text / audio | un: newt

[groupiedrifter]

Alright, let's not be total wallflowers at prom here, if we're going to be stuck together for the foreseeable future, I think it's only right that we (read: I) start getting to know all of my fellow space cadets. If we're ACTUALLY in space and this isn't some humongous simulation. You guys saw how easy it was for this place to manufacture a hyper-realistic simulation earlier, right? Yikes, big yikes.

But if we ARE in space and we're going to be traveling around, that's actually kind of AWESOME.

No offense to anyone who didn't want to actually be here of course, but you're nuts if you're not a LITTLE curious about the vast expanse of outer space. C'mon. OUTER SPACE! How incredible is that? And here I thought me coming face to face with aliens back home was INCREDIBLE, now we've got ACTUAL OUTER SPACE??? Pinch me I'm in a simulation. LOL.

Sorry I'm rambling, my name's Newt. Dr. Newton Geiszler, but but that sounds so much more boring and overcomplicated than 'Newt', so just stick with that. Worked as a xenobiologist on earth (is there multiple earths or what??? a lot of you are crazy unfamiliar with Kaiju, which is wild to me), helped giant robots fight aliens, the usual. Likes are rock music, playing instruments, tattoos, science and tech, dislikes are bossy pushovers who complain about those things.

Speaking of which, my really good pal from home's name is Hermann Gottlieb, and you should call him Herm to make him REALLY feel at home. :)

It's nice to meet you guys on the NEWTwork. ;P

... Actually—

[Suddenly, the text turns into audio, in which a higher voice with some focal fry bleeds in-]

—can I just abruptly switch to an audio function?

[A pause, and then an excitable:]

Holy shit, how awesome is that?! This is amazing; we've made some pretty monumental gains in technology back home, but we're still working on finessing the finer aspects of neuralogically connecting to networks like these for the general population. I'd love to take one of these apart sometime and see what makes them tick. Good to have an idea of what to expect, in case we need modifications or repairs done at any point.

Anyway. Uh. Hey!

... This whole voices-in-your-head thing can't be good for my train of thought, but geronimo, right?

[If anyone listens beyond that, they may catch the accidental thought-to-audio that follows:]

Wha — oh, dammit.

I sure hope this is the last nosebleed, because I would rather not worry about having accidental brain damage from drifting with aliens.

Comments

[groupiedrifter]

Oh, information date? Got it. I love the sound of that.

This isn't gonna be an information one-night stand, though, is it? Because if you exchange information with me and then never call back, I'm gonna be really put out. I may never information date again and die an information spinster.

[bossily]

[Who gave him permission to be this precious?]

Oh Newt. You and I, we're bound to have so many information dates that you'll be sick of me in no time.

[groupiedrifter]

Well! In that case, you can find me in the lab.

... You'll probably find me in the lab 80% of the time, if I'm honest. But I digress.

Can you bring snacks? I suddenly realize I'm hungry, like, right this moment.

[bossily]

Pretty sure we've got rationing to deal with, but I'll see if I can't find something for you.

[Wait a second.]

...when's the last time you've eaten?

[groupiedrifter]

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh... hhhh...mmmmm.

[He pops his lips. Is quiet.]

Time is relative to everyone's different frames of reference, you know.

Clocks are just an invention of man to catalogue events, cycles... Cinco de Mayo.

[bossily]

Don't you dare lecture me about time, Newton.

[She used the full first name, she means serious business. Well, as serious as you can sound while playfully scolding someone as you search the kitchen for food for them.]

You should be far more concerned about the fact you just signed yourself up for constant lectures on the fact you should be taking better care of yourself.

[groupiedrifter]

[Oh, very serious business!!!! His uncle did that all the time when he was little. His dad just always used his full first name; probably thought it sounded a bit more dignified. But then again, his dad was kind of a quiet, odd fellow in general. Not as energized and friendly as ol' uncle Illia.]

Ugh, don't say that. Hermann was a big enough pain in my ass as it was!

[And he was practically the only person around at all times to even bitch about Newt's habits.]

I just get carried away in my own head; that's all.

[bossily]

And I'm making it my job to take care of you.

[And then she shows up in person, smirking and holding out a vague bag of what could be a snack or may be something healthy. Who knows.]

No amount of arguing is going to make me change my mind. Now eat.

[groupiedrifter]

I'm 36, Clara, you don't have to take care of me.

[Is Newton Geiszler embarrassed by this show of attention???? Maybe! He's not really used to people outside of his small, quiet family looking out for him. It feels like that was lifetimes ago, between the quick, messy holidays, the days when vacations seemed fewer and fewer as the monster attacks increased in frequency.

In the bright lights of the lab and with his sleeves bunched up at the pulse of his elbows, the elaborate, colorful markings on his arms stand out like a sore thumb. He reaches out to take the bag, his nose wrinkling slightly.]

... I hope it's not vegetables.

[He'll eat it anyway!!! He's just saying.]

[bossily]

[Clara arches an eyebrow and resists the urge to question if he's 6 or 36, complaining about vegetables like that. But she doesn't, because something on him has caught her attention. She doesn't hesitate to reach right out and grab at his wrist so she can tug his arm over to her.

Yeah he probably wants to eat and probably enjoys personal space, but Clara is ignoring both of those things for now so she can get a good look at his tattoos.]

You really didn't strike me as the sort to have this many.

[A pause, and then -]

Are there more?

