A young man with appearance of being in his mid twenties, with curly long brown hair tied back into a flowing mess of a ponytail, and eyes of golden amber, with a overcoat of black , paired with leather pants and beige shirt jogged through the streets an aura of curiosity and excitement stretched over his lips, while the sound of her sandals flopping with every step she took echoed. getting to a building that was but two floors gray bricks being the main building material with accents of red for the roofing tiles and trim of the windows, a sign made of metal displaying the name "Heavenshield Oddities". He reached into the black iron mailbox taking out several pieces of mail, while using his keys to unlock the door his voice calling out to him with an excited tone, as he sat down on the table and started to go through their mail* "Alex!, You seriously not awake yet? You promised that kind old lady that you'd fix her stove today!" He shouted while kicking his feet, the sounds of movement from upstairs reverberated throughout his abode as he stirred to life, making his way down the steps the brown skinned young man also reflecting early twenties came down.
Wool shorts barely covered his physique, as he wasn't quite molded like that of a knight but he had definition mostly in his arms from tinkering and mechanic work he did. "i remember~, i just wanted to catch a couple more z's before i really got into it. is that the mail? anything good or just garbage?" He would lose his concentration starting at him with a light blush overtaking his cheeks, he was always extremely relaxed around him since he always helped him and even stayed over. to strangers he was always polite but distant and he noticed the difference between friends and just a business obligation. the smell of tea being made snapped him out of his daze, as he had slipped on his daily outfit. leather boots, leather pants, blue wool shirt, fingerless leather gloves, and a hardened leather coat dyed black.
he would sit right across from him and snatching the mail nonchalantly, searching through it. "invoice, invoice, invoice, HEY this has the royal seal on it!" his tone would would be dry and boring before shooting up with surprise, not expecting a letter from there. "i wasnt done looking asshat!" The young man would bleat out as he reached out the table his hands grabby "In your dreams~! I live here, and i get to read my mail first!." He would make his way around the table right beside him, as he smiled at her warmly breaking the seal on the mail and opening it up to see a letter, "Dear Alexander Heavenshield, Your presence has been requested for a business offer, please arrive at the castle gates and you will be escorted inside where you will be informed of the present offer. Sincerely, The Royal Secretary."
They both would look at each other, a blank expression over both of their faces, before a sudden rush of excitement rolled through them like a ton of bricks. "AHHHHHHHH" They both screamed, as Alex would pick up Vy by his arms. "our hard work paid off?! what the hell!" Vy exclaimed bursting out with laughter, Alex joined in setting him down and running his hands through his black medium length hair his curls swimming through his fingers, a grin plastered on his face. "this is our big break~. this job could bring so much reputation~, Working for the king will be a stepping stone~. i get more opportunities~, Endorsements~, Sponsorships to try out different parts~! The people ill be able to help....."
"What if he asks you to make weapons for war...?" Vy crossed his arms, As it was a very real possibility, the king could be asking him to create weapons for war. Alex would grab the kettle he had set to steep pouring their cups. "ill just have to decline... i don't wanna be the reason people suffer.... there's enough suffering out there... and i wont become that kind of artificer..." He clenched his jaw lifting his cup and taking a deep sip, Artificers in his day and age would supply kingdoms with much of their military might, or become wrapped up in conquering the dungeons and magical fields that would come in and out of the world. These dungeons and magical fields granted the world its magic, And many of the scholars still didn't have solid answers about why this phenomenon occurred in the first place.
Dungeons were stronghold for magical weapons and relics, swarming with traps and fearsome monsters that go beyond reason, as magical fields were strong areas of magic power, Forming their own ecosystems of extreme terrain housing animals, Monsters and materials, that are used in the creation of many things made in the current day and age.
"I'd rather be a dungeon delver, at least then id still keep my dignity..." The words leaving his mouth were cold and serious, before he set his empty cup down sighing. "okay im gonna get to work on that oven, lets not take any jobs today and tomorrow. i dont wanna promise to take on work if the offer from the king is gonna take up my time you know~?" A smile returning to his expression, Vy sighing and smiling back at him as he grabbed from bread from the cabinet, tossing it Alex's way. "Eating might do you some good~ you get too locked in, you suck at feeding yourself~." His expression was smug, Alex's hand catching the bread and giving it a bite.
