[Barcus actually steps onto the bench Dorian's seated on, sitting on the tabletop next to him to be slightly over his eye-level, so he can watch what he's doing.]
Good, good! Now, see, what you're doing there is building on top of the structure the crystal naturally assumes. So what you're really doing here is accelerating a process that takes hundreds of thousands of years in nature. [Which is cool as fuck, isn't it? Eons of growth in the palm of your hand!]
With practice, you can reshape it some. I've made ruby lenses in circular shapes. The microscopic structure is the same no matter what, but you can nudge it to follow certain pathways.
[ Dorian’s concentration does falter a bit when Barcus leans close to observe his work, but he recovers quickly enough to continue, even as he listens to what Barcus was saying.
And honestly, it is pretty cool, being able to do something that would normally take hundreds of thousands of years to achieve naturally.
He’s still new to the ability, though, so the ruby still doesn’t get very big before Dorian feels his concentration slip completely. But there is noticeable growth compared to when he’d started, so he’ll take that as a win. ]
That is pretty amazing. It does seem like I have quite a ways to go with it, though.
It took me three or four weeks before I was able to construct the pendant you saw me wearing at the Valentine party. It will come, with practice. Sadly, no one can be perfect at something on the first try. It's the burden of those of us with perfectionist tendencies to remind ourselves of that and just keep going.
[Has he ever seen evidence that Dorian's a perfectionist? Not exactly, but the history and burdens he carries seem likely to drive him in that direction. He's pretty sure of his guess.
Gently, he takes the ruby from Dorian's hand and turns it between his fingers, studying it with the eyes of a lapidary.] See, you've done well with the color and the overall shape, but there are a few flaws here and there where you still need to get used to the structure. That's exactly how my first several attempts turned out.
In time, though... [He sets the stone aside and holds out one hand, empty, palm down. For a second, it looks as though the crystals are growing directly out of the surface of his skin, a wave of glittering silvery ore, black jade, crimson spinels, that flows up his arm like water, twining around his shoulder and settling into the shape of a gauntlet, vambrace, rerebrace, gardbrace and pauldron.]
It gets easier. And you'll start to have fun with it.
[ Dorian gives a sort of wry laugh. ] If only. But I’m not adverse to needing to practice.
[ He certainly does have some tendencies leaning towards that. But it’s the sort of thing that’s been imparted in him more than it’s his own inclination. As a musician, he understands better the benefit of needing practice and making mistakes.
As Barcus assesses his work, Dorian nods. Honestly, having a goal in mind does help keep his mind from overthinking things too much. But his breath catches as he watches Barcus, impressed not just with the scope of what the gnome creates, but how easily he manages it. ]
That truly is incredible. [ Glancing at the ruby he was working on, he picks it up with a soft laugh. ] I hope you don’t mind if I come bother you with questions now and again.
[ Because he is interested in learning, but with the topics Barcus suggested he read up on, he knows he’s going to need help. ]
This is so theatrical. [He says with a smile, flexing his gauntleted fingers.] And a little heavy. I think on the whole I prefer to use the ability to create and summon the gems I need for my work, but there are a host of possibilities.
I'm reasonably sure I could, for example, create a geode large enough to use as a bomb shelter. Or generate crystals of a mineral small enough to slip into someone's drink. I can throw stones without a slingshot, or load a sharp gem into the sling and fire it across a long distance.
You should keep the ruby. Work on it more in your downtime. [His smile is gentle.] I don't mind a bit. I'm always happy to talk about projects.
[Projects good, feelings bad. He's a simple gnome. Also obstinate.]
I think I have a window into how to use stone and crystal because of my own background. I love the earth and what grows beneath it. Even having left the Underdark forever, it's part of who I am. But I'm sure the theory can be taught. I'll help gladly.
[ Dorian nods a little as Barcus lists the possibilities of what he could do with an ability like this. It certainly gives him ideas, though he knows he's nowhere near being able to do any of that yet.
Looking at the ruby again, Dorian nods again and picks it up, tucking it into the grooves of his shoulder pauldron. ]
I think that's a big reason why I need the help. As someone born of from the air, I don't have as much knowledge about the earth or minerals. So I really do appreciate everything you could teach me.
Of course. [Barcus nods his understanding.] But if you think about it, that gives you a leg up over a lot of other people, when working with an element. You know what it's like to have the wind in your bones, the same way I'm used to living with stone. It's my home, no matter where I go. There are some legends that deep gnomes were made from rubies like that one, our very blood sprung from liquid gemstones.
