Robin Hopper/AMA

Ask Robin Hopper Anything (240005.08)

As a unique twist on the usual "Question of the Week" format, this week instead of all answering questions, the group was tasked with asking Hopper questions in a Reddit-style "Ask Me Anything" format. Throughout the week, folks were able to pose any questions they liked to Keegan's Primary Character, Robin Hopper.

Note that none of the questions or answers are necessarily considered IC/canon, it happens outside of the SB118 universe and is just a bit of fun.

Questions & Answers

• What is your absolute top fav ABBA song?
  • You want me to reduce a timeless and incredible body of work into a single selection? Fine. I admit it. It’s Dancing Queen. I know it’s not the most surprising choice — but it is quintessential. And I was eighteen and really discovering myself when I first heard it. I really identified with it. And it’s so fun!!! Show me one person who can avoid singing along when it comes on!
    • Ukinix: ::Smirk:: What about "Pooper Scooper"? ::Snickers::
      • ::Shaking head::
• What's it like being Chief Science Officer?
  • Being the Chief Science officer is a big responsibility. Starfleet Science requires a broad knowledge of a lot of disciplines already -- as a CSO, that duty extends to understanding the broader goals of the Federation and Starfleet scientific communities and working out the best way to allocate space and resources to work towards those goals. The worst part of the job is having less time to 'get in the lab' and do the hands-on theoretical and practical work myself, but it's balanced out by getting to meet and see so many talented people doing amazing work.
• You've had a lot of interest in you romantically since you've been at Amity.  Who is your favourite love interest, and why is it Keehani Ukinix?
  • Well... I typically prefer to keep my, um, *private life* and my *personal life* fairly separate... But, since I did say there were "no topics off limits" I will just say that *yes, I am single and looking to mingle* but I'm not looking for anything  "complicated".  So, anyone who has shown a capability to you know, respect my personal boundaries, and keep things discreet is... ::ahem::  you know.   ::Whispered::  Based on this, so far, the person who's caused me the least strife is probably Envoy Kizat...
• Hops, who's your least favourite person on Amity?
  • ::Rubs temple::  The person who consistently makes my life the hardest is Crewman Furahl Ygrix. He's... not easy to get along with sometimes.  ::Cheery::  But you know, we make it work!
    • Ygrix: Why can't I have my own space with peace and quiet?
      • Well, Crewman… Starfleet is a branch of the United Federation of Planets. Part of our mandate is learning to cooperate with others. That being said, we have already set up an option for you to work remotely from your quarters during some of your duty shifts. That’s about as much accommodation as I’m able to give you at this point. But I will raise the matter with the Starfleet Attaché if you don’t feel that is sufficient.

