NaNoWriMo Day 15
Nov. 16th, 2009 12:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wolfanficsCurrent word count: 30,823/50,000 :D
Chapters: 7/?
Current mood: shit tired but happy
Characters: Craig is sulking somewhat. Andrew is trying to pretend he doesn't like Craig.
Progress: Well, not much. Some of the items mentioned in today's excerpt will (I hope) come in handy later on. So keep an eye out for them.
Remarks: I'm kinda out of things to say here. And it's also time I was in bed. So there.
So yes. Today's effort. Just one scene (and I keep spotting typos. XD) It's only a draft, it'll need an edit, etc. You know the drill.
Chapter Seven
A bounty worthy of even Heaven's blessings
Craig took his hand and William's and led them back to the chests. They knelt around the closest one and set the lid aside. It did not appear to have anything more than standard laboratory equipment within it. It was the sort of glassware Andrew had seen in the old university science wing, the sort of equipment that had, as far as he could fathom, had become rather archaic and inaccurate. In amongst the glassware were three thermometers, a mercury Fahrenheit, a mercury Celsius with the scale the wrong way around, and what looked like a Six's thermometer. There were also an odd assortment of other pieces, measuring equipment, flasks, a retort, what looked like some sort of burner to heat things on, and some brass equipment Andrew had not seen before.
"Looks like his old lab equipment. I can't think why it was hidden away. I may experiment with it in my new workship when I get it set up. I should like to see how accurate they are," Andrew said.
"This appears to be a set of scales," William said, lifting out the delicate frame, the plates, and the weights secured together in two columns.
"Oh, now that is lovely. Now that will be useful. I should make good use of that," Andrew said.
"Are you planning to claim everything for your workshop? May I remind you I am your older brother?" William said.
Andrew looked at him blankly. "What use could you possibly have for this? You, may I remind you, are not a scientist nor a doctor. If, in the course of sorting through the rest of his possessions, you happen upon something you would like to have, you will, of course, be perfectly entitled to it."
"What's this then?" Craig said, lifting out a heavy stone pestle, with mortar sitting in place.
"It is an old mortar and pestle. You use it to crush and grind things. Careful with it," Andrew said as Craig set it down on the floor.
"So your grandfather did all sorts of experiment things with this stuff then? That's sorta impressive," Craig said.
"He was quite famous in his time, from what I have managed to learn. He was both a scientist and a magician, and a very adept magician at that. I suspect that is where we get our gifts from, William," Andrew said.
"I should have liked to have known him. He sounds like a fascinating man," William said.
"Perhaps he would have allowed us to learn magic," Andrew said.
"There is no point in entertaining such flights of fancy. Our parents died and we were left in the care of our uncle. There was nothing our grandfather could have done," William said.
"I know. I shall stop dwelling on it," Andrew said.
"Come on, this stuff's boring. Can we move on?" Craig said, shifting over to the next chest.
"Help me repack this chest then. I do not think it will be in our interests to leave these things lying all over the floor," Andrew said.
The lid was placed back on the chest once its contents had been repacked. Andrew would find it easier to take down to the old manor house if it was all contained in one chest than all in many pieces. Opening the lid on the next chest, they found nothing but books. Andrew removed them carefully, intrigued as to what kind of books they were.
"This appears to be about magical and alchemical theory and practice. It looks a hundred years old," William said, opening the cover of the first book he picked up.
"It was the science of the times. This one - oh, my, if it isn't a collection of works by Joseph Priestly. I was not aware our grandfather read his work, though, of course, he must have done given they were in the same Society. I wonder if our grandfather's need for secrecy late in his life was related to him. I was not aware he was a Dissenter like Priestly. Nothing in his notebooks suggests that," Andrew said. He gazed down at the large tome and the smaller books that accompanied it and wondered what he might be getting himself in for.
"He was not a Dissenter. He cannot have been a Dissenter. Surely we should have known if he was. I do hope you will be careful with his things. I do not wish you to be seen as a traitor," William said.
"Why do you think I am not allowing Charles to witness what this collection contains? While I trust him, he is too close to the King. He is more loyal than you are, and I am sure he would have no qualms in confiscating these things. No, our grandfather hid them decades ago for a reason. We must respect that desire for secrecy and make sure they are protected, whether or not our grandfather was a Dissenter," Andrew said.
