trans_9 | Adventurers never sleep

There were very few things on the ship that Nokosi spent good use of his time, doing. Tending to the herbs in Hydroponics and speaking to the animals who resided there, too. Azerothian creatures aside, he was well aware that he was essentially talking to himself. Wandering through the different levels of the ship and skipping out on his reading lessons also took up a good chunk of time, much to the displeasure of Ronnae.

The thing that took up the most obscene amount of his (admittedly) worthless time had to be traversing the city. Despite how completely barren it was, it at least offered something in the way of adventure, given that many of the structures there were things he'd never laid eyes upon, before. He had even began making a personal map of the city, complete with details of any interesting things he'd spotted inside and around the buildings.

Today he planned to explore a place he'd yet to visit, though the sheer size and color of the place caught his attention every time he'd passed by. With his bow strapped to his back, a furled paper clutched in his hand and his 'trusty' companion at his side, Nokosi stood outside the doors leading into the Grand Central Station.

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For once in his life, Billy was doing fairly well. The projects he worked on weren't overwhelming, his personal life was as happy as it could be under the circumstances, and they weren't in danger. That was all he needed to be satisfied these days, so it was that happy mood that accompanied him on a daytime City stroll.

The route took him past Grand Central Station this time. There was his friend again, carting quite an extensive collection of supplies. Was he preparing for a job? Billy had to find out.

"Are you looking for something specific?"

Nokosi didn't turn around once he heard a familiar voice. Instead his face was nearly pressed against the glass of the many double doors of the little walkway outside of the Station. Fontaine did, however; even though he knew what was going to greet him on the street. The wolf eyed Billy for a long moment before he decided that he really didn't feel like being annoyed today. With that he turned back around and sat on his haunches, waiting for instructions from his 'master'.

Finally Nokosi craned his neck to look over his shoulder, a toothy grin stretched across his face. "Greetings, Billy. Nothing in specific, no. It's just time for adventures of sorts," he said, holding up the scroll in his grasp.

Billy was immensely relieved that Fontaine didn't seem to want to kill him. He flashed a small smile, approaching with the caution the situation warranted.

"Hey," he greeted back, still buzzing with happiness. "Is that...a map? You're traveling for the joy of discovery, then?"

Fontaine made no move towards him. In fact, it was like Billy wasn't even there at all.

"Yes. It's what adventurers do, no?" Nokosi said, turning around and waving the paper once. "It is. As I'm a hunter I should have extensive knowledge of all the 'wilderness' so to speak. Where important places are, places where I can retrieve supplies in a hurry, the things that might be found in a certain area," he spoke, pointing out to the expanse of the city.

"And finding materials need for traps and various other things."

Billy looked over the paper for as briefly as he saw it, still wondering about the markings on it. It was a useful way to spend time, of course, but cartography wasn't one of Billy's main strengths.

"Yeah, you might find something interesting here, but I advise caution. This area is already used as a home base by another crew member."

He looked up, curious. "How often have you been using traps?"

His face scrunched up into nothing less than displeased. "Is that so? The entire place? Who?" He turned to look back at the towering building before them. Not that he particularly cared, but who needed a building that huge for their 'base', anyways?

"Around here...there is not much reason to use traps because there are very few creatures. No monsters, nothing. It's quite disconcerting. However, I am a heavy practitioner in 'always be prepared'. I would be a sorry Survival hunter if I were not."

"Well...the train station. Rhiow seems to have claimed this place, and I don't think she'd appreciate things disappearing."

Billy had a sense that Nokosi was unhappy. "But the percentage of areas already claimed is still small! There's still plenty to explore and gather. And as far as traps go, you'll probably be able to use them on a mission at some point. Too many of us lack those skills, myself included."

Well there went his time-wasting plans for the day, curse it all. He made a sound akin to the gurgle of an annoyed fish. Nokosi unfurled the piece of paper and scribbled and 'X' onto the location with a triangle donning two other triangles atop it. A look at the map showed that there were very few actual words on the thing and it was dotted with symbols all over. There didn't seem to be a corresponding legend.

"That cat? Really? You're not going to turn around because of some cat, are you?" Fontaine griped.

"Yes, I really am," the elf answered the wolf.

"I could take the cat out if you want. Thing is like the size of my paw, side-kick."

"Your funeral," he mumbled before looking up from the map, eyebrows still furrowed. "I suppose there is," he sighed, defeated.

"I could teach you," Nokosi started, immediately changing the subject. "But if you trip the trap on accident before you're done crafting it, you might catch aflame," he said simply.

Billy looked concerned for Nokosi, hoping he hadn't completely ruined his friend's day. He should've been trying to lift Nokosi's mood like his! The thought of it brought Billy down a bit.

"It wouldn't be the first time I've hurt myself while inventing," Billy admitted with a shrug. "So...if I was to train with you, I'd just keep a fire extinguisher nearby?"

He smiled suddenly, imagining his friend rolling around on the ground, wailing with his pants legs on fire. "It's not so bad if you smother the flame very quickly," he said, laughing. "But it's not only fire. Freezing traps, ice slicks. And then there's the snakes..." Nokosi said, trailing off, tapping his chin in thought.

"I haven't really found anything suitable enough for a snake trap, though."

"Noted," Billy said seriously, making an interesting face. "I'll definitely watch and study the traps' construction, at the very least. I'll let you know if I find any snakes." Maybe he'd even attempt to build one if he felt brave enough.

He stretched his arms over his head, taking in the artificial atmosphere for all it had to offer. "So...anything I can help you with today?"

He shrugged his shoulders and studied the other man's expression closely. "Nothing, really. Company? I planned to spend the day or..." he glanced up at the sky, "Days. However time passes by here; in the city."

Nokosi rolled the map up and stuck it between a belt strap and his waist. "Really, though, I don't think I would need the snakes, given I really have no one I need to snare and poison at this moment. And..." he cocked his head to the side, eyes wandering up and down the shorter man's frame. "What is it you do, anyways? Your fighting style?"

Adventurers never sleep

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