• Phan'ta'go: =/\= Hello Lieutenant Hopper, this is Crewman C'lem Phan'ta'go, I have a question for you...  Can you hear me? =/\=
  • Oh! Hiya C'lem... Yes I can hear you loud and clear. You know, if you ever need to talk, my line is open and I've been told I'm a great listener. oO I love how mysterious C'lem is... I wonder if he's handsome... Oo
• Random man wearing glasses/moustache disguise and might have an Australian accent: Lieutenant Hopper, I'm just a random person from the mezzanine who happened to be walking by.  Was your experience on the USS Jemison the best one you've had in Starfleet, by far, no exceptions?
  • Hi Wil.  ::Squints::  I like the fashion choice. It suits you.  ::Rolling eyes teasingly::  In seriousness, it was honestly an amazing experience. I think that you and I both demonstrated that we can run a ship pretty effectively — not to mention getting to geek out over the Intrepid Class. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I think they’re still scrubbing the eucalyptus oil out of the biofilters though.
• So, Robin. Who happens to be your favorite Engineer aboard Amity? Maybe someone you spent lots of time with working on a personal project? Hmmm?
  • I would never dignify such a blatant attempt to garner flattery from someone with such an abundance of confidence…  ::exchange of knowing glances::
• Where did your love of disco music come from?
  • I actually had never really listened to it or paid it much mind until I travelled to Earth for school. I went to a party in my freshman year and someone was playing an ABBA record and it just spoke to me. Sang to me? After that I got kind of hooked. It makes for great studying music as well as dancing music.
• What is Robin’s favorite genre of holonovel?
  • Oh, what a fun question! I'm a sucker for classic terran science fiction adventures... adaptations of some of the 'old great works'. One of these days I'll really have to drag you along for one. Ancient earthlings certainly had funny ideas of what 'the future' would be like, not to mention how basic scientific principles 'worked'! Of course, that's not to say other genres don't interest me. There's just something so thrilling about jumping into a hilarious retrofuturist costume and screaming at the cosmos.  ::Cackles::
• Ivanovic: Lieutenant Hopper, I'm Kit Ivanovic, Delta Quadrant correspondent for the Federation News Service. The FNS has had an anonymous tip off that alleges you stole an antique Earth turntable before joining Starfleet. How do you respond to those allegations, and if true, wouldn't that be conduct unbecoming of a Starfleet officer?
  • Oh, did you really?  ::Scoffs:: Well, did your "anonymous tipper" explain that the turntable was never anyone's personal property? That it belongs to the family and that therefore I am just as entitled to it as "they" are? Also, I asked to take it with me when I left for University and the mothership said I could. Besides, whoever this anonymous person could be probably never even expressed any interest before I took it with me. Never listened to any records on it. In fact, I'm pretty sure the only time this anonymous stranger ever touched a record was when she rifled though my things and got her grubby little anonymous fingerprints all over my vinyl of Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours". >:(
• Strange man in a mask: Lieutenant Hopper. Are the allegations true that you are stealing the hearts of men all across the galaxy for some sort of trophy collection?
  • You say “stealing” but I believe I earned each and every one.
• Hops, what is your favourite thing to do on a Friday night?
  • I don’t think it’ll surprise many people to hear that I love going out. Have a few drinks, listen to some music, get on your feet and dance! Preferably with a group of friends — but hey, nothing wrong with making new friends out and about too. After a week of working hard, I feel like the play time is well earned and it refreshes me for the week to get out there and connect with the world and myself.
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Professionally and personally
  • Yeesh. Questions like this have always kind of made me sweat. I just... sort of feel like 'the best laid plans' rarely come to pass exactly as we expect them to, so, you know... why bother thinking that far ahead? I like to take life as it comes, and while I may have aspirations, I find it's a lot less disappointing to just keep them as aspirations... I also got a little career advice lately from someone I greatly admire and I think, maybe, I'd be smart to, um, temper my ambitious side a little. I've come a long way in a short time already.  ::Shrug:: I guess I'd say hopefully, not too far from where I am today -- but a wiser, more capable, more grounded person than I am right now. I guess that goes both professionally and personally.
• Who is your best friend? And why is it Nathan Richards?
  • Friends come and go, just like anyone in life. But, you know, best friends are the kinds of people you just connect with instantly -- who you just get, and they just get you -- and who, even if you haven't seen them in years, you get back together and its like no time has passed at all. I guess the term "kindred spirits" comes to mind. That's sort of how I feel about Nathan, you know? We get each other, no explanations necessary -- and it sort of feels like we've known each other forever. Hopefully we will. But, hey, if the universe pulls us apart, I'm sure that we'd pick right back up where we left off if we ever found each other again.
• If you had one day left to live how would you spend it?
  • God. What a question. Umm... stuffing my face with curly fries?  ::Rolling eyes:: No, not really.  ::Sigh:: I guess, if I really think about that seriously, I'd want to be home. It's been a long time since I've been back, and there's not much to see there. Hell, most of the people I grew up with aren't even there anymore -- not that any of them would really care to see me anyways... But if I only had one day left, I think I'd want it to be there. Spend some time walking the farm, eat an apple off the tree, sit on the hill over the reservoir and take in the setting sun... I don't know, maybe I'm overthinking it.
• What do you need more of in your life?
  • Discovery. I don't think there's anything more special to me than experiencing something new, learning something I didn't know before. Don't get me wrong, I love the classics, but nothing beats the first time...  ::Squinting:: I feel like maybe I could have worded that better.
• Kizat: How does it feel being a living work of art?
  • Hiya Envoy Kizat...  ::Blushing smirk:: You are too sweet. I think that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I guess I'd say "I guess it depends what artist is doing the looking..." By the way, we should get together for another, um, art session soon. The last one was fun.
• Iovianus: You enjoy your books, what is your favorite from before you arrived at Amity, and the favorite you have read since being here?
  • Oh, and Cassian - yes! I used to spend so much of my free time reading. Ever since coming to Amity I have to admit I've found it hard to find the time. But one of my favourites has always been Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Lost World series.  ::Chuckle::  It's such a unique blend of Victorian speculative science fiction and pure old fashioned adventure. Since coming here, I read - and actually really enjoyed - The Second To Last Game. Keehani recommended it to me and I just tore through it.
• Siben: What is your favorite plant?
  • Also, Hello Mr. Siben, I don't think we've met before - but clearly my reputation precedes me - at least when it comes to a love of growing things. The star of my personal collection is my Stromanthe triostar (pun completely intended). It's just magical and lovely and every time I look at it I can't help but think "how is this thing real?!"