video

[harnas]

[Straight-up, the first thing you notice on the video isn't necessarily the man sitting face-first, dead center in the camera with a somewhat stern expression. No, the first noticeable thing is the miniature white board and dry-erase markers just floating mid-air behind him. There are various equations and unintelligible scribbles and what looks like a music scale written on it, but it isn't sitting on anything and it doesn't seem like anything is holding it up.

He isn't paying it any mind. Instead, once he can confirm that the feed is broadcasting, the stern expression disappears, and he smiles, raising a hand in greeting.]

Hallo. My name is Dr. Siebren de Kuiper, and I am doing something of an interest check. As... well as a general inquiry, I suppose. I was an esteemed astrophysicist back home, and I was wondering if anyone has used the observatory here. I'd like to know what I'm working with.

But also on that note... we had what we call 'star parties' back home, as well. Group stargazing parties, essentially. Would anyone be interested? There's a whole new night sky to map out, after all, and observations are... quite frankly, more fun when done in groups. Fresh sets of eyes and whatnot. Besides, I do like seeing a healthy interest in space sciences!

[He gets more excited as he talks, and the objects floating in the background start to rise and shake a little. He seems to see the reflection in the stream and settles back down, clearing his throat somewhat sheepishly. The whiteboard sinks back down as well.]

Oh. Pardon me. Anyways, I do plan on joining the trip to Amegahara, so the actual events won't happen immediately. But if anyone would like to join me, do let me know.

Comments

[harnas]

I usually deal with mathematics and data, so it was mostly examining and archiving the colony's findings. Helping to project long-term plans and solutions.
I assure you, a trail of copious amounts of science was trekked. ;)
I didn't say it, unfortunately, but I'm fairly certain there's a plaque up there.

[...Give him a second, Dave, that was a lot.]

So clearly another case of an alternate dimension.
I'm sorry about what happened to your world.
But that sounds fascinating to have lived through. I'm curious though - how did you not asphyxiate?

[itsknighttime]

awwww shit son
so youre like a smart guys smart guy out saving the world?
fuck thats really cool and i keep saying cool but i mean it so i guess thats why i keep saying it
copious amounts of science... ill even forgive the missed opportunity

[[That's standard and par for the course for someone to need a second when Dave gets excited over something. Usually he's told to shut up by now, head-nodding aplenty until he moves on or someone that knows how to handle Dave's insistent rambling helps him move to another shorter topic. This is heaven for him and hell for anyone else more than likely.]]

yeah totally its ok about earth tho well make a better one with blackjack and hookers but not really with blackjack and hookers
speaking of time since youre a space guy
if theres one thing i know its time timelines and consequences thereof
but tbh doc there arent any other timelines here i can access and there should be a metric fuckload right
ive tried a few times and only ended up in the same timeline so if that helps?

[[Yet another pause.]]
that is a good fuckin question i didnt stop to ask and really wish i did
probably has to do with the medium we were in? idk a few things were happening at once

[[Or his ascension to godhood, that may do it too.]]

[harnas]

I suppose - I never saw it as saving the world though!
I'm glad you're interested, though. The universe is magnificent and I always appreciate an open mind

Accessing timelines?

[oh boy, give him a second]

If I understand, you can manipulate the time stream?
Theoretically, yes, there should always be a multitude of alternate possibilities.
Perhaps the fact that this is not our - or your - original dimension might be interfering?
🎶...

[He stops responding for a second.]

Well, there are other things that humans should not be able to survive that they have.

[itsknighttime]

course it is
and yeah no problem i think itd be cool to learn shit like that more than just whatever was on discovery channel

[[Which is about how he felt about it too. He needed a few and then needed to mess up terribly to learn not to mess around anymore.]]

you got it doc thats the one
im figurin the same thing but there shouldnt be just one timeline i just got to find where this one splits
im going to keep trying but im also not excited about fucking up this timeline either

[[Dave doesn't mind, the topic of surviving things can be touchy and as lack lustre as he treats it, sometimes it's not as easy as that.]]

ok true enough
everyones got someone or something bigger and badder but we get to cheat death along the way
my bro always said the cliche crap like what doesnt kill you makes you stronger but he wasnt wrong

[harnas]

Yes, I would certainly exercise caution.
If you're having trouble accessing a separate timeline - [man, he never thought that would be something he'd say to another person] it could be an indicator that somehow this place works outside of our understanding of the space-time continuum.
Which could be a plausible theory, considering the variety of people I've met so far.

At any rate, you'd be surprised how many cliches hold some truth to them.
Especially in this case, I suppose.
Although it truly depends on your definition of 'stronger'.

[itsknighttime]

dont worry man i learned my lessons
probably just by talking to a few people around here i can tell theres no one i know and everyone ever is dead who isnt already in the contact list if you get me
small pool of people to draw from so this dont make sense
im not going to dick around until i can manage some smaller jumps if i can at all i promise
[[Considering he's never been able to talk to anyone about this and the other time player on the troll team is the weirdest piece of work... It's nice to speak frankly.]]

man no clue
maybe even just luckier?
sometimes it isnt skill its luck and circumstance too so
idk man it could be both but it didnt kill us that i know of so we still got a chance

[harnas]

You seem to have a handle on your abilities, so I trust you.
This is one of the downsides of aging, I’m afraid. A heightened tendency to quite literally become the ’dad friend’. 😅

Regardless.
That’s a very good way of thinking about it.
I should remember that.

[itsknighttime]

i better or were all fucked
idk man you didnt feel like you were dading
i didnt really get a lot of parenting but i know what my friends dad was like and considered it normal
christ either that or im old enough to be dad too
i dont think so but now ill never know