"I do not wish to read his books. Priestly's, I mean. He is the reason our city is in ruins, and he was the only Dissenting coward who fled. It is none the pity the rest did not flee with him," William said.
"I will not argue the point further. If it pleases you, I shall take the books so you do not have to read them," Andrew said.
"Take them. They are worthless to me," William said.
"I suppose it's not really me place now to pretend like I can't read 'em, is it?" Craig said, opening a small book to a place at random.
"You might sound common, sort of, but I know what you are capable of now. Truth be told, the magic you performed would have given you away, even if our grandfather's spell had not attacked you instead. No common thief, no matter how good, is capable of that kind of advanced magic. Not even I can fathom some of his magics," Andrew said.
"Yes, but yer a self-taught little scrag and I learned from the best," Craig said with a sly grin.
"I should think you had been born a boy the way you brag," William said.
"I got beaten up until I learned to be'ave like a proper lad," Craig said.
"Well then, make yourself useful and take the books over to the bookshelf there. They at least can stay here for the moment until I can go through them in more detail," Andrew said.
"Yes, sirs," Craig said and picked up a few books as he got to his feet.
Andrew and William moved onto another chest while Craig dealt with the books. This was a smaller chest than the others and appeared to contain a large collection of chemicals, metals and other things in them that Andrew could not readily identify. They looked surprisingly well-preserved.
"I am not sure I want to look through these," Andrew said, picking out a vial at random to see if it lent any clue to what it contained.
"If you're going to do that, don't do it in the main house. Imagine Charles' face if you caused some sort of explosion," William said.
"I had no intention of conducting any such experiments in the house here. Anything of that nature will be done in the old manor house, where my new workshop will be," Andrew said.
Deciding he would not risk any further danger, he slipped the vial back into the box and set them back inside the chest. It appeared to have been made for them, so Andrew saw no reason not to use it. The next and final chest was much more interesting, as it contained not only the old telescope that appeared to show the future, it also contained a vast assortment of strange items, crystals and other miscellaneous items Andew could not identify.
"I suspect nothing in here is merely ordinary, no matter how mundane it appears. Craig and I know the telescope is far from ordinary, and I suspect this strange orange crystal is far from ordinary as well," Andrew said. He had in his hand a small orange hexagonal crystal. There was no clear sign of what it was, but Andrew suspected it was magical in origin.
"Why would he have this silver quill? What use is a silver quill?" William said, lifting the strangely light quill. AS he went to run a finger along an edge, he cut himself. "Oh, my, that is sharpish. How very peculiar."
"I suspect we shall entertain ourselves finding out what it does. Here, you are not cut badly, are you?" Andrew said.
"No, no, I will be fine. It is a mere sliver of a cut. There is little blood," William said, sucking on his finger anyway.
"What's this? Some sort of tiara, I fancy. I never seen a jewel like that before though," Craig said, picking out a gilded tiara with a spectacular red stone set in the centre.
"I wouldn't put it on. It might transform you into a frog, and I daresay you've had enough of transformings for one day," William said.
"I weren't gonna put it on. I promise. I just thought it looked pretty. I'd get a few coins for that at market," Craig said.
"No one is touching it until we work out what it does," Andrew said.
"Way to spoil my fun," Craig said, but set the tiara down anyway.
There was a plain silver chalice that appeared to have no apparent purpose, as well as a dictionary. The dictionary was very queer, as it appeared to be in mirror writing and read from back to front. Andrew would have to find a way to translate it if he was to read it properly.
"Well, well, this has been a fascinating collection. Is there anything you wish to have?" Andrew said to William.
"I don't believe so. It can all be yours, as long as you wish to have it. Magic, while interesting, is not as much of an interest as it appears to be to yourself. But do me a blessed favour and keep it all safe. If no one else is to know we have these things, then make sure that they are well-kept and hidden from sight. I do not want you or I getting in trouble for this," William said.
"I will take good care of them, I can assure you of that, brother. I am no fool. If our grandfather wants them hidden away, then they shall be hidden away. Mark my words, we will not be caught with them," Andrew said.
Andrew's words seemed to settle William, and with the collection sorted at a basic level, all that was left to do was pack the chests again and conceal them somewhere safe until they could be found a better place to live. William retired to his rooms after that, leaving Craig and Andrew alone. Andrew was ready for a nap after all his exertions and flopped down on his bed.
