Grenade Testing

JP with mdman, Lorem and Cindy

Cronk bounced along, following the Lady Elizabeth and Pretty Flower. He was excited to be going to see a demonstration of the weapon Lorem had made. The fact that it was a weapon was stimulating. The fact that it was Lorem’s creation, even more.

He was snickering along the way, seemingly at nothing. However, Cronk’s mind was replaying the noises that Lorem had made at the table.

“Pretty Flower,” Cronk requested, “do noise again!”

Lorem obliged Cronk’s requests while they were on route. She repeated the mechanical sounds with accuracy to their real sounds. She even tried as well to show him how to do them. Of course she had over a decade of practicing them to merit her talent. In between, she filled the time explaining some of the fabrication processes it took make them.

Lorem carried her box satchel, by shoulder strap, and her personal hand canon. The wagon with the larger weapon case was given over to Cronk to pull.

When they arrived to the testing area, Lorem looked up at Lady Elizabeth. “Would you like the honors Lady Elizabeth?” As she gestured to the wagon, giving her the option to be the one shooting the steampunk grenade launcher.

Elizabeth just enjoyed the company, and the playfulness between Lorem and Cronk, on their way to the field.

When they arrived at the field, and Lorem offered the first one to shoot it. "Why, yes. I would,thank you Miss Ipsum."

Elizabeth chose a grenade that resembled a tiger. Once Lorem helped her load the launcer, she shot the weapon. The first time the mage didn't use her magic. Just watching what the weapon did on its own.

The grenade went off, causing a burst of intense heat and light. It would blind anyone who was with in range of the attack.

"I would like to use the same type of grenade, again." She turned to her companions. "You might want to move back."

Cronk tried and practiced what Lorem had tried to teach him. As they approached were approaching the testing site, Cronk was getting closer to the sounds, but still needed to practice. At times, his tongue got tangled in his tusks.

It mattered not to Cronk how he may have appeared. He was having fun. This fun was a cleaner fun than he and Quinn used to have together. It was wholesome.

Cronk knelt on the ground so he wouldn’t tower over the ladies. He watched as the Lady Elizabeth unleashed the power of the launcher.

Elizabeth reloaded the launcer, with the same type of tiger like grenade. She concentrated on the weapon, which started to glow. Elizabeth shot the weapon, the grenade launched, making it practically into the next field. Fortunately, no one was near that field. When it went off the blast was much larger and full of blinding colors and heat which could be lightly felt even where they were standing. From a distance it almost seemed like a fireworks display. The weapon stopped glowing. "I think, it might be best to not imbued this particular weapon with magic or maybe lessen it." Elizabeth commented, but she had a smile on her face. That was pure, unadulterated fun.

Cronk began to laugh and clap. The claps of those hands were thunderous, drawing the attention of those walking nearby.

“Pretty Flower smart!” Cronk exclaimed. “Make good weapon!”

Lorem looked like she was in data collection mode as Elizabeth went through the process of implementing her instructions. She watched what she was doing, but was even more focused on all the other things happening with the weapon while it was being loaded, handled and fired. She wanted to see if it handled the way it should and it’s movable parts were functioning as she knew they ought to. To her efforts, they were and it felt good to see it work; even better that it didn’t explode in Lady Elizabeth’s hands.

Lorem cheered enthusiastically as the first grenade detonated and performed optimally. The second grenade shocked her to a point she dropped the socially acceptable behavior of a young lady in public and jumped up and down shouting in German probably something she picked up working in airships with sailors.

She always thought magic could one day be figured out scientifically and perhaps this would be a springboard towards opportunities into further research.

Cronk got so excited for Lorem, he jumped up wrapped his hands about her petite waist, lifted her off of the ground and tossed her into the air. He caught her as she came back down.

Cronk realized he may have overstepped his boundaries. Gently placing Lorem’s feet back on the ground, Cronk quickly said, “Sorry! Cronk got carried away!”

He wanted to celebrate Lorem’s success, but Cronk’s impulsiveness took over. Hopefully, it wouldn’t dampen the fun they were having.

The excitement by Cronk and Lorem, was certainly noticeable. The Eldren had no idea what Lorem actually said, but was certain translation wasn't necessary.

Elizabeth couldn't do much but watch as Cronk tossed the gnome into the air. It happened so quickly it was impossible to stop. She shook her head. Realizing the Orc, got carried away in the moment.

"Miss Ipsum, are you alright?" Elizabeth asked.

"Mr. Cronk I know its exciting. But please, refrain from tossing team members in the air, without their consent." The Eldren spoke as calmly as ever.

"Miss Ipsum, this launcer is quite amazing." She meant the compliment.

"Mr. Cronk would you like a turn." Hopefully that was alright with Lorem, but Elizabeth had the feeling that Cronk might be one using the larger version.

