==== Chapter 12 - Aftermath ====

(return to [[ticker_trouble|Chapter Index]])

**Dunbernarding - Reception**

2010-02-22 16:28:23: Metallic g_rock wakes up on the floor in the entryway "Wuh?"

2010-02-22 16:39:47: Spandex hops into the room, one hand on a piece of toast 'npeanutbutter, the other hoiking up a stripey stocking, to find her exit blocked by a g_rock. "outta my way metal-head."

2010-02-22 16:41:10: Metallic g_rock grunts and rolls over "Apologies, your high(skirted)ness"

2010-02-22 16:44:14: Spandex stands there, tearing at the toast, looking down at him. "you gonna live here?" Dex knows she's been defeated by Mer and B.

2010-02-22 16:46:39: Metallic g_rock nods to the question "Probably. S'much as you are."

2010-02-22 16:44:26: Metallic g_rock pushes himself to his feet "Coffee. . .is. . .where?"

2010-02-22 16:47:28: Spandex weakens ever so slightly at mention of one of her 7th favourite addiction.

2010-02-22 16:48:56: Spandex means her 7th. not one of 7th, which doesn't make any sense at all.

2010-02-22 16:49:34: Spandex steps forward towards G, "whaddya mean as much as I am. what do you know about me?"

2010-02-22 16:49:39: Metallic g_rock taps a little tune on his hat, and a gremlin leaps out and NOMs the words 'one of' from Sx's sentence

2010-02-22 16:49:49: calliaphone clatters in with a bucket-full-of-tools, and stops dead in the doorway. "G." she says. "You're . . . awake." and then to Spandex, "h'llo." she doesn't come into the room any further.

2010-02-22 16:52:14: Metallic g_rock yawns "I mean, as much as any of us will be living here, I will be. Sorry. As for what I know about you, I know you're a real badass broad, but you're all mushy on the inside."

2010-02-22 16:54:38: Spandex rolls her eyes. "Bettern that toxic shit I saw you're made up of. That stuff's not catchy issit?"

2010-02-22 16:56:02: Spandex says, "hi callia" over her shoulder. She keeps her eyes on g's and asks her, "how's your neck wound healin up?"

2010-02-22 16:56:05: calliaphone backs out of the doorway, towards the rhododendrons. there's a tell-tale rattle from the tools in her bucket.

2010-02-22 16:56:24: calliaphone turns and runs.

2010-02-22 16:58:12: Metallic g_rock shakes his head, and extends a hand, for her to examine or to shake "No. Just to me. A good friend got it sorted, though, isn't that right, Callia?"

2010-02-22 17:01:40: Spandex has heard callia run off. She closes her eyes for a moment.

2010-02-22 17:04:40: Metallic g_rock glances at the retreating footsteps "I. . .Callia! Where are you going?" he mumbles "I nee coffee. I'm too dense for this right now."

2010-02-22 17:16:01: Spandex opens her eyes to see G still there. Without realising it yet, her stripes have changed.

2010-02-22 17:18:56: Metallic g_rock sighs "Listen, I'm truly sorry for what I did when I was. . .out of my head. I know I hurt you, and I just hope that I can earn back your trust somehow."

2010-02-22 17:24:03: Spandex points to the kitchen. "coffee through there" and heads out to find callia.

2010-02-22 17:31:17: Metallic g_rock heads to the kitchen

2010-02-22 18:26:34: calliaphone creeps back in, and heads to the extension.

**Dunbernarding - in the kitchen**

2010-02-22 17:38:48: Metallic g_rock grabs a black coffee and sits to wake up

2010-02-22 19:08:10: Metallic g_rock flips absently through a copy of Dresden Codak

2010-02-22 19:11:03: calliaphone stomp-limps into the kitchen - filthy, scratched and scowling. Catching sight of G, she stops.

2010-02-22 19:12:50: Metallic g_rock smiles thinly at Callia and slides her a mug of coffee

2010-02-22 19:15:10: calliaphone hesitates. Then she takes the coffee and starts loading it with sugar. She watches G warily, but her eye keeps getting drawn to the bright colours of the comic he's reading.

2010-02-22 19:16:37: Metallic g_rock slides her a copy, and says, quietly "Morning."

2010-02-22 19:19:50: calliaphone keeps loading sugar into the coffee, but takes the comic with her other hand and tugs it towards her. she puts it in a pocket, then nods. "you . . . you a'right?"

2010-02-22 19:23:36: Metallic g_rock nods and is silent for a moment, allowing her to her the gentle, rhythmic ticking sound coming from his chest "No pain or tingling, no twitching, speaking just fine."