"Shall I consider meself dismissed, sir?" Craig said.
Andrew raised his head to look at him. "You may rest a while, if you desire. There is no hurry to have you back at the barracks."
Craig respectfully climbed onto the bed and lay beside him on his side. "I wonder if I'll ever look like i used to, or if I'm stuck like this forever."
"I wish I could answer you. You are, I assume, fully female? Does this particular enchantment of yours stop when you are without clothing, or does it work some other way?" Andrew said.
"I... I had always assumed it was a spell on me body, not me clothes. But now I'm not so sure. You'll excuse me while I undress, just t'see what you observe. Yer a doctor, after all," Craig said.
"it would be an honour, Princess," Andrew said.
Andrew sat up as Craig slipped his clothes off. Andrew was not sure if it was due to the lack of magic, clothes or something else, but Craig appeared female. It was as if the spell was broken and his true form was revealed.
"So, what do you see?" Craig asked tentatively.
"What do you see?" Andrew said.
Craig looked at his body. "It's female. I'm assuming that's what yer seeing too. How disappointing."
"How did you achieve the male body last time?" Andrew said.
"It was an accident. A week after I'd set the spell on me, somehow it became permanent. Least I thought it was permanent. Maybe I'll never get that back again. I might have to leave the Army. I can't survive out there with a female body," Craig said.
"Maybe we'll have a chat to Charles and see if we can't get you as my assistant. How would that sound?" Andrew said.
"Well, it'd beat drill training in the wet," Craig said.
"Come on, get dressed. You must be freezing. We'll lie here a while before heading down for supper," Andrew said.
Craig dressed and lay beside Andrew again. He wasn't sure he would get used to this strange double life. The return of his female body was an unwelcome development, and he would have to work out how to negotiate the difference in his appearance. He had no intention of becoming the Princess again, so he would just have to learn to cope.
Craig looked up as Andrew wrapped an arm around his shoulders, bringing him close. Craig was secretly glad for the gesture. It reassured him Andrew was someone he could trust, and he was going to have to learn to trust him because he knew his secret and if he told, there was no telling what the repercussions might be.
So yes. Not sure what kind of progress it is, but it'll do. :D
Chapters: 7/?
Current mood: shit tired but happy
Characters: Craig is sulking somewhat. Andrew is trying to pretend he doesn't like Craig.
Progress: Well, not much. Some of the items mentioned in today's excerpt will (I hope) come in handy later on. So keep an eye out for them.
Remarks: I'm kinda out of things to say here. And it's also time I was in bed. So there.
So yes. Today's effort. Just one scene (and I keep spotting typos. XD) It's only a draft, it'll need an edit, etc. You know the drill.
Chapter Seven
A bounty worthy of even Heaven's blessings
Craig took his hand and William's and led them back to the chests. They knelt around the closest one and set the lid aside. It did not appear to have anything more than standard laboratory equipment within it. It was the sort of glassware Andrew had seen in the old university science wing, the sort of equipment that had, as far as he could fathom, had become rather archaic and inaccurate. In amongst the glassware were three thermometers, a mercury Fahrenheit, a mercury Celsius with the scale the wrong way around, and what looked like a Six's thermometer. There were also an odd assortment of other pieces, measuring equipment, flasks, a retort, what looked like some sort of burner to heat things on, and some brass equipment Andrew had not seen before.
"Looks like his old lab equipment. I can't think why it was hidden away. I may experiment with it in my new workship when I get it set up. I should like to see how accurate they are," Andrew said.
"This appears to be a set of scales," William said, lifting out the delicate frame, the plates, and the weights secured together in two columns.
"Oh, now that is lovely. Now that will be useful. I should make good use of that," Andrew said.
"Are you planning to claim everything for your workshop? May I remind you I am your older brother?" William said.
Andrew looked at him blankly. "What use could you possibly have for this? You, may I remind you, are not a scientist nor a doctor. If, in the course of sorting through the rest of his possessions, you happen upon something you would like to have, you will, of course, be perfectly entitled to it."
"What's this then?" Craig said, lifting out a heavy stone pestle, with mortar sitting in place.
"It is an old mortar and pestle. You use it to crush and grind things. Careful with it," Andrew said as Craig set it down on the floor.
