[1875] Malaise

[doublefried]

Alternative Title: Eek!

[zbeeblebrox]

If it wasn't obvious already, I think we've now clearly established which side Annie's preference for the wilderness comes from.

[Nepycros]

M'laise.

Makeup on an entomological trip seems to be yet another in a long line of bad ideas sure to spring out of this adventure. Whether the relationship between Surma and Anthony is to be considered one of these bad ideas, is left up to you, dear reader!

[arf]

What bug is that?

Regarding entomology v. etymology, I wonder if Surma brought along a copy of Ursula LeGuin's tale "What was Written on the Acacia Seeds"?

[dard]

I feel for her so much!

I also hate heat, humidity and Nematocera so much!

(but contrary to her I love insects in general)

[Per]

Surma isn't in one of those stories where heat/cold-based superheroes were never bothered by the heat/cold anyway.

[Jelly Jellybean]

Why did Tony need a second person on the expedition when he is doing so well without Surma contributing anything (yet)?  Tony is smart enough to always have a companion he can out run.

[dard]

For safety reasons.
If you are far from civilization on a research mission, you are often required to have a second person with you should an accident or illness occur.

[ctso74]

Uhg, the heat.
I'm stocky with muscle, which makes me good at moving large things, but makes me retain heat too much. I'm work horse in the cold, but put me in a hot humid environment, and it feels like there's layers of steamy heavy blankets on me. Baling square bales was not a fun chore growing up.
I feel your pain, Surma. Give me winter any day.

[Tobu Ishi]

I'm strangely amused that Surma likes strolling around barefoot in the friendly woods near the Court like a flower child, but loses her enthusiasm at the prospect of a real hike in a potentially hostile environment with bugs and sweat and a heavy pack. I know a few people like that.

[imaginaryfriend]

Aug 25, 2017 12:28:36 GMT dard said:

For safety reasons.
If you are far from civilization on a research mission, you are often required to have a second person with you should an accident or illness occur.

Yeah even if the Court is monitoring closely a rescue team would probably take a few minutes to arrive at least. A whole lot of things can go wrong in a very short space of time that might be irreversible or fatal. Someone double-checking you on your position and route choices and another set of eyes and ears keeping watch for trouble is useful, and animals that might shy far away from a pair of humans might stalk a lone person.

Aug 25, 2017 15:12:06 GMT Tobu Ishi said:

I'm strangely amused that Surma likes strolling around barefoot in the friendly woods near the Court like a flower child, but loses her enthusiasm at the prospect of a real hike in a potentially hostile environment with bugs and sweat and a heavy pack. I know a few people like that.

Bare feet plus genuine wilds equals slashed and bleeding feet. But I'd rather have people like what you describe than people who've spent a lot of time in really rural areas and think they don't have to adjust their behavior to an actual wilderness. They're just dangerous and if they get away with it once or twice they don't listen until things are out of control. Not sure if being Coyote's friend helps with Surma walking around without footgear in the Wood but it keeps the intelligent hazards at bay. The Wood (or some parts of it) is an odd magical sort of place and the forest folk may manage some parts of it; they use firewood and it wouldn't surprise me if they top trees for making staves and poles and they probably spread edible or otherwise useful plant seeds/spores around at the very least. Even normal animals do that much so it should be allowed.

[fia]

I'm just sitting here impressed that someone who wears as many white button-up shirts as Tony is so comfortable in the hot humidity of the Brazilian Amazon.
Also, what the heck, Tony, did your hair grow 3 inches in 2 days? Where was all that muscle a few days ago when your shirt was sagging and you were slouching like a sloucher? 

some dark magicks are afoot!
(Please note I am saying this sarcastically I do not actually believe there are any dark magicks here, probably Tony works out or something – maybe his martial arts training – and hides it really well. Also probably wears shirts that are too bigg. And maybe his usual uptight hairdo is him using lots of hair gel to compensate for not going to the barber often enough.)

[warrl]

Aug 25, 2017 12:28:36 GMT dard said:

For safety reasons.
If you are far from civilization on a research mission, you are often required to have a second person with you should an accident or illness occur.

