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."

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

it'd be the safest place for me while Ava

yes. It's always important to step away

I nod towards the

are you working on? Looks

lights up. "Indeed it is. I'm developing a

lean in, genuinely curious. "Like

like that. Communication is a weak point for us right now, and I'm trying to address that. But I'm working with limited options due to our lack of supplies." We're refugees,

11:34

<

Would

you mean by

Sage 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

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

smiles. "We gnomes have

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

excellent question," the Grand Sage says, his 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 forms of magic. It's a bit like how some

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

up his 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

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

on."

me how familiar the gnome is with our human world and its inventions, but I suppose that's why he works on magical technology, trying to blend the two things. "That makes sense.

they're not easy to come by in our current situation. And then