Just Another Night at the Lab [Closed]

[Kari Muffin]

Rocky blinked. That was a fantastic reason to research what she had been researching. She had an amazing society changing goal. All Rocky wanted to do was fly, it seemed sort of selfish now. Though he knew it always had been selfish. This just made it more apparent.

"I think, if anyone can cure the world, you can." He grinned at her. He certainly meant what he said. She seemed determined enough to save the world if she wanted to. "You know, I can't accept this as a gift. I'll give you a sample of the immunosuppressant drug I came up with, and some notes on the formula. Sound fair enough?"

The raccoon swished is tail as he refrained from blushing. "You know, we should talk more often. I had no idea how awesome neighbors could be," he grinned again, trying not to be awkward. Somehow anything beyond simple polite sociability eluded him. This was probably one of the few times he hadn't ranted about research and nothing more.

[danishweasel]

"Ya think? Geez, well...thanks! That really means a lot. Most people, ya know, when I say stuff like that sorta look down on me, saying that it's crazy, that I'm out of my gourd, that it can't be done...And while I'll admit the first two are spot-on, it miffs me when people say things like 'impossible.' That's just an excuse for scaredie cats and lazy bums. But seeing what you're up to, you don't listen to those types either. And I know, sometime in the future, you'll be dodging clouds and riding thermals."

Her tail wag was back and in full force. It was nice to have someone look at her research in a good light. Then again, Rocky probably didn't know what counted under the umbrella of 'ailment.' It was probably better that he didn't, either. But the possibility of someone who she might be able to call a friend...it blanked out those other concerns, pushed them to the far back of her mind where they wouldn't bother her.

"That'd be fantastic! It'll make my testing a heck of a lot easier. And I totally agree! It's great being able to talk to somebody who doesn't talk about research all the time. I mean, it's all well and good and some of it's super-interesting, but after a while, it starts to make the head swim. You know...we could talk more now if you wanna. I mean, it's peachy if you've got more work ta do and all..."

It was strange. For the most part, she didn't stick too long in conversations with other Corvies. Mainly because she didn't want to get stuck in an impromptu oral reading of someone's dissertation. Rocky wasn't like that. Even the goal of his research was unique: to fly. That and while he was around, she didn't get the uneasy prickers across the skin, like she and her work were being judged. She was warm and cozy and that was a feeling she didn't want to leave right away.

[Kari Muffin]

The raccoon smiled. It had been a while since he smiled about something other than a break through. For once he felt like he was a kid again, and that he was happy just for the sake of being happy.

"Between cleaning my lab and having an actual conversation with someone who isn't judging me just because of my crazy dream of flight, I'd take the conversation any day. And anyway, nothing is impossible in Covistowne. I saw a living doll once." Rocky prevented himself from shuddering. That wasn't a good experience, but it was an interesting one.

He hadn't actually shared it with anyone. Just because they would probably think he was crazy. He was surprised he even brought it up, but why not go with it? It was something interesting that had nothing to do with research. "It was a living doll. It had a personality, it spoke, it even hugged me. I think the woman who made it was studying immortality. Maybe you know the story about Cassiel and her run in with the Queen of Hearts?"

[danishweasel]

"A living doll? No way..."

Ataxia certainly didn't not believe him, but the claim was way out there. That ranked right up there with tales of ghosts and dragons and other fairy tales. Besides that, being able to make a "living" doll...what would that take?

"How could someone make something like that? And give it a personality...? At least it's the kind of doll that gives hugs and not anything bad. Ooh, you met the maker? And she's interested in immortality. Pretty tricky business, that. Though I can't really see the pluses to staying here forever. It'd probably get kinda dull after a while. Anyway, crazy stuff...And no, I don't know that story. I don't keep up with much news outside my field, shame to say. Mind filling me in?"

She was on her feet now, too excited to keep still and sitting down. It sounded like some story in a book, except, according to Rocky, it was real!

[Kari Muffin]

Rocky grinned. Someone who didn't disbelieve him or chide him for saying such a thing. It was nice.

"I met the doll. Unfortunately his maker was a pile of left over bones. The doll however, was very happy to see me. In fact it was as if he were a person. Which is completely possible considering her research." Rocky paused. He probably should have told the actual story first.

"Well. When I was a kid my family and I lived on one of the borders of Corvistowne. There was this creepy house set apart from everyone else's. No one went into it because of who had lived there, and mom told me the story that went with it when I was younger. Cassiel was killed by The Queen of Hearts after kidnapping one of court members for her experiments. Of course... it turns out she supposedly turned people into dolls. The one I met? I think it may have been her brother." He shuddered at the thought of the meeting. It had been very unpleasant, and he remembered how he thought he was going to die.

