556/One Device Fixy Please, Miss Belkan

One Device Fixy Please, Miss Belkan
Date of Scene:	05 October 2023
Location:	Plot Room 3
Synopsis:	A certain TSAB officer comes to Hannah with a very specific request. Hannah, somehow, manages to do so to the letter.
Cast of Characters:	Hannah Steiner, Chrono Harlaown

---

Hannah Steiner has posed:
The sound of gentle jazz flitters out from the door to Hannah and Ami's room, the resident Belkan neatly leaning back in her comfy chair with her slippered feet right atop the surface of that very suspicious, highly techy desk! She's humming along with the music, all cuddled up in a fluffy robe with the symbol of her House on a patch at her chest, one hand with a carving knife and the other slowly wittling down a small block of wood. What it's supposed to be is yet a mystery. Currently it's slowly becoming...person shaped maybe? Stick figure? Some kind of symbol? Maybe one of those. She pauses and rubs over the thing every now and then, flicking the dust and detritus away into a handy trash can.

Even the loud and gregarious Belkan needs quiet time, and so this seems to be her more secretive hobby. But surely no one would arrive to blackmail her with having some small bone of /artistry/ in her body!

Fate is cruel and nobles often have a bit of karmic debt. Hannah certainly has her share!

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown took a slow, deep breath. Unaware that there was more whispering from the girls as per his arrival. The young, memorable lad always going into other girl's rooms, having girls coming out of his... So he was entirely clueless to any new ripples his knocking on her door could bring.

He was half tempted to be henshined when he arrived, but alas... He was not this time. He was tucked in shirt, buttoned up, straight laced as ever... And something held in his hands, a device.... a heavily damaged device... Nicomachea.

Hannah Steiner has posed:
Knock knock! Hmmm. She wasn't expecting anyone, but frankly it can either be Ami, or a host of many other people. Hannah is not shy about visitors, though she always gives her room mate deference to keep those nerdy social batteries charged. She's a giving Space Ruler and room mate like that.

"Come in mein freund, it is unlocked und I am decent und fluffily dressed!" She starts to sloooowly push the wood working rash can under the techdesk. But she's really comfy, and disengaging feet from desk is more of a challenge, even if her woodworking secret is on the line!

By the Sankt! She's just so cozy right now!!!!

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown opened the door and then... he stared. He didn't walk. He just... stood there in the doorway for a moment. Juuuuuuust cocked an eye. Then he stepped into the room, lightly closed the door, and waited. Patiently.

"Hello, Steiner," he finally said, letting the words hang in the air. "I've come to bargain." Pause. "No, I suppose it's not truly a bargain. I've come to discuss with you the repair of a midchildian device that was damaged in a recent fight." He walked to the desk and, gingerly, placed the device in its standby form on the desk. Then, slowly, had it leave that state.

And if she could see, she'd be able to tell just how damaged it is. How many parts were all but shattered. How much needed to be outright replaced...

Hannah Steiner has posed:
Hannah knows what it's like to be stared at. And so feeling those eyes on her? She slowly slides that half-finished piece of artistry riiiight into that soft pocket of her robes. Because she only buys the best. Second hand. Because unlike many folks locally, she can actually take the hit to her pride and do so.

"Acht! herr Harlaown!" She starts, all that violent cheerfulness easily drummed up. But then he's letting that air hand, and talks about a bargain. She may be a loud and boisterous sort, but any noble worth their salt can read a room.

"You seem a touch more dour than usual, even for you. This is not a social call." That's not a question. That is Hannah stifling her growing dread at the implications of Chrono coming to /her/ for a discussion and-or bargain. Then the words 'repair' and 'damaged device' strike her.

"Kark off, mein family may be a merchant house even before we were royalty, but I am not one to let a Device wander the Cradle unless they are beyond the pale. Say a prayer to Her for the poor thing und consider it a bargain struck." Hannah makes the Sankt Church sign of the Saint Olivie, ever the religious devotee, and then rolls over in her chair to the sound of that plop of /parts/. Wince.

