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For how advanced the troll race was, Artificial Intelligence was still a science to be tackled. It was pretty far along, to be sure. Robots were able to interact with their environment in astounding ways. But what of speech and communication? What of self-education? How did mechanics and scientists develop these complex processes in bits of wire and metal? Of course, thoughts like this were the usual for Taquin's think pan, always churning around matters of the psychological. He hadn't found many answers in his hometown, and he was rather bored of searching their single library with no luck. Considering Chittentown was the center of intelligent design and construction, he decided it was time for a road trip.

Arriving at the sandy canyon, the shifty earth beneath his shoes brought back memories he'd rather leave behind. It had been his only other trip to the desert when he had been a part of... He felt a phantom twinge in his ribs that had barely just healed, and he lifted his hand to hold his side... but then brought it away again. Oh, nevermind. It wasn't worth thinking about anymore. Nothing good had come of it and it would be best if it had never happened. All he wanted to remember was how happy Poodle-dad had been when Taquin had slumped back through his hiveblock's door upon his return, and how he cared so well for his injuries. He was such a strong lusus at heart, despite his tiny size.

But he was distracting himself. He realized that he'd already walked a couple blocks through the heavy air of the city, and he didn't even know where he would find what he was looking for. They had a few library's about, right? There were many trolls walking back and forth along the street, but it was not quite as boisterous as NHC. It was nice to be a part of a laid-back population for a little while.

Distracted. Again. Well, he couldn't blame himself, this was an entirely new place to him and he wasn't going to allow it to slip past his observation just because he had another goal in mind. He stopped in the middle of the walkway, still feeling slightly sick from the desert air and the smell of flames- No. There are no flames, Taquin. Stop it. You're here now in the present, and that is all there is. And where was this now? He realized he'd walked away from the busy street and was down a side road, the buildings mostly left behind besides a few townhouses. Goodness grubcious, kid, he reprimanded himself, bringing a hand across the nubby hairs on his head. Pull your ever-loving nooknuggets together. He looked down in attempt to reclaim his bearings, and noticed a small squeak-beast lusus digging around in the brush a few yards to his right. Aww. Cute. He began to slowly approach it to say hello. Tonight was a night to be distracted, apparently.

Taquin continued to stare blankly as the small white creature as she devoured her meal and hopped closer, putting her head to the ground to listen for more scurrying sustenance. He was slightly surprised that she seemed so trusting of him. Usually it took more effort on his part to convince a lusus that he had no desire to harm them. Kneeling down closer to the lusus, he reached his left hand towards her in greeting, and also allowing the rat-rabbit to refuse his offer of affection. "Hey there, little hungry girl," he said to it softly. It wasn't often that he caught a lusus this friendly all on its own. There was usually a troll nearby to ward him off, or the lusus itself just wanted nothing to do with him. He understood that. He held his hand closer, hovering it a little near her face so she could sniff him and become familiar with his scent. This was more important than the research, he decided. It could always wait, but this darling wasn't going to hang around forever.

Nope, she wasn't quite as friendly as he'd been hoping. Taquin withdrew his hand to give the lusus some space, and contented himself with watching her rummage around for food. The creatures were really fascinating things, and so magnificently built, he observed as he watched the rabbit legs flex for the hop and the ears swivel atop her head. Damn. And his time alone was drawn to a close as a troll called out to the lusus and ran up to join them. Taq straightened as the troll approached and adjusted his glasses. The supposed "Ratmom" hopped away, caring less about what anyone else was doing and more about finding something to eat. Well, priorities will be priorities. Except in his own case, apparently. Since he'd been interrupted there was no other reason to stay here, he might as well return the inner city and look for that library.

On the other hand, he felt a bit of animosity towards this yellowblood for barging in on him. He would be satisfied if he got on her nerves for a little while before leaving her be. "I'm nobody worth inquiring about," he answered her. "And what do you call yourself, fuzzball?" He reached up and tweaked a strand of her short, wild hair in a sarcastically cheery manner.

She was reacting exactly as he expected. When she knocked his hand away, he moved it to rest in his pocket as he got more comfortable with his usual bothersome attitude. It was kind of fun when they didn't put up with his s**t and he could just continue getting on their nerves while they try to talk him into leaving them the hell alone. "Alright. Fuzzball is fine, then," he said, ignoring her question. "I'm assuming Ratmom over there is your lusus?" he said, nodding his head in her direction. "She sneak away from you often?" The best way to learn what annoys someone is to know as much about them as possible. And sometimes just asking a lot of personal questions will do just fine to get them flustered and frustrated.

This one fights back, then? His eyebrows raised at the sound of "Lopside". How very daring of her. At least she conceded to let him know the answers to his questions this time. Unfortunately, she was yet another troll who didn't seem to appreciate their guardian as much as they should. Lucky, though, that they had such a wide-open, abandoned stretch of land to let their lusus run free. He pondered living in such a place. Poodle-dad could leave the hive and Taquin wouldn't have to worry so much that he'd come across some ruffian like those that seem to be so popular in the city. He thought about living out in the land of sand and- Well, no. Considering what he'd encountered in the desert last time he was through it... They were much better off in the city.

And now Fuzzball wanted to know all about him and Poodle-dad, huh? She shouldn't have ended in an observation rather than a question. It gave him a chance to play off of that rather than spilling his secrets, or standing awkwardly with nothing to say, or having to come up with a fake life. He should prepare one anyway, in case she didn't drop the subject. It was always good to stall and give himself some time to round off the rough edges of his stories. "Why yes, I am interested in her, considering I came upon her presence before yours." He eyed Ratmom once again. "And there doesn't seem to be anything else to occupy my time with in this gritty, barren, dump." he mumbled as if trying not to offend her, but just loud enough so that she would hear. "She's rather small to be out on her own, don't you think?"

Taquin was slightly taken-aback by her reaction. She almost seemed offended by his suggestion, but he couldn't imagine why. Possibly there was some sort of crooked past between these two. Now that would be interesting. It didn't look like she had been bothered at all by what he'd mumbled, and that was a bit of a disappointment, but he could deal with that. He could deal with a lot of disappointment... Ugh, no no no no. Not thinking about that again. Stop it. Distract yourself.

"Actually," he replied. "I was looking for some information. But I don't expect a fuzzball like you would know anything about such complex materials." Honestly, he didn't need anyone's assistance in this. He could find it on his own, but this girl was much too fun to pester. It had been so long since he'd met someone who actually bugged him back.

Oh no, he was not going to let her walk away with the last word. What was wrong with him tonight? He definitely was not on his game, and this troll just flinging his spite so easily back into his face. He blamed this bloody desert atmosphere. The stuffy hot air in his face, dusty dirt in his shoes, and bright burning moons shining straight onto his skin did not help his mood. He despised this place and all the trolls he had met here. Especially this one. "Waste your time?" he yelled back at her, taking a step forward and stiffening his arms. "What do you have to do out here besides frying in the moonlight and tinkering with scraps of metal and springs? And for your information,"-his veins pumped with anger that she dared make a mockery about the way he felt about lusus like that-"I believe that all lusus would be much better off without despicable trolls putting them in danger with their destructive behavior and bloodthirsty predilections." She had no idea what she was talking about, the ignorant grubmuncher.