[Open -- Communal] Science! Slumber! Party!

[maxicpolarity]

Who: Liege Maximo and ALL THE PEOPLE
What: Following the 'Second Wave,' Liege has collected a number of living (and dead) Monster samples to be studied. He has sent out the call: all scientists/medics or otherwise capable persons are welcome to attend his laboratory conference to look over the critters and find out what can be found!
When: Now-ish. Liege took a bit to set this up, so all new and old characters can come!
Where: Liege's Temple
Notes:

Bring any characters you want, scientists or not! Anyone who comes (IE posts or threads below) will get some samples of Sharkticons or other monster types to work with, and they will also receive a special LABORATORY KIT from an Acolyte, which features a few simple tools sized to your character so they can do their own experiments in the future!
Your character is welcome to learn the following:

-Monsters have superior strength/stamina to their non-lambda counterparts. (IE a Monster Sharkticon would be more brutal, spikier, and nastier than a standard Sharkticon.)
-Beyond the increased attributes there is no physical difference to their makeup. (IE a Sharkticon is still a Sharkticon, a dragon is still a dragon, DNA, scales, and all.)
-Particularly perceptive individuals may notice a trace of an energy signature on the creatures which matches the 'feel' of the badlands. There may be a link between the two...

Liege won't be able to interact with everyone, so this is your chance to MINGLE with others. Tag around, have fun, spend the night, and enjoy the Maximo's superior wash-racks! If you'd rather just explore the temple, you can do that too.



In the confusing, maze-like depths of Liege's temple, there were hundreds of rooms. Many had been hollowed out from the mountainside, curving inwards in some haphazardly specific pattern as if seeking out the greatest potential for heat. Others jutted out from the side with long, wide windows to let in the light, organized, carefully, for his pursuits. The laboratories, of course, were among these.

The many, many laboratories were among these.

He'd needed them all, of course. In the beginning, there had just been one, and one had been nice for allowing him to perform one type of experiment. He'd had a second built when Solus had given him that energon separator, and the third after he'd brought back organics from his first travels into space. After that, it had been somewhat of a collection, and there were laboratories shoved into corners of his temple like extra books shoved onto shelves. He liked it that way. It meant that his brothers and sisters didn't know about them.

Not all of them.

And it meant he could host parties like these on the few occasions when he deigned to socialize. He made sure each accessible laboratory was well-stocked, filled with tools and at least one experiment subject and also populated by an Acolyte to monitor his guests. There would be energon available, and some organic-favored snacks as well, because he had every intention of showing just how well he treated his aligned when he was paying attention to them.

It never hurt to make the others jealous.

He, himself, had work to do in his main laboratory, and for the most part he intended to stay there, drifting out amongst the others only to peruse their findings or to partake in the briefest of breaks. This was what he loved to do, after all...

...but science was useless without others to observe its happenings.

Having the Refugees around again was, in that way, a gift--one that he intended to open slowly, keeping the wrapping safe so he could use it again next time.

And who knew?

Perhaps, here, amongst those who would come, would be a few worth keeping for himself, or offering further incentives toward.

Comments

[maxicpolarity]

There was one lab that Liege was certain he would not need to check up on, but found himself heading toward nevertheless. It's tenant had been busy lately, working on a cure for a disease that left terrible rust-stains across the floors. He'd already caught the samurai out on the hallway, once, carefully mopping up after himself, which was one of the few reasons Liege had tolerated the mech's presence at all.

Pharma, on the other hand, rarely left his lab, and kept it almost spotless.

Liege suspected this was why his green glyph glowed, now, on the medic's arm.

That, however, was not what he had come to talk about today. He entered the lab, glancing to the Acolyte that Pharma had 'claimed,' taking great pleasure as it bowed to him and stepped back when he approached, effectively stopping the other's work. "Your tenacity amongst such setbacks is admirable," he began, looking over the diagram that rested on the desk. "Can nothing stop you from your task?"

[organ_pharming]

His acolyte was just lowering the scalpel when Liege arrived, interrupting the delicate procedure and provoking the jet medic's ire. He scowled at the bowing fool and turned to regard his First Forged with a frown.

"Liege. How kind of you to drop by," he said, wing-tips twitching with irritation. His little display of disdain was quickly stored away though, the jet's proverbial feathers smoothed by the praise and the knowledge that he owed this mech quite a bit. Best not to piss him off.

Especially if he didn't want to start having recharge dreams about Tarn's foot pressing down on his back again.

"Nothing short of divine intervention, I'd say," Pharma answered with a wry smile.

