MarinaNova Asylum

Good morning. I know it's a bit early, but better to get a good start on one's day than not. For those who don't already know me, my name is Doctor Helen Magnus and I help run the clinic in Sector 3. We're here to help all your bumps and bruises if you ever need it.

I also wanted to extend an offer I've only recently decided to uphold. Some of you may recall my question on linguistics some time ago. Recently, I've been convinced to begin a study on Earth languages, specifically those known by the 21st century. I have a wide variety of languages available, so if you're at all interested, please do drop by the educational building, classroom 6 at 6pm on days ending in 2, 4, or 6. I would be more than happy to share what I know. If you have a specific language you would like to study, but aren't certain I know it, ask. I may surprise you.



[ later today, she can be found in the clinic as usual or heading for the sizzle and sear, as she wants a good cup of tea and that place reminds her of her not!date outing with jean-luc some time ago. ]




[ OOC: mistletoe kisses are reserved for picard. i'm not planning on doing scheduled posts for the language class, so feel free to assume those will start happening next dayweek. ]

|[ EDUCATIONAL FACILITY: ROOM 5 ]|

[The truth is Rudy really doesn't know the first thing about teaching, and he doesn't particularly care to figure it out; but this is a good excuse to set up a studio and get some brownie points with the powers that be. He's got to keep busy, after all.

He's in the studio early, setting up a few simple tableaux of items for his 'students' to draw or paint-- the ubiquitous bowl of fruit; a collection of random, mismatched glassware; a tumbled pile of loose fabric, draped over a wooden box; a bouquet of cut flowers laid on their sides.

As for himself, he's got a large pad of paper off to the side of the room, and by the time the class officially starts, he's already sketching vague charcoal lines.

Now it's a matter of seeing whether anyone shows up.]


|[ooc; backdated to early this dayweek~ this will be a bit more of a mingle, please feel free to bounce around in threads and do whatever! I will get around as much as I can and hopefully class on 258 will have a bit more substance.]|

[ Ah, what beautiful morning here in sector 4, the artificial sun, the little noises here and there around the amphitheater, the tall thin man in the bright orange jumpsuit that is sitting crouched next to a stone wall, muttering to himself. He turns the dial on the communicator. ]

What is this? You got the wrong man… I ain’t done half of that… [He taps the little headpiece in that light fashion everyone takes when trying to get something old to work once more.] Are you listening to me?

[ There is another tap for good measure before Facilier tries to reason with the Loa again and yes, that is a bit of a desperation in his usually smooth voice.] We had a deal! And I know that I haven’t really held up my end of the bargain but it was just a minor set back… Small part of a bigger operation..!

[ ooh: Facilier can be found wandering around sector 4, eventually ending up in 0 and 5. ]

Funny how they always pull the plug right when we get to the fun part. Nothing good lasts around here, does it?


[ Locked to Jack Harkness ]

Not. A. Word.


[ Locked to Rose. ]

We should go out tonight.

[Tear's always been up before the announcements or artificial sun. Habit born from training first thing in the day, even before eating or other concerns... until recently. Lately, she's risen early not to practice but to observe the facility and its cogs come to life. In order to take notes, to continue planning. To leave.

She's up to do the same like the other mornings before, though it becomes apparent soon enough that's this morning isn't remotely like always. Being as clockwork as she is herself, she knows when something is definitely up, when no rising light gradually comes when it's about time to or no obnoxious-- and supposedly witty-- commentary from one or the other Warden that she only barely listens to anymore.

Even setting aside being a prison veteran, she feels neither panic nor worry over it, though-- yet. In fact, as terrible as it might be, she wonders if it's actually luck, after everything. The unresponsive sentinels along the way to the central sector, and the fact that no more make their way out to the streets, only raise her hopes, as does the darkened kiosk. She otherwise ignores it as she runs past to her goal: the charging facility. Its door and exterior remain as fortified as ever, but there are no longer any functioning guard to act as discouragement. All the better for her.

Casting a small orb of light, she raises it high to illuminate her immediate area with a soft glow; while hardly a piercing beacon, it's noticeable enough to possibly attract any nearby inmates-- or other things lurking in the dark. But even if that, and the flashes as she begins to pelt the building with a barrage of fireballs, happen to be obscured, the sounds from it all should certainly bear investigating]

[ Today is a day where most would be at risk of oversleeping.The dome lies dark like in the dead of night. The sun hasn’t risen today, streetlights casting a dull yellow glow and occasionally flickering out into nothing, only to spark back to life a moment later. There is no electric flicker from the kiosk. The Wardens are still. The wardens are silent.

