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

video

[skelebro]

[There's a skeleton on your network feed, Victor. Hope you don't mind.

He's winking, which is a decidedly impossible thing a skeleton should be doing, considering the fact that his face is made up of solid bone.]

That sounds like a real shocking development.

permavoice;

[pullback]

[ because it's hard to see the keys + no point in using video when it's dark, after all. There's a loooooooooong pause because what the hell. ]

I beg your pardon?

permavideo

[skelebro]

[Aw, geez, really? What is with this place and people who don't get his cunningly well-thought-out jokes?]

I hate to make light of the situation, but it sounds like you really got left in the dark.

[voice]

[synthedick]

[Nick would comment on the name, but he's hoping this man's parents just had a sick sense of humor.]

Did the bulb break, or did you blow a fuse?

[pullback]

Ah. Puns. [ said in the same tone that most would say "a gaping wound" ]

I don't mean to be pry, but are you really a skeleton?

[voice]

[pullback]

I believe I blew a fuse. I have very few electronic devices but none of them seem to work.

[skelebro]

[There you go!

Sans's grin broadens. This is always his favorite part. He raps his knuckles against his skull with a hollow donk and appears to contemplate the noise at length.]

Seems like.

[voice]

[synthedick]

Sounds like it could be a fuse. I'm no expert in this, but I could come take a look if you like, see if you got your wires crossed somewhere. I know a thing or two about machines.

[And he could use an excuse to get out of the neighborhood every now and then. He's starting to miss his patrols.]

[valiantabsurdity]

From Lir to the esteemed physician,

Beyond all else, please have my thanks for your most honourable service. Though I have yet to sit under your surgery knife, I am certain it is very sharp, and that you wield it masterfully. Also, as countless physicians have told me before, that it will 'not hurt at all'.

As for your request, please have my most humble apologies, as I have yet to see a proper flower shade our barren land, let alone one that's yielding fresh bulbs. I shall, however, keep my eye watchful for such a thing. If you know the path on which your bulbs might be found, only set me upon it, and I shall accept your quest.

We must all do our best to aid you, as you do your best to help those of us in our need.

With gratitude,

Lir

[pullback]

Huh.

[ THERE IS YET AGAIN A LONG PAUSE before Victor asks ]

Forgive my questions, but how can you talk?

[voice]

[pullback]

Any sort of help would be greatly appreciated.

[ that's right Victor, eat that pride, ask for help. ] I live in the third spiral, room seven-oh-one.

[pullback]

[ OH THANK GOD he can default to polite...though still using voice because again, Victor has trouble seeing the keys right now, what with his blown fuse. ]

My dear Lir,

Rest assured, should you need to come under my knife I will treat you with the utmost skill and the utmost speed. And yes, due to the wonders of modern medicine, your countless physicians are right: it shall not hurt in the slightest.

[ aaaand a pause. ] As for the question of bulbs, I was speaking of light bulbs, not flower bulbs. Tell me, how much do you know of electricity? I would be willing to educate you on the subject if your knowledge is slight—I hardly think myself an expert, more of a hobbyist.

Yours, Doctor Victor Frankenstein.

[skelebro]

[It's a fair question. Sans shrugs his shoulders.]

Well, typically, I form words with my mouth, and when you put enough words together, it makes a sentence. See?

[He points at his grin, that...doesn't seem to move a whole lot while he's talking, somehow. It definitely gives the impression of it and it's certainly his voice, but his smile remains somewhat...fixed.]

[voice] → [action]

[synthedick]

[Great. The seventh floor, which means stairs. He can practically hear the sigh from Rey regarding his judgment already.

But she also knows good and well he helps people. That's just what he does.]

I'll be right over.

[And by "right," it'll take him a bit, as he swings by the dam for a few things first, and his pace isn't exactly at its best these days. That bent shaft in his leg is still giving him a lot of problems. He does make it to Victor's home eventually though, and knocks on the door, mentally preparing himself for any of the usual questions.]

[NOT HERE]

[circumitus]

[But man is she SIGHING.]

[valiantabsurdity]

From Lir to the physician Frankenstein,

I am at ease to know my next bruising and skinning and goring will go, as you say, without hurt. It is only too kind of you to take my care under your watch. You should know that I come very attentively treated by a veteran scullery maid and by a remarkable spell of forest witchcraft.

I fear I know little of your electricity, though I am not awed to find you so learned. I am told physicians often come with many years of study. Do you perhaps enjoy their company?

Thoughtfully,

Lir

[equally not here]

[synthedick]

[Insert the distinct feeling of dread that comes with "I'm in for a talking to when I get home" here.]

[pullback]

You have no larynx.

[ that is the least of what's wrong with this scenario but dammit, Victor Frankenstein can only take so much nonsense at a time. ]

[action]

[pullback]

[ Victor....still hasn't fixed the broken fuse yet, though he has attempted to figure out if there's a frayed wire or anything. So his room's a mess. The curtains are thankfully tied back and Victor's found a candle or two so there's at least a little bit of light.

When he hears the door knock he opens it and...pauses for a moment. Well. That's odd. But he still isn't over the talking skeleton (there is a talking skeleton) so the fact that Hancock might actually have things like "actual muscles" and "a legitimate voice box" automatically makes him less of an anomaly. ]

Well, at least you look like you have muscles, [ Victor remarks, in a tone that's pure 'this day has been bonkers.' ] Do come in. I would offer you tea but alas, I haven't found a kettle yet.

[skelebro]

Hey, I'll have you know I'd larynx you plenty of questions.

[Yes, he's deliberately obfuscating. It's kind of his thing.]

Like, who turned out the lights? Or - how many skeletons does it take to change a lightbulb? Don't answer that, by the way.

[The answer is two. One to do the changing of the lightbulb, and the other to act as moral support. That's why nothing around House 1 gets done.]

[synthedick]

I don't really drink the stuff myself, but I appreciate the thought.

[Nick steps inside, his yellow eyes bright against the darkness of Victor's apartment.]

Most of the lights around here seem to run with no real wires or power sources, but others are hooked up about like you might expect them to be. The 'gods' are still ironing out the wrinkles when it comes to what we're used to.

[In good news, Nick took the time a while back (when his leg was still in decent condition) to familiarize himself with the layouts of the various apartments. Hope didn't get too creative when fixing them up; they're all about the same, which means if there is a power box, it's in the laundry room.]

There should be a box on the wall in the room with the utilities.

[pullback]

I would assume it just takes one skeleton to change a lightbulb.

[ just roll with it Victor, roll with the bonkers, you can do this. ]

[pullback]

[ Victor regards Nick carefully, scrutinizing him. Those yellow eyes are all the more apparent now. He doesn't know what Nick is but really, Victor wants to find out. After he fixes the fuse, however. He's not going to be a dick to someone helping him.

At Nick's statement, Victor nods. ] I've rarely used said utilities but I believe that you're right. Follow me.

[ And, taking one of the candles, Victor starts to walk towards the laundry room, assuming Nick will follow. ]

[synthedick]

[Nick does indeed follow him, aware of the look he's getting. He's not equipped with any kind of night-vision, so the candlelight is appreciated.]

I take it you haven't been here too long.

[Or come from a place where electrical appliances are common. Or maybe both.]

[pullback]

My dear Lir,

Truthfully, my use of electricity was best employed through the process of galvanism, using electrical currents to stimulate muscles. [ to...uh, bring them back to life. TIME TO LIE ] It helped in my work of studying the human muscle.

Yours, Doctor Victor Frankenstein.