6th Short - [Voice] + [Action]
[Oswald is lounging outside Community Building six and lost in thought. A bit bored, as well. That's why he flips open his journal for a general query.]
So... That experiment we had a couple weeks ago got me thinkin'. How many of you folks actually have kids? Either in here or back home. And would you want 'm to be here ( Read more... )
So... That experiment we had a couple weeks ago got me thinkin'. How many of you folks actually have kids? Either in here or back home. And would you want 'm to be here ( Read more... )
So Robert's voice is kind of... almost-wistful when he replies to this.]
I have an... unofficial foster daughter, here in Luceti. Vivi Aislinn, a beautiful, intelligent young girl.
... Four hundred twenty children... That sounds like quite the financial and emotional burden. [Robert's tone betrays how completely floored he is by that number. Terran families usually don't get any larger than one or two children...]
... Are you perhaps a very well-to-do individual?
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... And I suppose that makes sense. But... how does one forget a cartoon entirely? Is there a certain threshold of popularity before one becomes "forgotten"? I am certain information about you would still exist in databases and the like...
[This is such a jarring conversation.]
... I apologize for being so... engrossed in this, but your biology seems... well, beyond fascinating...
... Would you know if you happen to have organ systems? [Would a cartoon even need organ systems?]
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As for organs, it depends on the context. If there's a visual gag involvin' organs, like someone rippin' a character's heart out of their chest or their brain fallin' asleep or whatever, then sure. But we don't really need organs like humans do. The popular toons still have their own hearts and those are pretty important, but they're... symbolical, ya know?
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Okay, the organs thing is... admittedly both kind of disturbing and fascinating all at once. But it does simultaneously answer some questions.] So you technically do not need to respire or eat, then, unless a scene would call for it I suppose...
... Well. That must certainly be an interesting existence.
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And ya know what? If you're interested in seein' some of my old cartoons, you can always come over to my apartment! I got a projector and a DVD collection from that Catherine guy. I've got other Disney stuff too!
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[It must be strange to be the only cartoon in a world of humans, yes. Robert ponders that for a second.] There are a disproportionate amount of hominids here... I wonder if that might be something deliberate?
And I may very well have to take you up on that offer... I do not think that I have ever seen them, but of course I am relatively far in the future by the perspective of most people here. [Don't worry, Oswald, Robert didn't forget you on purpose! ... If it's any consolation, he doesn't recognize Mickey Mouse, either.]
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Let me know when you stop by, okay? I'll set everything up for ya.
[He pauses for a moment, then can't help but ask.] ... So how much fancy technology does your future have?
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[Oh, hey, that sounds nice.] Ah, is that so? I am glad that you are not the sole cartoon here, then... not as if it should matter, of course, but being alone can be... unpleasant. [He would know.]
Thank you very much... er... Well, it seems that I have forgotten to enquire as to your name. [Derp. Robert's all sheepish now. He adds, hurriedly:] As for my own, it is Professor Robert Alexander Hastings. It... is a pleasure to meet you.
[As for Oswald's query...] Well, that would depend on what you meant by "fancy". I was allowed to receive a nanocomputer from Terra, my planet, from the Malnosso - at least they did one positive thing for me - so I suppose that might count. But there are many other examples of robust technology.
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What's this nanocomputer do? Is it like a normal computer, only much smaller? Can you play games on it? Seems kinda hard to do on a tiny computer. [When he hears the word "nano", the first definition that pops into his head is "tiny". He may have helped the Mad Doctor with his Beetleworx, but he doesn't know that much about technology himself.]
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Ah, well, my nanocomputer is a very compact computing device, yes... though the particular version I have here is one built for scientific usage, so it is not well-suited to entertainment, but presumably I could play games on it were I to have access to them. Unfortunately, without the Terran network, there is little opportunity to do so.
[Robert sounds profoundly disappointed by this, actually.]
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Really? That's a shame. What good's a computer if ya can't even use it to play games?
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[This is a workaholic you're talking to, Oswald. Still, he enjoys entertainment now and then himself.]
Honestly, though, I am surprised that the Malnosso allowed as much as they did...
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I wonder how accurate that is. Especially considering the fact that they go to such trouble to keep us alive.
... well, I suppose it would not be much of an issue for one like yourself, but for those like me, who rely on the shelter and supplies the Malnosso distribute... well, there has to be some purpose to keeping us here.
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