MarinaNova Asylum

[You know the phrase about waking up on the wrong side of the bed? Well, today you wake up exactly where you planned to, just not how you planned to. Taller, blonder, now with dangerous and unpredictable powers? So maybe the phrase about not feeling comfortable in your own skin applies more today. After all, it's not exactly your skin is it?]

(OOC: Use this mingle to run into people anywhere in the dome. Body swap info.)

[ having had no desire to be locked into kissing whoever entered his classroom on day 255, toxicology was not held for a day— but now it's quite back in action, and with a particularly special topic. he's also considering incurring a ban on tribbles in the classroom, and any present will be thoroughly side-eyed. ]

I have made a point to familiarize you with foundational toxicology "classics"— hemlock and arsenic, thus far, and I assure you that strychnine and nightshade and their many fellows will be given their opportunity in due time. Today, however, I shall address a man-made toxin.
( ❝The absence of a thing: this can be as deadly as the presence. The absence of air, eh? The absence of water? The absence of anything else we're addicted to.❞ )

[ It's now or never and although he was hoping that some time would push that towards now rather than never, Reid really doesn't feel like he's ready. He feels raw and exhausted and although he's pushed himself to go out and get some clothes that aren't borrowed from Karev's closet, he's so not in a place where public announcements are possible.

But he has to. Now or never. Movements dull, he reaches for the communicator. ]

...░m back. [ A stretch of static-y silence. ] I'm so░▒y.

[ An uncertain voice comes on the network; despite his native time period, he's actually dealt with this kind of communication before, but this device is something else entirely. Not at all like what they had in the City. ]

Uh. Hello?

[ Well, that's one place to start. ]

I'm… I'm not exactly sure how I got here, but. Hi. My name is Todd. I, uh... I was just in a place called the City, and I... well, I don't know if the door brought me here, or if I was just taken here, but. Either way, I'm here now.

[ He's nervous, and there's a good reason for it - one he voices after a slight pause. ]

Neil? Are you here?

Rowan groaned in pain, having been forcefully woken up by hitting the ground. That was a first for him. He had a queen sized bed, how did he end up on the ground? Pushing himself up to a sitting position, he looked around. Oh, that's why he was on the ground. Who's bright idea was it for him to sleep on a park bench? Wait, why was he in a park, and not at home? Did he have one too many drinks and just passed out somewhere? Oh this was making his head hurt...

And then the welcome message. He managed to get through the opening statements, but when the list of his supposed crimes came up, he was done. So done. He pulled the communicator off of his face, then sat there staring at the strange device, contemplating everything and muttering to himself.

"Crazy technology, overalls ripped off from every prison show ever, waking up in the middle of a park with no knowledge of how I got here... Clearly, either someone is really good at coming up with elaborate pranks, or I've gone crazy."

[ It is a gorgeous day down here at the bottom of the sea and what better day to have an Olympics! The obstacle course is set up, the towels are fluffed, the medals have been polished to a high sheen and every orange within sight has been sliced.

Okay. Maybe not every orange. A lot of them. Enough to fuel a whole prison full of athletes, so athlete away! We can't waste all these oranges! ]


((ooc: Event information can be found here! There will be no individual threads for the separate events, but you are encouraged and welcome to detail in your headers or starter tags what your characters are up to! ))

[Audio | Encrypted to Defense Force]

[How often does she use audio instead of video?]

I want to make some changes to our structure, but this is up for discussion and input so don't go carving anything into stone yet.

We're having trouble balancing some of the combat teams with members leaving and the prison isn't exactly tiny, but it's not giant and sprawling either, so I think we should consolidate into two regular teams and a specialty, auxiliary team for sector 6 investigations.

I want to combine sectors 0, 1, 2 and 3 under Jack. And sectors 4, 5, and 6 under me. Then Jack and I both need to choose one or two members to keep trained and up to speed on everything. [In case we disappear.]

We'll work out who can also be part of the sector 6 team later once we get the kinks worked out of this. [Not a top priority.]

Deanna and M'gann I want to talk to both of you about the interview team. [Since she's suddenly alone there.]

We also need more volunteers on dispatch until we can get it restaffed.

[She clears her throat. She can get through the rest of this. One word in front of the other until she gets there.] I also want to make Data the head of the investigation team [the pause isn't long, but it is meaningful] since Dr. Spencer Reid is lost in the stabilizer.


[Audio/Action | Open]

Reid is gone. Keep your condolences. [This has been a courtesy call from his grieving girlfriend, and that's all you get. You might see her out working though. Keeping busy might be her friend right now. DF headquarters, training hall, library, educational facility, and yeah, the Devil's Compass.]


