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[Croix didn't know what to make of the scene when she heard about what had happened in the garden. But low and behold, it didn't take much sniffing to figure out what had happened, and to find some of the plant creatures that had gotten away.

The hard part was catching them.

Croix wasn't in bad shape, but her quarry was nimble. And so, the (usually) dignified witch was reduced to pursuing a bunch of running vegetables up and down the streets on foot.]

Come here, you!

[Her current quarry? A walking bushel of cauliflower that looked suspiciously like a miniature sheep.]

[ suddenly, the cauliflower isn't running away on its own — at its side, there's something orange and green, with the green bits flapping like wings... yep, it's a carrot-turned-bird that joins the cauliflower-turned-sheep in its daring escape.

only, two escapees need two hunters, right?

and so there's a shadow on top of the roof of one of the smaller houses nearby, before nami jumps down from there and yells, ]

That's it! I've had enough of you, stupid birrot! [ bird... carrot.... get it? ]

The moment I catch you, you're going in Sanji-kun's curry, not out in the garden!!

[Croix... slowed as the woman jumped down, landing in front of her. Clearly, this "birrot" had been giving this woman quite a lot of trouble if she was being driven to such stunts.]

... You know, I have a few questions, but perhaps it'd be best if the two of us teamed up?

[Which might be a good idea, because the cauliflower sheep and birrot are making a break for it together.]

Oh, hi!

[ twirling to face croix, nami's annoyance melts into surprise and then delight at the suggestion. ]

Yeah, sure! Two's always better than one, right? Let's catch those annoying little losers!

[Croix smirked, and nodded.]

Very well, then! You go left, and I'll try to herd them in your direction. Sound good?

Perfect!

[ she nods before turning to head to their left — despite wearing heels, her feet make little noise as she tries to be as inconspicuous as possible.

if the veg-animals don't notice her there... all the better to surprise them after her companion manages to herd them there! ]

[Croix appreciates her new companion's attempt at stealth. She waits a bit, until the animals calm down, and Nami is in position... then charges forward, making a bunch of noise and blustering with her cape, trying to scare them in the other woman's direction.

It works, and they start heading right towards Nami.]

[ yes!! success!!

nami grins, predatory, while lying in wait... and when the unsuspecting veggiemals run towards her, she stays still right up until they're close enough —

and then she throws a bag over them! ]

Ha! Gotcha!

[ .... maybe. hopefully. ]

[The beasts do their best to escape, flailing and struggling beneath the sack. Croix runs up, to try and help Nami hold it down over them.]

We've got them! Thank you so much, uhm...

[It appears she'd not yet gotten Nami's name.]

[ she grimaces when their prey start struggling, but when croix helps her, nami breathes a relieved sigh. ]

Ah, Nami! It's Nami. But thank you, too! That was good team effort.

[Croix nods, smiling wide.]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Nami. Now... what do we do with these, hm? Divide up the spoils as we were chasing them?

That sounds fair, doesn't it?

[ she may pout just a little, but... look, she's absolutely willing to play fair, here! ]

Are you going to plant yours, too?

I'm undecided. I may simply decide to raise it, keep harvesting cauliflower from it.

[She laughs.] That is if it's anything like a real sheep, anyway.

Oh, that'd probably work! It'd be like shearing sheep, right?

[ she grins and nods — it makes sense! ]

I think I might still plant what I gather... so they'll stay in place and they'll be easier to make food with.

[Croix nods.]

Just make sure they don't get up and walk away again. That's probably going to be your only real challenge.

Yes, that's true!

[ she grins.... just a touch too bright. ]

Well, that's fine! I'll make sure to scare them enough so they won't even think about that.

[ .... oop. ]

Scaring them... I guess I'll have to consider that myself.

[And with that comment comes a hearty chuckle.]

[Croix was of course interested in the so-called trash the richer residents of the city had disposed of. She was handy with her hands, and what's more, she needed resources now that she was effectively starting from zero.

