Reforging the wasteland

#isthataharpooninyourpocket #redmond just dump him off your shoulder u big softy

isthataharpooninyourpocket

Wait –

[listen his PLAN was to climb someone and then climb back down after having proven himself, but slowly a lightbulb comes on]

You say that I can stay up here??

[He has made a grave error.] No, not--look, you just can’t drink on me.

isthataharpooninyourpocket

I will not LIVE on your shoulder like the parrot! Just only I want to drink a victory beer where I climbed!

You can stay up there or you can drink, you can’t have both. [Why is he negotiating with someone who is ON HIS SHOULDER??]

isthataharpooninyourpocket

HEY that is my NECK! I’m not the KITTEN!

[he is not actually resisting very hard, because he climbed this guy and this guy might still have his beer?? he would like to get his beer back and you don’t get your beer back by fighting a guy who is holding it]

[Redmond has put himself in a quandary; he doesn’t want to hurt this guy, either.] Will you get down?

isthataharpooninyourpocket

[One hand is raised in triumph and the other is reaching down]

Now I finish my beer, very thanks

[Redmond frowns. No, that’s not happening. He reaches up to attempt to grab him by the scruff of his neck.]

If you’re drinking, you’re doing it on the ground.

#isthataharpooninyourpocket #he's just gonna casually reach up and set him on the ground by his collar

isthataharpooninyourpocket

I am on shore leave

[THERE IS CLIMBING HAPPENING. It is quick and skillful climbing even though a person is significantly different to climb than a mast, and also the climber is at least two sheets to the wind and another sheet half-unfurled after chugging that last beer; soon Redmond will have a tiny man sitting on his shoulders in triumph]

[This is different and still makes no sense, but it’s not terribly uncomfortable, at least. Awkward, but the man isn’t heavy.]

...Now what?

isthataharpooninyourpocket

No listen. It is easy. You just stand still, and hold the beer, and I climb you. See?

[one beer is being pushed trustingly into the tall man’s hands already; Sandy is chugging the other one in preparation]

[He’s about to get robbed, or something, he’s pretty sure. Either way, no one’s going to take him seriously after this. Still, he has a hard time saying no, and this tiny man is determined.]

Why, though?

isthataharpooninyourpocket

[Oh, he IS tall! Maybe as tall, or taller, as the man in the clothing shop! Yes, Sandy has an excellent eye for climbing things, doesn’t he.]

I AM CLIMBING YOU. please hold my beer

[Redmond goes beet red.] I’d really not--I don’t see why you have to--

[Everyone is looking and egging them on and this is ridiculous] I can’t hold your beer and let you climb me.

[What an absurd thing to say. What is happening. What.]

isthataharpooninyourpocket-blog

lifereforged replied to your post: WHO IS THE TALLEST

[Attempts to make himself a little shorter in his seat.]

[Who is the tallest… the man in the green coat and the earrings has a mean face… a lot of the tall ones have a mean face, this is not a very fun port, honestly… oh, that one isn’t standing up but he does not have a mean face. That one, with the beard, gets pointed at]

YOU LOOK TALL, RISE AND TRY ME

[Oh. Oh no. He’d been spotted and challenged. What was he supposed to do? People were looking. Uncertainly, he started to get to his feet.]

Um--what are we doing...?

aglitchinemotion

“Cool! I mean, it’s probably really hot, like, you must be really hot - wh-when you’re working, I mean, but, like - “ Ohgodshutup. She gulped down her tea as though trying to put out a fire at this point, chewing her lip. “That’s, um, really good. I farm. I don’t really have technical skills like that. How’d you learn?”

“I learned from my dad, and picked the rest up as I went. The good thing is, most folks are dealing with scrap to start. Even when I mess something up, I learn something new and it tends to be a bit better than a lot of the garbage that’s been knocking around for about 200 years or more.” He gave her a slight smile. “Still, feeding people is a good thing, and farming is tough out there. I’m sure that takes plenty of skill.”

aglitchinemotion

“Oh! Yeah, you mentioned the forge, I think.” She chews her lip for a moment, looking the man over. She can certainly picture him working there, built like he was. Shirtless, strapping muscles flexing over his arms and chest, slick with sweat…

Oh shit.

