001 | Welcome to the Surgery Altar

[whomthebelltolls]

[CW: Dissection, parasitism, just generally really goopy medical grossness.]

[Unfortunately, Maria doesn't really know about nor believe in content warnings, so those who are browsing the Murmur near the end of Week 3 or beginning of Week 4 of February are going to run smack-dab, face-first into Maria dissecting a Lesser Guardian.

The image is mostly from her perspective, but she has dressed down into just her undershirt, with the sleeves rolled up. She's wearing her leather gloves over her hands, and her hunter's trousers, all of which are splattered in thick, black sludge. She stands in what appears to be the lobby of some kind of old office building, with the Guardian laying dead on a table. Nearby, a few reappropriated bottles and mason jars contain the same thick, black sludge, as well as some strange slug-like creatures.

The Lesser Guardian's torso is cut wide open, with its void-black musculature under its weird, smooth skin exposed. A knife - not a scalpel, but a flip-blade knife from some collector's case or another - lays nearby. The whole thing has the vibe of a very ad-hoc surgery theater. Or mortuary.

Without much warning, she reaches into the torso cavity as movement catches her eye, and comes out with a thick, black slug that wiggles weakly in her fingers a few times, then falls limp. Disappointment prickles through the Murmur.]

... The creatures haunting about this month are more interesting than I had hoped.

I would like assistance with a few things: Firstly, more of them to study. I've hunted a few, but it's been difficult to obtain a pristine specimen. I am willing to go with a hunting party. Secondly, a place to store and perhaps better investigate them, if anyone knows of a safe place. [And that's all she really needs from the Murmur, but she does step back to the Guardian's side to continue, for those that didn't immediately try to turn it off or change the channel:]

For those interested: Their blood is some sort of thick sludge, and they are full of these... phantasms, as I have never seen them before. [She motions at the slug. She does not explain what a "phantasm" is, nor why she called the slug that, before she continues] But the phantasms die quickly after being removed from their hosts; I'd like to find out how to preserve them.

Their flesh and bones seem to be structured like some sort of sapient... wasp's nest, as well. [Guess who's going back in to peel the open skin flaps of the Guardian, and showing off the honeycomb structure of its flesh and muscles on that small sample.] I damaged this one's head when I slayed it, so I would especially like one with an intact head that I can study. I want to see what its brain looks like.

Those squeamish need not apply.

Comments

[dethangel]

Wowee... that's really brutal.

[He's seen a lot of really gross stuff in his life, but that's a lot of gunk!

The things she's looking for seem interesting enough, though. He's pissed off about a lot of stuff, maybe he can go help kick the ass of one of these things to feel better? Distraction, maybe?]

Are those guys fun to hunt?

[He's been trying to go in the opposite direction.]

[whomthebelltolls]

I suppose it depends upon your definition of "fun". [Like before, fighting tends to trigger Maria's prey drive, so violence is fun in that way.] Stepping into their voids is quite draining, but the fight against them is exhilarating. They're also dangerous, but not as dangerous as some of the other creatures that have traipsed about of late.

[dethangel]

Huh.

[Part of him just wants to stay away from everything as much as possible, but the more instinctual part of him kind of wants to cause some damage just for making life harder for him.]

I guess I could come help get you a new one, maybe? I kinda really wanna just fight a guy...

[whomthebelltolls]

If you need to relieve some energy or aggression, they make for a satisfying target, yes. I've yet to clear out anything northeast of Central Park, if you would like to join me in starting there.

[potentialman]

I don't know if applying normal logic is the way to go with these things to begin with, but my first thought on preservation would be cold storage.

[ Okay, it's not a side of beef, but look. ]

There are definitely labs in the city that would have sample fridges...but you could probably even get away with a restaurant that has a relatively undamaged walk-in freezer.

[whomthebelltolls]

Hmm. And would you happen to know where there is one that's undamaged? It also sounds like something that relies on the power here not flickering out.

[Which is a bit of a challenge, considering how unstable it ultimately seems.]

I suppose, if the days do not become much warmer, we could just use something with access to the outside world for now.

[potentialman]

It's not something I've kept an eye out for, admittedly. But restaurants are a lot thicker on the ground than labs, so I suspect it'll be easier to find one.

The power flickers are an issue, but our artificers might have ideas about that.

