Angelica
Angelica crouched at her workstation, her tail curled neatly around her feet as she tinkered with the coil of wire in her claws. The lair was dark except for the light of one spark-lamp, a device of her own invention. Her one aqua eye seemed to glow as she sent slow, regular bursts of electricity through the wire. Sparks scattered as her claws came in contact with the metal. There was something wrong with this coil. She felt it somewhere inside her, but she couldn't explain why or how she knew this. She unwound the spool further, running her fingers along the thin strand of copper. There - an imperfection in the metal. It didn't feel any different, even in her sensitive hands, but somehow she knew. Hesitantly she sent another jolt of power through the wire and was mildly surprised when it instantly melted. Her orange eye flickered. The molten copper felt warm, but not blisteringly hot. She had the desire to mold it, to shape it. She almost turned to seek a drawing plate, to pull the rapidly cooling puddle into another thin string of wire. Then, she shook her head. What did she know of forging? She was an engineer.
"Mistress Engineer." a monotone voice seemed to echo her thoughts and helped to shake her from her reverie. A small yellow Fae appeared at her elbow.
"How many times," she said, addressing the deferential Fae without turning. "How many times have I asked you not to call me that, Button?"
"That is your rank, Mistress Engineer."
"Stormcatcher take my rank," Angelica swore under her breath. Fae always managed to get under her scales. "Just Angelica. Please Button, just use my name."
"Mistress Engineer Angelica," the Fae intoned as Angelica grasped at her mane in frustration. "You have a visitor."
"Wha -" the Imperial turned to see a second shadowy figure lurking in the doorway. "Come in, please!" The figure soon resolved itself into a young Pearlcatcher. In the darkness of her workshop, Angelica could only make out a set of crimson wings, eerily similar to her own. "Can I help you?" Angelica called as Button bowed low, waving the dragon into the chamber before whisking herself away. The Pearlcatcher stepped forward into the dim pool of light cast by Angelica's flickering spark-lamp and fixed her gaze on the Imperial, one glittering orange eye staring out of the gloom.
"I've been sent as a messenger from the Taloncry clan." she said, her voice low and crackling like fire. Angelica immediately liked her. "We'd like to set up a trading partnership with your clan here in the Expanse."
"And what are the terms?" Angelica asked. The Pearlcatcher shifted and produced a worn leather knapsack. She emptied it's contents onto Angelica's worktable. Gears and cogs spilled across the surface, rivets, bolts, spools of glittering wire in gold, silver, copper and a strange blueish metal Angelica didn't recognize. A treasure trove for any respectable Lightning dragon.
"Technology." the Pearlcatcher answered as the bits finally settled. "We can prepare the parts but my blacksmiths and forgemasters have not the skill or knowledge to apply them. We supply your clan with any piece, any part, and in turn you provide us with your lightning magic." She gestured at the lamp. "Things like this." For a moment the Pearlcatcher was silent, her claw hovering around the globe of light. Her hand tensed as though she wanted to reach out and snatch it.
Angelica had gently laid her claws on a coil of silver wire. The same strange sense that told her the copper was wrong caused this spool to sing at her touch. It was perfect. A strange yearning awoke in her. She
wanted it.
"Agreed." Angelica said abruptly. "As a sign of good faith and hope for a successful partnership, I gift you with the lamp. I will keep these." Her claws closed around the knot of wire. The Pearlcatcher seemed to catch her breath, and she reached reverently for the lamp once more.
"Thank you, Mistress Engineer." She inclined her head, and turned to leave.
"Please -" Angelica called as the Pearlcatcher started to exit. "Call me Angelica. What is your name?"
The Pearlcatcher turned once more, and, holding the lamp, her face was clearly illuminated for the first time. One orange eye glittered in her face, accompanied by one turquoise eye. Angelica gasped.
"I am Eliza."