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Stormdragon If it’s permissible, I’ll acquire a translator NPC to make the presentation more accessible (Molerince isn’t a linguist either and hasn’t exactly been heavily involved with the thing).
Also, unless someone interacts with them, I’ll post a speech before I turn in for the night (8 hours ahead of FR as I am).
Myzrin rested one paw on the shell. Yes, it was but a prototype with size limitations (one could only gather so great a quantity of material to craft with within the anomalous time constraints), but it was functional enough to effectuate the idea.
At last. It was complete. They were ready.
The Coatl spent that evening and the following morning preparing and planning her presentation, attempting a couple of trial runs with Coatl volunteers she’d found. Molerince also showed her some sign ideas and Myzrin drew up some diagrams to help explain how her design was able to respond to difficult conditions.
What the Coatl had not expected was Molerince’s sudden desire to play dress-up. With the real work done, Molerince decided they had time to play with Myzrin’s wardrobe. The Wildclaw’s birth-clan had plenty of spares they were happy to loan out for the day.
‘Steampunk’s popular and fun.’ It was certainly commonplace, a couple of the judges wore full sets themselves.
The collar on the steampunk vest irritated Myzrin and the wings made too much noise. With the tail bauble, she hesitated, and they set it to one side. Myzrin continued her critique.
Sandwaste slacks made it difficult not to trip, wingbangles didn’t suit her, flair scarves were impractically long, silks were deemed ridiculous, and she had no intention of obstructing her forepaws or eyes. No interference with the goggles would be tolerated, which was fine. They suited both her and the event very well in Molerince’s opinion.
The Coatl didn’t care for any teardrop jewellery, in particular, earrings were practically a hazard in her opinion. However, Molerince did manage to persuade her into leaving the jade ring and a sparkling tailbow on.
The Wildclaw told her she looked beautiful in both the blue and the white tunic. Myzrin felt the embellishment to be…unsettling. Such a thing would easily become stained, torn, or otherwise damaged by a working Lightning dragon. She couldn’t feel at ease in it.
She eventually acquiesced to an ornate pearly necklace.
An electrified sash was considered at one point. But the fact of its status as an honorary garment made the idea of wearing it before winning potentially pretentious.
They then checked the things that had been set aside: white breeches and the steampunk tail bauble. Molerince felt uncertain about the addition of the breeches to what the Coatl was already wearing. For a moment she thought Myzrin was sold on the tail bauble, before she dismissed it as an overcomplication, ‘
it’s the invention, not the clothes, that make the inventor.’ She felt.
Molerince also gave Myzrin her Electrician’s armband, ‘for luck,’ she said. It seemed a ridiculous notion to Myzrin, but recognised that it was the gesture that the Wildclaw valued, and it was one of the more tolerable pieces of apparel the Coatl had tried on that day. Molerince wore a set of silver cuffs of science for the event in its place.
Molerince was no fashionista, as many could surmise from how practically haphazard her accoutrements were. But she found it an enjoyable way to try contribute to her friend’s presentation…well, the word implies a need to be presentable after all. The change she’d made was not especially significant, but it was one they were both happy with, and that was the most important thing.
They didn't set out immediately after that, as Myzrin had found the activity somewhat tiring.
~~~
As they entered, a dragon gave Myzrin an approving look.
Was that the Plague dragon from the day Myzrin had used bones in her structure? Perhaps there were some here worth more respect than scorn. Come to think of it, within the last couple of days Myzrin had been aware of a number of dragons pass by on occasion, looking agitated and distressed. A few carrying some portion of a project that looked to potentially involve bones.
But then some dragon strutted in with a speaking skycat drone, and the Coatl flicked her tongue irritably.
‘We’re supposed to look ahead, remember?’ Myzrin saw Molerince, smiling at her in concern. She was right. This was no time for seething over the machine that could have been. Sometime, she would return to her older project, but for now focus on the current one.
As Molerince had decided to help Myzrin, at least with setting up for the day, Belttissa had found someone to take her at the parts of the day which would be darkest and hence most comfortable for her.
When setting up, they tried choosing a place on the second floor balcony that was visible to anyone entering and not far from the stairs (there were Snappers and Mirrors in attendance who preferred them). Simply being on the second floor would make it easier for the two to manoeuvre the presentation subject out of the room Myzrin had been using that week. Compromises would have to be made, after all, some had been choosing spots on the first day, but the two seemed pretty satisfied with the outcome.
Molerince managed to get Myzrin to allow her table to have glitter as well as the diagrams. They’d settled on a sign with the words: develop, improve and advance. While they weren’t innovating, it did not mean their work was without value. Plus Molerince thought it connoted the nifty image of vehicles, literally advancing.
The Wildclaw was quite thrilled to get her first proper look at Myzrin’s work as she helped the Coatl carry it out to where they were set up. The aesthetically pleasing nuts and bolts taken from the gold apparel dazzled Molerince, ‘it’s beautiful.’ She was a little surprised at the bones, but was pleased to note the lack of any smell or apparent decay.
‘
I wouldn’t use material so obviously flawed,’ the Coatl muttered in her native speech, but the Wildclaw wasn’t repulsed, so she was satisfied.
A hatch had been installed for anyone wanting to inspect the engine and power source, and once it had been set down beside their table, Molerince took a look. She simply smiled at the copper, impressed by the power of the almonds. ‘Let’s hope no Tundra attendees have forgotten their lunch,’ she joked.
‘
Even if it’s likely to shock them something nasty, I’d rather beat the impertinent beggar off with my own claws.’
The Wildclaw spotted some of the judges walking the hall. Unsurprisingly not all of them were Coatl. ‘We’re going to need to see if there are any translators looking to help with the presentations.’ Myzrin nodded. She’d been intending to do precisely that; preferably sooner, before they became occupied and busy. The Lightning dragon was aware that she was not the only Coatl in the competition.
Molerince spotted a Coatl who was observing some of the inventors, appearing sociable while in some official capacity.
‘Hello, sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you knew who my friend could ask for help translating to non-Coatl-speakers when she presents.’
Myzrin confirmed the sentiment in Coatl.
The stranger was happy to oblige them, and Myzrin thought over what the Wildclaw had said.
She was her friend. The Coatl closed her eyes for a moment. Yes, she was glad Molerince was here.
The two returned with their assistant in tow to take up the post at their table and see who might approach.
