expiationlogs | [Catch-All] When in Doubt, Fish!

Who: Kisara, You
Where: Aldrip, Bodies of Water outside of Aldrip?
What: Just a casual catch-all for the month. Fishing! Geodes! More?
Warnings: Probably not? Probably not.

I. Tʜᴀᴛ ᴛʀᴏᴘʜʏ ɪs ᴍɪɴᴇ!

[Kisara hardly needs an excuse to go fishing. Even had there not been a tournament, she would be fishing with a great deal of gusto. The idea of being able to provide for others continues to be a worthy motivator. Kisara has always been best when she's taking care of others. To claim that it's fully altruistic, however, would also not necessarily be true. It's as much for her as it is for anyone else. Gives her time to think. Gives her time to piece things together. Gives her time to find an outlet for thoughts and feelings she otherwise would be holding protectively to herself.

But for now, between catching food for others and getting her hands on that rather modest sculpture, she has her most capable hands full. Although she's made some submissions here and there of fish she's caught, she's also paid visit to others taking part in the tournament, some of them just to watch, some of them with the interest to help them make some progress. It seems just like her to help those who might otherwise be considered competition. She understands, after all, that she might have an unfair advantage. Kisara appreciates a level playing field. There's no honour in it otherwise.

So maybe she's helping you out. Maybe she's the one with her line yet again in the water. Either way, Kisara's ready to make some quieter conversation. Can't go disturbing the fish overmuch, after all.]

How're you enjoying it so far? You have everything you need?

II. Wʜᴀᴛ's ɪɴ ᴀ ʀᴏᴄᴋ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴍᴇʟʟ... ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʀᴏᴄᴋ.

I'm not saying I want to give up fishing for working with rocks, but this is pretty cool.

[Kisara is a painstakingly careful woman, especially when it comes to something that requires a little more finesse. She'll be the first to admit that she isn't really elegant or graceful. Working with a small little hammer in an attempt to break open a rock without completely shattering it is a work of art in a way. If anything, she's probably been focusing a little too hard on this geode business.

With her little rock-hammer in hand, the furrow in her brow is deep. Tongue poking out from the corner of her mouth, she's tapping along the rock with care in an effort to break it open and get to the lustrous colour at its centre. What she'd like to do is give it to someone here, though maybe she can find a way to keep one for herself as well. Maybe someone will let her do a trade, because she has to admit that she's not eager to go spending money.

...She never really is.]

I feel like this is taking forever, though. I'm afraid I might grip it too hard and undo all of my hard work. Think you can help me out? Just a little tap.

[Just a little tap!]

III. Tʜᴇ ᴡɪʟᴅᴄᴀʀᴅ ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ

[This is for everything else. If you would like something in particular, let me know! I'm happy to write a personalised starter for interested parties. You can contact me on Discord (in the server), via PM, or over on ofthesky.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Joel.

[ His lips twitch faintly, but otherwise he doesn't indicate amusement. ]

Better than 'hey asshole', I guess.

Possibly so, yes! Good to have a face with the name, though.

[Important, even, and she suspects it's the guard captain in her speaking when she says that.]

So how prying is it if I start asking where you picked up your fishing skills from?

[ "Good to have a face with the name" is definitely a cop thing to say. So much so that it makes his lips twist a little. ]

I learned when I was a kid. My dad taught me.

[ So, that was a long-ass time ago. ]

[Cop. Guardsman. Definitely close enough to be the same thing…

Joel makes mention of his dad and she suspects her expression shifts. It’s not pity or sympathy. It’s more like understanding. But considering she gets the feeling he’s probably not into heart-to-hearts, she resists the temptation to ask if there are any fond memories he might have from those occasions.]

That’s nice. My older brother taught me. He taught me most of the things I know, actually. So when I fish, I feel like I’m kind of with him. Sort of!

[She can only hope Joel had a good relationship with his father.]

I taught my little brother, too.

[ So, there's that. Look! Joel offering up something! ]

[He has a younger sibling. It’s something she files away for later. Kisara could ask him if he’s arrived in this world, in this predicament, with anyone from home, but she gets the feeling that’s a terrible pathway to go down.

