Preparations - Prologue Y0 and chapters 1&2

[NightMareMage]

Pages 79-91.

Is it ever made clear what they are eating? Any educated guesses?

Lalli does not really know or understand why he is here and would like to leave but is told he can't. How close is this to kidnapping?

Page 81, panel 2, Tuuri mentions a, “mage friend,” of Onni’s. Friend may be being used loosely here. If not, while I do find it hard to imagine him really having friends, it would not be impossible.

I am guessing that he has not experienced a lot of nausea before. Poor thing, no wonder he thinks he may be dying.

I'm sure you could train a dog to tell people to be quiet (though how would one want the dog to communicate this IHNI) but could you train a cat? I don’t know if training was the intended implication of the PSSSHH!!!-ing cat but it made me think of it.

[Jitter]

It’s even more than that - it’s “one of Onni’s mage friends” indicating he has several. And why not - he warms to people slowly (VERY slowly) but that doesn’t mean he would be incapable of forming friendships when the suitable person and suitably long exposure to that person happens along. Although I admit I was also very happy to be reminded of his friends

There has been discussion about trainability of cats in many occasions, including around the entrée of the Shushing Cat. In that Minna mentioned that she likes portraying animals as a bit more intelligent and humanlke than they actually are in reality, but it’s not really intended to imply that the cats were augmented or anything. There are also commenters saying they have or know cats that have been trained several tricks. So, it’s possible albeit difficult. And 90 years is many generations of cats, some selective breeding for trainability may have happened in that time.

[NightMareMage]

What I meant to say was that while I do find it hard to imagine him having friends, it would make sense for him too. (Of course, speaking broadly, this is that you don’t see all sides of characters, blah blah blah, and what you aren't shown or told or if what you are is such a minor detail may not feel like it really matters, blah blah blah. [And I think I had even more earlier….])

I tried to cut my comment for brevity, so I would not have to go into my finer ideas, but I ended up saying something completely different.

[JoB]

Is it ever made clear what they are eating? Any educated guesses?

The way Taru comments on it, I'm not sure that even they would want to make a guess.

Lalli does not really know or understand why he is here and would like to leave but is told he can't. How close is this to kidnapping?

This exact moment, probably not very, because "you can't leave / go home" now is a statement of fact. If anything actionable as kidnapping happened, it would have been back at the Keuruu dock when Lalli was lured into this situation - which means that the blame would be on Tuuri, not Taru, who is the one telling him he can't go (anymore).

I'm sure you could train a dog to tell people to be quiet (though how would one want the dog to communicate this IHNI) but could you train a cat? I don’t know if training was the intended implication of the PSSSHH!!!-ing cat but it made me think of it.

Is it really a trick they've been trained to do, or "merely" proper understanding of the situation ("stay quiet(er than that) or we may all die!")? Mommy cat at The Fictional School did the latter - granted, with a much more visible threat - and is guaranteed to never have had any training by humans.

Situational awareness wouldn't explain how Shusher Cat knows that shushing humans would have the desired effect, but then again, teaching the cats how to "communicate properly with humans" is an explicit part of their training.

[Suominoita]

There has been discussion about trainability of cats in many occasions, including around the entrée of the Shushing Cat. In that Minna mentioned that she likes portraying animals as a bit more intelligent and humanlke than they actually are in reality, but it’s not really intended to imply that the cats were augmented or anything. There are also commenters saying they have or know cats that have been trained several tricks. So, it’s possible albeit difficult. And 90 years is many generations of cats, some selective breeding for trainability may have happened in that time.

That's how A-grade cats are made, right? They're bred for it and trained since they were very young. Also why the training of Kitty only got her to B-grade, not being bred for it and there was the need for treats. I figure the Shushing Cat is trained (somehow I don't see Finns bothering with Icelandic training for their cats but they have been trained). For all we know, boat- cat is a specific job, among the military ones Lalli hisses with in the beginning. Mind, I think Lalli totally was speaking feline to Emil's cousins - they're more likely to get that than Finnish anyway what with being too young to have even been to school. They do have a cat in the household though...

[tehta]

I believe that Minna explained what they were eating in some livestream, and it was something like 'potatoes in disgusting sauce'. Hey, I should make that sometime!

My grandpa was very patient with animals and would teach some of the neighbourhood cats (they lived in a suburban/semi-farm neighbourhood, lots of communal free-range cats) to do things like shake paws or sit. Not on vocal command, on gesture; he would hold out a hand to shake*, or you hold his palm in a certain way to ask them to sit. But he said only some cats were interested, and they generally wouldn't do for with other people, only him.

Maybe shushing cats are just cats that hate noise? I think it would be easier to teach a cat a gesture that would benefit it in some way.

* For some reason I am now thinking of Lalli...

[JoB]

I believe that Minna explained what they were eating in some livestream, and it was something like 'potatoes in disgusting sauce'. Hey, I should make that sometime!

