shakespearealien | VIII. Video/Action for Ecruteak City. + text.

Video/Action:

[The first seconds of Gorthan's Video feed show his profile through a doorway. He seems to be talking to someone who is obscured by the presence of a white wall. And judging by Gorthan's words, that someone is more than one person.]

I will be leaving soon, my dear ladies. My presence is needed in Goldenrod again. But worry not. All of you are healing up well and should be able to return home soon. I will personally keep in touch with that incompetent who was originally assigned to you as a doctor to ensure that my recommendations are being followed at all times. It was a true honor to assist you. I can already assure you that part of my salary will go to you, so you will be able to rebuild your theatre as soon as possible.

[After which Gorthan himself disappears from view. There are a few unintelligible words, women's voices along with Gorthan's own. About a minute later, Gorthan walks out of the room and closer to the camera.]

Noctowl. Do not worry, I have no intention to replace you yet. Now, kindly let go of my Pokégear, if you will.

[The video cuts, only to resume again in the open. Buildings and trees can be seen in the background while Gorthan speaks to the camera, his expression pretty much neutral.]

Will someone inform me of the events that took place in Goldenrod? I was so absorbed in my work here, I seem to have missed something.

Private text to "Caroline" (neurotoxined):

[Um, Gorthan's been texting her regularly, at least once a day. Small, inane things. Like "Good morning"s and "Goodnight"s. In what is some really mild flirting, whose mildness is due to the fact that a) Gorthan has been really busy, b) it's not that he doesn't know how to flirt (although that is partially the case), he's just been wondering if he should do it at all. Today's text is a bit different from the others.]

I am now on my way to base. Are you still there? I am looking forward to meeting you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hmmm? Epoch? What exactly do you imply with that?

[He raises an eyebrow at the sudden mood change, or as much/little as he sees occur. What just happened? Why did you cut off your own question?

Also, aawwww shucks- if he knew you thought Gorthan he'd be pleased. Ridiculously. Because his history is pretty damn interesting.]

No. No evolutions yet. Have been levelling more than looking into that, since evolved monsters do not learn moves, or some such nonsense.

The time period you are from. The rule of the Communist party...?

[Aaah, just tell him more. ;A; Tell him everything.]

A wise choice. Yes, some evolutions, most of them necessarily trainer-induced, do abort the move-learning progression, as odd as that is. hm... perhaps evolutionary events that are almost impossible in a natural environment force a genetic change so thorough that some pathways... ah, I am rambling, am I not.

!!?

[He gives a half grunt of surprise before letting a smile come to his lips, a proud-as-punch smile at that.]

Is nice to know that even those off of planet know of glorious Soviet Union.

[Any alien races out there probably do know of them, considering how much crap they sent into space. There's probably an alien museum of all the space dogs they left floating out there somewhere in the universe.]

But yes. I am of Soviet blood, and the year was 1941 when I was... 'Appropriated'.

Edited (Because what is HTML?) 2012-04-21 22:16 (UTC)

I have studied Earth's culture and history extensively. Of course, that necessarily includes your country.

[He... blinks a bit at that very last sentence. Now, he knows that Ivan's language is a bit odd sometimes... but somehow, that oddity there isn't like the others. At all.

... However, he'll play along with it, because doing so may confirm his suspicions. Sometime soon.]

You are referring to Operation Barbarossa, I presume?

[He nods, his smile falling into one obviously practised as he thinks on it. The expression's not entirely false, but it's not all that happy either.]

You are correct. Is sadly very much my time period. I am not entirely sure what year you are from, but from sounds of things, you have more information than I do on outcome of assault. I would prefer it if you do not go into details.

[Seriously, he's already been told that he dissolves- it's still fucking with him.]

All I say is that we should have listened to Sorge.

Edited 2012-04-22 02:46 (UTC)

Enough about that though- there was actually reason for calling you.

[Y'know, other than to try and rile you about your pursuing of dancing girls.

Also, let's move away from things he shouldn't be talking about, like home. It's not the best topic.]

You can make machines correct? Remember you talking about cameras shaped like monsters before.

[Severity returns to Gorthan's gaze.]

First, a premise. My specialty is genetic manipulation and, in general, everything concerning biology. But where I am from, the distinction between lifeforms and machines is a hazy one, and my most recent studies have led me to investigate that blurred line.

That said, I can very well engineer many kinds of machines on my own, but I must receive assistance for hardware work and assembling. If what you are looking for is someone who can work entirely on their own, I suggest you turn to Dr. Kato or Descole instead.

... I see.

[He can understand that- he's kind of into genetics himself, but more in a hobby way than an actual ALL OF THE FACTS manner.

Truth be told, he just likes ripping things apart, poking at it a bit, and calling it science. Aaaand sometimes trying to bring that back to life but that's another story.]

If things work the way I am wanting, I may be coming and speaking to you later if that is so.

[Gorthan, you're talking as if he knows these people. He probably knows fewer people in Team Rocket than he has fingers on one hand.]

I think I have been meeting Descole, but who is this Kato?

"Things". How peculiarly unspecific. Are you sure it would not be in your interest to share anything beforehand?

[He actually seems a little amused.

... Also, really? And Gorthan thought he had been keeping to himself too much.]

Kato is another raving fool, like myself. And like myself, he creates to destroy. Granted, he doesn't strike me as especially stable, as far as his mental health is concerned. But that is obviously to be expected.

Am sharing nothing beforehand because am not sure how things will work out. Am not wanting to jump ahead of myself.

[Ivan is a master of hermitism. It's one of his lesser known talents.]

Creates to destroy? If that is the case then I hope he does not do the jumping ahead of things for me.

[Because an exploding tracking device- while useful- is not what he wants right now.]

Obviously expected? You make it sounds as we are made up of lunatics.

[HE IS NOT A LUNATIC. At all. No issues here ~~other than with the truth apparently~~.]

Which is why I was suggesting that perhaps I am the one you should turn to.

Lunatics? Oh no, that is not what I was saying at all. We the Team definitely include a few members who barely show any signs of imbalance. You are an example; Archer is another.

But we the scientists... as I just said, we create to destroy. And that contradiction is so powerful that sometimes it is too much for even - or rather, especially - the brightest among us.