Machine Fur Project IC

[AJ Fawxe]

Alex had been trudging along after the group had caught up, but when the two hares caught sight of them he sort of stood frozen. Once it was clear that they were being helped Alex stepped forward-and groaned. It was only once the adrenaline and the anxiety of their predicament wore off that the reality of his condition sunk in. The hybrid was shaking with cold and he ached right down to his bones. Walking after the group he lugged the pot along with him and when they got in he sighed and curled up, hugging his knees tight with his pot still concealed in the pillowcase. Quietly nodding to the one that gave him the blanket he looked at the pillowcase holding the pot of stew.


"You risked your life for that food, maybe you should hold on to it?" "They are being nice.. and don't you have to put food in some cooling device?"

The fynx held up the pillowcase which was only lukewarm with the cooled pot of stew in it. "I want the pillowcase back.. and the pot. Though I suppose the stew should be shared. It should be good it was from the Suc-" WAIT! Alex's brain caught him, Success and Failure were commonplace in the facility, but it was gone now. The fynx hadn't even bothered to turn around when he heard it crumbling down, but the labels the practices stuck in his mind. A beat had already passed and any longer and he would garner suspicion. "the successful head chef of our local diner." Diner was an eatery right? Yes! Taking the cup he sniffed it. Was that chocolate? Some of the guards had eaten it and he swore it smelled like it. When he started to drink it he quickly let it fall out of his mouth and into his cup. That was hot! It did taste like the chocolate had smelled though.

[shkkf]

Three grumbled slightly as he was laid down and one of the females came over to check up on him. He tried not to show anything, but this was rather new. He did know these people were not with the administration, so things were more safe than in the compound. As the female approached him she asked him how his legs wouldn't move. And a more annoying question what his name was. In his ignorance the feline answered, much to his dismay afterwards. "I am Three." He said, before closing his eyes realising what he had said. "Uuh I meant..." As he listened to hear with his ears what Nine had spoken. "I am the third one of this group... Yes! He is Nine and I am Three. Sadly the long jogg and snow made it so my feet a bit frozen. We were caught off guard due to this blizzard. Lost most of our gear too!"
 
He hoped the trick would fool them and make it easier for him to go about. His legs were feeling better, the heat notably doing well for him as well. "I just need some rest that is all."

[Lavender_Stripes]

Thirteen sipped her cocoa timidly, choosing to seclude herself in the corner while she ate. She wasn't sure of what to say, so she simply observed those around her. She smiled, happy everyone was okay. She purred softly, feeling her eyelids become heavy. She was in no shape to support her own weight any longer. She attempted to stand, but she quickly fell back on the floor. She rubbed her bottom, and leaned back against the wall.

[Suzumibachii]

One just remained seated on the floor against the wall hearing Four speak to her and calling her One her gaze locked onto him, a rather aggressive glare in her eyes as she really softly spoke up knowing that if anybody heard them call each other by numbers instead of names it would cause a lot of problems. "Dont...call me that." The words were faint enough to not be heard by others, the spams still persisted but they weren't  dangerous nor was she having a seizure proper. Biting her lips once more  and leaning forward "I...I will be fine...Dont worry about me." she gasped out and clutched the blanket in her arm and tried to ride out the pain.

[Fitzwilliam Jinglesworth]

Four jumped back in his seat.


"S-sorry...I just wanted to make sure...oh, god..."


He took a deep breath, then took a sip of his hot chocolate and let it out in a sigh after he had swallowed. They would have to figure out what they were going to call themselves once they were by themselves if they wanted to avoid suspicion.

[Suzumibachii]

One glanced back to Four before mouthing. "Sorry...I am just a little tense." Her spasms started to lessen as she took deep breathes and glanced over at Two who was still out cold and at Thirteen who seemed to be relaxing a little in the kinder atmosphere that was in the place. Listening to Three as he tried to hide his slip up and hoping the ruse would work with the furs and humans that were around.

[Lavender_Stripes]

Thirteen's mind raced with solutions. They'd get suspicious and fast if she didn't produce a name for them. She looked around the room, smiling at One and Four. She finished her bowl, gently placing it on the floor beside her very neatly. She looked out the window at the dark of the evening. Wait. Evening. Eve.

"I apologize for my rudeness...I'm Eve, ma'am." She looked at her caretakers, hoping her completely made up name was accepted.

[Isoke]

 Bonbori looked bewilderedly at the group as she tried to keep up with what they were saying, sensing a fair bit of tension and confusion among them.  Given the situation they likely just got out of, it seemed reasonable enough in her mind and simply remained passive long enough for them to gather their collective senses.  Eventually one of them provided a name rather than a number and the hare smiled at the notion that some progress was being made.
 
