Call For Help

[cyclicalitymods]

After the events from November 11th, the city has been in a constant state of repair. In an effort to speed things up, a variety of construction companies have offered high wages for helping out since many have too many orders to keep up with. Earthbenders in particular are welcome, especially if they're able to metalbend, but it's hands for labor that are most needed.

Those who received the newspaper on the 5th of this month will have noticed some overlaying text that probably shouldn't be there. It said to meet outside the city council office if you want to help rebuild the city, but those who went on the 5th and the 6th know that nothing happened. Around noon today, however, a golden light shoots out of the ground. Instead of dissipating right away, it sketches out the word "hope" in the dirt. Shortly after, genuine gold appears where the light had burst forth. Every now and then, a variety of items and tools appear, lying scattered among the gold. Many of the newly appeared items can be used to help rebuild the city such as stacks of timber and stone, but many of the other items appear to have been previously owned. Heirlooms that had been previously destroyed now in perfect condition along with other lost items and the like keep appearing at random in front of the city council office in addition to all the gold.

The text on the newspaper wasn't lying, though. Someone is watching. Or something. Everything everyone does will be under close surveillance. Whether they keep the gold, leave it alone or give it away; whether they work to repair the city or sit and do nothing. Either way, the area around the council office is brimming with spiritual energy, but no spirits are coming out to play.

Comments

[raavashing]

"I think the spirits did," Wan replied to the question as he gathered up what he could of it. He wasn't getting in the way of anyone else who might be scrambling for it, to the point of actually taking a step back when someone else who was over-eager got too close.

"And this will go a long way to helping a lot of people."

[paybent]

"So there's a spirit of gold after all?" He speaks uncertainly as he scratches at his head. But Wan's point does help him feel more guilty about going for the gold. "Gee, pal, you're right... There are a lot of people out there who look like they could use some yuans."

[raavashing]

"I've never heard of a spirit of gold," he said back with a laugh. "But whichever spirit is doing this seems to want to pay us for our help. Humans usually pay each other for services, right? It looks like it's trying to do the same."

[paybent]

"Sounds like us humans alright! Paying each other, docking each other's pay... all in a day's work!" He says with a good-natured laugh. "But, uh, what did we do for the spirit with the deep pockets?"

[raavashing]

Wan raised an eyebrow at that, "We're going to help the people in the city that need it. Like it asked us to in the newspaper. This isn't free. This is a gift in exchange for the help we should be giving to rebuilding the city after the earthquake. I'm going to be taking this gold and exchanging it for yuans so I can give it to some of the homeless I know. They'll be able to buy food for themselves for weeks with this."

[paybent]

"So that's what it means! Huh..." He pokes at his chin as he thinks that over. It kind of makes sense! "Now that was a real riddle! Good job, pal! So it's up to us to be the middlemen." They must not have a spirit for money conversion, or perhaps many spirits don't take on business majors.

[raavashing]

"A riddle?" The message had seemed pretty obvious to him. He had a hard time seeing how it could be confused for anything else. Thought the guy who was half-spirit. "Yeah, I guess. Middlemen. You will be helping rebuild, right?"

[paybent]

It probably doesn't help that Gumshoe's not always quick on the uptake. But he nods. "Yeah! Once my shift's done, I was thinkin' of heading over to see if one of the construction sites need any extra hands! I think I can be a big help, pal. My earthbending isn't too shabby, if I do say so myself!"

[raavashing]

Wan grinned and started to head away from the places the gold appeared so he wasn't in anyone else's way, "Mine isn't half-bad, either. Which construction site were you thinking of? The few I've gone past have mostly been filled up already so I haven't been able to help as much that way as I've wanted to. And I can't metalbend, so I can't help with the pipes that connect the city."

Which he was actually a little sad about, but not everyone could be metalbenders, right?

[paybent]

Gumshoe shifts as well, trying to keep an eye as he talks to Wan to make sure no trouble is brewing. He goes on with a slight smile.

"I was thinking of checking to see if there's any openings the Dragon Flats first, since that's where I live. To be honest, I have no idea which ones are and aren't full up yet..." He slumps. "But I know what you mean about the metalbending, pal! It'd be even easier to help if I could pull that off... but my metalbending still just doesn't wanna develop!"

[raavashing]

Just didn't want to develop...?

"How long have you been waiting for it to develop?" Wan asked slowly and a little cautiously. Because thought it was an all or nothing skill. Either you had it or you didn't. And if he was wrong, well, he needed to work a lot harder.

[paybent]

"Oh, it's been years now!" He says with a soft chuckle. Even when he's been told that there's no hope for him to learn it, he's still kept at trying. "I guess you can say I'll be a late bloomer!"

[raavashing]

Wan lifted a finger, mouth opening to say something, before shutting it and dropping his hand. Yeah. He wasn't going to touch that. If that gave the guy hope, then it gave him hope.

"Right," he finally said with a nod. "Well, I hope you um... 'blossom' soon."

[paybent]

Gumshoe gives a hearty salute. "Thanks, pal! I really appreciate it! And in the meantime, I'll still be doing my best to help out with good old-fashioned normal earthbending. Don't count this Gumshoe out yet!"