hadriel | 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."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Mmmmm Rey she has to politely disagree about which one of these is more dangerous.]

I mean, this... t-this is true, but uhm... don't you think there could be other threats in the ice planet that aren't the cold? And if we can't move to fight them... but I mean! We will have to get to them both. Uh, eventually, so.

There're lots of threats in subzero temperatures. Not saying one is better than the other, just presenting some basic facts.

[It's just that going through all the pros and cons between the jungle and ice planets would involve talking significantly more than Rey is wanting to at the moment. She'd rather hold a hands on learning experience than an online seminar.

[She also gets where Alphys is coming from, what concerns her, being a cold-blooded lizard monster and all.]

In my world we had heartsuits that regulated body temperature in arctic climates; those helped in travel and winter combat. There's a prototype of a version of one of those types of suits at my place. If we could fashion more of those either by ourselves or with the gods' help, it could make the ice planet more sustainable.

[She nods, even if it doesn't matter. That's an option, even if she doesn't love the idea of having to suit up just to go outside.]

Maybe we could ask Hope about it? He said he was interested in, uhm, m-making things more hospitable for us. It could be easier if he doesn't have to make the design?

[How often do you even go outside, Alphys? Come on.]

Couldn't hurt. The prototype could serve as a baseline for any schematics we might need to make more heatsuits like it, if you want to take a look at it. Hope's a fucking idiot when it comes to tech, so we'd have to explain this shit to him in baby terms.

[LISTEN HERE,,,,]

Maybe I could make some proper blueprints? I have no idea if I could, uh, reverse engineer a whole uhm, t-thing. But if I could draw up some schematics maybe it could help the gods replicate it? Even if Hope doesn't get the whole thing, maybe he can just duplicate it exactly.

That might have to do. Will bring over the suit ASAP.

[Pause.] Doubt it'll be necessary, but... Don't suppose you'd know anything about nanofibers, would you?

Uhmmmm...

[It's a bit of a struggle not to instantly say she can figure it out, but she really, really needs to stop lying to make people happy. Look how deep it's already gotten her.]

I don't... t-think so. Unless they're things I don't recognize by that name, because it's possible, but probably... not??

[Nailed it.]

Is that what they're made out of?

[Rey appreciates the honesty, Alphys.]

No worries, think that's shit we can go over together at your lab.

[Unfortunately she left the suit at her house, so it's on a separate island at the moment. Which means a stupid commute is in order between two islands.

[Fuck, this planet is so much trouble.]

It's one of the materials for it, yeah.

Oh, uh. Yeah.

[Welp, she's either gonna sink or swim on this one, so we'll see!! I guess!! Who knows!!]

Just uh, c-come over anytime. I'll be here. If I can't uh, perfectly replicate it, maybe I can figure out how to make something that, uhm, does the same thing. Maybe.

Mn, guess it's better than nothing. Just not a big fan of the "sitting around with our thumbs up our asses" approach to this move, so it'll be good to have something to more productive to do with my hands.

Will make sure you don't die an icy lizard death, either way.

[She gives her a wobbly little smile for that one. She appreciates it, Rey. Really she does.]

Thank you. I guess if I can't, uh-- I mean the suits generate heat, right? Maybe I can isolate that component, or-- I'll take a look. Really, uhm. Thank you for all this. I'll do my best to p-pull my weight, too.

The suit itself was designed for me specifically, which means that it's supposed to amplify heat as well... But the normal heatsuits provide warmth for the human body, so it's something.

[At Alphys' gratitude, she just shrugs it off. Don't want to make this too weird or anything, yo.] And no worries. If there's anything that can be done, we should look into it, right?

I, uhm-- oh. Well that can still work, maybe! I can look.

[She nods at that second part, even though Rey can't see it.]

Yeah. I, uh, a-appreciate it.

Good, good.

[She likes being useful, and she knows other people like Alphys likes it as well.]

Hey, you're important. Wouldn't want you to turn into a popsicle if we end up in a place like the tundra.

O-Ohmygosh stop.

[She's blushing too much to exist!!! God!!]

I'll just, uhm-- get to work when I see you! Yeah! Okay??