Even if all the second person is capable of doing is calling someone else for help... that's still better than NOT calling someone else when help is needed.

[Trillium]

The hiking, the heat, the humidity and the bugs. You have to acclimate to all these things. Surma is at least trying to hold up her end of things.

[Runningflame]

This page: Malaise.

Next page: Malaria?

[pyradonis]

Random thought: Annie wore make-up all the time, regardless of how unfitting for the situation, because it reminded her of her mother. But why does Surma?

Also: To me, this page does not suggest that Surma did not contribute anything to the expedition, Tony is not shown doing work while she watches. The page only shows how she is affected by walking around in that jungle. In the lower right of the page, her hand seem to be dirty as well.

[davidm]

"Bare feet plus genuine wilds equals slashed and bleeding feet. " Not entirely true, otherwise most animals that do not have shoes would not survive, neither would primitive tribes today in wild without shoes.

Your feet grow some leather on bottom if exposed for a while, and you instinctively learn how to walk to protect them (your eyes look for safe paths, you walk softer and instinctively react at first feeling of danger to adjust your step to protect your feet the same way you protect your eyes if a threat to them). Yes occasionally something will happen, and you would limp for days or weeks but most of time would adapt and be ok.

(I am person crazy enough to sometimes go barefoot, so have some of the leather and skills but not all of them that would come from being always barefoot)

[imaginaryfriend]

Aug 26, 2017 2:20:35 GMT davidm said:

"Bare feet plus genuine wilds equals slashed and bleeding feet. " Not entirely true, otherwise most animals that do not have shoes would not survive, neither would primitive tribes today in wild without shoes.

Your feet grow some leather on bottom if exposed for a while, and you instinctively learn how to walk to protect them (your eyes look for safe paths, you walk softer and instinctively react at first feeling of danger to adjust your step to protect your feet the same way you protect your eyes if a threat to them). Yes occasionally something will happen, and you would limp for days or weeks but most of time would adapt and be ok.

(I am person crazy enough to sometimes go barefoot, so have some of the leather and skills but not all of them that would come from being always barefoot)

That's partly correct. Low-technological people without shoecraft stick mostly to paths and trails, ones they make or ones animals make, or natural areas that do not allow dangerous foliage. People learn to avoid obvious problem plants and the feet do adapt somewhat but they do NOT grow soles like leather and in those environments limping for days/weeks is NOT okay. They do not go through wild areas for extended periods unless they have some way to protect their feet. That's one reason why they became/remain isolated.

[fia]

Aug 25, 2017 22:42:43 GMT pyradonis said:

Random thought: Annie wore make-up all the time, regardless of how unfitting for the situation, because it reminded her of her mother. But why does Surma?

Well, many of us makeup-wearers look much like Surma does here when sleep-deprived, tired, or when we haven't had the time or money to keep up a healthy skincare regimen, and we don't like looking untidy if we can avoid it by just putting on some face paint.

Also it might be Her Thing. Surma is another name for Kohl, an eye cosmetic made out of stibnite, a sulfide of antimony. I always thought Tom was deliberately playing on the characters' names, as Surma is also Russian for Antimony.

[saardvark]

Aug 26, 2017 14:00:21 GMT fia said:

Also it might be Her Thing. Surma is another name for Kohl, an eye cosmetic made out of stibnite, a sulfide of antimony. I always thought Tom was deliberately playing on the characters' names, as Surma is also Russian for Antimony.

And stretching metaphors further - a sulfide of antimony is further appropriate for Surma, since with sulfur as its base, it is alchemically (and even theologically) related to fire.  Surma's Russian name recalls the nickname for their dominant 20th century political-economic form - the "Red" Russian.  Kohl is a very ancient cosmetic used by the Egyptians (among others)... alluding to the great age/many incarnations of Surma's resident fire elemental(?)  OK, metaphors driven off a cliff now..... 

[tc]

Aug 26, 2017 14:00:21 GMT fia said:

Surma is another name for Kohl, an eye cosmetic made out of stibnite, a sulfide of antimony. I always thought Tom was deliberately playing on the characters' names, as Surma is also Russian for Antimony.

And if I recall correctly, Stibnite is Surma's maiden surname...