hadriel | 013✖; (audio)

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013✖; (audio)

[A heavy sigh is the first thing that can be heard before Rey speaks: She doesn't normally like talking this much, but having seen a number of those who lack experience in toughing it in harsh conditions won't bode well for the inevitable move.]

"Think there're a few things that we should discuss among ourselves before our relocation. Regardless of where we end up, it won't be a vacation. You can kiss any ideas of a Caribbean getaway in a jungle, but the fact of the matter is that we're going to end up in both the ice planet and jungle eventually. People should know how to survive in both."

[Some might recognize it when she's channeling that firm tone, like a commanding officer. It isn't something Rey lets surface often.]

"Jungles provide a fuckload of threats we've never dealt with before, and that's native animals and insects that we have no clue how to handle. Shit that can spread disease if you don't know what to be on the lookout for. Water could be contaminated with parasites and predators. Plants could be poisonous or result in allergic reactions. There're hundreds of factors that could potentially snuff you or give you a world of hurt, and that's not including heatstroke.

"Below freezing conditions are also a bitch, but can be easier to combat than you'd think. Can provide some old Russian remedies at the Speakeasy to help cope with the climate -- we'll also need to tailor proper suits and clothing, too. Extreme cold is no fucking joke, obviously. We'll probably be fine in the city, but if anyone wants to go and check out those embassies then you want to be ready for that shit."

[Pause.]

"Lastly, it'd be better that we keep everyone up to date on how to fight the Null and what their weaknesses are, as well as being properly equipped to handle them. Rage's bows and arrows and swords are useless as a nun's tits against synthetics, so it'll be up to us to be prepared. Destroying bastards like those comes as second nature to something like me--" [Oops, sorry Rey's friends and fam, but old habits die hard when she gets into this mode.] "--so if anyone is looking for training and information on how to kick their asses, you can find me at the Speakeasy."

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You know, I could probably use some of that training and knowledge. [ She's never been the most physical of people and while she's gotten into fights, they usually only end in her favor thanks to luck and a vague understanding of her powers. ]

No problem. Just stop by whenever you're free -- hands on training is ideal, but it'll help to not jump ass-first into the next location no matter where we end up.

[Rey might have a leg up on most people when it comes to harsh wilderness survival, but she's not like the gods. She understands the limitations and weaknesses of the mortal body.]

[ She snorts. ] When is someone really not free here? [ Sure, she's developed particular habits but it's not like she's ever busy. ]

You free in an hour? [ She wants to give Rey ample time to answer people who respond to her post, after all. And, yes, she just answered her own rhetorical question. ]

Fair point.

[It's a similar problem Rey's had, even when she's preoccupied with booze-making. Routine is good but after so long it can drive her a little squirrelly.]

Yeah, hour's fine. Will need a bit of help getting some things ready for the next few weeks.

All right, cool.

[ And, sure enough, Sharon shows up at the Speakeasy after a little over an hour. She'd considered asking if she should bring anything but she'd already been half way there by then. ]

Hey. [ Her greeting comes with a wave. Sharon is relaxed at the moment despite their future home resting on a city vote. ] Which you think is gonna win?

[ Jungle? Ice? Sharon bets on jungle despite her own personal vote. ]

[She hangs up without fanfare, and finishes up her work at the Speakeasy by the time Sharon arrives. Rey doesn't even mind the idle greeting and smalltalk starting out; she just tilts her head and shrugs.]

Who knows? Both are going to be a pain in the ass and there will be bitching regardless. Just look at how shitty this and the last planet was.

[Much like the jungle, she imagines people had a very different idea on what "ocean planet" entailed than what they got. Rey's not much of a fan.]

Honestly, no matter what wins we still lose.

[ Sharon considers Rey's reply and then shrugs. That's true. No matter what way the coin falls, it's still going to suck for them. They can only know and prepare so much but at least they have that going for them. ]

...which is why we should ready ourselves as best we can. [ Sharon tries to keep a certain amount of goods on her person or in a container tucked away somewhere for when something undoubtedly goes wrong so it's something she's long accustomed to. ] How do you think we should prepare?

[ Might as well just get to it. ]

Agreed.

[While Rey can't deny that she has her own preference on where she wants to go, that doesn't mean she isn't going to choose one over the other to get ready for. She's survived both conditions before, so imparting that to others is the least she can do here.]

Getting the right clothing prepared is a start. Most of what we have at the shops is shit, but we might be able to at least work with the material. You don't want to be caught dead in a jungle wearing sandals and a bikini -- all that does is expose your ass to bites and other problems. You'll also need more than a warm coat to live in arctic climate.

[The problem is that those are two totally opposite extremes that it's going to involve twice the preparations because they don't know where they're going yet. The voting system the gods so "graciously" offer is hardly worth the lack of planning.]

The barest essentials will be footwear, gloves, and tools. Machetes will be just about the most important thing we'll find at Rage's armory, but we can rig some ice pitons with whatever shit is there.

