[2009-03-14 18:01:13] <Geminid> log begin shem the movies quacklin's tagium

[2009-03-14 18:01:13] <Eklem> Opening log: shem the movies quacklin's tagium

[2009-03-14 18:01:46] <Geminid> Quacklin, someone has been accidentally caught in one of your sculptures. You can hear them moaning.

[2009-03-14 18:03:56] * Quacklin climbs out the the tentacle. "Get out of there! You're hurting him!"

[2009-03-14 18:04:21] <Quacklin> if he can reach, he jumps and slaps the behind of the person who's stuck.

[2009-03-14 18:04:52] <Geminid> The person, a greater gnome in a nice suit, falls out and moans.

[2009-03-14 18:04:59] <Geminid> "It grabbed me!"

[2009-03-14 18:06:06] <Quacklin> "You were blocking it's sunlight! They shrink and shrivel and get sad when you do that."

[2009-03-14 18:06:54] * Quacklin strokes the side of the tree. "Don't worry, he didn't mean anything by it, isn't that right, um, Mister..."

[2009-03-14 18:07:11] <Geminid> He dusts himself off, "Well, I know that now. Good morning, sir, I'm Ullbucket Squash, and I'm running for City Council District F. I'd like a moment of your time."

[2009-03-14 18:07:27] <Quacklin> "Okay."

[2009-03-14 18:08:07] <Geminid> "Do you feel adequately represented in the city government, sir?"

[2009-03-14 18:08:10] * Quacklin looks at his shoes.

[2009-03-14 18:08:25] <Quacklin> "You can probably run faster than me."

[2009-03-14 18:08:49] * Quacklin looks back up to his face. Smiles.

[2009-03-14 18:09:55] <Quacklin> "In fact, I bet they can all run faster. They've got bullet trains for that now, you know."

[2009-03-14 18:10:06] <Quacklin> "My Father told me."

[2009-03-14 18:10:23] <Geminid> "That's probably true. And my cousin works on the trains. Do you, ahh, feel adequately represented, as a gnome of Belle Point, in the city government?"

[2009-03-14 18:12:40] <Quacklin> "I'm not a councilman, no. I'm part of the union instead. Here's my card."

[2009-03-14 18:13:02] * Quacklin hands over his union card. His brow is furrowed in confusion.

[2009-03-14 18:13:58] <Geminid> The greater gnome sighs, "I got another idea, friend. Want a different card? Here," he pulls out a dingy pack of cards. "Pick a card."

[2009-03-14 18:14:56] * ben (~ben@pool-173-79-13-216.washdc.fios.verizon.net) has joined #ruiz

[2009-03-14 18:15:04] * ben is now known as Alsa

[2009-03-14 18:15:10] <Quacklin> "No, I like this card. It calms people."

[2009-03-14 18:15:32] <Quacklin> "Thank you for the offer."

[2009-03-14 18:15:36] <Geminid> He smiles, "This one will come in handy, too. You can keep that one, and have one of these. Pick one."

[2009-03-14 18:15:48] <Quacklin> "Oh, ok."

[2009-03-14 18:15:53] * Quacklin draws a card.

[2009-03-14 18:16:32] <Geminid> Roll a d11

[2009-03-14 18:16:39] <Quacklin> r d11

[2009-03-14 18:16:39] <Eklem> Quacklin [d1: 1] 3 4 4

[2009-03-14 18:16:45] <Quacklin> r dice d11

[2009-03-14 18:16:45] <Eklem> Quacklin [dice d1: 1] 4 8 9

[2009-03-14 18:16:49] <Quacklin> dice d11

[2009-03-14 18:16:49] <Eklem> Quacklin: 8 || d11: [d11: 8 | 8]

[2009-03-14 18:16:55] <Quacklin> there we go.

[2009-03-14 18:17:02] <Geminid> Now a d10

[2009-03-14 18:17:12] <Quacklin> dice d10

[2009-03-14 18:17:12] <Eklem> Quacklin: 8 || d10: [d10: 8 | 8]

[2009-03-14 18:18:08] * Tilluel (~Dani@c-69-251-103-23.hsd1.md.comcast.net) has joined #ruiz

[2009-03-14 18:18:44] <Geminid> A brown card that says "The White Sorceror" on it depicts an old man with a white crown on his head. He appears to be talking to angels.

[2009-03-14 18:23:06] <Geminid> "Ahh, a fine card," he says, "Once upon a time..." And you are enraptured.

[2009-03-14 18:23:19] <Geminid> "A magen took to the white magicks and rose highly in the university system.

