Scrounging for Scraps (COMPLETE)

Damn.

Blue stuck the dirty blood dotted thumb into her mouth and sucked on it for a moment. There was grease on it. Dirt, nasty trash bits, but it was the best thing to do with a bloody thumb was suck on it. Besides she didn't have time to find a basin to clean her thumb in and start over. And what was a little dirt?

The half elf pulled her thumb out of her mouth and began digging in the pile even further. She knew there were things down here she could use. The heap of crap that people threw away. This was where she found some of the best stuff. Things that people had long ago deemed worthless but still had life yet.

Perched on the edge of a rickety fence was Albert. The white mechanical owl that stood there. It's eyes seemed to glow just slightly with a bit of golden color showing that it was indeed on even if they weren't communicating at the moment. Blue wasn't even sure what she was searching for yet. But she knew that some of her best things came from heaps like this. Her best ideas came from a scrap of metal that she happened to find.

Oh!

She reached in a little further. Standing on her tip toes. Her dark black and blue hair falling over her shoulder from the pony tail that she had shoved her hair into. The mix of curls and waves dangled periously close to the dirt and debris of the trash pit and yet she didn't seem to notice or care. Of course, if one were to look at her they would probably not see one of the lead Inventors for New Dawn. They would probably see some poor woman that was digging in the trash for scraps of metal one might be able to sell.

Her fingers grasped at sheet of crumpled metal. It was perfect. For a project that she needed back at her lab. She shoved it on the rolling tow cart that was on the ground waiting. Wiping her dirty hand across her brow, leaving a smudge of dirt moving across her brow she turned back to the pile. She had seen some rusted bolts at the back corner. But that meant, she was going to have to go in.

Using the muscles hidden beneath her pale skin, she hoisted herself up on top of the garbage bin and jumped inside. The top third of her body still showing as she began to make her way towards the back of the bin where she had seen better stuff. Stuff that no one could really reach unless they got in. Luckily, Blue was not afraid to get dirty.

Sometimes, the right ingredient was located in the most disgusting of places. Jack needed a type of fungus that grew primarily in the dumpsters and landfills for the city of Librium. At least, if he didn't want to pay for it in the produce junction or leave the city limits for it. This particular toadstool was similar to the Aspergillus terreus species which was particularly handy in producing cholesterol lowering drugs. He had brought along his flying homunculus named Archimedes to help him scout for the fungus.

Archimedes soared over the wall while Jack tried to squeeze through the gate. What he wasn't doing wasn't technically illegal, but it was bad for business if the citizens saw him poking around in their discarded unmentionables for the things that were treating them. No one asks questions so long as it works.

"See anything yet?" he asked the bird. The feathered lump of clay didn't repeat the question, so that meant no. Archimedes was shaped after a mockingbird and therefore could only mimic sounds, not produce any speech of its own. "Gah, I need to lay off the dwarven ale. This gap isn't as wide as it used to be."

"See anything yet?" Archimedes said in Jack's voice. The bird started circling over one spot. Jack moved his way to stand under the homunculus. He didn't see any mushrooms.

"Oh, hello." Jack said to the dirt covered girl. "You didn't happen to see any mold while you were in there, did you? I'd be careful about breathing it in if I were you."

Some strains of aspergillus liked to grow into massive balls in your lungs. That's why Jack had a dust mask hanging around his neck. If she said no, he'd move on to the next dumpster. If she said yes, he'd offer her help out of the dumpster and he'd climb in.

Arg. Interuption.

The was the one thing about being in her lab. There was a nice sign on her door. 'No Entrance'. And she meant it. Only those that really had some sort of business withher needed to be in her lab. Not to mention, she really didn't care much for other people. They bothered her. Drove her nuts. And distracted her from what was really important. Her work.

Blue looked over her shoulders. Tall, slender, spikey hair. Male. She turned back to her work. There was no need to get into anything else. She had gleened enough information from him in the thirty second look than she really needed. A human. With some sort of flying figure. The flying figure would have caught her attention. But as her fingers curled and she made the symbol that would allow her to read it's blueprint, nothing happened.

He was not mechanical.

Her hand seized the six rusted bolts that were laying in a pile on some sort of metal tray. There were mushrooms and all kinds of natural growth all around the area. Poking out of the piles here and there. Those she left alone, you never ate mushrooms you didn't know. That was just a good general rule to live by. If you wanted to keep living at least. Shoving the bolts in her pocket she moved to the other side of the pile with a few large steps and sunk back down. Filtering through the garbage.

He caught her attention again. Asking about mold. Her brows furrowed as she stood up. Under the dirt, she was probably pretty, but it would be hard pressed to tell at this moment. Her jeans were covered in filth. Her vest was the same, and she had a small New Dawn logo over one of the multiple pockets she was shoving small bits and pieces into. Her blue/green eyes looked at the man for a moment. Saying she shouldn't be breathing things in.

A slight quirk of her lips showed that she found his concern strange and misplaced as she brushed her bare hands off on her stained jeans.

"Back side of this bin. Mold and shrooms. Help yourself."

Short and to the point as she squatted back down and began pulling out a long metal pole that had a bend in the center causing it not to be straight anymore. An easy fix. And something she could really use.

