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[h1][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5305049][color=08e8de]Kiran Agnarsson[/color][/url][/h1]
[h1][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5305150][color=0072bc]Shou Zheng[/color][/url][/h1]
[h1][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5305046][color=76c0f0]Lucretia von Königsmähne[/color][/url][/h1]
[@SilverPaw] [@Zombehs] [@Izurich]
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Kiran departed from his former group, gaze raking over the remaining attendees. In the background, one Franz Steiner was called to perform with the maestro Ling-Ling Zamloch. Kiran found it incredibly pleasing, but didn’t focus solely to listening to it. He had a mission to tend to, and not much time remaining to make contact. Fortunately, his target was not too difficult to find. Approaching Shou Zheng, who was seated next to the Königsmähne heiress of all people, he prepared what he wished to say.

[color=08e8de]“Good evening,”[/color] he greeted them, nodding politely to them both, then promptly sat down next to them. [color=08e8de]“I apologize if I am bothering you during your meal, but I had meant to greet you, Zheng, all since I’ve realized you were also on board the Titania, though I did not get the opportunity to do so. You see, one of the things I was looking forward to doing during my studies in Bermuda was looking into cooperation with people of other Majors. I happen to believe that you would be the perfect candidate – if you are interested of course. I am working on making my mobile unit,”[/color] he patted the suit-case he was carrying, [color=08e8de]“viable for underwater exploration. I think you might have some valuable input in regards to that, and perhaps may be even willing to help me test it out?”[/color] Once he was finished with the explanation and request, Kiran flashed the other boy a hopeful smile.

With their conversation finished, Shou didn't attempt to bother Lucretia with any further idle chatter. Maybe in time the girl would be open for it, but for now he contented himself with finishing his meal in peace. That his ears were ringing from the rambunctious happenings on the dance floor was hardly a concern. He had experience and participated in worse during his sailing days after all.

It was even preferable to the more serious and refined performance that followed it. Ling-Ling was a name he knew, even if he didn't follow the music scene, and it made sense for the world's premier Academy to have the influence required to hire a man of such prominence. He raised an eyebrow as one of his peers was called out to duet with the man though. Truly Franz had the attention of many it seemed, and he supposed it made sense. He hadn't heard of another Mesmerist among the students, although it could be wholly possible they existed and were simply being a bit more clandestine about painting a target on their back.

Whatever musings he might have had on the matter were pushed aside as Kiran approached the table though. [color=0072bc]"Not to worry,"[/color] he reassured the other student as he placed his chopsticks down and finished what was left in one of his glasses. He picked up another one and swirled its contents around as he listened. Kiran's work was somewhat familiar to Shou, if only due to its relation to Valeriya's.

[color=0072bc]"I'm not sure how applicable my knowledge might be to your constructions, but if you're in need of a safety diver for your tests I certainly don't mind,"[/color] Shou replied with a polite smile of his own. While he knew of what adaptations had taken place to enable him to swim deep, Shou hadn't given any particular thought about how they might be replicated by a Technologist. [color=0072bc]"If you have any drafts or notes about these modifications, I'd be interested in taking a read."[/color]

After the [i]mesmerizing[/i] performance, Franz handed full reign of the stage to Ling Ling as he rejoined the student body, thus also marking the end of Lucy's particular interest in the remaining violinists. Fortunately, the maestro's music would serve just as well as background entertainment for there was something else that grabbed her focus. Another young polymath was approaching the Chinese Egoist and for the first time since she arrived at this hall - excluding her deliberate approach to Franz - she could recognize the student even without prior introduction. [color=76c0f0][i]"Hmmm? That's Kiran Agnarsson, the panzermensch engineer from Iceland."[/i][/color] Mobile Unit, Panzermensch, these terms refer to the same concept anyway, just as with tank and panzer.

[color=76c0f0][i]"I wonder what business does Mr. Agnarsson have with Mr. Zheng?"[/i][/color] Lucy pondered silently, her green eyes shifted over to the two even as her lips remained silent. The silver-haired girl was all ears as the two older boys discussed Kiran's latest project, a mobile unit designed for exploration, including submerged operations. [color=76c0f0][i]"Aaah... of course."[/i][/color] She praised Kiran's resourcefulness to beeline for Shou's assistance as she did with Franz, these two were incredibly relevant to the next step of each Technologist's respective projects after all. In fact, this moment of thought enabled her to deduce that Shou's time would better be spent with Kiran, which in turn would make herself have more time with Franz, yes, that'd be the wiser move based on simple deductions of efficiency.

[color=76c0f0][b]"I do agree as well, Mr. Zheng and Mr. Agnarsson,"[/b][/color] Lucy quipped in Latin at the two older students, [color=76c0f0][b]"While I'd welcome having you to gather more data for Schwarzritter, I think you should prioritize working with Mr. Agnarsson's exploration mobile unit as its functions are more relevant to your expertise."[/b][/color]

[color=08e8de]“Oh, yes, having you as a safety diver would be greatly appreciated. I do have notes, though they’re in my native tongue, so I’ll have to translate them before handing them over to you,”[/color] Kiran replied. [color=08e8de]“Well, thank you for the endorsement, Ms. Königsmähne,”[/color] he briefly turned to the other conversation partner, slightly befuddled at her agreement, but nonetheless polite as he spoke to her.

