44: action

[paper_knight]

In the morning Mark can be found at the beach, digging a wide, shallow pit just above the tide mark. He'll take take the occasional break to hunt the shoreline for bits of driftwood.

When the sun gets high, he'll retreat into the shade of the woods, in search of fallen branches (which are a bit rarer than he'd like--even the wilder parts of Wonderland are a bit manicured.)

In the evening, he hauls his finds back to the beach, stacks them in a tidy pyramid, and crouches down with a book of matches.

Around sunset he'll have a blazing bonfire down at the edge of the water, quite visible from the mansion windows. Feel free to bother him at any point in the process.

Comments

nbd! <3

[paper_knight]

No, not particularly. You startled me, that's all.

I was thinking of having a bonfire on the beach.

♥♥♥♥♥

[bureaucracy_is_for_chumps]

That's what a lot of people say when they get a look at me. [SHRUG! She goes and picks up a stick off the ground, moving it back and forth between her hands.]

Any reason? You trying to make smoke signals or something? You know that ain't gonna work here.

Re: ♥♥♥♥♥

[paper_knight]

For fun, mostly. I've heard a few times that I don't have enough of it.

[Although the possibility of receiving signals back had crossed his mind once or twice.]

[bureaucracy_is_for_chumps]

Really? If you don't have any fun you'll just be a boring old man. Guess I'll have to help you out. [She twirls the stick before looking over a nearby tree.] You want me to cut one of these big old trees down?

[paper_knight]

[He shakes his head.]

It won't be fun anymore if I get stuck with anything too big to carry, or too green to burn.

But if you want to help, I wouldn't mind. Maybe you could cut off some dead branches from up high.

[bureaucracy_is_for_chumps]

I can carry it, that's easy.

[She looks up at the tree though, an eye popping off her arm to fly up and look the branches over.] But have it your way.

[LASER BEAM BLAST and a couple branches fall to the ground.] So what's your name, gramps?

[paper_knight]

[Well that's impressive and mildly terrifying. FORTUNATELY Mark has been around long enough that he only stares for a moment.]

Thanks.

[He moves to add one of the less cumbersome branches to his armload.]

I bet you'll insist on gramps whether I tell you my name or not.

[bureaucracy_is_for_chumps]

[She picks the others up easily, arm wrapping around them.]

Not a problem, grandpa. [She smirks; all metal teeth.] And you don't know that. You might have a neat name.

[paper_knight]

[Shrug. He thinks she'll be disappointed.]
Mark Meltzer.

[bureaucracy_is_for_chumps]

Meltzer? That ain't bad.

[Mark is totally boring, though.]

You want more wood? Or do you think this'll be enough?

[paper_knight]

Glad you approve.

This is plenty, with what I've already got. Thanks.

[bureaucracy_is_for_chumps]

Where are you taking it? You got a pile somewhere?

[And she hoists the collection of branches over her shoulder and motions for him to lead the way.]

[paper_knight]

On the beach. I've been back and forth a couple times already. This way.

[And he turns resolutely beachwards.]