There was something hot about a girl covered in dirt and grime, even if she were currently standing in a dumpster. Jack knew she wasn't homeless given the coveralls she was wearing. A grin of recognition crossed his face as the alchemist saw the company logo.

"Back side of this bin. Mold and shrooms. Help yourself."

Jack swung a leg up on the side of the dumpster as she moved over. He pulled the rest of his body up on the ledge and began scanning the sides for his prize after putting on all his personal protective equipment (mask, goggles, gloves) on.

"New Dawn, eh? My pop used to work for them. He was in the research and development department. Did some of the early work on the Household Helpers line." The said product line was the foundation for Archimedes. The prototypes were produced from lumps of clay molded around wooden frames and then animated with a bunch of spells they happened to get off of wizards and clerics in Bastion. "Ah, beautiful."

Jack pulled out a petri dish and a tongue depressor from his belt. He scraped the colony off the metal wall and into the plastic chemistry dish. When it was full, he pulled out a small roll of masking tape from his belt as well and taped the two halves of the dish shut. Pulling out a marker from a different portion of his belt, Jack labeled the tape with a big "AT" on it. He then put everything back into the belt. There was no way any of these things should have been able to go in, let alone out.

"Oh man, who would throw out a perfectly good bouquet of flowers?"

Jack reached down into the mess and pulled out the plants. He didn't bother to read the card which asked the recipient to 'take me back'. None of the hidden pockets in his belt would be able to hold them, so he tucked it in the back of his belt. He then zoomed in on a bulging can in the back. He could extract the botulin toxin from that spoiled foodstuff for a poison later on. That he held up for Archimedes to grab on to.

"If you don't mind my asking," Jack asked as he moved on to the mushrooms in the corner. Another petri dish came out from the right side of his belt this time. "What are you working on for New Dawn. Here's a toaster if you need the filament wires."

The casing was in pretty good shape too.

He climbed in. Not as scraggly as he first seemed. Her multi-hued eyes seemed to stand out from her face. Perhaps because they were the only thing on her not covered in dirt. Or perhaps it was something more along the lines of the fact that they were such a vibrant color when the rest of her was so pale. Or maybe it was the way that her blue streaks in her black hair helped them stand out. But they followed the man who climbed in the trash heap like she had.

She appreicated that of him.

Her opinion of him rose slightly as he made his way to the back and she went back to her scrounging. She didn't watch what he was collecting or anything. She wasn't nosey and really it didn't pertain to her. She didn't know what to think about him being here. Because, really, she had never really expected anyone else to show up. There were few people that would have come into the dumpster with her to filter through all the trash next to a girl that probably smelled like she belonged there.

His voice caught her attention again. Mentioning New Dawn. Her blue green eyes flickered over to him. Watching him for a moment. Gaging his face. Not everyone supported the Corporations. However, she was kind of shocked to learn his father had worked for the corporation she did, and that he had been one of the starters on the Household Helper models.

Good model.

She offered as she gave a shrug. It wasn't as if she had much to say. But then, she wasn't much of one for talking. The thing was, if anyone wanted to get to know Blue they were going to have to really work at it. She was a girl on the inside. The kind of girl that wanted to be loved, held, and cared for. But in the same breath, she was the kind of girl that worked and was very dedicated. Get to know her and you would find a very loyal friend or more.

He caught her attention with flowers. And her eyes shifted up. She knew a great deal about plants and flowers, mostly from her mother.

Roses. Very rare. I would not have thrown them away myself.

She went back to work again, as he tucked the flowers in his belt. She stood up and surveyed the whole pile looking for anything that she might be able to use. She could probably use most of it. But she was really looking for things that were versitile not to mention something that was easily stored and used. Things that were too specialized would sit on the shelf for years until she came up with something to do with them. And that was a waste of perfectly good space. His voice, he sure was a talker, caught her attention asking her what she was working on and mentioning a toaster.

Not sure yet.

She moved closer to him, coming to check out the toaster. She sat one a large wooden crate that had been tossed in here, mostly broken, it still supported her for the most part as she grabbed up the toaster and gave out a quick whistle. Albert lifted up off the edge of the dumpster and flew over to her before landing on her shoulder. She flicked a finger and one of his wings moved up and out in a full span and she reached up and grabbed the screwdriver that she needed and began to take the casing off the toaster.

What are you here for? she asked curiously, as he was obviously here for mold what she couldn't figure out was, why.

Jack's dumpster buddy didn't talk much. He couldn't blame her though. Shopping in the trash is not something you really want to be social with. It's also something you really want to just get done and out of right away. You never know what you might come across.

"Roses. Very rare. I would not have thrown them away myself."

Jack checked the card. It was typed, but the syntax was clearly dude. He shrugged and dropped it. "Must have been a bad break up. You want one? I don't need all twelve." He could let them air out at home to get the garbage smell out and still use the oils later to scent various potions.

They both went back to work. His companion moved closer to check out the toaster. The vibrant blue eyes really popped out now in stark contrast to the....whatever...had been smudged on her face. It was also the first time he paid attention to the blue highlights in her hair.

