tushanshu | Ω joint post | video (backdated to before turtle dreams)

[Annabeth’s sitting at a cafe in the Fire Sector, blonde hair its usual mess of curls when the console turns on; she glances at something off screen for a few seconds before coming back into focus. There's a tall, thin, somewhat scraggly looking but composed middle-aged man standing beside and a little behind her, letting her take center on the camera. You might recognize him as Bruce Banner, if he remembered to introduce himself.]

Unless you're new or living under a rock, the rationing's back in full swing with pretty unfortunate long term implications. We're fine now, whether you’re accustomed to a higher lifestyle or otherwise, but probably not for said long term if this keeps up. That's where hydroponics comes in. If you don't know - [Insert brief but simultaneously detailed enough explanation of hydroponics here.] We've already figured out the logistics and mechanics of developing such a garden, hopefully with a grand enough scale to actually be useful and successful. [Brief pause, and she points upward over her shoulder.] It was his idea.

[He nods on cue.] Uh, hi. I'm... Bruce Banner. [He does look kind of uncomfortable giving out his name, but forges on.] Usually I work in physics or biochemistry, but with some help I've managed to put together a feasible work proposal for the set up. [He starts to gain speed and smoothness as he gets into the technical aspect.] The critical point here is that with an isolated indoor filtration system for the water, and no use of soil, we can prevent the widespread sickness from affecting our crops. We'd just have to be careful about cross-contamination.

I put out some feelers, and... the kedan are pretty interested in working with us. So we'd have a lot of local support. We can't pay anyone, because we don't plan on making any money off of it. The food would be for everyone. [He glances over at Annabeth, handing it off again.]

[She picks up with ease.] It'll be run like a co-op - you work some, you'll get some. There's a lot to potentially do beyond just the set up, so don't feel like you're automatically excluded if you don't understand the more technical or scientific aspects. [It’s not like she gets them all herself either; Annabeth just sort of found herself taking the reins like she do and ordering people around.] Basically, we're looking for volunteers, from any interested party. To keep it functioning, it'll probably require a lot of upkeep - so there's not really a limit here either, since it'll need a fairly regular commitment. If we get enough people involved, the garden should essentially run itself. And I know over half the population is pressed over food shortages, so yes, should this expand, some of that will be quelled.

[Level and unhurried, Bruce wraps up with,] Right now we're just looking for a preliminary estimate of involvement. A place to start. So, let us know if you're interested. [A beat of silence, before he adds,] Thanks for listening?

[Annabeth glances up at him with a bit of a face, but that’s about all she does - no goodbyes from her before she cuts the feed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No, uh, no, that's okay. I've seen plenty of snow, I just never get... a day off for it. Who did you get in trouble with? The Emperor? [Who else would tell off Jack Frost for making a snow day? Bruce can't even imagine.

He picks up on the undercurrent here and once again tries to divert it. Bruce isn't that great at not being a cynical pessimist, but he tries.]

But you can join in here, right? I've seen you around the network. You're pretty popular.

Oh, um, no. Some of the people here didn't like it. Foreigners, I mean.

[ Please don't ask why, Jack's practically squirming out of his seat. But the second part immediately relaxes him again, even leaning towards the console's screen ]

Yeah, being here is amazing! I can talk to almost anyone I want, and I like hanging out with the kids and telling stories, and I don't know about popular but I have friends here that like the same things I like and it's really interesting to learn about the places they're from even if sometimes their worlds seem a little strange. Everyone's been so... nice...

[ Help he's run out of words. ]

Edited 2013-05-21 00:53 (UTC)

[Bruce really does want to ask why, but he sees that reaction and thinks twice about it. You can always depend on him not to pry.] That's too bad. I don't think snow is that much of a problem. Maybe I've spent too much time in Canada.

[That gets an honest smile, because weirdly, Bruce knows how he feels.] Everyone has been nice. I'm not... used to having friends, either. And it is all interesting.

There's some downsides to being here, but, the company isn't bad. [This is a much more major admission than it seems from the way he levelly states it, but Bruce implying that he likes not being completely isolated is new. He's still feeling his way into it.]

[ Maybe Jack will tell you sometime, Bruce. Not on consoles and maybe when he felt he knows Bruce a little better, when he is more sure that you won't react the same way as others have. ]

That's how I feel too. I tried to explain it and people just thought I was weird, that I didn't mind it here.

[He's not offended by not being told. He has so many of his own secrets that it'd be hypocritical of him, and Bruce generally tries not to be.]

I think... that most people have something they want to return home to. [He's speaking quietly. This is a topic he's thought a lot about.] We all have something. But sometimes, being here is a chance.

It's a chance I'd never have at home.

[ Jack knows, 110%, exactly what you're talking about, Bruce. ]

A good chance. One that, even with things we need to go back and do... it'll be hard to let go of.

[It's nice to be understood. He gives a quiet, sympathetic smile.]

So we should appreciate it while we have it. You're not the only one that feels that way.

... and we'll toss a few snow days in there, just in case.

I wouldn't object to that.

Okay then. I'll see you around, Bruce.

Ω joint post | video (backdated to before turtle dreams)

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