I left my Mark on Mars! @ares3martinez-blog - Tumblr Blog

No one brought porn, not that I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot… Although there are ways they could hide it…upload it to laptops and delete it from data-sticks before our Mars descent… I mean, no one wants to jack off in a full Hab, but we do have separate bunks on the Hermes… I bet Martinez has clown porn.

ares3martinez-blog

Shut up, man! My wife reads these!

#don't let her know about the clowns #chat

best & worst things about the rest of the crew??

Lewis:

Best thing: I’m her favorite.

Worst thing: Hellish taste in music.

Vogel:

Best thing: A fellow Dad. We speak the same language, which is Puns.

Worst thing: Grows a better beard than me.

Beck:

Best thing: Jawline that can cut glass and legs for days.

Worst thing: Out of my league.

Watney:

Best thing: Always makes me feel better about my bad hair days because at least my hair can’t get as bad as that rats nest.

Worst thing: Garbage can personified.

Johanssen:

Best thing: Is small and powerful and makes me want to adopt her.

Worst thing: Will not let me adopt her.

#asked #the martian #the martian rp #rick martinez #anonymous

ares3lewis

What were your first impressions and what are your current opinions of your crew?

Okay, this is going to be a fun one. I actually knew a few of them before, from our time at SpaceX.

The first I met was Beck. I was a few months out from my first flight (I was a station engineer at SpaceX), and he was a flight surgeon in mission control. He came around to just do routine physicals, and I remember thinking that he was pretty much everything you’d want in a doctor. He was gentle, definitely cared a lot, but not at the sake of professionalism. I knew some people saw him as standoffish outside of his medical duties, but in my opinion, it was more of a respectful, quiet intelligence. Currently, I’d say all that and more. He can definitely take a while to get to know, but once you figure him out, he’s amazing. Sensitive, sweet, great listener…

And then there was Watney. Oh dear. He was around SpaceX on contract from NASA. I don’t remember exactly what was said, but I know that the first thing I overheard from him was some dirty joke or another. I graduated from the naval academy, and the phrase “swore like a sailor” definitely exists for a reason, but still, we were in a professional setting. I didn’t hesitate to tell him to stop whatever it was. At first, I assumed “Great, another one of the perpetual children from basic.” Difference was, rather than one of the excuses or responses I’m used to (“Pull the stick out,” those typical gems), he genuinely apologized. I didn’t trust him immediately, because at first I was worried that he was being sarcastic, but I gave him another chance. It took a while for us to click, but now we’re pretty close and definitely protective of one another.

There was one more I overlapped with while working for SpaceX that surprises some people, possibly because of the age difference. But I think that everyone around the campus had heard the reputation of software’s new prodigy. I hadn’t met her in person until after our crew was selected, but I’ve always thought of her as being an absolute genius. I mean, here we were, prior to Ares One, and you couldn’t go a day at the company without hearing about the grad student intern who was guiding the design of the software that would carry people to Mars. Knowing of her and meeting her in person, though? Totally different. I continue to be impressed by her every day, but I know now just how loyal, quirky, and dedicated she is. Beth is like a sister to me now.

Traditionally though, it’s the pilot and commander that meet first. I first met Rick Martinez in the back conference room at Johnson. We had both gotten out of a long psych consult, and it was pretty obvious that we were on edge. He struck me as an intuitive caregiver by how he immediately started joking and skipped the small talk and formalities in favor of a friendly, casual conversation. He just instinctively knew how to defuse the tension. What impressed me more was how he didn’t keep that up throughout briefing. When the time for briefing came, he showed much more knowledge and skill than I might have expected from just his carefree introduction. I knew then that we would mesh well together, and he’s still easily my go-to when anything is going wrong. He’s a great friend and listener, and definitely someone I’m lucky to share the mission with.

Vogel, though? Not such a warm, fuzzy greeting. I sort of got the impression that he wasn’t interested in truly connecting with us. I could tell he was exceptionally bright, and that we would likely be tied for ‘most serious,’ but I was concerned that we wouldn’t be able to work together. I had misread his composure for cockiness, and almost got the sense that he didn’t trust me. I don’t think that I could have been more wrong. He and I are much more similar than I thought. We communicate and work together well, and now I know that what you see is what you get. He isn’t putting on any sort of false show of confidence or calmness, he’s just genuinely that passionate and focused. Those are traits that I have great respect for. He’s also cool under pressure, reliable, and a wise observer. Sure, he’s quiet, but the social scene of the crew would be horribly thrown off without him.

I currently have so much respect for everyone on board. I would do anything for any of them, and we’ve become much more tightly knit than I think I deserve.

ares3martinez-blog

See that, Watney? Vogel? “Intuitive caregiver”… That’s like…ten Dad Points in my favor.

drfurter

My first impression of Martinez: so that’s where that smell is coming from.

ares3martinez-blog

My first impression of Watney: wow his face looks like an ass