[center][h3][color=f26522]Winston Wicklowe[/color][/h3][/center]
[color=gray][i]Featuring:[/i][/color] [@Lucky]
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[indent][color=gray]The second story to Loads of Loads is more than a home to all the stored gears and parts for Wicklowe's eventual innovations, but it is also his home. A small corner, surrounded by very large and heavy crates and lightly furnished like a makeshift bedroom, is a simple yet comfortable layout: a solid rosewood work desk covered in blueprints, steel dip-pens of varying colors along with other useful craftsman's utensils, and an adjustable brass lamp that oversees the messy stacks of aging files complete with a simple cushioned wooden chair; a minimalist brass bedframe and bed set with a foot and headboard that are topped with surprisingly intricate spindles and covered in a handmade brown duvet with white trim; a decade-old room heater unit that Winston has to fix on a monthly basis but has reliably kept him warm every heavy winter; and a circular, brown-and-white tasseled rug to take up the center of the otherwise plain wooden flooring.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]The gnome has been awake for hours at this point in the morning, entering his room after retrieving a steaming cup of coffee from across the lane that is kept warm in his personal prototype thermos. The old halfling barista has perfected the art of coffee-making and even has a whole large machine that cooks and flavors [i]so perfectly and by the cogs why won't the old fool just let him take it apart and put it back together so he can make a better version?![/i] With a scoff to no one but the stale air, he approaches the lone foggy window that overlooks the alley and wipes it clear. There's never anything to note in this alley, it's too narrow for any traffic beyond two people walking side by side, and just ten feet across the way is the neighboring building to block any daylight save the skies directly above and almost impossible to see without pressing his cheeks against the glass. Which he promptly does, full reddened cheeks flatten as his beard leaves behind hair marks in the uncleared condensation.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Far above him are the frosted heavens, an imperial airship just now coming into view beyond the rooftops, and his dreams to change it all. He pulls away from the window, face colder and slightly wetter than before, and produces a copper pocket watch with his free, gloved hand. An hour before the meeting at Baron Hesser's estate, give or take. He takes a swig from his thermos and inspects himself in the mirror he has hanging on from one of the crates, a temporary decision that's lasted the better part of a decade now. A flair of stripe pink stands out from his otherwise muted black hair, an odd turn from the expected gray. [i]Maybe related to all the mana crystals he's handled over the years. Probably.[/i] His skin is leathery and tan aside from the pale circles immediately surrounding his eyes, providing evidence of goggles during his heat works. He lingers on the oil-stained overalls, this pair only being a few weeks old but showing major signs of wear and tear via frayed boot cuffs and shredded knees.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Opting for a new set of clothes, he quickly changed into a clean, less-worn set of brown overalls and gray long-sleeved undershirt. Soon he throws on his heavy jacket, one meant for colder climates but perfect for the small person, and fastens a pin to the front that has the text "Loads of Loads" in circular format and a set of pistons and mana crystals. Confident in his more "official" attire, Winston strides out of his room but stopping just short of the stairs that lead to the main workshop. His steel blue eyes are stuck to the desk, specifically the drawer where he hides Candle. A short debate within his head and he decides against taking it with him for today. Word on the street is the number of checkpoints through Tyberia have increased and getting shaken down for possession of a weapon within the city is the last sort of trouble he wants.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Descending the stairs and traversing the workshop with renewed expedience, he snatches his [url=https://i.pinimg.com/564x/6f/98/ba/6f98ba8220f6b8be6e6334f9a9182396.jpg]Adjustable Arm Angler™[/url] by the front door and locks it on his way out. The simple machine is set up onto a hook on the doorframe as he leaves, and soon the engineer is walking down the lane to busier places. Various magicar taxis pass him by, but he enjoys the stroll for about ten minutes before flagging down a vehicle. Small piles of dirty snow still litter the sides of the streets and Winston can't help but think that perhaps he should have checked out the Forecaster and brought along his leather umbrella, just in case. Nonetheless, his trip is uneventful as he shortly told the driver his destination (a quaint little shop of sundries about three blocks down from the Baron's manor) and racked his brain with what he wanted to talk about in the coming meeting.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Dropping off a few roots with the driver as they arrive, he hops out of the magicar and checks his watch once more. [i]Half an hour. Making good time. Can take a look-see in Sunny's Sundries and still be early to the estate.[/i] With this in mind, he pops into the store. There are few items of note inside, but he'll come back after the meeting if it doesn't drag on too long. Soon, Winston is on the sidewalk again and makes it to the estate with ten minutes to spare. He uses this time to inspect the property, checking out the hedges, the gates, all the things that people with fortune can show off. Instead of inviting himself in right away, he lollygags around the the property, keeping open eyes for anyone else that walks up. Preferably someone he knows.[/color][/indent]

[hider= After Action Report ]
- Winston got coffee
- Winston changed clothes
- Winston leaves Candle at home
- Winston takes a taxi to a store near Baron Hesser's manor and walks the rest of the way[/hider]