1.H | VIDEO | Locked from Peter Parker/Spider-Man

[doctopussy]

[ The man on screen is wearing a bright white suit and white tie over a black shirt. He's framed the camera angle so his great big metal arms aren't visible, however. He's wearing sunglasses even though it's evening by now. His haircut is questionable. ]

As is often the case, when one wants to live a quiet life it's often interrupted. Since my arrival a few months ago, I've been occupied with the search for scientific progress. But it has become increasingly clear to me that I need to expand not only my scientific boundaries but my personal and political ones. Like it or not, we imPorts have found ourselves thrust into a world where our very existence has become politicized.

But as atoms bond to create something new, so too must we bond together to become stronger. To that end I feel the need to introduce myself.

[ He doesn't, and won't, outright say that this post is a response to Spider-Man making a list of his past and future crimes, but it is. He wasn't going to attempt to clear his name except a certain upcoming election has made him deem it prudent. ]

I am Dr. Otto Octavius.

I believe some of you may know me by a different name -- I understand the amount of alternate universes and timelines can become confusing for even those well-versed in such things.

[ He sighs, the picture of a man tired of having himself confused by an alternate version of himself. ]

Regardless, I am formally offering my scientific expertise if needed. I hope you all deign to give me a chance.

Comments

[airshow]

Nice nerd speech! What're your scientific specialties, Doc? You look like a guy with his fingers in a lot of pies. So to speak.

[doctopussy]

You would be correct in that assumption. I specialize in radiation, physics, biochemistry, robotics, to name a few. But if you consider this a "nerd speech", why do you have an interest in my qualifications?

[airshow]

[ James gives a low, impressed whistle. ]

To name a few, huh? Talk about a jack of all trades! And hey, I didn't say nerd speech like it was a bad thing.

[doctopussy]

Forgive me. Generally when... somebody [ he belatedly remembers not to imply potential voters are idiots ] calls someone a nerd they then proceed with an attempt to beat the intelligence out of them.

[ Otto is an old-school nerd. ]

[airshow]

Don't underestimate me, doc! I'm something of a nerd myself. Engineering, mostly, and some minor demonology.

[doctopussy]

I'm sure you find quite a bit of use out of "minor demonology".

[ Otto is from a world where magic is real and exists but that doesn't mean he has to like it, but mostly he's skeptical because he is 100% underestimating Trickster; his first impression so far is not very good. ]

[airshow]

Hey, you'd be surprised how often it comes up in everyday life! In, y'know, certain lines of work.

[doctopussy]

And what lines of work would those be?

[airshow]

The lines of work where you end up in hell, mostly.

[doctopussy]

[ "I don't know what I expected" gif.

He's very skeptical though. ]

Would you be speaking of literal hell?

[airshow]

Yeah, totally! Fire and brimstone, not cubicle work.

[doctopussy]

[ He raises his eyebrows. ] I wonder which one is worse.

[airshow]

Ha! Well, having done both, I'd probably take the figurative office sort of hell, but there are downsides to both. I take it you're a skeptic?

[doctopussy]

I'm skeptical but not so narrow-minded to completely dismiss the possibility. I am a scientist. I prefer to base my beliefs on evidence and what can be tested, and the supernatural rarely likes to play by rational rules.

[airshow]

In my admittedly somewhat limited experience, they do tend to have rules — just not the kind of rules you might be used to.

[doctopussy]

I'll concede to your point in the event I find myself face-to-face with a scenario to be proven wrong, but I have to admit I'm not eagerly anticipating such a situation.