She mutters something about not liking this already, and plucks up Blauer Greif. One quick Henshin? And she does a Focus Scan.

"N...Nichomachea!?" There's no disguising the sheer horror in her voice, recognizing her dear freund and Lancemate's device instantly.

"Whom did this!? Did they hurt frau Terios!? Even the Sankt Herself shall tremble at our wroth should they too have harmed such a sweet, loving und righteous of souls! WHO DID THIS ENFORCER!?!?" Her hand trembles and grips her own Device tightly, anger radiating off of her, even as she tries to take in the damage.

At least she's including Chrono in the 'utterly crushing those responsible' bit. She cares about her allies, truly, even if they're from Mid-Childa!

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown wasn't going to say a word. Honestly, he didn't expect her to be a wood carver. Buuuut... it made sense. She was a meister. It was something that involved her hands. Was it so surprising she enjoyed such? She was also blind, so something that involved a more physical touch when creating was likely a lot more fun for her.

He saw no shame in it. Still, if it made her anxious, much funner to not mention it. Let her stew in it later.

"While I would offer a prayer for such, I would need to ask you do it in favor of I. As I am not a part of your religion, I fear it may be slightly heathenous for me to do so," Chrono said. Well, he wasn't a part of the belkan church... but it didn't mean he didn't respect it or its followers. And he'd never desire to come off as mocking to them.

"Terios-san is safe and secure, in a local hospital recovering from her wounds. She is fine, if bored. I have ensured she has access to the best entertainment I could provide." A device and all, with a LOT of 'okay we're going to be away from home for months/years, let's bring our entertainment' stored on it. "Apparently a woman by the name of Sunbreaker. Terios-san isn't the only one she's harmed, either. I've... yet to locate her. If I do, she will be dealt with." ... Possibly murder. Possibly otherwise. It was hard to say with him. After all... he followed the rules. Strictly. Even when he didn't want to.

"I... tried to fix it myself. But hardware isn't my... specialty. I have all the necessary programs to repair the software damaged or lost, but... but it requires a meister. I need to know if you can do this, Hannah."

Oh, ohhhhh. The seriousness in his tone. The fact he used her first name. She could likely feel how serious the young lad was. He put a hand on the desk. While he wasn't even henshined, that presence of his? Oh, it was there. You could almost hear the enforcer's gloves against the wood even without them being there. "And I do mean this. Repair. Not alteration. Not replace. This is a midchildian device that was damaged protecting its master. This isn't an 'upgrade' or a 'sidegrade' or anything else of the nature. I need to know if you can return Nichomachea as it was. Return it to being the device it was when it risked itself for its master." Perhaps in the future there would be 'upgrades' and the like. But here? Now? This wasn't an adjustment. This was saving the life of a soldier who was downed in the field of battle.

Hannah Steiner has posed:
Alright, he has a point! Not that she's ever going to /admit/ that! The war of words continues!

"Well then, such a bargain you strike! Fine. It goes better in Belkan anyway! Let one not disgrace Her by speaking Her Prayers in...Mid-Childan..." Shudder! The cultural pain radiates off of her at the thought!

There's utter relief, swiftly followed by an full-body TWITCH at hearing that name.

"That little /RAT/! Of COURSE it was her! She already desecrated und harmed dear frau Osaka! She made vile pacts with that madman, Riventon! Und harming both the delightful scion of House Terios as /well/ as her noble Device? Rest assured, you have the Blade of House Steiner at your call, Enforcer Harlaown, when you hunt down the WRETCH!" Oh she's just furious, though luckily there's this choking sound as she all but audibly swallows down her rage. She needs to be calm. She /knows/ it.

She stabs that whittling knife into the wood of her bunk bed, lets out a breath, and then listens.

Hannah wants to be annoyed at not being able to bless the good Device Book with Ancient Belkan techniques of her House, but can't even find the will to raise the point. No, she's suppressing her own fury and soon going through the scan from her Device.