[2009-03-14 18:23:43] <Geminid> "He was so respected, the Emperor of Tara'hin, the King of Dhun, and other lords asked his advice, not just on magic, but on right and wrong.

[2009-03-14 18:23:57] <Geminid> "And for his scholarship and intelligence, he was awared study of a Gift, the Crown of Angels.

[2009-03-14 18:24:14] <Geminid> "He spoke to them, and learned much, not just of magick, again, but of goodness and evil, of the planes,of the world.

[2009-03-14 18:24:49] <Geminid> "And in his antiquity, he faced his greatest challenges: the Tara'hin-Vesturian War, the fall of Avagen, and eventually, he journeyed forth with a forgotten hero, to Ansulym, where he and others slew the Mother of Darkness.

[2009-03-14 18:25:09] <Geminid> "When he returned to his university, he was world renowned for his magi, his ethics, and his heroism."

[2009-03-14 18:29:07] <Geminid> The enrapturement ends.

[2009-03-14 18:29:26] <Quacklin> "He knew Sydney too?! I didn't see him in the movie."

[2009-03-14 18:29:59] * Quacklin looks up from the card.

[2009-03-14 18:30:09] <Geminid> "Sometimes the minor roles aren't always recorded. If you're ever in trouble, read that card out loud. Have a good day, sir, and... vote gnomish!"

[2009-03-14 18:30:12] <Geminid> He walks away.

[2009-03-14 18:30:34] <Quacklin> "Hold up! What else can you tell me about the Age of Legends?"

[2009-03-14 18:30:59] <Geminid> He doesn't stop.

[2009-03-14 18:31:01] * Quacklin walks after him.

[2009-03-14 18:32:12] <Geminid> He's vanished after he walks through the door off the roof

[2009-03-14 18:32:43] <Quacklin> "No wonder they picked him to run."

[2009-03-14 18:34:16] * Quacklin spends the rest of the morning getting ready: he showers by twisting a valve on a large pustule bag of water hanging off the tentacle. He grabs a bagel from a coat pocket, and sets out on today's mission.

[2009-03-14 18:34:27] <Geminid> What's today's mission?

[2009-03-14 18:34:44] <Quacklin> He's going to go to collectable shops looking for more cards.

[2009-03-14 18:36:22] <Geminid> You'll find dozens of card sets: playing cards, tarot cards, etc.

[2009-03-14 18:37:22] <Quacklin> baseball cards?

[2009-03-14 18:38:32] * Quacklin will show his card to the owners of at least two shops. "Do you carry cards from this set? I'd like to buy a few packs."

[2009-03-14 18:39:27] <Geminid> Hmm

[2009-03-14 18:39:30] <Geminid> One sec

[2009-03-14 18:40:02] <Geminid> Yes, apparently, baseball cards

[2009-03-14 18:40:24] <Geminid> One proprieter looks closely at your card and says, "What is that?"

[2009-03-14 18:41:18] <Quacklin> "A councilman gave it to me before he ran off. It's part of the Age of Legends set. Do you have more?"

[2009-03-14 18:41:40] <Geminid> "Age of Legends? Afraid not. That's one fine looking card you got, though."

[2009-03-14 18:42:39] <Quacklin> "Ok. If you get them in stock, send a letter to Phillip Tentacle."

[2009-03-14 18:44:28] <Geminid> He blinks, "How about a phone number, Mr. Tentacle?"

[2009-03-14 18:45:02] <Quacklin> (I hereby declare that there is at least one gnomish baseball team that plays with contraptions and mechs.)

[2009-03-14 18:46:14] <Quacklin> "Oh, Phillip just collects my mail. I'm not home much."

[2009-03-14 18:46:19] <Alsa> The Burzene Globetrotters?

[2009-03-14 18:46:34] <Quacklin> yes

[2009-03-14 18:47:31] <Geminid> He pauses, "Does 'Phillip' have a phone I can reach him at?"

[2009-03-14 18:48:28] * Quacklin 's gaze goes unfocused. "Not.... yet."

[2009-03-14 18:49:37] * Quacklin pulls some paper out of his pocket, sits down on the floor of the shop, and begins to scribble furiously.

[2009-03-14 18:51:08] <Quacklin> after 15 min or so on the shopkeeper's floor, he looks at his notes, nods, then walks out.

[2009-03-14 18:51:18] <Geminid> The man just sighs.

[2009-03-14 18:55:28] * Quacklin goes in search of the following items: a broken phonograph, candles, hair clasps, 1000 threaded screw, a DC motor, some solid state amplifers, capacitors, etc etc.

