Re: Back on duty ... again

[Guest]

Venis arched an eyebrow, all motion of her hand stopped, and she stopped blowing mid breath. "Um, a diamond that's red. Blue, that I can do. Maybe pink and light blue ... but in the same diamond?" She was thinking as she started shaking her hands to dry her nails. "Um, is there a time frame on this?" She would have to know how long she had to try and figure this out. She was already getting some idea's. It was definately going to be something different. And if she could pull it off, it was going to be ground breaking in the science of natural diamonds.

She thought about something else she would need to know too. "I make no guarantees on clarity or inclusions. But do you want this diamond cut? If you do I need to know what cut and shape you want. The chart is in lid of the green chest." She would need to know what size coal to use and such. He had specified color, she already mentioned clarity, now she just needed the other two c's. Cut and carat weight. Once she knew all that, she could get to work.

[Shuda Darkite]

He nodded and went back over to the green chest, he opened up the lid and after a few minutes of looking at the list he nods and looks back at Venis. "If possible I would like it to a carat and a half diamond with a trilliant cut the one on the right hand side of the list, and if possible to have it done in a couple of days." He knew that was asking for a lot but if need be he had the money to pay for it.

[Guest]

Venis nodded. The wheels in her mind were already cranking. "Ok, I can do that. Great cut by the way. Definitely not one that is used a lot." Most people didn't like that cut because the corners were sharp. But Venis and Tasha knew that you should put the prongs on the corners anyway. "A couple of day's hmm? Ok, I'll get started. As soon as my nails are dry." She chuckled then.

[Shuda Darkite]

He nods, bows, and chuckles with her. "Very well I will come back again for the diamond then. But do you know anyone who can put it into certain things?" He was just asking.

[Guest]

Venis nodded. "Tasha's the jeweler in this clan." She smiled and started checking her nails to see how dry they were. "She has just about anything over there. And if she doesn't have it, she'll find it or make it." Yes, Tasha could make setting too. She had made the setting for he Amethyst she was currently wearing on her right hand.

[Shuda Darkite]

He nods again. "Well thank you very much." He bows to her again and turns around walking to her door and then he stops and looks at her. "Um would you like any kind of payment?"

[Guest]

Venis chuckled. "Naa, not unless I run out of coal trying to make this thing. Then I might send you out for some." She winked, she was only playing. She wasn't going to charge him anymore than she would charge Sel. "But, if we're not talking money ... What's the diamond for dear?" She was so curious and she just couldn't resist asking anymore.

[Shuda Darkite]

He just looks at her and smiles putting a hand behind his head. "Well since you asked it is for Seleen. That is all I am saying. Well I have to go now I will see you in a few days." With that he walks off.

[Guest]

She laughed and checked her nails again. They were dry enough to get started. She went over to a different trunk all together. It was full of chunks of coal. She got out several pieces that were about the size of her palm. And relatively round. She set them on the table beside her.

Her first attempt was to hold one piece of coal with both hands. She applied pressure with both hands evenly. She had to use every ounce of strength that her body could force into her hands. It took more pressure than most people thought to make a diamond. All her heat and flames were concentrated into her hands. Red was a nearly imposable color to get naturally.

After some time, she released her left hand, that part of the diamond had a pale blue tint to it. She kept holding the right side of the diamond. When she thought it should be red she opened her hand. It was just a different shade of blue. She set it down on the table. Then she went to get a bottle of blood wine and a glass. This was going to take some time.

She drank a whole glass of blood wine before starting on the next attempt. She tried to two hands on one stone again. She held her left hand a little longer this time. It came out a more defined blue this time. The right side she held for an extra hour and a half. But this time it came out black. Another failed attempt. This was going to be even harder than she thought.

Another glass of wine. She had to keep her energy up. So since there was no way to do it the way she was trying, she went a different route. She took two pieces of coal and pressed them together then started to turn them, one half in each hand. She had the timing down for the blue, she figured she would cut a half an hour off for the red. But when she released the blue half, the two coals had not bonded very well. The blue chunk fell off while she was still trying to make the red.

She sat there with her next glass of blood wine. She had all ready been at this for the entirety of the day. Her nail polish had burnt from all the heat. She figured she should call it a night. Maybe she would have a better idea in the morning. Besides, Kahn was ready for bed.

In the morning she woke up bright eyed and ready to go. She had some idea's. Her first idea was to get Kahn's help. He could help her turn one half blue while keeping hold long enough to get the other half red. His ice would work with her fire and the blue would develop a little slower. But three attempts that way and all failed. So Kahn gave her a kiss and headed out for the rest of the day.

