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Better safe than sorry.
[ Which, actually, is not a phrase you'll catch him saying too often. He has a couple of tins which used to contain cat food. They've been well cleaned, thankfully, and one of them is around half full of water. When he'd poured it, that water had been boiling; now it's lukewarm, but ready to be used. ]
We should be able to make a simple dye with this. Let's keep them solid, for now - smaller pieces will be harder to strain, and if it takes like this it'll be easier.
[ He holds the tin out for the flowers. ]
It'll draw out the smell, too, so I hope none of these offend.
[ Which, actually, is not a phrase you'll catch him saying too often. He has a couple of tins which used to contain cat food. They've been well cleaned, thankfully, and one of them is around half full of water. When he'd poured it, that water had been boiling; now it's lukewarm, but ready to be used. ]
We should be able to make a simple dye with this. Let's keep them solid, for now - smaller pieces will be harder to strain, and if it takes like this it'll be easier.
[ He holds the tin out for the flowers. ]
It'll draw out the smell, too, so I hope none of these offend.
If you have the time, I'm happy to take you up on that.
[ More than happy, as a matter of fact. Sturmhond points out the other containers in turn. ]
I have gas-based fuel in those, and liquid-based in the other. When the powder's complete, I'll want to test them for strength, but I'm hoping they'll work as a substitute for the bombs I lost. What do you think?
[ More than happy, as a matter of fact. Sturmhond points out the other containers in turn. ]
I have gas-based fuel in those, and liquid-based in the other. When the powder's complete, I'll want to test them for strength, but I'm hoping they'll work as a substitute for the bombs I lost. What do you think?
[ Soulmates tend to be romantic in nature. At least, they are in Sturmhond's experience - or, more accurately, in the romantic sense of the world. It's not particularly something that he believes in, that there's one person meant for every other person. Saints, if he believed that he'd have given up on Alina months ago. ]
Vriska sees quite clearly, I think.
[ She's an intelligent girl. She's also one of the people who'd upset Barnaby, but in fairness, it had been for good reason.
Sturmhond shifts slightly, wanting to keep this topic on Kotetsu. ]
I'm asking about your feelings, Kotetsu, not how your friends interpret them.
Vriska sees quite clearly, I think.
[ She's an intelligent girl. She's also one of the people who'd upset Barnaby, but in fairness, it had been for good reason.
Sturmhond shifts slightly, wanting to keep this topic on Kotetsu. ]
I'm asking about your feelings, Kotetsu, not how your friends interpret them.
It matters if you want it to matter.
[ Sturmhond is not a man who relies on emotion. This does not mean he doesn't feel them. It means he makes decisions based on reason, which more than once has met putting feelings of resentment aside for the greater good. ]
You don't need to be ruled by your anger, Athos. Forgiveness is not something you feel, but something you decide. You could choose to forgive her.
And forgive yourself, at the same time.
[ He suspects the latter of those decisions is the harder one, in truth. ]
[ Sturmhond is not a man who relies on emotion. This does not mean he doesn't feel them. It means he makes decisions based on reason, which more than once has met putting feelings of resentment aside for the greater good. ]
You don't need to be ruled by your anger, Athos. Forgiveness is not something you feel, but something you decide. You could choose to forgive her.
And forgive yourself, at the same time.
[ He suspects the latter of those decisions is the harder one, in truth. ]
I certainly wouldn't mind offering my assistance.
[ For a friend? Anything. Quite literally, in Barnaby's case, since he's already given his life for this man. What's a bit of time in the grand scheme of things? ]
They both sound as though they'll hold up fairly well. You said that you were testing them out here, weren't you? What is the range and intensity like so far on them?
[ For a friend? Anything. Quite literally, in Barnaby's case, since he's already given his life for this man. What's a bit of time in the grand scheme of things? ]
They both sound as though they'll hold up fairly well. You said that you were testing them out here, weren't you? What is the range and intensity like so far on them?
[The cat food tin might have actually made her smile, out of place and infinitely odd in Sturmhond's hands. But it's familiar in a way. Needs must. Getting creative without much is just part of being human.]