[2009-03-14 18:56:42] <Quacklin> oh! And induction coils.

[2009-03-14 18:56:53] <Geminid> DC motor?

[2009-03-14 18:57:07] <Quacklin> direct current

[2009-03-14 18:57:44] <Quacklin> simplest electric motor possible.

[2009-03-14 18:58:58] * Quacklin goes back to his place, and gathers all these things. Then he builds two things:

[2009-03-14 18:59:16] <Geminid> Ahh

[2009-03-14 18:59:20] <Geminid> Do tell

[2009-03-14 19:01:21] <Quacklin> one is a crude recording device that starts recording in the presence of an "aah" vowel.

[2009-03-14 19:02:05] <Quacklin> he constructs this like a record maker, except the record maker notches the inside of a wax cylinder

[2009-03-14 19:02:37] <Quacklin> the screw rotates as the notch moves and the motor turns so things don't get overwritten.

[2009-03-14 19:03:13] <Quacklin> the "aah" vowel he can design with the electronics and a speaker reconfigured for a microphone.

[2009-03-14 19:04:13] <Geminid> I don't think I get it.

[2009-03-14 19:05:08] <Quacklin> it's yet another way of recording sound. Edison invented it I believe

[2009-03-14 19:05:59] <Geminid> Right, I think the issue is, I can't tell what your machine does and what a record maker does.

[2009-03-14 19:07:46] <Quacklin> oh, this one just starts recording 30 seconds of audio whenever someone says an "ah" vowel. The second machine is to "tap" the phone lines when someone dials 6 out of 7 numbers into a telephone.

[2009-03-14 19:08:23] <Geminid> Do tell how that second one works.

[2009-03-14 19:09:15] <Quacklin> together, when someone dials an incomplete specific number, says "Alga", and then starts speaking, he'll capture 30 seconds of audio. It's an elaborate answering machine.

[2009-03-14 19:09:46] <Geminid> Hahah

[2009-03-14 19:09:59] <Geminid> Glorious

[2009-03-14 19:10:08] <Geminid> This likely takes a while.

[2009-03-14 19:10:27] <Quacklin> ah, you stick an induction coil over the telephone to replicate the signal, then amplify it, then pass it though a series of solenoids so it only activates on his apartment building's switch, then reroute it to Alga.

[2009-03-14 19:10:57] <Quacklin> yes. This is how Quacklin is spending his day.

[2009-03-14 19:11:39] <Geminid> One sec, then

[2009-03-14 19:17:00] <Geminid> Earlier, you used your walker, right?

[2009-03-14 19:17:18] <Quacklin> when gathering materials, yes

[2009-03-14 19:17:47] <Geminid> You woulda noticed that one of the legs was a bit squeaky. Complaining, as it were.

[2009-03-14 19:18:37] * Quacklin stops what he's doing, grabs some oil and oils the joint. "You feeling ok, girl?"

[2009-03-14 19:19:24] <Quacklin> he crawls out of the pottery wheel with the cylinder suspended above it.

[2009-03-14 19:19:28] <Geminid> She's apparently been tampered with, actually. Someone's jerked the joint a bit askew

[2009-03-14 19:20:11] <Quacklin> furious, Quacklin goes, gets his toolbelt, and gives her a complete lookover.

[2009-03-14 19:22:22] <Geminid> That's the only sign of tampering.She has another spot where she was due a tune up, but that's usual.

[2009-03-14 19:25:45] * Quacklin closes her up and moves along. "Keep away from strangers, girl. Cmon, let's get some oil in that joint."

[2009-03-14 19:26:05] * Quacklin takes her out for a spin and some play time.

[2009-03-14 19:26:32] <Geminid> She works well now. You can patch her up better than anything else.

[2009-03-14 19:26:53] <Quacklin> as long as she's happy.

[2009-03-14 19:29:10] <Geminid> When you get back from your walk, a human is waiting on your roof this time.

[2009-03-14 19:30:15] <Geminid> He's got on a suit and is looking very severe.

[2009-03-14 19:30:50] <Quacklin> <Sher-clink! Sher-clink!> as Walker climbs up onto the roof. "Hello."

[2009-03-14 19:31:57] <Geminid> "Mr. Grippytop?"

[2009-03-14 19:33:27] <Quacklin> Walker motor rumbles and spits, and she shakes. "I'm a Grippytop."

[2009-03-14 19:33:44] <Geminid> "Quacklin Grippytop?"