I don't believe that, personally, but it's a good story.
Anyway, think of how you relate to the wind, and think of how it feels to compose music. There's an ebb and flow and energy in all forms of art, whether you're writing a song or smithing something as humble as a horseshoe. You'll get there. I have no doubt.
[ He has felt a connection like that before, the wind in the air and the flow of music. The way music can drift on the breeze, or the way wind can whistle a tune of its own. He wonders if he can find a way to connect those things with working with gems.
It might be a more difficult connect… but it could be fun to find as well. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-05-08 01:15 pm (UTC)Good, good! Now, see, what you're doing there is building on top of the structure the crystal naturally assumes. So what you're really doing here is accelerating a process that takes hundreds of thousands of years in nature. [Which is cool as fuck, isn't it? Eons of growth in the palm of your hand!]
With practice, you can reshape it some. I've made ruby lenses in circular shapes. The microscopic structure is the same no matter what, but you can nudge it to follow certain pathways.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-08 08:38 pm (UTC)And honestly, it is pretty cool, being able to do something that would normally take hundreds of thousands of years to achieve naturally.
He’s still new to the ability, though, so the ruby still doesn’t get very big before Dorian feels his concentration slip completely. But there is noticeable growth compared to when he’d started, so he’ll take that as a win. ]
That is pretty amazing. It does seem like I have quite a ways to go with it, though.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-09 12:09 am (UTC)[Has he ever seen evidence that Dorian's a perfectionist? Not exactly, but the history and burdens he carries seem likely to drive him in that direction. He's pretty sure of his guess.
Gently, he takes the ruby from Dorian's hand and turns it between his fingers, studying it with the eyes of a lapidary.] See, you've done well with the color and the overall shape, but there are a few flaws here and there where you still need to get used to the structure. That's exactly how my first several attempts turned out.
In time, though... [He sets the stone aside and holds out one hand, empty, palm down. For a second, it looks as though the crystals are growing directly out of the surface of his skin, a wave of glittering silvery ore, black jade, crimson spinels, that flows up his arm like water, twining around his shoulder and settling into the shape of a gauntlet, vambrace, rerebrace, gardbrace and pauldron.]
It gets easier. And you'll start to have fun with it.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-09 01:11 am (UTC)[ He certainly does have some tendencies leaning towards that. But it’s the sort of thing that’s been imparted in him more than it’s his own inclination. As a musician, he understands better the benefit of needing practice and making mistakes.
As Barcus assesses his work, Dorian nods. Honestly, having a goal in mind does help keep his mind from overthinking things too much. But his breath catches as he watches Barcus, impressed not just with the scope of what the gnome creates, but how easily he manages it. ]
That truly is incredible. [ Glancing at the ruby he was working on, he picks it up with a soft laugh. ] I hope you don’t mind if I come bother you with questions now and again.
[ Because he is interested in learning, but with the topics Barcus suggested he read up on, he knows he’s going to need help. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-05-10 09:20 pm (UTC)I'm reasonably sure I could, for example, create a geode large enough to use as a bomb shelter. Or generate crystals of a mineral small enough to slip into someone's drink. I can throw stones without a slingshot, or load a sharp gem into the sling and fire it across a long distance.
You should keep the ruby. Work on it more in your downtime. [His smile is gentle.] I don't mind a bit. I'm always happy to talk about projects.
[Projects good, feelings bad. He's a simple gnome. Also obstinate.]
I think I have a window into how to use stone and crystal because of my own background. I love the earth and what grows beneath it. Even having left the Underdark forever, it's part of who I am. But I'm sure the theory can be taught. I'll help gladly.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-14 11:44 am (UTC)Looking at the ruby again, Dorian nods again and picks it up, tucking it into the grooves of his shoulder pauldron. ]
I think that's a big reason why I need the help. As someone born of from the air, I don't have as much knowledge about the earth or minerals. So I really do appreciate everything you could teach me.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-14 02:20 pm (UTC)I don't believe that, personally, but it's a good story.
Anyway, think of how you relate to the wind, and think of how it feels to compose music. There's an ebb and flow and energy in all forms of art, whether you're writing a song or smithing something as humble as a horseshoe. You'll get there. I have no doubt.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-14 08:29 pm (UTC)That’s a nice way of looking at it.
[ He has felt a connection like that before, the wind in the air and the flow of music. The way music can drift on the breeze, or the way wind can whistle a tune of its own. He wonders if he can find a way to connect those things with working with gems.
It might be a more difficult connect… but it could be fun to find as well. ]
Thank you.