Marshal Cobb Vanth (
heypartner) wrote in
revivalproject2021-09-13 12:25 pm
Wandering Around
WHO: Cobb Vanth, Moonshade, & OTA
WHERE: Various locations
WHAT: September catchall
WHEN: Over the month
WARNINGS: Occasional cursing.
Gear Head - The Forge - OTA
The engine of his speeder thrummed lowly as he drew up outside the Forge. He let it power down slowly before he swung off and rapped his knuckles against the engine. This was a little scary, honestly. Cobb had built his speeder himself and the thought of modifying her was a little worrisome. What if she was changed when he went back?
There weren't power crystals on Tatooine. He reminded himself that he could always convert her back when he returned. It'd probably be easier because of all the junkyards in Mos Eisley and Mos Espa to get parts from.
Since no one seemed to mind the last time he borrowed tools and supplies Cobb set up right outside. He rolled up his shirtsleeves and started taking his speeder apart slowly and carefully. He had a few power crystals lying around and based on his Engineering knowledge the part he needed to convert his speeder to use them instead.
Anyone around would see him systematically laying out parts and occasionally talking to his speeder reassuring it that all would be well when he was done fixing her up. Sometimes, when he was really into it, Cobb would start singing in Bocce or Huttese.
---
Little Chilly - The Factory - for Moonshade
The weather already had a bite to it early in the mornings and when the sun went down. It was a persistent chill that bothered Cobb. He knew from a conversation with Ezra that it would only get colder as the season went on. He missed the Twins real bad when he couldn't escape the cold.
So, he needed to do something about it.
He stood outside the factory with his hands on his hips. He hadn't seen Moonshade for awhile but he knew she tended to stay here but it felt rude to invite himself on in just because he didn't see her.
"Hey, Moonshade!?" He called as he walked a little closer. "You around?"
A smart man would've sent her a message first. Cobb hadn't thought of that though not until he felt a little like a fool standing outside the factory shouting at a building.
Usually, he was drunk before he started shouting at buildings. Stone cold sober it was a little awkward.
"Gotta favor to ask ya?" Maker help him if she was in the other city.
---
A Visitor - Jedi Temple - OTA
Cobb figured the best time to catch all the Jedi at the Temple was the end of the day.
He had a little business with a handful of them. Checking with Ezra on the work in the mines. Find Luke to talk to him about building a vaporator for Kaz. All business. Well, if he saw Grogu he'd take a moment to chat with the kid. And probably check in with Obi-Wan since he hadn't seen the man in awhile.
Maybe not all business.
The thing was, he'd never been to the Temple before. He never had a reason to visit. Meditation didn't really seem useful when he didn't have any Force powers. If he wanted to learn to fight he'd just ask Din. Nice folks, the Jedi, but he didn't have many reasons to see them before now.
The Temple wasn't a big place but Cobb started wandering, looking to see what had been done. Seemed like they'd all done a decent amount of work. It was livable and there was space to do Jedi stuff. There was even what looked like it'd grow into a tree.
Not bad for the space philosophers.
WHERE: Various locations
WHAT: September catchall
WHEN: Over the month
WARNINGS: Occasional cursing.
Gear Head - The Forge - OTA
The engine of his speeder thrummed lowly as he drew up outside the Forge. He let it power down slowly before he swung off and rapped his knuckles against the engine. This was a little scary, honestly. Cobb had built his speeder himself and the thought of modifying her was a little worrisome. What if she was changed when he went back?
There weren't power crystals on Tatooine. He reminded himself that he could always convert her back when he returned. It'd probably be easier because of all the junkyards in Mos Eisley and Mos Espa to get parts from.
Since no one seemed to mind the last time he borrowed tools and supplies Cobb set up right outside. He rolled up his shirtsleeves and started taking his speeder apart slowly and carefully. He had a few power crystals lying around and based on his Engineering knowledge the part he needed to convert his speeder to use them instead.