[color=08e8de]“You do have me curious, however - did the two of you intend to cooperate as well, then?”[/color] If that was the case, it seemed he was not the only one who was interested in drawing from the experience of differently Majored polymaths. But Lucretia also withdrew from what had likely been an offer on Zhou’s part - given her current proposal and the fact that he was aware that Zhou’s expertise would not pertain to her own project. So, she might have someone else in mind to work with, or perhaps she’d rather work on her own, after all. Either way, he was rather keen to find out.

As Lucretia suddenly chimed in, Shou raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. A few words danced on his tongue for a moment before he snorted instead. The attempt likely would have fallen flat on the German heir. [color=0072bc]"I suppose that's German efficiency for you,"[/color] he remarked with a slightly overblown shake of his head, [color=0072bc]"but I shan't insist."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Training more specifically,"[/color] he explained to Kiran as he turned his attention back towards the older boy. [color=0072bc]"As with your request, there's not much I can offer her on the technical development of her Schwarzritter. Given the little incident with the chandelier earlier though, I figured she could use more practice with him and I offered myself as a training partner."[/color] That pretty much summed it up and he took a moment to drink from the glass in his hand before he continued. [color=0072bc]“I had a similar offer with Jeanne. … Possibly, the details weren’t exactly ironed out.”[/color] Given her specialization though, it probably involved a fair bit of fire and heat.

In Lucretia's mind, it was an elementary deduction that she was sure everyone here would agree with. Sure, if she had unlimited time and resources, she'd love to have [i]both[/i] Shou and Franz to assist with her projects, but as things stood, there was no reason for Shou to pick her over Kiran, the Icelandic prodigy was working on an oceangoing panzermensch for Paracelsus' sake, they were a match made in heaven. In fact, she'd honestly feel uneasy if she knowingly hindered a fellow Occident Polymath's passion project. Of course, the bit about Kiran and Shou's slight befuddlement went way over her head.

[color=76c0f0][b]"Indeed, Mr. Zheng intended to help me hone my own ability to control Schwarzritter as in his mind, it'd help prevent me being caught unprepared by sudden threats, such as the falling glass earlier. I can see where he's coming from, especially as an Egoist whose major focuses on the development of one's own body."[/b][/color] The silver-haired girl elaborated, then directed her next statement at Kiran in particular, [color=76c0f0][b]"However, as I've told Mr. Zheng before, my vision for Schwarzritter will entail that he can protect me even if I'm fast asleep."[/b][/color] Perhaps Kiran would immediately get what she implied, perhaps not, nevertheless, the younger polymath would curl a confidently ambitious smirk, [color=76c0f0][b]"Automaton, a self-thinking, self-learning machine, and I believe Herr Steiner's major will make this concept feasible to be realized."[/b][/color] She concluded with a little silent huff.

Jeanne, that was a name she also knew, Jeanne du Bordeaux, ja? The French Technologist focusing on the design of blast furnaces, a device for rapidly converting potential energy into heat among other things, but her specialization had little to do with Lucy's passions so she had nothing to say about her, thus say nothing she would.

[color=08e8de]“Ahh, I see,”[/color] Kiran nodded alongside the explanation, satisfied at getting the answers so easily, and pleasantly engaged besides. [color=08e8de]“As I understand, you wished to train against Ms. Königsmähne’s Schwarzritter, correct? While my mobile unit is not militant in design, it can function in hand-to-hand combat, and I could easily add some weapons to it for the sake of such a competition.”[/color] He assumed the Egoist had wished to test himself against Schwarzritter, and while he was aware he likely wasn’t seen as an equivalent recompensation for Zheng’s ‘loss’ of Lucretia’s assistance, he nonetheless offered to do what he could. It was only proper that if one gained something, they were prepared to give another thing in recompense. Otherwise, he would be indebted to Zheng, which he did not wish to be.

Kiran could also understand why Zheng as an Egoist would recommend training of one’s own body. And for projects such as Valeriya’s and his own, he wasn’t even all that far off the mark. As the Russian had commented, soldiers using power-armour required sufficient training, and so did pilots of mobile units. Even Lucretia could have benefitted from heightened reaction speed - if it wasn’t for her self-stated mission that was. As a Technologist himself, something the likes of automation would be preferable to himself as well, of course. However, he believed that before that happened, it couldn’t hurt to be better physically conditioned. He made a mental note to perhaps do so himself, if he found the time for it. He had quite a few other priorities after all, but if was to work with Zheng, well, maybe physical activity would find a way into his life somehow or other anyhow.

