I wanna ramble about how funny Doctor Hofnarr and Crackpot both appearing in Arena Mode is if you stew with the implications.
For one, it takes place during the time when the both of them were still under the employ of Phobos as top ranking scientists. The fact that Crackpot is still working around with cooking up what would go on to be his enmeshment proposals also lets us know it was a bit on the earlier end in the timeline. Either case, it seems weird to have both of them mucking around in Nevada Central, a pretty far away city from Nexus. After all, Phobos otherwise kept a very tight leash on tower personell and pressured their work efficacy to abusive degrees. Not only that, but Crackpot is clearly getting involved with Vendevice, an actual criminal mafia.
Well, Crackpot swiftly makes obvious that he’s got a good business reason for being there- searching for impressive or helpful tech he can study and then likely plagiarize back at home to get some kudos from the director. It’s very easy to speculate that most of his advancements in enmeshment research were riding off the back of Doc’s work. And Hofnarr? He’s just. uh. kinda there. Same club, same time, but getting funky on the dance floor instead of talking to the mob.
Another thing I wanted to include is the fact that Krinkels himself has stated that Hofnarr is probably downright scared of Crackpot and wouldn’t tend to want to hang around such an intense and intimidating individual. But I can only imagine they came together on this excursion to Nevada Central, and at least to Club Advent. So what on earth is even in the city that matters so much to Hofnarr that he’d hop from the science tower on a trip with that guy?
Three words.
Garret. Motherfuckin’. Goyle.
The Slaughter Time studio broadcasts out of Nevada Central, and Hofnarr is known to be the BIGGEST fanboy of the show ever seen. In the Jeb plush ad you can even see an autographed photo of the show host sitting on the guy’s desk along with all kinds of other Garret merch. Put his arena mode cameo and that together and now you got a theory for when and where he got that signed photo. And I’m choosing so hard to keep believing this because of how funny it is: Jeb leading the research floor himself for a while because Hofnarr invited himself on a business quest with Crackpot just to avoid him the entire time and catch a live showing of his favorite TV program. Hell, Crackpot may have even offered the opportunity if for no other reason than to get Jeb’s closest ally away from him for a while and to get owed one by- let’s admit, a probably easy to push around and coerce guy.
