Christmas Construction - RPLOG
From Flexible Survival
Participants
Date
24/12/2017
Log
It's a brisk winter day. The wind blows gently from the northeast. It is Chrismahaunakwanzamastide Eve, a fine day. A fine day to work that is. People have gathered around an entire block, removing bits of rubble and making a bit of a mess on the newly cleared roads, but some mess was needed. The call was going out, a new building would be made, where people could live without fear. Properly piped for water and made a specific patrol point for the growing policing forces, it would be a safe place for families to grow in the company of other good people.
Piled on the east side of the block are mounds of wood frames and bags on bags of cement, paid for by generous donations towards the effort, but what good were supplies without them being used? That is what people were being brought for.
The leader of the effort appears to be a bright red latex fox wearing a hard hat with holes to allow his rubbery ears free and a proper high-visibility vest over his glistening chest. He wore no pants, but seemed to not be much interested in that as he shouts orders at others to keep things in some kind of order.
Arthurr didn't have much to do on the eve of the holiday, so why not actually do something useful, he thought to himself. There was that call for some help with building what sounded like an apartment complex. He never saw himself as a mason or engineer, but hey, why not try something new? Figuring they might need some decent hauling of materials, he changed from his current form, that of a dark elf, into a steel hercules. Once he approached the area he noticed the fox shouting at others, probably the one coordinating everything. "Uh, excuse me, I want to help with the building, just tell me what needs to be done."
Colette was one of those volunteers brought in. She wasn't large by any means, but she was no slouch, and it was obvious that this wasn't her first time on a construction site. She woke a pair of hefy leather boots in addition to her regular clothing, with a similar hard-har cut open for her ears atop her head. Hair was bundled up in a large bun, with what wouldn't fit hanging down in a looped ponytail behind her. Looking about for the loudest person on the site, she came to the fox about the same time as Arthurr, nodding as they spoke. "In the same boat! Whatever you need done."
With little to do over this time of merriment, and the return of civilization looming upon the horizon, Wurtzite answers the call for workers. In spite of hir skill at such things as engineering, it would be a lie to call hir strong. Shi approaches the latex foreman, "Uh. Mind if I help with your construction here?"
Ayaka steps up alongside Colette, having quite literally followed her lead in suiting up and preparing for this. She seemed quite unused to the heavy leather workboots she was wearing, and a hardhat that she is presently trying to fit securely to that big-eared head of hers. "There!" She exclaims triumphantly as she sets the strap, and with a quick sprint she catches up to the growing group, ready to be told what to do.
The latex for cranes his neck to look up at the tall slice that is Arthurr. "That's more like it! Alright, you look like you can handle it." He points over to the cement bags. "Dry cement won't help us. They're clearing our the parcel and they'll get to digging soon, but while they do that, empty two bags out and get to mixing with water. Whatever you do. Do. Not. Stop. Stirring! Actually, forget that. Get it going, then I'll send some others over to help mix it up, but if you could get it started, that'd be great, then come back." His eyes dropped back down to the small Colette. "Hm, alright, you'll be on more sensitive duty. I want you to help clear things out. There are smaller things wedged right where they need to not be, so help get it out. Pile it up on the road. We'll do road clearing after this." He looked aside at the middle-sized Wurtzite. "Why don't you help her? Some things are deceptively heavy for their size, and a buddy in case something collapses is a good thing, eh?" He thrust two fingers at Colleen and Ayaka. "You two are the small fingers, he's the thumb, make it happen!"
A call went out, shortly after it was sent in. The little fennec lass felt herself smile, shaking her head. Always work to be done. Whether in the grunt, in the heft, or in the effort beyond. Twas always work to be done now. She didn't wait, lingering for but a drink before heading out after the call. A familiar and old construction had all but been leveled, cutting away the broken and destroyed like a disease. The lass snickered, eyes gazing out across the assembled volunteers, swiftly taking her place for a moment. Arms crossed and a grin present, she nodded to the latex lad up, directing, "Alright. Ya got a cement stirring, clearing duty, what can I do for ya?"
Nodding before disengaging the fox and leaving to do as assigned, Wurtzite walks over to the 'smaller stuff that needs to not be where they are', and starts picking up what shi can carry, then walking those 'smaller things that need to not be where they are' that shi can carry over to the road, setting them down gently. Shi retains the distinct impression that shi wouldn't be able to tell if those things shi was carrying over were what the fox requested be moved.
Arthurr nods and moves towards the bags of cement. That much he knows how to do, he remembers seeing it often enough before p-day. Keep mixing and stirring otherwise it hardens. Being big like he was right now, emptying two was easy stuff. Grabbing a nearby hoe and a bucket, he began the process, dropping water only in the middle, stirring and stirring, leaving the borders dry. He was pretty sure that was the proper way to do it.
"Well, lookee here, the miss of the hour. You trying to make us working folk look bad?" The fox had a shiny grin on his latex face. "Naw, just messing. Mmm, you wanna help?" He pointed up. "See the wires? Tear them down. Not like the electrical grid's a thing besides an old fantasy. Pull them down, ask for help if one's stubborn, but most practically WANT to come down, so just keep tugging and clear 'em out.
Colette instantly sturdied her posture, nodding with a quick "Got it!" She looked to her partners, smiling as Wurtzite beat her to the punch. She motioned Ayaka with her, then moved away from the fox and got to work. "Look for debries, nails, smaller pieces of wood that can't be reused." She raised her voice as she looked to Wurtzite, "We'll call you over if we find anything we can't lift! Alright?"
Ayaka nods quickly as she's given her task, and follows Colette's lead as she assesses the area trying to figure out what to move out. There's certainly a lot of -stuff- here, a lot of it just detritus on the floor. She picks herself a few bits of masonry and detritus, picking them up with her right hand and piling them onto her cradled right arm. "Where should we drop this off Colette? Maybe over on the other side of that street there?" She started heading in that direction, meaning to drop off the debris near another ruined building for the time being.
