[Audio]

[trust_us_with_your]

Test, test. Test, test. One, two. One, two.

[For those who come from worlds with television, the voice is distinct: It bears the cadence of someone who has addressed cameras on news and maybe even the weather, crisp and professional.]

Right. Straight to the point: I go by Vox, and I'm doing a little outreach. I'm curious about the salvaging situation, namely in scrap metals or any other fine parts, and looking to keep my hands busy.

Let's just say I'm technologically savvy.

[One can hear the grin in the voice, maybe even the little eyebrow wiggle. What CAN be heard is something akin to metal tapping a rhythm upon a nearby surface.]

That aside: What eludes to a degree that vexes me is a bit of stitching. Got an associate back home- a real witch with a sewing needle- who would kick my ass for trying, so anyone who can keep something from falling apart is invited to get in touch for something else I'm working on.

[Tap tap tap.]

...So is that dinosaur moose thing a regular feature around here, or did I have a really unlucky smoke break?

Comments

[purplexing]

Vox, huh.

I've been salvaging every chance I get, out of habit. I guess I can spare a box.

Haven't been doing much mending lately since I've been more focused on technical projects, but Jack's been more or less the self-appointed tailor for our charming caravan. I'm sure he'll be happy to help you out.

[trust_us_with_your]

Oho! Generous...! Coming in clutch! But I'm sure I can make it worth your while in some way or another if you decide to part with any.

Jack... Jack... alright. I'll keep the name in mind in the meantime. And you are...?

[purplexing]

Stop by the Turtle Tank and I can hook you up. Hard to miss it.

Name's Donnie.

[trust_us_with_your]

Donnie...! Got it.

[Turtle Tank? The fuck? Later, he would absolutely spot it from a mile away and realize... y e a h. Okay. That is the turtle tankiest turtle tank he's ever seen.]

[purplexing]

[They've got a theme!

The Tank absolutely dwarfs normal vehicles with the sheer size of its wheels alone. The rear ramp is down as it tends to be when Donnie's working on things. Within, the turtle's going through the contents of one of several crates, which range from gutted appliances to...robot legs of some sort?]

[cetrary]

Nice to meet you, Vox! Or does just talking like this really count as meeting? [ close enough. ]

I'm new myself so can't really say if it's a regular feature but...were you hurt by it?

[trust_us_with_your]

How about we chalk it up as an 'encounter' for now?

[The question garners a good-natured laugh.]

Scuffed up, but alive! I've handled worse from my shark on a 'zoomie' day.

[cetrary]

I'm glad to hear that. I mean I'm sorry you had the encounter at all, but glad you were just scuffed up.

You have a shark...?

[trust_us_with_your]

Oh yeah! SHOK.wav is a total baby. Only about... oh, what, thirty? Forty feet long? He's still got growing to do.

voice;

[propatriamori]

[The voice on the other end of the line has a soft British accent, not one as crisp as Vox may be used to.]

I'm afraid I'm unable to help you with anything technological, but I can supply you with silk for your sewing needs.

And no, dinosaur moose aren't typical, but not entirely unexpected either. The wildlife is... unique, shall we say.

voice;

[trust_us_with_your]

Silk, of course...! ...We talking the cloth or thread?

[Where the fuck did you find silk around here, thought a guy who will probably find a stash of preserved eggnog tomorrow, confusing him further.]

Yeah, I'm getting that impression after the weird cyborg dogs, too. I think I'll take the lot over the crap skittering around back home, though.

[propatriamori]

Silk thread. I haven't yet figured out how to weave it into cloth, but it's something I'm working on.

[He makes the silk! On account of being half-spider! But he'll leave that part out for now.]

Do you have unusual creatures back home, as well? You sound American, but there are people with similar accents from across different worlds here.

[trust_us_with_your]

Yeah... lot of unusual creatures back home. Got nothing to do with being American, though. I stopped living there some time ago.

Audio

[wereperrito]

Hello Vox.

I'm sort of working as the convoy's tailor. I have a little shop in the last caravan car if you would like to come by some evening and show me what you need sewn. The door is always open. I'm the one with the fox ears and tails.

Audio

[trust_us_with_your]

I'll drop by later, sure.

I think I was informed to look for you, actually. Are you Jack?

Re: Audio

[wereperrito]

Oh, yes! Yes, that's me. That's nice, that someone else remembered I do this.

[He chuckles, not offended if people forgot. They've had some new people lately, and other people going husk or just disappearing, and he hasn't done an announcement of it in a while.]

What are you looking to get sewn, Vox?

Audio

[trust_us_with_your]

Well, I've had a bit of a run-in with another transformed... Drifter...? And I can't exactly say my usual fit is meant to hold up to things like that.

But the meat of the matter is that I've got my hands on some hides and it might just be the ticket to having something what might keep my circuits from icing over. Got plenty of the material to donate, of course, but I'm sure some sort of exchange can be made.

[undyingcrow]

Frankly, the 'dinosaur moose' is rather tame compared to the murder poultry we encountered before.

[Yes, murder poultry. His voice carries a hint of amusement, but rest assured, there is no joke.]

At least the appearance of such a large, imposing creature makes its danger level immediately apparent. It's the small, seemingly 'innocent' creatures that hide the proverbial knives behind their backs.

[trust_us_with_your]

Murder poultry. Apt.

[Something small and unassuming. Hmm.]

Oh yeah? Like what? So far it's been the moose and those weird dogs.

[undyingcrow]

This batch of monster on the whole seems more overtly monstrous. The cuccos, however...

[He draws a breath.]

Imagine perfectly ordinary, unassuming chickens that go absolutely apeshit the moment you attack them. They swarm together, wielding incredible power. The hordes materialize regardless of whether or not any were in the vicinity.

Once they are out for blood, the only hope is to flee. Quite the harrowing sight, but beaks and talons can do quite a bit of damage when applied with enough ferocity.

[trust_us_with_your]

[He'd said it so seriously, describing chickens- or chicken-like things- in such a manner. Up north where he used to be from, he knew some pretty mean turkeys who will fuck up your day. Even a rooster is not a fucker you fucked with.

But Vox replies with a spluttering laughter.]

Wait, did you- did you pick a fight with chickens? That sounds WAY too specific for it not to be personal experience...!

[Voice]

[saisdoesmatter]

Whatcha need stitched up? I've done it before.

[trust_us_with_your]

Got a few pesky holes in my coat, for one, but I've got kind of a project involving some hides I've scrounged up.

Ol' dinosaur moose is going to work for me now, let's say.

[saisdoesmatter]

Holes are easy to patch. Something bigger might take a bit more time and effort though, depending on what it is.

...the what now?

[trust_us_with_your]

Look, your guess is as good as mine, okay? It looked like a moose but it walked on two legs and feels a little t-rexy to me.

Whatever it was, it attacked me and... somebody. But it's fine, I got it, but now there's a mass of meat and hide lying in the snow and I'm trying to figure out what to do with it.