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

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...you live in a cottage, in a place called Ponyville.

...

of course you do good lord this is so quaint

He takes a moment to think that over, however; he hesitates for a moment before shifting the topic a bit.]

What is it that you...do, back home? Do you have some sort of job, or goal that you're striving towards? Again, you mentioned the animals; is it mostly that, or...?

That's right, I take care of animals. I guess you could say I'm like a veterinarian, but I don't get paid to do it. Sometimes I travel to find animals who need my help.

Just helping them is good enough for you, then.

[He doesn't sound like he's passing judgement, actually, just verifying.]

That's right. It was my calling.

And how did you know what that calling was, exactly? Just something you discovered one day?

Ponies in my world have a special sign... a mark that lets us know what our destiny is. Once we found what we want to do in life, and what we're good at, the mark appears on us to confirm it.

[He smirks a bit at that; it's not visible on the video feed, but it's obvious in his tone.]

I think most humans would like something like that; it would certainly make things easier, at any rate.

It's called a Cutie Mark. I'd show you, but whenever I do that, people get very strange about it.

"Strange"...? Might I ask how so?

They yell and blush and tell me to cover it up.

[...ah...]

I...see. Incidentally, where would this "cutie mark" of yours happen to be located?

On my flank.

[She points to her butt.]

[...well, he's both somewhat surprised and...completely...not surprised, um...]

Well, that's...

[...actually making him kind of flustered for some reason, um]

...I can certainly imagine why they're a bit strange about it, yes...

[orz orz orz]

It took me a while to realize how important bodily privacy is to humans. In Equestria, clothes aren't something we wear all the time.

...but you wear them some of the time?

[...aren't you ponies, though?]

For fashion and comfort, mostly... like if it gets very cold, or you want to go to a fancy party.

Where do you get the clothes? If you don't mind my asking, that is.

We buy them. My friend Rarity owns a boutique, where she makes the most wonderful dresses.

And I'm assuming Rarity is...also a pony.

[Please tell him Rarity is not, in fact, a pony. You are going to make his head explode if that's the case.]

She's a Unicorn Pony. She makes the clothes with her magic.

[does that help?]

...it does, actually, simply because I was wondering exactly how you get around the whole lack-of-thumbs issue.