Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Marikir on 20-02-2013, 06:56:43</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marikir</strong> on <strong>20-02-2013, 06:56:43</strong>
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				<span style="font-family: courier;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size">Project: Brave New World</span><br><br><br><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="bbc_size">Congressional Testimony Transcript</span><br><br><br><em>Presented to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on The Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights.</em><br><br><br>[Note: This transcript has been processed and vetted by the Congressional Publishing Office.&nbsp; Due to the sensitive nature of the following testimony, identities of those testifying before the committee and names of those mentioned have been redacted.&nbsp; Uncensored transcripts are available to members of Congress ONLY.&nbsp; Disclosure of Uncensored transcripts have been deemed to be a Federal Offense.]<br><br><span class="bbc_u">Transcript:</span><br><br>[Senator 1]:&nbsp; This hearing of the Subcommittee on The Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights is called to order.&nbsp; The purpose of this hearing is to begin entering into official record the results of the recently completed research effort, Project: Brave New World.&nbsp; I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of my colleagues who made the effort to be here.&nbsp; I am sorry to see that those colleagues from the other side of the aisle were unable or unwilling to be here today.&nbsp; But we shall proceed.&nbsp; Perhaps they will join us in the future.&nbsp; First, I would like to call [REDACTED] to the stand.&nbsp; <br><br>([REDACTED] is sworn in using secular option)<br><br>[Senator 1]: [REDACTED], would you please state your name, profession, and credentials for the subcommittee?<br><br>[REDACTED]: Yes.&nbsp; My name is [REDACTED], and I am a [REDACTED] at [REDACTED].&nbsp; For the past year I have been lead social research fellow connected to Project: Brave New World.<br><br>[Senator 1]: Now, as I understand it, your purpose here before us is to not provide us with the scientific or technological results of Project: Brave New World.<br><br>[REDACTED]: No, Senator.&nbsp; <br><br>[Senator 1]: So you are here to do what, exactly?<br><br>[REDACTED]: I was asked to come before this committee to testify on the social and psychological results from the Project.<br><br>[Senator 2]: Social and psychological results?&nbsp; <br><br>[REDACTED]: Yes, Senator.&nbsp; Project: Brave New World was conducted with multiple aims.&nbsp; One of which was to discover if there was a way to arrange a stable and functional group of adult volunteers.<br><br>[Senator 3]: You can't mean that you are here to tell us whether or not your hand picked group of experts were able to work together or not?&nbsp; Because if so, then I can see why our colleagues decided not to show up.&nbsp; This will be a short hearing.<br><br>[REDACTED]: No, Senator, that is not exactly the case.<br><br>[Senator 3]: Then what, pray tell, is the case, [REDACTED]?<br><br>[REDACTED]: Senators, I have come to tell you what happened with Project: Brave New World's efforts to form a working, functional, and most importantly, stable family unit of four adults, two females and two males.<br><br>(Several of the Senators begin to talk rapidly.&nbsp; Senator 1 bangs the gavel.)<br><br>[Senator 1]: Order, order.&nbsp; I will have order here.&nbsp; Thank you.&nbsp; Now, if we can continue with<br><br>[Senator 2]: Excuse me, but I want to be clear about this.&nbsp; You are saying, [REDACTED], that Project: Brave New World, put together four adults and allowed them to form some sort of four person...marriage?<br><br>[REDACTED]: Senators, my purpose here is to merely present the results.&nbsp; I am not here to pass judgement or offer my own opinion on what happened.&nbsp; I am only here to walk this subcommittee through the social events that transpired during the time of Project: Brave New World.&nbsp; <br><br>[Senator 1]: Perhaps you should start at the beginning then.&nbsp; And by beginning, I mean the very beginning.&nbsp; Start with the purpose of this project.<br><br>[REDACTED]: Yes, Senator.&nbsp; Project: Brave New World was conceived as a way to examine the feasibility of utilizing a highly skilled and hand selected group of individuals to improve the liveability of areas where mankind has virtually no presence.&nbsp; Places such as isolated locations here on Earth or even off world.<br><br>[Senator 3]: Off world?&nbsp; As in<br><br>[REDACTED]: Yes, Senator, as in the Moon or Mars.&nbsp; <br><br>[Senator 4]: You still aren't explaining why you and your team set up what would be described as an aberration of normal, decent human relationships.<br><br>[REDACTED]: Senator, we don't view anything as aberrant that may be useful in assisting humanity in expanding its reach.&nbsp; <br><br>[Senator 4]: Well, perhaps you should consider just what kind of <br><br>[Senator 1]: Wait, wait.&nbsp; [REDACTED] isn't here to defend what they did.&nbsp; [REDACTED] is merely here to report on what happened.&nbsp; Let's let [REDACTED] continue.<br><br>[REDACTED]: Thank you, Senator [Sentator 1].&nbsp; As such an endeavor would require a team of individuals, the possibility of a multi-gender team being the best possible choice was examined.&nbsp; There is no barrier in regards to sex for becoming involved in space exploration or colonization.&nbsp; In fact, one could easily say that both genders are necessary for the colonization of other worlds and locales.&nbsp; The planning team became concerned about the possibility of regular emotions becoming a hindrance to the successful outcome of any mission.&nbsp; Jealousy, for example.&nbsp; You may recall the case from a few years ago about the astronaut who<br><br>[Senator 2]: You're referring to the crazy lady who drove across the US wearing a diaper?<br><br>[REDACTED]: I would hesitate to call her crazy, Senator, but you are correct in that that was the case being considered.&nbsp; An close environment such as we were proposing, with a mixture of genders, could easily lead to a situation where emotions compromise the effectiveness of the team.<br><br>[Senator 3]: So you decided to force a group of men and women to shack up together and do what exactly?<br><br>[REDACTED]: The purpose of the team was to establish and expand a human presence in a hostile and or dangerous environment.&nbsp; We screened them looking for a lack of traditional sexual mores as well as a willingness to form bonds with more than one person at a time.&nbsp; The term used is polyamorous.<br><br>[Senator 2]: And you were hoping what would happen?<br><br>[REDACTED]: The only thing we were concerned about was if the team could function in such an environment and establish the necessary improvements to allow for a greater presence.&nbsp; Could they be the first pioneers into a new frontier?&nbsp; We told them that they would be going into a place where they would be in close quarters with others who shared their views on...multiple pair bonding, as it were.<br><br>[Senator 1]: That is a very clever term, [REDACTED].&nbsp; I hope that you did not force these people to do something they did not want to.<br><br>[REDACTED]: No, Senator.&nbsp; That was made clear from the very start.&nbsp; If the group did not bond on such a level, then the project would have not been considered a failure.&nbsp; Only whether or not the team was successful in making the local more habitable would determine success or failure.&nbsp; If they did not bond, we would assume our psychological and physiological examinations were not suited to finding compatible partners.<br><br>[Senator 3]: What, like match dot com?<br><br>(Laughter from the gathered Senators.&nbsp; Senator 1 taps his gavel again.)<br><br>[REDACTED]: Oddly enough, Senator, you are not far from being correct.&nbsp; We gathered a wide variety of experts and subjected a large group of potential subjects to a rigorous screening process.&nbsp; We examined mental stability, psychological health, sexual health, sexual function, anything we could think of to subject them to.&nbsp; It was as thorough an examination as we could make it.&nbsp; And in the end, we found four individuals who we believed had the potential to bond.&nbsp; If you care to look on the screens here, you can see the summary sheets from the individual dossiers we compiled on them.&nbsp; The full dossiers were very extensive.<br></span><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Brett Hamilton</div><div class="spoiler_body">&nbsp; <br><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size"><span style="font-family: arial black;" class="bbc_font">CLASSIFIED</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Dossier:</span></span></span><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font">Please attach a recent photograph (no more than 300 pixels wide):</span><br>(http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbp2.blogger.com%2F_H19UxbFBays%2FRxdbaWnouVI%2FAAAAAAAABFU%2FoUaC21qFpcQ%2Fs320%2FKarlUrban_Grani_3086070_400.jpg)<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Name:</span></span></span> Brett Hamilton, PhD<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Age and Date of Birth:</span></span></span> 35, 1 April, 1978<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Place of Birth:</span></span></span> Norwich, England<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Place of Residence:</span></span></span><br>Holiday Inn Express Hotel &amp; Suites Boston Garden,<br>280 Friend Street<br>Boston, MA 02114<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Occupation:</span></span></span> Professor of Electrical Engineering (hiatus)<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Educational Background:</span></span></span> Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Masters in Electrical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Double Bachelors Electrical Engineering &amp; Computer Science, California Institute of Technology. <br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Additional Skills:</span></span></span> Helicopter pilot, amateur guitar player <br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Known Allergies:</span></span></span> None<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Reason for Participation:</span></span></span> Recommended by peer at MIT. No issues with project goals, well suited to secluded environments. Research grant recently concluded, currently between projects. <br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Biography:</span></span></span> Born in England, living there with grandmother until the age of 12 when grandmother passed on. Moved to Los Angeles, California to live with mother (who had moved to LA at eh age of 19, to be an actress). Always tinkered with things, trying to take them apart, build, experiment, hack, or explode them. <br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Additional Information:</span></span></span> Project Manager notes: Dr. Hamilton is an interesting 'character'. He seems to take nothing serious, even if it is the most critical work he's done. Perhaps this is some quirk he has developed due to his birth date. <br>&nbsp;It is suspected that recent hiatus at MIT and conclusion of research funding may be related to rumors of impropriety with two female students. Neither were reportedly his students at the time, and no official response received from MIT.