(OOC: Like she said, this isn't in stone yet, so keep your eyes on the Defense Force sections of the upcoming Sunday Speakeasys for more details! Join the DF here. Current roster. Notes on Reid's disappearance)

[ Another day, another criminology class. Even though this is his eleventh class, Reid is noticeably nervous today. Sensitive subject. Also a potentially fuller class than usual, thanks to the school fair. ]

Today marks the beginning of a series of lectures on mental illnesses and delusions common to serial killers, starting with schizophrenia. Those of you who weren’t around for our neuro-psychology class on day 247 or who need a refresher course are welcome to grab handouts with the relevant information. It’s not necessary, but I recommend that you study up on basic neurology as these classes can get a little technical?

Thank you.

( In todays lecture... schizophrenia )

(( The Criminology Class is held in an open lecture format, meaning that there's no ic signup process involved! Feel free to mingle at your leisure — email notifs are off but Reid has a thread HERE if you wish to hit him up. For more information about the setup and purpose of the class, go HERE. The attached links are a full account of the entire lecture so feel free to use them as topics of discussion! ))

[ Although she wasn't out and about during the last installment of mistletoe themed robotics, she knows what they are. Actually, she may understand how they function better than anyone in the dome, save for Smith — after all, she's programmed a few. You would think this inside information would make her choose some other day to walk among the inmates, but Mary is a creature who values experiences and what point is there to have made yourself a human meatsack if you never get to use it?

So she's out there. Everywhere. At the coffee shop or strolling the street, suggestively picking at a corn dog in sector 0 or basking in the sunlight on the steps of the library. Anywhere you want to encounter her, she'll be there. Traveling is so much easier when you run the place. ]


((OOC: Smooch an engineer! Everyone is welcome — underaged characters will get motherly headkisses. Form an orderly line, please. ))

[The Devil's Compass is no longer littered with candles, save perhaps a few on the bar that add a little something to the dim lighting that recreates the old-world style of tavern the place is modeled after. It's actually quite clean otherwise, with Tyki lounging in one of the booths with a bent knee up on the seat and the camera looking at him sitting there with a cigarette drooping out of the corner of his mouth.]

If you haven't been to the Devil's Compass yet for the drink or my company, I'll give you two further incentives.

[Sidelong he reaches to crush out the cigarette, a plume of smoke coiling upward.]

One, there's fresh pie thanks to the lovely Charlotte.

[His eyes flick up to the camera with a dangerous glint while his lips curl.] Second, this week we've also got a barmaid. She doesn't bite but she might scratch.

[And so Tyki's bar is open as always but with a mingle! And for the next week Kitty Pryde (the elder) will be roped into being the Compass' barmaid due to a bet gone wrong. Tyki will be exceptionally cheerful about this, more often behind the bar than usual (which in itself is fairly often) at least while she's on the job. This means he'll be rather friendly and talkative. Best time to meet him, really. He'll have a thread right here.]

So, barring further unfortunate invasions of prehistoric beasts or other disasters, I’m happy to announce I’ll be starting an art class tomorrow. Short notice, I know, but don’t worry if you can’t clear your schedule; latecomers will be more than welcome. This isn’t going to be too formal, anyway. Days ending in fours and eights, starting at nine in the morning sharp... but I’ll keep the studio open through the afternoon, unless someone kicks us out. Classroom five. All skill levels and media are welcome-- I’ll set up a still life or something, unless any adventurous souls want to talk about modeling.

Questions, comments? I’m not going to do sign-ups-- just show up if you’re interested, and bring along some appropriate supplies. Paints, clay, anything you like. At the very least a pencil and pad will get you a long way.

|[ooc; official course info here. Will post a mingle-type thing for it next week <3]|

[ Closed audio to: Rebecca Crane, Penelope Garcia, Sam Winchester, Alex Karev, Piter de Vries, Yuuki Kuran, Korra, Artemis Crock. ]

[ It's not the darkness that scares him, but the inherent absence of light. Perfectly normal, rational fear that makes it absolutely okay for his heart beat as rapidly as it is, fingers trembling from the effort to keep goddamn calm because he is past this. It's fine. Just checking in. Everything is going to be just fine. ]

Please tell me you're okay.


[ ACTION — OPEN ]

[ FBI agents aren't ones to sit at home and cower and soon as Reid has made sure that the people he cares about are safe and well, he makes a valiant effort to at least get himself to the Defence Force HQ where he can at least be of use. Armed with nothing but a flashlight and the reflexes of a life-long bully victim he braves the dark and the raptors, keeping close to the buildings so he can slip inside should the bloody reptiles come too close.

