#gelbin mekkatorque | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

toonabby · 1 year ago

Text

One day before Christmas...

As we only have a few hours left before Christmas, imma just gonna make a list of games/anime/cartoons/companies/people/whatever that turned 5/10/15/20/etc. this year that I skipped out (partially due to me quitting Twitter/X after July ended):

(Updated to add more examples)

1958 and earlier

(1923) Walt Disney, a multimedia conglomerate known for the creation of Mickey Mouse and the Disney Channel and its (infamous) buyouts of other million dollar companies, turned 100 on October 16, 2023.

(1948) Toei Animation, a Japanese animation studio known for series like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Digimon, Pretty Cure, Sailor Moon, and more, turned 75 on January 23, 2023, literally 11 months ago.

(1953) Taito, a Japanese toy, arcade and video game company known for the Space Invaders and Bubble Bobble series', turned 20 on August 24, 2023.

(1958) Veteran Los Angeles-based voice actor/director Tony Oliver (the titular Lupin III; Lancer from Fate/stay night; Rick Hunter from Robotech), turned 65 on May 12, 2023.

1963

Late rapper Coolio, known for his hit single Gangsta's Paradise, posthumously turned 60 on August 1, 2023.

LA-based voice actor Dino Andrade (Gelbin Mekkatorque and Millhouse Manastorm from World of Warcraft; Zuzu from Zuzubaland; York from Ba Da Bean) turned 60 on September 16, 2023.

Dan Povenmire, creator of Phineas and Ferb, Milo Murphy's Law and Hamster & Gretel as well as being the voice of Dr. Doofenshmirtz from the former show, turned 60 on September 18, 2023.

1968

Tezuka Productions, the namesake company its late founder Osamu Tezuka known for producing the anime adaptations of Tezuka's works, turned 55 on January 23, 2023.

Hollywood actor Will Smith (his namesake from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; Oscar from Sharks Tale) turned 55 on September 25, 2023.

Australian actor Hugh Jackman (James "Logan" Howlett/Wolverine from the X-Men film series) turned 55 on October 12, 2023.

Long-running British series Doctor Who turned 60 on November 23, 2023.

1973

Schoolhouse Rock! turned 50 on January 6, 1973.

Kamen Rider V3, the second series in the Kamen Rider franchise, turned 50 on February 17, 2023.

Hudson Soft, the now-defunct subsidiary to Konami known for producing the Bomberman series, turned 50 on May 18, 2023.

Houston-based voice actress and Sentai Filmworks regular Hilary Haag (Satsuki Miyanoshita from Ghost Stories; Nene Romanova from Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040; Teletha Testarossa from Full Metal Panic; Lingyin "Rin" Huang from Infinite Stratos; Yui from Angel Beats!; Seth Nightroad from Trinity Blood; Rebecca Miyamoto from Pani Poni Dash!; Rosette Chrstopher from Chrono Crusade) turned 50 on December 3, 2023.

1978

Koei, the precusor to Koei Tecmo known for producing a series of games such as Dynasty Warriors, Samurai Warriors, Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, turned 45 on July 25, 2023.

1983

Kagaku Sentai Dynaman, the seventh series in the Super Sentai franchise, turned 40 on February 5, 2023.

Mario Bros., the precursor to Super Mario Bros., turned 40 at an unspecified date in 2023.

Famicom, Nintendo's first home console and the NES' occidental counterpart/predecessor, turned 40 on July 15, 2023.

SG-1000, Sega's very first but region-exclusive home console, turned 40 on July 15, 2023, the same day as the Famicon.

The 1980 version of Inspector Gadget turned 40 on September 5, 2023.

LA-based voice actress Laila Berzins (Xiao from Genshin Impact; Demeter and Persephone from Hades; Mrs. Croaker from Amphibia; Milluki Zoldyck from Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission) turned 40 on October 4, 2023.

The anime adaptation of Captain Tsubasa turned 40 on October 13, 2023.

Texas-based voice actress Elizabeth Maxwell (Ymir from Attack on Titan; Albedo from Overlord; Winter Schnee from RWBY; Nikki from Camp Camp; Urbosa and Riju from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom; Rosaria from Genshin Impact; Natasha from Honkai: Star Rail; Ashmedia from Trillion: God of Destruction; Shino Kiryuu from Girlfriend, Girlfriend) turned 40 on October 13, 2023.