Fishing, however, seems like a good topic, so she’ll stick with it. Crouching down as quietly as she can manage, which is somewhat impressive considering she’s accustomed to wearing the impressive armour in the front, she’s quiet and thoughtful, easily taken in by the gentle shift of the water. Analysing, perhaps, or committing what she finds to memory.

Some would think fishing to be as simple as casting in your line and playing the waiting game. And yet there’s so much more to it.]

You have a favourite kind of fish?

Catfish.

[ Joel says that with no hesitation. ]

They make the best eating. Haven't seen any here, though.

[He answers her so quickly that the surprise in her expression is evident. He’s got a good point. Catfish are a popular choice for a reason. She likes them, too.]

Maybe it’s a bait situation. Admittedly, in Elde Menancia, I used mostly lures for my catching and not specific baiting on the hooks. I’m sure this place has a lot of different kinds of bait that can be used. I also haven’t asked them about their fish. I know I’ve seen some that look pretty similar to ones from back home, so I’m sure catfish are out there somewhere. We just haven’t gotten them.

[A pause, and then:] Yet. [She grins. That’s right, catfish friends, she’s coming for you.]

They probably don't have 'em here. Can't always find catfish where I come from, either. Depends what part of the country you're in.

[ It doesn't matter that much anyway. ]

Maybe not in this area, then. Did you take a look at the map of the continent? It's large. There's stuff on the other side of the mountains and every other direction. We haven't really had the opportunity to go travelling far and wide.

[Probably because people are, rightfully, thinking about more important things. Like how to survive. Hunting for catfish is probably not high on anyone's list of priorities. Had Joel not mentioned it, she wouldn't have thought twice, personally.]

I'll keep my eyes open for some, though. If I snag one, I'll cook it for you. Show you what I can do.

Probably too dangerous to go far, anyway.

[ He hasn't seen anything like planes, trains or automobiles here, which means traveling is done either on foot, or at best, at the pace of a horse. And that means it's dangerous. ]

Right now, maybe, but it won't always be that way. People are going to get restless and if there's something people really want to get to, danger isn't going to stop them.

[She thinks of Alphen and the others when she says that. Of course, what they wanted was more than materialistic. The notion of freedom... That's a powerful incentive. Survival, itself, is also powerful.]

I'm not immune to that either. Doing things around the town for the locals isn't too different from what I was doing in Viscint, but I can't just stay here forever. If you don't mind a fisherman being nosy with another fisherman, what kind of stuff did you get up to back home? You don't seem to be a soldier, but looks can be deceiving.

At some point soon, we'll need to test the boundaries of this prison they've got us in.

[ He says that straightforwardly enough, reeling his line in to put fresh bait on his hook. ]

I did a lot of things. But I've never been a soldier. I do security patrols sometimes, for my town.

[ And no, that is definitely not the same thing as being a soldier, at least, not in his mind. ]

We will.

[Said in both agreement and in the idea that they certainly will be testing those boundaries.

Kisara takes the moments that follow, turning her attention onto the water with some consideration, to reflect. Not a soldier, but security for his town. So, in some ways, a bit like her. She hesitates to consider herself a soldier either. A protector, maybe. Capable of combat when she needs to be. But never seen a war.

Unless one wants to consider what Alphen is attempting to do akin to a war.]

That’s something we have in common. I did that, too. I guess I do a little of that here, as well. It’s the closest thing I can really find to familiarity, all things considered. Sounds like you’re reliable. I hope we get the chance to back each other up at some point.

Mm. [ Joel grunts faintly, casting his line out again. ]

It's probably too much to hope that we'll be able to get home without a fight of some kind.

I agree. I think no matter where we might be, it’s important to keep expect a fight. Some might see that as pessimistic, but I think that’s just the reality of things.

[Or circumstance.]

That doesn’t bother me, though. Even if there’s a fight coming, I’ll be ready for that. Sometimes tells me that you will be, too. Just a hunch.

I'm always ready for a fight.

[ On that, she's one hundred percent correct. ]

On that, I think we can agree. Whatever's coming our way, we'll be ready for it. Be it a fish ready to give us the fight of our nautical lives, or an actual exchange of weapons. Until the latter happens, however, I'm happy having this... semblance of peace. It's better than where I came from, that's for sure.

[Catch-All] When in Doubt, Fish!

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