shakespearealien | V. [Video visible to Rockets only. Action for the Goldenrod City Rocket HQ.]

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V. [Video visible to Rockets only. Action for the Goldenrod City Rocket HQ.]

[The Video feed shows a profile view of Gorthan, working on something at his desk. To the untrained eye, he seems to be drawing on the graph paper laid out before him together with a set of drawing tools including, aside from the obvious pens, pencils and erasers, rulers, a compass, a protractor and set squares. ... Also, Gorthan's Noctowl is perched at the end of the desk, and Gorthan looks at it from time to time as if his Pokémon was posing for him. And yet... that isn't quite it, because he also seems to be making rather extensive use of those technical tools, picking each of them up to work with them quite often.

What he's really making is a blueprint, the good ol' fashioned way.

But what does his Noctowl have to do with that...? The viewer won't know until Gorthan speaks, about two minutes into the video. And even then... He keeps working at the blueprint as he speaks, not once turning to face the camera.]

I intend to rebuild and perfect a certain robotic device I had designed and created in my home world. If you possess skills in one or more of the following fields - mechanics, electronics, robotics, telecommunications, advanced computer programming, metalwork - please do not hesitate to contact me.

... There was someone who was willing to aid me with implementations, but he... seems to be temporarily unavailable. At this stage, I also would not be surprised if he had been kicked out of the Team entirely.

[He's referring, of course, to Robin.]

... It goes without saying that if this project is as successful as I plan it will be, any and all helpers' names will be credited accordingly. Thank you for your time.

[At which Gallade, who has been filming all along, switches off the feed.]

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[Well, well. Descole definitely does recognize what you're doing, Gorthan; he does it often enough himself. This is going to be interesting, isn't it...

No, really. It had better be interesting.]

Surely you don't expect help for this unnamed project of yours without offering details - as much as I can appreciate how needlessly sinister that is, that isn't quite how things work, my good man.

Descole. What a surprise.

[Or, you know, not.]

I am merely ensuring that details are withheld from plagiarists or others who could only hinder my work, as opposed to contributing to it. Do you believe you possess the necessary knowledge to help me construct a remotely controlled device for the collection and broadcasting of video data? With flight capability and identical, at least from afar, to the Pokémon Noctowl.

And yet you entrust me with details right away? How...flattering.

[You'll have to forgive Smirky McDouchebag over here, Gorthan; clearly, it's been a good day for arrogance.

...maaaaaan, do you need some better friends.]

As for your inquiry, I suppose I don't see why not - it's not quite what I usually do, of course, but that's no reason to not make an attempt. I'll take any opportunity given to broaden my horizons; if nothing else, it might be a decent learning experience, don't you think?

[B-but you were his project for a better friend... which also kind of went down the drain the moment you were confirmed to be a Rocket just a moment ago.

Ah, never mind, just getting to know an earthling is interesting fun times. Especially if the earthling in question is the only Earthling so far who has responded in kind to one of his Shakespeare quotes.]

Indeed it shall be. But what do you usually do, exactly?

[His eyes are cold and stern, but they're merely trying to hide how curious he is. You're not the only one who wears a mask, Descole.]

[Oh, he wouldn't even begin to presume that he is. Everyone plays their roles; some are just a bit more blatant about their disguises.

He has his reasons.]

I primarily work on a much larger scale; tools for excavation and the like, designed to both enhance my work and allow me to defend said work, should the need arise.

[...or pitch some epic temper tantrums if that work is going badly, but that's hardly relevant right now.]

[Gorthan quirks an eyebrow.]

... 'Excavation'? For what purposes, if I may ask? And what your work exactly consists of still remains unclear, realize.

[Gorthan is not a stranger to huge machines, either - aside from the fact that he was essentially eaten by one, he also had to design countless containment devices for his mutants, some of which - including Trauma's - are basically giant cocoons.]

[Descole laughs a bit at that; the sound isn't quite cruel, but it does sound a bit like he's practiced the art of the evil laugh quite a bit, let's put it that way.]

Why, the discovery of ancient civilizations, my friend! The unearthing of the world's secrets, buried by time and forgotten or lost in these modern days. Surely a man of culture such as yourself can at the very least appreciate the effort?

