#tech your giant the bitta ways of food Lana XD

[omies-odd-writing-spot]

Lifeboat 12: SQUASH?!

“What did you want me to see if I could get seeds out of again?” Lana asked as she looked around inside of the newly placed crate.

Sesa looked up from working on the lid of the crate. Thinking about the question, the woman looked over at another crate set on a chair. There were a few crates that had been set around Sesa for sorting supplies. “Oh the vine berries. I got some from the store. It's a sweet-savory fruit. I think it's a fruit?”

The giant woman looked at another crate and poked at the wrapped things. Careful not to tear the paper as it had updated news. The lid to the crate was set aside, so Sesa could use both hands, opening a few containers and then set one beside where she was working on making a second doorway for Lana in the crate lid. Unwrapping and happy to see nothing broke, or oozed. 

“I like the savory berries, but I've never got one to sprout, just rot in the ground.” Sesa set the container down on the big table, then smoothed the paper out. Scanning for anything interesting in the news, but smiled at seeing a recipe, trying not to laugh at the text of, ‘Nutty pie! So good even Bitta will move into your home!’

“Do you like nuts?” Sesa blinked and looked up, spotting Lana sitting on the edge of the crate and kicking her legs. Sesa realized she needed to make some sort of stairs for the Bitta.

“Yes, well, nuts I'm used to. I thought I saw what looked like chestnut trees on the way here.” Lana tilted her head, unable to help thinking of a big nutshell about the size of her. Everything was so weirdly big in this place!

Sesa looked around and picked something up from in the massive pots that Lana had yet to really see inside of yet. The giant woman was alarmingly fast, but thankfully Sesa had learned to slow down around Lana. She was holding something tan and brown between two fingers and once more, Lana felt her inner thoughts grind to a halt. Staring at something she almost recognized, but the scale was… off.

“That looks like an acorn.” Lana blurted, “That's… the size of the jars.”

The nut inside was likely the side of her head. The nut had to be a few pounds at least as Lana rattled the shell to listen to the nut inside. Maybe five pounds? Did it have more tannins being so big? Or was what was in a normal nut all stretched out? 

Was that possible?

Lana’s brain was getting so much bafflement, she wondered how much more she would keep having. The young woman found herself grateful that Sesa was so patent with her and did not leave her in that giant's city. With how the ‘peaceful’ dinos all seemed to want to eat Lana too, she was not sure what animals would show up in a city.

“Not a…chestnut?” Sesa's voice asked, jarring Lana back to reality. So looked up, then down at the acorn, and shook her head. “Oh… not good then?”

“Nuu, this is still good,” Lana paused, making a face at her own confused words, “Wait. I mean, yes, good thing. Do you have more? Or different types of tree nuts?”

“I have a few nuts I've collected,” Sesa admitted, puzzled but was smiling a bit at Lana’s fascination. “I can dig them out once we finish getting you set up.”

The bigger woman grinned at the clear, tiny, pout. Sesa wanted to reach out, put her project down and cup her hands around Lana. It was almost an irresistible urge, the want to do, but Sesa took a breath and made herself not. She finished the cut into the wood, and hummed before setting the lid upright how it would sit in the crate. Just on the table. “Is this a good enough size door? Can you walk through?”

Lana looked down at the nut, carefully set it down before the Bitta hopped down. Sesa would definitely need to make some sort of steps for her. Not a lot, maybe just a few like four or five wide steps. Sesa should have something even like that around. She had not used up all the materials to make the Bitta home models. Not at all.

The giant woman felt awkward at the thought of her hobby and now had a real live Bitta here. Again. 

She focused back on track, watching as Lana came over and peeking through the opening. Sesa smiled watching Lana ease through, hands carefully touching the sides. “Needs to be fixed. I need to make it a bit taller, and wider. unless you want it narrow?”

“A little wider would be nice,” Lana looked up, eyeing the new door frame above her. “It should be tall enough though.”

“Almost,” Sesa dared to carefully touch a fingertip to Lana's leg, “The lip of the crate was most of the way up you shin when you were sitting on it. The door isn't big enough. Hop up in the crate so I can measure better?”

Lana looked back and forth, considering before she understood. “Oh! I get it, it's like a foot and change up...will be.”

A foot?

