maybe we're just like flowers startin' down in the dirt

[nobetawedielike]

Who: Aloy and Beta! It's a clonesis adventure.
Where: The farmlands, stables, greenhouse... It's gonna be a full day.
What: It's time for the clones to go on an adventure to pet some horses and look at some plants.
Warnings: Nerd talk. Lots of nerd talk.

Comments

[nobetawedielike]

[ she can count on one hand the amount of times she's actually left the little inn room given to her, before Aloy arrived. it'd been daunting, too many people in too large of an area and it was had only been possible to handle when she needed something.

but with Aloy here, it feels easier. it's less daunting with someone as confident as Aloy at her side, ready to step in if anything happens.

that means that for once, Beta's not getting ready with dread, instead trying to figure out some weather-appropriate clothing while buzzing with excitement. ]

For walking in the woods, you'd want your legs covered, right?

[despitethenora]

Depends.

[Aloy, on the other hand, woke up ready for this. The woods approaches something like home more than any room in an inn. Still.

She appreciates an outfit. Just ask all the stitchers she's bothered in her travels.]

Guess that depends. There might not be a lot of brush to worry about. I'd do it, though. Just a little harder for pests to get at you, and it's harder to get scratched up.

[nobetawedielike]

[ tragically, she hasn't mirrored Aloy's eye for clothing-- Beta has an array of random items selected for the most random of reasons. Shirts with patterns she liked, pants with an odd mesh of colors that caught her eye.

but the colors don't harm their ability to keep her from bleeding out in the forest from twigs, something that logically could happen and definitely isn't a side effect of the anxiety she'd pushing down. ]

I'll do long sleeves too, then. I hope horses don't bite...

[despitethenora]

If they really are like Chargers, I'd be more worried about getting kicked or trampled. Chargers never seemed interested in trying to do anything you could describe as a bite.

[And a resource gathering machine's behavior is a great model to base that judgment on. Perfect. No chance of getting bitten.]

Keeps you warm, too.

[nobetawedielike]

T-that's the part we're trying to avoid.

[ Aloy. ]

[despitethenora]

And getting bitten wouldn’t have been?

[Helping.]

[nobetawedielike]

It's the worst I was thinking of until you said that! But I really want to do this...

[ animals, nature, sunshine, Aloy spending time with her... it's sure to be a great time if she can handle it long enough. ]

I won't even be behind it anyway. I can do this.

[despitethenora]

Should be easy. We won’t even have to override them.

[She wants Beta getting out there. It’s not her intent to make Beta more worried.]

[nobetawedielike]

Are you going to try to ride one? I wonder if it'd let you...

[ she finally finishes picking her clothes, tucking them away and moving to sit on her bed instead. there's a good chance with all the land to cover they'll end up having to camp out anyway. ]

[despitethenora]

Let's see what they're like first, and go from there.

[Aloy will just go to lean on a wall, let Beta deal with clothes for herself. She's used to traveling, and figures she either has everything she needs, or will be able to find what she needs to make do.]

I'd like to try it, though. It could be, uh. Convenient.

[She means fun.]

[nobetawedielike]

You're definitely going to try and ride it.

[ hopefully they can find a place while they're out there to stay, something that won't leave Aloy feeling penned in. ]

I think I'm about ready to go when you are. I know you like being out in the wilds more...Thank you for staying here with me for so long.

[despitethenora]

[Staying is made easier by the determination not to leave her truly alone. It's one thing to wander off on a mission, it's another thing to separate here.

But.]

You know you don't have to go somewhere just for me.

[nobetawedielike]

I want to. We're family, we should stay together.

[despitethenora]

Just remember you said that when I settle on a place out there.

[nobetawedielike]

I will.

[ she won't be surprised if Aloy starts going off on her own self-giving mission around Aldrip and the rest of the world. but at least she'll have somewhere to come back to here. ]

I think it'll be nice, being surrounded by so much flora.

[despitethenora]

[She isn't even planning it, yet. But sooner or later Aloy has to wander, much as she is able to.]

You like that? Because - if this is a simulation, I'm sure you could find something a little more advanced, instead.

Like your server room.

[That room back in the base is Beta's room now, after all. It had been, what, a refuge for her sister? Maybe something closer to the familiarity of the Odyssey.]

[nobetawedielike]

[ she doesn't answer at first, lips twisting as she visually takes a moment to think about it. ]

The server room is...familiar. [ she says it slowly, feeling out the thought as she goes. ] But I like sunlight, and grass, and plants. I think it'd be nice to be around them? I could go outside and enjoy being outside without worrying about running into people all the time. Maybe...choose when to see people so I could get more used to it.

[despitethenora]

Be great to always get to choose when to deal with people.

[Aloy says it so casually. That's the difficult balance. Wanting to stop being lonely, not really wanting to deal with a lot of people.]

Well. Wherever I end up, you'll have a place with me.

[nobetawedielike]

[ she straightens up where she sits, unable to stop a smile. ]

I'll follow wherever you go. We stick together.

[ sisters!! ]

[despitethenora]

[Nice to see Beta perk up. Aloy's seen her in a lot of bad moments, and she'd like to think they want the same things.]

And if you get tired, I guess I'll shoulder some of your things. Think you've got everything?

[nobetawedielike]

I think so. I followed all your suggestions.

[ she scrambles off the bed, suddenly energized. ]

It'll be our first trip together.

[despitethenora]

Nice to have someone who listens to me, sometimes.

[Aloy pushes off the wall, ready to help if it should look like there's anything to be done.]

Not counting our mission to the cauldrons?

[nobetawedielike]

Our first trip that isn't a super important mission. And you're the expert.

[ she corrects, going to grab her bags. it's a little heavy, but she manages. she's going to need to get used to it, isn't she? ]

[despitethenora]

[Her lips quirk a bit, but since Beta doesn't look like she's going to fail, Aloy doesn't intervene. Just as she hadn't taken Rost's hand when Aloy had been training, best to lest Beta learn to handle it. That's being a good sister. Right?]

Not sure either of us count as an expert, when we've never seen horses.

[nobetawedielike]

So you'll be a definite expert after this.

[ HEADING FOR THE DOOR it's adventure time!

banter feels good. the sisters in Second Time Around had bantered often, conversations flowing easily. this definitely means she's doing it right. ]