[2009-03-14 19:34:08] <Quacklin> "Yes, I'm that one."

[2009-03-14 19:34:41] <Geminid> "My name is Reginald Reis. I'm from the Writer's Guild."

[2009-03-14 19:35:31] <Quacklin> "You're one of the ones striking?"

[2009-03-14 19:36:28] <Geminid> "I am. Would you have a moment to speak with me?

[2009-03-14 19:36:29] <Geminid> "

[2009-03-14 19:37:07] <Quacklin> "Sure! Watch the plants." He goes and 'leashes' Walker.

[2009-03-14 19:38:14] <Geminid> He stares at a scultpure, unsure if that's what you meant.

[2009-03-14 19:39:22] <Quacklin> can I use a karma?

[2009-03-14 19:39:47] <Geminid> To do what?

[2009-03-14 19:40:28] <Quacklin> a mechanical bird jumps out at him on a spring from a jumble of wires in one of the trees, making a "chirp" that sounds like metal grating on metal

[2009-03-14 19:40:39] <Quacklin> like a cuckoo clock.

[2009-03-14 19:41:16] <Quacklin> to do that.

[2009-03-14 19:42:07] <Geminid> You don't need to do karma for that to happen.

[2009-03-14 19:42:15] <Quacklin> ah, ok. It totally does.

[2009-03-14 19:42:27] <Geminid> The man jumps nearly out of his skin, yelps.

[2009-03-14 19:42:52] <Geminid> He stares a moment, then says, "Ahh, Mr. Grippytop, I, uhh. Umm. I--what in the world is that?"

[2009-03-14 19:43:17] <Quacklin> "It's like a bird."

[2009-03-14 19:43:59] <Quacklin> "You don't have to be shy. She won't bite. She doesn't have teeth.

[2009-03-14 19:44:29] <Geminid> He stares, then says, "They, ahh, say you are working the dump film?"

[2009-03-14 19:44:55] <Quacklin> "You're not in on the secret."

[2009-03-14 19:46:27] <Geminid> He frowns, "I can just look up the union records if need be. If you, ahh, are involved, I might have an offer for you."

[2009-03-14 19:47:24] <Quacklin> "Okay."

[2009-03-14 19:48:27] <Geminid> He stares a moment, then plunges onward, "How would you like some extra cash each week?"

[2009-03-14 19:48:52] <Quacklin> "Why would I need that?"

[2009-03-14 19:49:21] <Quacklin> "I don't think I need it."

[2009-03-14 19:49:45] <Quacklin> "Other people would like it more."

[2009-03-14 19:49:57] <Geminid> He boggles at you. That's the only word for it.

[2009-03-14 19:50:06] <Geminid> "What /do/ you need, sir?"

[2009-03-14 19:52:18] * Quacklin sits back and thinks. "I need a better look at my dreams."

[2009-03-14 19:53:36] <Geminid> The guildsman considers, "I'm not sure my office can provide that for you, sir."

[2009-03-14 19:53:41] <Quacklin> "Oh! And Age of Legends trading cards. I tried to find those but couldn't."

[2009-03-14 19:54:37] <Geminid> "Age of Legend... trading cards?" He pauses, "Where did you hear of such a thing?"

[2009-03-14 19:55:24] <Quacklin> "A councilman gave one to me before running away. They looked neat. I thought they might help start up a conversation."

[2009-03-14 19:55:45] <Geminid> "May I see it?"

[2009-03-14 19:56:01] <Quacklin> "Okay."

[2009-03-14 19:56:18] * Quacklin holds up the card and shows it to him, front and back.

[2009-03-14 19:56:50] <Geminid> He stares a moment, then looks to you, worried, then just runs away.

[2009-03-14 19:57:35] <Quacklin> how does he run away?

[2009-03-14 19:58:04] <Quacklin> I am on a roof. The roof door is usually locked from the outside. Quacklin has a device to get it open in a pinch

[2009-03-14 19:58:15] <Quacklin> the ziplines are too heavy for him

[2009-03-14 19:58:43] <Quacklin> rather, the zip lines might not support his weight.

[2009-03-14 19:59:14] <Geminid> He runs to the door and tries ineffectually to open it.

[2009-03-14 19:59:39] <Quacklin> "That's not how you open that door."

[2009-03-14 20:00:28] <Geminid> He stops, "How?"

[2009-03-14 20:00:38] * Quacklin grabs a menacing spiky looking tool and starts walking over, brow slightly furrowed in confusion.

[2009-03-14 20:00:53] <Quacklin> "You use this."