[groupiedrifter]

[He takes the bag and pops it open, almost dropping it when she tugs his arm inward to inspect the ink there. Well! These look kinda like little popcorn puffs, or something, so he'll just eat them and hope for the best! With a cheek full of food, he says:]

Mmf! Yeah, I've got the whole front of my torso done; did a one-off on my leg, but m'gonna go back to filling in my back, I think. [Chewchewchew, like a hamster. This is the kind of man who inhales his food instead of savoring it; the kind who would probably have to be saved via Heimlich maneuver in the future (or has likely been saved with it already, let's be honest).]

Whaddya think? Pretty cool, right?! This one's Yamarashi. Breached 2017, Category III -- oh, and I've got a Taurax higher up on my bicep! Pretty cool Kaiju; that one showed up in 2022. It had these huge horns, and a really tough exoskeleton.

[bossily]

[Clara further ignores personal space by running her finger along the images on his arms. ]

So are these Kaiju that you've helped kill? Or just ones that you've seen?

[Because yes, her bleeding heart has her a little sad that such impressive beings wind up having to be killed. She understands protecting people, but her time with the Doctor has taught her that sometimes there are other ways to keep everyone safe.

So she tries to turn down the wide eyes looking up at him for reassurance that not all of these amazing creatures are dead and gone.]

[groupiedrifter]

[Newt doesn't mind. It's not very often that people get so up close and personal with the tattoos; usually they just kind of see him as a monster-loving fanboy. Besides, he has a habit of getting super intrusive when he's interested in something, too. It's nice to see it out in the wild, and without any chiding.]

... Unfortunately, the first option. Kaiju had one goal, pretty much rigged into their heads from the day they were cloned: they weren't going to stop, not until every human was dead. [He sounds sad about it. Maybe that makes him a bad person, to be sad for them like he is for the humans who had lost their lives or their families; he's not sure.

Slowly lowering his bag of snacks, his frown deepens.]

... I got to see in their heads, you know. In order to gain whatever information they knew, about the Breach they came out of. I could see... Kaiju being sewn together, in that other world... It was... [He feels cold dread crawl up him like Kaiju tendrils, and something — just stops him. He shakes his head. He could still feel Otachi's breath, so hot and bright that he felt like he was about to be consumed by electric blue lava. Running for his life, seeing the dead in the streets after, the casualities of creatures he'd quietly found so awe-inspiring-]

Um. Sorry, it's still a lot to think about.

My uncle, he used to tell me to face whatever scared you. That the bravest thing you can do is embrace that fear, that thing nobody else will. So I would kind of just rush into a situation with the plan to start dedicating myself to it. Even if it was misunderstood, or gross — or scary as hell. Monster movies, or xenobiology, or loud music... or needles. Or Kaiju.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I used to fear them, and I guess now I do in a whole different way. But... I felt... sorry for them, a little. [He shrugs, smiling weakly.] I don't know what I'm even rambling about anymore, sorry.

[bossily]

[Clara intently listens as he talks, smiling as she can hear the passion in his voice. It's clear he's dedicated himself to his Kaiju the same way she has the stars and her travels. By the time he finishes, she's pretty convinced that he's someone that Doctor would likely replace her to travel with.]

There's nothing that can hold you back, once you figure out how to master that kind of bravery. I imagine you'll come to make a difference with them, whenever you get back home.

[The smile she gives him is a little sad.]

I feel sorry for them, and I haven't ever seen one. Or had a look inside their heads. But I'm not sure if that's the recklessness talking, or bravery covering for a death wish.

[groupiedrifter]

[He huffs a breath, smile softening, eyes rolling.]

Yeah, recklessness. Death wishes. Those're things my lab partner would have accused me of. [And maybe Hermann's right, like, a little. But it's not all just that, okay? Alright, maybe he's bitter and a touch childish right now; they just kind of had another little spat.] I'll admit, I wanted to know what was in their heads. I was ready to rush into it, and whatever happened happened. But it's not like I did it just because of my morbid curiosity... I really believed in my work.

[He gives a pause.]

I was actually thinking, depending on how long I'm here — like, if I run into any cool aliens out in space, I could fill in my back. You know? Ah, here — I'll show you! [He seems super eager, though there's a tentative caution in his words. This is uuuusually around the spot where people think he's a weirdo or think it's badass. But as he takes off his shirt and shows the intricate chest piece that engulfs every inch of the front of him, he turns himself slightly, points over his shoulder to the bare back, which is instead littered top to bottom in pale brown freckles instead of ink.]

It's a blank slate! Figured maybe I'll find more interesting creatures out here.

I just need to find a good tattoo artist. There's gotta be some good ones out there in the vast reaches of space.

[bossily]

[Her face lights up with great interest at that, and she has to pry herself away from looking over the tattoos on his chest to mosey on behind him to get a great look at...well, all those freckles.]

Surely someone here must be able to! Or we could find someone on any planets we visit.

[Her fingers tap at a trail of freckles down his back, until she stops about midway between the shoulderblades.]

Here. This is where you should get your first one. Branch out from there. Then, Newt, you can be a walking and breathing story.

[She leans off to the side to peek around him, grinning and nodding. Who wouldn't want to be a living storybook?]

[groupiedrifter]

[He looks over his shoulder with a grin that sits heavy in the crinkles of his eyes.]

Sounds like a plan! I'll map our voyage, huh? figure out something from each mission to get done as soon as I have a chance! The Kaiju War's over, but it doesn't mean I have to stop turning this dumpy human body into something cool to look at!

[He puts his hands on his hips, sits up a bit straighter. His body is loud and colorful and unmistakable in the middle of this pale-colored lab.]

Doctor Newton Geiszler, doctor and historian.