nexus_crossings | The Scavenger

The Scavenger

Ironically, life in the Nexus has made Ben Solo a scavenger. He's not an uncommon sight in salvage piles and scrap heaps, picking through them for materials he wants before someone else gets them. Ben is well aware he's not the only scrap collector lurking around the industrial area, and though he's not particularly afraid of competition he's watchful, saber at his side in the low chance of trouble. Anything he can trade or keep for his own use is slipped into a heavy bag he's carrying.

There are good pickings today, to his satisfaction. He found a large salvage heap and is digging through it.

Machine parts are a currency in their own right here. He wouldn't say the Jawas are his friends, but they're easy to bargain with, and Ben would rather avoid a fight if he can help it. He'd rather have a mutual agreement with them than constantly deal with them stealing his scrap. They helped him with the materials for his new lightsaber, so he feels he owes them one. He gives them a share of what he finds in exchange for things he needs, a relationship useful for both sides.

I'm not a bad scavenger, he thinks as he stuffs a metal plate into his bag. He looks up when he feels somebody watching him, and is wary but curious as he turns around. "Are you looking for something?"

***

Later, back at his shop, Ben's rummaging through the parts he scavenged, trying to run an inventory check of his wares and making a survey of what he'll need for the future. Some of his salvage will be traded for materials he needed with the Jawas, some will be used to start repair work on the ship Misfire gave him, and some was piled up in front of his shop, on offer in exchange for goods or any more important parts he might need. It's a mess of computer parts, bits and pieces from old spaceships, tools from a variety of worlds, and whole machines alien even to him.

With this load, it'll take a few days, and Ben would rather not have it cluttering his workplace. A cleanup's overdue, and there are more important things to fill that space.

"Sorry about the mess. Is anyone interested in some spare tools and parts? I've got to clean my warehouse out before winter, and everything's on a discount." Every cent will be spent on food and medicine to keep Ben fed and in good shape over the winter. A worthy cause.

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"Looking for something?" She glances down at the pile she's been picking through. "The metal here's different from back home. I was wondering if I could find something to build a new bow with, but I can't really determine the properties of everything very well."

The elf is dressed in dark blue leather armor, and has a pair of daggers sheathed at her hips, but doesn't seem to be moving toward them. No, this is the Nexus, and with any luck the people she's running into are friendly and helpful ~~and know more about these materials than she does~~. So she's mostly at ease, if a little startled at being caught staring.

"Not anything specific. I'm looking for materials that I can restore and sell later. In a place like this, there's more stuff than you know what to do with, and you have to grab it before somebody else finds it first. But if you tell me what you're looking for, I may be able to help you."

Ben, too, carries weapons by habit - not everyone and everything in the Nexus is friendly, and he's a fighter - so he doesn't ask her what she's doing with hers. His weapons are hidden, but in a position where he can easily grab them and strike when needed. "My name's Ben. I don't live too far from here. Haven't seen you around before, though - are you new?"

"Not so much new as an infrequent visitor. I set up a stall a couple times a month in one of the downtown markets to sell goods from my home. I don't tend to spend too much time exploring the Nexus outside of that."

She offers a crooked smile, walking over to offer her hand. "Thiirien of Solitude. Nice to meet you, Ben."

"I was stuck here by circumstances. So I've had to piece together a life here away from my home universe, though it hasn't been so bad." Ben's found little ways to interact with the people and cultures from his own galaxy, even though he'll probably never return.

He accepts the hand. "It's good to meet you, Thriien. We might be able to make a trade."

Edited 2020-09-13 21:36 (UTC)

"Here's where I warn you, most of what I have to sell is exotic cheeses from Skyrim. If you want anything beside that, I'll have to bring it with me next time I come to visit."

She laughs a little, wholly aware of how ridiculous it might seem, to ferry cheese to the Nexus to sell.

"Not that I'd mind taking special orders, though. My home 'verse is magic-driven, with a general lower level of technology than the Nexus, if that helps."

