catch-all open log!

[rebells]

Who: Anyone and everyone!
Where: On the beach, and various other places throughout the hub island
When: Day 80, and the next couple days after
Open/Closed: open log for hub shenanigans!

[This evening, someone has placed an old, rusted-over camp stove on the beach near the coven's row of huts--anyone examining it in detail will see that it's not operational at the moment, but that could potentially be changed, couldn't it? If someone was handy with mechanical things . . . .

Next to it is a crate (which, from the weight of it is empty) and pinned to that crate is a sheet of paper with a map on it, something like a much cruder, black-and-white version of this:



with the following key:

1 - crags. Contain snakes which may be poisonous. Watch out.
2 - ocean, going about one mile out from the coast.
3 - lagoon. Contains thick reeds (could be woven or shaped into tools) and frogs (edibility uncertain).
4 - abandoned campsite.
5 - orchard. Currently, trees are diseased and bare. Plant healer needed.
6 - abandoned house. A family used to live here, from the looks of it. Still contains some useful supplies.

And there should be a 7 north of base camp with the notation "graveyard. Graves unused." but the player forgot and is too lazy to go back and fix it right now. Observant individuals will note that the map looks like a more detailed version of one hanging on the door to a certain coven member's cabin, one that has a note on the bottom: "Have information? Ask for Jay."

Other than that, it's a quiet night on the hub island. We've been here for a couple days; maybe you're getting restless? Want to check out that ocean, or lagoon, or even those crags? Maybe just go door-to-door in the beach huts? Maybe you're sick of shrimp and looking for other things to eat . . . hopefully someone's got a fire going tonight, and thought to kill a boar . . . .

What are you doing tonight?]


((here or here for place descriptions))

Comments

[deem]

[He'd ask if Jude is sure, but he expects that the confirmation is enough. The unsteadiness is a little concerning, but he doesn't seem to be in pain. That's an improvement, and he wants to believe Jude would say something if he had any difficulties putting weight on that ankle]

That's not something to thank me for.

[Really, what else was he going to do, leave him there? It's not a big deal, and besides, they've gotten to check out some terrain and even this building in the process. All in all, not a bad foray, though he wishes Jude hadn't had to deal with even a minor injury]

You want to check this place out a bit more? There might be something people could use around here.

[talim]

Sure, we can check it out. Come on.

[ jude is strolling out the bedroom door before 9s can even offer a response. he seems rather eager to be walking again. not because he hated being carried and all, but because he didn't — because he had wanted to hold onto 9s and be close to him.

jude isn't going to think about that right now. instead, he's going to explore. ]

I think this is the kitchen. Or was the kitchen.

[ there's a thick layer of dust coating the table and chairs, but there's also a counter and a fridge. ]

[deem]

[9S is quick to follow, recording information on the building's size and structure as they go. Maybe with enough data, it'd be possible to create more like this, since this sort of housing seems pretty rare so far. There's the larger structure that Qri's underlings apparently reside in, but that space is limited.

When they've arrived in the kitchen, his survey is a slow, thoughtful one. He hasn't really seen something quite like it, and the appliances are new to his experience as well]

This really looks like Old World stuff.

[And that's a marvel, being so far from his own world, so far as he's aware]

[talim]

That's because it is.

[ jude pauses, an idea coming to him. ]

You know...

[ he spins around to face 9s. ]

I'm not sure they're entirely the same, but I think my world is pretty similar to this Old World of yours.

[ it sounds like a combination of rieze maxia and elympios, minus the spirits. ]

If... there's ever anything you're curious about, I can see if I can answer your questions. I can't promise, but I'd like to offer.

[deem]

[Jude is surely right: they wouldn't be exactly the same. Even so, if he recognizes this sort of technology, they probably do have enough commonalities. He's pretty sure Ann is from the Old World, based on what she has described, but he doesn't talk to her nearly as often as he does with Jude.

Although...]

You sure about that? I... [am a Scanner] could probably come up with a lot of questions, really.

