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Toph Beifong     It will probably be a little while before the building is all ready for students, but at least it's moving forward. The building has been cleared out at least, thanks to Ziggy helping Toph out. So now it's at least ready for the building to be repaired. Most of it is made of earthen materials, so that's something Toph can do on her own while she waits for carpenters to arrive.

    There's some loud sounds of earth moving as Toph is working on getting materials from the nearby cliffside, and a controlled avalance rolls down towards the building. In the last moment however Toph, standing on the sidelines, kicks into the ground and throws her arms forward, raising an earthen wall to halt the rolling boulders and sliding earth. Once that is done she begins launching the boulders up next to the building.
Merlin     It is a curious thing, this 'bending' that Merlin had heard of. It produced results similar to magic in some ways, and this had caught the Sorceror Supreme With A Side Salad's attention - from what he'd heard, bending itself required no actual magical power. Of course, it also seemed to be entirely elemental and physical, rather than...well, outright arcane. It's certainly unique in Merlin's experience, and he'd finally found time to come visit.

    Besides, there was the earthworks and stone defenses that Toph had put up around Dun Realtai, if anyone wanted proof it was true.

    He arrives just in time to watch the little avalanche roll towards the bender, with a moment of alarm - before she stomps her foot and redirects the flow like a dam would a river. One more bit of proof, it seems, and Merlin watches as the boulders make their way right where Toph wants them to go.

    On his shoulder, there's a strange little creature. An armadillo clings to the robes there, its pointed face peeking out at the world and watching Toph do her thing as well. On its back, stretching down to its tail, a set of strings begins vibrating - the armadillo-guitar playing a quiet refrain of Voodoo Child. "Quite right, Jimi. I suppose, however, we should go say hello."

    And so Merlin makes his way down, approaching carefully - less because of 'oh no it's a blind girl' and more because of 'oh no it's a construction area.' Safety first, you see.
Toph Beifong     The moment Merlin begins moving though, Toph blinks and turns her head just slightly because she calls up the cliffside. "HEY! Be careful where you're going, the cliffside is dangerous and unsteady in places!" she warns, all before she gestures towards the hillside in three firm movements that follow eachother in quick succession.

    In response the cliffside reacts, and Merlin will find that suddenly there's a slide there right in front of him, leading down towards the building. Toph herself looks a bit curious. This is somebody she hasn't met face to face before...
Merlin     Oh, she's quite good. Merlin's aware of some of the instabilities; it's quite impressive that she can sense him walking around even through those. It says a lot about bending, as well; it's not merely control but using those elements to sense. Fascinating. A castle protected by earthbenders would never be able to be covertly approached...

    The slide forms before him, and Merlin simply nods. If the ride is offered, well, the wizard is hardly one to turn it down. He settles in, making sure the staff and robes don't catch on anything, then gives a push and coasts down the ramp - gathering himself at the end and dusting off some. The guitarmadillo gives a momentary riff as he reaches the bottom, and Merlin smirks.

    "Well met, Miss Beifong." He doesn't extend a hand; what little he learned about bending implies the body's movements are required. Shaking Toph's hand in greeting and accidentally ripping a wall away would hardly be the best of results.
Toph Beifong     When the man speaks, there is a surprised look on the girl's face as she recognises the voice there. "Wait... Merlin?" she asks, slight confusion in her voice. Sure, she's spoken with him on the radio a little before, but it's not like she's ever met him. Despite what Merlin believes he knows, it's clear he doesn't know all of how bending works. It doesn't look like Toph is bending anything actively as she cants her head slightly. "Huh. So what are you doing here? I'm a bit busy fixing up this building so I have somewhere to train my lily livers," she states and jabs a thumb over her shoulder at the building behind her. "Buddyvere said he would help out a bit, as I don't have carpentry as a skill." Not that she needs it, considering her own bending.
Merlin     "The same." So she recognized his voice then. Well, it's good to be known! Fortunately for Toph, Merlin knows that he does not know, and knows what he does not know, that knowledge may be gained and Merlin will know what he does know and will soon know that which he does not.

    To her question, the wizard smiles. "Actually, I arrived slightly early. Sir 'Buddyvere'," he adds with a snicker, "has marshaled a number of artisans and workers, and they are on the way. I simply decided to arrive fashionably early and catch a peek of a master at work." Flatterer. "He should be along shortly, with supplies and an entourage."

    Jimi plucks a soft chorus of All Along the Watchtower, wishing he had an amp to plug into. A soft pat soothes the guitarmadillo. Merlin turns back to take in the building's formation, grown out of earthen works and stone. "Fascinating. So...your lily livers, eh? You intend to teach others this skill?"
Toph Beifong     So her nickname is catching on, huh? That earns a snicker from the blind teen, and she looks amused. "You know, Goldie talks about being fashionably late, never heard anybody talk about being fashionably early before," she points out.

