Calling all nonhumans!

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

I got this idea from a conversation with Snowball.

In order to make biology lessons interesting for her students and give them an appreciation of the subject matter, Zhaan would like to have them talk to nonhuman sentients and take them on a field trip or two in the Milliways grounds (that latter she will probably do in the spring).

I'd like to sign up some of Milliways' nonhuman patrons as guest speakers for her biology class. This would include sentient animals (like Snowball), aliens (Sikozu, Christine, Stitch), and even mythological creatures (dragons, gryphons). I'm not sure about including mutant humans or gods, although if your pup is one of those and you can make a good case for them being a guest speaker, I'm open to discussing it.

Your pup should be able to talk IC about the kind of environment they come from, their evolution, and unique aspects of their biology. For instance, Sikozu could talk about (and demonstrate) her ability to shift her center of gravity, and explain why her species developed it. I'd also like guests to talk a little about their cultures, focusing on how some of their cultural practices grew out of particular biological adaptations.

Please reply to this post or IM me if you're interested.

Comments

[chemist-rani.livejournal.com]

...I think this could be a trainwreck of epic proportions. *considers it*

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

I'm totally into a bit of crack/mayhem, although that will require some discussion with HoA mods.

Zhaan will also be doing a check with Security on people she doesn't know, although she's not going to turn anything up for Rani - since she is a recen arrival - unless the Doctor finds out and tells Zhaan "OMG no Rani = BAD." Which could be fun in and of itself...

[kali921.livejournal.com]

I can happily volunteer Siryn, who has two sets of vocal chords (she's a mutant from the Marvelverse), as well as one of my alien pups.

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

I'm interested in talking to your alien pup, but as I said, I'm not sure about mutant humans. Though Zhaan might ask some of them over later, when she talks about mutations and punctuated evolution (or something like that).

[md_donighal]

As a punctuator of his world's evolutionary equilibrium, Dr. D would be happy to participate alongside the Earth-616 mutants and other posthuman variants.

[gethenian.livejournal.com]

Therem and Sorve are 100% human, but anatomically and culturally different enough from most humans that they might count. And they are aliens in the sense that they're not from Terra. Either one would be willing to be a guest speaker, or both together.

I also have a fox, but he's better at philosophy than biology -- though he also would be happy to make an appearance.

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I didn't think about evolved humans! Yes, I'd certainly be interested in having one or both of them along.

If the fox could sign up somehow, Zhaan would definitely talk to him IC. She might be able to explain him if he's not so much into explaining himself. ;)

[gethenian.livejournal.com]

Who's in the class they'd be speaking to? It might make a very slight difference which one would be better suited to giving a lesson.

Fox is more likely to just show up and crash a field trip and follow the class around until he gets noticed. ^^

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

I know that Ingress, Gavroche and Allie will be in the class: we might have other guests, and possibly even a new student by whatever time we get around to this.

And now that you mention it, it'd be a good idea for the kids to meet the fox when they go on a field trip in the Milliways grounds. If he can talk to them about himself, well, that'd be an unexpected bonus!

[gorgonfondness]

[Should really pay more attention to the post before leaving a comment]

Mia's world, her city in particular, is so full of strange plants & monsters that she might be a good guest speaker for the class. Not to mention she has to get used to teaching anyway for when the Guild reopens. She'll even be able to show some examples since there should be a healing nut tree in the Milliways garden & she has her rememberizer.

Though I may have to talk her out of finding a gorgon to bring.....

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

Yes, Mia can bring weird plants and monsters, assuming that the monsters are not dangerous (or can be kept safe). Of course, things happen, and one of them could conceivably get loose and need to be recaptured after a protracted and amusing chase. ;)

[gorgonfondness]

She could bring something like a shiro mongrel, as they almost never strike first. She'd love to bring a gorgon, but would probably put a sleeping spell on it & a magic shield around it so that they can look at it without fear of attack.

She also knows a dragon that's very friendly who wouldn't mind coming along provided that no kids tug on his wings or call him a cat. And if he might could get some fish out of the deal.

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

The kids in the class are well past the fur/wing/whatever pulling stage of their lives, and I don't think they will call the dragon a cat. I don't think Zhaan would be okay with bringing in a gorgon, even with a sleeping spell on. It would be a bit too risky.

Anyway, Mia can review stuff with her IC later, and decide which plants and animals to bring.

