likesthecoat | (no subject)

To be honest, I'm still not entirely sure what deep space telemetry is.

[ooc: Sure thing. Sleep well.]

Deep space exploration and research, basically, like if you worked for the SETI project or NASA. Say you worked on the Voyager project: part of the telemetry would be determining its path with variations from planetary gravitation pull, for example.

Not the first place my mind goes for a geologist, but who knows what sort of samples you're getting back from the Rover missions and so on.

I suppose there are off-shoots of deep space telemetry projects that a geologist might possibly work with.

And you explained that way better than anyone who ever tried to make it comprehensible to me before.

Mostly, I just heard, "Blah blah blah SPACE blah blah research."

Sometimes I think I missed my calling as a teacher. I don't like public speaking, though--that would have made it difficult.

If it would make you feel at home: "Blah blah blah SPACE blah blah blah."

I suspect being a teacher is a bit different than public speaking. For one thing, you're talking to kids (or at least people who are presumably younger than you), and for another you're talking to the same people over and over again, so I'd guess that you'd eventually become comfortable with them. It's not exactly a room full of strangers.

You can blather on about scientific nonsense to me any time you want. Maybe if McKay were Welsh, I'd hear more than, "Blah blah blah, I'm a genius, yakkity yakkity, seriously intelligent, blah blah BLOW UP A PLANET!!?" when he talks.

Probably not though.

Hm, perhaps. But it would still involve talking to people, whether I know them well or not, which is not one of my talents in person. I can't imagine many things more agonizing than facing every day with dread because of what you do for a living.

*laughs* I think I'd enjoy McKay, for some reason.

I don't know much about science, really, except what I've picked up on the job, which wouldn't make sense to many people outside the Institute. Pick a subject, though and I may be able to blather on about it.

Definitely not on my list of things to look for in a career.

I think you might, which is a little scary to be honest. Actually, sometimes even I like him. But if you ever meet him, you're not allowed to tell him I said that.

Hmmm...~~quantum mechanics~~ String Theory?

Or maybe just the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow.

Although I must also admit that part of my job description is receptionist, but we get about two tourists in the information centre a month and it's not as much a part of my job as one might think. I know the pizza delivery boys quite well, though.

Your secret is safe with me.

Hm . . . Blah blah blah STRINGS blah blah blah M THEORY blah blah blah GRAVITY blah blah blah.

Blah blah African or European blah blah?

You keep trying to outgeek me. You should know it's futile.

How well?

I know.

I'm not trying to outgeek you. I'm just trying to draw out the geek. ~~I think it's cute when you're geeky.~~

Well enough to say, "Hello, Raj, how's the baby?" or, "Hi, Samuel, I see you survived exams," when they deliver the pizza.

. . . Oh, Lorne. You're so charming and witty. You take my words away.

See? Your conversational skills can't be that bad if you've discussed their lives with them. I don't think I ever talked to any of my delivery boys beyond, "How much?" and maybe a comment on the weather.

And a quick study to boot. You really are my Big Damn Geek.

Well, here's the thing: most people can't bear silence. They have to fill it somehow, with talk or music or whatever. So if you say, "How are you?" most people will tell you, and they don't always ask in return.

There are advantages to being the quiet one. You learn a lot.

I want to make an icon of that. BIG DAMN GEEK.

(And yes, all yours, too.)

Huh. Whenever I ask people how they are, they just say, "Fine." Maybe you're less intimidating than I am?

I see. I might have to try this "quiet" thing sometime.

You should. I'd certainly appreciate it. I was watching Firefly the other night, and I saw that episode and thought of you.

(God, I wish that were true.)

Hm . . . maybe I am. I have this quiet, unassuming aura, after all . . .

I will, once I'm at a computer with a better graphics program than this old clunker. And I love Firefly--you've just scored another point with me, you know.

(It's more true than it is false, you know.)

You're making an icon for me? I'm all a flutter.

Between the Big Damn Geek and the "This must be what going mad feels like" icon, I figured you might be. And I'm all about scoring with you.

(Is it?)

It doesn't mean we're engaged or anything :P.

*laughs* You're on the right track. Firefly, Lord of the Rings . . . you're seducing me through media.

(Yes.)

No? Guess I won't start picking out rings then.

Don't forget Hitchhiker's Guide, Discworld, Monty Python and Blackadder.

(You just made my whole week.)

*laughs* Didn't we already have the talk about rushing? A couple times now?

See? Every geek point. Now, if you get this joke: "There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who know binary and those who don't" you'll have my heart forever.

(I'm certainly not anybody else's big damn geek.)

I get the feeling we're going to have that talk a lot.

Lucky me, then. I know just enough about binary to get it.

(Now you're making me feel sheepish.)

Yes, I suspect so as well.

Oh, Lorne. *swoons*

(Why sheepish?)

Swooning now, is it? You know just how to stroke my ego.

(Maybe sheepish isn't exactly the right word. Embarrassed? Like I'm being silly.)

It's the only thing I can stroke at this point, nudge nudge wink wink.

(You can be as silly as you want to be. I don't mind. I Really Like You No Matter What.)

Yes, very subtle, Eric. Know what I mean? But hey, I'll take whatever stroking I can get from you.

(Now I'm blushing. I like you no matter what too.)

My innuendo needs work.

Ego-stroking, pride-soothing, self-esteem-boosting . . . I'm good for it all.

(*laughs* I think this is the first time I've made you blush. Victory!)

Your innuendo is fine, but it stands on its own without any nudging or winking.

You certainly are.

(It can't be. I mean, I know it isn't, but it can't be the first time I've said so, can it? Granted, you do tend to send my blood flowing in the opposite direction.)