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[crazyspacegirl]

As much as River loved her home and her crew, Serenity was a tense place to be just lately. Mal and Simon seemed always on the verge of beating each other to a pulp again; River knew it was because of her, and she didn't know how to stop it

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[dogbitesman]

It always made William happy to see someone busy working on something. It didn't even matter what it was, as long as their brain was clearly engaged.

Of course, it not mattering was no obstacle to his asking; William was if nothing else fundamentally nosy. "Hello, Miss Tam," he said easily. "What's that you're working on?"

[crazyspacegirl]

"Hi, William." River smiled up at him, glad to see him. She wasn't sure he'd be able to help her with this subject any more than he ever had before, but maybe he'd have some insight River lacked.

"I'm working out the details of how your world works. The math of it."

[dogbitesman]

William raised his eyebrows, a little surprised anyone would want to spend time working out the maths of a world they weren't on.

Then again, it wasn't as if there was much else to do. And he did like to see someone taking an interest in other worlds. It didn't happen nearly enough, in his opinion.

"I can't imagine that's easy, not having the world in question to test anything out on," he said. "Did you ever speak to Professor Stibbons, while he was still here?"

[crazyspacegirl]

"There was a professor? From your world? And I never got to talk to him?" River was extremely disappointed to hear that. "No, I didn't," she sighed. "And it really isn't easy. I'm working on it, though. It's interesting, even if I'm not sure yet how to test out my theories."

[dogbitesman]

"There was," William said, somewhat apologetic. "He was very big on mathematical theories and the like, so it really is a pity you never ran into each other. Uh, but he has written books, I believe. I'll keep an eye out when I check the bookcase for you."

[crazyspacegirl]

"Thank you, that would be helpful." River really hoped such a useful and interesting book would show up. "It really is a shame that you didn't study even basic physics when you were at school. I think people ought to know how their world works."

[dogbitesman]

William stared at her for an extended moment. He was, in fact, counting to ten in his head.

It helped, but only a little.

"How the world works? Miss Tam, I could tell you about the history, I could explain the politics, the economy, the cultures, and you're concerned that I can't tell you exactly why objects fall straight down? I have to say, Miss Tam, that seems an awfully narrow view of what 'how it works' constitutes, and I very much doubt that a vast percentage of people from Earth or other roundworlds could adequately explain your physics to someone from another universe, either."

[crazyspacegirl]

River shook her head, used to being misunderstood.

"I just meant how it works mechanically. The rest is people, not the planet itself. I don't think I'll ever understand people, but the laws of physics make sense. Even on a flat world, though I haven't figured it out yet. And I'm sure there are a great many folks on all kinds of worlds who don't understand the science of them. I just think that's disappointing, because I'd like to know but I can't really go to all those worlds just now to find out for myself."

[dogbitesman]

William scratched the back of his neck, mollified somewhat. He just didn't like the implication that he ought to know something that he didn't. Mostly because by nature he didn't at all like not knowing things, and this wasn't something he could really rectify here. Especially not with Professor Stibbons gone.

"I'm not entirely certain they do, on the Disc," he said, apologetic again. "I mean, when you're dealing with a world with as much ambient magic as the Disc has, physics sort of takes a back seat sometimes. It's like..." he twirled his hand, trying to come up with an example, then snapped his fingers. "Compasses. On Earth, they're magnetic, right? I read that somewhere. But on the Disc, those kind of compasses wouldn't work. They have to be thaumic to point hubwards, because that's where the most magic is."