"They say she was looking for immortality because she was terminally ill. Personally? I can't imagine why anyone could or would do that. And to experiment on your family? Willing or not..." The raccoon shook his head. "I guess the story sounds like a fairy tale, but there's proof, and I've seen the result of the experiments!"

[danishweasel]

"Hey, I've heard of that house! Real big, almost looks like a mansion with boarded up door and windows. Yeah, never been there, though it wasn't because of any stories. It's cuz of what Mom woulda done to me if I did go...But hey, pretty gutsy of ya to actually check that place out!"

Ataxia quieted down so Rocky could continue the story. Kidnapped a member of the Court of Hearts for her experiments? She had to've been nuttier than a fruitcake! Why else would she have put herself into that much trouble for a test subject when there were Corvies in town who would willingly let people test on them for a nominal fee?

But what disturbed her even more was the fact that Cassiel tested on her own brother. What if it had failed and killed him? Or worse. What if it mangled him, crippled him, or even had the right results, but found that it wasn't what he wanted? The thought made her cringe.

"So he was turned into a doll...That can't be a very happy life, if you can call it that..."

The mention of proof made her ears perk up. Not that she didn't believe him, but whatever the proof might have been, it had to be fascinating.

"Would you happen to have that proof about ya? I'd love to see it!"

[Kari Muffin]

Guts? He had ultimately run away when it came down to meeting the results of the experiment. "Unfortunately I don't. It's pretty hard to keep the proof if it has free will. I did somehow manage to grab some of her notes by accident though. I haven't been able to make them out that much though. Her hand writing was pretty bad, and there were some weird paint stains and such on the papers."

He shrugged. He couldn't do much about the doll walking away from him, or him running away from the doll. The situation was a fight or flight moment that he almost regretted. He would have felt guilty though if he tried to keep the doll against his will. That was just heart breaking wasn't it?

"The house is still free to visit. There were quite a few... half made dolls left. One of theme supposedly looked like her, but I can't even confirm that." He tilted his head, "Do you have any close encounters of of the third kind or any other kind?"

[danishweasel]

"Oh, I didn't think it was the doll. I was thinking research notes, that kinda thing..."

She couldn't help but be a bit disappointed about not being able to see the doll, but it came as no surprise. After all, where would you keep a living doll? And if the doll had a personality, had feelings, keeping him locked up somewhere wouldn't be any different than keeping a person against their will.

"It's a shame the notes are such a mess. Not like I'd be able to understand most of it. That stuff's prolly way above my level."

When Rocky spoke of the house containing half-made dolls, she nearly jumped out of her fur. There was the evidence she wanted to see. Sure, they wouldn't be able to move or talk or do anything like that, but there, she could examine the dolls, see what Cassiel had done to them.

"I'm not sure what the third kind is, but if you mean living dolls or that sort of thing, nope, never. Which is why I wouldn't mind giving this house a looksie. I mean, hey, if things like living dolls exist, who knows what else is out there, right?"

[Kari Muffin]

"Some of her notes make sense. Other parts are way over my head. Hell, they're way over anyone's head. You'd have to be insane to understand it." He waved his hand in dismay. Those notes were something disturbing. A whole new level of wrong, and a whole new level of thinking in general. He had half a mind to destroy them completely and be done with it. Curiosity was a horrible creature though.

"Third kind is generally anything "weird" or supernatural. If you want to go to the house with someone, I'd be more than happy to go with you. I don't think it's a good idea to go alone at any rate." Rocky let out a nervous laugh. That was what had gotten him in trouble in the first place. "Some of the dolls were clockwork, thats what I remember of them. Some of them... were just beyond creepy."

[danishweasel]

"If that's the case, ya better keep those notes safe somewhere. We should be happy that the original creator working on these had somewhat good intentions. If that kinda info went to some not-so-nice people...It wouldn't be fun, I'm sure."

She didn't even want to think about what could happen if bad people got a hold of and understood those plans. What sort of abominations could be created that way and with real live people? Just horrible. Even so, it didn't stop her interest in actually checking the place out. It was so unusual, so strange, so...enticing! It was too good to pass up!

"Yeah, I don't even think I've had much experience with second kind, if such a thing exists. And if you'd be willing, some company would be nice, 'specially since you've already been there. That and I won't be as scared going if you're there too."

She wasn't afraid to admit it. Currently, she was bouncing around, too excited to sit down at the idea of going to this house. But once she got there, the logical part of her brain would kick on and keep her from not going in. If she had a friend come along, it was far less likely.