[ The slugs don't seem to register too much disgust from him as he considers them. ]

...this does fit with what we found from the scientists back at the start, though.

So I guess the slugs are doing the job of the nervous system?

[whomthebelltolls]

True. [The office building just happened to be closest to where she'd brought down the Guardian, and not smack dab in the middle of a void, so she'd dragged it there and called it good. There should be a restaurant with a functional freezer somewhere nearby... hopefully. If not, then the search continues. It's not like she's lacking for Guardians to hunt, either.] I would not want to see the specimens spoil, or disappear through means that we can control. They've already proven to be fascinating. What I would truly love more than any else, however, is to keep the phantasm alive.

[Then, there's a momentary pause as she grapples at the message he implies in the Murmur. Microbiology is still a bit beyond her Victorian understanding, but parsing the message back over two or three times at least yields some understanding of what was said.]

Hmm... perhaps? My initial suspicion was that the slugs were... building these creatures as wasps do their nests, hence the honeycomb shape and the strange symmetry, but perhaps you're right. I would need to find one with its head intact to be sure what sort of nervous system it has; I've not seen anything resembling any kind of brain yet in any of the flesh I have dissected so far.

[cantilevers]

[There is something deeply instinctually uncomfortable watching this, though while he couldn't explain it if asked, anyone that knew his fate would probably be able to helpfully provide details that his own vivisection was potentially similar. He would prefer to remain blissfully ignorant of those details, but they crawled and crept across his psyche regardless.

So, he had to focus. Just focus, Vander. Surely this was a monster necropsy and not... no, never mind. Just focus and be helpful.]

I'm in the process of seeing if I can repair the coolant generator of a refrigeration unit at a restaurant. When I'm not falling into void holes to battle these things, I'm trying to locate useable parts.

I would suggest something similar at an autopsy lab, assuming there is one around here which is accessible.

[whomthebelltolls]

[She hums in return; interested, of course, in the statement and less in any feelings of unease that might accidentally transmit over the Murmur.]

I'm unfortunately quite unfamiliar with coolant generators. The mechanical technology of this place is quite foreign and far exceeds my home's. If such a place does exist, I will have to seek it out, or perhaps find one who knows where it is, but repairing it would be beyond me.

Though... are you struggling to find the voids the creatures reside in? I have had luck mapping out where some are.

[cantilevers]

I'm no expert, but I know how to fix mechanical things now and again. It just takes parts, and I believe the new power source we have will allow us to get a unit or two up and running.

Not particularly; I avoid them when and where I can. I assume you're forming a hunting party?

[hallowedly]

( Ah, what a maudlin sight. Don't mind the chipper lilt: )

Good morning. ( Is it even — morning. ) It's smaller capacity, but the veterinary clinic's specimen fridge could house a few samples. I'm afraid you'll have to be selective.

[whomthebelltolls]

[Possibly! But Maria has also been mostly nocturnal because of Sundowning soooo, also possibly not.]

Veterinary clinic? [Wait, hang on; that could lead to something else interesting.] Are you there by chance, or are you familiar with nonhuman biology? I'd actually like to see if I can keep one of these phantasms alive and observe its behaviors.

[hallowedly]

If you're asking whether I'm a certified veterinarian, then, yes. Though I'm afraid I've left my degree at home.

[licencetoheal]

[Someone is watching intently. Captivated, honestly. And in fact has reached for one of the notebooks on his desk to frantically scribbles some notes and observations (and make some sketches.)]

So the slugs are in something of a symbiotic relationship. Are there any sign of reproductive organs creating them? There are some species that have a part of the body that acts as a brood pouch for multiple young. Among animals on Earth, species like sea horses and Surinam toads, for instance. For Surinam toads, the young erupt from holes in the mother's back.

There are a few sentient species back home that reproduce similarly.

[A pause.]

If you haven't, you ought to also dissect one of the slugs.

[whomthebelltolls]

[Hey now, here's someone that is... kind of speaking her language. Closer than most others, anyway. The question about reproductive organs interests her and she lifts the slug again, running her thumb over its slimy hide. With it closer to her Mask, it also shows closer to the Murmur, but even though she looks closely, it's hard to see anything without magnification.] If there is a reproductive organ, I cannot see it. If it births young, I also do not see them, but... [She picks up one of the jars of the Guardian's black blood-sludge.] This came from the torso cavity. The "blood" is thick and black and almost impossible to see through, but if it could be diluted or sifted in some way, perhaps one could check for eggs?

