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RESPITE GENERATOR - LATE MORNING
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Maybelline hums as she sets out her tools, giving the blueprints a once over, though she probably doesn't need to look at them to build the containment cell she designed, but she's not taking any chances. The temporary generator continues to hum along in the background as May grins, arcing her fingers together in anticipation of a good build session.
Bracvar scuttles his way away from the market, his cart full of outgoing goods waiting with hired guard in his usual alley. He makes his way toward the center of town, eventually reaching the generator building, looking over it with a grin as he makes his way around to the large bay door and it's little, normal-sized sibling. He raps carapaced knuckles on the frame of the smaller door before stepping back from it slightly.
Maybelline is just about to set to work when her ears roll back at the noise. A quick step towards the door, and she's standing on the small step she installed to help her reach the handle, opening it from the side, "Hello? Oh, Bracvar, right?"
Bracvar looks down to see May, grinning as he nods, his voice reflecting the tendril-obscured smile. "Good morning, miss engineer! I see yer up and about as early as expected!"
Maybelline nods with a smile, "Of course! Today's a build day!" She grins wider. "Phase 2! I was just about to start when you knocked, but I suspect you're wanting a list of parts from me, eh? Come on in."
Bracvar chuckles, quickly gauging the width of the door before he steps inside, careful not to drag his legs across the frame. "Yes'm, I am! Figured it wouldn't help you too much to bring back a random assortment, after all." He takes a look around the generator room, then at the generator itself as he scuttles by. "So yeh say you've built that yerself, hm? Impressive!"
Maybelline grins, "Myself, and Brunilda too. She's a guard, but she's also been apprenticing with me to a degree. I imagine she'll be around in the afternoon after she gets through whatever paperwork she's got to work through today. It's just a temp fix to keep the city lights on... and not much else, honestly. Water pumps and such. It's just drawing on ambient magic, nothing special."
Bracvar chuckles, nodding. "Ah yes, Brunilda. I'm glad she's decided to follow a path that makes her happy. She seems like a kind lass, probably deserves it. And even if yeh don't think it, that's an impressive piece of Magitech yeh've designed there. Might have ta pick yer brain some day for ambient charging fer my cart, save me a bit of money every trip." He gives her a wink with a laugh.
Maybelline nods, having the decency not to blush at the compliments, though she knows damn well how impressive her work is. "Might not be much at that scale, but could be a fun challenge." She walks towards her workbench, digging through some stray papers until she pulls out the list she was looking for. "And if you think it's impressive now, wait until you see the finished product."
Bracvar grins again, nodding as he scuttles alongside her to the desk, peering over the designs nearby as she searches, turning to her when the list is presented. "Honestly looking forward to it, these alone make it look to be quite the mountain to climb." He holds his hand out for the list as he asks; "Anything special I should be on the lookout fer with these?"
Maybelline hands the list over to Bracvar. "I made pretty good notes on what there about what model pieces will or won't work, so hopefully that's enough?" The notes are... comprehensive, listing some acceptable variants to parts, along with notes of dependencies between parts as well. "These are the hardest pieces to find or replicate with the smiths here. If you can't find them... I have sent out official requests for most of these to Sarn. But... that is gonna take awhile."
Bracvar holds the list up to scan over it with his good eye, nodding. "Aye, yeh've not kept it short, but this shouldn't be a problem for an old crab with a lot of friends." He carefully folds the paper, slipping it into his apron pocket. "I'll make sure t'keep an accurate receipt fer yer treasury. Anything else yeh may want from Ondonga?"
Maybelline chuckles, "I'm not expecting you to get everything, but if you do, I'll be a very happy stoat." She pauses at his question though, "Oh... I wish I knew more about Orelan culture... you wouldn't happen to know if any kind of treats or such that snakes enjoy?"
Bracvar hums for a moment, peering toward the wall as he thinks. "Snakes, hmm? I haven't spoken to as many of them as I'd like. I know they seem to enjoy their silks... Last time I was there, a number of stalls had this fancy new scale polish that was rather popular... And that every one of them serves the military for a bit. Don't recall any food vendors or anything, though." He chuckles. "Wouldn't keep on the way back, anyhow."
Maybelline hmphs. "Shoot. I was afraid of that... The one I know is a certain guard Captain..." She blushes a bit, "Was hoping maybe to get her a gift... but no worries. I've got some other thoughts for that."
Bracvar looks back to Maybelline, shrugging. "Sorry I can't help you with an idea for getting Captain Louma a gift, lass. I can ask around while I'm there, perhaps I can find something fer yeh. But you seem like an upstanding young lass..." He leans closer conspiratorially, hushing his voice a bit, though he's already made a guess on seeing May's shade. "Why d'yeh need a bribe fer a guard captain?"
