► Certified ancient relic agent ◄

The one and only Sampo Koski, at your service! ► Closed RP blog Affiliated w/ Gnostic Hymns ◄

[huuuugestmoney]

Life is s'more fun outdoors

sampo & hyacine - camping time!

[twilighthealer]

For trips such as these, accidents were common, common enough to be a concern. Even though she was sure she’d met everyone (or, if not, Little Ica had seen everyone on site), her camping neighbour held no familiarity. Surprise only lingered for half a second before she matched his smile and wave with one of her own. 

“Good morning to you too!” a giggle as she made her way over, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, Sampo. My name is Hyacinthia, though, you can just call me Hyacine! And this is my companion, Little Ica.” 

She glanced at the Pegasus in question, who was… only focusing on the kettle. Of course. Shaking her head, she cleared her throat. “Ahem! Little Ica, it’s time for introductions!”

“Doot.”

And with that, her flying friend returned to his favoured pastime. Though she would have preferred he be a bit more amiable, Little Ica followed his heart (or stomach) on most days. Instead, she turned her attention back at Sampo. Guess he missed Katherine’s explanation, then! Which wasn’t as big of a surprise considering he had shown up, seemingly, out of thin air.

“Oh, yes! Katherine explained it yesterday morning. Basically, we’re supposed to work together to try and camp as a team for as many days as possible, we get points on the foods we’ve made and the state of our tents. We’re supposed to take photos of everything everyday to make sure we’re not cheating or such. Does that make sense?”

[huuuugestmoney]

"Likewise! Miss Hyacine and Little Ica..." Sampo repeated with a nod, committing the names to memory. One new friend as adorable as the other! But these are the things Sampo Koski knows better than to say out loud, lest he come across patronizing. Gaze shifted again to the pegasus and noted his intense focus - ah!

"Worry not - your friend's a man after my own heart, hehe! Hey, lil guy, you can have some of what ol' Koski's got simmering soon, all right? It's not quite ready, is all."

It was a promise - and kind of a bribe, too. What critter didn't appreciate being fed?

With a smile, he looked up as Hyacine answered his question.

"Perfect sense! The most crystal of clear, hehe. Thank you kindly, Miss Hyacine. I got a bit, uh, held up yesterday along the way." He glanced at her tent, then back at her. "And you, yourself? Are ya in it to win it, then?"

A blink, and then, a sheepish smile:

"Ehe… Also, did Miss Katherine happen to elaborate on what counts as 'cheating'…?"

Because can-do attitude or no, maybe camping wasn't looking to be so lucrative after all . . .

No, no, it was far too early to give up!

[huuuugestmoney]

Life is s'more fun outdoors

sampo & hyacine - camping time!

[huuuugestmoney]

Anything can be a lucrative endeavour if you spin it just right - camping included. Sure, you've gotta appreciate the trials and tribulations that come with the territory in order to even consider proper enjoying it, but Sampo's got the can-do attitude required, fret not! Honestly, enthusiasm is easily the least of his worries. He's braved much worse in his quests for artifacts ancient and arcane.

A spot of competitive camping should be refreshing in comparison.

When Sampo, from where he sits tending kettle warming over fire, spots Hyacine, he beams and waves her over. Pushing on his knees, he comes to stand and offers her a hand in greeting.

"Gooooood morning, miss neighbour! I figured I missed you yesterday, so I'd best get to saying hi and hello bright an' early! The name's Sampo Koski, at your service!" He goes to seat himself, albeit not before adding another small log to the fire first.

He smiles easily. The man himself and his modest tent may well have just appeared out of the blue. There had been no ruckus, no ceremony… hey. He could be a good neighbour if he tried, you know!

"… ah, actually, while I have you here… Do you know how this team camping thing works?" Head tilts in question as index fingers tap together. "Is it like, a points based system or something?"

@twilighthealer

[huuuugestmoney]

credits where they're due

[geniuswhizkid]

HIS TONE ISN'T TOO CONVINCING, BUT SHE WON'T JUDGE OFF OF THAT. MAYBE IT'S NERVES FOR THE BIG GUY . . . though it sort of does make her reconsider, like a lot. . . the little genius doesn't appreciate schemers. she is efficient and they are not! and . . . they sort of impede on her efficiency. regardless, said little genius would like to believe herself to be open minded. plus!. . . errr, she can't actually think of a plus side. immediately, Aino thinks of a rad trading system. mora is for krumkakes and sweets ( she got better at managing that, honest. ) ( okay not really, but still. )

mmmh. . . chocolate cake . . . whoopsies! focus!

“ . . . ya'know i'd hope it does reach farther. ” Aino deadpans very seriously, not realizing initially that it's a. . . hyperbole. is that what it's called? well, an exaggeration of sorts. by the time she does, there's no need to back track and correct herself. “ but it's definitely good. sure! ”

now. . . the genius isn't too keen on selling actual bots. that requires transportation and stuff that she, frankly, does not want to delve into. bot demos and build-your-own-bot kind of stuff. . . ( after all what kind of people would buy her tech if they didn't know how to build? ) . . . is the stuff she's gonna part with. hm. hmmmm. hmmmmm.

mister koski is almost exactly like dori. . . oh! nevermind. he's asking what she does want.

ineffa says. . . it's good to get some mora. always good. never turn that down- but a deal breaker, for Aino, anyway, is never just mora. “ mora is always good. ” she parrots her daughter, “ but i am lookin' for other things. ”

heehee. . . confections from out of teyvat . . . . . . scrap parts from out of teyvat! “ . . . two things. or more, maybe. 's more a broad category. yaknow? ”

who's ineffa? that's a lot. but also a little. but also a lot. “ ineffa is my family! ” the genius exclaims without pause, “ so is everyone else at the craftshop. ” her robots are most important to her, after all. no one can top them! not even him. this is a test. totally intentional and extremely important test. yeppers.

“ she ain't here right now, i sent her to do some errands in nasha. . . she might be a lil' busy. why? ”

[huuuugestmoney]

Brows furrow with concern. Has he lost her again? Okay, okay. No. It was just a miscommunication - a joke that didn’t stick the landing. (Well, not that he’d entirely been joking…)

He tries to keep his face from lighting up too much at the mention of mora as an option. Does he succeed? Probably not! Hands clasp together as he waits to hear the sound of the other shoe dropping against the floor - there’s always always another shoe to drop, if he’s learned anything.

