"Man that turns into a wolf. Dog that turns into a wolf. Cat that turns into a canine. Wolf that turns into a man. Dog that turns into a man. Canine that turns into a cat," Murderbot lists six options quickly. "I don't think bunnies are in pet hotels."

It considers the question. "When the story's incomplete," Murderbot says, "whether it's been set up in the story or the consequences of the story. Unless the end is 'rocks fall and everyone dies' life carries on. Things happen. 'And they lived happily ever answer' doesn't say what living happily means."

Murderbot shrugs. "All kinds of media and stories exist," it says, "Sometimes they're about just getting by. Media focused on action, big drama, and those explosive elements sometimes ignore the tolls that takes on characters. That can be enjoyable, to escape real life, or frustrating, to ignore the consequences, depending on what you want out of media.

"That's one reason fanworks exist."

"Fanworks," Murderbot repeats, "that's some form of media made by fans about a story they like. It could be art, a story, a video, any form of media that tells a story."

It pauses the time it takes humans to think things over. "If you wanted to deal with the consequences, you could write stories that are interludes, set between parts of the story where characters process the trauma," Murderbot says. "You can do about anything though." Anything anyone has thought of... is guaranteed to exist somewhere. If possible.