Humans are Weird - Critique
Notes the Passing Changes gave the tendrils around the fruit tree a satisfied hum as the final results of the chemical analysis returned. The fruits, a rare, soft fleshed variety of the Earth species known as plums had reached the perfect stage or ripeness. Or at least they had reached the state that Pat and Sandy enjoyed eating the most. Notes the Passing Changes was aware that some humans preferred the fruits to remain on the tree until the flesh was even softer but Sandy insisted that the fruit in such a stage was ‘messy’ and was willing to forgo the added nutritional value for the ease of consumption. Notes the Passing Changes had caused the tree to cut off a certain percentage of the fruit from primary nutrient flow over the past few days in preparation for tonight's social gathering and now gave one final check of the motile-fibers embedded in the branches of the tree before shaking them vigorously. The selected plums fell to the ground, landing in the pile of soft leaves and dried grass that Notes the Passing Changes had prepared.
Their shining purple skins stood out against the orange and browns of the leaves for a moment before they, and their leaf beds began to bounce and roll along the prepared pathway through the orchard. Notes the Passing Changes gently shoved the individual fruits up and forward with motile tendrils, making sure to catch them on soft leaves and dried grass that would not damage the outer skins and the fruits moved, slowly at first and then with increasing speed as they made their way towards the dwelling of Pat and Sandy.
The human habitation was lit with soft orange lights, specifically attuned to provide useful light for the humans in the growing darkness without interfering with the nocturnal behavior of the local wildlife species. The wooden structure vibrated with the noise of far more than the two regular inhabitants and several more humans were walking down the path to the house, though Notes the Passing Changes realized absently that the closer human had stopped, possibly to allow the one behind him to catch up. The leading human held a large container of some warm liquid that released aromatic steam into the air around him. The lagging human carried a similarly aromatic container, but one that suggested heated grain products inside. Notes the Passing Changes was curious about the items, but for the moment getting the ‘host gift’ of the fruit in required fully concentration.
“What are you looking at?” the lagging human asked as she caught up with the leading human.
“I...don’t know?” the leading human said, raising a hand to point and follow the progress of the plums.
“What on the verdant surface of this world?” the previously lagging human asked.
Notes the Passing Changes focused on getting the plums to the grappling vine that Sandy had deliberately grown outside one of the smaller windows for such a purpose. All of their curiosity would be satisfied when they were within the warmth and light of the house and could socialize. The plums reached the based of the window and Notes the Passing Changes carefully manipulated the grappling vine to pass the fruit up to the window with the special latch. Sandy had promised to have a bowl ready to accept the host gift however the light coming through the window showed only a flat table. When all the plums were at the level of the window Notes the Passing Changes shifted a locus of attention to the indoor plant Pat and Sandy kept for the use of socialization and carefully rang the small, silver bells to call awareness to the presence of another sapient in the room.
“Notes is here!” called out a distance muffled voice as Notes the Passing Change’s awareness crystallized in the structure.
The general shuffle of bodies in the carbon dioxide rich air resolved itself into the comfortable chaos of a human social event. Other than the first greeting no one took particular notice of Notes the Passing Changes’s arrival. After a few moments Pat hurried by with several bottles of liquid in his hands as he chatted with one of the other humans.
“Pat,” Notes the Passing Changes called out.
“Notes!” Pat greeted him cheerfully, “Glad you could make it. Can I get you anything?”
“I do require a bowl for my host gift,” Notes the Passing Changes pointed out.
“Its on the delivery table-no its not…” Pat said twisting his head around as he surveyed the room. “Sorry bout that Notes, just give me a minute.” Pat altered his course, found a container of the right size on top of some shelf, and set it on the relevant table before moving to had the bottles to anther guest.
Notes the Passing Changes opened the window and deposited the plums in the bowl before resuming quiet observation of the room. One of the humans was standing and giving most of his attention to a projector that dangled from the ceiling, the rest of the humans were gathered in small groups talking about various subjects, but mostly focused on human media. Sandy was moving in and out of the food preparation area, focused on her duties as a host, setting out the various food and drink items brought by the others in what was presumably an efficient dispersal pattern. She finally seemed to notice the plums and came over to them with a sound of delight.
“Notes! Thank you!” Sandy said as she picked up one of the fruits and gave it a squeeze. “I’ll just set these by th-”
“Sandy! You have opinions on “Vengeance of the Revenge IV right?” someone called out.
“Not while there’s snacks that need ta’ be set out yet!” Sandy called back with a laugh, picking up the bowl and moving it towards the surfaces covered with other foodstuffs.