Sampo would almost be disappointed if there weren’t, in truth.

Two things, Aino says. Mister Sampo nods, sparing no enthusiasm.

And then…

And then, she leaves him hanging! Oh, the cruelty of it all!

He clears his throat.

“Ah, I had just been wondering, since you mentioned her prowess in business. If you needed time to confer with her before coming to a decision, or some such… Ah, but that’s just me being presumptuous, please don’t mind this old fool.” Eyes crinkle with warmth, and he taps a finger on the desk nearest to him. Tip tip tap. Everything in this place just oozes personality, doesn’t it?

He really, really can’t leave without some kind of a deal.

“So, what are these two things - or more - you’re thinking, lil lady? Sampo’s all ears, and more than keen to make you and your family happy campers, hehe!”

[gaiart93]

Another old sketch of my fav 💙

Ink and markers on grey paper with some digital corrections.

[shieldsresolve]

No Peace Lookin' at the Sky

[shieldsresolve]

His eyes narrow at Sampo as he listens, scanning the self-proclaimed businessman, trying to detect any falsehoods or tricks, but, gradually, that steeliness fades away. Eventually coalescing into a weary sigh that he felt in his bones, some of the tension leaving his shoulder's despite the situation, but just genuinely relieved that at least neither of them had suffered anything serious.

"I don't know how much I believe that." Straightening himself back up whilst scooping up the lantern that he had placed down earlier. Turning to face the room while trying to contemplate their next course of action, which, in his own opinion, seems quite obvious.

To leave. To find a way out and report the events that transpired here. Though, he wasn't all too sure of the facts as everything unfolded too fast and his main priority was getting people out, but there definitely was something off that left a bad taste in his mouth... or that could be dirt, but regardless. Whoever they were dealing with was dangerous if they access to materials that can cause a cave-in like this. Just who was Sampo dealing with? What bone do they have with the other man?

... Was this an attempt on his life?

What did...?

Gepard stops himself before he starts thinking in circles. There were too many questions without answers, and he doubts Sampo would tell him everything, or possibly know more than he did at this every moment... Would he?

Letting out a sigh, he continues. "The main reason I showed up was because I was in the area on patrol when someone came to me in a panic about there being trouble in the Great Mines." He scrunches his brows, trying to remember that specific person's face, but, for some reason, couldn't. Chalking it up due to the chaotic circumstances then.

"I couldn't ignore it, and, well, I believe you know the rest." Extending his arms out to gesture around them. "Regardless," Walking towards the middle of the room as he spots a large opening on the other side, looking to be their only way forward that evidently leads further in the mine.

"It looks like the only way is forward." He turns back with an eyebrow raised. "Are you familiar with the caverns down here?"

[huuuugestmoney]

“D’awww, ye of little faith!” Not that Sampo’s gone out of his way to earn the upstanding captain’s trust any. Troublemakers gotta live with their reputations, in the end... But would it kill Geppie to pretend his favourite conman could be a good guy for like, maaaybe two seconds? They don’t have to operate as worst enemies. If anything, it’s more fun to think of the two of them as quirky rivals…

… At any rate, Sampo’s counting his blessings, ‘cause he knows damn well Gepard could have just slapped some cuffs on him upon finding him in such a vulnerable state, and that’d have been that.

(He reminds himself to keep an eye out - better to keep his distance and not give the blonde any wild ideas. Certainly, an attempt hasn’t been ruled out, believe you me on this if nothing else!)

“Some more than others, I’m afraid. Slim pickings in most of these parts - either already scavenged or fallen out of repair or wayyyyyyy too dangerous to get to. Case in point.” He gestures back toward the beam Gepard had freed him from.

Has he mentioned how very grateful he is for that, by the way?

Surely it can’t hurt to say so once more.

He falls into a mock bow, rising with a flourish. He winces a bit - so maybe he’s more stiff than he’d thought, oof.

“Thanks again, by the way! Much obliged, my dear captain. Hehe.”

He offers his most charming of smiles.

If he tries hard enough, maybe he’ll thaw the Landau’s cold demeanour toward him even just a smidge…!

Ha ha ha.

Anyway, Sampo is more than content to stand there waiting for Gepard to take the initiative in moving them forward in this scary place. Gepard has shields! Sampo does not. It's pretty simple logic, right?

“Um, ya know, Landau, it’s kinda weird that someone came up to you for this. Not that you ain't trustworthy or anything but... the folks from the Under still much prefer taking to their own where possible - they’re the ones who have more expertise with the workings and happenings down here. Makes sense, right?”

[verkunder]

Two Bros and a Body Bag

Commission | Dude died. Damn, that sucks :(

[verkunder]

A BODY HAS BEEN FOUND UNALIVED IN THE SNOW PLAINS! It's not breaking news, considering how brutal the harsh environment can be, but what is sending the press into a rage is the fact that the body belongs to the one and only Mr. Kough, the Chamber of Commerce secretary accused of misappropriating funds. He seems to have taken a fatal fall from the cliffside to the hard snowy ground. The case is cold (hah!) at first, but there are certain details surrounding his supposed 'death' that don't quite add up. Was it really as simple as making an oopsie? Recall that, before his demise, he was not exactly a beloved figure among the Belobog public. Come on, writer. Use that brain of yours and think—what else is at play here?

It feels too similar to the past, when Dainsleif was once an honorable knight with bright light and hope in his eyes. To the job that he had once done. And that still lingers in some ways even now, through instincts and the way he approached problems like this - though some part of him wishes that he didn’t have those instincts anymore, that they could have faded away in time with all of his happy memories of his homeland.

The once proud knight kneels to the ground, observing the spot where Mister Kough’s body had laid before it was taken away, the impact it had left in the snow now covered with a fresh coating, a gentle dusting across the empty plains. He glances towards the cliffs above, certainly high enough to cause a death were someone to jump or stumble off of them. The dead man always could have been pushed, and given his reputation, Dainsleif can’t help but to think that may be the most likely option in this scenario.

