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Lux texts Drake!
L: hey. you busy today?
D: Yes.
L: oh, ok. well im hoping to meet with you soon? when you're free
D: I am never free. My time is very expensive.
D: What about?
L: thats fair
L: i wanted your advice on hedgespinning some jewelry
L: happy to trade for your time, but dont have much money
D: Jewelry?
D: Come now.
L: cool. where?
D: [Drake's address]
L: on my way
The homes in East Parkside are for well-to-do folks who can afford them. Most are brick and done in the style of castles with rounded windows. Drake's in particular defies the typical style by having well-maintained brass trim around the house. The building is imposing, without a lot of yard, and somehow a lot of smoke coming from numerous chimneys about the property.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/42/01/47/42014780cea373df09ef021f652c6534.jpg
Lux gives a curious blink up at the house, then hops up the stairs to give a light knock-knock at the front door. They're dressed casually--unzipped hoodie that has the sleeves cut off over a crop top, with ridiculously short shorts and fishnet tights.
There is no reply to the knock, even with the strange dragon-style knocker placed there. When Lux inevitably finds and presses the buzzer, instead of the typical noise, they find that the lights flicker briefly inside.
A few moments later, the door is jerked open by the wee dragon man. Shirtless, of course, and with what is effectively a wrap skirt around his waist. He grabs Lux to pull inside before closing the door. "If you wait too long, the flamethrowers kick on," he explains.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/36/e6/25/36e625b49148c96535db085683465000.jpg
Lux blinks, staggering inside as their brows raise. "...You have flamethrowers...?"
"Yes," states Drake succinctly.
"...Cool. I'll keep that in mind." Lux pauses, then straightens and lifts their hands to sign: How are you?
"Did Mearstapa make you learn this?" asks Drake before waiting and slowly signing in the way a teacher might; Alive. How are you?
They grin. "Nah. Well, we practiced together some, but been watching videos. Uh... I'm still not good at it though." And indeed, Lux did fumble a little or get signs juuuust slightly wrong but--for basic thoughts, it's understandable. I am good. Thank you. Your home is pretty.
It is. he seems to agree with sign, walking just backwards enough before looking to Lux. Jewelry?
Lux squints for a moment before seeming to get it. "Oh--uh, yeah. I... want to make gifts. For Mearcstapa and Jack."
"What sort of jewelry?" asks Drake. The amount of hard fixation might be unnerving. Combined with the fact they hadn't actually... started moving anywhere.
Now Lux looks very, very sheepish, rubbing the side of their neck. "Umm... Weeeell..." Then pinches their left ring finger. Rings.
"Engagement rings? Wedding rings? Fashion rings? Utility rings?" asks the Artist.
Lux clears their throat, lights glowing through their cheeks a bit. Definitely blushing. "Not really engagement or wedding rings--I mean, they don't have to look like them. But I guess, uh. Kind of like that. I want them to each be unique, to fit both of them--but I want them to match too? Or at least go together. Like a set. I want to make one for myself, too."(edited)
"Like a set of three rings with individual set markings, but have a particular interlocking mechanism? Or borrowing key aesthetic elements from one another so that when all three are seen together, they seem to match? You said hedgespinning - your intent matters. What is your intent for these rings?" asks Drake.
Not that they give them time to answer before grabbing onto their arm and begin dragging them past what could be considered clutter for others, but was likely more hoarding of very rare or unique things, all in their own organized sets.
And down and down they go... towards a basement and down to what looks to be a blackened smallish door to... well, if Lux was familiar with very old houses, a coal room? It's here that he turns for Lux's explanation perhaps.
Lux follows along when dragged, not replying while they're walking. Instead just looking around and blinking at the interior of the room. They know better than to touch anything, though.
When Drake turns back to them, Lux blushes deeper before huffing. "Okay, fine. Maybe it's sort of meant to be like wedding rings. I don't plan on us... like... doing anything legal, ironside, but we're going to swear motley oaths to each other so--it's a big commitment. I uh... I wanna give them something that shows I want us three to be together for the long haul, you know?" They chew their lip, then signs: Promise rings. To love each other forever. "I think having them match aesthetically would be good."
