#𝑪𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒔 || 𝑪𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅

[ellegaard]

┉┈◈◉◈┈┉ 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳: @bethanymcsm

This was quite the situation. But, for the first time in what felt like years- and what probably was- Ellegaard couldn’t say that was a bad thing.

She’d gone into Beacontown with Olivia today, though mainly at the request of Olivia. It was both productivity and a social run- they’d been optimizing the Nether Railway, and would have a chance to test their handiwork with the promise of seeing old faces at the trip’s end. It wasn’t as if Ellie had ever really explored Beacontown, anyway— so it hadn’t taken too much imploring from her partner-in-redstone to get her out of the Dome. (Albeit, not without ensuring the cat would be looked after. Thank circuits for Calvin.)

Which meant it had been a rather long day. They’d stopped a few times to adjust the pivoting on a few connecting tracks- which, when combined with the Nether’s sweltering heat, meant they were tuckered out before they’d even made it to Beacontown. Adding a surprise encounter with Jesse and Lukas, and a brief trip to see Magnus’s armor, meant that Ellegaard was tuckered out, sapped, and just about every other synonym any thesaurus could offer for “tired”.

So, after a meal from a place Jesse had recommended (she always did find it funny how they remembered her fondness for bread)- she’d set off to find an inn for the night.

(Or at least she was supposed to. As it turned out, most everything outside of her head never went according to plan.)

She’d caught a glimpse of armor too distinct to ignore. Combine that with a stature that was all too familiar, and the way she’d tapped his shoulder without thinking, and it was a perfect match with-

“..Gabe?”

[shecallsbs]

It was almost funny. She'd gotten Chinese for dinner last night, and the stale fortune cookie had promised her that the right people would find her before she threw it out. Like that was going to happen in the middle of conference week.

Lauren had gone into the next day mentally prepared for an onslaught of things: confused attendees, technology fails, and just about everything else that could go wrong with a massive meeting. What she hadn't expected was an odd tugging in her brain, the type she'd only heard about from her parents- the type that came with being summoned, or called to something at the very least. She'd hardly been able to sit still until the meeting ended, racing outside the moment she was free.

That had left her face to face with something- someone- entirely unexpected.

Had the pull not resolved the moment she'd laid eyes on him, she likely would've dodged all responsibility and gone back inside. But one look at the new arrival had determined the same thing he'd likely deduced for her: she was dealing with something demonic in nature, and that implied a certain degree of kindredness.

So she drops the facade, and takes off the sunglasses she'd thrown on only minutes prior. "..Hello there. Do you have any business with me?"

@shecallsbs

Crimson eyes blinked curiously at the demoness. She was unlike others he had seen in his that time. More human in appearance. Though, that could have easily been a guise to blend in with this more... modern realm. One that he knew next to nothing about.

Demonic summoning circles and rituals had brought him to this land, and he was quite lost. Everything was new to the little sheepe, and the caprine was trying to wrap his head around everything.

It was overwhelming at best. But maybe... she could offer some help?

[ellegaard]

┉┈◈◉◈┈┉ For @pamabutnormalthistime

"I am intrigued at the prospect that... you are familiar, yet unfamiliar. From another reality, I assume." PAMA does a double take. "Unless I am mistaken."

“No.. No, I’d say you’re correct.” It’s more of an uttered realization than a declaration, but it’s a simple fact she knows to be true. How else could there be a whole other PAMA, when the heart of the one she’d heard so much about sat on a quartz pedestal?

“Wow… Wow. Where to begin with the comparisons, huh?” A wry little chuckle does little to mask the excited inflection to her voice, and the roaring curiosity it means.

[ellegaard]

┉┈◈◉◈┈┉ from First Impressions Starters || Accepting

@aslyfcx 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕: "𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖."

“Well! I suppose that would depend on what exactly they weren’t exaggerating, huh?”

At this point, it was a gamble as to which reputation preceded her; heroics, or the afterburn from a secret that had finally clawed its way to the surface. But the fact remained, nonetheless; it was nice to know she hadn’t been forgotten about, for better or worse.

