Tzolkin's Invention

This is a small RP where Tzolkin unveils what he as a tailor has been working on in his spare time.
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It's relatively quiet in the Tailor's Shop, at least for the moment, as most of the steady flow of rats dropping off or picking up clothing in need of repair has subsided. Even the colony's other tailor has left for the day, leaving Tzolkin with the shop to himself, which he has most certainly made the most of. He stands on a stool near a rat-sized mannequin in a secluded corner, needle in paw as he puts the finishing touches on his little 'project'. Today was the day he would unveil it, and he whistles quietly to himself while he waits for the few who might have seen the notice about it to arrive.

Xavier looks at the flyer he had pulled from the board earlier in the day, having folded it and tucked it into a pocket before his usual rounds. He now stands outside the tailor shop, not exactly a place he's visted often, as he usually does his own tailoring. This is shown by the almost crude but effective stitches in a few places in his clothing and armor, obviously on-the-go repairs out on duty. With the shop closed, he raps lightly on the door, waiting patiently to see if there's a response.

Tristan saw the notice earlier in the day and was interested. He would always try to make it to unveilings so he could show his support. He knew that he'd need that same support when he decided to unveil some of his crazy ideas. He spots one of the guards by the door and waves as he gets closer, "Hello there. You saw the notice too I'm guessing?"

Hearing the knocking on the door, Tzolkin quickly finishes what he was doing and covers his project with a cloth, then begins to head for the door. "Just a second..." he calls, unlocking and opening the shop door a few seconds later. He peers up at the two rats, "Ah, you two must've seen my notice. Come in." he offers with a smile, letting the door swing open as he steps aside.

Xavier grins lightly to Tristan and nods as sound comes from the door, obviously someone working to unlock it. In the moment that passes, he nods to Tristan "Yeah, never hurts to check out new ideas. Granted mine have served me well thus far." he adds with a light shrug, and smiles to Tzolkin as he opens the door and greets him. "Hello, yes I did, in fact, I outright took the borrowed the notice." he chuckles and holds up the folded parchment as he steps through hte door as he's ushered inside.

Tristan chuckles, "I try to show up to all the new ideas. Need the support for my own you know." He glances at Tzolkin with a smile once the door is opened and holds up the notice that he had, "I'm guessing you're the one that put this in my workshop?" He follows the guard through the door and takes a look around the shop he rarely visits.

Tzolkin smirks, stifling a chuckle. "Well, I guess that explains why there isn't a larger turnout. Come, this way, and try not to knock anything over." he says, winking before starting to navigate through the maze of tables and mannequins of different shapes and sizes. "And yes, I was the one who placed those notices." He stops near the one he's covered with a sheet, grabbing a rope tied to its base and beginning to pull the old wooden dummy out of the corner. It seems to take a fair bit of effort for the mouse, but he manages it without a flinch, then turns around, grinning broadly. "I've been working on this after hours since last summer. And now I think it might finally be finished."

Xavier chuckles lightly to Tristan "Im intersted in whatever keeps me alive" he laughs lightly with a wink as he finds a spot to stand thats not in the way. HE's about to offer to help the mouse move the manniquin over before he manages it himself, but the mouse is too quick for him. "I make a living at not knocing things over" he chuckles and smiles at the accusation "I figured you had more than one up, I apologize if not" he says smiling and tosses the note onto a table. "Just wnated to make sure I knew where it was" he adds with a light laugh.

Tristan chuckles and makes sure not to knock anything over, "I'll just try not to destroy anything." He folds his arms over his chest and watches, also starting to make a move to help before the mouse got it. He moves his tail around his feet as he waits, "I have a feeling that this is going to be good."

Tzolkin grins to Xavier, nodding. "I'm just kidding. I had at least two on every floor of the colony." he says, "I guess folks just aren't that interested in new inventions these days..." The mouse seems to trail off for a moment, then his ears perk up. "Anyway. Let's just cut to the chase, shall we? See, I was repairing a dress one day, and a bit of the glue I was using dripped into a pile of shreds." He shrugs, "I didn't think much of it at the time, but later when it had dried, it was hard as a rock! So I decided to make something with it. It took the better part of six months to get the ratio of glues to fabric shreds right, but the results.. well, see for yourself." Tzolkin then tugs on the sheet covering the dummy, but it seems to get caught on a splinter, and tearing noises can be heard coming from the sheet as Tzolkin tugs harder, forcing the large splinter through the thin veil of fabric. "... that's not.. aww crud." he mutters.

Xavier chuckles lightly at Tristan and smiles as he looks to Tzolkin "Mmmm maybe not, or maybe not many need protection?" he asks with a shrug. He nods lightly to Tzolkin's suggestion of moving things along "Agreed" he says wit h a chuckle, as the mouse begin sto tug at the covering, xavier darting forawrd to grab the dummy as it begins to teeder and the splinter pushes through the fabric. "careful there." he says with a smile helping to unsnag the fabric "Sounds like an interesting idea... How do you plan on implimenting it?" he asks before getting a real look at the dummy.