2010-02-22 19:29:32: calliaphone listens and lets out a breath. she stops adding sugar to the mug. "that's . . . good." she says cautiously, and takes a gulp of coffee syrup.

2010-02-22 19:31:27: calliaphone sputters a little, blinks a lot, and then adds a few more spoonfuls to the mug.

2010-02-22 19:31:58: Metallic g_rock nods "And how are you? Hows your. . ." he glances at her neck

2010-02-22 19:34:53: Metallic g_rock looks sheepish and looks away

2010-02-22 19:36:36: calliaphone looks up and meets G's eyes. She puts a hand to her bandanna, moving it so he can see. The bruise is fading now, the blues and purples mostly gone, leaving only a mottling of green-and-yellow.

2010-02-22 19:39:07: Metallic g_rock 's eyes well up, and he studies his coffee mug intensely. He mumbles, almost a whisper "I'msosorry. If I can ever make it up to you. . ."

2010-02-22 19:44:35: calliaphone nods, and readjusts her bandanna. she pushes the sugar-bowl towards G and gets up. "are th. . ." she clears her throat, "are there cookies in the tin? i'm too hungry to sleep."

2010-02-22 19:45:00: calliaphone rattles in cupboards, searching for cookies.

2010-02-22 19:46:54: Metallic g_rock pops off his hat and whistles softly into it. Four gremlins carry a long tray out of it, filled with chocolate chip, peanut buter, and oatmeal raisin cookies, and a large snickerdoodle

2010-02-22 19:49:29: calliaphone looks round, startled. "best not let Bruce see y'do that," she says. "Or Uncle B'll be fighting the unions from now till christmas." she fills her hands and pockets with cookies, nonetheless.

2010-02-22 19:49:46: Metallic g_rock hands the gremlins a few bowls of a'p'o'st'ro'phe' soup, to take back with them

2010-02-22 19:51:03: Metallic g_rock grins a little "Bruce'll never know."

2010-02-22 19:56:32: calliaphone responds with something fleeting that's not quite a smile. "m'just goin to. . ." she backs out of the kitchen, gesturing with a cookie. "got to . . . thing. y'know." and she's gone.

2010-02-22 20:06:08: Metallic g_rock sighs and stands, heading out to fight some things

**Dunbernarding - the Workshop**

2010-02-24 00:57:50  A certain crate-cart appears out of nowhere in the center of the workshop, no explanation but for a small clockwork mini-Gbot perched on top, looking quite pleased with its inanimate self

2010-02-24 06:12:06: calliaphone walks into the workshop, and stops dead in her tracks. She blinks. Stares. Then reaches out and puts a hand on her cart. Is it . . . real? Yes it most certainly is.

2010-02-24 06:20:55: calliaphone takes a step closer, and picks up the mini-Gbot. She looks at it. And thinks back. To casual conversation in the main hall earlier. And a metallic joker studiously not listening.

2010-02-24 06:23:21: calliaphone allows herself to smile a small smile at the mini-Gbot. It looks back at her, same as ever. She tucks it carefully into the cart, then fishes out a blanket and climbs into an empty bunk.

2010-02-25 19:59:50: calliaphone rolls over and tumbles off the workbench, tipping over a metal toolbox as she goes. CRASH! "waaaaaugghhh whassat whorrissit issittheendoftheworld?"

2010-02-25 20:03:10: calliaphone sits up, rubbing her elbow and the back of her head. Her ears are ringing, and it takes her a little while to realise she's not actually injured at all.

2010-02-25 20:04:45: calliaphone sighs with relief. She's had enough of hospital tents for the time being. She leans on the leg of the workbench, and is suddenly hungry. She checks her pockets. Aha!

2010-02-25 20:07:25: calliaphone sets to. Peeling open the egg'n'cress sandwiches, and flicking the cress into Bernard's work-boots, then re-sealing the sarnies and munching happily.

2010-02-25 20:11:43: calliaphone polishes off some more squished-but-tasty sandwiches (peanut butter, heinz sandwich spread, wensleydale'n'chutney). Then some flattened macaroons and an eclair. Yesterday's tea was a Goodun!

2010-02-25 20:14:40: calliaphone eyes her cart, thoughtfully. It looks folorn, on three wheels like that. A cart should be free to run, not hobble. She wonders . . . is she up to the task?

2010-02-25 20:16:13: calliaphone thinks back. All the lost wheelnuts, the broken suspension, the disgruntled steering . . . despite her best efforts to help it. And yet . . . "Well?" she says. "You wanna make this work?"

