[Video]An announcement

[shadowsgambit]

Hoi, everyone - pretty nasty stuff going on, huh? [Fortuna hums softly, as if unsure of what to say next.]

Look, I know this isn't the time for a sales pitch. But, you know...maybe it's time for this one. I've been getting things together to start my own workshop to build stuff, not just repair. Now that I've got all of it...well, with creepy assassination attempts going on, wouldn't everyone want a weapon? Thing is, I'm gonna need someone to show me how, I've never tried to build guns, or any other weapon for that matter. So I'm hiring, I guess. Temporary.

And once we crank out enough stuff, you all can buy them. Just don't go attacking each other with 'em, got it? I doubt I'd be able to stay in business if you do. You can find me in 2-09 in building 4 now. I've expanded into 2-11 too, for the supplies and equipment. Catch you there, chummers.

[Secure channel: Rangar]

Got some news for you guys too. You catch all that? It's something else. I know you asked us to learn what we know, and I infiltrate places for a living back home. See, though...most of us here are eight feet tall or more. And that's not normal for you people here. Makes it kind of hard to get around. So I'm wondering if you'd rather do it - or if there's any reason you want to stay in the city. I'm thinking of making my place a safehouse for you guys. How's that sound to you?

Comments

[secure channel]

[rangarnpcs]

[The reply comes shortly after the broadcast in a strange purple text.]

It would be a welcomed option, yesss... However we 'ave concerns over how to arrive unseen. The skills a few of us have that allow us to ssslither in are uncommon amongst our number, and the tunnels are not connected to the apartments they bessstow upon you "guests".

[shadowsgambit]

[She wonders if someone's spent too long in their animal form. But ugh, text. She hates having to type on the commlink's tiny screen. Since the text looks like it's reflecting their accent though, maybe there's a speech-to-text program on their end. It makes her feel better about continuing in video if she knows they're speaking too.]

The front's a workshop, and I plan on heading outside the walls to scavenge parts. No reason the crate I come back with has to contain parts, exactly... I mean, I've got that bag you guys gave me to carry those.

[rangarnpcs]

[Wow rude it's a natural stutter... especially when your fingers are too big for the tiny keys and ugh trying to speak outside of telepathy sucks. Her face is at least appearing on the tiny screen as she types.]

Clever...I take it you will have a partner as well so the guards do not become sussspicious? Last I checked they do not allow anyone out without a second person.

[shadowsgambit]

[Fingers too big for too little space to hit is exactly why she's using video instead...]

Yeah, I've got a couple people who would be up for it. Maybe more if we can find more definite allies.

[rangarnpcs]

[Fajr nods once, pursing her lips before typing something else.]

Many of usss agree that it would be good to have more comrades and allies. Word from the bluffer is that things are going to be shaken up in the season of the Matriarch.

[video]

[alley_kit]

[Kit looks a bit uncertain at first when she responds, but draws herself up after a moment, determined. After all, the other lady had offered, right?]

Um... do you think you could make a staff? For someone my size? I mean, it probably wouldn't be as hard as a gun or something, so... could you?

[video]

[shadowsgambit]

A staff? Is there something more to it than just finding a good solid stick or bar?

[That's something she's never had to deal with, ever, and it shows.]

Re: [video]

[alley_kit]

[Sorry, Fortuna, Kit is from a magical kingdom with midieval-ish era technology as the norm. Guns aren't something she would normally think of, even now that she's aware of their existence.

Kit actually looks a little surprised too. This clearly wasn't a question she expected.]

Well... it'd be nice if it could be folded up or shrunk down or something so I could carry it around easier, but it doesn't have to? And usually if it's wood it's smoothed out and shaped some so one end isn't heavier than the other, and the wood is sealed to keep water from hurting it. Don's has leather bits wrapped around it in places so he can grip it better too, but I dunno how important that is.

Donatello would probly know more about it than I do. I just know what Cheetara told me about hers.

Re: [video]

[shadowsgambit]

Uh...I guess I'll ask him about it, I'll be working with him on this to begin with.

[She awkwardly runs a hand through a lock of hair spilling over her shoulder.]

Sorry, kid, it's not something I'm familiar with. I could definitely try, though.

[video]

[ironyman]

[A lot of soul-searching happened before this message, since Tony has a long list of issues with making weapon again. The only reason he responds at all, in fact, is the fact that Saeng Seong is a very different place than home, so he figures things are less likely to go tits up if he makes a couple of guns for scared civilians. Probably.