And so, throughout the time of availability, she was looking around for furniture she could procure and fix up and, more avidly, any bits of technology she could get her hands on. She could easily take most of the latter apart, suss out the valuable components, and use it in her burgeoning workshop and in service of learning this world's system of magitech, after all.

In other instances, she was looking for things she could find to trade, or perhaps turn in for money. In those cases, she could be seen hawking said junk in the streets, or perhaps asking around for any places that might be interested in such a thing.]

[ The pamphlets had been-- well, they'd been someone's idea.

Since the Rich continued their yearly rudeness, Vex saw little reason not to take advantage of that fact. Between the three of them, the Forge crew had penned themselves a helpful advertisement. Vex had even taken time to approach one of the printers to have it copied several times over - far easier than rewriting it over and over, even if she had to pay for the privilege.

Hence the advertisements: Vex stops every now and then to pin a sign up and hand pamphlets out to curious residents around the outer district beyond the Bright Wall.

CUNES FOR JUNK made for a bold heading. The caveat of course was that interested parties needed to bring it to the forge to get paid, but people seemed to find the fact there was payment in the offing at all was appealing indeed!

She's in the middle of counting the sheaf of remaining papers in her stack as she rounds a corner. For someone so perceptive, Vex really is not doing her best to pay full attention to whoever else may be coming her way - then again, her mind is currently on other, more lucrative things. ]

[Croix had seen the signs, and immediately been intrigued. And so, she started following them, and lo and behold, she came to a woman not only putting up signs, but handing out pamphlets.

With her box of parts, she approached.]

Excuse me? You're with the Forge?

I am.

[She straightens at once, turning to give a well practices smile, though her interest is genuine as she glances over Croix. The box of parts probably plays a part in that.]

Can I help you with something? [or things.]

My name is Croix Meridies. I'm a new arrival to the city, and I'm interested in seeing what it is you do.

[She held up her box of parts.]

I also potentially have things to trade.

Vex'ahlia. A pleasure, Croix. [there's knowing sympathy in her gaze, nodding slightly] I hope it's not been too big an adjustment?

Well, I can certainly answer some questions, though I'm the accountant and not one of the smiths in charge. [someone has to handle the finances, after all!] And we're certainly happy to help with trade! Particularly for newcomers.

Why don't I walk you there, and you can get an idea of what we're working with.

It hasn't been too much of a chance. The tech level and losing access to my original magic have been the biggest adjustements to make.

[She smiled.]

That sounds agreeable. Lead the way.

Follow me, then!

[ The remaining pamphlets can wait. Without further prompting, she motions for the other woman to follow, and begins winding her way back through the outer city. No main road travelling here - the boys set up shop off the main beaten path. ]

I had some minor magics before coming here, mostly concealment and to aid in hunting. But.. [Vex gestures to the scales visible at her throat] It has certainly been an adjustment. What sort of magics do you have back home, might I ask?

[Croix fell in step behind her, easily keeping stride.]

Oh, all manner. Transformation, levitation, transmogrification, the list goes on. I myself was specialized in the integration of magic and technology.

Really? Enchanting, or something stronger? [She has some minor knowledge, though none of the skill herself to create such things]

Now, the Forge is exactly that. Percival and Hiccup do a lot of metal work, though Hiccup specialises in weapons and some enchantment for them, while Percy tends towards more complicated things. Clockworks, of late. They're both very good at repairs, hence why we've put in a call for any of the junk dumped here.

Not just a matter of enchanting, but ways of harnessing magical power using technology.

[... For an ultimately evil purpose, but that's neither here nor there.]

And I see. Then I imagine they'll find what I've managed to collect rather valuable.

Really. [that sounds like pre-Divergence shit, and Vex isn't educated enough in that era to give a solid opinion on that - but her voice conveys interest; not dismissive, no scorn.] Usually I hear about plans for the opposite.

