Challenge #01787-D326: Strange Customs
It’s funny that we humans (or at least I) have this habit of commanding or coaxing inanimate objects when trying to move them. [E.g. tugs on stuck cable Me: C’mon, get over here...”] -- TheDragonsFlame
Toveth was a shopkeeper on the Edge Territories, and got to see a lot more of the Deathworlders that inhabited the outskirts of civilised space. The humans were the most confusing. As Deathworlders, they ranged from anywhere between large and intimidating to small and really intimidating.
Anyone with any sense in the Edge Territories knew - beware of the small and quiet ones. They may not have the most threatening silhouette, but they could be unexpectedly deadly. And Humans kept proving this to anyone who was silly enough to not take a good warning when they heard one.
But there was one thing that Humans had in common. No matter their origins. No matter their hue. No matter their culture. No matter how long they had been rubbing elbows with other species. Every single Human who came to trade. Every single Human that Toveth shared air with. Talked. To inanimate. Objects.
The first few times, Toveth, unfamiliar with such behaviour, had asked if the Human could be helped. The Human looked embarrassed and communicated with Toveth that an article they desired was stuck. The Human was trying to talk the item into becoming unstuck.
It was not limited to objects of trade. Humans would talk to currency. They would talk to their own devices. They would argue with vending machines. They would apologise to clearly non-cogniscent cleaner 'bots for getting in the way or almost stepping on them. They would talk to animals as if they were actually cogniscent.
They would even speak to architecture. But that was an extreme case, the Human promised. They had had a terrible day and felt like nobody was listening. So they talked to the walls.
And Toveth heard stories about how Humans could get along with technology. People had seen these peculiar Deathworlders sweet-talk a ship's engines into lasting just long enough to limp into port. And they were the only species that managed to create artificial gravity through some form of cargo cult.
Maybe there was something in it?
Toveth took a sabbatical before such thoughts could take root. Time at home to re-acclimate to civilisation was definitely in order.
Everyone knew that the Humans were insane. And sort-of infectious with it.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / sdecoret]
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