((for desertdancer))

[eumenis]

The conversation at the bonfire party had been both amusing and interesting, but between the other guests and the background noise, Furiosa didn't get as good a feel for Khai and his world as she would have liked. It sounded like trade and cultural exchange was a possibility, and one that her people could benefit from. It wouldn't do to be hasty, though. She wanted to learn more about his world, and make sure he understood how truly bleak and harsh hers was, before inviting him to visit.

'Brunch' is a new concept to her. She's used to field rations, or else two meals a day with small snacks here and there. She's interested in picking up the habit, though, so when she gets a moment to meet with Khai, she asks him to meet her at a cafe in the Plaza at about ten in the morning. Her usual honor guard can have their meal outside, while she and her new friend talk.

One habit Furiosa has picked up from the Nexus, though, is coffee. She prefers hers with enough sugar in it to stand the spoon up in, and whipped cream on top is a bonus. He'll find her savoring her second cup when he arrives.

Comments

[eumenis]

There are too many place names being given to her here for her to follow completely. She'd need to see a map to really absorb it all, but then she wasn't asking for a guided tour of his world, just a feel of how things work there, what they can handle, what they have handled in the past. Honestly, it sounds pretty intense. Fighting, occupation, dangerous wildlife, the Cataclysm--whatever that was, she doesn't want to ask--yeah, they can probably handle the Wasteland just fine.

"We didn't have large livestock for the longest time," she says. "Although we raised beetles for protein, and sometimes rats and lizards or snakes. Now we've got the camels, some pigs, some guinea fowl. Oh, and some mussels in tanks, but that's experimental."

"One of the men here promised us some goats when he's able to get them, so that will help. When I first got here, I thought I shouldn't bring anything back to my world that wasn't native to it. Wouldn't want to cross-contaminate universes. No one else seems to care, though, and after seeing the wealth the Nexus has to offer, I feel like I'd be remiss not to accept plants and animals from other planets."

[desertdancer]

It's hard to follow without a map he knows that much. His first months out of Xaelan territory he'd felt lost without a map in hand, and even now sometimes the feeling rears it's head. If she needed one he had one in his pack, but it sounded like she'd gotten the gist of what was being said, so he didn't worry too much about it at the moment. Broad strokes would do for this conversation.

"Sounds like you're keeping a variety," It made sense, and made him think that if he was to bring animals, they would have the means to keep them alive. It would do no good to bring them more animals if the environment didn't allow them to live and multiply after all. "My family doesn't keep as big a herd anymore- commerce isn't quite as focused on herds only, so we can afford to. But we've got enough to spare. Chocobos like you saw, and horses. Eorzean horses tend to be more delicate insofar as deserts go, but these are from Xaelan stock so they're sturdier and were bred specifically to survive in harsh climates. We keep chickens nowadays, though the majority of our herd is sheep and dzo- they're similar to goats but they get rather large. The males especially can get great sizes, but if you rear them right they can be fairly sweet to their handler. And in a pinch you can hitch them to a wagon save chocobos and horses for riding."

He leaned back easily in his seat tail flicking against the chair leg as he pondered the last comment.

"The only thing I could see maybe causing complications would be aetherial incompatibility. Our world's life force can affect the creatures living there so settling some of them somewhere new with a different sort, or aether that's inaccessible entirely... but if we're cautious we can figure that out. I've a friend who could assess things, and if we start with a single pair of animals we can see if there are any troubles. If not, you end up with a breeding pair. If there are, well they'll still taste good." A wry smile as he said the last bit- he knew how some people would fuss at the idea, but practicality was a hell of a thing, and he figured Furiosa would get it. "If everything works out, we can sort out some manner of arrangement that makes everyone happy."

[eumenis]

"The research to track them all down took a long time. Bartertown has had pigs for years, but camels were a lucky catch. And then the guinea fowl we bought from the Nexus. I thought about chickens, but the guineas are tougher in the heat. I guess I'll have to show you how we keep them."

Yeah, she is very much convinced now to let him visit and bring companions as needed.

"I would hesitate to bring in horses, but I've seen a lot around the Nexus. They're beautiful animals." She likes the idea of giant goats, too. The ones they have are sizable, but it sounds like what he's talking about get even larger.

She is mystified by 'aetherial incompatibility'. It sounds like magic, which she's seen, but as far as she knows there's nothing in the Wasteland to match the powers that can be found in the Nexus. "You'll have to do the assessing there. I'm not even sure what you mean by aether."

[desertdancer]

"Yeah, chickens don't do as well in really arid deserts. We're only keeping them because where we are now is a bit less rough on them. Honestly, if you're new to them I'd say chocobos are the better option than horses anyways. A bit less high-strung generally, easier to train, their diet is a bit more forgiving too. And non-fertilized eggs make for a really big breakfast."

The admission of ignorance about aether just gets a low chuckle from him.

"I've only got the basics of aether down myself, truth be told. Long story short it's what makes life possible. If your people don't know anything about it, it's possible that your world has it, just that you're not able to tap into it in any active way. There's a race like that back home, they rely entirely on technology for their advancements. Guns and rockets instead of archers and mages, mechanical ships rather than airships reliant on aether for example. I've a companion that would be good for checking that out and monitoring how whatever animals we bring are doing. A little shy, but he knows his stuff."

[eumenis]

"Multi-purpose animals," she murmurs wryly. "That's what we have the camels for, after all. Travel and milk, and yarn from the fur. Chocobos would work in the same niche, it seems. Travel and eggs."

Not that they're above slaughtering their livestock for meat and hide, but it pays to be judicious there, because they can't always be sure of when they'll be able to get more animals.

She rests her chin in her hand as he explains aether, curious but aware this kind of talk is mostly over her head. "The Nexus being the way it is, it's also possible our world runs on something totally different If humans have ever relied on anything but technology, I haven't heard about it. But please, bring your friend with you, if you wish and he's willing."

[desertdancer]

"The feathers are useful too- they molt regularly, the down is perfect for stuffing pillows, jackets, mattresses, and the like, the longer ones are good for trims, decoration, or arrow fletchings." He tilted his head, thoughtful. He knew that if things got hard, riding animals might become eating animals, it was the same in the Steppes though was a last resort, as travel was vital to their survival. "They reproduce at a fairly quick pace too. The healthier and better-fed they are, the more eggs you'll get, the more viable eggs too. If things are tight, you'll want to get the eggs out as soon as you see them- a chocobo isn't above eating eggs if they're getting hungry and once they learn their eggs are tasty, well I'm sure you can imagine how annoying it becomes then."

Birds are a pain in the ass, that much is for certain.

"Mikka's usually fairly willing to help out. He's from Thanalan so he might not be used to things quite as survival-based as your lands but he's used to deserts so it won't come as a total shock. It'll be simple enough to make sure plants and animals from Hydaelyn will do well in your world, and if so then that makes it easy to start sussing out trades."