She almost chokes on her bread for a moment, sputtering before washing it down with another swig of tea. Her face is bright red, almost emanating heat. “What, um, what do you make there? I’ve never gotten close to a forge.” Yup, keep it simple, keep it friendly. Stop thinking about how nice it was of him to help, and how secure you’d feel in those big, strong arms, goddammit -

“I make a lot of everyday things. Nails, pots, pans, necessary parts for different robots, shells...if you can show me an example or get me a mold, I can make it pretty easy.” Redmond ran a hand through his hair, realizing he was a bit grungy to be sitting in his mother’s chair. Wouldn’t be the first time. “Nothing like...master-tier. But workable, usable.”

#aglitchinemotion #i'd make some puns back at you but lately my brain's been toast #i rye and i rye but nothing comes out

aglitchinemotion

“Jam!” Her eyes almost glitter in appreciation as she accepts the plate, beaming up, then biting her lip. “This is so nice. Thank you.” She spreads the jam conservatively, not wanting to be greedy, then takes a bite with a sip of tea to wash it down.

“Mmn. Thank you.” She licks her lips, then gives a little laugh. “I’m, um, I’m thank-youing a lot. I owe you a lot. I was… not… so good, out there.” Thinking of the reason for it didn’t help. No, no, focus on the now. No glitching out again. Not when there was delicious bread and jam to be had.

“Do… do you work here?”

“It’s fine.” Redmond reassures her, again. He takes a seat himself, letting himself relax a moment. It’s been a long day, in perspective. “And, no, I run a forge. Took it over from one of my mothers’ first husbands, the one she had me with. I can cook and bake fine, but I was more interested in working steel.”

aglitchinemotion

“Are you sure? I, I don’t mind. ‘S only fair.” She’s only half protesting, though. She wants to trade, to be polite and good, but it’s so hard to focus on the future and promises and debts when she’s this tired, this achy. The tea smells so good and the thought of bread is especially delicious.

“It’s fine.” Redmond reassures her. He cuts a few slices of bread and finds the jam, bringing it out to her with the tea once it’s done, offering it out on a plate. “It’s not a problem, really. I offered it, you know.”

Man Down

#newvegasboy #horse #stop what are you doing

newvegasboy

“That’s good. And nah.” Although Horse acknowledged that getting more fluids into him was probably beneficial, he didn’t want to rely anymore on Redmond’s help than he already had. He wasn’t weak. To demonstrate just that, he forwent his own suggestion of waiting a few minutes before trying to stand. Setting the glass aside, hands balled against the seat of the couch, he drew himself midway to a stand. His legs wobbled, teetering precariously, but rather than respect his body’s own way of warning him ‘hey buddy, you probably shouldn’t stand right now,’ he stubbornly persisted. “I think I’m good-”

He was on his feet. A second passed and then he promptly crumbled, face smacking ungracefully against the wall on his journey to the floor.

Okay, slightly counteractive. Fuck this stupid fucking body of his.

Redmond felt a bit bad about not being able to catch Horse, but he seemed so against any help he received that the big man hesitated. That ended poorly, with Horse getting into an even more uncomfortable position.

“You...you know, I’m not trying to keep you here, but it doesn’t seem like you’re well...” Redmond knelt down next to him, offering a hand but not forcing Horse to take it or touching him.

aglitchinemotion

Where do these nice people come from? A sudden wave of gratitude returns, washing over her and making her sniffle. She gives a watery smile. “I mean, I can’t pay for it right now. I could give you fruit next time I bring it in? Maybe, maybe you’ve seen me at the market.” Another sniffle. “But I get it if not, of course. I don’t wanna be any trouble.”

“Hey, no, um, it’s not anything like that.” Redmond holds up his hands. “You know, it’s just the kind of thing that I’d like if I was in trouble. You don’t have to worry about it.”

Man Down

newvegasboy

“It’s fine, I’ve had worse,” he replied, nonchalant. One last mouthful, draining the glass for all it was worth before he gingerly shifted to sit up, testing the waters. His head still felt a tad odd, limbs still a tad heavy, but he was leaps and bounds better than he was before. Maybe in a few minutes he’d be ready to stand. “You get much business?”

“I get decent business. I buy scrap, sell basics, take commissions. Nothing too fancy.” Redmond stumbled over the response; being interviewed had him a bit on edge. Still, Horse was sitting up, seemed more coherent and capable. That was all better than before. “Did you want more water?”

#newvegasboy

Man Down