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Post by swapgo on Sept 1, 2023 10:45:07 GMT
Hardware shops weren't as plentiful in a mall, but Lodging Cache is always there and it is always huge. Some of the boxes were open, mostly the ones with small tools, the items within them being strewn around, but apparently not incomplete. Despite this disturbance, the eerie stillness on these items remained. Power tools were there, as were there huge displays of wallpapers and floor tilings, likely carried by these critters with a dominion over gravity. There were two collector shops, and surely they had handcrafted items and some vintage baseball cards with decent grading, unfortunately, the stonelings do not know the value of any of these items, so a lot of it was also placed in boxes. It is likely that some of it has devalued due to this mishandling, so it would take some sifting to find good items to flip.
There was a jewelry store with 2 outlets, BxDiamonds, and it was by far the barest of all of them. Most of the expensive stuff you'd expect was missing, and while there were some silver items still in display, there was no gold to be found. King had likely already ordered them to be brought to him, and gemstones are of no value to the dragon, so any diamonds within these items were likely disposed of, or cultivated, or something, perhaps thats how it works.
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Time
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Post by Time on Sept 2, 2023 12:27:29 GMT
Looking at everything, Roman contemplated. The tools, floorboards, tiles, and wallpaper could be used. He was even certain that he could find a few cans of paint if he looked a bit more. The problem however was that while he could use these things to renovate, the question was now why his father had gone out and asked for the loan if he had all of this. Sure, it wasn't enough for EVERYTHING to repair the mall..... But....
Suddenly a thought struck him as he looked at the two jewelry stores. Seeing them cleared out, Roman had a thought occurred to him. "He wasn't that stupid... Was he?". Roman asked himself, the only answer he was given was an echo of his murmured voice. His father. Had he tried to buy gold in bulk?! Roman shook his head. His father wasn't that stupid. He wouldn't just.... Buy gold bullions. Right? Hell, best he would have gotten with the money was at most 1k grams worth of it. 10 gold bullions... Roughly 21k dollars. Gold was usually a standard. Investment and wealth insurance for times when inflation was on the rise.
But.. his father wouldn't have been thinking straight. It occurred to Roman why. Maybe the amount of gold acquired was what determines the time that one is sent back. Images of his father carrying 23 bullions of gold only to get stabbed for it... Lamenting one thing. The same thoughts that crossed Roman's mind from earlier rose again as logic took over. His father wanted to turn back time for himself. Roman felt himself fall a bit into a mix of feelings. Anger, frustration, irritation, sorrow, regret..... And Pain. His father.... Even if Roman turned back time by a month, there was no guarantee that things wouldn't change.
"You..... Fucking idiot ... Stupid... Foolish... Damnit!"his voice started low and almost inaudible, before he exploded, throwing the glow stick hard against the rock faced walls, and snapping it against the structure. Glowing liquid splattered like a bloody stain, as the glow stick littered the floor and bled from a large crack in it. Roman felt as though he had almost thrown so hard he could have dislocated his shoulder.
Walking out to the exit, Roman needed to know now. Stopping just before the doorway of the vault, Roman spoke, "You Three still here?"
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Post by swapgo on Sept 2, 2023 16:14:56 GMT
Roman hadn't said a word and he could feel the scampering of approaching stonekins, just under two dozen eyes approached the entrance. "Finished?", was the only question he received.
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Time
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Post by Time on Sept 2, 2023 16:22:54 GMT
"Yes, can you have some of the Stone Kin move these boxes to Mall.... I mean, where I came from. Don't go to far into the light.
Also, can I request to see the stone kin with the blue stones? I won't argue if you need permission from King, as I'd like to speak with him once more." . Roman requested. He needed to know exactly how this spell of his worked. He wouldn't revive his dad, nor his mom. That could always be done after the fact if things settled. If not, well... It didn't matter.