She had another idea. She went to Tasha and got some chips of garnet and sapphire. Garnets were a better shade of red than ruby's, natural ruby's were more pinkish purple. She used a very slender manual drill that is used for piercing fingernails. She drilled two tiny holes in one of the coal. Then she dropped a chip of garnet into one hole, a chip of sapphire into the other. She refilled the holes with powder scraped from another chunk of coal.

She made sure the powder was pressed in there tightly. Then she crushed the coal in her fist. The pressure from the fist was enough to crush the two lesser stoned within the coal. They were crushed into a powder and then they melded with the coal as she burned it to c crystal clear diamond. The colored powder was centralized in two separate area's of the stone. Once she had the stone finished she cut it.

Once the stone was cut, the facets were reflecting the color from the melded colors. It had worked, except it was too purple. She had gotten the stones too close and they mixed too much. It was a lovely stone, but it definitely was too purple. But now she had an idea of how to make it work. She was going to get this yet. This purple trillion cut diamond was lovely, but not quite right.



She had some more blood wine and gave it another try. This time, when she drilled the holes and dropped in the chips of garnet and sapphire she placed the colors further apart. She went through the process again. Crushing the coal and burning it into a crystal clear diamond. When she opened her hand to see the end result, it was very lovely. She took it to the laser machine and made her cuts. The sides were definitely red and blue this time. The center had turned a little purple, but it was still good.

So she placed the stone in a gift box and then went to bed for the night. Shuda would be coming by in the morning for the stone. She had it ready for him. If he wasn't happy with it she would just have to keep trying. But even if he wasn't happy, she had still made her breakthrough. She had still managed to make a one hundred percent natural diamond, with more than one color hue to it. It could still be called natural because the other stones she used were natural as well, and they fused with the diamond and became a part of the stone. It wasn't long before she was asleep.

[Shuda Darkite]

It was a couple of say after he had asked Venis to make the diamond for him. He did not know if she was going to be able to do it. But if anyone could it would be her. So in the morning of the third day he knocked on her door again.

[Guest]

Venis stirred with the knocking upon the door. She had slept far later than usual. She had slept so deeply that she didn't even remember Kahn kissing her goodbye before he left. She rolled over to see if he was still there, he was gone. And the sun was well within the sky. She had used more energy than she had thought trying to make that diamond.

A yawn and a stretch before she spoke. "Just a moment." She turned and her feet dropped to the floor as she sat up from the bed. Her feet slid into her maribu slippers while she grabbed her robe. Long arms slid into the robe as she rose from the bed. She wrapped it tightly around herself and tied the belt as she walked to the door.

Pulling the door open she smiled. "Good morning Shuda." She opened the door a little wider to let him in. "I think I have it for you." She walked over to the little box and handed it to him. The diamond in the box was clear, but due to the cut's, if you looked at it from one side it refracted the light with a blue hue from the sapphire. If you look at it from the other side the cuts would refract the light with a red hue due to the garnet. "Is that what you were looking for?"

[Shuda Darkite]

He smiles from ear to ear. "Thank you Venis thank you very much this is exactly what I was looking for." He gently picks up the diamond looking at it from this way and that. A flamed appeared in his hand as it washed over the diamond. He closed his eyes as the flame came back into his body. "This is wonderful, is there anything I can do to repay you?"

[Guest]

Venis smiled. She was glad he liked the diamond. It had been a lot of work, but she had figured it out. "I'm glad that you like it Shuda. As far as repaying me, we'll just call it you owe me one. I might never have to call in the favor, but then again, I might have to come day. I'm sure there's plenty of time." Venis knew that there could always be trouble brewing on the horizon. She might need his help with something someday.

[Shuda Darkite]

"Very well then I will keep that in mind." He bows to her and smiles. "Well now to see Tasha. Have you a good day." With that he walks off heading to Seleens old room.

[Guest]

Venis was sitting at her desk again, diamond holding the door open. She heard her son in her head. Willow was getting sick. ~Thank you baby. I will talk to Tasha and Kahn about it. Maybe they will have some idea of how to treat her.~ She Put her paperwork down. Dre said it was important for her to deal with it quickly. No time like the present.

She got up from her desk to go find Tasha and/or Kahn. But before she could reach the door, there stood Isah.

[Guest]

After a visit to the battle gym, Venis was back at her desk in her room. She made a grocery list for the men to take to the store. Supplies for the food fight. She made a list for the other things that were needed as well. She took the list over and gave it to Manny in the employee's room. Then she returned to her desk and began making other lists. Like for Tasha's surprise party.

One of the lists she made was for things for the bachelorette party for Seleen. She also made a list of the something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. The blue was easy. An antique sapphire and diamond necklace, it was old too, so that covered two of the things on the list. Venis was in rare form today. She suddenly seemed to be on task and busy as ever. It felt kind of good.

