View source for 2019-12-13 - Down in the Scrap Pile

{{Logsummary|
Title    = Down in the Scrap Pile
|Summary = Rayne's bike needs some work, so she goes down below the bridge to see just what can be found in that scrapyard down there.
|Who     = [[Blake Haushaeker]], [[Rayne]], [[Twitch]]
|Date    = December 13th, 2019
|Where   = Mabase Scrapyard
|Log=

Mabase- a city as strange as its name, at least that's Blake Haushaeker's impression so far. Lucky for her, strange isn't really a problem. Strange is actually what she deals in on the daily. After cruising the city for a day or so, she's managed to get a pretty good feel of its layout. The scattered fragments of city are sort of piecemealed together by a loose network of locations...interspaced by voids - cool - and a collection of all kinds of people from all kinds of places. Well, alright! That's Blake's kind of place.

Having nothing better to do Blake's continued her explorations which have led her, bike and all, here to this scrap yard. Talk about jackpot! Sure, yeah, okay there's a lot of junk but some of it could be pretty useful. Strolling around the place, she regards its offerings like an all you can eat buffet of potential goodness. Hey, sometimes you need extra bits for your ride. It happens...a lot if you're in Blake's business, actually. So that's what occupies the woman this evening. She's busy rooting around for any parts that might be useful for her bike. Once in a while, a certain type of car or some random bit of rubbish will hold her attention..like the El Camino. "Whoa, hah, dude. These old things!" She plops into the seat of the dilapidated car and kicks back a moment or two just getting the feel for her.

The sounds of the rickety elevator descending is heard once again, and this time, just one lone woman in armor exits.  

Rayne Hurris, chief of police.

Some shadier folks in the area spot her and make themselves less visible, their activity going unnoticed by her for now.  No, for the moment, she's merely walking along, her expression less like someone looking for trouble(or rather, trouble''makers'') and more like a tourist who is not impressed by what she sees.  It's her first time here, and she's quite honestly not sure about what she will find...  this far below, has this place become a crime-ridden hole, or is it legitimately a place where people simply find the spare parts they need?  She'd go incognito, but...  well, her hair kind of makes that impossible, doesn't it?  She looks down at the hood of a car she passes, wiping a bit of grime off the maker's logo with a bit of curiosity.  "...well, that cleared up nothing," she mumbles before looking up and seeing that there's someone sitting in it!  "Oh!  Uh, sorry," she says sheepishly.

In all probability, most days Blake would have heard or smelled Rayne coming from a mile away. Her acute senses are pretty well attuned to this naturally but even more so by virtue of her profession. Since her arrival in Mabase, however, she been suffering a bout of that inter-dimensional 'jet lag' and it's left her usually sharp senses just a little on the dull side. Well, that and badass cars are always going to occupy her attention in much sharper focus than anything else. Suffice to say, when the hand swipes across her windshield she is a little surprised. She sits there, letting this little encounter sink in a beat or two and then is out of the seat and grinning widely at this new entrant. "Whoa," she says, sounding like she just wandered off of a beach in So-Cal. "Dude, ya got me." She waves a finger at Rayne, winking - Whatever that means.

Rayne glances around before looking back with a lowered eyebrow.  "'Got you' with what, exactly?" she asks.  It's dry at first, but then her social guard is back up again and she sounds more official somehow when she says, "I was merely under the impression that this was a car left here by someone that didn't want it.  I wasn't aware anyone was there."  There's a dismissive wave and she says, "Don't mind me.  I didn't mean to intrude."

Blake attempts to clarify, "Like, off my guard? Surprised me, you know?" Blake leans against the car, one hand resting on the open door as she takes in Rayne's full armored splendor. "Duuude, sweet digs. That for real?"  Rayne's attempt at a speedy escape are apparently not going to work on this particular individual just yet. It appears that she will be ensnared in a conversation after all. "Super cool," Blake says, nodding her approval. "Hard to move in that?"

Rayne offers a quick smile, but it's gone very quickly.  "Well, it was mutual then, I suppose."  She looks upward, then mumbles, "Not the easiest to see down here..."  She blinks, taking a second to understand what it was Blake meant by 'digs' and looks down at herself.  "Oh!  Yes, it's for real.  Dwarven made, mythril.  It's actually fairly easy to move in.  Mythril is a lot lighter than it looks...  Like, aluminum weight, steel strength.  Or somewhere around there."  It's like conversation with a stranger on something unofficial is difficult for her.

