diff --git a/content/seeing-red.dj b/content/seeing-red.dj new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4eeb3b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/seeing-red.dj @@ -0,0 +1,271 @@ +title = "Seeing Red" + ++++ + +It was a warm summer evening. +I was heading back home from a long walk around the neighbourhood. + +As I was passing by the old playground down the street, I noticed a peculiar guy in a hoodie, sitting on the bench. + +He was a calico, with a really ragtag sense of fashion. +He was wearing raspberry-coloured glasses, and had two neon-blue stripes under his left eye. +His hoodie was rainbow-coloured, with the rainbow mashed up into pieces and rearranged across the fabric. + +He seemed to recognise me instantly, and waved at me. + +--- Oii, Vector? --- he said, in a high-pitched voice.\ +--- Yeah. +I don't think we've met before...?\ +--- The name's Red. --- he said, standing up from the bench.\ +--- Red, huh... I think I vaguely remember something.\ +--- I've been part-timin' at your father's workshop.\ +--- Ohh, right! I remember Dad mentioning you --- I smiled. --- +Nice to meet you.\ +--- You too. --- he smiled back. + +--- So, what brings you here? --- I said.\ +--- Ah, you see, your father had me come to you. +Doin' a little a technical checkup, haha.\ +--- Hmmm. + +--- You see, yesterday we were repairing a real vintage beauty, and this fell out of the engine... + +He reached his paw into the pocket of his hoodie, and pulled out a small cast brass gearwheel, with rubies embedded inside the root circle. + +--- A... gearwheel? +Seems pretty normal.\ +--- Yeah. But has a strange look to it, doesn't it? +It's nothin' like the other gears from the machine.\ +--- Have you tried putting it back in?\ +--- I tell you, it doesn't fit anywhere! +It's got strange-looking teeth. + +I took a closer look at the gearwheel's shape. + +--- Huh.\ +--- Yeah, right? + +--- Either way, your old man wants you to have it! --- said Red, throwing the gear in my direction. --- +He said somethin' about mementos, remembering him, yadda yadda.\ +--- Yeah, tell him I said thanks. --- I said, catching the gear in mid-air. + +--- Anyways, see you around! --- he said, waving. +--- I gotta go, it's getting late. +Last train's soon. + +I waved him goodbye, and went back home. + +--- + +So.\ +Brass gear.\ +With rubies embedded inside. + +It looked more like a souvenir than anything useful, but it was also really well-made. +Nothing like a toy. +Upon closer inspection, I noticed some signs of wear. +Almost as if it was a real gear, doing real gear work in a machine. + +Question is, why did it have rubies in it? +Wouldn't that be like... really expensive, and also really useless? + +That, I knew Trickle would know, but I needed to head back home for the night. + +--- + +The next day after work, I went to visit Trickle in their {-cave-} house. + +--- Yo, Tricks! +I brought you something cool. --- I said, entering their room, holding the gear between my fingers, making a peace gesture.\ +--- A gearwheel...?\ +--- Yeah, but look closely.\ +--- Why does it have rubies embedded inside?\ +--- Hell if I know. +Dad relayed it to me through his part-timer. +Told me to treat it as a mementos, or something.\ +--- Hold on. + +Trickle had a closer look at the gear. +They seemed to remember something. + +--- Hmm, I vaguely remember seeing a cuckoo clock back at the Weather Station.{% Trickle works from home. %}\ +--- What does that have to do with anything?\ +--- It was a really nice looking clock! +But, even after I inserted a fresh pair of batteries into it, it didn't budge.\ +--- A broken clock, you say.\ +--- One day, I asked the manager if I could have a look at it, to see if I could fix it, but there was a missing part... +A gearwheel, if I recall. +No wonder it didn't work.\ +--- And what makes you think this gear might fit?\ +--- You see, I _tried_ ordering a replacement for it, but couldn't find any compatible-looking designs. +The gears in that clock were totally weird, I tell you.\ +--- Alright, my point still stands.\ +--- I dunno, it's _the gut feeling_, Vector. +Tells me I might be onto something.\ +--- You have an incredible trust in your gut, given how much cup ramen you consume daily --- I said, and saw Trickle make an angry face. +--- So, wanna visit the Station?\ +--- You bet---and waste hours getting there!\ +--- Come on, you haven't been there in months. +Everyone would be happy to see you.\ +--- You sure you don't want to bring the clock to me?\ +--- No.\ +--- Ugh, sure. +But you're treating me to a real ramen in exchange!\ +--- If that's the price I gotta pay for finding out what this weird gear is... + +--- + +The next day, I got up, did my morning routine, and was ready to set off. + +--- Amber, hurry up! I'm leaving.\ +--- Oh come on, at least let me finish combing my hair!\ +--- Can't you do it any faster? Trickle's waiting.\ +--- Ooh, Tricksy's coming?\ +--- Yeah. And stop calling them that. + +Amber rushed out onto the porch, and put her shoes on. +We set off to pick up the lop. + +Two houses later, I _knock knock_ on the door. + +--- Coming! + +Trickle opened the front door, all geared up to go. + +--- Look who's _going_ to _work_ today! --- Amber said smugly.