[Dezel nods a little at the invitation to enter before stepping into Astro's room, sparing Servo a glance with a brief, but fond expression. He then moves further in, walking over to the bed to take a seat on the edge of it, setting the books down to one side of him. Should Astro happen to catch a glimpse of the book on top, he'll see it's a field guide to various sorts of insects.]
Close the door and have a seat. I've got a couple of things I'd like to ask you, but before I do that, there's something I want to tell you about. It needs to be kept a secret, though. Right now, only Edna and Sorey know, and I've told Sorey he can let Mikleo know what's going on.
[ A secret? This already sounds serious. Astro closes the door quietly, making his own way over to the bed and sitting down. ]
I-I won't tell anyone, promise.
[ Servo rolls over and stretches a little bit, but otherwise doesn't make a sound. Astro, meanwhile, looks slightly anxious. Did something bad happen? He really hopes that's not the case. ]
[Dezel nods, feeling he can trust Astro well enough. He can tell the idea of something needing to be kept quiet is making the little robot anxious, however, so he lets a small, fond smile show through in a effort to calm him.]
It's an important matter, but not bad news.
[There, he pauses just a moment to prepare himself to share the news. This is, after all, something he's a little nervous about himself.]
[ Almost immediately Astro calms. So it's nothing bad. Alright, he can relax. Still, what's so important that Dezel would ask him to keep quiet-
...give him a sec. He needs to process this. ]
Y-You're...gonna ask her to marry you?
[ He has to make sure he heard this right because holy cow. He'd known the two were rather close (it was impossible to miss, honestly), but he hadn't actively considered this sort of thing a possibility. There's a hint of an excited smile as his eyes go wide, a sourceless blue glow filling the room while other colors seem to brighten alongside his excitement. ]
But this is where I need to ask you for a favor. Edna's offered to make Rose's engagement ring for me, since her abilities as an earth seraph would make it easy for her to shape gemstones. I'll need help obtaining the necessary materials for the ring, though.
[Much in the same way he needed help acquiring his new top hat, since being invisible makes transactions with the locals difficult.]
[ Astro nods enthusiastically. Dezel hardly needs to ask; the young robot is more than willing to lend a hand. ]
Yeah, no problem! I'll help you get anything you need.
[ Granted, Astro is just as eager to help anyone if they ever need it. This, however, is a very special case, for a special occasion, and some very special people. Anything Dezel needs for this, he'll find, and he'll find the best that he possibly can.
Only thing is, he's an awful liar and he knows it. If anyone bugs him about this, it'll be tough to cover it up. It's a good thing he brings home plenty of weird odds and ends all the time anyway; maybe the others won't question it too much. ]
Thank you. I'd like to go out as soon as tomorrow if possible to start checking with various suppliers to see what we can get. It won't be cheap, but I've got plenty of funds set aside to handle the cost.
[Unknown to Rose, Dezel hid away part of his "muskrat money" a while back and has since been continuing to build up that stash further little by little, both with additional money from other tasks and from his regular job as an Enforcer. Yet as he still manages to pay for his share of everything around the house and has loaned Rose money when needed, it's likely no one really suspects the wind seraph is successfully hoarding a fairly impressive stash of sylvs.]
[Picking up one of the books at his side, one about gemstones, Dezel flips it open to a section he's marked with a slip of paper to show Astro a picture, part of a color plate page.]
This is called watermelon tourmaline. Edna suggested tourmaline as stone that might have more meaning and personality than just a diamond. It comes in several colors, but this green and pink... It would be meaningful to Rose, so it's what we'll be looking for. This one is cut already, obviously, so we'll be seeking quality uncut stone so Edna can shape it as she sees fit.
[ Astro makes a mental note to ask Dezel about that book on bugs later, but still sits up just as intently when he sees the one about gemstones. He's wondering just what Dezel has in mind. Granted, he'll probably get a few odd looks from the merchants in question (slightly scruffy kids and huge sums of money don't usually happen at the same time), but he's willing to endure it. Being an errand runner for Dezel is honestly the least he could do to repay him for his kindness, but even then he'd happily help him with something for a momentous occasion such as this.
Of course, then Dezel opens up the book, and... Ever seen Astro utterly amazed before? No? Well, here you go. ]
Whoa. I-I've never seen anything that pretty before in my life... [ Or Toby's life. Not even the flowers he's seen hold a candle to that. Edna sure made a great suggestion.
The colors in his room intensify in response to his awe, and - oddly enough - the air takes on the subtle scent of a lush forest. Yeah, Astro's impressed. He's never seen a rock so pretty. ]
[Dezel allows himself a very small, brief chuckle at Astro's reaction. Even a seraph like him who spends most of his time being less than social and perhaps far too serious can appreciate the endearing wonderment of the kid he took under his wing.]
