Video: UN - Runeseeker

[onerthes]

[Vira-Lorr is bundled up, prepared for the cold. She has a scarf that's ready to go, but it isn't quite bound around her face just yet. It looks like she's standing in a small mudroom leading into a house, her breath misting a bit as she finishes locking up. There's a basket of Shitake under one arm that look freshly harvested despite the chill starting to descend. She hefts it a little, as the basket is extremely full.]

So... I might have learned recently that someone I know does not particularly care for Shitake. Thankfully I've got several varieties of other fun little guys [Again with the dad jokes it seems.] I'm growing around my house, some of which should be more to their taste. But! That does mean that I seem to have an excess in the backyard.

Did anyone need any? I'll be selling some at the Willful machine, but I hardly need to do a lot of that. If any of you actually want some, give me a call.

[...yep. That was the message. There were people starting to freak out and hunt each other, some folks were growing crystals of blood in their joints, and in the middle of all of this? Someone just noticed that she might have too many Shitake Mushrooms and is offering a trade.]

Oh... and if any of you remember the Titanic, I have a little bit of the red salts left. Contact me if you need those. I probably won't have them for long from what I've read.

[Oh good, she wasn't ignoring the situation.]

Comments

video; un: TripleJ

[kyley_b]

I can trade you for some if you want. [Kyle looks awful, but cheerful. Like someone with a hangover who has just been gifted McDonalds's.]

You cooking a lot for someone?

[onerthes]

I... Oh, not yet. But I'm hoping to cook for them a bit more sometime soon. Best to be prepared, right?

[She grinned over at him and winked when she did so.]

I'm just glad our mutual friend let me know before I served a steaming plate of these. Hah. That would have been awkward as a surprise. And yes, we can absolutely do a trade. My backyard has lots of logs. I keep the oysters inside. They're better as decorative pieces along with food.

[kyley_b]

It is, yeah. Oho, mutual, huh? [Slyyyyyyyyy.]

Dope. I can give you uhm, I got onions, and porcini mushrooms, and I actually got some raisins of all things? Alternately I can give you frozen knishes 'cause I made a shitton.

You hanging in there okay then?

[onerthes]

Pffft. They're from the same world. Makoto's an old friend of mine at this point, and she warned me, so I'm well prepared on favorite foods.

[She grinned in response.]

Yes, that would be perfect. I have a lot of oysters around the house for the color and the fact that they're easy to cook, but unions and porcini would be good. Mastering how to get the most out of them is tricky. That sounds like a great trade.

[kyley_b]

Oh, shit, that's handy.

Cool, I'll swing by with those then. I like onions but Karkat's allergic so I don't need all of the ones I got.

Plus I could use the walk. I think I'm giving myself cabin fever.

[onerthes]

Allergic... to onions? I have to admit that's a first for me. Interesting.

Yes, that almost seems perfect. But personally I recommend that you use the lantern network where possible. It's very cold out.

[kyley_b]

Yeah. He's an alien. He's weird. [He sounds so fond.]

I'm from Colorado, this is nothing.

[onerthes]

Ok, that does sound a little more believable. Aliens can be ... very varied. Depending. [She laughed a little.] Be careful. Even if you're from the poles, it can get magically cold as well around here, but as long as you're careful I'll see you soon.

[kyley_b]

I absolutely promise to wear a hat and gloves, Mom.

[onerthes]

mmm. I've played house mothers to generations of silly young men you know. [she snickered.] But do be careful with the warning. I...

I've seen cold that is deeper than is natural. Though I'm not sure we're dealing with that here.

[kyley_b]

Generations, really? That's a shit job to get roped into!

So far seems like normal winter to me. But I'll still be careful.

[onerthes]

Well, it was myself and a whole army raising the future general. [She laughed.] I made sure Plum got diaper duty. Hehe. She did not love me for that, I can tell you.

So far, yes. But good.

audio, un:yuuki

[siriusly]

[grumpy:] Mushrooms, mushrooms, mushrooms... [he sighs.] I hope something else crops up next season. That...that doesn't try to kill anyone in the process...

[onerthes]

Haha. I have to admit. getting my protein so heavily from these isn't my idea of a diet, but it doesn't hurt to have options. At least there's fish, yes?

If only the fishermen didn't look half mad. [That next laugh was definitely a little nervous.]

[siriusly]

Eh-? What do you mean? [this is news. he hasn't gone to the fishing district, he has not been knew.

...also that conversation he had with Wu wondering about the meat here being corrupted won't leave his head.] Something off about some of the people?

[onerthes]

That the fishermen and those who stay every day by the water look a little crazy at times? [She laughed softly.] I think they spend too long away from the city, so the strain is apparent. They're harmless, but a little off.

[siriusly]

Being away is what does it? [eh??] That a guess or for sure?

[onerthes]

Well, if you'll recall those lovely pirates out on the high seas, yes. I think that being out in the realms of the ocean does not do favors for their sanity. Alone for days on end with only themselves to talk to. I doubt it helps.

[siriusly]

[withered:] R...right... [not Manabu lookin like a grotesque mess when he's lonely and mutating or anything...]

I-I guess it's good that's a more likely cause than all the food? Since...well, we eat that, too...

[onerthes]

It never hurts to be cautious about what you eat. Around here, one should be careful, but I do believe the fish is safe. I even believe the fishermen are mostly safe... just very odd. And a bit uncomfortable to be around.

[siriusly]

So, basically like everyone else after dark. Got it.

