artfuldestruction | 1ST PIECE - [VIDEO/ACTION FOR THE TEAM ROCKET BASE]

[[The feed opens to show a masked gentleman leaning into the camera, smiling slightly. He appears to be in a laboratory of sorts, with all sorts of mechanical implements around him. In front of him, on a metal operating table, is an unconscious Voltorb.

Running his gloved fingers across the Pokemon, the man begins to speak.]]

Despite how primitive your technology is, I must admit I'm fascinated by this robot. The construction is exquisite; I can't find any sort of screw or seam. It's a perfect sphere.

[[Leaving the pokemon for a moment, the man moves along the table and picks up a small, pen-sized device with a rotating saw at the end, attached to a cable.]]

Of course, while the design is innovative, it also presents me with a few problems. Much as I'd love to learn about your technology in theory, I much prefer to investigate myself.

[[His voice continues in that calm, almost polite manner, but there's a sharp arrogance behind the sentiment.]]

Allow me to introduce you all to the more subtle incarnations of my art. With creation, there must be destruction. It's the law of the universe. To destroy something...is that not the purest form of art?

With the spare parts I gather from this robot, I'll be sure to show you all the more...explosive side of my craft.

[[With the press of a button, the saw activates with a high-pitched whine, and the man brings it over the Voltorb, that smug smile continuing to linger on his face as he lowers it. Is he going to slice the crap out of that Voltorb?

...yes, he is going to slice the crap out of that Voltorb. Feel free to be infuriated and yell at him! It's not like he's purposefully being an attention whore or anything.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[[And you'll actually get him to switch off the saw! It makes conversation a bit tricky you see. Kato reacts fairly well for someone who's just been interrupted, however.]]

What gave it away, may I ask? I was trying so hard to fly under the radar.

[[....ok what is it with all the dudes wearing masks in this place]]

[um excuse you he was here well before either you or the other one]

It may have been the fact that you're trying to slice into the sentient explosives for the sake of...making explosives. It just screams "I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm going to be edgy while I do it."

[[lmao sorry to snatch your wig gurlfrand!!!]]

Well, I hope you find me suitably hardcore.

[[He'll just be adjusting that saw a bit, now.]]

[Yeah, unfortunately he actually has business in this lab, otherwise he'd just leave you to it and let you get yelled at; however, he's fond of this lab and he doesn't want to be held responsible for you being an idiot. And you are being an idiot.]

...you are aware that thing's organic, right?

What, the robot?

[[Let him just look at the robot. Then back to you. Then back to the robot. Insert an Old Spice joke where appropriate.]]

If you're one of those defenders of robot rights, I'd appreciate it if you'd spare me the lecture. I'm not interested.

[[Testing that saw, now!]]

If it is a 'sentient explosive', as you say, I'm quite sure I'll be able to make some fantastic improvements. After all, robots are merely machines that can be reconfigured. Broken down, and born again. Destruction followed by creation...to then be followed by destruction once more. Isn't the law of the universe a beautiful thing?

[...that's nice, Kato, really. Do you want a quarter, you can call someone who cares.]

And were the damned thing a robot, I'd be perfectly willing to agree with you.

[[...you are being really adamant about this, and not in the usual 'ROBOTS ARE OUR KAWAII FRIENDS' way.]]

Are you honestly trying to tell me this is an organic lifeform? It's made of metal.

Yes, yes, I know. I've worked with robotic creations for quite some time myself; believe me, I don't care to disgrace my field, and organic creatures made of metal aren't the only strange things here, as much as I wish they were on some days.

Welcome to Johto. We also have lions that spit electricity at you.

....

[[You'll get a look of interest when you mention robotics, at least! Perhaps you and him have more in common than just similar tastes in headgear.]]

How curious. You mentioned that this....creature is capable of exploding? Will that kill it, or does it not affect it?

[...oh god, does he want this thing to actually be interested in anything he says

does he really]

From what I understand, some of these things can explode on their own, just because you tell them to do it in battle. And if that's the case, it should just make them faint as opposed to destroying it completely. I don't own any with that particular talent, but the thing you're attempting to cut open is known for that sort of thing.

[BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE IN A LAND FULL OF MURDERBEASTS WILLING TO DO OUR BIDDING, CLEARLY WHAT WE DO IS RESEARCH THE SHIT OUT OF THEM YET REFUSE TO GO OUTSIDE AND CATCH MANY OF THEM descole what the hell is wrong with you]

[[....

WELL DONE DESCOLE, HE'S INTERESTED]]

Is that so.

[[Let him just. put the drill down. we are putting the drill down

definitely not grinning in a slightly maniacal way]]

Perhaps I'll have to investigate that sometime. My name is Dr Kato, by the way, but feel free to drop the title.

[[That means he likes you

well done descole tbh]]

I take it you also frequently use this laboratory?

[dear lord what has he just managed to do]

I do; as you've seen fit to introduce yourself, I suppose I should do likewise - my name is Jean Descole, and while it isn't specifically what I specialize in, this...fine organization of ours has seen fit to assign me to work on weapons development. So if you intend to spend time in this laboratory, we're likely going to be seeing quite a bit of each other.

[[art, descole

better get used to it]]

When I mentioned my specialty, I was also told to report to this lab. The technology is practically prehistoric compared to what I have back home, but I can make it work. True artists can create masterpieces out of nothing, after all.

You mentioned robotics; are you an engineer?

Something along those lines, yes.

[I AM DESCOLE AND MY ACTUAL PROFESSION IS VERY VAGUE, JUST TRUST ME I LIKE SCIENCE ~~thank you so goddamn much Level 5~~]

Although from the sound of it, whatever robotics you have where you're from are...quite the pieces of work. Did you say something about rights earlier, or am I wrong?

The robots where I come from are advanced to the point where you would not be able to tell them apart from regular humans. They have independent thought and function; I even know one with a heart. They are teachers, lawyers, scientists...so yes, they do have rights, and it's a bit of a hot topic. I find it all quite tedious.

[[Too much politics, not enough Things Blowing Up tbh]]

Needless to say, this...Team Rocket organization...it's forcing me to go back to basics a fair bit. I'm quite capable of producing weaponry, just nowhere near as fast as I would like to without the advanced tools I'm accustomed to using. However, I'm a scientist; perhaps I should treat all this as one big experiment.

[...well! That's simultaneously really interesting and something Descole never wants to think about ever again; let's move on, shall we?]

I'd say that's the best way to look at it for now; at least until you're acquainted with the place.

...I do hope you actually plan to research before slicing things open in future, however.

[[That will make him laugh softly.]]

I can't make that sort of promise when it comes to robots, but I suppose I'll hold off performing any surgery that isn't isolated to machines.

I'm not that kind of doctor, anyway.

1ST PIECE - [VIDEO/ACTION FOR THE TEAM ROCKET BASE]

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