singillatim | [ open ] get excited

[A few things immediately become clear once Senku gets his bearings. First, there's no broad means of communication with the town at large. Second, there doesn't seem to be much of a central leadership structure of any kind, like there had been in Ishigami Village. It's inconvenient, in some ways, because if he wants to have any broader picture of what the town's challenges and resources look like, he might have to start going door to door outright, but he figures a flyer on the bulletin board in the community hall is about as good a start as any, and he gets himself sets up down in the basement to work on any requests he receives. He spends a few hours down there a day at the least, when he's not out getting a feel for the area or gathering whatever supplies seem most immediately pressing.

He's made a sort of matching flyer for a table he's commandeered down in the basement, and whenever he sees someone coming his way, he's quick to get up and greet them.]

Hey, you're here about the flyer, right? Tell me what you need and we can get started.

[ Levi spends some time staring at the flyer, including the little silly doodle on it. "Something" is certainly a broad category of things, which means this person must be pretty damn confident about their "science". Honestly, this sort of vibe reminds him of Hange a little, which is probably why he finds his way down to the basement soon after that. ]

[ Considering he's hanging around the town hall for now, it's probably even the same or next day since Senku put up the flyer. ]

[ He's greeted by a short, surly looking man with dark hair and impressive eyebags, wrapped up in a forest green riding cloak and a clashing sky blue knitted scarf with tassels that looks like it's been pilfered from the communal stash of winter wear. ]

Can you make soap?

[ Right down to business, no hellos or anything. Despite looking perpetually annoyed, the man's voice sounds calm, almost tired. ]

[The lack of pleasantries is just fine with Senku. Appreciated, even, so they can get to business faster.

Truly, he hadn't been sure entirely what he had expected, when he'd first put up the flyer, but something about soap as his first request tickles him, frankly. The original Dr. Stone, was it? Deja vu all over again, starting over from scratch. Without missing a beat:]

Easily.

[But rather than continue to press for details on what kind of soap the man might now about, he simply gets to his feet.]

So let's go on and get us some wood ash.

[ While Levi is pleased to see that the young man with leek-like hairdo apparently understands the urgency of having soap reserves, he doesn't quite expect him to just get right to it. There's a little pause before he steps to the side, trying to stay out of his way. ]

[ Wood ash shouldn't be too difficult to find in this weather (he imagines), surely most houses have fireplaces, and if people live there they ought to be burning things. ]

Anything else?

[ He's willing to be put to work here. ]

We'll need a source of oil or fat, but I still need to explore the area a bit more to be able to tell if there's usable plants for that purpose, or if it'll be easier to hunt an animal.

[It's too bad Chrome isn't here with him. His foraging skills were second to none, and it'd have been great to have his help gathering supplies.]

In the meantime, we can get the ash started. It'll take some time to burn, anyway.

[ Too bad indeed. ]

I don't know a lot about plants, but I can hunt.

[ He probably will, anyway, if it looks like the people here need more food, but for now he's keeping it on the "if necessary" shelf. ]

[ He watches him awkwardly for a while before finally relenting. ]

...Do you need help?

It never hurts to have more manpower.

[He takes a moment to think, weighing the most useful options, then:]

How about we both gather wood while we search the forest around here, and if we haven't found any that we can use for this by sundown, we switch gears to hunting tomorrow.

[It'll take more than a single day to catalogue what is and isn't available in the woods, of course, but soap is a pretty urgent need when modern medicine is likely in short supply at best.]

Alright.

[ Levi doesn't seem to be too interested in chatting, or at least not as interested as he clearly is in soap. Nonetheless, he'll follow along and even make sure not to wander too far away from the younger man as they gather fallen wood, perhaps worried about wild creatures or whatever else might be dwelling outside of town streets. ]

[ Not that he would leave anyone to die even if he didn't deem them useful. But if Senku can actually do what he says, that makes him valuable to the community as a whole. ]

[ Naturally, whatever wood scraps they find on the ground aren't in the best condition, though Levi supposes it won't matter too much since it's all getting burnt anyway. Still, he ends up staring at some dried trees on the way. ]

Maybe we should've looked for an axe first.

We can if we really need to, later. [Or if nothing else, he can make a makeshift stone version] What we've got should burn well enough, though.

[He squints up at the sky. It's getting close enough to sundown that they should probably turn back soon.]

Now we just need a source of grease, but it's getting late. Hunting might be the more efficient play after all. [He puffs out an exhale.] There anything else you might need soon? Might as well put the other parts to good use too, if we're going to kill something for the soap.

[ Levi glances over the wood and kindling they'd managed to gather so far. It's not much, but it should get them started, at least. Some of it doesn't look all that dry to him, but it doesn't seem worth an argument. ]

...you're the expert.

