towerofanimus | The Trouble with Milk (and also Hojo)

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The Trouble with Milk (and also Hojo)

[Hojo having been the second to arrive at the milk left in the tower, and Fou-Lou before him having taken five cartons of milk, Hojo took the remaining thirty-five cartons for himself. However, he didn't intend on keeping them for himself. He's more than willing to share. First, he simply wants to test the milk and maybe do a little experimenting.

That's why, not too long after he makes his discovery, the cartons can be found sitting out on a table at the cafeteria, neatly arranged, as if left there by the Tower authorities.

All the cartons look exactly the same, and there is no evidence of tampering. However, the milk has certainly been tampered with!]

Choose Your Poison!

5 cartons of the milk are completely fine. This is the control milk and can be consumed safely, without fear.
5 cartons of the milk contain a powerful narcotic sedative that will knock your character out. People who drink this milk will quickly be rendered unconscious. Depending on where they pass out, they may be used by Hojo, who will collect biological samples from them, or can do something more drastic/invasive, if requested.
5 cartons of the milk contain a substance Hojo found in the Tower laboratory and wishes to test, which, as it turns out, is a deadly poison. Ingesting it will cause characters to die slowly and painfully.
5 cartons of the milk contain another substance that is a hallucinogen. Characters who drink this milk will experience delirium and visions.
10 cartons of the milk contain cells from monsters in the tower that have been treated with a mutagen. Drinking these may make your character temporarily take on some traits or behaviors of various monsters.
5 cartons of the milk contain a chemical substance that induces a psychotic state. Characters drinking this milk will become very aggressive and violent.

[Hojo (and/or his lab partner Fuhito) are in the vicinity, trying to avoid notice and stay out of the way, but they may be found lurking in the darkened cafeteria and its kitchen. Not that they're likely to admit having anything to do with the milk, if found, and there is no evidence to connect them to it.]

[[OOC Notes: Just a little milk experiment! Mad scientists have to do something to entertain themselves, after all. None of the effects of the milk are permanent or far-reaching. Anyone is welcome to do anything within this post. React to the milk, take it to another location, thread with each other, threadjack, etc. Or react in your own separate post, but I wanted to make a general milk post for Hojo's kind distribution of resources. Sharing is caring! If you'd like a closed thread or something in particular with Hojo and would like your character to encounter him, just mention it in the tag or subject line; I'm open to just about anything.

As for whether magic or curative items can reverse the effects, that's up to the player, depending on what you think your canon's magic/items are capable of (or whether you'd like something bad to happen regardless). All effects are chemical and not magical.

Also, if other evil scientist or similar characters would like to be in on this, chat or share data, just let me know, or tag into the post.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Fuck yeah. Free milk.]

[Beat's check around the room is minimal at best; if this is a trap, he can outrun them. Though it seems like there's no one around -- even better. For most of his life, Beat has operated on the principle that "beggars can't be choosers", and oh god does he needs sustenance right now. So excuse him, he's just going to snatch two of the cartons; one normal and one mutagen.]

[Greedy little bugger.]

[Going without food was one thing but going without something to drink was something entirely different. Alcohol didn't count, as much as other people wanted to claim. And as odd as it seemed to find containers of milk in the cafeteria, she assumed it was because of how much trouble they were all having making sure no one starved to death.

... She did take a whiff of the one she picked up and opened though, making sure it hadn't soured or something was wrong with it. Some Turks came naturally suspicious. Siira couldn't smell the sedative in it though and took a sip, glad to have something other than water she had to melt from an Ice spell.

Shame she wasn't more suspicious, fighting off the drug just long enough that she didn't fall flat on her face when she passed out.]

[Puru Two had only followed Martial Arts because, well, she seemed to have the more reliable weaponry out of the two of them. She would have warned against drinking just milk, but whatever. She didn't really care either way. It was SOMETHING for her, and she wouldn't complain.

At least until she saw the woman faint for no reason. Thank god she didn't drink her bottle. Abandoning it, she bends down to Martial Arts, hand on her shoulder. Damn it unnecessary worrying.]

