008. [Video/possible action for Goldenrod City, also one other thing]

[scientificflair]

[PRIVATE TEXT TO EMMY ALTAVA]

I have something I would like to ask you, and some further things to discuss. Some more pleasant than others. Do you have time?


[VIDEO]

[Well, if you're familiar with the stores around Goldenrod (or even if you're not, and just happened to wander in there one day by chance) then the chances are good that you're aware of a music shop nestled amongst the larger stores and malls. More specifically and to the point, you may be aware of the piano set up within the shop itself - both for the sake of lessons to those willing to pay, and to advertise others like it for purchase. Descole is in here for neither, though had he the space he wouldn't be terribly opposed to the latter; for the last couple of days, he's come in when business is slow and settled himself behind the keys, sometimes playing, sometimes just running his hands over them lightly. Today, however, he is clearly settling for none of that. The camera clicks on after seeming to have been set up directly alongside the keys, showing nothing but his hands and a bit of the long ruffled sleeves covering the backs of them; he begins playing after a bit, and...uh. It's a bit difficult to say what in the world set him off but he's having at fairly hard and holding absolutely nothing back, his hands fast and firm on the keys. It's not anything classical, or even anything terribly classy; it's somewhat more akin to...well. While it isn't anywhere near exact, it's closer to this than anything.

Yeah. Um. There's probably something to be said for the fact that Descole is baring his soul to the world and it sounds sorta like Skrillex, but we won't go there.

His hands linger on the keys for a moment after the sound dies; the camera angle doesn't adjust any, leaving his face well out of the shot, but after a moment Descole speaks, his tone clipped and more abrupt than usual.

He's clearly a bit stressed; he's doing a terrible job of concealing it.]

I'm looking for ways to further improve myself. Anything at all. Physically, intellectually, I don't particularly care. Tell me what you excel at; I want to hear what your talents are.

I don't care that time doesn't pass back home, not while we're here; there is still such a thing as having been here too long. If I can't return to my life's work...

[He pauses for a moment; without warning, he slams his hands down heavily on the keys, the sudden clash ringing out sharply. One can...pretty much hear the rather alarmed sound of the shopkeeper in the background, telling him to watch it.]

I've had enough. Give me something to pursue.

[And with that, end feed.]

Comments

[ video ]

[unended]

How long have you been here? [ Joonhee finds the sentiment pretty understandable. he's getting restless and he hasn't even been here long. ]

Back home I danced.

[ video ]

[scientificflair]

[...well. The shot remains the same, as he hasn't moved the camera any; his hands are still running across the keys, though the sound is gentler, the melody itself far different - he can still be heard over what he's playing, however.]

It's been over a year. Thirteen months last week, actually.

[His voice is still tight, but it sounds more controlled, at least.]

What sort of dancing are we talking? There are many disciplines and all.

[ video ]

[unended]

[ he doesn't answer for a moment, so that he can listen to the music. it's a nice break from the bgm even if it's not the kind of music he usually listens to back home. ]

That's a long time to be away but it seems like there are a good number of people who have been trapped that long... [ he can only hope he's luckier. ]

Hip hop, mainly. ...do you have hip hop where you come from?

[ video ]

[scientificflair]

[Honestly, just about anything is a nice break from the BGM, let's be real here - Descole's thankfully at a point where he doesn't notice it anymore, at least not nearly to the same extent. He keeps playing, if for no better reason than he likes having something to do with his hands; that first statement gets a bit of an odd noise out of him, though it's not exactly derisive - just a bit displeased.]

I've heard of several who have been here longer. One from my world was here for a few years, if I'm not mistaken.

[His hands nearly slip, one of his chords ending up a little botched as a result; he fixes it quickly enough.]

He's no longer here, from what I understand. Shame, really. I'd at least hoped I could beat him back.

[He's quiet for a moment longer after that; his hands don't slip again.]

I can't say I'm familiar with the term, no; while we're not too backwards, where I'm from, we are still a bit behind the times when it comes to this world.

[private video]

[grapecape]

[...you know, that's vaguely...]

Are you in Goldenrod?

[private video]

[scientificflair]

[At the very least he's calmed down when he responds; he still hasn't seen fit to angle the camera back up toward his face, but at least he's not sounding like he's out to murder the piano. He's playing nice with it, though the melody itself is incredibly melancholy.

He can still be heard, however.]

I am, yes.

[His words are still rather tightly controlled, but at least he seems to be relaxing a bit now that all that...whatnot above is out of his system.]

[private video]

[grapecape]

[There's a quiet little "Aha" from Ondorus' end. Someone is happy with themselves for having guessed the video background right.]

Would you like to meet? I think I know where you are, and I have some errands in the area I could get to today.

[private video]

[scientificflair]

[...Ondorus, you are adorable, all right.

However, he's quiet for a while after that question is out there; his hands are still occupied with the piano, softly, but it takes him a while to find a verbal response.]

I would like that, actually. Are you coming here, or would you prefer I meet you?

voice.

[flareblitz]

[ Originally lured by the music. And then hook, line, sinker by that one particular line about time. ]

Any proof of that? [ What is being specific. ]

voice.

[scientificflair]

[He's content to leave the video off for this one, should that be how he's going to be addressed; simpler that way besides. He's still playing when he responds, though he can still be heard over it; the fact that he's calmed down some in regards to what he's playing is definitely helping with that.]

