video- don't you put it in your mouth

[zen_en_vert]

Hello, Hadriel.

We have a garden now, and Sorrow has made comments to the effect that the food in it might disagree with us, so I'm going to talk to you about how to test for poisons in plants.

First of all, to those of you who aren't human, let me apologize, because I won't be able to help much with your physiology. But for those of you who are-

We need to catalogue and name everything we can that's growing in there, and then identify the plant species that no one knows. Once we have the unidentified species, each one needs to be assigned a volunteer. The testing period takes several days, and if you do two at once and get a reaction, you won't know which are poisonous.

The first step is to test for contact toxicity- that is, touch the leaves and stems and fruit juices of the plant to your skin, and see if it poisons you that way. Plants that provoke that kind of reaction aren't generally safe to eat. You take a few days to see if a reaction develops, and then begin by cooking small portions of the plant, and holding it in your mouth for a few minutes- three, and then later fifteen, testing to see if it provokes tingling, swelling, or any kind of reaction.

No one should try to test any plant with milky sap, white berries, or any kind of pod. You never want thorns, spurs, on the plant itself or on grain heads. If you get an almond scent or a bitter taste, stop eating, and just to play it safe, avoid plants with leaves in clusters of threes.

I've got a small supply of activated charcoal in the clinic. Let me know if you can help. Nothing is ripe yet, but we can begin classification and contact testing immediately.

Thank you, everyone.

Comments

video

[unknowable]

I'm sorry, I won't know until I try. Usually it protects me from serious harm, but - well, it's hard to say. I mean, I've never tried to deliberately poison myself or anything.

video

[zen_en_vert]

Then we'll exclude you from the tests, just in case. But come by anyways, maybe you can help with identifying and cataloguing what is edible?

video

[unknowable]

Well, if I use my magic to scry, I might not need to eat anything. Cabeswater might just tell me if it's safe or not.

[A pause.]

Maybe.

video

[zen_en_vert]

I heard that that had gotten... complicated.

video

[unknowable]

[His voice is tight as he takes a firm grip on his temper. It's still a tender subject to him.]

There's nothing to worry about. It's taken care of.

video

[zen_en_vert]

Do come over to the garden. I could use any help I can get.

video

[unknowable]

Right now?

video

[zen_en_vert]

Or as soon as is practicable or convenient.

video

[unknowable]

All right. I'll be there in a few minutes, then.

video

[zen_en_vert]

Thank you, Adam. See you soon.

[He disconnects there, and starts to get back to work.]

video > action?

[unknowable]

[As he said, it's only a few minutes before Adam gets there. He always feels better when he has something to do, after all. He looks for Bruce, walks over.]

Hi.

[zen_en_vert]

Hey Adam. Back here.

[He calls, straightening up from a bush towards the back, and waving.]

[unknowable]

[He approaches, making his way around the plants carefully. He came before, to look around, but he didn't learn anything much.]

Did you try any of them?

[zen_en_vert]

Not me. Inhuman biology.

[He says, looking up.]

Unpoisonable.

[unknowable]

That's convenient.

[Especially in a place like this. Who knows when the food might try to kill them again?]

I can try something.

[zen_en_vert]

Go right ahead.

[He's already reaching for his pen, to take notes.]

[unknowable]

[He picks up a bluish, oddly shaped fruit and takes a careful bite.]

Tastes like peaches and cream. A little sweet, but not bad.

[And his magic doesn't seem to be reacting, though who knows what that means.]

[zen_en_vert]

[He reaches for some, eager to see-]

Cream. You get literal cream from that?

[unknowable]

[Adam hands the rest of it over.]

Well, it's not actual cream, it just sort of tastes like it. It's... weird. But all right.

[zen_en_vert]

[He nibbles a bite, and then sighs in relief.]

Fresh food, thank god.

[unknowable]

It's definitely a nice change.

[Though, as a teenager used to eating crap, Adam could probably live off protein bars and cereal for months.]

Um... sorry I snapped at you earlier.

[zen_en_vert]

That's all right. I should have realized it was a complicated topic.

[He promises, unconcernedly.]

[unknowable]

It wasn't your fault, though.

[And he needs to keep a better handle on his temper.]

[zen_en_vert]

No, I know. I'd just be a hypocrite to judge.

[He knows a thing or two about temper.]

I know you can't possibly be all right, but if there ever is anything I can do-

[unknowable]

I guess I'm as all right as I can be. It's over, it isn't going to happen again.

[He just has to live with the memory of it.]

I just wish no one knew.