"So your grandfather did all sorts of experiment things with this stuff then? That's sorta impressive," Craig said.
"He was quite famous in his time, from what I have managed to learn. He was both a scientist and a magician, and a very adept magician at that. I suspect that is where we get our gifts from, William," Andrew said.
"I should have liked to have known him. He sounds like a fascinating man," William said.
"Perhaps he would have allowed us to learn magic," Andrew said.
"There is no point in entertaining such flights of fancy. Our parents died and we were left in the care of our uncle. There was nothing our grandfather could have done," William said.
"I know. I shall stop dwelling on it," Andrew said.
"Come on, this stuff's boring. Can we move on?" Craig said, shifting over to the next chest.
"Help me repack this chest then. I do not think it will be in our interests to leave these things lying all over the floor," Andrew said.
The lid was placed back on the chest once its contents had been repacked. Andrew would find it easier to take down to the old manor house if it was all contained in one chest than all in many pieces. Opening the lid on the next chest, they found nothing but books. Andrew removed them carefully, intrigued as to what kind of books they were.
"This appears to be about magical and alchemical theory and practice. It looks a hundred years old," William said, opening the cover of the first book he picked up.
"It was the science of the times. This one - oh, my, if it isn't a collection of works by Joseph Priestly. I was not aware our grandfather read his work, though, of course, he must have done given they were in the same Society. I wonder if our grandfather's need for secrecy late in his life was related to him. I was not aware he was a Dissenter like Priestly. Nothing in his notebooks suggests that," Andrew said. He gazed down at the large tome and the smaller books that accompanied it and wondered what he might be getting himself in for.
"He was not a Dissenter. He cannot have been a Dissenter. Surely we should have known if he was. I do hope you will be careful with his things. I do not wish you to be seen as a traitor," William said.
"Why do you think I am not allowing Charles to witness what this collection contains? While I trust him, he is too close to the King. He is more loyal than you are, and I am sure he would have no qualms in confiscating these things. No, our grandfather hid them decades ago for a reason. We must respect that desire for secrecy and make sure they are protected, whether or not our grandfather was a Dissenter," Andrew said.
"I do not wish to read his books. Priestly's, I mean. He is the reason our city is in ruins, and he was the only Dissenting coward who fled. It is none the pity the rest did not flee with him," William said.
"I will not argue the point further. If it pleases you, I shall take the books so you do not have to read them," Andrew said.
"Take them. They are worthless to me," William said.
"I suppose it's not really me place now to pretend like I can't read 'em, is it?" Craig said, opening a small book to a place at random.
"You might sound common, sort of, but I know what you are capable of now. Truth be told, the magic you performed would have given you away, even if our grandfather's spell had not attacked you instead. No common thief, no matter how good, is capable of that kind of advanced magic. Not even I can fathom some of his magics," Andrew said.
"Yes, but yer a self-taught little scrag and I learned from the best," Craig said with a sly grin.
"I should think you had been born a boy the way you brag," William said.
"I got beaten up until I learned to be'ave like a proper lad," Craig said.
"Well then, make yourself useful and take the books over to the bookshelf there. They at least can stay here for the moment until I can go through them in more detail," Andrew said.
"Yes, sirs," Craig said and picked up a few books as he got to his feet.
Andrew and William moved onto another chest while Craig dealt with the books. This was a smaller chest than the others and appeared to contain a large collection of chemicals, metals and other things in them that Andrew could not readily identify. They looked surprisingly well-preserved.
"I am not sure I want to look through these," Andrew said, picking out a vial at random to see if it lent any clue to what it contained.
"If you're going to do that, don't do it in the main house. Imagine Charles' face if you caused some sort of explosion," William said.
"I had no intention of conducting any such experiments in the house here. Anything of that nature will be done in the old manor house, where my new workshop will be," Andrew said.
Deciding he would not risk any further danger, he slipped the vial back into the box and set them back inside the chest. It appeared to have been made for them, so Andrew saw no reason not to use it. The next and final chest was much more interesting, as it contained not only the old telescope that appeared to show the future, it also contained a vast assortment of strange items, crystals and other miscellaneous items Andew could not identify.
"I suspect nothing in here is merely ordinary, no matter how mundane it appears. Craig and I know the telescope is far from ordinary, and I suspect this strange orange crystal is far from ordinary as well," Andrew said. He had in his hand a small orange hexagonal crystal. There was no clear sign of what it was, but Andrew suspected it was magical in origin.