Would that be the kind of dish that requires some Electric Daisy just so that you can get it down in the first place?

[NightMareMage]

The way Taru comments on it, I'm not sure that even they would want to make a guess.
This exact moment, probably not very, because "you can't leave / go home" now is a statement of fact. If anything actionable as kidnapping happened, it would have been back at the Keuruu dock when Lalli was lured into this situation - which means that the blame would be on Tuuri, not Taru, who is the one telling him he can't go (anymore).

Tuuri accidentally kidnapped her cousin.

My grandpa was very patient with animals and would teach some of the neighbourhood cats (they lived in a suburban/semi-farm neighbourhood, lots of communal free-range cats) to do things like shake paws or sit. Not on vocal command, on gesture; he would hold out a hand to shake*, or you hold his palm in a certain way to ask them to sit. But he said only some cats were interested, and they generally wouldn't do for with other people, only him.

Maybe shushing cats are just cats that hate noise? I think it would be easier to teach a cat a gesture that would benefit it in some way.

As for IRL cats, I once heard that not only are cats hard to train when compared to dogs but unlike dogs, you can only get them to do things that they might do anyway. Cats may let people touch their paws, so shacking is not far off. Cats will climb, so you can get them to climb things on command, etcetera.

Obviously, cats in SSSS are different then real life but if what I learned about training cats is true, that would explain a lot of their use against trolls!

[Jitter]

Cats can learn when it suits them. After all, they have developed a way to speak human to ask for things. Humans are useless in speaking cat (by scents and body language)! Adult cats meow only to humans. Meowing is natural communication only for young kittens to their mom.

[dmeck7755]

Cats can learn when it suits them. After all, they have developed a way to speak human to ask for things. Humans are useless in speaking cat (by scents and body language)! Adult cats meow only to humans. Meowing is natural communication only for young kittens to their mom.

Oh yeah.  They are also very good at training their humans

We had a friend who let their cats out.  One was a very proficient hunter.  She would sit by the door an yell "Me Out" When she wanted out.  It was truly me out and not anything close.

She also would also demand treats by one very loud meow.  You will see her sitting looking up at you licking her lips .  You would ask her do you want a treat?  She would wiggle her butt and lick again.  If you did not move fast enough, she'd give your the paw.

[tehta]

My childhood cat could unlock the low-quality doors in our apartment if the keys were left in by standing up (huge cat) and fiddling with the key, and also unlock the bathroom door by putting its weight on the little handle. We certainly did not teach him these things.

[dmeck7755]

My childhood cat could unlock the low-quality doors in our apartment if the keys were left in by standing up (huge cat) and fiddling with the key, and also unlock the bathroom door by putting its weight on the little handle. We certainly did not teach him these things.

I never go to the bathroom alone...sigh.  Only when we have company, because they hide...

[Róisín]

At least it isn’t the ferret that once belonged to a young friend of mine. It would sneak into the bathroom, lurk behind the pedestal, and attack people’s ankles at a strategic moment. And I too have had cats that could open doors, including our present old cat Agatha. Annoyingly, she does it so that she can get into the study and sleep on the warm modem, which mucks up the wifi….

[NightMareMage]

Pages 92-103.

I said before that I have seen people who don’t travel often forget a lot of things. On page 95, we learn the Tuuri was excited and just grabbed stuff. That seems to be a very Tuuri reason for this but come to think of it she may just flat out not know what one should pack.

Page 99, ah yes, Emil’s family’s disregard for his lack of education is not adorable but what is cute is Siv whispering how they broke a rule.

I am getting through them only slowly due to RL, but it's been fun. Many people were quite impressed by him as a character (both his looks, and his comedy potential); quite a few drew attention to his likely future problems in communication with Lalli. Personally, I found it quite interesting to see how he interacts with his "family": he shouts at them, and they belittle him (even beyond correcting his ridiculous claims -- "wrong as usual"?) And yet, there are hugs. And YET, he is being sent to his likely death.

Dysfunctional family dynamics exist on a spectrum. Though how exactly dysfunctional changes depending on what Emil’s Aunt and Uncle thought his chances of surviving were.

Another small point: someone hypothesizing that the Rash was caused by a fungus, because of the sunlight thing. Interesting!

Come to think of it, I don't think I have seen any hypothesizing about the Rash's origins. Beyond the idea that it may be supernatural, or partly so.

Side-question: do we think Emil theoretically had a scholar specialization? (It would be tempting to say something fire-related, but I don't think that was the case. But hmm, I actually do have an idea for what it was SUPPOSED to be...)

That would make since. What was your idea?

[Jitter]

Speaking of expectations for survival. There is a scene much later where the Västerströms are completely amazed that the party is alive. I have always considered this proof that they willingly sent their nephew and the others to near-certain death (surman suuhun or into the maws of death as one might put it). However I have just now realized it took place later in the story, after the bridge was broken and probably after other unforeseen (or at least, neglected) complications. Which is a little different, although it’s clear they are luring him into risking his life.