Making New Friends (Blue)

Jack had gone a few months without his little helpers. He really wished he had Prometheus to help him clean up after the rift beast's coming down the street. Of course, it was that daft girl who had caused his shop to explode but Jack didn't know that. The alchemist finally had generated the credits to offset his losses and gather the materials for new homunculi. Now a homunculus was just clay and sticks, but Jack wanted his new helpers to be sturdier this time around.

A friend of his had recommended a clay recipe used in a type of body armor. These ceramic plates were strong enough to stop a bullet (once). Since they were already prepared in a kiln, household fires shouldn't melt the homunculus. Getting these plates would be difficult for a plain ol' civilian. Fortunately, Jack's friend could special order the shapes he needed. Even better....the friend had his eye on an enchanted survivalist's backpack that would make for an even trade. And the delivery truck was here. Jack fought back his giddiness as the guys in brown wheeled in the crates with the terracotta warrior's new body. He signed the forms, waited for the delivery people to leave, and then promptly locked the door.

"Can't forget to change the sign. I really don't want to be bothered right now." He quickly spun the Open/Closed sign and ran at the crates like a kid on Christmas morning. "Prometheus is going to look so cool.....and jacked?"

Jack bent down to get a better look at the torso pieces. It appeared as though every muscle had been shaped into the clay. Perhaps it was something they did with the body armor molds. He remembered seeing ancient armor pieces in a museum. The Romans liked to pound abs and the like into theirs. The alchemist shrugged. Maybe Prometheus could serve as a bouncer too. He started taking the clay pieces out of the boxes and laid them out on the worktable in the back of the shop. The skeleton of Prometheus 2.0 had already been laid out. He had already sent out a message to Blue letting her know when the delivery would be. She had seemed interested in how the Household Helpers line of New Dawn products had been made.

He really wanted to start putting things together....but he had promised to wait until she arrive.

"No one said I couldn't start putting down the exoframe though."

While he waited for the half elf, Jack matched the clay plates to the proper region of the body. "The leg bone's connected to the knee bone....the knee bone's connected to the thigh bone...

I wonder if Dr. Frankenstein ever sang that song."

The tank rumbled to a stop.

She texted John that she had arrived, even though she knew he was watching anyway. She was not bringing him in on this trip. It was to see a friend, one that she was helping re-design his homonculous. This was not really a job, so much as it was a favor and the love of all things creating and inventing. So Blue told John he could do his weird ninja-spy thing, but she was most definatly going in alone. Getting out of the car, she pulled her satchel up over her shoulder and she knocked on the front door to Jack's shop.
She hadn't actually seen him much since they went to the elven festival, and then that dinner later, with his family. She had been insanely busy.

When Jack opened the door she stepped into the newly remodeled shop after something happened and the whole thing had basically exploded.

Nice remodel, I like. So .. we gettin' down to business creating your beasty or what?

Blue was here to get her hands dirty. She had met Jack when she was out salvaging in the dumpster and he happened to be there looking for ingrediants to the things that he made here for people. She wasn't exactly sure of all of what he did here, but she had amazing ideas to further the amazing abilities and capacity of the homonculous that he kept around as an assistant.

How have you been doing Jack? Busy? I suppose, since you had to rebuild your shop basically. How did that go by the way? Did insurance cover it? Blue, was always curious, her mind was always on fire, moving, and rolling, and finding... and thinking. She was almost never ever relaxed she was always moving forward, and why Blue was constantly busy.

Nice remodel, I like. So .. we gettin' down to business creating your beasty or what?

"Thanks. Nothing a few coats of paint couldn't handle...and a few other magical tricks up my sleeve. And Prometheus isn't a beasty. He's got a real heart of gold."

Jack paused on his way back to the lab.

"Actually, it's a piece of quartz. Tomato to-mah-to."

How have you been doing Jack? Busy? I suppose, since you had to rebuild your shop basically. How did that go by the way? Did insurance cover it?

