Shapeshifter's Underground (Somewhere under London)

My eyes burst open in amazement. I had robbed wealthy snoots blind and never once found a ring of such quality.

"Holy god... where'd ya get this?"

"I got it years ago, when I proposed to Clare."

The man smiled, the scar on her cheek stretching gently over his cheek, as always.

"It would do it good to get used, instead of sit somewhere and gather dust."

"Ya would... really give something like this... to me?" A street thug? A crook?

"Well, of course! A proposal is an important matter, and my adopted son deserves the best~"

Gladamier nodded in finality, eyes bright.

"Well, thanks a lot..." I smile at him, it was so weird still, having someone else I could hold heartedly rely on.

"It's not a problem, Joa. Really, if you need anything else, I'm here."

Turning back to his work with the clock, he again gazed at Joa momentarily.
"And congrats for this lucky young woman...!"

"Thanks... I think you'll like her when ya meet up.."

"I'm sure I will."
The man smiled, looking at the grandfather clock lying on his table.

"Is there anything else, Joa? Anything at all?"

"Just a question..."

"What is it ya doin' with that clock?" I point at it.

"mm? Oh, the clock!"

Ged smiled, straightening and moving so Joa could see it's bright blue face, the curly and graceful black numbers looking well-kept.
It seemed like a normal clock, really.

"It was broken, so I thought I would fix it. It's a charming clock, really."

(( damn gotta run. ttyl ))

"Nice, what are ya gonna do with it?"

OOC Okay bye!

"Depends, really,"

Ged shrugged, wiping his hands together, looking at the clock curiously.
"I love the thing, but I can't hold on to everything forever.."

"Did you make it?"

"Afraid not,"
The man laughed, shaking his head.

"My father did, though. I remember watching him every day, as he made it. It's a beautiful work of art.... would you like to see it chime? I've got the mechanics all worked out."

"Ummm... yeah sure." I nod my head.

Ged grinned gladly, looking like an excited child, turning the unmoving big hand until it passed to the twelve.

It chimed slightly, the twelve sliding back to show a metal figurine of a king, with a brown beard and searching eyes.
The twelve slid back over to hide the figurine, and the chimes ended.

He smiled again, raised a hand as to say there was more, and moved the big hand back.
This time, he moved both the big and little hand to the twelve.

A moon was on the top of the clock, now, in place of a sun that had been there before.
There were twelve loud chimes, and suddenly, some lighter ones.

Almost like musicbox music.

A side of the face of the clock slid back, and little figures of dwarves, picking at the gemmed earth.
The twelve mark slid away, as well, and what appeared to be the metal, 2d figurine head of a king.

"The dwarf king.."
He explained, pointing as the head tilted down to see the Six mark, which slid away as well to show a beautiful figurine of a woman.
She had pointed ears, with a weary smile on her lips.
"And the Elvish Queen. Two different worlds, and yet they fall in love. However, the can only see one another at Twelve in the morning.
You see,"

The man suddenly sounded weary, a slightly sorrowful and somber look passing over his face,

"The queen is cursed, and all other hours, she is but a small and meek mouse. The king looks for her every hour, but they only see one another when it comes to twelve o' clock..."

I get a feeling he was hinting at his wife, so I pat him on the shoulder.

A long sigh escaped the man's lips, and he raised a hand to run his fingers through his beard, shaking his head.

"... Thank you for visiting, Joa..."

"Hey it's no problem..." I smile at the man, "Closest thing I got to a dad..."

Ged smiled slightly, his weary expression fading slightly as he put an arm around the boy's shoulder and gave him a fatherly hug.

".. and you're a son to me, Joa. Now, you go to your girl, and you propose to her, all right?"

"Ya got it!" I give him a thumbs up, and go to get my shoes.

Ged watched after Joa, smiling again, glad he had found someone to share his powers with.

"And Joa- you're a very good man. Congrats, really."

I smile back at the man and then throw a paper airplane to him with my more recent grades, "Thanks, for believin'..."

Ged caught the paper airplane, unfolding and looking at it, smiling warmly.

"You always had it in you- you just needed someone to trust you could find it."