MarinaNova Asylum

[Though she'd been confused and disoriented at first, her time there had quickly begun to come back to her. She wasn't pleased to find herself back in the underwater prison, not at all but she knew it wasn't something she could change.

Inara had decided to wait a while to make any sort of announcement that she was back. She'd headed back to the apartment she'd called her own, wanting to change into something other than the hideous orange jumpsuit she'd awoken in. But she'd found her apartment bare, cleaned out of the things she'd collected the last time she'd been there.

Sighing, she composed herself and then she was ready to announce she was back, even though she was still in her orange jumpsuit. She manages a wary smile and shrugs her shoulders a little.]

Hello... I was here once before, though I'm not certain how much time has passed between now and then [about two weeks], but I suppose in the grand scheme of things it doesn't truly matter. For those of you who weren't here when I was last or I hadn't had a chance to meet, I'm Inara Serra.

[She hesitates a moment and then glances around her apartment.]

Is it normal for things you had here before to disappear?

[ deanna is making this as a voice post, which should tell everyone who knows her how she's really doing, but there's also the problem with the fact that she's stressed. plain and simple. she is stressed and her voice will betray that no matter what she does. she's been using her plexing all morning and it's only marginally helping. she's been out of sorts all day so far, since she woke up, and now that she's more than certain he's actually gone, she knows she needs to put out the word. ]

For those of you who knew him -- I know he was resident here for a very long time, so there are likely more of you who knew him than me -- Data is... [ what? gone? lost in the dimensional stabilizer? ] Data is no longer a resident of this facility. If he had any lingering business that needs to be looked into, I will take on what I can, but I think... for today I will be remaining in the apartment. I apologize to those who might have wanted to come see me at my office. If anyone would like to speak with me, I will be still available, of course. I will simply be remaining in the apartment for now.

[ because right now she needs to stay in the apartment, away from people, where she can quite possibly cry this stress out in peace. though the offer for company is meant, in most cases. ask for her location, friends, and ye may well receive. ]

Thank you for your time.

Greetings, fellow inmates. [He adjusts his tie before continuing.] I have recently arrived and familiarized myself with the circumstances of this incarceration as presented by the wardens. I have also studied the workings of the communication device. As you can see I have also already taken advantage of one of the shops to provide myself with more suitable attire.

However, this does not create a full understanding of my surroundings or those with whom I will be interacting. I would appreciate any knowledge and advice you might impart. I'm sure you'll have topics you find most interesting and valuable and I will have my own questions. [While his face moves with each syllable it seems as though his expression never varies from the calm, collected, and serious.] I have no currency to repay you for your time or effort, but it seems that any would be useless here. Despite this, I can assure you I resolve my debts.

You have my gratitude and appreciation in advance.

[Kitty looks around seeing she's already back in the "prison." It all feels just as real as it ever did, but now she's more secure with the theory that it's not. It looks like she got dumped out in the cemetery. Cheerful. She glances at the names of the people she found alive and as well as being stuck in a pod can be. So many lies to cover up the big lie.]

[ Video / locked to Spencer Reid ]
Reid? Are you there?

[ Video / locked to Defense Force ]
Hey, so we have a lot to discuss especially the investigative team. I think we need to be doing some interviews as quickly as we can so we can pull out every clear memory and perspective we can get from what happened yesterday. If there's a key to getting out of here, I think it's going to be in this.

I'm also back to full active duty. All hands on deck.

[ Did you really think you'd be allowed to explore freely to your hearts content? This was never meant to happen and it certainly wasn't meant to last — before long the security system kicks into gear, unleashing a veritable swarm of spider robots designed to encourage and hoard reluctant prisoners. You're welcome to try and escape or even destroy a few, but they'll keep coming in overwhelming numbers, armed with tiny tasers that zap and prod until every single one of you has been sniffed out and brought to the exercise yard.

The Engineers are waiting for you there. You were brave enough to exploit a security breach. Perhaps your rewards will be a one-on-one with the very people responsible for keeping you here? Or perhaps this is just a way to buy time. Either way, you'll be stuck out here until they decide to end it. ]

(OOC: This mingle is for those who went through the doors only. Feel free to mingle amongst yourself or approach the Engineers if you're brave enough! They will have threads for this purpose here: SMITH and MARY

EVENT INFORMATION | REAL MARINANOVA INFORMATION.)

