❧ Something To Talk About

[luministimods]

[the first thing people will hear when they arrive in the room with Croix and Wash is loud classical music from the same composer Caligin used to listen to (though that detail may only strike a few.) but the music is a small detail in this room. many will recognise the cold, forbidding room as one they've seen in secret transmissions sent to them

Comments

[manicurious]

>Suddenly your feeling of tired contentment turns into dread. LAB 3 is just behind that DOOR, and if the OTHER RESIDENTS find the KEY... It might be over. You might have to go back. The BERRIES you picked in the BOTANICAL GARDEN might be the last meal you don't have to fight tooth and nail for, and certainly the last satisfying one you'll ever have if you must go back. Last night might've been your last chance to have a peaceful sleep, and you might've taken your last breath of air that isn't swirling with disease and death the moment before you appeared in this room

[luministimods]

[his lips twist into an amused smile] Is that so? You'd rather stay here, knowing I could do anything to you at any given time, rather than fight for your freedom?

[manicurious]

>You nod reluctantly.

That's my preference, and I do realize that I could be the only one who feels this way. Anything over going back.

[luministimods]

From the looks I'm seeing on the others' faces, I think I would agree with you. But you would rather stay... You are most peculiar. [after all, it's not as fun torturing a willing participant--at least not from his point of view] Can I ask why you would like to stay?

[luministimods]

My father's thought processes are far too limited, so I'll take that as a compliment. But really, what a cliché question! And here's a cliché answer: Because I can.

[luministimods]

You think I'm a coward? Oh, how very cute. And I know people will do something about it--in fact, I'm counting on it. We've already gotten one. Proctor saw to her demise.

[grandbellknight]

[Croix looks like he's about ready to kill someone. It's probably very fortunate for the young man in charge that he's only on a screen and not standing before him...

His glare is icy, intense. He remains still, though his anger is practically radiating from him.]

Fine. What plans would those be?

[luministimods]

[Filippo yawns, knowing the threatening look will bring him little harm]

For you and a couple others, we were in process of designing action figures for the children to play with--and grown children as well. There is quite the demographic for toys these days. We are making a few...slight modifications to your design, however. The testers felt there weren't enough weapons and you didn't look fierce enough, which clearly they were wrong about. I'll have to send your current expression to the boys in development and get a face swap going.

[grandbellknight]

[Croix is not impressed.]

That's all this is about? Money for you? This seems like a complicated way to go about it.

[luministimods]

It's hardly complicated. The system was already in place. In essence, all it took was a flip of a switch, and in a flash, everything could get started again. So really, it was a sound investment we made purchasing this lab. We've already made back ten times the amount of money we spent doing so.

[painlessfighter]

> You, NATSUO, are still soaking wet when you arrive - your hair, your clothes, your little kitty ears and tail... not a single inch of you was spared from the FOUNTAIN STATUES, and you are still very angry about this. You take a moment to spin around hastily, hackles risen, trying to regain your bearings so you can go after that damn FOUNTAIN again. Too bad it isn't here.

You see a MAN before you on the SCREEN. Talking. Taunting. .... BOOOOORING.

You don't even wait for his STUPID SPEECH to finish. You start looking around the ROOM First things first, you notice the PICTURES, so you go to have a closer, more careful look at those.

[luministimods]

>

[painlessfighter]

> Well... okay, that wall of PICTURES is just as boring. And that picture of you... well, you kind of want to take it with you. Maybe later, though.

Is that guy still talking? Why are you even asking yourself that? You really don't care if he's still talking or not. If he is, then you'll just talk right over him. If he isn't, then that means he can pay attention to you! Either way, you speak up:

Hey. You. How did you get Soubi's apartment here? Was it harder than bringing a person?

[luministimods]

[raises an eyebrow] I gather this "Soubi" is a person from your world? [his lips curl with cruel amusement] Must not have meant so much to you. If he or she did, you would have brought him or her into existence for a brief time.

You must value that apartment more.

[bonnypiperlad]

> Since the door's locked, you move over to take a look at the desk, thinking that's a likely place to start looking for a key. However, you're distracted by the slight to the TARDIS - and you pause to give the screen an annoyed look, mouth pulling off to one side in a rather vexed way.]

It's not a 'stupid blue box'. It's the TARDIS.

[luministimods]

> In your glance at the desk, you might have spotted a One-a-day calendar, stacks of paper, and pens--but there could be more.

[he snorts]If you ask me, it sounds like an insult.

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye, well, ye might, if all ye think it's good for is one of those playset things. [Whatever that is.] I know differently.

> Not that he'll likely care about that either, given his reactions so far. You go back to looking through the desk, starting with those stacks of paper.

[luministimods]

Actually, I don't. It never passed the prototype stage. But such a boring, useless thing seems to be of value to you. How simple.

> You see that the stacks of paper are all about ratings figures (going up every day!), letters from sponsors with names that don't mean much about throwing more money into the "show" (one sponsor manufactures vintage Earth kilts), and fan mail addressed to you and the others.