Newt Geiszler | Pacific Rim (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
groupiedrifter) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ximilia2023-01-21 10:14 pm
groupiedrifter) wrote in ximilia2023-01-21 10:14 pm
[video] BACKDATED TO JAN. 19TH | un: newt
[Ah, yes, it's the half-dragon birthday boy!
He wastes no time in playing out the likely anticipated song of celebration.
This lute is getting some mileage.
It ends on a smug, contented:]
Haaaappy biiiirthday to meeeee!
That's the second birthday in a row that we're stuck on a mission. Man. But at least this birthday wasn't me stuck on a western-themed planet where we literally ran out of food to eat. That was a real freakin' bummer. [... well, it was the worst part until the townspeople turned into ash, but we don't talk about our traumas, new bloods] You guys better tell me happy birthday by the end of the day, or I'll cast a spell on you.
.... Mmmmnah, that would be too easy.
I'll just follow you around playing nothing but the happy birthday theme.
But the point of this wasn't just to shout at the rooftops that I'm 37-years-old! I spoke with the barkeep, Fribbington? What a queen, guys; I'm so jealous of her beard. Do you know how hard it is for me to get one of those? It's borderline impossible.
Ah — Right. Like, I spoke with her, and she really does not like Jun Shortaxe. Something about being sure you and him are on the same side, because it's not always that clear. But she had a lot of good things to say about Dweyre — that he was smart as a tack, helped a lot of people while in their party, best in his group at the Knights of the Seven Sisters... that after he died, nothing was ever really the same for them. I wish I could say anything else about the conversation jumped out at me... but...
Oh!
She mentioned the heirloom was some kind of scepter.
Round and royal-like, passed down through the kings. So valuable to King Zaros that he was willing to send parties after it and into deadly situations. Apparently this kind of gig, it would have set up Fribbington and the Brigade for the rest of their days as adventurers.
Unfortunately, things went really sideways. You know.
But uh! Yeah, that's all I got. I gotta admit, I've never been very good at finding the little details when it comes to things like this — maybe that's the ADHD talking. Either way, I'm almost done with the Ballard of Dweyre, so make sure you stop by the tavern and give a listen.
... Also, like. Cake. I want cake this birthday.
Someone around here has to have cake.
And I've also got an important questionnaire for everyone, by the way; no rush to finish it, it's just a little something to pass the time. Especially you new people. New people are required to fill this out.
[Anyone who knows him knows he's full of shit. But the text file comes through:]
NAME:
DATE OF BIRTH:
FAVORITE MOVIES:
FAVORITE FOODS:
FAVORITE MUSIC:
What’s your claim to fame?
How do you like to spend your free time?
What skill would you like to master?
What is your proudest accomplishment?
What is your biggest pet peeve?
What is the most useless talent you have?
If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
Are you a cat or a dog person?
Do you sing in the shower?
If you only had 5 minutes in a grocery store, what would you buy?
Which body part do you wish you could detach and why?
If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
If police arrested you with no explanation, what would your friends assume you had done?
Can you touch your nose with your tongue?
He wastes no time in playing out the likely anticipated song of celebration.
This lute is getting some mileage.
It ends on a smug, contented:]
Haaaappy biiiirthday to meeeee!
That's the second birthday in a row that we're stuck on a mission. Man. But at least this birthday wasn't me stuck on a western-themed planet where we literally ran out of food to eat. That was a real freakin' bummer. [... well, it was the worst part until the townspeople turned into ash, but we don't talk about our traumas, new bloods] You guys better tell me happy birthday by the end of the day, or I'll cast a spell on you.
.... Mmmmnah, that would be too easy.
I'll just follow you around playing nothing but the happy birthday theme.
But the point of this wasn't just to shout at the rooftops that I'm 37-years-old! I spoke with the barkeep, Fribbington? What a queen, guys; I'm so jealous of her beard. Do you know how hard it is for me to get one of those? It's borderline impossible.
Ah — Right. Like, I spoke with her, and she really does not like Jun Shortaxe. Something about being sure you and him are on the same side, because it's not always that clear. But she had a lot of good things to say about Dweyre — that he was smart as a tack, helped a lot of people while in their party, best in his group at the Knights of the Seven Sisters... that after he died, nothing was ever really the same for them. I wish I could say anything else about the conversation jumped out at me... but...
Oh!
She mentioned the heirloom was some kind of scepter.
Round and royal-like, passed down through the kings. So valuable to King Zaros that he was willing to send parties after it and into deadly situations. Apparently this kind of gig, it would have set up Fribbington and the Brigade for the rest of their days as adventurers.
Unfortunately, things went really sideways. You know.
But uh! Yeah, that's all I got. I gotta admit, I've never been very good at finding the little details when it comes to things like this — maybe that's the ADHD talking. Either way, I'm almost done with the Ballard of Dweyre, so make sure you stop by the tavern and give a listen.
... Also, like. Cake. I want cake this birthday.
Someone around here has to have cake.
And I've also got an important questionnaire for everyone, by the way; no rush to finish it, it's just a little something to pass the time. Especially you new people. New people are required to fill this out.
