There is NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING in this universe that is more dangerous than telling a human that is completely bored out of their mind, that something, anything, is impossible. -- Lessons
There are some cosmic laws that are inviolate. Never ask what can go wrong. Never play finesse games with a cogniscent nicknamed 'Slick'. Never try to eat anything bigger than your own head... and never EVER tell a Human what's impossible.
Nature hates a vacuum, Humans hate monotony. Though some flourish with a routine, too much routine is the problem. Hobbies can only ameliorate the issue, the same with entertainments. Sooner or later, a Human needs enrichment.
Just like Human Ver, who was 'sitting' upside-down[1]. A sure sign of danger. So too was the question she had for Companion Thale. "You ever really think about what would happen if the gravity reversed on us mid-flight?"
"Not until now," said Thale, their mind now churning towards that specific disaster. "And you can rock me to sleep tonight, thank you."
Ver laughed at that. "I'm just so bored, everything's the same. I need something to do."
Though there was plenty of actual work that could suffice, Thale could safely posit that Human Ver needed something new to do. Something parallel to, but not completely within, her extant interests.
Coming up with something like that on the spot was always a challenge. Somewhere between inspired desperation and desperate inspiration came the spark of genius. "I have heard that the weeds that have got into the air recycling system[2] could be made either into paper, fabric, or food. Which do you believe is more likely?"
Suspicion. "You just want me to weed the gardens."
"It would be an interesting benefit to the experiment. Nevertheless. Which ones are edible and under what circumstances? Which ones can be wearable? How would you turn them into paper?"
Sigh. "Okay yeah I'm that bored. I'll get my gloves."
All in all, it was a narrow escape for the crew of the Pokit Ansee. Except for the bit about Human Ver's offerings of 'green fry'.
The paper, on the other hand, was darn near luxurious. Despite all efforts to produce something better, the only fibre product of all that weeding was... twine.
[1] Lying on the floor with the legs and feet propped up on a chair.
[2] While algae-based air rejuvination is fine for small vessels, the technical aspects are labor-intensive when it all breaks down. Better by far to grow food plants and recycle the air and water in one smooth facility. Besides, seeing plants is beneficial to numerous species' psychologies.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / Elenathewise]
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