1988

Choujyu Sentai Liveman, the twelfth series in the Super Sentai franchise, turned 35 on February 27, 2023.

LA-based voice actor Aleks Le (Luke from Street Fighter 6; Zenitsu Agatsuma from Demon Slayer; Kazuya Kinishita from Rent-A-Girlfriend; Thorfinn Thordarson from Vinland Saga [Netflix dub]; Sundae from Zuzubaland) turned 35 on March 12, 2023.

Arc System Works, the creator of several fighting game franchises like Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Granblue Fantasy Versus, turned 35 on May 12, 2023.

LA-based voice actress Lauren Landa (Kyoko Sakura from Puella Magi Madoka Magica; Litchi-Faye Ling from BlazBlue; Annie Leonhart from Attack on Titan; Michiru Kaioh/Sailor Neptune from Sailor Moon [Viz dub]; Merlin from The Seven Deadly Sins; Mio Naruse from The Testament of Sister New Devil; Kasumi from Dead or Alive) turned 35 on June 9, 2023.

Dallas-based voice actor Mark Allen Jr. (Youta Narukami from The Day I Became a God; Hiiragi Seiichi from The Fruit of Evolution; Ukyo Saionji from Dr. Stone; Evan Spencer from Genesis Avalon: Patroit; Rankichi Umeda from Tribe Nine; Benjamin Pavard from Magatsu Wahrheit: Zuerst) turned 35 on June 18, 2023.

Garfield and Friends, the second animated adaptation of Garfield, turned 35 on September 17, 2023

The Sega Mega Drive, Sega's third home console and the occidental counterpart/predecessor to the Sega Genesis', turned 35 on October 4, 2023.

Kamen Rider Black RX, the sequel to Kamen Rider Black and the ninth series in the Kamen Rider franchise, turned 35 on October 23, 2023.

1993

Dallas-based voice actor Ben Balmaceda (Neku from The World Ends with You: The Animation; Kaveh from Genshin Impact; Jirou Yakuin from More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers; Radiou from Aharen-san wa Hakarenai) turned 30 on January 14, 2023.

Sydney-based voice actress Aimee Smith (Milia Basset from Freedom Planet; Freya from Mobile Legends: Bang Bang; Margo from Hands Up; Bonnie, Jeanne, and Izanami from Dislyte) turned 30 on January 25, 2023.

Gosei Sentai Dairanger, the seventeenth series in the Super Sentai franchise and the second series to be adapted to Power Rangers, turned 30 on February 19, 2023.

Charlotte-based voice actor Nicholas Andrew Louie (Nagi Umini from A Couple of Cuckoos; June Hase from Fire in His Fingerprints) turned 30 on April 3, 2023.

Kamen Rider ZO, the second film in the Kamen Rider franchise, turned 30 on April 17, 2023.

LA-based voice actor Michael Malconian (Niru from AFK Arena: Just Esperia Things; Geo Yaksha and Hayato from Genshin Impact; Caboose from Red Vs Blue; Forseti and Helcurt from Mobile Legends: Adventures) turned 30 on June 18, 2023.

Japanese voice actress Kaori Ishihara (Aladdin from Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic; Madoka Kyouno from Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne; Hitomi Tsukishiro from Iroduku: The World in Colors; Tiese Schtrinen from Sword Art Online: Alicization; Luna Elegant from Demon Lord, Retry!; Kanna Tanigawa from Waiting in the Summer; Shouta Magatsuchi from Miss Kobayashi Dragon Maid; Ram/White Sister from Hyperdimension Neptunia; Welsh Cocott from Mugen Souls) turned 30 on August 6, 2023.

Texas-based voice actor Jonah Scott (Legoshi from Beastars; Aiden Cadwell from Dying Light 2 Stay Human; Sniper Mask from High-Rise Invasion; Kojiro Nanjo from Sk8 the Infinity; Tatsu from The Way of the Househusband; Courier from Akudama Drive) turns 30 on September 8, 2023.

Rocko's Modern Life turned 30 on September 18, 2023.

Sonic SatAM, the first Sonic cartoon, turned 30 on September 18, 2023.

3DO Interactive Multiplayer, Panasonic's first and only video game console, turned 30 on October 4, 2023.

New York-based voice actor Tom Schalks (Jake from Sims Settlements 2; Gordon from My Friendly Neighborhood; Charles and Rictor from Hannahpocalypse; Snap Wexley, Red Leader, and Senator Colandus from Star Wars Audio Comics) turned 30 on October 11, 2023.