"Stop belaboring the point, tempting though it is. With a proper, functioning lab, I could have her as shiney as though she just was first built. I will not lie to you, Chrono." This time she's almost as serious as him. She gives her honest assessment as a Meister.

"She is in a bad way, and I know both Belkan and Mid-Childan workings well. I've karking hand tools, spare parts, und a crafts shop that speaks poorly to this planet's industrial base. But sometimes one must be thankful for having what they need, not what they want. On the names of mein parents, this brave soul shall shine once more und be united with Rashmi, or may She in the Cradle strike me down." It's quite possibly worse than Chrono has thought.

Hannah sounds /solemn/. That is an oath, and not one made lightly by the more othodox and strict members of the Saint Church.

And then she pauses, finds a pen and paper, and starts scrawling something. A list.

She roughly shoves it towards the sound of Chrono's voice. Hopefully at the chest. She keeps forgetting how small he is.

"You have shopping to do while I try to triage this mess. Do NOT cheap out. Especially on the incense and candles. Save the receipts. I shall pay for it." 'Somehow' is the unspoken word, but Hannah's not going to skimp when it comes to repairing Rashmi's friend.

The list is a mixture of the practical and the...well, frankly religious. The two seem to be blended for a Meister like her, so steeped in old tradition as well as more modern practices. Thankfully her skills aren't bluster, and who knows, maybe invoking a holy name might be for the best in keeping poor Nichomachea from sputtering out.

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown gave a nod. "As much as I appreciate the thought... I am not sure Terios-san would desire such a course. More than that, if someone is to put a stop to her, I believe it falls to her. For her own well being, her own peace of mind... I believe... she will need to face this woman again. As much as I would, personally, desire to get vengeance for her... in the end, she was hurt, not me. And it is her judgment that matters in this case. Having trained with her, I trust her judgement will be sound in this matter."

However, upon begin given the news she could fix it, there was a small amount of relief from him. Then he sent her device... a list. Of resources he had access to. "If you need anything for this, let me know." Repair kits, other such things... it seemed he came prepared.

When he took the list, well... he just nodded. "Consider it done. This is a TSAB job, so the TSAB will pay for what is needed," he said sternly.

In this case, he WAS the TSAB... but, well. Chain of command and all that. Besides... some of this was morale boosters, in one way or another. And considering the state... Nichomachea could use morale during this.

"There is one other thing, less pressing. Koji Silvia, are you familiar with him? His device is... a mess. A different type of mess, but one none the less. I believed at first it had some weird belkan cartridge system lodged into it, but it is worse than that. Apparently it is some kind of prototype elemental delivery system and... it has done a lot of damage to the device. It is trying to compensate... but it needs that system extracted and many parts either replaced or repaired. I can handle software but..." Solemn sigh.

"... I'm not a meister. I can only do basic repairs, nothing of this level." Then another sigh. "And before you say it, yes. I think that... prototype... thing... lodged into his device is atrocious and possibly heinous as well. Likely for different reasons than you do, but the sentiment is shared." Oof... He even sides with a belkan on this. It must be a rough install.

Hannah Steiner has posed:
"You know, herr Harlaown, there /is/ such thing as being too entirely reasonable." Grumps Hannah openly as he appeals to Rashmi's desires. She hates how honorable and correct that feels. And so, reluctantly shoving aside her own ever-burning need for vengeance? Well there's one more worrying sign out of the way.

"And a good opportunity to restore her no doubt stinging morale - I would say pride, but such a word seems unfitting unless it comes to her family und cooking - which she no doubt lacks right now. Being kicked to the dirt can hurt anyone's sense of skill." She's only recently marched out of the hospital, and is technically on 'light duty' and 'don't strain yourself' orders. Grumble. Huff!!!!

The list is accepted, and after some mental scrolling? She has Blauer Greif mark out a few needed parts without any shame. They are, after all, by Treaty and frankly being on the battlefield together, allies. She's not going to skimp particularly when it's this Device on the line.

