Common Grounds

Posted on Sun Jul 23rd, 2023 @ 10:35am by Glitch & Ebenezer Winch & Kyleigh Arynson & Ombretta del Carlo
Edited on on Mon Jul 24th, 2023 @ 9:03am

1,833 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Welcome to the Hometown
Location: Common Room

The common room is located on the first floor of the Hometown, accessible by multiple entrances. It is a large space with a high ceiling and windows that overlook the shanty towns surrounding it. The walls are covered with posters, graffiti and makeshift art, some of which are political slogans, some of which are expressions of hope or despair. The floor is carpeted with old rugs and mats, and there are several couches, chairs and tables scattered around. The room is dimly lit by candles, lanterns and solar-powered lamps.

The common room is a place where residents can socialize, relax and entertain themselves. There is no TV or radio, but there are other forms of media and entertainment. There is a library corner with books, magazines and comics, some of which are salvaged from the old world, some of which are created by the residents themselves. There is a music corner with instruments, where people can play, listen and sing along to songs. There is a game corner with board games, card games and puzzles, where people can challenge each other and have fun. There is also a stage area with a where people can perform, tell stories and watch movies.

The common room is a hub of activity and culture in the Hometowns. It is a place where people can escape from the harsh realities of their lives, find comfort and joy in each other’s company, and express themselves creatively. It is also a place where people can learn new skills, share information and ideas, and organize for collective action. The common room is more than just a room; it is a community.

Kyleigh, who opted to push back leaving by a few hours, made her way into the common room. After talking to a couple locals, she found out it was a good place to get books, and after grabbing a few of her less favored ones from her fifth wheel, she planned to leave those in place of any she took. After all, it was a world where you couldn't get something for nothing, and it seemed like the right thing to do.

Despite his preference for solitude, it was nigh on time for Ebenezer to get out of his apartment. Dinner had been...well, dinner. The company, pretty good. And that had led him to wanting to experience a little more of the social world beyond his four walls. He'd found the game section of the common room pretty quickly, but there were already games in progress. Eb decided on a puzzle instead. It seemed that even in this hub of activity, Ebenezer Winch could still find a way to keep to himself. Now, if only the box lid hadn't been faded and worn with time...

Ombretta was normally not a social person, and had few reasons to ever go to the common room. In fact, the only reason why she would ever enter such a place was to tend to the plants others had begged that she place there. It was well known that plants converted carbon dioxide to oxygen, and oxygen was necessary for any human or mutant to survive. If the human body could receive some extra oxygen in a common area, it would help them relax just a little more and increase the rate one rejuvenated. These plants, sadly, needed more TLC than those in the garden.

Voices rose from near the center of the common at the debate circle where people freely and often hotly, debated and argued whatever suited them that day.

"I'm telling ya, the Metalloids are the ones that got it," a tall, bald man was shouting at a small woman with hair made of flames.

"Not in their wildest day," she shouted back. "The Pyros would have long since melted them to slag and crushed their so called steam powered giant mechs. Childish fantasies!"

They each claimed that their legend of choice were the ones that found the precious hidden treasure of the hardest metal known to man, but neither could or would provide proof that their group had claimed it.

Kyleigh chose a couple books she hadn't read before, then added the ones she brought to the shelf before turning to look at those that had shown up while she was occupied. She took note of the man in the corner. He seemed to be working on a puzzle or something similar. Clearly, a man that appreciated his solitude given the present activity.

Then, she found herself studying the young woman tending to the plants. Another person who craved solitude. She honestly didn't blame them. It was easier to survive if you didn't associate yourself with anyone or tie yourself down to anyone. But, maybe there was strength in numbers.

And, now, she looked to the group in the center. Was this going to become a problem? Would someone need to step in? Kyleigh took a couple steps closer... just in case.

Eb had been ignoring the debate and trying to force a piece into the puzzle. Until the conversation became loud and apparently heated. He'd heard of the Metalloids back when he worked in the Foundry, but had dismissed the stories attached to them. Now he was wondering if they were more than just stories.

He left the puzzle on the table and got up to get nearer. "What they got?" he asked, not naming either of the groups.

