(no subject)

[onthetrail]

[You can smell smoke.

This is not usually a good development, so it's natural that no matter where you are in the mansion, you'd stop what you're doing and look around. Maybe glance towards the open window and catch sight of a plume of grey smoke in the distance. Glancing out of the window, you can see that there is a small -- shed? shack? At this distance it's hard to tell -- building erected on the lawn.

In front of it a small campfire is burning brightly. There's no sign of anyone tending it. Do you invest--

Sorry. Silly question! Forgot who I was talking to a moment there.

Of course you investigate.]

Comments

[orchid_below]

And... how long do people normally live?

[onthetrail]

Until they die.

[So helpful.]

[orchid_below]

[the most]

But how long is that? Twenty years? ...Ten?

[onthetrail]

I don't know! It hasn't really come up. But it's got to be longer than that, 'cause Agasa's really old! His hair is white and everything! He's got to be at least a hundred!

[orchid_below]

...I must admit this is all rather strange to me.

Do you know how old your Kaa-chan is?

[onthetrail]

How old Kaa-chan is ... ?

[Excuse Conan as he gets all up in your face, squinting at you, Ran.]

[orchid_below]

[rude!!]

Conan! If you don't know you can simply say so.

[firmly picking you up and setting you back on your feet]

[onthetrail]

If I don't know, I should try and find out! Otherwise how am I going to learn?

[orchid_below]

You can begin by asking. And you need to be exceptionally polite when asking about a lady's age!

Besides that, if you appear to be seven years old but claim to be seven months, then it is entirely possible your Kaa-chan and I are not the same age.

[onthetrail]

Kaa-chan's not here to ask!

I think you're right! Kaa-chan seems younger.

[orchid_below]

Kaa-chan is also not the one whose lap you were scrambling up.

[though speaking of you getting into things, how's that pot of rabbit coming along]

Hmm...

[onthetrail]

No ... if it were Kaa-chan she'd give me a hug.

Hmm? [Conan follows Ran's gaze to the pot of stew and gets up to check on it. He obviously likes what he sees.]

It's ready!

[orchid_below]

You can ask for those as well.

[ she'd been humming thoughtfully over the age difference, but yes, also stew! ]

It smells delicious.

[onthetrail]

[Conan has been poking around his hut and eventually produces a bowl that has been plainly whittled from a piece of wood and one that looks like a piece of metal roughly beaten out to make a plate with a rim. He holds both out to Ran so she can choose which she prefers.]

I think it's turned out okay.

[orchid_below]

I'm sure it's much better than okay.

[ selects the plate! ]

[onthetrail]

Only one way to find out!

[Serving up -- stew for all!]

[orchid_below]

Thank you very much.

[ do we have utensils or is this to be a finger stew? ]