[Science Experiment] || [Collar Fluid Research Start] || [Open]

[doc_brown]

Characters: Anyone who's willing to work for SCIENCE.
Setting: The Workshop (Floor 15) for the IC questions to the scientists and the mingle thread. Then each group will be positioned on a different floor so as to not alert the administrators with a large group of people gathering at a single place for a long time.
Format: Prose or action, whichever you prefer.

Summary: This log marks the start of the research on the collar fluid! As was mentioned in the sign-ups post, words was passed around about the need of more people to help and study the collar fluid. Characters signing-up have all been divided into seven teams, which can be found here. ICly, Doc Brown made the team based on what he thinks is the most efficient. You can still sign-up here.

There will be a thread in case your character needs to ask a question or anything to the starter scientists (Doc, Waver, Sertoria or Sephiroth) and in parallel a mingle thread for all the characters during the 'recruitment', even if they end up assigned to different teams. And then obviously, there are the individual threads for each teams so the new teammates can get and know each other if they don't already.

For their first day the teams will be on different floors, but following this nothing prevents two teams from working closeby or on different floors. For reference, there are three set of scientific equipment, each containing a microscope, a small centrifuge, beakers, test tubes, many testing apparatuses, etc. They'll be shared between the seven teams depending on what they need for their researches.

Warnings: Nothing! There will be no NPC tags here, researches shouldn't be dangerous and this log is mostly for the characters to get and know each other, so this should be a relatively harmless log. Well, unless you're in the Violet or Orange team of course. In which case, good luck.

General Mingle Pre-Research || IC Questions to the Scientists

Violet Fluid Team (Floor 56 - Hospital)
Indigo Fluid Team (Floor 18 - Study Room)
Blue Fluid Team (Floor 03 - Library)
Green Fluid Team (Floor 15 - Workshop)
Yellow Fluid Team (Floor 19 - Research Library)
Orange Fluid Team (Floor 26 - Morgue)
Clear Fluid Team (Floor 27 - Laboratory)

Comments

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid is standing a bit away from the crowd watching everyone coming and going. Those who know him won't be surprised to find he's never very far away from Waver, watching his friend and master without interrupting whatever the man may need to do as one of those trying to organize this whole thing. Diarmuid himself knows very little about science and research. That is what happens when you are a hero from a time so long ago, but that doesn't mean he won't fight to the death to protect those who do know.

And so that is what he is doing, frowning as he lays eyes on some he would rather not be involved in this at all. Those he doesn't trust or have proven themselves unreliable in the past. Still, this is a team effort and many hands will more quickly unlock the secrets that the collar fluids contain. Considering they have less than one year to work, everyone who wants to work needs to be allowed to work.

That doesn't mean he still isn't uneasy about it...]

[ajealouswind]

[Diarmuid isn't the only one that's uneasy. Kain is milling around, both watching for anything hazardous and waiting for further instruction. He spends more than a little while watching Diarmuid and the fellow that he's following around. Waver, wasn't it? There seemed to be some closeness there. Interesting.

In one of the rare moments when the Master and Servant have a bit of space between them, Kain approaches.]

Would you say that we've assembled a good team?

[oathshackledbird]

[When Diarmuid hears Kain's voice, he turns to the other man and nods in agreement.]

There are some faces here I would prefer not to see involved in such an important task, but I know Waver will make sure that anyone who works with him in specific doesn't cause any problems. I expect the others in charge will do the same.

I wish that I knew more about science and research so I could help more directly, but it is all foreign to me. At least I can fight to protect those who do know. I expect there will be a lot of close calls before this is all said and done.

[ajealouswind]

[Kain's eyes narrow, betraying concern.]

Which faces would those be?

[He casts a quick glance out at those assembled, but soon turns it back to Diarmuid. For the man has more to say.]

I feel much the same. I've never had a head for this sort of thing. I can pray that our contributions won't be needed... but I'm certain that my prayers will go unanswered.

[oathshackledbird]

Mostly ones that are unknown to me. I say I would rather they not be involved simply because I don't know how trustworthy they are. But I suppose they could say the same about me, since they would not know me either.