[2009-03-14 20:01:50] <Geminid> The man looks alarmed and falls back.

[2009-03-14 20:02:05] <Quacklin> "I said to watch the plants!"

[2009-03-14 20:02:45] * Quacklin shoves the device under the door, turns it, works it back and forth a few times, and the door pops open with a squeak.

[2009-03-14 20:03:11] <Geminid> The man shudders, pauses, then says, "Something interesting will assuredly happen to you soon, sir."

[2009-03-14 20:03:15] <Geminid> Then he bolts out of the place.

[2009-03-14 20:03:15] <Quacklin> "I have a question, Mr. Reis."

[2009-03-14 20:03:37] * Quacklin watches him go.

[2009-03-14 20:05:15] <Quacklin> "He's not nearly as fast as the councilman."

[2009-03-14 20:05:47] * Quacklin goes back to his pottery wheel to finish Alga.

[2009-03-14 20:10:56] <Geminid> Alga is taking shape nicely.

[2009-03-14 20:12:55] * Quacklin puts a lamp shade over the cylinder, and a pair of broken glasses frames over the lamp shade.

[2009-03-14 20:13:51] <Geminid> Why the glasses frames?

[2009-03-14 20:14:33] <Quacklin> because she's a secretary.

[2009-03-14 20:14:54] <Quacklin> glasses help with taking shorthand.

[2009-03-14 20:20:41] <Geminid> You astonish me with your logic.

[2009-03-14 20:21:11] <Quacklin> when night begins to fall, Quacklin goes and winds all the 'trees.'

[2009-03-14 20:23:07] <Geminid> Winds them?

[2009-03-14 20:23:13] <Geminid> Oh, winds like a clock

[2009-03-14 20:23:17] <Geminid> Not winds like exhausts.

[2009-03-14 20:23:27] <Quacklin> right, so the birds go back in their nests.

[2009-03-14 20:23:44] <Geminid> Right.

[2009-03-14 20:23:47] <Quacklin> speaking of, does any actual wildlife ever come up here?

[2009-03-14 20:24:09] <Geminid> Pigeons, squirrels, the occasional vulture. Maybe a rat or two. Maybe other things?

[2009-03-14 20:24:36] <Quacklin> ok

[2009-03-14 20:25:42] <Geminid> Does he do anything to them?

[2009-03-14 20:27:21] <Quacklin> I don't think so, not unless they start causing problems. If the pidgeons won't leave him alone, he may leave out traps to startle them, or build an owl that "flies" along a trac.

[2009-03-14 20:27:54] <Quacklin> connected to a little model railroad from his dad as a present, of course.

[2009-03-14 20:27:55] <Geminid> He probably needs the owl.

[2009-03-14 20:28:57] <Geminid> Awesome

[2009-03-14 20:29:40] <Geminid> Does he have a radio?

[2009-03-14 20:29:45] <Quacklin> I think the eyes light up like flashlights and the head of the owl swivels as it moves.

[2009-03-14 20:29:47] <Quacklin> yes.

[2009-03-14 20:30:07] <Quacklin> one that tunes both regular stations and the pirate gnomish stations.

[2009-03-14 20:30:36] <Quacklin> it may even be on, Quacklin likes to listen to programs.

[2009-03-14 20:31:43] <Geminid> Gnomish stuff or normal stuff?

[2009-03-14 20:32:06] <Quacklin> I imagine the good gnomish stuff comes on late

[2009-03-14 20:34:19] <Geminid> "...the subsequent explosion was traced to Burzene Street, where authorities..." static. "...And that's when the crossbow's bolt struck the ale barrels. It should have been a fraction of an inch to the left. Authorities arrived to put out the fires, but there was too much fuel. We learned that a gnome's beard can be burnt off at an alarming rate, but alas, the ten-keg-opener was not to be today..."

[2009-03-14 20:38:10] * Quacklin stands back from Alga. "Alga, listen. I don't know what the gnomish quarter would do without Mc.Bitters auto-tapping kegs to wake them in the morning."

[2009-03-14 20:38:47] <Quacklin> "At least he keeps a schedule."

[2009-03-14 20:38:53] * Quacklin looks for moving parts.

[2009-03-14 20:39:09] <Geminid> Moving parts of what?

[2009-03-14 20:39:31] <Quacklin> Alga. He's testing her recording.

[2009-03-14 20:40:46] <Geminid> Ahh.

[2009-03-14 20:40:52] <Geminid> Roll engineering or relevant?