"You know what? That's actually perfect." Ben smiles, clearly pleased with the idea. Upcoming winter and the need to stock up on food aside, he's fond of cheese anyway. "I'll be happy to trade my supplies for cheese. Winter's coming, and a supplier would help me a lot. The winters here can be unpleasant. It all depends on whether or not the Winter Spirit goes easy on us or not."

He pulls his bag over to give her a chance to examine the contents. Anything he parts with can probably be replaced, and ensuring a full stomach in winter is more important. A steady supply of cheese is especially tempting.

"We have magic where I come from, too, though it's a different flavor. Here's what I have. Now, before we settle on a deal, what would you like from me in return?"

"I doubt the winters here are worse than the northern part of Skyrim, Winter Spirit or none. I'm used to ice wraiths and snowstorms that bury whole cities for months. But your cheese supplier, I'll gladly be. We'll need to work out which of my local cheeses you'll want; not all the locals are into mammoth-milk cheese."

She looks into his bag, pulling out a length of wire to test its strength.

"Like I said, I'm hoping to build myself a better bow, but if you're actually used to working with the stuff around here, perhaps you might help me build a proper crossbow instead?"

"The last time Reynard got rough with us, everyone was trapped in a blizzard for months with no anti-violence field. Then there was an attack from space pirates on top of that. Between his storm and the pirates, we lost more than a few people. He's not someone to take lightly." Ben wasn't there to see it, but he has a general timeline of what happened. "But on a brighter note, that's a good deal. I'll be happy to take some samples and see what I like best."

He nods, liking the sound of the trade.

"And yes...as a matter of fact, I think I could help you build a new crossbow. I just need the right materials, and I'll have one ready very soon. There have been harder jobs here."

She listens to his description of last winter thoughtfully, shaking her head a little and glad when he changes the subject to more pleasant things.

"I'll bring the samples along with me next time I visit, then. Maybe in a few days? Do you have any general preferences, in terms of sharpness or funkiness--or how you're going to be using the cheese?"

"That works. I'm not a fussy eater, but something sharp would go nicely. Something that keeps, too."

Ben rummages with hiS PINpoint. "Here's my idea, if you have a PINpoint yourself - you can send me a list of materials, and I'll message you once I'm finished in a few days. Then you can bring me some cheese samples from Skyrim and I'll give them all a fair try."

"I didn't know you had a shop here..." Harley rolls into the repair shop, glancing at everything that Ben had scavenged in the last little while. Every now and then she picks up something, examines it, and puts it back on the shelf. Or finds a few items and juggles them. (Or when Ben is not looking, pockets an item that looks useful).

"I have to have somewhere to store the spare materials I can't fit in the warehouse, and if I can make a little extra money this year..." Ben looks back to Harley, giving her a smile while he's sorting through his supplies. "Besides, I'm starting work to prepare for winter. Autumn is the time to get ready, I figure, while conditions are still good."

"You sell the material. I know a guy that can make stuff out of said material. Girls got a system all lined up..." Harley grins again. She likes having friends with connections.

"Good. If that's the case, I'll be happy to sell you things for your friend to use." Ben manages a smile, but his mind's working. He, too, likes having connections. "Anything in particular you need?"

Les had stepped back into the Nexus and found herself simply wandering down the many streets and alleys. It was fascinating! She wished she could drag Scott here. She was just about to turn back around to head toward the plaza when she spotted something both familiar and foreign all at the same time, a salvage pile. Interesting. She had the feeling she wasn't going to find anything for her car back home but still, she had to look.

As she moved in closer, she noticed someone else digging through the heap. "No, not exactly," she said when he asked if she was looking for anything. "I'm rather new to the Nexus but salvage is something I'm very familiar with so I thought I'd check it out."

Ben's not looking for anything too specific either. The Jawas aren't too fussy about what he gives them in trade, though he does his best to deal fairly with them. What he does keep is anything that's both intact and that he has an immediate use for. He's already found some parts that he can use to repair the ship that Misfire gave him. With any luck the ship will be fixed and stored before the weather goes sour.

"So you're new, then. You can call me Ben. I live here in the Nexus - this salvage heap isn't too far from where I live and work, actually." Ben picks up a gear, examines it, and tosses it into his bag. "If there's anything you want to know about this place, you can ask me. I haven't been here for that long, but I know the basics."

