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Post by Absinthe on Aug 3, 2018 10:27:48 GMT
[ Fred Rodgers | USS Maple Leaf | Union Shuttle | en route to Augustus Station ] " Okay, but yeah, humans are the best," Fred said gleefully to the man sitting next to him. " Did you know that humans are known to vocalize a pain response before they have even felt pain? Practically preemptively assuming they are in pain and vocalizing it all the same." " You have told me," the man said patiently as he held his hands folded on his lap. " Did you know that humans can get a tune or melody stuck in their head to the point of annoyance with it? Like they legit can't get it out of their head until they are so frustrated," Fred went on, thumbing through his notes for interesting tidbits. " Again, my friend, you have informed me of this," the man said, his tone remaining infinitely patient. " I am beginning to think you have an obsession with this species." " Perhaps a little bit of one," Fred admitted awkwardly smiling. " I mean I did name myself after one." " Ah yes, the legendary figure of Fred Rodgers," the men said, his tone soft and gentle. " Right! I mean, I'd call him legendary, but he was one of the people I first learned about when I first got interested in humans. And I learned how nice and curious and imaginative they could be," Fred said, his tone excited and passionate. " I had to know more. I can't say how many times I've gone to Earth. I love visiting there." " And yet you are heading in the opposite direction?" the man observed. " Well, I have learned one thing about humans for sure, if you want to see them at their best, go to where they are and they are out here, exploring new things," Fred explained happily. " I've seen how they handle things in their own home, but I've never seen how they handle things out here. It's a new frontier in my research." " So then you're going here on some sort of research grant?" the man asked, his tone mildly curious. " I was surprised too, but I got a notice from this Octopusian Group and they offered to pay for me to travel and give me the papers needed to do the research on this station thingy," Fred explained happily. " I take it this has not happened often?" the man asked, the same mild curiosity in his voice. " Nope, not many people care about my research. I can't even get published in any of the anthropology journals," Fred said, only a hint of dejection in his voice. " A pity," the man said.
[ Fred Rodgers | Main Thoroughfare | Public Area | Augustus Station ] attn: Triage Fred walked along the storefronts in awe of the world around him. There were humans galore and they were all doing things. Some were busy getting ready to open stores, some were shopping at the little stands that seemed to spring up where ever humans congregated. They always sold the same kinds of things; food, drinks, oddities, and trinkets. For his part, Fred had looked over everyone he had come across. with no means of income beyond his room and board provided he would not yet begin to grow his collection of human artifacts from such kiosks and stands, but he knew it would only be a matter of time, soon he would decorate his quarters with enough knick-knacks and trinkets to satisfy himself, if only temporarily. And then of course there was paying attention to the crowd. It was always a delight to watch humans and aliens interact. It was always fun for him to just watch humans, doing their thing, going about their lives. He enjoyed simply sitting and watching the people mill about. He had developed a skill in interpretting the behavior on display and would gladly share his insights, though it was not often anyone wanted to here. But when he spotted what he was damn near certain was a human, just sitting watching the people in that same way he did, he could not help but wonder if perhaps they would be willing to talk to him. So with nothing against it he made his way over to the human female and smiled broadly. " Hello," he said cheerfully. " My name is Fred, mind if I sit with you?"
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Post by Triage on Aug 9, 2018 18:08:19 GMT
[ Dr. Saranya Davenport | Main Thoroughfare | Public Area | Augustus Station ] Attn: Absinthe
Blessed with some free time that was not occupied with medical duty, or helping out Kharris and Squawk conduct research on the restricted sections of the station, Saranya was able to indulge herself in one of her favourite pastimes: People watching. Although she grew up practically as one of them, humans offered her no end of fascination. Maybe it was just her Drazalyte nature making her like people, especially men, but she liked to think she just liked learning about people in general, and thus her interest in biology and medicine. Talk about getting into people! That...sounded more wrong than intended...
