Tangled

Unshift 311

Unshift 311

311 Lisa: Would a Watch Work?

LISA

"You've gotten fat. Elverly greets me, in that traditionally hateful way of hers.

Does the fact that I missed her toxic tongue mark me as abnormal? Probably. But I hug her anyway, smiling when her body doesn't tense, even as she grumbles at me for touching her without permission.

The rest of the night with Kellan was nothing but awkward silence. Being away from him is a blessing right now. I just keep thinking about how he smelled-yeah. No. Not thinking about that. "I'll ask next time. How have you been?"

Elverly's snort could mean anything really, but I choose to interpret it as I've missed you too.

Maybe I'm psychotic. Or delusional. But I'm pretty sure that's what she means.

"Their food is terrible," she mutters. "Not a cook among them."

"They are refugees from war," says the Grand Sage, sounding rather resigned. "It isn't as though they would gather the kitchen before escaping."

"Food is important, the old gnome woman snaps. "Eating well is an important part of recovery."

""Yes, yes."

smile as I watch the Grand Sage and Elverly bicker. Their dynamic reminds me of an old married couple, though I'd never dare say that out loud. Elverly might actually bite my head off if I did. "It's good to see you, Lisa," the Grand Sage says, turning to

it'd be the safest place for me while

Sage's eyes twinkle with understanding. "Ah, yes. It's always important to step away from new mates. Wolves don't have the same deep-seated urges for privacy as humans

cheeks burn at the implication. Desperate to change the subject, I

are you working on? Looks like some kind

lights up. "Indeed it is. I'm developing a communication device. Something smaller and more portable than what we

genuinely

us right now, and I'm trying to address that. But I'm working with limited options due to our lack

11:34

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Lisa: Would a

do you mean by

pencil and turns to face me fully. "Not everyone in our camp can utilize or sense magic. We need a device that anyone can use,

that means. "Right. Gnomes can't use

have always

that work with werewolves? I mean, their whole shifting

form of innate magic that allows them to shift. But that doesn't necessarily translate to an ability to manipulate other forms of magic. It's a bit like how some humans might have extraordinary physical abilities but no talent

nod, leaning in to look at his sketches. They're intricate, full of symbols I don't understand and diagrams that make

his pencil again, tapping it against the paper. "The basic principle is to create a network of energy that can

be charged with magical energy, but using it wouldn't require any magical ability from the user. It would be like using a flashlight. The electricity makes it work, but you don't need

on."

that's why he works on magical technology, trying to blend the two

our current situation. And then there's the matter of testing and refining the design.