Well, if they reek to high heaven it might be more incentive not to get hit by them.
[She drops a few into the water, second-thinking it after a few seconds to add a couple more. This was going to be tedious. But it's not like she wasn't prepared for it.]
Well, if they reek to high heaven it might be more incentive not to get hit by them.
[She drops a few into the water, second-thinking it after a few seconds to add a couple more. This was going to be tedious. But it's not like she wasn't prepared for it.]
The powders haven't been tested yet. They're still ongoing.
[ He gestures to the gas-based set again. ]
These are volatile, from what I've seen. Their range is comparable to a standard grenade, but they're smaller because the gas is compressed. The liquid seems less explosive, but more flammable. They incinerate, more than decimate. Perhaps they're less efficient.
[ Though just as destructive, in a different way. ]
[ He gestures to the gas-based set again. ]
These are volatile, from what I've seen. Their range is comparable to a standard grenade, but they're smaller because the gas is compressed. The liquid seems less explosive, but more flammable. They incinerate, more than decimate. Perhaps they're less efficient.
[ Though just as destructive, in a different way. ]
[ He doesn't know where they came from. They were just there, one day. But Korol had happily rid him of the contents, so he's not complaining. Storage is storage; he never throws anything away here.
With a smile, he sets the tin over the fire. After a moment or two, true to his word, a noxious perfume starts to rise from the water. ]
Well, at least by that we know it's working. And also, that whatever that plant is would make a terrible tea.
I'll show you how this works, while we wait.
[ He passes the mould to Tess, before pouring a small portion of the molten metal into each half. ]
When they're hardened, the ink will go into the hollow in this half. Once you have the mould, it's a matter of putting it all together. It's not difficult, but it takes time for the metal to harden up again. It was easier on Ajna, when I could cover them with snow to wait.
[ Who would have thought he would never miss those days. ]
With a smile, he sets the tin over the fire. After a moment or two, true to his word, a noxious perfume starts to rise from the water. ]
Well, at least by that we know it's working. And also, that whatever that plant is would make a terrible tea.
I'll show you how this works, while we wait.
[ He passes the mould to Tess, before pouring a small portion of the molten metal into each half. ]
When they're hardened, the ink will go into the hollow in this half. Once you have the mould, it's a matter of putting it all together. It's not difficult, but it takes time for the metal to harden up again. It was easier on Ajna, when I could cover them with snow to wait.
[ Who would have thought he would never miss those days. ]
[The noise she made couldn't really be called a laugh, but it was near enough. It wasn't a great smell by any stretch, but it was survivable. She'd smelt a lot worse.]
No kidding.
[Of course, she didn't really see much point in tea. Not without a boatload of sugar and a few ice cubes.
She took the mold in her hands, tilt of her head to study it. Didn't look that complicated, really. Too bad they didn't have the stuff to make real bullets, that would be a help. Get a little factory set up.]
Metal huh? Well, I'm real glad I skipped that little game.
[They must leave impressive goddamn bruises.]
Think they'd hold up to water? Might cool them down.
No kidding.
[Of course, she didn't really see much point in tea. Not without a boatload of sugar and a few ice cubes.
She took the mold in her hands, tilt of her head to study it. Didn't look that complicated, really. Too bad they didn't have the stuff to make real bullets, that would be a help. Get a little factory set up.]
Metal huh? Well, I'm real glad I skipped that little game.
[They must leave impressive goddamn bruises.]
Think they'd hold up to water? Might cool them down.
The shell is thin. They break, on impact, and spread dye everywhere.
[ He smiles, though. He'd never promised the bullets were harmless. Only that they wouldn't kill. ]
You could use wax bullets, if you preferred. But you couldn't fire them from the Gauss, and the recoil wouldn't be close to what you'd get from a real shot. To make the practice worth something, you have to strike the balance. Believe me, a solid bullet will hurt far more.
