"What happens to books that nobody reads?" the king asked.
"We send them to the archive for safekeeping," the librarian said. "There are many more books in the archive now than we have on the shelves."
"That must cost a fortune!"
"Not at all. Centuries ago, we found a dragon who hoards books."
"Dragon!" the knight called, "I'm here to end your reign of terror!"
"I merely land by a town and ask if they will give me someone to eat."
"Yet when they offer a sacrifice you spurn it and instead eat the mayor."
"Yes. And if they refuse to sacrifice anyone, I leave."
"That's... Hm. Carry on."
"Wait," the American representative said.
The rest of the Human trade delegation groaned.
"With this deal, the Galactic Empire get all our entertainment, and we get all their technology."
"Yes?"
"Is that fair? We have, like, thousands of films!"
"They have spaceships."
"That's one thing!"
"I heard today," the cat I share a house with said, "that you humans only have one life."
"Most of us have only one, yes," I said.
"And you chose to spend it with me."
"Well, you moved in."
"You chose to spend it with me."
"When you put it like that, yes."
"You are wiser than you look."
"Why did you let that princess go?" one dragon asked another.
"He told me he's a prince."
"Fair enough. He's still dressed-"
"He hasn't told his parents yet."
"I see. Did you offer to vouch for him?"
"Naturally, but I won't out him."
"Of course not. Anyway, does he have any sisters?"
"If they have to do it, they should do it in private."
"Yeah!"
"It's not right, doing it in the open where kids can see."
"Yeah! It's not like they have to, it's something they choose to do."
"True. Hate is a lifestyle choice."
"Absol- Hate?"
"Yeah. What did you think we were talking about?"
"At last!" He held up a simple gold ring. "I have searched for this for years!"
"What is it?"
"A shapeshifting ring. I'll put it on... Imagine myself as... Ah! Wonderful!"
"I see no difference?"
"I have no joint pain!"
"Wow! Can it do other changes?"
"Anything you can imagine. Want to try?"
The sigil was drawn in salt and ash, the candles lit at the pentagram points, the incantation declaimed.
There was a shimmer - a demon appeared.
"Curious. What ritual is this?"
"I got it from ChatGPT. I included all protections in my prompt!"
"I see," the demon said and stepped out of the sigil.