Japanese voice actor Kaito Ishikawa (Tenya Iida from My Hero Academia; Genos from One Punch Man; Nero from Devil May Cry; Naofumi Iwatani from The Rising of the Shield Hero; Shinhou Kimizuki from Seraph of the End; Sakuta Azusagawa from Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai; Naruzo Machio from How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?; Junichiro Kubota from Tomo-chan Is a Girl!) turned 30 on October 13, 2023.

Atari Jaguar, Atari's final video game console before departing from the console wars and later going under, turned 30 on November 23, 2023.

The Moxy Show, the first original Cartoon Network cartoon, turned 30 on November 26, 2023.

Long-running Christian 3D animated series VeggieTales turned 30 on December 21, 2023, literally three days ago.

1998

LA-based voice actress Ryan Bartley (Ram from Re;Zero; Rei Ayanami from Neon Genesis Evangelion [Netflix dub]; Sage from Sonic Frontiers; Yuna from Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale; Misa Kurobane and Yusa Nishimori from Charlotte; Pompompurin from Hello Kitty and Friends Supercute Adventures; Nitroplus from Megadimension Neptunia VII; Bouquet from Cyberdimension Neptunia: 4 Goddesses Online) turned 25 on February 3, 2023.

Japanese voice actress Sayumi Suzushiro (Nijika Ijichi from Boochi the Rock!; Uruka Takemoto from We Never Learn; Kei Shirogane from Kaguya-sama: Love is War; Wise from Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?; Maho/Grey Sister from Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters; Kirara from Genshin Impact) turned 25 on February 4, 2023.

Power Rangers in Space, the seventh series in the Power Rangers franchise, turned 25 on February 6, 2023.

Seijuu Sentai Gingaman, the twenty-second series in the Super Sentai franchise and the seventh series to be adapted to Power Rangers, turned 25 on February 22, 2023.

Toronto-based voice actress Dallis MacKenzie (Jormugand and Stheno from Legend of Alma: idel RPG; Marsha Mello from Kindi Kids; Athena and Akasha from Mythic Girls) turned 25 on June 9, 2023.

LA-based voice actress Olivia Vidas (Nemona from Pokemon: Paldean Winds; Larissa from The Marching Pride of Cadence High) turned 25 on July 25, 2023.

Noddy, otherwise known as The Noddy Shop or Noddy in Toyland, turned 25 on September 7, 2023.

Manilla-based voice actress Vanille Velasquez (Neon from Valorant; Zeri from League of Legends; Jelly from Jelly, Ben, and Pongo; Kokeko from Lil Wild; Clover Stryder from Final Melody) turned 25 on September 27, 2023.

The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald, a VHS-exclusive animated miniseries based on the 90's McDonalds ads, turned 25 on October 9, 2023.

2003

Kamen Rider 555, the thirteenth series in the Kamen Rider franchise, turned 20 on January 26, 2023.

LA-based voice actress Vera Tan (Maur from Paella; Gwyneth from AFK Arena: Just Esperia Things; Maria from Well; Laura from TNSSA: The Visual Novel) turned 20 on January 27, 2023.

Power Rangers Ninja Storm, the eleventh series in the Power Rangers franchise, turned 20 on February 15, 2023.

Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger, the twenty-seventh in the Super Sentai franchise and the twelfth series to be adapted to Power Rangers, turned 20 on February 16, 2023.

NIS America, an American division of Nippon Ichi Software, turned 20 today on December 24, 2023.

2008

Kamen Rider Kiva, the eighteenth series in the Kamen Rider franchise, turned 15 on January 27, 2023.

Yes! Pretty Cure 5 GoGo!, the sequel to Yes! Pretty Cure 5 and the fifth series in the Pretty Cure franchise, turned 15 on February 3, 2023.

The Mr. Men Show, the fourth animated adaptation of the Mr. Men books, turned 15 on February 4, 2023.

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan, a childhood of mine, turned 15 on February 7, 2023.

Engine Sentai Go-onger, the thirty-second series in the Super Sentai franchise and the seventh series to be adapted to Power Rangers, turned 15 on February 17, 2023.

The anime adaptation of To Love Ru turned 15 on April 4, 2023.

