One mans trash...is a fathers treasure, it seems.

                The sand stung his eyes as a stiff wind kicked up around the pair. They had been wandering for what felt like weeks to the north, to see Scavver and search for something interesting he could trade with back in Sanctuary. In reality it had only been maybe a day at most, and the glittering towers of scrap now inched closer and closer with each hour as Vesper and his large Phoolzo Jupiter closed in on the location.

He was eternally grateful that she had broken down his apartment door, and situated herself into his life. She had sharp, intelligent eyes. Even though he knew not how to speak with animals, he felt a sort of kinship with this beast, and so in the weeks since her arrival, the two had formed an incredibly strong bond. This bond was vital for travel, as Vesper was too weak in the leg to make such trips lightly. He had a sort of saddle fashioned for her, which she took to marvelously and allowed him to ride atop her broad back as she effortlessly loped across the sand.

                Coming up to the gates in record speed, Jupiter slowed down to a trot, her tongue lolling rapidly as she panted away the scorching heat that prickled at her midnight fur. Her piercing eyes scanned the area before locking on to Scavver in the distance, clattering about at his shop stand. Without needing direction from Vesper, she turned and bounded over to the strange Mutt, pulling up beside his stand with a deep and multi toned woof, causing Scavver to jump a little as he turned to the pair.

               What a sight they made, this unusually eldritch dog and this unusually radiant man. A unique pair to be sure.

Wiping mechanical oil off his paw, Scavver reached out to shake Vesper's offered hand, much to the latter's chagrin. As Vesper wiped residue off his own paw, Scavver let out a wide grin taking a small step back and gesturing to his little slice of paradise.

"what....brings you here......Big Guy? Trying to.....sell me...another egg?" The junker asked in his telltale speech. His other three hands kept idly sorting small trinkets and vials as he spoke, containers of unusual liquids, bones, a rather large sack of ziskas the Scavver had kicked into a corner with distaste, all manner of items.

               Chuckling softly, Vesper shook his head as he slid out of the saddle and looked over at the sprawling junk yard. "No, not this time dear boy. We've come to ask permission in perusing your yard. I need to acquire things I can trade for in sanctuary. There is....something valuable someone dear to me desires, and I wish to buy it for her. My currency from Praque seems to be less valued around these parts though, so I must find something those people desire. I struggle with manual labour, or combat, so I cannot acquire monster parts, or complete some manner of task given by them, thus I figured you might have the solution I desire."

Scavver listened quietly and hummed with thought once Vesper finished explaining, nodding slightly as he looked through his supplies on hand.

"value....you say? I certainly....have something the people in sanctuary.....would find fitting.....I'm sure. Tell you....what. I seem.....to be in need......of a little help....myself. If you...can find me...three large....bolts... I'll give you...things you can trade with.....for sanctuary." Scavver's eyes twinkled as he grinned at Vesper, sliding an example of what he desired across the counter.

               Vesper stared down at the bolt, and over at the seemingly endless piles of junk, then back at Scavver, and repeat. "You wish for me to comb through...all of this?? to find three of these little things? Scavver, surely you do not wish for me to be here all decade. Where would I even begin?" Vesper asked with incredulity. This task seemed a little too daunting even for the likes of himself.

"Oh...I get it... They won't be loose.....these are usually found....in larger contraptions. Try...things that look like.....vehicles...or industrial...machinery." Scavver offered, seemingly amused by Vespers anguish, as he let out another hearty laugh.

               Squinting, Vesper snatched the bolt from the counter and let out a derisive snort as he turned and marched stiffly away, ignoring the way his knee screamed at him. "Very well! We'll have what you need in no time, you cheeky dog!" he called over his shoulder, his voice thick with stubborn pride.  He found it rather infuriating when he heard Scavver begin to laugh again behind him.

"You might.....want this...as well! unless...you plan on.....unscrewing them....with your bare hands." The junk master mused, sliding a tool belt across the counter.

Vesper didn't turn around, simply clicked his tail a few times in annoyance as Jupiter grabbed the belt in her mouth before trotting to catch up with her master.

               After about 2 hours of searching, many water breaks, and a tantrum, Vesper and Jupiter finally found a large section of sheet metal that had a few bolts left within it. Using his phoolzo as a boost, Vesper was able to painfully stand on her shoulders as he reached up and unbolted their prize, collecting three more than requested in fact! He dropped them into the saddle bag over Jupiter's side as he panted heavily. The heat starting to make him dizzy from this elevated hight.

He began to sway atop his perch, suddenly feeling light headed as the desert began to spin around his darknening vision. Jupiter noticed he was starting to fall from her shoulders, jumping back onto all fours to knock vesper off his feet and into the high backed saddle upon her back. He slumped limply in his seat, dropping the tools he was using and one more bolt into the sand as heat exhaustion got the better of him.

               The next thing Vesper knew, the blanket of night had fallen over him, and with a start he sat up abruptly only to fall back as his head began to pound loudly. Nearby, a dark shape hunched over a plastic box, rummaging softly through its contents. He was aware of an even larger shape curled up beside him, snoring softly beneath the canvas canopy that gave them minimal shelter against the elements.

"You.....don't go out much.....do you?" the rummaging shape asked, sounding amused.

"Is it that obvious? I wanted to prove that I can still do things for myself, instead of always needing an errand boy to do it for me.... I can provide." Vesper replied tiredly, staring up at the makeshift ceiling, realizing he was tucked behind Scavvers shop counter, on a small bedroll with a damp cloth upon his brow.

"Why did you shelter me?" he asked genuinely, wondering what Scavver wanted from him besides the small scrap he'd found for the man.

"I didn't....want your...carcass...stinking up...my yard. Didn't feel like....chasing off....scavenger birds...today. Was this task....really worth..your health though?" Scavver asked, turning to glance back at Vesper with those twinkling eyes again.

"..yes. I spent her whole life telling myself she was worthless to me, that I didn't want her to be mine, that she was better off elsewhere...but...things have changed, and given me a clearer perspective. I don't want my daughter to ever think she is merely an after thought. I want to get her the world, and it turns out the world right now is merely a stuffed bear the local artisans made. They would not accept my Ziskas, and so...I need to find something I can trade, so Astra....so my daughter, can have the little thing she desires."

Scavver went quiet as Vesper spoke, then made a thoughtful sound again as he turned back to what he was doing.

               After a while of silence, with Vesper rolling over to watch the strange phuzo, Scavver finally turned back to his fellow Mutt, one of his hands revealing a satchel that jingled with an assortment of materials. He dropped it by vespers snout as the junkyard master leaned back into a comfortable sitting position.

"Well....you got me more than I...asked for...so here. These.....should be more than enough. Stuffed bear.......I really have heard it...all. Heh...heh...heh. Rest for the night........and in the morning.......get the fuck out of my bed.....go get...your daughter...her toy." He mused, shaking his head as he scoffed gently at Vesper.

The insectoid Mutt stared at the bag in front of his muzzle, blinking in suprise before collecting his reward and tucking it into Jupiter's saddle bags. Patting her flank affectionately, he praised her good work before settling his tired self back down.

"...thank you, Scavver." He quietly replied, eyes closing as his words were met with a mere grunt from the other, letting silence fall over the small group as all present slipped into as best a sleep they could out here in the wasteland.