networkinthenight | text @advictoriam [open]

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text @advictoriam [open]

[Multiple test posts happened before this one, only to be deleted shortly after. Now he has the hang of this.]

Good afternoon.

This technology is new to me, though I have perused the remainder of the network to assume the correct format and protocol. I apologize for any mistakes or violations of etiquette I've made in the course of this message.

[Good grief.]

I'm a recent arrival. My name is Danse. I have taken up residence in what appears to be an abandoned fueling station and garage, located near the village.

I have what some might call a knack for machines. My time thus far has been spent tinkering with what's available at the garage, but I have also mounted several small expeditions around the area in search of scrap. I am interested in acquiring any "junk" you may have, to provide me with parts and components. I would also like to learn more about the technology present here, and I would like to study any pieces you may have. In exchange for the opportunity, I will do my best to repair or restore it for you.

I am also a capable soldier, if you are in need of a reliable backup for an expedition.

In any case, I wish to prove an asset to the community, and hope that my utility outweighs any inconvenience or discomfort my presence will cause. Please contact me if you have any need of my services, or any junk you kindly wish to donate.

Thank you for your time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Have you discovered the junkyard yet? Perhaps you may find something useful there.

My late friend also left quite a few of machine pieces behind. You may have them, if you wish. They won't do anyone much good collecting rust.

Edited 2020-08-13 21:22 (UTC)

[A WHAT now?]

I have not. Do you know the coordinates, by chance?

I would ask what sort of machines they are, but I suspect I wouldn't be familiar with them by description. If you have no use for them, I would be honored to accept your friend's collection.

Move south from the village, follow the main path. It should take you there.

I would be difficult for me to describe them. Perhaps if we were to meet, I could show you them, and you can see if they are worth keeping or not.

( The Lutece Device is staying where it is, though. It's too large for him to move, and Javert isn't entirely sure that Rosalind won't appear from beyond the grave and reprimand him for touching it. )

Thank you. I'll investigate it when I get a moment. I'm experienced with reincorporating discarded objects into useful parts, so a junkyard would be an excellent resource.

[And he won't even have to fight mutant ants in this one, or live in it. Granted, his memories of that are apparently fake, but he still doesn't want to relive them.]

Is there a convenient time we can meet? I don't want to distract you from other endeavors.

Edited 2020-08-14 00:44 (UTC)

I have nothing pressing at the moment.

( And he's not too far from Bonfire Square. He and Soldat may have set, mirrored patrols, but Javert has been doing more than his fair share lately. He can rest a bit. )

Give me three hours to collect everything, and meet me at the bonfire. I'm sure I'll know who you are when I see you.

( He makes it his business to know who everyone is. An unfamiliar face would stick out like a sore thumb, and given this man's description of himself, it shouldn't be difficult to imagine what he may look like. )

Roger that. I'll be waiting at the bonfire in three hours.

Your name is Javert, correct?

[Gosh, what might a guy who says things like "roger that" unironically look like...]

Yes. That is what it says on this device, doesn't it?

( Sarcastically, but not in a mean spirited way. Javert doesn't bother telling Danse what he looks like either. The half assembled machines scattered at his feet should surely give him away. )

I shall meet you soon, then.

Indeed, that's what it says in the "name" field.

[It's hard to tell if the sarcasm went over his head, or if he just met it with complete sincerity.]

Until then.

[Precisely three hours later, a stern-looking brawny man arrives at the bonfire. Dressed in a full-body armored orange jumpsuit, he has an odd-looking rifle strapped to one hip, and a baseball bat with nails hammered through it on the other. He brought along an empty duffel bag to carry the tech, if necessary.]

Mister Javert, I presume?

( At least he's punctual. Javert stands with his arms crossed over his chest, his hat pulled low over his eyes and his buttons done up to the chin, obscuring much of his face. He glances over when the other man approaches, appraising him for a moment before tilting his head in greeting. )

You may take whatever you wish. It's of no use to me.

( Much of the machines are beyond his comprehension. There are a few half-assembled devices meant to levitate objects, powered microscopes, broken lab machines, and torn apart appliances. He picks up one of the smaller objects and toys with it for a moment. )

Is there anything in particular you were hoping to build?

Thank you.

[He crouches to examine the machines. Quite the haul, here. He recognizes some of these pieces, but the function of others are far more obscure. The idea of getting to toy with them and figure out what they do gives him a giddy feeling. As close to giddy as a stern man like Danse ever gets, anyway.]

Out of pure utility, I specialize in weapon and armor modifications. But if there is no pressing need for them, I may just scrap these for parts to serve some better purpose later on.

[If only he could build himself a suit of power armor...]

Perhaps there is a local need that I could fulfill.

We are always in need of weapons.

( Despite what others may say. Their dedication to pacifism is commendable, but not always wise, and they were only able to defeat an adolescent world eater by the skin of their teeth. They need better weapons. Javert seems pleased by his answer. )

We are still rebuilding from the flood that ravaged us months ago. There should be plenty of work for you here, if you wish to help.

[He tells himself he shouldn't feel pleased to hear that the people here need help, could use his skills. He shouldn't take any satisfaction or joy from their hardships. It's just that hearing that he could do some good, he could be of some help, he could have a purpose-- it's exactly what he needs.

A machine without purpose is useless junk, just like what he's packing up in his duffel bag.]

I would be deeply gratified to assist in any way I can. I was a soldier. Survival means little to me if I cannot serve some greater purpose than my own existence. [Well, he just came right out there and said it, huh...]