[She turns the slug over another time in her hands, then steps back over to the table, and the knife.] I could do that. I was interested in keeping one of these phantasms alive, so even if this dissection does not yield any more interesting results, live actions could be observed. I feel like I've these phantasms before, as well, but I cannot place where. [She's not thinking about the people puking them up after the Jericho event, so it's a little out of mind at the moment.]

[licencetoheal]

A sieve. You might be able to find a sieve in a kitchen or shop that sells cookware. There are also sifters for sugar that use a mesh.

[His captain cooks. If he hadn't thought of Sisko's excellent beignets he might not have thought of it.]

[He's not fond of autopsies, even if a CMO has to be able to perform them, so he'll leave her to it, but he's certainly down to offer helpful suggestions.]

I haven't seen the creatures before this recent attack, but I'm relatively new.

[longwillows]

Holy shit.

[It's an impressed kind of surprise, not a horrified one. This is unexpectedly gruesome, but Kalmiya has a strong stomach and knowledge of the eldritch. And she's met this woman in passing. In combat, in fact, enough to deduce that this is not an unusual level of brutality for her.

Still though. Holy shit!]

I'm happy to help you corral them, but I'm afraid preservation is often the exact opposite of my approach. [She's quite brutal in her own right, when given sufficient reason and opportunity.

The Murmur carries the distant chimes of tiny bells as she thinks through some logistics. It's with an almost idle ease that she muses,] If you can find someone proficient in ice magic, then encasing one in ice would probably be the fastest way to both neutralize the immediate threat and preserve the whole body.

[whomthebelltolls]

Ah... greetings. [This little bubble of an embarrassed greeting is brought to you by: Berserker wolf, the vague (extremely vague) memories she has of that disaster of a Rat King fight, and the friendly fire she might or might not have inflicted upon her teammates.

At least it doesn't seem like there are any hard feelings. More than that, Maria perks up a little as she hears the suggestion, and the chance to... not have to talk about that whole Rat King thing.] Mm... that would follow with the chance to place them into some kind of a cold storage. I just do not know of anyone here with-

[A pause, and a crackle of realization.] Wait, I have seen someone with ice powers here, but... it was during a dream, so I know not if they carried over to the waking world. I will have to ask her.

Thank you for the suggestion, it may well help out this research.

[fatedfinality]

[ That's the sexiest opening to one of these thought projections he's seen so far. Just look at that viscera. ]

Consider myself volunteered to assist.

[ Then, somewhat quieter and more a thought to himself but still relayed: ]I might even have a consideration for how to preserve them, but I wonder if they'd stay the same as they are...? I suppose there's only one way to find out.

[whomthebelltolls]

Are you good at biology, or fighting? Both are useful for these purposes.

[Pause; she thinks it was a bit of a rhetorical thought, but she answers it anyway:]

And what would your idea be? I'm very interested in observing their behaviors, as well.

[fatedfinality]

I am versed in both.

I have a unique ability to keep things alive even after death. Technically. From my experience, they remain what they were before just... reanimated. And they answer to me. [ They become 'part' of him, actually, but details. ]

It's easier with smaller creatures, but I've worked this magic on larger beings too. [ Humans were so complex, after all, and he could only keep them as they were for so long. Eventually, the Scourge consumed them and they reverted to more simplistic creatures. ]

[sculptedash]

Dude. Dude.

That's some killer gore you have going on there.

Count me in.

[whomthebelltolls]

[There's another one of those noises that might be related to a laugh, in like a second-cousin-twice-removed sort of way.

Then...]

If viscera is your interest, I've plenty more to dig into. Have you a scientific mind, or one interested in combat?

[sculptedash]

Oooooh~ Hard call to say there.

It's kind of like a morbid interest. I kind of grew up surrounded in a lot of ritualistic gore.

So there's kind of some home style comfort to it. A little bit of science- I love the anatomy of things going squirt or crunch like that, but I'm not an exactly an expert in it.

And like I've had to do a lot of violence to get by.

It's just a vibe that I flow with if that makes sense.