crystal;

[grindset]

FORM: sending crystal
SENDER: Viktor
RECIPIENT: all
NOTES: crowdsourcing ideas For Science. strongly encourage hijacking/chaos/making it weird.

Good afternoon. This is not an urgent message. If you're engaged in anything serious, please accept our apologies for the interruption... and... and be safe, wherever you are.

[This is not a common voice to hear over the crystals—nor does the speaker emerge from Research's rooms very often, at that. In fact, even after a year and a half, there may yet be some people he's never really spoken to. He sounds slightly nervous, somewhat less so as he goes on:]

But those who can spare a moment... you are invited to imagine, [softly clearing his throat,] to imagine a ship... only, unlike the ships you might have seen to date, this one was built to traverse the sky. And this flying ship, it is yours—and now, you must finish outfitting it. Add any contrivance or convenience you might wish, whether practical or extravagant, for personal comfort or professional efficiency. Cost is of trivial concern, and the laws of physics yield to your every whim. Whatever you imagine can be realized.

So... what do you add to it? What does it do?

Comments

[armd]

No. Not good with heights.

[pathlit]

That's understandable. My mom isn't a fan, either, and we're from a place where airships are the norm.

[armd]

How'd she deal with that?

[pathlit]

Avoided it when she could, which was often. Otherwise, a book to distract and someone to go with. A little liquid courage to settle the nerves might help, too -- like the doctor said.

[ He's referring to Strange's earlier response. ]

[armd]

'Liquid courage'.

(Considering.)

I think drinking would make it worse for everybody. Not just me.

[pathlit]

We’re talking modest volumes—or modest percentages. You know, just to take the edge off.

[ People can fall over the railings when they’re too tipsy, but he elects to not share that aloud as it would be counterproductive to this conversation. ]

It’s more forgiving than riding the griffons, but wait and see. It’s gonna be a while, anyway.

[armd]

My edge is big.

(Ha.)

Okay. When the time comes, if you need somebody to test ride it, don't ask me.

[pathlit]

Heard. May I ask you something else instead?

[armd]

Sure.

[pathlit]

Open to grabbing a drink with me some time?

[armd]

(Oh, she's pleased.) Yeah, that'd be cool.