Whatever babble spreading recently would’ve been news to her ears, and it certainly wouldn’t keep her from her usual show of a welcome. Redstonia was her pride and joy, a legacy she’d forged with her own hands- and here she was, still able to be amongst it all. So she’d come out of the Dome to welcome visitors today; the weather was nice enough, and brought out interesting company as today’s conversant showed. She shifts her weight, rests a hand on her hip, and smiles.

“Am I what you’ve expected, then?”

[ellegaard]

┉┈◈◉◈┈┉ from First Impressions Starters || Accepting

@olliesmultimuse's Soren sent: "𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎? 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈?"

The question gives her reason for pause, reason enough to set the piston she’d been hefting on a nearby tree stump.

“Well, I’m.. Not really in much of a position to correct them! Not right now, anyway.”

She offers Soren a small shrug, a bit of a chuckle. “I could preach until I’m blue in the face, but the fact of the matter is that people just.. Won’t be convinced by a few words on my end. I wouldn’t be either if I were in their shoes. So-“

Ellie lifts the piston again, voice straining momentarily from the effort, and tucks a repeater under her arm. “-if I can’t- prove myself through my words, I can put on the best show they’ve ever seen.”

She orients the piston where she wants it, and arranges the repeater in a certain fashion. The circuits she’d been connecting begin to emanate, vivid red and sparking- and Ellegaard gives it a proud once-over, and dusts off her gloves before going to stand next to Soren.

“Then they can come to their own conclusions about me, and what I’m capable of! Nice and factual.”

[shecallsbs]

Her brows lift once she connects the dots. (It shouldn't have surprised her as much as it did, but she'd never heard her sister's boyfriend mention having siblings of his own. At least not while Lauren was around.)

"..Yes, that's- Exactly it, actually." She breathes out a small sigh, shaking her head with a mildly amused look about her. "I'd thought the blue was a coincidence. Gotta love a famous family."

She extends her hand, a gesture that seems both diplomatic and casual. "I'm Lauren. Hello there, Blue Squared."

“Heh, let me guess they also have blue hair too?” he jokes with a chuckle. There's not many people with blue hair around here from what he's seen anyway.

“Nah, no worries. It happens more often than you think. Probably because some of my sibs are making names for themselves, heh.” They may be getting famous, but he and the others get recognised by association, it seems.

[ellegaard]

──⇌• 𝑭𝒐𝒓 @adventuringalchemy | | 𝑹𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆

Loose chestnut ringlets, barely restrained by a pair of goggles atop her head, are swept back as Ellegaard lifts her head. She stretches for just a moment, a succession of pops serving as her back’s only protest to sudden movement.

Aches and stiffness are only secondary to the way her entire self seems to perk up. Gloves are wiped on an work apron, dusted with faint specks of redstone stains new and old. Heeled boots click rhythmically on tile as she makes her way over to Ivor.

“Ah, fantastic!! These are..” Her voice trails off, in that way it usually does when her thoughts raced faster than her words could be spoken. She takes a sensor in both hands, turning it round, eyes roving.

“..Perfect. Just perfect- these will revolutionize the world as we know it, Ivor, just you wait!”

She makes her way right back to her bench, tutting to nobody in particular about all the possibilities, before proudly setting the sensor atop of a clean spot. She’s half ready to throw herself right back into work before her train of thought catches up, and she turns back to Ivor.

“Thanks, Ivor. Sorry for all the trouble.” She chuckles weakly. “..There was a reason I went straight to you when I figured out where these guys were.”

[ellegaard]

“Am I safe with you?”

┉┈◈◉◈┈┉ 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 || Accepting

Ellegaard lifted straining eyes from the map she was currently deciphering, eyes adjusting to her surroundings once more- and now, the new presence in front of her. She must’ve been too absorbed to even notice them come up.

“Hm-?”

