thebastion | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Colin Starfury, any meddling kids
Open: Open as the plains
When: Day 267, late morning and early afternoon.
Where: The Farmland
What: Doing another survey for more development
Format: Anything, can match
Warnings: Colin IS a warning

As far as plans went, this wasn't how Colin had wanted to spend this week. There were a lot of things that needed doing even before the plight of the Ura reared its head. But Colin was an engineer, and he knew well that the universe had plans of its own and it really didn't care one little bit of the plans of individual people.

The day before this had been spent doing research, and helping Rob build his new cart. That had taken a fair amount of time on its own, but it was work that needed to be done if they wanted to set up a supply line. Now that the transportation was done, it was time to set up the facilities that would give them the supplies down the line.

So here he was, setting out more stakes and flags, taking more measurements, and generally making it apparent that SOMETHING is going to be going up in this area soon. And if the layout of the flags and stakes are any indication, it's going to be something BIG.

Anyone care to bother the engineer at work?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Otoha had been slowly exploring the area, mostly out of boredom. There was no radio, no TV, and not much to do for someone used to city life. That was why he crouched near one of the stakes, looking at it curiously and poking it with a finger. Anything new was worth checking out. Probably.

"If you shift that out of position, I will make you redo this entire survey with nothing more than a protractor and a calculator," Colin says loudly, from off in the distance.

He looks up and raises an eyebrow. "I never got the hang of protractors." He stands and backs away, heading over towards Colin. "What are you making?"

"We need better farms," Colin says, glancing at Otoha before he returns his gaze off into the distance. Loaded down as he is with tools on his belt, he doesn't seem to actually be using any of them.

"For as much food as we're likely to need in the future, we need efficient, fast farming," he continues. "As I said at the meeting the other day, the answer to that is hydroponic farms. For a small population, they can produce quite a bit of food. There's a point of diminishing returns, of course, but we're nowhere near that even if we start supplying the Ura completely."

He opens his mouth, then closes it, frowns, and tries again. "What's... hydroponic?"

"A very long explanation that would bore most non-intellectuals to tears," Colin says, smirking slightly. "Long story short, it is an advanced method of farming that can grow a lot of food without soil, among other things. But it takes up a fair amount of space, and requires a lot of work to set up properly."

"... Yeah, I have no idea how that kind of stuff works. I've lived in the city for my entire life."

The Emissary had been keeping busy with research herself, though hers was of a more sociopolitical nature. At any rate, it was well time for a break, and the farms made a nice enough place to stretch her legs.

She noticed the flags first, and then the man working with them. She recognized him from the Core trip and the meeting the other day, but his name escaped her. Still, it was worth going over to say hello. If not in those words exactly.

"So what's all this?" she called to him, voice bright and genial, once she was within earshot.

"What's it gonna be now?"

There was a voice Colin probably hadn't heard in a while. Rin had been keeping to herself even with all that was going on for a lot of different reasons; reasons that she wasn't willing to share with most people there.

In spite of that, she had been kept up to date thanks to Bon and Yukio, but so far little had spurred her in to spending time outside of anywhere that wasn't her apartment or the kitchen.

She was out now though, and hanging back behind Colin some feet, dressed in a baggy hoodie that was too big for her and tan capris, looking somewhat uncomfortable in spite of the temperate air of the Bastion.

Rob comes over with several sandwiches on a plate, unintentionally stealthily as he often is. He's been working pretty much non-stop, and after the cart was finished he moved straight on to building crates with the extra wood before realizing that he had no idea when the last time he'd eaten was. He can't even remember if he had breakfast today or not. The opportunity to stretch his legs after crouching and standing mostly in one place for hours is also being taken advantage of right now.

"Hydroponics? Or more fields?"

"I had a feeling," Colin says, finally smiling at him. "You seemed a little out of sorts the other day. Fortunately, there isn't too much you need to understand about this, other than the fact that I'm planning out the latest facilities we're going to need."

He nods slightly in Otoha's direction. "So what brings you out here?" he asks.

Colin looks over at her, and he smiles warmly. "You recall the other day how I mentioned needing hydroponic farms?" he asks, gesturing out to the flags. "That's what I'm laying out here. I'm figuring out how I'm going to place them, and the best possible uses of the land I'm going to be developing on."

Colin looks at her, and he nods in greeting to her. There's a gentle smile that follows, and he steps over to her to speak with her more openly. "New farms to go with what we've got here," he explains. "Advanced farming methods, so we can hopefully be able to feed the Ura in time, and more people as well. How are you doing? I haven't seen you in a while, and that's saying something."

"Hydroponics," Colin confirms, giving Rob a nod of acknowledgement. "And mineral storage facilities to ensure that the farming can go on without much need for outside assistance for a while."

He eyes the sandwiches, and he smirks then. "Feeding an army?" he asks with a teasing voice. "Or just forget to eat breakfast?"

"... Boredom." He shifts a little uncomfortably, before going on. "I grew up in the yakuza as a killer. I don't have any reason to kill anyone here, but going this long without fighting is just... weird."

"I don't remember if I did or not. I doubt this would feed an army though, unless they're Lilliputians."

Excuse him while he takes a bite.

"Mmhmm," Colin says, nodding. "Makes sense. There's not a lot to do here. One of the reasons I want to build a rec hall. Sadly, that's not a primary objective at the moment..."

His smile turns back to a smirk again. "Awfully honest, aren't you?" he asks.

"Hey, don't knock Lilliput," Colin says. "They can take down giants, after all."

He doesn't mind Rob eating. It does give him an opportunity to get back to work. "I'm hesitant to spend shards on another building, but our need is rather pressing. I just hate to get used to the monument saving our ass. Someday, it's going to crap out, then we're gonna be in trouble. Too many people are used to it."

"... right. Please tell me it's gonna be better than what Ibuki did recently."

Those damn jerky cows. Rin still can't get over that.

"I'm fine."

And that was a rather quick reply to what he asked.

"Already crapped out once. That was a wakeup call for how much it's been doing for us. Still trying to think of something to get that'd keep this place from coming apart if that happens again. Makes me wonder though; how long do hydroponics hold up in a power failure before you start losing stuff?"

"Yeah, I kind of guessed." The question-that's-not-really-a-question makes him chuckle.

"No reason not to be. It's not like there's police here, and if someone wants to take issue with my past then they're free to try and kill me if they want."

"What insanity is the mad scientist concocting today? Should I even bother asking?"

Takane, arms folded over her chest, came forth toward the lands where Colin was doing his surveying. She hadn't seen him in a while, and while he annoyed the crap out of her he was still someone who took care of her and Haruka when they needed it most. She felt she owed it to him to go check in on him and make sure one of his inventions didn't explode in his face or something.

I-It's not like she liked him or anything!!

"Hydroponic farms," Colin says, smiling sympathetically. "Even I can't believe what Ibuki did. But these farms are sound. Advanced farming techniques that allow farming without soil. A little complex, but useful after the calamity..."

He gives her a worried look. "Want me to press, or want me to leave it be?" he asks her gently.

Colin laughs quietly and he grins over at Takane. "No mad science," Colin tells her. "That was Ibuki and her chocolate chip cows. I'm just getting ready to expand some farmland. How have you and Haruka been?"

He's always glad to see her. After the way he'd found them originally, seeing them up and about was always a reminder that things weren't all bad.

"Oh."

Long pause.

Because she doesn't actually know what those are.

But they still sound a hundred times better than "Jerky Cows".

"Good."

His question does get an uncomfortable look from her, arms moving to her stomach with the too-big sleeves draping over her hands.

"Are you gonna leave it alone if I ask you to... ?"

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 9