(no subject)
I have a stuffed monkey.
I am not entirely certain why.
<> Toxin's Quarters - Brotherhood HQ(#1240RC)
This room is large, but not overly spacious. The ceiling is higher than normal, giving it a larger appearance. The walls are a plain off-white, a deep green carpet underneath. Two doors are set into one wall, the first leading off to another bedroom, the second opening into a nicely furnished bathroom. Further along, an oak wardrobe stands in the corner, partially open to reveal clothes neatly hung, a full-length mirror stuck to the wall next to it. On the other end of the room is a four-poster bed, the mattress covered in black sheets, with a black satin comforter. Green and silver pillows are scattered on it. A nightstand sits next to the bed. Pushed up against one wall is a desk, a laptop computer open on it, the desk chair pushed back. On the opposite wall is a bookcase crammed with books, a large overstuffed chair sitting next to it.
Strides long and brisk carry lean Valkyrie down the hall from the elevator to approach Toxin's quarters. Blonde hair pulled back in a severe tail, slight heels clicking along the metal floor: sleek and business casual, hands clasped neatly behind her back. The hands loose from this habitual clasp as she draws to a halt at the door, that three knocks - courteous, correct! - make themselves known in swift repetition.
Quiet is the term for Toxin's room at the moment. However, as soon as the knocks shatter that, the second in command leans back and stretches in her desk chair. Dressed in her skinsuit and boots, blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, Toxin was merely doing some paperwork. Rising slowly, she makes her way across the room and pulls the door open. "Ellen. Come in, won't you?"
Ellen inclines her head in acknowledgement of this, hands retreating to their customary clasp as she slips, all obedience, inside. "Thank you." Blue-grey eyes flick around the room in brief, cataloguing interest, before her bland attention settles entirely upon the second-in-command.
And if Ellen was very, very observant, she might notice that a door normally closed in this space is open, and for a brief minute a blonde head was poking out of it. Toxin closes the door behind Valkyrie and nods. "What can I do for you?" One hand raises and waves the woman towards a chair.
Ellen's glance skitters along the open door, just long enough to register a slow blink -- and that's all, for the moment, save for the slightest puzzled crease to her forehead as she folds herself neatly into the seat, crossing her ankles demurely before her with her fingers laced together in her lap. She raises her eyes to Toxin, expression smoothening to pleasant blandness, and announces in her cool alto, "I've come to make a request."
Toxin takes note of Ellen's interest, the only acknowledgement of it a passing smile on her lips. But it's gone as quickly as it came, her features schooled into neutrality as she returns to the desk chair. "And that is...?" she prompts, leaning back into the soft comfort of the seat. Gold-green eyes flash to the open door and back again, pupils narrowing to become more slit-like than before.
Perfect solemnity blends across the angles and planes of Ellen's face. "I need," she says, rational and informative as ever, "some monkeys."
There's a pause there while Toxin assimilates this request. Clearing her throat, she repeats, "Monkeys." Another pause. "For testing, I assume?" she inquires, her tone smooth, and without the faint trace of amusement that dances across her face momentarily.
Ellen nods once, briskly, though the amusement is irresistable -- it turns up her mouth at the corners, a ghost of a smile, fought off valiantly as her expression retreats to blandness, though it lingers to gleam in blue-grey eyes. "Yes. It has come to my attention that my skills are ..." Ellen's fair brow furrows into a scowl. "Lacking. Where neurology is concerned. Rodent brains are insufficient for the training I have in mind."
Toxin's eyes narrow briefly. "Neurology." she murmurs, her eyes darting away from Ellen as she falls into thought. Moments later, she comes back to the woman across from her and gives a short nod. "Monkeys won't be hard to procure. Finding you a room for them so you can practice will be far more difficult. Would it help to simply have brains?" Out of the corner of Ellen's eye, she might spot that blonde head poking out of the door again, bright blue eyes widening, and then disappearing once more.
Ellen shakes her head in slow, simple negation. "I need living matter for alteration ..." She pauses, head tilting slightly to one side in consideration. "However, merely for study, I believe a few brains would not go amiss. As for a room ... that would be a concern." She wrinkles her nose, slightly, perhaps at her own lack of forethought.
"The room could be remedied by securing a suitable site on the mainland. However, you would be limited in the amount of time you could spend there." A faint smile crosses Toxin's lips. "That's why I suggested the brains for study. I'm sure there's somewhere we can acquire some. A company that supplies universities, or some such place. Will you need texts?" Turning away from Ellen, she pulls a tablet and stylus from her desk.
There is only the barest second's hesitation before Ellen replies. "Yes, I think that would prove most useful."