[2009-03-14 20:41:22] <Quacklin> r engineering 14

[2009-03-14 20:41:22] <Eklem> Quacklin [engineering: 14] 18 18 23

[2009-03-14 20:41:50] <Geminid> r diff 14

[2009-03-14 20:41:50] <Eklem> Geminid [diff: 14] 18 19 21

[2009-03-14 20:42:30] <Quacklin> I'm fine with the failure.

[2009-03-14 20:43:16] <Geminid> It doesn't move.

[2009-03-14 20:44:28] * Quacklin frowns, gets out a diode, and proceeds to test all the connections on the circuit. He keeps this up for awhile.

[2009-03-14 20:44:47] <Quacklin> "Tell me if this tickles."

[2009-03-14 20:45:48] <Geminid> She apparently informs you when one of the diode tests fails.

[2009-03-14 20:49:22] <Quacklin> "Sorry about being so forward." He re-solders the bad connection and tries again.

[2009-03-14 20:49:33] <Quacklin> r engineering 14

[2009-03-14 20:49:33] <Eklem> Quacklin [engineering: 14] 18 22 24

[2009-03-14 20:49:49] <Geminid> r diff 12

[2009-03-14 20:49:49] <Eklem> Geminid [diff: 12] 16 19 21

[2009-03-14 20:49:59] <Geminid> That seems to do it.

[2009-03-14 20:50:38] <Quacklin> Yay! He'll then go and set up the telephone relay, then...

[2009-03-14 20:50:56] <Quacklin> where do his parents live? What time is it again?

[2009-03-14 20:51:23] <Geminid> It's 7:15 p.m., and his parents live in Burzene Street, a few blocks over.

[2009-03-14 20:51:54] <Quacklin> He needs to give them his phone number. He zip-lines over past their house and walks back.

[2009-03-14 20:55:11] <Geminid> It's a few moments to their door. They live in a crooked old, battered shack reinforced by titanium brackets, leaning against a collection of other such buildings.

[2009-03-14 20:56:33] * Quacklin goes up, presses the doorbell and immediately covers his ears.

[2009-03-14 20:57:39] <Geminid> BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

[2009-03-14 20:57:57] <Geminid> A moment later, Caramel answers the door. "Oh, Quackers! Come in!"

[2009-03-14 20:58:48] <Quacklin> "Hi mom. Do you have any leftovers?" He's probably a mess of grease and wax

[2009-03-14 20:59:15] <Geminid> "A caper and cabbage pie is left over. Some of it anyway."

[2009-03-14 21:00:15] <Quacklin> "Thanks mom." He slides downstairs to the kitchen.

[2009-03-14 21:01:08] <Geminid> She slides after you and gets the pie out.

[2009-03-14 21:01:31] <Quacklin> (gnomes are wonderful)

[2009-03-14 21:01:49] <Quacklin> "I got a secretary today, Mom."

[2009-03-14 21:02:39] * Quacklin stuffs his face with some pie.

[2009-03-14 21:04:01] <Geminid> "Oh? What's she made of?" She turns on a miniature oven with a lightning rod sticking out of it.

[2009-03-14 21:05:55] <Quacklin> "Her name's Alga. She's like Billiard's wax-o-gram from the old house. She can remember about 10 messages before she starts getting confused."

[2009-03-14 21:06:30] <Geminid> "Your brother made a rubber train track today, but it burnt up."

[2009-03-14 21:07:02] <Quacklin> "Right now, I have her listening to the 555-236 switch."

[2009-03-14 21:07:31] <Quacklin> "Oh, was he using Rangey's rubber or the old stuff?"

[2009-03-14 21:08:04] <Quacklin> "You can't bounce Rangey's stuff too high."

[2009-03-14 21:08:04] <Geminid> "He couldn't say. You know how secretive they are."

[2009-03-14 21:08:58] * Quacklin waits until his mom's back is turned, then gives the empty plate a little lick.

[2009-03-14 21:09:17] <Quacklin> "Probably not Rangey's stuff then, he

[2009-03-14 21:09:32] <Quacklin> 'd be bouncing off the walls if he got a good contract."

[2009-03-14 21:10:38] <Geminid> "I heard that, Quacklin Erstwhile Grippytop! No licking the plates! Put it in the macine!"

[2009-03-14 21:11:12] * Quacklin pouts and puts the plate in the machine.

[2009-03-14 21:11:57] <Geminid> "You got my message?"

[2009-03-14 21:12:22] <Quacklin> "I did. I used my last suit for parts."

[2009-03-14 21:13:47] <Geminid> "Get something nice to wear, Quacky baby. She's a good girl."