Les nodded as she started to pick through the miscellaneous pieces and parts in the salvage heap. "I am," she admitted with a smile. "It's nice to meet you, Ben. You can call me Les. I'm from California, on Earth." Honestly, she wasn't sure if she needed to specify the Earth part but from what she had read, it probably didn't hurt.

"Thank you, I appreciate that." She paused a moment as she picked up a piece of metal then setting it down again. "The place seems immense so far," she admitted after a moment.

"I know about Earth. You're talking to one of the few humans here who's not from it." Ben isn't the only one, but as fat as he's encountered humans from his galaxy are the only ones who don't have any association with the Earth as their home. There are probably others, but he's never met them. It's a bit of a puzzle, honestly, one he'll probably never have an answer for.

"It is - unpredictable, too. It has a way of coming up with things people need, but it's got a less friendly side. Have you seen the panphlets and the PSA? They'll explain the basics."

"I figured you probably did. Where are you from," she asked, because well, how could she not. She may not have the greatest of social skills with new people but she tried to not be outright rude to people going about their business.

Les nodded. "I read the pamphlets and saw the PSA - it's a lot to take in. Fascinating and different from back home but still... a lot," Les admitted with a little grin. That didn't mean she was put off by it at all, no, it increased her curiosity. "Well I'm definitely familiar with the less friendly side of things. One question I do have is currency... do the shops take all currency? Or is there a specific currency? Trading?"

"Me? I'm from...well, in my home universe we have many different inhabited planets. My home planet is called Chandrila." Ben's an unusual case, because his heritage and ancestry come from many different planets - Chandrila, Correlia, Alderaan, Naboo, Tattooine. "As I understand, in other worlds humans are Earth natives. It's an unsolved mystery for me."

"Captain Rogers explains the basics well, and the pamphlets handle what he doesn't." He moves on to answering her questions. "Most currencies are accepted here, as far as I've seen, and there are ways to trade for goods and services that don't involve money at all."

The pamphlets had explained how the Nexus was an intersection between worlds so knowing his universe had other inhabited planets was fascinating. She nodded. "Chandrila," she said and grinned. "Not knowing anything about Chandrila but the fact that it's not Earth is very cool. I'm sorry, that's probably something that people hear a lot."

Les nodded and said, "I figured that might be the case but I wasn't really sure. Thank you, Ben. I appreciate it."

"The Nexus is a good place to live, but you also have to be careful. Not everyone here's friendly - most people are, but there's no shortage of con artists and thieves and worse. It's safer in the inhabited areas, where the anti-violence field will protect you." Ben's had his share of scrapes, though none of them made him feel especially threatened so far. "Wouldn't go into the Wilds or the Underbelly unless you have protection or backup."

He offers her a hand."And if you don't mind me asking, who are you?"

"I'd be even more surprised if there weren't con artists, thieves or worse," Les mused. Her life had become relatively stable over the last few years without any unnecessary drama but even still, she knew how things operated on the shadier side of life. "Thank you for the advice. I never leave home without a bit of added protection," she agreed. "Especially in a new environment or new place like this. Although, I doubt a knife will help me much."

She reaches out and shakes his hand. "I'm Les Morgan, I work in a garage back home - working on and painting cars and street race on the weekends."

"People here are very welcoming, for the most part. Naive, even. I'm not complaining - I benefit from it as much as anyone else does, maybe more - but it's something that can be exploited." Ben's got a cynical streak. It's a combination of his own nature and the early warnings he received from several people here not to let his guard down too much. Being a former villain gives him a different, somewhat darker perspective. He figures that point of view might be useful here one day. "It's always a good idea to be careful."

He accepts the handshake. "You're welcome to visit me any time you need something fixed up, Les. I'm used to different kinds of technology, but I'm sure a car would be a simple matter. We've had access to space travel for a long time now."

The way he spoke reminded her of years gone by and the very thoughts that went through her friends and her minds as they grew up. Especially during the tougher years when they didn't have their other friends around just yet. It was something she'd definitely be aware of as she spent more time in the Nexus. "It never hurts to be extra careful," she agreed, nodding. "Nearly everything can be exploited, especially a person's kindness."