Blake's expression shows her recognition and then she confirms it, nodding as she says, "Yeah, yeah! Mythril's great. Packs a punch. I got stabbed by a mythril dagger once, " she says flippantly. "Pissed off a dwarf. They don't like losing drinking contests...or anything, I guess." She shrugs lightly in a 'whatcha gonna do' kind of way. If there was any bad blood between Blake and this dwarf, though, there's no trace of it in her recounting of the tale. "Kinda pricey. You call in a favor?"

Rayne nods.  "Helped set up a communication system for him and his wife so people wouldn't just pound on the dock to get her attention.  Really... really long story."  She glances out across the scrapyard.  "I try to avoid drinking contests.  I always lose them."

Blake laughs. "Ah, whut?! You gotta build up your stamina. Just keep drinkin. " she offers helpfully. At this she steps away from the car, throwing the door shut with a careless air. She takes a moment to stretch and pop her neck. "So, you're totally a cop aren't ya?"

Rayne frowns and glances away again.  "Yeah, apparently there's a genetic component to my lack of stamina.  I'll just continue as I am, thanks."  She looks back to Blake and tilts her head.  "...I'm guessing you're new here, then.  Rayne Hurris.  Chief of Police."  She expects most people that have been here for long to recognize her by now.  Former councilwoman, founder of the police department, extremely recognizable hair.

Blake whistles, raising her brows. She is duly impressed.  No wonder Rayne had that air about her. Blake may not be formally educated but she's got street smarts and generally can get a pretty good read on people, her line of work might be very difficult otherwise. Something about Rayne's imperious attitude and the quality of her gear tipped her off on this but given this pedigree, it's hardly any wonder. At this, Blake offers a handshake. "Nice to meetcha, chief. -Blake," she says, jerking a thumb towards herself. "My job's kinda a day by day thing. I'm kinda a mercenary. Deal mostly in weird stuff, you know - demon dogs, cursed item retrieval, hell beasts, rogue vampires, gang warfare....I just kinda....clean up stuff, know what I mean?"

Rayne looks at the offered hand with clear apprehension.  There's a debate in her head...  attempt to break through her almost phobia of physical contact to take it to keep a polite exterior, or just- "Um, sorry, I've got a...  ''thing'' about personal space," she says with a slightly miserably tone.  No, she is clearly not happy about it herself.  Why do so many people want to do that when they first meet her?  Is this part of why she's had so much trouble making friends these past two years?  No, she knows that's not the real reason.  "Sounds like my life a few years ago, except you were describing allies with half of them," she says dryly.  "And yeah.  I do.  I do it too, but a little less...  mercenary-like."

Luckily, Rayne's personal hang-up doesn't bother Blake in the least. Whatever that's about isn't any of her business and if this chief has boundaries she feels the need to protect, she's not gonna say anything against it. On the contrary, she respects her honesty. Blake shrugs off the refusal with a light, "No big," breaking into a big crooked grin. As to the rest of her commentary, all Blake can say to that is, "Yeah, well, it's pretty much all I know. Been at it as long as I can remember....which, varies sometimes." She knocks on her head. "I've taken a few knocks now and again---Just kidding...sorta." A pause, "Soooo, whatcha doin' down here, chief? Patrolling? I thought you guys were mostly pencil pushers when ya got up to the top rung."

Rayne looks relieved at the lack of insult.  Few people are insulted, but she's always afraid they will be.  "Your whole life?   you probably have more experience in that kind of stuff than I do as a cop, then," she says with a sideways glance.  "And yeah, I know it's a dangerous field.  But I'm not actually here on anything official.  I just...  wanted to see what was down here.  Someone set up that elevator pretty recently and I've not had a chance to look down here myself."  She looks out over the scrap field again and mumbles, "Wondering if this might be a good place to find spare bike parts, too."  More aloud, she says, "Well, I am, but that's not actually by choice.  I think I lead better from the front, personally."

