#scarsdale

He makes sure the wood is glued and clamped properly, then uses the cut-out pieces to measure padding.

"It wasn't whoever. We met an eshu, too. You two need a drink?"

"Got coffee. Somewhere. Here!" He finds his mug, fishes the pencil out of it, and drinks. "Could be warmer."

She raises an eyebrow at that. "So, I make tea. Nu?"

"Yeah, fine." Measuring, checking, cutting so carefully.

"Tea's good." He leans on the wall, shoving his hands in his pockets, still scowling* "Came to see if you were here, Ghost, but since I'm here, maybe should ask Master Hirim about that idea, nu?"

"What idea? Did I forget?" Zara cranks a lever on some kind of steam-powered electric kettle.

"Stupid idea, using a ferkakta computer thing when you could use something -real-" Muttered as he works.

"My idea, was taking the idea of GPS and adapting it." Curtly, to Hirim, a rasp* "Send out a signal. Like a homing beacon. The time it takes...she's doing chronometers...the time it takes for the signal to bounce back from stations set up along the silver triangulates and tells you were you are. Helps if you get lost off the Path, too, to get back."

"And hell, sell airship parts at every station, they'll know where to look for repairs."

"Ada Lovelace, HeHe. And, yes, the Dr-...Lady Dria."

"Huh." He pauses, thinking. "What're the stations made of?"

"You tell me, you're the nocker." His eyes narrow* "I'd make them something impervious to weather, and tall, to have readable signal for both airships and people on the ground, over hills. So guess that would have to be metal, right?"

"Mayhaps she should talk to Ratchet." One nice thing about sluagh tea - the creamer requires no refrigeration, and is retrieved from a dark corner under a workbench.

"Take the time between the device you wear or carry on the ship, calculate the time it takes to bounce back to the tower. Figure out distance and location that way. She can do that."

"Withstand time, elements, do the bouncing thing. Yeah, Ratchet might know." He stacks the cut out cotton batting neatly aside.

"Cream, Isakins?"

His eyes flick to Zara, sharp and dark. And for a moment, there is a -- something there, recognition? If so, it's a momentary flicker, like a spark that flares and dies* "Isa...Ice, Ghost. Plain, thanks."

His eyes narrow, studying her*

She blinks, looking a bit surprised herself. A nod, and she brings over his tea - plain. "Aye. Of course..."

Hirim is bowed over his desk, checking the glue.

"Thanks, Ghost." A nod, dark eyes still studying her narrowly* "You seem a little different. Can't put a finger on it." He raises cup to sip, eyes never leaving her* "Wanted to see if you wanted to go riding later."

"Or learn to ride. Yourself."

"Oh! Yes, riding would be fun. I seem different? Mayhaps... I don't know... I went far. Maybe it lingers?"

The nocker grunts, not entirely pissed off at the work so far, and turns to lean against the bench, watching the wilders and wiping his hands on a rag.

"Maybe. Don't know yet." *A quick hard grin* "We'll find a soft place for you to wipe out. Good thing your bones won't break, nu?"

"True! Though I can get my learner's permit next month! Two weeks!"

"Oy." Dryly.

"Right. I'll be in Ma's shop pissing off the new guy. Seeing if he can keep his temper all day." A quick grin* "Being helpful. Weeding out the pishers from the serious workers. Bring your helmet when you're ready."

She picks up her own tea after handing off Ice's, floating on a low-flying cloud. "Wonderful. I'll have to tell you what I remember, vershtay?"

Hirim squints behind his dirty lenses.

"I thought you were supposed to forget - and a lot is fuzzy, but... lives, yes? They are the clearest things."

"Yeah. Want to hear that." He sips, trying to get out of the habit of quaffing his tea, his grin taking on an edge* "I think Master Hirim disapproves." Then he is studying her* "Yeah? Now I really want to hear."

"Zara? This adventure... what was is for?"

"Practice, yes? Become more familiar with the Dreaming? I told Mom."

He quaffs tea while Hirim is distracted*

"Hannah?"

"No, not Mama. -Mom-."

"I just told Mama I was going camping."

"Ffffttt." Like steam escaping, he waves her explanation off. "Ha. Right. Ok. She didn't mention it to -me-."

She shrugs. "Well, no worries, right? Home safe."

"Hmmph." He finds a cup; picks it up and sips. "HA! This is hot!!"

"...were you drinking the paint water, Hehe?"

A smirk, blowing over his own to cool it further before sipping again, then carrying the cup to the sink*

"No!" He stops and looks at the mug he's holding, which he knows now is hot, and at the other mugs on the workbench. "No." Less certain.

She reaches out, touching the back of the nocker's hand in a soft gesture of affection.

To his credit, Ice manages not to laugh, although the edged grin is still there as he remains turned away, rinsing the cup*

"Tea's good, bubalah." He mumbles.

He sets the cup aside, and heads towards the door; he's picked up a little bit from being here in Court, offering them both a casual bow as he heads out, in his denim and leathers* "Helmet," *He reminds as he goes*

"Helmet, aye."