opacity is there too but you can't see him

This is so incredibly important how dare you hide this in the tags /lh

Pov you walk into a pitch black room and you see two creepy glowing android eyes, two flashing red lights, and the fucked up thing cats' eyes do in the dark

Further hc that Data can't actually see in the dark either.

He's just never thought to mention this because he has a photographic memory and direct neural access to all of the Enterprise's schematics, and therefore doesn't actually need sight to know where everything is.

okay no cause like i love this.

YES

Ok but imagine the Enterprise goes to help people on this planet where everyone lives underground in the dark because of radiation or something. Like it's bad enough that hundreds of generations have lived underground and, over the course of time, have adapted to the darkness so well that light sources actually hurt them. So Picard has to figure out how to help them without sending people in with lights.

And the obvious answer is to send Geordi down, but the settlements are so far down the communicators cut out and Picard isn't sending anyone into that alone.

"Data and I should be able to handle it," Geordi says. "Neither of us need light to see and Engineering can manage fine without us for a few hours."

Picard nods and is on the verge of sanctioning the mission with his trademark, "Make it so," when Data speaks up.

"Actually, my visual sensors are designed to be as much like the human eye as possible," he says. "They only process information transmitted by the reflection of light off physical surfaces. My ability to function onboard Enterprise in unlit spaces is due to my memorization of both the ship's schematics and the design preferences of those whose quarters I visit regularly."

Behind his visor, unbeknownst to the rest of the crew, Geordi blinks as he tries to process this new information. He's almost about to apologize to Picard and Data for the assumption when Data continues.

"However, I would be able to integrate the information from our tricorder scans to navigate without much difficulty. I could accompany Geordi to the settlement and provide some level of assistance."

Picard looks a bit confused at the correction, but nods. "Make it so."

Later, when they've beamed down into the caverns, Geordi asks why Data never mentioned that he couldn't actually see in the dark. He would've turned the lights on if he'd known.

"I did not need it," Data answers simply, as if that was explanation enough.

"Data, most people like the lights to be on, even if they don't need it," Geordi points out. "It's a comfort thing. And polite, too, I guess."

Data pauses, processing. "I was not uncomfortable, nor did I find the lack of light to be rude. I enjoy our conversations in the dark."

"Huh." Geordi stops, watching as Data continues down the tunnel a bit further. "But you keep your quarters dark sometimes, too."

"Spot is nocturnal," Data explains. "I have read that it is important for cats to maintain a sense of routine, including a regular day and night cycle."

"You do your work in the dark for Spot?"

"For my friends."

Oh god this is adorable! I love it!

It got better.

I want to invoke thought and wonder and introspection and encourage the passions of every soul I meet forever and ever and dig until I find the glorious potential for creation and experience and joy in every single one but unfortunately I must pay rent and so I stand, a meat shield, an NPC with unlockable dialogue

#capitalism brain tells you that anyone interesting must fight to the top of their interest#and precludes the possibility of everyone everyone everyone already being interesting

My instinct is to agree with this, but like, when I really think about it…

No money, no credit cards, identification is all vocal/fingerprints/retinal, so no wallet.

Again, doors are voice activated, or just unlocked by entering a code.  No keys.  

Communication devices are tiny and stick onto clothing starting in Next Gen.  TOS had bulkier communication that they carried around or kept in, like, packs and stuff, so the arguments for pockets is a little more valid, and if I remember correctly, those costumes did have pockets, tho I could be wrong about that.  But anything post TNG, the point is moot anyway.

Tricorders and phasers are really the only thing anyone’s carrying around, and that’s usually on away missions where they’d be bring their packs/holsters or just have them out.  I mean, who wants to stick a phaser in their pocket?  

So, yeah.  There’s not much little stuff people need to carry around everywhere.  And if they are preparing for a longer journey or want to bring bulkier things, well…just bring a bag.  It fits more anyway.    

what if i find a cool rock and want to take it home with me

Every time a member of the USS Enterprise has found a cool rock and taken it home, it has resulted in eleven deaths, six temporal displacements, the holodecks breaking again, and somebody getting turned into a lizard. Pockets are a privilege, not a right.

I’ve gotten more notes on this comment than anything else I’ve ever posted, but this is the best addition to it I’ve ever seen. Thank you.