&nbsp; Due to his work on DoD project he possesses the needed clearance, he has the required skills, social disposition and the availability required for this project. <br></div></div><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Brook Lin</div><div class="spoiler_body">&nbsp; <br><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="bbc_size">CLASSIFIED</span><br><br><em>Dossier:</em><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font">Please attach a recent photograph (no more than 300 pixels wide):</span><br>(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/Bells_Marlow/Lucy-Liu-Southland_zps211a6984.jpg)<br><br><span class="bbc_u">Name:</span> Brook Lin, MD<br><br><span class="bbc_u">Age and Date of Birth:</span> 33, December 4, 1979<br><br><span class="bbc_u">Place of Birth:</span> Phoenix, Arizona<br><br><span class="bbc_u">Place of Residence:</span> New York City, New York<br><br><span class="bbc_u">Occupation:</span> General medical practitioner, recently employed at Huntington Hospital<br><br><span class="bbc_u">Educational Background:</span> Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Residency specialized in Psychiatry at New York State Hospital in New York City, New York<br><br><span class="bbc_u">Additional Skills:</span> Cook, Psychiatry<br><br><span class="bbc_u">Known Allergies:</span> None<br><br><span class="bbc_u">Reason for Participation:</span> After the hectic lifestyle of working for the World Health Organization since the age of 26, and having no real intimacy for a number of years due to my work, the prospect of this experiment intrigued me on a professional and personal level.<br><br><span class="bbc_u">Biography:</span> I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona with my mother and father. Neither of them had completed high school, and worked a series of minimum wage jobs. I dedicated myself to school and was able to earn a scholarship to medical school. At the age of 26, after my residency had finished, I joined the World Heath Organization and traveled to poor countries to bring the aid they needed. After seven years, I left W.H.O. and came back to the states to work. <br><br><span class="bbc_u">Additional Information:</span> N/A<br><br></div></div><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Jenna Sanders</div><div class="spoiler_body"> <br><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size"><span style="font-family: arial black;" class="bbc_font">CLASSIFIED</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Dossier:</span></span></span><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font">Please attach a recent photograph (no more than 300 pixels wide):</span><br>(http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9jdx7eg1w1r9dt9qo1_500.png)<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Name:</span></span></span>&nbsp; Jenna Lee Sanders, PhD<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Age and Date of Birth:</span></span></span>&nbsp; 33, February 14, 1980<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Place of Birth:</span></span></span>&nbsp; Buffalo, New York<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Place of Residence:</span></span></span>&nbsp; Houston, Texas<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Occupation:</span></span></span>&nbsp; Mechanical Engineer, most recently employed by Boeing<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Educational Background:</span></span></span>&nbsp; Cornell University, Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University, Masters in Mechanical Engineering, Buffalo State College, Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering Technology<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Additional Skills:</span></span></span>&nbsp; Pilot, Cook<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Known Allergies:</span></span></span>&nbsp; None<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Reason for Participation:</span></span></span>&nbsp; I'm recently divorced (2011) and looking for a new start.<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Biography:</span></span></span>&nbsp; I grew up in Buffalo with my father, who raised me alone.&nbsp; He was a mechanic, and I was raised tinkering with cars.&nbsp; I guess it's what I knew and loved, because it's what I pursued in college.&nbsp; I finished my education in 2006 and moved to Houston, Texas, where I spent seven years employed by Boeing.<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Additional Information:</span></span></span>&nbsp; N/A<br></div></div><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Carver Stafford</div><div class="spoiler_body">&nbsp; <br><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size"><span style="font-family: arial black;" class="bbc_font">CLASSIFIED</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Dossier:</span></span></span><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font">Please attach a recent photograph (no more than 300 pixels wide):</span> <br>(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/Marikir/Character%20shots/a5d6bd28-e16a-4277-899b-d9419402ed87_zpsa72041b8.jpg)<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Name:</span></span></span> Carver Stafford<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Age and Date of Birth:</span></span></span> 38, September 16, 1974<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Place of Birth:</span></span></span> Tahlequah, OK<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Place of Residence:</span></span></span> Prescott, AZ<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Occupation:</span></span></span> Botanist, USDA Forest Service<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Educational Background:</span></span></span> Doctorate, Agronomy/Food Science, University of California, Berkley; Masters, Botany, University of Hawai'i; Bachelor of Science - Botany, Oklahoma State University.<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Additional Skills:</span></span></span> Hunting, Survival, Animal raising.<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Known Allergies:</span></span></span> None<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Reason for Participation:</span></span></span> Subject's stated reason: "The thought of moving to an uninhabited location and making a go of setting up is intriguing."<br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Biography:</span></span></span> Raised in a rural setting, subject learned to work with plants and animals from a young age having been raised on a family farm.&nbsp; Subject's family history is of an unusual nature.&nbsp; It was suspected that his family was of a polyandrous nature.&nbsp; Subject's professional life has been concerned with the animal and natural world, though he has focused his learning on plant sciences.&nbsp; <br><br><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span class="bbc_u"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Additional Information:</span></span></span> His knowledge of animals comes from practical applications.&nbsp; He has spent extensive time in the Alaskan wilderness before.&nbsp; He has also worked for various branches of the USDA and the Department of the Interior.<br><br></div></div><span style="font-family: courier;" class="bbc_font"><br><br>[REDACTED]: The four all also had complementary skill sets that met the needs for the wider project and thus it was decided to move forward with the project using a basic set up in [REDACTED LOCATION].<br><br>[Senator 1]: So, you've got your guinea pigs, you've got your playground, what happened next?<br><br>[REDACTED]:&nbsp; On May 1st of 2013, Project: Brave New World began formally with the arrival of our four chosen subjects to our chosen location.&nbsp; We began monitoring them immediately.&nbsp; We observed that on arrival...<br><br></span>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Elina</strong> on <strong>21-02-2013, 03:43:43</strong>
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				<em>May 1, 2013.</em><br><br>Jenna Sanders had been anticipating this day for months, and now that it was here, now that she sat in a helicopter with the three people who would be her makeshift family for at least the next year, she couldn't help the little smile that played on her lips.<br><br>Throughout the whirlwind that had been her life the past few months, when she'd been notified that she was accepted as a candidate for the project, she had wondered if this day would come to pass.&nbsp; In fact, the whole thing seemed so fantastical that she'd been nervous to even put in her notice at Boeing.&nbsp; She had, after all, worked there her entire adult life.&nbsp; But then, a month ago, she'd been notified that she'd passed all of the screenings and had been instructed to let her job know that they only had her a few more weeks.&nbsp; Saying goodbye had been bittersweet; she was leaving a job with so many friends, but she was also leaving a job where her ex-husband was a supervisor in her division.&nbsp; It had been long past time to say goodbye. <div class="floatright">(http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9jdx7eg1w1r9dt9qo1_500.png)</div><br><br>Yesterday, she had been sent data on all of the others in the study, and now, here she was.&nbsp; On a helicopter, flying into the wilds of Alaska, a thrill of anticipation running a fiery course through her veins, looking at the others but not able to say anything to them yet over the loud whirring of the chopper blades.&nbsp; She felt like she had memorized the others' dossiers in the last day.&nbsp; They were bare-bones, just like the one she'd submitted, basic, perfunctory responses to a basic, perfunctory questionnaire.&nbsp; They said nothing about who the others were, and yet, she knew by heart everything they'd listed about themselves.&nbsp; <br><br>Brett Hamilton.&nbsp; He was the one that Jenna anticipated having the most in common with.&nbsp; He was an engineer like she was, and so there was built-in camaraderie there, or at least she hoped for that.&nbsp; Carver Stafford seemed like he'd be so different, so... earthy.&nbsp; But she liked his picture.&nbsp; There was warmth that shone through in his eyes, and she found herself attracted to it, wanting to meet him.&nbsp; And then there was Brook Lin, the other woman in the project.&nbsp; The name brought a smile to Jenna's face whenever she thought it, and she was the one who had Jenna wondering the most.&nbsp; Would they get along?&nbsp; Surely, in the professional part of this experiment, they would be fine.&nbsp; But what of the other part?&nbsp; The part that was less "government operation" and more "social study?"<br><br>It was what had Jenna the most excited.&nbsp; The salary was decent, although at seventy thousand a year, she'd made more money at Boeing.&nbsp; Room and board were paid for.&nbsp; There was the excitement and adventure of having a new job, and the comfort of no longer working with her ex-husband, Jason.&nbsp; All of those were positives, but they all paled in comparison to the underlying agenda of this experiment.<br><br>They all wanted this, that was the part that she found the most intriguing.&nbsp; They'd all been screened so rigorously, sent to medical doctors and psychologists over and over again.&nbsp; And they all seemed to have whatever was required for this.&nbsp; So what was it that made all four of them want to flaunt society's mores and regulations and delve into the world of polyamory, love between multiple partners?&nbsp; What made Brook and Carver and Brett want to set up a family for themselves in which love was unrestricted between them? <br><br>It was part of what she was going to find out, and it made the smile on her face broaden as she caught Brett's eye.&nbsp; The chopper veered to the left, prompting the woman next to her to grab onto her hand, and Jenna squeezed back.&nbsp; Was the other woman afraid of flying?&nbsp; She couldn't even imagine what that felt like, loving piloting as much as she did.&nbsp; <br><br>A couple of minutes later, she saw a cabin and a lake come into view.&nbsp; Their home for the next year, where she'd love and fight and survive with these people.&nbsp; They had a job to do, of course, but they also had each other.&nbsp; All too soon, the helicopter landed and they were headed toward the cabin, where they'd finally meet each other.&nbsp; Jenna said a quick prayer to a God she'd all but abandoned during the unhappy time of her divorce.&nbsp; <em>Please, Father, let me find with these people what I seek.&nbsp; Let me find my family.</em>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Holly Marlow</strong> on <strong>21-02-2013, 04:38:00</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/Bells_Marlow/Lucy-Liu-Southland_zps211a6984.jpg)</div>Brook would think that with how much she'd traveled the globe while working for the World Health Organization that she would be used to flying by now. Unfortunately, it was something she was not going to handle without anxiety and nausea. Each time she swore she'd get some prescription that would help her with the ordeal better, and each time she changed her mind and decided to tough it out in hopes that it get her used to flying.