{Interesting color choice. I like it.}

Niara couldn't see it now, but Jack had a band shirt underneath his painter's suit. Maybe that would have broken the ice a bit better, to see someone as flamboyant in dress as she. She whistled and a sort of clockwork owl flitted down. He stood there amazed at the craftsmanship and the fact it handed her a screwdriver.

"Oh wow," Jack said with a huge grin (which was obstructed by the mask. Niara might be able to see the corners of his mouth twisted up though.) Archimedes whistled in her voice and came down too. The mockingbird perched on the dumpster wall and looked at all of them. "That's much more high tech than any of the two I have. My assistant has to carry a toolkit around."

Niara fiddled with the toaster for a moment. What are you here for? she asked curiosly.

And here came the question with the gross answer.

"Ingredients," he replied. "I run the local apothecary. Hollistic medicine and the like. It's cheaper for me to harvest and extract the compounds than to buy direct. Much like hunting for scrap metal. I do that too sometimes, but I have a good enough stockpile at the moment. So I'm no competition now."

Jack gave her a wink.

Would she like a rose.

She wasn't even sure what to think about being asked that. No one in her entire life had ever given her a flower. But it wasn't as if it was really that special. Or rather, not to him. It was for no reason other than he did not need all twelve roses. And she wouldn't mind having one in her shop. Perhaps a spot of color against all the metal and random parts that populated the shelves of her lab.

That would be kind, thank you.

He seemed to be shocked, when Albert alighted on her shoulder. She looked over at the owl having chosen her tool and begun work on the toaster. But the man that was in the dumpster with her seemed floored. She looked over at him, with her blue and green ringed eyes, sizing up what parts of his face that she could see. His cheekbones were more prominent than before. So perhaps, a smile.

He complimented Albert, and her attention was taken again when the sound of her own whistle came again, but this time not from her body. The bird, much like a mocking bird moved over to the man she was sharing the dumpster with. He explained that hers was more high tech than his and she tilted her head, her eyes running over the bird that was Jack's.

I could help with that, if you were inclined.

She might, given the opportunity to get her hands on the bird, even do some of the work for free. But he would have to trust her and she doubted that was the case so far. He told her that he was here getting ingrediants for his shop. Apparently, he owned a apothecary, and for that, she could really respect him.

Resourceful. I like it.

She opened the toaster and pulled out what she wanted, that was still good. It was merely a burned element that no longer allowed the toaster to work. Which was a shame because people had wasted this perfectly good machine. A five dollar part and a small amount of time would have fixed this right up. But they had decided instead to throw it away. Such a shame, people were such wasteful creatures. All this rubbish. There was enough Elven in her to really bother her that they poisoned Terra this way. Not caring where they threw their rubbish, merely that it was out of their lives.

How did you make your, bird creature? she asked him, curiosity getting the best of her.

That would be kind, thank you.

Jack slipped a rose our and presented it to Niara with a flourish. He gave a half bow as he did so. "For you, mon cher."

*

I could help with that, if you were inclined.

Jack considered it for a moment. He wasn't sure how the homunculi would function if their insides were chiseled out. The clay that made up their bodies wasn't baked in a kiln, but being exposed to the air after all this time had dried them up. It was the magic that allowed them to flex their limbs.

"I wouldn't mind seeing what you had in store."

*

Resourceful. I like it.

"It serves me well. Gives me the resources to tinker without the stress of supervisors."

Niara continued to fiddle with the toaster. How did you make your, bird creature?

Archimedes just sat there. "Nothing complex. He's a clay sculpture molded over some wooden dowels for support. I know a taxidermist who put the feathers on. And a few spells to make him fly and repeat sounds. Say hello, Archmides."

The bird's mouth opened as it broadcasted "Hello, Archimedes" in Jack's voice.

The rose was lovely. She held it to her nose. Letting the soft fabric like texture of the rose petals brush the pale skin there. Probably the only place that wasn't filthy on her exposed skin. She inhaled softly. It had a bit of grime on it, but she had to admit it was probably one of the better ones. She handed it to Albert, because he would be able to keep it safe for her. Albert lifted up and took the rose into his talons and flew back to the rolling scrap craft where he lay the rose down gently in a bare spot and sat back on the handle again. Waiting for his next orders.

I could reinforce, with some metal to allow him better stability. Perhaps some secret compartments where you would be able to to store things. However, any compartments would take out of the clay, and I could even install an inteligent microchip allowing him to be more capable of speech.

She tossed the scraps of the toaster to the side, and got up heading over to the wall of the dumpster where she flung the larger shell parts onto the rolling cart and she looked back over at Jack. It was strange to meet someone, on one of her outtings. Especially, meeting them in a dumpster of all places. Most would have thought she was insane. But this man, seemed to take her for what she was, and seemed more interested in conversing than anything else.

As Blue returned towards him, he began to tell her that his owl was very simple. The feathers were put on by a taxidermist and the body was clay with wood in the middle. She was curious about it, and now she had some answers. She could not blueprint it from here because nothing about the little guy was mechanical in nature. She didn't see anything else in this dumpster that caught her eye except for Jack. The bird mimiced Jack, in Jack's voice, and that was both intriguing but annoying. Or at least could get annoying fast.

I'm Blue, by the way. I did not introduce myself earlier.