That's entirely possible. Or, it won't be useful, but we can melt anything down for you to shape for your own works.

[ It's not the longest of walks; the Forge is on the outer edge of the city, just past its limits, one that sees plenty of active use if the smoke from the chimney is any indication. Outside it, part of the open yard has been sectioned off, split for various junk of different sizes can be deposited by those who don't want it. The smaller things (anything from broken jewellery, weapons to lamps and music boxes) are arranged across a table dragged outside, while the larger items are stacked haphazardly for sorting just behind it. It's towards the table that Vex gestures. ]

It's the same fundamental principal; in a way, using wands is just a more primitive example of the same concept. You just need to be thinking with modernity in mind, and look outside of old traditions.

At least, that's the case in my world.

[Croix seems suitably impressed with the set up when they arrive, and when Vex gestures, she heads over to the table immediately.]

I've already collected enough for my own purposes. What I really need now is funds, to be honest.

Funds, I can help you with. [she pats an empty spot on the table] Start laying a few things out, and I'll be right back.

[ With that, Vex moves on, heading into the Forge proper, calling inside to whoever mayu be present. She's only gone for a minute or two, apparently unconcerned about leaving Croix alone, before returning with a set of scales in one hand and a notebook in the other.

Along with a very large brown bear, adult sized and wearing plate armor. He ambles at her heels, before sitting behind her as she parks at the table.

Vex smiles at Croix then. ]

Depending on the state of the pieces, you'll receive cunes for the weight of the materials or their parts, or price for the overall item.

[Croix nodded, and started to lay things out on the table as instructed. She had a great deal collected... from radio parts, to parts of clocks, and other odds and ends of magi-technology. Most of it was older and worn out, or an older model, but Croix hoped she could get by with a decent sum on on overall volume.

She regards the bear with some bit of surprise, but doesn't say anything; she knew someone who had a bear for a familiar of some sort, after all.]

That sounds fair. I tried to collect whatever was in the best condition.

Edited 2020-11-25 02:25 (UTC)

[ As the bear gets closer, there's a distinct lack of anything magical about him. There's intelligence, but of an average beast (sorry Trinket), not the bright sharpness of a turnskin, and he plunks himself down on the earth behind Vex with a yawn.

Vex doesn't seem to notice, too used to his presence at this point. Rather, her attention is entirely on the items being put out on display. ]

Wonderful. As you can imagine, not all residents cared about that. [she motions over one shoulder to the discard pile; not yet entirely trash, but certainly more damaged goods.]

We give set amount of cunes for things. And, since you're mirrorbound, if any pieces end up worth more than what we initially put down, we'll follow up with you. Only fair to share in the spoils if we can repair and resell it for more, after all.

[Croix eyes the bear with idle curiosity, but doesn't say anything. It's rude to comment on others' familiars, after all.]

I see. That's very kind of you... most businesses would keep the profits for themselves.

Oh, we have plans for making profit.

[ There's a faintly smug look that forms, as Vex flips open the note book, and begins to write things in a neat hand, characters sharply forming across the page as she notes Croix's tradings. ]

But all the better to share some with our fellows if said profit comes from making money off those who dumped their discards on those they deem "lesser".

[Croix smirked.]

Their loss is our gain, you might say? Fair enough.

[This particular pile came with an additional resident. A brightly feathered, antlered Chimera was perched on top of what seemed to be an old chair, broken but still quite sturdy. The pile didn't creak despite a Monster's bodyweight sitting on it, being made up seemingly of old shelving, what looked like a desk, and the legs of an endtable.

The Chimera was reaching her arm into the pile--oddly tentatively, for how brusque her behavior tended to be. The Chimera's hand came up empty again, and her tail twitched like an annoyed cat. There was something shiny down there, and she couldn't tell if it was glass--or if it was broken and she'd just be reaching for a handful of razorblades.