Playhouse Disney short series Can You Teach My Alligator Manners? turned 15 on June 21, 2023.

Martha Speaks and Sid the Science Kid turned 15 on September 1, 2023.

The anime adaptation of Toradora! turned 15 on October 2, 2023.

The Secret Saturdays turned 15 on October 3, 2023.

The anime adaptation of A Certain Magical Index turned 15 on October 4, 2023.

Kid vs. Kat turned 15 on October 15, 2023.

The anime adaptation of Hells Angels, titled Hells, turned 15 on October 18, 2023.

Toot & Puddle turned 15 on November 16, 2023.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger, the first installment to the BlazBlue franchise, turned 15 on November 19, 2023.

The Dinky Crow Show turned 15 on November 23, 2023.

The Penguins of Madagascar TV series turned 15 on November 28, 2023.

Nickelodeon's second Anthology series Random! Cartoons turned 15 on December 6, 2023.

2013

Monster Monpiece, the first game to the Genkai Tokki series, turned 10 on January 24, 2023.

Power Rangers Megaforce, the twentieth series in the Power Rangers franchise, turned 10 on February 2, 2023.

DokiDoki! Pretty Cure, the tenth series in the Pretty Cure franchise, turned 10 on February 3, 2023.

Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger, the thirty-seventh series in the Super Sentai franchise and the twenty-second series to be adapted to Power Rangers, turned 10 on February 17, 2023.

Sorcery Saga: Curse of the Great Curry God, known as Sei Madou Monogatari in Japan and based on the original Madou Monogatari game, turned 10 on March 28, 2023.

Mugen Souls Z, the sequel to 2012's Mugen Souls, turned 10 on April 25, 2023.

Hyperdimension Neptunia Producing Perfection, the first spin-off title in the Neptunia series, turned 10 on June 20, 2023.

Idea Factory International, an American division of Idea Factory, turned 10 on September 30, 2023.

Kamen Rider Gaim, the twenty-fourth series in the Kamen Rider franchise, turned 10 on October 6, 2023.

PBS Kids rebranded itself 10 years ago on October 7.

Peg + Cat, which premiered alongside the aforementioned rebrand, turned 10 on October 7, 2023.

The anime adaptation of Non Non Biyori turned 10 on October 8, 2023.

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1, a remake to the first Hyperdimension Neptunia game, turned 10 on October 31, 2023.

Rick and Morty, the longest-running adult cartoon on [adult swim], turned 10 on December 2, 2023.

2018

The anime adaptation of Laid-Back Camp turned 5 on January 4, 2023.

Darling in the Franxx turned 5 on January 13, 2023.

Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel, the twenty-fifth series in the Power Rangers franchise and the sequel season to Ninja Steel, turned 5 on January 27, 2023.

Hugtto! Pretty Cure, the fifteenth series in the Pretty Cure franchise, turned 5 on February 4, 2023.

Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger, the forty-second series in the Super Sentai franchise, turned 5 on February 11, 2023.

Furiki Wheels turned 5 on July 2, 2023.

Transformers Cyberverse turned 5 on Spetember 1, 2023.

Kamen Rider Zi-O, the twenty-ninth series in the Kamen Rider franchise, turned 5 on September 2, 2023.

Hilda, an animated adaptation of the comic of the same name, turned 5 on September 21, 2023.

Zombie Land Saga turned 5 on October 4, 2023.

44 Cats turned 5 on November 12, 2023.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, a reboot of She-Ra: Princess of Power, turned 5 on November 13, 2023.

Let's Go Luna turned 5 on November 21, 2023.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the first installment in SAP's Spider-Verse film series, turned 5 on December 14, 2023.

Bakugan: Battle Planet, a reboot of Bakugan: Battle Brawlers, turned 5 on December 23, 2023.

1 note · View note

luminess-brightcoil · 4 years ago

Text

No Matter What You Do

All instruments recording the ongoing spread of the scourge pandemic indicated a rapid increase in risk of safety, up to and including the roaming dead in the very streets of Stormwind. What was once recommended to simply be a matter of staying off the streets and increasing security measures has changed with similar rapidity, up to and including the recommendation of immediate evacuation for all citizens of Stormwind, leaving only the Stormwind Patrol, the Argent Crusade, the Ebon Blade, and any of Azeroth’s Champions that were so moved to contribute to containing the absolute carnage at hand.