[The last thing you remember is walking through a glowing door. Whether that was a good decision or a bad one is going to depend heavily on how claustrophobic you are, because right now you are fully encased in a very streamlined, sophisticated pod. It is regulating your body temperature, monitoring your vital signs, administering nutrition and dozens of other odds and ends to keep your body functional and healthy during its stay.

You're not usually conscious for this part of things. If you were, it would be a pretty boring experience. On the plus side, there aren't any tubes or wires attached to you. Those are a little too outdated for technology like this. The other plus is that you can open your pod hatch with a push. Luckily for you, those muscles in your arms and legs haven't atrophied. That's part of the science, but it's not perfect. There will be some aching and discomfort.

Take a minute to take stock of everything. You're wearing a bodysuit you don't remember putting on. You're in a giant, spiraling room you've never set eyes on before and your powers—if you have any—are blocked. But you're not alone. There are other people pushing their own pods open or lying still and silent in theirs. In fact there is a very large number of pods. You might not recognize everyone, but that doesn't mean they weren't an inmate at one time—they were even if it was brief.

For the moment there are no bots coming for you, no alarms going off that you can hear, and no immediate threats. The space is vast and the doors aren't locked, but you also might not recognize them as doors or understand how to activate them just yet.]

(OOC: This mingle is for those who went through the doors only. There will be two additional mingles for those who went through the doors and one for those who stayed behind. This mingle should be confined to the central core. The next one will be for exploring. EVENT INFORMATION | REAL MARINANOVA INFORMATION. Make sure to read these links. They have additional information you'll need for this setting.)

[VIDEO]
[It's well into evening by the time Chekov, confident that he has a solid understanding of this new prison, makes use of the communication device that he was issued upon arrival. The nineteen year-old bears a striking resemblance to a current inmate. His posture is significantly better, he looks far healthier, and he has a ridiculous accent, but there may still be confusion.]

This is Lieutenant Pavel Andreievich Chekov of the starship Enterprise. I would ask anyone who is affiliated with Starfleet to respond to this message, please.

[Not the most subtle of hails, but he doesn't want to risk missing fellow officers by taking a stealthier approach. Why put effort into being subtle, anyway? Isolated prison universes are very different from, say, alien planets; Starfleet's rules regarding contact with new lifeforms hardly apply.

Business out of the way, the Russian abandons the careful diction and formal tone for something warmer and more personable.]

Is there anyone who is interested in speaking with me? I find foreign universes very lonely and boring when everyone is still a stranger.


[ACTION]
[Chekov spends the day investigating sectors one, two, and three, taking a special interest in the maintenance bots that are busy cleaning up after the storm. The food carts in sector one also capture his attention. As soon as he decides that it would be ridiculous for those in charge to poison those they wish to rehabilitate, he becomes intent on tasting everything that is both edible and unfamiliar. When imprisoned, it's always wise to take advantage of any hospitality offered.

He keeps the headset off as often as possible. It's an annoying contraption--not nearly as sleek and unobtrusive as devices at home with similar functions. Should anyone address him in a language that he doesn't understand, however, he's perfectly willing to put it back on, as is polite.]

[ deanna's got a few things on her mind today, most notably the conversation with data yesterday and the little disc currently hidden in her room. but there's also nathan and a lot of other things swirling around. so today, she thinks, will be a day of talking to people. ]

[ voice - locked to anya ]

Did you ever find the rest of your pearls?


[ voice - locked to ianto ]

You were right. I don't know if there's any connection between this and a few other cases, but this anger is far stronger than I've felt normally in any situation.