[Guest]

Venis stepped out of her room and walked across the hall to Casie's room. She reached up and knocked upon the door three times. She waited for Casie to answer.

Cas heard the three knocks. She looked at the twins as she stood up.

"Something is going on in V's room, I'll be across the hall."

She then went to the door and was surprised to see V still standing there.

"Grab Ha'Ruil" She grinned as she turned and headed to her room.

Cas looked at her, a bit confused.

"Ok."

She went and knocked on Tasha's door. How the hell was she supposed to get him to V's room?

Tasha heard the knock and got up to go answer the door. When she opened it, she smiled. "Hi Cas, what's up?" She opened the door wider for her to come in.

"I needed to ask Ha'Ruil a question about a druid ceremony."

There, she had thought of something, would it work?

Tasha chuckled. "Yea, some of the ceremonies and stuff confuse me too. Aren't you glad I told you that he was a druid? Now we have someone to pester about all our silly questions." She laughed. "He's down in his room communing with the cute and furies. Well, the little ones. They won't come to my room and there's this squirrel that clings to him. Second floor, down the hall, fifth door on the left." She smiled, glad that she could at least do that much to help.

Cas smiled at her.

"Thanks Tash, I'll be back up to see you later."

She smiled and went to the second floor, fifth door on the left, and knocked.

"Welcome." She closed the door and went back to her TV show.

He was laying in his bed talking to the squirrel on his chest when he heard the knock on the door, so when he got up the squirrel just climbed up until it was resting on his head. He opened up the door looking at the person that knocked on his door.

"Hello, may I help you."

She looked at him and smiled at the squirrel on his head.

"Venis wants to see us, oh, and I told Tasha I needed to discuss a druid ceremony with you. Apparently she doesn't want Tash knowing we are talking."

He just looked at Cas with a confused look on his face.

"Um...ok, what is going on?"

"I have no clue"

She just headed for the stairs.

"Ok then."

With that he closed the door to his room with the squirrel still on his head as he started to walk up the stairs.

She smiled, she really wanted to hold the fuzzy little thing. Kjay was in the room with the twins. She walked into V's room.

"Ok V, I got him here, now what is the huge secret?"

V smiled up at them. "Hi guys, someone get the door please." She waited for the door to be closed before she began. "We need to figure out what we're doing for Tasha's Birthday on Friday." Short notice for some but not for this group. They could throw things together in less than twenty-four hours when needed. And this didn't have to be a grand affair. Just a get together would work.

"Oh, I did not know it was her birthday this week. Hmm.. what should I get her?"

Venis smiled. "You can get her anything you want, just make it something from the heart and she'll love it. Casie, can you get with Emilia and you guys help the kids?" She had out her note pad and pen.

Cas had closed the door and listened.

"I have the perfect idea of what to have the kids do."

Venis grinned. "Share or surprise?" She was glad that Casie already had an idea. "Ha'Ruil, is there a way you can keep her distracted and then get her to the party?"

She smiled.

"Bird bath, bird feeder, bird house?"

He just smiled at the two ladies and nodded.

"I think I can manage to distract her, if need be."

He gave a little chuckle.

Venis laughed. Somehow, she knew he could find a way. "You'll need a good excuse to get her to the party." She chuckled when she heard Casie. "Like homemade ones?" Said because they sounded like craft projects. "Those would be awesome. She'll love that they did that for her." She scratched her head. "Where should we have the party?" There were a few options, her room, the Lounge, the Meeting Hall.

"Lounge would be a better choice, I think that we can get it ready quickly."

She wrote down Lounge as a location. "Her sisters are coming, so we need to get them a room so they can hide." She would take care of that unless one of them volunteered.

"My room is fine for them to hide in, if they do not mind the animals."

He put his hand up to his head to scratch the head of the squirrel that was chirping away.

Ok, Cas couldn't resist anymore, she held her hand out to the squirrel.

"My room is fine too."

The squirrel looked at the hand that was coming up to it and it slowly moved forward taking a sniff before jumping into the extended hand. He started to crawl in between her shirt and skin doing the normal twist motion a squirrel would do. When the squirrel was done it poked its head out from behind Cas hair and started to talk to Ha'Ruil. He just laughed.

"No, you cannot make a nest out of her hair, now get out of her hair."

The squirrel answered him by ducking back into her hair.

Venis' eyes lit up. "Thank you. Saves me from putting another room on my tab. Ok, she's a cake and ice cream kinda girl, but we also have the twins the next night. So we don't need something too big." She started laughing at the squirrel. Through her laughter she tried to continue. "A small cake and maybe only two ice cream choices should be fine. Flavor suggestions?"

