R43 - Y'all hating's useless

[with_my_teacup]

[Public]
[The feed opens on a simple poster with the hand-blocked words WE NEED HELP IN THE KITCHEN.]

Testing out a new option to save time. Specifically right now we need a warden supe for lunch shift, until Ben comes home. If you're not used to working on a line or feeding a lot of people, we won't drop you into combat with no training. Marsh and I will help you out.

Oh. Not related to the kitchen-- I smelled a still running last month. Whoever it is, I want to pick your brain about fermentation.


[Filtered to Iris]
Iris. You got some time this afternoon to talk weasel shit and entropy? I'm willing to barter for your know-how. [He lifts a bottle of oil into the feed; last christmas, he gave her a massage, because sometimes it seems like she metabolizes stress the same way Arthas eats death. And the feeding's been good on that score lately.]

Comments

[with_my_teacup]

I need to ask you for some research, tho, so hear me out first. You know what a luwak is?

[routemistress]

Depends if we're talking Terran or Tau Cetian. In Cetian it's a kind of ...celebratory small snack made of local seaweed. But you did mention weasel shite so I expect you mean the civets with the coffee beans?

[with_my_teacup]

That's them. I went back and checked-- assumed they were mustelidae, they're vividerrae, that'll teach me to speed read. But on the actual subject--

I had this theory about the death toll and Arthas. He feeds on the energy released at death, bonus calories for fear and suffering. But he can do it multiple times with the death toll up-- whatever energy brings us back, resets us, he can eat that. As long as we process it for him first.

I'm looking at traditional ways to get him his fix whenever he's off the barge-- fermentation, the suffering of a million yeast, nice and epic-- but I'm wondering about maybe trying to give him the coffee beans straight, if you get me. Some way to process energy into something he can use without the whole murder thing.

[routemistress]

...good grief, Riddick, that's basically regeneration in reverse. No wonder 'im and me could never stand each other.

Erm. Did 'e ... did 'e tell you much about it?

[with_my_teacup]

He thinks there's something symbolic and Magic about it being death. I'm iffy on magic and I'm all about improvisation. Maybe it won't work, won't be feasible, doesn't mean I shouldn't check.

...he hasn't told me much. No literal gory details. I know it surprised him, upset him, whatever went down.

I love him and I care that he's upset-- I care that he feels it, and what it does to him. But I don't think you pulled anything and I'm not pissed at you. You two get along like a bad metaphor--someone got hurt. Frankly, both of you. But not out of bad faith.

I'm cool if you're cool.

[private]

[routemistress]

I'd've been all right if 'e'd used magic, but 'e come at me with an axe. I ...sometimes even when you're all prepared for a thing, you're not.

[She pinches the bridge of her nose tiredly.]

Next time I volunteer for owt like that make sure I'm tied down. Anyway. What we're talking 'ere is being able to feed off the literal process of entropy, aren't we? I know a way to bottle the reverse - the time lords can do it, they can transfer life between one and another. So I'd guess I'd 'ave to start with a distillation chamber and work from there.

Re: [private]

[with_my_teacup]

[He nods, understanding. The instinct to survive is powerful, can be unpredictable in its intensity.]

If you're up to it, I'd appreciate the help. I admit I'm short on details, making my best guesses ...I know enough physics to pilot, but get quantum and I'm out. I'm better with planets-- geology, ecology, who's eating what where.

[private]

[routemistress]

Up to it? This sort of thing's my bread and vodka, Riddick love, plus I owe Arthas one.

[She laughs softly.]

Academy education starts with the quantum and works backwards from there. I can get 'old of a distillation chamber easy enough, or build one; the tricky part'll be distilling down the negative essence. I don't know if anyone - bugger me, I wish Rassilon were still 'ere. Or any bugger I could bounce this stuff off of... no, scratch that, I do 'ave, I've got Chromie. I'd need 'er just for the translation, in any case.

Re: [private]

[with_my_teacup]

Thank you.

[He means that sincerely--it's bare of any cloaking sarcasm. This is way out of his expertise.]

Massage is still on the table.