Anyone around would see him systematically laying out parts and occasionally talking to his speeder reassuring it that all would be well when he was done fixing her up. Sometimes, when he was really into it, Cobb would start singing in Bocce or Huttese.
---
Little Chilly - The Factory - for Moonshade
The weather already had a bite to it early in the mornings and when the sun went down. It was a persistent chill that bothered Cobb. He knew from a conversation with Ezra that it would only get colder as the season went on. He missed the Twins real bad when he couldn't escape the cold.
So, he needed to do something about it.
He stood outside the factory with his hands on his hips. He hadn't seen Moonshade for awhile but he knew she tended to stay here but it felt rude to invite himself on in just because he didn't see her.
"Hey, Moonshade!?" He called as he walked a little closer. "You around?"
A smart man would've sent her a message first. Cobb hadn't thought of that though not until he felt a little like a fool standing outside the factory shouting at a building.
Usually, he was drunk before he started shouting at buildings. Stone cold sober it was a little awkward.
"Gotta favor to ask ya?" Maker help him if she was in the other city.
---
A Visitor - Jedi Temple - OTA
Cobb figured the best time to catch all the Jedi at the Temple was the end of the day.
He had a little business with a handful of them. Checking with Ezra on the work in the mines. Find Luke to talk to him about building a vaporator for Kaz. All business. Well, if he saw Grogu he'd take a moment to chat with the kid. And probably check in with Obi-Wan since he hadn't seen the man in awhile.
Maybe not all business.
The thing was, he'd never been to the Temple before. He never had a reason to visit. Meditation didn't really seem useful when he didn't have any Force powers. If he wanted to learn to fight he'd just ask Din. Nice folks, the Jedi, but he didn't have many reasons to see them before now.
The Temple wasn't a big place but Cobb started wandering, looking to see what had been done. Seemed like they'd all done a decent amount of work. It was livable and there was space to do Jedi stuff. There was even what looked like it'd grow into a tree.
Not bad for the space philosophers.

Gear Head - The Forge
Once Alberto got over the scary weirdness of his first meeting with Tony - he wasn't fully convinced that the man wasn't a part dragon, mind you - he sometimes can be seen near his place. Partially because Tony's projects are interesting when nothing is exploring and because if something explodes at least Alberto will try to help again.
Now, though, he's just doing what kids do best: play around. Currently, he's running after a pink Piglet-Squirrel. Sometimes he stops and moves in the opposite direction, and it's the Piglet-Squirrel who chases him, so it should be clear to any onlookers that they're just having fun. When the animal gets close to him, Alberto stops and giggles, then hand feeds it some small fruit that he carries around in a messenger bag.
They both hear the distant sounds of someone working, but the kid figures is just Tony until he hears the singing. Uh, that's new. Gotta investigate. Cobb will find soon enough that he's being watched and if he looks to his left, he will spot Alberto with the Piglet-Squirrel in his arms, just listening to the song.
no subject
"Howdy kid," he said with a little nod towards him. "Whatcha got there?"
He jerked his chin at the thing in Alberto's arms. It definitely wasn't a fish which was the animal he most closely associated with the kid. Water and fish and curiosity, that was Alberto.
Forge
Wandering was similar to patrolling, but at a leisurely pace -- well, as leisurely a pace a soldier could do, anyway. And he ended up here again, this time seeing Cobb among the speeder parts instead of a plume of smoke rising from the top.
"Like a giant puzzle," Echo said in greeting, skimming over the layout before glancing at the Marshal. "Am I interrupting?"
no subject
He didn't patrol like various people around town but Cobb did pay attention to comings and goings around him. A lot of people had stayed in that city but most came and went.
And while his friend was pretty reclusive in general Cobb had noticed he had been a little more reclusive than usual and he remembered what Echo said about that.
no subject
Maybe more than he originally anticipated, but there was only so much Echo could prepare for on alien turf.
"I had to catch up on what I missed here. It sounded like the mines were just as exciting?"
no subject
He chuckled and shook his head. "The mines turned out to be exciting. Still not exactly happy with the kids, but they discovered something. There's actual metal down there too. It's all ores and would need to be refined but it's there."
