[PRP] Pass the Hammer [MilieuxMiache]

[LordPocky]

 

[LordPocky]

Magician Arcana

Hammers....nails.....wood.....that's it, isn't it? Miache looked at his lusus who shrugged as the tools were picked up. Helpful as always Raptordad. Though....he knew full well his lusus was more fond of cleaning than building, a trait they both certainly shared. Unfortunately, at the moment the building drones needed a little help with repairing all the hives and buildings that had been destroyed in the quake. While could work fast enough...there simply weren't enough of them, they were used to only having to build one hive at once, not repairing an entire city. Truthfully he was silently thanking his lucky stars it was New Hemisect that suffered....he couldn't even begin to imagine how he would deal with his own hive being in disarray. At least he lived far enough away that the aftershocks were minimal at best.

Miache took the supplies and placed them into the cart he'd hitched up to Raptordad. Sure his lusus wasn't too fond of something attached to his back like that, but it was the best way to carry things around conveniently. Of course, the cart now carried both building and cleaning supplies....he knew he wouldn't be able to tolerate working while in a mess, and chances were the relief fund didn't bother cleaning.....but that was what happened when you had lowbloods do the work, they didn't care to do things properly.

Well.....he and his lusus had to start somewhere, and an older troll waved them off to one of the destroyed buildings. Oh dear lord....it was....FILTHY! He couldn't even suppress the mortified shudder that racked his body. NO! Be strong little troll! Perhaps if he and his lusus just....tidied up a little first? Yes....they had towels, disinfectant, and he had a broom he could tie onto his lusus' tail. That would just have to do!  

[Magician Arcana]

Lord Pocky

Mili stared glumly at the ruined remains of her hive. Some of the walls were still in tact and that left a small section of room to be stood in. All around the hive was littered with books and feathers, and sopor slime from when the recuepracoon was destroyed. Owl mom hooted softly from the yard, displeased that her perch had yet to be righted.

It was little wonder, though. Mili doubted that anyone knew she had been for the rebels… But that didn’t help her nerves any. Maybe they did know and wanted the teal blood to suffer a bit longer? Or, more likely, the higher bloods were being tended to first. Those purples and indigos were of much higher standard, though Mili… had a hard time imagining them in the city.

A noise from where the door of the hive once stood drew her attention. Turning around, she finally noticed Miache coming into the hive with the raptor lusus. He had some supplies and a broom… Was this boy going to help right the hive? Shuffling around the debris, the mute troll found a blank book that was somewhat intact and a pen.

|Hello. Are you here to help me fix my hive? I heard the city was low on the drones…| She showed Miache the message, hoping that the boy knew how to read.  

[LordPocky]

Magician Arcana

"Wha?" Miache started at the sudden appearance of the other troll. So there was someone else there after all...and yet....why was she writing? Was she shy? Practicing writing? Well...she was plenty fortunate what a well-read little troll Miache was, he could read easier than most his age. His lusus certainly raised him damn properly! He frowned a bit but took the pen and paper from her to write a response. He paused first to wipe down the pen with a sanitation wipe before putting the pen to paper, speaking as he wrote it; "Yes, my lusus and I offered our assistance in the cleaning and building of New Hemisect. I suppose if this if your hive, then yes. I am here to assist in cleaning and repairs." He was quite the wordy brat, though he usually blamed that on his readings.

What was wrong with the girl? Could she possibly be a mute? Well.....that was just begging to be culled. Though....her blood wasn't terrible....but she looked scuffed. Her shoes were dusty and dirty, her clothing had bits of debris. Miache's face scrunched in scrutiny. Even if she didn't always look like that, his judgement was already settling. Plus her hive was still completely torn apart! It was like she didn't even care to right things out! How could she even briefly live in such a state? Miache knew that if he were in the same place he wouldn't be able to sleep in his own hive until it was clean. Thankfully he knew his lusus would help in such a case.

"So where should we start?" he asked, writing the question as well. Perhaps she would want her respite block put right first.....or perhaps her kitchen. That would certainly make sense as well.  

