"I wish to join you, could you take me to the guild master?" Your question was simple yet delivered with an air of authority. The man was all too eager to help you, nodding vigorously as he spoke "Of course, I am sure that he will be thrilled to hear that a man of your nature deems us worthy such association!" He responded, starting to lead the way as he dismissed his subordinate with a wave of his hand.
You could see longing in the eyes of that man as he was dismissed, you could feel the manner in what he was stricken with the desire to follow and see how this all panned out. Following the man, you decided to use the few minutes you estimated that you had before you met up with the guild master to inquire about a few more things that you knew were important for you to know.
"Is this degree of admiration for those of immortal nature common amongst the Technomancers or is it more of a personal thing?" You asked, though you already had a good idea about what the answer to this question was going to be.
"Many immortals have keen minds from the centuries their life has seen, many of them are bored with routine and want to experiment, to discover new things. During the time they typically remain with us, they tend to invent and innovate in a manner that many of us can only dream of." he paused, laughing slightly "That's always aided by the fact that they cannot die if an experiment floods an area with toxic fumes for one."
You gave the man a crooked smile, you could see the advantage there, yet you were far from dissatisfied with life as it was. If anything, your many years of life had taught you to appreciate it, to embrace it and to love every moment of it.
"Not all of us feel that way about life. While I love to see new things like any other, I find myself in love with the beauty the world has to offer. How could I possibly tire of life, when I have the stars to send me off at night and the song of birds to awaken me in the morning?" You chuckled. The man was somewhat taken off guard by this, but none the less understood it.
"That's quite the enduring love you have there. I suppose you have transcended mortal failings in some ways with your experiences, though it must be hard for you still to see people that you knew grow old and pass on." He sighed, mostly speaking his mind aloud in this case as he led you up a winding staircase.
"In a way, I like to think that I am as human as ever. If I became indifferent to what the world had to offer, I would no longer be alike those that I have always surrounded myself with." Came your response. You knew you'd always done such, you knew that you had always done your best to better the lives of others. "I mourn the loss of those I knew when their time comes, yet I celebrate the lives they had. When the time comes, wouldn't you after all, be happy to know that your friends, your family, would celebrate the life you had?"
"I suppose I would be happy to know that they loved me enough to do such a thing, yes." He responded, rubbing his chin briefly as he led you through a large hall, towards an office. "I must say that you are not what I was expecting. I am thankful for it I must say, as meeting someone who has seen centuries pass and still holds a passion for life is warming in a manner."
"I do have one other quick question before I meet with the guild master. What is the relationship of the Technomancer's in relation to the Enlightened?" You paused, briefly before adding to this. "I know that the Clockworker's are opposed strongly to them, I know you provide weapons for the Clockworker's mechanical men, but, are you as strongly opposed to them as they are?"
"Oh, heavens no, we may make weapons, we may maintain a friendly enough relationship with the Clockworker's, but, we do not go out of our way to interact with the Enlightened in either positive or negative manners. I guess you could say it's more about the thrill of invention for us, than using any of the inventions we make on actual people." he responded, pausing as he guestured to the door before you.
"This would be the office of the guild master. I'll inform him that you wish to meet him."
The man knocked on the door to the office before letting himself in, the muffled sound of voices catching your attention for a moment as the two of them spoke, though you couldn't make out anything from this side of the door.
"He's ready to see you." The man stated as he stepped out of the room, prompting a nod from you as you stepped past him and into the cluttered office of the guild master. It wasn't what you were expecting, to find an office cluttered with books and papers, with a bent old man huddled over the desk. You had been expecting this office to be extravagent, for the man sat behind the desk to be well groomed.
Instead, there you had what appeared to be an eccentric old man with a broad beard that stretched half way down his chest. You could see that there was intelligence behind those eyes though. "So, you're interested in joining us. Why don't you convince me you're bringing something to us that makes waiving the standard joining process worth while?"
The man was straight to the point at least.
You took a deep breath, standing tall, standing proud as you decided that it was time to deliver your case to this man.
"I am an immortal, I have lived for many lifetimes, I have seen armies rise and fall, I have seen the progression of technology from bows and swords to revolvers and rifles. I have seen tactics devised and defeated, I have seen gunpowder rise from its origins and become an established tool of war. I have seen defences rise and fall as progress obsoletes them. I have many lifetimes worth of experiences to draw upon to fuel how I tinker with things. With what I may potentially bring, should it not be you trying to convince me, however?"
You had him at I am.
"You clearly have something in mind, so, why don't you tell me what you truely want." The man stated, leaning forward as he placed his chin against one hand, visibly intrigued with you. Taking another breath, you stepped over to his desk, looking him in the eyes as you spoke.
"I want access to your dormitorys for myself and a friend, I want the assured safety of said friend from retribution from the Enlightened. I want higher priority given to aquiring materials, to forging and finishing things that I am able to design for you. If you will provide this in addition to basic necessities, then what I invent under your roof will be yours to do what you wish with."
You were giving up a lot here, but you knew it was a good idea to sacrifice these things for a good position. You could always renegotiate when the situation changed, sever ties if it came to such.
The guild master reached out for your hand as he nodded. "These are unusual terms, but, you are an unusual man. I will do my best to have your work given priority where possible, I will have you and your friend housed and your needs tended to, but, I do expect you to deliver results." he stated, prompting a smile from you as you shook his hand.
It was good enough for the time being.
"I will get the appropriate documents for you to sign sorted and ready, along with papers for the appropriate people relating to the benefits you are to be given. These things will take a little to prepare, so, if you have anything to take care of before you bring your friend here, you have time." the man stated, before giving you a dismissive wave to let you know that you were done. Was there anything pressing you still needed to get done before you brought Anne here?
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Topic: They told me I could be anything... (Read 79142 times)