[Gorthan's eyes widen, almost bluer than usual. His jaw falls a little, too, and it's generally clear that that was not the reply he was expecting - he was willing to wager it had something to do with minerals and fossil resources - and what it actually is about is absolutely wonderful and exciting.]

... That is indeed fascinating, and sounds like an admirable effort. I simply was not aware that that was your field of research. But I fear you will have to tell me more now, Descole. Is there something you have discovered?

All in good time, Gorthan, all in good time! At least one major discovery has been made, however, I assure you.

[Admittedly, Layton was the one who actually raised the damn sunken city and all, but that is a detail that we shan't go into. Descole fixed that, anyway!

By, you know. Throwing a sword at Layton's face. It was great!]

I see.

Now give me one reason why I should agree to work with an individual whose conversational attitude is the very opposite of forthcoming.

[He will have those deets yet!]

[Ohoho. Playing this game, are we?]

Because you're beseeching my help, and I see no need to be forthcoming toward those that I have no reason to get to know.

I see. But I suppose we will get to know each other eventually in any case. Why, even in an interaction as brief as this one, you have unveiled much about yourself - probably even more than you realize.

And on that subject. Where are you presently, Descole, and where should we meet?

Ah, but you're the one accusing me of not being forthcoming enough, am I wrong? Pick a stance and hold it, man. This isn't difficult.

As for my location...I suspect it may be rather similar to yours. Let's just say this channel we're on now is a bit relevant.

... You're at headquarters as well. Excellent.

I will be at the laboratories in a few moments. Reach me there.

[He is still not quite used to working with people who are his equals as opposed to, uh, people he can use as his scullions if he chooses to. Hence the order.]

[...was that supposed to be an order? If it was, you really ought to get with the program. Put a little oomph behind it!

...and yes, he'll gladly meet you at the laboratories, greeting you by swinging the doors open in an overly dramatic manner with his cape going fucking everywhere, because of course he still has the cape on. As well as the mask, the boa and everything else.

tl;dr - SEE ICON.]

[At that point Gorthan is sitting as his desk in the laboratories, with his almost finished first draft of the blueprint laid out before him, but now sans drawing tools.

Seeing Descole enter, he raises his gaze and stands.]

You do know about the Team's uniform regulation, correct?

[As a matter of fact, Gorthan is wearing his uniform with a white labcoat over it. What is non-regulation about him is his hair - he supposes he can wear it loose indoors, his dreadlocks falling past his shoulders.]

I'm perfectly aware of it, yes, and I imagine they'll make me aware of it again in a few days' time.

[LOOK HOW MANY FUCKS HE GIVES]

I suggest you do not taunt them.

[After an annoyed sigh, Gorthan gestures to the chair on the other side of his desk, from which the blueprint draft is very comfortably visible.]

Please, make yourself at home.

First off - as I am sure you are aware, it is currently the year 2012 in this world. In my world of origin, however, it was the year 1999 before I was transported here. Yourself?

[You can huff at him all you want, Gorthan; that number of fucks isn't moving from zero.

However, he will sit down, tipping his head downward to look at the blueprint as he speaks.]

Let's say I've done enough research to know that that question is completely irrelevant to what you're trying to do; the year doesn't matter as much as the technology for half of us.

What matters is whether I can pull this off or not, I believe; am I wrong?

[He smiles as he sits down. However, it's not his condescending smile, at least not yet. For now, it's a peculiarly friendly smile.]

While you are not completely wrong, who are you to know what matters to me?

[He does not wait for an answer before he turns the paper on his desk upside-down and shows it to Descole.]

Is it understandable?

[Meet the Noctowl counterpart of Gorthan's robot owl camera. It is pretty much the same, except that it looks like a Noctowl and there is a slightly lengthy pencil-written note on the margin of the paper about how it should make a realistic Noctowl at least when seen from afar, complete with an exoskeleton of actual Noctowl hide and synthetic materials reminiscent of the real thing.]

[...okay, well, to lean on the fourth wall a bit, Descole is reasonably sure he can make it look like a Noctowl from a distance and not the goddamn Batman, at least. He somehow managed to make a machine capable of sucking one's entire personality out of their brain look like a really fancy pipe organ, and a drilling machine and a manatee look like...uh, the herald of Satan or something. Admittedly, the last part was a bit of an accidental discovery, but he just sort of rolled with it and let it continue to happen a dozen times or so anyway.]

