HiveComb

They had some pre-shattering videos they wanted to show their friends, a mixed group of havenworlders and level one and level two deathworlders. Once everyone was seated, they turned down the lights and began the video on the large screen. People, human-looking, painted up all in blue, playing techno music on improvised instruments. A fun, amusing, experience for the humans, but maybe a little confusing, if still fun, for everyone else.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkfqwlBzZN1b_H5DYQX7F9Vfdcu8uMrTi -- Blue Rules

"I promise, there's no content in these that can cause harm to Havenworlders," insisted Human Vance. "It's just a bit weird."

Half the Havenworlders activated their autosaviors, set to monitor their stress signifiers and administrator calming medication in the event of something too disturbing for their systems. This was the same Human who had found a giant spider that could perform ASL and commented that that was "a bit weird".

Human Vance's version of a bit weird could cover anything. Therefore, they were prepared for anything. Human Vance seemed mildly offended. "Hey come on. This is music and performance art." Their audience did not relax. They had, after all, also been exposed to the pre-Shattering comedian Gallagher.

Human Vance played it anyway with a dismissive, "Oh chill out and enjoy this for a change." The recording was an ancient two-dimensional display of a performance. It had to be a performance because the people involved were in heavy makeup. Heavy blue makeup, to be precise.

What they watched was difficult to describe. People with their ears hidden under bald wigs , and their heads and hands covered with vibrantly blue makeup played... plastic tubing. There was a piano, but the one playing it was using a form of a large mallet. The entire time, the Humans involved were acting as if they were perpetually surprised by everything they were doing.

Honestly, most of the audience were surprised too.

It was music. It was a performance. It was also very, very weird. It was something only Humans could come up with.

Also, as advertised, not harmful to the Havenworlders in the audience.

The display finished. The Havenworlders blinked, silent and unmoving. Apparently stunned. Human Vance was still smiling. "Well?" ze said. "What do you think?"

One eventually risked raising a hand. "I would like to know what we just watched?"

[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / yandscreators]

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