text; un: justbiggs

[alphabeticalplans]

Hey, folks. That train just keeps hauling more people like us here, and it doesn't show any signs of stopping, so I've got an idea.

[In reality he has two ideas, but one doesn't need to be talked about with anyone who isn't trustworthy enough to keep it quiet.]

The name's Biggs, and I woke up on a train, too. Now, I know the locals aren't our biggest fans, but you can't really blame them. They've got a lot working against them, and two suns aren't even the beginning. It looks to be like they've been abandoned by whatever company or government left them here, they don't even have the infrastructure required for a school. They're just surviving, and us suddenly adding more mouths to feed probably isn't helping them take a shine to us.

I'd love to save the world, but I think we can start smaller. People who feel safe tend to be nicer. I'm not a weaponsmith or anything, but I can mod existing materials into serviceable weapons. I say we outfit ourselves as we can and give this place the defense it needs. There are monsters out there in the outskirts, and there isn't much besides a fairly low wall keeping them on the other side of it. We set up a watch, get organized, and make a bit of a difference at the same time.

The win/win is we get a better idea of what's out there, and maybe where that train's coming from, where it's going. If you're in, let me know, or if you'd like to help get us up and running with supplies and organization, that's on the table, too.

Biggs out.

Comments

Text: UN: kotowari

[justamedicineseller]

If it is helpful...I am a Medicine Seller by trade.

I have been working on finding ingredients to make salves, and herbal tinctures.



I also have...experience in fighting...monsters.

[alphabeticalplans]

There's always a shortage of medicine, at least a reliable source of it. I don't know much about growing plants, but I'm sure we can work something out.

What kinds of monsters do you have experience with?

[justamedicineseller]

I can cultivate things. And I would be happy to help.

Well...what most humans would consider...ghosts. Or demons. I have methods of warding...and of slaying, if the need arises.

[alphabeticalplans]

Sounds great. I'll put your name down for support.

...real actual ghosts?

[justamedicineseller]

Please do. Kusuriuri.

Yes. Real actual ghosts.

[alphabeticalplans]

Got it.

...We...don't have a ghost problem around here, do we?

[justamedicineseller]

I don't know.

But if we do, I suppose...I know how to handle it.

[alphabeticalplans]

Okay that's actually kind of comforting.

text - un: *blocked, blurry, heavily encrypted*

[hibana_incursa]

tried waiting on the train to see where it went.

no such luck.

it didn't move.

i was chased off.

when i turned around, the train was already rolling off.

so that's interesting and useful information.

[alphabeticalplans]

[Yeah, the encrypted text isn't creepy at all.]

It tells me whoever's running the train doesn't want us to see where it's headed, but the tracks don't disappear.

text; un: higgs

[finalrequest]

Well that's a hell of a coincidence. Our names rhyme!

As for your suggestion, I'm not opposed to it at all, but we are all strangers to the folks living here. They might be fairly suspicious of any benevolent intentions. I used to work with some extremely paranoid people, who didn't exactly trust easily.

That being said, I don't know much of anything about combat, but I suppose if you need a guy used to weird shit happening as lookout, I could always help.

[alphabeticalplans]

Hopefully people won't get us confused. Good to meet you, Higgs.

I'm fully prepared for their paranoia. Our actions will speak for themselves.

[At least that was the idea.]

We can always use extra eyes, but if you're willing to learn, I can show you a thing or two about firearms, at least to protect yourself from whatever monsters might come close enough to the wall.

[finalrequest]

I know a bit about firearms.

This is a little difficult to explain, I suppose, but in my world, the only way to defend oneself without potentially causing a catastrophic problem is using nonlethal options. Incapacitation is one thing— nonlethal bullets exist, but shooting to kill is a lot more messy.

Monsters don't exactly exist, not in the way they seem to around here.

But I am good at not needing to do much for long stretches of time. I used to be a porter, so I have a lot of experience in that regard.

[Naturally, he doesn't... actually clarify what that means.]

[alphabeticalplans]

And shooting is the easiest way to deal with some of the flying fiends out there in the desert.

I don't know if we should really call them monsters. Overly aggressive wildlife.

You have a lot of experience in transporting goods? That's handy, especially since the natives don't seem to have much, but our houses are stocked pretty well. I was thinking of setting up a system to share the wealth if they'll have us I mean.

[finalrequest]

That works just as well. I know that before an incident that changed the world pretty dramatically, people in rural areas did have to occasionally protect themselves from dangerous animals.

I do, yeah. I did most of it on foot, because the terrain made it impossible to drive a vehicle over it. I could probably teach a thing or two about survival for the locals.

[alphabeticalplans]

That sounds perfect. I'll put your name on the list, then.

[finalrequest]

Great!

Looking forward to working with you. It might be interesting to trade some stories.

[alphabeticalplans]

I don't really have that many stories to share, at least no interesting ones.

[At least not that he's willing to share.]

I'm a pretty good listener, though.

[finalrequest]

Really? No stories about fending off wildlife, stories of helping folks out with average things?

I'm not one to press, but I am surprised.

Maybe I can tell you a bit about how I won over a city of paranoid separatists. It wasn't easy.

[alphabeticalplans]

Whether or not it was helpful depends on who you ask, honestly. I...guess we do keep Sector 7 in water filters, which is helpful. Smells like rotten eggs otherwise.

[More than anything, he's just humble.]

Won them over to what?

[finalrequest]

That seems pretty damn important. People need clean water, and if I'm understanding correctly, it's not something that exists everywhere, is it?

[He has to admire that sort of thing.]

Accepting help at all. I was a porter; it was sorta the thing I did. They weren't quick to trust, and were paranoid about outsiders. It took damn near a year before they let me into the city to talk to the folks in charge to make delivering their groceries easily.

[alphabeticalplans]

Not if you're a bottom dweller. The people who live in the city above don't have to worry about it, though, never mind it's their waste that pollutes our water supply.

Well, people on edge don't trust outsiders easily. That's why I want to help these people.

[finalrequest]

Well that just about sums up rich folk everywhere, doesn't it? I grew up with nothing; I understand. Aren't many wealthy folks around who would even pretend to understand.

Yeah. I get you. I want to help too.

Text un classified

[covert_ops]

You know I’m down.

text

[alphabeticalplans]

Yeah? I got the impression you worked alone.

Kidding, I knew I could count on you.