I know you will, and I'll be with you to act as another set of eyes. Rose has an eye for precious metals and gemstones, since she's a practiced merchant back home, so I do want to find the best materials possible. Between the two of us, we should manage.
[Though he has yet to decide what the body of the ring should be made out of... Gold? White gold? Platinum? Dezel figures that perhaps once they have the stones needed, they can then determine the type of setting.]
Aside from asking your help with Rose's ring, though, there is one other thing...
How would you feel about taking a commission for a piece of jewelry or an accessory I'd like to have made for a friend of mine?
[It certainly hasn't escaped Dezel's notice all this time that Astro likes collecting bits of scrap, discarded jewelry included, and fiddling about with it to make other things.]
[ That Dezel has such faith in him is a huge boost to Astro's confidence. He knows how gruff and blunt the seraph can be most of the time, which makes moments like this all the more meaningful.
It also makes that request stand out a lot more, and Astro finds himself abruptly pausing, mouth hanging open for a speechless moment. ]
...me?
[ A bright blue spark of energy hops off his arm. He's definitely taken by surprise here. It's no secret that he's worked with stuff for some time now, including fixing up old jewelry (and making new pieces when what he had to work with was beyond salvaging). He's never been asked to actually make anything for anyone before, though, so this is certainly a first. ]
[Dezel's smile softens somewhat at Astro's response. Lords, he really has ended up with a soft spot for this kid, hasn't he? Closing the book in his lap, he sets it aside and picks up the book on insects. ]
I have a friend named Estelle who lost someone important to her recently - her boyfriend, Joshua. He was sent home. Estelle's a cheerful, sweet girl and she'll be fine in the long run, but I still want to do something for her.
[Opening the book to a marked page, Dezel shows it to Astro. There are several illustrations of dragonflies there. ]
She's been fascinated by insects since she was a child, so I thought perhaps a pair of barrettes decorated with dragonflies might be good. One with her name on it, the other with Joshua's. Dragonflies are beautiful insects, especially in color, since they have almost a metallic sheen to them in some cases, so I think they would look good if done right.
[ Astro eagerly scoots closer when he sees Dezel pull out the book on bugs. While he does know about organic life, his knowledge isn't very extensive or in-depth, as his world is so polluted that most of that organic life is missing or gone. Being as naturally curious as he is, any opportunity to learn is already tempting enough. That Empatheias is so full of life and he has companions so knowledgeable is a nice bonus.
He studies the page on dragonflies with great interest, the soft glow growing a little stronger. They're certainly beautiful creatures; he can definitely make some equally pretty barrettes based on them. After a moment, he nods. ]
Dragonfly barrettes, huh? Sure, I can make some of those.
[ Is he confident or just excited to do so? Probably both.
That said, though, he keeps eyeing the book before the glow fades a bit, and he glances back up at Dezel. ]
Um... Is it okay if I borrow this?
[ Because, y'know. Reference material! Just in case! And maybe reading through the rest of it too because bugs. ]
[Dezel's memory of his own past may not be so great, but he does well enough with the more immediate past, including what he's learned in Verens. So he does recall what Astro's said about the lack of animal life in his own world and surely that would mean that insect life is scarce, as well. Maybe even non-existent. Having the book will be important to the task. It also couldn't hurt as an educational tool to teach the kid a few things about insect life in general.]
[Closing up the book, but leaving the page marked, Dezel hands it over to Astro.]
When we go out to find and buy the materials for Rose's ring, we can also pick up what you need for the barrettes. Make a day of it, if you want. Then, once we have everything, I'll pay you for your time and trouble before you get started.
[ Astro's eyes light up - literally, even, but only subtly and for no more than a moment - as Dezel hands him the book. He holds it with great care, with the room warming and the air getting notably clear. They might as well be outside right now. If Dezel looks closely enough, he may even see a brief pulse of blue light somewhere on Astro's chest...but it's gone as quickly as it appears.
When Dezel presents the offer for the outing, Astro gets excited again. The notion of being paid passes right by him; he hears it, but it's the first part of the statement that gets him excited. ]
Really?
[ Oh, boy, now you've done it, Dezel. ]
Sounds great! I know a lot of great spots to look for parts and stuff...
[ Now would probably be a good time to tell him if you intend to get him proper materials instead of letting him hunt old parts, Dezel. He's been fixing up old parts (both in his own world and this one) for so long, his idea of ideal materials miiight be a little skewed... ]
[Hmm, interesting, that faint blue glow that seems to come and go now and then, centered in Astro's chest. Dezel can only guess it has something to do with how he works as a machine.]
Heh. Sure, kid. But we won't be scavenging parts for your project, not unless you happen to find something really unique to include. Rather, I'll be paying for proper materials so you don't have to use secondhand scrap.