If Dainsleif were to weigh the options between him slipping or being pushed, he would almost certainly believe that this was a murder rather than an accident.

Should he meddle though? Try and solve this as if this was back in the days of Khaenri’ah when both others and himself had confidence in the Twilight Sword? 

He doesn’t know. And sometimes Dainsleif thinks that he hasn’t known anything for a very long time.

@huuuugestmoney

[huuuugestmoney]

“Hooooly moly, is that a body!?”

He’d popped up right on the edge of the cliff overhead, hands clapped to his face, before realizing one quite important factor: ah, he’s wrong.

“Oh, false alarm. You do appear, in fact, to be quite alive! My bad, friend!”

Sampo gives a wave, friendly, enthusiastic as ever. And then he gives no warning, darting along the cliff’s edge and contemplating his best descent. The fastest way down would be straight ahead, to where Dainsleif had lay kneeling a moment ago - but Sampo ain’t got a death wish, you know!! He frets, not finding anywhere quite suitable enough for his liking -

and then the snow on the ledge slips, inevitably taking him down with it.

Sampo has had much and more to thank snowdrifts for over the course of his life, did you know? And now, he has another thank-you to add to the pile.

His head pops up out of the snow a scant few yards away from Dainsleif.

“Iiii thought I was totally a goner!”

Anyway, he’s fine just chilling here for now. Don’t mind him, no.

He grins at the stranger before him.

“You know, lotta people bite the dust out here in the cold. With the way you’d been standing, ol’ Sampo had thought you one of them…! Especially based on recent rumours surrounding this area…”

Hand reaches up from the snow to swipe at the white on his hair.

Then, Sampo leans his elbow on the snowdrift, and his cheek against his knuckles.

“Ahem. So what does bring you out here, hm? You don’t look like you’re from around here.”

[trailblczed]

☆ wubbaboo hide && seek

【 bloom commission ── wubbaboo hunters. 】

[trailblczed]

Now, Caelus won't say he's impressed- but he is mildly proud ( and highly amused ) of the fact that Sampo had already pushed passed the initial hesitation of finding the Wubbabboos off-putting, and had even caught one-- with such fanfare too!! Mr. Cold Feet sure knows how to put on a presentation with his work, huh?

❛ Not bad! Not bad at all! ❜

Caelus can't suppress the little giggle that rumbles in his chest at the sight- of Sampo practically holding up his "catch" like one might do when having caught a large fish. With a softening grin, the Nameless reaches out until he can cup the bottom of the jacket trap, making sure he has a steady grasp before ever so gently taking the wubbaboo from the taller man.

The silver then slowly removes part of the jacket from the creatures face- showing a now slightly teary-eyed wubbaboo, even if it was still quietly cackling. Perhaps it had been entertained by the chase? Or had it been startled by the impromptu cage? Regardless, Caelus keeps the devious thing mostly wrapped up- only removing enough so the poor thing could at the very least see.

❛ Well.. to be honest with you, I don't really have a "way to send them"-- aside from just.. tossing them in a room into a corner and just.. telling them to stay put. Works most of the time, though I will admit that might just be because I have earned favor with them from how often I come by just to play. ❜

The look of fondness etched into the Nameless' face speaks of how deeply he enjoys those moments, and how he wouldn't trade it for anything.

❛ Special protag privileges at its finest. ❜

Movement at the corner of his eye, and once Caelus turns his head to see what had caught his attention he finds six more wubbaboos roaming around- some zipping by as if they were racing each other, and some just vibing. Caelus figures trying to snag the more active ones is likely a better idea, as the more relaxed creatures are less likely to bolt and make it easier to catch them.

Carefully but swiftly Caelus hands the already captured wubbaboo back to the bluenette before he dashes after the speedsters, managing to get a hold of two of the three that had been zooming around.

❛ Gotcha! Wow, you've gotten faster since I've seen you last. ❜

[huuuugestmoney]

“???”

Come again?

No wonder these little troublemakers look to be a recurring problem, if that’s the station’s best way of dealing with them. Head tilted to the side in question, Sampo but can shrug in exasperation.

“Normally I’d say ‘whatever works,’ friend, but…”

But it clearly isn’t working.

On the flipside though, now that he can spy the critter peeking out from his coat, he can all the more agree that it’s … cute. Kinda.

“Kinda odd that in a den of scientists, home of renown genius, even, no one would be able to figure out a permanent solution to this - especially if it’s problem enough that they need to enlist frequent outside help…”

Unless they’re just taking Mister Trailblazer for a ride, he thinks. But that’s not very generous of him, is it? And seeing the expression on Caelus’ face, Sampo doubts if he’d mind, either way. Okay. So he likes the little guys, and the little guys like him. Makes sense. Special protag privileges, indeed.

“I think my jacket can fit those two as well, maybe… But none after that, I’m afraid.”

The way Caelus charges ahead, fearless… It’s something of an inspiration. If only Sampo could bottle up that courage and sell it… ooooo…

Ahem.

“Just how many of these guys didja say have gone rogue anyhow? You what, just come back every now and again to corral ‘em up like this?”

[huuuugestmoney]

credits where they're due

[geniuswhizkid]

recognition is a sweet, sweet thing. she finds herself hoping a little that mister koski has some less mora-hungry intentions. ugh, that swindler.

currently, though Aino can't tell at all if he's being sincere or not! it's the tone, she thinks, and it feels a little weird - is this how some people perceive ineffa's tone? difficult to read? huh . . . “ expanding? ”

.     .     . 

mister koski better have a better offer.

she stares. and stares. and stares. it seems like she won't talk to him anymore, but -

“ you're offerin' t' be . . . a seller for my bots? ” the little inventor asks, pointing to her chin in thought, “ weeeeelll. . . ” she thinks about the sweets that she could buy. and the krumkake ingredients. and maybe even more sources of scrap . . .

tempting.