Toxin writes continually on the tablet, the flowing script repeated on the computer screen behind her. "The texts will likely arrive before the monkeys or the brains. There will be legal loopholes to deal with in regards to the animals. It should give you a few days of study, at any rate." She pauses at that point, stylus tapping against her mouth. "Ellen, if you saw a scan, would you be able to heal that brain after studying the scan?"
Ellen does not flinch, exactly; there is merely a slight, uncomfortable shift in the chair and her eyes slip down to fasten on Toxin's desk rather than making eye contact. "I ... have not attempted to experiment upon a brain in almost twenty years. I cannot say for certain."
Toxin merely nods at this information. "Do not be ashamed. It is better to tell me the truth, than to make the attempt and cause irrepairable harm because of pride." she advises the junior member. The lieutenant opens her mouth to say something else, but shuts it without a sound, her eyes drawn elsewhere. A young girl, no more than eight or nine, pads out of the room she's been hiding in, wearing soft pants and a top. Wordlessly, she drops down next to Toxin's chair and commences staring at Ellen. Now side by side, one could get a good picture of what Toxin looked like at that age, despite the child's blue eyes.
Ellen stares back at the child, her expression one of perfect blankness. The moment stretches, silent, for a moment, before with smooth tranquility Ellen draws her attention away from the little girl and back to Toxin. "That is my reasoning as well."
A pat on the head is what the child receives for the moment, until Toxin is finished writing. Setting both tablet and stylus aside, she looks from the girl to Ellen. "Perhaps you were unaware I had a daughter?" Her tone is light and pleasant, and her hand drops down to lightly stroke the child's back for a brief time.
"I was not aware," Ellen answers with a slight inclination of her head. There is a momentary pause and a baffled blink as she hunts for a socially appropriate response. Blue-grey eyes settle on the child. Cautiously, she offers, "Hello."
A little nudge, and the girl responds with "Hello." Without a mother's prompting, she scoots in front of Toxin's chair and gets a little closer to Ellen. Her eyes scrutinize the older woman, then she announces, "You're pretty. I'm Aramina."
Ellen's head tilts as she favors Aramina with several blinks in rapid succession. "Thank you, Aramina." There is something missing here. Several somethings. "My name is Ellen," she ventures, still cautious, as though the wrong word spoken might cause some sort of dramatic explosion.
Little Aramina gives Ellen a bright smile for her troubles. Toxin touches her daughter on the shoulder. "Go back to your room and pack your things, dear. We'll be leaving soon." She remains silent until 'Mina is in her room and the door shut. Facing Ellen, she says, "If you have any questions, now is the time."
Ellen regards Toxin in silence, the image of quiet bafflement. "Thank you," she says finally. "I ... believe I've made the only request I need to."
Toxin cannot help but display a teensy bit of the amusement she's gotten from surprising Ellen with her daughter. "If that is all, you may go." She starts to turn back to her work as the door opens again, and Aramina comes trotting out. In her hands is a stuffed monkey, and she holds it up to Ellen. "This is for you."
Ellen takes the stuffed monkey with trembling composure: her mouth held, carefully, oh so carefully, to its traditional solemnity. Her eyes, though, are too bright with the suppressed mirth as she favors the little girl with her blue-grey regard. Alto's warmed with hidden laughter when she speaks: "Thank you, Aramina." A single slow blink as long, slim fingers tighten over the stuffed animal in her hands. "I very much appreciate it."
Toxin waves Aramina back to her room once again. "I told you to pack." she scolds her softly, a gentle smile on her face. The little girl beams another smile at Ellen and darts back into her room. Covering her mouth with one gloved hand, her shoulders shake for brief moments until she regains composure. Her gold-green eyes dancing, she nods at Ellen. "I doubt that will assist you in your biology studies, but it may brighten your room nonetheless."
Ellen looks down at the monkey in her hands and then back up at Toxin again, still fighting to retain her composure. "The mice might like it," she says.
"They might at that. If there's nothing else Ellen, I do have a few things to set in motion before I head back to the mainland." Despite her cool words, there's laughter in Toxin's eyes that acknowledges the humor in the moment.
Ellen draws smoothly to her feet and inclines her head, though the solemnity and fluidity of the motion are both mildly hampered by the monkey still gripped in both hands. "Very well," she says, and raising her chin with perfect gravity, she turns and paces towards the door, pausing only for an additional, "Thank you," coupled with another blink.
Toxin is already turning back towards her desk. "I'll contact you when the monkeys arrive."
Ellen nods once again and then disappears out the door, to pace the halls of the Brotherhood's island with toy monkey in hand.
