002 VIDEO @serene

[sereneflame]

[Serene's not looking too good lately, having been worn down by Lilac's screaming and the growing realisation that she's failing badly at her current task. Lilac at the moment is clinging to a tree behind her, snapping at bugs with her sharp teeth.

When Serene speaks she's terse and unsmiling, getting to her point as quickly as she can.]

I have a request for those skilled in magic or craft: Are there any here who know how to construct a raft? This raft would be something we carried on our shoulders between us on the drier parts of land and poled across the wettest stretches.

If not, I intend to head back to the drier forest to find fallen branches to lash together. I do not know if what I make will float, but there is little harm in trying. I would appreciate the loan of a woodchopper better than my sword.

[She shrugs shortly]

It may be that this preparation ends up being for nothing but I would rather avoid my boots getting too wet. This water looks stagnant.

Comments

audio; un: fiona

[cachemoney]

[Fiona's tone is incredulous and a little flat.] Avoid getting your boots wet?

Re: audio; un: fiona

[sereneflame]

[Serene gives her a very cool look]

I'll take that to mean you've never witnessed a person suffer from trench foot. By all means, wade as long as you wish.

[The 'you survivalist amateur' is unspoken but hangs in the air]

[cachemoney]

Um, no? Because that sounds fake. "I have a bad case of cliff elbow" fake.

[sereneflame]

[She rolls her eyes heavily]

If mammal feet are submersed in cold water and encased in damp boots with no respite then they start to rot. They blister, they develop sores and as the flesh grows to cold to live, they die. Soldiers suffer from this when they march for too long or stay entrenched in wet climes.

the first symptoms developing within a day. Since we have no choice but to walk, I intend to do everything I can to preserve the health of my feet.

[cachemoney]

[That's a lot of words to be fake? Also, gross.] Oh. I don't -- I've never heard of that. Good... tip?

[sereneflame]

[She's satisfied that she's won this little argument enough to move on]

So, do you know how to build a raft?

[cachemoney]

Unnnnfortunately, no. I don't have a lot of experience with water. In general.

[sereneflame]

[If her communicator hadn't been a bracelet she'd have crossed her arms to deliver her wise advice, but as it is she just has to shrug]

Then dry your feet whenever you get the chance, test any wet patch with a long stick before stepping there and beware of bloodsuckers lurking under the surface. Oh, and don't even think of drinking the water until you've boiled it well.

[cachemoney]

[Bloodsuckers.] Nice. Do you come from a planet with this kind of, uh... environment?

[sereneflame]

A swamp like this? There are in the western reaches of my land but I have never journeyed that way. No, I spent a good chunk of my adolescence travelling on foot, so I am well acquainted with dealing with the trials of the outdoors.

audio => video

[cachemoney]

Still, that's more information than I know about getting your feet wet. I mean, literally.

[She takes a second to flip the feed onto video, waving a little.] If you need to know anything about deserts, let me repay the favor. I'm Fiona.

video

[sereneflame]

Serene Charlord.

[She inclines her head to that offer, looking marginally more friendly now that Fiona's offered help, if not the help she'd been seeking.]

I thank you; given our direction of travel I may be taking you up on that offer in the coming weeks. 

[cachemoney]

Our direction of travel? Do you think we're headed for something, um... less damp?

video; un: coolskeleton95

[boneafide]

I can make a cool raft!

Of bones!!

[sereneflame]

[It's a skeleton and it's talking to her. She gawps, because knowing that there are magic aliens on the tram and seeing a skeleton talking when it obviously has no lips is are two very different levels of mind-bending.

However there's a far more pressing question, which she chokes out]

Whose bones?!

[boneafide]

Mine, naturally!

[He seems... proud, even.]

[sereneflame]

[That isn't helping her gawping at all]

... Will you actually float?

[boneafide]

Oh, I might not. But my bones will!

Probably.

[sereneflame]

[Her eyes narrow]

... Are you making a serious offer, Skeleton?

[boneafide]

Very serious!! I can show you, if you want!

[sereneflame]

[Her eyes are still wide at this strange turn, but she warily nods]

...I would like to see, if you can promise me no one else will be harmed.

[boneafide]

Why would anyone else be harmed?! I am aghast you would even think I would do such a thing!!

[sereneflame]

[If there's one philosophy Serene holds dear, it's that blunt honesty is the best policy]

Forgive me, but I cannot shake the fear that you might wish to liberate other skeleton from inside people.

[How would she even deal with that? Could she stab between his joints and hope to knock his limbs off? How are they even held in place???]

[boneafide]

Oh no, I wouldn't do that! I have been informed, fairly recently, about the skeletons you humans are growing inside of you! They would be woefully underdeveloped if I tried to liberate them now!! Please, keep your still-growing skeletons within your body until the correct time! Sheesh!

[sereneflame]

...Ahh, I see.

[She's not going to ask if he means until the end of puberty or until death just in case he doesn't realise skeletons stop growing long before humen are done needing them.

She chews her lip, staring at him in consternation]

Will you come to meet me then and show me how you'll become a raft?