[Room 1001]

[2goodarms]

Curtis is getting better at remembering they have unfettered access to water. He still forgets to shower sometimes, but when he does remember, he makes up for it by indulging for a good long while.

Sorry, Edgar. It's probably gonna be another forty-five minutes before you can get into the bathroom this morning.

Comments

[hate_gettin_older]

"Definitely more than a fuckin day," Edgar agrees firmly. "Have you tried apples?"

[dejah_thoris]

"I had one once, when I first got here. So intensely sweet. I could only eat half of it."

She slips under Curtis's arm and loops her arm around Curtis's waist as she walks.

[2goodarms]

Curtis shakes his head, telegraphing a genial you're weird Dejah's way. He settles his arm comfortably across her shoulders.

"So do you guys wanna see the horses now, or leave it for another day?"

[hate_gettin_older]

"... maybe another day," says Edgar. "We'll bring apples."

[dejah_thoris]

"That sounds like an excellent plan, Edgar. I like this idea very much."

The ground is starting to slope upwards from the lakeside. There's lush forest on one side, and an area where someone's cleared away a spot for an archery range.

"Edgar? Did you ever decide whether or not you wanted to see the water specimens through a microscope?"

[hate_gettin_older]

"Oh," a touch startled, "uh. Maybe?"

He glances at Curtis -- they never actually talked about that earlier meeting much.

[2goodarms]

Curtis blinks, unsure.

"You've got a microscope?" he asks without thinking.

Of course she has a fucking microscope. Even if she didn't, all you'd have to do is ask Bar for one.

[dejah_thoris]

"Yes, in my kit. It's very small and it's not very high powered, but it's enough to see single celled creatures very clearly. Some bacteria, but not viruses. I keep it under my bed."

"So what does 'uh, maybe' mean, hmm?" She cuts a glance at Edgar.

[hate_gettin_older]

"It ... means I sort of forgot about it. Microscopes and that. Haven't given it much thought."

He shrugs. "But sure, why not?"

[dejah_thoris]

"All right, then. Next time we come out, I'll bring a specimen kit and you can collect your own samples." Dejah sounds like someone else would about going for a picnic or flying a kite.

She nudges Curtis with her hip. "You can come, too. If you like."

[2goodarms]

"Yeah, okay," says Curtis with a shrug: why not? "Long as I don't catch anything from the bacteria."

In the tail, the main context for bacteria is 'the shit that can kill you if you don't clean out a cut.'

[hate_gettin_older]

Doubly reminded now, Edgar's trying to get a look at Dejah's hand without being obvious about it. Has she told Curtis about how she got a cut in the first place?

(Why is he suddenly sure she hasn't?)

[dejah_thoris]

Her right hand is tucked in her back pocket, and she's unconsciously rubbing a thumb over the scar. A moment later, she pulls her hand out and stretches the fingers wide, shakes it out, all while keeping her hand behind her back.

"Oh no, this water is clean. You could drink it without needing to boil it first."

[2goodarms]

Curtis catches the movement from the corner of his eye. He slants a long look Dejah's way -- more curious, a little troubled, and much less teasing.

She's been doing that an awful lot lately, despite her reassurances that her hand's fine.

"You sure?"

[dejah_thoris]

"I don't know the specifics of your immune system, but I'm fairly certain." She catches him glancing at her and tucks her hand away in her pocket again.

"Most of this water seems to be snow melt running off the mountains. It's why it's so cold."

[hate_gettin_older]

"It's colder in the mountains?"

Edgar glances up at Curtis: you saw that too?

[2goodarms]

Curtis nods, very slightiy. Yeah, he saw it too.

"Yeah," he says, and hesitates. "You know how they always checked the elevation when...?"

(For.a second, Andrew's scream rings in his ears.)

"It's 'cause it gets colder the higher you go."

[dejah_thoris]

"But we're not going that high today, not by a long shot."

She adjusts her grip around Curtis's waist. He's putting on more muscle every day. Feeling healthier. (She's trying not to think what he'll look like with his shirt off. It's not working.)

"Just up the crest of that hill. Where the tall grass is?"

[hate_gettin_older]

"And what's up there, then?"

Bring up the hand, or no? He's honestly not sure.

[dejah_thoris]

"The meadows. No trees, just tall grasses, flowers, a variety of insect life. And butterflies, supposedly." She hopes.

[2goodarms]

For now, Curtis seems willing to let the shit with Dejah's hand slide.

For now.

He adjusts his stride as the hill begins its upward slope. A few larger plants dot the grass as it begins to shade into the meadow proper. "You know anything about the other insects up there?"

[dejah_thoris]

"A few of them. There might be honey bees or ants. Both live in structured colonies with a hierarchical society, where specific roles are fulfilled by specific individuals. There might be dragonflies or mayflies, which also go through a transformation like butterflies. Other than that, I haven't got a clue."

[hate_gettin_older]

"If there's honeybees, does that mean there might be honey?"

[2goodarms]

Now that could be fun. Curtis turns a hopeful look on Dejah.

Honey's a much better insect byproduct than everything in those fucking protein blocks.

[dejah_thoris]

"I don't know! I've only read about them. I suppose if there were, there'd be a hive and you'd have to have special clothes to open it. They swarm and sting invaders, you know?"