First Atom; Video

[dashesanddots]

[The visage of a man comes onto the screen. He is unfamiliar but fascinated by the technology of the computer terminals. However, that is not the pressing topic at hand. ]

Greetings. My name is Robert Lutece and I arrived here yesterday with my sister Rosalind. She and I are both scientists and will be converting her suite into a laboratory, therefore we have no need for the furniture in her residence. We will be offering it to whoever is interested.

[He sits and waits in front of the computer terminal, looking rather calm with his eyebrows slightly raised. They just sit that way naturally, default expression that gives a general appearance of being constantly unamused.

It's her turn to talk now. Though this would be a little easier if they were reporting from the same terminal.]

Comments

[dashesanddots]

Quantum physics though. Everyone knows about momentum and kinetic force as applied to an object. Things are much more interesting on an atomic level.

No rules to follow.

[manofiron]

Quantum physicists. That's just what the place needs. Literally.

You're talking to one of the two greatest minds in the field on my world. Though technically I'm sort of an interdisciplinary expert. Thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, astrophysics, little bit of dabbling in biophysics.

Tony Stark. Pleased to meet you.

[dashesanddots]

[Wow, well color Robert impressed. Then again, he's not as critical as Rosalind, who probably won't be.]

A pleasure. Robert--

[dotsanddashes]

[No, Robert isn't as critical. If she is impressed, she doesn't show it. At most, an eyebrow quirks. The lackidaisical attitude does nothing for her.]

--And Rosalind Lutece. Charmed, I'm sure.

[There's a touch of sarcasm to her tone, but it's less malice and more irritability.]

[manofiron]

I hope not. [ He winks at her, detecting the sarcasm and being unable to resist poking at it. ] I haven't turned on the charm yet. Don't beat me to it, it's totally worth the wait.

[ Not wanting to annoy them both, however, he lets it go. ]

So. Where are you from?

[dotsanddashes]

[Too late, Tony, you have already annoyed Rosalind. She scoffs, 100% done with you for the time being, and turns away from the camera with arms crossed.]

Tch. Why don't I just let you men continue this conversation.

[dashesanddots]

[Siiiiigh, really Rosalind? Okay, well, guess he's carrying on.]

There is no simple answer for the where or the when, really. But before things became complicated, we were residents of a city that Rosalind suspended in the sky through her own studies.

[manofiron]

Sister doesn't like me much, does she?

[ Someone else might sound offended. Tony just sounds faintly amused. He's used to people not liking him. ]

Suspended it how? The method you used will orient you in time better than a date will. Especially around here.

[dashesanddots]

I'm not so sure it will, but very well. She had found a way to isolate atoms and align them to a fixed space, meaning that the city would never fall below its set elevation over the country.

[The year was 1912, and floating cities was pretty beyond the norm.]

Also, you will have to forgive her. Where we are from, she did so much for the city and the men still belittled her for being a woman.

[manofiron]

Genius is genius. It doesn't matter what form it takes.

[ Tony's never had a problem accepting intelligence in women. He's just never had trouble admiring women either. ]

Aligning atoms... Okay. If you had the right catalyst, I can see how it might be done. Possibly more stable than electromagnets. If the power cuts out, the whole thing won't crash to the ground.

stares really hard at physics talk because hmmm i am not actually a physicist just a bullshitter

[dashesanddots]

[Robert is probably going to ping Rosalind into this response after this because HEY, they should be friends. 8| Rosalind needs those.]

Thank you for that refreshing opinion. It's been a while since we actually tended to the city through a complicated series of events, so I can't recall how it had been powered.

[manofiron]

Well, hey, maybe you could make another one. In case the city starts to get crowded.

[dashesanddots]

An idea to consider, should we be able to replicate it with what's available here.

[manofiron]

Yeah, materials are hard to find. And the tech's archaic. Still, who knows, right? Where there's a will, there's way and all that jazz.

[dashesanddots]

[Haha, a grin. He wouldn't have been familiar with the idiom if they hadn't existed at all points in time.] True. We shall see what will come of our stay here.

[Maybe half the turtle will end up in another dimension by accident. whoops.]