2010-02-25 20:17:07: calliaphone 's cart gives a tiny, wobbly little shimmy. "You sure?" says Callia. "'cause it's gotta be down to you. I can't fix you if you don't want fixing."

2010-02-25 20:18:55: calliaphone 's cart shimmies again, more determinedly, and nearly tips over. "Woaaah, alrightalright," says Callia, grinning. "I get the idea. In which case. . ."

2010-02-25 20:21:22: calliaphone looks round the workshop, eyes narrowed. Plenty of tools around and about, but she's still gonna need some spares. But first things first. "Let's get us some builder's tea, and I'll get to work!"

2010-02-25 20:26:46: calliaphone returns, slopping tea everywhere from an overfull mug. She removes the packet of bisuits from her teeth, and takes a big, scalding, syrupy slrrrrrrrp. "ahhhhthasslovely."

2010-02-25 20:29:31: calliaphone puts down the mug, so it can go cold and get spilled into Bernard's best socket-set later. She approaches the cart, and squats down to examine it. "alright then my lovely, tell me all about it hm?"

2010-02-25 20:30:57: Metallic g_rock slips on a slop of tea outside the door, landing squarely on his pride. He groans from the floor "Hey, there, watcha doing?"

2010-02-25 20:31:52: calliaphone looks round at the sound of 210lbs of falling . . . metal? Sorta. "uhh, G. err, you ok?"

2010-02-25 20:33:27: Metallic g_rock nods and works his way to his feet "Yeah, 'm fine. How're you?"

2010-02-25 20:35:36: calliaphone looks relieved. and offers G a miniscule smile. "i'm . . . good." pause. "you want a biscuit?" she points to the pack.

2010-02-25 20:37:17: calliaphone returns her attention to the cart, wiggling the trackrod. It shudders, slips, and pinches her finger. "owww." she gives the cart a stern look. "now, c'mon. you said."

2010-02-25 20:37:52: Metallic g_rock walks in with a smile, and shakes his head "No thanks, had a half a steak earlier, I'm good. You need a hand there?" he points to the cart

2010-02-25 20:38:05: calliaphone 's cart squeaks on its suspension. apologetically? oh don't be ridiculous, it's a cart.

2010-02-25 20:39:46: calliaphone glances back to G. "hm." she frowns. "it's a tricky bugger and no mistake. we've done a lotta work together, but it's still edgy."

2010-02-25 20:41:11: calliaphone says, "still, i reckn, if we can just replace the bits that it threw off, it's going to co-operate. aren't you?" this last to the cart, which rocks meekly.

2010-02-25 20:43:47: Metallic g_rock grins and kneels down next to the semi-domesticated vehicle and strokes a hand gently across the handle "Well, what are we missing?"

2010-02-25 20:46:09: calliaphone inventories, "five wheelnuts gone, that trackrod's buckled- needs replacing, rear shock's bust, coupla bolts dropped out here. . ."

2010-02-25 20:50:48: Metallic g_rock nods along, making a mental checklist

2010-02-25 20:57:37: calliaphone sighs. "drive-alone knows where i'm gonna find all that stuff. but there's plenty enough to get on with anyway, just cleaning and tuning and whatnot, i guess."

2010-02-25 20:58:06: Metallic g_rock here's a clan app pinging, and stands "I'll keep an eye out. Excuse me, some official business to attend to."

2010-02-25 20:59:49: calliaphone nods, and turns back to the cart. rolling up her (non-existent) sleeves (must get coat back from Bishop soon), she produces a spanner and starts stripping down the cart.

2010-02-25 21:01:20: calliaphone proceeds with great care. The cart flinches a little, but eventually calms and settles, standing still on its 3 good wheels, and waiting to be taken to bits.

2010-02-25 21:03:46: calliaphone straightens up, after much concentrated effort. The cart is laid out in pieces on the workshop floor, just like it says to do in the Haynes Manual: Homemade Sentient Cart Edition.

2010-02-25 21:04:32: calliaphone takes a break. That was hard work, she needs to sleep. She curls up under the workbench, and snoozes.

2010-02-25 22:32:00: calliaphone wakes, and sits up, cracking her head on the workbench. "uggh." she pulls a face, and crawls out. Rat-paks, building, then cart.

2010-02-25 23:58:10: calliaphone returns, slurrping some cocktail or other. she squats down for a look at the dismantled cart. Hmm. it's complicated. but not as complicated as mechanical heart surgery.

2010-02-26 00:01:59: calliaphone starts checking over the steering column and associated bits'n'pieces. cleaning, oiling, putting'em back together. . .