    When he comments on her skill though, it's clear that Toph approves of it. "As I've stated often enough, I /am/ the greatest earthbender of all time. And yeah, this is going to be the Beifong Metalbending Academy!" Here she throws her arms up towards the old and semi broken building that certainly has seen better days. "Here I will teach the first metalbending students! Earthbending they can learn from others, even if they won't learn it as well as they would from me, of course. But metalbending... it's a new bending I invented two and a half years ago, and it's something I need to share with the world!"

    It sounds like she's talking about a calling. "Just imagine it... tons of students...! All metalbenders!"
Merlin     The nickname may catch on slowly, but at least Merlin approves of it. And who knows, the smallest flickering ember may ignite the greatest forest fire, so there's always a chance for the future to let Buddyvere spread.

    And then Toph launches off into her spiel, and the wizard can't help but be amused. Such a plan, from one so young! Though, at least the building doesn't explode when Toph flails like a gummy worm, so there's that at least - and Merlin notes that it must take more than simply gesturing for it to work.

    "I see. Metalbending...a subset of earthbending, I take it? A specialist skill..." He ponders. "I suppose that would require great knowledge of th earth and its components, being able to find such things...hm. What truly is metalbending, then? Before I get ahead of myself." Quite polite, actually - it's rare enough for Merlin, but the wizard is curious. He crosses his legs and settles in to observe things closer.
Toph Beifong     No, the earth doesn't respond when Toph gestures to the building as if imagining what it will look like once it's done.

    As for what metalbending is, Toph nods when Merlin ponders whether it's a subset of earthbending. "Metal is purified earth, and with my bending I can sense the earth that's left in the metal. Of course no other earthbenders would know how to do it as they don't bend like I do. Most earthbenders use bending for fighting. For me it's the very way of living," she explains, then kicks the earth, causing a boulder to fly over their heads as it lands next to the building. Then she walks over and gestures with her hand, causing the boulder to split apart. "If you really want to see it, then you can go fetch my bag over there." The girl points to a green elven bag that rests next to the door leading into the building. "I got some metal in it, though lemmie fix this hole in the wall here first." The boulder gets reduced to rubble, which Toph then begins bending into the wall to patch up the holes there.
Merlin     The explanation makes a lot of sense. "Many have tried similar things, with similar elemental theory. They were not quite so successful, but alchemy..." Merlin shrugs. "Transmutation was never quite so easy, at least in any survivable form. But I digress, child. Interesting. A way of living, you say?" Speak on, kiddo.

    Merlin raises an eyebrow when he's asked to fetch the bag. As if he's a valet! No, the wizard remains right where he's sitting - but the bag itself lifts from its resting place and glides through the air next to Toph, witing for her to finish her work at hand before the shoulder strap taps her on the shoulder like an impatient student.

    The wizard, of course, hasn't moved a muscle.
Toph Beifong     "What's alchemy, anyway? Some kind of chemistry?" the earthbending master inquires curiously. Though she does point at him when he calls her 'child'. "The name's Toph."

    "Most people who earthbend only use it for fighting. I learned from the badgermoles, who use it for their daily life. Before I learned from them I was truly blind, but now I can see with my bending. I still haven't met any other bender who uses their bending like I do," she explains.

    Sure, she notices how Merlin isn't moving, though she also senses the bag lifting from the ground. And then she reaches out to grab it even before the bag gets to tap her on the shoulder. "Thanks," she says, then begins searching through the bag. "So you do magic, huh?" With that she pulls out a piece of metal... that begins shifting around Toph's fingers, becoming a glove as she moves her fingers.
Merlin     "Somewhere between chemistry and magic, I suppose. Wizarding, for those who had not the ability in their blood. Though most of it seemed to be wrapped around selfish affairs," Merlin adds. Not that he knows anything about selfish affairs. "As you wish, Toph." Boy, she is a feisty one.

    A way of life, eh. "I see, I think. What is touching the earth, you can sense. Though you're unique in that regard, eh." Ah well, it seems only Toph will have the unassailable castle. Perhaps that's a good thing after all. "And do you intend to teach them your way of earthbending as well as this metalbending skill of yours?"

    "I do." Jimi chimes in with a chorus from Purple Haze, and Merlin continues. "I have spent much of my time as wizard-advisor to Arturia Pendragon, and have resumed my duties as the same to Lord Buddyvere, Steward of Dun Realtai. And occasionally, I do do magic." Merlin waves his hands a little bit, and there's something like fireflies around Toph - these, however, don't blink but instead emit soft musical chimes. They remain for a few seconds, their random song fading out as they eventually flit away.

    Then Toph does her finest impression of the T-1000, and Merlin marvels slightly. "Most impressive. I can think of many who wished their armor were so fluid and useful."
Toph Beifong     He really didn't know she was feisty before?

