"We've got the knack, yeah," Saturday says. She often drops the 'meta' from humanity herself, ever since she learned about genetics. People expect elves to define themselves as something apart; therefore on principle she does the opposite.

"Maggie said somethin' once about how metahumanity thrived 'cause of three factors: we use tools, we got abstract thought, and we're social." She scans the room idly, speaking in the absent way a person does when they're saying something because they need to hear it again as much as to communicate it to another person.

"But the most important is that we're social, cause it means our memories can be bigger than our lifespan. We don't lose data because someone died, as long as they taught another person. So you can build on stuff an' not reinvent the wheel. And if something happens to you, someone's got your back, so one streak of bad luck won't kill you before y'can add what you know to the pot."

She nods, satisfied with whatever conclusions her scan of the room reached.

"We got enough people here to be gettin' on with, I think. 'S just gonna be a matter of getting everyone yoked up and pulling in the same direction. An' like you said: we'll rise to it. It's our nature."