[OTA...ish] Ground Control to Major Tom...

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

The idea had come to him, honestly, after passing a hobby store on his way back to the Castle from his 'weekend off.' Model rockets. He'd built them and set them off as a boy in Tel Aviv - there'd been a part of the backyard that had permanently been scarred from it, and it was probably the reason he initially ended up in explosives when he entered the IDF - and sometimes it had been the best way to deal with...things. In his case the things had been less an excess of death, and more an excess of his mother's personal kind of living. But it'd also been the 1980s and 1990s in Israel. Actual war with the Arab World was always on the brink, and guerrilla war was always a reality. Sometimes a boy just had to blow off some steam.

Sometimes a girl did too.

He'd taken Eileen back to the store and they'd picked out the rocket they'd wanted, and they'd holed up a couple of times this week together to put it together in the Ace's office, but actual launch had to wait until after the paintball tournament on Saturday, and so late Sunday evening, Elisha picked a good distant spot on the Club grounds.

No need to alert the guards, after all.

[ooc: For Eileen, but open to anyone who wants to watch science at work.]

Comments

[theloudestroar.livejournal.com]

Why. Why, little girl. Why do you use words that make Lexa side-eye you. Lexa pauses, glancing between Eileen and the rocket. Then- "There's no point to setting it off if you're not goin' t'be looking at how nice it looks, y'know."

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

Eileen's been somewhat overeducated, Lexa. It's okay, Elisha attempts to alleviate this with fun. "That's part of the point," he says. "How nice it looks, and all the science." Or something. Honestly, he's about things exploding. "Okay, princess. Let 'er rip."

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

Every explosive 'science' experiment is a step away from multi-syllabic young lady and toward twelve-year-old child. Which is why, for all the seriousness--and the fact she likely will be writing something up for Mr Kahl to read--Eileen is perfectly beaming with excitement at the fuse lighting.

The rocket took some small amount of blood, sweat and tears. A week of finding time, fixing flaws, piecing together. It's gone in so much less time.

And something about that is truly beautiful.

[theloudestroar.livejournal.com]

"Wow..." There's actual awe in her voice as the rocket soars through the sky. "That's... actually really nice." She lifts a hand to shade the sun from her eyes - then turns back to Elisha and the little girl. "Y'do this often?" Because if there are monthly rocket setting off pow-wows, then Lexa is definitely signing herself up for that.

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

"It is, isn't it?" Elisha has his head tipped back and his hands on his hips as the rocket flies. Then there's a pop, and it starts falling back to the ground. "This was the first time, actually," he says, glancing over at Lexa. "But I don't see why we can't do it more often. Do you, Eileen?"

...hi from terror-kitten, apparently. Sorry.

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

"We ought to do it more often," she affirms instantly, still grinning ear to ear. Ritual is one of the most reassuring things in the universe, after all, and the sort of ritual ingrained with this sort of release? Particularly with their lives?

Chris and Milo would both sign off on it. As, clearly, would the Ace.

[livebytheclub.livejournal.com]

At this moment, Alexander emerges from the trees, shifting his balance and breathing through his mouth a bit, He had a bit of a run when he happened to see the rocket emerge above the wood, unsure of its origin and purpose and suspicious as always, but now he's smiling.

"Hello, you three." He glances skyward. "Were you the cause of that curious device I spotted?"

[theloudestroar.livejournal.com]

"Ah... yeah." Lexa turns to him, tipping her head to one side. "Model rockets, y'know. You saw it from back at the castle?"

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

Elisha's ears had perked at the sound of footsteps through the brush - some habits never die - and he just turns calmly as Alexander speaks. "Applied physics and chemistry, Your Majesty," he says. "Eileen's been studying rocket science this week."

Well, it was sort of true.

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

Of course there's a shift toward a straight spine and an attentive upward tilt of her chin. That can't be helped. The smile, however, is still fairly well in place, even if she's attempting to subdue it a little.

"I've a report more than half written for Mr Kahl. I'll finish it now we've seen the results of the launch." And, of course, she can't help adding: "The next one will be even better, I think."

[livebytheclub.livejournal.com]

Alexander nods, still frowning at the sky, trying to estimate height., but sparing a smile for Eileen's diligence.

"I always preferred applied projects. Was it a great deal of work?"

Alexander has somewhat avoided being especially well-informed regarding matters technologically beyond the Deck's social models, but the passing encounter still interests him.

[theloudestroar.livejournal.com]

"I... dunno. I sorta just came in at the end." She glances at the little girl, then says hesitantly- "... think I'll help more the next time we launch one off. Only saw it today and joined in last minute."

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

"Eileen and I put it together this week. It's not terribly complicated, although there's some detail work involved. You can get kits." They even sell them in Town, which is interesting, considering Alexander's viewpoint isn't entirely unpopular.

"We'd be happy to have help, Lexa," Elisha says with a smile for Lexa. "I thought I'd pick up one of the Apollo shuttles for next time."

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

They sell them because they're amazing. And that's the most logic you''ll get out of Eileen on the matter--not unlike the fact her conclusion of why squids are superior to sperm whales always comes down to 'have you seen squids?'

Her fingers lace slightly behind her back to help keep her posture perked as she bobs her head fairly enthusiastically. "We could probably build a huge one between three of us. And--" tacked on quickly "--it really won't interfere with my studies, milord."

[livebytheclub.livejournal.com]

He chuckles. It's good to see her having fun.

"I'm confident it won't...well, don't let me interrupt further."

[theloudestroar.livejournal.com]

Lexa takes that as a signal to shrug and turn back to Eileen and Elisha. "D'you think we could build a taller one next time? It'd probably go farther then."

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

Elisha sighs inwardly. Lexa hasn't quite gotten the whole king thing quite yet. "We were pretty much done," he tells the king. "All the work basically goes up in smoke in a few seconds, but it's fun to watch." He nudges Eileen as the rocket crashes back down to earth before looking over at Lexa.

"Taller isn't necessarily going to go further," he says. "It can actually make it go less far unless it's balanced correctly."

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

"Which is half the fun--." Balancing it, that is. There was physics to that, long strings of numbers and variables that ultimately made a rocket blast up into the air.

Although really, if the instant bolting to examine the remains of the chassis is any indication, most of the fun is that blasting.

[livebytheclub.livejournal.com]

Alexander continues to smile and observe, glad to see the little Ace having fun and learning as well.

Just realized Lexa's player is on hiatus till next week...

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

Elisha glances at Alexander, and then turns his attention on Eileen, pointing out a few things on the rocket. "That's where the accelerent cracked the chassis," he says. "Real rockets have to be made of heat-resistent materials to keep this from happening Outside."

[schoollikenew.livejournal.com]

He was relatively silent and relatively casually dressed. "Your majesty." He bows quietly to Alexander before turning his attention on Eileen, Lexa, and Elisha. To them he gives a half bow, regardless of rank and a slight smile.

"How much did I miss?" He tries his damnedest not to sound that eager. But it turns out you can't wring the Love of Kaboom from the Carolinian.

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

She has a million questions. She has a million details she wants to work through. She has a million improvements buzzing on the tip of her tongue to ask about.

But she'll let herself be distracted by the newest arrival long enough to just settle for one of the brightest smiles she's had in a while.

"You missed the best part, Mr Kahl. You've to come earlier next time."

[theloudestroar.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, y'did miss the launch." Lexa looks up from peering at the rocket to shrug at the other man. "It was pretty nice. It'll be better next time, though, s'don't worry." As soon as they're done with this physics shit or whatever.