Tangled

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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."

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,"

place for me while

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

subject, I nod towards the papers scattered on

you working on? Looks

Grand Sage's face lights up. "Indeed it is. I'm developing a communication device. Something smaller and more portable than

I lean in, genuinely curious. "Like a

address that. But I'm working with limited options due to our lack of supplies." We're refugees, after all. It's not like we have access to the latest tech or endless resources. "Plus," he continues, "it needs

11:34

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Lisa: Would a

do you

face me fully. "Not everyone in our camp can utilize or sense magic. We need a device that anyone

Yes. Obviously that's what that means. "Right. Gnomes can't use magic. Or wolf

"We gnomes have always

with werewolves? I

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 for, say, mathematics. They are unrelated. Now, let's get back to

sketches. They're intricate, full of symbols I don't understand and diagrams that make my head spin. "So, how exactly

pencil again, tapping it against the paper. "The basic principle is to create a network of energy that can carry messages across distances. Think of it like your human radio waves, but

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 to be an

on."

me how familiar the gnome is with our human world and its inventions, but I suppose that's why he

our current situation. And then there's the matter of testing and refining the design. It's a delicate process. But above all,