revivalproject | Adventure Around Every Corner

WHO: Marc Spector/Steven Grant and open!
WHERE: Sh'Ka
WHAT: Trying to find useful things without raising too many questions
WHEN: Now
WARNINGS: N/A
NOTES: All options start with Marc but are open to switch off with Steven depending how things progress.

I. General Area
Sh'Ka was quiet. Not that Temba wasn't quiet, but this was...well, it was certainly more obvious that the place wasn't as inhabited, even by the sparse population listed on the directory. Marc was feeling that it was less and less of a good idea to have come out this way. Sure, he wasn't absolutely trusting of everyone there but at least it was a known territory, and if anything were to happen, it'd likely be there in Temba. Not so much here, even with the subtle signs that at least some work had been attempted at restoration.

"I dunno, maybe this wasn't such a great idea," he started to say as he walked along, fingers flexing at his side as he wished they'd have obtained some kind of weapon by now, a knife or a firearm, the latter of which he preferred didn't require instructions being downloaded directly into your head. He had enough problems in that department.

The only thing keeping him from suggesting they take the train back was that it had already been a long ride out, and Marc wasn't looking forward to the return trip. "I'm not even sure what we're trying to look for, here," he muttered. He knew Steven couldn't readily respond, not without a reflection handy, but it was getting a little easier to be aware of what the other was doing, depending on who was in control. Knowing that Steven was with him still was a very minor comfort, at least.

II. Department Store
Magically produced clothes was good and all- okay, more than good, but technically there were two people to consider and not nearly enough options between them. Which, Marc supposed, was a good thing because then they wouldn't stir up too many questions when he decided to have some off-days with his fashion choices.

"This looks okay," he said as he held up some kind of jacket, eventually rolling it up and adding it to the bag he'd found to carry whatever useful things they came across. He continued along again, only glancing briefly at a partially shattered mirror that rested against a nearby column. "...wonder what they got by way of tools around here." An ax would come in handy, or a hatchet, although he had some doubts that he'd find anything of the sort as he sought out the appropriate area.

III. Corridor
Realizing that the city was a mirror-image of Temba by way of layout didn't really help when you weren't very familiar with Temba's layout as it was. Marc was beginning to see just how different Sh'Ka was as the greenery became denser and the roadway was barely discernable for how much nature had taken over. He was completely caught up in studying the overhead arches, barely noticeable beneath their green coverage, when he nearly fell as a section of the road gave way underfoot.

It was more of a sudden depression in the ground, and as Marc straightened his eyes widened slightly as he stared what was there before him. "Oh no..." They weren't just random impressions. They were tracks.

"I sure hope we don't find out whatever made those."

A rustling beyond the trees drew his attention then, every muscle tensing in preparation to run.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Marc would honestly rather not harm anyone, but it was unfortunately something he'd become good at. He's almost relieved that the teenager keeps his distance- but the kid seems to be just as cautious if not more so than himself that he doesn't worry too much about getting close.

That's no way for a kid to live and he knows it, but in his own opinion Marc's the last person anyone should trust. There must be better people around here to look after paranoid kids.

"Great. Thanks," he says almost dismissively, maybe a little annoyed at the sarcasm. "Still shopping around."

"You're not gonna find anything better than that rope," Dustin continues, apparently oblivious to the irritation his previous comment has caused his new unwilling companion. He's also starting to pay more attention to the items Marc is discarding, glancing at them periodically to assess if they're something he wants to take instead. Nothing yet; on a different day Dustin might have been happy to take all of it, but today his backpack is already almost full and he doesn't want to have to make too many trips back and forth on the train. Unfortunately he needs to be a little picky.

"Unless there's some carabiners and belays in the last few rows, which seems unlikely. Mostly scraps here." Dustin pauses in consideration. "Wouldn't be too hard to make, though."

That's the same sort of thought Marc's running by. He can carry a pretty good load but he doesn't want to be caught compromised if he runs into trouble in unfamiliar territory. Given things look to be pretty lightly picked around here, he's not too worried that things would suddenly be in short supply any time soon if he had to suffer another train ride.