[2009-03-14 21:15:10] * Quacklin pouts again. "Okay."

[2009-03-14 21:15:38] <Geminid> "And don't pout. Your genius shrivels up when you pout."

[2009-03-14 21:16:03] * Quacklin rolls his eyes and keeps pouting.

[2009-03-14 21:16:52] <Quacklin> "The next date you can leave with Alga."

[2009-03-14 21:17:43] <Geminid> "Alga can get her own dates, dear."

[2009-03-14 21:18:04] <Quacklin> "Where should I take her? I was thinking of <name of regular diner>."

[2009-03-14 21:20:08] <Geminid> She tsks, "Don't be silly. The Mineral Tap is good." A little high end gnomish spot.

[2009-03-14 21:21:51] * Quacklin pffts. "It's a waste of money. They spend more on polish than they spend on their chandelier."

[2009-03-14 21:22:37] <Geminid> "You of all people should know a good chandelier doesn't need to cost money. And it twirls so nicely, even without the spitting flames."

[2009-03-14 21:24:54] * Quacklin frowns. "Okay." he steps to one side as the washing machine bulges in preparation of it's next cycle.

[2009-03-14 21:25:32] <Geminid> A jet of warm water rises up from it like a fountain, and Caramel shouts over the noise, "Go talk to your father. He's playing with his trains."

[2009-03-14 21:25:53] <Quacklin> "Okay!" He goes to find his father.

[2009-03-14 21:27:35] * Quacklin follows the sounds of model trains. He goes into a hall filled with escherian tracks and knocks on the door.

[2009-03-14 21:29:17] <Geminid> He's hard of hearing. A knock won't do.

[2009-03-14 21:30:14] * Quacklin grabs the foghorn next to the door for exactly this purpose and makes it issue a bellow.

[2009-03-14 21:30:53] <Geminid> "Come in!"

[2009-03-14 21:31:42] <Quacklin> (I thought he was unintelligible except for tone of voice, except to the mother?)

[2009-03-14 21:32:23] <Geminid> "Crmn!"

[2009-03-14 21:32:44] * Quacklin comes in, puts on the boots with tracks laid into them, and walks over to his father gingerly.

[2009-03-14 21:34:31] <Geminid> "Hurmbaga. Oorm." He greets.

[2009-03-14 21:35:28] <Quacklin> (I think that since there isn't a square inch of this room that's not laid out in tracks, his mom made clothes that have tracks sewn in so the trains can run across them undisturbed.)

[2009-03-14 21:35:46] <Geminid> brilliant

[2009-03-14 21:36:39] <Quacklin> "Hey dad. Did you hear about this date that Mom set me up on?"

[2009-03-14 21:37:47] <Quacklin> A train runs over his shoe covering.

[2009-03-14 21:39:00] <Geminid> "Nungus, allaggaham. Moorbick."

[2009-03-14 21:40:12] <Quacklin> "I know you tried to talk her out of it. Thanks. What are you working on here?"

[2009-03-14 21:40:46] <Geminid> "Chuckachucka."

[2009-03-14 21:43:36] * Quacklin looks around. "Is that a new burn in the ceiling? Were you trying the pendulum track idea again?"

[2009-03-14 21:43:59] <Geminid> "Ugwoooosh. Paramblum." He gestures wildly upward.

[2009-03-14 21:46:02] <Quacklin> "Yeah, I know the damping insulation is too flamable. I always use gum instead."

[2009-03-14 21:46:30] <Quacklin> "I'm on a new project at work with some big important people, but it's all hush hush."

[2009-03-14 21:46:43] <Geminid> "Chuckacoocka monig burtle scropp tap tap."

[2009-03-14 21:47:49] <Quacklin> "I'll ask if they're planning on putting trains in."

[2009-03-14 21:48:06] <Quacklin> "Ok Dad, I'm going to go talk to Sarah."

[2009-03-14 21:48:17] <Geminid> "Oooong."

[2009-03-14 21:48:56] * Quacklin goes up to Sarah's room.

[2009-03-14 21:49:44] <Geminid> She's doing her exercizes on dad's exercise machine.

[2009-03-14 21:51:19] * Quacklin peeks in the door. He leans in close. "A 4/7th's Gripply is downstairs on Walker. You have that repelling harness?"

[2009-03-14 21:51:50] <Geminid> "It's in the closet over there. Hi, Quacks. How's it goin'?"

[2009-03-14 21:52:33] <Quacklin> "It's going good. The Gripply's yours if you want it, I found something else that works. I'll lookout for Mom so she doesn't see."