Blake snaps her fingers and points to Rayne. "I totally respect that. I like a girl who can get her hands dirty. I keep mine filthy." O-kaaaay. You are free to interpret that as you will. Hands on hips, she regards Rayne with what could only be described as a look of utter and complete approval, complete with knowing nod. But this approval comes not only from her leadership style, but from what she said only moments before. "Wait, wait, you ride? Duuude!" At this, she breaks into an over-generous grin, then proceeds to invite herself into Rayne's bubble. "Check it out!" She motions towards some distance away where her monstrously beefy motorcycle sits, gleaming in the strange light of the scrap yard. Here among the trashed vehicles and other rubbish, it really does look like some fabled creature...like it just knew Blake would point her out. "That's my girl right there. Hella. She's gorgeous, right? Yeaaaahhhh. Worth every penny. What about you? Whatcha riding?"

Rayne lowers an eyebrow to give a look that's somewhere between confused and off-put at the comment of 'keeping my hands filthy.'  She glances to Blake's hands(and thus hips) to give a quick check of 'is that literal?' before she looks up.  "Huh?" is all she says at first in response to the question of 'you ride?'  When Blake shoves herself into Rayne's bubble, the rainbow-haired one takes a clear step back out of pure reflex.  "Uh?" she says as she looks at the bike.  "Oh!  Nice, yes!  Um, mine isn't quite so suped up as yours, I'm guessing."  She points upward.  The bike isn't here.  She's now wondering how she missed seeing that actually near-pristine vehicle among all the near-scrap here.  "Oh!  Uh, it's a Ninja ZX-14R.  It's, uh, seen better days, though."

Blake says, "Eh, she's been around the block a few times...but I'd trust her with my life, I mean, I've had to so..." Her gaze lingers admiringly on the 586 pound beast though she is paying attention to Rayne. Trust that when it comes to talking shop, she's AAALLLL ears. "The Ninja's a sweet ride. Kawasaki's are pretty fun. Peppy things. What ya top out at? Something like...175? 180?""

Rayne glances back at Hella, then back to Blake again.  "...To run away from danger?" she deadpans.  She then frowns, then shakes her head.  "Don't know.  No safe straightaways around here to actually top it out for anywhere near that.  And it's used.  Engine's not in top shape anymore, cylinder two is showing some excess wear.  But it still runs.  You've...  heard of Ninjas before?  It wasn't a brand I was familiar with before I went looking for one here."

Blake hadn't considered that Ninjas might not be a universal thing. Actually, Blake hadn't even considered that motorcycles themselves might not be a universal thing. There's a bit of a learning curve here, bear with her. This would be one of her quirks - not always thinking things through. "Yeah sure, who hasn't?" Like, what kind of crazy talk is this? "Oh..." It begins to register. "So you're not from here, huh? Me neither."  As if anyone here would be. Blake adds, "Hey, if you want me to take a look at your bike, I can. I'm not an expert but I tinker. I do light maintenance on Hella all the time."

Rayne shakes her head, saying, "There's a high percentage of...  'immigrants' here.  I'm going to guess Kawasaki is a brand that exists in numerous universes, though.  There's a lot of things like that.  Heck, I don't even actually know if it existed in my universe or not, truthfully.  Most of my time on Earth I was in Italy, not Japan."  She says this with a shrug, as if having spent a lot of time not on the planet weren't a big deal.  "Oh, I know what I'm doing, too.  I spent seven years as an auto mechanic.  Granted, not much in internal combustion experience over electric, but...  other than the motor, the basics are the same.  And I...  ''think'' I've caught myself up well enough on internal combustion?"  She looks around the scrapyard again before saying, "...What I'd need is parts.  I don't have access to a fabricator."

Blake nods, "Gotcha" but she probably doesn't. All of this talk if alternate universes is kind of over her head. She takes it in stride, as is her M.O. but she definitely doesn't have a clue how the hell she managed to get here other than to say she took a wrong turn somewhere. That is one hell of a bad turn. At any rate, she turns her eye to the scrapyard. "Wanna hand, chief? I got nothin' to do."

Rayne glances around again, then sighs and before shrugging and then nodding.  "Yeah.  I suppose.  You know what you're looking for in matching equipment, I suppose.  Granted, I wasn't actually planning on more than just browsing."  She looks away from Blake again as she mumbles, "...Wish I'd noticed the excess wear before the dimensional shredding.  There were some actual ''shops'' in Neo-Edo."

Blake gets to it!  Rummaging is something she's learned to do pretty well, really. She's had to.  Its actually what started her career, if you want to be technical about it. Not that watching her in action gives much of this away. She just goes on about her business, making conversation as she does. "Yeah, so what's with that anyway? I mean, one second I'm cavin' in a Screwt's skull and the next one, WHOOSH, I'm here. I thought maybe one of those Black guild mages did some kinda fuckery but now I'm thinkin....something else."