Blue sat down on the same crate as earlier. She had finished with this pile and fully intended to move onto another one when she was done here. But, there was something about Jack and his little bird creature that kept her from just jumping the dumpster and heading off. She had a few extra minutes to spare, then she would go. She had no attatchment to him. But she had to admit, most guys would have just passed her on by. It wasn't as though she was looking for anything, but it wouldn't hurt to make a connection. Especially, someone that could create a mimic out of clay.

I could reinforce, with some metal to allow him better stability. Perhaps some secret compartments where you would be able to to store things. However, any compartments would take out of the clay, and I could even install an inteligent microchip allowing him to be more capable of speech.

Jack considered the ideas for a moment. He had never tried modifying a homunculus after it's creation. Could he scoop out that much clay without destroying the magic that animated the whole of Archimedes? If it worked, he'd definitely want to try it on Prometheus.

"I don't know if the microchip would work. Archimedes' ability to repeat sounds is magical, not technical." Jack scratched his masked chin. "I just might have a mute scroll and some old headphones we could use."

I'm Blue, by the way. I did not introduce myself earlier.

"Jack," he said as he extended a gloved hand. "Jack Masters, or JJ." He leaned up against the dumpster wall. "So, come here often?"

She was not sure, like him, if magic and technology would be able to combine in anyway to make the bird something other than what it was. It was a magical creation. Technology may or may not work with it and she doubted he was willing to lose his bird to experiment on it. She looked over at the bird, eyes calculating and curious as she took in it’s measurements and the other information that she thought was useful. Wingspan, height, the body formation. The feathers were a nice touch, otherwise it would have been a lump of clay, but instead looked strikingly like a bird as it sat on Jack’s shoulder.

You are right, I do not know either. Perhaps, instead, you could make, a prototype. We could, together, experiment on something you are not attached to, and then, perhaps, see what happens. Before we experiment on one that you are attached to.

She looked back over at Al, he was hibernating she could tell because his little eyes were closed. But that was fine, he was probably absorbing energy through the small filter on the top of his head that was actually a solar panel that when outside, which wasn’t often, he would be able to turn it into energy to run. She was proud of her creation, and she was glad that she had come out here today. For Al, and to have met Jack.

Blue was certain she would likely not see him again. Guys like him were usually taken or rather interested in the kind of women that were more pretty, put together, and fancy. Not the kind that rolled around in a dump, went home, took a shower, and got lost in her work for days. That was the kind of woman that no one was interested in.

He held his hand out, introducing himself after she had done the same. Blue leaned forward and took his hand. She had rough calluses on her fingers and hands. Proof that she worked with her hands more often than not, and gloves just dulled her senses, it was must better to do it with the raw bare skin. She shook his hand firmly, but not tightly. She wasn’t here to show her strength, she was here to do some work and apparently, meet this person.

Fate? No, she didn’t believe in fate. He was merely here doing his job at the same time she was here doing her own. He asked if she came here a lot and despite herself she found herself chuckling out loud as she took her hand back and rested her arms across her knees.

Yeah, I guess so. Probably at least once a week. Usually on Wednesday, right after trash day before all the other people have had a chance to go through it for scrap metal to sell. What about you? You always collect your meds here? Or do you have somewhere else you go?

You are right, I do not know either. Perhaps, instead, you could make, a prototype. We could, together, experiment on something you are not attached to, and then, perhaps, see what happens. Before we experiment on one that you are attached to.

"The others might get jealous," Jack chuckled. "Nah, they'll be fine. Prometheus was pretty after I made Archie."

To be honest, Jack wasn't sure if Prometheus even realized Archimedes existed. The two had worked together but there was no sign of recognition between them. He kind of wished they had some sort of personality. Maybe he needed a new homunculus.

*

Yeah, I guess so. Probably at least once a week. Usually on Wednesday, right after trash day before all the other people have had a chance to go through it for scrap metal to sell. What about you? You always collect your meds here? Or do you have somewhere else you go?

"No, a majority of my ingredients come straight from the farms or I spend a weekend in the woods foraging them myself. I have to go to suppliers for crafting goods, but my prototypes come from thrift stores."

Jack wasn't about to tell her he went down to the recycling plant after pick up day to help them sift through bottles and old bicycles for materials. Just because Blue was New Dawn didn't mean he was going to reveal all his fishing spots. She was cute but also the corporate competition.

Blue wasn't sure why she was still here.

Standing around with him. She could be going through another dumpster, her cart wasn't full yet and the vehicle she came on was waiting outside the dump. She tended to bribe the guards that cared, but most of them didn't and she was able to sneak in easily. Blue loved coming here, she was able to get so much of her supplies without having to pay a dime.

Well. If you ever need someone to get you in here, let me know. They pretty much let me come and go. I rarely have to pay to get in. When I do the bribe's are small, the guys at the gate know me pretty well.

Blue rose. Brushed off the thighs of her jeans, as if it was going to make any difference. She headed towards the edge of the dumpster and hoisted herself up with little effort. Causing her muscles to show in her arms for a few moments before she hoisted her body over and onto the ground on the outside of the dumpster.

She walked over to her cart and she went through her stuff and pulled out a small computer out of her pocket and began to go through it. Tapping here and there, and she made sure to cross out things that she already had. She pursed her lips, she needed some more coils and other things on her list. And she really needed to find some more steal. She looked over at Jack again.