As the topic was broached for what this means for the great underground metropolis of Mechagon, Luminess Brightcoil balked at the data, though she Observed it in totality and took it upon her processing parameters to integrate this new data into her daily routine. To say the outlook was grim would be an understatement. To say that she was growing exhausted of grim outlooks would be even more of one.

Even a Beacon is prone to bouts of personal dismay. It was quickly becoming one Titans-damned thing after another for her. Starting and ending a revolution. Joining and ending the Fourth of Four Wars. Defeating the encroachment of the Old Gods. The Return of the San’layn. And now, this: Death itself, and whatever forces direct it upon Azeroth. And all of this within a single year.

On days like these, a Beacon would wonder why she ever left the island in the first place...

Luminess sat amongst her peers in the Think Tank that was assembled for the purpose of analyzing and developing an expedient solution to the matter of the scourge invasion with the Gnomish population at its focus. The scent of recirculated air through coppered ducts intertwined with the effervescent presence of warm, freshly applied toner as gnome and mechagnome alike scanned through document after document. Every finer point addressed, every corollary counter-examined, every contingency remodeled and re-assessed… And yet it was the general consensus of those present that not much headway was made just yet.

Except for Walton Cogfrenzy, Chief Architect of Mechagon, who maintained that he had a very simple and direct plan of response, that in any other context would have been seen as antithetical to their current societal trajectory, and now perhaps its only chance for survival:

Complete Lockdown.

“We will establish a temporary teleportation network between here and Tinker Town,” Walton explained. “Citizens of Gnomeregan can be funneled into our now half-vacant halls along with all our Gnomadic kin. Following that, remaining available space and resource accommodation can be afforded to our Dwarven cousins, though it is projected very few would be willing to retreat from their own beloved city. Still, we must press them to do so, and once we have evacuated all that we may hold and accommodate safely, access to the network will be severed from all entry points.”

The King shifted his weight from one side of his seat to the other. By far, the once High Tinker but now King Gelbin Mekkatorque would be the least Kingly King you could meet. He was conscientious to others. He yielded space and listened more than spoke. He sought counsel for all decisions, tall or small. Betraying the good will of his people was unthinkable, just as he would strive against working against their humbler wishes. And more often than not, you had to remind him of his now-regal station. A station, it is said, he has been working to reform away from the obsolete protocol known as the 'Divine Right of Kings.' Perhaps such topics could be addressed more directly when things were Quieter. But in either regard… Luminess, for one, was grateful to have someone so unlike the Mad Tyrant that, for now, she was willing to give the whole Monarchy thing one more chance.

“It will be difficult to convince the Gnomereganians to take refuge,” sighed King Mekkatorque wearily. “Many believe they’re perfectly safe within the walls of Ironforge, despite the surrounding snowy climate being far more tactically advantageous for the Scourge than even the tranquil forests of Elwynn or the unimpeding flats of Durotar. And even so, their pride is at stake to some extent. They won’t take easily to being confined to another underground kingdom, even if it is ostensibly theirs. Over time, we of Gnomeregan have become more and more like our Gnomadic cousins than not as the impossibly high toll taken by Thermaplugg continues to plague our once-hallowed halls, figuratively AND literally.”

“And so I would hope they would be difficult to convince, your highness.” Intamin Diveroll, renowned prosthetist and out-speaker, swiveled his chair towards Mekkatorque just slightly as he respectfully interjected, but kept his gaze upon the Chief Architect. “Your plan puts our now-combined kingdom at risk of recreating the exact same scenarios for destruction that had befallen either of them. Suppose we are all holed up here and one of our vaunted city’s life preservation systems should fail, or worse: sabotaged by ne’er-do-wells known or unknown. Suppose the invasion never ends, and to quell a dissatisfied populace, a new Mad Tyrant emerges to place them back into order under the guise of Public Safety. And should neither fate befall us, and we merely survive through the ordeal to a ruined Azeroth or… continued indefinite life underground, even in prosperity… that would make cowards of us all.”