Rayne is a much more eyes only scrounger, keeping an eye out for any bikes or engines that resemble her own rather than going in hands first.  Clearly not as experienced a scrounger as Blake is.  As Blake has had to be.  "What's with what?  Screwt?"  She then blinks.  "OH.  So...  you really ''are'' new here, then.  Um, no, it's definitely something else.  Twisted kind of just...  ''does'' that to people.  I don't understand it, myself.  I just deal with the problems that arise from it later on.  Granted, things have calmed down compared to ''before'' the dimensional tearing...  uh...  long story."

Blake raises a brow slightly at "dimensional tearing" and pretty much decides that it's well out of the realm of her caring. She waves a hand, "Whatever. None of that makes sense to me so..." She shrugs for what has to be the 100th time today. She's got her eye on a particularly gnarled hunk of metal. She must see something promising in it, though because she's zeroed in on it. Blake talks all the while. "Weird stuff happens back home all the time too. Usually magic stuff or curses. Got all kinds of nasty bastards preying on humans and all but, you know, nothing quite this scale." Apparently having made up her mind about this hunk, she gives it a couple of swift, hard kicks, breaking part of it apart. She squats to rummage through it. "You got stuff like that here? Rogue mages or...like...demons? Low grade monsters?"

Rayne steps along, looking through the junk piles as well, but clearly far more lost than Blake as far as thinking she can find anything.  She takes a step back as Blake makes her kicks at the hunk of scrap, quite simply not seeing what Blake does in it.  "Nothing organized or anything.  Like I said, things are a lot calmer than before the fabric of the universe got torn to shreds.  But there's still a few here and there.  We deal with 'pest control' as much as more normal police work, I'll admit.  But even that's been relatively tame the past year."  She tilts her head slightly before saying, "Do you...  see anything interesting in that?" with a tone that suggests she just sees junk.

The little rat girl descends down the elevator, a drown hovering above her head as she also has a shopping cart, the cart is empty for the moment.  As the elevater reaches the bottom, she steps out, humming to herself, tail twitching as her drone surveys the area, the drone armed with a small weapon.

Blake makes a face as she digs through the bits of metal she managed to dislodge from...well, other bits of metal. She palms one particularly twisty bit before hopping to her feet. "Yeah, " she says holding it between her fingers and showing it to Rayne with an air of triumph. It reveals itself to be...well...something. It doesn't look like anything useful at all, but Blake seems to have claimed it because moments later its pocketed. "Mmm. Place this crazy being so quiet is weird..." She rubs the back of head wearing a troubled expression. "Dotcha get kinda...bored?" The movement coming from the elevator catches Blake's eye and her gaze flicks to it for a moment. What she sees makes her want to grin, though she makes no comment. She's still engaging Rayne in conversation

Rayne's eyebrow raises at the pocketing of the random bit of...  stuff.  She shakes her head, though, assuming she's the one that doesn't know what she's looking at rather than Blake.  "I'm not sure 'quiet' is the word I'd pick.  We just don't have ''organized'' or ''repeat'' threats.  There's no alien hive in the cabbage patch, there's no fog monsters, there's no vicious snake people off the beach.  But we still get the occasional black and white monster that we need to bring out the LAWS for.  We still get demons getting summoned in either on purpose or by chance, but there's no pattern I've seen.  And there's of course all the mundane crap that I have to deal with.  You'd ''think'' that people would be more cautious about muggings and burglaries when there's this many superpowered people around, but...  no, it still goes on."  She then grimaces.  "I ''wish'' I were bored."  She flicks her gaze in the direction that Blake does, but unless that weapon is pointed at a person, she's not particularly caring for the moment.  Being armed down here feels like a reasonable precaution to her.

Twitch scurries along through the scrap, picking up bits a nd pieces here and there, most looking like complete junk, though she seems exited by what she finds.  As she moves closer to were Blake and Rayne are, she'll wave to the two,"Hi!"