"Oh you know, same ol' shit different day. I did have to call a few people to remind them their memory supplements were ready. They typically remember that themselves, ironically. And yeah, I had Rift Beast coverage. For wild creatures, the insurance company don't consider them 'Acts of the Divine Collective.' I guess they figured they'd never have to pay up for rift activity within the walls of the city.

It's called the Torchwood policy, by the way."

He gave a grand gesture towards his makeshift Dr. Frankenstein table. "So here he is, completely beside himself. The crystal survived, so the new body will have all the same skills. I will have to add in a few incantations for the features you suggested. Won't be that difficult.

Shall we begin? There's gloves and goggles on the end of the table if you want them."

Jack did not grab himself a pair, however.

Blue gave Jack 'the look'.

Are you seriously going to go all technical on me? I obviously know that Promo isn't a beasty, but what else would you call him? Clay-slave? Robo-bob? I mean, you know who I mean, and that is all that matters.

She was just razzing him really.

She hoped that they were good enough friends that he knew that. But there were times Jack seemed to be very serious, so one could never know. She still hadn't seen this mischevious side he mentioned when they went to the Elven festival together. She supposed that she would at some point and she was kind of eager to see it personally.

Turns out that his insurance covered the rebuild and remodel. Which was good because before the shop had been pretty bad. She had come by after the attack to make sure that Jack was okay and not harmed in the attack. Jack was a good friend afterall. And she was amazed at how badly his shop had been crushed.

Awesome, good to hear.

Blue's eyes shifted to the table. Where they were going to re-assemble Promo. Maybe she could call him Theo. Yeah, it was better than Promo. So they were going to re-assemble Theo. The name Prometheus was a great name, until you had to say it often, and then it just got old. Plus, Blue was a nickname kind of person. And so, Theo he was dubbed in her mind at least. She looked at the gloves and goggles that were lain out incase she needed them.

Her brow rose.

Something about this build corrosive or harmful? Because, unless that happens, I'm all about natrality.. that isn't a word, but it should be.

Blue put her satchel down. Not really sure where her help exactly was going to come in. But she was here to help none the less, and was really interested in getting Theo back on his feet so he could help Jackers again and be that much more efficient.

Where do we need to start? This was his show afterall so she was going to let him call the shots.

Are you seriously going to go all technical on me? I obviously know that Promo isn't a beasty, but what else would you call him? Clay-slave? Robo-bob? I mean, you know who I mean, and that is all that matters.

"Clay slave? You insult my father's work, good miss." It wasn't exactly clear if Jack was offended or not. "I treat all of my homunculi with the utmost respect. They tend my shop and I keep them in good working order. Prometheus doesn't get distracted which has saved my shop a few times before."

Blue was glad to hear the remodel had gone well. It wasn't really a remodel as the shop looked the same as it did before the magical surge caused the potions to go all sorts of wonkers.

Something about this build corrosive or harmful? Because, unless that happens, I'm all about natrality.. that isn't a word, but it should be.

Jack waved it off. "Nah. It's like putting together a cabinet. I am going to have to draw some blood later. Other than that, there's nothing hazardous aside from a splinter or you whack your thumb with a hammer.

Igor put her bag down. Jack wondered if it was the same one he had enchanted for her. It looked in much better shape than when she pulled it out of the dumpster. Where do we need to start?

"I laid everything out already. First, we have to build the support structure. This one's easy since we're building a humanoid. Once that's done, we have to fit the skeleton with all the drawers and other storage units. I'm going to hold off enchanting them until we're sure Prometheus is assembled correctly. I know you had some tools you wanted to install, so I can do the enchanting and be out of your way at the same time.

Then it's just a matter of making sure the baked clay 'skin' fits the way it should. I normally just use modelling clay and shape it as I need, but I wanted a homunculi with a stronger constitution. Then the magic happens.

So let's each grab a foot and build up from there."

Jack picked up the left foot and the leg pieces. It was as simple as inserting Tab A into Slot B and fastening with nuts and bolts. The magic in the animation process would keep the joints together and operational provided they didn't make the joint too tight. He started whistling the Bone Song again.

Oh.. he was in serious mode today.