She’d been sent a letter from a neighboring village, requesting help with an automated farming system- and with nothing else save for a rather faded map indicating where she needed to go. So with a slight desire to put herself to use, and against all better judgement, Ellegaard had set off on a.. Rather confusing journey.

But there was little that was confusing about the fact that this journey, for better or worse, had led her to someone. Or someone to her. She wouldn’t debate the order of that operation at the moment- it was pretty customary for lone travelers to form groups nowadays, wasn’t it? Maybe she needed to get out more.

“Well, I’d say you sure are.” The map is shifted to sit under her arm, as she gives the young woman a warmer look. Ellegaard was no Gabriel, but she knew her way with a weapon- and though the setting sun kept her from fully taking in her conversant’s appearance, she was more concerned with the potential that they’d come to her for some sort of assistance.

“What’s the matter?”

[ellegaard]

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+ 𝑻𝒂𝒈 𝑫𝒖𝒎𝒑 +

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Rules/Blog Info | Bio

[ellegaard]

A smile comes across her lips, one she can’t even begin to resist. “Lady knight would be one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever been likened to! And I guess I do love myself a good adventure or two.”

She hums a bit, threading a loose curl of hair back into place. “I have a friend that loans me books every now and then. ‘Anya’ was a princess in one of them.”

A brief chuckle as the two walk, as their footfalls sound in differing cadences. Ellie takes note of a difference she can finally make sense of: hooves. It was something she had only read about before, but certainly never seen in her lifetime.

She catches herself as Anya begins to bring up trade routes, directions and whatnot. (If there were others like Anya, who kept trade routes accessible and open, then she had a lot of thanking to do.)

“Oh! Oh oh oh. Where I’m heading, yes..” She mumbles a bit to herself, patting her pockets before remembering that the map is under her arm. She unrolls it, eyes roving faint inked lines, and tilts it a bit so Anya can see.

“There’s this village I’m supposed to be stopping by, though I’m in a map predicament at the moment.” She squints. “The closest landmark to it that I can make out is that ravine there..”

🪷 "Ellegaard, that's a pretty name. Reminds me of the knights in the stories my Papa used to tell me. Nothing fairer than a lady knight and her adventure~!" Anya beamed happy with how warm the other's name was to her.

Making a respectful distance between the two made it obvious why her footfalls were different. The cloak didn't hide her hooves, it was clear to keep rain and weather off her head and clothes. Thick black fur kept her legs warm.

"I'm actually fixing trading routes ....got a bit turned around through that thicket ....." She looked back from where she came and shook her head. " I've been leaving markers to aid when I come back, the villagers weren't kidding when they said some were grown shut."

"As for yourself? Are you looking for close villages or is there a landmark you're looking for? I'm not too familiar with this side of the forest but I don't mind helping. Will help my own map in the long run~" 🪷

[ellegaard]

"Oh, I see exactly how it is. This is a training trip we're going on, huh?" Ellegaard punctuates that with the best mock-scowl she can muster, but Gabriel's laughter is quickly rendering that useless. Ah, well. Gabriel did have a pretty contagious laugh.

Conceding, Ellie gives Audrey a final rub before standing back up. (And silently cursing the way her back cracked as she did.) "Well! It just looks like I'll need to up my game a bit more. Nothing I can't handle." And on that note, with her chin held high, she picks her bag up- looking half ready to march herself right back to Redstonia already.

"Did you sleep well?"

Gabriel laughs at Ellegaard's reaction. After a good long while he calms down enough to say, "I couldn't help myself!" He takes a deep breath, calming down so that he isn't laughing anymore (not to say he isn't grinning though), "Yes. Your reflexes need a lot of work, I won't always be able to sprint to the rescue." He teases, crossing his arms whilst Audrey wags her tail proudly and licks Ellie's hand.

[ellegaard]

Ellie's quiet as PAMA speaks, and only speaks again once it's clear that they're done.

