thehometree | 03 Amber | Downstream of the Boat

[For once this lanky young woman does not look like she's trying to win a staring contest with a cockatrice when she activates her amber slice. She does look sweaty and tired, but maybe that's actually helping. Behind her the mist is close, a towering wall, but the chuckle of the stream gives away her location before she can even open her mouth.]

Hey, any of you happen to be strong and willing to lend a hand? Me and Evan, [And indeed, the gawky redhead struggling to roll and heft rocks behind her happens to be in the frame as she talks,] are putting together a fish trap. I don't know about any of you but the thought of real meat that we don't have to bargain for with stone doubloons is so tempting we've been building this thing for the last couple of weeks straight.

It could use refining.

[She swings the slice around to reveal a very crude weir along one side of the stream composed entirely of raised pebbles and smooth rocks; it doesn't block the stream because Jo has noted the boat at dock just upstream of her location, but she's making a fair play at funnelling any minnows into it.]

Once we're done we just need some bait and some lucky catches. I never learned spear fishing but I'll bet some of you super freaks has a leg up on that. Come on down, huh?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You know what, I'm pretty sure you got more under your belt than most people can sneeze at in an entire life time. I bet moving a few rocks around will be nothing for you.

What have you been up to for the last week? Been busy down by the stream, haven't seen you.

[Pondering the issue for a moment, Ivaera then perks up.]

I do have a Grease spell. It's mostly used to slow enemies or cause fire to burn more intensely, but a careful application could make it easier to move said rocks. Of course, we would have to be vigilant to avoid slipping into it, but even so....

[Well, it's a thought. Ivaera's never used a Grease spell like that before, but she sees no reason why it couldn't happen. She smiles, focusing on the question for the moment.]

Ever since I realized that we have a source of glitter dust, I've been appeasing Garahel by letting him fly...and remaining close, to train him and ensure he doesn't become more of a pest airborne than he is on land. He's much happier now that he can roam between floors on his own, though I still have to keep the time limit in mind. We can visit the stream together, if he doesn't bother you.

You know what, save some of that grease spell for the fish we're going to be up to our ears in, and we'll fry them up like pros and make a lot of people owe us a lot of favours, [Jo joked,] and I'll make sure to look up when I hear barking and heavy panting. [The face she made at that looked almost distressed, but then she'd always had a hard time with animals and Garahel never ceased to make her wary with his clever but very dog-like antics.]

Fear not. There will be more than enough to go around, I'm certain.

[Ivaera smirks a little at that first part, then glances over to Garahel, who by now has perked up and padded over upon hearing his name.]

He'll restrain himself, or be left behind. Garahel knows the rules by now, and that I will insist he abide by them. There's nothing worse for a mabari than to be left out of the action, so that will ensure his good behavior. Right, boy?

[There's a soft huff in response and if a mabari could pout, this one is definitely doing it.]

I have to wonder how dogs from your world are so smart, [Jo grumbles, noting Ivaera's smirk and pocketing it for later. The elf woman's got more up her sleeve than she's letting on, but Jo's okay with that. She feels safe enough around her after that night of insomnia... if Ivaera whipped around to light a solid cone of fire across half the tree's land, Jo would expect it to be for a damned good reason, to say nothing else of worries about direct harm.

...The lifestream has been doing more to help her sense of trust than she'll ever know, but that's not for her to find out right now.]

Where I'm from, even the smartest ones don't look like they'd chime in with anything other than scooby doo bullshit, [and then, because she's finally been cottoning on that nobody understands her references, she goes to the effort of using the most ridiculous barky, growly voice possible.] 'Rarf, I rove you so murch I'm gonna stick my head in yer crotch!'

[...Maybe she could have used a better example.]

[The reference is beyond her, of course, but that ridiculous voice makes her chuckle. She can easily picture certain companions from home doing the same thing, indulging in a bit of silliness during the Blight.]

It has to do with magical breeding, though the specifics are beyond me. The Formari -individuals who create potions and enchantments- deal with such things, not true mages. And as far as I'm aware, such a thing is likely to be a trade secret. That's fine with me, though. I have no time -or energy- to devote to mabari-breeding and Garahel has enough descendants by now, as it is.

[Cue a proud bark, and she stumbles slightly as he nudges her.]

Yes, I'm coming. Tsk, so impatient.

I kind of figured he wasn't neutered, [Jo groused wryly, but there were more interesting things to chat about, so she let the matter drop.]

If you want to spare some of that floating dust on the rocks, Evan's been hauling them the smart way and dropping them into the water without lifting anything, the fucking weakling! I think we're not doing too bad, though, we're almost done and I've had a few frea--I mean, people who can do shit I can only dream of--offer to do some fishing in their own way.

This is weird, people never come together.

[Ivaera nods thoughtfully, intrigued.]

I've only used the dust on Garahel so far, not on inanimate objects. But I don't see why this can't change for one day. Consider it done.

And sometimes they do, you know. I won't pretend that all is sweetness and light here, but more often than not, I've found people willing to cooperate. It's in our own best interests, after all.

I guess I'm just used to having to push and shove people like they're bigger than those boulders over there, [Jo snorts.] Alright, enough of a break. I'm getting back to work. You can join us if you want or fill that roll of supervising. Someone's gotta do it!

A fair point, but I think I can do the most good while in the thick of it all. With the dust and grease at hand, it seems only right to ensure that this goes as quickly and smoothly as possible.

[Okay, enough chatting. They can always talk more in person. Ivaera smiles and nods.]

We'll see you soon.

03 Amber | Downstream of the Boat

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((Feel like we could wrap this sucker up soon?))

Sure!