[ voice - locked to sam winchester ]

If you have a chance, I'd like to ask you something. [ mostly stuff on people and strong feelings of anger for extended periods, but hey. maybe they'll hit on something and it'll take ages and ages. better start now, right? ]


[ action ]

[ today deanna can mostly be found in her office, but there's also the time she heads for the ice cream parlor to grab a to-go cup of chocolate sundae and everything chocolate to take back while she thinks. she'll look distracted if anyone runs into her, but for normal therapy sessions, she acts completely normal. she can focus on what she needs to, even while distracted. for the most part. ]

[ video ]

[ Since Data's been affected, he's aware that he didn't receive a greeting message this morning. He therefore suspects that others may not have received such a message either - and those who have lost memories as opposed to gaining them, as he has, may be confused about their situation. So here he is, addressing the inmates - those who are in a position to notice may pick up on the fact that he's a bit more subdued than usual. ]

Greetings. I believe that those who have been affected by today's temporal disruption may be disoriented as to their present situation. Typically, new arrivals in the facility are greeted by a message explaining what has happened, but that does not appear to be the case today.

You are in a place known as the MarinaNova Asylum, having been brought here by as-yet undetermined means, under the supposition that we are being rehabilitated for crimes we have allegedly committed. There are two wardens who are generally responsible for managing the population, known as Conscienti and Veridical. You may speak with them at the kiosk in the center of the facility, in Sector 0. It does not presently appear that we have received any new arrivals today, but that our preexisting population has been afflicted in a way which alters the point in their timeline up to which they have experienced.

[ He tilts his head slightly then, considering that an adequate introduction, hopefully without being too overwhelming. ]

My name is Data; I am an inmate as you are. However, if there are any inquiries with which I can assist you, I will happily endeavor to do so.


( closed action )

[ ooc: Please pretend this was posted much earlier in the day thank you v much ♥ ]

[ training ]

The specified location for today's exercise, detailed in communiques to the Defense Force at large, wasn't far into Sector 6. It's unfortunate that they must meet here, but it had been the obvious choice for its open spaces, organic terrain, and relative seclusion. Data is there early, ensuring that a perimeter is well established and all safety precautions are in place. There is also, of course, a detailed emergency response plan on standby in his memory banks - an absolutely necessary precursor to his agreeing to hold the exercise here.

When he is satisfied with the course, he waits and makes himself available to any arriving members who may wish to approach him prior to the beginning of the exercise. Once everyone is present, a precisely calculated few minutes after the scheduled meeting time to allow for any stragglers, Data will step forward and address the attendees.

"Greetings, and thank you for coming. As you have likely been made to understand, the purpose of our assembly here is to encourage a higher level and increased efficiency of cooperation, communication, and coordination among the individuals comprising the Defense Force. As opposed to focusing on individual ability in combat, we will focus on the dynamics of the team as a whole, becoming more comfortable working with one another, and trusting each other in hazardous situations."

( cut for absurd length )


[ ooc: please assume announcements about this went out to the defense force over the past couple of days ic! just not much to play out with that, of course. jump in on the course or after, threadjack, go nuts! have fun!

also open to ALL DEFENSE FORCE MEMBERS regardless of your department! ]

[Ianto is in the library and based on the piles of books stacked around him he's been doing some research. So far he's had no luck but he's still a bit suspicious after the way Jack has been acting the last few days. It would be easy to dismiss it as just a bad mood but thanks to Torchwood he's in the habit of investigating things like this, even if it's probably nothing.]

Has anyone come across anything unusual lately? Something that might alter moods? I realize that's not much to go on, sorry.

[ For a moment he considers locking this away from Tyki Mikk, but that would mean acknowledging that he's scared and he can't do that. Instead he makes the transmission open, video and all and aside from being sans tie (which is unusual in itself) he looks fine. A little tired, but when isn't he?

Good thing no one can see his heavily bandaged right hand, right? ]

Hey. Just letting everyone know that Criminology class will be cancelled today, due to time constraints. Hopefully we'll be back up by day 292, but until then anyone who wants to catch up on the previous lectures can contact me or Artemis Crock for a copy of the compendium.

Thank you for your patience. [ A beat of hesitation, and then he adds. ]

Oh, and uhm... anyone who knows how to bake cookies? I'd really appreciate it if you could come down to the home ec room at the education center. I, uhm. I need some help.