The dome isn’t silent. There is a rustling of leaves, a snapping of twigs. Claws, scraping against concrete. The inhuman screech of an animal in peril, an animal hunting, an animal hunted. A screech that promises sharp claws and sharper teeth and blood.

The dome isn’t still either. There is something moving, thick as a shadow, tangible as a chill down your spine. Something that doesn’t belong here, something that snuck in when no one was looking. A boogeyman under the bed. A ghost in the closet. A will o’ the wisp, blinking in and out of existence under the flickering streetlights. Whatever it is it’s moving, leaving a trail of cold, dead fear wherever it passes. Something dark. A shadow so pitch black that it blots out the very lights in your heart, dragging your fears out screaming and kicking, reducing even the strongest, toughest man to a blubbering baby.

Perhaps best to stay in bed today, Marina. ]

((OOC: Event information HERE. We ask the winners of the raffle to fill out a simple survey and then tag into the Vapor thread HERE! Happy mingling, Marinanites! ))

[ As mentioned by the wardens yesterday, Eric is hosting a costume party. The Blood Shack is lit by candles for the evening (he remembers the last party he had being interrupted by a power outage) and a small buffet of sorts has been erected. It furnishes mostly hors d'oeuvre and finer foods, things that Caroline picked out as Eric hasn't a clue about human food.

There is blood on tap (naturally) as well as a full bar. Eric has made certain to include water, sodas, tea and various non-alcoholic drinks.

The jukebox is playing a variety of music, but patrons are always invited to pick out their own music. The dance floor has a disco ball and there's the ever present 'dancing' pole on stage if someone gets brave. Tables are scattered about as are sofas and chairs so that people have a choice where they sit.

Enjoy yourself, mix, mingle and admire everyone's costume and everyone is required to have a costume in order to be here. ]

[ooc: I've turned off replies so if you want Eric's attention please tag his thread. Mingle here, have fun and be merry? Everyone is invited, including and especially newbies. ]

[ Considering the nature of the group, it's unsurprising that it is being held in The Blood Shack. There is a sign on the door announcing that the bar is closed for therapy adding that if you're here for the 'Struggling with my humanity of the lack thereof' therapy session, please come in and make yourself at home. Someone (not Eric) has made over the bar so that it looks a great deal like an AA room rather than a bar. The tables are arranged into a square shape (yes, the way you used to sit in school). The bar is open, but the alcoholic beverages have been locked up. The blood taps are available and there's a selection of bottled blood sitting on top of the bar. It is clearly self serve. There's also a selection of pastries on the bar for those that like a little nibble with their blood. Next to this is a large fishbowl filled with folded slips of paper. There's a small sign next to it that urges each participant to take a question from the fishbowl, help yourself to some refreshment and have a seat.

On their folded slips of paper, participants will find such questions:

Were you ever human? If so, when was that? What are you now?
How do you define 'humanity'?
What is your opinion of humans? Why? How did you develop this opinion?
Discuss the relationships you currently have with humans.
What is the most important factor in maintaining your humanity? Do you feel it's important to maintain?
Has there been a change in your humanity, for the better or worse? What prompted that?
Discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of humanity.

Just in case anyone has any doubt that we're here for business and not pleasure, the jukebox has been locked down as well.]

ooc:as with other posts, don't feel limited by these questions. Feel free to add your own and assume these are just some of the questions in the fishbowl. Mingle, make new threads, interrupt threads and enjoy! Note that your character does not have to be non-human to be here! Humans struggle with their humanity sometimes too!

[Anyone brought to this group will find that there are tables set up around the perimeter of the room, one with snacks and drinks, some even with art supplies on them, while the chairs are all pushed into a circle in the middle. There is a projector set up to one side and it flashes images every so often onto the wall. Images of children, adults, the elderly with the young--some of them more formal, posed, others candid as the brief moments of life they were. Some of these images might even be familiar to certain inmates. It shouldn't be hard for them to pick out their own families after all.

In the center of the circle of chairs is a table with a large bowl of treats, wrapped candies of various sorts. Hard candies, caramels, chocolates, taffy. Beside the bowl is a set of cards with instructions written on the back of them.

"Select a card and read the question aloud to the group. Whoever answers the question gets to choose a reward from the bowl and then select the next card. Continue until all of the cards have been viewed or the bowl is empty. More than one person can answer--the first to respond gets to select the next card. If no one volunteers, the card picker gets to select a person."

The cards themselves have a variety of questions and tasks, but they all have a very similar theme.]