Aino clears her throat, sleeves crossed again, “ i need more details. ” she decides, “ the last person that tried to work with me like that didn't have that good of an offer at all. ”

honestly, though, Aino might be fine with a lacking mora offer - she cares about if he has anything interesting besides that. exotic machines, new metal types, new energy types . . . “ so! mister koski. . . you're a merchant, right? a . . . businessman! i'm not as good as ineffa is at business, but i'm not shabby at all with it . . . let's talk business! ” she enthusiastically begins, scooting over to the nearest thing to sit on, “ tell me more about your offer, and then we can . . . agree on something, maybe! yeah. ”

[huuuugestmoney]

He thinks he’s lost her for a moment there, with how deeply she looks to ponder his offer. Maybe she isn’t even thinking about the deal anymore. Maybe Sampo’s pitch needs reworked. Or maybe he needs to go home and rethink each and every one of his life decisions —

AHA!

A BITE.

“Mhm! Ol’ Sampo has a pretty impressive network, believe you me. Reach a lot wider than just how far his arms can extend, hehehe.” Of course, he has to stretch his arms out wide all the same- a Bit needs the accompanying gesture, or it’s no longer a Bit, savvy? Okay, okay, it’s a bit corny, but it’s the honest truth! … The bit about his network being none too shabby is pretty honest, too, promise.

Hands on hips, he waits, doesn’t push quite yet. Sampo’s content to let Miss Aino deliberate. If she really is a genius, he shouldn’t get in her way, right? All the geniuses he’s ever heard of have been known to have the odd, ahem, quirk or two to ‘em. Having glanced about Aino’s workshop before she busted him for illegal entry (sorry! sorry!!), he doubts if she’s any different.

More details is good. Really good. It means she hasn’t shot him down. There’s hope. There’s a chance to make something of this if he doesn’t shove his foot all the way into his mouth. He’s pretty good at closing deals, did you know? But even Sampo will admit he’s made a fair fool of himself on more than one occasion. Heh.

“Hey, hey, Mister Koski isn’t just any ol’ merchant! ‘Never let a client walk away sad,’ that’s my motto!” He has. A lot of mottos. “Let’s talk business!!” It’s a small victory. He’ll take it with no small enthusiasm, believe you me. He waits for her to seat herself first before looking for something suitable for himself, as well. He sits tall. Clears his throat.

“My offer, dear Aino, hinges on what you might like. You want mora? I can swing that. Credits? I can swing that, too. Buuuut looking at everything you’ve got going on in here," he gestures to her beautiful workshop, "a guy’s led to wonder… is it perhaps something else your inventor’s heart might desire? Anything you've always thought would be nice to have but that wasn't available to you?” Far-reaching network, his smiling face and hands clasped to his chest cheerfully remind.

Because Sampo can definitely swing that, too. Does she perhaps like shiny things? he muses.

“Oh, I meant to ask, is this Ineffa an associate of yours?”

[faithbinder]

life savers (the candy, not you)

moze & sampo.

[faithbinder]

He makes use of far too many words to say far too little. Sampo Koski, by his own account, is a curator of things given value because they have been forgotten. The rest of what he says—and there's a lot of it—is simply noise, only made irritating by the hand on his shoulder.

"We are not friends. This is the first time we've met." Friends—Moze can't even say he has any. Allies, yes. Contacts, certainly. But friends? ...How ridiculous. His duties have never demanded more of him, and he isn't particularly keen on changing that. He is but the General's blade, oft pointed where she directs, and deflected when it angles itself in reverse. If there is anything he needs both now and in the future, it's a target. Nothing more.

"...And I am only a scavenger as far as fuel is concerned. In its absence, anything combustible."

Moze walks past him to take a closer look at the beam, stepping on the discarded locks of hair as he does so. No foul play from what he can see, which only makes this factory feel even more desolate. If there's anything of use still remaining within these walls, it would only be because nature itself had made traps out of human ingenuity left abandoned.

He doesn't know enough about Belobog's infrastructure or technology to be able to tell just what's flammable and what isn't. If anything, everything he's seen thus far has just looked like junk. Very, very old junk. He'd almost argue everything here was combustible if it wasn't for the fact that everything was also very, very frozen... which, for better or for worse, actually makes saving Sampo Koski's life to be a convenient decision.

"Point me to anything here that fits. You can keep whatever artifacts you find otherwise."

[huuuugestmoney]

Ooouh, testy, this one!

Sampo’s hand flies up innocently, as though to say ‘look, ma! Not touching! Totally respecting boundaries!’

He doesn’t expect acknowledgement for it, mind you, but it doesn’t stop him slinging a sheepish, lopsided grin Moze’s way, brows upturned in something akin to apology. And then in the next second he opens his mouth again! and maybe may as well not have bothered with the pretense: 

“Okay~! No worries, compadre, ‘not-friends’ it is. For now.”

If that sounds ominous…

Well, that’s just Moze’s imagination, clearly. 

“So what’s your name, pal? Oops, sorry - old habits.” Tee hee. Ah, but he’s been granted an interesting tidbit just now: “Fuel, huh… Here for Solwarm, then? How noble!” Hands clasp together and settle over his heart. Eyes shine! So! Bright! “Not only do you save poor fools from their untimely demises, but you look after the cold and downtrodden, too…”

Noiseless footsteps follow after Moze, displacing not a speck of dust. (Don't worry about it.)

Hands on hips, he hums, haws.

“And generous, to boot. Somebody get this man a medal!” Something metal winces, perhaps at the volume of his voice. Oopsies. “I mean,” slightly quieter, maybe, “if it’s geomarrow ore you’re after, your not-friend Sampo's passed a bunch of it back there, in one of the storage cellars…” He thumbs over his shoulder. “But it seemed a lot to carry back on my own, y’know?” Wink wonk.

[huuuugestmoney]

ride the rhythm~

[tartagliare]

At this, Childe’s grin is sharp enough to cut glass. ’“That’d depend on where in Teyvat you’ve been!” He wants to pry, of course, itches to know what this nicely dressed civilian might have been doing to get in the crosshairs of something dangerous. He blames the adrenaline – already high as they’re being urged back into position – it’s not a real fight, but his limbs buzz all the same. “Maybe after we’ve won this thing-“ Another competitor scoffs…Childe isn’t being quiet by any means. “You can tell me about it. I bet I can guess where you were, I’ve travelled here and there.”

