Second Network Dive [video]

[shelkethetransparent]

[It's a little before dusk when the screen clicks on, and for anyone familiar, the camera is panning around the massive, abandoned arboretum on the edge of the city. The camera turns slowly to reveal a few piles of broken stone and metal, and then a small flower garden tucked in between what might have been a statue, long ago, and a section of shattered wall.]

[Eventually the camera shifts and moves, slowly panning around until the owner has moved to sit down next to the small flower garden, and it is turned towards Shelke, who rests her back against the base of the broken statue. She has changed out of her deepground uniform finally, and is dressed in a raggedy part of baggy pants and a t-shirt a size too large for her frame, making her look even younger than she already does. She has her weapon sheath attacked though, hanging over her shoulder.]

I am no stranger to ruined buildings. [She sounds almost as though she's half talking to herself as she speaks, her voice tinged with tiredness, and her eyes are turned upwards, but then they flick back towards the camera for a moment.] But other than transients, no one appears interested in this place. No one is attempting to salvage it, or reclaim it, or utilize it in some fashion outside of planting a few flowers. That is...strange. Not the flowers are not pleasant, but...

Even after meteor fell on Midgar, people were constantly trying to reclaim destroyed sections of the city. I...

[She frowns suddenly, as if she isn't certain exactly why she's bothering to talk about this, and after a moment she just shakes her head.]

It doesn't matter. I came here looking for...anything, but there isn't much I can use. I need electronics. Circuit boards, appliances, anything I can salvage parts from. I do not have much to trade but I can attempt to find what other people are seeking.

Computer parts would be preferable, but I know they're difficult to find here. I-

[There is a commotion from nearby, the sound of footsteps and raised voices as two of the local squatters appear to be getting into a heated argument, though the words are indistinct. Shelke just sighs softly. She was almost enjoying the silence.]

I suppose I cannot remain here.

[She pushes to her feet as she turns the camera off.]

Comments

[permavid]

[tipsygnostalgia]

What sorta computer parts are you looking for exactly? I mean have any specifics?

[shelkethetransparent]

[Shelke is quietly making her way through the arboretum when she answers. Her voice is quiet, hoping not to disturb more of the denizens.]

It's difficult to say, I am not entirely familiar with the technology here. I will have to rebuild most of it to suit my purposes. [She hesitates.] Something capable of high speed data transfer would be good.

[tipsygnostalgia]

I've been trying to pick up bits and pieces too so I'll keep an extra look out!

..There are so many people in this place that don't even know what proper tech is. I feel bad for them.

[shelkethetransparent]

Thank you.

What are you attempting to build?

permavoice;

[invocation]

Maybe they don't care about rebuilding it anymore. [It's a young voice over the comm device, a girl's voice. She sounds like she's nibbling at something — an apple, maybe.]

[shelkethetransparent]

[Shelke glances at the camera for a moment as she makes her way through the building.]

Maybe. But I don't see why they wouldn't.

[invocation]

Why not? If somethin' gets ruined over and over, people stop caring about it.

[crunch crunch crunch] It's gonna get destroyed all over again, so what's the point? Betcha that's how they look at it.

[shelkethetransparent]

They are involved in a war for their survival. This facility could feed thousands of people if it were repaired.

It doesn't make sense to leave it abandoned.

[video]

[raisedbybirds]

[An armored figure is displayed on video, though it lingers on a reply for a moment. Samus was no stranger to ruined buildings either, and it was a little surprising she'd managed flowers growing, few as they are. They must be especially stubborn flowers. A good quality, for here.]

...flowers will grow where they want, building or not.

[But that's only partly of why Samus was drawn to this post.]

You may be able to trade for parts in the markets, or if you're lucky you might be able to salvage something from a scrap yard.

[There were plenty of those around, amongst the rest of the ruined buildings and destruction this place harbored.]

[video]

[shelkethetransparent]

That's not always true. Flowers in Midgar were nearly impossible.

[Probably because they sucked all the life away, whoops. She considers the armored woman carefully, trying to decide if she is a threat. Another transport, but that doesn't mean anything...]

I am going to go to the scrap yard when I can. But I don't have anything worth trading yet.

[video]

[raisedbybirds]

Start small and work your way up. What do you have to work with?

Re: [video]

[shelkethetransparent]

[Another hesitation.]

Nothing? But this is the first place I looked.

text;

[painfeels]

Where'd you find those?

text;

[shelkethetransparent]

[Shelke frowns faintly before she switches to text.]

Where did I find what?

text;

[painfeels]

The flowers and the garden.

text;

[shelkethetransparent]

The arboretum is on the edge of town, if you go [hey look directions!] It's difficult to miss.

video;

[sacrificar]

They could prefer it the way it is now.

video;

[shelkethetransparent]

That doesn't make any sense.

video;

[sacrificar]

It might, to others.

video;

[shelkethetransparent]

Why would they want to leave it in ruins?

video;

[burnthewitch]

[Have Maya's face reaaaally close to the screen before she remembers herself and sits back from the device.] You look like you're keeping yourself busy. So... How's that working out for you?

video;

[shelkethetransparent]

[Shelke manages to keep herself from flinching back when GIANT FACE appears, instead there's just a momentarily look of surprise, a flicker, before she suppresses it.]

I...am managing. I don't believe this would be considered a hobby, though.

video;

[burnthewitch]

Treasure hunting is a pretty good hobby. You could find some sweet loot that way. [There's a tiny grin on her face.] Hell, you could rake in some extra cash if you find enough crap other people want. I don't know about you but that sounds like a plus to me.

video.

[moondances]

I think it's nice. Life always finds a way of continuing on, even when something else meets its end.. Maybe that's why it's left abandoned. Destroying something's home is hard to do, even if it is just a patch of flowers.

video.

[shelkethetransparent]

[Shelke frowns.] Perhaps.

But you could reconstruct the building without harming the flowers. [In theory, anyway.]