[Magician Arcana]

Lord Pocky

Was it better to pretend she was just terrifically shy or admit that she was mute? Then again, he might think she was mute and deaf, which would be… Even worse. It appeared that the blue blood was already scrunching his nose and passing judgments. Maybe she ought to have… fixed it up a bit before… But Mili had kept away from it for a night or two and slept in refuge hives and tents.

|Respiteblock, please, and then the kitchen. You may speak, if you wish. It would be somewhat quicker and easier for you, I would imagine?|

The young troll wasn’t used to heavy work like this, and did not relish the chance to experience it. With a frown, she carefully picked her steps around the debris and came finally to where the respite block stood. Thankfully, it was a bit intact, but very messy all the same.

|Did you happen to bring cleaning supplies?| Mili wasn’t really finicky, but even this level of filth was getting on her nerves.  

[LordPocky]

Magician Arcana

So she could hear.....but not speak? Hm....that didn't spell safety for a troll their age. He had to wonder how her lusus was protecting her...maybe by teaching her writing? To be fair her writing looked more esthetically pleasing than his own, though his writing was quite precise it didn't quite have such an appealing flourish. Admittedly he had little chance to write when such a piss poor amount his own age bothered to read it. Well....the fact she could write at least showed a little class....and her blood colour wasn't THAT far from his own....perhaps once they cleaned up he could reserve a little of his judgement for when she herself was all primped and proper as well. He could put aside his own judgements...at least for a short while.

"Oh," he said, snapped from his thoughts, "yes. Plenty. My lusus and I are no strangers to a tidying of the hive!" he said in a rather proud tone. "Let's see...." he began, diving into the haul his lusus was carting along. "Sponges, disinfectant, broom, feather duster, sanitation spray..." he half tucked a pristine cloth (Just in case), "I suppose first we should clear out the rubbish though.....I have boxes we may put anything unneeded, broken, or any pieces of ceiling. After that Raptordad can carry it outside."

He was a little wary to see the state of her respiteblock. He wouldn't be surprised if she would need to replace everything she once owned...he would hate were he in the same situation where he would need to completely overhaul his hive....although.....looking at it at another stand point; it would be an excellent chance to clean everything he didn't normally think to! Inconvenient, mayhaps, but not the worst possible outcome. His lusus growled at him a bit but went unnoticed until the feathered tail swatted his behind. What? OH! Yes of course! Manners! "My name is Miache, a pleasure to be sure, and you are?" He snapped a glare at his lusus. Was that better you nagging beast?!  

[Magician Arcana]

LordPocky

Good! The other troll had brought plenty of cleaning supplies, which helped calm down Milieu. Selling off what items weren't wrecked and hawking some of the toys she had 'earned' during the disaster gave her enough beetles to survive, but not enough to really reconstruct and purchase everything.

Her melancholy thoughts were interrupted when Miache's lusus acted up. Watching the banter caused a slight smile to spread across her lips. She nodded politely and wrote, |The pleasure is mine, Miache. I am Milieu|. Rule one taught by Owl-Mom: Be silent and unobtrusive. She doubted Miache would cull her, but he might have friends who would be... more inclined to do so. It was best to act as proper and polite to fly seamlessly under the radar. A perfect servant.

Mili stepped gingerly into the destroyed respite block and grabbed a hunk of fallen debris. It was heavy, but mostly just... So dirty. She wrinkled her nose and brought it to one of the boxes. Physical labor was not her forte.

(ooc: sorry for the slow reply!)  

[LordPocky]

Magician Arcana

Hm.....it seemed as though the teal-blood had a certain class to her, he could forgive her lesser blood colour on account of her rather....well-mannered personality and simply tasteful composure. He would have to keep an eye on this teal-blood, he would hate to see the mute culled when he could see her going far. Unfortunately he knew not every highblood would agree to his sentiment, he knew there were those that would see only a mute wriggler....even though that was what he first saw looking at her as well. Perhaps such shallowness was a trait of the higher parts of the hemospectrum.

