02 - video

[winn]

Who: Winn
Broadcast: Fleetwide video
Action: the Tourist
When: now!

[ last time he posted anything, he was a nervous wreck and kind of nauseous. the changes the past two months have left in him are impossible to miss; winn is smiling, upbeat, and almost comfortable. the nervous energy that is there has more to do with his addressing a bunch of strangers than the constant fear of death by space-stuff that overshadowed his first feed. ]

Hi, if we don't know each other - I'm Winn Schott. If we do know each other...I'm still Winn Schott - [ shaking his head, why hasn't he learned from the last time? prepare a script! ]

Anyway! I've been here for a couple months now, and it's been interesting - and I mean that in the original sense of the word. Think about it - not only are we in outer space [ there's only a slight wince at that, and even a lot of excitement. space is terrifying - but it's also really cool ] - but we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to reach across the multiverse and learn things that haven't even been dreamed up in our worlds yet. I've been learning - a ton from just casually talking to people, but there is a much better way to do this if we all cooperate, [ open source. it's the way of the future! ] and I know I'm not the only one out there who's interested!

So, I've got a suggestion for anyone who thinks that's really cool - and - pity for anyone who doesn't [ and by pity, he means judgment. he gestures excitedly with his hands as he introduces his brilliant concept ] - 2016: A Space-Time Odyssey - a series of free weekly lectures about anything and everything we've got here. Talks about different worlds, science, history, art lessons, concerts - I know we've got some musicians here - basically anything anyone signs up to talk about, teach, perform, or however you communicate things where you're from. Since we don't have a lecture hall we can broadcast the talks - give ourselves a fun routine....and if that doesn't work for someone, I can post the notes I'm so gonna take of all of these. Who's in? Who wants to go first?

Comments

[winn]

Not even water or a soda or something?

[ yeah, he'll be helping himself, or he won't be able to convince himself to get back on the shuttle. ]

[axiomed]

I'm fine. Please, go ahead.

[ Though it seems the other man struggles with the shuttles. Space travel isn't for everyone, it seems. ]

[winn]

[ it absolutely isn't for winn, but he does try. that has to count for something, right? ]

Right, I'll be right back.

[ he goes to get himself a scotch, and sits back down, taking a sip. ]

Ok, so -- [ why is bringing up the topic he's there to discuss always so damn awkward? ] you wanna just -- ah -- tell me what you're comfortable telling? Cuz I sort of tend to overstep the super-boundaries -

[ he's just so fascinated by superpowers - but who wouldn't be, in his defense? ]

[axiomed]

[ Charles considers his options and then dismisses them. He's not ashamed of his powers and strength. ]

I am a telepath. It is my primary mutation and as such, it allows me a wealth of options to do with the mind. I can control them and manipulate memories and feelings.

I don't read people's minds without permission, which I understand is not much of a guarantee, but it's the only one I can give you.

[winn]

Good enough for me.

[ he's a friend of hank's - who they jokingly refer to as their world's winn - and he's not someone kitty warns against, either. he seems like a good guy, and winn wants to trust that. besides, it's a better guarantee than I can't control it. ]

Does that mean you can tell the extent of your implant's influence?

[axiomed]

Influence might not be the right word for the implant.

[ Charles folds his hands on his lap. ]

From what I can tell, the most the implant does is feed information and activate the subconscious response needed for using the equipment. I haven't noticed any other abnormalities there.

[winn]

Can you get around it?

[ if it that really is "all" it does - it'd be comforting to know that even if they can't rip it out there's something that can be done about it. ]

[axiomed]

I could, but it wouldn't solve anything. It'd be like putting up a tiny dam near a giant flood. Eventually, it'll get through and it's not worth the effort. Most likely, you'd get a bad headache.

[winn]

That depends on what you can accomplish while the dam holds up.

[ it's an ace in the hole, when they figure out a proper plan. ]

[axiomed]

I couldn't say, but I wouldn't recommend it either.

[winn]

Why not?

[ ok, the atroma probably wouldn't take kindly to it but that's obvious, and also why he wants to do it. what he needs to know right now is whether there are other side effects to worry about. ]

[axiomed]

[ Charles stares at him, before briefly rubbing his forehead. ]

Most of this is conjecture. My telepathy is very strong but the Atroma's powers are stronger. I know this because my powers have been limited. And we are dealing with the mind.

It's risky.

[winn]

When you say 'limited' --

[ is it the implant? if so, then it obviously does much more than "just" feed information and activate the subconscious response. which is what he's been slowly starting to suspect as more than just a paranoid theory. ]

[axiomed]

[ Charles eyes him before speaking. ]

Considering how close the ships are to each other . . . reading people's minds from that distance should not be a problem. It could be the implant or it could be something else. From what I can tell, the implant works in a limited capacity. But this technology is new to me.

[winn]

So you can't know for sure it's not messing with us further.

[ and to winn, that's just proof that it is. ]

[axiomed]

I'm saying I'm not ready to give it that much credit. Getting paranoid isn't going to help us find the problem.

[winn]

I'm open to suggestions -

[ it's hard for him not to get paranoid about this. he's spent so much of his life terrified of losing control, of snapping and losing everything that matters to him, going insane. he doesn't need outside forces helping that along, genetics give him bad enough odds as is. ]

[axiomed]

I can numb the paranoia down, if it's an issue. I won't take it away, but enough that you won't feel powerless because of it. We can discuss and work through it carefully.

[winn]

I was thinking about suggestions in locating the problem --

[ a part of him is tempted, to finally be rid of that fear. the rest of him is terrified of anyone touching his mind, terrified of what would happen to him without that fear? what if that fear is all that's standing between him and insanity? he's not taking that risk. ]

[axiomed]

Then that is what we can work on. If you're interested.

[winn]

I'm gonna -- have to ask you to be more specific here, cuz I'm getting the feeling we may not be on the sage page. We are talking figuring out how and what they're doing to us, here, right?

[ so they could neutralize it, go home...not mess with his messy mind? ]

[axiomed]

We can do that.

[ But he folds his hands on his lap. ] But I'm also concerned about how -- strong your feelings are.

[winn]

You mean most people are totally cool with being abducted and brain-surgeried without their consent?

[ are his feelings really that abnormally strong for their predicament? is it because he knows that if he doesn't fix this kitty could disappear at any time - go back to her home where nothing but death awaits her? because he knows how miserable kara is without alex, without james, without getting to be supergirl? or is it because there really is something wrong with him?

and is he being very abnormally obvious about it, or is this guy peeking into his head despite assuring him he won't?

he really should deal with his feelings. but he's been taught to view them as a bother to other people, not something valid he should face and get help for. people aren't lining up to offer emotional support to the murderer's family. ]

[axiomed]

[ Patiently. ]

Most people don't spiral into very loud and depressing scenarios where everything is terrible.

There's nothing wrong with the way you feel. But I'm worried because you seem to get a little . . . carried away.

[winn]

Very loud? As in --

[ gesturing to his head - is he yelling his paranoia in your head, charles? shit, yeah he's going to need to get that under control. ]