going fishing [ open ]

[descens]

who ; Lev, the Underworld and YOU (remember to tag in!)
what ; Lev has invited a couple of Sacrosanct's residents to meet in confidence with him. He may be getting more than he expected.
where ; Asphodel - Underworld shadow market, equatorial tunnel section
when ; after his transmission
warning(s) ; TBD. Please see event notes.

Comments

TRADE STALLS [ merchants ]

[singularitymods]

[ Once you get past the guards, you walk further into the cavern and find the market unfold before you. There's just barely enough illumination to make out the dark tent flaps and the bustling tradesfolk poring over tables of dingy goods. Men, women are in equal abundance, some less human than others, a few shadowed by blankfaced modified automatons.

Here you'll find very little for sale but a great deal to barter for. Some of the merchants, seeing you, might even be interested in making use of your talents. You can get anything here-- for the right price. ]

[allshock_notalk]

[It's terribly unfortunate that he doesn't precisely have the monetary support he used to. Back in the City, he was quite well off -- either due to his dance club, or because of StarWave.

Now, it's a matter of survival, instead of having the comfort.

It is what it is.

Soundwave will progress to Lev in due time. Not as a confrontation, but for data. That's what it's always about.

Here, he'll see if there's anything that catches his eye.]

[singularitynpcs]

[ Or maybe Soundwave will be the one catching someone's eye. Namely, one of the scruffy men standing near his wares, a motley collection of spare mechanical parts for everything from tanks to vacuum cleaners. There's also a few weapons, though it's hard to tell if they're functioning from all the pried off panels and dangling wires. A blank-faced synthetic is acting as cashier, while the owner calls out to likely prospects.

He tries to catch Soundwave's gaze, stepping forward. ]

Hey. Hey you. You from up top? You look it, you stand out. Hey I got lots of stuff you can't get up top. You wanna see?

[allshock_notalk]

[The synthetic catches his eye, mostly. It doesn't really please him, their point of view on inorganics. Pretending to be human is such a chore. True, his current body is completely human in almost every way possible, but he is -- at spark -- still Cybertronian.

He turns his head when the merchant approaches, then folds his arms as he peers at him.]

Depends on what you have. What is being offered?

[singularitynpcs]

[ The short merchant's face splits into a wide grin, waving his arms to beckon him closer. ]

Oh, you're gonna like this. I can tell. You see this-- Genuine unobtanium, touch that.

[ He holds out a silvery metallic rod of some light but durable material. ]

Use it for gear frames, melt it down for bits, wire it for electronics, whatever. You can do anything with it. Lossless material. Not much of a handyman? I got tool kits, mod your way to a better self, painless as piercing your ears.

[allshock_notalk]

Modding myself.

[Interesting idea. Or, the material could repair his robotic suit. He hadn't the spark to throw away its remains when he was teleported to this part of the universe.

Still, he had to know if this was genuine.]

Query: You are being truthful with me, I would think.

I do not forget faces or voices.

[Or heartbeats, each individual one like a fingerprint to him. He'll come back here if he needs to.]

[singularitynpcs]

[ A wary look slides over the merchant's expression slightly. For, well, multiple reasons! Quit looking at him like that. ]

Hey. You ain't got a bit of mech in ya, do ya?

[allshock_notalk]

[Soundwave folds his arms.]

If you have a way of scanning me, you would know that I am human.

[Only on a physical level. He isn't about to admit he's Cybertronian -- not with how everyone here doesn't seem very. Pleased with synthetics.]

[singularitynpcs]

Scans ain't nothin. Synthetic is a state of bein'. Don't go creepin' me with that 'query' nonsense of yours.

[allshock_notalk]

Speech habit. Nothing more than that. You appear to be rather paranoid.

[singularitynpcs]

You would be too if you were fightin' the things off for three whole nian, always wondering what kind of holography trick or synthetic tissue infiltrator thing she's gonna pull out next.

Anyway, no offense meant, man. Hey, as a gesture of my goodwill, I'll throw in a copper spool if you get the unobtanium. Whaddya say?

[allshock_notalk]

Your fears are acknowledged. [After all, he has pride in synthetics; they absolutely can be dangerous because they are superior.]

Your offer is acceptable. Thank you.

[singularitynpcs]

[ ahaha so creepy. :C But he keeps his smirk fixed. ]

Eh, we got ourselves an interested party? Now we're talking. You won't get a deal this good anywhere in the market, I guarantee you. Other places'll ask a whole arm and a leg for this kinda material, but me, I'm a legit businessman. Whaddya say, three organs?

[allshock_notalk]

...Hm.

Anything specific? Or any three organs?

[singularitynpcs]

Well, I can usually work with most things, but kidneys and livers get you the most mileage around here...

...HAHAHAHA, I'm just kidding. Go talk to the doc if y'wanna run organs. You're a dark kinda guy, aren't you? I like that. Nah, this here's an electronics stall only, buddy. Show me some sweet diodes and slimy transistors.

[allshock_notalk]

[This time, that cracks a smile -- albeit not a very innocent one. If the merchant had been serious, he would have gone out of his way. Just not necessarily his own organs.]

That would be doable.

Not necessarily slimy. However, simple enough.

[All he's had to work with has been junk thus far. But there's much one can do with leftovers. He searches his jacket a moment before holding up in offering.]

I was in the process of reconstructing an old tool of mine. Processes natural energy into a more refined, powerful source. However, the tool is incomplete.

[By appearances, it looks like nothing more than a tapedeck. The reality is... more complicated.]

I am uncertain how long it will take to complete, or how interested you would be. But it is useful for those who can comprehend its construction.