She was so fixated on watching a child, a toddler really, playing with a holographic device, manipulating the art object game, with such skill, she didn't notice a man approaching her until he spoke, and she jumped a little, her head whipping about so quickly that her long hair flew everywhere, partially hiding her face, but she maintained her composure instead of shifting skin colour as was her usual wont to do when startled. “Oh, sorry. You surprised me,” said Saranya, “Yes, certainly. Plenty of space,” she patted the empty spot next to her and moved some more to afford the man additional room if he wanted, “nice to meet you, Fred. My name is Saranya Davenport. I'm the station's doctor.”
She studied him with mild interest, he looked like a Xelayan, unless she missed something.
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Post by Absinthe on Aug 10, 2018 5:00:08 GMT
[ Fred Rodgers | Main Thoroughfare | Public Area | Augustus Station ] attn: Triage With a massive smile, Fred quickly took the seat next to her and setting his satchel on his lap began to scrounge around in it. " I guess you could say I'm the new station anthropologist, though I am a bit more specialized than most," he said as he dug through his bag, clearly looking for something specific. " Not the sort of specialization that would earn me a spot working for the Union, but the sort that means I most definitely like to hang out near you guys." He explained in a sort of careless way, almost overly conversational like he wanted her to ask. In truth, he looked at it like planting seeds of curiosity. In his research humans could never refuse these and in answering questions about himself he was in some ways allowed to ask questions in return. The more personal the questions asked about him, the more personal he was allowed to ask. It had taken some getting used to, but if he could get farmer from the flat areas of the North American continent to open up about his sex life, he knew he could get anyone to talk about pretty much anything. Finding what he was looking for Fred pulled out a small foil wrapper and a notepad with a pen attached to it. He tucked the satchel between his legs and quickly flipped open the notepad and opened the pen before setting both down on his lap. " Popped-Tart?" he offered, opening the wrapper and holding out a pastry. Sharing a snack was often the best way to gain the trust of a human, especially more sugar based ones. It was for this reason he carried many such snacks.
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Post by Triage on Aug 17, 2018 17:44:54 GMT
[ Dr. Saranya Davenport | Main Thoroughfare | Public Area | Augustus Station ] Attn: Absinthe
With a brief start, Saranya realized that Fred was speaking the whole time assuming her to be human. He said 'you guys', hinting that perhaps his study consisted of humans. The Drazalyte wasn't quite sure what to make of that. Yes, her father was human, and she basically lived her entire life as one, so much so that save for the basest instinct, her "natural" form and complexion was that of a human's. But Drazalytes were such that no matter who they mated with, the offsprings were always female, and Drazalyte in entirety. She considered correcting him on his assumptions as he continued to speak.
She supposed she could carry on the farce in a self-justified way, primarily because for all intents and purposes, she was basically human in culture and upbringing. At least, one aspect of it anyway, humans were still a very diverse array of origins. So she twisted herself about until she was facing him, seated cross-legged on the bench and watching him with curiosity and interest as he set himself up, seemingly to interview her. Drawing from her own experiences of studying people and cultures, and watching people in her free time, she felt she had plenty of lore to share if he asked. But how much was she going to talk? Saranya considered herself to be average in conversational ways.
“Oh, thank you kindly,” said Saranya, as she accepted the offered snack. It was certainly of a kind she liked, and that helped. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. “So you're doing a study focused on humans? You like my kind that much?”
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Post by Absinthe on Aug 24, 2018 5:07:41 GMT
[ Fred Rodgers | Main Thoroughfare | Public Area | Augustus Station ] attn: Triage " Well, even though not a lot of research is done anymore from an anthropological standpoint, I have found humans to be a truly fascinating species," Fred said with a wide smile. His notebook was jammed full of his various notes and observations. Like most "in the field" researchers they were far from the neatest and organized. He would sort through his notes before he published, or at least before he submitted yet another paper to be rejected by the big anthropology scientific journals. " I mean I could probably bore you to tears with all the cool things humans do that, while aren't unique to only them, there is a certain quality to the way humans do them that make them distinctly human." He didn't seem to stop smiling. He was just too thrilled to be there, on the station surrounded by so many people, both aliens and humans. It made for an experience like no other. It also meant that he got to meet a whole bunch of people and continue his studies. " I mean, did you know that humans have this cultural practice of going out in groups to do an activity outside of their regular routine and after using social pressure to force a single member of the group to do it, others will as well? The result is a heightened sense of community and closeness among the group," Fred said explained happily. " I wrote a paper on it once. I'd say it was one of my best, but then again I say most of my papers are among my best."
