unfringed | File #004 video

[Walter turns on the video for the journal, sets it up and then moves back, sitting down on a chair in front of it. He's wear a lab coat over his usual checkered shirt and sweater cardigan combo and looks quite gleeful, gesturing toward the camera with a welcoming motion.]

Fellow denizens of Luceti! My name is Walter Bishop and I come to you with a unique request.

I would like to take a tissue and wing sample from every person in the compound - a simple test, really, very quick, not at all painful [Says the man who can tolerate electroshock therapy with a smile] - in order to help the scientists of our great community better understand the makeup of this universe.

Should you and several of your companions be from the same world, it would be most helpful if one or all could donate, although one should suffice if anyone is a tad squeamish.

I will be taking the samples this afternoon in the plaza.

Oh! And hot cocoa will be provided for compensation of course. I'm no madman.

This afternoon, starting at 1pm. Any and all volunteers are welcome! Those who don't wish to volunteer, don't worry - I'm sure I can find you somehow, yes?

[Action: Plaza, 1PM]
[As promised, Walter is bundled up in warmer clothes at the plaza with a little table of lab equipment and a rather large cooler that holds several Thermoses of hot cocoa. There are even little marshmallows for people who want them.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes. [That answers his questions, doesn't it?]

I don't know. I don't know what I'm capable of. Except that... I can dance.

[...Suuuure, let's say it does because both options are terrifying.]

If you can dance, then you can learn, can't you? You don't simply dance the same things over and over.

I believe so. Mr. Cat... has taught us a lot about ballet.

Perhaps that's the only trouble then - the need to be taught in order to properly--

...

Did you say Mr. Cat?

Yes.

He's the cat who teaches lessons on ballet... as well as... love and marriage.

Alright, I may be crazy, but that doesn't mean you should tease me.

[He looks towards the video sincerely, reacting as if being warned of something that he shouldn't do in the future.]

Okay. I won't tease you.

Your teacher isn't really called Mr. Cat, is he? That seems a very unfortunate naming.

He is called Mr. Cat.

I don't believe that... anyone has ever called him by any different name.

[He tilts his head.]

I don't think that it sounds very unfortunate at all.

It's almost like being called Mr. Porcupine.

....

[Oh wait, he called someone that once, but it was a chimera-human half-breed that'd died horribly mangled.]

You don't know a Mr. Porcupine, do you?

I don't believe that I do.

Another student is named... Armadillon.

...They don't....resemble their namesakes, do they?

[He sort of wants them to because that would be the most awesome world ever????]

I don't know what that means.

It- Your frien-- The student. It isn't really an armadillo, is it?

Yes.

Should he be something else...?

[Walter looks bewildered on the camera for a moment.]

...Human? ...Are, all people in your world animals?

I don't know.

What is and what isn't... an animal?

Any creature that would fall under the kingdom Animalia is considered an animal - lizards, monkeys, horses. ...I suppose chimeras, too.

Humans are often distinguished from animals by their larger and higher brain functions, their bipedal walking ability and the genetic trait of opposable thumbs. You and I are human, but Gene, who is a cow, is an animal.

...Did they not teach you this?

I believe that I have been. But... I don't feel entirely sure what people in my world are people and which are animals.

(screened comment)

I don't know. What would you call... Mr. Cat?

....An unusual name. Unless...Does he look like a cat, but act as people do?

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