In the spirit of the competition, he offers a small salute to his parter (and maybe something more mocking toward the competitors that have their eyes fixed on him).

“Okay friend,” The engine clicks to life. It’s easier to talk to his companion now that he’s got fresh features to match the outlandish name. Not that Childe is one to judge, but hey- “Let’s do some damage.” Hadn’t Sampo promised that he and Childe looked similar parts? It couldn’t be true by half, but he found his accelerator in the first few seconds – braced for impact as he crashed another car against the rail in a bid to turn without braking.

It worked…kind of. Besides, since they were a pair, it only mattered if one of them could come in first. He never flicks off his microphone, so he’s sure that Sampo hears every creative curse his service has taught him when he hits a trap on the track and spins. “Speaking of tech. Do these things explode?” He can tell that pieces of his spacecraft are smoking, but the referees and crowd seem to love that. Without waiting for his partner to reply, he launches a whistling missile ahead, where his teammate and two others are stuck in some sort of three-way collision. “Move left!”

[huuuugestmoney]

“Yeah? All right. Been a bit of here and there myself. After we win this thing, let’s have us a chat, hahaha!”

Making connections is one of Sampo’s favourite things when it comes to business. Credits are, of course, another, but there’s just something, a certain je-ne-sais-quoi about shmoozin’ that gets him giddy, you know? The wider his reach, the more people he can buy from and sell to, and the greater his overall network in the event of things ever going, ah, sideways. (Not that that’s ever happened, of course.) O, Joy to the universe! Hehehe.

Anyway, he’s not sure if he’s anymore convinced that they’ve got what it takes to actually rank, but at least he’s proper motivated now! 

It doesn’t stop trepidation taking hold as he clambers into his own vehicle, waits for the go-ahead, and revs ‘er UP. Call it intuition, but something about the funny words his partner’s spitting out so early into the round don’t instill the greatest confidence in him.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way, I’m sure.”

And dang if Childe didn’t seem keen on Finding A Way.

Gretting his teeth, knuckles whitening, Sampo swerves left as indicated, and not a moment too soon. At least he’d gotten a heads-up, one supposes, but… “Eesh! Got a trigger finger, or what?”

Sampo flips the switch on his end and zooms away, leaving in the literal dust the two behind him who'd crashed into each other upon Childe firing on them.

“If you do blow that thing up, might be I’ll have to swing by and pick you up off the floor, friend - now, does that sound fun to you?”

(It is NOT permission to go ahead and do so, by the way.)

“I think ol’ Sampo will zip on ahead if ya don’t mind! Feels kinda dangerous hanging out back here with you, for some reason.”

And zip away he does -

right up until someone unceremoniously crashes into his car and sends him spinning out into the wall. "Guh! ... It's fine, I'm fine!"

Or so Sampo hopes, at any rate.

[huuuugestmoney]

shiny fiddles made of gold //

[avcnturine]

IN FAIRNESS, IT WASN'T ACTUALLY OBVIOUS.　♤　the man staring them down with a red-faced scowl could've been anyone, but it just figures that they'd have to go through the base's second-in-command to get to the treasure at the end of the hall. all the movies have it just like this, his thoughts supply uselessly, but it does have the corner of his mouth twitching in a smile.

which isn't what ' denny ' wants to see.

"laugh it up now. soon you'll be laughing in hell!" clarity of the rumble of words around the cigar in his mouth notwithstanding, aventurine's much more focused on the bazooka the man hefts over a thick shoulder in the same motion, beady eyes set to kill.

"look out!" he throws himself to the side as the first BOOM shatters his ears, deafening the crash and clatter of tables and chairs as his collision with sampo sends them both tumbling on hard linoleum floor. he's up, scrambling, hands wiping something wet on his trousers as his eyes search the rest of the room urgently from where they've landed behind a long shelf of cabinets about four feet tall. without pause, he lunges to grab for it and drag it around to serve as a barrier between them and the other guy, ears ringing through the sensation of being stuffed with cotton ; if anyone's saying anything, hearing it is a lost cause.

the shelf is heavier than it looks and denny appears around it the next second, eye of the bazooka a black hole staring them down.

he ducks with a shout ; impact feels like wind trying to tear his head off his shoulders as it hits his shield, then again.⠀(⠀there's no shell. compressed air?⠀)⠀a third and it'll shatter.

without other options, he breaks into a sprint to the right, hands out for balance as he dodges furniture and clears a toppled chair in a dash for the exit or at least a way around to the man's back. bad timing to be stripped of his gun. "ugh——koski!"

universal for: can you do anything!

if his ears weren't blown out too, that is.

[huuuugestmoney]

Dear ol’ Denny’s stepped foot in Penacony one too many times for his own good, with lines like that. Sampo almost can’t help bursting out laughing, but, well,

the sight of that there bazooka is, erm, a mite sobering.

(A half-choked chortle escapes nevertheless! just a moment before Denny fires, and even as Sampo Also seeks to avoid being splattered to itty bitty Sampieces all over the floor. But Aventurine’s got him beat in self-preservation instincts here and moves first - strange, that.)

In this moment, Sampo’s decided bazookas aren’t much fun at all. This is it: they’re dead, fun’s over, allll righty, wrap it up everyone, time to go home—

they're still alive. Neat-o.

Nice shield, he either says or thinks, but in the din, it doesn’t matter which. 

He doesn’t know when he split off to the opposite side. Sticking together had seemed ill-advised until he’d glimpsed the Stoneheart’s shield in action - silly Sampo, why’d you run away from that!

Still, Denny isn’t exactly spoiled for choice, with a mere two targets to pick from. That weapon of his barely has time to cool down before he presses again, and again. "Scurry and scatter, like the rats you are! Makes no difference to me and Betty!"

And oh, what an award-winning cackle it is he lets out then. Colour Sampo Koski impressed! But... in the midst of the ever-present ringing, Sampo thinks he hears his name. In the chaos, he places himself, places Aventurine, and places their trigger-happy friend stalking ever too close for comfort. Could Aven loop round back…?

Sampo ducks behind a half demolished table, though he doesn’t feel much better for it.

Yeah, he’s pretty sure he'd heard his name. Like someone actually needs him for something.

