Challenge #02865-G308: Actively Seeking Trouble
“Yes a child would be perfect for unforeseen flaws.” Threp chuckled. Glorz glad seeing that their friend is chucking. Another person slides themselves in to the conversation “so, how many laws and regulations would this violate?” Threp replied “I remember humans have something called CPS by their standards, many.” – Anon Guest
Threp and Glorz stared at Faera, who added, “Considering child labor laws, it may be more expensive to hire Human neophytes. Though they are a one-size-fits-most solution, the long term consequences may be detrimental.”
Starting with Human young growing up with the knowledge of how to sabotage various species’ livesuits. Probably taking a tour through extant child protection laws amongst the regional Human population.
“Well cheese[1], there goes that angle,” grumped Threp. “We’ll probably be better off hiring focus groups of specific Humans. Worse, it’s going to take longer.”
[Be sure to visit internutter (dot) org for a link to the rest of this story, and details on how to support this artist. Or visit peakd (dot) com (slash at) internutter for the stories at their freshest]
Challenge #02864-G307: Aaw But They Look So Cute
My name? Not important. I’m a Xenobiologist. But some people know about my family. Sure our name’s changed over the years, thankfully, but you can see old movies about them sometimes. I was born with an unusual gift. I can talk to animals. No, I’m not crazy, yes this has been very thoroughly been tested even with telepaths. I can talk to animals and they can understand me, and I can understand them. How is this possible? Good question, we never did figure that one out. But it sure helps when you’re trying to convince an 800 pound behemoth you ended up meeting up with during a survey mission not to chew on you or your crew-mates. – LetsTalk
Technically speaking, we’re a family of Espers. It’s a unique gift handed down in a peculiar mutation from a who-knows-the-numeral grandfather who became the inspiration for a famous work of fiction. I’ll tell you what we can do and you’ll know what one it is. Instantly.
My family and I can understand and communicate with animals. Yes, just like Doctor Dolittle. Yes, I’ve heard it a billion times or more, I just roll my eyes like that automatically. It’s like a habit. No, the family name is not ‘Dolittle’, and it never was. Besides, the mutation’s spread a bit since then and there’s like ten families who have it by now.
No, we don’t have conversations. Animal language is a little less… structured. Survival’s generally hinged on eat-mate-flee priorities with little side-trips involving whether or not the creature in question looks after their young and how invested they are in parenting. Animals have no sense of 'test’ or 'trial’. Everything is either a danger or it’s not. In the cases of the new and strange, it’s safer to assume something’s dangerous.
[Be sure to visit internutter (dot) org for a link to the rest of this story, and details on how to support this artist. Or visit peakd (dot) com (slash at) internutter for the stories at their freshest]
Challenge #02863-G306: Nothing That’s Worth a Lot
A human had a poetry book that they took everywhere with them and enjoyed sitting and reading when they had time. Admittedly, time could be few and far between with their job. One poem she recited softly to herself from time to time had her liaison curious and he asked what it was she was muttering to herself. Her reply confused him because she stated it was a poem about nothing. But how could it be about nothing? All such works are about something… right?
A Poem About Nothing
This is a poem about nothing.
No flowing words about gardens or trees.
No tales of the birds and the bees,
Because, this is a poem of nothing.
~
This is a poem about nothing.
No winking stars in the evening skies.
No mysteries or lovely eyes,
No, this is truly about nothing.
~
This is a poem about something.
Of this, I truly now know.
It’s so very odd how things can go.
Because, this poem is something about nothing. – DaniAndShali
Companion Graith had to know what was in the book. It was Human Trent’s primary comfort article. They used it, in Trent’s own words, “to degauss”. The pages of yellowing paper were treated with careful reverence and the whole thing had been rebound four times before Graith had met Trent, which meant that it was something that had been read and read again until the very substance of its makeup had to be replaced. This was something very important in their Human’s life.
Of course, the fact that Human Trent didn’t let it out of their personal aura was also a chief indicator. Of course, the trouble with taking a look was… Human Trent didn’t let it out of their personal aura. There was, fortunately, one never-fail method that guaranteed the best chance of taking a peek. “Human Trent, may I also read your book of poetry?”
Human Trent smiled and brought the book out of their special protective locker pocket in their livesuit. “You’ll think it’s silly,” they warned. “But every single one of these poems helps me feel better after a bad day.”
[Be sure to visit internutter (dot) org for a link to the rest of this story, and details on how to support this artist. Or visit peakd (dot) com (slash at) internutter for the stories at their freshest]
Challenge #02862-G305: Song of Triumph
For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself then he has naught, To say the things he truly feels, And not the words of one who kneels, The record shows I took the blows, And did it my way. – Anon Guest
It was a Human song of triumph, so of course it contained references to violence and, because of the culture of origin, going it all alone. Which is ridiculous. Society doesn’t exist on an individual basis. There is no way, for example, that an infant is capable of making its own food and clothes.
Companion Lythe still let Human Bo have their victory song, all the same. Right up to the soaring crechendo. “I have to wonder, Human Bo. How does the Human who the song is about get along with others? What happens if he needs medical attention?”
“What? Oh. No. This isn’t about that. It’s about the success. Going it alone. Doing the thing you love and being good at it and making it to the top–” here, they broke off to sing, “Myyyyy waaaaayyyy…”
[Be sure to visit internutter (dot) org for a link to the rest of this story, and details on how to support this artist. Or visit peakd (dot) com (slash at) internutter for the stories at their freshest]
Challenge #02861-G304: Well That Was Dumb
“Fuck!”
“Ow.”
“…I’m bleeding.” – Anon Guest
Accidents happen quickly. Reactions to them differ. Humans have a shock response that insulates them from immediately feeling an injury. As a survival tactic, it’s great for getting the people away from the threat, but in a more technologically advanced setting… it’s disturbing to unprepared onlookers.
Human Dree had been working on something involving sharp tools and applied pressure. One of their multiple hobbies. The tool slipped, and the reaction was instant and automatic. “FLAKK!”
Human Dree left their work to track down the tool that had gone flying. In the process, they realised that they were hurt. “Ow.” Human Dree finished retrieving their tool and inspected the site of their pain. Palpating the area, seemingly for curiosity’s sake more than anything else.
[Be sure to visit internutter (dot) org for a link to the rest of this story, and details on how to support this artist. Or visit peakd (dot) com (slash at) internutter for the stories at their freshest]