002 - [Video]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus looks...very tired and worn, but trying to hide it. He doesn’t look all that successful at it. Apparently a lot is still bothering him. Maybe that explains a new arrival: a Meow Wow is now following behind him, while back towards the shop, a moogle flies off.]

I don’t know if a greater number of Spirits available enables them to share information better, or to reveal things to us that a single one may bypass. I would hope so. But at the very least, it should make fighting quicker.

[He looks back down at the Meow Wow.] I believe I’ll call you Chuza.

[Chuza barks (or meows?) in happiness, and bounces around a bit. Kura chitters at the new arrival and circles around, seeming to indicate that he still thinks he’s top dog just because he was here first. Eraqus sighs.]

I suppose part of that also depends on them getting along.

Comments

[defrostedpride]

The key words being 'seem' and 'appear'. People have a well-documented tendency to ascribe higher intelligence to favored housepets and other creatures demonstrably incapable of such a high level of reasoning. The fact is, we do not know very much about these Dream Eaters. They could be following a set of instincts that coincidentally provide the illusion of intelligence.

Or they could just enjoy annoying me. I haven't eliminated that as a possibility.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

To me at least, it would seem a lot simpler to have some degree of intelligence rather than to have a set of instincts that just happen to give the illusion of it.

[Well, he can't help but smirk a little at that.] It seems likely for many here.

[defrostedpride]

Yes, it does indeed seem that way, which is where many people err. However, the fact is that natural forces encourage creatures to develop traits and behaviors that are beneficial to the survival of their species, so that over time the species as a whole may be extremely well-developed for a given environment, diet, et cetera. Nevertheless, the creatures in question have not selected their behaviors deliberately and do not possess the intellect to do so. Most domestic animals, for example, have experienced many generations of pressure in favor of docility and friendliness.

However, most such creatures, lacking the capacity for analysis, are unable to react to situations in which their behaviors are no longer helpful - for example, if weather changes render a food source unavailable, they may be unable to adapt in time to avoid extinction.

...I no longer have any idea what conclusion I was planning to make.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus just listens through all this, although he looks...incredulous. Is all that analysis really necessary?]

We're currently in a realm of dreams. I rather doubt the natural order of most worlds will apply that well here.