video, @chronicler

[scholiast]

(The feed flicks on facing a large tank, propped up on a desk. There's a slight shuffling; a hand appears on the side of it, and then Lucretia pops into view, peering through the glass. Those who already know her might be surprised by her altered appearance: she is noticeably older, and looks around fifty instead of her previous late twenties.)

Where did it go?

(She makes a face, then reaches out to her camera as if to end the feed: thankfully, what she had lost comes swimming into view at that exact moment in a blur of purple and electric blue, pressing against her cheek. It's a small jellyfish, hovering in the air. Lucretia chuckles, cupping her hand about it as she faces the camera.)

I thought I'd take a moment to introduce everybody to Junior. It's a voidfish– a kind of... (she pauses, gesturing vaguely with one hand as Junior curls a little tendril around her ear,) fish-esque alien, I suppose. From space? (It's complicated.)

It enjoys consuming memories, and specifically enjoys art, so I thought I would extend a request to the network for any kind of media they might like to share with it. Usually, giving it something to eat would erase whatever is given from the minds of everybody who has not drunk of its ichor, but I think the climate here doesn't agree with Junior's powers. Not according to some tests I've been doing; the memory loss is very temporary.

But I digress: it loves all things creative: paintings, music, poetry... So if you'd like your work to be judged by a fish, there's always that option available.

(She makes to turn the feed off, then pauses.) Oh, and if anybody knows where I could find an optometrist in this place, I'd be really grateful. My prescription has... changed some what.

Comments

[dancingmd]

Not just for that reason. I wanted to meet Junior too!

[scholiast]

Well in that case– (In response to its name, Junior comes floating over to examine Beverly, encircling her as if considering.

Lucretia gestures between the both of them.)

Junior, Beverly. Beverly, Junior.

[dancingmd]

Pleased to meet you, Junior!

(She's a bit at a loss as to the best way to greet a void fish - since a handshake is not exactly feasible - but she's sincere. He's important to Lucretia so of course he's important to her.

Besides, he's very pretty!)

[scholiast]

(Any way is pretty much the best way. Junior hums back, six little notes, and flashes blue once. Lucretia watches this take place, amused.)

It likes you.

[dancingmd]

Good, because I like you too.

(She tells it, though again, she's not sure exactly where to put her focus so she settles for the center of its dome.)

In fact, I thought you might like a little snack?

[scholiast]

Oh, you brought it something?

(To be fair, Junior is in the good books of pretty much everybody it meets: especially those with something for it.)

[dancingmd]

Mmm.

(She fishes a piece of paper out of her bag. The paper is covered in her slanted, almost cursive handwriting.)

A classic from Earth.

[scholiast]

(Oh, she's so curious. Junior hums at the sight of the paper, and curls out a little tendril toward it, questioningly.)

What is it? Wait– (she adds, before Beverly has a chance to hand it over,) you're fine with that being literally consumed, right?

[dancingmd]

(She nods.) You said I will only forget it for a little while, right?

[scholiast]

Yes, but the paper will be goneburger.

(Something that Junior immediately demonstrates by seizing the paper in its tendrils and consuming it with little fanfare. The nature of its strange power of course means that Lucretia immediately forgets Beverly fed anything to it at all; she continues as if nothing had happened at all.)

A lot of people have been giving me suggestions on what to feed Junior, actually. We're going to try film a little later this evening.

[dancingmd]

(Which is very unfortunate because Beverly was definitely going to ask what the heck kind of slang is "goneburger," but alas, she forgets as well. Hopefully Junior enjoys its Shakespeare snack!)

Interesting! Like actual strips of film or...?

[scholiast]

Oh– I was simply going to show it a movie and see what happens. But I should try with actual film too...

(She considers the voidfish, who has come to hover near Beverly's shoulder, humming a content little tune to itself.)

[dancingmd]

Let me know what happens! I doubt live performances would work, from how it sounds, but I could always make recordings for it, if it liked that.

(When Junior floats closer, Beverly extends a tentative hand out towards it.)

Hi there! That's a very lovely song you're singing!

[scholiast]

I'll keep you informed.

(She's quite taken with watching Beverly interact with the voidfish, who extends a little, curious tendril to touch her outstretched fingers as she offers her hand.)

You know, they grow to be– well, larger than the size of my apartment, for sure.

[dancingmd]

(She wiggles her fingers playfully at its tentacles.)

So it's just a baby?

(She's is about to start cooing, be forewarned.)

[scholiast]

(Fine with her, this is so adorable.)

Yes– though, to be fair I'm not sure how old that is. (Junior is singing properly now, a high, clear little melody.)

They're strange, voidfish.

[dancingmd]

(Babies are babies, no matter the species and she always will love them.)

And what a good little musician you are, yes! I bet you know lots of songs, don't you?

(This would only be worse if it was a kitten. She hums thoughtfully.)

I think I may have met some of your distant cousins once,

[scholiast]

(Lucretia has to hide her smile behind a fist; she is simply too charmed by this. Junior is similarly pleased, and simply matches Beverly's hum note for note.)

Distant cousins? You've seen something like this before?

[dancingmd]

(Oh no, it's too cute! She is definitely going to have to sing for it, though she doesn't sing often.)

A little bit. They were a space-born species whose basic form was jellyfish-like, but they could shift that form to basically anything they wanted.

[scholiast]

Huh. Perhaps they are related.

(Honestly, who could ever say for sure? There is so much out there for Lucretia to yet explore, so anything is possible at this point.)

Junior and Fisher haven't displayed any such tendencies, though. Perhaps for the best: I'd never keep track of this one if it could shape-shift.

[dancingmd]

Somebody likes playing hide-and-seek do they?

[scholiast]

Oh, you have no idea.

Its been able to get out of its tank since day one.

[dancingmd]

A regular Houdini! Maybe now that you're not a ship you can get it a bigger tank? Would that help?

[scholiast]

I don't think so. It's not about the size of the tank just–

(She shrugs a shoulder.) It's a free spirit. It goes where it wants.

[dancingmd]

An explorer.

[She smiles.]

I think we can sympathize with that feeling, can't we?