H-hey! Wake up!

[Hojo entered the cafeteria after them, as if by coincidence, holding a small medical light in one hand. He usually used them for his work, but he was fortunate to have them in this situation.

He paused, taking in the scene.]

Ah, is she unwell? Please, allow me. [He came closer, his gaze on Siira recognizing the Turk following their previous conversation.]

I'm a doctor.

[Don't mind Siira, she'll just be completely drugged and unconscious here. Maybe a small whine but she doesn't wake up and doesn't move.]

[Puru Two is not one to be trusting of those in coats. Doctors and scientists were not her most favorite of people to deal with. She glares at Hojo.]

And just who are you?

She is a colleague of mine.

[He kneels down beside Siira, ignoring the glare from Puru Two. He checks her pulse, then carefully pulls open her eyelids, shining her light into first one, then the other of her eyes to see how her pupils respond.]

I am currently the infirmary's acting doctor.

Edited 2012-06-15 01:22 (UTC)

[Her pupils respond just like they probably should, considering the drug that was in the milk.]

[Not much she could do, though firing off a few shots from her blaster do come to mind. Too bad she doesn't do that; figuring out just what who this guy was. At any rate, she was keeping her eyes on him.]

Then what can you do about her?

[He looks up. He gives no sign that anything whatsoever is amiss.] From the looks of it, it's a textbook case of exhaustion. I'm sure she hasn't been eating and sleeping properly. I'm surprised there aren't more such--though they may simply not come to light.

What a shame.

I will take her to the infirmary. I should run some tests to make sure nothing else is wrong. And test this as well. [He takes up what remains of the milk.] If you would care to assist me?

[It was inevitable that she'd come across the infamous Professor Hojo. Thankfully his appearance in the tower isn't a surprise, she had been warned ahead of time of his presence. What she wasn't expecting was to find what looked like a Turk from her sister's time there as well.

Crossing the floor to where the unknown Turk, as well as the Professior and some unknown third individual, Elena stood next to the fallen figure, arms folded across her chest.]

Profession Hojo...just what is going on here?

[Hojo looks up at her, his expression blank.]

Ah, how fortunate. Another one. I believe this is a case of exhaustion, but considering the circumstances, it would be best to run some tests.

I'm going to need some assistance taking her to the infirmary. It's one floor up, if you would care to help me carry her.

[Ignoring Hojo for a second, and taking note of that name, she glanced at Elena. It was clear that woman knew more about all of this than she did.]

I take it you know each other?

[Her eyes narrow slightly, body tightening beneath the suit. Anything to do with Hojo and tests made her on edge instantly.]

If its a case of exhaustion, I doubt she'll need tests - just some sleep.

[Eyes move over to the third individual, giving a short nod. Sure, Elena knew a Turk when she saw one. Just...who the specific Turk was...well...]

We do, yes.

Edited 2012-06-29 21:07 (UTC)

[Hojo doesn't seem impressed by this conclusion.]

The point of the testing is to make sure that it is, in fact simple exhaustion, and that she is not suffering as a result of yet another of our "hosts'" tests.

Please, do accompany me; as there are two of you, you can easily carry her up one flight of stairs to the infirmary.

[Great, she was being almost left out, conversation wise. Either way, Puru Two couldn't abandon the unconscious woman to either of these people. Elena maybe, but Hojo. Just seeiing his face told Puru Two to not trust him.

Regardless, she tries to pick up Siira. She is doing her best right now to make a sarcastic comment at letting the child do the work, but the last thing she needed was to be considered as such.]

*Enoch picks up one of the cartons and sniffs it, just to tell that it was indeed, milk as advertised and that it was still good. At least there's some food here. It shows those not in the experiments that one woman mentioned aren't forgotten, at least. He takes a tiny sip - tastes all right as well.

Well, he needs something in him now, so he can get food somewhere else later. So he carefully drains the carton, trying not to spill anything.