I am not entirely certain why.
<> Toxin's Quarters - Brotherhood HQ(#1240RC)
This room is large, but not overly spacious. The ceiling is higher than normal, giving it a larger appearance. The walls are a plain off-white, a deep green carpet underneath. Two doors are set into one wall, the first leading off to another bedroom, the second opening into a nicely furnished bathroom. Further along, an oak wardrobe stands in the corner, partially open to reveal clothes neatly hung, a full-length mirror stuck to the wall next to it. On the other end of the room is a four-poster bed, the mattress covered in black sheets, with a black satin comforter. Green and silver pillows are scattered on it. A nightstand sits next to the bed. Pushed up against one wall is a desk, a laptop computer open on it, the desk chair pushed back. On the opposite wall is a bookcase crammed with books, a large overstuffed chair sitting next to it.
Strides long and brisk carry lean Valkyrie down the hall from the elevator to approach Toxin's quarters. Blonde hair pulled back in a severe tail, slight heels clicking along the metal floor: sleek and business casual, hands clasped neatly behind her back. The hands loose from this habitual clasp as she draws to a halt at the door, that three knocks - courteous, correct! - make themselves known in swift repetition.
Quiet is the term for Toxin's room at the moment. However, as soon as the knocks shatter that, the second in command leans back and stretches in her desk chair. Dressed in her skinsuit and boots, blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, Toxin was merely doing some paperwork. Rising slowly, she makes her way across the room and pulls the door open. "Ellen. Come in, won't you?"
Ellen inclines her head in acknowledgement of this, hands retreating to their customary clasp as she slips, all obedience, inside. "Thank you." Blue-grey eyes flick around the room in brief, cataloguing interest, before her bland attention settles entirely upon the second-in-command.
And if Ellen was very, very observant, she might notice that a door normally closed in this space is open, and for a brief minute a blonde head was poking out of it. Toxin closes the door behind Valkyrie and nods. "What can I do for you?" One hand raises and waves the woman towards a chair.
Ellen's glance skitters along the open door, just long enough to register a slow blink -- and that's all, for the moment, save for the slightest puzzled crease to her forehead as she folds herself neatly into the seat, crossing her ankles demurely before her with her fingers laced together in her lap. She raises her eyes to Toxin, expression smoothening to pleasant blandness, and announces in her cool alto, "I've come to make a request."
Toxin takes note of Ellen's interest, the only acknowledgement of it a passing smile on her lips. But it's gone as quickly as it came, her features schooled into neutrality as she returns to the desk chair. "And that is...?" she prompts, leaning back into the soft comfort of the seat. Gold-green eyes flash to the open door and back again, pupils narrowing to become more slit-like than before.
Perfect solemnity blends across the angles and planes of Ellen's face. "I need," she says, rational and informative as ever, "some monkeys."
There's a pause there while Toxin assimilates this request. Clearing her throat, she repeats, "Monkeys." Another pause. "For testing, I assume?" she inquires, her tone smooth, and without the faint trace of amusement that dances across her face momentarily.
Ellen nods once, briskly, though the amusement is irresistable -- it turns up her mouth at the corners, a ghost of a smile, fought off valiantly as her expression retreats to blandness, though it lingers to gleam in blue-grey eyes. "Yes. It has come to my attention that my skills are ..." Ellen's fair brow furrows into a scowl. "Lacking. Where neurology is concerned. Rodent brains are insufficient for the training I have in mind."
Toxin's eyes narrow briefly. "Neurology." she murmurs, her eyes darting away from Ellen as she falls into thought. Moments later, she comes back to the woman across from her and gives a short nod. "Monkeys won't be hard to procure. Finding you a room for them so you can practice will be far more difficult. Would it help to simply have brains?" Out of the corner of Ellen's eye, she might spot that blonde head poking out of the door again, bright blue eyes widening, and then disappearing once more.
Ellen shakes her head in slow, simple negation. "I need living matter for alteration ..." She pauses, head tilting slightly to one side in consideration. "However, merely for study, I believe a few brains would not go amiss. As for a room ... that would be a concern." She wrinkles her nose, slightly, perhaps at her own lack of forethought.
"The room could be remedied by securing a suitable site on the mainland. However, you would be limited in the amount of time you could spend there." A faint smile crosses Toxin's lips. "That's why I suggested the brains for study. I'm sure there's somewhere we can acquire some. A company that supplies universities, or some such place. Will you need texts?" Turning away from Ellen, she pulls a tablet and stylus from her desk.
There is only the barest second's hesitation before Ellen replies. "Yes, I think that would prove most useful."
