Sixty-Fifth Theory [Video]

[i_speak_softly]

[The video feed clicks on, and Don looks thoughtfully at the camera for a moment before speaking.]

Another Christmas in Luceti.

[His tone is direct, just stating a fact, but somewhere behind it is a note of melancholy.]

This is my third. All of them have been in this house. All of them have been with different people.

[He slides back from the journal, revealing a corner of his winter room. He's been gradually moving into it over the past week, and has more or less taken up residence now.]

I've seen a lot of people come and go. There probably aren't many left who remember when Luceti didn't have electricity.

[He picks up some small bit of tech and squints at it.]

When I arrived here, the drafts were just starting. There were no missions. The Battle Dome didn't exist. We didn't have a farm and there was a desert where the ocean is now.

[He carefully threads a length of wire through a hole in the tech part.]

The buildings were shorter. Some of the stores and restaurants weren't open. [A pause.] I think I'm forgetting things...

[The wire slides through, and he knots the loose ends to form a loop.]

Does anyone remember other things that have changed? Or, does anyone want a history lesson? I'll be here all day.

Comments

[Voice]

[mysicksadlife]

Well... Talking to fairies and elves and wizards might still be healthier than talking to myself, at least. [She's been known to do that once or twice under stress.]

[i_speak_softly]

[He shrugs casually, and picks up a random tech bit from his pile.]

I was going a little insane and would have been happy to get electricity by any means. Do you want to sit here talking about it, or can we decorate some Christmas trees?

[semper_cogitans]

[Christmas trees, right. He remembers that concept, but the idea is still a somewhat... uncomfortable prospect for him.]

... How do you propose we do that?

[i_speak_softly]

[He gestures around the room.]

Trees. Christmas ornaments. I think an engineer and an astrobiologist can figure this one out.

[semper_cogitans]

[... Well. Robert gives the paopu fruit saplings another once-over, as well as the other plants he's festooned the area with.]

... Would young trees be... appropriate?

[i_speak_softly]

I think they're acceptable. [He offers Robert an origami figure.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Well, then.

Robert takes the little figure in hand, takes one of the slender branches of the abdomen-high tree in hand, and nestles it delicately in the crook of the tree.]

... It looks... beautiful.

[Voice]

[ledbythewind]

Your third, is it? What a coincidence-- it's my third Christmas here as well.

[There's a slight melancholic tone in his voice too, though there's also a hint of nostalgia with it.]

[herotypical]

I don't think it should be required viewing, if that's what you're asking. It's a bit...unpleasant. Not everyone here as a stomach for war.

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

What's wrong with talking to yourself?

[i_speak_softly]

No, of course not. I'm asking whether people should know more about the history of it.

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

[He knows the feeling exactly.]

Are you doing anything special?

[i_speak_softly]

[Don kneels beside the chosen tree, and carefully hangs a gadget-bauble from a branch.]

Merry Christmas, Professor Hastings.

video;

[bestevolving]

Blastoise is like a giant tortoise or turtle, so on it's shell it has a pair of cannons that can blast water out of them. It's really useful, and other than that it almost looks like a normal tortoise. [except it's blue and a pokemon.]

video

[stilldontgotit]

Well, and some people might not want to know everyone. It's unfortunate, but I've met people here who feel uncomfortable around those of us from drastically different worlds, so they just avoid what they can't grasp.

video;

[i_speak_softly]

... How can I get some.

video;

[bestevolving]

[Blue giggles.]

I'm not sure that you can, Blastoise gained them when he evolved from Wartortle.

[Voice]

[mysicksadlife]

Nothing, if you want people to think you're a crazy old lady already when you're barely finishing high school.

video;

[i_speak_softly]

When he did what?

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

Do people think that? I've been called many things, but a crazy old lady is not one of them.

video

[i_speak_softly]

Good point. I try not to impose on them...

[Video]

[i_speak_softly]

We probably shouldn't be talking about this over the journals. Thanks for the lesson, though.

[Voice]

[mysicksadlife]

I'm no biology expert, but I'm pretty sure you're not a lady. [It's the voice, really. A guy's voice. A turtle that has a guy's voice.]

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

[He's not, thanks for noticing.]

Crazy old anything, then. I get "space case" or "egghead" or "Nerdle the Turtle".

[He can't believe he's admitting to that, but he kind of likes you.]

[Voice]

[ledbythewind]

Not that I know of yet. We'll probably just spend the day at home and hope Pascal doesn't give anyone one of her inventions as a gift.