And Sampo does so hate to disappoint a client in need. Okay that's not what's happening here but the point is:

flash bomb time. He’d waffled between that and a smoke bomb, and wondered if either would serve given Denny seemed content to fire away any which direction but… he has to try something. 'Anything,' as it were.

First, Sampo kicks one of his knives along the floor Aventurine's way. Knife's butt end thumps into Stoneheart's foot. (Sampo could try and be cool and have thrown it but that seems like asking for trouble.) Second, he lobs the flash bomb over his shoulder, briefly squeezes his eyes shut, and bolts along the far side of the wall. He doesn't like playing decoy but sometimes a Sampo Koski's gotta do what a Sampo Koski's gotta do!

[faithbinder]

life savers (the candy, not you)

moze & sampo.

[faithbinder]

"..."

...What. (Or, more accurately: what?)

Nothing that Moze does is in search of glory or gratitude; he does what he's told and whatever he deems necessary to complete a mission. Any additional lives he may save in the process are mere coincidences. So while that means he never anticipates being thanked for something that happens more by chance than by will, it also means that he never expects to be... chastised.

Especially for a split-second decision to trade a bit of hair for an entire life.

"...Your 'do'," Moze says lowly, dropping the—admittedly sizable—handful of hair before the man, "would have become a 'did' if you were left to stand there. It's better to lose something you can grow back than something irreplaceable."

Because at the end of the day, it's just hair. He could have lost an arm, or a leg, or something much worse. Compared to that, even being bald would be—should be—preferable. So why was this man...

(...so uncaring about the fact that he'd been just moments away from certain death? Some people tremble and shake, brought low by how quickly they realize the risk. Others don't process the danger until much later, when the adrenaline finally fades to make room for fear. Yet from where Moze stands, this man seems to be neither.

As someone who has been one, then both, then neither as well, he would know.)

"You are no mere scavenger." Fact, not question; realization, not accusation.

[huuuugestmoney]

There's an almost imperceptibly high-pitched, creaky sort of faint whine Sampo looses when he sees the clump of hair that falls from the man's cruel grip to the ground. If Sampo ever happens to bald early, this man will surely be to blame.

But okay, he'll bite. Maybe the man has a point. He turns to look at the fallen beam he'd supposedly been rescued from and blanches - oh. Oh! Ooooooh.

Wow!

He could actually have died just now, ha ha ha! Holy cannoli, was that ever close!!

"Sorry, sorry friend! I don't know what came over me just now…" Hands clasp together, wring together. "My priorities got all topsy turvy for a sec there, eheh..."

A small chortle accompanies the stranger's remark. Confirmation - no, he sure ain't no mere scavenger. But of course, it would be rude of Sampo not to elaborate.

"''Course not! The name's Sampo Koski," he falls into a bow, rising with his trademark flourish. "Ancient artifact acquisitions expert extraordinaire, star-traveling merchant who wants nothing better than for his customers to leave satisfied and smiling, one and all!"

Ta-da! He's been working on his new intro. How's that, mister? He claps Moze on the shoulder a couple of times.

"Anyway, Sampo owes ya one, he does, so don’t hesitate to call on your pal if ever you're ever in a bind, all righty??" He straightens then, a light in jade eyes like he's just remembered the most obvious thing ever:

"Hey, well hold on now, you're no mere scavenger yourself, are ya? And foreign to boot, if Sampo had to bet his bottom dollar… What brings you out here into the cold?"

Surely the man is not… gasp…

Competition…?!?

[huuuugestmoney]

take it easy, icarus

[reachforthetruth]

Without any change in expression, a lightbulb almost seems to light off atop Bronya’s head as misplaced recognition registers in the eyes of the scammer. Like many residents upon this small planet had, this ‘salesman’ had mistaken Broyna Zaychik for Bronya Rand. 

‘Hm,’ she thought to herself, ‘surely he wouldn’t mind a stranger messing with him for a bit. Especially if he’s a scammer.’

How was Bronya to put on the airs of a ruler? Head Developer and Supreme Guardian were two drastically different job occupations. Clearly from this Sampo’s reactions, Bronya Rand was a well respected woman, even to the point of almost seeming aloof in the eyes of her people. That might also explain why Bronya Zaychik had gotten so many weird stares- after all, why would Bronya Rand walk around so casually? Without even an iota of care or concern? 

For now, she would have to answer the questions Sampo posed to her. “Well, unfortunately I do not have much on my person to synthesize,” which was true, for she didn’t expect her day to go like this. Not that she was complaining. “And is the Supreme Guardian not allowed to appreciate the company of her people?” It sounded haughty, but if she had to guess, Bronya Rand likely would have a sentiment similar to this one. At least, were Bronya Zaychik to be Supreme Guardian, she wouldn’t wanna be looked at as any more different than the layperson. “That would include you and your small business as well.” Messing with a scammer by pretending to be his city’s leader. Classic scenario, really. 

As she looks down at the bunch of trinkets laid out on this small ice-cream stand, Bronya whistles to herself as she picks her initial choice up once more. What had caused her to gravitate towards this little item? Maybe it was cute to her, or maybe she just picked it up with no real thought in mind. It was a hard question to answer, especially as she still had been learning about the people on this side of the Wall. Thus, a Bronya Zaychik tier answer would work, rather than a Bronya Rand tier answer. 

“It’s cute. Surely you understand the heart of a young lady, Sampo? Cute things are rather appealing.” She would apologize to the Supreme Guardian later if she meets her, were any odd rumors regarding her interests to sprout from this conversation. 

[huuuugestmoney]

"Aw, understandably, madam supreme guardian! But if ever you change your mind, Sampo Koski's your man! The world of synthesis is filled with so much potential, sometimes you just gotta throw things together with a bit of imaginative flair and see where it takes you, hehehe!~"

Okay but actually, having her as a client? Might not be so bad?? But if she so much as never looked at Sampo twice after this incidental crossing, that'd be A-OK, one hundred percent fine by him too.

Wait. Was it an incidental crossing? Eek! What if she's here to punt his sorry hide back to the Underworld? She wouldn't… would she? Especially during a festival of warmth and friendship and all that cheesy stuff? … . . .

Wait.