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Post by swapgo on Sept 2, 2023 16:39:07 GMT
The critters were somewhat confused at first, until one of them barked "Move the Sun Kin stuff!", most of them agreed, and a group of nine went in. Should Roman turn around, he would notice them follow the exact route he took as they made their way through the lots and boxes. The two that were left pondered for a moment, mostly because there were a lot of words that were unnecessary. "He and he are inside, move Sun Kin stuff", one of them said, certainly they had dispatched some number of these critters to facilitate the movement of the inventory. The second one (maybe) made a barking noise backwards, and got another pair of eyes to approach. "He not him, blue", the first one (surely?) said, they had brought him one of these sapphire-sparkled stonekins.
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Time
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Post by Time on Sept 3, 2023 4:21:46 GMT
Roman sighed a bit in frustration. Why couldn't they just speak french or something. Well, he should at least be grateful that they could at least speak broken english. "Yes, sorry.". Roman stated, clarifying his mistake. Simple words. God, that was a bit difficult. It didn't feel right to speak to them like a pet, nor to do idiotic caveman talk. He needed a foreman. Someone who could bark orders efficiently.
Looking at the Sapphire scaled lizard, Roman nodded and gestured.... Only to realize that he needed words too. "Blue follow Him. Carry large things with magic. Take to Mall. Understand ?". Roman attempted to convey. If he couldn't get it through, well, he would attempt several different iterations. He needed a reliable pattern to follow. From what he could tell, He was always used for other Stone Kin when speaking to, or about. They did understand colors, and he'd likely would need to speak to the aide about how to address them.
Actually..... That honestly could be the best option. The Aide seemed to have the best grasp of speech in english.
Once everything was conveyed, and they finished moving the boxes he requested, even making sure to point at them and tap them to ensure they knew which ones he wanted he watched them work. "You.". Roman stated, at one of the ones barking orders. "You know who speak Sun Kin Good? Only Blind He by King speak good?
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Post by swapgo on Sept 3, 2023 14:44:02 GMT
"Yes, we do that", the blue one shrugged. Roman would hear a group was already returning with a box. It was dificult to notice in pitch darkness, but he could see one of the stonelings less carry a box and more just have their hand in front of it as it simply moved forward behind him, no effort, no flair, just an object falling forward and out of the faux-mall. Dimitri could see him stop, and a glint of blue took over the creature, allowing the box to fall in another direction as it took a right turn.
"Only King and He speak Sun Kin", one of them babbled, though the other one pondered loudly. "He too. He? He. But he is not ready. He knows Sun Kin. Only King talk to him, we no talk to him", they debated nonspecifically. "You", Roman would feel pointed at. "I will ask King, this is Sun Kin request, not our request, yes?", he asked, apparently not daring to demand anything from the gaudy dragon by himself. After being absolved of fault, the stonekin headed off back towards the sunlit court. A few minutes would pass through which Roman could observe the rest of the Stonekin toil. Some of them carried boxes in groups, others dragged them around, there were a few magicked boxes floating by. He could even see that on top of one of these drifting boxes was a cup that faintly glowed yellow; the leaked glowstick's contents were there as well, and they were going back home for the looks of it.
Two critters returned from the court, this one was no different than any of the ones he had seen before, though he did carry something square in his hand, and had emerald sparkles across its hide. "What do you want, Sun Kin?"
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Time
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Post by Time on Sept 4, 2023 5:01:13 GMT
Roman nodded at the request of the Stone Kin that would be heading out to fetch the king's permission. The young man realized that he could pick up context clues if he actually took a second to listen properly. A strange thing really, but as he waited and watched over the Stone kins he began to wonder what he should do.
Seeing the cup of liquid that was the content of his broken glowstick. So the magic of the blue ones extended to liquids as well. Did that mean that the material in question was what was affected by the spell?
Seeing how everyone wasn't in pain under the glowing moss on the ceiling, Roman looked up, only to be interrupted by the glow of glittering green at the corner of his eye. Looking at the emerald colored stone kin speaking with the strange square box, Roman became curious on the question, as well as the square shape. "First, what is that?", Roman asked, Pointing at the square. He was a bit wary of the emerald stone kin, as well as one other thing. Just how much authority had Roman been given by King. Sure, King may have accepted the request, but Roman wasn't sure how much he could ask of the King's Denizens. Ultimately, Roman figured that the ends always justified the means when it comes to grand goals; but King was not human. Roman could easily make a bad prediction on how King would react to things if he wasn't careful.
