thebastion | Day 338 (Closed) (Backdated)

Entry tags:

Day 338 (Closed) (Backdated)

Who: Colin, Ikuri, Rob, AZ
Open: Closed
When: Day 338
Where: The Scrapyard
What: Even with threats to the Bastion, salvage is still needed. As are friends.
Format: Whatever the heck you want, but no wingdings!
Warnings: There be Colins here. Also, distressed whining.

[The Bastion had been on alert for several days now. Expeditions outside were being quietly discouraged, but if you were armed, you could still get out to do important things.]

[Colin, for his part, is always armed. And it helps that he doesn't go out alone. With a bandolier of grenades and a pistol on his belt, and a full satchel on his back, he's set out for the scrapyard today. Shooter and Rob are with him, Shooter because she's a good deterrent to less cooperative creatures out there, Rob because he can handle himself all right and knows what to do when it comes to salvage, and AZ because he kinda likes AZ and wants to see to it that he gets anything he needs.]

[When they get close enough to the scrapyard that they can start making out details, he's going to slow his steps and turn to face everyone.]

Rob knows the procedure, but I'm telling all of you so you're not surprised. When we get in there, I'm going to call out to the squirts and Gasfellas. Let 'em know we're there, do some bartering, that sorta thing.

So keep your guard up, but don't attack any of the natives unless I yell for it. Sound good?

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[AZ stops, as Golurk looks up at Colin and nods, a hand on AZ's shoulder. They can handle it. Golurk knows that AZ prefers not to fight if he can help it, so Golurk will defend the group if it needs it.]

[AZ looks over at the rest of the group, resting his gaze on Shooter. He doesn't know much about her, but she does look like a fighter. ... He'll have to watch her.]

[Rob remains silent, as he often is when out on the Skyway. He does indeed know the procedure, and has brought some minor items of his own for the locals, but as always he'll defer to Colin on this since Colin's the one who has the better rapport with them.]

[...]

[You'll have to pardon her if she seems a bit confused. I mean...yes, after what she's already been through since coming here, she's gradually learned not to take things for granted: that matters are not always, or even often, what they first appear to be, and many a problem cannot be solved simply by launching her power at it.]

[Yet...this is still a baffler you've proposed there, Colin. Call out to the Gasfellas? Alert definite threats to our position? ...and then you plan to barter with them. Barter. What do we have that they would want? (And the reverse, that matter?) She'd ask your pardon if she were the sort, but she doesn't trust this situation. Trusts you, certainly, ~~and perhaps more than she should~~ but not the Fellas you mentioned.]

[She never knew they could be communicated with. They always struck first when she did not; it seemed an honest and open avowal of natural order, and she'd never seen fit to question it. That made the Fellas much like the unknown faction that had assaulted them in the clearing - a comparison that, once made, put stone firmly into her heart. She was still determined not to attack unless hostility erupted: Colin had made his position clear on that, and none of their company had spoken up in disagreement. He generally knew what he was doing, so she thought to defer to his judgment.]

[Still...that should not suggest that she was at all pleased or comfortable with this.]

[Colin looks at Shooter for a moment, and he smirks. He seems to recognize what she's thinking.]

Relax. This won't take more than a couple of minutes.

You can follow me in, just keep a short distance from me. Rob, if you brought anything, you can come in with me. They're learning to recognize you too.

[Without wasting another moment, Colin strides forward seemingly without a care in the world. Whether or not Rob joins him, Colin's going to give a loud whistle that will DEFINITELY alert everything nearby about their presence and position.]

Hey everyone! It's me again! I've brought friends, and gifts!

[And would you look at that? Even before Colin stops talking several squirts seem to be popping out of hidey-holes and hovering over to him. They're making their quiet little squeaky noises, a couple of them puffing up here and there.]

[Then a rather large Gasfella shows up atop a mound of scrap. It's carrying a large mining pick, and it's looking down at Colin. Then it looks towards Rob, then towards AZ and Golurk, and finally its gaze settles on Shooter. Oh yes, it recognizes most of them. AZ and Golurk are new, but the rest of them it recognizes. And it doesn't seem particularly thrilled to see Shooter. But it's just going to float down to meet Colin, for now. And Colin doesn't seem worried about its presence.]