I am going to the next dumpter over. I was curious, if you wish, you could come with. I am sure there are other things there, perhaps you might be able to use.

She would wait for an answer. She wished for him to come with her. But if he didn't she would not have her felings hurt. In the same breath she kind of wanted the company. She kind of wished for alone time. Blue had never actually had anyone hang out with her. Not here, not at work, she was pretty much a loner. That was just the way that she was. She tended not really to understand a lot with being people. Social, she guess it was called. But the point was, she didn't really have those skills as much as she wished that she did. But she would wait for his answer, before she would head to the next dumpster area.

Well. If you ever need someone to get you in here, let me know. They pretty much let me come and go. I rarely have to pay to get in. When I do the bribe's are small, the guys at the gate know me pretty well.

"You also have a certain anatomy that bends men to your will." Jack hoped he didn't have to explain that one. "My hunt today is actually for a gate guard's cholesterol medication. I give him a discount if I shop while he's on shift. In return, I don't get shiny metal bracelets." He put his wrists together as if he were handcuffed.

They both collected their stuff and hopped out of the dumpster. Jack smiled when he saw Blue pull out a handheld device with her 'grocery' list. He was a bit more 'oh, I could probably use that for something' kind of shopper.

I am going to the next dumpter over. I was curious, if you wish, you could come with. I am sure there are other things there, perhaps you might be able to use.

{Is she flirting with me? I knew I should have brought a box.}

"You never know what people throw out. Might save me another shopping day." Jack helped her navigate the cart through the loose items that hadn't quite made it into a dumpster. "I don't just do medicines. I brew a bunch of things that help out with crafting too along with other magical knickknacks. And poisons for horrible ex-boyfriends."

Jack gave her a playful wink. Although, he did have a stockpile of toxic substances. The alchemist would neither confirm nor deny if he sold any of them. It gave him that air of mystery.

Blue grinned.

If she understood him correctly, having little experience with men, she was pretty sure that he was saying she was hot. Now, that would surprise her. Because, most of the people that came to her came for business. It wasn't that she was ugly, she knew that she could, when cleaned up, stop a man in his tracks. The point was, she never tried, because it was too much work. She didn't have time for dates, dinners, and all that make up stuff like her sister did. She didn't have the money to waste on pretty clothes and fancy shoes that just took up space in her closet. She merely wore what she had, pulled her hair back, and got greasy.

She gave a small chuckle. Shocking herself, when he made motions like he was being arrested. Blue wasn't much for laughter. She was usually caught up too much in her own little world. But somehow, today, that world had expanded to include Jack and she was happy with that. Normally, Blue was the first person to shut everyone out. But today, she was actually enjoying the company.

He seemed interested in going with her, and even helped her with her cart. She almost said she didn't need the help. Because, truth be told, she didn't. But in the same breath, she felt like, why bother. She didn't want to scare him off and dare she say, she might actually make a friend out of the deal. One that didn't mind her smell, and her body covered in grease. She was sure if someone looked hard enough they could find a clean spot, but that would probably be in intimate places.

And again. A chuckle, when he mentioned exboyfriends and brewing potions for them. Not that she needed any. She had never actually dated. Sure, she'd been into a couple guys but she could never really give it the time it deserved and eventually they found someone that could give them what they wanted.

"Admirable. I am sure that women everywhere praise such potions. From what I understand, from my sister, many men seem to find themselves in the asshole category. I do not know, I merely work, and most of them leave me alone. No one truly wants a grease monkey, and I work a great deal. I do not think they would be interested in that."

She shrugged. There was no saddnes to her voice, it was just what life had given her. What she had made of life. This was how life was. She was open to it, if it came, and was patient. But she doubted that a man would be. Men wanted to be the center of the woman's world. Right off the bat. They wanted to be the only thing that made them happy. At least that was what she had heard from people she had heard griping about their significant others.

"How did you get into, this.. business of yours? What drove you to be, what you are?" she asked him curiously.

{Grinning and smiling? I guess she's not so uptight as I thought. Still too proper in her speech. I bet she curses like a sailor though.}

"Admirable. I am sure that women everywhere praise such potions. From what I understand, from my sister, many men seem to find themselves in the asshole category. I do not know, I merely work, and most of them leave me alone. No one truly wants a grease monkey, and I work a great deal. I do not think they would be interested in that." Blue shrugged. Did she ever do anything fun?

"Surely you don't work all the time. What do you do to unwind?." Jack stopped the cart and peered over his dust mask. "Don't you dare tell me 'tinker' or 'invent.' Pops liked making bottle rockets. I liked setting them off." He smiled coyly. Good times. The Terran Guard had to come over a couple of times because the neighbors complained.

"How did you get into, this.. business of yours? What drove you to be, what you are?" Blue asked him.

"Short story...I decided to go into the family business of both sides. Mom came from a long line of potion makers, and I tinkered with my Pops on the weekends. I decided I wasn't going to just pick one line of work.

How about you? You the next generation of grease monkeys?"

((Well she's 'trying' to flirt and she kinda likes him, he's the first guy to give her real attention in forever.))