Naturally, he won't realize he's been poisoned until too late. He gets to the sixth floor and tries going after a deer with his Arch, but when the beam fizzles out, his armor disappears, and then only a moment later the deer is coming after him with too-sharp teeth, he retreats. Maybe there's food somewhere higher up.

At this point, the exertion's sped the poison along, and his body is starting to burn. When he gets into the cool air around the pool, that's when he realizes it's not heat. He avoided being fatally poisoned before because Lucifel would always warn him of it. But Lucifel isn't here. He turns to return to the cafeteria - he needs to warn people and get rid of the milk that remains before it hurts anyone else.

But his legs lock up and he collapses on the floor beside the pool, curled up as the burning intensifies into a sharp pain in his stomach that's slowly spreading outward. He tries moving, and while he can move his legs, every move is stiff and painful, and he can do little more than crawl back towards the stairs downward.*

((ooc: Know what, forget the reaction post idea. COME AT HIM HERE, GUYS.))

Edited 2012-06-14 01:08 (UTC)

[Fou-Lu is in the area, staring at the pool. There's some kind of chemical in it, and it makes him suspicious. He sees the man collapse - and senses that he's somehow different - and he strides towards him, seemingly unconcerned. He does stop when he gets close, though.]

... Save thy strength. Thou hast been afflicted with some form of foul poison.

*Enoch realizes he hadn't seen the man who just spoke to him. Even though it's dark, he never once caught the movement. He activates his Arch again, and in its light realizes his vision's blurred.

He manages to turn himself over so he can face the person talking to him.*

The milk downstairs...

*His throat's dry and hard to speak through.*

[His expression changes slightly, surprise registering vaguely on his face. He'll have to get rid of the cartons he collected instead of giving them to Mami, then. But he crouches, managing to make even that small movement look regal. He lifts a hand to silence Enoch.]

Still thyself. We shall grant thee this small mercy.

[His hand seems to glow with a purple light, and he releases the spell, sending a healing and restoration spell into Enoch.]

The effects should dissipate quickly. Thou should be more careful, mortal. Thy kind are fragile, even those that be touched by the Endless such as thyself.

*Enoch watches the...purification? warily. Almost immediately, his breathing, which had been labored, begins to ease. Still feeling the heated pain running through his veins, he lowers his head to the ground.*

"Endless"...? *he asks, lying still in the hopes that will speed his recovery.*

Indeed. Mortals know them also as gods. The dragons who hath aided in shaping thy world.

[After a few moments, the glow ceases. The poison should be gone, as should any wounds.]

*Enoch opens his mouth to remark on the "dragon" thing, but closes it, thinking better. It didn't matter, after all, how humans decided to depict Him, as He had no known form. Enoch gets to his feet a bit shakily.*

I...have been blessed by God, yes. This armor I wear... Can you sense such blessings?

It be a simple matter for one such as ourselves. Tell us, mortal - what be thy name?

[This mortal was... interesting. Perhaps worthy of mercy for the moment.]

*The fact that this man was speaking as if he wasn't mortal was at once unsettling and a relief. Perhaps this man is the same sort of being as Zeph or Sola were back in Meridian. The difference being this one actually carried himself like a being of such power.*

I am...my name is Enoch.

[He considers how he should respond in kind. She would find out sooner or later... and it didn't seem like there was anyone from the Empire here. He would still have to watch over her, but there was slightly less to fear.]

We are Fou-Lu, the First Emperor of the Fou Empire.

It's nice to meet you... *Enoch looks at the stairs. Takes a step to make sure he can walk without his muscles rebelling.* We should make sure nobody else is poisoned...

*But to waste milk like that...*

Could you possibly purify the remaining milk the way you purified me?

We be unable to do this, unfortunately. 'Tis a spell that removes poisons from a person, not a thing.

[He does follow Enoch a little, watching him carefully.]

*He seems to be relatively fine, if a bit shaken.* Then the rest of them should be destroyed.

Indeed. Guide us to where thou hadst found them.

[And he makes a note to get rid of the ones he found, too.]

