008 | Video | Day 107

[tryingitall]

[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?

Comments

[justrunsasaloon]

[Ellen sighs, sipping the moonshine, instead of just tossing it back.]

Unfortunately, it's something I know pretty well. Had to do it as a kid.

[tryingitall]

You're incredibly resourceful. I was under the impression that most humans from our time period just bought things at the store. What else can you make?

[Because now she's caught his interest; he might want lessons.]

[justrunsasaloon]

[Ellen sighs.]

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.

[tryingitall]

[This is something he's never considered much. In his time on earth, Balthazar found it just as easy to make money as to spend it, but that's mostly because he had some high-end weapons to sell and assorted other clever, if morally gray, schemes as fallbacks. The lack of grocery, cleaning, and transportation bills helped, too.

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.

[justrunsasaloon]

[It's part of why she made sure that Jo had someplace to call home, and why she was so angry when the Roadhouse had burned down. She knows more about dusty backroads than she wants to admit.]

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.

[tryingitall]

[Balthazar is utterly mystified by this setup, and it shows. He tilts his head one way and the other, like a bird 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?

[justrunsasaloon]

[She lifts the lid off the top, it's about half full.]

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.

[tryingitall]

I have a couple larger mason jars, and I'm sure I can find a funnel. I don't know about any larger glass vessels, though. What about a large bowl? Terra cotta or porcelain? No one cares about their china here, I'm sure.

[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.

[justrunsasaloon]

[She frowns, then shakes her head.]

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.]

[tryingitall]

Oh? All right. Well, I'm not good enough to separate two types of ash. Would you like me to burn some wood for you? I could try to dry some herbs in the heat, as well. Make it serve more than one purpose.

[justrunsasaloon]

Doesn't matter why the hardwood was used. Just as long as it's hardwood. Meaning none of the pines and crap we have around here.

[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.

[tryingitall]

There are oaks in the woods, as well, and a few others. I can collect limbs, and I daresay there's some broken furniture about.

[He returns the smile warmly.] Give me a couple days and I'll bring you what I've got. Anything else you need?

[justrunsasaloon]

[So many things she wants: Harvelle's back, Bill back, a stock of alcohol that she doesn't have to worry is running out, a warm body to curl up with at night, someone to just hold her...

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.

[tryingitall]

[Poor Ellen. Balthazar can't read her emotions, and isn't trying just now, more focused on the tasks at hand. That's a good thing, though, in some ways. Having little things to do keeps the bigger worries at bay.]

Fair enough. I'll be on my way, then, but shout if anything else appears on your shopping list. [He offers a handshake, smiling.]

[justrunsasaloon]

[And Ellen's good at keeping busy. She knows how to keep herself going. Lots of practice at it.]

I can do that. Thanks again, Balthazar.

[She shakes his hand, returning the smile.]