[... He's always struck by how cute the squirts are, but the Gasfella seems to be the one in charge. AZ and Golurk incline their heads, and AZ crouches down to be a smaller and less intimidating figure, digging in his coat pocket to come up with an Oran berry. ... It's slightly squished, but it's at least something.]

[He holds it out with both hands, so that they won't think he's trying to go for a weapon, and smiles at them. See? It's food. He's not going to hurt you, tiny squirts, don't worry.]

[Rob once again feels a pang of guilt for all those Squirts he killed when he first started going out on the Skyway. These ones have never given him any indication that they know about that at least, but...

In any case, he nods at Colin and follows him in.]

[And of course, her hand goes to her sword hilt. Ikuri's gaze locks with the Fella's, and her body takes a turn for the rigid - but she does not move. Nor does she unsheathe the black blade. She keeps herself alert, and watches.]

[Colin said they're not enemies. Let them prove it.]

[Colin keeps right on smiling, all warm and welcoming at the Gasfella's approach. He glances back at Ikuri, and gives a little roll of his eyes, and he grins.]

If they attack me, you can tell me "I told you so" later.

[He looks back at the Gasfella, which is presently holding onto the handle of its mining pick warily, its gaze still focused on Ikuri.]

[He's speaking Caelondian here, if anyone actually wants to pay attention to that fact.]

I know, I know. She's probably done some damage. I'm trying to teach her better. She'll behave, and if she doesn't, I'll take her out of here without harm to your group.

In the meantime...

[He lowers to the ground, setting down the satchel down and opening it in one fell swoop. He produces a large hammmer and wrench from within, and he holds it up to the Gasfella in offering. The Gasfella, in turn, finally looks back to him, and takes the tools with a quiet grunt.]

[That seems to be all the exchange the rest of them needed, and the squirts bound forward excitedly. Several of them hop up onto Colin, bopping into him lightly for attention. It's not an attack, but it is kinda their only way to really do anything. He laughs happily at the attention, and starts producing containers of fruit, salted meats, and vegetables for the squirts.]

[Rob, for his part, seems to have a small fanclub of his own clustering around him. They're definitely starting to realize that he has gifts too, when he comes, and they're eager to see what it is.]

[AZ is an unknown quantity, and Golurk is a little intimidating. But still, one smaller squirt seems to be willing to brave the unknown to approach him and take the berry with a quiet, hungry squeak.]

[Ikuri, on the other hand, is being avoided. You're scary, Ikuri.]

[Golurk takes a step back now that AZ doesn't appear in danger, though Golurk will step in if it looks like he's about to be in trouble.]

[AZ, for his part, just smiles and nods at the squirt, digging in his bag and coming up with a few more berries that he puts down on the ground a few feet in front of him.]

Hopefully you like them. I'd offer to bring you a sapling, but I think... it might not grow well here.

[you're giving them weapons. what foolishness is this.]

[Ikuri, for her part, likely didn't understand the Caelondian - and while her nerves and stance may have tightened just a wee mite at the squirts' approach, she still didn't move. Odds are she doesn't want them coming near her yet, really.]

[Perhaps if she'd been weaned a bit on squirts on the Bastion, this could've been easier - but the one squirt the narrator knows about is Crona's, and we've established it's shy around all non-Cronas, so there you have it.]

[Rob crouches down with a slight smile on his face and opens his bag. First comes a bouncy ball, which he lightly rolls in the direction with the fewest squirts. Then comes a few small blankets, followed by some small chunks of maple sugar, which he'll hand out to the squirts that came to him. Finally he pulls out a healing potion, which he offers to the Gasfella.]

If someone who's injured drinks all of what's in this bottle it'll help heal them.

[He's trusting Colin to translate if needed.]

[The ball gets a little bit of amused attention, but the blankets really get the squirts going. Many of them dive into them and burrow under them, peeking out like a bunch of little Gasfellas. All that, however, is immediately forgotten when the sugar comes out. Can you say "Feeding frenzy?"]

[Colin does indeed translate for Rob, and the Gasfella takes the potion from him with caution. It studies the bottle for a moment, then tucks the bottle away in its cloak, giving Rob a small nod of acknowledgement.]