2010-02-26 00:06:56: Metallic g_rock comes in, carrying a smallish box full of clattering things

2010-02-26 00:15:36: calliaphone is whistlin' along with her accordion, and occasionally singing snatches of lyrics. ". . .went to hell, went to the races to bet on the Bottle of Smoke. . ." she looks up. "oh, hi G. whassat?"

2010-02-26 00:19:14: Spandex sneaks in to escape the. . . "oh. sorry. ugh. Hi you two."

2010-02-26 00:19:23: Metallic g_rock sets the box down. "Found some spares in my room at the old hall. he dumps out a handful of lockwashers, a pair of hydraulic shocks, and a tin of polish

2010-02-26 00:20:38: Spandex leans over callia, giving her a hug. She leaves with a wave.

2010-02-26 00:20:42: calliaphone is already elbows deep in the box. She looks up, eyes shining, and sees Dex. "h'llo you. look! Spares!"

2010-02-26 00:21:10: Metallic g_rock waves hello and goodbye to Dex

2010-02-26 00:22:11: calliaphone turns to G. "whered'you find all these?"

2010-02-26 00:23:12: calliaphone clearly wasn't listening the first time.

2010-02-26 00:24:06: Metallic g_rock grins "I had a few leftovers from my old chassis. I'll run back tomorrow to see if I can find any more."

2010-02-26 00:27:36: calliaphone clatters about among the new stuff, sizing up washers, shocks, and what's this. . . "wheelnuts? you didn't even have wheels, didya?" she shrugs. Nevermind! She has spares!

2010-02-26 00:32:01: Metallic g_rock shrugs "You never know what you'll need."

2010-02-26 00:32:32: calliaphone is so excited she's whistling two tunes at once, tripping over her feet, dropping her spanner, and . . .she stops. pulls herself together. "this isn't just a fix, this is an upgrade!"

2010-02-26 00:37:38: calliaphone is visualising. squint-eyed, picturing . . . a souped-up TURBO CART. yeah. with room for . . . hmmm. . .. More Stuff.

2010-02-26 00:41:03: Metallic g_rock grins and stays out of the way

2010-02-26 00:44:53: calliaphone throws herself at the task. tongue poking between teeth, fitting the axles to the chassis, and then finishing the steering assembly.

2010-02-26 00:45:40: calliaphone gropes around vaguely for the tin of axle-grease, where'd it go. . .?

2010-02-26 00:45:48: Metallic g_rock has a thought. He pops off his hat, and lays it sideways on the workbench. He chitters into it. Mack pops his head out, and they click and chitter back and forth for a bit.

2010-02-26 00:45:58: calliaphone puts her hand right in it. splodge.

2010-02-26 00:47:20: calliaphone looks at her grease-covered hand. "oops." then she shrugs and transfers some of the gloop to the hub bearing. Squidge-sklrrrp.

2010-02-26 00:48:28: calliaphone glances at the G-Gremlin combo out of the corner of her eye. what she needs right now is a cigarette. she pats herself down. greasy handprints everywhere.

2010-02-26 00:49:24: Metallic g_rock shakes Mack's hand. The latter disappears. G hopes idly that Callia's grease isn't flammable.

2010-02-26 00:53:39: calliaphone 's unlit cigge flies out of her grasp. "buggerit!" she picks up her spanner and starts tightening wheelnuts. or trying to. the spanner slips out of her hand, landing with a KER-DONK.

2010-02-26 00:54:55: calliaphone wipes her hands on her dungarees, then picks up the spanner and wipes that. she tries to put it down. it stays stuck to her hand.

2010-02-26 00:55:23: Metallic g_rock 's entire mechanics union, less essential maintenance personell, come trooping out of the hat. About 25 surly looking gremlins later, G grins "Right, all here? We need you to help my friend here."

2010-02-26 00:56:14: calliaphone says, "gahhh" and shakes her hand to free the spanner from the coating of gunge on her palm. it flies off again. KER-DONK. "this is not going as planned."

2010-02-26 00:57:19: calliaphone looks up in surprise at the army of gremlins. "uhh, hello."

2010-02-26 01:00:30: Metallic g_rock smiles Mack nods and salutes, and POP is standing on Callia's shoulder "Right," he says "What d'you nied uss two do?"

2010-02-26 01:02:09: calliaphone can't help it. she giggggles. "i, er. . . well. first up, d'you have any swarfega?"

2010-02-26 01:05:43: Metallic g_rock 's head mechanic grins toothily "Beter." he grins and listens to the echoes, and gnaws an 'in' into an 'of', and Callia never put her hand in it in the first place.