    As for whether she will teach earthbending to her students? "Perhaps they will pick it up if they are perceptive, because some of the same principles are there. What matters is that they are strong and willfull, and that they have the proper attitude. It's mostly in your head, really." Hasn't Toph talked about that on the radio? About how you need to be stubborn, mentally stable and determined in order to impose your will on the earth?

    So Merlin has worked for Saber... and now Buddyvere. Toph grins as the wizard continues using her nickname for the knight. When he waves his hands Toph can't see the results, but she does hear the music. "Huh, cool. You can summon music?" she asks, continuing to bend something out of the metal... which turns out to be a little Merlin statuette that she hands over to him. "Can you use your magic for anything practical? Like helping me fix up the place?" There is quite a lot to do, after all.
Merlin     Mere confirmation of observed behavior. Science!

    "I see your students will be well in hand, then. Learning is indeed all in your head...as are all the barriers one puts up to it. I take it, then, that anyone can become a proper bender?" Overcoming those is a personal challenge indeed. "I suppose you are going to make things one great test of mettle for them."

    Did he just? Yup.

    "Among other things. A simple enough thing to do, though obviously more complex things do require a little more work." He accepts the statue, admiring it. "Excellent work. I should find a place for this at Dun Realtai, I think. You captured my essence quite well. May I keep it?" If so, the little statue will find its way to his pockets, because really who doesn't like having a miniature of themselves?

    And then Toph asks for help. "Quite. Mm...do you have more of that metal? Iron, preferably. I can see one thing to help immediately; place some here and here." The wizard stands, indicating two spots with a tap from his staff.
Toph Beifong     Can anybody become a metalbender? Toph shakes her head. "No, you're either born a bender or you're not. But some people don't discover their bending at all. And some people discover they are benders early, but never do much with it. And then you have people like me who discover it early and become goddamn awesome." Funny, it sounds like she's completely serious.

    Perhaps Merlin will appreciate the fact that Toph laughs at Merlin's joke, snickering at the pun. Maybe Tony is to blame for all the dad jokes.

    She nods when Merlin asks whether he can keep the statuette. "Sure, I can make those in my sleep, and that's just regular ore. I got tons more at home." For now she listens to him though, and the question whether she has more metal though earns a snort. "I have tons of metal with me, so yeah..." Iron is a simple metal, and something she has in excess. She pulls out some metal from the bag, and she puts it in place where Merlin indicates. If she's a little curious about what he's about to do, then can you honestly blame her?
Sir Bedivere   The cavalry was asked for, and soon the cavalry arrives. A string of horses comes from the warpgate nearest the decrepit academy building, and at its head is the shining armour of Sir Bedivere, Steward of Dun Realtai. The armour is the very same he had worn in Camelot, which Merlin would recognise. Yet even Merlin in all his years in court has never seen it so bright and shining, or in such good repair. Gone are stains of blood, dents, crumpled edges, and scars in the metal -- it has been repaired, as wholly and completely as it could possibly be. His sword is at his hip, but he makes no move for it.

  It certainly makes Bedivere cut an impressive figure, that bright white mantled cloak trailing behind him, sitting straight and tall in the saddle, subtle ornamentations of the same blue-grey as his mantle accenting the breastplate and gauntlets. He gestures, and behind him several dozen workmen fan out as they reach the building itself, carefully avoiding areas that look less stable. The horses are dragging supplies and carrying parcels more than actually carrying riders.

  "Héa, Toph! I have brought you some help!" The knight raises his voice, powerful enough to be heard over distance and din both. Despite his normal quiet tones, he has enough power to make himself heard even through the thick of battle. He just rarely draws on that power. "Mayhap they cannot move the earth, but we've tools and hands aplenty!"

  Loosely twitching the reins of his own horse, he guides it to plod over to where Toph and Merlin are, drawing it to a halt and leaning over the edge. What in the seven hells is Merlin doing here?

  "Master Merlin." It's not a very enthusiastic greeting, and his attention slides like icewater right past the magician to Toph, whom he regards with a little less disgust. "You need only instruct my workers, and they will do aught that you need done. They've experience aplenty after rebuilding their homes and livelihoods in Dun Realtai."
Merlin     A bit like wizards then. Perhaps there is more of a connection between bending and magic than it had seemed. Fascinating! "It seems a confluence of factors is required for greatness." Oh ho? Such words from a mouth so young! Merlin approves. Doubly so when she recognizes his pun and shares the amusement.

    "I do thank you, Toph." Miss Beifong is proper. She is clearly not proper. "I should not be surprised, but I thought I might ask. Step back - ah, hello Bedivere." Whatever the wizard was about to do is interrupted momentarily as the convoy arrives. "I thought I might look in on our good earthbender and see how she was, as you were leading your group here. I was quite curious about her ability."

