135. Our body and mind, 2

(Rose)

At long last. I've found a sort of pool within the remnants of a factory wider than a town was in my time. It's filled with rather clean water and a wild stream goes through the building broken in half. I can see the sky above us, and all around truly.

R - Oh dear goodness, finally.

B - Why were you eager, so eager to find a pond?

R - What do you know about hygiene?

B - Ah I see. That's why you were feeling gradually less comfortable lately.

R - Why indeed. Rubbing a piece of wet clothe onto me to wash is a thing, but fully washing myself is another entirely. Good thing soaps haven't decayed too much...

B - Your towns are full of wonders.

R - Beyond comprehension. I can't even guess what this place was meant for. Though I know what I'll use it for in a minute.

I drop the makeshift bags filled with scavenged food and goods from the ghost town we went through before. I undress myself entirely.

R - Your flowers are growing, it's difficult to remove the shirt...

B - I try to move them through the sleeves but it's slow and uneasy. I guess you need clothes, right?

R - ... Since humans lost their fur, we certainly do. Plus I don't like being naked. Today is different because I'm awfully eager to take a bath and fully wash myself.

I gave the serious reply to what might have been a tease or an honest wonder.

We look at our body in the reflection of the water. I hardly recognise myself. She discovers what we truly look like.

B - How interesting. You know it's actually the first time I can see how you look so clearly?

R - I hope the water will prevent you from talking in a few seconds.

B - How mean! Please, let me look...

R - I'm embarrassed enough already. So we'll talk after maybe. I need to dive in.

I go sit on the edge, my legs entering the cold water. Then my hips go, then my chest, then my arms. She doesn't say a word. I dive under the water surface. I swim. That kind of industrial pool isn't very large, but I can swim.

This feels heavenly.

~

Later on, I can finally scrub myself good while my clothes are all hanged to dry next to a fire. Blume can start sparks and ignite balls of paper at will, that is super handy.

She didn't comment much but was curious about every inch of my body. Our body.

B - I mostly learnt about your nervous system, vascular system related to blood, and digestive system turning biological materials into energy, nutrients and other biological materials. Your flora is fascinating.

R - My flaura?

B - Those bacterias living inside of you.

 R - What? Am I sick?

B - No I don't think so. But your digestive system, your skin, your saliva, they all work thanks to a great amount of bacterias. I can see them.

R - Really? I... I never knew. So it's normal?

B - It appears so to me.

R - Hm. Intriguing.

B - So even you don't know all there is to know about how your body works.

R - Obviously I don't. It's funny indeed. Though, well, instinct is usually enough for animals. Real knowledge is rather rare... It takes philosophy doctorates to know. I didn't get this high an education.

R - I like how my skin feels now that it's clean, see?

I'm caressing my arm rather happy from the renewed softness of my skin. It doesn't itch from travelling dirt and sweat anymore. Goodness how better I feel. A moment later, I can feel some of the rose flowers here and there rubbing my skin. It tickles softly.

B - It does feel different.

R - Living as a vagrant isn't the nicest of lives. I wonder if I'll find a good place someday?

B - I honestly have no idea about it. I don't have the slightest clue about what the world looks like beyond what you show me.

R - I know... It's alright my dear. We have many things to see.

B - Speaking of which, what about that blood.

R - Oh dear. I thought I was late, indeed.

My period began.

R - You don't know?

B - I have partial knowledge about it. While I was healing you, it occurred a few times. I tried to heal that too but realised it was a normal process. It's related to reproduction, isn't it?

R - Precisely. It's one of the most intriguing oddities of the human bodies. Unfortunately we find that dirty because it smells. But it's like saying babies or non-fertile eggs are dirty.

B - So you have conflicting ideas about it?

R - In a way. This means I'm fertile in a way. My body periodically prepares to bear new life. When it doesn't, the built nest goes away and that's the blood you see there.

B - So it's like a fruit?

R - I... I never thought of it that way. Well... Yes? No... Not really. It's more of a soil, in case a seed were to be welcome in me.

B - You didn't have children I recall. Did you want any?

R - I wouldn't have minded becoming a mother like mine was, but I...

My mind skips a thought I don't want to face.

R - ... My heart was taken elsewhere. In the end, I did not felt compelled to bring more life to this world. I was happy enough already.

B - I'm also happy enough already. My life itself is sufficient for me. I'm quite fulfilled now.

R - I'm glad to hear that. And look, we're getting better with our body. I can move your stems freely like new fingers now.

B - You could make your body evolve more now if you'd like.

R - You mean adding muscle? I do look a little scrawny I admit.

B - If you feel you lack muscles, you should; though I was thinking about making the plant on you grow and densify. If you want it, you could start making the stems grow longer and stronger. Though from my experience, the larger and heavier the body, the more energy it needs to process to live. It may end up difficult for such a body in our situation.

Hm...

R - If we find a city or a good farm with enough food, we could settle for a while. There are many places in the world I'd like to see, but there is no hurry beside staying alive. Even though I can thanks to you digesting and living from eating grass, dirt, and even chunks of wood... I would really like to eat more human food. Vegetables, meat, sweet things. Tea. I miss tea. Well, I'm eager to find more tasty sources of energy.

B - Speaking of which, can't you eat what you lose there?

R - You mean the blood from my periods? Oh goodness. No I can't do that. We usually are afraid of blood, especially our own. Add the cultural feelings toward it also. We are even shameful about it. It's not a bad idea, especially in times of hunger like today, but I can't do that. I can't put that loss to good use.

B - Maybe I can.

R - I'm not sure to like what you're implying there.

B - We can try to extend some of the roots inside your digestive system toward there. It'll drink what it can thereafter. It would need some time to grow though.

R - I'll have to think about it. This place is a sensitive weak point of my body. I therefore am reluctant toward anything that could affect it.

B - I think I understand. It's like the skin of your belly.

R - A little more than that...

B - Anyway, your body seem rather healthy from where I stand. And your floras are peaceful now.

R - I feel much better too. What about you? How did water felt to you?

B - Rather curious. Funny even. I liked that experience...

B - So tell me, what are these places in the world you'd want to see?

~