[color=0072bc]“I appreciate the offer, but you needn’t go out of your way,”[/color] Shou reassured Kiran as he set the empty glass down. [color=0072bc]“If you had no intentions of militarizing your designs to begin with, I’d rather not impose such modifications. It can be somewhat of a slippery slope if people get the wrong idea about the purpose of your creation after all.”[/color] Perhaps it was a bit of an unfounded assumption on his part given how little he knew of Kiran, but Shou did not mind offering his assistance without an immediate return. The ocean’s depths were vast and nigh unfathomable for just one person to tackle, no matter how great of an Egoist they might be.

[color=08e8de]“I did not intend to do so, no, but then again, I’d like it to be as adaptable as possible. Adding or removing weaponry as necessary would not be too difficult. Nor am I too worried about people’s assumptions as to why I do what I do. Simply making a mobile unit such as my own is seen as [i]too much[/i] in the minds of some,”[/color] Kiran told Shou. [color=08e8de]“But we can discuss the particulars at a later time. In any case, I would simply like to repay your kindly offered aid,”[/color] he revealed.

Turning his attention to Lucretia when she revealed her ambition, he nodded thoughtfully. [color=08e8de]“Automation is quite the admirable goal, I’m not surprised you are attempting it,”[/color] he admitted. [color=08e8de]“I do wonder if Mesmerology is advanced enough so as to enable that? Though, I suppose even if it isn’t at that stage yet, your collaboration with Steiner might change that,”[/color] he commented. Privately, he was divided between doubt that the newest and most unlikely of Majors could accomplish such a feat and the thrill of possibility that Lucretia’s goal, if attained, would bring. He would certainly have to reserve a portion of his time for gathering intel on the Königsmähne-Steiner business partnership. Perhaps the German polymath may even be willing to offer that information willingly. However, while he was intrigued by her project and its results, the opposite might not be true.

[color=08e8de]“I realize it is a delicate matter, but would you be prepared to exchange some basic findings of yours?”[/color] he asked this with the slightest hesitances, though as he continued speaking, his voice and offer were both firmer. [color=08e8de]“I would reciprocate, of course, if you decide to do so. However, I will also understand if you decline. I know that those of us working in the same or adjacent fields can be rather secretive and competitive, after all,”[/color] he concluded with a playful smile.

Lucretia's T-shaped drone wasn't exactly designed for exclusive military use either and that's the beauty of it, it's a versatile floating drone that can be customized to fit one's needs. It could be used for personal transport, item storage, general heavy-duty tools, and of course, weapons platform. As of right now, it didn't even have dedicated weapons because all students were required to hand over any tools of war to be kept for safekeeping, including Schwarzritter's arm-mounted assault turrets. However, she was content to just listen to Kiran and Shou's conversation at the moment, not feeling the need to interrupt them. She definitely didn't share Shou's slippery slope sentiment, why should one care about the opinion of uneducated plebeians?

As for Valeriya, ja, that's one of the few students here that she had prior knowledge about, the Engineer of War from the Holy Tsardom of Russia. Now she was a straightforward militaristic polymath with a specialization focused on the construction of tools of war. Definitely a prodigy worth keeping an eye on, her progress could prove crucial to the Occident.

Now that Kiran addressed her again, the white-haired girl felt it was prudent to reply, [color=76c0f0][b]"Indeed, true automatons are only thought as a myth even now, but I aim to push the boundaries of progress, turning this myth into fact."[/b][/color] Mesmerology would just be the thing she needed! A new major to realize an old 'mythical' concept, [color=76c0f0][b]"Hmmm?"[/b][/color] She perked up as the Icelandic Engineer-Polymath dropped into a more careful wording, one that's so obvious that even Lucy could pick it up, [color=76c0f0][b]"Basic findings regarding...?"[/b][/color] If it was about Mesmerology, then he was asking the wrong person as if she knew, she wouldn't need Franz's allegiance.

However, Kiran wasn't one of those aforementioned plebeians, he must be asking about her drone, [color=76c0f0][b]"Of course, Mr. Agnarsson, gladly."[/b][/color] It wasn't everyday that she could converse with individuals that could keep up with her, [color=76c0f0][b]"Mutual cooperation in the name of technological progress isn't something to be avoided, ignorance and irrationality are."[/b][/color] Lucy surmised confidently.

[color=08e8de]“Ha, right you are!”[/color] Kiran exclaimed with a bark of laughter. [color=08e8de]“I am relieved to know you are one of those unafraid to share knowledge. It is the path to advancement, as you say. I will be looking forward to our future discussions, then,”[/color] he concluded.

With a nod, Shou let the matter drop after that and the two Technologists have their brief exchange. As he drained the last of his glasses and looked out over the dance floor, he raised an eyebrow and stood somewhat abruptly for a better look. [color=0072bc]“And I to ours,”[/color] he remarked in conclusion with Kiran, [color=0072bc]“but for now, I’ve got another person to greet.”[/color] He excused himself with a polite nod to the two other students before he gathered up his dishes and left the table.