The more Blake hears about Twisted City, the more she has the sinking feeling that she's going to find herself with a lot of energy to burn and nowhere to direct it. Just thinking about it makes her skin feel itchy. Naw, man. She's gotta find something to do around here or else she's going to go nuts. "Yeah, and I'm guessing you guys aren't wild about mercenaries, huh?" That wouldn't be the first place she's been too that doesn't take kindly to her kind but...that doesn't mean she'd necessarily avoid the jobs either.

It's about this time that this time that the diminutive rat-person comes strutting their way. As far as rats go, she's kind of a biggen! But as far as ROUS' go...she's a little more on the dinky side. Either way, her arrival at least keeps things interesting. "Yo! Sup" Blake asks, flashing a fanged grin.

Rayne pauses before carefully saying, "There's a bounty board."  From her tone, she apparently doesn't like using it, but she sees why.  Some places a cop just can't manage to go without drawing enough attention to make things worse.  Sometimes a more brutal touch is needed.  Sometimes she's just too damn shorthanded.  Mostly the latter, really.  She turns to look to Twitch with a tired wave and says, "Hello," as the ysoki approaches and makes her presence known.  She then proceeds to do a double take as she notices the fangs in Blake's grin.

Twitch tilts her head at the fangs as she pulls out a little data pad and fiddles with it some, the drone moving over to scan blake, the weapon still lowered however as twitch squeaks "Hi, just doing a bit of shopping, its amazing what humans through away."

Blake gives a small chuckle, "I know right? They trash so much." She motions with her head towards her pristine bike just a short distance away, "S'how I got Hella put together. People just kept trashin' their bikes and cars and dumping all these parts in their garage. I took what I needed and over time she got up and runnin and now?" Blake wolf-whistles at her bike (completely unironically) "She's friggen hot." Blake saunters over to Twitch and pops a squat so she can get a better look at the girl. "Soooo...what's your deal? What's with the chopper? You work with this one?" She jerks her head towards Rayne. "Naw. You don't seem like a cop." She regards Rayne with a small tilt of the head and adds, "No offense."

Rayne says, "'Shopping'?" with a raised eyebrow, then her frown deepens slightly as Blake mentions how she managed to scrounge that monster bike together from spare parts.  There was a time that such a project would have made Rayne drool, but that was ages ago for her, long before arriving in Twisted.  She remains quiet, however, as Blake proceeds to interview Twitch.  This expression is accompanied by a slight eyebrow twitch at the 'no offense' part.  "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Twitch smiles at Blake "I'm a Ysoki from the planet Akaton, in the Golarion system, as fore my occupation, I'm the chief engineer of the GOLDEN VANGUARD, Its a pleasure to meet you." she offers her paw to Blake as her tail twitches "And the best damned Starship engineer in the Pact systems at that."

Blake raises her brows. "Wow, that's some fancy talk," Blake says as Twitch finishes her spiel about her position and her ship. She may not know much about starships...like...anything at all...but she can appreciate someone's love for their ride. That's something she can certainly relate too. "Yeah, I dunno anythin' about starships and all.... But that sounds like a wicked ride. Totally get it. I feel ya, chief. Name's Blake." Blake jerks her thumb towards her chest. "My friend there's a different kinda chief. She's the Five-Oh." Blake's just gonna pretend she didn't hear Rayne's question. 9.9; She's got nothing against cops but...they do have a tendency to cramp her style on occasion.

Rayne raises a hand to her forehead.  The ego trip type.  Great.  "Welcome to Mabase.  I don't believe we have any starships here at the moment."  She sighs, then shakes her head, already feeling like, once again, her job is getting in the way of ever having anything resembling a social life.

Twitch smiles at Rayne "Hey I have no problem with law enforcement, helped station security occasionally, when needed" she smiles at Rayne and nods "I've noticed, still have plenty to do, like work on recon here" she says, then turns to Blake "And nice to meet you, love the bike"

Blake has been watching this curious little figure with amusement and curiosity. If there's one thing that is sure to keep Blake's interest, it's anything out of the ordinary and after all she's been through she's still not entirely jaded by it. "So, like, is everyone on your planet a little rat?" Zero points for tact but she doesn't seem to mean any harm by the question. Hands shoved into her pockets, she fiddles with the hunk of metal there.

Rayne glances to the side, to the mounds of....  junk.   No, trying to find the parts she needs is definitely beyond her.  If she could get her hands on a fabricator, she's certain she could build the parts needed, but...  would she really have the time anymore to actually put together the design?  "Well, it's good you keep yourself busy," she says with a bit of a distracted tone.