He stopped the cart. And she stopped too. Raising her brow, curious as to why they stopped. He seemed to think she would be insane if all she did was work. A slight quirk of her lips was more his answer than anything she would say next. All she did was work. She woke up, worked until she fell asleep and rinsed and repeated. She would take a shower, usually in the evenings when everyone had left or it was less likely someone would stop by and need her. But Blue pretty much lived and breathed her job. She knew no other way to be. She had been this way since she was younger, and she had to admit no desire to change.

She gave him a little shrug and a slight grin when he told her not to tell him 'tinker' or 'invent'. She pursed her lips. Tried to search for things that had nothing to do with inventing that she did when she wasn't working.

I eat, and shower.

She gave a grin and went back to walking letting him decide if that was a joke or not. It wasn't. But then, it didn't really matter. She doubted he would really care. She was weird, too into her job. She loved to make things, tinker with things, she loved her job. She was already living her dream. Creating things that bettered the life of the business, the group, or people. That was her dream, and luckily, she was able to live it. He explained that his father had made bottle rockets and he would set them off when he was younger.

He told her that both his parents had been potion makers and tinkers. So it was only natural that he followed in their footsteps. She gave a nod. It seemed reasonable. She was glad that he had someone to look up to. She had been the opposite. Carving her own way in the world. Shoving people out of the way to solidify her position in New Dawn proving herself above all others. He turned the question back on her, and she shoved her pockets in her hand.

Well, No. My father was a solider. My mother is a healer. My sister and I kind of .. made our own way in the world. I have been creating and tinkering with things since I was young. It became an obsession after a while.

She wanted to make her way to the back of the dump. Most people went off and worked mostly in the more front areas that were easy to reach. But she had always found that the dumpsters that further back held the best things. Especially scraps. So she wasn't in a hurry to stop yet and the conversation was good.

Do you have siblings?

I eat, and shower.

"Both can be fun, but that's not what I mean." Jack propped both shoulders on the edge of the cart. "I got an idea. You and me...we'll make a night of it. Do a little bowling, throw toilet paper in a tree, anything that doesn't involve potions or projects. Deal?"

Blue reciprocated by telling her family history. Well, No. My father was a solider. My mother is a healer. My sister and I kind of .. made our own way in the world. I have been creating and tinkering with things since I was young. It became an obsession after a while. Do you have siblings?

"Nah. I'm the only rugrat in the batch. Can you imagine two tinkerers in the house aside from my pops? We probably wouldn't have had a house." Jack patted the cart. "Let's go see if we can find a blender for your toaster."

Blue rose her brow curiously.

She wasn't exactly sure, what Jack meant. Both could be fun. A shower was a means to an end. The ability to get clean and back to work. And she ate only because she had to, she just didn't really see how either was a fun time. But, then, she hadn't really shared either of them with anyone. So who was to say that he was right or not. She figured maybe, some day, she would see the joys. He said that he had an idea. She stopped watching him curiously. He seemed so confident. And then he said they could go have a night out.

Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. Was he asking her out!? Her sister would faint and her mother would probably start planning a wedding as soon as either of them found out she had been asked out on a date. Blue swallowed heavily. Her mouth was dry. Her heart was going a mile a minute. But... she had to admit, the good natured way he had about himself, had put her at ease more so than most.

But was she ready for that? A date? That's what it was wasn't it? When a man asked a woman out just the two of them. She would ask her sister for clarification if she could but Neona would never let her hear the end of it.

Deal.

She nodded but there was a smile, slowly crossing her face as they rocketed back in motion. He mentioned that he was an only child and that he didn't think there was anymore room in his home for any other people. Making her chuckle slightly as they walked towards the back of the dump. It was a large place, everyone collected so much crap and then tossed it all away, bit by bit and there were always things they could use.

This one here looks like a good bet. It's piled high, probably untouched for months. She shielded her face from the sun for a moment and looked up at the pile of garbage and metal debris. She looked back over at her partner and gave a grin and a nod. She gave Albert a pat on the head before she jumped and caught the edge of the dumpster with the edge of her hands. Using the muscles in her upper body she pulled herself up and hoisted herself up into the dump. Turning around she offered a hand to Jack incase he needed it.

Comin' up?

Deal.

"Good."

Jack wasn't sure if he was asking her out on a date date. He liked making new friends and the possibility of new clients. And someone who didn't have fun? Well that was just unhealthy. He was all about making people healthy again.

This one here looks like a good bet. It's piled high, probably untouched for months.

Jack gave the pile a good look and focused hard. He could just make out the glow of magical objects in the pile. If any of it had New Dawn logos, then it would be no wonder. There was just too much junk/treasure to be able to identify what type of magic was involved using his detect magic spell from here. Blue was already pulling herself over the edge of the dumpster.

Comin' up?

"Hmm, oh yeah. I got distracted by the inventory for a moment." Jack clicked his heels together which triggered the levitation enchantment in his crime-scene-booty-ed shoes. His body rose up the five feet. Jack hooked a shoe on the inside edge and pulled himself over. He ended the spell when he was balanced on the lip. "Sorry, I was lazy that time. Oh look, a blender."

