[text] @riku; lantern security [open]

[equinoctials]

Hey. I know we owe our escape to everyone here and the distraction those Hunt guys pulled off, but they're still called the Fire Snatchers for a reason. I'm thankful. Still don't trust them around my lantern and neither should any of us.

If you don't already have something sturdy to secure your lantern to you, I've made a bunch of clips that can do the trick. These are strong enough to carry my weight. It might do for climbing in a pinch too.

The ferry's expected to come soon. When it does I'll be at the docks handing these out. If I run out then I'll make some more.

I've got a workshop going, if you need something made or repaired, message me. I'll tell you if I can do it. Could use some help getting material from the scrapyard, that's all.

One more thing. I made a headlight for those electric bikes, mostly it's a bracket for a lantern with a focusing lens, it's worked ok. Materials are a real pain, if you want one I'll need your help with that.

-Riku

Comments

[swellter]

I won't get hurt.

[ It's more reassurance than anything, and it's the last thing he sends him before heading out to the scrapyard in search of steel. ]

[equinoctials]

Thanks for the help. Your name?

[swellter]

[ A few hours later. ]

Todoroki Shouto.

[ And after a few moments, a second message comes through. ]

When can I bring the scrap metal?

[equinoctials]

[ That's fairly complicated. ]

You already found some?
Do you know the road that heads north from the church and eventually intersects with with that road headed downtown?

[swellter]

No.

But I can look it up on the map.

[equinoctials]

You work fast, Todoroki.
I'll wait by the fork in the road, where it starts to head for downtown Beacon.

[swellter]

[ It takes 15 minutes before he gets a reply. ]

I'm here.

[ He arrived by a rush of ice. The road was empty one moment and the next a glacier sweeps through the street forming at a rapid pace and at its foot stands Todoroki with his lantern in one hand and a large pile of scrap metal behind him, carried in by the ice. He wasn't strong enough to carry it all but his ice could hold quite a bit of weight. When the glacier finally stops moving Todoroki sends the message before looking around searching for someone that seemed to be waiting since he doesn't actually know what the engineer looked like. ]

[equinoctials]

[ He smells frost on the wind, which strikes him as strange when the spring thaw already started, then his tablet chimes in the satchel hanging from his shoulder. Riku, his silver hair luminous in the dark, has it swept back in a low tail, dressed in a gray hoodie under a black bomber jacket and a pair of blue jeans.

The road was empty, until it isn't, when a glacier swiftly arrives, carrying not only a new face, but a surprising collection of scrap.

Riku, typically reserved enough to cause others to think he's unapproachable and aloof, briefly stands there staring, his mouth slightly agape. ]

Using Ice magic as transport..? [ He pushes a hand into his hair, impressed. There's no way Riku would have the magical reserves to pull something like that off. Just how powerful is this guy? ] Wow, but... you know it's just a clip, right?

[ He says that as he approaches, staring at the heap of scrap metal, until he blinks in realizing something. ]

You're gonna request something else, right?

[swellter]

[ The spikes beneath his white snow boots release from the glacier creating an audible sound when he steps off the ice to meet him. He’s dressed in a blue uniform with a pair of wrist guards, utility belt, and combat vest that all serve as support items. Still, it’s not his outfit that stands out but his heterochromatic features. He's split right down the middle. His right side carries his mother’s features, white hair, and a soft grey eye, while his left is his father’s with red hair and a bright teal eye that carries an old scar. ]

You’re the engineer?

[ He regards him with a neutral expression when he speaks. There’s no friendly greeting or smile tagged to the simple query. He’s a stoic character; keen but honest.
He inspects him taking in the details to build a profile in his mind. The fact that he calls his quirk magic tells him quirks are not a feature in his world, but he seems familiar with similar abilities which probably means he has magic of his own. ]

Yes, I have a request. [ His shoulders shift to the small pile of steel he managed to gather with a few other metals mixed in when he couldn't find more of the latter. ] But, I’m not sure if this is enough.

[equinoctials]

[ When someone goes around in specialized equipment meant to handle a particular condition or element, as his snow boots seem to represent, it implies something. A specialization, perhaps. ]

Engineer?

[ Riku seldom has reason to laugh around here, but the exhale he makes when he shakes his head sounds close enough to one, embarrassed. Pushing a hand into his jacket pocket, he extracts a carabiner clip. It's serviceable, but utilitarian, lacking the polish of modern manufacturing. ]

I'm Riku. More like a hobbyist.

