maskormenacelogs | THE REEEAL FOOOOOLK BLLUUUUUUES

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THE REEEAL FOOOOOLK BLLUUUUUUES

WHO: Duo Maxwell, Lando Calrissian
WHERE: A salvage/spare parts yard in De Chima
WHEN: eeeearly February??
WHAT: Sly space salvagers (and shippers) snarking
WARNINGS: Alliteration, apparently (none expected!)

[Although salvage had always been Duo's favorite hobby-- productive hobbies, anyway; dicking around on the internet soaking up the timeperiod's memes was not productive, as Heero or Wufei would surely inform him if they showed up-- it had been years since he'd had either time or reason to dabble in it. Once he'd packed up the shipping and transport business and left Hilde's scrapyard and the colonies behind for Mars, there wasn't exactly a whole lot of interesting parts floating around the little formerly-red planet. An unfortunate side effect of living on the frontier.]

[But here he was on Earth, the motherland, the repository of every manner of industrial, historical junk he could figure, and stuck centuries in the past. Well, he'd had plenty of fun the last time around too, finding what to him was ancient machinery, a veritable timeline of the development of certain technologies- but this world had its own little branching timeline of tech invention, and why not poke around to see what he could find?]

[Specifically, he'd managed to track down the location of a yard used to dispose of dissembled aeronautic parts- possibly bits of prototypes, possibly aerospace parts- and it was easy with his powers to slip inside without needing to talk his way in. Hey, even if he didn't take anything, a former "pilot" could only be curious.]

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[ While most of Ugnaught Moving Company's clients are imPorts, Lando does take on native clientele as well. He has to, in order to keep business as good as he needs to make it by. There was always the option of going back to his assigned job, but to be honest, if Lando never dances disco again, it'll be too soon.

He's finishing up a contract right now hauling freight for the owner of an aeronautics manufacturing company, transporting old and broken parts to the scrapyard. It's the end of the day, and Lando's dismissed his movers, deciding to stay back a bit and peruse the parts he's just moved. They're scrap, so no one's going to miss them if one or two pieces go missing, or so he figures. You never know, he might find something that can help repair Han's hunk o' junk once and for all.

He's inspecting an engine when someone comes along to join him-- not someone he recognizes, either. He straightens, eyeing the newcomer warily. ]

Hello there, friend.

[Ugnaught Moving and its president are not unknown to Duo- he's always got his eye out for imPort ventures and businesses, keeping up on what the crowd is up to- and so when he sees the face of such a company around the same yard, of course he's going to butt right on in and see what he can't find out. Especially when he's got an inkling that he's related to some certain interesting space folk...]

[Duo is, of course, not stupid enough to wear his priest's robes when he's digging through piles of junk; today he's going with his more ubiquitous style, a simple collared shirt poking up under a zipped bomber jacket, but the cowboy hat on his head is still probably enough to catch the eye of a man used to dealing with colorful folks.]

Well, hey there yourself! [He opens, friendly and wide-grinning; if he could be assumed simply a crooked and opportunistic businessman, that would be fine for him. He gestures over the yard as he speaks.] Rare to see someone else poking through this part of the yard and inspecting things so carefully. Most just look at this as a pile of raw scrap metal, ripe for melting down to raw materials.

[He turns his sly grin on Lando.] What do you see, pal?

[ Lando would have no way of knowing that a priest's collar doesn't go with a cowboy hat; it's all Earth fashions to him. He himself is wearing a houndstooth jacket over black slacks and sturdy leather boots, still classy but suitable for manual labor. ]

Well, I don't know much about the technology of this planet, [ though he has learned to stop calling cars "speeders." ] but this looks like a pretty serviceable engine to me, in need of a little time and effort to repair it to working condition.

[Duo adjusts his expression as Lando easily admits to his imPort status; a carefully raised eyebrow, more in interest than in skepticism.] Must be close enough to what you're used to, if you have a good eye for that sort of thing.

Not from Earth, huh? [He tilts his head thoughtfully, hums as he gives the engine a glance himself.] Me neither. Even so, the relics floating around in this place almost make me feel nostalgic.

Alien, or human? If you don't mind me asking.

Human, just not from this galaxy.

[ He's not used to being asked that question himself. Where he's from the alien species look just that. Alien. ]

I've been around ships for a long time. I'm no mechanic, and only a decent pilot, but... you come to know a few things.

[Duo nods thoughtfully. Most of the humans he'd met that weren't from Earth weren't even from this solar system, something he'd found at once baffling and a little isolating. Of all the worlds out there, of all the possibilities, was it really only his drop in the bucket that'd opted for orbital colonization?]

[Still, in a universe which was advanced enough to have intergalactic travel down-pat, most people being at least passingly familiar with shuttle technology wasn't surprising at all. He raps on the engine with his knuckles.] Well, aren't you in luck! I happen to dabble in both. [To put it lightly.] And what you got here's a real good specimen, although it's not going to be powering any shuttles anytime soon. Not that there's much use of that until that lunar base opens up for civilian business...

