milliways_bar | (no subject)

[[Millitimed to shortly after the Brawl - specifically, coincident with the cells thread. However, feel free to stretch Millitime as far as you like, just so long as it doesn't cause excessive confusion or universe-destroying paradoxes.

Not the pup's first entrance, but first entrance by this mun. If you've met Tucker before, do not assume I know anything about it.]]

[OOM: Poor, put-upon Danny.]

Tucker's been to Milliways before, but mostly under... interestingly unpleasant circumstances. This time, while he's technically here due to another crisis, the main body of the crisis is over and his only duty is to help prevent patricide. However, he can't very well be present during the first part of Danny's talk with his parents; that would just raise more questions.

Thus, there is a teen technogeek chillin' at the bar, attacking a very large plate of ribs and taking digital photos of anything particularly interesting he sees. (Mostly hot chicks.) Company welcome. (Especially if you are a hot chick.)

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"Not at all, actually," Zhaan says. She's only met two others, really, and one of them was a ghost.

"Riiight. Okay, do your people... what are you, anyway?"

"I am a Delvian," Zhaan says. Then she adds, "In the universe where my homeworld exists, it is a very long way from Earth. Most of what I know about humans, I learned here."

"Gotcha." Sci-fi fan. No trouble here. "Well, do Delvians have hormones?"

If he'd asked this question of anyone else, things might have gotten very awkward. But Zhaan's a doctor, and belongs to one of the most laid-back species in any universe. "Yes, we do," she says. "But they are not mammalian hormones, so I do not think we can draw any parallels."

Huh. "What are you, then? Amphibian?" he asks, because her skin is faintly reminiscent of a poison dart frog.

"Okay... um, do your hormones go kinda funny around puberty... do you have puberty?" Tucker may have no shame, but it's terribly awkward to try to explain this to the actual person you've just been photographing.

"We are plants. And yes, we have puberty and adolescence," she answers. "From what I have read, though, puberty is less...difficult for us than for most other species."

Zhaan probably lost Tucker back at 'we are plants.'

Yes. Yes, she did.

Part of Tucker is shouting, Vegetables! TEH ENEMY! Another part is bouncing up and down and saying, Dude! This is just like issue 61 of Marsh Monster series 2! And a small bit is asking, So why's she blue?

The consensus finally reached is: "You're a plant?"

Zhaan's used to getting that reaction. "Yes," she says simply.

Tucker considers this. Unfortunately, his only experience with plant-people (so far) is the aforementioned comic book, so his next, slightly worried question is: "You don't grow animals in pots, do you?"

"No..." Zhaan answers with a 'what the frell are you smoking?' look.

"Good. Good. Just checking." Pause. "Um..." His brain's been kinda derailed.

Zhaan feels sorry for Tucker, in spite of herself - so she tries to pick up the dropped thread of the conversation. "You were saying something about human adolescence?" Which is a really weird way to put it, but it's that kind of conversation.

"Right! Um... what happens to plants during puberty?"

"They go through a period of accelerated growth, take on adult proportions, and develop sexual characteristics and inclinations. Their brain also changes so that they become more capable of abstract thought," Zhaan says. "Some do not bear with the changes in body chemistry as well as others. A few find it so stressful that they must go into a rooted state." Okay, up till there, it sounds mostly like human puberty.

And a great relief it is to Tucker, who will not have to explain every last detail. "Well, the first few parts sound about the same as for humans. And the bit about 'sexual inclinations'... I dunno about you, but our hormones get kinda out of control." Surprisingly, he's feeling a bit less awkward now, because the comparison really is kind of interesting.

"The transition is usually easier in our species," she says. "Part of that is biological, and part of it cultural. But I understand what you mean." She frowns thoughtfully. "What does that have to do with collecting pictures?" For the record, she's got something close to the correct answer in mind already.

In response, Tucker sighs and shows her the camera's viewscreen again, flicking through the recent photos. There are other subjects - plenty of interesting things to see in Milliways - but the majority have a common theme.

A grin spreads across Zhaan's face as she watches the sequence of pictures. The grin is soon accompanied by a chuckle. "Ah. I see."

"I don't usually have to explain this," Tucker observes. "Usually I just have to run."

"That is one reason why it would be better to inform someone that you plan to take a picture of them," Zhaan says. "The courtesy would be appreciated." Although she doesn't sound upset about Tucker's taking her picture on the sly. She isn't self-conscious enough for that.

"But then they might say no." No shame whatsoever, this boy. "Anyway, I've tried that. They attacked me just for asking."

"From what you said, some of them also attack you for not asking," Zhaan points out.

"Right. So if I'm gonna get attacked anyway, I may as well get a pic for my troubles."

Zhaan thinks this over, and then answers, "That would make sense if the picture was an additional benefit, rather than the principal object." As it stands, it just sounds like Tucker's putting himself to a lot of trouble (and possibly in danger) for not very much at all.

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fryertuck - 2007-05-23 23:25 (UTC) - Expand

azure-mercy.livejournal.com - 2007-05-24 12:49 (UTC) - Expand