    He smiles at the knight, despite his clear disapproval. "Besides, I knew you would worry about what kind of shenanigans I might get up to were you away. I couldn't live with that, so I simply made sure to be where you could observe." Not supervise, of course. "And even to assist Toph in her efforts. Upon that note..."

    There's a spell worked, one of warding against sound. What was about to happen would be quite likely to spook the horses in the caravan if they heard it, and Merlin would never hear the end of it. So a magical tube wraps itself invisibly around the places Toph had settled her metal, stretching to the sky...

    ...and as soon as the animals are looking away a bolt of lightning crashes down right into the iron, arcing in an instant and welding it into a solid structural brace within the stone. Only the faintest of rumbles is heard, as if a distant storm on the horizon, which the horses don't seem to mind so much.

    Bedivere's wits, on the other hand, well. Sometimes you gotta make your own entertainment.

    "Toph, if you could please...make sure that will hold?"
Toph Beifong     Oh hey, Bedivere! As Toph sets the metal in place and waits for Merlin to do his thing, she does notice the arriving group of people, and she hears Bedivere's voice clear enough. A grin spreads across her lips as she raises her hand and waves in greeting. "Heya Buddyvere, nice of you to drop by!" And with people who can actually work with wood! All the workers are pointed in one direction, and Toph speaks up. "Okay, the boards all need replacing, so get to work! You'll get some food when you're done!" At least she's not about to be ungrateful for their help. The people of Dun Realtai are nice people, and well... she's about to make sure they more help in the future.

    Looking amused at the talk between Merlin and Bedivere, Toph can't help but grin. At least until the lightning bolt strikes, and Toph /yelps/! "WHAT THE CRUD?!" she demands. Sure, it wasn't loud, but the force seems to have startled her. "What did you just do?" she asks, though she does step forward to run her hand over the wall. Okay, that was some weird magic... though it's a quick version of what Toph could do herself. "Yeah... yeah, this will hold," she nods. "Man, your magic can do a lot, huh?"
Peridot Peridot appeared to be making herself at home in the temple. The gathered group is suddenly interrupted by the sound of grating rock, as a block is pushed from the wall and clatters to the ground. From the newly created hole emerges a small green woman (or wall gremlin) with triangle shaped hair. Over her shoulder she appeared to be hauling a long length of cable that disappeared deeper from wherever she came from.     

    She looked up, almost surprised to run into other people here, before she  gave the customary gem salute, crossing her arms  in front of her body. "You wouldn't believe what I had to do to get electricity connected here. And here you are getting it summoned right from the sky!" She gestures towards Merlin for a moment and then  she braces her foot against the wall and begins pulling the cable further out from the hole into the hallway. "I had to do it the hard way. I tried to get it from town but they said their electricity came from people. So at first I thought okay so I have to imprison a human to power this place, but then I remembered that's bad so I didn't do that. Also, as far as power sources go humans are pretty lousy at it, too much upkeep and apparently they can just -die- for like no reason."

    "So then I thought- why make this complicated Peridot? All you need are a couple coils, fan blades, a nearby water sources a few miles worth of cable and-" She pauses. "Well you don't need to know the details, and it can pretty much be summed up by--" she touches the end of two cables together, creating a shower of sparks and cackling of electricity in the air. "Nya ha ha! UNLIMITED POWER!... That is, until the river dries up or one of the various things I installed breaks down and needs to be replaced."
Sir Bedivere   The knight turns in the saddle, gesturing and calling to diferent groups of workers to direct them to different parts of the construction site. From there, they can be directed more specifically. Right now, he's just looking to get them spread out, get their tools set up, and be ready to be ordered about.

  Once he straightens again, it's just in time for Merlin to offer his explanation that he's really honestly not getting into any trouble, cross his black little heart and hope to die. Bedivere wears an incredibly bland, skeptical expression, which tells the wizard just what he thinks of /that/.

  And then Merlin calls down a thunderbolt.

  His horse doesn't give two shakes about the display of magic, because the sound has been mostly muted; Bedivere, however, jumps so hard he almost clears the saddle; his armour clatters, and the war horn from Camlann -- which he'd had slung around his shoulder -- jostles against his breastplate.

  It's the magic as much as it is the suddenness of it. Fledgling as his abilities are, he hasn't yet learned to treat the workings of major magic like that as an everyday occurrance like Merlin does. It takes him a good second or two to recover his composure,clearing his throat awkwardly in time for Toph to notice his approach. It's probably too much to ask that she didn't see him nearly fall off his horse.

  The look he shoots Merlin suggests he might say something equivalent to 'what the crud,' too, if he were more crass. Fortunately Toph makes a wonderful mouthpiece for that.

  "I would not be fooled. There is much and more Master Merlin can do, with the old ways, but it comes at cost, as everything does." In other words, he's a pain in the butt, and that's the price of having Merlin quick-fix things. He turns, because suddenly there is rock ground against rock, and it isn't Toph's doing.