Sesa grinned as she looked at the, maybe inch or so space. Suddenly getting an interesting idea, was an inch a foot for the Bitta? Once Lana was safely inside the crate, Sesa lifted the lid and set it against the spot it would be on, the door space did shrink about a third of the space.

“...yeah, I see, not big enough to be comfortable.” Lana's voice called from inside, and Sesa chuckled.

The giant woman reached for her pencil, holding the lid with her right hand. Starting to make a better opening as Lana popped out. Leaning out to see what was going on, tracking the movement of the pencil. “How's that?” 

“I think? Is the knot going to be okay halfway through?” Lana pointed at something just to her right.

Sesa leaned down to look, where there was a slight color difference. “It should be alright, but I can cut the other way instead to avoid the spot. Or you can have a window?”

The giggle that came at once had Sesa smiling down at Lana. The Bitta extracted herself to go inside the crate and look around. “Maybe windows would be nice. Not sure where yet.” 

“We can always add some later,” Sesa assured as she lifted the lid, finding that Lana was sitting on the floor of the crate. “It might not be much to start with, but if you want more of a bed I think a few of the little… ‘Models’ of Bitta houses might have something inside. I still want to smooth that little cooker thing out.”

“I did kind of like the two levels,” Lana assured, “Unless it's a safety thing?”

“It is, that chip has to stay in a sand buffer, just like mine. Don't want your new home here to catch fire.” Sesa said, moving the lid and using a carving knife to make the door the right size. “My house is made of thick stone, but I really like this table. My grandfather made it when he made the house.”

“Safety first,” Lana smiled, for now happy to sit on her spot and watch Sesa world. “Nothing wrong with that. Can I ask some more things?”

“I don't mind.” Sesa said, smiling as she worked. Not wanting to admit how much she was enjoying the morning talking with the Bitta. Someone that was not demanding Sesa do something for them, but looking up at the bigger woman with weary hope. 

Sesa paused her carving for a moment, as it really sank in that this tiny person was going to be dependent on her. Mostly depending on her, for more than protection. The woman wanted Lana to be as set up as possible. Turning back to her task as the Bitta asked.

“What are we going to do for a door?” Lana asked, still peaceful in her spot. 

Sesa paused, realizing that was a good question. Doors were good things. “It’s not very impressive for now, but I did get a lot of the fabric scraps from the weavers. Maybe we can use a piece of that until I can make a hinge small enough.”

“That could work.” The bitta tilted her head, remembering how stiff some fabrics from the other day was, mostly Sesa’s vest. “Better than nothing, ya?”

“Yeah,” Sesa echoed, looking at some of the things on the table. Glanced down at what she had done before adding as she lifted the lid. “Here, let's try this.”

The lid was fitted back into place, and there was a happy sound from inside the crate. “Much better!” 

Sesa could not help smiling as the giant watched when Lana came back to the door, being careful of the edges still but there was a good space between her on all sides now. “Yes it is, I’ll sand the edges down for you too.”

“Thank you,” Lana backed up reflexively as the lid of the crate was moved and pulled off. She paused once sitting down at the edge of the crate, “And… um, Thank you Sesa.”

“For what?”

Lana looked up, finding golden eyes back on her, “For helping me, even if I was… am, scared. For not putting me in like a pet tank, or leaving me somewhere. Thank you for saving me from the dinosaurs that wanted to eat me.”

Sesa’s neutral, concentrating expression softened. Getting that more pleased, or happy look like when they were cooking together. “You’re welcome, but I couldn’t leave you. That dosen’t seem… right. You’ve been… are a person. Just….very oddly- erm.”

“Tiny?” Lana snorted softly, hopping down to the ground, tabletop. Walking around the crate lid to where Sesa hand set the containers of ‘vine berries.’ pausing as a large hand stopped just short of her, as if Sesa was moving on reflex but stopped herself.

Lana considered, then took a few steps over to pat the back of Sesa’s hand. 

Hearing the rumble back, “Very small. But you’re very cute.”

Lana flushed a bit, looking away and walked to the equivalent of berry containers, only, well. Crate sized…

Exactly like those big crates at fall of pumpkins at the stores because it was full of pumpkins! 

Vine berry.

