Let's Dance!

[ziggyplayedguitar]

[Continued from here]

The celebration was supposed to be short, sweet and just a greeting. However, with Ziggy and his friends and the family friends all being incredibly social things continued on. He and Mick and pulled out the equipment from the spare room. It was turning into a party by the time it was late afternoon.

As it attracted more people Tom ordered food to be delivered from the plaza, because they would need it, though the Anthean food was still there for the more adventurous. Jack also started a small bonfire in the portable fire pit in yard as it was getting toward evening and would cool to something colder than most humans might find comfortable. It would be good for there to be a place to warm up if the dancing or whatever else went on wasn't enough. Tommy had also finally come from where ever he had spent his time earlier in the day with his wife who, unlike Aletayria, hadn't adopted any human features at all. They were both simply observing from the edges since Etainia had not seen other species, and very few humans. This was a startling situation.

Cords run out front, Mick and Ziggy both with guitars, they were ready to jam with Soundwave. It was sure to attract other people since they were more or less starting a concert on the front lawn of the tiny house not too distant from the edge of the plaza.


[OOC: This is open to anyone who is at the celebration or wishes to amble by. Party style thread... feel free to tag about and mingle.]

Comments

[hellomajortom]

Tom had thought about this topic for awhile, both right after the Stardust and since returning to Earth.

"I do know the amino acids present are not the same as on Earth. Ziggy has to take supplements for the amino acids not used by Earth based plants." Tom was answering but also speaking train of thought between bites and eating. "The fats, carbohydrate and micronutrients are different too, plus the reliance on Anthocyanins and minor plant pigments on Earth being the majority of those in the Anthean plants. Most of them are blue and yellow."

Tom paused to think and then shrugs. "I can tell some differences simply by the supplements Aletayria listed that Ziggy would need on Earth."

[itmeanscourage]

“I would certainly be interested in reviewing that list.” He noted, while wondering about the supplements a human might need if they were subsisting on a solely Anthean diet. “And the other way around, if such data exists from your convalescence aboard their craft.”

Though how well each individual specimen matched the various categories of earth plants having the same mixture of chlorophyll, pelargonidin, delphynidin, and the like would make for quite an enjoyable afternoon. Or longer, depending on how complex the results.

[hellomajortom]

"My wife would be better to ask about that." Tom shrugged. "To be honest, I didn't know what they were giving me at first. By the time I was well enough to make coherent choices, I had already been taking things for a month. I just went on doing it without question."

Medicine after all wasn't his forte though he has gotten a little better with it since then. "I do know some of their medications are incredibly toxic to humans. I think it is because a lot of our base metabolic standards are different; temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration. The same is true for them."

[itmeanscourage]

Isamu nodded, adding that to the ever-growing mental list of questions he had about their species. “A worthwhile suggestion. Though she does tend to be fairly tight-lipped when it comes to specific data regarding her own species, she may be more lenient on research involving mine.”

She certainly had her reasons. Her species was endangered, and her family threatened by many outside factors, among others. Isamu did try to respect them, even when his inquisitive nature got the better of him. Which it often did.

That line of thought was made all the more real upon finding another very, very bitter leaf - and not the pleasant kind of bitter Isamu had been praising so far. He gulped hard. “Wow. Whatever THAT was, it just might qualify as toxic medicine.”

[hellomajortom]

"As giving as she is the biases of her people still linger." Tom had never been the focus of her distrust but others had been. All of Ziggy's partners had faced her intense questions, or would eventually.

Tom laughs at the face. He's been there, shocked by their food in the same way. He just gets the boy a glass of water without questioning it. "You found it, I think."

Tom was pretty sure that was the same vegetable that got to him.

[itmeanscourage]

He took the offered water and drank greedily. “Yes... that would certainly qualify as not for human consumption...”

He also made sure to move that particular vegetable to the empty side of his plate so that he would not accidentally ingest it again. It also warranted a picture and set of notes all on its own.

“The nutritional compounds found in that specimen have the potential to be quite illuminating...” he sputtered, still gagging at the thought. “The spice blend was mild by comparison. Combined, I think it might actually induce vomiting in our species...”

[hellomajortom]

"There are a few." Tom was sympathetic because he had ran into them as well. "I wonder if we'll find the same ones distasteful?"

