themorbidsocialite | A Marsh Guest

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A Marsh Guest

Bugsby's Marshes were home to a wide and varied array of micro- and macroorganisms, the biodiversity one of its most notable features. Yes, a great many of the creatures were incredibly dangerous, but wasn't every environment filled with such risk? Surely, all one had to do to avoid assault was avoid bothering the various animals. Surely.

This was how the Morbid Socialite- Mori- found himself in the depths of the marshes, gathering samples of water, plant life, lichen, and insects to start his research. He was too busy marking notes on a variety of mushroom to notice the eyes on him. The thoughtful hum to themselves and the squeaking of tall boots, worn to avoid staining the hems of their trousers, were enough to hide the sound of something treading through the muck. They only noticed the disturbance when the bugs they'd been surrounded by had scattered. He turned and his eyes widened, finding a second pair staring into his.

"Oh, bloody 'ell."

Screaming echoed across the marsh, likely reaching at least someone's ears.

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"I should be fine," Maven looked at the floor, "there isn't that much to clean compared to before." As she was cleaning she asked, "By the way, do you have a preference for drinks? I try to keep a variety in stock for guests, so ideally I should have something you'd like."

A hand hovered above the injured side and Mori sighed. "The strongest drink you have. I'm afraid, even before being attacked, it's been one of those nights."

He tried to adjust to allow the Maven room to work, feeling terrible that she was doing it all herself.

For her part, Maven did not look put out at the work. She merely nodded, "I'll see what I have, I think I remember you wanting gin or vodka earlier? I'm sorry to hear that tonight was difficult even before the wolves. I imagine trekking through the marsh was quite an undertaking."

"Earlier, I asked for clear alcohol as a cleansing agent. Now, I will take anything and pay you back in kind. A wine or brandy would be no trouble to return to you in full payment." Mori was incredibly careful in attempting to stand, taking the small kitten up as well. "And the day was in such a state before the marshes, I'm afraid. But I do appreciate your sympathy."

"Of course, just wanted to clarify. I can do that, though there's no need to worry about repaying it, I really only have such things around for the sake of guests," Maven said as she finished cleaning, laying a dry towel down on the floor, "I'm sorry to hear that though. If you feel comfortable talking about it, I'd be more than willing to hear more over dinner. I'll get the table set, you can come into the dining room when you're ready." She pointed out the room connected to the living room that she had been going through each time to get to the kitchen.

"It is an admittedly complicated matter, frustrated only further by the fact I am yet unsure of how the events went myself. Processing such a thing... It takes far too long. I would rather talk of anything but that." Mori leaned against the couch, keeping weight off their leg. "Your patience is, again, much appreciated. I feel as if I owe you for the service and well care you've so graciously given. Is there nothing I can do for you?"

"Understandable," Maven nodded at that, "And, I suppose if you really wanted to help in some way, I could talk to you about my plan for the Correspondence course. I think I know what I want to do but am not sure how to go about it. But as I said, I'll get dinner and the table set first." With that, she went through the dining room to get to the kitchen.

Mori watched her leave with circling- no, spiraling thoughts. Why could he not be of use? Why was he insistent on being a burden to the people supporting him? Why did he keep making a scene for the sole factor of his pride? Why was he so insistent on consistency? Did she hate him? Did she loathe the effort she had to go through for him? Did she suffer? Is she stressed and strained? Why couldn't he just help for once in his godforsaken--

Mori shook his head of the thought. He had asked plenty of times to help. She offered something. Attend to it.

They walked themselves against the wall to the door to the kitchen, entering and leaning against the wall to relieve the wounds of folds and keep weight off his leg. "I would love to converse with you."

Maven was stirring the stew up, mixing the beef with the peppercap mushrooms. It still seemed warm enough, not hot, but pleasantly warm enough to eat. She had put on a kettle for tea too, and there was a bottle of Spoiring out.

She smiled up at Mori, "Thank you, I appreciate it. So, after talking with the Academic, I think what I'd like to do is something related to Batbiorangilogical Studies. It was what immediately caught my attention because I thought I could use it in my capacity as a doctor." She began to ladle the stew into a more table-appropriate container, still speaking as she transferred it from the kitchen to the connected dining room, "But something that I had also wanted to ask about is whether it was possible to use the Correspondence in the capacity of horticulture. Plants have always been something of an interest of mine, so I thought I would ask. And the Academic said that, while Batbiorangilogical Studies was primarily used in creature husbandry, it could theoretically be used on plants."

She returned to the kitchen just as the kettle was beginning to whistle, proceeding to take it off and pour the water into a tea pot (did that teapot have some kind of rubbery man aesthetic on it?). The smell of jasmine tea filled the room as she continued, "It could be interesting to experiment on plant life to make them more adept to living in the Neath. I know there are already places where plants are grown in the Neath, like some of what the True Horticulture Society grows, but it still remains difficult."

She turned to Mori, her eyes beginning to light up as she spoke, "And it might be interesting to experiment with certain kinds of Surface plants to splice some aspects of fungi in them to make them thrive in the darkness more! Such an experiment could help to diversify the agricultural development of London if successful!"

