Men's Second Style

He knew that most of his neighbors thought him mad.  He preferred to think of himself as eccentric, although he suspected that most at his end of London would find that far too mild a word.  No matter.  Although it was not (and for obvious reasons could never be) public knowledge, he knew that his mechanised creations pleased none other than the Queen herself.  He was satisfied that, if he was indeed mad, it was madness of a uniquely creative and inspired nature.  If this was madness, then he would be mad, and happily so.

At his last audience–when he had introduced his newest creation, the mechanical moon–the Queen had actually inquired as to the designer of the new, rather eccentric jewellery pieces he was wearing.  He was most happy to direct her (or rather one of her aides, for she could never herself visit the establishment, not publicly, not in that part of the city) to the tiny, darkly shimmering shop he had recently and most serendipitously stumbled upon.  It was called Mhaijik Things, and it was most certainly full of magic things.  The proprietress and creator was called Mhaijik Guillaume and, in addition to being possessed of a mysterious beauty, she had been happy to show him her jewellery creations and tell him their stories.  He had found himself unable to resist three items in particular, pieces that resonated with his own aesthetic sense and in some ways, with their tiny levers and gears, reminded him of his own creations.

The Gold Etched Ring (L$100) seemed at first simple enough, but when he pulled out his magnifying loupe to inspect it more closely, he was amazed to see that the repeating etched design, like a tiny frieze, resembled nothing so much as the intricate inner mechanism of one of his own clockwork creations.  When, at Mhaijik’s sly suggestion, he inspected the ring’s inner curve, he laughed to see a miniature assembly of mechanical components apparently in service of nothing other than secret delight.  The Leather Bracelet (L$275) was simple in its basic elements–a curved gold plate on leather thongs–but it was decorated with a more elaborate array of spindles, gears, braces and handle cranks.  Could it be somehow functional?  What might the mechanism do, and how might it be activated?  Although he inquired, earnestly and repeatedly, Mhaijik only smiled and would not say.

From its simple neckband, he saw that the Grind Necklace (L$275) suspended another diminutive but fascinatingly complex device.  The name made it sound vaguely menacing, but again Mhaijik would divulge nothing regarding its function, potential or otherwise.  It really was beautiful, though, and actually quite entrancing.  Were those tiny blades he saw?  It was far too small to be powered by steam, but could it be somehow electrical in nature?  He made a mental note not to allow his fingers drift too close, or hold too tightly.

Although the Queen took great pleasure in his mechanical creatures, he held no illusions that she would share his particular taste in jewellery.  However, he felt confident that she would nonetheless find much to admire at Mhaijik Things.  If all went well, and he thought this highly likely, it was just possible that Mhaijik might one day soon find herself serving as court jeweller, By Appointment to Her Majesty, the Queen.

Mhaijik’s steampunk jewellery designs are available individually at the prices noted above, or as a set for L$649.  All pieces are moddable for size, although some cannot be sized down significantly due to tiny prims already at mininum size.  Available at Mhaijik Things (Pheosia 56, 227, 152).