maskormenace | 003; VIDEO

[When the video turns on, Normie’s sitting in front of an impeccable desk, with a stunning view of De Chima behind him courtesy of the floor-to-ceiling windows in his office. Yes, sadly he’s at work, attempting to catch up on everything he’s missed in the past month. Still, he’s managed to find time to send out a video to the network. ~~Why no, he isn’t procrastinating. What makes you say that?~~]

So it appears that I’ve lost almost the entire month of October here, thanks to getting ported out. While I’d be lying if I didn’t say it wasn’t nice to see all of my friends from back home again, even if it was like a day and a half, I’m weirdly glad to be back. Not going to lie, I never thought I’d say that.

Anyway, sorry if I scared anyone with my unexpected absence, especially you, Riku.

I’m slowly working my way through old network posts to see what I missed, but if anyone would be so kind as to fill me in on any of the highlights… or well, with this place, asking for lowlights would probably be a good idea too, I’d appreciate it. Man, I gotta admit I’m a little peeved I missed Halloween. It was nowhere near October back home, so technically I missed it twice. Guess my costume’s just going to collect mothballs until next year. Uh, well, if I’m still here, that is. I’m totally eating the candy, though. There has to be some perk to all of this.

[Normie fidgets, attempting to think of something else to say. Someone clearly doesn’t want to go back to work. ]

Oh, seeing as I missed all of the new arrivals last month, I should probably introduce myself. Normie Osborn. I’m currently the Vice President of OsCorp. We specialize in chemical R&D and distribution, electrical engineering, and tech development. While we’re obviously looking for anyone who specializes in any of those fields, even if you’re not and you’re looking for a job, talk to me and we’ll see if we can’t work something out.

[ It’s probably just your imagination that he doesn’t seem to put his all into that pitch.]

With that out of the way, I’m also a mechanical engineer, so if you need anything created or repaired, I’d be more than willing to help you with that. Do you have any idea how much a month’s worth of paperwork is? It’s not pretty. Someone please help by distracting me with something cool to make or fix. Or anything, really. I’m not picky at this point.

[Normie looks down at the stack of said papers, just off screen, and it reminds him of something. ]

Oh, one more thing real fast, because by now I’ve really gone on for far too long… I had been planning on creating a STEM program aimed at getting kids here more into STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education if you haven’t heard of the acronym before, but seriously thanks to this unexpected hiatus my planning’s gone sideways. Would this be something anyone else would be interested in helping me get off the ground? I was thinking of an organization that would create after school programs and workshops that would be low cost or free to the kids attending, but I’m open to suggestions.

Thanks guys. I’m done now, I promise.

[Sigh. Time to go back to work.

For now.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Biochem is huge. There's practical applications for it everywhere. [Well, and the mad science variety, but Bubblegum doesn't strike him as the type.]

I know what you mean about the tech here, I'm still trying to explore everything it has to offer. Man, to get my hands on one of those hover engines...

[The question about what he makes snaps him out out of his hover engine reverie. He really wants one, okay?]

If I was in my lab I could show you, but my office doesn't have much by way of interesting toys... Well, it's not completely barren.

[Picks up his communicator, which he had had resting on his desk, and walks over to the far corner of his office, where a pair of large black and silver wings (like these) are sitting on what looks like a modified coat rack.]

I wish I could say I had the idea for these, but someone else had beaten me to it back home. I did expand upon the design, made it safer and easier to manuever. It takes some getting used to, but it does allow one-man flight under mostly your own power.

Yeah, well, I've always been in short supply of friends, so the ones that I do have I'll defend to the death.

Yeah. I'm... kind of in the same boat. Though I'm not that good at the defending part, I don't think.

I think you are, you just don't notice it.

I don't know. I thought I was, but... the things I did to make up for the stuff I'd already done didn't really work out either.

What sort of assistance would you need with the STEM program?

[Because hello, he's interested in and can do all of those things, but he's not sure teaching is a good idea]

It's not a tit for tat system. Sometimes it takes a long time for the scales to even themselves out.

But they WILL even out, Riku. You have to believe that.

Anything you'd be willing to offer. I know everyone's got different schedules and levels of what they're comfortable doing, so I plan on doing most of the bigger stuff.

I can do most everything but teach, I imagine. Lecturing at universities or conferences are one thing, but I don't do well with children.

[Bright young geniuses are the exception. see: Hiro]

But I could host workshops in my laboratory at StarkTech. I doubt the man would much mind. Engineering, programming- projects I could set them to pursue wouldn't be too much trouble. I work with my colleague in the biotech division however, and he's rather good with children if any were interested in biology.

Edited 2015-12-01 21:52 (UTC)

... Yeah. Sorry, I know I'm just being defeatist about the whole thing.

Look, I know that feeling well. Really. But giving in to that feeling doesn't help anyone, especially you. You have to fight them.

That's no problem. They're completely different skillsets. I'm not sure if I could actually teach the kids myself.

[...Of course he works for StarkTech.]

You should probably run that by Tony first either way, though I'd definitely be interested. When you tell him, be sure to mention it's NormIE Osborn and NormAN Osborn.

[Hopefully that will make a difference.]
I spoke with someone before who was a biochemist, but the more people I can get to help out in that field, the better. Honestly, despite working at a chemical company that's something that never came that naturally to me, so I'd love all the help there I can get.

Edited (Whoops!) 2015-12-03 23:14 (UTC)

Sorry I'm not that good at remembering it. It's not that I don't know, generally, I just... it doesn't occur to me all the time.

Then I'll just have to remind you.

Yeah, I guess.

I mean, don't... feel obligated.

Never.

[pausing again.]

Okay.

I'm serious, Riku.

I know. I just... didn't know what to say.

[ Bubblegum is going to keep her mouth shut about the fact that StarkTech has given her access to their labs; there seem to be a lot of people in this industry who've started their own businesses and research. How competitive are they? Did they work in tandem? Sometimes? Would one of them help another one get a hover engine? Maybe, but she opts not to be a messenger. ]

Whoa! [ Before he even gets to talking much about it. She's leaning in closer to the communicator, eyes wide and on the screen. ] That is some sick birdy-wing prototype action. Very aesthetically pleasing to boot. You've tried them out already?

I just wanted to make sure you knew.

Yeah.

You too, you know? I... not everything is all about me.

[He half wrote that for himself, honestly.]

I did. And when I found I was less than graceful enough to use them, I enlisted the help of a friend. I call them Raptor wings.

After the Bird of Prey, not the dinosaur. [Everyone always assumes it's the dinosaur.]

Thanks, Riku.

[He just... he knows how important having someone be there for them can be.]

Mm. I talked about this with Kanaya before, but I feel like... the best guides for these sorts of things are people who know what you're feeling. And I mean, I can't guide myself. So, you know. If you'll do that for me, then I can do it for you too.

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