This city won't say where she's going / She won't speak of where she's been

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

Somewhere in the City there is music... and it's loud. For blocks, easily, it can be heard pouring out from open windows and doors of the building it's coming from, and closer in, the bass can felt as much as heard.

And the building—well, the little independent office has been sharply redecorated, walls scrawled with bright runes and complex glyphs that seem almost like hyper-abstract graffiti, some of the windows methodically boarded over, the freestanding sign replaced with large, hand-lettered block print reading ROXIE'S, and under that, freelance monster removal &
artifact creation.

Maybe you've come by to tell her to turn that music down—or just to visit—or to volunteer some of the materials she asked for from anyone willing.

Comments

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

"I'd have to see the make of your shields first," Roxie says, frowning just a little.

[madeofwyn.livejournal.com]

Wyn whips out a notebook and a very battered eyeliner pencil and quickly begins to sketch. "Um... just pretend that Simpson's corrolary keeps going, because I don't really want this to activate." she says as she begins to draw a spiral, connected to three smaller spirals. The gap between lines is quickly filled with what appears to be shorthand, moving outwards from the center.

"That, basically. Except portable." Wyn slides the notebook across the counter so it's facing Roxie.

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

"Simpson's corollary?" Roxie asks as she studies the design.

It might take a few long silent moments of watching Roxie's studious face before it starts to become obvious she has no idea what she's looking at.

[madeofwyn.livejournal.com]

"The rule that says activation energy can transfer from outside the circle to inside. It's not something that comes up often if you don't run Gaeilge, though." It's quickly becoming obvious to Wyn that she and Roxie definitely do not use the same systems.

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

"I'd have to see it in action," Roxie says, so that she doesn't have to say 'I have no idea what the hell you're going on about'.

[madeofwyn.livejournal.com]

"I hadn't planned on starting anything up just yet, only because I've got three projects running simultaneously and I need to go fishing for more glass beads in Weapons and Possessions." Wyn says hesitantly.

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

"When you have the chance, then," Roxie replies, expression as neutral as ever. "I could show you some of my operative work in progress, if that might work better."

[madeofwyn.livejournal.com]

Roxie has just said the magic words. "Sure, if you don't mind." Wyn says, bouncing up on the balls of her feet enthusiastically.

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

Roxie gestures, leading Wyn into a back room. Hung on the walls on a variety of canvas sheets are bizarre, intricate designs in different colors of paint and chalk. And in the center of the room a similar design's been carved right out of the floor in visible chunks, centering around a runic circle in which a short length of very thick chain (http://www.nlpbodybuilding.com/images/chain.jpg) has been laid out.

Curiously, on the other side of the room normal-sized lengths of iron chain lay, carefully spread out.

"I was getting ready to try another refining pass when you came in," Roxi comments.

[madeofwyn.livejournal.com]

Wyn's not going to ask how the floor got gouged like that. "Hm. Enchanting the chain in order to bind one of the... servant intelligences, did you call them?" she asks, inspecting the chain from a safe distance. She knows better than to try and touch works in progress, especially if they aren't her own.

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

Roxie nods. "The process increases physical density considerably, but the energy that needs to be put into it anyway to make it function for its intended purpose makes it easier to handle. Once I'm finished this phase, the next part of the process will be binding the end results to an artifically-constructed atman simulacrum."

[madeofwyn.livejournal.com]

"Which accomplishes what, exactly?" Wyn asks, giving the chain a slightly more dubious look. "This isn't a way I've ever seen bindings done, so I really have no idea."

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

"By making the end result something approaching a living creature—honed and crafted for a sole purpose—it will be able to interact with the spiritual world much more forcibly than a mere item would."

[madeofwyn.livejournal.com]

"That... could work, actually. I'd have to see it once it's a little farther along, but I could just stop by once I've got a working shield-charm and we could compare notes or whatever." Wyn offers, moving away from the edge of the carved floor.

[toariversodeep.livejournal.com]

"That would be helpful," Roxie says with a little nod.

"...there's nothing to worry about right now as long as you don't step into the central circle," she adds. "Those are just focusing elements I added."