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"Well excuuuse me princess~, I can't exactly control when i get into a groove!" *he quickly finished off his bread, walking out back as he gazed at the tarped up mass, releasing it from its binds he would grab his toolbelt from the workbench that happened to be pressed against the back of his house. he looped the toolbelt under his coat , popping the back and smiling, the flame crystal that acted as the fuel source had gotten a nasty crack resulting in it not turning on. popping out the cracked crystal he would walk back inside looking through his shelves with a glint of determination in his eyes, Vy who was just eating his breakfast of buttered bread and banana reduced to just a peel was itching to ask him. "you figured it out that fast~?" Alex laughed in a jovial manner.
"Yeaaaah~ the crystal is broke~ ill just replace it, give it a cleaning, and bam good as new~" He would huff and chuckle, amused by how simplistic the fix was. "It's never anything hard is it? Those people would be lost without you~, Like.... the dishwasher breaks, and its just a clogged pipe." he would groan with a stretch "or someone's magical tiller having blown a fuse~" Alex would add onto the jobs he's done, finding the flame crystal he was looking for, walking back and kneeling as he slotted it into place, walking around giving a knob a turn as flame would come up from the nozzle. "Nice~" He said with a sort of flair as he turned the knob, the fire fading, Before he he put the panel back on. He spent then next few hours cleaning, polishing, and even fixing any dents it had.
Once he finally finished up his work he used one of his many inventions, The gloves of might, Which so happened to be the very gloves he was wearing. The gloves would glow with the runes of strength he imbued into them letting him carry over 3 times his regular lifting capacity, which would be roughly around 150 pounds. He hoisted the magical over over his head, And went to deliver it to his client.
He walked down the road, heaving the oven over his head. Passing by other civilians they would wave, one of them striking conversation as he walked by. "Finished already uhh Alex? golly your so handy aintcha boyo? sure as shite this place would be a hole if ye weren't patchin' up our stuff" The gruff looking man would say, Alex merely chuckling* "I'm sure you'd manage~, but i appreciate all the requests just the same~" Alex making it to the house his client was at, without any hands he lightly tapped the door the woman coming to answer "im coming im coming" She opened the door and smiled. "golly sure are fast, didn't i drop of that old girl yesterday evening?" she said with gentle sweetness becoming of her old age and wisdom. "Didn't take long at all mam~, I just had stuff to do"
Alex would be lead inside, installing it and dusting off his hands. the old woman went back into some part of the house. and came back with a pouch of coins, gently placing the bag in his hands with a smile "So thall be 40 gold pieces~?" He nodded and smiled. "yes mam, I figured it was a a basic repair, i would have let you know if it was more serious~" She would smile and extend her hands out, grasping his free hand. "Life saver..... What would i have done if i couldn't cook my own food?" She spoke in a worried tone, before she cleared up, Alex breaking away and making his way out. "ill be seeing you mam, take care~"
He made his way home, and spent the rest of the night polishing his tools, gathering everything he needed for the meeting tomorrow unsure of what he was getting into. He had dinner with Vy after all was said and done, they were discussing invention ideas, concepts, Alex and Vy giggling into the night. Vy spent the night in the workshop with Alex, since there was only one bed they both slept back to back still unsure if either side harbored friendship, or perhaps something more complicated, though one thing was certain they considered each other invaluable in each others lives......
Morning would soon come and the day of the job proposition was ahead of them, Alex would get up looking over at Vy, before he changed into his daily outfit and set off not wanting to wake them. He steeled himself as he walked down the road, the brisk morning air waking him up slightly, his nervousness prevented him from wanting breakfast at all. He walked up slowly stopping at the castle's gates, knowing he might have gotten there early he waited for his escort putting up the professional mask he used to deal with business matters.