Instruction in Wood

Since the beginning of the War of Dragons, Kita has spent much of her waking hours in the defense of Aincrad. One might think, with the threat from the Palace Land's rogue Machina contained for the moment, that there might be some breathing room but...

No.

The approach to Aincrad has been fortified like a military checkpoint, with spiked walls, gates, and defenses. This seems to include a large number of Scale Emblem Adventurers who seem to be questioning visitors and refugees. There is a tension in the air, and everything seems... like it is just waiting for a spark to ignite.

Kita, however, is right in the thick of things. The Imp is dressed in common trousers and a white button-front shirt, the usual attire she wears when getting her 'hands dirty'. At the moment, she seems to be repairing some of the wooden fortifications at the moment, sweat beading from her brow.

It wasn't often that Shiruba went all the way out to the Tower yet that is exactly where she's headed on her Peko today. In part to check on how Scale was doing with handling the refugees from Eas and Mac Anu, but on this occasion she had some personal reasons as well.

As luck would have it she spots one of those potential reasons out at the fortifications, saving her a trip inside at least for the moment. However with the tense situation she follows the protocol, stopping to let one of the Scale guards to Inspect her to confirm her identity and her rank as Guild Leader before turning her attention and her Peko in Kita's direction. "Hello there!"

At the greeting, Kita looks up, pushing her glasses up on her nose. Despite the hard, physical labor she appears to be doing, the young woman really doesn't look the part. There is a delicate quality to her form and appearance. "Hello." Then, after a pause, she sits back, "Shiruba, right?" There are no hand movements suggesting an INSPECT, so this must be an identification from memory.

"I would have thought you'd be busy trying to reclaim Shibuya. What brings you all the way up here to Aincrad?" She asks, seeming glad to take the opportunity to avoid continuing her repairs. The Imp wipes an arm across her forehead, then reaches for a waterskin nearby, drinking down a bit before pouring some of the rest over her outlandishly colored blue and white hair.

"That is I, yes." Shiruba slides down from the bird's saddle, then takes a cluster of leafy greens from her inventory to offer Tradewind to snack on while she's talking to Kita. "While Shibuya is important to take back I would be a poor leader to not share my concern for the other refugees as well... Though I was hoping to talk to Scale's resident artisan, too."

Shiruba turned her gaze up at the fortifications. "Which is why I was a bit surprised to see you out here doing the manual labor. Though I guess I shouldn't be, we all have to help out with things we're not the most prepared for in these tough times."

Running a hand through her hair, Kita lets out a sigh and then tosses the nearly empty water skin back into a pile of supplies before turning her attention back to Shiruba. There is a hint of dark circles under the girl's eyes, as if she's been burning the candle at both ends for a while now.

"We've been working on constructing more temporary housing in Tolbana for the refugees, but most have settled in as well as they can. It's a shock. Losing your homes, the places that you thought were safe." She gives a rueful smile, "I think we can all relate to that in some way or another."

Then, she laughs, though it has a humorless sound to it. "If all I did was focus on art and music, I'd be a pretty poor contributor to the war effort." She explains. "Spent a while training with Arianne to get some more hands-on skills that can help us with housing and defenses, but I can later apply to more artistic endeavors." The Imp motions a hand at the wall she'd been doing repairs on.

"More than some would like to admit," Shiruba agrees with a nod. As Tradewind finishes his snack she ruffles his head feathers. "But we keep pushing ahead and do what we can. And maybe I have something more up your alley and skills when you get time." She gestures at Kita's hands as she doesn't want to presume from the work on the defenses. "It those skills also happen to include woodworking crafts."

"Well, I'm not the level of a Moonlight Crafter by any means, but I have a fair hand with wood these days." Kita replies, nudging a toe at a set of tools that are lying amongst the supplies. "I had wanted to learn a bit about it to help out around here, but... apparently fine detail work isn't needed as much as simple structures."

She smirks, shrugging one shoulder while her whipcord tail snaps behind her. The war does not sit well on her shoulders, not that it does for most anyone. "So what can I do for you? Need bows, arrows, defenses? Hell, I can even do musical instruments but bards don't seem to be as needed on the front lines, it seems."

The cait sith's wolven ears perk up. "Actually, yes!.. In a manner of speaking." Shiruba quickly explains to avoid confusion. "It's because of its use in making or maintaining archery gear that I'm looking for someone to teach me some skills. It's hard to rely on shops and smith friends when I spend much time out in the field."
"Besides," she adds after a moment. "When I get the museum in Shibuya back it'll be useful in making displays and such too."

The Imp's tail slows slightly as realization of the request dawns on her. "Ahh, so you're looking to pick up the skill, too?" There is a thoughtful expression there as she pushes her glasses up on her nose. "Well, Arianne taught me, so I'd be a poor student if I wasn't willing to share the knowledge with others."

She reaches down, grabbing up the bag of tools and slings it over one shoulder. "When can you start? We've got a lot of weapons, ammo, and housing that could use an extra set of hands, and I'm not going to say no when one is offered. Seems a fair trade. You work, I teach."

"Oooh helping with the effort at the same time is a great idea!" Shiruba replies with a few wags of her fluffy wolf tail. "Contribute to my skills and the greater goods, sounds like a plan." With as much as she enjoys helping others out it's not much of a surprise she'd agree.

She raises one hand to the side of her head in 'operating chimlink' fashion and grabs Tradewind's reigns with the other. "Just give me a place to park my peko and let my Guild know where to find their leader if she's needed."

"You can stable your chocobo at my place, and crash on the couch if you want." Kita offers. "My girlfriend usually tolerates me bringing home strays." The Imp smirks again as she motions towards the final checkpoint which allows entry into the Tower.

"We'll start with working on the basics while helping the refugees by building some new housing. Then in the evenings we'll work on the more detailed stuff. Instruments, bows, arrows, all that fun stuff." She laughs to herself, making a vague motion with her hand. "I guess I should warn Jurou that we might have more visitors, too."

Shiruba chuckles a bit once she's done on the chim. "Story of my life as of late. If it stars to get too awkward I'll just go stay at Gwen's again." She gives the peko reigns a tug to follow them. "Thanks Kita. It'll be good to be able to help people with an actual trade skill for crafting and not just work the market to get materials and such for them."

"Don't worry about it. Jurou was always the social butterfly of the two of us." There is an indulgant roll of the eyes from the Imp. "I'm the introvert, contrary to popular belief." Since arriving in Yamato, Kita has been thrust into more visible positions, largely due to her willingness to do the boring paperwork or spend hours dealing with refugees while others prefer to do dungeons and climb the tower.

"I've never been very good with playing the market, but thankfully Scale usually provides me whatever I need so long as it's something that benefits the whole." Another vague motion follows as she motions with her hand, leading the way. "Come on, I'll introduce you to a few people and we'll get started. I'm sure I can get someone else to finish up here."