Of course, that won't help much if he finds himself in a fear zone... ]

[ 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! ))

[There are multiple peg boards set up in Sector 0 today—some tall, some short, some on wheels, some long, some magenta with glitter! But what do they all have in common? They are covered in pictures with familiar faces.

Maybe the face is many years younger and surrounded by family or maybe it's a shot taken in Marina (version 1 or 2!). Maybe it was a time when no cameras were present and yet here is the evidence of that moment in all it's candid glory.

You could have grabbed that really embarrassing or incriminating one and thought you were safe only to find out there were three duplicates! Sweet, horrific, sad, casual, posed, past, or present—the wardens are good at variety, so enjoy!]

(OOC: Plotting post for sharing pictures people might find on the boards.)

[ it’s early— not obscenely so, but early enough that even the most diligent students probably haven’t yet made their way to the education center for piter’s lecture. he has different plans for tox today— think of it as a day off of sorts. ]

Do forgive me, but in light of recent events, I'll be forgoing a standard lecture this afternoon to address the prison at large.

[ the view is of a classroom— some may recognize it as the tox room, in fact— and of everyone’s favorite teacher sitting primly at his desk, looking down his nose into the camera. ] I realize that there are many cultures mingling in this dome of ours. Where, then, I must ask, is it customary to consume whatever one may find strewn about? [ he chuckles, elbow settling on the lacquered surface of the desk as he props his chin up on his fist. ] No stranger to hedonism am I, but senseless hedonism can so easily end in a poisoning. Are we so incapable of controlling our most base urges that we must, like caged beasts, eat whatever is tossed to us through our bars?

Now, make no mistake: your well-being is of no consequence to me. I am not your protector— simply an onlooker. [ his shoulders rise fluidly into a shrug. ] You all do make quite the fine test group, at the very least.

[ after another chilly chuckle, the feed clicks off. despite not holding a lecture today, piter is hanging out in the room he’s re-purposed for toxicology and will be slithering around the educational facility and the library for a few hours. bothering him is, as always, highly encouraged. ]

[ There were blankets set out in the lush parks of the prison, and on top a feast was spread out. Fine china and chubby pots of tea, delicate cake trays filled with tarts, biscuits and sandwiches; yes, anything the hungry and weary prisoners could wish for was laid out for their convenience.

The sun was shining brightly and a playful breeze rustles the leaves of the trees. Surely a wonderful day for a tea party! ]


((ooc: Mingle for your mingling needs! Event information can be found here! ))

[ Too bad no one invented smello-vision, or this transmission would be a whole lot more attention catching. Charlotte lets the camera pan over her kitchen table that is practically overladen with an assortment of pies: full size and cup, three-plum and pear with gruyere. Maybe she got some of Ned's stress baking or maybe prison life is just a little too boring today. ]

So... I think I went just a little bit overboard. I was supposed to bake some pies for a friend, but I guess she's not here anymore... at least, I haven't seen her around. [ A quiet thought to Dawn, one of her first friends and also the first to go. ] Either way, I have a lot more pie than I need.

Anyone want a slice? I'm in Apartment [ Number ] in Sector 4. I'll keep the door open — just follow the smell!

[ It's been a long day. An eternity or perhaps just a few minutes, seconds, heartbeats since he woke up to an empty bed and an even emptier apartment. It wasn't too hard to swallow back the panic at first, keep it at bay with positive thinking and the stubborn task of looking in every nook and cranny, of testing the line over and over and over again because sooner or later he would turn up. He'd pick up the call. He was probably just busy, or out in Sector 6 or taking a bath.

He'd show up, sooner or later.

Morning turns to day turns to evening and he's still alone. By now the panic is all-consuming, squeezing at his heart until he can't even breathe. Fingers shaking, Aidan flicks on the audio feed. One last ditch effort. ]

Has anyone- [ But he stops himself there. Sometimes you know the answer all too well. So well that you don't want it confirmed more than you've already done yourself. He draws a deep breath, steadies himself for another short minute. ]

If anyone wants t' know... I know he had a few friends here. Probably more than he knew. Helix is...

Helix is gone.

[ With that he cuts the feed, abruptly, tugs the headpiece off just as frantically before heading down to the beach. He can't think of any other place to go. ]


((ooc: Anyone is welcome to find him down at the beach! Audio responses will be icly delayed seeing as he's pretty damn heartbroken, but they will be responded to eventually. ))

[ ooc: A little forward dated so that this is an early evening edition of class in keeping with Eric's hours. Treat this as a mingle. Notifs are off so if you want to speak with Eric directly tag into one of his threads. I'll make him available for chit chat after class and for a Q&A]

[ Eric steps up in front of the class. He’s dressed in a grey pinstriped suit and black shirt. The collar of the shirt is open at the neck. It’s something he’d wear for one of Nan’s PR campaigns, and truthfully this feels much like one of those, with one exception: he doesn’t intend to pander to anyone. He’d gotten the impression Spencer wanted the truth, and he intends to give it to these people as well. When he’d begun discussing vampire psychology with Spencer Reid a couple of weeks ago, he’d never expected it to turn into a class. The idea of it amused him, as did the idea that he could be honest about things rather than read a script and smile charmingly until someone yelled cut. He looked out to the crowd, picking out the faces he knew then put on that oh-so-charming smile.]

