Video; un: newt | a day or two before the Big Mission Log

[groupiedrifter]

[The little electronics shop has a small back room that is dangerously close to detection, when it comes to any government workers coming or going; just a door with a little private sign on the front — and behind that, there's a figure huddled over a desk, tie loosened and hair askew as he takes apart disarmed detonation collars and puts together prototypes to shut them down completely. His focus is impeccable, that's to be sure, but he's going on a second or maybe third night in a row without rest as he stares down the glassy front of a magnifying glass, fingers shock-still around a small welding gun that carefully patches pieces of refurbished technology together.

There is a hefty-sized box beside him, and he's placing his newly created disarming tools into it one at a time; it's gotten quite full. As he works... he starts... rambling into the feed. It does not stop. It almost seems like it never will.

Beside him on the desk, there are generic brand MEGA-CAFFEINE PATCHES.]

I can't just take it easy. Are you kidding? Taking it easy means there's less time to perfect the proper tools we need for this job; if I screw up and everyone's heads pop like grapes, what's that gonna say about me? That I'm a two-bit piece of shit engineer — and yeah, okay, so engineering isn't my primary skillset, but I helped build giant plasma canons, alright? I fortified armaments for 200 foot robots! I built a drifting PONS out of garbage! So, like, I can't just fail at this mission. Besides, this is Viv's home world, so if I fuck it up, I'll basically be letting her down; what would I even say? "Sorry I let people you probably care about go kablooey? At least I made you a dumpy robot body that isn't anywhere near as good as the ones you've got on your world?" Pfft, no, no way. So excuuuse me if I hit some caffeine patch vendors up for a little pick-me-up; what else was I gonna do, snort sci-fi cocaine? I'm not gonna snort sci-fi cocaine; let's leave that to the Scarface wannabes, yeah? I'm steady as shit right now, couldn't be more steady, like Doogie Howser up in this bi — shit! Electronic shock. Sorry. Don't worry, I'm not gonna blow myself up. C'mon, do I look like a guy who would blow himself up? Okay, maybe I look like a guy who'd blow himself up, but I've been alive 36 blissful years and I haven't turned myself into a reenactment of Jeff Goldblum at the end of The Fly yet. What a sick movie, totally worth it for the gross-out. A lesser man would have played it in its entirety at one of our movie nights, but I'm a kind and compassionate soul who would never do such a thing; Newton H. Geiszler is an angel. I don't know why I put an 'H' in there, I don't have a middle name. Does everyone have a middle name? Shit, did my dad skimp out on me? First he makes me a torrid love affair baby, then he curses me genetically with the gold trophy standard of ADHD and bad eyesight, and now he's not giving me my due right as a German-American by giving me some ugly middle name like Clarence or Wolfgang. Actually, Wolfgang sounds kind of lit. Newton Wolfgang Geiszler. Dude, I might just adopt that for myself. Shit! I don't know. What time is it? Someone'll come and let me know when we're doing the mission thing, right? 'Cus I'll be fine to do it, I'll rest in a little bit; I've been taking catnaps in-between finishing disarming tools. Trust me, I'm the king of taking power naps while sitting upright. I've even done it on a stool before, easy peasy pumpkin peasy pumpkin pie. Oh! Actually, I need to think of names for these ones, right? Like how I named the Newtrilizer. I loved that fucking thing; I'm actually using a few notes from that to help make these, too. But I'm seriously blanking on a name... Hermann would probably think it's stupid to name it, but what does he know, anyway? Only a complete loser would name something after a bunch of dead scientists or boring numbers. He's not here to stop me, so whatever! I'll do what I want! And what I want is to name this one The Geiszler Extemporizer. The Geiszler Depolarizer? Or is that too long? It's kind of a mouthful... I guess naming it something that ends in E-R is pretty boring, though. Maybe I'm boring, too. Damn, I don't wanna be boring... Ooooh, I think I'm having heart palpations. Or hot flashes? I really need to get some air conditioning installed in this place. How am I so poor and underequipped in every job after MIT? You'd think saving the world would get me a hell of a lot more money; mo' money, less problems, ha! Ha.... Mmmrrr.

[He quiets for a moment, then another moment, and then his head slouches forward to rest on his chest. There's a quiet buzzing of dead noise and a soft snore before he he startles back awake, gripping the soldering tool more firmly in his hand.]

Whoa!

[He sniffs, rubbing his eye.

Looks left. Looks right.

Squints at the equivalent of a flashing red video light in his vision.]

... Was I recording?

Comments

[fluffernutters]

[Well, on one hand, Newt does, because he at least has the benefit of a body that matches his age. Check your height privilege, man. But on the other hand, he gives off some distinct lunatic vibes that almost remind Five of a certain member of his own family, and it's due to that that faint empathy - as well as the slightest touch of guilt - pang deep in his stomach.

Shit.]

I'm failing to see how being kidnapped into space doesn't count as an urgent situation.

[groupiedrifter]

Awww, hey, honey! Hope work wasn't too tough today!

[He leans back in his chair, surrounded by half-built technology and looking like a kid who has refused the afternoon nap hour, to be put very lightly. But as the water is put down in front of him, he blinks owlishly at its sudden appearance before collecting it in his hands.]

What am I, stranded in a dessert? I'm not gonna pass out, dude.

[He's unscrewing the lid, before you complain.]