"..Circuits," she mutters. "I'd heard about the rebellion here, for sure; but I don't think I ever really considered just how much that took." She hadn't been anywhere near Beacontown when the world started to end again- Olivia had filled her in on what she could, of course, but it would never be the same as experiencing the real thing.

She sighs. "I'd hoped it wouldn't be the case, but it seems like our worlds have a lot of the bad things in common." She trails off uncertainly, giving herself a moment to think. Surely there had to be something nice to compare, right?

"...Let's see here, um.. Well- Jesse and Petra are out traveling the world. Or this one, at least." She chuckles a bit, both at her sorry attempt to lighten the mood and the thought of where those kids had ended up. "I get the feeling you care about them a good bit- Jesse, I mean. It's been nice to see them go on an adventure that isn't to stop some world-ending evil, and I think it's been good for them."

Now PAMA is silent for a whole different reason. They do their whole 'processing phase' for a good few moments. "Yes... I had the misfortune of meeting the Admin, in a way. I never saw his true appearance, but I did see him take the form of my Jesse." They recoil reflexively.

"I am not sure if you have heard of Beacontown's rebellion against him, but I had joined that effort. I ended up fighting Jesse. I would have killed her if she had not proven to me that she had not done those awful things. I must admit it... Haunts my mind sometimes. I also shudder at the thought of what would have happened if it was not Jesse I tried to fight at the time. What would the Admin have done to me?"

PAMA stops before they provide any more morbid details.

[ellegaard]

A smile. “I dunno.. I can find most things at least a little fascinating. But I’ll have to take your word on it, at least until I can get out a bit more.” Predator and prey? What would that entail? She’d have to see if she could (politely) ask him more later.

“And my friend sure is something, that’s for sure! But in the good sort of way.” She'd have to write to him again soon.

She brushes a bit of redstone from a pocket on her cardigan, and squares her shoulders again. “Would you be interested in a short stroll? I’ve got some students to check up on, but a tour of the island can fit pretty well into that.”

Nick flashed a smile. "Oh, really? Zootropolis is just a big ol' place where both predators and prey lives in, harmony and all...not that there's actual harmony." Nick mumbled that last part out under his breath as he then looked up to the other. "Really? Your friend gifted that beauty of an armor to you? Your friend must be one heck of a person to make that kind of stuff, that's real talent right there."

"There's nothing fascinating about Zootropolis, I can assure you on that part."

[ellegaard]

She seemed to feed off of his eagerness, which in turn amplified her own. With a single flourish of a hooked finger, her goggles are back over her eyes; she digs a hand into one of the larger pockets in her apron, digging out a spare pair of gloves, and-

Ah, wait a second.

Ellie purses her lips for a moment, patting each pocket on her apron before standing up again. She reaches across her workbench to grab a spare pair of goggles, which she finally passes to Ivor with a small smile. She couldn’t just let him burn his hands (or worse, blind himself) on her account, now could she?

“I really ought to get you some of your own,” she muses aloud, letting her fingers brush against his again. “As nice as you look in my gear, you’re practically a regular in the lab by this point.”

She scribbles a note to herself in a sprawled open notebook before getting to work, in what can only be described as semi-organized chaos. The sensor is placed on its own in the center- trails of redstone extending outwards to test just how far this signal could go.

“..Hm. I think lamps could be our best bet, right?” She steps back, standing shoulder to shoulder with him as she inspects their handiwork. “I suppose having a visual indicator.. Thingy of a working signal would do.”

--------------- it was always a pleasure to listen to her rattle on. though it wasn't his expertise, ivor did know a handful about redstone. his knowledge could never extend as far as the woman's intellect; he could build a flying machine or two. complicated and convoluted, yet ever still, a flying machine. he hadn't done it in a while, however. not since he constructed doors that were stationed back at his tower within beacontown. and those were built ages ago. at least half a decade. albeit, memory is strong and the man had enough confidence to at least understand her. in any case, the warm infatuation the alchemist had would make him inclined to listen; knowledge or not.

