Icarus and Daedalus

((This piece is altogether much newer, and its in a different setting for that matter. Welcome to USW! Unnamed-Steampunk-World! Its not a strong name, but it'll have to do until my creative juices comes up with something more... Steampunk-y. ))

Phoenix triumphantly put her wrench and hammer down, having just put the finishing touches on her latest invention. The girl just knew that her father would be impressed by this device. Hardly able to contain her excitement, she threw a sheet over the machine to veil it, and ran off to find him. Despite the grandiose size of Stahlburg castle, she was never lost, having memorized the specific turns and such from key points. It wasn’t at all long before she found her father, Lord Archibald Ravenclock, sitting in the grand hall.

            “Father, father, you simply must come…”

            “Silence, girl!” he said harshly.

            Lord Archibald was an imposing figure, especially to this girl, his daughter. He stood six feet tall, draped in a fine black coat stretching to his knees, with buttons shaped as gold cogs. There was also a subtle pattern of swirls imprinted on the coat as well. Contradicting his powerful build, he had shoulder length curled brown hair, with a neatly trimmed moustache with two pointed ends and a thick but short goatee. And there was no glare more powerful than his.

            “In case you haven’t noticed, I am conducting business of the utmost importance,” he further reprimanded.

            Phoenix looked across the table, to see another figure looking at her. In contrast from her father, this man seemed thin, and quite old. He sported a long brown trench coat, with a gray vest and red shirt, and brown trousers. His hair was much shorter, and much more ragged, and over his eyes he sported wide glasses.

            To this man, her father bowed his head and apologized. “Forgive my younger daughter, if you will, Lord Baloff. She’s an impulsive youth who lacks proper manners.”

             “It is no bother to me, Lord Archibalt. I ton’t mind ze children,” Lord Baloff said in a most peculiar accent. “In fact, I have hundreds of ze little ones vorking in my factories.”

            The man went off into a fit of laughter, while Lord Archibald remained collected, not finding the joke very funny, but not offended either. He continued from where he left off, “All the same, she should at least be dressed for company.”

            Phoenix looked down and felt her heart sink. She didn’t change out of the clothes she was working in, which were not only informal, being a shirt and breeches, but filthy from her tinkering. Oil and grease stained all over, dust caking her head to toe. “Presentation, girl!” he repeatedly drilled her. “Presentation is half the work! Einhardt!”

            As if he had been standing there all along, Einhardt Octavius, the Ravenclock family’s butler, emerged from the shadows behind Phoenix.

            “Hreally, I tidn’t notice her filth. I know very few children back in Baloffburg who are polished,” Baloff jabbed again, his joke just as poignant as the last, but that didn’t stop him from erupting into a fit of chuckling.

            “Take my daughter to her quarters so she can make herself appear presentable, at the very least,” Archibald said dismissively. With a bow, the gaunt man bowed with his left arm, and took Phoenix by the hand, leading the girl away from the room.

            “Now, if we may continue our trade negotiations without any further interruptions,” Archibald announced.

            Phoenix stepped out of her room, her damp hair tied into a ponytail. She started doing so to keep the strands out of her face so she could focus more on her work, and it became something of a habit these days. She also now wore a white silk shirt with black trousers, as well as a miniature version of her father’s regal coat. The coat itself actually belonged to her older brother, Dove, and was passed down to her when he had a new one specially sewn for him every year.

            Dove always seemed to get the special privileges, always father’s favorite. If it was him who interrupted the meeting with Lord Baloff, Archibald would’ve simply invited him to join in on the discussion. Meanwhile, Phoenix was scolded for interrupting and then scolded once again for not being spotless. But no matter, after today, Archibald would look upon his daughter with newfound appreciation.

            “Hey, Sis. What have you been up to?”

            Phoenix grunted and walked onwards, pretending not to hear the voice of her elder brother. Sliding down from a pillar, Dove ran to catch up with his sister. While she grew her blonde hair into a long ponytail, he kept his cut short and part down the middle. Meanwhile, he wore a black shirt and khaki pants. Of course, he wore a larger version, as well as newer, of the coat she wore currently.

            “Come on, clue me in?” he pried, genuinely interested. “I couldn’t help but overhear that you had something to show to father. So what is it?”

            “I’m not telling,” Phoenix snapped.

            Dove seemed slightly disappointed, and looked up in thinking for a bit as he continued to walk along. The only thing missing from his expression a few seconds later was a lit light bulb hanging over his head. “How about I show you the latest draft of my project?”

            To Dove’s satisfaction, this got Phoenix’s attention. “I show you my work, and then you show me yours. Fair trade?”

            Phoenix admitted to herself, she was very curious as to what Dove was working on. What was it that made Dove the favored child despite all her efforts? She had made many more inventions than her brother, and yet his one project was the only thing that held her father’s interest. After a few moments of thought, she nodded.

            Dove was practically jubilant, and eagerly took his little sister’s hand, and quickly lead her through several corridors, to his workshop. He took out a winged key that hung around his neck, and placed it into the lock and turned it. The two could hear the mechanisms that held the door tightly shut twist and click, until it cracked open. Dove reached out to the right with his hand and turned a knob. The lights in the room sparked, and then the room was illuminated.