<br><br>At least this time she'd taken some over the counter medication to help with the nausea. The four of them were seated in the helicopter as it flew over the wilds of Alaska, but Brook's head was resting back and her eyes were closed as if she was sleeping. In an effort to distract her thoughts from the flight, she thought over the information she had on her three other companions. Jenna sat right next to her. She seemed nice the few times that Brook had peeked her eyes open. <br><br>Brook had never been intimate with a woman before. She would worry that she had no idea how to reach out to Jenna, but she'd hardly been intimate with men either. She knew their mission, and the thing that had peeked her interest the most was that she would be in a situation where the four of them were set up to bond. It gave her some relief that she might be able to overcome her shyness and feel like a part of a family with them. <br><br>She had always concentrated on her career so hard that her social life was non-existent. At least, that was the way it had started. Now she just felt awkward around others and didn't know how to approach them. It seemed she could only really connect with her patients. <br><br>The helicopter jolted and Brook sucked in a soft breath as her hand moved to hold Jenna's hand. She hoped the woman wouldn't mind. Her eyelids opened and her gaze went from Brett and Carver who sat across from them, to Jenna. She gave the woman a wan smile. She didn't want to come off as cowardly or weak to the men of their group, and her eyes beseeched Jenna to not reveal just how hard her hand was hanging on to the other woman's hand. <br><br>Her hand staid where it was until the helicopter finally landed. When she stepped outside, a smile touched her face. The land was so beautiful, and so far from the urban sprawl or poverty stricken and war torn look of other places she had visited. It wasn't even that cold outside. Just a light jacket was enough for her right now. <br><br>Her belongings were already inside, so she only had her carry on pack to bring inside the cabin. True to her socially awkward self, she didn't stay in the main room for a meet and greet, but instead found the room that was her small clinic. It was important to her that all the supplies they would need for such a long time were in place and organized. <br><br>For a few moments she was cut off from the world as she looked over the list of what should be there, then checked each item off as she made sure they were in stock. Every country and every setting had its dangers, and she wanted to know where to look with certainty if her skills were needed. She preferred to know her medical set up like the back of her hand. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>That One Guy</strong> on <strong>22-02-2013, 00:08:12</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://bp2.blogger.com/_H19UxbFBays/RxdbaWnouVI/AAAAAAAABFU/oUaC21qFpcQ/s320/KarlUrban_Grani_3086070_400.jpg)</div>Brett looked at the two beauties across from him as the chopper passed over yet more gorgeous Alaskan scenery. The Doctor (the only medical one), a highly enticing asian woman, was looking a bit green from the ride. He offered a smile, and noticed she’d taken the other woman’s hand. That other woman, the fellow engineer, was an equally appealing brunette, who probably seemed the most excited of all of them.<br><br>Except maybe for him, but his fun loving smile rarely left his face. In the most dire times he joked. In the best times....he joked. It’s just who he was. Many people learned to find it endear...he rather hoped this group was those type of people. Others found him immature, annoying, intolerable. Her simply preferred the term incorrigible - another that had been applied to him often enough.<br><br>As the helicopter descended he broke of his mental analysis of his companions, and gazed out the small window at the cabin that was to be their home - or at least the start of it. They had plenty more to build, it seemed; but the small cabin was enjoyable looking. With a wry grin he moved his guitar into his lap and attempted to strum a solo version of “The Ride of the Valkyries” - musically referencing a rather jacked up movie. He doubted anyone got the joke...or heard it.<br><br>Once on the ground he took his pack and slung it over the opposite shoulder as his guitar and strolled on up to the cabin, watching the ladies go on ahead. he hung back with Carver, the quintessential rugged, outdoorsman. Brett was looking forward to the girls, and he’d shared some in his past, but never had the urge to do anything further with another man. He had to wonder if Carver would end up a like a friend or brother, or more of competition. It would certainly be interesting...that was for certain!<br><br>Interesting generally meant fun....<br><br>he looked over his shoulder as the chopper took back off and retreated, leaving this group of highly educated, highly skilled, highly probed, prodded and tested social misfits alone. The games had truly begun with no other fanfare. The four of them were all there was.<br><br>Looking to his fellow lab rat, he patted the man on the back, “Well, we could have worse looking ladies to work with, eh mate?” His grin was wide and his English accent, while faded after the years, still came through. With a shrug he didn’t wait for an answer and jogged up ahead to scout the cabin.<br><br>A large central room greeted him, which a kitchen overlooked. A small dining area, a bathroom a door that led to the clinic, and another that led to the barracks style bedroom. He laughed dumped his crap on the nearest bed, rifled through to pull out a bottle; before making his way back in to ‘great room’. “Alright folks, I was rather without anyone to celebrate my selection into such prestigious company, so I figured I’d save the bottle until I got to meet everyone here.” He pulled off the circular icepack and exposed a bottle of Dom Pérignon, which he brandished for all to see. “Besides, I figured we might all need a bit of an ice breaker.” 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marikir</strong> on <strong>22-02-2013, 05:23:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/Marikir/Character%20shots/a5d6bd28-e16a-4277-899b-d9419402ed87_zpsa72041b8.jpg)</div>For Carver, the helicopter trip to the "secret and undisclosed" location for the project that he had volunteered for was familiar.&nbsp; He had worked in the Forestry Service and the Department of the Interior for several years.&nbsp; Expeditions to remote locations was part of his calling.&nbsp; For him, he merely watched out of the window as the landscape rushed by below them.&nbsp; He was plugged into the chopper's headset, though it sort of bugged him.&nbsp; He wasn't a fan of things on his head when they weren't necessary.&nbsp; <br><br>It never ceased to amaze him, the Alaskan Interior, that vast frontier that most people of the United States would never realise was so large.&nbsp; It dwarfed whole states in area.&nbsp; It was truly vast and for the most part, untouched.<br><br>And here he was, going in to touch it and place man's footprint right in the heart of it.&nbsp; He frowned slightly.&nbsp; It wasn't a positive thought, in some ways.&nbsp; But, the aims of the project were noble.&nbsp; Discover the best ways to expand into remote, uncharted lands, even if those lands were...far far away.&nbsp; As in a whole planet's orbit away.&nbsp; And do it in such a way as to be safe and secure.&nbsp; <br><br>It was a noble aim.&nbsp; He glanced at the other three in the chopper with him who were also dedicated to that.&nbsp; But to that end, there was a...catch, he could say.<br><br>These three and him were to see if they could form a family and thus, make the work there go more smoothly and more successfully.&nbsp; It sounded crazy, he supposed, to most people.<br><br>To him though?&nbsp; It just made sense.&nbsp; The only question was would they be successful in their wider aim, much less that social aspect.<br><br>When the chopper banked to bring them closer, Carver's eyes didn't even flinch nor did his arms move to steady himself.&nbsp; He just leaned into the turn as his eyes watched the horizon and the quickly passing landscape.&nbsp; Soon, at a distance, he saw what appeared to be a small collection of structures, where none should have been.&nbsp; <br><br><em>We're here</em> he thought to himself.<br><br>When the chopper touched down, he opened the door and stepped out.&nbsp; He turned and immediately moved to help the ladies out.&nbsp; He gave brief smiles to Brook and then Jenna as he helped them out of the chopper.&nbsp; He had looked briefly over the summary sheets he had gotten on them.&nbsp; He wondered if either of them were nervous.&nbsp; With the ladies and their bags out, he nodded to Brett as the man slipped out of the body of the chopper himself.&nbsp; He then grabbed his duffel bag and slid the door closed.&nbsp; He slammed his hand on the side of the chopper and stepped back.&nbsp; He stood there, watching as the chopper lifted off.&nbsp; The pilot gave him a brief wave, which he returned.<br><br>When the chopper reached it's apex, he turned and slung his duffel onto his shoulder.&nbsp; He noticed that Brett had hung back.&nbsp; He moved up beside him, noticing that the man was watching the women enter the cabin.&nbsp; The man clapped him on the back and spoke with an accent.&nbsp; Carver gave a brief chuckle and nodded, but didn't say anthing.&nbsp; It seemed the man hadn't expected a response anyway as he quickly followed the girls inside.&nbsp; Carver, however, turned and glanced at the area that had been laid out for them.&nbsp; <br><br>The cabin was at the center of the currently small complex.&nbsp; There was a small building off to the side, surrounded by wire mesh.&nbsp; He immediately recognized it for a coop, without having to hear or see the fowl that resided inside.&nbsp; Another small building must have been the barn.&nbsp; A slightly larger, glass enclosure must be the rudimentary greenhouse.&nbsp; That would be his main area of focus, when he wasn't dealing with the other outdoor needs of the group.&nbsp; It was closer to the cabin than the other two structures, a good sign.&nbsp; And then, there were the large metal containers.&nbsp; Like the containers on the back of a truck or a ship, they just sat, waiting.&nbsp; <br><br>There was the heart of the endeavor that he and the others had agreed on.&nbsp; Supplies and materials for them to use to build up and expand their small presence into one that would be suitable for long term residency.&nbsp; He wondered if they succeeded would the location be maintained and used, or if it would be abandoned.&nbsp; He rather hoped the former.&nbsp; He also wondered if at the end of this project, if he'd want to leave.<br><br>With a faint sense of hope, Carver moved toward the cabin and entered.&nbsp; He noticed immediately that Brook, the one with the asian look to her, looked to be already at work.&nbsp; That was a good sign.&nbsp; He needed to look over a few things he had delivered as well.&nbsp; He moved over toward a particular locker that was against a wall when he heard Brett's words and invitation to come together.<br><br>It was a little surprising, but after a moment, Carver nodded to himself and set his duffel down.&nbsp; He glanced around and moved toward the kitchen area.&nbsp; He pulled open a few cabinets, until he found some cups.&nbsp; He collected four and moved over to Brett.<br><br>"Not the fanciest of goblets, but these should do," he said as he set the cups down.<br><br>When he was presented with his, he waited for a moment, and then raised his cup.&nbsp; "To success.&nbsp; In all that we want to accomplish here."<br><br><em>One drink.</em> he told himself. <br><br>Carver knew he had to look over the armory and then check out the grounds...but getting to know the others was also important.&nbsp; So, one drink.