Lana rested her hand on the edges of the container, leaning over it a bit. It felt like wood, but was thin enough to bend, yet thick enough that it almost looked expexive to Lana. not like particle board, but… it was one piece? Paper? paper -ish? Wait, Lana thought as she picked up a white pumpkin up off the stack in the container. Remembering some little boxes like this at a farmer’s market but with strawberries.

She felt a bit dizzy again as another facet of the size scale hit Lana, standing beside a giant’s berry container. That was a pumpkin. Whites and what Lana recognized as being marbled green and orange, a seed pumpkin?

How much stuff filtered over to this world?

Definitely not plastics as far as Lana could tell, but she turned the pumpkin around in her hands. She knocked her knuckles on it, hearring the hollow sound, and then tested the skin. Rine really. Definitely ripe and ready. 

“We can definitely grow some pumpkins.” Lana smiled, paused and then brightened up turning to see a surprised and happy Sesa. “OH! Hey, I just thought of something Sesa!”

The giant blinked, expression turning confused as she paused and had what looked like sandpaper in hand. Watching the human run back to the crate. Pumpkin set on the side of the crate, not completely forgotten but set aside. Lana had climbed up and was rummaging through her lifeboat, and her backpack left inside. 

“...what did you remember?” Sesa guessed, watching in some amusement as the Bitta pulled over a decently sized bag for her back by the vine berry. Plopping down to start pulling things out. A change of clothes and an assortment of other little things Sesa could not tell what they were. 

“Okay, you know how I told you I set up gardens and stuff to make money on the side?” Lana asked, pulling a thick bag out, envelope really but nice and protecting the smaller little clear bags, as well as some paper bags. It took a second for Sesa to realize there were patterns on the paper as well as miniscule writing.

The giant woman leaned over, folding her arms on the table and had to get close to try and see the details. The words seemed gibberish to Sesa, but she controlled her breathing and focused on the little bits, and saw the tiniest of little pictures of plants. Fruit? “...you have seeds with you?”

“Yeah,” Lana smiled, taking a few deep breaths with the giant woman’s head so close. She was fine, it was okay. “Including some pumpkins! I have the big ones, sugar pie, even some blues. Not to mention I have several other squashes. Some veggies and flowers too. Even have some strawberries! A lot… My Auntie’s wanted a lot of those.”

The bitta paused, tilting her head and picked something out that she had been hoarding while on the lifeboat. A packet of dehydrated fruit from a friend. “I might have some more too, I almost forgot I have some stuff that might sprout too.”

“All the things,” Sesa said softly, before moving back and straightening her back, smiling, “At least you can have some familiar things growing?”

“Is it safe to grow things outside for me?” Lana wondered, not really able to see outside well. Or just out the window of Sesa's cabin from where she was. “With the dinosaur lizard things?”

“... good point.” Sesa eyed her pots, and then shrugged, “We can find something inside for you, I was told the vine berries… pumpkin? Need to grow inside anyways.” 

“Do you have any more containers like that?” Lana asked, pointing to the container with the pumpkins.

“I do, some older ones too I haven't done anything with. Oh and the pots the miniature trees are in.” Sesa looked over to her right to point at the pots, “I do need to get those repotted, and the garden birds into something. They've probably laid a bunch of eggs and need water. Let's at least get you something to sleep on, Lana, and some basic supplies if you want to cook. Get the garden birds somewhere safe after. Maybe they're an animal you can use?”

“Maybe?” Lana paused, thinking about the mention of eggs. Could it be chickens? 

That seemed a little too good to be true.

“What do they eat?”

“...you know I'm not sure, I know they like the scraps of the cooking gourds. I normally let them go in one of the protected garden plots. They seem to eat bugs that try for those plants.” Sesa was shifting back and stretched again working a stiff muscle out. She was moving to look for something, paused and sighed. “I left it in the shed. I'll be back, Lana.”

“Okay?” Lana answered, puzzled as the only shed she was aware of was back at the cove. Then realized that she really did not have an idea of what it looked like outside other than having seen a barn-like building to the… east of the house’s main window. 

At least the left of the window when facing it. 

Lana almost asked to go with Sesa as she was getting boots on. Then changed her mind, not wanting to see the even bigger world outside right now. She gave a nervous giggle, and after getting glanced at blurted out, “Watch out for monsters?” 

Sesa grinned, “Don't worry, I can kill any monsters Lana. And if for some reason I can't, I'll get John to come down from his cabin.”