“It is not… Cowardice to prioritize survival! It is the only acceptable option,” pressed Cogfrenzy with just as much proud conviction on display as he hid his secret guilts. His servos whined under his weight as he leaned forward against the conference table with the coiled-bulb lamps glowing above his exhausted, perspiring brow. “And the only safe one. Our Kingdom is the most secure against external threats of any on Azeroth. Our doors open and close only to us, and our walls are impenetrable against all alien threats. Anyone who enters without the aid of our own kind is instantaneously vaporized by our unparalleled city defenses. For five hundred years, a full-length default gnomish lifetime... our security was so assured that the rest of the planet knew not even of our existence. We were effectively anonymous. Fel, we even have the capability of sealing off all access to the Azeroth’s vast network of Arcane Leylines, guaranteeing that not a single soul enters or leaves through the mightiest of mage portals!”

As the King ran his fingers through his whiskers, Luminess’s face belied only a hint of bemusement as her gaze slide sideways to one of her closest companions to examine his face for a reaction to that last sentence. Indy would offer none. But she knew. They both knew.

“My King,” Indy gently prodded, turning his trademark winning smile towards his liege. “The Rustbolt Revolution demonstrated to us that the answer to our prosperity lies not here exclusively in Mechagon. It lies in Greater Azeroth. And to that end it is not only such that we should not run away, but we should fight to defend it alongside everyone else.”

King Mekkatorque smiled at Indy gently, reassuringly. “On that, we are in total agreement, Good Doctor. We are no longer two kingdoms of Gnomes. We are one, and beyond that, we belong to the mighty Alliance as well. And defending our world from imminent threats within and without is the Alliance’s primary function, after all.”

The Beacon stirred in her seat, squeaking it at the hinge as she leaned forward onto her elbows, fingers tented before her face. She refused to comment on the political trajectory of the Gnomish populace, for now. Instead, she turned to another of her companions that she insisted be included on this Think Tank for the sake of the wealth of information he contains as a single entity. “Cornelius,” she addressed him from across the table.

“Hello, User!” came the chipper response from Mister Tribulatus, self-aware as ever, and the Beacon remained quite proud of him for achieving that.

“Known methods of Scourge Incursion, please, listed."

“Query accepted! Running diagnostics…”

The room fell silent, save the soft stirring of seats in anticipation, and the soft ting-ting of a spoon inside a cup of coffee, one of a great many that were filled and spilled on this auspicious day.

“Results compiled. Scourge are known to make entry into populated areas through the following means, alphabetically: Aerial Delivery. Burrowing. Contagion. Localized Necromancy.”

All eyes in the room, save Cornelius’, slowly drifted over to a mechagnome seated at the end of the table, brow bedecked with ostentatious horn modifications. His focus was trained on an asymmetrical paper football formed out of one of the documents on the table, and his attempts to ‘kick’ it through a ‘goal post’ made from used coffee creamer cups and stirring rods. His clamps fail to provide the manual dexterity needed to perform the maneuver, but after eighty-seven attempts so far, the man was not about to back down now. However, he felt the familiar sensation of an entire room of his alleged peers judging him all at once, and so he looked up.

“... What?! Titans Testes, I’m not a Necromancer, I resurrect myself with CLONES,” protested one Doctor Theodorp Wimblewomble the Sixth. Or was it Seventh, now? The people of Mechagon had only his word for the answer.

“The Fel practices are adjacent to Necromancy are they not?” the Beacon inquired, with earnest sincerity. “Perhaps in this way you can offer us insight?”

“You’re asking an electrician to fix your toilet,” chided Theodorp as he unceremoniously failed his eighty-eighth attempt to score a field goal. “Fortunately for you I am learned of a multitude of means of delivering Doom.”

The King rubbed his eyes with a gloved hand before flipping open the box of donuts on the table, deciding which of the remaining flavors might quell the madness he felt in this moment for including a pseudo war criminal on this Think Tank. Take him away, Blueberry Glazed.

“For certain, this Kingdom is advantageously impervious to outside threats, as the Chief Architect asserts. Titans know I’ve tried and nearly succeeded countless times to perviate it myself. Yes, that is a real word.”

All of the eyes that were cast upon Theodorp quickly volleyed to Cornelius. Instinctively, he clicked and whirred in place before speaking: “Perviate. Transitive Verb. To enter, bore into, or run through. Would you like me to search for more information regarding Perviation?"

Professor Theodorp Wimblewomble the Sixth silently threw his clamps into the air, victorious over all who dared to doubt him, once again. As the gnomes around him (save Cornelius) collectively stifled their groans, he permitted them immediate reprieve of a well-deserved gloating, and continued...