With all her celebrating, Lorem was spatially unaware of the enormous hands reaching around her until it was too late. In his grip she probably felt as light as a feather and when launched upwards took on more air time and distance then expected. Not only was she a petite gnome, but she was also female; which meant her bone density and muscle mass was less.

Lorem released an eep from the sudden shock of losing purchase with the ground and finding herself near to defying gravity. She wondered if she would reach terminal velocity and break through the atmosphere. The speed of the changed caused her to grow instantly silent and still, like a deer in headlights.

When she landed, what remained of her detangling braids fell apart and her long blonde hair spilled all over, blocking her face. She looked frozen, in a awkward X pose trying to regain her sense of stability and security.

Lorem slowly brought her left hand up to her face and parted the curtain of her hair, moving it behind her. Her left hand was gripping the hand cannon like a vice, fortunately she hadn’t lost grip of it through the rollercoaster ride. The satchel had spun around her person and was on the opposite side of her body from whence it started.

She looked at them both. What had just happened? She obviously connected the dots instantly, but just because it did happen still didn’t register that something like that would have happened. She was a bit speechless and felt for a brief moment like her tea time meal wanted to revisit her mouth.

Sensing an awkwardness approaching like a building wave, Lorem tried to comfort those around her by laughing it off shakily. The experience wasn’t entirely unpleasant, just more unexpected.

She tried her best to compose herself and wondered if Cronk would give the launcher a try. It was a good size for your average human. For an orc it would be on the smaller size, but it’s arsenal wasn’t small bullets but larger grenades. In short, it was Orc accessible.

Cronk was worried that both ladies would be angry with him. He was so enjoying the time that he had got carried away with the fun. When Lorem turned to him, looking out from her golden locks, he softly smiled at her. He sighed once again, not knowing what to say. Then, he blurted, “Pretty Flower still pretty!”

Cronk looked at the bigger model, then at Lorem. He looked down at his huge fingers, which had just lifted her and tossed her upwards into the sky. He wondered if he could possibly get his finger inside the trigger guard. He wondered if it could be made of the same metal of which his ring was made. It expanded to fit Cronk’s finger.

“Cronk try?” he asked, then held out his hand. He waited for Lorem to give him the launcher, not wanting to grab it from her. When she did, he carefully aimed it away from everyone and pulled the trigger.

When the grenade launched, Cronk watched its flight with great anticipation. It was a mixture of colors: black, orange, and white. They came together, appearing as a tiger. Cronk imagined hearing a mighty roar.

Cronk laughed. He bounded from foot to foot, lifting the launcher into the air, careful not to pull the trigger. He wasn’t sure if there were more than one grenade inside of it.

“Cronk make go roar!” he laughed. He turned to the Lady Elizabeth and laughed. Then, turning to Lorem, Cronk got tongue tied.

What was this magic this small Pretty Flower held over him? He would try to speak, but couldn’t. His mouth was dry and he was full of nerves. Cronk was not used to feeling like this. He was always sure if his strength. However, speaking was never Cronk’s strength.

In what seemed like forever, Cronk finally blurted out, “Cronk love…launcher!” Did he almost slip and say Pretty Flower? Is this what he was truly feeling? Could an orc actually be in love with a gnome? Stranger things had happened, hadn’t they? Or, had he just had too much whiskey today? Cronk had never thought he had too much whiskey, so the thought was cast as far away from him as Cronk had just lifted Lorem into the air.

Elizabeth noticed that Lorem seemed a bit shaky, who could blame the Gnome, after being tossed in the air.

Cronk seemed to enjoy using the launcher and Elizabeth was already wondering if making an Orc sized weapon would be better, than having Cronk use regular sized ones.

The weapon worked well, Elizabeth was impressed, but not surprised as she was confident in Lorem’s abilities.

"It's getting late, I have to order us a cab to take us home. Are we ready to go?" As fun as this was, Elizabeth still had things she needed to do at home before dinner.

Lorem clapped encouragingly at Cronk’s successful attempt with the grenade launcher. She took note that while it was a successful test, the sizing was still too small for comfort for an Orc sized being; but it was good to know that it was manageable. All three blazing tiger grenades had been used up; there were three of each inside the large crate on the wagon. She would need to get more after tomorrows work orders had been completed.

Lorem helped direct the two to safely and securely place the launcher into the crate. She made comments about the highlights of the experiment the three of them just conducted and already was mentioning new ideas.

When things had finally settled down and they were all set to depart, Lorem responded to Elizabeth’s question. “Ready and willing!” Her voice more chipper after waking up a bit from the explosions.

Cronk was having such a joyous time, he hated to see it end. He did realize that there was still much to do. They still needed to find the evil doctor.

“I go with you,” Cronk sadly said, meaning the both of them. If he could have understood French, Cronk could have used wording to show the plural nature of the statement. However, English did not have an equivalent. You was the same for one or more than one.