[onerthes]

Most people after dark. I know a few who are basically cuddly harmless teddy bears regardless of the hour.

[siriusly]

[sighed:] Yeah, yeah... [sorry, December's got his blood wearing their sassy grumpy pants.]

Right--anyway, I did find a bunch of stuff that isn't mushrooms. The last of it should still be on the boardwalk, if that sort of thing interests you.

[onerthes]

I'll bring some of the stock I have over that's good for trade. Perhaps we'll manage a little something. I do, after all, have quite a bit to trade with. See you soon!

[siriusly]

Eh-? Wh--wait, you don't have to do that! I'm not digging out this stuff for profit...

[onerthes]

[She laughed.] I don't think any of us really is. There isn't a proper currency unless you count clam shells. We're just all trying to help each other out. Don't worry either way.

[siriusly]

I-I mean...okay, but. Don't...don't think you owe me anything, okay? It's...kind of the other way around, anyway.

[onerthes]

Mmmm, no, no owing. We're just friends trading goods to help each other get by. That's how Trench works at its best if you ask me.

[Really, she was all on board with communal living. Money just complicated things too often.]

[siriusly]

[a soft sound. huh...]

...Right... [he clears his throat.] Right, okay. Sure. See you soon, then.

video; un: Albus Dumbledore

[chambermusicandtenpins]

I would be happy to take some mushrooms off of you. Would you care to arrange a trade of some type?

I never tried the red salts at the time. Perhaps I should take you up on that as well.

Re: video; un: Albus Dumbledore

[onerthes]

I would be absolutely happy to do a trade. Of both of them. I think between friends, the salts are a thing that I can give you. Save them to ease the suffering if you need it during the month, but they're very helpful if you don't overdo it.

And I know that you will give back even greater than some meager bath salts one day. Something between friends, Albus.

[chambermusicandtenpins]

Thank you kindly, Vira. I very much appreciate it. And I will be more than happy to return the favor whenever you are in need of one.

[onerthes]

They're rather valuable for dealing with the condition that seems to be running around. So I suggest using them carefully. One of those rare times when something we had is especially useful for our situation, yes?

video; un: atsushi

[undermoonlight]

What don't you like about them? Mushrooms are mushrooms, right?

[Atsushi isn't a picky eater, so he's genuinely curious.]

[onerthes]

Oh, I'm fine with them. I did have them growing after all. But no, Minako doesn't like them at all it seems, so ... better to trade them. After all, I am hoping to cook a few meals for her.

[undermoonlight]

Ah, I see... Well. We could probably trade something? I don't think Usagi-chan or Makoto-chan hate those in particular...

How is she doing? Minako-chan, I mean...

[onerthes]

I certainly won't say no to a trade.

[She smiled to herself in the way that people did when a little besotten. It was nice to have her awake again.]

She's doing well. Nice and cleaned up and feeling like she has to catch up for lost time. She's still living over at her apartment, but we see each other quite often. She's taking good care of herself for the most part and I don't think the cold has gotten to her too much yet.

[undermoonlight]

That's good to hear. I was worried when we didn't hear from her for so long. I imagine she must have been starving.

[he thinks about food a lot.]

Are you two planning to continue to live separately, then?

[onerthes]

Uh...

[And she was blushing kind of furiously.]

There's a guest pullout in my house if someone needs to stay for a night, but you have to know that I only have one bed in my home, and she's in an apartment right? so... I mean... if we were living together...

[ahem]

We're not to that point in the relationship yet, Atsushi.

[undermoonlight]

[100% oblivious. After all, Makoto and him have separate rooms and beds.]

Is buying an extra bed that difficult? Hm... Then wouldn't the solution be to find a bigger house to share? It seems like it's easier to have roommates in the Trench, after all. I think they call it the buddy system.

[onerthes]

I... uh...

[Blink blink. Blinkity blink blink.]

So, you aren't wrong, on some level. That's a very practical way to look at things. But, if I'm living with my girlfriend I would... [Ahem] You know, don't worry. We'll figure this one out soon enough, I'm sure. I'm not about to let what happened in November happen again.

I just... don't want to move too fast is all.

[undermoonlight]

Winter is a bad season for moving. It would be pretty miserable moving furniture through the snow. Maybe it'll be easier in spring.

[They're having the same conversation here, clearly.

He... doesn't want to think about November.]

As long as you're both okay!

[onerthes]

Oh, no... you're not wrong. Even with my lamp location right by the door, anything heavy would be hard to move. This weather would be awful for that. Thank you. That's a perfectly valid reason. I can just check in regularly. I like doing that.

[Was this Vira-Lorr breathing an obvious sigh of relief that she had an excuse to put off the topic of sharing a bedroom with Minako until March? Yes, yes it was.

Well unless Venus decided to bring it up herself. Oh that would probably end up with her blushing furiously.]

Trust me. I'm looking out for her and she's looking out for me. She's going to be just fine. I care about her quite a bit, after all.

[undermoonlight]

The lamps have been very convenient, haven't they? I still don't fully understand how they work, but I'm glad that we have them.

Minako-chan and shiitake mushrooms aside, how have you been? Keeping warm? Do you have enough food stored for emergencies?

[onerthes]

They're extremely helpful. The light keeps my porch safe from invasion and it's easy to get around. And I've been doing about as well as I think I can. Canned goods aren't really easy to come by, so it's harder to store for the winter the way that I want, but the mushrooms I picked up over the last few months have been growing steadily, giving me something to work with. I should have enough supplies in case we get snowed in.