' Small business. ' The way she puts it is borderline insulting, especially with how innocent it sounds coming out of her mouth-

But wait! It gets better!

"The. Heart of a young lady…"

What?????

A-huh??

"Ahahaha!! Yes, yes, of course! You're really taking thie 'mingling with your people' bit seriously huh ha ha I mean- I feel like I understand you a bit better now, madam. Truly, this conversation has been, ehm, enlightening…"

Nope. Still terrifying. Seriously, what does she Want with him?!

(Has she busted him for some old shenanigans he'd thought buried and forgotten? Surely not - he is Sampo Koski!)

Hands steeple together. Okay. All right. This is still comebackable. Probably.

"Woullllld it be all right, madam supreme guardian, if I gifted this to you?" It's just a trinket, really, but one man's garbage is ever another’s treasure. Sampo knows that better than anybody. And if it's caught ma'am eye, who is he to judge? Maybe she'll even lead a brand new trend, and the cute (?) lil buggers will catch fire like those weird monkeys in Penacony… Belobog doesn't have a mascot yet, right? Maybe it could use a mascot---

A man can dream, all right? "No catch! You don't even have to tell anyone where you got it if that'd compromise your illustrious reputation any - Sampo can make it work, hehe. No sweat!"

[huuuugestmoney]

credits where they're due

[huuuugestmoney]

He is forgiven, but the crime is hardly forgotten, it would seem.

Anyway, she's got a firm point. He shoulda knocked a bit longer, a bit louder, maybe, and he shoulda waited. But he'd been so gosh darn excited at the potential! (And oh, from what he'd gleaned surreptitiously peeking about, what potential there was to be had! He could practically smell the credits or. Err. Mora or whatever.) How could she blame him for forgetting his manners in that case, huh?

"Ol' Sampo is truly very sorry, you gotta believe me."

Indeed, an important lesson learned. Probably. Hands finally relax to his sides, having hopefully been raised before him in penance and apology long enough. He falls instead into a bow, rising with a flourish and the tip of a nonexistent hat.

"Just visiting, so I guess you'd say I'm new, sure. Like I said, yours truly is but a humble merchant, always on the lookout for fun, new things to stock up for my jaunts across the galaxy." Fun and new seemed apt when it came to her creations... at a glance, anyhow. But Sampo usually trusted his gut on stuff like this.

"And yeah, maybe a little shy, sometimes! Hee hee."

Okay, maybe he's teasing a little. (Or is he?)

"Wait. If this is your house, then... you're the genius people were talking about??"

Sampo isn't too surprised - in the Sea of Quanta, genius comes packed in all shapes and sizes. But still, she's so. Small. And absolutely adorable.

He wonders if her genius extends to business.

First and foremost:

"Soooooo~ do you sell your works any?"

[geniuswhizkid]

People these days. None of 'em got manners. Aino has half the heart to take her robots to storm Nasha town and make sure all the rowdy adults sit down to listen. Would that be easier or harder than teaching the Ratniki? Harder, probably, but nothing she couldn't accomplish given the right time and robots... “ Of course. ” she spouts at him - voice cracking at a higher pitch and frowning a little more and giving him the meanest glare she could muster. It looks a little mean, but she's somewhat confused how Mr. Koski managed to... you know, get all the way here? and not figure it out at all, “ My name is Aino! The Aino, if you will. ”

A little proud of herself, but who wouldn't be? ( and, again, as a proud parent of a bunch of Nod-Krai's robots, and Ineffa, and kerplunk-a-tron slash Musecatcher, and Knuckle Duckle, and - )

. . . . . .

( ...point being, she has to set an example for her family; otherwise they wouldn't be proud of themselves. )

“ Sell? ” she echoed, frown fading to ... more confusion. Ah, well, Mr. Koski is a merchant. She dislikes him a little more, now ( clearly. ) because most merchants she knows are no good. Aino decides here and there that she'd give this oddball a chance. He's not from Nod-Krai, like the Sumeran pink-haired - Dori! That's the name. ... Dori wasn't all that good, though. Maybe this man would make a better offer? ( Aino doubts. ) “ I take commissions for makin' my robots, yes! Is that why? You want one? ” Internally, despite her other thoughts, she hopes he wants a personal robot. She is thinking of one for him already. Flashy, extravagant singer. It plays music and has the charisma Mr. Koski wishes he has. “ I work with all kinds of budgets, Mr. Koski! Five thousand mora can get you a looong way with me. ”

As long as you don't complain about the things I add. Aino sighs mentally, scrutinizing him a little more before relaxing - hands on her hips, a little fidgety as the little inventor shifts her weight foot to foot.

[huuuugestmoney]

"Wow! The Aino. I'm honoured, truly." He isn't teasing, promise. "Thank you for forgiving a silly ol' jokester like me."

Okay. Maybe teasing a little now. But just a smidge. Just a grain's worth. Sampo ain't good at dealing with folks who don't have any sense of humour to 'em, all right?

Anyway, this is precisely the kinda news he likes to hear! She takes commissions! Oh boy!!

"Would I ever! And at such a reasonable price, too." Well. That remains to be seen, but based on what he's glimpsed of the workshop and the scary thing on her back, Sampo doubts he'd not get his money's worth and more.

"Actually though, what do you think about expanding your commissions to the cosmos? I know a guy-" himself, duh! "-who could get the word out if ywant, for a very incredibly super duper modest cut. How's that sound? We could show the whole world your genius together!"

What a sweet-sounding deal!

You'd have to be quite silly to turn it down!

[huuuugestmoney]

[ SORTA... FUEL? ] -  sleep is difficult in this kind of cold, and early morning hours can be better spent preparing a warm meal regardless; when it seems like dawn is nearly an hour away, jiaoqiu fetches a few different things mixed in with different supplies that feel ( and smell ) edible and a pot to cook with before returning to the fire. there was a grain of some kind, one that felt appropriate for making a porridge -- a barrel of chilly ( but still fresh ) water, and a few other simple raw ingredients, like salt and sugar.

all in all, the options were quite plain: not enough to lift spirits. the spices in a satchel on his belt are usually for medicinal purposes, but for now... they would be better than nothing. but as he listens to the water in the pot for ten minutes, then twenty, it feels and sounds as though nothing is happening. "perhaps the fire isn't hot enough," he mutters quietly, then thinks he hears something ( or someone ) else shifting nearby: with that cue, jiaoqiu clears his throat to speak a little louder. "ahem... is anyone else nearby awake? I'm trying to prepare some breakfast for everyone, but the fire isn't hot enough right now to get our water boiling: it probably needs a little more fuel. and, of course, help with the food preparation is also welcome... sweet porridge with some sugar, plus a little cinnamon and clove I have on-hand is my current idea."

perhaps it's just the wind, and no one else has risen just before dawn.