( Possible Questions )
{OOC: Mingle! These questions are not the only ones. Feel free to come up with more. Also the candy in the bowl is spiked just like the pastries and coffee, so the more characters eat...you get the picture.}

[ Although the other day was far from as traumatic as the last inmate influx, it left Reid a little pensive. Made him think of extreme aggressors, of 50 000 chess games, of expecting different outcomes in a game that would only end with check mate, but unlike a few years ago this is not a depressive thought. Instead, it makes him crave interaction and so he hits up the network. ]

Hey, guys. I was wondering... there's quite a few of us here that know how to play chess. How would you feel about an impromptu tournament? Nothing fancy, just... I don't know, anyone who's interested could drop by the library and we'll set up a few games. Bring a board, if you got one.

[ A bit of an awkward smile and then he cuts the feed. ]

(( OOC: MINGLE-STYLE! Email notifs are off, so thread to your hearts content! Reid will have a video response thread here and an action response thread here for your Reid-y needs! ))

[Puck's voice sounds cheerful, which isn't an unusual thing for Puck's voice to do, but to those who know him very well - not that there are many in the dome - it might actually sound a little more upbeat than usual.]

So it's been how many technical difficulties in how many days now? Not that I'm complaining [quite the opposite] or trying to imply someone else could do a better job, oh no... but I think it's about time we started taking bets on what it's going to be next.

Can we have a flood? How many other prisons can boast having had an underwater flood? [He playfully clear his throat.] --Probably one or two, considering how the prisons around here seem to multiply like cockroaches. But nevermind that. Underwater flood. Come on, esteemed overlords, you know you want it.

And from one topic to another... isn't there a little lamb out there who thinks something is a bit overdue?

[Klara is in the library, where she spends hours of each day. She loves to read and the more educational books provide a lot of information she had not been able to receive back home. Like medical books. Today she's having trouble with the fact many of the books she's looking for are on the top shelves or near enough to them. She's not very tall, even for her "age," and the stepstool she found wasn't still left her two shelves short of her target. She stood on her tiptoes and took a look around, trying to see if anyone else was around. When she thinks the coast is clear, she jumps up, using a bit of extra force to get herself up to the book she wanted, only the force used put too much pressure on the books, shoving many of them through the shelves and off into the aisle on the other side.

After the mess she tried to clean up in the library, Klara decided maybe it would be better to spend time outside instead. She brought a large box full of odds and ends--bells, wire, wooden carvings of suns and planets, a bag of sea shells, and small thin metal pipes--and sat outside under a tree in Sector 0. It was to the side of one of the food stands which gave her a good view of most of the doors to the other sectors. She could people watch and work on her wind chimes at the same time. If she breathed in too deeply she could smell everyone nearby and it made her tense and wanting, but she kept herself sitting right there the grass. If she was going to try and work through her urges, the only way she could was by making herself be around people and get used to it...right?

Hopefully.]

{OOC: Feel free to almost get hit on the head by books in the library or notice the girl making home made wind chimes in Sector 0. She's a little hungry, but will be trying not to bite anyone who comes by.}

[He'd been debating starting a class of his own of some sort when Sam had asked him to guest lecture. The topic was an easy--if not somewhat controversial--one for Zero to tackle. His views aren't exactly agreed upon by everyone, no matter how much they have changed during his time in Marina. Zero has been in the facility for longer than almost everyone else, remembers his entire stay, and has interacted with vampires from almost every world--even if he was one of the only ones to know they were a vampire. More importantly, he takes a personal interest in each of their home worlds and how everything works.

He's even befriended more than a few of them. Lives with and is sort of dating one.

He also kills them for a living and is known in the facility for his hatred of them--all while secretly being one of them.

He looks around the room at the number of attendee's for the popular subject. Controversial indeed.]

I wonder how many of you showed up just out of curiosity to see me be the one to do this lecture?

[He pushes away from the desk and moves to the white board. Uncapping a marker, Zero scribbles a single word across the surface before beginning. VAMPIRES.]
( Vampires )
Questions and Discussion
Are there any questions?

[ooc: per Haunt's request. Mingle to your hearts content. Questions and before and after class can be found inside.]

[ Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening! A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland inside-out snowglobe at the bottom of the sea!

The prison is sparkly-white on this fine, crisp day, covered in a thick, fluffy layer of pristine snow. Bots are keeping the walkways free and safe for organic travel, but it isn't hard to find spaces fit for snowball fights, fort-building or snow angels! If the chill gets to you, there's plenty of hot, seasonal beverages readily available, along with other christmas-y snacks. Maybe you'd like to visit the Santa exhibit at the museum, or do a little last-minute shopping for presents? Perhaps you're already set to celebrate the holiday!

Whatever it is you want to do, this is the place to do it! ]

(( ooc: Mingle to your hearts contents! Event info can be found over here! ))

( Back to the pits after a day in the sun )

...What do you do when you...really really want something, but you know you shouldn't have it? Like...being allergic to chocolate, but you really love chocolate. How do you make yourself stop wanting things that are bad for you?