Where was the guy that made park benches disappear. And himself! At the festival. Totally freaking her out for a few moments until she figured out that it was merely an illusion. Not because she saw him, but instead, because he had revealed himself finally. It was.. interesting to say the least.

But mischevious Jack was not on duty today.

Blue shrugged at his comment about splinters and nails. These hands are used to abuse, they'll live.

She had spent two months once with a finger that was varying shades of black and blue because she had smashed it just shy of actually breaking it. It had taken forever to heal. Especially, because she had still used it so much. Which hadn't helped the healing process. But New Dawn and her own creations wait for no finger.

So it seemed they were going to have to start with the infastructure. Which was probably a truly smart idea. That way, they would have the base to put the skin, drawers, and everything into the little guy so that he would be just that more efficient. She grabbed a foot and they both began to build the little guy. She listened to him whistling while they worked.

She knew what she was going to do. In her spare time she had gotten to work on the ideas that she had for Theo. She was going to put a camera in one of the eyes. That could capture, record, and be viewed live through Jack on a monitor that she had out in the Tank. She had other ideas too, and other parts that she had built just for Theo. She hoped that Jack would like the end result, she figured anything that made the guy more helpful would be something Jack wasn't going to complain about.

So... been on any insane dates? Taken anyone else over to Mama Majewski's yet? she asked curiously. No reason they couldn't talk and work at the same time.

"No, the remodel has kept me pretty busy. I did shock a few a pigeons that were using my new sign as a bathroom. Normally I just send Archimedes," Jack pointed to a feathered glop on another workbench, "but he's a little indisposed at the moment. I still have to fish his crystal out.

All I've seen are customers, and I make it a habit not to date customers. That's how hollistic drug addicts are born." Jack shuddered. "Trust me, stay away from those people."

*

With the endoskeleton now complete, Jack slid over the cupboards. "If you drop your drawers, I might get the wrong idea about you." He gave a mock naughty look. "I couldn't help the innuendo. Now let's see if the rails are lined up."

"Do you feel like you stepped back in time building something without all the New Dawn toys?"

Blue looked up, her brow furrowed.

Wait.. how does dating a customer create a hollistic drug addict? Like.. it's too easy to get their hands on the good stuff, or.. what? Cuz I mean, we went on a date, and it isn't like I'm snortin' herbs or anything.

She was curious. He seemed so serious about it, it seemed like something she ought to ask about. Besides, she liked Jack. He had turned out to be a great friend, and she didn't mind putting her expertise into use to help a friend out. Just as he had done her with her tool belt and her satchel. Both of which she used quite frequently.

Blue grinned at Jack with his little joke.

Keep your hand wrapped around your tool for any longer and you might as well call her girlfriend. she grinned back at him. Two could play that game if he wanted to get into it.

They began to put the drawers in. Making sure that all the railings lined up. She only had to adjust a couple while he asked her if she felt like she was stepping back in time doing things old school. Blue chuckled.

You must think I have some seriously space age stuff in my lab. I do.. but, not all of it. I still use old school tools too. Like my screwdrivers and whatever. Sometimes, doing it by hand, is the best way.

Blue shrugged as she opened her satchel. She pulled out several black velvet wrapped items. She had wanted to make sure that there was no possible way that these things were getting bunged up on the drive over. She began to unwrap them to show that they were indeed the parts she was going to be installing on Theo.

How is Mama Majewski? Blue asked as she continued unwrapping various things she had made for Theo.

Wait.. how does dating a customer create a hollistic drug addict? Like.. it's too easy to get their hands on the good stuff, or.. what? Cuz I mean, we went on a date, and it isn't like I'm snortin' herbs or anything.

A high pitched hum came from Jack. "More like they expect you to make them the good stuff. It's not a good time when you meet her drug addled boyfriend. It's also the only time I intentionally caused an explosion in the shop.

And you were never a customer. You haven't bought anything thing yet. Once there's a transaction, it's strictly platonic between us until you take your business elsewhere," he said slyly. "Of course, then I'd be out of a pay check."

Keep your hand wrapped around your tool for any longer and you might as well call her girlfriend. Blue was in a playful mood tonight.