[He points out a few faces that he guesses are newcomers or maybe just people he's never had the chance to meet and then he points to one sliver-haired man in particular, frowning as he does.

Sephiroth.]

He is the one I really object to seeing here. He has injured and killed several people close to me just because he can. A man like that should not be working on something like this. Who knows what information he may hide from the rest of us?

[ajealouswind]

[The newcomers and untested faces, Kain pays a bit of mind to. But the one in particular that Diarmuid saw fit to warn about, the silver-haired one? Kain notes. And he frowns. He had met the man quite some time ago, and had faint misgivings even then.]

Sephiroth, you mean? I can see your point. From what little I do know of him, he keeps his cards close to his chest. And if he harms others simply for the fun of it...

[No. That wouldn't do.]

[oathshackledbird]

Yes. Sephiroth.

[There is a darkness and an anger in Diarmuid's voice as he says the man's name, though, it is very tightly controlled. Still, it is probably startling to hear such strong negative emotion from one such as Diarmuid.]

He forced a boy I see as my adopted son to fight me and another of his close friends. Then while we were distracted, Sephiroth forced him to kill himself in front of us. There is no forgiving something like that. The only reason I have not already spilled his blood is because I know death will teach a man like that nothing. Especially the temporary death this place provides. There must be another way, and I swear I will find it for all those he has hurt. He will know and understand how they felt someday...

[savedbyasong]

[Shion spotted him and waved before practically bouncing over. He might be a little excited. Science is something he can do, and he can actually be useful for once. It's a good feeling.] Hello Diarmuid! Are you helping out too?

[oathshackledbird]

Shion, hello!

[Diarmuid smiles when he sees the boy. It's good to see him again since the last time they had talked had been when he was introduced to Xion.]

I may be no scientist, but I am helping out the best I can. My friend and Master is heading one of the groups.

[He points toward Waver who is not that far away speaking with another person. He then laughs lightly.]

I let him do the complex thinking and I do the fighting. It works out pretty well most of the time.

[savedbyasong]

[Shion looked over and saw one of the scientists, he hadn't spoken to him yet but nodded] You mentioned he was a researcher.

He can fight too though, right?

[oathshackledbird]

Indeed he is. More specifically, he is an alchemist. Hopefully, that is something that will come in handy here.

[Diarmuid nods at Shion's question. The pride in his voice when he speaks is not something Shion is imagining.]

He can fight. Not only does he have his magic, but he also has a familiar that he is very skilled at directing. Along with attacking, the familiar can also defend him with little more than a thought. If everything else fails, he has taught himself to fight and I am training him to fight as well. When it comes down to it, though, he would rather be researching than fighting. That is where his true skill lies.

[savedbyasong]

That's good. [Shion had grown up in a city where being a scientific genius was not only normal but expected in his level of society. Fighting skills and the will to survive then, where things he saw as much more important and indeed worthwhile. The skills Rat had, the courage Reno had.

Science was important, and he hoped they did good work here, and were able to help. But not being good at science just meant you were not good at science, being bad at fighting made you a burden.] I'm better at researching as well, but I try my best to be a decent fighter. Xion's much better than me though.

What kind of familiar does he have? Is it made of magic?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head, smiling encouragingly at Shion. It's as if part of him can tell the boy is feeling down about the fact he isn't a good fighter when there is no reason he should feel that way.]

Everyone has their own best skills. It is why we are so much stronger when we all work together. In fact, a person who doesn't recognize what they do well and tries to do things they aren't good at can be more of a hindrance than a help. You seem to know well what you can and cannot do and are trying to improve yourself. Don't feel bad about that.

While directed by magic, my master's familiar is not completely made of magic. Forgive me for not knowing all the details, but what it is mostly made out of is mercury. Waver is not its first owner. His teacher was, but he has vastly improved the familiar since his teacher had it.

[sacrament_of_blood]

[A girl in her late teens, wearing the white jumpsuit and a violet collar stands there and just stares intently at Diarmuid with a confused expression on her face.

Usually Merciless's divine inspirations are clear and unambiguous in the actions they require of her, but this one she had just experienced is... unclear. She will have to puzzle upon its meaning.