The general chaos continued until the human working the projector seemed to call the gathering to order and began listing a set of rules for socially interacting during the display of the chosen media, which instructions the crowd of humans seemed to find highly amusing despite them seeming to be reasonable and generally acceptable. Pat wandered over and leaned against the wall beside Notes the Passing Changes’s plant.
“Enjoying yer’self so far pal?” Pat asked.
“Quite,” Notes the Passing Changes agreed. “This is very interesting so far.”
“It’s yer first Terrible Movie Night isn’t it?” Pat continued, taking a sip of the drink he was holding.
“Yes,” Notes the Passing Changes agreed. “For all the others I was either too diffuse, or it was in a structure I did not have access too. May I ask a potentially awkward question?”
Pat gave a snort of amusement and nodded.
“Why is Second Sister not in attendance?” Notes the Passing Changes asked. “Was she not invited?”
“Ah,” Pat said with a rueful grin. “Nah mate, she was invited, but it was just a social formality that. See, Shatar really don’t see the point of Terrible Movie Night.”
“Is not the point simply socialization and art appreciation?” Notes the Passing Changes asked. “I had thought that Shatar valued both highly.”
“They do, they do,” Pat said with a grin. “Thing is, we humans also value the fun you get outta tearing a proper bad bit o’ art to pieces. Metaphorically of course, and let me tell you, once our ancestors found out how easy and cheap it was to mass produce media each time the tech got a little better, well,” Pat laughed a bit ruefully and took a sip of his drink, “they do say ninety-percent of everything is trash, and when you have nine outa’ ten of a very, very big number. There is a lot of terrible movies out there.”
“And you get pleasure from watching these movies and criticizing their failures in a social setting?” Notes the Passing Changes asked.
Pat nodded vigorously.
“And Second Sister? Not so much,” he explained. “Said she found it a right waste of time, and distressing to watch humans arguing so loudly over some thing so silly. So we invite her to let her know she’s welcome but no Shatar has ever really liked to come to Terrible Movie Night.”
“Fascinating,” Notes the Passing Changes said as the lights dimmed and the warm mammals stood out in glowing infrared.
Sandy took a place on the couch with a large bowl of exploded grains and Pat dragged a chair over sit down by Notes the Passing Changes’s plant.
“Do you not prefer to sit by your mate?” Notes the Passing Changes asked in surprise.
“Nah,” Pat said with a laugh. “Sandy has a habit o’ punching when the cringe gets to deep. Best to stay out of her strike range.”
“How very strange that Second Sister does not appreciative these gatherings,” Notes the Passing observed, and despite a very good impression of sarcasm in the tones Pat only shrugged.
“To each their own my friend, to each their own.”
Their shining purple skins stood out against the orange and browns of the leaves for a moment before they, and their leaf beds began to bounce and roll along the prepared pathway through the orchard. Notes the Passing Changes gently shoved the individual fruits up and forward with motile tendrils, making sure to catch them on soft leaves and dried grass that would not damage the outer skins and the fruits moved, slowly at first and then with increasing speed as they made their way towards the dwelling of Pat and Sandy.
The human habitation was lit with soft orange lights, specifically attuned to provide useful light for the humans in the growing darkness without interfering with the nocturnal behavior of the local wildlife species. The wooden structure vibrated with the noise of far more than the two regular inhabitants and several more humans were walking down the path to the house, though Notes the Passing Changes realized absently that the closer human had stopped, possibly to allow the one behind him to catch up. The leading human held a large container of some warm liquid that released aromatic steam into the air around him. The lagging human carried a similarly aromatic container, but one that suggested heated grain products inside. Notes the Passing Changes was curious about the items, but for the moment getting the ‘host gift’ of the fruit in required fully concentration.
“What are you looking at?” the lagging human asked as she caught up with the leading human.
“I...don’t know?” the leading human said, raising a hand to point and follow the progress of the plums.
“What on the verdant surface of this world?” the previously lagging human asked.
Notes the Passing Changes focused on getting the plums to the grappling vine that Sandy had deliberately grown outside one of the smaller windows for such a purpose. All of their curiosity would be satisfied when they were within the warmth and light of the house and could socialize. The plums reached the based of the window and Notes the Passing Changes carefully manipulated the grappling vine to pass the fruit up to the window with the special latch. Sandy had promised to have a bowl ready to accept the host gift however the light coming through the window showed only a flat table. When all the plums were at the level of the window Notes the Passing Changes shifted a locus of attention to the indoor plant Pat and Sandy kept for the use of socialization and carefully rang the small, silver bells to call awareness to the presence of another sapient in the room.