Jack shrugged. "I don't have to take her out to dinner before hand. It works out."

They got the last draw in. You must think I have some seriously space age stuff in my lab. I do.. but, not all of it. I still use old school tools too. Like my screwdrivers and whatever. Sometimes, doing it by hand, is the best way.

"Well my Pops had some really cool gadgets before he started making his own. New Dawn was like Disneyland to me when I was a kid. Pops wouldn't let me drive the go-kart I made while he was in a meeting though. Apparently, I used too much nitrous in the design.

My problem was that I didn't use enough."

How is Mama Majewski?

"She's good," Jack said as he handed out the torso plates. "She fell the other day, but she had one of those emergency pendants and actually used it. No injuries, though, just had a tough time getting back up."

Jack's mood rose dramatically as all the 'skin plates' fit in exactly as designed. He started permanently attaching the outer pieces. The drawers wouldn't catch on the hinges and it would time later. After enchanting each storage spot, Jack wouldn't want to do that step.

"Alright, well the basic construction is done," Jack said as he wiped off his hands. "That leaves the enchanting and the spy tools you want to throw in. You're welcome to watch the process, but I won't be paying attention to you."

Blue grinned.

It was true, she wasn't a consumer of his goods. She didn't need it, and if she did, she would probably ask him for it knowing that she could trust him where she could not trust many other people. Blue, sometimes, had some trust issues when it came to certain people. Buying something she was going to ingest.. one of those big issue areas.

Blue, could not help but laugh when he answered back with their little game. She wondered if she should tell him about John. Probably, best not to. Even though she considered Jack a good friend, she wasn't sure what he considered her. He was a good person to hang out with though. And she knew that John Rivers was probably outside, across the street, with some sort of device listening to everything they said.

Stupid bodyguard.

Saves money, doesn't ask for anything, and you get pleasure. Can't ask for more than that. she chuckled and gave a shrug.

Blue stood up and began to work on the left arm. Where all of the little gadgets were going to extend from the finger tips. She carefully removed some of the heavy frame work from the underside of the forearm and lay them to the side so that she could get the hydrolic-esque tool set within. She slid it into position and began the process of actually installing it. Making sure that the tools would shoot out of the fingertips, which she had hinges for and making sure that the pressure was just right, so the tool wouldn't shoot at someone, but instead just out far enough to use.

Dude! There is never enough Nitrious. That's what we're doing on our next fun day. Go-carts. Yours versus mine. Get prepped Hippie-boy I'm takin' you out.

She stopped working when he said Mama Majewski fell. Her multi-hued eyes watching him in worry. She loved the Mama, she was a sweet old lady, had invited her to dinner the first time she met Blue. Blue had gone, it had been fun, not too terribly awkward. So she was worried when he mentioned the old woman had fallen. Letting out a breath when she realized Mama was okay, she went back to work.

Wow. Our what.. third non-date and you're already ignoring me to play games with Theo? That's cold, man, real cold. I have work to do, so I don't know if you're ready to enchant. Can you enchant while I install? she asked him curiously

Dude! There is never enough Nitrious. That's what we're doing on our next fun day. Go-carts. Yours versus mine. Get prepped Hippie-boy I'm takin' you out.

"That was also the day Pops' department was going for their quarterly evaluation. He had to be accident free until the inspector moved along."

Blue let out a breath when she realized Mama was okay and then went back to work.

Wow. Our what.. third non-date and you're already ignoring me to play games with Theo? That's cold, man, real cold. I have work to do, so I don't know if you're ready to enchant. Can you enchant while I install? she asked him curiously.

Jack looked right at her and grinned. "I'm sorry, but I tuned you out." He made it clear in his tone that he had heard everything. "If this were our third real date....well I believe the standard convention is we'd be making a different kind of homunculus upstairs."

Yeah, definitely had a dirty mind.

"I'll be fine. Enchanting's pretty routine for me now. Plus, you should hear the street corner during the Chinese New Year. I'm pretty sure you can't make the same amount of noise."

==We can just fast forward to the part where we're both done our separate bits. I'm feeling too lazy to write out the process at the moment.==