The Doctor (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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tramitem_net2020-08-23 10:47 pm
madman_with_a_box) wrote in tramitem_net2020-08-23 10:47 pm
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(no subject)
[It was easy to say that John was new to all of this strangeness. It was a fact, and yet, that bit of logic had done very little to ease his mind in regards to what all this entailed. He is, after all, a man of science, but he's also incredibly excitable - and under a lot of stress due to upcoming classes beginning soon. It's his first entry on this mysterious Network, and he's sitting on a sofa in a rather mundane looking living room - aside from the papers, random gadgets, and unfinished looking projects scattered about. An impressive stack of quantum textbooks rests near his knee, which is fluttering up and down rapidly in an anxious movement.
He leans forward, peering over the rim of his glasses, and frowns a little.]
I sort of like this idea of this Network thing. It's all very...clandestine, hush hush, bonding experience, speaking out into the void of the internet in the hopes someone hears you and has something important to say. I like it, it's clever - even if it does leave you feeling a bit exposed. Internet's not really all that secure, is it? Anything can end up on the dark web for the right price...
Anyway. It's all well and good, and I'm getting used to this idea of Different, even if it is bloody mad.
What I want to know is why my entire research plan decided today that it wanted to be delightfully lemon flavored? [He holds up a cheerful looking bowl of lemon sherbet, which he sort of wrinkles his nose.] Honestly. It could have at least had the courtesy of being banana flavored if it's going to inconvenience me.
He leans forward, peering over the rim of his glasses, and frowns a little.]
I sort of like this idea of this Network thing. It's all very...clandestine, hush hush, bonding experience, speaking out into the void of the internet in the hopes someone hears you and has something important to say. I like it, it's clever - even if it does leave you feeling a bit exposed. Internet's not really all that secure, is it? Anything can end up on the dark web for the right price...
Anyway. It's all well and good, and I'm getting used to this idea of Different, even if it is bloody mad.
What I want to know is why my entire research plan decided today that it wanted to be delightfully lemon flavored? [He holds up a cheerful looking bowl of lemon sherbet, which he sort of wrinkles his nose.] Honestly. It could have at least had the courtesy of being banana flavored if it's going to inconvenience me.
no subject
[He gingerly sets it aside, as if spilling the contents would ruin his work and not just make a sticky stain, and sighed. He perks up a bit, however, at the question, and smiles.]
I'm an astrophysicist. I teach some at Columbia so this is for my PhD students.
[He pats the textbooks smartly.]
You?
no subject
Astrophysics. Impressive. The science of space, correct? I watch documentaries about black holes a while ago, and the possibility of life on other planets.
Oh me? I recently graduated and taking a break. PhD in history and ancient civilizations, so I have an interest in the ancient past of the world.
no subject
...That's becoming more and more likely, now that I know about all of this Bureau stuff.
[John smiles, though, and his interest perks.] Ooh, love me some ancient civilizations and history. I thought about going into that as well, or at least a minor in undergrad, but didn't have time to devote to two paths of study. It works though! I study the ancient galactic past, just like you study the ancient Earth past!
no subject
A while back the Bureau did open a portal to another world, but I'm not sure if it's door to another universe. You should have joined us on the expedition. I kept notes on the civilization we explored, but so far, the people seem to come from an ancient past that isn't written in the history books.
[It's a rare occurrence, but Wangji actually smiles at the interests]
I can tell you all about Earth's ancient past and compare notes, but my specialty is Ancient civilizations of the East in Asia, but my specialty of history is broad. I'm Doctor Lan. Lan Wangji. Wangji is the first name.
[But then, another interest]
Ancient galactic past? Do you think maybe something like civilization on other worlds? It sounds like science fiction if you don't mind me saying so.
no subject
[He grins warmly, and settles in his seat.] Oh no no, not literally that - well, I suppose it sort of feels like we're living in a science fiction setting, don't it? But no, that's not what I do. It works like - so okay.
[John adjusts his glasses and sits forward, clearly getting into teaching mode, but he's smiling. He's not going to talk down to Doctor Lan; they're both academics in different fields, after all!]