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Holly Marlow</strong> on <strong>24-02-2013, 04:16:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The sound of male voices in the living room had Brook peeking her head out of her office. Her lips picked up in a quirk when she saw Brett holding a bottle of Dom Perignon. Brook walked into the living room to join them for at least a sip of it. “Did you sneak this here, Brett?” It felt so awkward calling him by his first name when they had not really been introduced, but social norms were taking a bit of a break during this vacation in more ways then one. <br><br>She accepted the cup from Carver and held it up as he toasted their arrival. Brook took a tentative sip. She got tipsy far to easily on alcohol, and god knew what would fly out of her mouth if that happened. She'd rather not frighten the group away on the first day here. <br><br>Brook looked out the window at the beautiful, lush land that surrounded them, then turned her attention back to the group with a wry smile. “I don't think I should have watched The Great Outdoors, or The Edge before this trip. Hopefully we don't have a bear problem here.”<br><br>She reassured herself it was a valid concern, then took another sip from her cup. She already felt like an idiot. It didn't help that she was the shortest one in the room and looking up at the rest of them. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Elina</strong> on <strong>24-02-2013, 22:42:41</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Jenna, with the others in the cabin.</em><br><br>Jenna made her way into the cabin with Brook, the two men hanging back, and Jenna liked what she saw as she flung open doors and looked in.&nbsp; It was rustic without being too much so.&nbsp; Plumbing, a small kitchen.&nbsp; A shared bedroom, it seemed, and she wondered how she felt about the lack of privacy.&nbsp; A space all her own would be kind of nice.&nbsp; She'd gotten kind of used to it after her divorce.<br><br>And she thought of where they were, deep in the wilds of Alaska.&nbsp; The clearing that would house their small complex was surrounded by a lake on one side and thick forest on all the others.&nbsp; If she wanted space, all she had to do was step outside.&nbsp; There was nothing but privacy out here if one was seeking it out.<br><br>The thought served to comfort her, and as Brook disappeared into a room that had to be her clinic, the men came in too.&nbsp; She followed them into the bedroom area, claiming as bed as her own by putting her bag on it, and then went back into the living room.&nbsp; Her eyes lit up with merriment as Brett pulled out a bottle of champagne.&nbsp; <br><br>Carver grabbed some cups and Brook came out of her clinic, asking Brett if he'd sneaked in the Dom.&nbsp; Jenna frowned, wondering if the other woman was being accusatory or just kidding around.&nbsp; It was hard to tell from her tone.&nbsp; But she shrugged it off.&nbsp; They were all going to have to get along, and if Brett was a rule-bender and Brook considered herself some sort of enforcer, that would be a dynamic the two would have to work out on their own.<br><br>She crinkled her nose as the bubbles in the champagne tickled it, toasting silently.&nbsp; <em>To leaving the old behind and forging new beginnings.</em>&nbsp; Brook's admission that she had watched shows about Alaska brought a smile to her face.&nbsp; "It's Alaska.&nbsp; There are bears," she said, her eyes meeting Carver's.&nbsp; "But they didn't send us in unprepared.&nbsp; U.S.D.A. Forest Service, huh?&nbsp; I've seen bears at the zoo. I imagine Arizona has a few of those.&nbsp; Have you ever dealt with them?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marikir</strong> on <strong>26-02-2013, 06:12:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Carver w/ All in Main Cabin, main room</em><br><br>Carver met Jenna's eyes and nodded in her direction.&nbsp; <br><br>"Yeah, I've been involved in dealing with them on a few occasions.&nbsp; Of course, my area of professional focus is on Botany.&nbsp; However, I like the outdoors.&nbsp; And with the random jobs I've held in the Forestry Service and the Department of the Interior, I've had my share of...interesting times."<br><br>He sipped the drink and then turned toward Brook.&nbsp; "You shouldn't worry too much.&nbsp; They, meaning all animals, aren't the rampaging things media uses to sell tickets or get eyeballs on their shows.&nbsp; Not normally.&nbsp; You just have to know what they want and what to do if it gets interesting.&nbsp; But, if need be..."<br><br>He motioned with his cup toward the standing gun safe.<br><br>"I asked for some 'tools'," he said, making the air quotes with his fingers, "to help deal with any possible issues.&nbsp; Also, in case we need some fresh sources of game meat."<br><br>He glanced between all of them.&nbsp; "If any of you would like, I can show you how to shoot.&nbsp; And if you all would like to, camping might be fun sometime."<br><br>His eyes turned toward Brett and gave him a slight smirk.&nbsp; "Of course, you'll have to bring your guitar.&nbsp; Wouldn't be a camping trip without a guitar.&nbsp; Just don't ask me to sing.&nbsp; Not unless you want wolves howling in response."<br><br>He glanced back toward the common bedroom/bunk area as he set his cup down.&nbsp; He hadn't taken much of the Dom and had finished it.&nbsp; He also suspected that the Dom wasn't the only alcohol on location.&nbsp; He had been asked his feelings on alcohol and it's role in socialization during the battery of interviews.&nbsp; If he was a betting man, he would guess the planners of this little antfarm would have included means for the group to relax together.&nbsp; And lord knows alcohol has been used in such a manner for thousands of years.<br><br>"After I get my gear stowed, I want to check out the rest of the compound.&nbsp; The coop, barn, small greenhouse, the containers, all that.&nbsp; Anyone want to join me for a walking tour?&nbsp; I figure we've all got stuff to focus on, but...well, anyway, I just thought it might be nice to take a stroll.&nbsp; If not now, maybe after dinner?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>That One Guy</strong> on <strong>26-02-2013, 22:43:17</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Great room, with everyone else. </em><br><br>Brett chuckled at Brook’s movie selection before travel. “Well, so long as we all agree that no one gets fed to a bear for sleeping around, I think we’ll be alright. I’m pretty sure if it comes to that, then the grand experiment here failed.” He took another sip and made an effort to top everyone off, sharing the bottle equally; though he noticed a reluctance to be refilled on Carver’s part. Brett didn’t push it, and listened to the other man about camping, and the guitar, as well as shooting lessons.<br><br>“Now mate, you’re onto something. I found it a bit ironic we all came up here to build a facility. Granted, it gives us something to DO, aside from seeing if we form some interesting new familiar bond, or strangle each other in the night. But still, with such a grand setting, it’d be criminal to not head out and enjoy it!”<br><br>He leaned over as he snuck more champagne into Brook’s cup, and didn’t quite whisper, “It’s not the only thing I smuggled. Let me know if you require a full search later....might be fun.” He moved on with a wink and sly grin; sliding over near Jenna. He was unsure of what to make of her, being a fellow engineer. He’d likely have to work with her the most. That meant she’d probably be his first ally, or the first to threaten his life. He refilled her cup as well, and not to leave her out of the flirting, gave a wink and asked, “Maybe we should go do some...inventory...as well. Follow Captain Carver’s good example and all.” He flashed the other man a honestly fun grin. Nicknames were going to happen, he couldn’t help it if he tried. Might as well start now.<br><br>Noticing that Carver had finished, but abandoned his cup, Brett shrugged and flopped down into one of the large couches. “A nice stroll after dinner sounds great. Though I didn’t see that part on my questionnaire. ‘Enjoys long moonlit walks with fellow attractive strangers.’” He chuckled, drank, and looked at his fellow lab rats in turn.<br><br>Brook, he’d decided, was going to make far, far too easy a target, even omitting her amusing name. Not that he would omit that from his jokes. Carver seemed a bit too straight laced, but it might be the awkwardness of the situation, and at least he seemed to be offering ideas. Take charge, Dudley do right sort of guy? Jenna, the mechanical engineer, she seemed to be sitting back just taking mental notes of everything, not yet revealing much of her own...yet trying to appear helpful to Brook’s concerns. With his bit of armature psychology...he immediately felt horrible for these poor people being stuck with him. Dr. Hamilton began thinking he might just be part of the challenges in this experiment. Why else would they select him? Someone on the staff running this game had to have a sick a sense of humour as he himself did.<br><br>And he’d have to find out who that was and buy them a drink!
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Holly Marlow</strong> on <strong>27-02-2013, 05:25:17</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<span class="bbc_u">Brook with the group<br>Cabin Great Room</span><br><br>Brook saw the frown on Jenna's face and instantly looked contrite. She realized she'd come off as some sort of disapproving bitch and she did not want the others looking at her like she was the death of the party. Her attention turned to Carver when Jenna spoke to him. It seemed strange to her that he'd be the hardy outdoor type while being a botanist. <br><br>“I'll have to pass on the shooting lessons.” Brook looked excited when she spoke next, “But I would love to go camping. This place is perfect for it. I hope there are marshmallows around somewhere.” She'd never had a chance to go camping, though from what she'd read and shows she had watched it was something she'd always wanted to try. If Carver would be there with his tools, then she doubted she needed to worry about predators. Besides, she didn't think they would camp far from the cabin.&nbsp; “I'll join you for a tour of the compound.” Now that she was inside, she was itching to get back outside and perhaps pick some of the beautiful flowers that filled the valley.<br><br>Brook had taken a few more sips of her Dom, though she swore not to have anymore of it. When Brett whispered loudly to her, she snorted with laughter. “I doubt I have all of the necessary equipment to fully probe you at this location.” He was an utter flirt, but he had her smiling and feeling more relaxed. Course, it could have been the Dom. She set the drink down as Brett moved on to flirt with Jenna. <br><br>“Is anyone hungry... for food, right now?” She gave Brett a wink when she added the food part for him. It still seemed early to her, but the sun was throwing her timing off. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Elina</strong> on <strong>04-03-2013, 03:23:06</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Jenna, in the main room of the cabin with the others</em><br><br>Carver's offer to teach them how to shoot seemed practical to Jenna, and she was surprised at how quickly Brook declined.&nbsp; It seemed, after all, a matter of survival.&nbsp; They were going to spend the next year living in the wilds, and although it was unlikely they'd run into humans, animals were kind of a given.&nbsp; It was, after all, Alaska.&nbsp; This was bear country, and they were encroaching it.<br><br>She already knew how to shoot.&nbsp; Her father had enjoyed guns, and he'd owned two shotguns.&nbsp; It had been important to him for his daughter to know how to handle a weapon, and so he'd started teaching her early on.&nbsp; And she'd spent the last few years living in Texas.&nbsp; She'd never been south to hunt wild boars like some of her colleagues had done once, but she had gone to a shooting range with her husband's handgun a few times.&nbsp; <br><br>But she didn't say anything right then.&nbsp; She didn't know Brook yet and didn't want to offend the other woman.&nbsp; If she was afraid of guns, maybe Jenna's&nbsp; experience with them could help her get past it enough to just learn the basics.&nbsp; All she needed was the knowledge of how to handle one in case of an emergency.<br><br>"I'll go along to check out the place with you guys too," she said to Carver.&nbsp; She was excited about seeing more of their new home and getting started setting things up.