ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
βBeware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.β
- Friedrich Nietzsche
A Blackened Heart
- Friedrich Nietzsche
A Blackened Heart
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
They had endured the thoroughfare of life for as long as either could, or would care to admit. A shambling zombie of a pace from left to right, on the straight and narrow through thick and thin. Together, despite the hardships that docked at their ports every so often. The strangers knocking on the door barely more than a bother when it came down to the nitty gritty and neither had the whimsy to break from the distress. Of course, it mattered only that they had each other to rely on and the income from associating with the likes of Dr. Hart. Without the man the two would have forever been stuck living off of the markets demands.
Breaking free from the same old hadn't been easy.
Rowen Madsen spent the greater part of his morning swamped in paperwork at his desk, hunched over and reading by the flickering light of a candle. Their hovel had only two windows at the main entrance that shed the barest amount of light through the caked on dirt. There were times that Rachel chose to pick a fight over this fact - why were they staying in such a run down shack when they had the means necessary to acquire a larger home to showcase their higher societal standing. However, the case was simply that neither of them spent much time home in the first place, and to draw attention to themselves in these early days of occupation seemed foolish at best. They had a job that required a certain level of anonymity lest they draw unwanted attention onto the Doctor.
One look at the newly refurbished desk clock let Rowen know that the time was almost upon them to greet the newfound patients. A group that would be no doubt under their thumbs in a matter of moments - a thrill for Rachel of course, she had always been the kind to exude power and felt that others should bow at her feet; she knew there was an act to be upheld, and would mask her flaw to do so. While Rowen was more thrilled at the idea of what fame he could gather from these trials. He stood from the desk, allowing the chair to scrape loudly across the wooden floor panels before making his way up the creaky stairs. Being sure to avoid the two steps that had caved in at the top. He had no trouble moving through the dark hallways though he did stumble over an antique rug on the way to Rachels room, fumbling with the half broken handle until he could swing it open.
She was contorted at odd angles in her sleep, half off the bed with one arm thrown across her face to block the light streaming in through a hole in the wall directly above the bed frame. She was eerily quiet, and save for the steady up and down movements of her chest she could have easily passed for dead. "Wake up Rae," he did not shake her, aware of the argument that would spark. She had always been a light sleeper, light enough that she woke up at her name with ease but being shook awake often caused alarm bordering on full out panic. "Up and at em," He told her, when she groggily waved him away and sat up on her own. "Get out." She mumbled, biting back harsher words. Rowen nodded and left for his own room in order to change into the appropriate garments for the day, they both needed to look the part after all.
After tying up some loose ends the two of them made their way hastily to the facility, where they would be spending the majority of their time from here on out, observing the patients as closely as possible. Hopefully with little incident to call for, though the both of them knew that there would always be kinks to work out. It was just the way things went naturally, small bumps in the road - but nothing that they couldn't handle with a little bit of elbow grease. Just like everything else in New New York. "I hope these people aren't stupid," Rachel spoke offhand on their walk, they were not far from the facility to begin with, as their shack had been built from the ground up on a barren stretch of land some years ago. Her tone reflected boredom, and perhaps a small hint of irritation which happened to also be clear in the way she squinted. A headache? She got them often enough to be a major bother.
There were already files compiled on the various 'volunteers' but there was a major difference between a minute meeting and an intellectual conversation. They knew nothing of these people aside from what they could ascertain from written word. "If they are, then they won't be for long." Rowen spoke in reference to the Actirine, which would hopefully work tot he effect of enhancement. "Looking to make friends then Rae?" He teased, dull in tone but with the intent there that she understood. She snorted, kicking rocks from underfoot and cast him a glare that was only half joking, "No." She strode ahead of them, the first to reach the entrance when the facility finally came into full view. Rowen trailed lazily behind her, waiting in due silence for either more annoyance or further offhand remarks.
It seemed nobody had yet to arrive before them, a good thing since dealing with early arrivals would have been an annoyance for the both of them. As it stood now all they really had to do was wait, so that they could process their personal belongings and make first sight assessments. Rachel would be handling the tour there after while Rowen attended to more important matters. Doling out the responsibilities equally.
Breaking free from the same old hadn't been easy.
Rowen Madsen spent the greater part of his morning swamped in paperwork at his desk, hunched over and reading by the flickering light of a candle. Their hovel had only two windows at the main entrance that shed the barest amount of light through the caked on dirt. There were times that Rachel chose to pick a fight over this fact - why were they staying in such a run down shack when they had the means necessary to acquire a larger home to showcase their higher societal standing. However, the case was simply that neither of them spent much time home in the first place, and to draw attention to themselves in these early days of occupation seemed foolish at best. They had a job that required a certain level of anonymity lest they draw unwanted attention onto the Doctor.
One look at the newly refurbished desk clock let Rowen know that the time was almost upon them to greet the newfound patients. A group that would be no doubt under their thumbs in a matter of moments - a thrill for Rachel of course, she had always been the kind to exude power and felt that others should bow at her feet; she knew there was an act to be upheld, and would mask her flaw to do so. While Rowen was more thrilled at the idea of what fame he could gather from these trials. He stood from the desk, allowing the chair to scrape loudly across the wooden floor panels before making his way up the creaky stairs. Being sure to avoid the two steps that had caved in at the top. He had no trouble moving through the dark hallways though he did stumble over an antique rug on the way to Rachels room, fumbling with the half broken handle until he could swing it open.
She was contorted at odd angles in her sleep, half off the bed with one arm thrown across her face to block the light streaming in through a hole in the wall directly above the bed frame. She was eerily quiet, and save for the steady up and down movements of her chest she could have easily passed for dead. "Wake up Rae," he did not shake her, aware of the argument that would spark. She had always been a light sleeper, light enough that she woke up at her name with ease but being shook awake often caused alarm bordering on full out panic. "Up and at em," He told her, when she groggily waved him away and sat up on her own. "Get out." She mumbled, biting back harsher words. Rowen nodded and left for his own room in order to change into the appropriate garments for the day, they both needed to look the part after all.
After tying up some loose ends the two of them made their way hastily to the facility, where they would be spending the majority of their time from here on out, observing the patients as closely as possible. Hopefully with little incident to call for, though the both of them knew that there would always be kinks to work out. It was just the way things went naturally, small bumps in the road - but nothing that they couldn't handle with a little bit of elbow grease. Just like everything else in New New York. "I hope these people aren't stupid," Rachel spoke offhand on their walk, they were not far from the facility to begin with, as their shack had been built from the ground up on a barren stretch of land some years ago. Her tone reflected boredom, and perhaps a small hint of irritation which happened to also be clear in the way she squinted. A headache? She got them often enough to be a major bother.
There were already files compiled on the various 'volunteers' but there was a major difference between a minute meeting and an intellectual conversation. They knew nothing of these people aside from what they could ascertain from written word. "If they are, then they won't be for long." Rowen spoke in reference to the Actirine, which would hopefully work tot he effect of enhancement. "Looking to make friends then Rae?" He teased, dull in tone but with the intent there that she understood. She snorted, kicking rocks from underfoot and cast him a glare that was only half joking, "No." She strode ahead of them, the first to reach the entrance when the facility finally came into full view. Rowen trailed lazily behind her, waiting in due silence for either more annoyance or further offhand remarks.
It seemed nobody had yet to arrive before them, a good thing since dealing with early arrivals would have been an annoyance for the both of them. As it stood now all they really had to do was wait, so that they could process their personal belongings and make first sight assessments. Rachel would be handling the tour there after while Rowen attended to more important matters. Doling out the responsibilities equally.