video;

[pullback]

[ The video clicks on to...a dark apartment room. Which is interesting because it's early afternoon, there is definitely something weird here. The only light coming in is coming from a window. Victor's sitting at a table as he nods at the camera (rejoice! He's entirely in frame this time). ]

My name is Doctor Victor Frankenstein. Though some of you know me as I work at the clinic, some of you I still do not know. Hopefully this introduction will change that.

[ Short and sweet and to the point, Victor's not very good with introductions. The name Victor Frankenstein is said with the assurance of someone who doesn't know about Boris Karloff and neck bolts. And then, there's a paaaaaause. Don't mind him, just filming in the dark...which he knows he has to address, urrrgh he doesn't want to though. ]

In my quest to understand the electric system of this world I...accidentally rendered the electric bulbs in my room unusable. [ he was poking at things and totally blew a fuse ] Does anyone have a spare I could use?

Comments

[synthedick]

[He eases into the seat, Victor's assumption getting a laugh out of him. He's used to being asked questions like this, and while it does wear on him, he's generally more apt to answer for someone who seems like they might be able to help out around town. They could use more doctors.]

Heh. I get called a lot of things, but I don't get called that very often. I'm what's called a synth in my world. The newer models have organic components, but I'm all mechanical, as you said.

[He holds up his right hand for inspection -- the skin is missing off it, leaving only the bare, metal skeleton beneath.]

[pullback]

In that case, I hope we have a mechanic on staff—I'd be useless if you were to break.

[ It's said in a wry tone as he watches Nick, looking at his skin. How interesting. What sort of world was he from that the options for a mechanical man were available? ]

How common are synths when and where you are from?

[synthedick]

I live with a lady who has some engineering knowledge, so I'm in good hands. They've got synths where she comes from, too, though a different kind.

[But a kind, nonetheless. Whatever helps her keep him in one piece.]

Where I'm from, they're not terribly common, and that's a good thing. The folks that make 'em usually sends them out to replace real people. They infiltrate communities with them, and no one even knows it. Not all of them are bad, but let's just say the personal questions I get here are a lot better than what I get back home.

[pullback]

How could someone like you infiltrate humanity? Did you used to have skin?

[ Rude? A bit. But dammit, he's curious! ]

[synthedick]

[Geez, Victor. That does get a flat look for only a second, but Nick is good-natured about it, a wry grin crossing him. He knows what he looks like.]

You're right I won't be infiltrating humanity anytime soon with this mug, but the newer synths look as human as you. Rey — my er, [surrogate family] roommate I mentioned — is more like one of those. You'd never know she's got metal under her skin. I'm probably the most obviously artificial person you'll find here.

[pullback]

You're right, [ Victor remarked, with a wry little smile on his face. ] When I stitched her up, I thought she was entirely human.

[ He's hoping that Nick knows about the 'Victor patched Rey up during Hope's Monsterpalooza 2k16' but if not? SURPRISE, BUDDY. ]

[synthedick]

[If the way his eyebrow goes up is any indication, it is a surprise to him. His grin remains, though.]

I'll let her know she passed for human once again. So far, she's got me beat ten to one.

[pullback]

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, she has skin.

[ there's a slight sarcastic & teasing tone in Victor's voice, even if it's not very apparent on his face. ]

[synthedick]

She does. Hair, too. And I'm betting the fact her eyes don't glow like mine might have something to do with it.

[But he digresses.]

So what are you a doctor of, exactly? If you don't mind me asking.

[He assumes, with the stitches he gave Rey and the fact he works at the clinic, that it might be something more useful -- medically, at least -- than the other doctors in town.]

[pullback]

Specifically, I am a surgeon: my focus is on human anatomy.

[ Surprise, it IS something more useful. ]

[synthedick]

[That gets a smile out of him.]

Glad to hear they finally have a surgeon down at the clinic. You'll find there are a lot of folks of the non-human variety around, but beggars can't be choosers.

[pullback]

In that case, I hope that I'll be able to pick up on the non-human eccentricities of biology rather quickly. [ they're all shit out of luck if he doesn't figure out how non-humans work as fast as possible. ]

[synthedick]

Fingers crossed. I know we've got a few people who heal with magic around here, but not everyone trusts that.

[Coming from a world without it himself, he can't say he blames them.]

[pullback]

I certainly don't.

[ coming from a world where magic was most often used against him, Victor doesn't blame them either. ]

[synthedick]

[Nick figures Victor is too much a man of science to trust the magic of other worlds. If only he knew.]

Well, nothing at the clinic will work on some of us, magic or otherwise. Still, it's good they have more hands to help out. We're all stuck in this place together. Might as well pool what skills we have available.