Thancred Waters (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
funbreaker) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxaslogs2023-01-13 02:34 pm
funbreaker) wrote in abraxaslogs2023-01-13 02:34 pm
Entry tags:
[closed] january quest
Who: Thancred & Natasha
When: Early January
Where: Thorne, Borrel
What: Turtle Task
Warnings: Will edit to add if something comes up!
[ This is not Thancred's first time in Borrel. It's not his second, either. He'll admit that he's relieved for the chance to once again feel the salty sea breeze against his skin. There had been plenty of that with the trip last month, of course, but there's no such thing as too much in his opinion.
He intends to make the most of his time here, but it's not like he agreed to help simply to gather more intel in a different part of Thorne (without using one of his precious passes). A giant sea creature having to be returned to the cool embrace of the ocean more or less has "Scion work" written all over it. Not that this turtle is anything like a primal as far as he's aware, but naturally when he sees the massive beast he cannot help but think of Bismarck and its ilk.
What he isn't expecting is for it to actually smell pleasant out here on the beach. The floral scent apparently comes from the turtle itself, but it does have an unfortunate side effect. The seabirds out here won't leave it alone, attracted by that sweet odor.
Thancred is strong enough that he could help with pulling the rope to haul the massive beast back into the water. However, he's also agile and he suspects that the bird-catching is going to be the task with less volunteers. Which is how he's outfitted with a net and orders of where to take the birds once he's caught one.
When he spots Natasha and realizes that she has signed up for the same task, as she's carrying her own net, he quickly waves her over. ]
We might make shorter work of this if we combine our efforts. I could shoo one your way, for instance.
When: Early January
Where: Thorne, Borrel
What: Turtle Task
Warnings: Will edit to add if something comes up!
[ This is not Thancred's first time in Borrel. It's not his second, either. He'll admit that he's relieved for the chance to once again feel the salty sea breeze against his skin. There had been plenty of that with the trip last month, of course, but there's no such thing as too much in his opinion.
He intends to make the most of his time here, but it's not like he agreed to help simply to gather more intel in a different part of Thorne (without using one of his precious passes). A giant sea creature having to be returned to the cool embrace of the ocean more or less has "Scion work" written all over it. Not that this turtle is anything like a primal as far as he's aware, but naturally when he sees the massive beast he cannot help but think of Bismarck and its ilk.
What he isn't expecting is for it to actually smell pleasant out here on the beach. The floral scent apparently comes from the turtle itself, but it does have an unfortunate side effect. The seabirds out here won't leave it alone, attracted by that sweet odor.
Thancred is strong enough that he could help with pulling the rope to haul the massive beast back into the water. However, he's also agile and he suspects that the bird-catching is going to be the task with less volunteers. Which is how he's outfitted with a net and orders of where to take the birds once he's caught one.
When he spots Natasha and realizes that she has signed up for the same task, as she's carrying her own net, he quickly waves her over. ]
We might make shorter work of this if we combine our efforts. I could shoo one your way, for instance.
no subject
...We're in a city full of mages. Surely someone knows a useful spell here. Like shrinking the damn thing long enough to get it back in the water before restoring it to its natural size. Or maybe giving the people trying to move it enhanced strength, or making them big, if for some reason magic doesn't work on that thing. Why, for god's sake, are we doing it the old-fashioned way?
[ Now she wishes Jayce had figured out a way to build a crane.
Or maybe that Scott Lang might show up. He'd actually be useful right about now. (which are words she hates to even think.)
But she just huffs out a sigh and turns to face Thancred with a rueful expression. ]
I'm sure you can be appropriately terrifying, yes, but what am I supposed to do with it once you scare it towards me? [ Usually people herd things her way for one reason and she doubts you want the birds beaten up. ]
no subject
Beasts that are powerful enough might be resistant to magicks, yes. Why the mages are not choosing to enhance themselves or others, I couldn't say. [ He pauses then, arms crossing. Natasha comes from a world where magick does exist, Stephen and Wanda are proof of that, but she seems less familiar with it herself. ] However, just because someone is a mage doesn't mean they can wield those sorts of spells. Most choose to specialize in a particular type of magick.
[ His own magick abilities, when he'd still had them, had been rather limited. A cure spell was always handy to have, but beyond that, he'd been more focused on his martial skills.
She believes he can be "appropriately terrifying"? He gives a dismayed shake of his head at that, but can tell that she's jesting. So she has a sense of humor, does she? That should make this task a bit more entertaining, if nothing else. ]
Well, throw that net over it. I don't imagine that sneaking up on them will work, but if I frighten it that may be enough for you to catch them off-guard.
[ He watches the birds flapping around with a small sigh. There's no way to do this that won't be incredibly undignified. ]
no subject
[ There's a wry note of humor that seems oddly out of place for the scenario at hand, her lips twitching with suppressed laughter as she takes a few steps towards him, eyeing their current problem. ]
What if we tried to lure them instead? [ The carrot instead of the stick. ]
no subject
Hmm...