  His hand is on his sword -- but not drawn -- before he realises he's even done it; those faded, violet eyes narrow... but apparently it's not a hostile, and so he lets go of the hilt. What a strange-looking being. The things she's saying are even stranger, and it may be that the knight's eyes glaze over just a little bit as she walks through her methodology for the others.

  Instead, he just looks at Merlin as though to say, 'do you have any idea what this crazy person is raving about?'
Merlin     Toph quickly transforms into her newest incarnation, Crowdbender. Merlin watches the Dun Realtai natives begin their setup, before the business is preempted with the arrival of Peridot. Her complaint is reasonable, though the wizard just shrugs. "The power is there. I simply tap and funnel it, giving it a path for its outlet. Perhaps with a bit of a fine touch, to make sure it only goes where it is supposed to," he adds with totally legitimate humility. That weld /was/ pretty good after all.

    Bedivere gets a question and a look. He doesn't know this person either, but the gist of what's said...well, there /are/ ways to generate lightning in a bottle via such means. The Unionites had a name for it...ah. "So you have created a power plant. Interesting. Toph? A friend of yours, perhaps?"

    Oh wait, she's still spazzing about lighting bolts. "I merely did as requested, and secured those stones. Drawing upon the dragon is not something one can do often, but simpler things such as calling forth lightning are less demanding. Whatever a true master of the arcane might need, his skill can attain." And his bargains may ever be as wily as ever, Merlin doesn't add. But when one deals with the devil...

    "To answer your qestion, yes. Yes it can indeed. And your timing, Sir Buddyvere, is as perfect as always. The spell was already running, I was not about to lose its potential. At least I was able to contain it." Why yes, he was kind of hoping to scare Toph with the boom. And for now Merlin is happy to casually observe this new green creature and its interactions with Bedivere and Toph - because sometimes you /don't/ have to make your own entertainment.
Toph Beifong     It doesn't seem like Toph is surprised at Peridot's sudden appearance, and she helpfully bends the block over so it can be used for other parts of the wall. "Sure took you long enough, Cloderella," she smirks in good humour at her Gem friend. Sure, Peridot had talked a lot about getting electricity in this place, about Camp Pining Hearts and whatnot, but fine. Toph didn't see a reason not to let Peridot do it. Literally.

    It's a good thing she didn't kidnap a human though, it means she's learning. And well, she seems so happy when she gets the generator working. "Nice going, I can buy a huge TV or something, though I dunno if we can get multiversal TV signals here or not..." Maybe Peridot would be able to get that fixed though. Wouldn't surprise her at this point...

    "Calm down, Buddyvere. This is Peridot, she's a friend of mine and she's helping out here at the academy. And well, she misses technology. She's kinda handy with it," Toph explains. Handy is an understatement, really. "Peridot is a Gem, and she's still learning about humans. Okay Peridot, meet Bedivere and Merlin. They live in Dun Realtai, a place that's non-technological with lots of weird creatures. I've helped them with my bending there, so I asked Bedivere if they could help with some woodwork since I can't do that myself."
Peridot "Of course I can." She starts at the suggestion of multiversal tv signals. "Well sorta. I mean it would involve relays- large networks of them." She rubs her jaw looking up. "I mean there is a precedent. If I could somehow piggy back on the multiversal radio system." Her eyes brighten. "It might could work! I could also be arrested! I'm not sure! Worst case scenario I'll create relays to the worlds with the best shows."

    At being introduced to Toph's other two friends, Peridot nods. She listens to the explanation of where they came from and who they were before she enthusiastically nods. "No technology and weird creatures? That sounds awful! Kind of like where we are now. Except I'm making it less awful with science!"

    At the suggestion of their task, Peridot nods. "Very useful, I mean building a base out of wood isn't always a great move, but I suppose this is more of a place for learning, negating the needs of a military installation so- Bedivere and Merlin, nice to meet you both."
Sir Bedivere   A twitch of the reins draws the horse up alongside Merlin, and the silver-haired knight lowers his head to address Merlin, and Merlin alone. "Perhaps I have had no such luck in convincing Toph, but I will thank you to use my proper name, at least before the villagers." His tone is soft, and distinctly annoyed. "I do not enjoy such a moniker and I do not need the entire village calling me such. Consider it a request to appeal to the, hm, lordly dignity you once entreated me to consider."

  Straightening, he draws away to regard the lightning-struck brace, arching a brow at it. There are simpler ways to build something like that, but abusing phenomenal cosmic powers to summon a lightning bolt is probably the /fastest/.

  Gem? The term is obviously of some significance, but aside from Peridot's obvious inhumanity, the finer details escape him. He still looks a bit suspicious. That's okay, though, it's nothing personal. Just ask Merlin. Bedivere is suspicious of everyone and everything. Paranoia was his job, in Camelot, and it's a series of habits that are damned near impossible for him to break.