Not a mechanic, not a pilot- whatcha doing in this dump?

[ Lando tips his head, and casts an arm around at the piles of scrap metal surrounding them. ] I transport this stuff. Have my own operation for it. [ He produces a business card to hand over. ] Serving all four imPort cities! Call Ugnaught for your next move.

[ But, shameless plug aside, he is beginning to actually enjoy this conversation. It's not often he meets someone else who's been offworld. ]

Tell me, in your expertise, could this engine be adapted for use in a land-bound vehicle? Or is it simply meant for the skies?

Oho, transport? I guess you could say I've done a bit of that in my day, too. [Gee, is there anything this guy hasn't done? Duo reaches for the businesscard, scanning it with an appreciative eye before tucking it away in his jacket pocket.] Lando Calrissian, huh? Nice to meetcha. Imports sure have their share of strange objects to move, don't they? That's a great niche to fill- 'bout time someone did. [The entrepreneurial type, huh...]

[Duo looks at the engine again, and this time he crouches down, putting his hands on it as he begins to give a better look-over to the damage it's sustained.] For something land-based? [He grins back up to Lando, a spark of mischief in his eye.] ...Depends on what kinda monster you wanna build.

That's exactly what I was thinking. There's always a niche available to fill, if you know where to look.

[ Sometimes that niche is Tibanna gas mining. Sometimes it's the transportation of goods. ]

Monster, eh? [ He frowns, crossing his arms, and squinting down at the engine. ] Maybe my eyes are a bit bigger than my stomach. You're thinking I'd be better off aiming lower?

Sure! imPorts are a bunch'a weirdos. They need all kinds of things! [Duo grins cheerfully.] It's a surprise to me that more of our enterprising types don't go for that, but then again maybe imPorts don't wanna deal with imPorts so often. Can't blame 'em, huh?

[He gives a little self-deprecating chuckle, and rubs his chin as he considers the engine. This thing...] Mm, given it probably came off of something like a twin-engine plane, it might be just a bit too much power. Whatcha trying to build, anyway? [Duo turns back to him, eyes glittering.] I've got a bit of experience with engineering industrial vehicles. Bounce it offa me, buddy! [Sure, "industrial vehicles". That's what he'll call 'em.]

I'm not exactly looking to build anything from the ground up-- especially not anything like a twin-engine plane. But, see, this buddy of mine has a car that keeps breaking down due to some bantha shit power he was given by the porter. I'm wondering if a better engine might... offset that a bit.

--Oh yeah? [Now Duo looks really interested- if also about to laugh.] ...Call me curious. Some kind of anti-technology power? Sure's a great power to wreck your day, isn't it?

[Duo glances around the yard. Now that he knows the sort of thing this guy's after, finding a fit was just a matter of poking around enough.] Has your buddy considered power nullifiers? Here, let's take a look in that pile. [Duo gestures further down the yard, starting to pick his way over in that direction.]

Not all technology. He can still use the Network, make caf, that sort of thing. [ Lando, the locals call it coffee. ] It's just that his ride is in a constant state of disrepair, no matter how much work he puts into it.

[ Though the power nullifiers are an interesting idea. Lando follows, grateful that he's run into such a helpful stranger. ]

Man... now if that isn't one of the saddest things I've heard yet. [Duo shakes his head, a legitimate expression of sympathy on his face.] And I've seen some weird imPort powers around.

Even if someone else tries to fix it up... it'll break down again, soon as he touches it again? [Duo kneels in front of the new pile, pushing bits around, seeing if anything catches his eye. This pile was more along the lines of construction vehicle scrap, bits of prototype cars, and the like.] Or else I'd try my hand...

You've got the idea. Doesn't matter what ride he gets into, how good it is to begin with... As soon as he sits in the driver's seat?

[ He mimics a small explosion with his hand. ]

I was just hoping I could surprise him by giving him a higher quality junker.

Sheesh. Remind me not to let the guy near any'a my stuff... [Grumbling, Duo's hand lays atop a hubcap. His mouth twists, and he chucks it aside. Nope, not what he's looking for. He hums, considering the... request. Well, it could be a request.]

[Duo pauses and turns with a small grin.] Sounds pretty tough, if it's just gonna explode the second he touches it anyway. But you're sure talking to the right guy. I've done some custom work before....... although I do more bikes than cars. What're his thoughts on bikes? Or maybe a scooter?

Frankly, even cars aren't his usual go-to. But this planet is sorely lacking in ships that can leave the atmosphere.

[ He thinks about it for a moment. Han in a bike? Nah, he can't see it. ]

I don't think a bike'll work. He's working as a taxi driver. Needs a seat for his fare.

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THE REEEAL FOOOOOLK BLLUUUUUUES

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