--------------- not only that, but they share a similar characteristic; passion. ivor had an affinity for intelligence, and qn even bigger heart for those who share his. witnessing someone as moving as ellegaard letting her soul soar and her brain sing brought the man some peace. they were one in the same. body would jerk about and flail, jump and twirl at even the slightest potential of brewery. ellegaard? she couldn't stop talking once she got started! and the man didn't mind! in fact, it was invigorating! such a burning love that it radiated to him.

--------------- for he had found someone to be himself with. for he had found another soul with the same flame as he.

--------------- " well, isn't this intriguing. a sort of wireless redstone. hmm... i never thought that could have been possible! " then again, with all the new technology harper had brought to their world, who knows what else could have been implemented? bony fingers tug at his beard curiously. " when i was down there, it activated just by me walking next to it! i assume it would work the same way as it did in the ancient city... "

--------------- throwing excitement back at his lover, his steps take him closer. boots click against the surface of the floor. eyes linger upon the sculk before they dart to her with anticipation.

--------------- " we shouldn't just be standing here! " ivor muses, trying to rile her up. there is nothing quite as exciting as his woman when she's in her element. the alchemist wouldn't mind witnessing it again, and being a part of it. aching heart wanted to give her as much support as possible. and this was how; throwing oak and spruce to her fire. " hurry up and build something! i'll be here to help you. "

[ellegaard]

"WhOAP-"

With a startled, cut-off amalgamation of speech and a yell, Ellegaard whirls around- digging one foot into the ground as her elbows jut out, and her shoulders hunch. She whips her head around to see-

". . .Gabriel- Well, thank- circuits it's you!" She exhales, shoulders shaking in a soft, breathy laugh. Her posture loosens as if trying to mask how quickly she'd gone into full alert. "I didn't even see you sneaking up on me! ..Although I guess that's the point, hm?" If Ellie had a repeater for every time someone had gotten the jump on her recently, she'd have two repeaters. (Which wasn't a lot; but it sure was strange that it had happened twice, wasn't it?)

"Good morning, Gabe. Thanks for the reminder to start reflex training again." She bends down to give Audrey a small scratch behind the ears. "And good morning to you too, sweet-thing. I didn't hear you either! You're just that much of a natural, aren't you? Yes you are. . ."

By this time, Gabriel had already been up for a few hours, thanks in part to Audrey. So naturally he saw it as a good excuse to sneak up behind Ellegaard. When he saw her, that is.

Ah ha! There! Neatly combed hair and subtle makeup.

Signaling for Audrey to be quiet and Shadow to stay where he was, he locked eyes on his target. He gave an approving nod to Audrey when he saw her. Her fluffy belly was pressed to the ground, prepared for a good old fashioned stalk.

Moving silently forward, Gabriel smirked, reached Ellegaard, and then

"BOO!"

[ellegaard]

Ellie watches them both go, a lingering smile at her cheeks. "Goodnight, you two." She turns in not too long later- and by turn in, she really meant check into a room and sit on the bed. It was no matter, though; sleep claimed her, as it tended to do every now and then when she could no longer hold it off.

She woke the next morning to a golden glow in the room, filtered in through translucent curtains, and to curls well on their way to becoming messy. With a strained grunt accompanying her standing- (it was what she got for falling asleep in such an unceremonious position, hunched over the side of her bed)- she hobbled off to freshen up.

By the time she makes it back outside- last night's makeup replaced with a newer, subtle iteration, and hair pressed into submission- she's not entirely sure how awake she is. But it doesn't stop her from making herself comfortable while she looks around for Gabriel.

Gabriel's chuckles mingle with Ellie's, "You're right, both about talking all night and about the fact that you were a terrible cook." Even if it wouldn't be the first time he's been up all night.

And then he subtly shifts nervously. What if she doesn't come back? What if this had all been a dream?

He takes a deep breath. No. That would not happen.

"Goodnight, old friend. Come on, Audrey!" With that, he turns in to the inn for the night.