[ He ties up their finds so that it's more comfortable to carry and heaves it onto his back, straining less than one might expect from a glance at him. He makes a vague noise of agreement; going out there in the middle of the night seems like a bad idea but he can probably get on it first thing in the morning. ]

[ He stares at Senku blankly for a few moments. ]

Food. People usually eat the rest.

[ Well. Not the fur and bones, he supposes. This guy wouldn't happen to know how to do that too, would he? ]

Are you planning to tan the hides?

[Science wasn't anywhere in Ashiya's realm of understanding, but he was willing to give it a try. Such open-minded thoughts were the main reason he had survived on Earth without his magic or his true self so far, and-- in an abandoned town that didn't seem to have access to anything from beyond it's borders, he knew he could only gain more than he would lose.

The community center was where he was spending a large portion of his time at the moment, although he had secured a small cabin nearby. Dressed in worn boots, a heavy green sweater, and a loudly plaid scarf that he was reluctant to give up after the incidents with the fog, he gingerly stepped down into the basement.. To find a familiar face.]

Oh... It's you.

[He said, all politeness, and offered a smile.]

Are science experiments without full ventilation even safe to do? I've seen some shows on the television, and the whole idea seems very unsafe and dramatic.

[There's a brief moment of surprise and slight confusion -- who else was the other man expecting, when he'd put his name on the announcement? When it suddenly clicks that they'd never introduced themselves to each other, and he laughs.]

Kehehe. We really do need to exchange names one of these days.

[But onto other business.]

Science is rarely as dramatic as it is on TV. It's a series of slow, steady efforts, crawling in the dirt step-by-step. As for ventilation...I wanted a convenient space to find out what people need around here. If a request involves combustion or dangerous fumes, I'll take it outside.

Edited 2024-05-10 21:46 (UTC)

Shiro Ashiya,

[He said simply, gladly using the name on his government issued ID, and added:]

Sorry about that. A lot was happening the last time we met.

[Namely, the fog that made his lungs feel like he had inhaled powdered glass. It was clear from his energy and brighter complexion that he was feeling better at that point, and Ashiya ventured closer.]

And I suppose that using this as a Base is a good start.... Where would you go if something that needs ventilation does come up?

I have a small house with a modest yard nearby if you want to use it.

Edited 2024-05-20 02:58 (UTC)

[Yes, life in this place is inconvenient in many ways, yet people have been able to adapt and he can't completely complain, it could be much worse. Erichthonios has been trying to figure out ways to become... useful for the community, even with his incredibly low survival skills and the fact that his entire set of personal knowledge turned into dust when he has been thrown into a world without Aether of any sorts. He's been reading books, especially about medicine and the local flora and fauna, but as a good enough researcher in his world... things are still rather confusing for him.

When he saw a bullettin message about someone searching volunteers? For science? He immediately went to the Community Hall basement, even if he considered his skillset still rather... lackluster. Senku is greeted by a tall redhaired man who is clearly struggling to keep his face beard-free and whose red eyes shine like they had a light of their own.]

Ahm... greetings. I'm Erichthonios. I heard you could use some assistance?

[Senku blinks in surprise at first, having expected the first responses to his flyers to be requests of him to demonstrate he's capable, but then it shifts into a bright grin. Anyone who's excited to participate in science is someone he wants in his corner immediately, especially without Chrome around.]

Senku. I'm looking to tackle the mystery of how and why we came here and how to get back, and I'm going to need allies. So if that sounds good to you, welcome aboard.

Edited 2024-05-10 22:28 (UTC)

[If someone is confident enough to claim the entire basement and put a public announcement, Erichthonios is willing to give him at least the benefit of the doubt. He has been busy studying that world's science basics and all, having ways to improve his knowledge is also more than welcome- especially if he gets a way to confront himself with others.

At Senku's words, he glances to the side before nodding.]

That is quite the noble intent, I am fully on board with the plan. That being said, considering not everyone has a world to return to- [Him, for example, as far as Erichthonios knows the place he comes from has been destroyed] I'd also love to focus on how to make this place more... livable for the residents.

I've had a couple of ideas, but I lack the skills and physical strenght [Or the leadership skills needed to coordinate others.] required to put them into practice. Anyway, as a researcher and scholar from my world, I am at your service.

[Senku grins, shaking his head.]

I'm not especially physically strong, either, but there's at least some workarounds for that while we look for more allies. Making this town more comfortable for the people living here's bound to happen over the course of our work, really, that's just how science is -- small accomplishments building on each other. If there's something specific you'd like to see, though...well, that is a large part of why I put up the announcement.

[Even so, he can't quite leave it at that. There's one thing his mind had caught on that he set on hold to address the more pressing matter first, but he has to know.]

What do you mean you don't have a world to return to, though?

[He presumes this guy wasn't just...floating off in the vacuum of space, so there has to be something more to the story than that.]

[He... liks this man, he decides. At least, he sounds competent enough.]