Sure enough, there was a high end blender sitting on the pile. Half of the blade was broken but the metal piece had been placed in the pitcher. Jack reached a gloved finger inside and jigsawed the blade together. He put a pinch of magic in to reseal the metal.

"Should be good as new....assuming there's nothing else wrong with it."

He didn't need her hand, so she took it back as he clicked his heels together and suddenly began to float. She stood back. Shocked but not really upset or anything she just.. hadn't expected floating shoes. But then again, not everyone revealed everything about themselves at once. She didn't really think much of it, except she wondered if it was magic or if it was something else that had powered what was going on with those shoes. If they were some sort of science or mechanical natured objects she wanted to get her hands on them, but she had a feeling much like his little bird friend, that it was going to be magic.

Those are.. magical? I assume?

When he landed he got enchanted by a blender. When his back was turned she could not help but give a slight smile and a shake of her head. She understood loving the garbage dump this much. There were so many treasures to find in here, and so many people completely missed it because they assumed something was broken.

As he worked on the blender, she moved around him, brushing past him with her shoulder and a bit of her loose long hair before she passed him and squatted down on an area that he was not already messing with. He fixed the blender, and she looked up, inspecting it. Her fingers twitched, a strange little dance before she touched it and she let her mind wander for a moment through all the different byways of the blender which was of course, an extremely simple device.

It will work just fine. It would be good, for you to use, in your shop.

Blue hit the jackpot when she found an old used computer. A laptop. She recognized the logo on the top, and she wondered if it still worked. Her fingers jolted again, and did a different kind of movement before she lay her hand on the laptop and her blue/green eyes lost their focus and seemed to just gaze off into the distance. She was reading the computer, her mind and the computer were one, it seemed to start up on it's own but failed because there was no battery power, that was something she could fix. She still read the programming and she grinned. Coming back to herself.

Jackpot.

Those are.. magical? I assume?

"Yep, enchanted them myself. They're great for changing light bulbs."

Blue got all twitchy fingers when she checked out the blender. Jack thought she was having partial seizures. It will work just fine. It would be good, for you to use, in your shop.

Jack snapped his fingers and the blender shrunk into this palm. It would remain tucked away in his glove until he got back to the shop. "I suppose healing smoothies would give me an edge in the potion business. Thank you. Your first one is free."

But Blue had gone on to the next item. It was somebody's old computer. Her eyes lost focus for a moment and her fingers seized. Was she having an absent seizure? He didn't have any ethosuximide to counter it. She smiled after a while and said Jackpot.

"Yeah, but does it work? You won't know that until you get it home. Oh sweet."

Jack struggled with a big trash bag and almost flipped over the dumpster when it finally budged free. He had caught the glint of sunlight off glass from inside and was more than excited to see an entire bag of glass bottles. All he was needed was some laboratory grade glassware detergent and some water and he had potion bottles. Not as snazzy as a computer but definitely worth the struggle to get them out.

You enchant too?

Blue was curious about all of that. She wondered how he did it. She had never met anyone before that could enchant. He tucked the blender away in his glove and she was certain, that too, was another enchantment. She had to admit, that was a very nice tool to have. Being able to make things so tiny. Still, she was glad that he was willing to let her have a smoothie for free.

That was before she was able to get her hands on the computer, which was definatly something she could use. Even if she couldn't use the computer as it was, it was made of a million parts that she could most definatly use all over her lab and in various different creations.

Oh it works, it just needs a good charge and a clear of viruses. That much is easy to discern. It will just take a few minutes of work. Besides, even if it had a gross malfunction, which it doesn't, I could salvage it for the great parts. she looked over at him, and he seemed, if only in her opinion, a little shocked. Blue shrugged. It's what I do.

He seemed to find his own motherload. She rose and helped him pull out the stuck bag by lifting a bit of the garbage piled up on top of it so that he could slide the bag out without harming all of the glass bottles inside. She looked over at him who was like a kid in the candy store and gave a slight smile. She was always a loner. But she had to admit, hanging out here with Jack, was nice. Having someone to talk to, and share things with. Get excited over finds with. This was life, and living, in a sense that she had yet to experience.

So this, date, you mentioned earlier. What shall we do?

She thought, maybe, if they got to talking about it again, she might figure out if this was really date or not. While she asked, she did not look him in the face, hoping he would not see the faint pink blush on her cheeks even under the grime belying her excitement and hope. She was shoving crap to the side to get at something she saw underneath. An old doctor bag. She hadn't seen one of these in a very long time. The handle was broken but not gone. She whistled for Albert who came to her shoulder and extended his wing. She chose a pair of pliers and sat on the edge of the dumpster as she fiddled with the handle until it was fixed well. She even went around to all the others and fixed those as well, they weren't broken yet, but she tightened them back into place.

Here. You should use this. When you have to make house calls, or travel with your supplies. It is leather, good too. You don't see this kind of worksmanship often. she handed the bag to Jack gently.

You enchant too?

"Pops taught me what I know. There are some enchantments I need to get from other people though. But I cover the essentials: storage, protection, getting into tricky areas."

Blue answered his question about the computer. Oh it works, it just needs a good charge and a clear of viruses. That much is easy to discern. It will just take a few minutes of work. Besides, even if it had a gross malfunction, which it doesn't, I could salvage it for the great parts. It's what I do.

