Sixty-Ninth Theory [Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

[Yesterday the village grew quiet, as many villagers were called on a draft, and many others began the anxious wait to see if their friends and loved ones would return to the village safely.]

[Also yesterday, a breath of warm weather arrived in Luceti. Don has been out enjoying it, trying not to dwell on those who are fighting on a flying island right now. He has enough other things on his mind, and around midday he does something about one of them.]

Filtered to Beast || Unhackable

Beast... I haven't thanked you properly for what you did for Robert and me. For everything you've done for us.

End Filter

[Later, he leaves a brief, unfiltered message:]

Would anyone be interested in learning how to program computers and fix cars?

Comments

[semper_cogitans]

I can stop, if it b-bothers you... it is just that this is the closest simulation to preening that I am capable of...

[Nothing else produces proper meshing of the feather structures. Certainly his clunky fingers can't reproduce it.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don rubs the ridge between his eyes, and holds his hand out for the comb. Let him see that.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert lets Don take it without much argument, though there's a clear anxiety about his features. It's his special comb, don't break it...

The comb itself isn't really unusual in any way. It's smooth black plastic, with very thin, almost meshlike teeth that are obviously made to comb out small hairs that are prone to tangling. Evidently they work okay on feathers too.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don studies the comb - so ordinary to Robert, so foreign to him - examining its construction and the way it feels against his hand. When he has a good mental picture of it, he gives it back.]

Go slowly, and telegraph a lot.

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert nods and returns to exactly the place on Don's left wing that he was at before. Very carefully, he presses the comb against the wing again, and begins to pick the comb through the purple feathers, making sure to make his motions as obvious as possible to the Turtle underneath him.

It still probably feels a bit weird, but at least Don expects it now, and Robert's generally being much more slow and careful than he was.]

[i_speak_softly]

['Weird' is definitely a good word for it, but it leads Don to a train of thought that seems worth exploring.]

Is this what it feels like when you comb your hair?

[semper_cogitans]

[That is an interesting train of thought indeed.]

It is similar... well, assuming the sensations your wings provide are... identical to the ones mine provide me with, at... any rate - but my scalp is somewhat less... s-sensitive than the wings are...

[Still, it's close enough that it might give Don the feeling of combing out short hair. Not that he hasn't had hair before.]

[i_speak_softly]

[But only briefly and he hated the whole experience.]

I have to say, I have a hard time understanding why you like it.

[semper_cogitans]

It is... pr-proper to be clean and organized... [Says the scientist who's never anything but, as he continues working any knots out of Don's feathers.] Additionally, combing one's hair allows one to... check it for any abnormalities... and the scalp m-massage can be enjoyable.

[For sensitive-skinned humans, anyway. A Turtle probably wouldn't get anything out of that.]

[i_speak_softly]

Hair abnormalities?

[It just keeps getting worse.]

[semper_cogitans]

Of course... [Robert continues cleaning the feathers as though he were saying nothing of any consequence.] It is... not frequent for head hair to experience abnormalities, but neither is it impossible.

For instance... a hair can be ingrown, which sometimes results in folliculitis or similar infectious conditions, and often... requires removal of the hair. This is... more common for those whose hair curls, and androgenic hair is... more frequently a victim to such condition, but in practise it occurs... with any hair follicle, provided it grows strangely...

[Has this just never been a problem in Don's life?]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don can't help flailing a little at this.]

And I thought shellrot was disgusting.

[semper_cogitans]

[Headtilt. Are ingrown hairs really that unpleasant-sounding?]

One would think that... bone degeneration caused by an infection of b-bacteria would be... more unpleasant than a hair growing back on itself...

[Not that having ingrown hairs is fun, but seriously. Shell rot can be fatal.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don tries to consider this impartially, and then has to admit:]

Fair point.

[semper_cogitans]

[Acquiesingly:] I can see why... the condition would sound unpleasant, however. Especially if you are... not used to having hair to begin with...

[Robert wonders if there are any similar growth-pattern abnormalities for scutes or other scales.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Yes, but hold that thought.]

I'm bothered by the lack of external cause.

[semper_cogitans]

There are... multiple possible causes for an ingrown hair. For instance, shed skin cells could obstruct a hair follicle's pore... or one could shave oneself poorly, perhaps...

[The slight discomfort in Robert's tone suggests that the latter is something that has happened before.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don's brow furrows.]

Has this - happened to you?

[semper_cogitans]

[Minor hesitation, and then -] ... Yes. When I was first... utilizing the razors here in Luceti, I... experienced trouble with ingrown hairs as a result of the blades... sh-shaving in ways I was unused to.

[Don did not see this when Robert shaved for him, of course.]

[i_speak_softly]

[He certainly did not.]

You have something different at home.

[semper_cogitans]

Terran electric razors are s-significantly more sophisticated... the blades' precision is such that hairs are removed as flush with the f-follicle openings as is possible, and often are precision-guided to... ensure the proper growth of the follicles later.

As you might be able to ascertain... that is not true of the razors of Luceti.

[Really, that's not true of the anything of Luceti.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don mulls this over.]

Why did you use them?

[semper_cogitans]

Having facial hair... is d-discomforting for me, and I have been clearing it from my face for long enough that... I am unused to the sensations of it now...

[Somewhat shyly:] Though I... enjoy your reactions to it...

[i_speak_softly]

[To this, Don just mumbles "You're strange", and resettles his wings.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Well, Robert can't deny that. So he doesn't - instead, he opts to return his attention to cleaning Don's feathers.

His left wing is nearly finished now - at this point, the scientist is just straightening the primaries on the leftmost edge of the wing.]