Stopping By For A Nice Little Chat (IC, Closed)

[Dr Archeville]

"Quite a few, yes!," he exclaimed, then dashed out of the pool room back to his laboratory. "Of course, nothing beats a live showing," he called behind him, implying that Lynn should follow, "but there are a few good ones that have been recorded! Then there are the adaptations, live action and animated films; they even made one with that boy from the Home Alone series!"

I do not think William or Erik would be too keen on dancing ballet. Samael might, though!

Following the Doktor -- perhaps tentatively -- back to the laboratory proper, Lynn found him at the massive monitor-covered pillar that dominated the center of the massive room. Even from here she could see he was bringing up footage from assorted movies and tv specials, recordings of ballet dance productions, and the like.

"Come, come, I can show you several different productions! And if I beam them directly into your cortex," he said, with what even from here she could see was a mad grin, "they will go that much faster! It really does save time, it is how I watch most movies now. Very efficient!"

[Heritage]

Grim had followed Dok with some trepidation, as he seemed to be getting more, oh what was the word, manic. Her mom had some bipolar-like symptoms back in the day, and this sort of jagged excitement bore some very similar earmarks; maybe the German genius was overstimulated or something, and they should take a break?

"Come, come, I can show you several different productions! And if I beam them directly into your cortex," he said, with what even from here she could see was a mad grin, "they will go that much faster! It really does save time, it is how I watch most movies now. Very efficient!"

This last bit actually creeped her out big time.

"Uh, didn't you say you didn't like to mess with people's minds? The thought of little McCulkey Culkey being beamed straight into my brain sounds like something out of a Cronenberg movie."

She laughed nervously and held up her hands.

"I mean, not to knock this whole Nutcracker thing; it's sounds kinda fun, and the ballet part sounds interesting and challenging, but I can just, y'know, Netflix it or something instead of the whole...upload scenario."

[Dr Archeville]

"Oh, this is nothing like mental manipulation!," he said, waving dismissively. "It is just beaming images and sounds directly into the parts of the brain that store those short-term memories. I used it to watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy -- the super-long extended director's cut -- in six minutes!"

My Other used this to watch so much porn. Ugh!

"But if you are dead set on not going that route," he continued, at first a bit sad but quickly smiling again, "I do have many of them here in the system, and you can watch them on any of the monitors, either down here or upstairs in a more comfortable seat. Popcorn, too! Come, come," he waved her closer, "you can see the trailers for them here, decide which ones you want to see."

[Heritage]

"Oh, this is nothing like mental manipulation!," he said, waving dismissively. "It is just beaming images and sounds directly into the parts of the brain that store those short-term memories. I used it to watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy -- the super-long extended director's cut -- in six minutes!"

Grim laughed, a short little laugh of disbelief. "Nah, I'm good with the old-fashioned way, but thanks for the offer."

I guess mad scientists really aren't like other people.

"But if you are dead set on not going that route," he continued, at first a bit sad but quickly smiling again, "I do have many of them here in the system, and you can watch them on any of the monitors, either down here or upstairs in a more comfortable seat. Popcorn, too! Come, come," he waved her closer, "you can see the trailers for them here, decide which ones you want to see."

She set the simulcrum down on the ground so she could walk under her own power, but held her small wooden hand as she led her over to the viewing area; SimulGrim dutifully followed, looking up at the screens with wonder. "Sure, okay; digestive system or no, I still dig popcorn." With a flick of her fingers, a large overstuffed chair appeared, and the shapeshifter hunkered down in it; the child-like entity crawled into her lap, more and more curious. Grim looked down at her and smiled. "These are called 'trailers', kiddo, and most of the time they're better than the movies are." The doll nodded, still not quite getting it.

[Dr Archeville]

Minutes of trailers turned into hours of watching movies. Given his inhumanly fast mental processes, watching them in normal time would be frustrating at best, so he set up a separate monitor to watch them all at super-speed, then set about sketching costumes, plans for a stage and necessary machinery, and lists of people to bring in on both cast and crew. But even all of that he finished by the time Lynn and her manikin finished watching the first video.

This is going to be great! Okay, initial planning is done, cannot do more until I talk to some people...

"Excuse me a moment," he said as Lynn chose the next video, "I have a few phone calls to make in order to get this set up. Ah," he chuckled softly, "I would ask if I could get you anything while I am up, but you two look quite comfy."

By the time he was done with his phone calls (which all went fairly well) and returned to the laboratory, Lynn had seen her fill of videos, at least for the time being. "Well, what did you think?"

I hope she liked them!

[Heritage]

"Excuse me a moment," he said as Lynn chose the next video, "I have a few phone calls to make in order to get this set up. Ah," he chuckled softly, "I would ask if I could get you anything while I am up, but you two look quite comfy."

“Mmm.â€

Grim barely acknowledged Dok's departure; once she started watching movies, she tended to get very quiet and sucked into the story.

"Well, what did you think?"

The shapeshifter stretched and rubbed her eyes, unaware that the tiny doll was perfectly mirroring the gesture next to her.

"Well, I liked the cartoon one with Kiefer Sutherland the best, because you know me with the sophisticated tastes, but I actually did like one of the dance ones, the one by the, uh...Pacific Northwest Ballet? It was pretty cool, with all these costumes designed by the guy who wrote Where the Wild Things Are."

She shook her head at the memory of the performance.

"Those dancers are pretty amazing; I wonder if I could do that?"

Careful not to disturb little Grimanikin, Lynn oozed over the back of the chair in her primal glamour form, solidifying back into herself wearing tights and a tutu. Standing en pointe, she proceeded to effortlessly prance around the lab as the small entity she'd created earlier watched in wonder.

"I mean, nowadays I probably have the body control and poise and stuff to pull it off, but without the training, I guess I look kinda dumb, huh?"

With a sigh, she allowed her outfit to return to the collegiate sweats she's worn when she'd first arrived.

"Well, I think that enough of a workout for one day; I-" Her eyes fell upon the doll, sitting forlonely on the big chair, and she felt a twinge of guilt. "Uh, do you think she could hang out here for a while? Y'know, until I figure out what to do with her?"

[Dr Archeville]

Uhhh... sure!

For a split second, Archeville's jaw went slack, but he quickly recovered, "Of course, of course!" He flashed a smile and a thumbs up at the Grimanikin, "I can run a few non-invasive tests on it... oh! And see if it can learn!" A giggle escaped, but he soon composed himself. "Oh, and, uh, ahem, as for the dancing, I am sure there are several dance schools in the area you could go to for some pointers. And I am sure I have some in my vast collection of contacts and associates who would be willing to help us put on this show!"

The Doktor flipped through his mental rolodex, but paused when he realized Lynn was ready to go. He gestured towards an elevator, which took them directly up to the kitchen, "Ah, I can search for those later, I am sure there are plenty in the city who would help. Do send my regards to the others!"

Once she'd left he grinned to himself, "I really do need to arrange some one-on-one time with the others. Fencing practice with Erik? Shooting practice with Billy?" As he mused, he whistled a little bit of Beethoven.

---

Later that night, as Lynn slept, so did the Grimanikin. It did not hear as Archeville approached on bare, webbed feet, and only gently stirred when he lifted it up from the laboratory floor with webbed, taloned hands.

Fair or foul? Foul, I say!

"Hello, little one," he gurgled, "let's see how you react to iron's kiss, hrm?"

Tiny wooden screams echoed under the house of Archeville, interrupted by deep, inhuman laughter.

~fin~