[network] @magenta2; voice - morning 286 [open]

[himalayanyeti]

Mm, so, is anyone else here from a very long time ago?

[Magenta apparently decides to leave it at that for a couple minutes, before returning to elaborate on the question with a carefully maintained tone of carelessness to his voice. It's a far cry from what he actually sounds like when he's excited or happy, but to the casual listener, it's probably close enough.]

I mean--you know. I think we're s'posed to be in...twenty-one-and-something, I can't remember the exacts, but is anyone here from long before now? A few folks I've talked to have mentioned they're from twenty-something, early twenty-something, but I don't know about all of y'all.

[A pause.]

I'm from 1891, and I reckon it's all a little new to everyone, but it sure seems like y'all have an easier time of gettin' used to things! Computers, and the nan...nan--nanomachines, and whatever else. I don't really know much about any of it, and I'm not that smart to begin with! It's all past me, and I'm sorry for not bein' much help. I guess what I'm meanin' to ask is how everyone deals with figurin' stuff out from the future.

He~ey, though, while we're on it: tell me about the future! I've heard the airplanes are marvelous. I'm very interested in all of it, even if I can't quite get it.

Comments

[himalayanyeti]

Oh! That's good, I guess. You like being a cat, then?

[absentconstellation]

[ He purrs. ]

I can imagine nothing better.

[himalayanyeti]

What about dogs?

[absentconstellation]

They aren't very clever creatures.

[ Of course he says this fondly. They're like... big, dumb children that have too much energy. ]

[himalayanyeti]

No, but they're good! Smarter'n you think, I bet.

[absentconstellation]

They are smarter than some of the beast people, but not nearly so clever as cats.

[himalayanyeti]

Beast people, or best people? Was that a joke, 'cause you're a cat? I'm sorry if I fucked up your joke, I've just gotta know.

[absentconstellation]

Beast people. What you call animals. Understandably, they refer to themselves as People.

[himalayanyeti]

I reckon that makes sense, then! I would think of myself as a person too, even if I was...I don't know, a lizard, or somethin'. Are cats and dogs and beasts separate, then?

[absentconstellation]

Cats and dogs are of the Beast People.

[himalayanyeti]

...Are dogs as old and sweet as you are? Or are cats more special?

[absentconstellation]

Naturally cats are more special. But though I am a cat, I am not of the Beast People any more than a god is. I am a constellation.

[himalayanyeti]

Like the--no, you're not a constellation. You're a cat! Or a beast person, or whatever--you're a cat, and definitely not stars.

[absentconstellation]

I am as surely a constellation as I am a cat.

[himalayanyeti]

Don't like that. Explain.

[absentconstellation]

I am the constellation called by humans "the cat".