captainash | 33rd treasure [video]

[The video starts with a shiny Frogadier that looks much too satisfied for its own good. But that doesn't last very long, as the frog soon grabs the Pokégear and starts hopping through the room, through an appartment, until it finally reaches a room where a man sits at a desk, working. Once in a while, he looks up at the figurine on the shelf before him for a few moments before his hands start moving again. Apparently that's not interesting enough for an apprentice filmmaker, because it jumps up next to the figurine in a single bound.

From its new perch, our amateur camerafrog starts filming its trainer's work directly. The lines of the various models are precise and technical, the notes that surround them completely illegible, and Ash's hands are-

Throwing an eraser at the Pokégear. It misses.]

...You know, acts of corporate espionage are punishable by withheld desserts and bathroom-cleaning duties in this household.

[The threat must be serious; the Frogadier gasps, and quickly ends the feed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A bit of both, I guess...he is actually getting pretty good at writing them down correctly, but he isn't writing letters.

[Kaneki shifts, resting his chin in the palm of his hand.]

Are you familiar with kanji?

Kanji? ...Those were used in Eastern Asia, right? English has been the official language of the Earth Sphere for centuries, so I don't remember where exactly...

[He frowns, deep in thought. He learned that in high school, probably, but it's been so long...]

[Kaneki nods, looking over for a moment as Hide continues to scribble furiously on his paper. It would probably be easier for him to draw if he were using a pencil instead of his tail, but he seems adamant to get it right this way.]

I have been teaching him how to write a few kanji. Just one or two at the time, while telling him what each one stands for. If nothing else, he does enjoy actually writing them, even if he doesn't quite understand what they mean yet.

He'll surely understand all of their meanings over time; I've never met a Smeargle that was smart, after all.

[Even if he's only met a handful or so.]

Besides that gives him an excuse to trace them over and over again, right?

That's right.

[Kaneki enjoys getting to write with him, anyway. It helps to remind him of, well. The good things he wants to remember from home.

Hide turns around then, lifting up his paper proudly for Ash to see. The copy is a lot neater than the one he attempted while sitting on the bed, but it isn't as precise as Ash's drawing either. Not by a long shot.]

[Not by a long shot, maybe, but an improvement is an improvement, and Ash has long had opinions on how improvements should be dealt with. He smiles brightly at Hide.]

Hey, not bad at all. You're improving quickly; soon, I'll have to ask you to take care of the drawings for my new designs, instead of doing it myself.

[The moment he says that, Hide's face lights up and his tail begins to wag so furiously that Kaneki has to reach out and grab it by the tip before it can slap the wall and smear it with paint. He doesn't need anything extra to have to pay for, like room damages...]

I'm sure he wouldn't mind that, if you'd let him.

[He probably shouldn't laugh at what could almost have been a tragic paint accident, but he can't help himself. That sort of enthusiasm is nice to see.]

I'm glad to hear it. I mean, I enjoy drawing designs well enough, but that was never my favorite part.

Do you plan on doing anything with those? Like...making something out of them? Or were you just practicing?

[Kaneki asks as Hide returns to his drawing, tugging his tail free so he can touch it up a bit.]

Around here, practicing is all I can do. That, and figure out which ideas are particularly stupid or brilliant, but that's harder to figure out with just a drawing and my imagination.

[There's something like disappointment in his voice, faint yet strong.]

I see...so I guess you made them back home, then?

I haven't truly made one myself in years, but that doesn't mean I don't still enjoy playing with them a little. Or a lot.

There isn't anything wrong with that. It's good to have a hobby you enjoy.

It's not quite just a hobby, actually. But I've been doing it for decades, so you could call it a long-term passion of mine.

Oh, well, that's even better. I think it's good that you've kept up with it, even here.

I've kept up with it as much as I can, at least. I currently lack the resources to fully enjoy my creations, along with the team to make everything work, and this world ins't very rich in either of those.

I understand. Those designs are pretty impressive though, either way.

[Hide looks up from his drawing long enough to nod in agreement.]

Thanks. The one on the left wasn't actually my creation, but it's served as the base for pretty much every model I've dealt with for the last twenty years.

[He doesn't bother hiding the fondness in his voice.]

It looks nice. I don't know...much about that sort of thing, myself, but it does look sturdy.

That it is. As sturdy as they can get. Proper engineering and and high-quality materials go a long way. Not being a mass-produced model is also a bonus.