"It's good to meet you then..." he paused as he watched her lifting the dirty debris, cringing as he could the dust rubbing off on her. "Hm.....perhaps you would be interested in borrowing this...." he said awkwardly, holding out a spare dust-cloth to her. He had one in his back pockets for his own hands, but he was right in assuming he should bring extras. He began following suit, grabbing some of the bigger chunks of debris to clear them out. Yes.....it would really take some time before they could actually clean things up properly. Perhaps he hadn't need to bring anything aside from raptordad's tail-broom. At least his lusus was making good use of it as he stalked around, whipping his tail about, making piles on the floor.

(No worries, it happens o uo  

[Magician Arcana]

LordPocky

Offering a warm smile as thanks, Mili took the cloth and began work once more. It was nicer than having to grasp chunks of hive-wall with her bare mits, that was for certain. Owl mom, hearing another Lusus near her own had entered the hive and joined the efforts. Within her talons she grasped larger debris and settled it into boxes, alleviating both kids from having to strain too much.

Still, the work was hard. Much harder than Mili was used to doing. After a steady jaunt of working, they had managed to get the respite block somewhat cleared. Her spirits buoyed by that sight, she nabbed the whiteboard and marker and scrawled |We're making good progress. Would you care for a break?| A break with drinks sounded terrific right now. Water to the hive had yet to be restored (many water lines were down all over the city), but Mili had bought some bottled from Four Fronds and stowed them in the least damaged area of the hive.

After a moment, another question came to the girl, |Miache? How did you come to joining this project? Is your hive set straight already?| He was of a higher caste, so it wouldn't be too surprising.

 

[LordPocky]

Magician Arcana

Miache visibly balked at the question. His hive? What a silly thing to assume! "Oh, my hive received no damage. I live by the lakeside where there was no activity. I find it much more.....peaceful and..." he paused to purse his lips. Not cleaner.....there was just as much dirt and mud everywhere....."more.....pristine I suppose." He brushed that aside, however, to finish answering her question, "as a respectable member of society we found it imperative to join in the restoration. Throwing money at the restoration can only help so much if there's no hands to help clean," he answered simply. Plus drones could only do so much.

After a moment he decided to sit, closing up one of the full boxes and putting a clean cloth for him to sit on as he brushed the dust off his gloves and clothes. It wasn't bad enough to drive him mad....but he certainly wasn't okay with letting the dirt stay on him any longer. He knew well enough that if it got too bad he had a tendency to react very.....conspicuously. He knew well enough that his own quirks weren't the most ideal for trolls.

"So you're mute, right?" he asked, earning a stern look and another swat with the feathered tail from his lusus. "I-I mean, I only ask cuz I'm curious if you were born with it or--" he eyed his lusus warily, rubbing his arm where he'd been swatted. Manners.....right.....asking such sensitive things could be rude and hurtful....he really did know better....  

[Magician Arcana]

Oh good, his hive was in perfect condition. Mili relaxed slightly knowing that. Miache seemed like a nice fellow. She would hate to know that his place was in disarray and yet, here he was, helping out someone else. Sipping on her water, the little troll was stunned at the question and also a little nervous to answer.

Milieu wasn't sure herself. When she hatched she figured it was normal to only make a few sounds. She could laugh a little and grunt, someone make a soft crying sound... Wasn't that typical? It wasn't until Owl-mom introduced her to other trolls that Mili figured out how different it was to not be able to 'speak'.

Would it be better to lie and say that an accident had caused her to become mute, or to say that she was born mute? As those questions rolled around, the little trolled laughed softly when Miache's lusus whacked him. It wasn't what one would expect a laugh to sound like, but it was her own and it accompanied a pleased smile.

Of course, making such a sound was rather embarrassing. Her cheeks flushed teal as she took the board and quickly scrawled, | It is fine. Not many ask about it. I was born mute, I think? Or maybe something happened when I was a grubbling that I don't remember.|

Wiping off the response once she knew Miache had read it, the troll quickly wrote down a new question, | Do you like to read? What sort of books? I have many here at the hive.|

LordPocky

TWO MONTHS LATER MAGI REPLIES