She also pauses, then adds in the 'Meister-Grade Emergency High-Caffeine Coffee-esque Ration'. It's going to taste like sludge, but she's going to need to be /wired/ in order to work through this particular duty. She also makes sure to block out her social calendar.

This is Hannah. She /never/ does that. Not even when she was in the hospital.

And then Koji's name comes up. Her head wobbles. Then impacts that lovely desk of Chrono's mother's that she so kindly 'salvaged'.

"Und he has the gall to call /ME/ reckless!"

That answers whether she knows Koji or not.

"...Rashmi und Koji are two of mein first freunds. Kark. That makes...oh how did I /miss/ it when we first met?" Because she was enjoying the fight way too much and misunderstanding everything. Bonk bonk bonk. There's a little creaking of space-materials. Belkan skulls are often Like That.

"...I am already too tired to explain how much blasphemy that is to House und Sankt. Bring Hanzo here. Und. Double the coffee ration. Add 'arc welder' und two welding masks to the shopping list. While I can /manage/, if it is as horrificly done as your words imply, a set of actual eyes would be useful." That means you Chrono. Welcome to magic surgery town.

"I am going to need to 'lobby' the shop teacher. Again." Siiiigh.

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown gave a solemn nod. "I'm aware and have been told that before. I figure I just need to be reasonable for the both of us. And for Terios-san's sake." Annoying midchildian brat.

"You are right, though. Pride isn't the word here. Morale certainly is. Terios-san... isn't feeling the hurt of losing. I think she's accepting the reality that there are times we will all be powerless. It's something all great mages must one day accept, less they fall into that darkness. The reality that there is always someone more powerful, no matter how hard you desire to bridge that gap. That there are things bigger than one's self... and that, should the time come... you may have to face such impossibilities regardless. There will always be things that one cannot face. Things one cannot protect. And it takes a willingness to face them regardless that allows you to change that which you can."

"I fully believe Terios-san will become a stronger, better mage from this. But... it is a lesson I could not teach her and truly wished she'd never need to learn."

He looks over the list and smiles. Ah, the coffee he understood.

Oh... arc welder. That was going to be fun. "I'll... have all this within two hours. It would be an honor to help you, Meister."

He was going to have no idea WTF he was doing. But he would be henshined throughout it and few safety precautions beat 'magic bullshit'. Few. "And I'll... see what I can do. Hanzo may need to wait for now, however. But I'll... discuss it with him." Oh, it was going to be fun. That was going to be a fuuuun project.

He bowed his head and then turned. "I will return shortly."

Hannah Steiner has posed:
Hannah is on the /verge/ of crumpling up some paper and throwing it at Chrono, but pride demands she shows some dignity. So instead, she tries to bop him on the head with the butt of her Device!

"For an Enforcer, you are truly a /brat/!" She calls out brazenly!!!!

Did you think you'd escape without a Belkan'ing upon visiting her Chrono? No. Not possible!!!!!

Silence. Her head turns away. Her chest feels tight. That hits far, far too close to home. She can't face her Uncle alone. She knows that feeling. If she could, would she be here at all? Her parents would be alive. She wouldn't be an abject, utter fail...

"We'll help her protect the things she cares for." Suddenly offers Hannah, firmly, trying to reject the reality of Chrono's words outright. To twist it all to her own thinking, shattered though that might be.

And then she continues on to ensure one doesn't think /too/ hard about her non-answer.

"Nothing less for freunds und allies, herr Enforcer. Now get going! I am already annoyed, und have much work to do." Pause. Eyes close.

"I appreciate you coming to me for this. Never hesitate." An open offer. She might be a loud, arrogant, greedy, money-hungry, boisterous fool of a Belkan Noble, but by the Sankt she actually cares. She's already pulling out her hand tools and scanning Nico again.

"Initiate maintenance mode, brave knight. You shall grace this backwater with your knowledge soon enough." She promises to the good book, determination on her face as she gets to work!