[ He pauses for a moment, turning to watch the birds that are further away. A few of them land on the sand that's been made wet by the lapping waves, he notes, and start pecking away in search of something. Eventually he sees one toss its head up to eat a small crab it uncovered from the sand. ]
Well then. [ He glances back over to Natasha, eyes bright with the start of a plot. ] That may work.
no subject
[ Her lips quirk as she watches the birds scavenging their way through the sand. She can't remember the last time she got to chill on a beach, honestly. Although with the current season, it was a way too literal chill. ]
Back where I come from, those things eat anything remotely edible and sometimes even go for things that aren't. You show up on a beach with food and one spots it, you soon have an entire flock inching it's way closer. It could be these aren't much different.
no subject
However, my thought was that we dig up a few of those crabs ourselves and use them as the bait. It would be a bit cheaper than having to buy something, at any rate.
[ And as a resident of Thorne who actually pays rent, he does have to mind his coin.
With that, he moves closer to the water, sending a glance over his shoulder to see if Natasha intends to accompany him. ]
no subject
[ She grins at his expression, because no, she's not embellishing at all. Gulls, man. They were a menace. Pigeons weren't much better, in her opinion. Maybe she should just say all birds were annoying, except then she'd have Sam and Clint glaring at her from somewhere. Which might just prove her point.
But she casts a skeptical glance at the beach before shrugging. ] Sure, the free route is probably better. Do you know how to catch crabs? [ ...That sounded so wrong. But also it's not something she's ever had to do before. They'd probably need a shovel of some sort. And a bucket? ]
no subject
At Natasha's question, Thancred pauses for a moment and eyes the wet sand glistening up ahead. It's a distant memory at this point, but he did do this sort of thing once upon a time, growing up as a street urchin in Limsa Lominsa. Not that the little crabs had sold for much, but it's what he'd relied on before he became a proper pickpocket.
Shaking away that distant thought, he quirks a smile at Natasha. ]
Aye, I might have some idea. We will need something to hold them all, though, I imagine. Might I count upon you for that?
[ They can split up the work, and in time they'll have a whole collection of crabs with which to entice the birds. ]
no subject
Let me see what I can come up with.
[ Luckily for him, she's always resourceful. Buckets were easy enough to borrow from those working closer to the large beached beast and she'd even found a small spade. Which wasn't exactly great for dealing with sand, but if they needed a digging instrument, it would work better than nothing.
Coming back to find him again several minutes later, she holds them up for inspection. ] Will these do?
no subject
Which means that his hands are covered in sand, his gloves already discarded, but he doesn't seem to mind. ]
Aye, that's perfect. Here.
[ He strides over and drops several crabs into the waiting bucket. Their legs wriggle around frantically, but they won't be going anywhere.
His hands now free, he takes the spade from her. ] I'll dig up some more. We'll be swarmed soon enough — stay sharp.
no subject
You weren't kidding about being good at this.
[ She follows him back over to where he'd been digging, keeping the bucket semi-covered as her eyes start scanning their surroundings. He hadn't been lying and several birds had spotted him poking in the sand. They were starting to skitter closer, heads cocked and eyes on him, as if trying to figure out what he was doing. ]
Well. You're starting to draw attention. So that's a start.
no subject
[ If Natasha's wondering why he has this specific skillset, that might explain it. As they guessed, though, the birds have already been drawn to them as they've started to piece together what it is he's doing. Whether they view him as a threat or a potential source of food for them remains to be seen.
Thancred crouches down to dig through the sand with the spade. It's far more effective than simply using his hands, and soon enough he's got more crabs than he knows what to do with.
He glances up over to Natasha as she stands there with the bucket. ]
Soon they'll realize where the crabs are going, so take care.
[ In that they both may end up with more than they bargained for... ]
no subject
I got it, don't worry. Although we might want to begin luring them further down the beach and away from the turtle. Let's see how long we can keep them occupied elsewhere. [ And how many of them they can lure away from the poor beast. ]
no subject
Lead the way, then.
[ He'll be at her side or slightly behind her, just in case one of the birds gets feisty and decides to divebomb them. ]
no subject
In fact, she leaves the bucket uncovered and open to the air, letting the ones swooping overhead catch sight as she moves down the way, further away from the massive turtle.
They definitely have a following now of hungry feathered menaces and more are joining by the minute. She keeps a wary eye on them, shooing the braver ones who start daring to come closer to investigate a potential meal. ]
You know. If we could find a way to secure this just enough to keep their attention but not let them actually reach the crabs, this could keep them occupied for hours.
no subject
Natasha isn't quite satisfied with the work they've already done, though, and he smirks at her diabolical plan. ]
To stop them from actually getting into the bucket, we'd have to put some mesh or other manner of clear shielding over it. To allow them to still see the crabs, yet not be able to get to them.
[ Mesh the birds could just tear through, but a thick slab of glass might do the trick... ]
Perhaps now is when one of us peruses the markets?
no subject
[ She keeps a wary eye on the flock they're drawing down the beach. ]
I think I can keep them occupied for a few minutes, if you want to see if you can find something? You get to go shopping this time.
gonna wrap it here!
[ Thancred gives a firm nod and a small bow, a flourish more than anything else, before he starts moving inland from the shoreline. It's a quick walk to the market and he should be able to find something adequate and return in no time. Both of them might be tackling this with the precision of a much more involved mission, but it's simply their way.
That turtle will have nothing to worry about by the time that they're done, however. ]