She realized she had gone on quite the tangent as she worked to get the dinner set up, and reeled herself back, "Sorry, that was all very overwhelming wasn't it, I didn't mean to completely go off like that. But yes, that's what I was thinking of doing."

Mori shook his head, smiling. "Not overwhelming at all. In fact, it's quite curious. There are, of course, native flora scattered around the Neath, including in and out of London. Do you believe the fungal hybridization might assist in preventing parasitic or invasive species of flora and fungus? Or is the attempt including an attempt to adjust the wildlife, at least in London, as London itself is by technicality not native to the Neath environment? What sort of plants would you bring first? And which ones do you believe will be the most effective propagators? Please, I invite you to go on."

At the invitation Maven smiled and continued, carrying the teapot and Spoiring wine to the table as she did, "Well, the idea was to diversify some of the flora within the London area. It would have to be a controlled experiment, because like you said, there's the risk of an invasive species disrupting the already established ecosystem of the Neath. But if successful and done carefully, it could increase the variety of food in the Neath."

She went into the kitchen to pick up the apple pie as she made her next point, "Take apples, for example. There didn't used to be any apples in England until people brought the crabapples of Asia to several other countries. I was talking earlier about how I was able to get canned apples from the market, but it isn't often available down here in the Neath, is often very expensive, and is even harder to get fresh. If we were to, say, eventually be able to grow an apple orchard, that could make such luxuries more widely available to everyone in London."

She gestured for Mori to come sit down, as the table was set; the beef and mushroom stew sat close enough to both of them to easily ladle a bowl full, with the wine bottle and teapot closest to Mori, with the apple pie being set just beside the soup bowl. "But something like an apple tree would probably be far too ambitious for just starting this experiment, so it would be more practical to pick something smaller to start, like maybe an herb that grows well on the Surface but not so well in the Neath."

Mori nodded along, listening well. When the time came, he sat and served himself a bowl of the stew. "You'll want to avoid most varieties of mint, as they tend to become overabundant in many areas, of course. Perhaps you were thinking of a heartier sort of plant like a basil or coriander? I'm certain many a chef and cook in the city would thank you."

With a bite of the stew, their eyes alighted. "Mm! Just as I am thanking you now. This is wonderful work. What is your recipe, if I might ask?"

(OOC: Made a mistake, retconning beef to chicken)

Maven's face flushed at the compliment, "Thank you! It's based on a recipe my mother and maternal aunt would make. Not all the ingredients are available or at least very accessible, but I've been able to make a fairly good approximation, particularly with peppercap mushrooms." As she describes the recipe to Mori, it's clearly an Indian-rooted recipe that has morphed over time for someone living in England and who might have difficulty getting all the ingredients for the original version. Such a situation is likely even more difficult in the Neath, with its underground location and the Masters' stranglehold on the marketplace.

"And I agree, basil or coriander would be wonderful choices!" Maven agreed, "Coriander would definitely help bring this stew a little closer to how I remember the recipe being. And basil is just wonderful to have in general. The dried kind in the market is fine, but there's nothing quite like fresh basil."

"Did you have any plans for how to pollinate? I know lamplighter bees can be found aplenty, but they're quite particular in their tastes."

Mori found the taste somewhat familiar, but didn't mention it at all, instead just enjoying what was offered and gratefully accepting seconds. While the stew was taken with haste, the wine was slowly drained, savored as it lighted upon the tongue.

"That is also something I need to figure out," Maven nodded in agreement, the look on her face saying that this was something on her mind, "Because for the smaller experiment it'll be possible to just do the pollination by hand. But if there were plans to increase the scope later on in the future, that might be more difficult. There could be the possibility of making some deal with the Brass Embassy about using some of the lamplighter bees, but... that could go very poorly, in many ways. So for now I'm just taking it all one step at a time and not worrying about it for now since for the smaller experiment it won't matter. Plus, if they do need controlled pollination, that could help solve the problem of the any fast-growing plants getting out of hand and messing with the ecosystem."

She poured herself a drink and said, "Really, the main thing I'm trying to figure out is that first step. I need to get some seeds imported and get something set up so I can grow them normally at first, with artificial lighting, then I can start the actual experiment. But before any of that, I need to learn how Batbiorangilogical Studies actually works."

She watched Mori drink the wine, "I hope Spoiring is alright. I figured, with the Correspondence course and, well, everything else, it would be an overall good choice to help with our sleep."

"Oh, it's quite more than alright. I find the piquant flavor delightful." Another sip and Mori considered something. "I have one or two old classmates I'm still in contact with on the Surface, if you need any ties. I don't wish to presume, however, as I'm sure you have your own connections and mine are rather flaky at best. Couldn't pin them down for a date even if the Trumpets were blowing, let alone a chat and a Personal Favor. But they may still be able to provide something, if you're in need of it."

"Really? That would be so helpful if you could, thank you!" Maven was smiling at the offer, "I've been trying to secure some myself, but every little bit helps!"

"Of course. Even beyond simply owing you for the assistance tonight, I enjoy helping my friends, of which I count you among their number. My resources are your resources."

Having availed themselves of seconds, Mori offered to cut the pie for the both of them, saving the Maven the hassle.

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A Marsh Guest

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