[ He smiles, though. He'd never promised the bullets were harmless. Only that they wouldn't kill. ]
You could use wax bullets, if you preferred. But you couldn't fire them from the Gauss, and the recoil wouldn't be close to what you'd get from a real shot. To make the practice worth something, you have to strike the balance. Believe me, a solid bullet will hurt far more.
[And that she'd seen on Ajna, everywhere was pretty accurate. Things had been a little colorful for a couple of days. Luckily it washed off.
Which, actually, she had no idea if this stuff would. Well. They'd find out.]
Believe me, you don't have to tell me that.
[With a smile that's nothing like friendly, thin-lipped. She knew what a solid bullet felt like. She had the scars to prove it.]
Well, people need the practice. They can put up with a little pain.
Which, actually, she had no idea if this stuff would. Well. They'd find out.]
Believe me, you don't have to tell me that.
[With a smile that's nothing like friendly, thin-lipped. She knew what a solid bullet felt like. She had the scars to prove it.]
Well, people need the practice. They can put up with a little pain.
That's what I thought.
[ And if any complained about the pain, that's what his answer would be. A real one would hurt more, get over it. You'll thank him later.
Leaning back, though, he sets the pot of metal back over the fire. ]
A water bath might work, so long as it it didn't cover the moulds. We can try that. Now, what about this?
[ He takes the dye off the heat now. The flower petals are swimming in a warm solution of bubbling purple ink. It all looks more than a little disgusting. Also, he hasn't thought about how they're going to get the petals out of it. His range of tools doesn't include a sieve.</small. ]
[ And if any complained about the pain, that's what his answer would be. A real one would hurt more, get over it. You'll thank him later.
Leaning back, though, he sets the pot of metal back over the fire. ]
A water bath might work, so long as it it didn't cover the moulds. We can try that. Now, what about this?
[ He takes the dye off the heat now. The flower petals are swimming in a warm solution of bubbling purple ink. It all looks more than a little disgusting. Also, he hasn't thought about how they're going to get the petals out of it. His range of tools doesn't include a sieve.</small. ]
Well, it looks purple.
[Which wasn't the same as glowing, but she had a feeling it would take being out of daylight to discover if that worked. She tilted her head over the mess, low hum.]
Got a scrap of fabric?
[Handkerchief, maybe. The one she was wearing was off the table. A real, real wreck of a shirt would work.]
Cotton, probably. It's not like we've got cheesecloth but I bet anything cotton would work.]
[Which wasn't the same as glowing, but she had a feeling it would take being out of daylight to discover if that worked. She tilted her head over the mess, low hum.]
Got a scrap of fabric?
[Handkerchief, maybe. The one she was wearing was off the table. A real, real wreck of a shirt would work.]
Cotton, probably. It's not like we've got cheesecloth but I bet anything cotton would work.]
I doubt it'll take to material.
[ Not properly, anyway. But he stands up, all the same. ]
Give me a moment.
[ He heads into the rover, and comes back with something white and fluffy in his hand. Smiling he hands it over. ]
Goose feather. Try that, it should let you see the colour.
[ Not properly, anyway. But he stands up, all the same. ]
Give me a moment.
[ He heads into the rover, and comes back with something white and fluffy in his hand. Smiling he hands it over. ]
Goose feather. Try that, it should let you see the colour.
[She blinks once, not taking his meaning, but he's gone before she can ask him what the hell he means. By the time he's back he's got feathers and a smile which- actually is probably something you could say about Sturmhond often enough. She's still not sure why he doesn't have a big hat.]
Well, alright. But I was talking to get the clumps out, you know.
[But she takes it anyway, spinning it once between her fingers, smooth line of the quill before dipping the whole thing in the little excuse for a pot. Swirls it around quick before drawing it back out.]
I don't think it's your color.
[Not nearly teal enough.]
Well, alright. But I was talking to get the clumps out, you know.
[But she takes it anyway, spinning it once between her fingers, smooth line of the quill before dipping the whole thing in the little excuse for a pot. Swirls it around quick before drawing it back out.]
I don't think it's your color.
[Not nearly teal enough.]
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