"This!" the bald man said and opened one large fist to reveal a small square nugget of gleaming metal. "The hardest substance known to man!"

A gasp came from several people around him, but the flame haired woman scoffed.

"A bit of shiny metal, is it? I could scrape off my bunk and come up with something like that in half an hour."

That earned a few laughs from spectators, but the debate was no longer heated as it had been.

"Titanium won't be found in your bunk," the bald man said as he held it up. A moment later, his eyes gleamed the same color and the cube began to reform slowly, stretching out to become a thin sheet of metal the size of a piece of paper.

"Try to melt it," he offered the woman. "It has a very high melting point."

The woman looked a bit nervous. "We'd need a forge," she said. "It would get too hot in here."

"You can't crank up the heat?" he challenged her.

"Oh, I can cook you with no problem, but others in here might not like that." She retorted.

From across the room, Ombretta's ears perked up throughout the conversation. Whatever the debate, she was not certain of the direction it would take in the common areas. Disruptions seemed to be common enough in these hometowns, especially as different people had different ways of doing things. As long as her plants weren't harmed, Ombretta could care less.

However, disruptions were getting harder and harder to tolerate. The mention of heat, however, seemed to change the song from the plant Ombretta was tending to. She tried to soothe her friend, hoping that this conversation would not deteriorate into some sort of conflict.

"Word is it isn't metal at all," a bystander near Ombretta said as she glanced at the algae skinned woman tending to plants near her. "I heard said it's a seed that can restart the Earth."

Ombretta's interest was piqued. If it was true, then it would be a remarkable discovery indeed. Though for something like to be possible, there would have to be a lot more of what had been found for it to work. She turned her full attention to the center of the room.

"I'm willing to let anyone test it!" The bald man offered. "I'm leading an expedition soon and the payout'll be bigger'n anything you've ever known!"

The fire haired woman narrowed her eyes. "I'll sign on only to prove you're full of shit."

Kyleigh cast a glance at Ebenezer, then the other two again. "What do you think the odds are that either of them are telling the truth?"

"About finding it and controlling it? Who knows. About it being a metal, I have no doubt," he said to Kyleigh. He looked to the bald man. "Hey, I'd like to take a look at it, if you're okay with it."

"Certainly!" the big man said and held the flatted piece of metal out. "As long as I get it back." He offered a toothy grin that looked more like he was baring his teeth.

Ombretta moved closer to the man who wanted to look at the item. She didn't know what he was going to do, but she certainly wanted to make sure she saw what was about to happen.

Kyleigh stood back to let Ebenezer take a look, but she planned to stick close by in the event things didn't go well. With this many people in one place, there was no telling what would happen, but she planned to be as prepared as possible..

"You'll get it back," he said, taking the sheet of metal. Eb held the metal in the palm of his hand. A blue colored, with a dark umbrae, electromagnetic energy began to swirl around his hand and arms as the flat sheet of metal folded and then liquified in the palm of his hand. He ran it up and down the length of his fingers before bringing it back to his palm and forming it into a sphere. The blue energy faded and he handed the orb back to the big guy.

"Gotta say, I've never felt metal like that before. Not in the Foundry and not out there on Recovery duty," said Eb. He eyed the big guy. "I want on your team."

The bald man took the now spherical ball back. "Anyone else want a piece of this?"

A few people stepped forward and some gravitated towards his side while a few headed to the flame haired woman's side. Each called out that the other would be the ones to end up with nothing.

"I'd like to go, too," Kyleigh spoke up before even realizing what she was saying. Sure, she and Cordelia wanted an adventure, and this way they would have one. Of course, there was safety in numbers, and with their abilities combined, they could be a very nasty force. When the time did come, though, they could break off on their own and do whatever they wanted to for a little while.

"Same here," Ombretta uttered, also not realizing what she'd said. A couple faces had turned towards her when she said it, so there was no backing down now.

A few more people agreed to join in, Shine and Tremor among them and it was settled. They would head out in two days and Breaker, the bald metal manipulating man and Pyra, the flame haired woman, would each lead a group and winner would take all.

 

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