Sesa pointed to her bed still in the living space, and the fur blanket on it. “He hunted and made that for me after all.”

“That's one creature?” Lana squeaked. 

“Maybe two,” Sesa considered, “he had to use something to even it out.”

“I don't think I want to see what that came from. Or meet it.”

“You won't,” Sesa promised as she got up, “Not alive anyways. John keeps them away. I'll be right back.”

Lana waved, not sure if Sesa saw it, but that was okay. It was notably quieter with the giant gone as the door opened and closed, but not too much so. She could still hear whatever animals outside, and those chitters again. Lana walked over the table top, until coming to the ‘pots’ that held the trees. She could not see what was inside them, did not sound like a chicken but did sound like a bird of some sort.

Backing up, Lana tried to see what the tree was, it seemed like a plum, or cherry? 

“What is this place?” Lana wondered aloud, glancing around, not meaning her current… residence? The cabin was more like…several malls put together? At least cabin fever might not be that bad. Hopefully.

Hearing the distant footsteps coming back some fifteen minutes later, Lana looked up from where she had come back to. Currently setting all the pumpkins out in neat rows away from where all the work was going on. At least away from Sesa’s work area. The main door opened, the giant woman had what looked like a tray in one hand with a few assorted things on it. 

Definitely a different shed somewhere closer then the one at the cove.

“Welcome back?” Lana called, and got a smile back. “Goodies?”

“Goodies? Oh, heh, that’s cute. Yes, goodies.” Sesa was still smiling as she got her boots off again, paused as if considering something. “I need to find my other shoes. Might be in the storage room.”

Sesa came over, hesitated before getting to the table and made herself take a breath. Lana tilted her head but understood as the giant woman slowed her steps the last few paces before sitting down. That was kind, Lana realized, willing to come over as the tray was set down and the crate lid moved to the side. It was a few feet tall at least, the edges that was, and when Lana found it came up to her middle and peered in. 

There were some more of those bent wood containers, Sesa had grabbed them and they just looked a bit dry or dusty. There were also a few small her-sized things, like a table! A bench, and a few more things that were carved from wood and… and…

Well.

There was a boxy like room thing, and a car sized squash fruit.

Not like pickup size, but the size of a small compact car. ‘Just’ small car sized. It likely could fit on a flatbed truck?

Like the massive world record pumpkins, only it put those to shame and even held its shape. It looked like scallop squash, but was colored dark green with dark orange stripes and spots freckled over it.

Lana could fit in it!

“This is an eating gourd!” Sesa said cheerfully, then was leaning over to look at the vine barries. As if comparing again the difference between the two. Or what was alike?

Lana did not want to sit in the giant pumpkin... Well, no, there was still that intrusive thought to want to be a godsdamns fiery and sit in a hollowed out giant pumpkin. “What’s it taste like?” 

Sesa laughed at the confused question, “Tasty? Better with seasonings.”

“You could make so many pies, and soup and everything with that.” Lana wondered aloud. Paused, and then she climb over the edge of the tray and came closer. Almost running into a solid seeming table before getting distracted by that.

“....You can make pie out of gourds?!” Sesa demanded leaning back, startled. She looked around, even up at the recipe books she had, then to that paper with the nut pie recipe. “No one told me that! Why didn’t anyone tell me that?”

The demand was not aimed at Lana but the Bitta giggled as she looked up at the almost offended expression on the giant.

“...how do you make it?”

“Well,” Lana thought, remembering the days spent with her family cooking. “You have sugar, the squash, I saw a bunch of seasonings. Something has to be alike to what’s needed. Do you have milk or cream?”

“I’m about to, when the cows give birth.” Sesa brightened up. “I also froze some last fall!”

“Do you have a pie crust recipe?”

“I found one in my grandmother’s books I use!”

“Do you have edible eggs?” Lana asked, tilting her head.

Sesa stared out the window, blinked slowly before brightening up. “I don’t yet. But I’ve been meaning to trade a neighbor for egg layers!”

Lana giggled again, “Well, we can make some pie then when we have everything. Depending on that milk. You might like some whipped cream on top too!”

“....What now? That sounds odd…is it good? Whipped cream?”

“Very good, more so if you make it a little sweet.” “Sweet cream… like fancy tea in town? It can be whipped?”