  Talk of radio signals escapes him entirely, though, because something tells him they're not talking about the communication device he has. He does narrow his eyes at Peridot's proclamation that Dun Realtai sounds like an awful place, though, something unpleasant lurking in the depths. Tread careful, there, tiger.

  "A pleasure," he states, in a bland tone. His eyes turn then to Toph. "So, then. What do you need my people to do?"
Merlin     The fae, it seems, come in quite varied forms. From Toph's description, Merlin gets a suspicion towards Peridot herself. There's a faint narrowing of his eyes as he kneels and crosses one hand across his chest. "A pleasure, I am sure. Merlin of Camelot and lately of Dun Realtai, at your service."

    This Peridot is fascinating - the quick thoughtful flashes of insight, the snowballing thoughts; it's a bit like watching a gremlin hard at work. Or perhaps a gem-lin. And then Bedivere rides over, whispering quietly. A nod, and a smirk crossing Merlin's face are the only visible reactions. "Yes, my lord Bedivere." Okay, Steward, but for all intents and purposes Bedivere /is/ a lord, and it's good to see him finally acting the part. Even if he is a bit of a tyrant at times after all. Ah well, at least /that/ tree finally took root.

    He reaches a hand up to caress the neck of the horse. "She reminds me of the Tylwyth Teg, perhaps. Their standards are not our own, after all - do try not to be offended at a mere opinion."

    The next words are for all, in agreement with Toph. "Quite so, in our way. It is a simpler setting, but none the worse for it. And what one might describe as 'weird creature' another might call friend, as it were. And of course, we are all united together under improving things for all that are under the Union. Even if, I suppose, our own home is a little bit distant and more...rustic than the norm." But some folks like it that way. Hey, at least the roof is fixed!
Peridot Peridot wilts a little at the harsh look from Bedivere. She hadn't quite expected it. It had made her realize her guard was down. Overall the gem had been in a good mood lately, a feeling that had been rare for her after everything she had been through. Several factors had gone a long way to lifting the veil of paranoia and anxiety that had consumed her. She wasn't going to let a sour look ruin her day, but it did remind her that was on an alien planet full of dangerous beings and she was a fragile gem.

    The mention of the Union does little to keep her at ease too. A casual database search would pull up a mile long rap sheet of all the terrible things she had done as an active confederate. She considered herself fortunate they didn't look like they could easily do a database search even if they had a computer. She had to play it cool. She pulls on her collar. "YES. UNITED UNDER THAT- THE UNION." She sweats. "GO UNION. IT'S THE BEST AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN."

nailed it.
Toph Beifong     "Hey!" Toph begins, faking hurt. "You're talking about my home world and my country, Cloderella! We have bending, and that's awesome. And imagine how awesome it will be when we finish repairing this building and it becomes the Beifong Metalbending Academy!" With Penga and Ho Tun as her first students. Luckily they will be ready when the time comes.

    What does she need the carpenters for? "They need to replace the wood in the building, really. Most of it might be stone, but some of it is wood. And that I can't work with, obviously."

    While Bedivere might be vary of Peridot, Toph seems greatly amused at her comments, laughing /with/ her. Sure, the Gem might have done some bad things, but she's not a bad person. And she's changing to the better. Which is why Toph saw fit to give her a chance. And said chance has been worth it. Maybe Peridot doesn't notice it, but Toph does look relaxed, certain that the other two won't harm Peridot. She did make sure to point out that she was a friend, after all! "So what else do you think this building needs, Peridot? I'm thinking we need some proper beds for the students, and I want my own room too since I don't think I will be travelling back and forth between here and Malibu all the time." She does look serious for a moment however. "Just don't put any stuff in the biggest room I've marked up, otherwise it might get busted by the students when they are practicing."
Sir Bedivere   The silver-haired knight throws a sharp look at Merlin, one that promises they'll be having words of the unpleasant persuasion later. It isn't as though it actually has any effect, though; except maybe that Bedivere feels a little better after reading Merlin the riot act. It won't have any practical effect unless he asks Arturia to have even harsher words with her mentor, and he wouldn't play that card unless it were something truly serious.

  When Merlin decides to pay attention to his horse, the animal lowers its head to huff a warm breath into Merlin's face, nudging into the hand that pets it. This one is no more than a swaybacked plough horse, with knock knees and an ewe-neck; strong enough to carry a man in armour, but not much to look at. It's a far cry from the glossy black (and violent-tempered) stallion Bedivere has been slowly rehabilitating and attempting to train.

  He keeps a steadying hand on the rein, absently patting the horse's neck as well. "Mayhap. She is free to hold her opinion so long as she does not act on it." His eyes flick briefly to Peridot, before glancing back to Merlin. "We shall see."