[AM Pet Cafe]

The more she thought about it, the more sense it made. A dog would be quite useful. And so here she was deciding between the merit of an adult dog versus a puppy. The puppies were cute, and she had the time to train them. However, a puppy couldn't also protect her for a few months yet. The choice was ultimately made for her when a two year old pit bull walked on over and licked her hand. He sat on command, and was able to handle some basic commands. All in all, Martha walked out of the pet cafe with a leashed dog in one hand and a small bag of food and a bone in her other. The food wouldn't last too long, but she'd have time to get more before it was a problem.

[AM Around the Dome]

Martha spent most of the morning walking the dog, she named him Patch, back and forth from various stores to her rooms. He had a bowl, food, plenty of toys, a bed. Anyone encountering her along the way would note she was humming Row Row Row your Boat peppered with occasional commands.

[PM Clinic]

Martha sat at the desk with a book in hand, tossing a ball across the room for Patch to chase. When he was tired, he flopped down behind her chair, slurping up water from the bowl she now kept there. Of course, he wouldn't be allowed back in the rooms. But for now, he was just fine in the waiting room. She smiled to herself as he came back with the ball and began humming Row Row Row Your Boat again.

We have arrived at Day 287. This is notable for anyone who really enjoys that number for some inexplicable reason.

We do hope you enjoyed the egg hunt challenge and reaped the benefits as you saw fit. Maintenance bots are removing the last of the unclaimed ones as we speak.

The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it. —Arnold H. Glasow

(OOC: Kiosk requests will be handled by Veridical unless otherwise requested. Mail submissions go here. Check out today's Lost & Found Event information!)

Since meeting Ton Phanan at his and Chuck's housewarming party, Deanna has spent a good amount of time in her office, waiting for a proper time. She's got other patients, of course, and she fully expects some of them to show up one of these days, too. So today she's keeping busy with her counselor's notes and paperwork. She's always got something to do, but it would be nice if someone would come in for a scheduled or unscheduled session. Deanna much prefers getting the chance to speak with people, even if it's just to chat and not for a session. As long as those people don't mind when she has to put aside their talk for a patient who's just walked in.

People who come calling for her today will find her either in the front room doing paperwork or in the back making sure everything's set up all right. The furniture usually is; she just needs to keep herself occupied. Every so often, her mind drifts to thoughts of her husband and it gets a little tricky. The last thing she needs is for anyone to think that she's potentially upset about anything.

[Mid-morning]

Anyone walking through the marketplace midmorning might see Mal carrying a box. Or, if not the box, they might see him standing on the box, arms crossed, still, and looking very angry indeed. He refuses to get anymore punishments, but he's not going to be happy about doing what he's doing.

Anyone walking through the marketplace midmorning who happens to have some sense would probably stay away from him. Because poking angry bears never turns out for anyone...

[ The feed starts long before anyone speaks, lingers in eerie silence broken by the clicks of a stubborn lighter, the dry crackle of tobacco being set alight, the hollow intake of smoke in dead lungs. The trembling exhale, functioning as an initial indicator to just how rough and ragged his voice is when he does speak. Strained, like he's been screaming himself raw or perhaps the measured and stilted words are a product of him trying to keep himself from doing just that. ]

Are you happy now? Is the world all bright, full of puppydogs and rainbows again? Messing with things you don't understand... makes you feel powerful, doesn't it? Like you're in control. Like you know something. Let me tell you a lit'le secret: you don't know shit. You've never been in control and you never will be. Always somethin' else, calling the shots... whether you realize it or not.

The real monsters aren't out there... but in here. [ Punctuated by the hollow knock of knuckles against breastbone and then he cuts the feed. ]

[It is morning and here you have a big grouch with a side of groggy.]

Yesterday's crowd left me with a hangover. It is worse than normal hangovers and I might implode.

If that happens, someone make sure I get a nice funeral. And make sure the wardens are not invited because they're assholes. And please make sure someone kills them. I said please so that means you have to do it. I could try to come back to haunt them but I can't guarantee that I won't be busy terrorizing everyone else too.

And one last thing. [He holds up a finger.] A dog has the life. You people fall very easily for anything cute and small. Never trust a dog just because it's cute and small. It could be waiting to shit in your shoes.