 “No offense taken, Eve.  I’m just glad you and your friends made it out of the trails before the blizzard really set in.  It’s supposed to be a bad one from what I hear.”
 
With that, Bonbori left them alone only returning long enough to provide a tray of hot sandwiches.  After a few more minutes there was a howling sound as the exterior doors opened and an older man with spectacles and silver hair stepped inside brushing some snow from his bag and shoulders.
 
 “Doctor Hammons!”  Came Bonbori’s voice from the kitchen, “I’m glad you could make it on such short notice, the group of hikers are over there.”
 
The doc looked to where the hare was pointing and proceeded toward them with a purposeful stride to his step.  With a cursory glance, the man quickly decided that the unconscious one of the group was going to be his first patient.  “Y’all chose a bad time to go on a hike.  They’re calling for two feet of snow overnight with sub-zero temperatures; it is a miracle that you found your way here when you did.  Though, you are hardly the first group of people I had advised to check the weather before going into the wilderness and you will certainly not be the last.”  As Hammons spoke, he was occupying himself by taking Two’s vitals.  The clinical poking and prodding caused Two to stir dazedly, much to the doctor’s satisfaction.
 
 “Can you hear me son?  Can you tell me your name?”
 
 Two weakly tried to avoid the continued prodding in his semi-conscious state, not even having the energy to open his eyes or state of mind to comprehend anything around him.  In an attempt to stop the prodding, Two responded as best he could to reassure whoever was examining him that he was fine, albeit with a heavy slur to his words.  “It’sokay”
 
 “Well, Isoke, your temp and pulse are looking good.  Just make sure to keep warm under those blankets and you’ll be just fine.”
 
As the doctor went down the line, questioning the others and checking their vitals, Suzumi came into the room and asked if they had any place to stay the night.  When the response to her question was a negative one, she only seemed grateful to be able to offer more help.  “I think it is safe to say that you all aren’t in the best condition to be driving anywhere.  That is, assuming your vehicles are nearby.  But we have several cots in storage from when we do blood drives here and you are more than welcome to wait out the night here.  Alternatively, there is a bed and breakfast a few blocks away if you prefer more accommodating rooms for the night.”

[AJ Fawxe]

Alex looked from person to person and looked towards where the person came from with the sandwiches. Thinking things through the fynx ran through past observations. Nine had heard of subjects trying to keep food in their rooms and how the guards laughed at them when their rooms started stinking-hell it had happened to him during a fit of rebellion. The guards had commented on a refrigerator and that Dr. Liszt had told him that a refrigerator-or fridge-was kept in a kitchen to keep food cold and preserved. Following the logical chain of thoughts and events, Nine walked into the kitchen once everyone was busying around Two, or Isoke as it seemed now, and found the cold box fridge. Shoving the pot into the way back and moving things around it to hide it he kept the pillowcase and crept back out.


Looking around he grabbed a sandwich, happy that he had long ago chosen a name for himself to escape the depersonalizing feeling of being a number. "I'm Alex," he said with no hesitation or uncertainty, "nice to meet you all."

[Fitzwilliam Jinglesworth]

Four glanced around the room, noting how his fellow subjects were taking on aliases. If they were trying to hide, he thought to himself, that would probably be wise...but what was he going to do, he asked himself? When he saw that the workers were focused on Two, he found the perfect opportunity, leaning over to Thirteen. Or Eve, or whatever he was to call her.


"Psst," he whispered to her. "You have any idea what I should pick for a name..?"

[Lavender_Stripes]

Eve shrugged, looking at him earnestly. She smiled, leaning over to pat his shoulder. She whispered. "I just used what came to mind first." She purred softly, still clearly out of it. "I wish I could be more help..." She rubbed at her eyes, curling up more.

[Fitzwilliam Jinglesworth]

"Hmm..." Four rubbed his chin. He had to admit that he was so used to thinking of himself as a Subject that he never really thought that names were important. "Four" served him just fine - it was all he had known, and it worked for him. But it was still clear that this situation called for a change.

"Well...I think Adam would probably be too easy...hmm." He thought back to his number, playing it over and over in his head. "For-Forrest? Would that work?"

[Lavender_Stripes]

"I think it suits you well." She smiled at him, almost blushing. "Adam and Eve, huh? Are you coming onto me, sir?" She giggled to herself, her tail swishing.

[Fitzwilliam Jinglesworth]

"I n-never..!" Four jumped back, blushing through his fur. "I j-just...it made me think about it, okay..?"

[Suzumibachii]

One stood up and rather coldly walked to one of the windows and just looked out across the snow, trying to look in the direction of the facility. Her attitude seemed to have shifted quite dramatically over the course of the escape and her words seemed to ring hollow for a moment, carrying a chill never before heard in them. "Shizune..." her voice trailing off into a whisper she struggled to hear herself "Not that a name changes me..."