devil_forge | [RL with 9]

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[RL with 9]

It was not long before Hector, with Crystal Rod, appeared in the library in 9's world. It looked like no human had been there for some time now, and there was an eerie feeling in the air. The Devil Forgemaster knew that feeling all to well. It was death, but it did not surprise him, since 9 did say that plants and animals no longer lived on this world.

Hector glanced around, wondering where 9 was. The little devil with him started hoovering around, making curious noises as it inspected the various books laying around.

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The stitchpunks stood, still hand-in-hand; but, rather than leave immediately, 7 roughly tugged him into a tight hug.

"... be careful," she murmured, her usual tough-girl edge noticeably quieted. She pulled away and nearly forced her weapon into 9's hand.

"... I can't--" 9 started to protest, but 7 interrupted him quickly.

"Take it. Even if I can't be there, I'm still not about to let anything get you."

"... you could come with us," 9 offered, glancing up at Hector; but 7 shook her head.

"Someone's got to keep an eye on the twins," she said, smiling just a little. 9 just nodded in response, returning her small smile, and then she finally stepped away from him, reluctantly letting go of his hand.

"... goodbye," 9 said. "I'll be back soon-- I promise."

"I know," she answered quietly, and then she turned and went to the door, stopping to watch them leave. 9 waved at her a little, and she returned it before speaking up one last time, her tone teasing.

"Go on, get out of here!"

It was quite obvious to Hector that the two dolls fancied each other. He watched their exchange with amusement before he stood up. He raised his hand to his shoulder, so 9 could ride there. "Are you ready?"

9 took the invitation, very careful not to fall, and then nodded. "I'm ready."

Hector nodded and looked towards the innocent devil. "Crystal Rod, now!" he said in a commanding voice. The staff the devil was holding started to glow, and a circle of light started to form around them. In a flash, they left 9's world and appeared in the mountains of Walachia.

They were standing on a cliff, over looking a lush forest below. It was fall, so the leaves of on the trees were changing color. Ancient arches straddled the path that went further into the mountains. Near by, you could here the sound of running water of the aqueduct that was near by.

9 was frozen for a moment, transfixed-- he'd never seen anything like it. Not even in the paintings had the world ever looked anything like what he saw before him then.

"... wow." It was all he could manage.

Hector smiled as he looked out over the valley. "Is it what you expected?"

He shook his head numbly.

"It's-- better! I-I had no idea that anything like this existed."

Hector nodded. "Tis fall, so the trees are going to be shedding their leaves soon. Usually they are green." He then looked up and noticed a few birds flying above.

"Fall? What does that mean?" Seasons were a lost concept in a world free from any living thing to react to them.

"Tis the time of the year when it starts to get colder," Hector explained. "All the crops that have grown during the spring and summer are gathered before the winter chill. The trees change color and shed their leaves in preparation for winter."

"Colder...?" 9 looked down at one of his little copper hands and then held it out into the air, watching it oddly. "... I'm not sure I understand." He felt things, but... not the same way that humans did. Humans had nerve endings and brains and skin and everything was so much more intense to them-- the little stitchpunks had burlap skin and clockwork and wire, but were somehow allowed limited feeling. But it was only limited. Subtle changes often went undetected-- for example, except for in extreme cases, temperature.

Hector thought for a minute, trying to think of how he would explain it something that was common sense to humans. "The seasons that happen through out the year. Summer is very warm, and winter is very cold. Fall happens between summer and winter so it is the time when it gets cooler outside." He started walking along the mountain path. Up a head, a rabbit crossed the path. It was this time of day that most animals were active.

9 made to ask exactly what warm and cool meant, but the rabbit's arrival startled him. "Whoa-- what was that?"

"Hm?" Hector wondered what he meant until he noticed the rabbit. They were fairly common around here so it wasn't an unusual sight. "Tis just a rabbit. They are fairly harmless and timid creature."

"A rabbit..." 9 smiled a little to himself. "So-- so that was a real animal!"

Hector smiled and nodded. "Yes, it was." An idea came to mind and he knelt on one knee close to where the rabbit was. He held out his hand and waited. Animals were always attracted to him, no matter how wild they were. Soon the rabbit was hopping closer until Hector was gently petting it on the head, thus giving 9 a closer look at the creature.

9 smiled more surely then, watching him pet the little animal.

"Can-- can I touch it?"

"I don't see why not," Hector replied and held up his free hand so she can bring 9 down closer to the animal.

9 carefully stepped into his hand and, when within reach of the rabbit, he gingerly reached out a hand and touched it-- but it shied away from the cold metal. He frowned, disappointed, but then offered it a weak smile.

"I don't really blame you. I guess I'm just not as soft as humans are." The rabbit didn't acknowledge that he was addressing it, and he turned to look at Hector.

Hector gave 9 a reassuring smile. "They usually do not come up to humans. In fact they run from them. I was born with a special power that attracts animals to me."

"... really? Why?"

Hector shrugged. "Tis how I was born. All I know is that it allows me to forge devils."

"... so-- so you're the only one who can do that?"

Hector thought for a minute, looking down at the rabbit. "I am now," he finally said. "There was one other Devil Forgemaster, but he is gone for good."

"... oh..." 9 watched him for a moment, unsure of how to react.

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