The House That Who? Built [Open, bendytimed to before archeology plot]

[bonnypiperlad]

There seems to be very little rhyme or reason to the buildings that make up the City in Stacy. Oh, there's a couple of places, like what has been become known as 'Religion Row', where certain types of buildings have been gathered together, but otherwise things are scattered about, just waiting to be found.

Over at the edges of Central Park - not too far from Religion Row, as it happens - there is an old, neglected Victorian-style house with a turret that looks as though it'd had seen its heyday even before being brought on Stacy. The windows have been broken, the porch covered in dried leaves and cobwebs. But it looks fairly sound, the mansard roof still intact and the upper porch railing only needing a little work.

Jamie and Victoria had found the house while out exploring the city, and while he has some experience in re-building things thanks to his clean-up efforts in the city and his engineering training, it's a daunting task to try and do on his own. And it occurs to him that maybe, if he can get some help (and something resembling some furniture, since there's not much to be found inside) he can maybe at least make a start at fixing it up, and give Victoria a place to sleep that's not the crew quarters or the creepy nostril beds while the TARDIS is being fixed.

In fact, he thinks, there's enough bedrooms that other people from there could move in as well, if they wanted. So, he sends out a message to see who'd be interested in coming to help out elsewhere. While he waits, he and Victoria start the work on their own - she opting to take the rooms on the top floor and he one of the ones lower down. He soon finds himself caught up in clearing out the debris, and loses himself for a time until the sound of footsteps catches his attention. Pausing in his work, he pushes his hair out of his face and looks at the new arrival.

"Well, what do ye think?"

(( OOC: Both Jamie and Victoria are around, so just mention somewhere in your tag which of them you'd like to interact with! ))

Comments

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya gave a polite bow. The way Victoria talked was interesting: it reminded her of a noble in Ba Sing Se, or even in the Fire Nation. It wasn't a bad thing: in fact, Kaya knew better than to be intimidated. She just wanted to make sure that Victoria felt welcome.

"I always think Billy is a lot older, he just happens to have this younger body," Kaya said, laughing. "And yes, Jamie's mentioned you a few times! I was actually more and more looking forward to meeting you, and I hope one day to meet this Doctor I keep hearing about."

Running water? "That sounds like something that both Billy and I can help with! He helped designed the bathhouse, and me, well, I'm a waterbender, so that makes things a lot easier!"

[morphitudinous]

"I'm no sir," Billy shook his head. Oh, Jamie. How on earth had he let Victoria get that idea? "Jamie didn't tell you that I'm more akin to his little brother?"

Ah, but that was life. Billy shrugged, then nodded his agreement with Kaya. "Yeah, it won't be too much of a problem for us. I've done a fair amount of plumbing work, and she'll keep the water in place until it's time."

[bonnypiperlad]

In the usual way, by getting distracted with something else - like Victoria actually being awake. Although in this case it wasn't entirely just that, but some of the things he was talking about at the time. "I tried to tell her ye were more of an inventor, but it might have gotten a wee bit lost in all the other things I was trying to tell her at the time," he admits, a bit sheepishly. "Ye have to admit, Billy, there's a wee bit to mention to your friends when they wake up."

Don't try to tell him that you wasn't doing the same for Kimberly at the time, Billy, because he won't believe it.

"Billy and Kaya have both been here since before I was awake," he says to Victoria then, by way of explanation. "And we've been through a lot together. He's my brother as much as my own brother is. And Kaya's family, too."

He points to Kaya, then, wiggling his finger for emphasis. "Ye get to explain what a waterbender is, though. I've already tried to explain the morphers, and...well, never mind."

[sonicscreamer.livejournal.com]

She stands more upright at that last comment, not quite pouting, but having a little sassy look that tells him 'oh you did not say that.'

"I will have you know that I was quite trying to understand what he was saying to me, but it is rather hard at times." She left it at that. If Billy and Kaya wanted to take this as Jamie wasn't good explaining, they could. If it meant that she had trouble understanding his words because she was a different time, they could.

If they wanted to think that she had trouble understanding his words because he wasn't good at explaining and she was from a different time, they could also do that.

But no worries, she wasn't angry at all, and Jamie could probably attest to that from their barter that would happen in the future she didn't know about. "I will call you Billy, if you would rather call you as such," she tells Billy with a smile. "It is good to hear that Jamie was able to find a brother on this ship. and it is good to meet you as well, Kaya." Mimicking Jamie's hands, she continues,

"Would you please explain to me what exactly does Waterbending mean? I have always been taught that in its liquid state, water is rather inflexable."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya could understand Victoria's frustration, although she did have to prevent herself from laughing a little. The way she bristled reminded her a little of she and Billy when they first met, how they would occasionally have arguments. It was good to know that thus had hardly changed.

"I don't blame you for not knowing what that means, Victoria: where I'm from, a system like that doesn't really exist either. Plumbing is a way to get a constant flow of water to travel through pipes, and what that means is anytime you want some water, you have access to it. The actual intricacies of how it works is still a bit of a mystery though, so Billy is still showing me. Now, someone like me, I sort of make my own kind of plumbing."

She poured some water on the floor. In all instances, Victoria was right: its state looked fixed, inflexible. Kaya moved her hands now, and the water started to be coaxed up off the ground, and then she had it turn and wave at Victoria before sending it high into the air and into her palm. There she opened her hand, and what should have been liquid was now a ball of ice.

"Waterbending!" She said brightly.

[morphitudinous]

He nods, waiting for the demonstration to conclude before he talks again. "It really is a miracle in some respects, but of course there's a logical explanation for it. Unlike the logic of bending or magic. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around those."

He'll succeed someday! He's sure of it. Maybe.

"We'll have it done as soon as possible, don't worry. I'm not one to slack off on a job."

[bonnypiperlad]

Jamie holds up his hands in mock surrender, his expression a picture of wide-eyed innocence. How could he have gotten that wrong? "Oh aye. Of course, Victoria. I must have been mistaken."

However, there's a twinkle in his eye, and a certain tone in his voice Kaya will likely recognize quite well from his attempts to tease her in the past. He knows as well as Victoria does that she's not mad, and he can't resist the urge to try and needle her just a little about the situation. And somehow, he manages to keep a straight face - mostly.

When Kaya demonstrates her abilities, however, he stops. He knows that it's something quite incredible, and the least he can do is let Victoria experience it without his interrupting for a chance. Once she's done, there's no trace of that teasing in his words as he continues. "Kaya can do a lot more then that with it, too. I don't think I'll ever truly understand it, but waterbending's quite useful."

Unlike Billy, he seems to be of the opinion that you don't necessarily need to understand something thoroughly in order to accept it - just be able to link it to a concept in your head that you do understand. It's stood him in good stead these past few years, after all.

And, as for the plumbing? "Yes, that's true. Billy'll not rest until the job's done." A hint of a grin appears on his face. "Unless, of course, we make him have a break. You'd be surprised how hard it is to get him to take one."