mother_earth: (sad | questioning | need reassuring)
Argilla ([personal profile] mother_earth) wrote in [community profile] sunshineverse2015-05-26 09:58 pm

[closed] Cannibals having lunch

Who: Argilla and Gale.
When: April 29th.
Where: Southern part of Tea.
Notes: A little lunch with former aggressors. Aka Gale and Argilla eat them so cannibalism abounds here sorry.

Bandits weren’t exactly familiar when they were attacked once in Tea. And oh how happy Argilla had been to have her feet on solid ground that didn’t rock with the motion of the ocean. It was soothing enough at night, making keeping a watch nearly impossible, but during the day it just served to remind her of how uncomfortable she was surrounded by so much water. The ground was so far away that she would be virtually useless with specialized jutsu if they were attacked. It made her nervous.

There was just one problem, the sea was ultimately safer than land. They weren’t off the boat more than a couple hours nor had they strayed very far from the shore before a small group of bandits made the worst mistake of their lives. Of course their mistake was good for them. It’d been some time since they’d last had a decent meal. And as much as it made Argilla’s stomach turn, she couldn’t deny that she was hungry and devouring them was much needed.

In the shade of a tree and no longer in her towering demon form, Argilla watches as Gale cuts up one of the corpses. Her stomach growls loudly in anticipation an echo to Prithivi’s chatter of how good that meat was going to taste and how good she was going to feel afterwards. She couldn’t be sure of the first part, but she couldn’t argue with the last. She would feel better after eating. Stronger and less like she could consume an entire large summon on her own never mind the needs of the rest of her tribe.

“How’s it coming?” She can’t bring herself to refer to the corpse as a person, it reminds her too much of those early days where she fasted out of some childish belief that she was above her hunger. That she wouldn’t suffer if she didn’t eat and she came so close to doing the exact same thing as Gale. If it hadn’t been for Sera...she glances at the body and hates how it makes her mouth water.
vitalfunction: (Thoughts turned inward and down.)

[personal profile] vitalfunction 2015-06-01 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
Gale eats in silence, aware of Argilla's discomfort with eating. He feels it too, sometimes, though in this case, they killed to protect themselves, and these men were obvious predators preying on the weak. He does not feel regret this time, as much as he wishes sometimes for a cure so that they do not have to eat what they kill, even if those people are dangerous and deserve death.

He starts feeling that uncomfortable sensation in his stomach but Gale pushes on, wanting to keep the hunger at bay for as long as possible. Losing control and hurting or killing someone because of it is the worst thing he can imagine right now. Still, his eating slows, and Gale winces slightly at the next bite.
vitalfunction: (Regarding the situation.)

[personal profile] vitalfunction 2015-06-03 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
As much as part of him worries, logic agrees with Argilla. But sometimes now, feelings run counter to logic and Gale is never certain which is the correct path. He's sure he'll learn eventually, as the others seem to have, but it's confusion right now. At least Argilla has a better instinct for navigating emotions. Gale will defer to her in this.

If they aren't eating any more right now, Gale needs to set up. They have gone through all of the parts worth keeping of the first corpse. Bones might offer some sustenance, but are difficult on the stomach. Regurgitating the shattered bits later is never pleasant, especially if he's in human form.

He stands, licking a little blood from his fingers and nods at the corpse. "You can start with one, and I will take the other. Once we have separated out the different parts, we can decide how best to distribute them to determine preservability.
vitalfunction: (Is this sadness?)

[personal profile] vitalfunction 2015-06-03 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Gale tries not to look at the face as he butchers, and removes the head immediately. It's set aside with the other bones, because there's little meat, and retrieving the brain doesn't seem worth the effort.

When she asks the question, he looks up and considers the remaining corpses. "Somewhat bigger, but as evenly sized as possible. Leave the organs whole for the moment."

It's messy work, and cooling blood splashes over his face more than once, but Gale makes an effort to work as quickly and efficiently as possible. When he's done stripping the inedible parts away, he lays it out for a visual assessment. How many should they do?

While he thinks it over, he looks over to check on Argilla's progress.
vitalfunction: (Expounding on the options.)

[personal profile] vitalfunction 2015-06-13 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
"I made an effort to work as quickly as possible. There is only dividing up the portions left. Do you require assistance?"

Gale is aware of the trouble Argilla has, and wishes there was some way to avoid it, but there is not. He can only offer his help instead. He notes the difficulties she's having with the organs, but unfortunately doesn't have a better way of removal to offer. He considered separating the ribs, but it seemed more work, and likely to damage the meat with the force required.

"When you are finished we can begin the final portioning. I think that five to seven portions opened at three to four days apart would be sufficient for an initial test. Once we determine the period where the meat spoils within, we can perform a second test with shorter duration between unsealings."
vitalfunction: (There might actually be a smile here.)

[personal profile] vitalfunction 2015-06-17 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"Alright."

Gale gets to work immediately, removing the leg meat in appropriate cuts, and giving Argilla a small smile to show his understanding. It doesn't take him very long, motions as efficient as he can make them. When he's done he pauses long enough to get a visual estimate of the meat that Argilla will have when she finishes, and starts separating the meat into appropriate piles. He starts with the organs, left whole, and then moves onto muscle before considering the bones. Some have marrow, which is delicious, but it takes so much effort to crack them and lick it out, even in demon form. Gale decides he'll store them separately, to be disposed in the sea. Leaving bones where they are might attract unwanted attention.
vitalfunction: (There might actually be a smile here.)

[personal profile] vitalfunction 2015-06-19 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
"Excellent."

Gale quickly apportions the rest out, and then begins working on the seals. It doesn't take him long, and he hands some to Argilla, trusting her to be able to seal the portions without trouble. Then he tackles sealing the meat and making notes of which should be unsealed when.

However, he's left a separate pile for them to eat as they get hungry, because who knows how long until they get a good meal again.
vitalfunction: (I do not comprehend this warm feeling.)

[personal profile] vitalfunction 2015-06-19 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
Gale pauses a little to take a bite or three as well. He always feels chakra use more strongly then Argilla, but he doesn't begrudge it. As their healer, Argilla always having chakra is very important.

He finishes his portion quickly and starts packing away. Now, they need to clean up. He wrinkles his nose.

"That bath would be very welcome now."
vitalfunction: (Attentive.)

[personal profile] vitalfunction 2015-06-23 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Gale nods and takes a look around. The way they had come is unlikely, because they'd already seen most of it, but perhaps...

"Let's try in this direction."

The plantlife looks lush that way, and it can be a sign of a good water source nearby. Sometimes. If not, they'll just have to backtrack and go the other way.
vitalfunction: (Intriguing.)

[personal profile] vitalfunction 2015-07-25 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
Gale is already standing and gives her a small smile as he turns. He’s hoping that they’ll find water quickly because the blood is already getting tacky.

Luck is with them, because it’s very soon that they’re greeted with the sound of running water. In the thick foliage, however, it’s a little hard to pick out where exactly it’s coming from so Gale turns to Argilla. “It’s close; can you see any sign?”
vitalfunction: (Attentive.)

[personal profile] vitalfunction 2015-08-12 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Gale waits quietly, trusting Argilla’s eyes to spot it if they’re close enough, and his patience is rewarded. He gives her a nod, and sets off, following at her side easily. He hopes it will be deep enough for a partial submersion, because that will allow a more thorough washing. Still, however deep, they’ll make due, and Gale starts fingering through his scrolls, for the pattern of indentations that indicates cleaning supplies and spare clothing.