While I'm aware of that, I am also not... exactly a leader. I also spent quite some time studying the basics of how this world works, it's fundamentally different from the one I come from. And... well, there are things. The simple fact that we have hot springs is a sign of geothermal energy that could be used and I'm certain we could collectively work on a greenhouse, but it's... not completely easy for me to understand what's possible or not in here. And... nothing specific. I'd just like to learn and help around.

[He pauses, there, shaking his head. He had time to process and mourn since he arrived, so he's almost casual when he speaks of his own situation.]

In truth, I cannot answer your question. I was in the middle of what we called the Final Days before finding myself here, reality as we knew was being torn apart, so I'm... considering I'm not sure if the risky plan my kin had managed to succeed, I'm also not sure I have anywhere to go back to.

As you can imagine, I am quite inclined in making things work here. Even with all the challenges this place offers.

Edited 2024-05-19 07:08 (UTC)

[ The community hall is, as the name implies, a community space — Maccready has been around enough would-be scientists and tinkerers to know just how often these things can go awry, and so the idea of someone working out of the basement… Well, there are probably better places. He wishes he could say that's the sole reason he heads to find Senku, though, but he'd be a liar if he said it was.

It's a mid-afternoon when he trudges down, coat pulled tight around his shoulders, rifle slung over one as usual — he'd have left it behind for once, had it not been part of the reason he's headed here. He knocks on the door frame by way of announcing himself, before giving a short nod in Senku's direction. ]

That's right. Name's Maccready, and I'm… well, I'm not entirely sure if you'll be able to help out, but I figured there's no harm in asking.

[A rifle...man. Senku hasn't seen one of those in a very long time. It puts this town a little better off technologically than Ishigami Village had been when he came upon it two years ago, and he's getting a little excited thinking about the possibilities that implies. But he's got to take this one step at a time, and the first step is getting to know the people in this town and finding allies by offering his services.]

Well, Maccready, that's the beauty of science. There's few things out there that're outright impossible.

[Fewer things than even he had thought, given their circumstances.]

Even if I can't solve your issue right away, I can get the process started. All scientific developments are brought about by slow, steady efforts over time, after all. So, what are we starting?

[ Maybe Senku shouldn't get too excited — Maccready's rifle survived the trip that brought him here, came all the way from the far-flung future of 2287 and is still kind of technologically behind; it's no plasma rifle, that's for sure. ]

Right… I'm not much of a scientist, but I do know that you'll need resources, things to work with, and they're in pretty short supply around here.

[ From his pocket, he pulls out a single of his .308 rounds that he'd managed to get from Levi. He's been extremely fortunate in that he hasn't had a need to use many, but they're a limited resource, and they can't easily be replenished. He doesn't know anything about making ammunition, all of his back home has been scavenged or made by tinkerers. Taking a step forward, he holds it up for Senku to get a look at before offering it to him. ]

We need a reliable source of ammunition. I'm not the only one 'round here who uses a gun, and we've got different kinds that call for different calibres.

[Science experiments? In the basement? That was...worrying. Hopefully nothing like the experiments in the bunker...right? They couldn't have enough, uh, science stuff to do that sort of thing. But he needed to know what it was anyway, at the very least because he stores things in the hall's basement (like extra ammo) and he would really prefer it not explode or mutate something.

When he goes down to check it out the boy's got his rifle strapped to his back but his oversized coat is left in the hall. Maybe he should have brought it to pretend he just came in from outside, but Levi's not thinking of that yet. He approaches Senku seeming a bit stiff.]

A-are you the one w-with the, uh, experiments?

[That's the second person that's come by with a rifle so far, which tells Senku a couple of things: one, it's a dangerous enough area that people feel the need to keep protection on their person at all times. And two, there is -- if not a large supply of gunpowder around Milton, at least a fairly significant one. That's likely to come in handy down the line.]

That's me. Or, well, it's going to be. Can't very well run an an experiment without a hypothesis, can I? Kehehe. I barely even know where to start forming my research questions to begin with.

[Levi has no idea what a hypothesis is but he also knows almost nothing about experiments so whatever.]

What sort of experiments?

Like I said, I haven't figured that out just yet. I'm still gathering information.

[He rolls a shoulder in a shrug.]

Broad strokes, though, I'd like to learn more about this place and eventually, how to get home. I'll probably run into problems along the way that'll need to be solved to get any further in answering my questions, too.

Um. Well, please don't do anything dangerous here. We store things in the basement and it wouldn't do if they got destroyed.

I, uh, I hope you manage to figure something out, though.

[ open ] get excited

get your science project commissions here

maybe he will!

sorry for the delay!

no worries!!

early morning typos rip

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we can probably skip/handwave the gathering unless you have ideas for it? :')

lets handwave ye! also rip my icon ...

oh no...

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sorry for the delay!

No worries, we all have IRL to worry about.

and then i got distracted by the town meeting stuff lkjsdf sorry again

All good, I admit I struggle a bit with the town meeting stuff because Erich is likely to stay quiet

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