“Notes is here!” called out a distance muffled voice as Notes the Passing Change’s awareness crystallized in the structure.
The general shuffle of bodies in the carbon dioxide rich air resolved itself into the comfortable chaos of a human social event. Other than the first greeting no one took particular notice of Notes the Passing Changes’s arrival. After a few moments Pat hurried by with several bottles of liquid in his hands as he chatted with one of the other humans.
“Pat,” Notes the Passing Changes called out.
“Notes!” Pat greeted him cheerfully, “Glad you could make it. Can I get you anything?”
“I do require a bowl for my host gift,” Notes the Passing Changes pointed out.
“Its on the delivery table-no its not…” Pat said twisting his head around as he surveyed the room. “Sorry bout that Notes, just give me a minute.” Pat altered his course, found a container of the right size on top of some shelf, and set it on the relevant table before moving to had the bottles to anther guest.
Notes the Passing Changes opened the window and deposited the plums in the bowl before resuming quiet observation of the room. One of the humans was standing and giving most of his attention to a projector that dangled from the ceiling, the rest of the humans were gathered in small groups talking about various subjects, but mostly focused on human media. Sandy was moving in and out of the food preparation area, focused on her duties as a host, setting out the various food and drink items brought by the others in what was presumably an efficient dispersal pattern. She finally seemed to notice the plums and came over to them with a sound of delight.
“Notes! Thank you!” Sandy said as she picked up one of the fruits and gave it a squeeze. “I’ll just set these by th-”
“Sandy! You have opinions on “Vengeance of the Revenge IV right?” someone called out.
“Not while there’s snacks that need ta’ be set out yet!” Sandy called back with a laugh, picking up the bowl and moving it towards the surfaces covered with other foodstuffs.
The general chaos continued until the human working the projector seemed to call the gathering to order and began listing a set of rules for socially interacting during the display of the chosen media, which instructions the crowd of humans seemed to find highly amusing despite them seeming to be reasonable and generally acceptable. Pat wandered over and leaned against the wall beside Notes the Passing Changes’s plant.
“Enjoying yer’self so far pal?” Pat asked.
“Quite,” Notes the Passing Changes agreed. “This is very interesting so far.”
“It’s yer first Terrible Movie Night isn’t it?” Pat continued, taking a sip of the drink he was holding.
“Yes,” Notes the Passing Changes agreed. “For all the others I was either too diffuse, or it was in a structure I did not have access too. May I ask a potentially awkward question?”
Pat gave a snort of amusement and nodded.
“Why is Second Sister not in attendance?” Notes the Passing Changes asked. “Was she not invited?”
“Ah,” Pat said with a rueful grin. “Nah mate, she was invited, but it was just a social formality that. See, Shatar really don’t see the point of Terrible Movie Night.”
“Is not the point simply socialization and art appreciation?” Notes the Passing Changes asked. “I had thought that Shatar valued both highly.”
“They do, they do,” Pat said with a grin. “Thing is, we humans also value the fun you get outta tearing a proper bad bit o’ art to pieces. Metaphorically of course, and let me tell you, once our ancestors found out how easy and cheap it was to mass produce media each time the tech got a little better, well,” Pat laughed a bit ruefully and took a sip of his drink, “they do say ninety-percent of everything is trash, and when you have nine outa’ ten of a very, very big number. There is a lot of terrible movies out there.”
“And you get pleasure from watching these movies and criticizing their failures in a social setting?” Notes the Passing Changes asked.
Pat nodded vigorously.
“And Second Sister? Not so much,” he explained. “Said she found it a right waste of time, and distressing to watch humans arguing so loudly over some thing so silly. So we invite her to let her know she’s welcome but no Shatar has ever really liked to come to Terrible Movie Night.”
“Fascinating,” Notes the Passing Changes said as the lights dimmed and the warm mammals stood out in glowing infrared.
Sandy took a place on the couch with a large bowl of exploded grains and Pat dragged a chair over sit down by Notes the Passing Changes’s plant.
“Do you not prefer to sit by your mate?” Notes the Passing Changes asked in surprise.
“Nah,” Pat said with a laugh. “Sandy has a habit o’ punching when the cringe gets to deep. Best to stay out of her strike range.”
“How very strange that Second Sister does not appreciative these gatherings,” Notes the Passing observed, and despite a very good impression of sarcasm in the tones Pat only shrugged.
“To each their own my friend, to each their own.”
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