Twitch shakes her head at Blake" there are humans on my planet as well, also a four armed humanoid as well as a lizard race" she then looks over to Rayne "You look lost there, need help finding anything?"

Blake grins broadly, "Dude! That's -awesome-!" See, how Twitch's planet sounds like a hell of a lot more fun than here. Though...Rayne did mention that bounty board. You bet your ass she'll find her way to that. Blake gives the twisted hunk of metal another good kick this time just for fun and it hurtles a good ways until smashing into the windshield of another abandoned vehicle. "Goal," she says raising her hand in a half-assed gesture. "We're looking for parts for the chief's bike. Me, I'm just windowshoppin'"

Rayne winces at the kick, but is that really vandalism when everything here is abandoned junk?  She looks back to Twitch and starts to say, "I'm not really-" But of course Blake is already speaking over her more quiet tone.  "Um, yeah.  Cylinder two is showing more wear than it should."

The rat girl nods "Well could help you look at least, I like helping." She gives a big grin, witch shows off her own sharp teeth.  "Besides, I'm looking for some stuff as well, to update recon's scanners and weapon systems."

Blake turns to Rayne and winks, "See chief? We've gotchu!" Looks like it's going to be a team effort now. I mean, it just kind of worked out that way. Blake was here to begin with and then everyone showed up but it's not like Blake minds. Already she's diving right into the task, tromping through the rubbish, kicking bits of metal and glass out of the way and pausing once in a while to eyeball something that seems interesting. "Yeah, back home you had to be careful around places like this. Not just cause of the gangs or the goblins but cause hunkleschnarfs like to nest under big old piles of broken shit. I dunno what it is about junk they like so much but, love it....This one time, I was cruising around one of these old dumpsites and I kick over this door, right? And-BAM! like...15 of the damn things spring out at me..." She's telling someone this story...apparently.

Rayne sighs and then shrugs.  "All right then.  But I'm not entirely certain what I'm looking for, anyway.  Like I was telling Blake earlier, I'm a novice at internal combustion engines.  I'm not even certain I ''can'' fix up the cylinder without just...  replacing the whole block.  But I know the piston on it is probably better off just replaced."  She looks over the scavenging and nods.  "We've had a goblin problem.  I'm not entirely convinced they're actually gone, to be honest, but I've not gotten ''specific'' reports about them."  She blinks and looks over at Blake and asks, "Hunkleschnarf?"  She stares at Blake for a moment, then looks to Twitch.  "Uh, the motor in question is for a Ninja ZX-14R.  1,441cc, four-stroke inline four."  She looks back to Blake again to say, "I still don't understand how ''only'' the second cylinder is showing the wear, but like I said, new to internal combustion."

Twitch take out her data pad and puts in the info, examining the results before nodding and joining Blake in the search "It is a rather primitive tech were I'm from, but some of the vehicles in my fathers caravan still use it"

Blake prattles on as if she's not heard a word of anything else. "Oh yeah, nasty buggers. They're kinda like...I dunno, Armadillos but also kinda like earwigs or something'. Scorpions? Something kinda buggy but with a lot of teeth. Nasty bite but the tail's the real problem. They'll wallop ya with the big bone on the end and then try to run ya through with the spikes....I mean when they're babies it's not so bad. After a couple of stomps you can start to break down their carapace and get into the guts...but the mom and daddy?" She whistles. "They put up a hell of a fight. But if ya see one, you've probably got twenty so get ready for a fight....Oh hey! Check it!" Blake rises, holding up some random part for a bike. "Here!" She tosses it from where she is to Rayne which is some considerable distance but her aim's pretty good.

Rayne nods to Twitch.  "Yeah, same here.  I'm far more familiar with electric vehicles.  Internal combustion is kinda a relic when I'm from."   Yes, when, not where.  Since she's fairly certain Blake comes from some other universe that's further in the past than she is, but still contains Earth as she knows it, for the most part.  It's usually a relatively safe assumption for her.  "So, something like an isopod with an attack tail.  Got it.  I'll just burn them with fire if I come across them."  She blinks at the toss and barely avoids getting clocked with the part thrown her way.  Stepping to its landing place, she says, "...I don't need a new clutch.  ''That'' part is fine."