            Phoenix quickly noted several easels with schematics on them. Schematics of wings. The early ones were of natural wings, of birds and bats and the like. As they went on, they became more elaborate, with detailed drawings of the mechanisms to replicate the function of them. Some had canvas wings, others feathered. The designs varied immensely. On the floor all around were discarded prototypes of these very drawings.

            Dove ignored all of these, and went straight to a as of yet unrevealed version. In an overly dramatic fashion, he grabbed the cloth covering it and pulled it off.

            With pride, he boldly said, “Behold, the Icarus 25!”  

            Phoenix couldn’t help but feel awe. In front of her was a pair of wings, each spanning 6 feet, connected by an engine. At first glance, one would assume that the wings were covered in maybe silver feathers, but Phoenix noted that they were blades, and many of them. It was a beautiful piece of machinery, without a doubt. She could see why her brother prized it so.

            “It’s a shame that I probably won’t be able to use it to its fullest potential,” he said, some sadness leaning into his otherwise cheerful mood.

            Phoenix couldn’t help but pry, “Why not?”

            “It’s like I keep saying, sis,” he shrugged. “When I come of age, I’ll be in charge of all the Ravenclock affairs. I won’t have to time for such ‘frivolous ventures,’ as father puts it. I honestly wish I was in your position.”

            Phoenix scoffed. The same old nonsense that being the heir ‘isn’t what its cracked up to be.’ He was the one with father’s approval, his blessing, his love.       

            “Ah, how fortunate,” came the powerful voice.

            Dove and Phoenix turned to see Archibald standing in the doorway.

            “I was hoping your brother could tell me where you were, but it seems he’s seen fit to show you his own designs,” Archibald stepped closer, to inspect his son’s handiwork. “I’d expect no less from my heir,” he concluded, obviously impressed.

            “Thank you, Father,” Dove said, with a bow.

            “As for you, Phoenix…”

            Phoenix looked up and met her father’s gaze, expecting more reprimanding for her previous outburst. “Well? Did you not wish to show me something?”

            Did she hear right? Did he really ask to see what she had crafted? Phoenix practically beamed with a smile, and nodded both quickly and enthusiastically. “Well, what are you waiting for? Hurry, before I lose interest.”

            Phoenix didn’t even register the threat, she was so happy. Now was the time she would most surely win her father’s approval. Sure, Dove had an impressive invention, but it was to be expected after how long he had been working on it. She completed her project within a week. Without another moment of hesitation, she said, “Yes, father!”

            She led the way, only managing to not skip with glee, which father did not tolerate. Archibald and Dove, who still maintained interest in his sister’s machinations, followed her as she led them to her own workshop. Unlike her brother’s, this room was piled up with many types of machines rather than a single design. All had failed to impress Archibald, but this time would be different.

            She nearly tore the cloth veil right off of her presentation, but calmed down. Facing her father and brother like a performer, she announced proudly, in a fashion very similar to Dove’s, “Behold, the Daedalus 1.0!”

            Again copying Dove’s dramatic form, she pulled the cover right off. There, beneath it, was a chrome and copper replica of a middle sized human. From the elbow to the shoulder of both it’s arms were thin metal limbs, as were the thighs, and both shins and forearms were almost like gauntlets and armored boots. Its torso also looked like part of a suit of armor, complete with the silhouette of a raven’s head holding a clock in its beak. The crest of the Ravenclock family, of course.

            Dove himself looked upon the robot with awe, clearly impressed. Phoenix felt encouraged by this, and continued with her demonstration. “Daedalus, awake!”

            The lids on its eyes opened, and black glass windows stared at the three. Stepping off the small platform it stood on, the head turned to Phoenix with a whir. “Yes, mistress?” it asked in a metallic voice void of all emotions except respect.

            “Fetch me that wrench,” she pointed at her earlier instrument on the workbench across the room, really only wishing a demonstration.

            Without further details, the machine turned and reached out with its right arm. After a quick snap, the forelimb shot out, tethered to the elbow by a thick cord. Without missing its mark, the detached part grabbed the wrench, and quickly retracted as quickly as it shot. As the arm clicked back into place, the Daedalus turned and handed the tool to its creator. Dove was clearly impressed, and made no attempt to hide it. He clapped his hands enthusiastically. But Phoenix only now noticed that her father was far from moved.

            “This is it? You’re great invention? Another droid that our factories produce hundreds of by the day?” he sighed. “That it’s a well polished version means little in its value. What does this contribute to our family?”         

            Phoenix felt her world crushed as she heard these words. She desperately thought of what other features to show that would win him over. “Nothing. Your brother on the other hand, has conceived a valuable asset. The ability to fly like a bird through the skies, without the need of bulky airplanes and obvious zeppelins. Compared to that, this… I dare not even call it an “invention” as it is not new… is insignificant. Now if you are done wasting my time, I wish to discuss with Dove the uncovering of his own device.”

            Archibald’s coat fluttered regally as he turned and walked out of the room with the same cold and distant posture. Dove, staring at his sister with sadness in his eyes, followed along shortly and quickly, closing the door behind him. Phoenix found herself alone in her workshop, filled with bitter sorrow and despair once again.

            No, not alone, the winding movements of the Daedalus reminded her. In a fit of rage, she shoved the mechanical humanoid to the floor, and screamed. As it collided with the solid stone surface, its head popped off and rolled across to the pile of her previous inventions. Her previous failures. Staring at it seemingly robbed her of what strength she had, and she fell to her knees on the floor, covering her eyes as they poured out streams of tears.