Shine was up and about for the first time in a while. She was tired, but it was like something had shifted in her head, and she could see the light. The new scars itched atop the old but they were no longer fresh and livid. She even sang as she walked across the territory to grab some food.
JD sat on one of the benches outside the kitchens, booted feet propped up on the edge of the table. She perked up at the sound of someone singing and glanced in the direction, eyebrows rising as she spotted Shine.
"Hey! You're just in time for Dove's cooking."
"I never stop cooking kid!" Dove called through, setting out a place for Shine.
Shine laughed. "I'm actually hungry for once so good."
"Doesn't mean the food stays around long enough though," JD pointed out.
"Too many of you to feed, not enough food," Dove replied, dishing up tree plates. "Are you going to go to Topher, get yourself checked?" She asked Shine.
"Not to mention the certain people with humongous appetites," JD added, dropping her feet from the table as Dove began to dish up. She glanced between the other two women at the question.
"They'll heal," Shine muttered
"Then you'll reopen them, sweetie," Dove replied gently
JD craned a neck a bit to inspect what was being put on each plate. "Isn't the doc supposed to be heading over sometime today or tomorrow anyway?" she ask absently before remembering she only knew that from an overheard conversation. "I mean, he does occasionally, uneasy deal thing and all that."
'He's too much of a doctor-y do gooder to stay comfortable with Saga when he's needed,' Dove's voice carried a strange ring as she dished up cheesy mash, chicken and veg.
"Why does he stay there then?" JD asked.
"They've got more resources than us," Dove replied
"But what's to stop Saga going even more head-bitch and stopping everyone else being able to see him?" JD reached for her plate. "I mean, I know she's already enforcing the whole 'paying' for access and treatment yada yada, but she could just wake up one morning and decide to screw us all."
'Nothing, but he won't let her,' Dove reassured noticing the panicked look on Shine's face.
JD's gaze flicked up and between the two before she shrugged a shoulder and began to eat. "I still reckon he'll be around at some point today," she muttered.
"Mmm, I reckon he could do with visiting," Dove murmured, watching Shine scratch at her scars. "JD, how goes the car?"
"Huh?" JD paused to swallow. "Oh! The car. Eh, it's not much, I don't know if we'll get anywhere with it. But it's fun!"
"Seems like the best reason to do anything in this place," Dove grinned. Even though her job contributed heavily to the smooth running of the tribe, she loved cooking.
JD grinned. "Hell, if we can't get it up and running or work out what else we can do to it, we might be able to use it as another generator. Or at least as spare parts."
"And fueling the thing? Or are we going for literal horsepower?" Dove asked.
"Ha, it's certainly doable, but I'm thinking it might be better to use some of the food waste that we don't use for fertiliser. If me and Sparks could rig it right, we could turn waste into fuel and energy. If we can construct and then integrate the systems." She shrugged and ate some more food. "For now it's a little side project, the generators are still running fine."
"We're going to need more juice for the ovens if Buck keeps taking on new people," Dove replied, watching Shine, who just seemed happy to be around new people.
"Hence side projects," JD agreed. "Speaking of, where is our illustrious leader?"
"Probably mooning round the hives pretending he's checking security,' Dove grinned
"I think you're the only person who can get away with saying that," JD said.
"Eh, she who knows too much." Dove grinned
"What knowing that our leader has a selective sweet tooth?" JD teased.
"I know him better than he knows himself, that's the problem.'
"Well, you guys are all from here," JD said indicating Dove and Shine as she spoke but meaning Buck as well.