Sleep is difficult in this kind of cold, and not least of all because it is bitter to swallow - it's the kind of cold wont to seep into your bones and claw knots in the pit of your stomach.

(It's the exact kind of cold that'll send even one accustomed to meandering Belobog's snowy plains with his hips out to the world running for a warmer outer layer. But you didn't hear that here.)

It's even the kind of cold that might convince a one of its many guests this wintry festival to keep busy in the earliest hush of morning, looking to lift his fellows' spirits. It's touching, really. The kind of show to convince even a tired salesman to wanna pitch a hand, maybe.

Maybe.

It is pretty darn cold, you know?

But at this point, Sampo's already stirred, and he doubts he'll be catching anymore warmth no matter how long he stays huddled up by his sad lonesome.

"Haaaaa... yeah, I'm up. Just a sec." Finding his feet, Sampo shakes the shivers loose, redoes up the top button of his coat, and wanders over. "All righty, just let ol' Sampo have a look-see..."

He doesn't wait for confirmation before installing himself. He takes to the controls at once, fiddling with this and that, that and this.

"Ah, looks like this Geomarrow coil's another what's gone and tried to kick the bucket on us," is the official layman's diagnosis Sampo cheerfully offers after tinkering with the device another spot. "Just a moment, friend."

All right, maybe he isn't a Geomarrow pro, but!  he's been known to handle himself the odd gadget now and again (his lovely smoke bombs come to mind!), so, something like this shouldn't fall entirely outta his purview. Certainly, it isn't completely foreign to him. Clink. Clank.

"Wait, did you say cinnamon and clove?"

How rare. Especially for some of the Under dwellers gathered here today. A treat...! "Where'd you pick that up, stranger?" A question of idle curiosity, maybe - but a businessman's nose never rests, don'tcha know!

Clank. Clink. Whirrrr. Aha! There we go. "Now that's the purr Sampo was lookin' for, hehe~ We should have ourselves a boil before long. Mmmm but, I think you're right about the fuel being low, though, so lemme have a gander and see what I can rustle up round here. Oh, what else did you say you wanted a hand with?"

Potential customers do tend to be much happier when they aren't suffering empty bellies, after all. So helping this guy out? It's the least he can do.

[huuuugestmoney]

[MEMORY]

"Thank you!" Huohuo said to the staff member handing out the different color lanterns. The one gifted to her was a green that almost matched her hair, with little specks of blue mixed into it. Inspecting the scrappy looking thing with a smile as she took the small slip of paper and pen away to one of the desks that were scattered about for attendees to write on. 

The green-haired Foxian finds one, and immediately sprawls everything she was gifted out, ready to get started! She takes her little slip of paper and pencil, and writes:

For the many friends I've made on my journey and the many more who I have not met yet! I wish them all happiness in their future endeavors!

"So. What did you write?" Tail asks, floating closer to see over her shoulder.

Huohuo instinctively covers it before he could see it. "Nothing!" She responds a little too quickly, which makes his eyebrows quirk up. Not believing her for a second.

"You obviously did. I can see the-" Cutting himself off as he can tell she wasn't going to give him a proper answer. Mr. Tail let's out a frustrated noise before turning to the person next to them. Not caring about their personal space to look at their own slip of paper.

"What did you write?"

In some lights, it's purple, and in others, it's blue. Pretty colours for a pretty paper, and Sampo isn't about to turn it away, even if he isn't quite sure something so delicate suits him.

(Ah, who's he kidding? Of course it suits him! Another option could have been a shocking crimson, like his jacket, but today the softer cooler colours fit the bill.)

He needs not deliberate on what to write, either.

Joy and happiness to the world at large,

He scrawls with a cheerful hum before safely tucking the paper away into its new forever home, where it would carry his wishes alongside those of others into the heavens. (More like into the metal skylines and ceiling of the underground robot settlement but shhhh, that's not quite as romantic a notion, is it?)

Still, it's fun!

And he's not alone in partaking, either.

It's a curious duo he's got for neighbours. Casting Mr. Tail an inquisitive look, Sampo rubs at an imaginary beard, like the question could only possibly have one real answer, obviously:

"I wished for lots and lots of money, naturally. Wealthy life, happy life, don't they say? Hee hee~!"

[huuuugestmoney]

[COMPANY] These things were supposed to stay in one piece, right? If that's the case, how come hers is in four? Sure, maybe she didn't have the gentlest hands ever, and maybe she whacked it a couple of times when it made strange grinding noises and didn't turn on right- but surely these things are supposed to be made of better stuff. Hands on her hips, Feixiao can do nothing but let out a dejected sigh as she stares at the smoking pieces of automaton on the ground-- wires sticking up in every direction. "Well, I tried to follow the instructions.... Hey! Think you can fix this?" If anyone can fix it, it's a miracle. Sometimes it's better to just let things go altogether. A pitiful beep comes from the heap of scrap, and the General glances down at it as her ears flick in surprise. "See? It makes noise at least." A pop, and a sizzle. "... Lotta noise, actually."

What is this Sampo Koski hears, but a cry for help? He turns toward the miracle-seeker, more than prepared to cheerfully ply his services, when he sees It. He can't help that he makes a face as he does so, some expression screwed between pity, horror, and bafflement.

What kind of unholy creation . . .

"With all due respect, ma'am," he advises solemnly, "you may be kinder to put it out of its misery..."

Sheesh! What a scary lady. One whose bad side Sampo would prefer to steer widely clear of.

"But how about I try and walk you through another, if you like...?" Nice and calmly, preferably.