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Post by swapgo on Sept 4, 2023 22:26:47 GMT
"This, you call it Diktsionahry"
The stoneling lifted the now-clearly-a book in his hand, it was indeed a very thick, hardcover Oxford dictionary, it didn't look modified, and it respected the rules of gravity. "King has given a great honor! To cater to his highness before the time is due! What is your word, Sun Kin?", it ennunciated, eloquently, if you ignored the choice of words. How much of an improvement would this be over regular Stonekins, one has to wonder.
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Time
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Post by Time on Sept 5, 2023 20:00:20 GMT
Roman blinked as he realized what it was, though broken english be broken english. At least this one seemed to be intelligent enough to begin learning to read. "I see. That is great!" Roman exclaimed, as he wanted to encourage this one. "Your role with me is to become a Translator when necessary. A Translator.... Changes.... Sun Kin speak to Stone Kin speak, and the same backwards. If you notice your kin having difficulty understanding me, then your role is to translate it to Stone Kin.". Roman clarified what this green speckled Stone Kin would do. "Your other task is to help me learn your Kin's rules, culture, and customs.... If you have questions, then ask me. Even if it is with words and meanings. In a sense, you will be my Aide for the King."
With everything settled, Roman hoped that this would become a fruitful investment to speed things up. "Now then, What does your Kin accept as rewards?"
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Post by swapgo on Sept 6, 2023 0:45:55 GMT
The critter nodded along, seemingly quite eager to delve into this important book the King had bestowed upon him, though Roman was quick to elaborate in what his duties will be. "Most well! I will convert your convoluted commands into comprehensible chat!", he nodded along with glee, apparently not seeing in which end of the literary spectrum his language was on, or perhaps his perspective was actually correct. "Agreed! I've pored over your barbaric battles, brutal conquests, and abnormal beliefs! I will aide you indeed!", he continued to boast. It was evident that the little critter was most studious, though they clearly commited things to memory in a strict order if that's the part of history they're currently on, and where most of their words are coming from.
When asked about rewards, the stonekin opened his book and pressed his nose against the pages, unsure of what that word meant "Reeuuu...ah, the double u! Here!...", the critter muttered to himself, then pondered. "Being alive and alright!", that sounded dour, was their existence before King's arrival so perilous? "Commestibles also. Fruit of the peak acrid and good, uh, wait", he stopped, before turning around quickly barking something and yelling "Food" something. Roman would hear a whiz as someone pitched the stonekin a round object, seamlessly caught in pitch darkness, which he then would lift for Roman to peruse, it was green and rather grainy, and would almost irreparably soil his hands with the feeling of salt.
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Time
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Post by Time on Sept 6, 2023 14:54:26 GMT
Roman didn't feel too offended by what the Stone Kin said. It was simply good to know he could relieve one of his major headaches in the future. Still, upon hearing of the rewards that the Stone Kin spoke of, Roman felt a bit stupefied. He then recalled the fact that King had expressed frustration at the lack of change. Did that mean the Stone Kin had no sense of art or values? Of course his thoughts were interrupted by the sudden bark and whizzing of something flying by as the Stone Kin before him showcased their.... Food.
Roman wasn't sure he could make out this thing, but based on what he could understand acrid usually meant foul or intense smelling. "No thank you. I'm not too fond of foods that have an acrid smell to them. Still, is I must find a reward for your Kin. I'll figure something out later." Roman summarized as he considered what he could offer them. His initial thought had been to give them shades for lights, but at this rate, he wasn't even sure if they would be capable of understanding it or trusting him.
With that said, he supposed that a Thank you from himself would suffice for now. "Once everyone finishes taking the boxes and materials to where I specified, tell them that I said thank you. Until I can find a better way to do so. With that said.... I suppose we should get started. What can you tell me of the history of the Stone Kin?"
