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Horse Doctor
|| Dining Room || First chair towards the door, on the left ||
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Much had occurred over the course of approximately 60 minutes in the dining room. The members of the cast had risen from their slumber one by one, taking in at their own pace the reality of being placed in an unfamiliar environment for reason unknown. Those that had been socialized properly, remembered their past and/or were from a project without a primary combat focus had been the ones to initiate positive interactions within the group. Meanwhile, those that had been used as solo combat units or had scored low in their communication tests during solitude displayed cautious behaviour and either waited for others to approach them or avoided interaction entirely.Thus far, all was within the range of expectations for the scientific team, who observed the subjects through hidden cameras.
To the delight of the team, 88% of all test subjects showed non-maliciousness and moderate to keen interest in collaboration.
Of the remaining 12%, 6% were represented by one individual, test subject Cetus, who had an unprovoked violent outburst upon awakening and attempted acts of untargeted violence, yet was effectively mitigated by his inhibitor. The device worked in full capacity and without delay, providing much needed feedback in this early stage of the experiment. Another positive outcome was the first possible display of courtship behaviour in the form of test subject Damocles placing himself between test subjects Boryan and Cetus, as the latter was approaching the former with aggression. Due to the fact that test subject Boryan’s unique appearance suggests he is capable of combat and his actions had established him as one of the dominant males, there has been no evidence to support other reasons for Damocles’s behaviour, other than at attempt to display his potential as a suitable mate. Further observation will be required to confirm this hypothesis and whom the display was meant for.
The last 6% were represented by the second Atlantis test subject participating in the Fate Project – Jack Beaumont.
Since he fell into the first group, as he was properly socialized, preserved his memories and was not primarily used for combat, it had been assumed that he would have partaken in the first bonding session and even served as one of its main catalysts. Yet for a prolonged period of time, he remained seated, feigning sleep and showing no intention of- . . .
In the first seat on the left, at the table's end towards the door, sat a young man in a seemingly unpleasant position. Though his initial posture was most dignified, sleep had touched him so tenderly that his arms had loosely fallen to his sides, his bottom had slightly slipped forward and his heck had bent back to the point where his face was facing the ceiling. Like Hipparchus observing the stars as he wrote his Star Catalogue or a chicken suffering from vitamin B1 deficiency. Regardless of what came to mind, anyone who saw him would feel their own neck stiffen a bit. Yet what was more disquieting was that he, Jack Beaumont, was fully awake.
Listening to all that had been said, it was as if Thalia’s own golden ichor was running through his veins as the young man maintained that very appearance and evenness of breath. If you were to ask him, he would assure you that there was no need to rush. From the sound of it, the group was coming to grips with reality rather well and were a lively bunch, too. The one right next to him sounded like a stick-in-the-mud-with-a-brain-on-top sort of guy, while the one directly in front of him seemed to have less of the mud and more of the sunshine of Apollo. There was also the one who had spoken the longest, Boryan Cappello, for whom the room had fallen silent. This was the only name Jack had bothered to remember. He didn’t need the light of day to recognize who he’d have to reply on in whatever variety show the Seekers had signed him up for.
An exchange of opinions. Some friendly, some spicy, but most of all - predictable. The tedious introductions had been coming to an end when something happened. A door opened and the first brave ignorant souls waltzed out of the room. Just as the thought of stirring came to Jack’s mind, the official announcement came and he settled back down in the evenly painted black space that was his mind. He anticipated that the greenhorns among them would likely have an exaggerated reaction. It was quite typical for those little sprouts that wanted to catch the spotlight as much as possible. Whether they cried or got rowdy, this seasoned actor had no desire to play nanny. Why waste your energy on something you found boring? This was a mandatory question when Jack formed his priority list. Once the little birds stopped chirping about, he would commence his awakening and gracefully introduce himself as their senior. If they were as interesting as they sounded, he could even throw them a welcome drink. Until then, however, he would continue enjoying the leisure of not being bothered and doing nothing.
"WHY AM I
AWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?”
That is, until Aries entered the chat.
That familiar explosion of a bear’s roar in the middle of a dark cave on the island of Lemnos was enough to not only open Jack’s wide blue eyes. No, he choked and tossed his upper torso forward, but since he had been leaning back, he had no balance, thus he slid, grasped air and fell to the side on the cold hard tile floor. Without his chair, of course, because it had been bolted to the ground. Yet this minor inconvenience was not enough to lower his eyelids as he stared wide-eyed in the direction of the outcry.
“WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! ARE YOU SH*TTING ME!? A CAT? WHAT ELSE DID THEY MAKE? THE WHOLE CAST OF HOMEWARD BOUND!?”
‘Are you FOR REAL. No joke. He’s here.
The man.
The Myth.
THE L.E.G.E.N.D.’
Jack cupped his hands in front of his mouth, withholding any sound that could have come out and alerted the raging man. From the angle of a person lying on the floor at the end of the table opposite the group of people where the commotion was happening, what he could see were two young women standing beside and in front of a pink-haired sleeping seated damsel and outlines of what was most likely the aforementioned giant cat in front of them. The voice that sent reverberations through the air, like a mad brass gong, belonged to none of them, however. Its owner needed not reveal his name to Jack, for they had become acquainted 2 years ago.
It was Cetus.
“WHY IS SHE STILL ASLEEP!?” he had changed his position, so that his tall frame was now in plain sight, towering over the girls, when he snapped his head at them.
'OH MY GOD, HIS HAIR!'
“I WANT THAT TO BE ME! WHY. AM. I. AWAAAKE?!" the short-haired red-head bellowed.