[groupiedrifter]

Awww. You were thinking of me, Bluey?

[He seems warmed by the thought, especially with how he'd perceived himself among his crew lately. Not any fault of theirs that he doubts his place sometimes, but — some bad shit happened last mission, and he's still coming back from that.]

... Man, I didn't even think about that, though. Clubs must be a lot to your senses.

[groupiedrifter]

Even more reason not to be Shawshanking It!

[He hollers it in huffy rebuttal as the portal closes, and then he kicks at the air where it had been, 'cus Gwen totally cut off his snarky retort.]

[firstroar]

[of course he was; there's but a handful of people Blue knows who he would associate with music of any sort, and Newton's at the top of that list.]

It was loud from afar, yes...even when my psionics were off. But that's part of the draw, I think. People...searching to drown out their own senses, to get outside of themselves.

video; un: stargirl

[bossily]

[Okay, so she's concerned about him.

Incredibly concerned.

So concerned she can't even say anything at first.]

Newt? How many of those patches have you used?

[groupiedrifter]

Normal is boring??? Normal is BORING.







I don't look that bad. 😤🥺😤😤

[groupiedrifter]

Would you not go to a Magical Ring Convention?

'Cus I know I would.

[spacedisaster]

Nah, the usual at the bar. A couple of drunkards getting into fights, another idiot trying to get handsy with one of the go-go dancers, and getting kicked in the face by a 10" heel platform...

[ Peter shrugs and then looks up and down at Newt, making an effort to not grimace. The scientist looks even more tired in person, dear gods. ]

Allow me to doubt the veracity of that statement. [ It's all Peter says, already searching into his bag for more things to give to Newt, and relieved that the other man is at least willing to drink. He drops a package of chocolate energy bars on the table, careful to avoid touching anything in there for fear of causing an explosion, and slides it closer to Newt. ]

Do you have a couch around or someplace to lie flat on your back?

[groupiedrifter]

Maybe it was intentional. Maybe I was pulling a pretty good goof on you guys.

[Answer: He was not.

But he knows when he's beat, and Natasha is one of many who has him figured out and poked to be sensible. Sensible!! Like Newton knows what such a thing is! A foreign concept, if he suddenly pretends he never learned English...]

Well, even if you don't nag me, there'll be a dozen people who take your place.

I'll... uh. Rest.

[God, Newton, don't make it sound like Picking Up Dog Poop duty.]

[deaddrop]

Thank you.

[With a little bit of humor. Then, with a slightly different kind of humor.]

I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunity to overextend yourself later.

audio;

[groupiedrifter]

... C'mon, it wasn't that much salad.

Like. Just a side-salad. A few green leaves.

[He has no actual reference to how long he spoke, time is fake.]

Re: audio;

[ruinously]

It was a little more than that.

[ but if he's okay then he's okay, Dean figures he wouldn't want anyone prying into his shit. ]

[kikoku]

I don't have a medical license so I can doctor however I want. Working with pirates means resorting to force is often necessary.

[Law: I'm a back alley pirate doctor and can do what I want.]

[groupiedrifter]

Well, quick correction: whisked into space, not kidnapped.

You're free to go any time you'd like, old man. You just won't get whatever you're here for. Which must be something big enough, if you're grumbling through being here.

video;

[groupiedrifter]

[oh god there she is-]

Um.

A few.

[... His lower eyelid twitches.]

What's up, my most favoritest stargirl in the world?

video; tw: drug reference

[krazed]

[Sure, she's still licking her wounds but with high pain tolerance that shot might as well have been a mosquito bite. Her pride is more wounded than her body. Still... Newt never fails to disappoint. She could drown in all that manic energy, mixed with a little schnapps.]

Christ almighty, trigger finger. Have you ever heard of quaaludes?

[groupiedrifter]

[Wearily, Newton smiles at that.]

You got it in one.

Clubs are really nice places to distract yourself. From yourself, sometimes.

Among other things, obviously! But you're on the money, is my point.

[groupiedrifter]

Oh, I can lay flat on my back any time, any place.

[He waggles his eyebrows at Peter, his arm slung over the back of his chair, lifting one leg into the air suggestively.

... What an idiot.]

[spacedisaster]

[ Peter raises his eyebrows and leaves them there for some long seconds. Like Newt, he's used to falling asleep anywhere at any time, and that includes floors. But Newt is playing and trying to distract him, and Peter's answer to that is 'let the game begin'. 

He leans against his chair, his posture relaxed as he smiles at Newt and pats his lap. ]

Then come 'ere.

[fluffernutters]

[He hates when other people are right.]

Funny thing about freedom is you don't have it on the chopping block. You can't form a contract with a gun to someone's head. Pluck us from the right moment, and choice doesn't have to come into play at all.

[eschewings]

That's okay! I'm not really sure what exactly happened there, but — it was like demonic possession, in a way, right?

[ it's lies, of course, that he doesn't know — he made sure to listen in on people's conversations and then read newt's post to be fully informed. ]

So it's fine! You're feeling better, now, right?

... if an entire post of your thoughts counts as better...

[firstroar]

I understand, I think. To some level. Wanting...to escape yourself. [or at least your own body? that at least he gets.]

Maybe...it'll be worth keeping around. That kind of music. Whether you want to escape or not.

[starer]

[...]

I'm not knocking you out, Geiszler.

[groupiedrifter]

Damn straight!