Astro's smile falters as he processes Dezel's words, making way for something a bit more sheepish. Right. Of course; Dezel wouldn't have him rummaging through the scraps behind jewelry stores, would he? ]
Heheh, sorry... I guess I'm so used to working with old parts that I forgot that was an option.
[ He casts a brief glance at his desk. Aside from the metal bits and bobs that he's toyed with for making various gadgets, there's jewelry as well: some old and tarnished and bent out of shape, but some he's polished up and fixed. There were, of course, some that were beyond completely saving, so he salvaged what he could and left the rest in a pile to melt down later. (How he melts them down is a mystery that should probably be left unsolved.) ]
I've never really bought anything from the jewelry stores, but I've seen a lot of really neat materials up for sale all the time. I bet we can find something really good for me to use.
[ So, even if it's not for scrap-hunting, having gone through the stores' discarded junk does mean that Astro has a fairly good idea of where to search. After all, if what they toss out is still good, imagine what their "good" stuff looks like!
Either way, a certain little black kitten has woken up. Having decided that he's had enough of naptime and wants attention, Servo begins making his way across the bed (and across Astro's lap) to Dezel. Sup, windy guy. You look like fun to shed all over. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Close the door and have a seat. I've got a couple of things I'd like to ask you, but before I do that, there's something I want to tell you about. It needs to be kept a secret, though. Right now, only Edna and Sorey know, and I've told Sorey he can let Mikleo know what's going on.
no subject
I-I won't tell anyone, promise.
[ Servo rolls over and stretches a little bit, but otherwise doesn't make a sound. Astro, meanwhile, looks slightly anxious. Did something bad happen? He really hopes that's not the case. ]
What's going on...?
no subject
It's an important matter, but not bad news.
[There, he pauses just a moment to prepare himself to share the news. This is, after all, something he's a little nervous about himself.]
...I'm going to ask Rose to marry me.
no subject
...give him a sec. He needs to process this. ]
Y-You're...gonna ask her to marry you?
[ He has to make sure he heard this right because holy cow. He'd known the two were rather close (it was impossible to miss, honestly), but he hadn't actively considered this sort of thing a possibility. There's a hint of an excited smile as his eyes go wide, a sourceless blue glow filling the room while other colors seem to brighten alongside his excitement. ]
no subject
Yeah, I am. And hopefully soon.
But this is where I need to ask you for a favor. Edna's offered to make Rose's engagement ring for me, since her abilities as an earth seraph would make it easy for her to shape gemstones. I'll need help obtaining the necessary materials for the ring, though.
[Much in the same way he needed help acquiring his new top hat, since being invisible makes transactions with the locals difficult.]
Think you can give me a hand with that, kid?
no subject
Yeah, no problem! I'll help you get anything you need.
[ Granted, Astro is just as eager to help anyone if they ever need it. This, however, is a very special case, for a special occasion, and some very special people. Anything Dezel needs for this, he'll find, and he'll find the best that he possibly can.
Only thing is, he's an awful liar and he knows it. If anyone bugs him about this, it'll be tough to cover it up. It's a good thing he brings home plenty of weird odds and ends all the time anyway; maybe the others won't question it too much. ]
no subject
[Unknown to Rose, Dezel hid away part of his "muskrat money" a while back and has since been continuing to build up that stash further little by little, both with additional money from other tasks and from his regular job as an Enforcer. Yet as he still manages to pay for his share of everything around the house and has loaned Rose money when needed, it's likely no one really suspects the wind seraph is successfully hoarding a fairly impressive stash of sylvs.]
[Picking up one of the books at his side, one about gemstones, Dezel flips it open to a section he's marked with a slip of paper to show Astro a picture, part of a color plate page.]
This is called watermelon tourmaline. Edna suggested tourmaline as stone that might have more meaning and personality than just a diamond. It comes in several colors, but this green and pink... It would be meaningful to Rose, so it's what we'll be looking for. This one is cut already, obviously, so we'll be seeking quality uncut stone so Edna can shape it as she sees fit.
no subject
Of course, then Dezel opens up the book, and... Ever seen Astro utterly amazed before? No? Well, here you go. ]
Whoa. I-I've never seen anything that pretty before in my life... [ Or Toby's life. Not even the flowers he's seen hold a candle to that. Edna sure made a great suggestion.
The colors in his room intensify in response to his awe, and - oddly enough - the air takes on the subtle scent of a lush forest. Yeah, Astro's impressed. He's never seen a rock so pretty. ]
I-I'll find you the best one I can!
no subject
I know you will, and I'll be with you to act as another set of eyes. Rose has an eye for precious metals and gemstones, since she's a practiced merchant back home, so I do want to find the best materials possible. Between the two of us, we should manage.
