The Angel Balthazar (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tryingitall) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
cape_kore2013-08-30 09:42 pm
tryingitall) wrote in cape_kore2013-08-30 09:42 pm
008 | Video | Day 107
[Balthazar appears on the screen with lines of static rippling across his upper chest. He looks in good enough health and spirits, at least, but serious.] Hello, Kore. I'll be quick to the point since the communicators are squirrelly these days.
One: I assume we're all avoiding the ocean inasmuch as possible. Are people still fishing, and if so, where? If not, how is that affecting food stores? Anyone in need?
[The image distorts and gets swallowed up in white noise for a moment, a few words cut off.] ---ouple pounds of purslane and dandelion greens and picked another crop of radishes; I'm happy to make trades. I've also caught something that looks like a rabbit with tusks. It's up for grabs, because the hell if I'm going to skin and gut it myself.
Two: Given the way conditions are deteriorating, I'm wondering if we ought to initiate some sort of buddy system. Pairs, trios, small groups to look out for one another?
One: I assume we're all avoiding the ocean inasmuch as possible. Are people still fishing, and if so, where? If not, how is that affecting food stores? Anyone in need?
[The image distorts and gets swallowed up in white noise for a moment, a few words cut off.] ---ouple pounds of purslane and dandelion greens and picked another crop of radishes; I'm happy to make trades. I've also caught something that looks like a rabbit with tusks. It's up for grabs, because the hell if I'm going to skin and gut it myself.
Two: Given the way conditions are deteriorating, I'm wondering if we ought to initiate some sort of buddy system. Pairs, trios, small groups to look out for one another?
[Video]
[Static. His face vanishes for a moment, then returns looking annoyed.]
Bloody things. Perhaps I'll come to y--[Fzzztt! Crackle.] --ndelion flowers anyway. Five minutes.
Re: [Video]
[It's just static after that. But she'll be waiting.]
Action
I know you'll need about ten times this much, but I'll keep working on collecting them, and these won't spoil in the meantime.
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[She smiles, though and tucks the jar onto the shelf behind her. She's got a line of empty, polished bottles sitting there.]
What else you carrying?
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[He tilts the basket toward her.] Purslane, which Raphael tells me is good in salads or cooked, some radishes, and some blackberry leaves. The plants aren't even blooming right now, but the leaves can be used in teas, so I thought perhaps you'd find something to do with them. Apparently they have some medicinal properties, too.
[Balthazar always remembers what his big brothers teach him.] Oh, and I didn't bring any mint, but I have found some, out by the stream.
I have no clue what you were trying to ask me over the network there, by the way. Shall we try again?
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[She's dead after all. May be better to stay here.]
The blackberry's good for upset stomachs. I think. Been a long time since I had to do without a CVS.
[And she's not happy about it. She doesn't want to start boiling tallow for soap. God, that's going to smell. A smile twitches her lips.]
Well, beyond cursing these damned things, I was asking if you had the blossoms as well as the greens. If I can find enough, not yet, but soon, hopefully, I'll make wine. We've got about another batch out of what I have and then, we're out of moonshine.
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Oh! Just the dandelion blossoms. I'm saving them for you, of course. They grow fast, fortunately. [He looks deeply worried by the idea of running out of moonshine, though.]
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[It's not cynical, just tired. Why is this her life? Making moonshine in a homemade still for angels and other things here. Better than making soap.]
Thanks. I'll keep an eye out, when I go out, but it's looking a little early yet, unfortunately. Another few weeks and they should be out in full force. Have to remember to leave enough to go to seed, or we won't have more.
[She stops.]
There a big communal fire for cooking? I need ashes.
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Oh, don't worry, I've let a few go to seed. Saved some of the seeds, too, actually. What do you need ashes for?
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Lye. Dunno if you've noticed, but supplies are running out. One of them is soap. And I don't have Angel Freshness to help me out.
Meaning, someone has to make the shit. I know how. Don't want to, but I know how to do it. Sam's gonna help me set up a leech barrel out back. Might have to ask for some help cleaning water, but that's it.
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Oh. Oh, yes. That does sound unpleasant. I've never done anything of the kind, but if you'd like help with heavy lifting, I'm game. [Because Sam doesn't look like he can handle that just now.]
You might want to ask Raphael if there are any plants around that can be used as soaps or detergents, though. It's not something he went over with me, but he'd know, I'm sure.
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Unfortunately, it's something I know pretty well. Had to do it as a kid.
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[Because now she's caught his interest; he might want lessons.]
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No, it's usually those that haven't lived dirt poor. I came from a family of hunters. Didn't pay worth crap. Paid even worse when I was a kid. We made do with what we have. Learned to hunt, fish, make soap, leech lye, run a still, farm, use herbs for medicines as well as spell components, all before I turned thirteen. Know how to separate milk for butter and cream too.
Not my fondest memories.
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He's silent for a moment, caught between surprise, compassion, and curiosity. In the end, though, he figures Ellen doesn't want his pity, so he goes with the latter.]
Well, that sounds wretched, but it may just save some lives here and now. What if you teach me some of the nasty chores, and if I can stand them I'll help out in the future? No promises, but I don't sleep, I get bored easily, and bored angels are accidents waiting to happen.
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Come on out back, then.
[She leads the way out back and shows where she's dug a small pit and put a small barrel over top of it. The barrel is small, but there's a couple holes drilled in it. Inside is dried grass and pebbles wait for her to put in the ashes.]
Still gotta get the glass pan for underneath, or a plastic bucket. Only thing I need is hardwood ashes and some clean water.
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or like Castiel when confronted by pop culture, and cranes his neck to peer down the barrel.]All right. How big a pan, and how much ash do you need?
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Enough to fill this, preferably. The more I get the more lye I can leech out.
[She puts the lid back on. A frown pulls her eyebrows down.]
Pan doesn't need to be huge. Can't be used for anything other than lye, but it doesn't need to be big. A decent funnel and a pickle jar is more than enough.
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[He adds cheerfully:] And I'll fetch you some ash from the bonfire, although I don't know all of what people have been burning.
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Has to be hardwood. Can't have softwoods mixed in or we won't get enough lye to do anything with and will just end up with mush.
[Not something she's willing to work with. She's got enough issues.]
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[She smiles, putting her hand on his shoulder.]
Don't waste anything special, just grab it when it's there. Hardwood ashes tend to be white. Softwood is black.
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[He returns the smile warmly.] Give me a couple days and I'll bring you what I've got. Anything else you need?
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None of it shows on her face. Instead, she just shakes her head.]
Just stuff for the still, and the hardwood ashes. From there, we should be in pretty good shape.
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Fair enough. I'll be on my way, then, but shout if anything else appears on your shopping list. [He offers a handshake, smiling.]
(no subject)