Again, I'm not used to working on such a small scale, but it's perfectly understandable, yes.

[Loose translation: Oh my god. Do you know how many of these tiny parts I am gonna break trying to build this thing?]

Hmm...I'm willing to attempt everything but skinning the Noctowl for the sake of putting a slipcover on it; you're going to have to deal with that part yourself.

[Gorthan taps his fingers against his desk as he tries to regain a bit of perspective, considering what he's been doing the past few weeks.

... Yes, maybe the Pokémon experiments have desensitized him a bit. Which is good for the part of him that is still a perfectly functional Evronian, and bad for the part of him that makes him cry while reading Romeo and Juliet.]

I suppose we could change that to only having real feathers, while the skin itself would be synthetic as well.

[At which he grabs a pencil from a penholder on his desk, flips the blueprint back so it's facing him, crosses off the word "hide" replacing it with "down" and makes a few other necessary corrections matching the change.]

There you go. Anything else? Do you think that one camera is enough for the Team's needs?

[You... kind of give at least a few fucks about the Team itself... right?]

Well, you can do whatever you like, though even if you intend to not kill the thing, I have no intention of dealing with that part; I prefer to not handle live animals while I'm working, and I'm not about to get my eyes pecked out for the sake of a little camouflage.

[Honestly, he's not sure why you're changing it; it's not as though he's thinking "WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE POKEYMANS", it's more "...ugh, that is going to be disgusting to deal with."]

And I suppose that depends on what you're commissioning these for - what is it that you're trying to keep an eye on?

[...not...really, man, they just look kind of fun. He honestly couldn't care less about this whole thievery business; as for the world domination aspect...well, if they'll allow him to continue his research, then why not.]

[Gorthan waves a hand in dismissal.]

Forget it. I will obtain the feathers myself.

... I must say, for one who has excavation as one of his interests, you seem to be rather afraid of... actually getting your hands dirty.

[At which his gaze will go to Descole's hands, if they're in view.]

It is not meant to serve any specific or imminent need. In fact, I intend it to be as versatile as possible, for any spying and information-gathering need that may arise.

Well, aren't you edgy. Do you genuinely not see the difference between getting a bit dirty and skinning animals?

[Oh, they're in view. The sleeves are a bit...ruffled and long, but they're in view.]

Go ahead and create your one, then, but may the deity of your liking help you if you suddenly find you have more than one target.

... Perhaps I should have explained myself better.

[He sighs. He's really been spending too much time on his own lately, hasn't he... Leaning closer and pointing at the robot owl's eyes with the bottom end of a pencil, he tries to get Descole to focus on the draft.]

What I mean is, if you think it's too little to only implement a single camera in the robot.

[He points to the owl's camera eye.]

More cameras could be implemented - at the back, for example, or at the sides. Do you think that would be of any use?

[Yeeeeeeah, your communication skills are really fail here, bro. Not like Descole's are a hell of a lot better, given that books have been his best friends for the last couple of weeks and most of his conversations in Johto have consisted almost entirely of NO U.]

Ah, but that's part of the point, isn't it - the one camera would have a rather limited scope when it comes to doing anything but the most basic surveillance.

So how many would you suggest?

[He furrows his brow, his full attention on Descole.]

[...hmmm.]

Well, I suppose that depends...how much rotating capability are you expecting these cameras to have?

[His reply is prompt.]

Roughly the same as actual, biological eyes.

[...Gorthan...]

You are aware that owls' eyes are fixed in their heads, correct?

[He sighs.]

That is the point, Descole. Just stop trying to play games with me and tell me how you would go about this.

Well, first of all, is there a reason that you can't simply use materials that would allow one to see out without allowing anyone else to see in? That would increase the scope of vision without sacrificing realism.

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V. [Video visible to Rockets only. Action for the Goldenrod City Rocket HQ.]

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[Video.]

[...well, yes, I just fail at headers orz]

[w-well, mine is video, at any rate!]

[likewise! so just...video until it's rendered otherwise?]

[yup!]

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[Action!]

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