"Thank you, Ben. I would say if you're used to space travel then a car is a much simpler beast. Either way, they're fun to work on and decorate," Les admitted with a laugh. As a racer, she had to wonder if there were a version of street races but with some sort of space craft instead of cars. It wasn't a question she would exactly bring up at this point but it did raise some interesting questions.

The girl behind him is comparatively small, almost a foot shorter than him, but she's actually standing there holding up the better part of an engine block with one hand, crouched slightly as if she was looking under it. She pauses like a deer in headlights for a moment, then looks vaguely guilty, setting the chunk of metal aside gingerly.

"Uh...I was just..." Pause. "Okay, this is gonna sound really dumb but I thought I saw a kitten run under this thing. Or maybe a bunny. Something furry and white, anyway. Sorry, not trying to harsh your junkyard buzz or whatever."

"You saw a kitten?" Ben's cautious when he's digging for salvage, since he knows he's not the only one who's interested in it. He competes with Jawas and other scavengers. But this stranger seems friendly enough. He tosses the chunk of metal he was examining into the bag and turns to face her. "Don't usually see animals this far into the industrial area, though some do find their way here from time to time."

Ben comes a little closer. "Don't think I've seen you around the Nexus before. My name's Ben - I don't live that far from here." His home's in the downtown area, but he chose a place close to the boundary, all the easier to travel back and forth.

"I mean, I guess it might've been a rat? But it would have to have been a white one." She shrugs. "Animals have a way of getting into places you wouldn't expect. Ooh! Maybe it was a possum! Possums are cute..."

The engine block she was holding has to have weighed a minimum of three hundred pounds, but she handled it like a shoebox. There's some unusual strength here.

"I'm Abby!" She smiles, innocently friendly. "I only visit here sometimes. I live in New York. Earth. Early 21st century. What are you looking for, Ben? Maybe I can help."

"Might not have even been an Earth animal. You'd be surprised by what pops up in a Nexus salvage heap. It isn't as much as in the Wilds, but there are creatures from across the universe here who come to scavenge or by accident."

Ben knows the Jawas, for example. They might have a bad reputation here, but he likes them as reminders of where he came from. When you can't go home, reminders count for a lot.

"I'm a permanent resident. It's circumstances. You're lucky you have a home to return to." He grabs a computer part, examines it, and puts it aside. "I have a ship a friend gave me that I'm hoping to fix before winter comes. So if you find a replacement window, that would be a big help."

"That's true. Well, I'll never know unless it comes back out." It's a disappointment, but she'll have to assume an animal that's hiding from her can take care of itself in the wild.

"Okay, so when you say ship, I'm guessing you're not talking about the kind that goes on water. What kind of window should I be looking for?" Wouldn't be the first time she's salvaged windows, honestly, but she's always looked for the standard four-pane glass windows you can repurpose to build cold frames.

When Ben turned around, he would see an average-looking young man in his mid-twenties perched in the middle of on a long metal pole. It was a long pole, probably part of a larger building that had been demolished, that now made a makeshift bridge between piles of junk. To have been in the middle in the first place required no small feat of balance. To be crouched there comfortably was a little bit on the crazy side. But there he was.

“Whoops! Sorry! Didn’t mean to startle you!” Minoru called down. “Hey! You don’t need, like, a permit or something to bring stuff back, do you?”

Sif pauses in her rummaging through the various things here - this place looks whether one could find anything, here, perhaps even a weapon or two, who knows - and answers the man,

"I was only checking whether I can't find anything useful here."

Ben looks a little more closely at Sif. He's normally wary of strangers, especially when he's startled, but this woman seems to be all right.

"Haven't seen you before. Who are you?"

There are many people in Nexus, it seems, although not as many as in Asgard. But still, there'd probably be quite a crowd, all in all, so it's only natural to her that there are many she hasn't met yet.

She looks at him carefully, too.

"I'm Sif."

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The Scavenger

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(first scenario!)

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Scenario 1

during the scavenging

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