( It's a feeling Javert can relate to. He, too, had felt the same sense of purposelessness when he arrived. He didn't know what he was meant to do, or why he had been brought here. It's been over a year and he still feels that way sometimes, lost and uncertain. He crosses his arms over his chest, his expression impassive and hidden beneath the shadows of his cap as he watches the other man. )

What weapons are you familiar with? It is good that you are experienced in battle. We may have to call on your skills much sooner than you expect.

[After Javert's description of where the junkyard in, this guy chimes in:]

I can show you where the junkyard is next time I come by if you like. There is a dog there you will have to win over, but they like me so I can help.

[Soldat might have been bringing him lunch every day while passing by on their patrol.]

Only if you're not already busy with your patrols. I'll likely be spending some time there.

I will just show you where it is and introduce you to the dog and then continue on. It will not be too far out of my way

[They doubt Danse needs babysitting while he's there, though if it's an interesting scavenge mission, they might stick around and help, too.]

Has there ever been any further danger in the junkyard than one dog?

Not that I have seen. The parade passes by sometimes, but it should be safe when we go and I have earplugs if we need them if I am wrong

The parade? What's that?

A group of spirits who circle around the area playing music. The music gets in your head and makes you want to join in. People who join in usually die.

If you hear music anywhere but the Invincible, the Landmark, or the shopping mall downtown, put in earplugs immediately. I can give you some if you need them.

That's horrifying. I appreciate the warning.

You are welcome. No one should have to deal with the parade

I will see you this afternoon to show you to the junkyard if you are free

A soldier with a knack? Perhaps you would be interested in going with me back down to the station under the lake, later this month? I would like to finish exploring it and see if any of the locations we could not reach before can be drained of water.

What type of station do you mean? It sounds like some sort of underwater fortification.

It is exactly that. It was, until recently, the home of a group who managed one of the portals, but they are now dead and with them, most of their knowledge and resources. The station remains intact, and there is more to salvage from it. We cleared out the armory and a few other rooms but there are entire laboratories still waiting.

I would be very interested in a salvage operation on such a place. The technology required to stabilize the pressure and keep the water out must be staggering.

Depending on the type of machinery in the pump system, I may be able to get it working again. If it's not what I'm familiar with, I'm a quick study.

I shall consider you recruited, then, Master Danse. My name is Cao Pi, styled Zihuan. I will be leading the expedition.

[OMG A COMMIE]

I beg your pardon, what does "styled Zihuan" mean?

[that's emperor to you!]

It is my style name. I am accustomed to introducing myself that way, forgive me if it seems awkward. You may refer to me as Cao Pi, though my title is King of Wei.

[Yeah, emperor of the commies.]

I'm unfamiliar with the concept of a style name.

Would you prefer your name, or your title?

[the difference 1900 years makes?]

Well, the title would be customary, but I do recognize that in a place like this, we don't always have the luxury of adhering to proper protocols. I can hardly raise an eyebrow if someone wishes to be more familiar.

I'm a soldier, sir. I'm very comfortable with protocol. [To a slightly worrying degree, even.] I will call you whatever your preference is.

[honestly it says a lot that even after a year he still hasn't dropped formalities with all but maybe two people]

Very well, then. Lord Cao Pi it is. Have you a rank, Master Danse? Courtesy for courtesy.

[Any pause between that last message and this one is definitely not caused by Danse staring at a wall in complete misery for an unknown length of time.]

Unfortunately, I don't. Not anymore. The courtesy is noted and appreciated, however.

[oho, touched on a tragic backstory, have we? Noted.]

Courtesies and protocols kept up even the in the face of unspeakable horrors and long odds are what separates us from the beasts. It will be a long time before I forget how to deal with other people.

[Ask in person and watch his soul get destroyed. ~~If only filthy machines had souls...~~]

Well said, Lord Cao Pi. I agree on all counts.

Can you tell me a little about your previous excursion to this station? What manner of hostiles you encountered, if any? I'd like to be prepared well in advance of your mission.

I can do one better. I have a document compiled by Lady Lorem which covers the briefings we all gave at a meeting earlier this month. She was kind enough to send it to me afterward, I will pass it along.

[the document will be auto-translated by the tablet and thank god for that because he already translated into Han Chinese for himself. Lorem's original copy should suffice and covers everything Javert, Matt, Soldat, Rosinante and Cao Pi reported]

Outstanding.

I will review the material and prepare accordingly. Please let me know about any planning or preparation you'd like to do before your mission.

Be up to date on what we have termed 'green-eyed spirits' and what they can do, as they are the most likely foe to face down there. That said, what weapon do you favor?

I am specially trained in the use of power armor and laser rifles. I have my rifle, but unfortunately only two fusion cells to reload it with. My search for more conventional firearms turned up fruitless.

I will make do with what's available, but I would vastly prefer a firearm.

Edited 2020-08-17 21:43 (UTC)

[W H A T

okay no thankfully he knows full well what firearms are, and then some; watching the Date rifles and cannons was one thing, but seeing all the fun stuff they raided from the armory was quite another]

You are in luck, we have conventional firearms aplenty, though ammunition may be harder to come by. I will ask Commander Rosinante and Inspector Javert what they have on hand. There may also be a few still down below at the station.

What luck. I do prefer the sword myself but I can hardly argue against the usefulness of firearms. They are so very convenient and fast.

That would be greatly appreciated. I am making do with a modified swatter, but up close and personal is not my preferred position in a fight.

It would be ideal if I could find more fusion cells, but they don't seem to exist here. Nor does power armor. I was told it may be possible to fetch them from the place I came from, somehow, but the mechanics of that are beyond my understanding.

It is, I have yet to fully test it myself but at the very least, there is a way to make requests. My request for wine came through perfectly fine, so it seems to work. I have decided to leave the 'how' to those in the know and simply accept that it does.

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