“As my criminal record shows, I’ve only had so much luck attempting to bring various forms of Fel into our kingdom. The Titan-Energy Interference from the Engine that we’ve made our home into is a natural repellent to both the Fel and Necromantic efforts from exterior sources. Our Previous King spared no effort or expense at seeing such impure practices all but eradicated or imprisoned.”

He takes a moment to feel very smug about being the only practitioner of either who isn’t currently technically imprisoned before continuing: “Ultimately, our greatest concern, second only to simply allowing the plague to enter our halls through contamination of persons or produce… would be someone like me infiltrating Mechagon and finding a way to succeed. For the Fel, we have no particular need of concern as ever. But in the case of Necromancy, they would not need to open a portal, they would simply need to locally source some corpses right here. Which could be remarkably easy, considering the whole proposition to keep the walls closed and sealed that no one could possibly enter or leave.”

The Think Tank of gnomes, already silent, somehow fell even more deathly quiet. No one liked that.

“Then it would not be enough to simply close the doors and shutter our windows,” the Beacon spoke wielding a voice laden equally with certainty as hesitance. “It would require a near-constant monitor of every individual’s vital signs, and restricted movement for all throughout the densely populated areas. We would effectively not be merely bunkering in for our physical safety, but we would need to place the population under a functional quarantine for the first few weeks simply to ensure there is no undetected viral agent is able to spread. We would require anyone taking refuge here to comply with these regulations, or…”

She gulped as she choked on her words in this moment. Indy peered at her searchingly. Cornelius smiled at the wall. Theodorp was on the edge of his seat, waiting for her to finish her thought. King Gelbin Mekkatorque simply listened, chin upon thumb, cheek against finger, elbow against armrest.

“... Or be placed under secure, supervised quarantine. Just for the duration. And ethically, of course. This is for… public safety.”

Theodorp clinked his clamps excitedly under the table with a wide, toothy grin while Luminess attempted to meet Intamin’s gaze. But when her optics searched for his, he had already turned away. She sank in her seat just slightly as her lips tightened and her face drooped just a bit.

The King nodded slowly as his own eyes searched in the far distance, into the invisible thinkspace we all have for flaw in this reasoning. And whether he found zero flaws to be had, or he simply accepted the known flaws as they were, it was not made clear in his exhausted sigh that set his moustache billowing in the wind blown forth from his lips.

“You speak the Truth as ever, Beacon,” decreed the King. “If we are going to do this then it would be folly to employ any half-measures. BUT... we will make sure that all who are so quarantined for the duration will have the inconvenience of their sacrificed time compensated, their needs of survival and personal comfort fully provided for. They are our people, our family and friends, and we will make their stay at home a veritable paradise until the situation is under control. To do any less would call into question the foundations and integrity of our very society’s principles in a manner we simply do not have time for right now, or possibly ever. Have we reached consensus?”

The assembled members of the Think Tank all offered their agreement in unison in low grunts of affirmation and/or raised hands. Even Intamin, after a moment. Luminess quietly sighed in relief, allowing her jaw to finally un-clench itself.

“Then the matter is settled upon. Beacon Brightcoil, I am counting on you to ensure that the quarantine efforts are carried out in a safe and ethical manner the people will find agreeable. Spare no expense. The rest of us will reconvene after a one hour biological break to discuss our efforts abroad aiding the campaign in Icecrown and the Eastern Kingdoms. Titans Observe that it will be Gnomish Ingenuity and Determination that brings a swift resolution to this crisis!”

The King’s counsel and subjects before him all responded with an assured nod and an equally assured utterance of “Titans Observe,” even Doctor Theodorp Wimblewomble the Sixth or Seventh.

With that, King Gelbin Mekkatorque bowed his head with a soft chuckle and made haste towards the door, eager to get out of being in a meeting for however long he can manage it today. Luminess, making similar speed, exited behind him as the others shuffled their belongings in order.

Intamin gave chase.

“Beacon? Oh, Beacon?” cried the man playfully behind his companion, who laughed as she slowed her pace to allow them to walk on parallel paths. “I was simply wondering which personal liberties I would still be afforded while imprisoned in my own private paradise prison.”

Luminess rolled her eyes and nudged him with her elbow, shaking her head as she chuckled softly. “Really, Indy, the situation is dire enough without you nagging at my personal principles over my duties as a Beacon.”

