driftfleet | 05

Entry tags:

05 - video

Who: Winn and you
Broadcast: yes!
Action: Tourist!
When: now?

[ today, winn is coming to you live from the tourist's cargo hold. clearing his throat, he offers the camera a little smile ]

Sup, Fleeters, Winn Schott here, hope space is treating you well today. I got three things to run by you today, I'll try to be quick.

So one, I got - [ he moves the camera away from his face to focus on a box of 10 bears, on the large side. they have been dyed, and colorful patches have been sewn decoratively all over their torsos and arms. when he got them, they were covered by straightjackets, so this is his fix ] these. If anyone wants one, you're welcome to them. [ unless you're a tourist crew member. they will have magically run out if one of you tries to get one. he doesn't care if you can see them, they're not staying on this goddamn ship, ok. ] If any are left over I'm gonna leave them in Discovery One on the Iskaulit for public use in case anyone turns tiny.

[ he turns the camera back to him ]

Two - for those of you who don't know, Cisco and I have been running lectures, concerts, and whatever else people have been willing to volunteer their time for on the Iskaulit, and we're running low now. If you've lectured before and you wanna go again - you're more than welcome to, if you're a newcomer - likewise. Just drop me or Cisco a line with your name, topic, title if you have one, and availability if you actually have a schedule to keep - and we'll add you to the roster.

Three - Hank - don't let it be said I don't pay my debts.

[ turning on the karaoke machine he built with cisco, he proceeds to offer the network his rendition of the dire strait's walk of life. once he's done singing, a little flushed and embarrassed because last time he did this it was with cisco this is so much more terrifying on his own!! he gives the camera a little nod and signs off. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nice to meet you, Stefan, I'm Winn.

[ yeah he already said it, but experience has taught him that it usually stands repeating. ]

Just -- let me know? We usually have one-off lectures Thursdays at 8 PM, but if that doesn't work for you just say when and we'll make a note in the schedule.

It's good to meet you too.

That should be okay. I usually have interfaith talks on Thursdays, but they don't run over that late - just in case, have it half an hour later? I'd bring ma'amoul for the inconvenience.

It's no inconvenience at all, we can change the day too if you'd rather, we're pretty flexible --

-- what's a ma'amoul, though? [ cuz now he's curious ]

That might be better. I'm flexible as long as it's not that, or say, Friday afternoon.

They're basically shortbread cookies stuffed with dates - or nuts, or whatever I can find. [He attaches a hastily-taken camera photo of the cookies in question.] My family's from Jordan, so uh, I grew up making these instead of chocolate chip cookies.

Man - they look good -

[ if you wanna bring some anyway, he sure as hell won't say no! ]

Uh - so basically anytime you want. How about Monday, as some hour?

Thanks. I've still got some over at the Center, next time you're on the Iskaulit.

[He's always baking these, so it's nbd to make some more.]

Perfect. I can talk about other things later, if you still need to fill the schedule - but I'm not sure how well interfaith stuff would go over.

Thanks -- I don't um. I wouldn't wanna accidentally do something - ignorantly insensitive there...

[ hand awkwardly goes in his hair. religion is a blindspot of his, sad to admit. he's always been focused solely on science. ]

We're kinda running these lectures on the understanding that if the subject's not your cup of tea - don't come, there's limited space anyway. So you should always only get an audience that wants to listen to what you have to say. We do broadcast the lectures though cuz like I said - limited space and we don't wanna exclude anyone - so far there hasn't been any online trolling but if that's a concern we can try to figure something out.

You're not, promise.

It's more uh, trying to figure out what would work best for a lecture within that spectrum. [His expression softens.] Like you mentioned science, right? Where I'm from, science influenced faith and vice-versa, so you can look at say, how a need for Muslims to pray five times a day drove them to use the stars for time-keeping and say, further develop astronomy during the Islamic Empire.

[Now there's an idea....]

You don't have to put me down for that, or anything faith-based. It was just a thought.

