[ IM ] --> potentially action (ota)

[somatophylax]

[This message ends up being camp-wide instead of targeted because Hephaistion is uncharacteristically too distracted to indicate otherwise. His words are low and apparently through gritted teeth. This son of Athena is Not Happy to say the least.]

I know that quite a few of you are busy, but if I may acquire the assistance of a member of Cabin Nine concerning the forging of [a weapon] something.

It is not of pressing need, so please take care of yourselves first, but I would like to discuss in private if someone has a moment.

Comments

[pyrkagia]

[To be quite frank, Dany's not particularly happy, either. She's got some plans for tonight to be on her way, but until then, until it's safe...she can help someone who needs it.]

I suppose I can find a minute to help you.

[somatophylax]

[It's not as though he was asking for something that was prohibited, but he'd still prefer to make sure they were not overheard]

Thank you. I have schematics for something I've designed and was wondering if such a thing was possible to create. I am unfamiliar with your skill set, but a consultation would be greatly appreciated.

[pyrkagia]

I'll do my best with whatever you have to show me.

[Even though she's not as good as Leo or Sky, she kind of...wants to take this one on her own.]

Meet me in the forges and we'll go over it.

IM --> action

[somatophylax]

I'll meet you there.

[He sympathizes with her need for distraction. Books aren't like dragons (he remembers her from her Iris Message just after the attack) but at the very least, he understands the feeling of loss]

[He heads to the forges, a few rolled pages in hand. He doesn't come near the forges often, so he looks around with interest when he first arrives there. But they have more pressing matters to attend to.]

It's Dany, right? I'm Hephaistion. Thank you again for meeting with me.

[The designs he shows her are for a xyston-- a 4m long spear with bronze spear-points at each end. The sketches on the parchment show how the shaft can be split into thirds (for when a weapon that long is impractical (which is most of the time when not on horseback)) but still is able to quickly and securely locked back together to deploy its full length. It's not the most complicated of request, but far beyond his own ability]

I'M SO SORRY I MISSED THIS

[pyrkagia]

Yes, you may call me Dany if you'd like.

[So many do, after all. If anything, the nickname is the one thing she's thankful for her brother giving her. It's much easier for most to pronounce 'Dany' than 'Daenerys', anyway. She can remember when it was the only thing Enjolras was able to say to her in English well.

She peers over the spear - it's fascinating, actually, something she'll have to take some serious time out to complete. And it'll be hard to do it before she leaves after her dragons, but she can do it - even if she'll have to save it for when she gets back.]

This is...I've never done something like this, but I'm interested in finding out if I can.

not a problem <3

[somatophylax]

[he gives her an apologetic look] I'm sorry. I have only heard others call you by name and assumed. If you tell me your proper name, I will address you by that if you'd prefer. [because personally, Hephaistion is not a fan of nicknames]

[He's quiet as she looks over the plans, letting her form her own opinions on the weapon. He has his own thoughts on the theory behind how something like this could be created... but not the skill to do so. He's smart enough to leave that to the professionals.]

If it interests you, you would be doing me a huge favour to try. I would be in your debt. Whatever you want.

[pyrkagia]

It's not a matter of preference, really, just of ease for everyone else. My full name is 'Daenerys'.

[She pronounces it effortlessly - the word rolls off her tongue like she's speaking another language, but one she's accustomed to. She doesn't know exactly why he wants this, but...]

What are your plans for this?

[Of course, she has some ideas about 'repayment', but...]

[somatophylax]

Daenerys. [He's good with languages, so his pronunciation is pretty on-point] That's a lovely name, although I can see why it might give people pause.

[He's not in the habit of outright explaining his hangups about his own name, so he won't elaborate unless asked. Although he merely asked her to clarify for the future. Calling someone you've just met by a nickname was not always seen as polite.

He gives her a small smile and glances away, indicating that he doesn't say that to flirt with her. Merely a compliment.]

My plan, if I am assigned to such, is to go after what was stolen from the camp. And, if I am denied that opportunity, to use the weapon to prevent such a thing from ever happening again. The weapon is not just Greek but Macedonian, which is my mortal heritage. It's a symbol, but also quite dangerous if used properly.

[pyrkagia]

Thank you. I quite like it myself.

[She does appreciate it, though, despite the hangups unknown to her. She places a lot of value in being polite, even to those who she doesn't particularly like. (The ability she has to be angry, like a fire-breathing dragon, and well-spoken at the same time, isn't something she's so outright about.)]

I understand the sentiment. My children were taken from me. I can't take this sitting down.

[Of course, she won't tell him about her plan just yet. She doesn't quite know him well. She flits around the forge, looking for materials that might help her.]

Are you trained with this?

[somatophylax]

[Hephaistion, too, has quite a polite-while-angry streak. He prefers to take matters physically into his own hands usually, but there are times when the right words are more potent.]

Your children. [He remembers that IM] How dare they. [There is venom in his voice. Books and parchments were one thing, but living breathing dragon children were quite another.] Please let me know if there is anything at all I can do to help you.

[to her question] I have trained with a wooden and steel one, but never one of this construction. Because of the awkward length, it's meant to be wielded from horseback, but you can [he pantomimed the motions] stick the point at one end into the ground to brace it, raise the other point to the appropriate height, and cause a rushing enemy to impale himself.

[pyrkagia]

They're sick.

[It's clear she's getting angry now, just thinking about them, and she feels the room heating up around her, almost. No. She takes a deep, steadying breath. She cannot allow that to happen. Not now.]

That's actually ingenious.

[Honestly, something she would advise to use against the Red Room. He's a son of Athena, she's a daughter of Hephaestus. Together, they can mastermind something.[

[somatophylax]

[If there is any actual change in the room temperature, Hephaistion will assume it's just his imagination. But he can tell how angry she's getting, and he can't blame her at all. He wishes he could reassure her in some way, but he doesn't have it in him to even try for the moment.]

I wish I could take credit for the design, but it's simply a modification of a very old weapon, circa 600 BCE. Tactics of war may have changed over the centuries, but some tricks hold true.

[He was hoping that they would get along well enough for this task. Looks like they'll be just fine.]

[pyrkagia]

How do you know all this?

[As soon as it comes out of her mouth, though, Daenerys feels like clapping a hand to her forehead. He is a son of Athena. It is part of his nature to know this.]

[somatophylax]

[He gives a soft smile. It might be in his nature, but he has a few reasons in particular why he even bothers looking into this kind of stuff]

Military history, particularly weaponry and ancient strategy, is my specialty. There is documentation of all kinds of weirdly impractical battle techniques that I find fascinating. And, occasionally, one or two can be modified to be effective in a modern application.

I'm glad to have piqued your interest.