for tesla

[duerespectguv]

"James and I were mates, actually," Declan says, a wistful smile crossing his face. "We talked about damned near everything. And yes, I did have something I wanted to ask you but it can be tabled until we have a drink. C'mon. We'll talk about James and get sodding drunk?"

[From Here]

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[thedevamper]

Nikola would have to be sodding drunk to talk about James. Despite appearances James was and always would be one of Nikola's few regrets and one of the few people he did in fact care genuinely for.

"I'm sure you didn't talk about everything, James always did have his secrets. But lead on Declan, I'll never turn down a free drink." Nikola said. It wasn't like he really had anything better to do on this island of mediocrity. "What sort of things did you two talk about?"

[duerespectguv]

"Bit of everything. He used to tell me what you got up to back at Oxford," Declan starts, watching Tesla's face for any signs of recognition. He knows they have long memories, the Five, but he imagines Tesla tells revisionist history.

"Most seems to involve everyone chasing Magnus's skirts, though. Is that about the way of it?"

[thedevamper]

"I doubt that he told you everything of what we got up to in our glorious Oxford days. Especially as everyone is so keen to downplay my involvement," Nikola replied snorting. There were some things he doubted James had told Declan. Some rather personal things. "Everyone but Nigel. He always had a thing for the French. Don't think he would have known what to do with Helen if she fell into his lap naked. Although with Nigel that was usually the other way round."

[duerespectguv]

"Bit of a hazard when you're invisible," Declan says, feeling a swift, sudden sting as he remembers Clara. He was never so close to her as Will, no, but he misses her too. She'd been bright and good company.

"Well, since they downplay your involvement so much, go on, tell me. Tell me a story about the Five without Magnus and Druitt's drama mucking it up."

[thedevamper]

"He always made use of his little gift," Nikola replied with a sneer. Nikola was much more in love with his own gifts than the others in the Five except perhaps Helen's. "Ha, their drama always mucked it up. You probably heard about the little spy that Hitler sent to keep an eye on me during the war. That was quite fun. None of the others had spies assigned to them just me."

[duerespectguv]

"You had your own spy?" Declan asks, incredulous. "How'd you rank that? The death ray, I presume?"

Tesla's famous for his brains, though, so maybe it makes sense that he'd have his own spy when the others actually played spies.

[thedevamper]

"One of the most outspoken and genius minds of the scientific community working for the allies? Spy? I had spies plural. The Axis alliance would have liked me to work for them but I'm sure Helen and James would have pouted terribly. And besides which I liked America far too much," Nikola said though the truth was far more complicated than that. Nikola had his own reasons for working for the sides he chose to and they weren't always related to Helen.

"And of course the death ray, my finest invention. It would have caused world peace or total devestation either way."

[duerespectguv]

"You liked America, really? That's shocking," Declan says, unashamed to admit he's actually interested in what Tesla has to say. It's a different slant to the history he knows from Magnus and James and he likes knowing these things, hearing new perspectives.

"Why's that?"

[thedevamper]

"Just because I disliked Edison, didn't mean I hated America. America was far more welcoming than England was, England despite its charms-" Nikola said thinking of James, of Helen. "-wasn't that welcoming. Besides America gave me citizenship."

Nikola needed a stiff drink if they were going to be probing any deeper. "Why did I like America or why did I make the death ray?"

[duerespectguv]

"Both, either. I've got time," Declan admits and while he needs to ask him a favor, yeah, it's actually been kind of fun to talk to him. He's not really someone he thinks of as a friend, Tesla, but he could be someday. It's just a great shift in worldview.

"Besides, you're bloody fascinating. I'd make time."

[thedevamper]

"World peace. If everyone had the ability to destroy each other then everyone would have to learn how to get along." Nikola replied in answer to the question on his death ray. It was a little more complicated than that but Nikola wasn't about to say his reasons to one of Helen's little scooby squad. She tended to get annoyed at him. "And America... was pioneering at the fore front of science not like Europe still stuck with its conventions and inability to see what the future could be."

[duerespectguv]

"Makes sense, then. England's a bit stuffy anyway," Declan says idly. "I love her, don't get me wrong, but I needed to go to France and Japan first in order to remember why I loved England in the first place. I guess it's different as a foreigner though, isn't it? Living and working in the most repressed country in the world?"

