✘ Round 2 | Audio

[glacius]

I... I require assistance. [The feed comes on and the normally calm ice alien's voice is tinted with sadness. He takes a small breath, then continues:]

I have been keeping a small number of lightbugs that appeared in the caves about three... [there's a brief pause as he struggles to remember the proper terminology used by humans for this span of time--] ... months ago. But now it appears they are dying. I don't know what I did wrong. I made sure their enclosure had plenty of space, insulated it from the cold, and even provided them with things to eat. And yet still...

[Glacius trails off. Given that his homeworld is frozen over, there aren't any insects on it, so he has no idea how their general life cycle works--or in this case, how short it can be. He doesn't even realize that he was lucky to get three months with these heartwarming little critters! His voice is therefore regretful when he speaks again, but it sounds like he's trying to scrounge for some determination because he hasn't yet realized their time is simply coming to a close.] ... I don't want to lose them. Is there anyone who knows enough about these life forms to help them?

Comments

[casperdisaster]

[Because of course Noah HAS to ask now…]

Really? How much longer?

[glacius]

Well, I admittedly do not know the specifics, and there are of course probably outliers. But in general I believe we live about twice as long as most humans do.

[casperdisaster]

Whoa! Like elves in fantasy stories!

[glacius]

... I'm sorry. Like what now?

[casperdisaster]

Um. They're like... really long-lived fantasy creatures. In books. Or... they were back home, but I'm pretty sure there's some here? Or were. I don't know if they're like in the books. We have aliens in books too but those are different in reality.

[glacius]

Oh. I see. Well, I suppose that makes sense; not everything plays out in reality like you might expect it to in fantasy. It is interesting to see how many different realities are brought into one place in this cavern, however. Things that might not be possible in one world suddenly... are.

[casperdisaster]

Seriously. I mean, I wasn't a nerd or anything but I totally would have remembered if Starship Troopers or Galaxy Quest or whatever had anyone that looked like you in it.

I mean that in a good way, you look super cool.

[glacius]

Oh, yes, "cool". I get it. Because of all the ice, right? [Glacius may still be adjusting to humans and their penchant for different slang and plays on words... but the temperature puns are fairly constant among them all. He's gotten used to them being flung at him... maybe a little too used to it, judging by the flat tone to his voice.]

[casperdisaster]

Ah?

[Noah actually hadn't been intending that. Sometimes he doesn't really think before he talks though.]

Aha, oh! I get it! You're funny!

[So now Noah thinks it's Glacius that made the joke.]

[glacius]

[And the ice alien seems confused by this turn of events! But then, no one has ever called him funny before, given how serious and disciplined he always is. He doesn't know how to respond.] I'm--what? No I'm not! I'm simply--mirroring what all of you seem to love saying to me... I never met a species that loved playing with words so much. [This last statement is more muttered under his breath than directed at Noah, though still probably audible.]

[casperdisaster]

You mean like you don't use puns or jokes? [Noah finds that sad, laughter is the best thing ever.]

[glacius]

W-ell... it's not that I don't like them... [Though the frequency with which they are thrown around is perplexing and, yes, sometimes irritating if he's being completely honest...] It's just that they are very foreign to me. My people, we are very reserved. We do not do all that much joking around.

[casperdisaster]

Oh! Oh gosh, I didn't mean to be culturally insensitive, I'm really sorry.

[glacius]

[Glacius is surprised at the apology--partly because it's more than he got from people before he was brought to this city, and partially because he's not sure if this qualifies as "insensitivity" so much as just a moment of cultural dissonance or confusion. But he supposes it's always better to be on the cautious side, so he does appreciate Noah's careful respect.] It is fine. Our cultures are just very different from one another... but you did not mock me for it, or try to act superior. You simply sought to understand, which is a good mindset to have.