Light takes time to travel long distances, just like a car takes time to travel long distances. It takes sunlight eight minutes and twenty seconds to reach the Earth, so we are always seeing the sun as it was about eight and a half minutes in the past. Now think about the light of the farthest observable star - that would be a star we call Icarus - it has a long science-y name, but I'll spare you the details. That star is five billion light years from Earth, meaning that it takes five billion years for its light to reach the Hubble Telescope. That means, we are picking up light that was first transmitted five billion years ago! Brilliant, isn't it? [He looks utterly delighted.] It means that we're able to observe stars and galaxies as they were closer to the time of the Big Bang, which can give us insight into how things were during the formative years - or what we speculate were the formative years - of the universe! It's entirely likely that the actual star of Icarus burned out eons ago, and its light is still transmitting to us here from all the way over there in another galaxy!
[It takes a minute for John's delight in his star conversation to realize what Dr. Lan just had just said. He pauses, and lets out a breath.]
Hold on, did you say, 'portal to another world'? Joined you on an - You went on a full blown expedition to another world, possibly another planet, and I missed it! I've only been aware for a week and a half!
no subject
It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. John Smith.
[He waited and listened, completely fascinated by his knowledge and research. Not once he interrupted him, and having read the materials of astrophysics himself, he knew all of this science to be true]
Indeed, it's brilliant. Amazing how light works in the universe and how long it takes for time to work in space.
[At his question, he brought up his notes]
About that, it happened around the June solstice a few months ago when it happened. A portal to another world appeared, and I joined a team of Different to explore it. The world's name is Krajina Božstiev. Hard to pronounce for me, but it seems to reflect an ancient Eastern Europe around 1600s to 1700s era.
I think the portal is still there. Near the Bureau Building, in Collect Pond Park, so if you want to visit, I can take you there and you can see for yourself.
no subject
[John is familiar with the sounds of some languages - he had students from countries all over the world, and he'd had classmates when he himself had been a student. He couldn't translate it, though - which vaguely frustrates him for reasons he can't explain. Still, he's gotten a pencil out and he's writing it down as best he can spell it for looking up later. He continues to write as Lan speaks, eager to learn.]
So it's a portal through time and space? Brilliant! I mean, I wouldn't have really believed you two weeks ago, but after my Memory event, I'm more inclined to believe the outlandish. If science has taught me anything, it's that we don't actually know very much at all.
[He flashes Lan a friendly little smile, his eyes bright.]
I would love for you to show me! I'd love to explore it - a sort of science experiment where I'm the test subject. What sort of notes did your expedition take?
no subject
It is a portal and it's still open. The city is medieval and ancient, so it may not be remarkable to some, but I study it out of academic reasons and keep notes.
The other Different and I had been there for a week to discover that the deities are trapped in a temple, but they are released and freed to restore balance of that universe and this one. In that world, the deities are real.
If you want to explore it, just free up your schedule for the weekend and we can go there for a day or two for some sight-seeing.
no subject
That sounds brilliant. I'm free this coming weekend, actually. About a 45 minute bike ride from my flat down to the park. So...
[He leans forward then, tapping his pencil on his lips thoughtfully. He's inordinately excited about the prospect of setting foot in another world; it seems completely beyond the realm of possibilities in his Earth bound concept of understanding the universe. The fact that it's challenging what he knows is deeply exciting.]
So what you're saying is I'll need to pack an overnight bag. Anything else?
no subject
There is an inn in the world where we could stay, so I think you should bring an overnight bag definitely.
As for what to bring, the world has a barter system if you're interested in buying their goods to take home. For trade in the marketplace, they treasure water bottles, gently used clothes, and picture books, since the natives can't read anything of our language.
I shall reply to the log tonight!
Sounds like a plan. I bet I can gather up a number of things I could bear to part with to trade. Would hate to go all that way and not pick up a few mementos! [He's thinking there must be old clothing he doesn't wear any longer, but none of his books are picture books. He might have a book of the stars, but he doubts their starscape looks anything like the one he knows.]
Just name the time and the place and I'll be there!
07 - Got it! I'm generally slow but will get into the swing of things
[He thinks he prepared enough]
I think a few moments you can find are semi-precious stones and rocks, and wool from their livestock, and flora and flowers that exist there. I have a few I kept from the trip. I'll remember to take you to a shop that sells them.
[Just gives him the address of the portal]