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

[axiomed]

I don't think you could make a room with that kind of power. Headbands wouldn't do. It would . . . have to be a helmet.

As for the metals, I wouldn't know. They were specially made.

[winn]

As in - the full on man-in-the-iron-mask look?

[ that seems unlikely. these people have implants in their brains, maybe they figured out some other way to thwart his abilities. ]

Who by?

[axiomed]

No, just the head. The face need not be covered.

[ At that, he scowls, uncharacteristically showing annoyance. ]

No one you know.

[winn]

[ that's interestingly specific. he scrunches his face in concentration, trying to map out the implications in his head. it's an instinctual response - must logic out everything. ]

So - hypothetically - if there is someone there, and if we get their heads exposed and if we get you in range - you could get them to send everyone home?

[ he jumps over lines without noticing sometimes, but once he's there, he can usually tell when it's time to back the hell off. dropping the second topic, as curious as it makes him. there are plenty of other things to discuss, after all. ]

[axiomed]

Feasibly . . . yes.

[ Everything has a mind, after all. Even an alien one, which might pose issues, shouldn't completely block him. ]

[winn]

[ ok! that's a puzzle piece! it doesn't go with anything yet because there are so many obstacles on the way to that hypothetical situation even if people really are hiding out there. but it's a piece! ]

...do you ever think that maybe they want us to figure this out?

[ maybe it's some kind of test. every time he thinks there's something he needs - he gets it. he needs chemicals? toxic moon. he needs help? cisco. ]

[axiomed]

[ Carefully, as he projects some calming thoughts. ]

I think, for all they account for, we can still counter their possibilities.

[winn]

Right, you can't lock up this many powerful people together and expect it to last forever - there has to be an endgame.

[ but maybe that endgame doesn't have to be something bad - maybe their abilities are being tested to see if they can save the world from some complicated threat, maybe they're being brought together to do good under this guise because they knew they wouldn't leave their own worlds and their own responsibilities otherwise. maybe when people go home, it's because they just weren't suited for the mission?

normally, he'd counter these points right now; what about the other pocket dimensions? and why keep him? and why not explain anything to them, now that they're here? and what's the test, if all they do is float around in space - see who despairs? who gets too used to doing nothing? what's the possible point?

but right now, he doesn't feel like poking holes. ]

[axiomed]

[ Gently. ]

You're projecting again.

[winn]

..of course I am. [ goddammit. shaking his head with an awkward smile. ]

Sorry. I should - get on experimenting with metals so we can have one conversation, right?

[ and so he could avoid oversharing things he really doesn't want anyone knowing. little by little, he's been telling kitty more of the less than stellar parts of his life, but he still tries to downplay it, mostly. he doesn't want his burdens troubling anyone else. ]

[axiomed]

[ Charles relaxes a little with a soft smile. ]

Our conversation was fine. Don't worry about me, I can take it. I simply do not want to overstep and cause you more fretfulness.

[winn]

As long as you're not -- actively going in there -- hey, is there a way to know? If someone does that? You know, for someone who doesn't have any cool powers?

[ eh, fretfulness is practically his default setting. he just has to remember to get away if he's starting to think of things that are too personal. his biggest concern right now, though, is to keep his thoughts focused on himself so if he does spill any secrets - they'll be his. ]

[axiomed]

I suppose if I constructed a kind of shield.. . . But I don't know how well it would work.

[winn]

So unless someone with powers is looking out for them at that exact moment, normal people never feel anything when someone's in their head?

[ on the one hand - hey it saves him at being paranoid of every itch. on the other - hey, he's just gonna be paranoid all the time. who knows if charles is the only telepath out there. ]

[axiomed]

I'm sorry. It might depend on how powerful the telepath is. A good one can do it without anyone ever knowing they're there.

[winn]

And I'm guessing with your reduced range, you can't tell if there're any others on the fleet?

[axiomed]

[ He hesitates. ]

I've never met a telepath as powerful as myself. If they exist . . . I've never met them. At the most, I've only seen low-level empathy and telepathy.

[winn]

What's that mean? What can a - low level empath and telepath do?

[ he's got nothing. everyone is a high level compared to that. ]

[axiomed]

Nothing, really. The most they can do is read surface thoughts and emotions.

[winn]

No, nothing's what I got - [ mumbled. ] people can get a lot done just by being really good at reading facial expressions.

[ so unless someone is strong enough to block charles, or charles is lying, or the augment is keeping him from sensing other powerful telepaths - there's no one else capable of controlling his mind besides, of course, their kind hosts who have something of undetermined capabilities stuck in his head.

well that's not comforting at all. ]

[axiomed]

I suppose.

[ Charles is fairly decent at reading people even without telepathy. He has a knack for it. ]

But this is wildly hypothetical.

[winn]

'Wildly hypothetical' is the name of the game here. [ a pause ] Beats Big Brother: Space.

[axiomed]

I think the other question here is that are you playing because you want to beat them or because you can't help your mind overrunning itself with possibilities?

[winn]

Who says they're mutually exclusive?

[axiomed]

As long as you know what you're doing.