[ Chuck never had all that many chances of throwing parties back home but she always wanted to play hostess and her time working at the Pie Hole only cemented that urge. So why not throw a housewarming brunch now that she's properly moved in with her prison boyfriend in their new apartment? The walls have been painted in bright and sometimes eyewatering colors, furniture has been hauled in, cabinets stocked with cutlery and cookware and plates and whatever else a house needs to be considered warmed in and the jungle of plants on the balcony has already started to spill into the rest of the apartment. Now that she's stopped being a cat, they couldn't be more ready for guests.

The invitations have been sent out to the entire population and if that's not enough, the door is kept open (with a puppy gate in place, Gadget is in a curious age) to let the delicious smells of food cooking out into the corridor. Inside there's a spread waiting of typical brunch-type foods: bacon, pancakes, an assortment of fruits, freshly baked monkey bread and muffins, quiche and of course a small selection of cup pies because how can there not be. There's also juice, coffee and tea, for man cannot live on solids alone.

Welcome in! ]

((ooc: complete and total mingle style — invitations have been sent out (in this dayweeks mail post, I think) so anyone who wants to stop by is more than welcome to whether you already have CR with the host couple or not. ))

[Baseball practice and the beach party are over or at least over for Kitty. The final pieces have fallen into place and they are as ready as they're ever going to be for this. No reason to drag it out.]

Who's ready to stuff a soul back inside a vampire?

Here's the plan. Listen up and you might want to rewind and replay it a couple of times. I'll make sure to speak with plenty of inflection to keep it interesting. We're going to have two primary locations.

The first is headquarters. Piper, Zatanna, Anya, and Bonnie are going to be preforming the spell. Kitty—the other one—is going to be there ready to phase them while they work just in case. We've also got a perimeter alarm I set up awhile back and some magic security fields, but I want some combat personnel on hand too. Sam, I'm volunteering you. We need you close to Rebecca in case we need to pick your brain about any last minute vampire knowledge. Tieria, it wouldn't hurt if you were there for advisory reasons yourself. Rebecca is going to be our main dispatch coordinator for this operation. Communication is key, right? Don't forget it. We're a team. We talk. It's a thing.

Now this is the part where some of you other combat kids who don't get a direct assignment step up and let me know you want headquarters protection duty. There is a chance we're not just dealing with Spike on this. Rose and Tyki both seem reluctant to let us have our way with him, and they are no joke. Rose is a vampire—strong, fast, fangs. You get the picture. Tyki can choose what he touches. It's a little like my phasing where he can be intangible but he has a lot more wiggle room when it comes to reaching inside someone and pulling things out. He's pretty close to indestructible and he has a blood-thirsty butterfly army. Which is actually true, not just a test to see if you're still listening. We don't know that there will be an attack but we want to be ready if there is. Also, no talking about the plan outside of this filter.

[Deep breath. She should have brought a bottle of water for this.]

The second important location is going to be the library. While this is happening we want to keep an eye on Spike. We've already got a special squad assigned to him and we'll need you to be there to keep him in line tomorrow night at fake-sundown. So that's me, Jack, Data, M'gann, and Wally. Jack is going to be taking point while we secure the area. Ianto is going to be running interference with anyone not involved who thought it was a good night to pick up a book.

That takes care of the mission, but everyone not volunteering to protect the headquarters needs to spread out through the rest of the sectors. We're just asking for trouble if we keep all of our efforts centralized, but you'll also be on call if something goes south on this spell. [It won't be needed to subdue Spike. She's confident her team can handle that, but if the spell has unexpected consequences or effects or someone else just decides it's a good night to make some trouble then they need to be ready.]

So, that's the plan. I feel like I need a lozenge. Who has questions? If I don't answer you Jack will.

(OOC: Plotting post/timeline of events. Everyone on the force should already know about this plan and has probably helped out in some way! Feel free to ask OOC questions over there if you feel a little behind! Jack may be jumping in!

EDIT Notifs are now off for this post. If you tag in please give me a heads up at charmedreality@gmail.com or on plurk at hauntedreality. Thanks!)