Humans are Weird - Obsession
Bendseachthing crawled slowly along the bed of the current, turning over the conversations he was about to have with the base medic. He was far from certain that he should be having this conversation at all. So far there had been no harm, either to the community or to the individual in question. However the potential for the disruption of the community was there. Bendseachthing braced his appendages on the pleasantly rough natural stone and gave a final long stretch before lifting his leading end so he could ‘knock’ on the underside of the office door in front of him. The door vibrated a positive response to his request for entrance so he surged up through the seal, wriggling past the several layers that prevented the water from flooding the chambers of the terrestrial species.
“Welcome Bendseachthing,” Second Sister greeted him.
She was sitting on her couch, and a round container that smelled of insects and oils balance beside her. From the shiny look of several of her joints she had been tending to her outer membrane, making sure her fluids stayed inside of it and didn’t evaporate out.
“May I assist in in applying your moisturizer?” Bendseachthing called out.
It would be a wonderful chance to learn more about Shatar biology, and Shatar medical ointments rarely tasted anything but delicious.
Second Sister’s antenna curled down tightly over her head and her frill lay close to her neck.
“Is making that offer why you scheduled this appointment?” She asked in tones that were far more cheerful than her movements.
“Oh no,” Bendseachthing said as he shook the last of the water droplets off of his appendages before scrambling further into the room. “I have a human psychology question, but I can-”
“Then,” interrupted Second Sister, standing and giving her triangular head a brisk shake that loosened her antenna and frill nicely, “let us discuss human psychology. How may I help you.”
She trotted over to her work station, every joint speaking of brisk dedication to work. Bendseachthing let a few appendages linger on the scent of the moisturizer as he followed her and climbed up the side of the work station to perch beside her holographic display.
“You are aware that in addition to my mechanical duties for the Ranger Corps I make entertainment devices,” Bendseachthing said.
“Yes,” Second Sister said tilting her antenna in an appreciative manner. “My First Father actually purchased several for our hive. The tactile stimulation modules are quite entertaining for the younger sisters.”
“I did not know that!” Bendseachthing declared, arching up in pleasure. “Tell me,” he hesitated and pondered his question, “did your First Father report that any of your sisters were too engaged with the modules?”
Second Sister tilted her head thoughtfully, angling one large, multifaceted eye at him as she considered her answer.
“What would you consider an excessive level of engagement?” She asked slowly.
“For instance,” Bendseachthing said, “do any of them enjoy playing the games so much that they skip basic daily personal grooming routines or even eating to continue playing them.”
“No.” Second Sister said firmly, her antenna lying flat back in grim concentration. “What human was displaying this behavior, and which module was it?”
Bendseachthing shuffled to the side uneasily.
“It is not harming anything yet,” Bendseachthing said carefully.
Second Sister considered him silently for several moments, her body radiating skeptical consideration. Finally she smoothed her angles out and sat back.
“The human will not be in trouble,” she said. “However, obsession with new games is a recognized phenomenon in the species. It has especially been noted in humans of the age that is most common on the base. Given the enclosed quarters we live in, the ambient pheromone consequences of a young, not fully mature human forgoing grooming rituals can be-” she hesitated and tapped her fingers against her work station, “-uncomfortable for the rest of the inhabitants of the base.”
“Oh, is this the human-funk I have heard about?” Bendseachthing asked.
“Quite likely,” Second Sister said. “Now, tell me which human has become obsessed with this new game. I assure you, I will handle the conversation with tact. However, allowing a human to produce a ‘funk’ in an enclosed space is not a viable option.”
“Welcome Bendseachthing,” Second Sister greeted him.
She was sitting on her couch, and a round container that smelled of insects and oils balance beside her. From the shiny look of several of her joints she had been tending to her outer membrane, making sure her fluids stayed inside of it and didn’t evaporate out.
“May I assist in in applying your moisturizer?” Bendseachthing called out.
It would be a wonderful chance to learn more about Shatar biology, and Shatar medical ointments rarely tasted anything but delicious.
Second Sister’s antenna curled down tightly over her head and her frill lay close to her neck.
“Is making that offer why you scheduled this appointment?” She asked in tones that were far more cheerful than her movements.
“Oh no,” Bendseachthing said as he shook the last of the water droplets off of his appendages before scrambling further into the room. “I have a human psychology question, but I can-”
“Then,” interrupted Second Sister, standing and giving her triangular head a brisk shake that loosened her antenna and frill nicely, “let us discuss human psychology. How may I help you.”
She trotted over to her work station, every joint speaking of brisk dedication to work. Bendseachthing let a few appendages linger on the scent of the moisturizer as he followed her and climbed up the side of the work station to perch beside her holographic display.
“You are aware that in addition to my mechanical duties for the Ranger Corps I make entertainment devices,” Bendseachthing said.
“Yes,” Second Sister said tilting her antenna in an appreciative manner. “My First Father actually purchased several for our hive. The tactile stimulation modules are quite entertaining for the younger sisters.”
“I did not know that!” Bendseachthing declared, arching up in pleasure. “Tell me,” he hesitated and pondered his question, “did your First Father report that any of your sisters were too engaged with the modules?”
Second Sister tilted her head thoughtfully, angling one large, multifaceted eye at him as she considered her answer.
“What would you consider an excessive level of engagement?” She asked slowly.
“For instance,” Bendseachthing said, “do any of them enjoy playing the games so much that they skip basic daily personal grooming routines or even eating to continue playing them.”
“No.” Second Sister said firmly, her antenna lying flat back in grim concentration. “What human was displaying this behavior, and which module was it?”
Bendseachthing shuffled to the side uneasily.
“It is not harming anything yet,” Bendseachthing said carefully.
Second Sister considered him silently for several moments, her body radiating skeptical consideration. Finally she smoothed her angles out and sat back.
“The human will not be in trouble,” she said. “However, obsession with new games is a recognized phenomenon in the species. It has especially been noted in humans of the age that is most common on the base. Given the enclosed quarters we live in, the ambient pheromone consequences of a young, not fully mature human forgoing grooming rituals can be-” she hesitated and tapped her fingers against her work station, “-uncomfortable for the rest of the inhabitants of the base.”
“Oh, is this the human-funk I have heard about?” Bendseachthing asked.
“Quite likely,” Second Sister said. “Now, tell me which human has become obsessed with this new game. I assure you, I will handle the conversation with tact. However, allowing a human to produce a ‘funk’ in an enclosed space is not a viable option.”
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