Maybelline can't help but laugh, "Well, I'll have you know I am a very wanted stoat when it comes to Captain Louma." Her blushes continues unabated, but the smile doesn't fade, "Other then that... I'm proud to say she's my partner. So if you find something she might like, I'd be obliged, Bracvar."
Bracvar grins, standing upright as he gives a good hearty laugh. "Well, yer right to be proud, she's snagged quite the catch with you!" He gives her a wink... That might be lost with his eyepatch and all. "I like you, May, yeh've got a good fire in you. I'll see what I can drag up over there, though no promises on the result."
Maybelline nods, giving Bracvar a thumb's up. "She's almost as lucky as I am. And I'm already working with the assumption that nothing's coming in, so whatever you find will be a nice surprise. I've got a build list that'll last a long time without any of those pieces, so, no worries."
Bracvar nods, turning to look over the desk again. "Respite is in good hands, I wager. You do have a lot ahead of yeh of course. A lot more buildings standing outside the wall than a few years ago. I imagine you're planning to go larger than the old one?"
Maybelline nods. "My initial goal was just to get it back to 100% functionality. Which does mean getting the shield up too. But I've heard a few folks say the town is growing too. I'm hoping to build something to accomodate."
Bracvar hums, looking up despite the ceiling being in the way. "Ah, i suppose the shield would be down, hm? Hadn't thought of that."
Maybelline nods. "No bad sandstorms, which I've heard can be an issue sometimes... but it IS down... to be fair, it was down before, when the old generator was only running at about thirty percent capacity. A city wide shield like that drains a lot of power..."
Bracvar nods, turning back to May after a quick glance toward the door. "Heh, yeh can probably imagine I'm no more a fan of the desert weather than any other resident, sand storms included. Was it really running that weakly, though? Nothing seemed off on my visits, but then how much would I've noticed." He gives a short laugh, shaking his head.
Maybelline sighs, "It was barely holding together, to be honest..." She reaches a hand down to clutch her side, "Well, it didn't hold together. I still haven't gotten any details on the previous engineer, other then the fact that they were reclusive to a fault, and based on the work done to the generator, clearly they weren't doing their job."
Bracvar shrugs. "Even in 15 or so years, don't know if I ever met them. Knew parts were coming in when they happened to share a caravan with my own goods, that's about it. Thinkin' on it now... There was far less in the last few years. What happened to you was unfortunate, but yer still here, and standin' with two less 'legs' than when we met."
Maybelline nods, taking her hand from her side. "Yeah. Lucky in a lot of ways... it made me rethink a lot of things. Before the explosion, I was pretty unhappy here... miserable with my place in life, self-destructive, hurtful to folks who just wanted to be friends..." She sighs. "Nothing quite makes you reflect on your life then dying. I was just lucky enough to get a second chance."
Bracvar sets a hand reassuringly on May's shoulder, his good eye showing the smile he wears. "And yeh've taken that chance and run with it. Not many who deserve it get another go, and some who get it don't deserve. Yer earnin' it rightfully."
Maybelline smiles warmly and nods. "I'm trying. Respite has done right by me. I'm just trying to pay it back." She glances back at the pieces she's prepared to build today, "And I'm too stubborn to give up on something once I start it anyways."
Bracvar chuckles, straightening up again. "Good on yeh! I've got a little business to deal with yet, but the next caravan leaves in a day... Hopefully. Should be back in a few weeks with yer parts, assuming the sea is kind. I want to see this project of yours, fer sure."
Maybelline grins, slipping a wrench from the pockets of her jumpsuit. "By then it'll be a fully built, and hopefully fully charged containment cell, ready for phase 3. Safe travels, Bracvar, and uh, thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you taking the time to look for those parts. And for taking the time to talk today."
Bracvar smiles and nods into a slight bow. "It's my pleasure to chat with yeh, May. And good luck with the assembly!" He gives her a slight bow, scuttling toward the door, pausing. "Give a greeting to the captain for me, seems I never run into the feathery lass any more."
Maybelline coughs, "Mmmm can't imagine what's keeping her occupied. But uh, I'll say 'hi' for you!"
Bracvar grins, unable to stop himself from barking out a laugh after a few moments. "Well, I'm sure whatever's keepin' her distracted must be keepin' her happy as well." He waves over his shoulder to her as he carefully steps through the door. "A good day to you both, miss engineer!"
Maybelline waves, "And to you, uh, Mr Trader!"