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drei
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Post by drei on Aug 24, 2018 6:16:03 GMT
[ Lt. Squawk McCall | Main Thoroughfare | Public Area | Augustus Station ]
Squawk McCall had very keen senses. His sense of hearing was almost Owl-like, he had been told. It was beneficial when working in Parliament as his family often had to do.
He was keenly aware of the diminutive doctor who seemed to be everywhere. 'Then again,' he reminded himself, 'I only see her at work and in the public areas where she would be expected to be.'
But he was also hearing someone new saying something that wasn't quite so new.
Unable to contain his excitement, his translator failed to conceal his very high pitched exclamation. If there were any small animals - mice, rodents, voles, cats - lurking in the station, they were scurrying into hiding. Squawk, too, wished to go into hiding, as he knew the sound he made was quite high-pitched. He understood that humans were more impressed a more hawk-like sound.
He tried to regain his composure, standing as tall and Aquilan as possible. He modulated his beak to look more imposing, as he cleared his throat.
"I apologize," he said to nobody in particular "I was ordering a shrew over... uh... blue-tooth." He was not sure he remembered the correct human technological equivalent. He had read about human history somewhat extensively.
That was why he was so excited. He was sure one of the people whose work he found very fascinating was on-board.
"Mr. Fred Rodgers! Sorry, is it Mister or Doctor Rodgers?" Squawk said as he walked toward the Doctor and the famed Xelayan anthropologist. "I am Squawk. I have read some of your work and I really enjoyed it. Humans are funny! When I stayed on Earth, I found it endlessly amusing giving bread to old ladies at the park! I was told it was bad for them to only feed them bread, but it's not like they're ducks!"
Squawk wasn't sure whether the Xelayan would enjoy the irony of two aliens shaking hands like humans do. He was almost willing to risk having his hands crushed as Dr. Davenport was right there for a quick remedy.
"So, what brings you to the neighborhood?" Squawk asked. "Oh, also, hey there, Dr. Davenport, how are you? Did you get those cookies I sent? They're made from this thing called almonds. No cyanide, I promise! Oh, hey, is that a - no way, what kind is it?"
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Post by Triage on Aug 28, 2018 21:37:35 GMT
[ Dr. Saranya Davenport | Main Thoroughfare | Public Area | Augustus Station ] Attn: Absinthe
The way Saranya's head leaned more and more to one side, she figured she was going to get a tic soon if she didn't shift, but she couldn't, because this man's fascination for humans and energy was quite...overwhelming, to say the least. She smiled at him whenever he looked at her, and the rest of the time her face was locked in an expression of fascination. She certainly didn't think of herself or humanity as all that fascinating, having lived among them for her entire life, and then working with them and other races in the Union, she liked to watch people overall, but non-humans certainly held her interest more often.
Speaking of which, there came Squawk. Oh these two would get along famously, she thought to herself as she grinned up at the man. She frowned however at the mention of giving bread to old ladies. It seemed like an odd reversal of roles, and maybe that was the intent. Still, it was rather odd to her.
“Hullo there, Squawk,” said Saranya politely, “yes I did. Thank you so very much.” She laughed a little, “I didn't think you were out to poison me, so that thought did not cross my mind. They were delicious by the way.”
She looked down at the pop tart in her hands, and then back at Squawk, “Pop tart? Would you like some?”
She turned back to Fred Rogers, since he was the one who had this particular snack. “Mr. Rodgers here was just talking about peer pressure and its influence in human culture.”
