text; @majimagoro

[hikae]

Following up on Stargirl's question, here's the answer. The Embera are edible, taste like burnt chicken, kind of chewy— not much different from how reptiles usually do. That's not on itself the biggest revelation tho. Remember how they're warned about their fire-hot venom? How lethal they are?

It's just plain wrong. These sad noodles don't even have venom sacks or anything of that sort! Their bite is just that, a bite. Also, I'm pretty sure I don't have any secret resistances to poison, I'm as a regular human as I can get.

So here is a helpful guide for yer own snake dinner: Burn down something and bait them with ash, they'll slither over. They're pretty docile, but they will bite and stab if threatened, so it's better to hunt them from at least a little distance. Right, it's their tail that's their main weapon, there's a sharp blade-like bone at the end of it.

If ya wanna hints on how to prepare them on yer own in a variety of ways, just ask Zhao. Snake on the stick is possibly the easiest, tho. Making a snake soup could feed more people at once. Tho we can't all just gather for one big picnic, that could blow our cover— still, we got a few done, and ready, just let us know where you are and we can arrange a snack delivery.

—I can't stop wondering why they have such a bad reputation among the locals. If they experience Embera's bites like they describe them, then— everything is just making less and less sense.

Comments

[firstroar]

[that conclusion gives Blue almost as much pause as acknowledging the snake at all. for him, the reason was to confirm if there was anything else that felt real, but...the matter of whether or not it was him addled and out of sorts was secondary in his mind.

but when Majima says it...]

...That's true. I could've simply...been functioning with what I understood already, not...what was right in front of me. [after all, the only ones he can sense are the people he'd been spending weeks with on a station.

slowly, he settles on his knees opposite Majima and the basket.]

Either way, this means there really is something amiss with these townsfolk subconsciously. They may not actually be real at all. Even their domesticated creatures feel vacant...

[hikae]

It's eerie ain't it? The more we interact with 'em the weirder it gets. [ They're off. Question them too much, delve into some topics and even someone with no powers and magic whatsoever can see that.

He taps the basket absentmindedly ]

Did ya know these fellows are apparently makin' trips to town?

[firstroar]

[Blue's eyes wince a little after the tap, feeling a fresh wave of agitation from the creature inside. careful, Majima...]

Trips...? What do you mean?

[hikae]

[ Ooopps... ]

Marks were found indicating they were headin' to town. [ He's just going to forward what was recently linked to him, after a brief moment of focus. He's getting hang of this! ] Back when we still thought them to be, ya know, venomous.

[firstroar]

...

[Blue quietly mulls on this new information given, gaze downcast on the basket. unfortunately, the animal within, while perceptible, doesn't think as a person would, doesn't have that language for Blue to understand, so he can't simply ask the beast what would draw it here.]

But they are...hazardous to these townspeople... [he looks back to Majima to confirm.] Yes?

[hikae]

Yeah— The Doc confirmed that just enough. I looked for the affected Miner and turns out not only did he die, but his body was also gone—

[ Everyone is made of ash and snakes are eating them imagery returns. It's like a horror movie. Not the fun kind though. ]

Makes imagination run wild, eh?

[firstroar]

Running toward...unpleasant conclusions, yes. [Blue brings a hand to his face, covering his mouth as he thinks a bit on this.

after a beat, with his hand settling under his chin:] I wonder if these creatures are as trapped as we are? Or...are able to pierce that peculiar veil shrouding this town from the rest of the world.

[hikae]

I wouldn't be surprised if they were— it's all too easy to bait ones in the mines with food.

[ Which means they haven't been eating well, and yet they're still there. ]

[firstroar]

[in that vein...Blue pities the beasts. they likely have no blame in the circumstances of this happening, merely victims in the wrong place and wrong time.

ain't that just the way.]

...If these people...truly aren't people... Then it wouldn't be wrong to let this snake find sustenance among them. [...] But the notion...is horrid.

[hikae]

[ Because what if they are people, and they just don't understand what changed them? So many things could go wrong—

Majima chuckles as he shoved these thoughts away. It's been grim enough so instead he voices what caused that chuckle— ]

Well, I bet if we let out even just this one lil' baby on the street there would be chaos to behold.

[firstroar]

[frowning:] Indeed... But I don't know...if the disruption would be in our favor or not. [despite that...he's kind of anxious to see a drastic change in this simulation.]

[hikae]

It's not like anythin' happens here.

[ Majima's been itching to do something, anything, to shake the status quo. But he wasn't stupid enough to just fly off with it. (Maybe he damn should, he ponders sometimes)

He shakes his head ]

Whatever— Do ya want to keep the noodle?

[firstroar]

No. [he looks back to the basket.] I don't know...anything about animal care as it is. Best it returns to its kin...unless others have an idea...of how to use them.

[hikae]

Well, we've started eatin' them—

[ He grimaces ]

But by yer merciful decree, I'm gonna let this one back into the wilds. [ Then addresses the Embera ] See? A scary ride but lady luck smiles at ya.

[firstroar]

[Blue looks back up at Majima with a frown.]

Would...it be wrong to release it? If they're the only food source. [he didn't even register it; he's barely eaten at all these past days.]

[hikae]

Nah, to be honest, I'd rather give our lil' friend another chance. She helped already, no?

[ Which probably, yeah sounds stupid and wasteful, so he elaborates on the explanation ]

I don't mind huntin' them, but this is somethin' else— trappin' one, stressin' it out of its mind and then killin' it? Feels like a dick move.

[ ...Majima, don't project on snakes ]

[firstroar]

[the frown ebbs a bit, expression softening.]

...I'm inclined to agree, yes. This may be...the fairest we can be to the creature for now.

[hikae]

[ Rejoice snakey, you will see another light of the day ]

Yeah— well then, I'm off for the trip back. [ He stands up and hoists the basket ] That's where I wish ya goodnight.

[firstroar]

[Blue hesitates, but nods.]

Alright, but...please, be careful. There'll likely be another brawl over the course of the evening... [but he has a sense Majima might not be too worried about that.]

[hikae]

[ Ah... yeah... there's. Interest ]

Ooh? Where?

[firstroar]

[blink.

he exhales, strangely endeared, uncertain as to why.

with a gesture toward the window:] Wherever the most alcohol is flowing... It's almost scripted.

[hikae]

Ah— these fights.

[ Scripted is a good way to put it A chuckle. ]

Here I thought it was somethin' our boys and girls were plannin'

[firstroar]

[he smiles slightly.] Were that the case...I wouldn't tell you to avoid it, I think.