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AIRSHIP CRASH SITE - AFTERNOON
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Narrator: Another day, another long repair session for Montag, who has been working more on the rudder and steering mechanisms for the Palamedes, the air bag fully deplated on the side of the craft as the canine uses some instruments to check upon the connections and rivets that keep the device together. It's hard to tell under his mask, but the canine's tail keeping still does show he's had a frustrating time of it.
Scilla walks towards the craft, having seen it before but hadn't had the chance to wander over before. The genet is dressed in her usual short shirt and pants, not that the relative heat really warrants more. She definitely does not miss the snowdrifts that get as tall as she is. Walking closer, she starts musing at the various parts of the airship, curiosity having her long striped tail twitching.
Montag only sees a flash of fuzz from the corner of his eye, turning suddenly, rapidly, sniffing the air, eyes behind the mask narrowing as he gives a bang to the rudder with the gauger, looking up, seeing Scilla just...staring and looking.
Scilla tilts her head, raising an eyebrow as she stares right back at the.. canine? Probably canine. "Er, hi? Hi. Just came looking for this contraption of yours, looks interesting."
Montag seems to soften, putting the gauger down. "It is an airship. Surely you would have seen something like this before?" The canine is still coming to terms about having to jury-rig most of the materials here to fix the craft, and Rikard breathing down his neck didn't help either."
Scilla shrugs: "Well, not up close. There's always more going on when you get closer to inspect stuffs. Do you mind if I have a friendly gawking over your thing? I promise not to break anything!"
Montag thinks about it, noting Scilla was giving her one of those innocent big-eyed stares. Nothing could resist that. "I...I suppose so. It will not make a difference. But be very careful. I have spent many days on the riggings and they are easy to jar loose."
Scilla waves a hand as she walks closer: "Oh don't worry about it, I don't even have a construction beam on me right now." She starts looking over the hull, admiring the handiwork: "Definitely better quality than what the Saurs do, that's for sure."
Montag will climb up the side where Scilla examines. "I have heard of the Saurs. They are...primarily magical leaning, are they not? The old-style magicks?"
Scilla shrugs: "More like just... simple-leaning. I mean, the stuff they do lasts, but can kinda tell their experience with metals is... well it's..." She hums: "How to put this politely? Pretty phreaking primal."
Montag chuckles. "The metallurgy and the melding of alloys is very important to ships of this nature. You must make sure the metal is both light and durable, especially considering the rough treatment it needs to take upon taking off and landing."
Scilla looks up, curious: "Oh? What's your mix of metals? Gotta be at least some degree of that stuff, that... aluminum, yeah? Though it's a pain the ass to actually get useful amounts of, so maybe not..."
Montag pats the side. "It is a special aluminum compound, yes, a tightly guarded mystery by Herr Rikard. He's in town right now finding the specific metals he needs, and checking in to see if there are any local mines or deposits in the jungles around here."
Scilla perks up: "Oh? Don't know about mines, per say, buuut I might know someone very versed in finding where to dig from..."
Montag looks back. "That will be very benificial to the both of us. Tell me all about them."
Scilla gives a very toothy, almost predatory grin. It'd honestly be scary if she was any bigger. Her tail swishes excitedly: "It's kinda my thing. I find metals and work with them. I can just sort of... sniff around, and know if there's anything worth digging for."
Montag adjusts his mask. "That is a...strange but useful talent. I am currently working with a robot who uses her tongue to lick to figure out electrical problems...or...well...something like that. She is quite useful and very attractive."
Scilla blinks a couple of times at this: "A... a robot? Whuh?" She ignores the 'attractive' part, choosing to not even try to decipher that. "Well uh, I don't really know about that, but if we can discuss a price I can do all kinds of things." She pauses: "N-not that kind of things!"
Montag gives a nodding, tail wagging. "I would never suggest that kind of thing, especially since I have only just met you. Still, I believe you may be of help to us and I will make sure Herr Rikard knows of you." He extends a gloved hand. "I am Montag. May I know your name?"
Scilla recovers fairly quickly and offers her paw: "Scilla! I'm usually about either the construction near the Saur places, or at the Minnow. Fixin' stuff, but of course to fix gotta find the metals and I've been really itchin' to get onto some of that."
Montag gives Scilla's paw a firm shake. "It will take me a few more hours before I can take a break, but when I do, there are certain raw metals I believe would be beneficial for our project I can share to you so you can begin your search."
Scilla shakes excitedly, lets go, and only then pauses: "Hmm yes! Sounds like an excellent plan!" She glances aside: "Honestly I could use a break from fighting with malfunctioning second-rate generators, anyway."
Montag goes over to work on some controls, letting Scilla follow behind and look around. "You have worked with generators as well? What sort of system do they run on? Are they of Saur design too?"
Scilla shrugs, though her eyes wander over the airship systems as she talks: "Well, you know how it is down here. The systems can best be described as 'whatever we could jury-rig together or buy cheaply enough'."
Montag: "Still more of scavenging type places, yes yes...I have had to do that before I met Herr Rikard. My specialty is the combustion systems...heat mostly." Montag stands, cricking his neck, letting out a high-pitched growl, then a murr, shaking himself off.
Scilla gives Montag a gives a curious glance, but then nods: "Reckon I can see that. Me, I just like to work with metal, don't care what they run on. Though never really understood magic stuff all that much."
Montag gives a mmmm, readjusting the mask. "Herr Rikard wants to make sure that society is not made totally reliant on magic, else it would founder if the leylines finally gave out. He sees it as a finite resource as opposed to other sorts of alternatives such as steam or organic fuels..."
Scilla shrugs: "Yeah, suppose so. Not really my stuff, all that." She winks: "But I can find you some metals to work with, I'm sure! Something to really make this ship of yours tick so much it purrs!"
Montag: "No...not purr. Roar. Like a lion. Then soar like an eagle." Montag's voice was stern, then playful. "How will I compensate you for your time then, Scilla?"
Scilla smirks: "Money. Keeps me in muffins."
Montag's stomach starts grumbling, the mechanic putting a hand on it. "We can pay you in both if needed. I believe Herr Rikard made a friend with one of the waitresses at a local patisserie."
Scilla giggles: "Well, that works too! Keep me informed on what you need and I'll go looking for it when I get the chance."
Montag: nods. "Yes, I will...and much thanks in advance for furthering the causes of science."
Scilla blinks, then giggles again: "Science? Oh yeah, sure, that too! It's fun."
Narrator: With that, the canine will go inside the ship to check on some of the more delicate instruments, leaving Scilla on the top to browse around some more.
Scilla browses for a bit, then heads away sometime after she feels she's outstayed her welcome inspecting things... nothing broken, as promised. Probably.