Some of you know me, but I’ll introduce myself for those that don’t. I’m Eric Northman. I run the Blood Shack here in the dome and I’m a thousand year old vampire. [ Never let it said that Eric doesn’t like to be dramatic. His fangs descend at the last bit and he grins, letting everyone get a good look at them. Seconds later the fangs are gone and the charming smile is back. ]

I’m here today because Mr. Reid requested that I talk a little bit about vampire psychology. Apparently this is a topic of discussion among the Defense Force. I’d like to set some misconceptions right. I suppose, first and foremost, I should acknowledge that the bulk of my knowledge deals with vampires in my world. I realize there are different types of vampires here in the dome and there is the possibility of the psychology, as well as “the rules” [ yes, he did use air quotes] varying. That being said, I’m going to jump right in.

I believe the most interesting question Mr. Reid and I discussed that day was whether vampires could be held to the same lawful standards as human, from a psychological point of view. The simple answer is yes. As you will be able to see in a demonstration I’ll conduct in a moment, I do not turn into a raving monster around blood. I do not lose control and I don’t slaughter willy nilly. [ There’s a smirk, a look of amusement. Sookie might’ve helped him with this lecture. Willy nilly was her contribution. ]

We discussed the idea that humans are cattle to vampires and just as a human would not be held responsible for the slaughter of a cow, we should not be held responsible for the slaughter of a human. While that idea isn’t entirely wrong, [ He pauses, as if considering his next comment ] many of you are cattle as far as many of us are concerned—that idea is flawed. I’ve actual experience with actual cattle from my days as a human and I’ve yet to see cattle redeem their entire races with one action as I’ve seen the occasional humans do. Humans are capable of much more than they generally accomplish. Cattle are not.

[ He looks directly out to the crowd. ] You are food, but a few of you have the ability to be so much more. Enough about you, on to more about vampires. [ He dismisses the subject with a wave of his hand. ] People forget that vampires were human once. I had a wife, I had children, I had parents and subjects and friends and enemies. [ So yes, for any of you wondering, he is a king, or was at one point] Because we were once human, we’re like humans in some ways. There are vampires who enjoy the arts, those that enjoy being social [ He’s thinking of Caroline here ] and those of us that enjoy mayhem and murder. Yes, being a vampire does allow you to get in touch with the mayhem and murder side of things. Blood is intoxicating in a way that alcohol wishes it could be. A flood of blood is enough to make one practically giddy and to be honest, I spent my younger days knee deep in it. However, I was fortunate to have a maker that instilled humanity in me and showed me the benefit of controlling my urges. Humans are brilliant inventors. The world has come a very long way since I was human, and I’d like to enjoy those advances. Controlling my urges allows me the ability to do just that. Are there days I’d still like to kill everyone in the room? [ A smirk, a glance about the crowd and a wink]

Of course.

In short, yes, we can control ourselves and yes, control generally comes with age, but there are some of us born with extraordinary control. I need approximately two pints of blood a day. Anything more is just gluttony.

All of that being said, vampires shouldn’t be governed by humans. In my world, we have the Authority of which I happen to be a Chancellor. We deal with vampires who get out of control, lay down a series of guidelines and provide a chain of authority for vampires. We’ve got the ‘muscle’ so to speak to enforce the guidelines. Humans simply don’t have that, nor do humans garner enough respect from the vampires to enforce anything. After all, you’d hardly take orders from your hamburger. [ By the grin on his face, it’s meant to be a joke. ]

Now, I did promise you a demonstration. Once that’s over I’ll open the floor for questions. Don’t bother asking how to kill me because I won’t answer those.

Hey. Terry McGinnis. It's been a while since I spoke up here, I think, but I've got an open-ended question.

Don't read too much into it. I'm not a super scientist or wizard or anything, so all you get for answering it is making both of us marginally less bored. But I could use a little less boredom. Sports and patrols and working out only do so much for a guy.

Anyway, here goes: Tell me about space where you're from. How many planets have people been to, what other species have you met? How long have you had faster-than-light travel?

Even if you're not from Earth. I wanna hear about alien's aliens too.