2010-02-26 01:09:21: Metallic g_rock nods "Callia, I'm leaving Mack in your charge, he'll keep the others in line for you. They're very handy."

2010-02-26 01:10:54: calliaphone is impressed! suddenly, the efficiency quotient of the job goes right up. she smiles at Mack and starts explaining the works planned. "so you see. . . pedals . . . chain-drive. . . "

2010-02-26 01:11:42: calliaphone looks up at G. And suddenly gives him the full billion-kilowatt grin. "thankyou so very much." she says.

2010-02-26 01:15:02: Metallic g_rock smiles huge at the best damn grin on the island and tips his hat. He says, as he's leaving, "Well, I do kinda owe you."

2010-02-26 01:16:04: Metallic g_rock closes the door behind him as he heads to find a resting place

2010-02-26 01:18:12: calliaphone stands still, watching the door close, blinking a bit. She sniifs. Tugs out a string of brightly-coloured handkerchiefs from her pocket, and blows her nose. WHOOOT.

2010-02-26 01:20:13: calliaphone is recalled to Important Matters by Mack, tapping on her shoulder. "chane-drive yu sai? gota sprokit?"

2010-02-26 01:25:12: calliaphone nods, putting away the hankies and pointing to the newly cleaned sprocket, with the chain alongside it. Mack claps his hands, and the gremlins shuffle sullenly into formation. Work begins in earnest.

2010-02-26 01:27:06: calliaphone busies herself with the oh-so-troublesome steering, and then the suspension, while the gremlins grumble away under Mack's direction, tensioning the chain and fitting the gears.

2010-02-26 01:28:35: calliaphone glances across at the gremlins work. "Nice going, Mack!" she has a sudden thought. "Y'know what we need? Hang on, i'll be right back!"

2010-02-26 01:28:55: calliaphone dashes out of the workshop.

2010-02-26 02:04:53: calliaphone returns, more-or-less covered in spaghetti. Still wheezing a little, she squats down beside Mack'n'theTeam, and shows them the can of oil, and the squeezy mustard bottle she's plundered from Bruce.

2010-02-26 02:07:04: calliaphone produces a straw from her pocket. Swirly and bendy, with green and hotpink stripes. "Think it'lllll work?" she asks Mack. He cracks a grin, and nods. Two of his team are inspecting the mustard.

2010-02-26 02:10:51: calliaphone says, "Don't eat that, it'll burn ya! When it's empty'n'clean, we can put the oil in." Mack grins again, then munches up a "when", leaving the mustard bottle empty and clean as required.

2010-02-26 02:14:26: calliaphone laughs, and starts fitting the pedals and . . . "damn, what'm i gonna do for a seat?"

2010-02-26 02:18:21: calliaphone looks round vaguely, but there's nothing suitable. just the usual piles of tools and dirty mags (Bernard's) and in the corner, some leftover roofing slate.

2010-02-26 02:20:44: calliaphone scratches her head, but Mack'n'theTeam are On It. They grab a slate, gobble the "l" and then indulge in a spot of rearrangement.

2010-02-26 02:22:25: calliaphone is impressed. "You guys are pros!" she takes the seat, and starts rigging it to the chassis, while the gremlins work on the cart body, enlarging and improving.

2010-02-26 02:26:16: calliaphone helps the gremlins mount the body on the chassis, and bolt everything together. She fits the t-bar handle, and they tighten the wheelnuts.

2010-02-26 02:26:57: calliaphone gives a final check to the steering, and tests the brakes. All good. The gremlins fill the ex-mustard bottle with oil and attach the straw, then clip it into position over the chain.

2010-02-26 02:29:39: calliaphone and the gremlins stand back to admire their work. Callia retrieves her fallen cigarette from earlier, and lights it, puffing away delightedly. "Thatttt my friends., is a J'o'b 'W'e'l'l Donne,."

2010-02-26 02:33:29: calliaphone offers her cigarette to the gremlins to share, but they are contentedly gnawing on typos. She smiles, and crouches down beside Mack. "you guys wanna come for a spin? hop in, let's see how it runs?"

2010-02-26 02:34:49: calliaphone climbs up onto the seat, and puts her feet on the pedals. she takes hold of the t-bar, and whistles shrilly. Gremlins scramble aboard. She starts to pedal. Woooohooo!

2010-02-26 02:39:01: calliaphone pedals the cart straight towards the closed door. "Quick, Mack, helppn!" Mack moves fast, gnawing at the c, l, s and d, and inserting the p and n. The cart speeds through the doorway, unhindered.

(return to [[ticker_trouble|Chapter Index]])