That would depend on what you're asking about, really. I'm not sure I can prove any of your talents, for one thing.

[There's a bit of a laugh behind his words, but no genuine bite; he seems to have worked the worst of...whatever that fit was out of his system, though that doesn't mean he's not going to be more than a bit sarcastic toward you anyway.]

voice.

[flareblitz]

Not talking about me.

[ The sarcasm goes unaddressed due to a) again, music, and b) it's in his nature to ignore about 90% of -- well, everything. Almost everything. (Semantics.)

A beat. Two. He's taking his time listening to the playing a little more before finally bothering to clarify. ]

... Time not moving. How do you know?

voice.

[scientificflair]

[...don't worry, in Descole's experience 90% of everything is better left ignored. Sturgeon's Revelation and all that.

He continues to play for a few seconds before responding; at the very least, it seems to be relaxing him a bit more.]

There are a few that have gone and come back; I haven't spoken to anyone who's left this world personally - at least not to my knowledge - but I have spoken to those who have known others who left. All accounts from those who have come back have implied that when they return, it's as though no time had passed for them at all, no matter how long they were here before.

You won't remember anything from your time here; that's either good or bad, depending on how you spend your time here.

[text]

[snapandscoot]

[[Emmy is, admittedly, rather excited to get Descole's text; it's been quite a while since she's seen him. Not that she'd....you know, missed him or anything! Honestly.]]

I suppose I might be able to fit you into my busy schedule.

[[Hmm. Hopefully he wouldn't take that too seriously...it was so difficult to be teasing over text!]]

Where would you like to meet?

[text]

[scientificflair]

[...well, at least he has a general understanding that Emmy likes to tease people, should her mood be right; as he hasn't done anything like show up in front of her masquerading as a random blond person in a few months, he imagines that's what this is.

...hopefully that's what this is. Surely she wouldn't be putting the selection of location in his court if she was displeased-

ugh, look he's been overanalyzing everything lately because he is Descole and that is what he does leave him alone]

Assuming you're in Goldenrod again, there was a coffee shop on the northern side of town, if I remember correctly; we've met there before. Does that work for you?

[text]

[snapandscoot]

I'm familiar with it, yes. Race you there!

[Well, with any luck you were keen to get this thing started right away, Descole, because there is now textual silence on Emmy's end! Better hurry up!]

[text → action]

[scientificflair]

[you

what

he

did you just

well.

At least that seems to have gotten rid of whatever nerves were there before, in favor of sheer competitiveness and massive amounts of stupidity because oh like hell he's going to lose to you, Emmy, he doesn't think so. He'll be there in incredibly short order.

...this is boding really well for the entire meeting, isn't it, good lord.]

video

[3_butterflies]

Descole... are you all right...?

video

[scientificflair]

[...oh lord, Fluttershy, hello there. He seems...a bit calmer when he responds, and the piano-playing is at least somewhat less manic - he hasn't adjusted the camera angle any, it's still focused low on the keys of the piano, and he's focusing on a simplified version of this for the time being. He can still be heard over it, however.]

More or less; it's nothing to worry about, at any rate.

I take it you've been well?

video

[3_butterflies]

[Too late, she's worried.]

Um... I'm okay... But it's as if your music was talking to me... In your own language... saying how upset you were...

[video]

[darkenedgales]

[The performance will get Descole a round of applause from Crow, who, despite knowing shit about music, can appreciate how nice it sounded.]

Wow, that was pretty neat.

[He kind of hopes they can avoid bringing up the whole thing about being here too long; now, as for the "talents" stuff...]

... I'm a duelist.

[That works, right?]

[video]

[scientificflair]

[...honestly, he is perfectly content to ignore most of that screaming fit in favor of answers and compliments.]

Consider it appreciated. As for the dueling...it's not exactly a common pastime, but it's an interesting one - swords or pistols?

[descole honey you have no idea.]

[video]

[darkenedgales]

Wha-- No! Not that kinda dueling!

[Seriously, who do you take him for? Some blood-thirsty barbarian?!]

I duel with cards.

[Said as if it's the most natural thing in the world.]

[video]

[faketime]

[Hipster camera angles again, huh? Gee, Dimitri wonders who this could be.]

I'm surprised you lasted this long.

[... At least he sympathizes? Sort of? His expression seems to show a sign of it, at least. Especially since Descole brought up that he also has a life's work waiting for him back home.]

Since you are aware of my talents... I've considered pursuing those badges, myself.

[video]

[scientificflair]

[Being Laytonverse scientists is suffering - always being dragged away from our life's work at the worst possible moment and all.]

Have you? I have some of them myself; four of them, from the Kanto region. Perhaps I'll finish the circuit once I've returned.

For the time being, however, I suppose it's good to see you're still in one piece; been doing well?

[video]

[faketime]

[It really is.]

I figure they will at least provide a good enough reason to do some traveling. I'd like to see what else I can find outside of Goldenrod.

[Yep, leaving work for weeks to get some shiny badges is apparently acceptable in this world. He really can't even with this place sometimes.

To Descole's question about his well-being, he gives a short laugh.]

As well as I can be under these circumstances. I've been trying to keep myself busy, but I am growing tired of this city.