[closed] january quest

[funbreaker]

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.

Comments

[funbreaker]

Well, I grew up in a citystate located on the southern coast of an island.

[ 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... ]

[widows_kiss]

[ She just grins at him, because honestly, this just feels like fun, compared to her typical sort of mission. ]

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. ]

[funbreaker]

[ Once Thancred's spade is packed full of the crabs, he walks over to Natasha and dumps them all into the bucket again. More and more of the birds have congregated around them, their beady eyes watching. ]

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. ]

[widows_kiss]

[ She hates to say that she's familiar with feisty divebombing birds, but she's friends with Sam. And Clint. It happens.

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.

[funbreaker]

[ This is working perhaps even better than intended. Thancred dreads the moment when he ends up with a bird dropping on him somewhere, but he's been through worse, certainly. It would be easy enough to wash off in the ocean, at least.

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?

[widows_kiss]

I think we might need something more solid than mesh, I think they could get through that with enough inventiveness. Unless you can find one made of something they can't tear through.

[ 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!

[funbreaker]

I think I can manage that. I won't keep you waiting long.

[ 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. ]