[AZ's gift of berries is gratefully accepted. It is also noticed by other squirts. Some of the ones too slow to get to the sugar come over, and start crowding out the runt. The runt's gotten a few berries, though, so with a quiet squeak of protest, it hops up onto AZ's hand and looks down at the other squirts.]

[Colin grins, and he looks back at Ikuri.]

This is their home. They have a tough enough time of things without people like us wandering in and attacking them for stuff.

This way, we're not hurting anyone, and we're even helping them. They, in turn, get an easier time of things, and just maybe, a little faith in some people.

[He glances at the Gasfella.]

We're not going to stay too long today. We've got some people out there causing trouble for us, and I'd rather not bring it down on you. I'm just looking for some good metal to work with. And I'll do whatever I can to fix anything you all need fixed, too.

[The Gasfella gives Ikuri a pointed look, before returning its attention to Colin and giving a slight nod. It turns and starts to float deeper into the Scrapyard. Colin steps after him, but glances back at Ikuri briefly. What you gonna do, kiddo?]

[He pets the squirt gently, and he stands up carefully to make sure the runt doesn't get jostled too much. He needs to head in there with Colin to help look at the metal, but he can take care of this squirt, too.]

[Golurk glances at Ikuri too. They don't want to leave her if she's going to start trouble, but they need to protect AZ. ... And their desire to protect AZ is overriding, so they start after their trainer.]

[Rob hadn't expected all of those reactions; he'd assumed that the ball would get more attention than the blankets, for one. While he'd expected that the sugar would be appreciated, he was not prepared for how bouncy the squirts became after eating it. He can't do much now but grin and try to extricate himself from the bouncing squirts.]

[Excuse me. They attack me. ...but this is their territory; that much rings of clear truth. It is natural to attack unknowns that enter it.]

[...but it's simply natural order. That's an idea she clings to; there's nothing to feel guilt or shame about. But then, it also seems that her engineer friend is on good terms with them...an idea she would have considered ludicrous, had it occurred to her through her own mind, along with any concept of negotiation. ~~He's just full of surprises, that one.~~ Assaulting them, then, would put his reputation at risk now that she's been seen with him.]

[But then why take her at all? He would have hardly needed power like hers for an errand like this. And then, even in her broke mind, it occurs to her somewhere that he might've been trying to make a point. Attacking them in their home?]

[Out here is where the shards are. The Monument needs shards. Preparing herself for the trials ahead...that required shards, too. If she kept herself strictly to business, she could say that was all she needed. If they left her in peace, she would have no reason to harm them. Ikuri made forays into their world, but current realities demanded it. She never sought to seize territory from them; if they didn't grasp that before now, perhaps ensuring they did would prevent further losses on their side.]

[But a beast of her hungers needed trial and combat, too. Needed the rush of battle and the surge of bloody victory: it kept her balanced, focused. ~~(Sorry, Zuko; that part of her's not so easily cured.)~~ Some quiet corner of Ikuri finds that strange: to hunger for battle, that made sense, but for blood? She isn't sure that the residents of her world were all that fond of the killing part of the equation...but it was, universally, the price of failure in that world. It wasn't permanent, but how much did that matter? Certainly everyone knew it.]

~~[Point was...she understood well enough the need to fight - everyone in her realm had it, presumably. But the need to kill? Was that always there?]~~

[...and quite honestly, if this is yet another group of people/opponents that she has to "be careful of" and avoid slaying - the list of "acceptable" creatures to kill is growing ever smaller. Who exactly do you intend to leave her with?]

[Someone has to die, Colin. Maybe not today, maybe not here; maybe not Gasfella, maybe not squirts. But someone must.]

[There cannot be endless harmony. As she'd told Ibuki herself not long ago, she is not a creature who could thrive in a world like that.]

[Someone must lose. Not the simple trite defeat that comes with these stale contests in artificial arenas, but the almighty judgment that falls upon one for failing to survive a mighty adversary.]

[We can't lose that.]

If you've got a concern, you can bring it up to me, Ikuri.

[He smirks at her.]

You can either follow me, or you can stay here and complicate things.

[The Gasfella whirls around at that and glares at Colin, then Ikuri, it does NOT like that idea in the slightest...]

Relax, I'm not leaving her here. I'm just telling her to follow me in a round-about way. She's a mistrustful sort.

