Team Bonding, AMA

[the_civilian]

[ Tadashi is reclining in a bed in medical, wearing the beatific smile of the enlightened and the well and truly stoned. ]

I love biology. Well, no, I'm enthusiastic about biology, I don't love it. I love programming and engineering and my family and helping people. Not in that order. Maybe in that order in regards to science. Except programming and engineering are the tools I use to help people, but I do love them too.

[ He stares off into space for a moment, then shakes himself and focuses back on the camera again. ]

But, you know, the thing about biology that's so cool is that we don't understand it all the way. Sometimes biological interactions happen unexpectedly. Like, these painkillers. I don't have an example of them to show you; they're already in my system and the medical staff won't give me more of them because they make me really loopy. Which is cool, because it's not an allergic reaction or a result of a miscalculated dose, it's just a reaction that happens sometimes to some people. Which is cool! Even almost a thousand years in the future of an alternate universe -- which has seriously weird rules, oh my god you guys I wish I loved biology and philosophy and physics more so I could study how weird this place is, I could write so many papers -- people still don't really know how our bodies work and why they react to certain things the way they do. Reality is amazing and I am so happy it exists!

[ He beams at the camera, but his smile eventually fades into confusion. Then he gasps in apparent surprise. ]

Oh yeah! Anyway, I'm super bored right now and I can't concentrate enough to read anything longer than a few sentences. And I've kind of been focused on dealing with my own stuff and not lighting things on fire when I shouldn't to get to know people, so I was thinking I should get off my ass and do that. Metaphorically, not literally, because the medical staff has confined to this bed until I metabolize the painkillers.

I was thinking we could do a...thingy. That thing people sometimes-- AMA! Ask Me Anything, that thing! We could do that, but just for Legionnaires. Not that I don't love the staffers here, I do, but I was thinking it could be a team bonding thing and some people here are more private than others. But I'd need one of the scary computer ladies to lock it down for me, because I can't figure out how to do that right now.

[ His eyes widen suddenly. ]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean that like "scary computers who are women", that would be rude, I meant it like "scary women who are good with computers". Computer programming has a long history of ignoring the contributions of the women who are it's backbone, and we have a lot of women here who area really good at what they do and they deserve to be afforded all the respect due to them as people and as badasses. The patriarchy sucks like the vacuum abhorred by nature.

...I think this got away from me. What was I talking about?

Comments

Marjara

[hallaifyouherd]

Well this would make for an interesting change of pace.

[lovernotafighter]

What's the hardest thing about all the magic-y stuff?

[hallaifyouherd]

Focus.

Like with any great power, it can be dangerous to everyone, yourself included, if you let it get away from you.

[lovernotafighter]

Soooo....work. Got it. Don't do magic. Cool.

[hallaifyouherd]

I know some mages wish that was an option.

[lovernotafighter]

Do you LIKE doing it?

[hallaifyouherd]

I do. It's part of who I am.

[lovernotafighter]

Okay, but what else is part of who you are?

[hallaifyouherd]

Wanting to learn everything about everything I can get my hands on.

Though I did eventually learn there's such a thing as knowing too much.

[lovernotafighter]

Sooooo,you're a nerd.

[orbislife]

Will you tell me a little about where you come from? Perhaps a story from your homeland?

[hallaifyouherd]

All of our stories end rather unhappily, I'm afraid.

[orbislife]

A sad tale can still be enlightening and offer much to learn about a culture, but I do not want to cause you any distress either.

[ He taps his chin, thinking of a more neutral question. ]

Do you have a favorite animal?

[hallaifyouherd]

I'm a little old to be distressed by any of them. I just wanted to give you fair warning.

[ But the next question is a little more cheerful. They can come back around to stories in a moment. ]

Our halla. They're magnificent creatures.

[orbislife]

I am unfamiliar with halla. Could you tell me more about them?

[ He wonders if they are fuzzy or if they fly or swim... ]

[hallaifyouherd]

They appear as pure white stags, with horns that stretch back and curl in intricate spirals. Large enough to carry any elf as a rider, though it has been many years since they were our steeds.

They are wise and calm by nature, and fleet of foot when needed.

[orbislife]

[ So they are fuzzy. ]

They sound like beautiful creatures and a sight to behold. My world does have stags and stories of creatures like them but nothing quite like what you have described.

Have you seen one in person?

[hallaifyouherd]

Of course. A Dalish clan without halla would be a sad and sorry sight.

We invite them to travel with us. In return for their help pulling the aravels and providing milk and cheese for the clan, we protect and care for them as our brothers and sisters.

[orbislife]

[ He clasps his hands before him, clearly pleased. ]

How wonderful and fortunate. Both of your kinds certainly live in harmony and better together than apart.

[whyarewehere]

Okay so I know we kind of talked about how being the boss sucks and people want crap from you, but you have to have a cool "I'm the boss and I said so" story, right?

...Cause if you don't, it's worse than I thought.

[hallaifyouherd]

There were definitely some perks.

I have a few. Define 'cool' and I'll try to pick one that fits.

[whyarewehere]

You know that thing when other people think they know better than you do, but it turns out you're right and they can fuck off?

That's pretty cool.

[ There is possibly some semi-autobiographical wishing in there. ]

[hallaifyouherd]

Hm.

Well there was the time I told the representatives of two nations and the largest organized religious group in the world exactly where they could shove it.

That felt pretty cool.

[whyarewehere]

That's satisfying to just imagine.

[ His head tips back in fond thought. ]

Do they get all fire-and-brimstone in you guys' church?

[hallaifyouherd]

Fire does seem to be a repetitive motif of theirs.

That's what happens when your founding member gets burnt alive, I suppose.