*Enoch leads Fou-Lu back downstairs...only to find a mere three cartons left. In the time he'd been up here, the rest seem to have been taken.*

I suppose the news spread more quickly than the poison...

*That or one person took several...*

Edited 2012-06-17 06:02 (UTC)

[Fuhito has been lingering subtly nearby to the cache of milk. Now that it's almost gone, all that's left for him is to follow up his notes-- and field any questions or concerns, of course. He's happy to help.

At the moment, he appears to be examining a carton. He makes an observation in his field notebook.

Ah, a return-- and recovered, too. How interesting.]

Poison?

Indeed. It seemeth that some of the contents hath been tainted. Step aside so we may destroy the rest of these.

[He takes a few steps forward, not really caring if the man responds favorably or not.]

Edited 2012-06-17 22:02 (UTC)

If not for this man, I would have died.

*Though he says nothing else, the concerned way he's watching the man is proof of his worry they've been too late for someone else.*

[He directs his attention briefly towards the second man to speak.]
It's fortunate you were able to find help in time, then. What were your symptoms-- if I come across another victim of this poisoning, I'd like to know how best to help.

[The other has an-- odd pattern of speech.
Well, he certainly wouldn't dream of standing in the way of violent opposition. He's a much more subtle thinker than that.

Fuhito folds his notebook shut with a shake of his head.]

Ah, I see. With our keepers seemingly at their weakest, I'd hoped this offer wasn't too good to be true. Were you affected yourself?

I'm a scientist. My name is Fuhito.

We wert not afflicted. 'Tis fortunate we discovered this, however, lest we distribute the containers we hath found.

... We are Fou-Lu.

My name is Enoch.

*At least the introductions gave him time to think about how to word the symptoms.*

Ah...It felt as if my body was burning from the inside, and every movement was painful. I could hardly move.

*As Dojima had thought, they were clearly meant for competing over food. There were not nearly enough cartons here for a Tower this size. Milk was not his favourite, far from it, but he figured he might as well make an effort before returning to bed.

At least, that's what he thought he'd do, but three gulps later he collapsed on the floor, the sedative's effects mixing with his painkillers' for a good knock out punch.*

[ooc: ~~Should~~When Hojo examines Dojima, he'll be able to find his three surgically reduced fractured ribs as well as extensive bruising on his legs and forearms, and morphine in his bloodstream. He got in a car accident prior to landing in the tower.]

[When the man collapses, Hojo, having observed from the kitchens, emerges.

His work is quick and efficient. He's attached medical lights to his glasses, and he uses them to see. He quickly removes Dojima from the main room and drags him into the farthest reaches of the kitchen. All the cupboards and other storage spaces make it easy to find a place where they won't be disturbed.

He does a basic examination, noting the evidence of recent injuries, then collects samples, swabbing his cheek, collecting hair with intact root sheathes, then drawing blood. When Dojima awakens, he'll still be very groggy and won't be going anywhere right away, but Hojo is still there.]

*The awakening reminds him of his emerging from the vapors of anesthesia after his surgery. The only difference is the level of pain he feels is much less than when he woke up from his surgery. Blinking to right the world, he brings a heavy hand to his face to rub his eyes and temples.* Where...

[Rin had been coming to the kitchens everyday out of habit. He had other things he wanted to do, like try his luck outside with the wild berries as his roommate had done. Needless to say, milk cartons were the very last thing he expected to see. He grabbed two and dashed out of the cafeteria as fast as he could, stopping only when he was sure no one had followed him.

Slowly, he dared to make his way back to the cafeteria. It might have been a trap. And maybe the milk was really rotten. He opened one and sniffed it first. Nope, seemed good. He'd wait a while, in case someone who needed milk came along before he indulged.]

[ooc: Yukio will be tagging here are as well~. The milk Rin will drink is the sedative. Doctor, feel free to jump in whenever and do your doctor thing!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Trouble with Milk (and also Hojo)

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I have a question too, just in case - can the poison be cured by anyone with a curative spell/item?

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Sorry for the confusion! And the lateness.

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sorry for the delay!

no problem, I wasn't available either.

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