[2009-03-14 21:53:52] <Geminid> She grins, turns off the macine, jumps out of the way of the inappropriately placed blades, then slips off to get them.

[2009-03-14 21:55:51] * Quacklin watches upstairs, nervously.

[2009-03-14 21:57:29] <Geminid> Your sister comes back, out of breath, "that was tense, but I got it."

[2009-03-14 21:58:54] <Geminid> She holds it up."

[2009-03-14 21:59:31] <Quacklin> "Put that away!" Quacklin says a bit too loud. "You know how she gets."

[2009-03-14 21:59:55] <Geminid> She slips it into her closet.

[2009-03-14 22:01:34] * Quacklin relaxes. "Here's Alga's number, she's my secretary. You can leave her messages by calling this number and asking to speak to her."

[2009-03-14 22:02:49] <Geminid> She takes it, "All right!"

[2009-03-14 22:03:55] <Quacklin> "How is the charm school? Is She setting you up on dates too?"

[2009-03-14 22:06:37] <Geminid> "No dates. I have to graduate a proper gnomish lady first! But she has made Hints! Oh, to be an engineer properly!"

[2009-03-14 22:09:01] <Quacklin> "You graduate soon, but you'll miss the free food when you leave. What are you working on now?"

[2009-03-14 22:09:40] <Geminid> "A sheep launcher."

[2009-03-14 22:10:46] <Quacklin> "ooOOoo, can I see the plans?"

[2009-03-14 22:12:06] <Quacklin> "They programs say that there isn't much grass out there for grazing. If you set up a relay of these things, you could launch the sheep to new patches of grass each day and launch them back by nightfall!"

[2009-03-14 22:12:06] <Geminid> "They're all in my head."

[2009-03-14 22:12:27] <Geminid> She grins, "I was thinking of just importing them via launches."

[2009-03-14 22:12:47] <Quacklin> "How were you going to get them back?"

[2009-03-14 22:13:41] <Geminid> "Launchers, again."

[2009-03-14 22:13:44] <Geminid> "Back and forth."

[2009-03-14 22:15:21] * Quacklin grins.

[2009-03-14 22:16:15] <Geminid> "Landing is a problem, but only because their legs will get caught in the nets. Unless I can get them to always land on their backs."

[2009-03-14 22:16:16] <Quacklin> "Ok, I need to go soon so she doesn't ask me questions." Quacklin gives her a hug, still covered in goop, then starts back down the stairs.

[2009-03-14 22:16:35] <Quacklin> "Oh! Umbrella harnesses."

[2009-03-14 22:16:59] <Quacklin> "We used that in a badmitton scene at work."

[2009-03-14 22:17:57] <Geminid> She nods, "I'll look into it, thanks!"

[2009-03-14 22:19:19] <Quacklin> "Going back to work! Bye mom, thanks for the pie!"

[2009-03-14 22:19:33] * Quacklin heads towards and out the door.

[2009-03-14 22:19:43] <Geminid> "goodnight, Quackers!"

[2009-03-14 22:20:28] <Quacklin> after that, he takes Walker back to his roof, and works on his light sculptures.

[2009-03-14 22:20:56] <Geminid> When does he go to bed?

[2009-03-14 22:21:16] <Quacklin> 1 am

[2009-03-14 22:23:03] <Geminid> I need to get everyone to sleep, then I'll have you all together.

[2009-03-14 22:23:13] <Quacklin> ok

[2009-03-14 22:24:17] <Quacklin> I'm still utterly surprised at how normal he seems in gnomish society

[2009-03-14 22:24:45] <Geminid> Well, he is normal there.

[2009-03-14 22:25:14] <Quacklin> but he doesn't mis-understand people

[2009-03-14 22:25:53] <Quacklin> I've been trying to be careful and having him interperet his family as literally as he does everyone else.

[2009-03-14 23:51:53] <Geminid> It's an hour before dawn.

[2009-03-14 23:52:52] * Quacklin shivers and grabs blankets to warm himself admidst the sweating, then starts jotting down everything he can remember.

[2009-03-14 23:53:29] <Geminid> You've got to be at work in two hours.

[2009-03-14 23:54:12] <Geminid> You finish the note taking and get to work on time?

[2009-03-14 23:54:21] <Quacklin> yep.

[2009-03-14 23:54:37] <Geminid> log end shem the movies quacklin's tagium

[2009-03-14 23:54:37] <Eklem> Closing log: shem the movies quacklin's tagium