( text ) 001 → day 42

[corrective]

[His tech tells him he can stay a week on the Ingress Complex - he's not feeling it.

Bryan was born and raised in metal can floating in space. Maybe he missed it sometimes, but once he'd had the ground beneath his feet, it'd felt like home. Might be because he was from farm station and he could actually do some real good on a planet with dirt and room to grow, but he didn't think people were really meant to spend their whole lives in the stars.

So he tells the love birds he's going to look around and takes the first ride down on the EN-Line to Kauto. It sparks up a ton of questions.]

Hey, name's Bryan. New to the area, fresh out of that blue tunnel.

Anyone in region one looking to make a trade? Fine company and an iou in exchange for a meal. [The first month's stipend had to stretch, but as someone who has never eaten half the things these restaurants are advertising, he can't be blamed for asking.]

I've got a few more questions.

Anyone know anything about that storm that's got us pinned in?
What are the farms like?
Are there many people my age around?
What the hell is a tanglesnake?

[All important questions, obviously.]

Comments

[corrective]

What two things?

[That's.. intriguing.]

[worn_wings]

How quick you are and how broke you are.

[corrective]

Fast and no money.

[worn_wings]

Then maybe.

Ain't got anything better to do?

[corrective]

No. And I'm broke.

Just got here and haven't figured this place out yet.

[worn_wings]

Probably easier ways to earn a buck. Could do worse, though.

Give it a shot, why not.

[corrective]

What kind of ways?

Any chance you'd wanna go with?

[worn_wings]

Have to split the money.

[ At least in theory. If the guy's really that hard up Daryl probably wouldn't insist, but he's not gonna say so up front. ]

Where you're from-- what'd you do?

[corrective]

Deal.

I was in farm station. You need something to grow, I can help with that.

[worn_wings]

I'll go. Couple hours, we get what we get.

[ They're crafty little vermin, he's not making promises. ]

They got land here. Long as you donate half'f what you grow, no rent.

[corrective]

Where do we meet up?

[Bryan's just happy to get out. See how things work here.]

They do that? I'll have to look into that.

[worn_wings]

Train station, zone three.

I'm the guy with the crossbow.

[ what, it's usually pretty distinctive. ]

[corrective]

Got it.

[Bryan gets to the EN-Line pretty quickly, zone three, scanning the crowd for anyone fitting that description. He's hoping, really hoping, that there's not some guy with crossbow thing going on or that it's not a popular weapon.

He sees a guy and - ] I'm Bryan. Tanglesnakes?

[worn_wings]

[ Going back to tanglesnake-catching is a terrible idea, he knows. Frustrating. But even if he'll deny it aloud, Daryl is usually willing to lend a hand to people who need it.

He looks the kid over, solemn and thoughtful and (as usual) stoic, and nods. ]

Daryl. [ And with that grand introduction, he tips his head to start off into the trees. ] C'mon.

I'm so sorry about the wait

[corrective]

[Bryan gives the guy the same kind of once over - curious, cautious. He's on a strange planet in a new universe, he knows to be careful. Daryl doesn't set off any of his creep alarms and he's got a good vibe. Quiet type. He's used to that.

He nods, following close behind Daryl as they head into the trees.]

Just tell me what you need me to do.

[He's not real sure what they're looking for but he's been trained, gets a little lower as he walks and watches his steps so he doesn't make any noise.]

no problem, it happens~

[worn_wings]

[ Well, he's definitely taken worse chances than this; having someone who knows how to walk in the woods without scaring off all the game for three miles around is always a plus. ]

They're blue, they got big eyes, long tails.

[ For all the good it'll do, he rummages in his pack as he walks, coming up with a crude net, weighted around the edges-- the best he's managed to come up with. ]

I'll flush 'em, you try to grab.

[corrective]

[Bryan hasn't seen anything quite like that before. He's met a computer program when he'd first arrived, a dude with horns, too. He figures the description is more than enough that he'll know exactly what Daryl's talking about.]

Got it.

[He takes the net, spreading it out and adjusting the way he's holding it. Handmade, sturdy. If they come his way, he should be able to snag one.]

I'll go that way. [Nodding before moving, he heads a little away from Daryl, crouching down so that anything that's flushed out won't see him and skip running his way.]

[worn_wings]

[ It's far from a fancy plan, but with any luck it'll do the trick. At the very least he's got the easy part-- startling and chasing-- leaving the kid to risk falling over on his ass trying to grab the thing. Suits Daryl just fine, and he'll be glad on principle if they manage to get any of the little pests.

A few moments later, after he's vanished between the trees and into the undergrowth, something startles and runs more-or-less in Bryan's direction, followed by a few muttered curses from Daryl, its tail trailing behind it scattering fallen leaves. ]