[Colin will be a little busy soothing the temper of this one... Which gives Rob plenty of time to extricate himself from the squirts. They do seem to be paying more attention to his gifts than to him, but at least a couple of them are still hopping up and bopping against him in a friendly manner. Gratitude? They want to play? Who knows?]

[Not many people can actually lift a squirt like this, even a runt. AZ just happens to be more than big enough. The little squirt gives a curious squeak, but it doesn't seem to mind this. The other squirts that he fed start drifting after him and Golurk, perhaps hopeful for more food.]

[He looks back at Ikuri, but he's satisfied she's not going to cause trouble. AZ puts the squirt on his shoulder gently, as long as it doesn't show signs of wanting to be let go. Carefully, he heads after Colin, looking around for some likely bits of scrap.]

We need something solid enough to make a gate out of. I'd suggest stone, but we can't move stone that easily with electronics or a Pokemon.

[Hey Fella. Hey. You stay on your side of the field, you don't get slashed. Capisce?]

[...]

[But she's following, yeah. Reluctantly, warily, staying on her guard, all that redundant nonsense. Colin had instructed her not to attack unless he gave the order...that's not something she can obey completely, but she is doing her very best to check her hand. For what it's worth, it's actually not the hardest thing in the world, despite her internal grumbling. Long as none of them invade her space...]

[...but it is curious, she realizes, how the smaller ones seem to be getting on with others in the party. Of course she didn't bring gifts, so naturally they wouldn't--]

[Perhaps that's what she needs to do. Bring gifts so they don't assault her. If Colin can get them to remember her...that means no attacks during shard-hunting. It can be a peaceful task.]

~~[It doesn't solve the BUT WHAT DO I KILL problem, but we're gonna have to take these matters one at a time, it seems.]~~

[Rob crouches down and tries to pet one of the squirts bumping against him.]

Stone would fill up my bag before we had a useful amount, too. Metal's probably the best bet after stone. Ideally already in shapes that'd work for making a gate, otherwise you'd need to spend time reforging them.

Between myself and Golurk, we've got plenty of hauling power here. It will be easiest if we make a couple of pulks and haul metal and stone back that way. I can move about a ton, though obviously the load will need to be a little less if we don't want to snap the cables.

[He smiles at Ikuri's approach. The Gasfella doesn't look happy, but he's not protesting for the time being...]

[The squirt with AZ seems a little confused, but once it's on his shoulder, it only takes a moment to look around before settling in the crook of his neck with a quiet squeak.]

[Rob, that is the exact opposite way to disengage from the squirts. Of the squirts vying for his attention, all move to his hand, like puppies eager to be petted. The one he is petting gives a happy, trilling squeak.]

Actually, Ikuri, do me a favor real quick would you? I need my hands free for a sec.

[He turns and walks over to her, unshouldering his bag and holding it out to her without a second thought. When she's got her hands on it, he starts to rummage through the bag.]

Hm... yes, we'll need to do it carefully. Assuming they don't mind us taking so much material...

[The path from the Skyway is narrow, but they're going to need something solid. If they show up with weaponry, they're going to need metal thick enough to stand up to something. Maybe even an explosion, but he won't count on them being quite so lucky.]

[He does smile at the squirt's settling, though. It's very cute, and Golurk looks it over and decides it's not really a threat right now. Golurk is more focused on the Gasfella, really.]

[Well... uh... he has two hands, he can rotate through them all two at a time?]

I, uh, I keep forgetting how much you can move.

[Oh? You need a favor done? Sure, I can do that for you--]

[!]

[...well. What is it you could be searching for? ~~Curiosity will outweigh any concern she might be feeling towards the situation; perhaps she's finally trusting that the matter's well in hand.]~~

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Day 338 (Closed) (Backdated)

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We'll see if the distressed whining projection comes about. |3

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AND THEN I KEEP FORGETTING AMULETS AUTO-TRANSLATE, freaking whoops.

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I AM SO SORRY for the delay

Day 338 (Closed) (Backdated)

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We'll see if the distressed whining projection comes about. |3

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AND THEN I KEEP FORGETTING AMULETS AUTO-TRANSLATE, freaking *whoops.*

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I AM SO SORRY for the delay

AND THEN I KEEP FORGETTING AMULETS AUTO-TRANSLATE, freaking whoops.