Roman figured that this would need to be the start of things as if he knew their history he could learn about how they operated.
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Post by swapgo on Sept 7, 2023 2:04:24 GMT
"Smell?", the critter questioned, sniffing the fruit as close as to inhale the salt within it, "Smell like new. Taste like assault to mouth", they said, taking an audible chomp. It drew attention to how relatively quiet the place was, despite being a hollowed out cave where sound propagated far and deep, the stonelings were surprisingly silent, it was easier to hear the odd scamper, or the sound of scratching over rock, than their voice, likely due to their accute hearing. "Well I'm no King, Come come, yes?", the voice asked and waved his hand, presumably asking Roman to sit down. From this close, one could better observe their mineral features, a thin eyelid floating mesmerically in a flawless ruby, as the King suggested, they did not blink.
"Peak was alone, alive not, but when water touched gem of heart, and air blew through ample cave, we arose, we breathed, we carved for more", he spoke rather poetically, it seems he was practicing. "We un-buried brothers, consumed the light, danced in the dark. We were once buried, so we had no wants, aliveness is boon enough, to cheer, chime, carouse, but then others found us, they found caves and creatures. Beligerent, they want our boons, our bodies, our craft. Bold bulls cratered crevaces, burning Fuses consumed the dark, we were assailed, cornered. But then BIG KING-", he rose his hands as if to make a rainbow, or more likely a dramatical spread of wings, he probably hasn't seen a rainbow. "King blasted the beligerents, and commanded attention, crushed their desire to continue. They abandoned the Peak, not came back". He made a shooing motion as he did, which put in question where in the story this all was
"We were afraid, afraid to be next, but King did not want that, he wanted aloneness, and went asleep"
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Time
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Post by Time on Sept 9, 2023 15:29:19 GMT
Roman sat down as.... He?.. requested. The quiet of the place seemed odd. Eerie almost when he didn't hear the sounds of pucks and chisels working. With that said, it made listening and understanding the storyteller before him, as well as observing the creature's body all the easier since he wasn't on edge as much.
He noticed the fact that the Storyteller did not seem to blink, just as King suggested. Goggles would need to be used, hell, he might even need to custom order welder goggles for that matter. They didn't seem to mind the glow of the moss or mushrooms above them, so it meant that at most it was an annoyance they could tolerate.
Focusing as the history of the Stone Kin began to be told, it almost reminded Roman of native american stories. After all, it was simple to understand. Though from what the Storyteller was saying, the Peak which King had mentioned seemed alive. Whether it was a metaphor or literal Roman couldn't tell. At this point, seeing a dragon before him, he was half certain gods surely existed.
Then came the part of raids. The word Fuse caught his attention immediately, as well as the oddness of Bulls used as a means to describe their invaders. Did that mean minotaur's existed? Or maybe it was something else. Bull was a bit of an extensive term to be honest, but it was clear what was wanted.
"So that's why the King's Aide was so angry with my suggestion. I had not known.... Is it even alright when I ask for the help of your Kin's Boons?" Roman asked, attempting to figure out the etiquette of how he should act as an outsider.
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Post by swapgo on Sept 9, 2023 21:15:53 GMT
"If we said no, what would you do, Sun Kin?"
Roman's aide(?) asked. "You ask, not take. The Peak, as all soil, gives, but if you take, it stops giving", it purported, an environmentalist take, if anything. "King stayed, took nothing, he wanted aloneness, so attacks ceased, assailants cowered before King. We adored him, but King did not accept us. We carved adornments, catered food, chanted in chorus, King did not accept. He ascended the Peak at night, so that we could not climb to adore King", he continued to elaborate on the dragon's reluctancy to rule. "Ages continued, until a brave Kin of Stone approached King, under the blinding sun. He braved the hurt to be aside King, and King accepted. King defends us from assailants, and no one is alone". He finished the story, matching the dragon's retelling of how he didn't even seek to enslave the denizens of the Peak.
"One day I will go. I will look at King in broad day, burn his visage into my being as my eyes bleach. I will be the one to give aid"
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