Hardly, but he likes to throw Tesla a bone when he can and, in the era he lived in England, it was repressed. That's changed, now.

[thedevamper]

"It's a bit stuffy now, back then well let's just say Nigel was as English as you could get and even he had problems in society. I suppose that's why he turned to a life of crime," Nikola said. Nigel had been his friend, more so than John and Nikola had far more fond memories of arguing and bickering with Nigel than he did of spending time with John. Nigel was long gone though, James too. Soon it would just be he and Helen, well it would be if Nikola has his way and certain parties met with an unfortunate end. "But we were modernising science, a few looks were to be expected I could live with the repression and the constant... desire for me to marry into civilised society but America, that was were the true progress was occuring. Lax laws always a benefit to those who can exploit them. Now, France that was a good country all that wine just waiting to be pillaged."

[duerespectguv]

"Never picked a country before based on which laws I could exploit," Declan points out. He guesses that means he's not as cunning as Tesla but if being seen as a cunning genius means...that, well. He'll take a pass.

"Difference between you and me. I've always been a military man."

[thedevamper]

"Yes, so I've heard and what was it that James had you doing in your capacity as military man." Nikola asked, keen to divert the topic off him unless he reveals too much. Alcohol and Nikola apparently made for some very revealing conversations.

[duerespectguv]

"What Will does, more or less, with less headshrinking and more artillery," Declan says, leaning back and giving Tesla a quizzical look. "But that's a rapid change in subject and I know there's nothing you love more than talking about yourself."

[thedevamper]

"There's talking about yourself and talking about yourself. You are smart enough to know the difference," Nikola replied. Nikola talked about himself, the pros and outrageous ideals but he never let anyone scratch further beneath that. Not even Helen sometimes.

[duerespectguv]

"Come on, Tesla, we're mates. You can talk to me."

It's a bit of a stretch, maybe, but being Tesla's friend isn't such a bad thing. He isn't so bad one on one and tonight, Declan can see why Magnus keeps him around. All in all, not that bad a sort.

"Tell me what you're working on, then?"

[thedevamper]

"A few things, I would of course prefer to be working on weapons but currently I'm occupied with more medicinal pursuits." Nikola replied in answer to his question not to the statement that they were mates. Mates. Honestly who was he turning into? Helen?

[duerespectguv]

"See, weapons were more what I wanted to talk about," Declan admits easily. "With Druitt here, I have to wonder if you've...thought in that direction. Just in case we need something to take him down?"

It's a little extreme, perhaps, but Declan likes to be prepared and preparing Tesla's probably a good idea.

[thedevamper]

Nikola's thoughts had taken a turn in that direction, however he was having trouble acquiring the necessary items that he wanted without being noticed. The junkyard, after all, had a very watchful guard and owner.

"I could recreate Henry's little stun gun, if I of course had the necessary parts, make a few modifications to the design." Nikola replied casually as if he hadn't really considered the idea of weapons at all. "Or I suppose a barrier, small and localised similar to the shield implementation they have, or so I hear, at that Atlantis community."

[duerespectguv]

"Either would be incredibly useful," Declan says, trying not to lay it on too thick. He decides, in the end, to simply be honest about it.

"Look, it's Magnus I'm worried about. Kate, Will...we're all worried about her. We're worried Druitt's going to hurt her or, worse, Druitt's going to hurt someone else and that's going to hurt her. Having a way to take him out's going to be good for everyone. Trust you can agree?"

[thedevamper]

"Of course, however I can't be expected to provide everything. The brains and the materials, no I'll leave that to you and Katherine to do for me." Nikola replied with a knowing smirk. He'd have to come up with a switch on the device in case they ever decided to come for him but he was sure he could build it internally and none of them would ever realise.

[duerespectguv]

Declan rolls his eyes. "I'm sure we can manage. You need to draw up some kind of schematic before I go running around trying to find you things to build with. I'm sure you can agree that'd be prudent, yeah?"

[thedevamper]

"I may have something lying around," Nikola replied with a lazy drawl. Honestly, had he fooled them already that they didn't think he had one or two little tricks up his sleeve. "I'll make sure you get an inventory of what I want."