Tom's scientific mind was kicking in now as they sat together. It had been awhile since he considered Anthean foods.

"I know there is Quinine in some of the plants. Antheans crave it. Coumarins, alkaloids and some of them have arsenic and something similar to solanine. I don't think any of those plants are here in the Nexus, yet."

[itmeanscourage]

Isamu pointed out what remained of the leaf he’d just consumed. Tom would be able to draw some conclusions from that. Especially if he could pick out another on the plate that he’d sworn off eating again.

“Glycoalkaloids?” He blinked, distracted from the extremely bitter taste by the diverse physiological effects of that class of compounds: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, local anesthetic, hypnotic, psychotropic... the list went on and on. The medical advancements that could be made with those plants could be earth-shattering. So could the risk of toxicity, of course.

On a more basic level, some other pieces fell into place. No wonder the Antheans favored potatoes. And in Ziggy’s case, possibly also cocaine.

[hellomajortom]

Tom looks at it closely and shakes his head. "OH! That damned plant. The root is even worse. It looks like a turnip and crunchy but it tastes like... death. It is so bitter."

Tom nodded in reference to the question. "They can process, what we would consider, toxins and radiation very well. I think they're rather resistant to heavy metal toxicity too."

Tom paused to take a drink and sigh. "The remaining Antheans survived nuclear fall out and biological collapse on their planet. Their bodies are chemically durable even if they are physically fragile."

[itmeanscourage]

Even Isamu had to snicker a little as Tom recognized the plant. Though he did have to ask if any of the remaining roots on his plate that he had not tasted yet belonged to the same species.

“The vegetation, what little remained after such fallout, would need to be chemically durable as well.” He hypothesized. “That may play a role here as well.”

Another theory to test.

[hellomajortom]

Tom takes a quick peek to reassure Isamu that nothing else on his plate will be too bad to eat.

The astronaut is now rifling through his memories of Anthean history and conditions on the planet. "Are any of these compounds beneficial to resisting UV? " He asks almost to himself as much as Isamu. "The thin atmosphere and higher output of UV from their sun..."

He's trying to piece together things but he is way outside of his area of expertise. It doesn't mean he can't mull it over and think about it though. "I wonder if it has anything to do with the plants being more blue, than green too. The chemical composition differences between Earth and Anthean plants."

[itmeanscourage]

Isamu tapped his chin in thought.

“Hmm... there are phytochemicals that belong to various families of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, isothiocyanates and carotenoids - lycopene in particular comes to mind here - that are being considered for their protective strategies. Namely for their antioxidant properties, both direct and indirect.”

Lycopene, of course, found in abundance in one of the Antheans’ favorite earthly foods - watermelon.

[hellomajortom]

"I was thinking more protective strategies for the plants." Tom wasn't considering eating for self protection. It brought home the fact that he knew very little about why their lives were so long. It made him wonder but that was a question for later.

"On Earth the highest concentrations of antioxidants are in fruit. Anthean plants don't produce fruits, only two that I know of, and one is used only for alcohol production." He's thinking now on the subject. "This really is a topic for my wife. I think we're at the end of my knowledge on the subject of plant chemicals."

[itmeanscourage]

Isamu nodded in agreement. “Until I can analyze all the specimens more clearly in the IRIS laboratories, I am afraid I am only speculating based on what I have read about earth plants.”

The results of those experiments would be another topic for another time.

That being said, they still enjoyed the rest of the meal together in relative peace and quiet from the block party outside.

[hellomajortom]

"Make sure you ask before taking anything. Antheans can be strangely suspicious sometimes." He didn't think they would mind but it was always better to ask.

Tom did enjoy Isamu's company and the intellectual discussions that cropped up between them since their science backgrounds were different. I made for a relaxing and enjoying shared meal in blissful, mostly, quiet with the party going on outside.

[itmeanscourage]

Isamu nodded again. “I will make my request to Aletayria, if she is willing to consider it, though not tonight.”

As eager as he was to study these plants, not only was Tom right, but the occasion being celebrated was of tremendous importance to her culture. Isamu would not dishonor that.

Next time he came to visit, though, he would definitely ask.

[wrapped up nicely here, I believe]