[Anyone who knows him knows he's full of shit. But the text file comes through:]
NAME:
DATE OF BIRTH:
FAVORITE MOVIES:
FAVORITE FOODS:
FAVORITE MUSIC:
What’s your claim to fame?
How do you like to spend your free time?
What skill would you like to master?
What is your proudest accomplishment?
What is your biggest pet peeve?
What is the most useless talent you have?
If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
Are you a cat or a dog person?
Do you sing in the shower?
If you only had 5 minutes in a grocery store, what would you buy?
Which body part do you wish you could detach and why?
If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
If police arrested you with no explanation, what would your friends assume you had done?
Can you touch your nose with your tongue?
no subject
We can't go having favoritism toward any particular question.
1/2
All right. I suppose it can't hurt.
[None of these look TOO personal, anyway, so here he goes.]
2/2
DATE OF BIRTH: August 7 [He's not giving the year, he already feels old.]
FAVORITE MOVIES: As in a moving picture? I know that they exist, but I don't think I've managed to see a single one.
FAVORITE FOODS: I like to try new things, but I do like sukiyaki. And desserts.
FAVORITE MUSIC: Classical-- Mendelssohn is one of my favorites. Although that doesn't mean I don't love music as new as jazz. It's great fun to dance to.
What’s your claim to fame?
At home, I'm one of my country's leading scholars of medicine. [The boring answer, because he doesn't want to give the fun one out willy-nilly.]
How do you like to spend your free time?
Free time is in short supply for me these days, but I do try to read for leisure over work when I can. (I suppose the next time we return to the Ximilia will be as good a time as any?)
What skill would you like to master?
I'm not sure I could pick just one.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
That would be a secret.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Being roused before I'm ready to wake up for the day.
What is the most useless talent you have?
How can it be useless if it is a talent?
If you had a warning label, what would yours say?Are you a cat or a dog person?
Either. However, I've always thought we might get a cat: my daughter has been asking for some time.
Do you sing in the shower?
I prefer baths.
If you only had 5 minutes in a grocery store, what would you buy?
Cake.
Which body part do you wish you could detach and why?
My hands, perhaps? It would probably make my labwork easier.
If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
It'd depend entirely on why I was changing my name.
If police arrested you with no explanation, what would your friends assume you had done?
They wouldn't assume anything. The truest of friends would be getting arrested right along with me, after all. 😊
Can you touch your nose with your tongue?
Yes, but... I think that's only because I'm a tiefling at the moment...
no subject
[note to self don't pick a movie like showgirls or friday the 13th]
What's your favorite kinda story? I'll pick something for you!
no subject
I believe there were some on show at the Great Exhibition in London, but I was a little occupied with the symposium I was attending at the time to see any... [and like, the Supreme Court slash government conspiracy stuff, but that's its OWN can of worms.]
I'd be very interested to watch some movies! I do love a good mystery, but anything will do, really, as I'm going into it so blind.
no subject
I know the perfect movie for you, then.
Don't you worry, I'll get you a super fun mystery flick.
What kinda symposium was it? Boring or fun?
Pretentious or casual?
no subject
As for the symposium... it was on the forensic sciences, which is still a growing field in my time, and a rare gathering of international experts on the topic. I'd say it was exciting enough. [Even if everything he actually learned there got blown out of the water when he came to, you know. The spacefuture.] Decidedly formal, however. Even the most interesting topic can be rendered dull by five consecutive hours of panel discussions.
Don't tell my colleagues I said that.
no subject
You guys hear the good news about DNA and fingerprints and hair follicles yet?
[yes he knows the answer and yes he's still gonna ask]
no subject
Not a clue about DNA or follicles. Fingerprints, however-- I just knew they'd have potential! [HE IS FEELING SO VINDICATED RIGHT NOW]
That reminds me. A chemist friend of mine is developing a way to differentiate an individual's blood from another's using colored chemical reactions. How far have we come there? I know he'd be delighted to hear if he were on the right track.
no subject
You can not only differentiate an individual's blood from another's, you can tell EXACTLY whose blood it is. And you don't even need to have their blood to compare it to, you can tell if you have hair, spit, sweat, any of the bodily substances secreted or excreted by a perp. All able to be matched interchangeably!
DNA is a unique genetic code, and while we share the same DNA as human beings across the board, there are patterns in our DNA that are solely our own. Basically, if you leave your DNA at a crime scene, you better make sure nobody investigating can get a hold of it from you to compare it to.
I can show you some of it under my scope if you'd like! When we get back to the station.
voice;
Th-that's-- this is phenomenal, Newt! When do we discover all this? Who first-- is it France? Germany?
God, I need to tell Sholmes. I wish we could send word home. [he chuckles, trying in vain to mask how giddy he sounds. This is THE best day he's had since he got here, second to Bones' med bay tour.] Please, do show me everything you can when we return!
voice;
[He says it almost apologetically. Rude, Newton.]
More specifically, swiss physiological chemist Friedrich Miescher, in 1869. People didn't realize the importance of his work for another 50 years though. I guess in a way, you can consider the full development team effort among different countries.
[Grinning, he adds:]
I'll show you everything you wanna see!
You're all still unaware of Luminol, too, right? I think they started using that in the 1940's...