(no subject)

[acuteabove]

WHAT in person
WHERE Tidy Living Apartments
WHEN Day 132

[A very unusual-looking cutie is standing in the foyer of the Tidy Living apartments today. You definitely haven't seen them before. They are repeatedly pressing the elevator button, then jumping when it opens]

But I don't get it... I know the ding means get in, but who's opening and closing the doors...? Is someone here raising and lowering it? Ahh, and when I went upstairs, it was completely incomprehensible...

[Help them out?]

Comments

[motherloving]

Never mind, dear, I was teasing you a little. It's not really a spirit--probably.

[acuteabove]

Now I'm... more... confused...?

[motherloving]

It's entirely automated, actually! Isn't that marvelous?

[acuteabove]

Automated is...?

[motherloving]

It's done by machinery. Oh, no, do you know what a machine is?

[acuteabove]

Not... really. I've only recently heard the term at all.

[motherloving]

Hmm...

I wonder if I can explain it to you?

[ he appears to take this as a challenge; there's a gleam in his eye as he continues ]

A machine is just a complicated tool that operates on its own when you activate it.

[acuteabove]

Ummm. That does make sense?

[motherloving]

Instead of a person operating this elevator using their own power, it's a machine using something called electricity--

[ he pauses ]

Oh, no, I have to explain electricity now!

[acuteabove]

Ummm... yes, we don't... have that?

[motherloving]

...

[ waves a hand ]

It's like magic, but it's science!

[acuteabove]

I don't really understand, but amazing!

[motherloving]

It really is!

Oh...but I suppose it might be magic here after all. This is a strange land.

[acuteabove]

I'm definitely confused again.

[motherloving]

Just think of it like it's a surprise. Around here, things might work in a sensible way, or they might be completely bananas. You never know.