"Probably," the man concedes, holding back a sigh. There doesn't seem to be very much reason for proper climbing equipment around here. "Guess no one around here figured things would break down enough that you'd need to find other means than stairs to look around." He pauses, looking back over at Dustin then. "Yeah? ...guess there's always room for improvisation."

Dustin shakes his head vigorously back at Marc. "Not improvisation," he says firmly, sounding a bit frustrated. "Improvisation is trying to climb the side of a building with a chisel. I'm talking about making a proper set of pitons."

...Which, honestly, there's not too much difference between the two save a carabiner connection point. That being said--

"I'd just need a welder," Dustin continues, like this is the simplest request in the world. "Although a weld joint is a point of failure, especially if we're establishing a common path. Better yet would be to take some of the scrap steel lying around, shape and temper it whole. A furnace for working steel isn't too much more difficult to achieve than a stick welder. Probably the better route here."

Marc nods like he's only half-listening, but Dustin's got his attention, even if his eyes are roving over more of the items strewn about the shelves he's by. "So you know metalworking," he observes absently. Not so strange a thing for a kid Dustin's age, he supposes. Then again Marc's open to a lot of things these days. Being the avatar of an Egyptian god kind of sets a high bar. Well, former avatar.

"There's a forge marked on the map for the main city," he says as he reaches out to take hold of a shovel. Probably would be a lot more useful than a broom.

Dustin does not directly confirm nor deny his presumed metalworking abilities. Surely his knowledge speaks for itself. The schematics for most of the things he's mentioned have long since been committed to memory, which should more than make up for the fact that he has never once actually worked a forge, or welded anything by hand. He's confident he can figure out the practical applications later.

Speaking of 'being practical,' here's an excellent example of how Dustin is not. "...Someone lives there," the boy mumbles, glancing away with a small frown.

Setting the broom down, Marc grips the shovel experimentally. Already he can tell it's more solid in construction, but that's no real shock. Definitely more useful.

"So ask if you can borrow it?" It seems a simple suggestion enough, but Marc can already tell that's not the case for Dustin. Truthfully he'd be wary about it too, but if he knew how to piece anything together and that was the only resource to do so, he'd look into it. "Could ask whoever's there if they can do the work themselves too- there's gotta be a reason they'd have chosen that place to shack up."

"Yeah, sure." A very simple suggestion indeed, but Dustin's tone is a lot more sarcastic than it should be for someone that actually considered 'asking to use someone's stuff' a viable solution to his problems. "Or maybe they're deliberately bottlenecking the supply of tools and product for their own gains. I'm not taking that risk - I'd rather spend more time and just make it myself."

Paranoia makes for an excellent excuse to lean on. Sounds a lot more convincing than the alternative, anyway, which is that Dustin is far too proud and full of anxiety to approach people for help.

That reasoning sounds a little weak even to Marc, but he won't discount the possibility completely. He shrugs. "Maybe. Sounds like something to look into, either way." He'll ask around. Or pay a direct visit. Direct is more his style anyway. He hasn't any immediate need for a forge, really, but if they're stuck here, it'd be nice to know what actually functioned.

He shoulders the shovel. "Risks are going to be everywhere around here, kid. You just gotta gauge which ones might be worthwhile. Although if we've got time to spare then there's probably not much hurt in working things out on you own. Still." He offers another shrug. "I got enough unknowns to worry about, I'd rather nail down the things I can in the meantime."

Turning, the man starts to resume his walk towards where Dustin had told him the rope would be.

Dustin takes a step to continue tailing Marc, but stops himself from going any further. He has determined that this man is not interested in doing anything deliberately harmful to himself or others, and aside from picking up and testing the weight of a few bludgeoning-type objects, has not acted in a way that is directly threatening. Does he really expect that to change any time soon? If anything, continuing the press the guy might make him snap. Speaking of gauging risks...

With that comforting thought in mind, Dustin shakes his head and, wordlessly, slips away behind the corner of the isle, leaving Marc to his business while he slinks for the store's exit. He's got a train to catch.

Adventure Around Every Corner

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