\ +--- Shut up, you know I don't like leaving my lab! +I'm only coming because Vector promised to treat me to a bowl of ramen later.\ +--- I see, I see. Bribed you have been, Vector!\ +--- As if. +It's payment for today's work. --- I said.\ +--- Work, hmmm? You guys are _totally_ up to no good! --- said Amber.\ +--- We'll see about that. + +We boarded the train, and watched the views of the city unfold. +Bridges on rivers, roads under skyscrapers, all set atop a beautiful sunrise. + +`Next station: Institute of Meteorology` + +We got off the train, and split off towards our respective departments. + +Trickle and I, towards the Observation Tower. +We boarded the elevator to the top, and soon found ourselves atop the highest building in the complex. +Watching the sprawling view of the city, through the tower's wide windows. + +Trickle took me to the manager's room to inspect the broken cuckoo clock. + +--- Hey Boss, can I take this to the lab for a second? +I've got a little idea on how to fix it. --- Trickle told the manager. The manager let out a deep sigh.\ +--- Think I've heard that before, but sure... Just don't forget to give it back once you're done. + +That went easier than I expected. +We went to the lab, and Trickle put the clock on a free workbench. + +They unscrewed the back cover. +Inside were a bunch of gears scattered around in an unorderly fashion. + +--- The results of my last attempt... --- said Trickle.\ +--- Doesn't look very good. --- I responded.\ +--- Good thing I took a bunch of photos before taking it apart. Can I have the gear? + +I passed them the mysterious gearwheel, and they tried to fit it with the other gears. +It looked promising. + +--- Let me look for the pictures. --- they took out their phone and searched for "cuckoo clock" in the photo gallery. + +Trickle is a real nerd. +They spend lots of time tagging their photos. +Most of the effort goes to waste, but I'll admit it's invaluable in situations like this one. + +--- Found it! + +They started assembling the mechanism back together, until they got to the missing part. + +--- So, moment of truth... + +The gear fit into the mechanism perfectly. + +At this moment, I had a strange feeling something was about to go wrong. +I mean, this couldn't be it, right? +The weird-looking gear with rubies embedded inside, it couldn't possibly fit in _that_ spot? + +But even the sheen of the brass looked right. +It looked like it belonged. + +As Trickle finished up the reassembly, they put a pair of AA batteries into the slot on the back. + +Moment of truth.\ +We set the hour, and flipped the switch. + +It worked. + +The hands started moving.\ +The clock was working. + +--- Alright, but that's only part of the job. +We still gotta see if the cuckoo goes _goo-ko!_ --- Trickle said, mimicking a cuckoo's voice almost perfectly. + +We waited a couple minutes for the minute hand to reach 12 o'clock. +But, to my surprise, there was no cuckoo at all! + +Instead, a melody started playing. + +``{=html} + +--- There's no cuckoo? --- I asked.\ +--- Ha ha ha, got you! You didn't pay close enough attention to notice, but there was a music box inside all along. +No cuckoo.\ +--- ...Okay, cool. +We gotta give it back to the manager. + +We exited out the lab door, into the manager's office. + +--- Hey Boss, look what I've got! --- said Trickle.\ +--- Oh, so you did manage to fix it? +Good, good.\ +--- Huuuh, not even a word of praise?\ +--- Well, it's not an item I particularly cared about. +I'm not even sure what it was doing here, to be honest.\ +--- What do you mean? --- I asked.\ +--- Must've belonged to the one before me. +It's been here as long as I remember.\ +--- Huh. --- I said, making a confused face.\ +--- Well either way, it's fixed, so that's nice. +Will help me keep track of time, in addition to being a nice decoration. --- the manager said. +--- Did you hear the cuckoo's song?\ +--- Yeah, and it's not a cuckoo at all! +It has a music box inside. --- I said.\ +--- Oh, huh. +Wonder what tunes it'll play, then. + +--- So... that's that! +Thank you for lending us the clock. --- said Trickle. --- Gotta get back to work now. + +And we left the room. +But as we were walking down the corridor, I realised something. + +--- Hey Trickle, you recall that moment we were exiting the lab?\ +--- Yeah?\ +--- I don't know what it was but... something seemed off about that.\ +--- Did it? + +I recalled the exact sequence of events as we exited the lab. +We opened the door, and ended up _directly_ at the boss's office. + +I felt a chill coming down my spine. + +--- Trickle.\ +--- What is it?\ +--- We exited the lab.\ +--- Uh-huh.\ +--- And ended up straight in the manager's office.\ +--- ...Oh. + +--- Wait, are you sure you're right about that? +Did we really not take a walk down the corridor? --- said Trickle.\ +--- I don't... think so? +Or maybe I'm imagining things? + +--- I'm not sure at this point --- I said. --- Let's get back to work.\ +--- Remember about your promise! +Ramen, brother! diff --git a/static/sound/waltz_for_blue.flac b/static/sound/waltz_for_blue.flac new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a1439ff Binary files /dev/null and b/static/sound/waltz_for_blue.flac differ