[Though he has yet to decide what the body of the ring should be made out of... Gold? White gold? Platinum? Dezel figures that perhaps once they have the stones needed, they can then determine the type of setting.]
Aside from asking your help with Rose's ring, though, there is one other thing...
How would you feel about taking a commission for a piece of jewelry or an accessory I'd like to have made for a friend of mine?
[It certainly hasn't escaped Dezel's notice all this time that Astro likes collecting bits of scrap, discarded jewelry included, and fiddling about with it to make other things.]
no subject
It also makes that request stand out a lot more, and Astro finds himself abruptly pausing, mouth hanging open for a speechless moment. ]
...me?
[ A bright blue spark of energy hops off his arm. He's definitely taken by surprise here. It's no secret that he's worked with stuff for some time now, including fixing up old jewelry (and making new pieces when what he had to work with was beyond salvaging). He's never been asked to actually make anything for anyone before, though, so this is certainly a first. ]
Y-Yeah, of course! What d'you need me to make?
no subject
I have a friend named Estelle who lost someone important to her recently - her boyfriend, Joshua. He was sent home. Estelle's a cheerful, sweet girl and she'll be fine in the long run, but I still want to do something for her.
[Opening the book to a marked page, Dezel shows it to Astro. There are several illustrations of dragonflies there. ]
She's been fascinated by insects since she was a child, so I thought perhaps a pair of barrettes decorated with dragonflies might be good. One with her name on it, the other with Joshua's. Dragonflies are beautiful insects, especially in color, since they have almost a metallic sheen to them in some cases, so I think they would look good if done right.
no subject
He studies the page on dragonflies with great interest, the soft glow growing a little stronger. They're certainly beautiful creatures; he can definitely make some equally pretty barrettes based on them. After a moment, he nods. ]
Dragonfly barrettes, huh? Sure, I can make some of those.
[ Is he confident or just excited to do so? Probably both.
That said, though, he keeps eyeing the book before the glow fades a bit, and he glances back up at Dezel. ]
Um... Is it okay if I borrow this?
[ Because, y'know. Reference material! Just in case!
And maybe reading through the rest of it too because bugs.]no subject
[Dezel's memory of his own past may not be so great, but he does well enough with the more immediate past, including what he's learned in Verens. So he does recall what Astro's said about the lack of animal life in his own world and surely that would mean that insect life is scarce, as well. Maybe even non-existent. Having the book will be important to the task. It also couldn't hurt as an educational tool to teach the kid a few things about insect life in general.]
[Closing up the book, but leaving the page marked, Dezel hands it over to Astro.]
When we go out to find and buy the materials for Rose's ring, we can also pick up what you need for the barrettes. Make a day of it, if you want. Then, once we have everything, I'll pay you for your time and trouble before you get started.
no subject
When Dezel presents the offer for the outing, Astro gets excited again. The notion of being paid passes right by him; he hears it, but it's the first part of the statement that gets him excited. ]
Really?
[ Oh, boy, now you've done it, Dezel. ]
Sounds great! I know a lot of great spots to look for parts and stuff...
[ Now would probably be a good time to tell him if you intend to get him proper materials instead of letting him hunt old parts, Dezel. He's been fixing up old parts (both in his own world and this one) for so long, his idea of ideal materials miiight be a little skewed... ]
no subject
Heh. Sure, kid. But we won't be scavenging parts for your project, not unless you happen to find something really unique to include. Rather, I'll be paying for proper materials so you don't have to use secondhand scrap.
no subject
Astro's smile falters as he processes Dezel's words, making way for something a bit more sheepish. Right. Of course; Dezel wouldn't have him rummaging through the scraps behind jewelry stores, would he? ]
Heheh, sorry... I guess I'm so used to working with old parts that I forgot that was an option.
[ He casts a brief glance at his desk. Aside from the metal bits and bobs that he's toyed with for making various gadgets, there's jewelry as well: some old and tarnished and bent out of shape, but some he's polished up and fixed. There were, of course, some that were beyond completely saving, so he salvaged what he could and left the rest in a pile to melt down later. (How he melts them down is a mystery that should probably be left unsolved.) ]
I've never really bought anything from the jewelry stores, but I've seen a lot of really neat materials up for sale all the time. I bet we can find something really good for me to use.
[ So, even if it's not for scrap-hunting, having gone through the stores' discarded junk does mean that Astro has a fairly good idea of where to search. After all, if what they toss out is still good, imagine what their "good" stuff looks like!
Either way, a certain little black kitten has woken up. Having decided that he's had enough of naptime and wants attention, Servo begins making his way across the bed (and across Astro's lap) to Dezel. Sup, windy guy. You look like fun to shed all over. ]