Cas smiled as it hopped into her hand. And then laughed as it climbed into her sleeves, up to her shoulder, then into her hair.

"Hey, that tickles."

She was looking at Ha'Ruil.

"A nest in my hair? No way, but he can hide there for a while."

She thought a moment.

"Vanilla and chocolate?"

Venis nodded. "Ok, that covers the ice cream. How about the cake?" She was looking over her notes. "Oh and the food. There will be alcohol, so there needs to be food." It didn't have to be heavy food, just something to eat.

He chuckled again and looked at the two ladies.

"I really do not know what she likes, other than she really likes seafood."

Venis nodded. "We could put shrimp cocktail on the menu. I think we should just set it up buffet style. Um, how about like a cherry cake or something? That way it would compliment the ice cream." It was a thought.

"That is fine by me, but as I said before, I will be the distraction."

"Sounds good to me, I think cherry will be good."

She smiled.

"We know the twins will have a rather large party."

Venis chuckled. "Speaking of the twins. I think that the adults should just give their gifts then leave the kids to their party. I'm sure that they don't want a bunch of old farts hanging around." Sounded good to her.

"Hey just because I am 200 years old does not mean I am old."

He gave the ladies a mock pout.

She laughed.

"Well, maybe Uncle Manny."

Venis laughed. "Oh quit your pouting kid. I turn 333 this year. I think Uncle Manny watching the gaggle is a good idea." She laughed some more. The irony of her half evil ass turning 333 this year was not lost on her.

He just blinked as he heard her.

"Man, and I thought I was the old one."

He just smiled teasing the lady about her age.

"Well, I guess I need to ask Manny if he wants to help me babysit twenty kids Saturday."

Venis stuck her tongue out at Ha'Ruil. "I'm sure he would be more than happy to Cas." She smiled at both of them. She was used to old jokes, heard them all the time from her son. "Ok, so other than shrimp cocktail, any other food suggestions?"

"She likes lobster, and pizza"

He was remembering what they had for their dinner out in town.

"Oh, and Italian food."

"No, not pizza. It is a good idea, but the twins want it for their party, and two nights in a row is too much."

Venis nodded. "Ok, so how about maybe some bowls of pastas and some bowls of sauces and people could mix and match to their hearts desire?" Italian was always a good idea.

"I think that will work great."

He extended his hand next to Cas, and a couple of chirps could be be heard before the squirrel jumped out of Cas' hair, and jumped onto his shoulder.

Cas smiled.

"Ok then it is settled. Pastas and sauces with shrimp cocktail"

Venis looked at her list. "Well, then I think we have everything covered. Oh, wait. Who all do we invite? I have listed Casie and the kids, the employees, both mine and those of the Inn, Gawain and Airtia, of course you Ha'Ruil, her sisters, Seleen and Shuda, Emilia and her family, can anyone think of anyone else?"

He crossed his arms and thought.

"Not that I know of."

Cassie thought a moment.

"No, I don't think so, I think that is everyone."

Venis nodded. "Good, then I believe we are all set." She rose up to walk them back to the door. That was quick and painless, just as she had hoped it would be.

Cas hugged Venis and went back to her own room with the twins and Kjay she had a lot to do in one day.

"Have a good day ladies."

With that he walked out the door and knocked on Tasha's door before walking in closing it behind him.

Venis left the door open after they left and went back to a book she had in front of her. She was getting ready to call in the gift she wanted for Tasha, it was going to be shipped overnight C.O.D.

Then there was a squeak coming from Tasha's room as the door opened up and the squirrel came running out. It turned around chirping like crazy, before turning back around and running down the stairs to the second floor.

[Guest]

Venis stood there and looked at her room. She had her reasons for leaving, and if anyone asked, she just might tell them. But still she had to feel a little sad about the move. After all, she had been here a year. She had found family and friends and they found her. It had been a hell of a year.

But now it was time, it was time to move on. She felt her reasons were justified. Her room had never really been in a state of unpacked. She always kept everything in trunks and chests, even at home. So her packing would be a very simple task indeed.

There was stuff in the kitchen and the bathroom that needed to go back into trunks. And her desk was cleared off and out. Everything was placed in plastic drawers that slid into plastic bins. They were so much lighter than big bulky metal filing cabinets.

Once the bins were placed in trunks she was ready to go. After all, her clothes and other things were all still in trunks and chests and her armoire's. So just like that, she was done packing. So headed out to see if anyone else needed any help.

Oh, and as far as Benjamin's hat that hung upon her wall for so many months? She placed the hat upon her head, pulled out the hook it had rested upon, and smoothed away the hole in the wall with a swipe of her hand. After all, she couldn't leave anything behind.


((And another one bites the dust.))

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