[Or bad for other people. Her voice is hesitant, but she can't think of what else to do. After an evident pause she also asks]

And...is there anyone who is good at...wood carving? Such as carving words and nice, clear designs into wood? I want to decorate my house, but I'm not good at it. [A truth and a lie.] I can draw what I want for someone else...if they're willing.

[She adds a bit quickly.] I can do something for you in return, too.

[ It's a wonderful, stormy day here in Squall Asylum and vacation time is officially over! Your gracious overlords have worked out a light itinerary for you today and they expect you to keep it.

Get in line to pick up your food rations for the day. Eat breakfast if you have time for it, or perhaps you'd rather skip this one time and save yourself the discomfort during the two hours of exercise that follow. Jogging, jumping jacks or perhaps impromptu team sports, whatever you end up doing you bet you'll come out exercised in the end!

Should you not want to participate... well. We have ways to make you join in. Anyone reluctant to get their heart rate up will get a helpful electric prod by one of the bots until they comply. Tough cookies.

Luckily you'll get a chance to wash off that sweat (hope you're not shy, the wash room can get crowded) before it's time for the silent game for an hour, followed by lunch. The day is not over yet though! There's still time for a couple of hours of hard labor tending to the crops, doing laundry or perhaps breaking bricks in the yard. To make sure none of the inmates are broken this is also the time for mandatory physical checkups — bots will guide you to the hospital. No ifs or buts. The violation of personal privacy is for your own good, we promise.

Isn't it nice, being in prison? ]

((ooc: This mingle takes place during all of day 222. A bullet-point for of the itinerary can be found here, where we also encourage you to direct any questions. Event info is here if you need it. ))

[ Danger! Danger, Will Robinson! The dome is under attack and whether you like it or not, all inmates need to gather at the designated safe zones! Just follow the flashing lights and try not to go deaf from the blaring sirens.

And then? Then we wait and pray that the dome glass doesn't break. ]

(OOC: Links! Sector 1: Main Athletic Complex | Sector 2: The Education Center | Sector 3: Pa-Ching Arcade | Sector 4: The Movie Theater | Sector 5: The Museum

OOC Information | Veridical's announcement

[Evening falls, finding Eric at the Blood Shack as per usual. There's a bit of a subdued manner about the entire place as well as it's host. There are hurricane lanterns lit and scattered about the room. In preparation for 'what if' there are large tubs with ice in them. Bottles of beer, soda, water and even liquor are sunk down into the ice. There's a chalkboard menu behind the bar advertising Hurricanes, Blood Hurricanes and a small assortment of bar food: pizza, buffalo wings, cheese sticks and something called a Blooming Onion that Spike seemed to have an affinity for. It's all takeout, purchased and arranged for ahead of time rather than anything remotely fresh. Few people know how to prepare for a disaster like residents of Louisiana or thousand year old vampires.

He addresses the video screen with a charming smile and a dry tone.]

The Blood Shack is, of course, open for business. I've taken the liberty of preparing for the worst. Do come by and have a hurricane or a bloody hurricane with us. [If you can't guess what a bloody hurricane is, you don't want to ask] To borrow a famous British motto during a disaster: Keep calm and carry on.

[Caliborn is somewhere behind the recording apparatus of his communicator. All that is visible is a blank Sector 2 apartment wall.]

Have you buried yourself in some closet. Wrapped in a blanket. Hoping for the big scary monster to go away. Or maybe you've just distracted yourself? With some bullshit I probably don't care about. So don't share.

Then, hey.

Let. Me. Help.

[Now it's pointing out the window, soaking in a full view of the occasional bit of tentacle. The sounds are not too strong yet, but that's why Caliborn is a helper. His androgynous, sharply dramatic voice intones in time with the pounding.]

Clang.

Clang.

Clang.

[And then he turns the camera around on himself, but only so that the lower half of his face is visible. The part with the lopsided and mean toothy grin, and the incoherently adorable red bowtie.]

How long. Until it breaks through. And we all die?

Do you think it will eat us. Or does it just. Want to taste. Your fear?

Welcome or welcome back to Paranormal Studies.

[Sam starts off with another disclaimer-type comment for the new students as he did at the beginning of his last class about how this isn't a class on hunting.]
( Wendigo )

Questions & Discussion

Okay, I think that's everything I had. Has anyone else ever heard of or encountered a Wendigo or something similar? Or are there any questions?

(OOC: Backdated to late afternoon. Mingle style. Notifs are off so tag Sam during class with questions or catch him before or after. Use your discretion with the links provided. Sam didn't necessarily cover every detail, but feel free to bring more into it. Warnings for talk of cannibalism and torture.)