Tzolkin's ears redden a bit, and he nods in thanks as Xavier gets the sheet unsnagged. "Heh.. sorry about that." he says, slipping the sheet off the dummy to reveal what looks to be a standard guard tunic, only the shape makes the dummy look a fair bit more muscular and bulky, for reasons which become obvious as the mouse explains. "Because I was able to cast the resulting mixture into shapes which were both strong and significantly lighter than metal, I decided to try it out by making plates of the stuff and sewing them into a guard uniform." Tzolkin knocks lightly on one of the fabric-encased plates, resulting in a dull, hollow thudding noise. "I'm not sure exactly how much force they can withstand, yet, but I'm guessing they could potentially stop an arrow, or at least keep it from being a fatal hit."

Xavier smiles and keeps a paw on the dummy until the sheet is drawn away, before stepping back to let Tzolkin introduce his invention, ears perked as he listens with curiosity. "Hmmm I see" he says as he steps closer again ,especially as you tap on the plate sewn within, bringing a paw up to do the same. "How much flexibility does it permit?" he asks, looking interested, if not a bit skeptical, but at the very least keen on the new idea. "Movement is a very important detail for the scouts." he explains, looking a bit thoughtful.

Tristan zoned out for a moment, but blinks a few times when Tzolkin started to explain things. He nods in agreement about the movement, "Pretty ingenious I must say. But movement is a question of mine as well." He steps forward slightly so he could get a better look, "How long does it take you to make one of these?"

Tzolkin shrugs a bit, thinking for a long moment. "Hmm.. I'd say this particular arrangement is meant more for a 'heavy sentry'. But I imagine the same principle could be used to make a far more flexible version." he says, "A pattern not unlike a snake's scales come to mind.." He then looks to Tristan, "Anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month, because the molds for the plates have to dry, and then it's all gotta be sewn in."

Xavier hmms softly and nods "I'd have to try it myself I guess. We often take less armor for flexibility in the scout." he says thoughtfully, his paw shifting around the uniform feeling how the plates are arranged. "but I have to agree, very ingenious. Could make a big difference to the guard." he says still sounding in thought

An involuntary shudder runs through Tristan at the mention of snakes, "I'm sure a set of the heavy stuff would do me wonders when I'm testing out my engine. Until I get it all figured out that is," he threw in the last part quickly so no one would think those explosions were going to be a commonplace thing with his invention.

"Thanks. I think this glue-scrap combination could be useful for a lot of things, though it tends to melt if it's left very close to a fire for too long." Tzolkin notes, chuckling in response to Tristan's comment. He then nods to Xavier. "Oh, feel free to take it down to the guardhouse or wherever for 'testing' if you'd like. The mannequin is something I found tucked back in a supply room. Not really fit for making clothes on, anymore, as you can see." he says, pointing out the weathered wood and numerous splinters.

Tristan takes one last look at the armor before stepping back so the guard could take it. Then he turns to Tzolkin and tilts his head, "I've been meaning to come in here for a while now, but just now found the time you see." He gets a slight smile, "I know you're getting ready to close shop for the night, but I was wondering if I could talk to you about having something special made? Or at least set up a time when I could?"

Tzolkin yawns a bit, then looks to Tristan with a smile. "Sure, I've got a few minutes." he says, clearing one of the tables. "What kind of 'something special' are you looking for?"

Tristan steps over to the table with a smile, "I saw a human picture of a scientist once. He had on a white coat that he wore in his workshop." He lifts one of his legs up and marks a point with his paw, "Goes down to about here." He puts his foot back down, "Has black buttons, a little bit of a high collar..."

Tzolkin grins a little, nodding as an image begins to form in his mind. "Interesting. I don't think that would be hard to make. Would you like me to make a sketch?" he asks with a yawn, running his paws back through his headfur tiredly.

Tristan nods with a smile, "I would like that very much. But not tonight though, I've taken enough of your time already." He rubs his paws together lightly, "I could come back tomorrow or another time and we can work out details and such."

Tzolkin nods with a light stretch. "Good good. I'll see you around tomorrow, then." he says, getting his things from what amounts to his 'locker' here, before heading for the door. "'Tis been quite a long day.."

Tristan steps over to the door and nods, "I'll see you tomorrow, and today has been rather long." Then he gets a big grin on his face, "And I'm happy to announce no explosions. I think I'm on the right track now."
Tzolkin chuckles, nodding as he makes his way out, turning to wait for Tristan. "That's always a good sign, I'd say." he says with a grin.

Tristan chuckles and walks through the door, "Always. I'm not sure my poor head could take another this week." He takes a few steps into the middle of the hall, "And as for that armor you've made, I would like to get some when you've got a spare moment and not outfitting the guard. But again, we can talk about all that tomorrow. I'll let you get some sleep. Have a good night Tzolkin."

Tzolkin nods, closing and locking the shop's door behind him. "Alright. I'll talk to you about the specifics of your needs tomorrow, then." he replies, wandering into the corridor, smiling as he hears Tristan's comment. "Thanks, and same to you."

Tristan nods his head and starts walking off towards his workshop.

Tzolkin yawns again, leaning up against the wall for a moment before wandering up the ramp towards the school. "Isaiah's gonna wonder why I'm late again..." he mutters, voice growing distant as he disappears into the colony proper.