AUDIENCE 🚀 CHARLES

[dropoffs]

Comments

[dropoffs]

Whatever comes to mind, Charles. It is your choice. I can learn as little or as much as you want me to.

[ Amalthea is just standing there, staring straight at him. ]

[riverbeans]

Kind of an open-ended offer there... Well, anything you were curious about? It did feel like there was a thing or two you wanted to ask.

[dropoffs]

Hm... I suppose we can talk about the item we were recruited with? Is there a story behind river beans?

[riverbeans]

River beans? Yeah. [THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD STILL] It's said that long ago, when the ancestors of Riven came to the land, river beans saved them from starvation—so not only are they food, they're a symbol of hope even now.

[let it be known that apparently multiple people in this country is obsessed with these beans, not just charles]

Plus, the way they grow is interesting. To prevent themselves from being overwhelmed by the river, their roots intertwine so they can hold each other in place.

[it's a metaphor for FRIENDSHIP and TEAMWORK]

[dropoffs]

[ They really are listening to all of this intently even though it's abouT BEANS. Beans really have a HISTORY and CHARLES is not the ONLY ONE who's OBSESSED with this WORLDLY TREASURE.

The themes are lost on them. They are just beans to Amalthea. ]

I wonder if river beans would save villages from famine... How different would my world be.

[ Awe. ]

[riverbeans]

[BEANS!!!!]

Hey, they could. They're delicious and nutritious—so seriously, if a place is low on supplies, they do work great as a food source to live off for a while.

Is famine a major issue in your world?

[dropoffs]

[ They are considering maybe instead of whatever they're planting they should plant... Beans. ]

Only for small villages and hamlets... That was some time ago. Hunger can still be an issue, even during the industrial age. I've been fortunate that I've not suffered myself.

[riverbeans]

[bean superiority]

Mm. I've been lucky in that regard too. But I guess hunger'll always be a problem, as long as there aren't always systems to distribute food to people.

[dropoffs]

It is unfortunate, though we need structure and order in life. Or at least that is what man is led to believe.

[ If only they can just grow more beans. ]

Did these beans save your once or are you simply fond of them?

[riverbeans]

Hehe, do I give the impression that my life has been that drastic?

[there is further lore reason as to why he loves these beans so much but he is not so sure about dumping those personal thoughts on a stranger.]

[dropoffs]

Life-or-death situations are not uncommon, if you think about it.

[ They chuckle, but they don't seem to pry further. ]

[riverbeans]

True. Does that go for you as well?

[dropoffs]

Hm... I think myself no different than others. Somehow I'm still here.

[ Surviving! ]

[riverbeans]

Hehe, that's what it boils down to, huh? Regardless of anything else, we're still here.

[dropoffs]

That's right. [ This exchange has been fun for them, though the emotion is muted. ] Is there anything you would like to hear from me?

[riverbeans]

What's your home like? Aside from the stuff we talked about.

[dropoffs]

I would say it's normal, but that's difficult to gauge when everyone is from different galaxies and planets.

[ So they will parse through words and figure how to describe it. ]

The earliest memory I have is of a God-fearing land, but times have changed since then.... People stayed the same. Similar issues mirror the past. Avoidance, indulgence, miscommunication, power struggles--they manifest in tragic everyday events that I witnessed.

[riverbeans]

... How old are you? You're talking like you've lived for centuries.

[dropoffs]

... Good question. I don't keep count, but Human Resources might know. Time feels nebulous.

[riverbeans]

Okay, getting the distinct impression you aren't human here.

[dropoffs]

That would be a good guess.

[ A sense of a smile in the sensation soup. ]

I've lived life much like humans, if that means much.

[riverbeans]

To be honest, it's not like I know anything about how nonhumans live, so really, it's all the same to me.

[dropoffs]

I can say the same for myself. I've only known how I live until Nut & Bolt recruited me, then I learned about other lifestyles outside of my planet.

[ Perspective Enhanced. ]

[riverbeans]

It's definitely a lot to take in. I'm pretty well-traveled within Orsterra, but I don't know anything outside of it either.

[dropoffs]

Your callsign is very fitting.

[ Super funny. ]

Orsterra is a continent? That's still miles of travel. Sights to see.