[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]

They posted in that Network post I made when I first contacted you.

[Diarmuid laughs, slightly embarrassed as he remembers how he confused them.]

It was...interesting meeting multiples who look so similar. I am not used to it. I didn't realize they were friends of Xion's. But...the way you say it they aren't friends of yours?

[savedbyasong]

I don't know all of them personally, just that they are Xion's friends. The one I do know... [He blushed] We aren't really speaking though.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid frowns not sure what to think of Shion's words. The Rikus had seemed nice enough to him when they had talked, but their conversations had also been brief.]

Is there something I should be worried about or alert for if I were to work with them in the future?

[savedbyasong]

No, they are very nice. The fault was mine. [He shuffled his feet and blushed harder, looking ashamed] I get angry sometimes, I can't always control it.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid gives Shion a surprised look. Not because he holds something against the boy for getting angry--no, Diarmuid knows far too well what anger can do to a person--but because he has a hard time imaging the gentle boy he's talked to so far getting that angry.]

Anger is a powerful and sneaky emotion. I am just learning how much myself. I am sorry that it is such a strong force in your life. Hopefully, it has not caused you grief too many times.

[savedbyasong]

More now, it's just... I don't like my friends getting hurt. [He studied his feet] I'm trying to control it, it's just hard.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid reaches out and lightly touches Shion's arm in an attempt to get the boy to look back up at him.]

Don't look down. You have no reason to be ashamed of wanting to protect your friends. Getting angry when you see your friends and family hurt repeatedly and for no good reason is the most natural reaction in the world. There is no reason to deny it, but you are right. You need to control it so that the wrong people aren't accidentally hurt by it in the future.

[A sad look enters Diarmuid's eyes as he remembers now his anger had once done that. He's still trying to patch things up even now months later.]

Think about those you have accidentally hurt in the past when you start getting too angry again. You will find that is one of the best ways to keep yourself under control when that control threatens to slide.

[savedbyasong]

[Red eyes flickered up at Diarmuid at the touch and he got a small smile in return for his words] I will, that's a good idea.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid nods, letting his arm drop away.]

It has helped me in any event. I didn't really know anger and hate before I came to this place as odd as it might sound. As a result, I have been struggling to learn how to react to them and keep them in check. It's a slow process, but I am determined to do it. Emotions like that cause too much chaos and pain when allowed to run free.

[savedbyasong]

[Shion had, though it had never been so uncontrollable before.] They do, it's hard though. I know why I shouldn't get angry, but it just... happens.

[oathshackledbird]

I blame the Tower and the things that happen here in part. Everything about this place is meant to break us and make us unable to fight back. Having to focus on controlling our own emotions is an acceptable alternative to us fighting in their opinions, I'm sure.

[Diarmuid pauses to think for a moment before continuing.]

Do you have anything to channel that anger into? Your weapons and fighting training, perhaps? That is one place where anger can safely be released.

[savedbyasong]

I fight trees. [His voice is quiet] I can't hurt them.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid nods in understanding. Anger issues or not, Shion doesn't seem like the type to ever enjoy fighting no matter how much he practices it. His skills are elsewhere.]

As in trees in the forest? They are not a bad choice of opponent. However, trees do not move and your real enemies will. You should find someone who you can fight. One who is strong enough that you cannot hurt them, but also willing to take the time to train you.

If you so wish, I could do that for you. All you would need to do is ask when you are ready.

[savedbyasong]

Are you sure? [He blinked at him] I mean... I don't want to hurt you... [Not that he thought he could, but he would never have thought he could kill Reno... And he had.]

[oathshackledbird]

I don't know if you could hurt me to be honest unless you have some special abilities you haven't mentioned? I am extremely fast when I use my full power and my endurance is much higher than that of a normal person.

[Diarmuid smiles gently at Shion in hopes of putting the boy's worries at ease.]

If it helps any, I also have some magical healing potions I could bring along to any practices. Or I could have my friend and Master join us. Healing is not his best skill, but he can heal when he needs to.

[savedbyasong]

No, I don't, I'm just [He gestures to himself and his orange collar] I just can't always stop.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid glances at the boy's collar color and frowns.]

Shion...the time when you couldn't stop. Did it happen a few months ago when there were all the odd rumors showing up on the Tower walls?

[Because Romeo had been an orange collar too and Diarmuid knew the boy was usually as harmless as could be. It had been the experiment that had made him do what he did, not anything about himself.]

[savedbyasong]

No. [He shook his head] It was before that, and after that, even before I came here, it's nothing that the administrators have done. It is just more frequent here, because I get angrier more often...

[oathshackledbird]

I understand. I just wanted to make sure you were not blaming yourself for something they did to you.

[Diarmuid falls silent for a moment to think, before continuing.]

If it's not prying too much, may I ask what you have tried to do so far to help control yourself?

[savedbyasong]

Riku was helping me... [That did not end well] But mostly I just... nothing really works. Xion usually can stop me, if she can grab me in time...

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid nods understanding a little better now why Shion and Riku don't get along. The boy's expressions and tone of voice suggest things hadn't gone for the best when Riku had tried to help.]

And you have no idea what is it about Xion grabbing you that helps calm you down? That must be terribly frightening and frustrating all at the same time. Two things that do not help one to control themselves any better.

[savedbyasong]

[Shion shook his head] No... it just does...

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid frowns slightly.]

That doesn't help us find a way for you to better control yourself, but it is better than having nothing. You and Xion are so close. I am very happy for you. It makes surviving this place so much easier when you have someone to rely on. I feel bad for those who don't have anyone to turn to.

[savedbyasong]

[Shion nodded, he had been one of those people until he had met Reno, who had put up with his awful fighting, overtly curious nature and tendency to zone out at important times.] Me too... it's hard enough here with friends.

[oathshackledbird]

It is. Though it hurts when they are taken away, I think it is more painful to have to face this place alone. It is why I encourage others to make as many bonds here as they can. We are so much stronger together than apart.