If Kaede noticed Croix's approach she didn't comment on it, focused and frowning at the glass thing maybe out of reach.]

[Croix came upon the scene and raised an eyebrow. Setting down her own box of gatherings, she approached, hands on her hips.]

We meet again. What's the matter? Can't quite reach something?

[The Chimera's ears flicked towards Croix before she looked, though her tail didn't quicken or slow down in its twitching. She looked at her for a moment or two longer than was strictly polite, calculating something to herself.

The Chimera was the first to look away, glancing back down at the shiny thing staring back at her from the center of the heap.]

There's something glass down here. Maybe a clock.

[The stare earned a stare back, but otherwise, it went uncommented upon.]

I see. And I take it you want to reach it for yourself?

[At first, the Chimera shrugged.]

Don't see many other people around. [Kaede glances back down at the vexing glass face instead of around at their surroundings.] Unless you want to get it. Don't know if it's broken, though. Might just be a bunch of glass razors waiting to happen.

[This was an important person, to Chariot at least. Kaede wasn't too sure herself yet, but she could at least warn her that much.]

[Hm. The concern did not go unnoticed, even by Croix. Was this a positive development?]

Well, it's simple enough to get to. You just need to remove everything on top of it, first. That's something we can both do if we lift together, I think.

[At first, the Chimera huffs, and her tail starts flicking again.]

I know tha--

[It stops when her voice does, and Kaede turns what she just heard over in her head again.]

You're--helping?

[Give her a second. Kaede gets confused by nice gestures.]

[Croix raised an eyebrow at that, before shrugging.]

Is it really so surprising? Now, do you want to see what's down there or not?

[Kaede ruffled her shoulders and the feathers attached to them, and rumbled slightly.]

...I guess. Fine.

[The Chimera hopped backwards off the topmost bit of rubble, settling her feet on a stable bit of shelving underneath. She grabbed onto the boards she had been standing on, and glanced expectantly at Croix with her tail flicking impatiently.]

[Croix nodded, and took a position opposite Kaede.]

We lift on three, then? [She said as she took hold of the boards.] 1... 2... 3...!

[With Kaede's Monstrous strength, lifting things was easy--not splintering delicate things or flipping the boards back in Croix's face, a little harder.

But Kaede managed both, lifting the bits of debris away piece by piece. With the help, they didn't slide about into an unwieldy mess. And soon, the shiny thing was in much easier reach, and easily visible. The antlered Chimera picked it up, much more carefully. It was indeed a clock; a squat thing that went on a table or shelf. One half of its decoration was missing, broken off; the other half looked ostensibly like a carved wreath. Its hands had long stopped, of course, but the face wasn't broken and nothing rattled inside when Kaede gave it a cautious shake.]

Don't suppose you know what to do with the guts of this thing. [Kaede mused, not fully expecting an answer. But there were a lot of things she didn't know about this person who knew Chariot. Maybe this answer was one of them.]

[Croix smiled as she took the thing, partly out of appearances, and partly out of an eagerness to get her hands on something.]

That depends on if it's magicked or not. [She gives it a once over, thinking.] It appears to be a normal clock, relying on gears and mechanisms. I'm no clockmaker, but I could probably fix it... or take it apart, if you wanted.

[When not chasing vegetables or scavening through trash, Croix could be found throughout the city. She had a lot to catch up on, after all, and while the fact that she was used to magic already gave her something of a leg up, she had a lot to learn.

As such, she could often be found in the library, studying as many texts as she could. Perhaps you run into her as she's carrying a large amount of books, or notice her with her nose in more than one at a time.

In other instances, she can be found indulging herself. Coffee shops are a place she frequents, though she might also be found simply walking the streets... sometimes grumbling about whether or not this city has a place that serves ramen of some kind.]

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Veggie Tales

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sorry for the delay! work decided to kick my butt this month

Re: sorry for the delay! work decided to kick my butt this month

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Clean Up and Clear Out

o/

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General