[ DiZ - or rather, the real Ansem the Wise - might beg to differ. Pupil, puppet, lab assistant, muscle, spy, and eventually Keyblade Master; Riku's worn quite a few hats in the last handful of years. In exchange for missing out on a not inconsiderable amount of high school, he acquired a handful of unique skills and strange experiences.

But Todoroki, he looks like a warrior. Takes one to know one. ]

Here's your carabiner. Let's hear your request.

[swellter]

[ He looks down at the clip and nods, reaching out to take it. He rolls it between his fingers. It’s not sleek like something from the Support Department, but it seems sturdy, and there’s no rust to indicate its origin which means it was polished. Still, he doubts the quality of the metal can handle extreme environments and takes note to be careful with it.

Finding it acceptable, Todoroki deposits the clip in one of the storage areas on his belt before his statement pulls his attention back to him. ]

Your post made it seem like you were an engineer.

[ He states in that same neutral tone, though his brows are slightly creased, pinching down. The first real expression he’s made. He doesn’t know the extent of his knowledge, but he doubts a hobbyist can help him. His support items are specialized equipment built and maintained by the Support Department back in UA, and although no constant upkeep is necessary, he has no recourse if they’re damaged. It’s why he spent the day working so diligently in the scrapyard searching for steel. ]

Do you know how to work with electronics?

[ He asks instead, preferring to gauge his experience before laying out his needs. ]

[equinoctials]

[ It's definitely gonna be compromised if it's exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations. It wasn't made with people of Todoroki's Quirk in mind, but for a much more mundane user. Early on, it seemed, there was more of a focus on how much of their abilities appeared to be weakened upon arrival. That concern has faded with time, but Riku still operates as if nearly everyone here is pretty close to baseline "normal". ]

Did it? Well, sorry to disappoint.

[ Riku doesn't sound sorry at all. ]

Be more specific. The stuff I've worked with seems like it was hardier than the stuff I run into around here. Can't even get charged with a Thunder spell without all the circuits frying. No Gummitech either.

[ That's not to say they don't have the means to make some elaborate gadgets. Rosalind's clockwork songbirds and the discreet grappling hook strapped to his arm are just a few examples. Depending on his reply, he might either be able to help - or he might give Hamada a call and see if he can. ]

[swellter]

[ Isolated during his formative years, Todoroki isn’t well adapted to social cues to glean anything off about that response. Subtleties go over his head. It’s why he’s so bluntly honest and why he's an easy mark for subterfuge.

His focus sharpens when he brings up the thunder spell. It seems reminiscent of Kaminari’s quirk. The Gummitech sounds like engineer talk, so he doesn’t even try to ask about it. He’s been witness to the gibberish the support students start off on when he brings in his equipment. He can never follow their back and forth talk but is grateful for their hard work. He respects their talents and pays careful attention when they explain to him how his equipment works, specifically how to troubleshoot small errors, but he’s always left anything requiring more than a simple boot-up or self-calibration to them. But that’s why Todoroki respects them so much. It’s their specialty. ]

My equipment needs to be powered. Normally, I use a charging case but I don’t have that here. The temperature sensors need to be calibrated too. I was told to calibrate them every 3 months. I also need to check the levels of the heating and cooling liquid, but if it’s below the minimum operating level, I don’t have a replacement for it.

[equinoctials]

[ Riku has a mixed bag of things he's pretty good at, an enormous number of things he's pretty bad at, and then this one very unique ability he's something of a savant with - which does him very little good around here, in a world already steeped in it. ]

...Pretty sure between Hamada and I, we can handle the power. Every other month or so the Night Market visits. You might see if the vendors there can get you something specific.

[ He starts getting his tablet from his satchel. ]

You mind if I send him a message while we bring this to my workshop?

Just... keep the location to yourself. Getting interrupted while I'm working is a hassle.

[swellter]

[ His name is unfamiliar to him, but he assumes he’s another engineer, so he nods in acceptance. ]

I don’t mind.

[ He’s heard of the Night Market too. He asked the Concierge about it and got a detailed description of their history, wares and, most importantly, when they were scheduled to arrive. But, what draws his curiosity is the secrecy behind the location of his workshop which proves a subtle reminder of a promise he’d made and without any prelude, he asks: ]

Do you know Ventus? He’s looking for you.