'RAPUNZEL, RAPUNZEL, LET DOWN YOUR HAIR. Ooops, sorry, darling, I went to the salon yesterday~
. HE LOOKS LIKE A TURNIP.' Jack was shivering in amusement as his grip on his mouth became tighter and he bent his knees, bringing his legs closer to his abdomen. Cetus belonged to the same division as he did, the Atlantis Division. As promising test subjects, they had been put under training together, in hopes of creating a unit that could win more favor from investors. During that period of time, the 190-cm-tall poplar had always had long lush hair that reached bellow his waist, creating the appeal of a mysterious handsome figure. What had compelled the Seekers to trim that flame-stroked mane to a short cut was a mystery and as a patron of mysteries, Dionysus gave a toast to it.“Hey! You need to calm down, dude! Mr. Cappello was nice enough to get you up." one of the girls attempted to placate the Nemean lion.
'Oh. oH. She throws the ball.' Jack announced in his mind as he used right arm to push himself up a bit, as if he wanted to see the trajectory of the "ball".
“SHUT UP!” Cetus retorted and, after a single inhale, "“!@#!$#@$%@$%$#^%!!!!!!!!!!!!" sent out curses and blasphemies that would give you the impression you were inside a taxi in the Balkans.
'AND HE STRIKES!' Jack bent forward and hit the floor with his forehead, all in an attempt to keep himself quiet. He had to endure, so that he could continue being a spectator of this marvelous comedy.
“YOU WANNA DIE?”
The threatening question made Jack lift his head up once more, the pink spot where his skin had made contact with the tiles quickly fading. To his disappointment, the inquiry wasn't directed at him, but at a man, who had stepped forward to confront Cetus.
“If only I could be so fortunate- but let’s not deal in haste. Are you hurt?” the pococurante spoke.
'Oh, a fellow death-seeker. His voice is the same as the one who sat next to me. No wonder. Birds of a feather get shot together, right?.' Jack mused.
“W-.... WHAT?! F*CK OFF, Mary Poppins!”
'Ah, well, that works, too.'
At this point, Jack's mirth had tempered down and he lazily lounged on the floor, cheek resting in his right palm as his upper body was curved upwards. Like a majestic walrus that feared no land-dweller, he watched as his colleagues continued enacting the scene, his smile ever-present. Cetus had burnt his candle more than halfway through and lost height, both metaphorically and physically. He had weakly hunched over, holding his ginger head, but remained in full view, panting and glaring daggers at all who approached. Mary Pop-ins took this golden opportunity to enlighten the poor youth regarding the fact that his actions could have unpleasant consequences and assured him that none wished him harm. To this, Jack lowered his gaze and sighed.
Although he fully agreed with the blue-eyed stranger, he knew well that such words of reason easily flew into one ear and came out the other. Cetus had never been the sort to seriously consider others's advice. Even when it seemed like he was listening or when he had burnt his hand after touching the stove, he would rather hold onto his precious pride and stubbornness than put a bit of work into becoming better. It was a song that Jack had sung and no longer fancied. Thus, he pitied his fellow death-enthusiast and could only smile at the inevitable downfall of his attempt.
Contrary to his prediction, what followed was a most puzzling sight. The pink nymph blossomed into the land of the mortals and rose from her seat. From behind the two women she gracefully stepped, bare feet making not a sound. A pale petit maiden she was, flowing through the stream of life at a height shorter than those that were present. Her voice, as soft as goose down, fell upon the world with a soothing melody, creating a moment of stillness and serenity. Carefully following every movement of this delicate creature, Jack recognized that this was her ability. It was quite similar to his own and he remained unaffected by its willful influence over the moods of others. Whether it was due to his immediate realization or a natural weakening when two powers of the same type collided, Jack did not know, but it didn't stop him from commending her marvelous talent and giving her a nod.
'Mmm. Good. Very good control. Refined, mellow. I can definitely work with that. And if she plays an instrument, it will be eve- HOLD UP.'
Jack's hands went to the floor so that they may lift him up a bit more in his effort to catch every bit of information from what was transpiring in front of his eyes. The lovely songstress stood before the red-haired colossus, tipping her head back so that she may peer upwards at him, her melody having grown stronger, but ever so gentle. That rabid unmannerly giraffe, in turn, looked down and was bedazzled by her charm. His eyebrows smoothened, his breathing relaxed and the fire within his eyes was replaced by the twinkling of stars.
Jack's mouth hung loosely opened.
That little girl and that angry telephone pole were gazing deep into each other's eyes, existing in that instance in a two-person world. If this was a novel, the author would write that the roses bloomed within the garden and the tender spring breeze swept their red petals up into a waltz around the two, who were at present only strangers, yet their hearts knew, without a need for words, that they had waited for this moment since their first dawn.
"Pffff, ha-Ha, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" Jack could take it no longer.
The young man's laughter rang across the room, akin to a bell that called for joyous celebration. Loud, unrestrained and enthralling, it invited all to join him in his revelry as he slammed his fist on the floor, tears glistening in his tightly shut eyes. Cheeks full and rosy from elation, he looked up with a grin, only to burst out laughing again when he saw Cetus's face. This time he fell on his back and placed a hand on his stomach, speaking between his gasps for air, mingled with the tremors of laughter.
"The look on YOUR FACE. Haha. It's so sweet, I'M GETTING DIABETES. AH! The beauty, the affectionate downcast gaze, THE BLUSH. You look like a high-school boy in one of those cheesy rom-coms! Good thing they cut your hair so we'd see it all, huh, KETY? OH, the JOY. I bet Hera would LOVE seeing you FINALLY make a face other than "murder" and "poker". I AM SPEECHLESS."
code by @Nano
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