&nbsp; It was too late to do much more than look tonight, but she had a feeling that all four of them would want to hit the ground running in the morning.&nbsp; And morning, night... it was light for eighteen hours a day right now up here, and only going to get longer as the summer months came upon him.&nbsp; She was not looking forward to seeing how her internal clock adjusted to something like that.<br><br>Brett and Brook's flirting took her by surprise, and she wasn't sure what to make of it.&nbsp; Intimacy with this group of people was inevitable, and it wasn't like she was a virgin or anything.&nbsp; Hell, she wasn't even particularly conservative.&nbsp; She realized that she needed to loosen up and not look at them like colleagues.&nbsp; People in a bar, then, that you knew you were going to end up in bed with?&nbsp; She drank up the refill of champagne in her cup, grateful to Brett for bringing it.<br><br>"I'm not hungry right now," she responded to Brook, feeling like it was a serious question outside of the flirting.&nbsp; "Maybe we should check the place out and then figure out dinner once we're back?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marikir</strong> on <strong>07-03-2013, 06:03:59</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				(OOC note regarding post) (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=166207.msg7838739#msg7838739)<br><br><em>Carver w/ All<br>Main Cabin, main room</em><br><br><br>Carver had moved over toward a standing metal case of heavy steel, colored a dark gray.&nbsp; He watched as the other three interacted briefly, listening, but not commenting any more than he had at the moment.&nbsp; They seemed to be trying to relax and become comfortable with each other.&nbsp; A good thing, he knew.&nbsp; He hoped they would all get along well.<br><br>He glanced at the keypad on the front of the safe.&nbsp; Both a numeric pad, like one on a telephone,&nbsp; and a dial lock, greeted him.&nbsp; He smiled to himself as he keyed in the code on the keypad after pushing the star key.<br><br><em>3 2 6 4 5 9</em> he spoke to himself.&nbsp; He then pressed the star and pound sign at the same time.&nbsp; There was a click.&nbsp; He turned the lever down.&nbsp; He swung the heavy door open.&nbsp; <br><br>The interior of the safe was not quite fully illuminated by the light inside the cabin.&nbsp; He reached up to the top of the safe and clicked on the small interior light.&nbsp; It sprang on with a soft hum and cast light down on the weapons in the safe.&nbsp; He glanced down at the weapons.&nbsp; He frowned slightly.&nbsp; He recognized the weapons, but he felt a small amount of trepidation.<br><br>"Something wrong?" he heard behind him.&nbsp; He recognized Jenna's voice and turned to her.&nbsp; He shook his head, though the slight frown remained.<br><br>"Nothing, it's just that I had hoped they would have sent up the guns I used in the service.&nbsp; Those I'm familiar with.&nbsp; These...I know them, I'm just not used to them."<br><br>She moved next to him and glanced inside the safe.&nbsp; "Well, let's see what they gave you to play with."<br><br>She chewed on her lip for a moment.&nbsp; "Well, you've got a range of choices, apparently.&nbsp; Did you ask specifically for one 12 and one 20 gauge shotgun?"<br><br>He nodded briefly, slightly surprised at her seemingly instinctive grasp.&nbsp; Obviously she had exposure to shotguns in the past.&nbsp; "Yeah, I wanted one of each, one for me to use for game hunting, and the other for, well..."<br><br>He paused and glanced back toward Brook, then back toward Jenna.&nbsp; "Well, home defense."<br><br>Jenna nodded.&nbsp; "And the rifles?"<br><br>He shook his head slightly as he glanced at the boxes of ammo stored inside.&nbsp; "Apparently, our intrepid team of monitors want me to settle a long standing debate or are just being funny."<br><br>Jenna's eyebrows came up in question as he bent down and tapped two different stacks of ammo boxes.&nbsp; "Thirty-aught-six and three-oh-eight.," he said.<br><br>Jenna's eyebrows remained up.&nbsp; "What's the difference?"<br><br>"Exactly."<br><br>Carver stood up and smiled at Jenna.&nbsp; He glanced back at the collection of guns and ammo.&nbsp; <br><br>"One thing I'm not too happy about though.&nbsp; They threw all of those in there.&nbsp; That's four different types of guns, four different types of ammo.&nbsp; And while you aren't going to try and load a shotgun shell into a rifle and vice versa..."<br><br>Jenna nodded after a second.&nbsp; "Yeah.&nbsp; You'll have to be careful."<br><br>He nodded and shrugged.&nbsp; "I'll organize it later.&nbsp; Separate the pairs of guns and match the ammo to them in the space up top."&nbsp; <br><br>He closed the door to the safe and brought the lever up to it's locked position.&nbsp; He glanced around and spoke up.&nbsp; <br><br>"Ready to go a-walking?"&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>He headed over to the door with whomever moved to join him.&nbsp; As he got to the door, Jenna spoke up.<br><br>"Hey, you never said what the code was to get into the safe."<br><br>Carver gave her a brief smile.&nbsp; <br><br>"'Family'," was all he said as he moved outside.<br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Holly Marlow</strong> on <strong>08-03-2013, 00:28:51</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Brook excused herself from the group as Jenna and Carver looked at the cache of guns. She hadn't had a chance to see her new room, and so she gathered her few things from her office and walked into the bedroom.<br><br>“Subtle.” She smirked as she looked at all four beds sharing one room. Hopefully no one was a loud snorer. After finding the locker that had her initials on it, she knelt down to look through its belongings. It was only a matter of time before they made fun of her name.<br><br>It wasn't that she was afraid of guns. She understood the need for them. Through Brook's career as a doctor, she couldn't even recall how many gun shot wounds she'd operated on. Most of the time her patients survived, if she was in the US. There were times when the bullet hit a vital organ or artery, and all that was left was the sound of machines flat-lining and then a relative crying over their grief. <br><br>It was much worse when she traveled abroad for the W.H.O. Often, when she visited small villages in war torn countries, she had no operating room. They had to work with what they could. Some of those bullet wounds were fresh, but others had festered and turned gangrene after being neglected for so long. With people who were hungry and afraid, she always felt the push to go that extra mile and give the best treatment she could, even if it meant staying the night with the patient. She'd had many arguments with her superiors in the W.H.O. those times when she refused to leave when they wanted to pull her out. <br><br>She never had enough hands, enough medicine, enough food and clean water for those people. Guns were not the only source of their troubles, but it was something she could tie back to the U.S. It all narrowed down to the violence, the blood, the crying. <br><br>She understood that they wanted to teach her so she could protect herself from the wildlife, but the first day was not the time for her to tackle that issue. Though it left her feeling like the odd man out.<br><br>Brook shook those dark thoughts away as she left the bedroom and went to join Carver and Jenna. “I'd love to take a look at the greenhouse, please.”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marikir</strong> on <strong>08-03-2013, 05:01:12</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<hr><span style="font-family: courier;" class="bbc_font"><br>[REDACTED]: We observed that on arrival, the four individuals began interacting in mostly expected manners.&nbsp; <br><br>[Senator 3]: 'Mostly expected?'<br><br>[REDACTED]: The early introduction of alcohol, as noted in the logs before you, surprised some of the team, but didn't seem to cause too much of an issue.&nbsp; They were all professionals.&nbsp; <br><br>[Senator 1]: How do you know it wasn't too much of an issue?<br><br>[REDACTED]: Each team member was responsible for recording their observations and thoughts into both video and written/spoken journals.&nbsp; They were also being monitored via cameras and microphone pickups.&nbsp; All that happened was being recorded and transmitted via the satellite link.&nbsp; They also had a satellite phone available for emergency communication with the Project.<br><br>[Senator 2]: I thought you said they were isolated.<br><br>[REDACTED]: They were, Senator [REDACTED].&nbsp; The data stream was setup for outbound transmission only.&nbsp; Local data was also backed up to on-site, nonvolatile data stores.&nbsp; In the event of an emergency, we could dispatch an emergency medivac or evacuation helicopter.&nbsp; While we wanted them isolated, at the start at least, we did not wish to leave them to the whims of fate.&nbsp; <br><br>[Senator 1]: All right, then.&nbsp; Let's continue.<br><br>[REDACTED]: Yes, Senator.&nbsp; The rest of the first day was fairly routine.&nbsp; There was a little bit of flirting between the team members, of course.&nbsp; They knew what we were looking for.&nbsp; But they were also all trying to figure out how they related to each other, why they were the four chosen.&nbsp; In fact, an early video log, before we deployed them, by [REDACTED], the [REDACTED], said that, quote, "I'm not sure why they chose me.&nbsp; I'm just a normal [REDACTED].&nbsp; Nothing special," endquote.<br><br>[Senator 4]: Save for being an amoral <br><br>(Senator 1 bangs the gavel)<br><br>[Senator 1]: Enough, [REDACTED].&nbsp; Let [REDACTED] continue.<br><br>[REDACTED]: Thank you.&nbsp; As I said, the first day was fairly routine.&nbsp; The first night, however, the Project researchers had left a surprise for the team members.&nbsp; A welcoming gift, as it were.&nbsp; We hoped it would make the transition easier for them.&nbsp; <br></span><br><br><hr><br>Carver stood from the gunsafe and bent backwards slightly.&nbsp; He had been bent over for a little too long.&nbsp; He had, however, finished arranging the ammo.&nbsp; It would be a little clearer now what to use with what.&nbsp; At least, he hoped so.&nbsp; He glanced around the cabin's main room.<br><br>The day had gone well.&nbsp; From their arrival until now, the four of them had settled in.&nbsp; They had also scouted out the compound.&nbsp; Their compound.&nbsp; That thought still made him chuckle.&nbsp; The greenhouse was small, but had potential.&nbsp; Carter already had plans for that.&nbsp; The rest of the compound seemed ready.&nbsp; And it was quite large, he had to admit.&nbsp; He liked it already.<br><br>Carter's eyes settled on the large box in the center of the main table.&nbsp; As large as a treasure chest, it took up most of the space of the table.&nbsp; He shook his head slightly at the memory of finding the box.<br><br>When they had explored the grounds, Carter had suggested they open the first transport container.&nbsp; After all, it was supposed to have supplies and materials they would need for the first day.&nbsp; The others couldn't be opened yet; something about simulating supply runs to a far away location.&nbsp; But, regardless, they could open the first one.<br><br>When the first container had been opened, Carter was struck silent.&nbsp; Sitting just inside the door, waiting for them, was a large box.&nbsp; It was sealed with the words "For Your First Dinner - A Surprise and Welcome" written across it.&nbsp; He had carried it inside the main cabin and set it on the table, but hadn't moved to open it.&nbsp; It was supposed to be a gift, apparently.&nbsp; Probably from the people who setup this project, he assumed.&nbsp; <br><br>He glanced from the box toward the others.&nbsp; <br><br>"So...I think it's dinner time."&nbsp; <br><br>He moved over to the box.&nbsp; "Any objections?"<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>That One Guy</strong> on <strong>09-03-2013, 17:57:54</strong>
