fandomhigh | Wilderness Survival; Wednesday, Second Period [02/21].

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wilderness survival

Wilderness Survival; Wednesday, Second Period [02/21].

"Building off of last week's focus on pulling sustenance from our surroundings..." Gladio started, once everyone had gathered in the Danger Shop for this week's sim, which appeared to be a bit different than the usual set-up, focused around a large lake and the pine forest that clustered and spread from one side of it, while the train on the other was a bit more rocky and scattered with scrub and bushes. And, yes, he did also throw the giant Catoblepas in the middle of it, too, as much for flavor and to make things a little more interesting as it was for just nostalgia. Earth really was a truly beautiful place, but it had nothing on the sheer enormity of the wildlife that could be found all around Eos: as big and beautiful as they were deadly and dangerous.

Although this Catoblepas was definitely just for show, and hopefully not too much of a distraction as they went into today's topic.

"...we're taking it a little easier today, since I'm sure everyone's brains are already beginning to shift toward the break next week, but we can still learn a valuable skill. It's a specific skill, one that'll only be much good if you're stuck in the wilderness near a water source, but knowing how to fish can be a relaxing pastime or a good way to get protein and nutrients you need when necessary. Now, obviously, there's your standard pole fishing, which is how most people do it recreationally, but you're not always going to have a fishing rod on hand, so we're also going to go through some other, more rugged methods: net fishing, setting up fish traps, and catching fish by spear or even by hand.

"Now," he said, before he got into the details, "if you're a little squeamish at the idea of harming another living creature, that's fair." He definitely didn't have those qualms, but he knew people who did. "But, the thing to remember is that this is about survival. When it comes right down to the wire, you might not be able to afford getting soft in the face of life or death. And if this class is a little rough for you, I've got some bad news about the lesson planned for when we get back from break. If you want to duck out, I'll respect that, but just keep in mind that at least the animals here in the danger shop aren't real, and you could still pick up some valuable skills that I hope you won't ever have to use, but you might be glad to have in your wheelhouse one day all the same.

"So let's get started, ask any questions you may have as we go along, and then we'll get into some fishing."

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Like something might be fishy!

Nell Ingram

Steve McGarrett

Arden Finch

Learn all about various methods of fishing! Wonder if Gladio's going to say anything about the giant monster idly picking through the much in the lake! Contemplate how each time he says the word fishing, it seems to be said with a bit of a tired sigh!

Yeah, Arden was only half-paying attention to the lecture because, uh. That sure was a monster over there.

Also, she was really hoping that catching and eating birds didn't come up in the next class.

There are plenty of different methods to try, and Gladio's even briefly gone over how to make your own spear if you want to get real rugged with that spear fishing. Abstaining is also an option, although, admittedly, it would make Gladio a little sad.

"Spear fishing is awesome, brah!" Steve said enthusiastically, starting on that project because of course he was.

"Yeah," Gladio agreed with a snort. "I figured you'd be pretty gung-ho about that one. You've probably even done it with the big fish, too, right? Harpoons and all that stuff?"

Steve nodded, grinning. "Caught an ahi the last time," he said. "Have you ever been?"

Gladio shook his head a little. "Can't say I have. But you know, there was some whispering a little bit ago about me and Nell maybe visiting Hawaii at some point. Is that where you've done some? Got any pointers if I do?"

Steve's entire face lit up. "You have to go to Hawai'i," he said enthusiastically. "Maui's got some great spearfishing, but you're probably going to stick with O'ahu because that's the easiest spot for tourists. I can definitely give you some places to go: hikes, waterfalls, that kinda stuff, too."

To that response, Gladio had to laugh, shaking his head a little. "I knew I needed to poke at you if we do decide to go through with it," he said, unable to help being amused at being so right and almost wishing he'd remembered or had the chance to do so earlier. "I'll definitely hit you up. I got a pretty good feeling that what you'll recommend is going to line up pretty nicely with our interests."

Well, Gladio's for sure, but Nell's weren't usually too far away from his.

Did you want to camp in a national park, Gladio? Because Steve could totally make that happen.

"I can help with bars and restaurants, too," Steve said with another grin.

It was almost like his show was literally sponsored by the Department of Tourism.

And that's why networking with the right people was important, folks!

But, speaking of sponsorships...

"You got any good Cup Noodle^TM connections out there, by any chance?"

It never hurt to ask! Especially since he hadn't mentioned his favorite, most delicious food in a while now!

"I can make some calls," Steve said, grinning back.

He wouldn't be calling Masaharu Morimoto about this (~~because his canon was RIDICULOUS~~) but surely Kamekona knew a guy who knew a guy.

