tushanshu | [Video]

[the screen turns on to reveal Carlos in his ever-present lab coat, pushing his glasses up his nose as he nervously grins at the screen]

I believe this is the point where introductions are in order, so...my name is Carlos and I am a scientist. I am not of this world, but from what I have been told neither are any of you. I'll need to run some surveys on that later - scientifically speaking, other worlds are very exciting. I mean, I'm here in a world where an entire city can be built on the back of a giant turtle the size of - well I don't know what size yet, I'll need to run some tests, or maybe just find an accurate map - but it's got to be at least the size of Rhode Island! There are just so many rules of physics that this thing must be breaking! Like, how does a turtle that large even float? And that's just in this world, I can't even begin to hypothesise about what else might be...

[Carlos coughs, suddenly remembering that this is actually the time for introductions, and figuring out what on earth (or in this case, what on turtle) he is meant to be doing next, and not time for Science]

Um. Yes. But I can figure that all out later, I'll need time to organise a proper survey questionnaire anyway. In the meantime - this is me, hello [Carlos waves quickly], and I would really appreciate it if someone could tell me where to get food, groceries, that sort of thing. Also is all of this [Carlos waves around him to indicate the place he's been set up in] something paid for, or am I going to need to pay this all back? I meant to ask, but I kind of got distracted with all of my questions about the turtle.

Also I...I realise this is a long shot, but the last otherworldly universe I got stuck in had this fantastic wifi, and I didn't have to worry about my phone's battery dying either. Which meant being stuck in a desert that was not of this world wasn't so bad, because I could still ring home. That...that's not going to be possible here, is it? I mean, obviously if time is not passing in my world then there is no time in which anyone will be able to answer the phone, but I...I just thought I'd check. Just in case.

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Oh, you mean with...ah, that person who we're not allowed to mention?

I...must admit I've gotten a little too wrapped up too sometimes, as my boyfriend is always telling me. But there are lots of good reasons for eating properly and getting a good night sleep. Like not being hungry and sleep deprived, meaning you can do better science!

Yeah, that guy. The Big Bad M, that party crasher, that jerk who took over the palace, whatever you feel like calling him.

And good points. If my bro ever shows up here, I'll have to remember to use that argument with him. You know, get him to put the science down and take some time for basic human needs. I kinda think overworking would be more of a problem here than at home, too, given all the weird stuff around here. Like magic. Not...that I'm even sure you can apply science to magic.

Yeah, I did these experiments once back when I was college - I was so sure that if I just tested it enough I could figure out how to stay awake for longer! And then I'd be able to get even more science done, because all that time I'd spend sleeping could be spent running experiments!

It, um. Unfortunately was not a very successful experiment. At least not in terms of proving that I could stay awake for longer. As definitely proof of the debilitating effects of sleep-deprivation, it was excellent.

And of course you can apply science to magic! It's science Science is about trying to understand things. If magic exists, then it's something that science doesn't understand yet. Which is why I need to study some magic. I've already planned an experiment on my console - from what I've been told they're largely constructed with magic, no wires, no data chips, nothing.

[...wow, this guy really could be like some alternate universe version of Rex's brother. Probably a good thing Caesar isn't here. Even with Carlos' better habits and the sound reasoning behind them, Rex can't help but wonder if they'd end up enabling each other right into sleep deprivation anyway in the name of science.]

I know a guy here who has a similar attitude on the whole magic thing. His name's Mike. Talking with him and a couple other people kinda helped get me over the weirdness of magic. At least in accepting it as part of life here, sorta. I'm not a scientist like my brother, but I'm used to science and testing and all that being a major part of my life, so stuff just appearing out of thin air "because of magic" didn't sit too well with me at first.

So hey, if you can actually use science to explain all that hocus pocus? Let me know. Might aid in the whole process of making it less brain breaking.

[The mention of a console experiment makes Rex grimace slightly, however.]

Not sure messing with your console is such a good idea though, dude. These things are a weird mix of stuff and taking them apart could make a huge, nasty mess.

Something can still exist even if you don't understand it. Lots of things that we don't understand at all exist. And the more we learn, the more we learn that there's just so much that we don't know anything about at all. But that's what science is all about! Science is...science isn't about saying seeing something that shouldn't exist, and saying it's impossible. Science is about seeing that thing that doesn't exist, and asking why.

So if you see something you don't understand, you shouldn't be afraid. It's just a mystery you haven't solved yet. And I'm going to try and solve this magic mystery.

Oh, and I've been told about how the console will explode with a kind of goo. That's why I need to test it!

There is such a thing as smoke and mirrors, though. Just because it exists and you can see it doesn't mean that's exactly what someone says it is, you know? So just because I got told "this is magic" didn't mean I was going to swallow that right away, hook, line and sinker.

Then again, just because someone claims something is a miracle of science doesn't mean I have to believe that right away, either. I want to trust people, but I've seen some pretty shady stuff in my line of work.

[He smirks a little, amused by Carlos' enthusiasm despite the warning about the console.]

Hey, if your console does explode? Make sure someone's there to take a photo. Might as well document it.

[Yep, all about documentation. Nothing to do with free laughs or anything like that. Nope. Not at all.]

Edited 2014-08-03 08:55 (UTC)

Oh course. That's why you need comprehensive and vigorous scientific testing! And observational evidence. This is why we have science! So we can understand things.

[Carlos pauses for a moment, thinking] Visual documentation would be useful...but I don't have my team of scientist to assist me here, and I'd rather not put anyone else at risk if it all goes horribly wrong. Maybe the second experiment.

[Why yes, he is already planning to blow up a console twice]

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