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Post by Absinthe on Aug 29, 2018 7:22:59 GMT
[ Fred Rodgers | Main Thoroughfare | Public Area | Augustus Station ] attn: Triage drei It wasn't saying much to say that Fred had shaken hands with a number of people with significantly less strength than him, he'd thus mastered the skill of controlling his grip, so that when he shook hands it was not some weak, limp-wristed affair, but rather a firm but not overly strong handshake. " Wow, you've actually read my papers?" Fred asked sounding more than a little surprised. Any irony of the handshake was lost in the sea of amazement that someone had actually read his papers and enjoyed them. No self-respecting journal had published his work, so he'd gotten into the habit of just self-publishing his research and hoping for the best. He'd gotten a few interested parties who were willing to fund his research over the years and really he could just find a job on Earth and he'd be doing research, so funding wasn't the concern, it was more about any sort of recognition and he got very little of that. " What did you think? I mean, which stood out to you?" " I can't pick a favorite of my own, I mean every time I learn of a new social system or way humans interact with each other I wind up writing a new paper and getting yet another rejection letter," he went on with an absolutely thrilled smile, still holding onto Sqwack's hand, having now gotten so distracted he'd totally forgotten about that too. " My recent research is on the xenophilic relationship between humans and the unknown, specifically the relationship between how some humans express xenophilic thoughts while others express strictly xenophobic responses." It was, perhaps, a more weighty topic than his research into peer pressure and social groups, but it was just as interesting. He had been looking forward to publishing and his latest rejection letter, but it seemed that at least one person was reading his work and enjoying it.
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Post by drei on Sept 5, 2018 5:19:05 GMT
[ Lt. Squawk McCall | Main Thoroughfare | Public Area | Augustus Station ]
"I mean, I enjoy reading about stuff humans do and comparing or contrasting them to other species." Squawk said "For example, providing others with food is a thing I also find pleasure in. I was told that humans had to be told using signs not to feed ducks bread! Surely, if they had just listened to the ducks, they would have known they preferred a nice Cobb salad! Old ladies, I find, appreciate being given bread at the park, especially if it surrounds a sausage. They get peckish. They also seem to enjoy attention from tall, young men. Artisanal loaves, however, lead to fewer complaints and attempted arrests! Pumpernickel is key!"
Squawk smiled, fondly remembering the annoyed concession stand operators who sometimes called law enforcement on him.
"I wrote a paper on the names humans have given their food, I'd be honored if you'd give that a read through." Squawk recalled how his publisher requested an expansion on a short piece he wrote about Chicken fried steak. They couldn't believe it involved no Chicken doing the frying! A lot of people wanted to know more.
"For example, Pumpernickel supposedly means a 'Devil's fart'! And a pastry named after a nun's fart. That reminds me of that section you wrote on humans and their obsession with various bodily functions! I am sure Dr. Davenport can appreciate such a species that is so interested in physiology!"
Squawk examined the Pop Tart and wondered if it was frosted cherry. He thought he would prefer a peanut butter or chocolate based one more, but it was the frosted cherry that stood out the most in his estimation.
"But while I do have interest in xenoanthropology, my specialty really is more into history and archaeology. When it comes to the people and society stuff, I tend to focus more on things relating to food, health, and reproduction. Very intertwined, those three." Squawk continued "I did notice your papers were published outside of journals, Doctor Rodgers. I wonder if you were submitting to human or Xelayan publications. No offense, but I believe Xelayan publications might believe humans are not worth much study while human publications may have ... other focus. And they're very introspective, I'm sure you've noticed! They probably have thousands of years of papers worth of observing themselves! Perhaps a non-human xenoanthropological journal."
"But enough about me, what brings you here? You haven't joined the Union Fleet, have you?" Squawk said, remembering that conversations often included allowing other people to talk.
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Post by Triage on Sept 5, 2018 21:40:53 GMT
[ Dr. Saranya Davenport | Main Thoroughfare | Public Area | Augustus Station ] Attn: Absinthe & drei
She was right. The two men were getting along quite well indeed. So much so she almost felt like a third wheel, but she listened to Squawk's spiel and smiled, curious about a few things now. She tilted her head to look sharply at him when he commented on her and appreciating the species, she shrugged, “Considering that I was born and raised in London, England, I certainly would appreciate all things human, Lieutenant.”
She was honestly surprised though about the origins of Pumpernickel's name. Some things she could certainly do without knowing the origin or meaning of.
Turning back to Fred, she said, “Your fascination with Humans is curious, but a pleasantly welcome disposition to me.” She was really intrigued by the Xelayan's level of excitement for her people. Well one half of her people anyway. Still, with Squawk there, what did she have to offer or contribute that the man coudln't supply in abundance and valuable, verbose testimonials?
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