settling into a more comfortable pose and not heading for the door. His gaze travels down the long curved line of his spine, and spine, and spine, and spine.]
I suppose having all that- [He gestures down at the ivory coils at ground level.] -to feed gives you quite an appetite. How about you and I make a habit out of this?
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[Delivery of meat will require some sort of payment, whether from himself or from L. The latter is worse. Near's business is doing alright, but he isn't rolling in extra spending money. He's frugal with what he has.
Just the interactions with this man might be more hassle than they're worth, if his earlier teasing is any indication.]
I'm not so particular that I need fresh game regularly. You can tell Mr. Taylor [He says the name as if they aren't particularly close, much less bonded.] that he's very generous, but there will be no need for him to repeat such bargains in the future.
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[Oh but that 'Mr. Taylor' does raise more questions doesn't it? L didn't do thoughtful gestures for associates or acquaintances. Either this is a stranger L wants to make a good impression on, or he's someone closer who L has pissed off in one way or another and he's trying to gift his way out of the dog house. Whatever his motive, from where Niles is standing, it seems like L's attempt to barter for this naga's approval or affection had fallen fairly flat.
His smile widens, and his tail flicks a little faster.]
But just in case you aren't aware, he's not the type that gives up so easily. If you don't want more unanticipated gifts, either ask him for something you do want, or be more direct in telling him to fuck off.
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I'm very much aware.
[L hadn't gotten to be the world's greatest detective by letting things slide. When he had a hunch, he followed it to its conclusion. If he had a case he wanted to solve, he solved it - until he'd ultimately met his match.
The naga is having to adjust his long-held opinions on the man, and it's proving to be more difficult than he'd thought.]
You must have enchantments done by him often.
[This is his way of asking what Niles' relationship is with the man without directly posing the question.]
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[He's not wearing a shirt, so he has no sleeve to roll up but he extends his left arm forward, palm up, and drags his other hand from his wrist to his elbow. It parts his fur, creating a moving window to see the skin beneath. In neat, thin, elegant lines is a tattoo in the shape of a slender dagger, runes running down the blade.]
But I'm familiar with the quality of his work. Runetchers still hasn't found someone of his caliber to replace him. I doubt they ever will, frankly.
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[It didn't seem like a fitting job for him, based on his knowledge of the man, but apparently that knowledge was more lacking than he thought. And aside from that, many people had to change their usual professions or ways of life in order to settle in this place.]
But I wasn't aware he was so sought after. There are many witches that do enchantments, I'm sure.
[He'd gone to some of them himself, procuring items to keep his cold-blooded body temperature regulated.]
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[His ears swivel briefly. Niles is more than willing to be complimentary of L's skills, but normally he's met with uncritical agreement, not mild surprise. Who is this person familiar with L's unrelenting attitude, but either unaware of or unconvinced by the man's perfectionism and superiority complex?
Well if he doesn't have to agree with a preset expectation, he can walk back his praise a little. Or at least not attribute all his successes to innate skill.]
We mirrorbound all have an outsider's perspective on their magics and apparently he's comes from a place with robots. The way you tell them what to do is supposedly pretty similar to runes in general. Symbols, directing power, instructions and the like.
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He also has his own appearances to keep up. He's Eli Dagwood, toy shop owner. Neither of them are L in this place..
The mention of robots gets the man to raise an eyebrow.]
Are you sure he wasn't talking about computers? Not that I would want to question his choice of descriptors. [He makes a dismissive waving gesture with one hand.] It doesn't matter. I understand what you mean.
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I thought they were the same thing, like frogs and toads?
[Entrapta was very descriptive about what she was doing at all times, but she wasn't an especially good teacher. Niles absorbed some of what she'd said to him, but mostly the about things like 'coiled metals are valuable, as are flat parts and bundles of wires'. As for what she called each bit and bob he could never keep straight. And Connor hadn't bothered going into specific names either. They were far more into nonverbal kinds of communication.]
So you both come from a place with only computers then? [The toymaker implied something Niles already suspected, but now he wants confirmation. He would only think L didn't come from a world with computers but not robots if he came from that same world.] Even the plumbing they have here is new to me. My otherworldly insight is that chamber pots are vile and stupid. [He doubts toilet humor will go over well with him, but better to make the man think he was chatty than probing.]
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[Near pauses a moment, giving himself time to ponder a response that he doesn't need for the sake of remaining in character.]
Think of a computer more as... a box that compiles and displays information. It can solve problems for you, but it can't do anything physical for you. It's basically a mechanical brain. A robot can perform physical functions. It's a mechanical device that moves in some way - often controlled by a computer of some sort. Does that make more sense?
[His world doesn't have many human-like robots in it yet, but it's always a work in progress.]
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So, [He holds up his watch.] computer, [Then he plucks a little wooden figure from a nearby dollhouse and makes it walk along the counter.] robot. Provided it was moving on its own anyway.
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[It has to be infuriating at times, being from such an earlier point in history or a world separated from this one. Near is not envious of anyone in that position.]
There must be many things even in this world that you find baffling. Not your fault, of course. It's a good learning experience.
[A forced learning experience, but one nonetheless.]
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I've always been adaptable. The difference between living in the gutter and lodgings as a royal retainer was greater than the difference between home and here. Whether my room is heated by fireplace or by [He gestures towards the wall and ceiling idly.] pipes and air or whatever makes little difference to me so long as my bed is warm.
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[Especially given that it literally changed people into something they hadn't been before - both individuals here being prime examples.]
Where I come from they're designing systems for homes where you can simply tell a computer how bright or warm you want your rooms to be and it will oblige. Very convenient.
[And very pricey, but money had never been a concern for Near in his world.]
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We've had that in my time for years. It's called servants. [But he nods, he knows what he means.] I'm sure those computers are talking to something more like the heating we have here, but I bet a self-tending fireplace would be quite a lovely sight.
[Since the man weathered his teasing with no complaint, and even showed no urgency to hustle him out of the shop he decides to put prying into L's background on a shelf, and actually talk to...
He offers his hand to shake.]
I'm Niles, by the way.
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He takes the hand in his own scaled one.]
Eli.
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Cold hands. I suppose you're less than comfortable this time of year. [His ears give a sympathetic sort of droop, remembering the unbearable heat of the summer. He'd never done work in the Wyvern's Stable, but he knows that in winter drills and training hours had to be cut back due to the reptiles being so sluggish. All the talk about indoor heat aside, surely the man sometimes had to slink across town for one reason or another.]
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[It's one of the first things he'd looked into, as he'd gone cold-blooded before he'd even gained scales. He'd tried multiple methods and still and still had a couple on hand. The tattoos had ended up being one of the ones he hadn't returned to as shedding removed them.]
Another benefit of the magic in this place.
[And he sleeps with a hyena dog for warmth, but he tends to leave that part out.]
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[A scavenger hunt could be interesting, but if just any citizen can solve it it's not interesting enough for him. Aside from that, he's used to directing. When he has to move about on his own he falls short on account of his lack of physical prowess.
His shop ends up being a good excuse for most things.]
Do you participate in many of the "quests" here?