[gorgonfondness]

Awwww, now my pup is pouting at no gorgons.

Mia: *wibble*

You'll just have to deal, dear. Nall is excitement enough.

[buongiornodaisy.livejournal.com]

Skinner counts, right?

;)

[weeper-of-blood.livejournal.com]

lolz, only if that means Le Chiffre does too. ;)

[prix-etoile.livejournal.com]

I was about to say the same for John Crichton, ahahah.

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

John's disqualified for being as human as they come. ;)

[guppy_sandhu]

Yay ideas!

You are also welcome to my Womble, but Zhaan will need to befriend him first and gain his trust.

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

I'll be sure to have her tag Wellington next time he does an EP.

[mendanddefend_archive]

*points to pup* How about entities who don't have 'biology' as such?

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

Huh. I'll have to think about that.

[vivien]

*giggles* How exciting!

[conglomerelda]

Elda would not be able to speak about her evolution, since she is more of a magical construct. But some of the bio/chem and magic her father used to make her, you bet.

She's also on security and has met Ingress, if that helps at all! She loves kids, too.

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

Well, we could certainly point out her wing structure to the kids, and that would be interesting in and of itself. I'd be glad to have her over.

[notjustananimal.livejournal.com]

What about Wolf?

He won't be able to explain a lot about how the wolf "species" developed in the 9 kingdoms, but he could talk about generic wolf-type culture, and if you were up for it, he could certainly demonstrate some of his biology.

He'd be a little lost as far as talking about "evolution" and "biological adaptation," though. Wolves are wolves, and have always been wolves, as far as he's concerned. Although I could probably make up some sort of v. interesting story about how Wolf-type/BBW (big bad) wolves came to be, vs. regular mundane wolves.

......Although I need to think about whether or not mundane wolves even exist in the 9 kingdoms.

...

Yes/no/maybe? He could definitely show off biology. And some wolf culture.

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

I think it could work. Zhaan could figure something out with him.

[weeper-of-blood.livejournal.com]

Oh, if you ever need a living human skeleton for biology, I've always got pleasantskull.

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

That would be creepy! I like it!

[weeper-of-blood.livejournal.com]

Just give me a ping if you ever need him, then. :D Though, he says he's not getting naked. He's a skeleton with a high amount of decency.

[bloodandnicotine]

If this isn't finished and you want a vampire, Spike would be happy to help. Though he curses like a sailor and has virtually no filters for oversharing/appropriateness, so depending on how old these students are Zhaan may want to decline. :)

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

I haven't even started this yet (and may not for a while, as RL has dropped a ton of bricks on me). This would also be an open-ended plot, as there are new nonhumans in the bar all the time.

Zhaan knows nothing of vampires at all, so she would certainly be interested in talking to Spike at first - although with him being technically being dead and not that kid-friendly, she's probably going to decline (more because of the undead thing and being a magically/demonically changed human, which is kind of cheating, because she'd actually think she could get him to lay off swearing for a while). But the initial conversation would probably be pretty funny, so I'd be happy to do at least that.

And...I know this is shameless threadbegging, but YT (feminine_menace) would probably buy Spike a drink. :)

[stakebait.livejournal.com]

Initial conversation sounds like fun. Let's do it, whenever's convenient for you. I think Zaahn's right about the undead thing -- as a bio lesson goes, the physical functions of Jossverse vamps only have value as a cautionary tale, and "magic" is pretty much the only answer as to any question about how or why.

She probably could get him to stop swearing -- or at least, she could get him to sincerely *agree* to stop swearing. Whether he'd actually be able to stick the dismount I kinda doubt. Especially if you, as he does, count "bloody" and suchlike as swearing.

And Spike would be chuffed to have YT buy him a drink, so long as you don't mind slowtimes, since that's where most of my threads seem to end up.

[azure-mercy.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear it, and I am totally fine with slowtimes, especially under current circumstances.

I'm actually doing a lead-up to the whole guest speaker thing. Zhaan will start out scanning Milliways' nonhuman patrons (for future reference in case of illness or injury) and get the idea from that. Not sure how long it will be. YT will definitely turn mosey in some time soon, perhaps this weekend.

[bloodandnicotine]

Alas, I'm away this weekend (and many weekends). My usual RP times are weeknights 10-midnight EST or so. But we can keep an eye out for each other. :)