Cobb got to work taking off another panel over the engine. "Don't know why anyone's surprised whoever lived here was spying. They already are."
The One Meant For Me!
"Cobb. Care to come inside?"
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"Sure." He followed her inside, taking a quick look around. This wasn't a place he had been in before. It seemed like she'd been busy since he last saw her at the Howl.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your work." Cobb nodded towards her hands. "But I was hoping to get your help with somethin'."
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"It's alright to interrupt, but I'm going to keep working as we talk, if you're alright with that."
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"You said you and your clan were leatherworkers. It's gettin' cold and I don't like it already. It's only going to get colder." Cobb frowned as he talked about it. Tatooine was cold at night but it never stayed cold and most folks stayed inside at night.
"I was hopin' we could work out a deal. You make me a nice warm jacket to wear and I'll... don't know exactly, but I'll give you a skill of mine in return." Since there wasn't really credits to trade back and forth Cobb figured bartering a skill for a skill was a fair trade.
no subject
"I can make you a jacket, Cobb. Would you like it long, to give your legs some warmth too? A hood? Fur at the collar and cuffs? Dyed pretty colors?"
no subject
He wandered a few steps away to examine the drying silk. "I don't need it to be colorful. I'm pretty enough to make up for it. Some fur to line it would make it warmer, yeah?"
Cobb wasn't sure. He knew logically that's how it was supposed to work but he was incredibly out of his element here. "I don't know what I'm doin' when it comes to cold weather, Moonshade. I'm used to a hundred and sixteen not sixteen."
the forge
But ah well. Cobb is singing in an unfamiliar language, obviously deep into his work, and it brings a small smile to her face, brief but affectionate.
"What language is that?" she asks in lieu of an actual greeting.
no subject
The language of slaves these days. Some folks claimed it used to be spoken by traders like Huttese was in his day. Cobb doubted it.
He wipes his hands on his pants and steps away from the speeder to talk with her. "What brings you by the forge, kiddo?" he asks, little curious. He didn't think of her as a tinkerer.
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She thinks for a moment. "It's probably time to organize a hunt for a couple pecoraves. Their meat can be salted and dried for winter, too."
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"This is Mona Lisa, we were playing when we heard you. You sing very well." The tone sounds a bit growly, mostly likely because Alberto wasn't used to the language, but he liked it.
A moment later, he placed the animas back on the ground, so she could move around as she pleased. Her tail twitched a few times, and she chittered at Cobb, but stayed close to Alberto's legs. "Is your speeder broken?"
no subject
He watched the little creature with amusement. Folks were already getting pets like Richie and his banthas. At least this one was local to the planet and wouldn't take twenty odd years to grow up.
"No, she's not broken. But she runs on ship fuel which isn't available here. I'm converting her over to crystals." Cobb had a little group of them ready to go and he gestured to them. "Once she runs on those I can use her more. A speeder isn't useful to anyone if it can't run."
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"That's a shame. You sing almost as well as the lady from the music box." Pausing, Alberto tried tto remember the right word for the thing, Massimo told him what it was. "The lady that plays in the gra-mo-pho-ne, I mean. But she sings much higher, since she's an opera singer."
From all the people who could have caught them in the act, Alberto was probably one of the most harmless. He didn't make fun of people, he was not like Ercole. And music was something he enjoyed greatly. Mona Lisa started to rub at her face and ears as the humans talked, grooming herself.
"You told me about it, I remember. Space fuel." Oooor...Something like that. Hard to find on the planet, is what he knew. Alberto smiled at the news, happy to see that Cobb finally decided to change the engine despite his initial worries. "Do you need help? I can make you more crystals or charge the old one if those run out of energy."
no subject
Alberto's offer of help made Cobb shake his head. He had seen how eager the kid was the help and how that led him to poking around the mines even after he'd been warned by Cobb and probably a few others.
