Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

"YOU! GIVE ME THAT CRYSTAL IN YOUR HAND!"

This was....not the first thing I was expecting when I came into the room. Maybe a "Hi, who are you?" or "Get out." or even some thrown beer bottles, but not a half maniacal man shouting for some random shiny object in my hand. I didn't even know the guy and he was already demanding my stuff. Last time I listen to a Free Counsel member. Ever.

"Uh....why?" I said.

The man visibly calmed down. He still twitched from time to time, but the fires of mania in his eyes had died down at least. "My...invention. I have built and perfected all of the mechanical and electrical workings within. Not a single piece out of line. Not a power line unplugged. But....I lacked the materials with which I could test my hypothesis this glorious machine is built around!"

With a sweep of his hands, he motions to the large contraption behind him. Two metallic cages, both twice the height of an average man stand about a foot apart. They look like some amateur blacksmith cobbled them together and then barely nailed them to a pulley system stretching into the roof, out of sight. Said pulley system was barely attached to an engine of ill repair. The whole thing looked rickety and ready to fall apart. I, wisely, said nothing.

"But then, someone has appeared before me holding the final crystalline substance I needed. I 'twas only lacking that which lies within your hand. May I have it, please?" The madness in his eyes was beginning to spark once more. For some odd reason, I thought he would attack me if I didn't give it to him. That, and he would trigger Paradox if I tried to cast a spell.

"Sure. Catch," I said, tossing the crystal in my hand to him.

The hunched over man caught the object with resounding speed, and burst out laughing.