She looks away into the crowd.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid doesn't miss the confused look though he has become somewhat used to them since to those who can sense things, a Servant who is a human soul brought back to life through magical means much seem very odd. Since he doesn't recognize her and Waver doesn't seem to need him for anything, he takes a few moments to approach her, smiling warmly as he does.]

I don't know that we have been introduced. My name is Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. I noticed that you were watching me. Is something wrong? Or perhaps is there something you would like to ask me?

[sacrament_of_blood]

[She freezes for a moment. She had not found a resolution for that ambiguity. The closest thing to this feeling is the excitement she feels when she knows she must kill, but that is different. It would be a mistake to act upon such a vague impulse until she knows its nature.

She turns back, recollecting the composure that had been drilled into her for situations where she could not afford to show her murderous excitement. This is not quite the same excitement, but it should suffice. She takes on a more careful and precise posture while repeating holy passages in her head.]

You may call me Merciless. I... [She pauses, trying to think of something.] I wished to inquire about you.

[That felt correct and yet not quite correct. But more information should help her... do what? Why was this intuition so abnormally vague?]

[oathshackledbird]

Merciless? That is a odd name, though not the oddest I have heard.

[He gives her closer look, noting that she is still wearing the outfit they all wake up in.]

Are you newly arrived, Merciless? Is that why you still wear those clothes? On floor fifty-one you will find anything you need to make some more comfortable clothing should you like...

[Diarmuid pauses suddenly, seeming slightly embarrassed.]

I'm sorry. I'm rambling. You said you wanted to ask me something?

[sacrament_of_blood]

I am indeed newly arrived, but this clothing is sufficient.

[She had often enough worn the clothes issued to her by the towns until they became bloody rags. The matter of clothing was one she held great indifference to. Not as important as her sacred duty.

She pauses at that question. She still had not thought of an answer. Then the strange scent returns to mind.]

Might I ask about your nature?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid raises an eyebrow at the response, but says nothing. After all, he knows there are some people who are happy even if they have very little. If she is one of those, there is nothing wrong with that.

Her next question makes him laugh, though. Oh, the joys of being a Servant.]

I am...complicated. I was born human and fought as a knight until I died...

[The words 'was murdered' spring into his mind, and Diarmuid has to pause a few seconds to wonder where that sudden bit of bitterness toward Fionn came from before continuing his story.]

On my world, though, if you have have done heroic enough deeds during your life, death is not always the end. There is a thing called the Throne of Heroes that records the souls of the world's heroes and stores them so that they can be called back to Earth to defend it should they be needed. I was called down to fight in a war and had just ended my part in it when I was brought here.

[He gives her an unsure look.]

Does that help any? There is a lot of magic involved, but that is the greatly simplified version.

[puppy_lancer]

Hey, bro.

[Cu Chulainn is by Diarmuid's side as soon as he spots his brother.]

This time we're working together.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid smiles, happy to see his brother.]

You're going to help Waver, then? Good! Perhaps this is rude of me to say, but I would rather that most of the people who are working with him are ones I know and trust. This is a dangerous thing we're doing, but one that will have huge rewards if we are able to complete it. Something valuable must be waiting for us to find. Jason would not have been so upset otherwise.

[puppy_lancer]

[he nods.]

You can talk to Doc about it. I did.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid glances over to where Doc Brown is working and then shakes his head.]

I could, but he seems busy. I'm not too worried, though. I trust that Waver will veto anyone who he thinks will cause trouble. He wants a chance to study this stuff and that can't be done with people fighting.

If nothing else, I know he will make sure Sephiroth is not in our group. He is one of the few I will fight to keep out. The others I will at least try to work with for the sake of finding out just what is in this stuff.

[puppy_lancer]

You mean the adult Sephiroth, right? I remember you telling me he was a nasty piece of work. I think as long as we stay away from his group, we'll be fine. After all, he'd only pick people equally nasty or the ones who can stand him.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid nods, though he still seems worried and the reason why becomes clear when he speaks.]

That is the easy answer, but as with most easy answers it's not a complete one. If his group is all people like him, how will we ever find out what they learn? Everyone will be coming at this research from a different set of experiences and skills. It is important anything learned by anyone is shared with all.

Unless it involves death or pain, Sephiroth does not strike me as the sharing kind.