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				Brett kept relatively quiet for a time, knowing a little of his remarks went a long way. So he sat and observed his companions as they moved about. Carver and Jenna scoped out the weapons, while he himself remained close enough to over heard it all. Not that it mattered, if it came down to him using a gun, they were all screwed. He’d been out to a range a couple times, and proven he could not hit the broadside of a barn....if he were standing inside it. Maybe Carver could help with that, however he’d just as soon sit back and watch the two ladies wield the firearms. Childish, but true - chicks with guns were hot.<br><em>Brett walking about with the others then ending up with them around the table.</em><br><br>Brook however, didn’t seem likely to wish to participate in that visual fantasy of his, and instead retreated to the bedroom almost as soon as the gun safe opened...as if Carver were letting vipers loose. Interesting. Given her background he could make assumptions as to why she’d be so adverse to guns, but he wasn’t about to leap to conclusions on the first day.<br><br>The walk around the compound went smoothly, and he tried to harass Brook by ‘<em>mistakenly</em>’ calling her Dr. Harlem once. The glare he got from that promised he’d found a button that would likely be continued fun to press. Aside from that he remained quiet; the awe inspiring setting they were dumped into really could leave a man speechless. Even a man like him.<br><br>This discovery of the dinner box was a fun bonus, and they hauled it inside and all stood around the table looking at it. Carver spoke up and Brett shrugged his shoulder, “Sounds like a plan to me!” Without further waiting or warning he just ripped it open and started pulling things out.<br><br>Everything was still warm, a chemical heater keeping the inside of the form insulated box just right. He pulled out several dishes that held their first meal together. Bacon wrapped filet mignon in a cognac cream sauce, sweet potatoes with the works, mushrooms (which looked to be stuffed with crab), a mixed grilled vegetable dish, and a key lime pie. It also had a note to check the fridge. “Damn nice spread there, lets see what else they left.” He wandered over to the kitchen and opened up the fridge, extracting two bottles of wine; a sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. White wines to go with the mushrooms and crab, and worked out due to the cream sauce on the steaks. Also he extracted a salad that had already been prepared. “Well hell, the only thing they forgot was the cheese tray and caviar.” He let the others get to serving up the chow while he found a cork screw and their mugs, asking each who preferred dry and who liked their wine sweeter...’like him’.<br><br>Eventually everyone was&nbsp; around the table, a great meal in front of them. A very family-like setting, only with complete strangers. He gently elbowed Brook a bit, “Seems I wasn’t the only one with the idea that a little alcohol could help us all out he?” He shot her a grin, and the rest of the group a wink. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Elina</strong> on <strong>09-03-2013, 20:28:29</strong>
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				<em>Jenna, having dinner with the others.</em><br><br>Jenna looked at the spread before them, a little smile playing on her lips.&nbsp; "I'm a decent cook, and I'm sure you are too, Brook, but this is probably our last fancy meal for a long time.&nbsp; I'm planning on enjoying it!"<br><br>They dug in, the men politely waiting for the women to serve themselves first, and chatted about the setup of their compound.&nbsp; Carver would need to get some sort of security in place to protect from wildlife.&nbsp; She and Brett would need to tackle the structural components of their new home first thing in the morning.&nbsp; And Brook needed to check through her supplies and organize her clinic.&nbsp; It wouldn't do, after all, to be in an emergency and not know where things were.&nbsp; They all had tasks and seemed eager to get started.<br><br>Brook seemed to have interest in the greenhouse, and so it seemed that she'd be able to help Carver quite a bit with maintaining it once he got it up and running.&nbsp; Jenna had pretty much no green thumb, hadn't even been able to raise an ivy in her apartment without it being overrun with gnats, and so she only listened as the two discussed soil and fertilizer and what herbs Brook might want for medicinal purposes.&nbsp; During the exploration of the property, the men had opened the tops of the crates that had been left for them; unpacking wouldn't actually take place until the morning, so which seeds had been provided wasn't certain yet.<br><br>Brett would be working on things like energy, and she knew she'd be able to help with that.&nbsp; And she'd need to build their kit helicopter.&nbsp; It was for emergencies, and they did have other transportation, but she couldn't leave it on the back burner for too long.&nbsp; "I don't know how they made these grilled veggies so good," she commented, biting into some zucchini that was flavorful and beautifully cooked.&nbsp; "Tomorrow's going to be busy, and I know that with all of this sunlight, it would be easy to work into the night, but we should sleep tonight.&nbsp; Our internal clocks are going to be messed up enough without us getting our sleep schedules all screwed up."&nbsp; <br><br>They finished up dinner, and then Brook broke out the key lime pie, serving up generous slices to everyone.&nbsp; "I'd love some coffee with this," Jenna admitted wistfully.&nbsp; "We're definitely unpacking the kitchen stuff tomorrow.&nbsp; I want to find the coffee pot!"&nbsp; It had been on her wish list, practically a requirement, and she'd been assured by her new boss that they'd include one.&nbsp; She speared a bite of pie onto her fork and closed her lips around it, her eyes closing in ecstasy as the sweet tartness burst against her tongue.&nbsp; "Oh, so good!&nbsp; So, we've all read barebones stuff about each other.&nbsp; You guys want to just go around the table and tell each other a little more?&nbsp; I can start.<br><br>"I grew up with just my dad.&nbsp; He's a really great guy.&nbsp; Still lives in Buffalo."&nbsp; Her voice was filled with fondness.&nbsp; Ray Sanders was her favorite person on the planet.&nbsp; "He's got a shop, and I grew up at it, helping him with transmissions and carburetors after school when my friends were in Girl Scouts and cheerleading.&nbsp; He's smart, though.&nbsp; Good at business and really knows his stuff with cars.&nbsp; I wanted to work with him full time after high school, and it nearly broke his heart.&nbsp; He wanted me to go to college pretty badly, and so I did.&nbsp; I lived at home and studied mechanical engineering.&nbsp; And when I finished undergrad, even then I didn't go too far, only a few hours away.&nbsp; By then I was married, too."<br><br>She scowled when she married her ex-husband, and glossed over him as much as she could.&nbsp; "He and I ended up after school both getting hired on by Boeing.&nbsp; Moved to Houston, broke dad's heart.&nbsp; And a couple of years ago, we split.&nbsp; Anyway, I'm excited about being here.&nbsp; It was time for change in my life.&nbsp; And this?&nbsp; Well, it's a pretty damn big change.&nbsp; What about you guys?&nbsp; What are your stories?&nbsp; How'd you end up here, taking a job that'll take you away from everyone and everything for a year?"&nbsp; <em>Looking for a poly family...</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Holly Marlow</strong> on <strong>09-03-2013, 21:51:54</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The tour around their compound was wonderful. Brook was itching to help out in the greenhouse, and she'd told Carver so. She also wanted to help with the animals as much as she could. She would have too much free time on her hands otherwise. <br><br>Brett calling her 'Dr. Harlem' had her wanting to take the wildflowers she had gathered and thwap him over his head. She was sure she could reach up that high. He had his work cut out for him, him and Jenna both. All of those boxes that would soon be put into a structure seemed like a monumental undertaking. <br><br>The dinner that had been prepared for them was mouthwatering. She grinned at Jenna when Jenna mentioned that neither of their cooking would be giving the group this fine of a meal. That was the truth. She hoped she didn't burn too many dinners in the future. <br><br>Brook piped up without thinking when Jenna mentioned that they should try to sleep through the night. “If you have trouble sleeping, I have something that should help. Its herbal and non habit forming.” At least the extra thick curtains in the bedroom would make it dark enough so they wouldn't be reminded of the sun being up. <br><br>She made note that Jenna wanted that coffee, and was already making plans to spending a good bit of tomorrow on unpacking and setting the cabin up. It was the least she could do.&nbsp; And some&nbsp; people were very frightening to face when they didn't have their morning cup of coffee. <br><br>Brook ate the delicious dinner and listened as Jenna told a bit about herself. The part where she mentioned the divorce was enough to let Brook know how horrible that must have been. She had work colleagues that had gone through a divorce and were devastated afterwards. <br><br>She set down her fork and knife after Jenna finished, and decided to get her part of the dinner over with. <br><br>“I grew up in Phoenix. My parents are both good people, but they spent so much of my youth working menial jobs at places like dry cleaners and Chinese restaurants that I swore I wanted more time in my future to live. I didn't want to spend every moment working.”<br><br>She gave a wry smile. “It didn't work out as I intended. When I became a doctor, I wanted to travel. I joined the the World Health Organization. It took me all over the world. I saw a lot of amazing things, and I saw a lot of things I wish I could forget. I dedicated myself completely to my profession to the point of having no social life at all.”<br><br>Brook took a sip of the wine she let Brett chose for her. “Things became bad overseas, and so I returned home and took up working at Huntington Hospital in New York. It was still me working all the time. That is why I grabbed on to this opportunity. I'll have time to be me, and not spend every moment taking care of patients, since I doubt any of you will injure yourselves too badly. Its nice out here. Its quiet and peaceful, and being trapped with three others forces me to work on my sadly lacking social skills.” 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>That One Guy</strong> on <strong>12-03-2013, 04:15:46</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Brett at the dinner table with everyone.</em><br><br>Brett listened to the girl introduce themselves, carefully filing away information for later - both for professional and personal reasons. There was no denying he was quite attracted to the two ladies already. Carver, across from him, seemed to be a bigger mystery. How did two men react in such an environment? Would there be the ritualistic pissing contests for dominance. Scheduling time with each girl and hiding away behind the door with a rubber band on the handle? He chuckled to himself and figured he might as well confess all. After all, they were already stuck with him.<br><br>“Well, I was between projects, just as advertised. The reason, however, is exactly what that dork in the bowtie wrote in my file. Seems Uncle Sam is hesitant to fork out grants to professors might just be putting it to the students, two or three at a time.” He shrugged, and helped himself to more veggies, continuing on between bites - as if his transgressions were the most comfortable thing in the world to talk about. “They happen to be right, though it didn’t seem to matter that they were not my students. Hell I think that was the only reason I ever memorized my student list; not like I was in the classroom much. I was given money to work on government research, not babysit after all. Anyway, that dried up, and a friend recommended this to me. I figured she was nuts, but they took me. My guess is they just want to torment you all - but it seems we all have our faults to work through here so far. Unless Captain Ranger over here really is superman.” He chuckled at Carver across from him, obviously meaning nothing by it.<br><br>“I grew up taking shit apart, messing with electronics. Then I got a computer - and with the Internet coming around I was never bored again. Between flirting with lonely housewives online and breaking into anything that I could find.”