Twitch picks through the wreckage as she finds several other components for said bike, as well as some others for herself" Always room for improvement, even on working systems"

Blake says, "Yeah, ya never know. Hey, toss that back to me, will ya?"  If Rayne's not going to hang onto it, she may as well. Blake's no packrat but she's definitely not going to squander an opportunity. Spare parts are a handy thing to have. Whether or not Rayne complies, Blake walks her way back to her bike and rummages around in her pack. It isn't long before she manages to pull out what she was looking for, "Sweet! Still got em. Hey, you guys up for some tacos? They're probably still good. Best in town back home." She waves a grease stained bag in the air "tempting" them."

Rayne tosses the clutch back.  "Improvement, yes.  Replacing a perfectly fine component for one that's in worse condition is another thing entirely," she says dryly.  "And I don't need it to get higher performance, I just don't want it falling apart on me."  She tilts her head as Blake rummages through the pack, then pales slightly at the sight of the old tacos being produced.  "I'll...   Stick with Taco Juan's, thanks."

Twitch scurries over "Ill take one" she says "Never turns down free food" seems  she doesn't mind that there old

Blake is happy to share her oh-so-delicious and partly squashed tacos. She takes a couple of the wrapped tacos and delivers them to Twitch. She holds the bag up, "You sure, chief? Got like 6 extras." She doesn't wait for an answer before digging into hers. To be fair, they could be worse. There is something magical about the preservatives in these tacos that make them reasonably palatable. Worst is witty lettuce and a slightly softer shell - stale. But the flavor is decent for something cheap.

Rayne nods.  "I'll be fine.  I'll have to show you Taco Juan's later.  Best Tacos in Mabase, hands down.  The owner is a bit...  unstable, but hey, who isn't in this place?"  She shrugs.  She also looks around the place, still.  It's becoming increasingly clear that she's not just looking for parts, but, in a more difference sense than perhaps Blake would be, she's looking for trouble.

Twitch munches on taco as she miles "Well need to be off, see you both around" as she scurries deeper into the scrapyard

Blake plops down on the hood of a banged up car and settles, sitting Indian style while chowing down on her skeezy tacos.  In spite of the less than enthralling atmosphere, she seems to be enjoying herself for now. She waves lazily to the retreating rat-girl, "Later," though whether or not they will actually cross paths again is anyone's guess. If Twitch enjoys the scrapyard as much as she seems to, then it's probable they will meet again. Still, this leaves Blake exclusively in Rayne's company again and Rayne...Well, she's got that "cop look" about her just now. "Soooooo," she begins....but isn't sure what to say to this woman just now. "Wanna get a beer or somethin'?" That's the best she could do? Yes. Yes it is.

Rayne distractedly waves to the retreating ysoki, then blinks at Blake as she asks about going up for a beer.  Because ''everything'' is up from here.  "Huh?" she asks in almost surprise.  Well, it's not like she's on duty.  Crap, was she in patrol mode again?  Rayne supposes that may be because of how shifty this entire area feels to her...  but she shakes her head at her own thoughts.  "Eh.  Why not?" she says with a shrug.  "I've been on a hard ginger ale kick of late, have you tried that?"

Blake, cheeks full of the last remnants of taco, somehow manages a broad grin. It's clear she's pretty thrilled by the prospect of hitting up a bar or club. She chokes it down just in time to fist pump and give a whoop of approval, "YEAH! Alright! That's what I like!" She leaps off the car and moves to Rayne's side, "Naw, never...but I'll try anything once or twice. Why the hell not?" She gives Rayne a good clap on the back for good measure. "Let's go get shit-faced, chief!"

Rayne takes a half-step away as Blake jumps to her side, clearly a reflexive action.  Also clearly related to Rayne's aforementioned 'personal space issue'.  "Uh, yeah, the Usual has an all right-"  At the clap on the back, however, she takes a sharp breath in and tenses up.  Her eyes widen, her mouth turns to a grimace, and her shoulders hunch upward.  No comment on getting shit-faced, her personal space issue got set off in full.

Blake doesn't notice immediately. It's just not her nature to be so hands off. Rayne just has the misfortune of having encountered one of the most touchy-feely women in the history of Valedane. Hugs, noogies, headlocks, and a good ol' sock in the arm are just other ways to say 'hi friend!'. "Yeah, so you're gonna have to take the lead on this one cause I'm still finding my way around the--Whoa. You okay there?" NOW she's noticed.


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