  Although about to say something, Bedivere suddenly reaches up to the slim earpiece of his radio, holding a hand up to it; his eyes go distant for a moment, listening. It's a long moment before he focuses again, looking to Toph and the others.

  "As much as I should like to stay and supervise the workers, they are in your capable hands, Toph. Do see that she does not badger them too much, Master Merlin." Bedivere's mouth twists in a half-smile. They're tough folk, and they'll be fine under Toph's direction. Probably. Maybe. "Something has come up that I must see to in Dun Realtai. If you will excuse me. Pray send them home when you are finished with them, Toph; they know the way."

  Turning, he kicks the plough horse into a jolting, uncomfortable, but slower-than-a-plod trot. One arm is lifted to wave to the assembled Elites before taking his leave, crouching low and kicking the horse into a much more focused gallop for the warpgate.
Peridot "Why I'm glad you asked." She says as the gem on her forehead begins to glow. "Feast your toes on this."  Peridot had planned for this, knowing that Toph could not be able to see anything she drafted on paper. However, if she vibrated her gem-projections onto the ground she would be able to 'see' her plans as clearly as she sees any other room.

    "You are fortunate that I once had the Steven as my... guest, because of him I am carefully versed in the basic requirements for humans." She forms a square box with an entryway. "Requirement one. Air. This one is easy, this planet is completely infested with air. Ventilation systems run parallel with key hallways. Warm carbon dioxide  is pumped out, oxygen, nitrogen, and other trace gasses from outside is cooled and pumped in. Students can breath and be comfortable." As Peridot talks, the 3d-projected map updates with her specifications.

    "Requirement two. Sleep." The projection updates to have two bunks shift into existence. "Up to two students per room. Not only does this increase the maximum occupancy of students, it fosters healthy interaction- so the lessons of the day can be brain digested with company."

    "Requirement three. Water. The need to expel physical matter. Disgusting. This will be done down the hall in specialized expulsion rooms. Not in dorms."

    "Four.  Food storage and distribution... I'll come back to that one. I'm still working out bugs in my system, but once it's ready, oh it'll be amazing."

    "Lastly, I've been hashing together plans for the construction of training drones. I have some expertise in this realm as I once created a rather durable model of drone that could even withstand sustained damage from Jas...." Peridot pauses, her eyes momentarily looking at the floor. As if she just remembered her old bodyguard existed. "...per."
Toph Beifong     The interaction between Bedivere and Merlin is amusing to behold, and Toph does crack a smile. When the knight has to take his leave though, she nods. "I'll make sure to instruct them when needed, it seems like they are able to work well on their own." So at least they won't be treated too roughly.

    Well, it seems that Peridot is indeed getting more used to Toph's seismic sense, and the blind girl grins at the way she twists the term. When the gem projections work into the ground, Toph does honestly look impressed. "Huh, not bad!" It makes sense that being around Steven would teach Peridot what humans need. So Toph listens, finding it amusing by her technical terms that others would refer to simpler terms. Air condition and toilet. Though she sobers up when Peridot begins speaking of a certain Gem. And her expression softens as she reaches out a hand to rest it on Peridot's shoulder. "You okay?"
Peridot Peridot looks up before nodding. "Ah, yeah. I'm fine." She says in an honest tone. "I just hadn't thought about Jasper in a long time." Peridot dissipates the 3d model of her plans into a green puff of smoke.
    "I just... want to figure out what I can.. or should do with her. Just keeping her in a bubble forever doesn't seem like a good solution, but we can't let her go either. It's just... she's no different from me, you know?" Peridot looks to Toph. "She's heavily indoctrinated like I was."

    "I just can't help but wonder if there is a way I could.. show her, what I know now. Give her irrefutable proof that the diamonds are flawed. Maybe then we could at least let her make her own decision."
Toph Beifong     It's not so weird, really. Not thinking about Jasper much after what she did, especially since Peridot was turning over a new leaf, hiding from Homeworld and all. And that she's perhaps feeling guilty about it.

    So Toph listens patiently, her expression intent even if she's not directly facing Peridot. Though Toph must disagree, as she thinks keeping her bubbled makes the most sense. Not to mention the two are rather different... But the blind girl lets Peridot finish her thoughts and words alike.

    It's only when the green gem ponders whether or not it's possible to persuade Jasper that the diamonds are flawed that Toph lets out a heavy sigh and closes her eyes. "Peridot," she begins a bit softly. "I'm not really sure if she would listen even if you had the diamonds themselves here saying that they were imperfect. Indoctrination isn't easy to deal with." And she can't help but crack a slight smile. "I did have to deal with you at first, remember?"

    She's willing to discuss this though. "Okay, what do you think would happen if you were to unbubble her and try to talk with her" Toph asks. Personally she doesn't think the big quartz would be up for much talking. Except if it's with that thick head of hers.
Peridot "I remember." Peridot says with a grin. "You turned into some kind of giant stone thing. I kinda assumed all humans could do that for a while until someone set me straight. Good thing Ferham was there." She folds her arms and leans against the wall. "But.. maybe that's what Jasper needs. I mean, not the giant monster. She needs a friend."

