Wind-up Mammets

[emet_sulk]

Type: Video
Sender ID: emet-sulk (Emet-Selch)
To: Public
Subject: Wind-up Mammets
Warnings: None save for it being the spoopy time of year

[ Greetings, Escordvi. It's your resident recluse, sorcerer, and magitech tinkerer, Emet-Selch. He has two mechanical figures on display in front of him, about the size of one's open hand: a bluebird and a tortoise. The bluebird goes through the motions of pecking at the ground strutting a few steps whilst the tortoise ambles at a more sedate pace. ]

As All Hallow's Eve is approaching, so too does the end of the year. I've developed these mammets lately together with the clockmakers of the Forge. Should you wish to commission a gift, I suggest you do so sooner rather than later.

[ The bird and tortoise abruptly go scattering as a copper, clockwork T-rex jumps on to the table and begins playfully snapping at them. ]

Oh, for the love of--

Comments

[emet_sulk]

[ Emet-Selch grabs the T-rex and hauls it back from the camera. He keeps it tucked against his chest as he tries to right the two demonstration clockworks it tipped over but the T-rex wriggles like an excitable cat. ]

Mammets, the people of my world call them. But the behaviour of these ones will not be so erratic.

[reindered]

Mammets? They're so cool! Even dinosaur ones!

[Was he more scared or excited initially? Probably both.....]

[emet_sulk]

You call this one a 'dinosaur', do you?

[ He seems amused by the epithet. Well, since Chopper likes it so much, he'll put the T-rex down closer to the camera (still keeping a hold of it so it doesn't butt its head against his phone again). ]

I didn't make it. It hatched out of an egg I found many moons ago. Although I must confess it did serve as a useful template to make the others.

[reindered]

Yes! It's....Mm, a Tyrannosaurus? But ah, it hatched? From an egg? But it seems more like a machine or something?

[Like something Franky or Usopp might make? Some kind of engineering. Chopper hadn't anticipated it hatching, more that it was made? So he tilts his head, ears shifting as he gets a better look at it, curious and confused.]

[emet_sulk]

A clockwork machine, yes indeed.

[ Chopper can see a flash of the mechanism inside its mouth as it opens its jaws to snap at the camera. ]

I've yet to decide if it's alive or not. Who ever heard of such things being hatched?

[reindered]

I thought it would have been made by someone. Like shipwrights? People who make or fix things.

[Chopper isn't sure what to make of it if it hatched from an egg somehow. But he supposes he can't just always assume everything here would be like he was used to back home.]

[emet_sulk]

A clock or watchmaker is more likely, but yes, that was my thought as well.

[ He pulls the T-rex back again, giving the mechanical creature a wry smile. ]

It could have been a fun little contrivance on the maker's part. Possibly made to appeal to children. I left it under a heat source for a turn of the moon before it broke open, but I'm unsure whether that was ever necessary.

[reindered]

Clocks or watches? That would make sense, too.

[He nods, agreeing. There was something about these that probably would appeal to children more. That was probably part of why Chopper was so curious and fond of such things. Chopper was still rather young himself, after all.]

I guess that's true. Most eggs need to be kept warm and safe, protected.

[emet_sulk]

[ His expression turns thoughtful as he regards the dinosaur. ]

Mayhap I could do the same for these creatures. Place them in shells which hatch after a short time. 'Twould make for an amusing gimmick...

[reindered]

I think it'd be cute! Oh! Maybe if someone isn't too particular about which one they might like, it can be a surprise once it hatches?

[emet_sulk]

Hmm... Yes, that is a remarkable idea.

[ Just going to jot that down in his sketchbook-- There. ]

And I can use that for a gift I've been working on as well. Wonderful! Thank you.

[ Emet here often struggles with whimsy. ]

[reindered]

Really? Oh! Well, happy to help? I just figured if someone can't decide. Or if it's something like a gift, that might work.

[Chopper does share the braincell of his Straw Hat crew with Nami and Robin, really. He has good ideas sometimes....!]

[emet_sulk]

[ He thinks about that some more... Hmm... Actually-- ]

Mayhap I could create a selection of eggs for those who have no strong preference and wish to be surprised. A...blind purchase, if you will. Yes, I believe that could be commercialised very well indeed.

[ That smile he's wearing is just a little bit predatory now as he jots the idea down. ]

[reindered]

Yeah! That could be fun! The surprise of them opening it to see which one they get! That'd be great for presents! I'd probably want some to give to my friends, at least. So others probably would, too! You'd just have to figure out how much for them?

[Chopper is too excited to note the predatory nature of the smile; he's just glad if he might have helped out somehow. And if he can get some himself for his friends.]

[emet_sulk]

[ The T-rex struggles some more, having had enough of being held. He absently lets it drop to the floor so it can go back to prowling.

His smile returns to a more natural curve as he looks back to the camera. ]

You would like some for your friends, hmm? How many? I can give them either a ceramic facade or a metal one but the latter is more costly.

[reindered]

Hm. Ceramic should be fine? I think. Maybe one of each? Then I can see both!

[Not that he intends to say he values some friendships over others. He just wants to get his friends something fun and interesting. And he figures these could be a good idea for a gift. As a present.]

Uh, I would want one for all of my crew!

[emet_sulk]

[ He gestures to the bluebird and tortoise previously disturbed by his dinosaur companion. ]

The bluebird is ceramic whilst the tortoise is metal. Ceramic allows for some colour to be added but needs more care whilst metal makes it somewhat more sturdy. I've yet to find a suitable way to decorate it. Either way however, the internal mechanisms are delicate and you cannot simply throw them about.

How many are in your crew?

[reindered]

Hm. I guess as long as they're careful with the ceramic.

[Careful. Careful, and this crew doesn't really....work together. Well, except perhaps with Zelda. Still, he considers the question, counting off the crew members.]

There's Zelda, Darin, Link, Karlach, Garrus, and Riju. Besides me. So...ah, six. Six others!

[emet_sulk]

[ He jots down the number of people. Later, he will realise Riju came to ask him for a mammet herself. ]

Ah, you are part of Zelda's crew, hmm? Seven including yourself... I presume you would want these as gifts for the end of the year? Or is this a separate occasion?

[reindered]

Ah, yes! That's right. I'm their doctor! And....yeah! That's a good idea! That should give you time to make them, right?

[Chopper figures that should work out. There's no immediate rush, he thinks. So that should be fine.]

[emet_sulk]

[ No immediate rush, he says, but Emet-Selch is a fastidious man who refuses to make anything that isn't perfect or close to it. It's fine. He's mentally tallying up the time it will take and he's confident he has time. ]

Indeed, I believe this should be doable before the end of year celebrations. I'm familiar with half your crew but not the other half. Would you like the mammets to share a common theme or shall I use my own discretion?

[reindered]

A theme? That sounds cool! I'm not sure what the theme might be, though? Maybe something to do with medicine somehow? Since our crew is focused on helping people?

[He's not sure exactly. But the idea of a theme is kind of neat. And makes sense, since they are all a crew! Chopper may be forgetting that this is something any of them could see or overhear, but still. It's the thought that counts? Even if it might not necessarily be so secret?]

[emet_sulk]

[ His mouth twitches. ]

Alright. I shall take that into consideration. Ceramic, aye?

[ It would indeed be funny if Zelda or the others saw this exchange. But a commission is a commission! ]

I shall send you details of the bill later.

[reindered]

Right! Thank you! I'm sure they'll like them!

[At the least, Darin would certainly appreciate the craftsmanship. And Zelda and Karlach would probably be amused and find them kind of cute.]