video; un: frost's claws

[tnr]

[ The video feed is from the poster's point of view: a low-angle pan around the kitchen that shows several items last seen on the counter are now on the floor, in varying states of disarray. A can is still rolling, slowly, on its side.

The speaker sounds like a teenage boy, and rather indignant. ]

Is there nothing to hunt here? I know you all eat strange things, but I can't even find any of that. Never mind any real prey--it's messed up for there to be all that grass and nothing to eat in it, alright? Doesn't anything else live here?

[ It sounds like he maybe isn't actually looking for an answer to that question so much as he's just expressing his disapproval for this baffling and offensive state of affairs. He huffs. ]

Tell me something you eat here and how you get it, so I can decide if I'll eat it.

Comments

[ananym]

The station provides food, somehow. I confess I'm not too familiar with the science of it.

I usually hunt for my own food.

[tnr]

So it just...makes eggs with nothing to lay them? That's very strange.

[ He takes a little bite of the fish, as well. To his faint surprise, despite being warm, that's good too. ]

Although...not really stranger than anything else here is, I suppose.

[ananym]

Advanced science can seem very strange at the start.

But no doubt, we will both be accustomed to it soon enough.

[tnr]

[ "Science" is a word that the translator has to kind of break down for him, because there is absolutely not a word for that in his cat society, but when it is conveyed to him, his ears perk up and he sits up from where he's bent over the fish. ]

Yes, I hope so too! Do you not have, um, science, where you're from, either?

[ananym]

We do, but it is rather limited.

[ for most people, anyway. alucard, not so much. ]

People were still learning the ways of it.

[tnr]

Oh, I see... [ Thistle licks his paw. ] Can I ask, what did that look like, then? Just starting to have it, I mean.

[ananym]

There isn't much to say. They had only started to learn how to create paper and create some basic mechanical objects.

[tnr]

I mean, we don't have any of that at all, where I'm from. It's--

[ He pauses, tail twitching. ]

... Well, I should say, cats don't. I don't know what else is out there.

[ananym]

And I assume this is weighing on you.

[ not unfair. ]

But I have no doubt your own intelligence will come into play in our missions sooner or later.

[tnr]

Oh, no! Or, I mean, well, yes, I suppose it does make you feel a bit stupid, but--I just want to know more. It's really interesting.

[ananym]

Well, I am not an expert. I'm happy to share what I know, but you might be better off finding a scientist.

Or find some books.

[tnr]

Well, I thought it might be better to hear some of it from someone else who doesn't understand it very well.

[ A pause. ]

What's a "book"?

[ananym]

It is a compiled set of papers containing knowledge. They come in all varieties.

We read the words on the paper in order to learn. That is the most common method.

[tnr]

[ Thistle's eyes go very round and keen. ] Wow, really?! And are there any of these on, um, the station?

[ananym]

I believe so. Someone told me they existed here.

[tnr]

Oh, good! I will definitely try and find some. Thank you!

[ananym]

Of course. We are here to help each other.