At being prodded on what she would do if she was unbubbled, Peridot looks up. "Precautions would have to be made. She would need to be restrained. That would make the developing trust aspect difficult but, otherwise she'll just cause problems."

    "Um.. also. If we did that. We have to keep it quiet. Just you, me and maybe the crystal gems. Preferably just you and me. She's still a confederate after all. We might invite down a little more heat than we can successfully dissipate."

    "I just want to talk to her." Peridot says, clenching her fist. "I have a strategy in mind. We'll.. reminiscence. I can try to bond with her over all the crazy things we did when we were both feds." She runs a hand into her hair. "I mean, Not all of our adventures were bad- and innocent people didn't always get hurt. Sometimes we even did good things, like rescue corrupted gems. Or the time we had to save Lazuli."
Toph Beifong     At that admission Toph can't help but grin, shaking her head. "Too bad for you guys that you were up against the greatest earthbender ever, huh?" Just their luck. At least they managed to escape without getting hurt. "Man, I was sooo pissed when you took my reading glove, and I bitched and whined to Goldie when I got home. I think that's partly why he didn't like you at first..." she admits. At least they got along well enough when they found Ho Tun, right?

    Somehow it's hard to imagine... Jasper having friends. "She... doesn't seem like the friendly type to be brutally honest," Toph utters carefully. "And yeah, we would needs lots of precautions... like, restrain her with strong tech, metal or stuff like that. If we don't do that she would probably attack us. I mean, when she was last... awake, so to speak, she was busy fighting me and you zapped her. I'm not sure if she would remember that, but she would attack me for sure. And I'm not interested in fighting that bullheaded brute again like that unless I really have to." Can you really blame Toph?

    Keeping it quiet though, that doesn't seem to sit well with Toph judging from her expression. The blind girl frowns a bit, narrowing her eyes where she stands, idly listening to the carpenters working inside the building. "I don't think they would like it much, no... but..." This is hard. But Gem business is Gem business in the end. "I'm gonna be honest though, I'm not sure how much it will work. Jasper doesn't strike me as the sentimental type... but we can try. If she doesn't listen you can just bubble her again."
Peridot "Valid points all." Peridot concedes. "I do not think this will work the first several times it is attempted. Frankly, thinking about spending an extended amount of time with her is giving me a gemache." She rubs her forehead. "But maybe she will see that I am at least trying. Even if the substance of my words doesn't reach her."

    "I know she seems like she is on a single track.  But that's because she is acting like she believes she must act. She doesn't.. maybe can't even fully realize that she can exist for any reason other than fighting."

    "This might be the first time in her six thousand plus years of existence anyone has forced her to sit down and just... talk. Maybe that'll make her pause and think." Peridot nods. "Achieving greatness is not done in one single step; We must set incremental achieveable goals. Our objective will not be to make her cast aside years of brainwashing- our goal will simply be to make her think and she can't think while she's in a bubble."
Toph Beifong     Good, so Peridot is considering her own thoughts on this at least. Which means that Toph needs to do the same, even if she doesn't quite agree with Peridot on all points. But still... if there's a chance, then... Why does she suddenly hear Aang's voice in her head, talking about how he couldn't kill the Fire lord and all that? "It's giving me a serious headache... and I fear Jasper might make me hurt all over in the end... but fine, I'll help you. IF," Toph begins, raising one finger and pointing it straight at Peridot's nose, "you get some stuff we can restrain her with. I'm going to bring some durasteel, that stuff is pretty goddamn solid and pretty hard to dent unless you're a metalbender. Then you can talk with her for a while." Who knows if it will work...? But it's worth a shot. If Peridot could turn over a new leaf, maybe Jasper can too... though the metalbender isn't as hopeful as Peridot is, which should be clearly read on her face.
Peridot "Well. We still have the destabilizer don't we?" Peridot ponders unsure. Last she recalled she threw it away at the site of the final battle, and she never saw where it went, or if anyone picked it up.

    "DO we still have it? My memories of that day are kinda fuzzy."
Toph Beifong     The destabilizer? Toph blinks at that, and she reaches a hand up to rub at the back of her neck. "I... dunno. I could go back there and look for it while you finish up the generator and stuff here," she offers. "I honestly don't remember all the details of that day either... it /was/ kinda stressful." But Peridot is right, it would be easier to deal with Jasper if they did have that thing. So Toph pushes off from the wall.

    "I'll be back in not too long! You finish the wiring, and keep an eye on the Dun Realtai carpenters, okay?" That said, Toph hurries off towards the nearest warp gate, leaving Peridot behind with the carpenters that are busy working inside.