The prosthetist cackled quietly beside her, grinning all too wide as he satisfied himself with her acknowledgement of such a Truth. “I am teasing, of course, my dear… Nothing about this is easy, and though it burns at my very soul to admit it… this is a necessary action to take. So long as it remains a stopgap, and not a solution. And Titans Observe that I may rest easy knowing you are at the lead of such a project.”

“Titans may Observe it so… but they shan’t,” Luminess responded softly.

Intamin jogged in front of her to impede her movement, narrowing his ocular sensors to thin lines as he looked over her features for any sign that she might be joking. She was not.

“... You will not be staying? But you said--”

“I know that I spoke in favor of quarantine and I stand by that. It is what is right for our people, both of them, all of them… But it is not my place. For certain, This Unit could perform the task and do it well, but I am by no means the only one capable of doing so."

Intamin looked her over curiously. "Did not the King ask you to do it yourself?"

Luminess allowed a sly smirk. "He merely asked me to ensure it will be done. I will reach out Wenzli Cogsalvage to manage this in my stead. She is the finest community organizer I have seen since the end of the Revolution. And though I am beloved by many, as a Beacon I am still mistrusted by the same amount or more for our ties to the Mad Tyrant’s Orthodoxy and the work that remains in our reform thereof… By contrast, she is of the people in a way I can never truly be ever again, and will therefore be more efficient in inspiring trust in this time. In addition, since it is Wenzli... I will have the added bonus of most people simply mistaking her for being me anyway, as normal."

The prosthetist clicked his teeth. She certainly had a point, if not several, but he was not letting her off the hook so easily. "And so if your place is not here, Miss Brightcoil… Then where is it?"

A brief question inspires an eternity in a split second of consideration. Where, indeed? Was her place in Stormwind, with the Embassy as an Ambassador? Was her place with Prince Erazmin and the Rustbolt Resistance, now expanding their field of operation to fight back against the emergent Scourge threat? Was it with the other medical professionals of the Azeroth Medical Association, searching for a long term solution against the contagion and the short term efforts of caring for those currently afflicted? Was it with her mercenary allies in the Dragon Corps or the Fence Macabre, beating back the hordes with them and other Champions? Was it by the side of those she held dear, one small clutch of beloved friends or another?

Luminess smirked just for a moment before lifting her gaze to Intamin. Her eyes flickered Gold with the Light before she answered him with a warm tone.

“Uncertain. But what you said earlier rings true again: Wherever my place might be… it is quite clear that the answer is not here, in Mechagon. It is out there… in Azeroth.”

Intamin couldn’t help but allow a smugly satisfied grin plaster his face, flashing that perfect one-millimeter gap in his front teeth as they bit lightly upon his tongue to stifle a boisterous guffaw that would otherwise spoil what could be looked back upon as a tender moment.

“Titans Observe,” he said simply, and embraced his friend tightly with both arms, squeezing as hard as he can, as he always did, knowing that once again, this could be the final opportunity to do so. “But I shall not allow you to continue your adventures abroad unaided. Your previously requested modifications are complete and awaiting installation back at my workshop over a splendid Torcolato I’ve been saving for just such an occasion.”

“Mister Diveroll, there is absolutely nothing that I would enjoy more at this precise moment,” said Luminess, as she sniffled once and dabbed at the corners of her eyes with the collar of her ceremonial garb after returning the embrace of a beloved friend and confidant. She then grabbed hold of his arm for escort down the winding path from the High Tinkertory, down to into the city which she held so dear, the city which until only still so recently was all she had known.

And as she walked, audibly promising the matter was settled to her companion, she continued to silently deliberate within herself over it all... whether she was making the right or wrong choice, whether there was an optimization to their plans she failed to find, whether or not it was hopeless to even try, endlessly as she would, as she does, and as she has, every single day of her life.

And as such... she prayed to the Titans, as she did, every single day of her life, that they may Observe her following the ideal path.

Tell me what your spirit says Show me what you pray Teach me every single part I'll be your guide You are a prisoner Looking for to be You can change your face But can't change your mind No matter what do you do No matter what do you do No matter what do you do No matter what do you do

youtube

#World of Warcraft #WoW RP #Wyrmrest Accord #Luminess Brightcoil #Theodorp Wimblewomble #Cornelius Tribulatus #Intamin Diveroll #Walton Cogfrenzy #Gelbin Mekkatorque #Gnomeregan #Mechagon #Gnomes #Mechagnomes #Death Rising #character writing

12 notes · View notes