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."

bicker. Their dynamic reminds me of an old married couple, though I'd never dare say that

safest place for me while Ava and

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

Desperate to change the subject, I nod towards the papers scattered on the table in

working on? Looks

I'm developing a communication device. Something smaller and

in, genuinely curious. "Like a magical

our lack of supplies." We're refugees, after all. It's

11:34

<

Would a Watch

do you mean

sets down his 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, regardless of their magical

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

have always

how does that work with werewolves? I mean, their whole shifting thing is pretty

eyes lighting up. "Werewolves do indeed have a form of innate magic that allows them to shift. But that doesn't necessarily translate to an ability to manipulate other

at his sketches. They're intricate, full of symbols I don't understand and diagrams that

the paper. "The basic principle is to create a network of energy that can carry messages across distances. Think of

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 things. "That makes sense. So, what's

running a hand through his beard. "Resources, mainly. We need certain materials to construct the devices, and they're not easy to come by in our current situation. And then there's the matter of testing and refining the