Jack's eyebrows rose in pleasant surprise. "Interesting, so I can call you if I have software issues? Or is tech support someone else's department?"

She helped him free up the bag of bottles. Too bad he couldn't just shrink the whole thing. So this, date, you mentioned earlier. What shall we do?

{Date? Did I say date? Well, I guess it is.}

"I was gonna say whatever you want to do, but we promised no inventing." He grinned even though the mask was still in the way. "There's a pub crawl later. It's always fun following drunk people while getting a free drink at each bar. Or there is a spring kickoff festival in the park tonight if that's more your style. I think it's some elven tradition for a good growing season or something like that."

All the while, the half-elf rummaged through the pile and pulled out a heavy duty leather traveling case. There was no caduceus on it, but there was no mistake it once belonged to a physician. She and the clockwork owl did some impromptu surgery on the bag to get it at least functional again. It would need a good cleaning before it should be used.

[Here. You should use this. When you have to make house calls, or travel with your supplies. It is leather, good too. You don't see this kind of worksmanship often.

Jack didn't make housecalls, but the bag was just what he needed to transport all those bottles back. After a minor enchantment or two. "Thank you. You want to see some enchanting in progress?"

He put the bag on the edge of the dumpster. After pushing out the sides so that it was fully open, Jack explored the entire bag. He closed his eyes and slowed down his breathing. Mana flowed out of his curious hand and got smeared over every inch of leather. His hand repeated the process but went in reverse this time. He had first cast the spell that increases the volume of which the bag could hold. The second spell was one Blue had already seen used. Any object that entered the opening would instantly shrink. Jack had modified the secret compartment spell that he could remove whatever object he wanted without having to dump out every content.

When done, Jack held the empty bag before Blue. "Observe, one seemingly normal leather case." He handed it to her to inspect while he grabbed the bottles. "And a collection of odds and ends that would never all fit in there. But did I mention that the leather case is magic?" Jack started dropping the bottles in one at a time. There was no clink of glass on glass as each new bottle went in. Jack even put his fungus specimens in there. Surprisingly, the bag had only become one or two pounds heavier.

"But wait, that's not all. Which would you like me to pull out first?"

He'd then pull out whichever item in whatever order Blue gave him.

"By the way, I think there's an external hard drive over your left shoulder that could work with the computer."

Blue gave a grin.

Call me any time. her cheeks turned a bright hue and she was glad that she was busy searching the trash so maybe he wouldn't see that. Any kind of technological issue, I can fix. Software too. Whatever.

She grinned a bit, when he made a joke about how on the date he was going to let her pick until he realized that he had told her she couldn't invent. She could probably figure something else out to do, but it would probably have something to do with a museum or something where she could gain knowledge or fondle things on the premiss of a date. So it was probably best that he was able to pick what he wanted to do and she just tagged along.

He gave her two ideas, a pub crawl with following drunk people around while getting a bit there themselves. Or an elven kickoff festival that had to do with spring. Her brow rose, as she turned her face back to him. She wondered if he knew that she was half elf herself. Some noticed right away, others didn't notice at all. And some, it took a while before it really clicked. But still, if he was game to go to the festival then she was sure he wasn't too mindful of elves.

You, do not mind the elves then?

She didn't, obviously, but then she wasn't sure if he knew that she was half elven herself. And she truly wanted to go to the festival. So long as she could make sure she did not run into her parents or her sister there. Neona would probably off doing her duty, but it was likely her mother might be there. Blue thought, for a moment. She could go, get drunk, and have fun with Jack at this pub crawl. Or, she could give a real try to whatever, this, was and bring him to the elven festival and show him a bit about her own culture.

I think, the festival would be fun, and elven wine is a sure fire way to get drunk, if that's what you're looking for. They also have dancing there. The elven festival is a place I think you might enjoy. There are elven herb masters there, perhaps you could visit with them about your occupation.

He began enchanting, and she was more than excited to see it. She sat down and watched as he worked on the bag. Both hands under her chin, her eyes rapt with interest. Her elbows balanced on her knees as she watched him prep the bag. And then he began to fill it, talking like an old magician as he did so. She was so curious, to see how it all worked. He was amazing, and very talented. Blue found herself smiling along as he worked the bag and filled it with all the bottles from the bag and the collection of mold from earlier, and anything else. It was now a bottomless bag it seemed.

That is truly amazing, I might have need of your enchantments. At my lab I have this tool belt and satchel, that I carry my things in, and I never have enough room. If you could, perhaps, make it bigger for me, like you did with this bag, I would really appreciate it.

He pulled it all out in the order she asked, and she grinned. It was comfortable being around Jack, she had never really felt that around a male before. But Jack made it easy to be around him and she was glad for that. It made her realize that she could actually, maybe, find something with someone. Namely Jack, but she was trying not to get her hopes up.

Jack mentioned a hard drive, and she turned and looked up, before she stood and grabbed it. Just looking at it, she could tell it was absolutely fried. Water damage and electrical damage. It was crap actually. But there were a few nodes that she could clean and use so she whistled for Albert who swooped it and took it from her returning it to her cart.

Where is your shop located? Incase I need that smoothie at some point, you know.