Toxin writes continually on the tablet, the flowing script repeated on the computer screen behind her. "The texts will likely arrive before the monkeys or the brains. There will be legal loopholes to deal with in regards to the animals. It should give you a few days of study, at any rate." She pauses at that point, stylus tapping against her mouth. "Ellen, if you saw a scan, would you be able to heal that brain after studying the scan?"
Ellen does not flinch, exactly; there is merely a slight, uncomfortable shift in the chair and her eyes slip down to fasten on Toxin's desk rather than making eye contact. "I ... have not attempted to experiment upon a brain in almost twenty years. I cannot say for certain."
Toxin merely nods at this information. "Do not be ashamed. It is better to tell me the truth, than to make the attempt and cause irrepairable harm because of pride." she advises the junior member. The lieutenant opens her mouth to say something else, but shuts it without a sound, her eyes drawn elsewhere. A young girl, no more than eight or nine, pads out of the room she's been hiding in, wearing soft pants and a top. Wordlessly, she drops down next to Toxin's chair and commences staring at Ellen. Now side by side, one could get a good picture of what Toxin looked like at that age, despite the child's blue eyes.
Ellen stares back at the child, her expression one of perfect blankness. The moment stretches, silent, for a moment, before with smooth tranquility Ellen draws her attention away from the little girl and back to Toxin. "That is my reasoning as well."
A pat on the head is what the child receives for the moment, until Toxin is finished writing. Setting both tablet and stylus aside, she looks from the girl to Ellen. "Perhaps you were unaware I had a daughter?" Her tone is light and pleasant, and her hand drops down to lightly stroke the child's back for a brief time.
"I was not aware," Ellen answers with a slight inclination of her head. There is a momentary pause and a baffled blink as she hunts for a socially appropriate response. Blue-grey eyes settle on the child. Cautiously, she offers, "Hello."
A little nudge, and the girl responds with "Hello." Without a mother's prompting, she scoots in front of Toxin's chair and gets a little closer to Ellen. Her eyes scrutinize the older woman, then she announces, "You're pretty. I'm Aramina."
Ellen's head tilts as she favors Aramina with several blinks in rapid succession. "Thank you, Aramina." There is something missing here. Several somethings. "My name is Ellen," she ventures, still cautious, as though the wrong word spoken might cause some sort of dramatic explosion.
Little Aramina gives Ellen a bright smile for her troubles. Toxin touches her daughter on the shoulder. "Go back to your room and pack your things, dear. We'll be leaving soon." She remains silent until 'Mina is in her room and the door shut. Facing Ellen, she says, "If you have any questions, now is the time."
Ellen regards Toxin in silence, the image of quiet bafflement. "Thank you," she says finally. "I ... believe I've made the only request I need to."
Toxin cannot help but display a teensy bit of the amusement she's gotten from surprising Ellen with her daughter. "If that is all, you may go." She starts to turn back to her work as the door opens again, and Aramina comes trotting out. In her hands is a stuffed monkey, and she holds it up to Ellen. "This is for you."
Ellen takes the stuffed monkey with trembling composure: her mouth held, carefully, oh so carefully, to its traditional solemnity. Her eyes, though, are too bright with the suppressed mirth as she favors the little girl with her blue-grey regard. Alto's warmed with hidden laughter when she speaks: "Thank you, Aramina." A single slow blink as long, slim fingers tighten over the stuffed animal in her hands. "I very much appreciate it."
Toxin waves Aramina back to her room once again. "I told you to pack." she scolds her softly, a gentle smile on her face. The little girl beams another smile at Ellen and darts back into her room. Covering her mouth with one gloved hand, her shoulders shake for brief moments until she regains composure. Her gold-green eyes dancing, she nods at Ellen. "I doubt that will assist you in your biology studies, but it may brighten your room nonetheless."
Ellen looks down at the monkey in her hands and then back up at Toxin again, still fighting to retain her composure. "The mice might like it," she says.
"They might at that. If there's nothing else Ellen, I do have a few things to set in motion before I head back to the mainland." Despite her cool words, there's laughter in Toxin's eyes that acknowledges the humor in the moment.
Ellen draws smoothly to her feet and inclines her head, though the solemnity and fluidity of the motion are both mildly hampered by the monkey still gripped in both hands. "Very well," she says, and raising her chin with perfect gravity, she turns and paces towards the door, pausing only for an additional, "Thank you," coupled with another blink.
Toxin is already turning back towards her desk. "I'll contact you when the monkeys arrive."
Ellen nods once again and then disappears out the door, to pace the halls of the Brotherhood's island with toy monkey in hand.