January Meme: Star Trek/Voltaire
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
felis wanted to know: Which three Star Trek characters should Voltaire meet? And which one would totally ignore him and go talk to Emilie instead? The last one is the easiest: any of the Star Trek characters who started out as scientists - Janeway, Seven of Nine, Michael Burnham, Tilly, and yes, Spock - would pounce on the chance to talk to the fabulous Émilie du Chatelet before they'd talk to Voltaire. Especially if the meeting happens via actual time trip as opposed to everyone visiting a holographic recreation of Cirey complete wtith Holo!Voltaire and Holo!Émilie. Because then they'd need to enlist a great pyhsicist to fix whatever the MacGuffin is that has the ST characters stranded in the past. If I had to choose just one of them, I'd go with Tilly. Depending on which biographer you believe, she and Émilie could even bond over mother issues, and at any rate Tilly's fannish enthusiasm would be great for Émilie to hear.
As to which three other ST characters should meet and primarily engage with Voltaire:
1.) Garak from ST: DS9 for the quality dialogue and barrage of one liners from both parties which would inevitably ensue. Garak would be amused by Voltaire's occasional failed and rebuffed spying efforts; Voltaire would be appalled by the Cardassian justice system (even worse than the French 18th century one) and start a campaign immediately; Garak would be intrigued by someone who isn't naive at all yet relentless in his zeal once he picked up a cause. And they'd agree on Shakespeare. (See here. ) Then, however, Garak would score a point by mentioning the Federation laws re: genetically modified folk, proving that even in a supposedly free society there's some major discrimination going on. At which point Voltaire decides to use the case of the remaining Jack Pack as precedence and campaign against these laws as well.
2.) Mirrorverse Philippa Georgiou from ST: Discovery. She's a witty dictator both cruel and able to build on that tiny glimmer of humanity within and become more, and therefore absolutely his type. Again, there would be high quality dialogue. Presumably Voltaire in the Mirrorverse either was his worst self or didn't exist, so she wouldn't be that interested to start with and/or assume he had court fool qualifications at best, they'd go from amusing verbal sparring to downright vicious arguments, but then he'd surprise her by talking her out of a suicidal mindframe (perhaps this is Georgiou right after mid s3?) with his patented "reasons why you shouldn't kill yourself: your enemies would rejoice, you suck, and also, I'd miss you" pep up speech.
3.) The Doctor (the one from Voyager, not a guest starring DW). This is for a scenario where it's Holo!Voltaire, because you just know Holo!Voltaire would develop conciousness, creating yet another ethical headache for Janeway. Holo!Voltaire and the Doctor would start an opera production together, starring the Doctor, of course (presumably he'd requested the holodeck to provide him with such a scenario), but then there would be mighty arguments once Voltaire finds out no one watches the operas based on his plays anymore, or, for that matter, his plays, and that his fame mainly rests on his prose. The Doctor would not hold back on his musical and theatrical opinions and insist on producing Verdi or Puccini instead. In this mighty clash of egos, he'd still verbally lose because Voltaire (even a Holo version of same) just has more practice and vocabulary at verbal sparring. Then, however, Voltaire (by now exceeding his original program, because of course he does, and achieving consciousness) finds out about the Doctor's iffy status on Voyager (depending on which season we're in, and how much autonomy Janeway grants him) and the whole problem of if some holoprograms can achieve consciousness, isn't the entire holotechnology providing future slaves, and suggests teaming up for a Freedom For Holobeings campaign. I'm not sure how this episode would end for the holo cause, but I think the Doctor in the spirit of reconciliation would aquaint Voltaire with Leonard Bernstein's version of Candide, and pick that as the to be staged production, thus providing us with a finale where he sings Pangloss and the entire Voyager crew joins in with The Best of All Possible Worlds. (Voltaire sighs that they're missing out on the satire - Bernstein isn't, of course, but the Voyager crew gives him the impression they think he agrees with Pangloss - but takes the tribute as given.)
The other days
no subject
any of the Star Trek characters who started out as scientists - Janeway, Seven of Nine, Michael Burnham, Tilly, and yes, Spock
Aw, yeah. I think my favourites would be Janeway and, indeed, Tilly.
Garak would be amused by Voltaire's occasional failed and rebuffed spying efforts
Right! I keep forgetting about that.
you just know Holo!Voltaire would develop conciousness, creating yet another ethical headache for Janeway
Ahaha, he totally would! He can't be contained.
And I had no idea that Bernstein did Candide! Huh.
no subject
Bernstein himself conducting the Overture of Candide
Kirstin Chenowith (Cunegonde) and Patti LuPone (The Old Lady) present Glitter and be Gay, which is probably the aria best known.
Patti Lupone sings I am easily assimilated
The final ensemble number at the end, Make our garden grow, as presented at the BBC Proms seven years ago.
no subject
no subject
no subject
Garak from ST: DS9 for the quality dialogue and barrage of one liners from both parties which would inevitably ensue.
OMG THEY WOULD INDEED
UM I might have to ask for this at whatever fic exchange is next :PP
And of course Voltaire would pick up the genetically modified laws as his next crusade, I love it.
I haven't watched Discovery at all, but LOLOLOLOL to but then he'd surprise her by talking her out of a suicidal mindframe (perhaps this is Georgiou right after mid s3?) with his patented "reasons why you shouldn't kill yourself: your enemies would rejoice, you suck, and also, I'd miss you" pep up speech.
This is for a scenario where it's Holo!Voltaire, because you just know Holo!Voltaire would develop conciousness, creating yet another ethical headache for Janeway.
OF COURSE HE WOULD
The Doctor might lose the verbal spats, but Voltaire might have to eventually concede that Verdi WAS good :P :) But I love even more your solution that they produce Bernstein's Candide, omg!
no subject
There seems to be universal agreement on Voltaire and Garak having a rendevouz with destiny...
no subject
I'm amused to see that we had the exact same reaction to Holo!Voltaire's development. :D
no subject
no subject
no subject