<br><br>He had finished the second helping of veggies and dove into the pie. “Never married, never really tried. I know I should slow down, but from hopping from project to project...well this might be the most stable work I’ve had in awhile.” He looked up, as if he’d forgotten something, “Oh, and ladies, I’d not recommend being alone in a room with Mr. Bowtie. He has more lecherous thoughts about you two than I do..and he mentioned that all too frequently on his computer.” Again a smile and shrug, “Don’t worry, I didn’t break into anyone’s private info here...I honestly looked forward to getting to know everyone naturally for this project.”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marikir</strong> on <strong>15-03-2013, 07:43:02</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				While the others were talking about themselves, Carver was listening fully.&nbsp; It was a trait he'd had to cultivate for his own recreational needs.&nbsp; Well, the ones that had to do with being outdoors, of course.&nbsp; He sipped his drink and smiled with the group when each of them made a joke.&nbsp; <br><br>Brook's interest in helping him with the greenhouse was met with an affirmative nod.&nbsp; He was open to allowing any who were interested in helping him.&nbsp; Establishing arbitrary boundaries between them wouldn't help anything and only serve to cause gulfs between them to form.<br><br>Jenna's history of herself earned his full attention.&nbsp; He listened and watched as she spoke of her father with affection.&nbsp; It made him smile, his own memories of his unconventional family history.&nbsp; Her words about her marriage and her life leading her to project caused sympathy and understanding to bloom in his mind.&nbsp; <br><br>Brook's history was, in some ways, fairly traditional.&nbsp; Work lead her around the world and she sought fulfillment there.&nbsp; But then, when it didn't turn out to be quite as she wanted, she came back and now had chosen this project to seek what she wanted.&nbsp; It made him hope they were able to give her something at least, if not fully what she wanted.<br><br>The history that Brett related to the rest of the group was a little more unconventional.&nbsp; He admitted that the concerns outlined in his life summary had been true.&nbsp; Well, somewhat true.&nbsp; It seemed to hint at a bit of a predatory outlook that made Carver frown for a moment.&nbsp; However, there was something to be said about the man being completely honest.&nbsp; Carver had to admit he liked that, even if the subject was a bit concerning to Carver.&nbsp; Brett seemed to know what he wanted.&nbsp; That was, in a way, refreshing and honest.&nbsp; It reminded Carver of the way he was raised, in some ways.&nbsp; His parents were very honest about what they were to each other, no matter.&nbsp; He decided he'd give Brett the benefit of the doubt.<br><br>When Brett called him 'Captain Ranger', Carver gave him a wry smile and inclined his head toward the man.&nbsp; The more he considered Brett, the more he felt that there was an element to the man that seemed odd to Carver.&nbsp; Carver hoped that the researchers hadn't attempted some sort of Reality TV casting stunt with Brett's inclusion.&nbsp; He had to just take it on faith that the man fit in with them.&nbsp; Otherwise, this would be short experiment.<br><br>When Brett finished and the group turned toward him, he met each of their eyes for a moment.<br><br>"What?" he said after a moment.<br><br>He gave them a brief smile and shook his head.&nbsp; <br><br>"Sorry, my own sense of humor isn't very expressive."&nbsp; <br><br>He leaned back in his chair and sighed briefly.&nbsp; He guessed it was his turn.<br><br>"Well, I grew up in a rural part of Oklahoma.&nbsp; Lived on a stretch of land outside a small town.&nbsp; It was a family farm, though things weren't very easy for a long stretch of time.&nbsp; I basically learned the basics of raising animals and crops from that.&nbsp; Getting up before dawn, working on what needed to be done, going to school, getting home, getting back into chores, eating dinner and then sleeping the sleep of the dead.&nbsp; Rince, repeat, over and over."<br><br>He chuckled and gave a soft smile.&nbsp; "But I loved it.&nbsp; My dads and mom raised me and my sister in a house full of love and respect.&nbsp; There was nothing they wouldn't do for us.&nbsp; And all of them had their specialty.&nbsp; We all did, actually.&nbsp; So, it was a good time.&nbsp; Daddy Rick taught me to shoot and hunt and we bonded over that a fair amount."<br><br>He paused and lifted his drink.&nbsp; He took a slightly larger sip than he had been.<br><br>"Going to college took some...convincing.&nbsp; Of me.&nbsp; I wanted to stay with the family and help them keep going, but they insisted my sister and I have a shot outside of that.&nbsp; I knew it would take a lot of work.&nbsp; Fortunately, that was something I had been raised on.&nbsp; I had found in high school that I seemed to have a head for science, the life sciences, so I turned toward that."<br><br>He fell silent, then continued.<br><br>"Well, the family told me to continue with it and keep at it and I did.&nbsp; OSU lead to U of Hawai'i and then University of Cal at Berkeley.&nbsp; Then, after it was all said and done, school wise, I decided to just go..."<br><br>He raised his hand in front of him and just pushed it outward, as if it was taking off.&nbsp; <br><br>"I kinda...dropped out of polite society for a year or so.&nbsp; Some things I had to get straight in my head.&nbsp; Suffice to say I've never been married.&nbsp; Being a modern day wanderer/vagabond doesn't leave you much opportunities for long term relationships.&nbsp; Well, not any that last.&nbsp; <br><br>He smiled and sipped, before continuing.&nbsp; <br><br>"And then, one day, I just woke up and was done with it.&nbsp; Went home, cleaned up, said my goodbyes to them, and went and applied for the Department of the Interior.&nbsp; Over the past several years now, I've worked with them and the USDA Forest Service."<br><br>He shrugged.&nbsp; "Again, I seemed to have developed a head for practical application of botanical sciences.&nbsp; I became the guy that the researchers would send their theories to test in the field."<br><br>He smiled briefly.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I think that's why they sent me out here, honestly.&nbsp; Well, maybe more than just that.&nbsp; I'm sure my family history helped, as well as my having a slightly old fashioned sense of loyalty toward family.&nbsp; Plus I have worked with researchers in the past.&nbsp; I know they want results and ones that can be replicated."<br><br>He shrugged and finished his wine.&nbsp; "So, that's that.&nbsp; Small town boy, grows up hunting and farming, goes to school, and then wanders before going home and deciding to grow up and be a man.&nbsp; And that lead me here."<br><br>He set his glass down and leaned forward.&nbsp; "So, I have to ask.&nbsp; We all know the stated reason why we're out here.&nbsp; But, there's also that...other reason they gave."<br><br>Carver could feel the alcohol in his system, though he wasn't drunk.&nbsp; It was more that he was feeling comfortable and a little more relaxed.&nbsp; He probably never would have brought up this subject if not for that.<br><br>"I mean, yeah, I don't hold to traditional social setups for marriage and what a family is, no way I could...but still..."<br><br>He paused and chewed his lip for a moment.&nbsp; <br><br>"I guess what I'm getting at is that I am pretty sure that I'm all in.&nbsp; I mean, I may have still volunteered to come back to Alaska if I hadn't been selected for this, but I was and I am here...and that means something to me."<br><br>He glanced between all of them.<br><br>"I'm not the only that that applies to...right?"<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Holly Marlow</strong> on <strong>22-03-2013, 01:18:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As soon as Brett said he'd been putting it to two or three students at a time, Brook's lips parted in surprise and her hand came down on the table just hard enough to land on her spoon and send a bit of her key lime pie flying before it became a decoration on the wall. She watched it all and knew her face was bright red by the time that food had traveled its course. <br><br>She quietly excused herself from the table to get a wash cloth and some cleaning supplies to take care of her little accident. The lecherous thoughts Brett said their analyst had about her and Jenna had her quirking her eyebrow as she rejoined them at the table. “Just what did you read? And how?” She started working on another glass of wine, even though she knew it would make her tongue loose. <br><br>As Carver told his story, Brook enjoyed what was left of her pie. The last bit of his talk caught her attention and she leaned forward in her chair. “You mean are we willing to have sex with each other?&nbsp; I was under the notion that they wanted us to develop feelings and then sex would naturally come after.”<br><br>She smiled wryly, “If you're asking if I'm personally willing to hop into bed with all of you and get into this relationship, I'd have to say that the intent is yes, but the way to go about it baffles me.”<br><br>Brook took a moment to think of how that had come out, and was not sure if it had come across as she wanted it too. She started picking up the dishes that people were done with and taking them to the sink. It was a good way to hide, by washing up after dinner. <br><br>Of course it wasn't going to help her achieve the goals the group set out for, but there was a lot to take in on the first day. <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Elina</strong> on <strong>24-03-2013, 23:29:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Jenna, finishing dinner.</em> <br><br>Jenna listened as the others talked about themselves.&nbsp; Brett's confession about sleeping with his students in orgies startled her, and she looked at him incredulously.&nbsp; Why would someone lacking in ethics be chosen for something like this?&nbsp; No, it was probably a joke.&nbsp; He was kidding, and she just didn't understand him well enough to know when he was ribbing them.&nbsp; She needed to get with the act, or she'd be spending the next year the butt of his practical jokes!<br><br>It seemed as if Carver's upbringing had been as unique as hers and Brook's had been ordinary.&nbsp; His dads and mom intrigued her, and she looked forward to hearing about what that had been like.&nbsp; She knew he'd been raised in a non-traditional household, which was what they were all here for, after all.&nbsp; It seemed as if he brought into the mix some expertise.&nbsp; Would it mean that he would emerge as the group's natural leader?&nbsp; Would they even have or need a leader?<br><br>She listened as he spoke of his sister, and she wondered what it was like for her.&nbsp; Was she now polyamorous herself, or had she adapted a more traditional lifestyle?&nbsp; It would be a big difference between them and how Carver and his sister grew up.&nbsp; Here, there was no chance of pregnancy.&nbsp; She and Brook were both given shots to prevent it, and Brook would be administering the medication to them both.&nbsp; It was part of the contract they had signed.&nbsp; It made sense, of course.&nbsp; This was an experiment with no guarantee that the personalities would mesh.&nbsp; Children would only serve to complicate things.<br><br>A small smile lighted on her face when he so directly brought up the secondary purpose of their experiment.&nbsp; Nobody else had mentioned it, skirting around the topic instead by talking about their lives and their qualifications.&nbsp; She was the only one of the bunch who had been married, that had been interesting.&nbsp; And he was the only one who just raised the subject that they probably all wanted to ask about.&nbsp; She wondered if these things said something about them.&nbsp; <br><br>Brook's response had her shaking her head at the same time Carver's made the same motion of denial.&nbsp; "I don't think that's what he meant.&nbsp; Although you raise a good point about the sex.&nbsp; I don't think any of us want to make this some weird sexfest," she said, her eyes meeting Brett's, twinkling with wry amusement for a moment.