"Why would he have this silver quill? What use is a silver quill?" William said, lifting the strangely light quill. AS he went to run a finger along an edge, he cut himself. "Oh, my, that is sharpish. How very peculiar."
"I suspect we shall entertain ourselves finding out what it does. Here, you are not cut badly, are you?" Andrew said.
"No, no, I will be fine. It is a mere sliver of a cut. There is little blood," William said, sucking on his finger anyway.
"What's this? Some sort of tiara, I fancy. I never seen a jewel like that before though," Craig said, picking out a gilded tiara with a spectacular red stone set in the centre.
"I wouldn't put it on. It might transform you into a frog, and I daresay you've had enough of transformings for one day," William said.
"I weren't gonna put it on. I promise. I just thought it looked pretty. I'd get a few coins for that at market," Craig said.
"No one is touching it until we work out what it does," Andrew said.
"Way to spoil my fun," Craig said, but set the tiara down anyway.
There was a plain silver chalice that appeared to have no apparent purpose, as well as a dictionary. The dictionary was very queer, as it appeared to be in mirror writing and read from back to front. Andrew would have to find a way to translate it if he was to read it properly.
"Well, well, this has been a fascinating collection. Is there anything you wish to have?" Andrew said to William.
"I don't believe so. It can all be yours, as long as you wish to have it. Magic, while interesting, is not as much of an interest as it appears to be to yourself. But do me a blessed favour and keep it all safe. If no one else is to know we have these things, then make sure that they are well-kept and hidden from sight. I do not want you or I getting in trouble for this," William said.
"I will take good care of them, I can assure you of that, brother. I am no fool. If our grandfather wants them hidden away, then they shall be hidden away. Mark my words, we will not be caught with them," Andrew said.
Andrew's words seemed to settle William, and with the collection sorted at a basic level, all that was left to do was pack the chests again and conceal them somewhere safe until they could be found a better place to live. William retired to his rooms after that, leaving Craig and Andrew alone. Andrew was ready for a nap after all his exertions and flopped down on his bed.
"Shall I consider meself dismissed, sir?" Craig said.
Andrew raised his head to look at him. "You may rest a while, if you desire. There is no hurry to have you back at the barracks."
Craig respectfully climbed onto the bed and lay beside him on his side. "I wonder if I'll ever look like i used to, or if I'm stuck like this forever."
"I wish I could answer you. You are, I assume, fully female? Does this particular enchantment of yours stop when you are without clothing, or does it work some other way?" Andrew said.
"I... I had always assumed it was a spell on me body, not me clothes. But now I'm not so sure. You'll excuse me while I undress, just t'see what you observe. Yer a doctor, after all," Craig said.
"it would be an honour, Princess," Andrew said.
Andrew sat up as Craig slipped his clothes off. Andrew was not sure if it was due to the lack of magic, clothes or something else, but Craig appeared female. It was as if the spell was broken and his true form was revealed.
"So, what do you see?" Craig asked tentatively.
"What do you see?" Andrew said.
Craig looked at his body. "It's female. I'm assuming that's what yer seeing too. How disappointing."
"How did you achieve the male body last time?" Andrew said.
"It was an accident. A week after I'd set the spell on me, somehow it became permanent. Least I thought it was permanent. Maybe I'll never get that back again. I might have to leave the Army. I can't survive out there with a female body," Craig said.
"Maybe we'll have a chat to Charles and see if we can't get you as my assistant. How would that sound?" Andrew said.
"Well, it'd beat drill training in the wet," Craig said.
"Come on, get dressed. You must be freezing. We'll lie here a while before heading down for supper," Andrew said.
Craig dressed and lay beside Andrew again. He wasn't sure he would get used to this strange double life. The return of his female body was an unwelcome development, and he would have to work out how to negotiate the difference in his appearance. He had no intention of becoming the Princess again, so he would just have to learn to cope.
Craig looked up as Andrew wrapped an arm around his shoulders, bringing him close. Craig was secretly glad for the gesture. It reassured him Andrew was someone he could trust, and he was going to have to learn to trust him because he knew his secret and if he told, there was no telling what the repercussions might be.
So yes. Not sure what kind of progress it is, but it'll do. :D