(Untitled)

[thebonelady]

On most days, Temperance would have said that the island could not really surprise her, at least in the way that most people considered themselves surprised. And that besides that, to attribute any one thing to the island was to give it sentience and humanity that no large formation of rock and sand and tree deserved

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[nostoppinglife]

"Plannin' t' hug it, are ye, lass?" Moira asked, struggling to hide a smile as she stood a few feet away. She'd been warring with the decision to look for someone in charge of this place for a few weeks now, but there was no getting around it -- she was neither leaving anytime soon nor was she about to find any better source for scientific equipment. The morgue refrigerator, so far as she could see, was both new and much needed. "Sorry t' disturb ye in the process o' makin' a new acquaintance."

[thebonelady]

"As you can see," Temperance said, from where she had her cheek pressed against the cool metal, "we currently have no real capacity to store remains without decay and damage. So this is really best for the whole island."

[nostoppinglife]

"Especially if things keep happenin' like that Hartford man," Moira agreed. She'd been assured that was unusual, but danger and destruction were, in her experience, rather more common than not. "Seems like one o' the more useful presents I've seen 'round here, that's for sure. Would ye be Doctor Brennan, then?"

[thebonelady]

"Yes, I would be," Temperance said, and straightened up from where she had been-- some might say-- mooning over the new appliance. She brushed herself off, and then went over to offer her hand. "Temperance Brennan. You're looking for me?"

[nostoppinglife]

"Moira MacTaggert." Shaking Temperance's hand, Moira considered her a moment -- younger, doubtless bright, though the fawning over appliances made Moira wonder if things were even worse off here scientifically than she'd been led to believe. Then again, it made sense in a way. New equipment had to have been close to impossible to come by. "An' I am, aye, or was. I doubt ye've much need of a hand around here, but I wanted t' come an' offer an' see what the rules are about usin' the place some. I wouldnae want t' step on any toes."

[thebonelady]

"Of course," Temperance said, nodding, pulling back together. "I would hardly categorize myself as useful these days either. There's little need for forensic anthropology here. I've become a sort of coroner these days."

She regarded Moira with a longer gaze this time. "What's your specialty?"

[nostoppinglife]

"Genetics," Moira replied, "specifically human mutation. Nae much practical use for it here jus' yet, but the place seems t' have an interestin' effect on those born with such a mutation. I'd like t' investigate that a little."

[thebonelady]

Temperance brightened visibly. "Oh? You're welcome to the limited files we have on such a subject. As you can tell, we don't have much of a way to do viable tests, so we're forced to rely on observation and anecdote."

She went over to a filing cabinet, where she fished around intently before coming up with a handful of manila folders. "This is it, unfortunately."

[nostoppinglife]

While it looked as if the amount of information collected was dishearteningly small, Moira still found herself lighting up like a kid at Christmas as she took the sheaf of folders from Temperance. "It's still a start," she said, "an' I cannae pretend I mind it means there's still plenty o' work t' be done. It doesnae seem there's much else t' do here."

[thebonelady]

"Some of the most extensive notes we have are from a case that's left the island," Temperance said, clearly displeased with the idea of evidence just up and leaving. "A young woman who had some sort of genetic mutation, actually, and couldn't seem to adjust to the change."

[nostoppinglife]

Moira frowned, not thrilled herself with not having a chance to look at the girl herself. All the same, any information helped, and she leaned back against a counter to flip through the pages. "How so?" she asked. "She just couldnae cope with the change?"

[thebonelady]

"There were several theories," Temperance answered, folding her arms across herself as she spoke. "She had either developmental or psychological issues, perhaps both. She wouldn't speak, though there's evidence she had a normal grasp of language. Japanese, not English."

The pictures in the file, especially showing the teeth, would speak for themselves.

[nostoppinglife]

"Saints," Moira murmured, shaking her head, "that's one I've nae seen before, poor lass. 'Tis a shame she's gone, but I hope she's better off where she is. These mutations can be so difficult t' live with even in the best circumstances." Perhaps Logan could have helped with the language barrier, though that was all hypothetical now.

[thebonelady]

"It is for the better," she agreed. "Though I don't think I can bring myself to use the word vampire in a traditional sense, there was at least a psychological need to consume blood."

She shifted her weight, drumming her fingertips against her arm. "However, most cases of adaption to the island have been much easier for all involved, though I only presume to speak from an outside point of view."

[nostoppinglife]

"I've spoken t' a few of 'em," Moira said, shutting the folder for the moment. "It does seem most of 'em are havin' an easier time of it -- from an outside point of view, aye. There's some who are even glad for the change. Others... Well, it cannae be easy, nae bein' able t' fly once ye've had the chance." That, she'd only ever managed secondhand.

[thebonelady]

Temperance glances up at her from where she was gently arranging what looked like the tiny bones of a hand. "What did you lose?" she asked, honest and mild.