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| Details |
| Author: | inkie |
| Summary: | Costentyn Shine makes a request of Captain Sparkwire, who had kind of a rough weekend. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
There's not a natural visual way to tell the time of day in Ironforge, within the mountain and far away from sunlight, except from the horns that blow at the hour. Anyone who has been keeping track of that would know that it's early afternoon, and Captain Jo Sparkwire is holding down the fort in the old Cobalt Company Headquarters.
Jo isn't doing paperwork today — instead, she is sitting at the larger table, with the apples and other snacks pushed over to one side to accomodate a wide variety of tiny, delicate screwdrivers, wrenches, and other less easily identifiable tools. A clockwork bunny is open in front of her, and Jo checks each gear connection carefully, turning it to look for any feel of a catch or sign of friction. She is completely absorbed in her work.
It is unsurprising, then, that she does not hear Costentyn Shine enter. Even were she more attentive, though, she might not hear him; the man moves across the stone floors in silence.
He seems to realize this might not be the most courteous approach, however, because as he arrives at the bottom of the stairs, he clears his throat gently. "Captain Sparkwire," he says, and steps toward the table.
And then he pauses immediately, arrested by the sight of the work in front of her.
Shine drifts the last step toward the table and sinks into a chair automatically, still gazing with fascination at the array of tools and clockworks.
There's a slight delay before Jo reacts, looking over at him blankly, her mind clearly still in cogs and gears. Then she smiles, and says, "Shine. Sorry, I was a little absorbed. What can I do for you?"
Shine looks up, faintly abashed, and sits back. "I beg your pardon. Didn't mean to intrude, I just — " He nods at the components on the table. "It's… an interest of mine."
He smiles faintly. "I wanted to talk Company business, if this is a good time?"
"Tinkering?" Jo brightens. "Maybe I could show you a little of my rabbit later, then. Her hop is just slightly off true, and it's been bugging me for weeks. Today seemed as good a day as any to fix it." Or maybe she just needed a nice machine-based distraction. "And you're welcome here anytime, it is HQ. What kind of company business can I help you with?"
Shine gives the clockworks a last lingering look and then focuses on Jo.
"Respectfully, ma'am, I'd like to be put on a forward squad," he says. "I know it's a limited number of people you have space for, but I was a seasoned officer before Cobalt Company and I believe I've shown my work."
Jo quirks up an eyebrow and considers Shine for a moment, not answering right away. She doesn't look disapproving, exactly, more just like she's making sure to consider all the angles.
"I was impressed with how you handled yourself in Skywall," Jo nods. "What I saw of it anyway, as you were often in and out of shadows. Valonforth and Tennerow also spoke positively of your work together in the Burning Steppes, and by all accounts you were impressive up in the Plaguelands as well."
She taps one finger on the table, still thinking. "I can tell you we're up for a bit of reorganizing, now that the mission in Uldum is complete. I imagine…." Jo's eyes go briefly bleak. "I imagine there'll be some openings near term. I'll warn you now, though, I don't know yet where our squads will be needed exactly."
Shine nods. "I'll go where I'm needed, Captain. Or if I… can't, for some reason, I'll step back and not trouble you about it again." He considers Jo, his eye intent and searching. "Is everything all right, ma'am?"
"Oh, it's just… a lot happened in the past week," Jo says, forcing a smile. "And that's something you'll have to handle as well, if you're on a squad. There was the Windlord, and then a few days later we were handling a titan device that could've destroyed all life on Azeroth, and I came out of that to find out the other squad had been forced to kill a whole cursed gnome expedition. Just… a thing to be aware of."
"I can handle a fair bit, ma'am," Shine says. "And I know from Len– Miss Coit and Miss Westwind how it can be. I would like to be handling it. I have the skills to contribute and would like to use them to good purpose."
He studies her again. Despite the intensity of his focus, his expression remains mild. "I mean no disrespect, Captain, but — are you handling it all right? Ye seem" — there is a pause for judicious consideration — "tired."
"Hmm?" Jo straightens a little. "Oh, yes, well. I've always found that when things are difficult, it's best to keep your hands and your mind busy until everything settles. So, tinkering, the rabbit. I have my ways to cope, and that's… that's a big part of it. I am used to making my way through disaster aftermaths — I was GDF after all — and on balance most things came out well. You saw Al'Akir defeated, and Deathwing won't be able to use the Halls of Origination to kill everyone."
She looks at Shine more closely. "But you… if you're used to war, and you've spoken with Lena and Ralaea, then I imagine you're fully capable of handling these sorts of things as well. I do know that some people find our missions challenging in unexpected ways, but we are always trying to work toward the greater good. That is always my goal."
Shine nods. "As it is my motivation for returning to action. There's a great deal new to me about the mainland, but I'm nothing but glad to learn, and combat I know well. Just as I do tangled logistics and unexpected complications and a need to make decisions or improvise on the wat– on the ground." He pauses and turns his head slightly to look directly at Jo with his lone eye. "I'm not, mind ye, making claim to any leadership role. Only that I have been an officer, and I can appreciate the challenges they face, and be flexible."
His attention strays back to the table. "And it's watches, for me."
"Oh?" Jo's smile is more genuine, as thoughts of tinkering pulls her away from cursed gnomes. "I've tried my hand at timepieces and timers, but my specialty is small clockwork creatures, often imbued with magic. Maybe less useful, but well… I'd be happy to grill you on your techniques sometime, if you're willing, and share mine.
"As for the work, I'm sure you've seen we have people of all sorts. Some ex-military, some new to combat and strategy when they join. I think it could be helpful to have someone on a team who understands the challenges of command," Jo glances down at the opened rabbit. "It could help team cohesion, when improvisation is needed or complicated decisions have to be taken. They aren't always unanimous."
"No," Shine agrees somberly. "They're not. But I know Cobalt has solid team leaders. I'd be glad to back one of them up if needed, and I'd feel comfortable offering a difference of opinion if I had one and trusting that I'd be heard out." A pause, and then he smiles at Jo. "And I'd be very glad to discuss clockworks of all sorts with ye sometime, Captain. I began my trade in navigation, so it's measurements I know best. I've always admired the Gnomish creativity."
Jo smiles back. "I'd like that. It sounds like we might have complementary backgrounds, in that sense. I had barely left Gnomeregan at all until the last decade, so navigation is definitely not my strength. I started with toys — toys for children — though my work has in many ways become more martial in recent years. When I was in the field, though, the squad leaders did tend to be very nervous about things like backlash on death rays," She says this very matter-of-factly, like obviously everyone knows about death ray backlash and it's not that big of a deal.
"Anyway, I'll put your name down," Jo nods towards the file cabinet. "Next major mission that comes up. Our teams typically include a squad leader, a healer and some mix of fighters — typically magic and physical. Of those, we have found it very useful to have someone of your skill set, all the shadow-stepping and close-in fighting."
If Shine has feelings about death rays and their backlash, they are not evident in his expression. He nods respectfully and rises to his feet. "Thank you, Captain. I appreciate your time." He drops another glance at the table and then looks to Jo again. "I hope ye get it all sorted out."
"Thanks, Shine," Jo says nodding in farewell. "And I usually do. I'm sure I'll get this rabbit hopping in a straight line in no time."
Shine salutes her. "I expect you will, Captain."