Tony's expression, however, is as smarmy as usual, even a little intrigued. The combination of "workshop" and "build stuff" is more than enough for him to totally ignore any negative feelings he ever had for her.]

Since you asked so nicely.

I'm not really the "employee" type, though, so we'll have to work that out.

[video]

[shadowsgambit]

Not asking for regular hours, you know. It'd just be an on-commission thing until I learn how to make them for myself.

[Great, it's this guy. She'd...honestly just have to take it. She knows he has skills, so she could learn from him. The real question is, is he Rangar-sympathetic, or is she going to have to make sure she unpacks all her "scavenged parts" out of his sight?]

[video]

[ironyman]

[Tony is, unfortunately, extremely unsympathetic to any and all secret and shady groups, though he could be potentially persuaded if he actually met the Rangar. He likes to know what he's dealing with. It's part of being a paranoid control freak, sadly. And speaking of control freak...]

Mm, yeah. I guess. If you want to cut productivity by fifty to seventy-five percent--and let's face it, I'm being generous there--which isn't even taking into account the, ah, wealth of knowledge I have in countless other arenas.

Seriously, this is how you treat your best resource? Come on.

[video] sorry the notif got lost

[shadowsgambit]

[...yeah, she's already regretting considering this guy even if she's only done so for the duration of this conversation. She tries to maintain her composure, anyway, her words coming out smoothly despite her irritation.]

So what, are you saying you don't want to be paid at all? Because you don't want to be treated like an employee and apparently independent commission isn't good enough for you, so what is it?

Audio

[purple_chelonian]

I've got a bit of an engineering background if you're looking for help around the workshop. It'd be fun to work with someone else for a change.

Video

[shadowsgambit]

[Voice sounds familiar. The turtle, right? He seemed nice enough, but as always, there was no telling what side he was on. She'd have to come up with a way to discreetly figure that out. Can't be too hard, with the assassination attempt something to feasibly talk about.]

Sure thing. What sort of things do you work on?

Donatello does machines

[purple_chelonian]

"Well, I built the cell phone I'm talking to you on from parts I scavenged from an early 21st centurty New York City junkyard. I've built nightvision goggles, flight packs, a helicopter, armored personnel carriers with military-grade weaponry . . ." He coughs. "If you need a sample of my work I put together a hand-held radar gun here that you could look at?"

Consider her impressed

[shadowsgambit]

"Sounds like you're one wiz mechanic." And not a jerk, like the other one she's met. It's almost hard to believe, but what does she have to lose by just taking a look, really?

"Sure, bring it over. I'm sure we can work something out."

[Video]

[heretic_hamlet]

Build a gun...?

[Memories of that impressive assault rifle in action sprang back to mind.]

The only ones I have ever seen were relics, and even the one tinker I knew who could maintain them could not make his own. It can't be an easy task.

[Video]

[shadowsgambit]

They're mass produced where I come from. Can't be that hard.

[Video]

[heretic_hamlet]

Mass-produced...?!

[He seems more skeptical than disbelieving.]

Heaven forbid, the thought of an entire battlefield armed so still chills me to the bone.

[Video]

[shadowsgambit]

Mass-produced for those battlefields. It's not like it's one guy, one gun all the time. There are a lot of soldiers and things break so they make extras. It's probably like, uh...swords are in your world. Except most of the powerful stuff, you can't just commission or buy. Not legally, anyway.

[She shrugs. She's not sure whether a medieval world sounds better or worse than her own, honestly.

Maybe that's where they're headed though. Because apparently for him there were guns...

Swords, though not always made of metal, were gaining popularity too. Though most people who had them just had them to look cool.]

video

[beforetights]

Wow!

[At the thought of weapons, Cu Chulainn's eyes go big.]

What sort of weapons? Do you make shields and swords and spears? What about slingshots?

video

[shadowsgambit]

Uh...

[That's...nowhere near her area of expertise. She doesn't even know what goes into making swords. She's pretty sure shields are just hunks of metal pounded into a shape. Also antiquated as hell. Spears? When she thinks of spears she thinks of crude weapons made in desperation.]

...I'm pretty sure I could try making a slingshot for you. The weapons I make aren't for little guys like you.

[That's all she's got, really. Won't be anything more than a child's toy, for a child.]

Re: video

[beforetights]

Yay!

[He starts bouncing in excitement.]

Thank you so very much, Lady Fortuna! I'll make sure to hunt lots of meat for you with my slingshot!

Re: video

[shadowsgambit]

[She laughs a bit.]

You don't have to do that, kiddo. You know we're being given money to buy food, right?

[Though maybe she should start a stockpile, just in case.]