Think the sewing shop is our best bet at getting some decent clothing ready. Not a seamstress, but we can leave that to the ones who are.

[It'll be a lot of work, but... Like Sharon just said, they all have too much time. Having something to focus on will be good for people and give them less to complain about. Hopefully.

[Oh hell, who is she kidding?]

[ Most of what Rey says thus far is obvious but Sharon's aware it's likely not to a lot of others. Proper wear and tools. It should be an easy thing to accomplish but given the lack of information and the two extreme options they're dealing with, it seems daunting. ]

This is going to be fun. [ Sarcastic. She crosses her arms. ] It feels like the arctic climate might end up easier to prep for. Did the gods adjust the items in the shops when you guys moved at all?

[ The stores, from what she remembers of the caves, had been sorely lacking and random—the same here—but it's possible that the stocks have been adjusted. ]

[Given that most of the concerns of the arctic naysayers Rey has seen have been focused on the very solvable problems, she doesn't hold the majority in high regard where common sense is concerned.]

Not really. They provided shit to us when it was convenient for them, like tools to travel long distances on the desert planet to get energy for Hope, or the boats and gear so people could go scavenge the fragments.

[Just going to conveniently neglect the Treeocalypse because that's neither here nor there.]

We might get whatever scraps they feel like dropping us, but they're obviously not well-versed in rough long-distance exploration and survival. For anything else, we're probably going to be on our own.

[ That doesn't surprise her but she still sighs. This is such shit. ] Even when they provide us with shit, we have to work for it.

[ Ugh, the boats. Sharon kept her nose out of that particular bit of business. ] Whatever, it's not like we won't be able to handle whatever is tossed at us. I just honestly don't want to deal with alien bugs because I don't know how many people here know how to make a good bug repellent.

Isn't that how the world always works? Nothing is for free.

[Even the gods can't get their sustenance without at least trying to play ball every once in a while. God knows how many times people who ended up here had to save their foggy asses.]

Not that hard. Just need the right about of essential oils, rubbing alcohol, vinegar... Shit that's probably not here in bulk, but there's also no telling that the same mixture would serve as a repellent for alien bugs. [Reasons why Rey is wanting to get ready for the move regardless of their destination: This.]

My fucking point. [ Peppermint is good for some bugs back home, cinnamon, too, but who the fuck knows about possible bughell planet. She brushes a hand through her hair, annoyed. ]

This is such bullshit. We've literally got fuckall to go off of here to really prepare.

[Sharon's frustration is felt and understood. Rey huffs, pretty damned annoyed herself.]

Agreed. Tried asking Hope about something, anything we should be expecting, and all he had to say was "we dunno."

[The last words are spoken in a lower, mocking tone from her normal speech. Definitely not the way Hope talks, but the point is to make him sound clueless and irritating.]

But a little warning in advice is too fucking much to ask for.

You'd think he'd want us to be a little more independent. [ She's seen a handful of people attempting to get a little more information and she herself even tried Tranquility but it got her, and everyone else, nowhere. They have shit. ]

I'll just gather all the shit I think might be useful and hope other people are going to do be doing the same.

[It's clear enough to Rey that the gods are useless in just about anything when you try to approach them from an academic standpoint. Their kind and the ones who worshipped them weren't exactly rife with culture and intellect, which makes her curious about these "embassies" even more.]

That's all we've got to go on for now. Grabbing anything that can be useful to cut through foliage or ice, things that can be used as whetstones, and any climbing kits would be a good start. We'll just have to wing it on most of the shit after that.

[Which she hates, but what can you do.]

I got a mental list. I'll drop off most things here, if you don't mind. [ Just in case. Rey knows what she's doing, is planning; keeping the important things with the other woman just seems like the smart plan. ]

Works for me. Don't really have anywhere else to go, so this is as good a place as any.

[Rey spends more of her time at the Speakeasy than usual thanks to the islands dividing the lands, and hell if she is going to be taking the effort to go between the one with her house to the Speakeasy every day. Plus the boats just suck.]

Cool. [ Cool cool cool.

She couldn't put the shit in her place because she never bothered getting one so this saves her some serious time. ]

I'll get to hunting shit down, maybe I'll luck out and find a shop filled with parkas or alien mosquito repellent.

That would be too convenient.

[And the gods have never really made things super easy for them, have they. Seeing that the shops are mostly stocked for a temperate, rainy location, finding much of anything appropriate for arctic climes will be difficult.]

If anything, some of the water resistant gear will be useful for either places we're going to end up. Just drop whatever in the cellar if I'm not here.

[Rey won't be spending much time on the main levels anymore, and she'll be around the city more often very soon.]

[ Water resistant gear! Sharon wouldn't have thought of that, thank god for Rey. Sharon gives a mock salute with two fingers in an affirmative. She's not exactly looking forward to doing this, kind of just feels like she's doing busy work, but it might help them out in the end.

Hopefully.

She exits without much of a wave or goodbye. If she brings in something useless, she's sure Rey will give her a heads up. ]

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013✖; (audio)

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