[Although he suspects that as with many things, Jude wouldn't mind that, it only seems fair to give him the option to reassess that offer. He's curious by design, and there's no small number of unanswered questions he has about the world as it once was.

Even from a different, similar world, Jude may have a better grasp of some concepts than he does]

[talim]

You bet I'm sure.

[ jude's smile is brighter. brighter than it has been in a little while. yeah, he's definitely feeling better. ]

Let me do something useful for you. Besides, I like talking, too. Why wouldn't I want to talk to a good friend?

[deem]

[A good friend... Killing him here, Jude. Simple as that thought is, it's doubtless the first time he's actually heard those words. Give him a moment]

You do more than you think.

[Didn't he tell 2B something similar, not so very long ago? It's interesting, the things they have in common. People who are simply too kind]

But 2B's always maintained that I'm chatty, so...

[talim]

[ jude just brushes the first comment off. ]

Then we'll be chatty together. You'll be keeping me company?

[ maybe if he spins it in a way 9s is doing him a favor... ? ]

[deem]

In that case...you can ask me questions about where I'm from.

[None of this favor-doing, he'll propose a trade.

Seems fair enough. Possibly safe. Hopefully]

[talim]

It's a deal.

[ jude reaches out his hand, but hesitates to look around the room. ]

We'll have a nice, long chat somewhere that isn't here, though. Next time.

[deem]

[A free hand? Well, alright, he'll take it.

Might have to let him know if it's supposed to be a handshake though]

Even if I clean the place up? [a beat, and he moves right along] Where would you want to talk?

[talim]

[ it's... a handshake. jude has to laugh when 9s takes it and doesn't do anything. it's all in good humor. jude gives his hand a squeeze before pulling back. ]

What? Now? You're going to clean this entire room?

[ that seems a little... extreme... ]

[deem]

I'll need supplies for that, but if I can use the space... [He grimaces] I'm not leaving it all gross like this.

[Look he's got standards here. If this conversation's supposed to happen in the future though, surely he's got time to get stuff like water up here and bust some dust]

[talim]

I just figured you meant you'd come back later...

[ after a moment of confused staring, jude covers his mouth and laughs. 9s is so... cute. ]

[deem]

Er, I'd make sure you got back to the base camp first...

[Not like he could make Jude wait around for something that'll probably take hours to accomplish, but he's not really one for putting things off either.

He's not quite sure what's funny about it though]

[talim]

Okay, okay. We'll go back to camp and then you can go ahead and clean all you want. I won't stop you.

... Unless you want some help?

1/2

[deem]

[Can Jude feel the staring?]

2/2

[deem]

[Because he's definitely getting a load of staring.

After which 9S recovers with a helpless shake of his head]

That'd be a lot of work, you sure you'd want to be around for all that?

[talim]

I'm sure.

[ spoken with nothing but a cheerful smile. ]

[deem]

[He'll forever marvel at just how kind Jude is.

At this rate, that will never change]

Well, alright... But take a break whenever you need to, okay? I'm an android, but you're not.

[talim]

I'm an android, but you're not.

[ jude repeats it back to him. ]

Did you really have to tell me that?

[deem]

Pretty sure I had to. You've got this habit of thinking about yourself last.

[Did he nail it?]

[talim]

[ jude would swat at him or something if he wasn't so... well. nice. ]

Thank goodness you told me. I almost forgot... What would I do without you, Nines? This is the second time you've saved me today.

[deem]

[At least Jude's aware of it, but that doesn't make it any less worrying for someone like 9S. He's seen this from 2B for quite a long time, so it's not that it's new, but that doesn't change how he feels.

The retort's something he shrugs off before he pokes Jude's nose with one finger. Shouldn't have taught him that one, doc]

Sometimes you need to hear things you already know.

[talim]

[ jude scrunches his face up. ]

Do I, now?

[ he pinches 9s' nose right back. retaliation.

they sure are cleaning. ]