He'd need some time to calm down before Cobb thought about teaching him mechanics. "Don't worry about it, kid. I've been fixin' her up and keeping her runnin' on my own since I built her. She's easy to take care of on my own."
no subject
"Ah, uhm...never tried, really." That was one of the few things that made him self-conscious. As for Cobb's reaction, it was more or less what he was expecting. He knew the man care a lot about his speedster, so it made sense that he didn't want other people to touch it.
"All right! I figured you might need more crystals in the future, is all. I wasn't sure if know you were an engineer too. Do you mind if I watch for a bit?"
Who knew, he could learn something. Alberto liked to watch other people work, humans always invented so many new things and used interesting tools and gadgets while doing so.
no subject
He didn't want to leave Moonshade with all the work. If there was some way he could lend a hand to this he would. Only fair to give her some sort of help seeing as she would keep him warm in the cold times coming.
"Might actually be real useful to learn some leather working if you'll teach me. I've been told I'm a decent student. Patient, respectful, and real good with my hands." He wiggled his fingers at her.
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He motioned for Alberto to take a seat nearby on some junk. "I don't mind if you watch. Yeah, I took Engineering. It's how I've been fixin' up the houses."
And now it came in useful for converting the speeder. He dropped back down to work on the underside, needing to disconnect the fuel tanks. "Gotta know how all the wirin' and plumbin' works."
no subject
But Bocce—she assumes it's like her own native language, Dathomiri, that's only learned by inhabitants of Dathomir, if you grow up there. That must be what they speak on Tattooine.
"I have been working on a project with Tony Stark," she replies, straight-forward as always. He's right about her not being much of a tinkerer—that's exactly why she went to Tony for help on this... little project of hers.
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"Yeah?" he asked as he leaned against his speeder. "What are you two workin' on?"
It was obvious that his own project was fixing his speeder. He didn't feel like he needed to explain that to her. She was smart enough to put two and two together, especially when the work was obvious.
no subject
He didn't have to be told twice, and flopped down where Cobb had motioned to, legs crossed and resting his arms on the knees. "Makes sense, it's very practical to have. Everything in this city needs fixing. All the vehicles in your world are like that speeder? Everything flies?"
no subject
There were never any formal lessons but Cobb had learned to sing with everyone else. He grew up listening to it before he could sing himself. Music was always a part of life.
"Speeders don't fly. They hover. I can't get out of the atmosphere with this." He knocked his knuckles against the speeder. "There's a difference."
no subject
But anyway... the question makes her hesitate for just a split second, her gaze averting and fingers curling and uncurling at her sides in an involuntary sort of way. "It is a necklace. He is fashioning the setting for the stone."
All of that is very true. She just doesn't mention the fact that the necklace is a gift for Cal—why would she? It's not a big deal or anything.
no subject
Hearing about the kids cemented that fact, leaving him to frown thoughtfully because their escapades led to a positive outcome. "Give them a challenge and they'll work at it," he murmured, absently scratching the right side of his head. "Can the metals be put to use, then?"
Another pause. The clone's brow creased. "Maybe they forgot." There was no denial. No disagreement.
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Maybe they could all put their heads together and figure it out. Cobb had nothing against putting the kids to work. Nothing back breaking or dangerous but something to make them feel useful.
"Or willfully forgot." Cobb shrugged. "You and me, we're used to folks watchin' us all the time, aren't we? We don't forget that."
Cobb had his masters. Echo had his commanders.
no subject
Because everyone liked something shiny, right? Nothing to be ashamed of there.
"How've you been? Haven't seen you around for awhile." Cobb kept an eye on a few people, those he cared about the most, and noticed her missing. It had started to worry him a little.
Had she gone back? Cobb would be glad she was free but damn, he would've missed her. He was relieved to see that wasn't the case.
no subject
It was easier bouncing plans and preparation off of commanding officers. And as far as he knew, more than half of the people in Temba were civilians. Common sense wasn't a shared trait, but he felt better when others showed as much.