"Great," Gladio's grin was reaching full capacity at this prospect. "I'll definitely let you know, then, if we decide to go, you can hook us up. Might be a while, though, especially since the school trip is next week and everything."

Arden, who had never gone fishing before, was shocked to discover how boring it was using a pole. Maybe she should hop over to fish traps...

If only he could have just abstained from not having to deal with fishing on so many occasions, though....

Nell hadn't done much fishing, though she knew the basics. Still, she was happy to lounge around after the class till she could steal all the instructor's attention.

Haha, joke was on Nell, because you couldn't steal what was freely given.

"Hey," he said, making his way over to sit down beside Nell where she was lounging with a grin, and then taking a moment to just sort of look a little wistfully over the landscape again before his attention shifted back to her. "I really hope today's class didn't awaken anything in you."

But if some secret angler had been sparked inside of her from this one class, so be it.

"Awaken anything?" Nell asked curiously. "Like a deep desire to catch fish with my hands?"

She smiled up at him. "I think we're safe."

There was maybe a little more relief in Gladio's small huff of a laugh and returning grin than he'd maybe intended. "Good," he said. "Not that, you know, I wouldn't support any and all fish-catching endeavors you would want to pursue, but I'm definitely good with keeping my exposure to it to a minimum."

Literally just for lessons, August 30th, and weekends where the dead come back.

"I'm happy with that too," Nell agreed. "I'd rather enjoy a beautiful stream or lake rather than catch fish out of it."

She could fish if she had to, but it wasn't something she particularly enjoyed.

"Let the poor fish just live their lives, right?" Gladio asked with a snort, taking a moment again to just sort of look over at the sim and feeling a little disappointed that he'd have to shut it down soon, especially as the Catoblepas continues rooting around in the water. "Good resource, though, when you need it."

"Or let someone else take responsibility for catching them," Nell agreed, though she wasn't a big fish person in any case. "But yes, good to have if necessary."

She glanced over at the what-sis rooting around. "So what's this guy you've got here?"

"Oh," said Gladio, in a casual tone as he grinned over at Nell, "so you noticed him, did ya? That," he nodded back out toward the lake, "is a Catoblepas. Good luck saying that three times fast. They're mostly harmless unless you get all up in their territory, they remained pretty docile even through the Long Night, which is pretty good, because could you imagine going up a daemonified one of those? But I've always liked it here. I modeled it after a spot back home, in Duscae. That," he pointed toward the pines, "is actually a chocobo forest. I didn't program any of those in. Prompto would never forgive me if I did and didn't tell him."

As he spoke, his voice was mostly just a quiet, nostalgic rumble, a distant smile on his face. Sad around the edges, but still...a smile nonetheless.

Edited 2024-02-21 21:00 (UTC)

Nell snuggled into his side a little, seeing the sad, but glad there was a smile too. "I'd like to see a chocobo sometime. Maybe Prompto could be a guest speaker in class or something."

She looked around. "Duscae looks beautiful."

"There was one time," Gladio remembered with a snort to cut through any of the lingering emotions he felt, his arm going around Nell easily and just feeling glad she was there; he wondered how long he'd let himself wander down this trip down memory lane before feeling the need to just shut it down, "we were all teaching a teamwork class, only the danger shop kept messing up and all we had were chocobos. Maybe we could do something like that again this summer..."

And he wanted to agree, that it was beautiful, and that he missed it, and he wished he could just take her there for real some time, but, well, he accepted a while ago that he really did have to say goodbye to Eos after all, so there was no point in dredging up the impossible, even just to speculate.

"That sounds like fun," Nell agreed.

She'd listen as long as he wanted to talk and support him with whatever he chose, whether it was reminiscing or changing the subject. It did remind her that she needed to bring him to Soulwood sometime. Most of her recent trips were flying visits to deal with the logistics of taking care of the house and land from a distance, but she definitely wanted to bring him there.

"It...could be," Gladio said, with another faint chuckle. "Prompto loved it, obviously. Iggy spent the whole time sighing. But we worked with it pretty well, I think. I know there's a bunch of chocobo-related programs in here from Prompto, too; maybe I should just pull one up at the end of the semester as sort of a congrats to everyone for surviving the survival class."

"I think that would be fun," Nell said.

She snuggled in a little closer. "Looking forward to next week's school trip?"

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Wilderness Survival; Wednesday, Second Period [02/21].

Sign In - Wilderness Survival, 02/21.

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Listen to the Lecture - Wilderness Survival, 02/21.

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Class Activity: Go Fish! - Wilderness Survival, 02/21.

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OOC - Wilderness Survival, 02/21.