Edited (i'm so sorry, dialogue nitpicking) 2016-10-05 05:11 (UTC)

No, no - that's interesting! I love history of science - that would totally have a crowd for sure. [ and three eager nerds in the front row. ]

Really? [That genuinely surprises him. He's only interested in it because he lived it.] Then let's do it.

History of Science in the... last hundred years? That should be more than enough for a lecture.

That's more than enough for a full series.

[ nodding eagerly, but he'll happily take one. sure, he's learned it on his world, but there could be interesting differences! and even in the odd chance that there aren't, there's always something more to be discovered. he's really excited about this. ]

Start with the lit, and then the science history, or the other way around? What do you prefer?

[Stefan's cheeks grow slightly red. And here he thought no one would care about how biology's changed since he was a young'un...]

Starting with the lit. It'll take me a while to narrow down "a history of science," especially for an introductory lecture.

[ oh stefan, wait until you have the entire nerd squad in front of you at your lecture. even if no one but the three of them shows up (which winn highly doubts, it's a great topic!) they're going to make him feel like the most interesting lecturer in the world. there will be so many questions. ]

Gotcha. If you need anyone to bounce ideas off of, feel free to call -

[It will be the loveliest surprise of the century!!]

Got it. I'm sure you'll be fielding more than a few in the near future.

[ nerd squad is always happy to offer its nerding services! ]

Bring it. [ excitedly. he never sleeps and he loves talking about nerdy stuff, you don't scare him, stefan. ]

[He raises his eyebrows in amusement and okay, a little judgment as well. Stefan's a nerd, but he's also old. He collects degrees like other people collect sweaters.]

Okay, now I'm half-tempted to stump you - but seriously, thanks for hosting these. I'll try to attend the others too.

[ it's not the first nor the last time winn will get a judging look. it hasn't been happening as much on the fleet, so in a pretty sad way - it's nostalgic for home.

he doesn't multiple degrees - both for age and finances - but he does read extensively, and remembers what he reads. ]

Well, you can try, but since we're probably not from the same world, there isn't really a way to judge that contest.

[ shrug ]

It's our pleasure. You can check anything you missed out online, we upload it all.

[ insert link to a playlist attached here ]

[!!! Links are good.]

Fantastic. I'll listen to a few when I get the chance, and you're probably right there.

Where's home, exactly? I'm assuming Earth at least, since you know America.

I recommend it, there are some really good ones in there.

[ winn's own lecture, byte me: the digital age unveiled, a humorous explanation of the internet and its varying uses, is among them. ]

National City, California, United States of America, Earth. How about you?

[Oh Winn. Some of that humor's gonna be lost on this old man...]

Mystic Falls, Virginia, US, Earth. Or more accurately these days, Amman, Jordan, Earth.

We're at least from the same country. Could be a lot worse.

[ it's ok, his humor's lost on half the people he talks to, possibly more. ]

Seems like most earths I've come across have or had an America. Probably bad for our ego, but great for a common ground.

No kidding. From what I've heard, most countries are still in the same place. It's one or two minor differences: in mine? LA and Las Vegas aren't in great shape.

[And since he's been asked why often enough:] There was an alien invasion. They're rebuilding, but it's gonna take time. A lot of time.

[ a joke about that being the original state of those cities is just at the tip of his tongue.

he's pretty glad he's waited patiently for him to finish. ]

..what kinda aliens? What year are you from? [ he's pretty sure they're not from the same earth because there's no way supergirl and superman would let two cities be destroyed, but still it's possible. there are definite alien problems where he's from. ]

[No one's ever asked him what kind. Stefan blinks back surprise.]

Um, [insert a species name Stefan would know but that was never given out-of-universe. It's not Kryptonian; if anything, it literally translates to "Invader."] 2015. May 2015, if you need a specific month.

Edited 2016-10-11 04:35 (UTC)

[ get used to questions that no one's ever asked you before, stefan, winn's brain is a weird place. ]

Okay, yeah, we're definitely not from the same earth, cuz when I was last there it was February of 2016, and I've definitely never heard that name before - I'd remember. That is, unless this augment thing made me forget, but why would it make me forget and leave it for you? That's just -- lazy.

[ shaking his head. ]

Do you have superheroes where you're from?

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