driftfleet | (no subject)

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.

[not private so much as "I fled the CIA because I'm a mutant and they would have likely killed and/or experimented on me", and explaining that is awkward]

I - think they did? I don't have students at the moment. The school had to close for a few years - we were working on reopening it when we were brought here.

[he blinks, then can't help but grin a little] I don't know about that. Evolutionary biology is pretty impressive on its own.

Ah. That would put a wrench in rebuilding...

[Stefan rubs the back of his neck.] I'd normally agree, but that's also the only biology degree Princeton offered. So it's less impressive and more 'oh, every kid gets that.'

it sure has!! ♥

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