Willfully forgetting was a possibility they couldn't write off, either. The way Cobb worded the question caught his attention, the slightest lift of his brow returning to furrow at the insinuation. "...No. We don't."
He didn't ask aloud, but he was easy to read.
no subject
There was no one else around, though Stark might be somewhere in the forge itself. Just the two of them. Cobb leaned against his speeder and tapped a finger against the scar on his forehead.
"You asked me about this once, brother. It's how I recognized the scar on you. I had a chip in me too." He looked down at the part in his hand for a moment and then back at Echo. "You had Commanders. I had Masters. And we couldn't tell 'em no because of the chip."
He wasn't a well educated man but he could put clues together. He could figure out a few things just from talking with Echo.
no subject
That line of thought then passed as he stared at the prominent scar on the side of the Marshall's head, clearly recalling the moment he first asked about it.
Maybe it was the frankness of the delivery that lent a hand in knocking that piece of information into place, leaving him without a response. A small voice in the back of his head wanted to deny it, but the evidence and the knowledge that had been revealed to him so far said otherwise.
In being a good soldier, he had always followed orders. Or tried to. That was expected of him.
"...For how long?"
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People not from Tatooine or the Outer Rim always seemed surprised when he talked about it. The Core Worlds were so far removed from the reality of slavery that it was a hard thing to hear.
"Forty years." It was almost his entire life. Cobb didn't think that needed explaining. Echo was a smart man. "You got yours out young. Plenty of time for you to get used to sayin' no. Trust me, feels real good to do it."
no subject
Forty years for a normal human being was a long time, but it was an extension of time that the clone couldn't begin to wrap his head around. Not at his age.
Letting his gaze drop off, he nodded. "I think I've been on my way with that," he quietly admitted, absently tracing the scarred line with his fingers. "It just might take a while."
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She pulls her own out, showing it to him--it's smooth, discolored from the oil she works into the hides. "This is the one thing that came with me from my world, and I'm glad for it, even if a knife or bow might have been more useful."
no subject
He nodded his head towards the scrapper and held out a hand. "Can I?" He wouldn't take it if she said no but he'd like to get a closer look at it.
"I can make a decent shiv. Not quite as useful as a proper knife but it gets the job done. If you want somethin' sharp," he offered. He'd made something basic for Alberto already, sharpening a piece of metal into a nice point. He could make something for her.
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"What makes the bone so good for the job?" he asked as he handed it back. He was already thinking of where he might be able to find bone. A lot of the glownie bones had gone into soup stock and he'd roasted the marrow of out some of the bigger ones.
There might be some worth digging up though. If he could remember where he'd buried them. It was away from down to discourage predators sniffing around.
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Of course, hers may have been in use for fifty years or more, so more time to get to know it.
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He chuckled and gave her a knowing look. "How much do you think people will worry if I start askin' around for where to get some bones?"
Because most people here were not practical people. They didn't understand that sometimes survival was messy and hard. It was real damn hard sometimes.
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"I dare you to ask on the network, just to see how people respond." Because there's no way she doesn't want to see the responses. She's betting some people will be weirder about it than others--Simba was weird about leather itself, as a concept.
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But he'd probably do the message anyway just to see what people did. Just because he and Moonshade could laugh about it together.
"Folks gonna have all sorts of questions."
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She looks thoughtful. "There's other things I could use help with, too you know. I'm in this factory because of the silk spiders next door."
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He looked around the factory and the set up she had. Cobb wasn't familiar with silk but he sort of understood the process. Looked like washing and dyeing bantha wool.
"You'd have to teach me this stuff too." He gestured to all the silk and vats. "But I'll give you the extra set of hands when I've got the time."
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At least for the silk preparation. Dying, she knew about already, and was quite skilled with. Unfortunately, she hadn't found anything but the spitpods, with their pink-to-red-to-purple tones for colors yet. A nice rich brown or green would be nice to have.
no subject
He ran a hand through his hair - which he really ought to cut soon - as he considered everything. "Unless you can think up another way I can help you? I'm always willin' to lend a hand."