"You wish to swear on the rings? Bind them as one token?" guesses Drake.
"Nah--I figured they'd be separate hedgespun items. Maybe with effects to help them do what they love most? Like... help Mearcstapa pick locks, and Jack inspire and persuade people... Probably doing art or being pretty, for mine?"
Drake considers that, then presses his hand lovingly to the coal door with eyes closed...
When he opened the door beyond, a small curling of thorns crept around the edges of the doorframe, sharp needles ready to pierce.
Beyond was a glittering cave that looked as if it might have been cut from the inside of a geode large enough to break a city. Inside, there was the feeling of heat and comfort that one might find on a warm stone, with the steps carefully cut to lead inside. Greater heat still permeated from one of the passageways off this main portion of the cave, which seemed to house something of a combination drawing room and dining area - plush cushions set around in expensive silks and strong woods gilded with so, so, so many books and blueprints strung up.
This. This was the Dragon's Lair.
Lux follows into the hollow, looking around with wide eyes. "Whoa..." When Drake turns back to them they sign: Beautiful. and gestures around excitedly.
Drake nods his head. "I know." Then he's skittering off towards a little passage with less clearance...
The reason being that this little space had come to be what looked to be a garden with strange flowers of various metals with gemstone flowers all around. There's... a weirdly suspended table from the ceiling where Drake crawls up into a hammock to sit in front of. His bare feet dangle into this strange garden of jewels.
The light in the space seems to come from red-hot stones above, threaded through the stone and geode with lava-like properties.(edited)
Lux blinks down at the garden, lips parting in awe. "Wow..." They linger back to just admire a moment, then follows the dragon, ducking down in the lower passage. "Do you prefer I not touch anything?" They sign, awkwardly: No touch with a questioning expression.
Drake shrugs. "This is my jeweling workshop. Very easy to make things when you can test them."
Lux doesn't seem sure if that's a yes or not, but seems to decide to go with yes. They crouch down to admire the jewel garden, reaching out to touch the crystaline petals.
They feel somehow exactly as if they were sculpted that way, and yet, still are easily bent on reed and stem.
They grin widely, then lean back and look up at Drake. "So, are you willing to help me uh... make the base rings, at least? What would you want in return?"
"I know it'd need to be after the Hue and Cry," they add.
"You'd need time," says Drake as he pulls things onto the table. "Hedgespinning takes time. Better with people better able to work in tandem. Much glamour. But it can be done. Better to design the rings with what you mean them to be initially in mind. Better to build them to the best way possible," he explains.
Lux nods slowly, looking thoughtful. Only talking once Drake was looking at him again. "Yeah. I--admit, I don't have the designs completely down, just yet." They grin. "Why I came to you. Figured you'd know what's best to do. But yeah, I'm willing to take the time."
"Mearcstapa will want useful tools. Jack will want... something to make his ass bigger?" asks Drake while staring at Lux. "What do you want?"
Lux blink-blinks, then lets out a snort of amusement. "Yeah, Mearcstapa's probably needs to be practical. ....Could a ring break apart to become lockpicking tools?" Lux questions, head tilting in thought. "Jack will want something... pretty, but professional. He's into the union and helping and guiding them--so I figured something that helped get people's attention, without being overly flashy? Mine... Hm. I'm not sure how to make a ring that can help me with art, so I guess something attention-getting is fine too."
"Of course I can make something to help pick locks. And something to better color match," scoffs Drake. "Why would you assume anything else? I'm an artist. It's jewelry. Of course it can be done, and better than your wildest dreams."
He pats the hammock. "Come, sit. We draw now."
"You're awesome, Drake." They smirk, not seeming to mind the ego. They bounce up and wander over, hopping into the hammock beside him. "Alright. Let's do this."
And over the next several hours, Drake fixates on every detail and schematic, until they have a dozen or more options for each...
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