driftfleet | (no subject)

[He really is asking. Stefan doesn't visit the library often - the Interfaith Center and his own experiments eat up most of his time, but he can't help noticing the new guy that's often in around the same time he is.

The journal attracts his attention the most, though. So he approaches Hank with a bright smile, gesturing to his own notebook.]

I was starting to think I was the only one who preferred these.

[Hank glances up and can't help but smile back - finally, someone who was as old-fashioned as he was. Whether by one's one choice or because they were forty years behind, but either way. He chuckles and pats the top of his notebook]

So was I. Some habits you can't break, even in places like this.

That, and you can guarantee that Atroma won't erase it down the line.

[Personal experience speaking. He's still pretty bitter about it.]

If you're okay with me asking, what kind of research were you working on?

They erase things? [he sounds offended by the very thought] Now I'm glad I'm old-fashioned.

[you'll have to pry these notebooks out of his cold, dead fingers]

I don't mind you asking. [he makes a gesture to an empty chair, if Stefan wants to join him] Right now, it's mostly brushing up on things. I'm - a few years behind, so there's newer technologies and methods I don't know about.

They did, a few months ago. Not sure if they'll ever do it again, but...

[He shrugs, taking a seat and more than accepting the subject change. It's familiar territory too, given how quickly he has to adapt to each generation.] Ah. How far back are we talking? Ten years? Twenty...?

Even so, thanks for telling me. I'll keep hardcopies of everything.

[he almost wants to ask Stefan to keep guessing, but he smiles, amused and a little wry]

If only it was ten years. [he huffs, but it sounds good-natured] It's 1973 back home.

Oh. [...] That's not too bad.

Look at it this way: you could've been from the medieval era? Or the 40's?

I'm pretty sure some people think the 70s are the medieval era.

But no, it's not too bad. And I admittedly enjoy researching these sort of things anyway. I like to keep up on it all.

Probably, but the 70's were fun. Lots of festivals and good music... from what I've heard.

[Because he's way too young to have lived through it, right.]

Ah. I'm from 2017 - or well, it would've been 2017 - so if there's anything unclear, I can try to help.

[he would absolutely not be surprised if Stefan had lived through it - he has experience with people who look older than they appear. I mean, he technically falls into that category, too, albeit he isn't immortal. Just unfortunately lucky]

It's a lot of that, yeah. Not really my thing so much, but I do enjoy the music.

[the rest of the 70s left something to be desired for him, but he wasn't exactly the type to go out and experience it, either]

I appreciate that. Ah - I'm Hank McCoy. [he offers a hand to shake]

Honestly? I think the music was all you were missing out on.

[Stefan extends his hand, shaking quickly but more firmly than one might expect.] Good to meet you, Hank. I'm Stefan Salvatore. How long've you been around?

I think so too.

[his handshake is firm as well, albeit in a careful sort of way] It's good to meet you too, Stefan. I've been here - almost two months now. Geez. Time flies, in a sense.

It really does. After a few months, you settle into a routine and then - it somehow turns into eight or ten months.

[Or a year. He tries not to think about that.]

This's the longest we've ever been in one place, though. With our current moon being... what it is, I haven't felt like visiting it either.

I really hope it doesn't end up being that long.

[he spend three months in the last place and that felt like years]

It is? I've been done a number of times, but - I've been trying to help with the terraformers, too. Otherwise, there really isn't much to do down there.

Right, the terraformers... I heard bits and pieces from my friends, but it seems like a massive undertaking.

[One that he can't possibly help with now, given that he fell asleep for the vast majority of their stay.]

But you're right, there isn't. It depends so much from place to place that sometimes, I'd rather stay here than planet-side.

It is. I did everything I could, but . . . last I heard, the council down on the moon was coming to their final decision about what to do.

[he wishes he could have done more, but he was able to leave copies of all of his samples and research with them, so he had hope that they'd come to a decision that benefited them all]

Honestly, me too. I spend most of my time in the lab, but I try to come over here often too so I don't get yelled at for being a shut in. [newsflash Hank you're still a shut in just somewhere else]

You did your best. I don't think anyone can fault you for what happens next.

[At least, Stefan wouldn't. Also, he knows that shut-in feeling so well. Because it's his life all day every day.]

Smart move. I'm usually in the Interfaith Center for the same reason. [He manages a smile.] If it weren't for the whole faith thing, I would've stayed in my lab all day.

Mm, I know. And I know whatever decision they come to, it'll be theirs - not us making it for them.

[which - regardless of how it went, was important. He didn't mind helping out and doing everything he could, but in the end the decision didn't fall on the fleet - or the Atroma, for that matter.

But yes, the siren call of a nerdy shut in. Hank smiles sympathetically] I'm glad someone else understands.

Exactly. That's the most important, really.

[They're only wayward travelers - how could they know the inner workings of a place, much less what the people there want? The Fleet did their part, which is all Stefan could've hoped for.]

Of course. It's not on purpose either, it's more... you know how you get wrapped up in some big discovery? And then it suddenly becomes 4 AM?
[he shakes his head] That was my life for way too long.

[he can't help the faint laugh] That's been my life since I started college. And it was my job for a while. Now it's just - habit. So I definitely know what you mean.

Edited 2016-06-22 16:14 (UTC)

Really? [If Hank didn't have Stefan's full attention before, he sure does now.] What kind of work were you doing back home? If you're okay with answering that, I mean.

No, I don't mind. Right now I'm a teacher - or . . . will be a teacher again. [he still isn't sure how he should explain that, but details] Before that, though, I worked as a researcher for the CIA - I went to school for genetics and biochemistry, but I was doing a lot of work with engineering and aerospace, too. One of my main projects was looking into supersonic flight.

Wow.

[Holy shit. Stefan doesn't even know where to begin to ask questions, but mostly? His own experiments seem a lot lesser in comparison.]

From the CIA to teaching... that's gotta be quite the jump.

[all experiments are equally important, Stefan, science is science]

It - yeah, it was a jump. It wasn't planned, exactly - a friend of mine opened a school, though, and I just sort of . . . stuck around. I had to quit the CIA for . . . uh, reasons.

[Personal, private reasons. Got it. Stefan's expression turns sympathetic.]

I see. I'm sure your students appreciate all you do for them - er, appreciated?

I got my degree in evolutionary biology, but I don't think it even holds a candle to what you're doing.

a!

yessss our time has come

it sure has!! ♥

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