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

[makoglow]

Nah, I knew better than that. It was a side project.

It just feels like you always have something new for people to try out.

[emet_sulk]

Yes, well, I've been feeling rather creative lately. I suppose not needing to plot the demise of so many worlds does free up one's mind.

[makoglow]

You probably shouldn't say things like that out loud, you know.

[emet_sulk]

I don't believe in obfuscating who I am or who I was. Regrettably, this is who I am: the sort of man who would damn entire worlds out of love for his people.

[ He says this calmly whilst righting the fallen mammets and keeping a hold of his excitable dinosaur clockwork. Having to come to terms with his own nature twice is both infuriating and unsettling. But THAT, Cloud doesn't need to know. ]

[makoglow]

That's... Not really what I meant by that.

[ More like... There really wasn't a reason to? There are a lot of people who have done some pretty terrible things. People are capable of doing terrible things for the right reasons.

Cloud can't say that he wouldn't do the same? Maybe. He doesn't know. ]

[emet_sulk]

Was it not?

[ He thinks for a moment, finger tapping against his chin. The T-rex manages to get free and plops back on to the table. It prowls about, nosing the fallen mammets. ]

Hmm... I'm well aware that airing my past deeds so freely will turn potential friendships aside, but we have been acquainted for some time now, yes? At least by your measure of it.

[makoglow]

I'm not really talking about me either. People might get the wrong idea if you just come out and say it like you did initially.

[ Whether people agree regarding the WHY doesn't matter. You'll always have people that have their own moral compass. Some will say the old man's reasons are valid and others will be like "I WOULD NEVER" but no one can argue the desire to save people or bring them back?

Or however that works. ]

[emet_sulk]

[ He scoffs and waves a hand. ]

I doubt anyone is paying attention to every stream of conversation I have, but I shall take your words into consideration.

[ It doesn't really matter to him, he thinks. There's no tangible proof of his past deeds, and the only one who could testify about them seems content to let bygones be bygones. If someone wants to spend all their emotional energy being upset at him about it then that is their choice. ]

More importantly, would you like a mammet of your own?

[makoglow]

Not everyone does, but some people do.

[ And some people may or may not care whether there's proof or not. Cloud probably should care more, given his own history, but here is not where they came from. He hasn't seen or heard of this guy causing problems so -

A mammet of his own? What? ]

Are they three-headed dog proof?

[emet_sulk]

If you mean to ask whether they are hardy enough to function as a chew toy, no. They most certainly are not.

[ ... ]

Where in Zodiark's name did you acquire a cerberus besides?

[makoglow]

I wouldn't be trying to make them into a chew toy. Fenrir is well behaved. Mostly. He was a gift but he's still young. You know?

[emet_sulk]

Hmm. Well, I can use metal rather than ceramic. Then it will at least be a little more resistant to bumps and scrapes. That will make it more expensive however.

[makoglow]

I do own a business. It's not like I'm hurting for money.

[emet_sulk]

[ He chuckles. ]

My boy, I know better than to assume the fiscal situation of others. But very well - was it a likeness of a three-headed dog you wished for?

[makoglow]

Three headed dog? No way. That would just encourage him.

Them?

I haven't figured that one out.

[emet_sulk]

If each head has its own brain, 'them' may be more appropriate.

What would you like then?

[makoglow]

Maybe a moogle?

[ Does this man even know what those are? ]

[emet_sulk]

[ A small laugh is startled out of him. ]

A moogle? Those furry little mischief-makers? Are you sure?

[makoglow]

They were causing problems here, huh?
I wonder if they're really like that on other worlds.

[emet_sulk]

[ He raises an eyebrow. ]

I'm more surprised to hear you don't consider them to be troublesome creatures in your world. So - do you want me to make them true to how I know them or to how you know them?

[makoglow]

For the most part they're just mascots and toys?
I don't think I've ever actually seen one except for this place.
If they're all that mischievous where you're from, I can do without that.

[emet_sulk]

Hah. Very well. I shall only have it dance. Alas, its metal skin shall not do its furry form justice.