And it was, well, it smelled, it smelled of strong mixtures of oils and other chemicals. A very harsh set of smells all in all now that I was here. The place was even more developed in general!
Lots of metal pathways and painted on guidelines and the amount of wall-mounted medical kits and other forms of health and safety were abundant. And I really wish I had something to block my ears with too, it was very noisy here. Bangs, clangs and booms just kept vibrating throughout the air and I had to keep a loose jaw there were that many strong shakes! So, having taken it all in, I was very glad to have made it into the building I should be at.
And when those doors closed behind me it became very peaceful. The smells were suddenly clean and the noises were dulled or gone. I even found myself quietly laughing at the idea of bringing a scented candle next time if I ever had to return here. Would certainly make it so I wasn't rushing through the factory-like area of the Academy!
"Hey! Who are you?" someone called out to me from a chair on wheels as the group he was with stopped playing some kind of game on them. Some kind of game involving a stick, balls and what I assumed was a net of some description? But, it looked more like an overturned bin now that I got a better look at it.
"I am Einervaene, I am here regarding someone taking interest in something I submitted to the uniform people?" I recall with some confusion as I could not remember the name right now. Too many distractions overwhelming my mind and senses.
"Einervaene... Uniform... You lot got any ideas?"
"Einervaene!? Hold on!" someone called out from a little further on before they stumbled out of a room. A room that spat out several coils of wire and tubes wrapped in various colours of thread.
"Are you the one I am meant to go to?" I ask as I stepped around the people playing the game. Slightly unsure of how to react when I heard a sudden wave of comments regarding my legs and rear. One even sounding smug about the fact I had walked past his sitting form which gave him a pleasant upwards view. It felt like I was embarrassed from being praised, to be honest, like how I felt with the teacher before when they complimented my learning speed.
"Yes, yeah..." he said as he began to kick everything back into the room. Soon going along with where he was pushing me before he closed the door shut with a loud bang. And I wasn't sure what to do after, I was just standing here and he was scurrying about. An item or two in hand before he got up to put it away before he repeated the process.
"So what is it you wanted me to speak about? I know you stated interest in my request but the teacher mentioned other details."
"Yeah, I showed interest in it. Wanted to do a little work on it as practice for other things I am making." he said as he gave up tidying this place, kicking a barrel away with a huff before he sat down. His wheeled chair not getting far before he had to kick more items out of the way.
"Thank you for doing this, then." I say to him as I stepped a little closer with what I had before putting it by him just in case. His hands soon going over them before he stopped on the tablet with the details regarding him.
"Alright, I have one condition."
I frowned, I was hoping to get it as I wanted it, "What is it?"
"I want to do it in black, not white."
I tilted my head slightly, "Is there a reason for that? I wanted it to look as similar to this as possible." I explained to him. Gesturing to the outfit I had gotten from Rossie-chira back in that town we left.
"Because one of your statements was you wanted runed metal attached to this new set of clothes and as you elaborated that... Lig... Lightning was your magic, copper would be best and copper does not work with white."
"Can't you just paint over the copper? Electroplate it or something?" I then asked him as this just struck me as a very strange change. There were ways to get past this annoyance of his so why did he not move to take them?
He suddenly looked frustrated, "Look, do you want my help or not?" he then said to me. Something that made me want to frown as it was little better than a threat. A minor, insignificant threat, but a threat nonetheless.
"No, it's fine, it's fine. Is that all the changes you wanted to make?"
"Yeah, I can find everything else by just going to the necessary places. Are your measurements included?" he said before asking.
"Yes, I made sure to measure them with a friend."
"All measurements?" he then asked as his eyes stared intently at my chest. A chest I soon moved to cover with an item that I was fiddling with.
"Yes, we made sure all possible measurements were written down."
"Good," was what he said before he ploughed his chair through the mess of this room, "Copper... Lightning magic guiding... Black fabric... Uh... Yeah..." he then mumbled as he pressed several buttons. A few moments marked by clicks and taps filling the room before the main event. Then, it soon all came alive with a sudden magic flow as he went back to cleaning. But, it was mostly around this single machine.
I assume he was clearing the space around it so he could get to it. But, I really wished this place was just clean, to begin with as the mess was really annoying me. Maybe it was just my upbringing and the lessons that came with it. But I just did not want to be here in such a filthy place.
The room then suddenly became silent and he perked up with a smile, his hands soon opening up a machine. Soon after coming out of that machine with several pieces of black clothing rimmed with decorated copper plating and wires. Then, the items were in my hands and he looked at me expectingly. I looked back at him intensely.
"Well, put it on."
I blinked, "Excuse me?"
"Put it on, I need to see if it fits fine."
I blinked again as my grip tightened, "Excuse me?"
"You deaf? I just spoke clearly."
I started glaring at him, "Get out." I ordered.
He moved his head back, "You can't just kick me out of my own workshop." he grumbled.
"I can when you suddenly want me to get changed in front of you!" I nearly shouted at him as I grabbed him and shoved him out. Shocking him on the way out before locking the door behind me with a sigh. My eyes soon looking about uncomfortably as I was completely unaware if any surveillance equipment was in here. But, as I wanted to be done with this room, I took in a deep breath and got to it.
Making sure I did not let my exposed body linger as such for long and going about it methodically. Taking off what I could and replacing it before going on to other pieces of clothing and switching over to it. Slightly panicking when I got to my lower body and upper chest as my body shape had to be contested with. Yet soon, despite my rush and mistakes, I got dressed again in the new outfit.
A small smile on my face as I felt the warmth of the freshly sorted out fabric. But, before I opened the door again, I looked for a mirror while holding my newest clothing addition. A prideful grin soon appearing on my face as I put a wide-brimmed hat on my head. Tilting it down slightly as I stuck a hip out and rubbed a leg before this room's mirror.
"Can't wait to show the others!" I said with lots of giddiness before moving about in the outfit. Making sure it was all to the proper standards before then picking up my older outfit. A smile on my face as I looked on at it before my lips tightened a little. I really did not want to give it back to Rossie-chira...
I just had gotten so used to it and had learned to really enjoy this outfit and it was very special to me! I hadn't had it for long, granted, but a lot had happened in this outfit and it held a lot of meaning. As such, even though I really should have returned it, I did not want to. Maybe Rossie-chira would not notice, but only time would tell.
"Thank you for your help and by the gods... Clean up that place!" I said in thanks first before letting out my annoyance. Leaving behind the one who had just helped me with a smile on my lips and greater bounce in my step.
"We have changing rooms you know!" he then called out to me, but I just ignored him as my eyes widened. A sudden flow of air leaving my nose as I got rid of that embarrassment. Suddenly looking down to make sure I had everything before nodding as I left through the door. Going back into the noise and stink of Mechanical House.
"God of Air, please safe me from being a potential carrier of smells from here..." I prayed in worry, marching off quickly to escape the industrial landscape. I did not want my show-off moment to be ruined by the smell of oil! But, I might have been willing to ruin it with the smell and sight of dirt now that I thought about it... This outfit was designed to help me guide my magic after all, maybe it would help me do what I tried before?
I hope it did!