[maxicpolarity]

"Please, don't stop on my account." Liege murmured, noting the wing's twitch, the glower, and even the careful hiding of each tell. Pharma was a mech well-accustomed to keeping himself controlled, and Liege found that interesting. Even so, it didn't take a genius of his intellect to understand what made Pharma aggravated, and Liege couldn't entirely blame him. Having one's work interrupted could throw off an entire line of thought, taking time from more important tasks, causing one to go back through their work again, and again, and again if the outside distraction was able to persist.

He didn't tolerate distractions, well, but, generally, that was because there were no such distractions that could actually benefit him. He wasn't likely to be approached by someone who could contribute, or even someone who could understand what work he did, but looking at Pharma's diagrams now he had the feeling that would change.

He'd been gifted with talented individuals from the Lambda.

This, he didn't mind.

Still, Pharma would be considerably more efficient with hands. Reaching out, he took the mech by the stump, looking over the clean-cut edges of the wound. "I notice you're no longer rusting," he commented, "but I can't imagine that even my acolyte could make as precise of cuts as you'll be needing for this dissection to work. Tell me, would you like a hand?"

[organ_pharming]

The medic flinched a little, not expecting the huge First Forged to touch him. The gentle appraisal of his wrists made him shiver and tug the appendage out of Leige's grasp. It reminded him too much of someone else.

"Yes, the experimental cure I developed seems to be working." Of course it was working- he knew exactly how to shut down the disease he had created.

"You're offering to assist me?" Another wing twitch for that awful pun, but mostly incredulity.

[maxicpolarity]

Liege was nothing if not observant. If Pharma's twitching had given one small tidbit away, his flinching gave away even more, especially combined with the interesting fluctuations of his spark when he said 'experimental cure.' A lie?

There was something to this.

There was something...but how to begin? Where could he best plant the first strike in the concrete exterior of Pharma, to learn what truly drove him?

That, he already knew from watching the refugee interacting with Drift.

"I have a few minutes, and I do enjoy seeing an expert at work." Flattery, first. This one responded well to that. "Perhaps there will be something to learn from you, or the other way around...even if it is a shame to not see your prowess firsthand."

He reached, easily, for the laser scalpel, and glanced toward the sharkticon.

"So tell me, how did you lose them again?"

[organ_pharming]

Flattery was definitely the best way to put Pharma at ease. The medic had the tendency to believe that whoever acknowledged his superiority was at least competent enough to talk to seriously.

...But you still get minus points for that pun, Liege.

"The situation will be resolved shortly. In the meantime, I can't say I wouldn't appreciate a trained assistant at my side for the procedure. The cuts are marked out neatly on my diagram."

Pharma contemplated the answer to that question as he watched Liege work, wondering if his standard response would be enough to satisfy this mech. ...Unfortunately, it wasn't likely- and he did owe him a bit more for the lab and the living quarters.

"I was attacked. By Drift."

[maxicpolarity]

"So they are," Liege remarked, glanced at the diagram, and began the first cut easily, noting the depth of the incision as it was indicated. Pharma was thorough.

He liked that.

He also liked the honesty, and as he worked he smiled a tight smile. "By Drift, yes. And here I was thinking I'd have to twist the gears with you for a while before you admitted it. May I venture a guess as to the effectiveness of your cure?" The first cut done, he lifted the scalpel and looked towards Pharma. "But you want him alive, don't you. For a little while longer."

Consulting the second cut, he dug in.

"So what did you do to him?"

[organ_pharming]

Pharma watched his technique with a critical eye, noting with begrudging satisfaction that Liege was better at it than his acolyte. A lot better.

"My cure is one hundred percent effective," he scowled and then added in a quieter tone, "...On the plague, that is."

Time to figure out just how much he was willing to tell Liege. The mech claimed to appreciate his honesty, but that might be just because he'd be happy to report all of Pharma's crimes to whatever served as enforcement around here. Or perhaps punish him himself.

....The medic shuddered again. He was doing that a lot lately.

"Why do you want to know? Are you fishing for a confession from me?"

[maxicpolarity]

Liege couldn't help but smile, pleased by the precise wording choice that Pharma had used. This mech was a careful one, certainly. He was careful and he was...

Afraid?

Liege wasn't certain enough to peg that emotion, and so he simply continued, making the rest of the incisions and carefully peeling the first layer of armor away. Inside, rough mechanics eked out a simplified existence, gears and pulleys built to take a great amount of damage still carrying on as if they weren't exposed.

"You could say that I am looking for a confirmation." It had 'felt,' for lack of a better word, like what Pharma wanted was revenge. Liege merely wanted to know if he was right. "You'll have to be careful. He's one of Vector's, and Vector can be...protective of his charges." He looked inside, and then stepped back for Pharma to see the results of his planning. "I suppose the only 'confession' I want out of you is what strategy you intend to employ ultimately. Death? Agony? What does a mech like Drift deserve?"