&nbsp; If any of them wanted that, it would be him, it seemed.&nbsp; "I'm here because the thought of being in on an experiment involving alternate energy sources and inhabiting hostile areas is exciting.&nbsp; But come on, let's face it.&nbsp; I'm here for more, too.&nbsp; Because there might be something here with you guys, some deeper connection."<br><br>Jenna looked at all three of them one at a time.&nbsp; "I'm completely open to wherever this leads, but I want to get to know you all.&nbsp; I want to see if a nontraditional family is in the cards for me like it is for Carver's fathers and mother."&nbsp; And with those words, a caught herself yawning.&nbsp; Laughing, she said to Brook, "I might not need your tea tonight.&nbsp; Seems like the long day left me pretty wiped out."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>That One Guy</strong> on <strong>26-03-2013, 03:40:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Brett, In the dining room with the rest. </em><br><br>Brett did not even try to hide the chuckle as the pie hit the wall and the pretty Asian woman got up to start cleaning it up. Then she dropped the bomb further on the group - pointedly addressing the elephant in the room on this whole project. He like that, he decided...just as he knew her shy and uncomfortable manner was going to prove all sorts of fun to pick apart.<br><br>His fellow engineer however seemed to to react far more cool...almost cold, to his admissions. Interesting. She was also already drawing her goals out specifically - and making certain the group knew it was about the ‘deeper connections’ not the professional grade orgy.<br><br>And then he turned his focus back on Carver, the man who seemed to know more about that sort of connection between multiple people. He had family experience growing up, Jenna was the only one who’d tried a permanent adult relationship, Brook seemed to be in dire need social interaction, and then there was himself. The only one, it seemed, with a record for non-monogamous sex. And he was the bad boy complication of the piece! Inwardly he clapped in appreciation for the program directors. They really picked some winners for this one. This should be a hell of a show!<br><br>Brett opened with that thought, “Too bad they aren't filming this shit. We seem to make up about the most odd mix one can get.” He chuckled and shrugged. “But yeah, now that it’s thrown out there, I’ll toss my name into the hat for trying this whole complicated sex thing. I mean really there are only a few likely outcomes when you stop to think about it. One, we don’t get along at all, and this becomes a very bad joke on all of us. Two, we tend to pair off somewhat...which seems like a failure on that portion of the experiment, though is useful data. Three, we all share and share alike with a slew of feelings for one another that will likely defy conventional description. Who knows what it will be. As for first days go, I’m excited. I’m interested by each of you. How it works with more developed feelings and interactions...I don’t know. Maybe that’s why I am most excited to be here. I’ve done just about everything this experiment could call for - except for caring deeply about who I woke up next to.”<br><br>He refilled his wine glass and stood up, “I don’t blame her for anything mind you, so please don’t get that impression, but Mum, to this day, goes through lovers like I do cell phones.” He chuckled, “My one technological weakness, I break those damned things constantly. I love the fact there are none up here! Anyway, stable family unit...just never been on my radar. Folks tell me its worth seeking. I guess we’ll all find out. It makes me wonder if they have a parallel experiment in some other remote vacation spot, playing this game with married folks. If so, my bet is on us. Couples parties always lead to drama.”<br><br>He nodded toward Jenna, and spoke to Carver, “I was going to recommend we kill the rest of the wine and play spin the bottle or something, but it seems we have one lovely lady already calling it a night, and another excitable enough to redecorate with pie. Guess we both play the gentleman tonight and tuck the lass’s in? Then maybe sit and chat, and give the girls time to gossip about us?”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marikir</strong> on <strong>04-04-2013, 04:31:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Carver, in the dining room, with the rest</em><br><br>When Brook made her response toward what she thought was a focus of his on sex, Carver frowned slightly and was about to correct her when Jenna took up the job.&nbsp; He listened to her response and found himself nodding.&nbsp; She had said enough of what was going on in his own head, so much so as to be a little disconcerting.&nbsp; At least he now knew that he wasn't alone in his concerns about the situation and what it could develop into.<br><br>Brett's words made Carver smile slightly wryly as well.&nbsp; He nodded at the man's assessment of the possible outcomes.&nbsp; There was no way to be sure which way it would go.&nbsp; He did have some faith though.&nbsp; He figured that, unless the researchers had been lying to them from the get go, that they, the researchers that is, had done all they could to set up a situation where the secondary goal would have the best chance of success.&nbsp; This, of course, assumed the first goal was carried out.<br><br>And to that end...<br><br>Carver nodded at Brett's words.&nbsp; "Aye, that sounds like a good idea.&nbsp; But, save the bottle, I guess.&nbsp; This isn't the only night we'll be here and who knows...might be a good icebreaker if we need it."<br><br>He chuckled and stood.<br><br>"Ladies, Brett, thank you for the lovely evening and conversation.&nbsp; However, dawn is going to be coming soon and then sooner and sooner.&nbsp; I'm gonna take one last look around the perimeter and then come back in and examine those motion sensors they left for us before I turn in.&nbsp; I'll set them up tomorrow and hook them in...assuming we have the power, that is?"<br><br>The last line was directed at Brett.&nbsp; As Brett was the lead on the electrical concerns, Carver knew that ultimately he had to defer to Brett on what they could use and when.&nbsp; <br><br>"If not, I can rig up something low-tech."<br><br>He moved over to the gun case and tapped in the keyword.&nbsp; It clicked open.&nbsp; He removed one of the rifles.&nbsp; He loaded it and then slung it on his shoulder, muzzle down.&nbsp; He glanced toward Brett.<br><br>"Want to join me?&nbsp; That way we let them have some private time?"&nbsp; <br><br>He then gave a slightly amused smile.<br><br>"Or would you rather stay inside with the two lovely ladies?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Holly Marlow</strong> on <strong>05-04-2013, 02:00:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jenna's yawn was infectious and had Brook yawning right after her. “I don't think either of us will need that tea tonight. I'll just finish up here and probably pass out.” Although nothing had been too strenuous today, it had been a long day, despite the light still in the sky. From waking up, and going through the final steps until she'd been boarded and sent on the helicopter here with the three others, then the strain of trying to adapt to her new situation in a social capacity had Brook feeling groggy.<br><br>Brett's comments about the possibility of them being recorded had her looking around at the ceiling with narrowed eyes. That was not a comfortable thought. She let the chatter of the others sink into the background as she washed what dishes they had used, then set about drying them before putting them away. It was how she found a percolator for the coffee grinds that were in the fridge. There was a coffee maker as well, but just in case the power wasn't going at full capacity, it was best to make sure people got their coffee. Otherwise everyone suffered. <br><br>Brook headed into the bathroom to get ready for bed after Jenna had already slipped into her bed. The men were out patrolling the grounds or marking their territory. After slipping into a god awful pair of&nbsp; plaid pajamas that were sinfully comfortable no matter how they looked, Brook slipped under the covers of her own bed. <br><br>She only slept for a bit. When she woke back up, the men were back and looked to be in bed. A harsh wind had started up in the night and the creaks of the cabin were making it all but impossible for her to fall back asleep, no matter how many times she tossed and turned. <br><br>With a soft sigh, she finally gave up. She was careful to be quiet as she snuck out of the room, then made her way to her office. Brook hadn't written her journal entry for the day before, and figured her insomnia would be a good time to start. <br><br>Though slowly as the time dragged by, fatigue wore at her until she crossed her arms over the journal and rested her head just for a moment. She fell asleep before she even finished her thought. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>That One Guy</strong> on <strong>11-04-2013, 02:40:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Brett looked at Carver and chuckled at the setup the man had given him. “Oh, I’d definitely prefer to stay in with the ladies....however I’d only get myself slapped, stabbed, or worse I fear. Maybe I am growing up, and know when to pick my battles.” He shot each of the women a wink after shamelessly scanning them head to toe. “You two do certainly seem worth the added effort,” he chuckled and nodded respectfully to them saying goodnight, and walked away with Carver.<br><br>Once outside the cool air hit him and he found it refreshing. “I’m sure we can get you enough power in short order to have as many sensors going as you need.” Answering the man’s question seemed to be the best ice breaker. There was much more to be said however. Much more to be curious about with the only other man for miles around.&nbsp; <br><br>Some many paces around later, “So, your folks. Did the men...well were your various father figures intimate with each other as well? I’m go ahead and confess a bit of ignorance on that side of things, as well as how two man might become close, in any respect, and still share the women.” He shrugged, “I’m assuming best case here, of course. Anyway, most the data of group dynamics show that you and I will have to fight it out for dominance. Who is the great big alpha with the biggest schlong and all that noise.” He rolled his eyes. “I’d like to nominate you for that role here in advance. You already seem more more the protector and family type. The girls will respond to you as such. If my own antics don’t get me exiled from the house then I’ll figure out my own place, but I figured I’d just mention it that you need not fear any pissing contests from me.”<br><br>Brett stopped and extended his hand toward Carver. He knew he could be an unmitigated pain in the ass, just as he knew his own work would soon give him redeeming qualities as well. But tonight seemed the night to find at least one ally in the group, and Carver seemed to be the likely one to bring folks together. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marikir</strong> on <strong>14-04-2013, 21:52:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Carver, outside with Brett </em><br><br>Carver had expected that Brett would take the opportunity of the two of them walking the grounds to speak with him.&nbsp; He hadn't, though, expected the particular subject that Brett had chosen.&nbsp; He swung a light around, looking outward as he considered how best to answer the man's question.<br><br>"Well, honestly, I don't know.&nbsp; I never thought to ask, frankly."<br><br>A few steps passed in silence.&nbsp; "I know that some mornings the three of them would wake up together in their large bed.&nbsp; I guess that, now that I think on it, most of the time, Mother would be in the center.&nbsp; I never saw my dads making out, if that's what you mean.&nbsp; They were both tender with her.&nbsp; Daddy Walt was a little more expressive of his emotions than Daddy Rick.&nbsp; And sometimes, either of them might not be there for a night or a few.&nbsp; Travel and such.&nbsp; On those nights, the remaining dad would spend it with mom and us of course."<br><br>He paused and turned the light toward a sound.&nbsp; Nothing more seemed to come from the darkness.&nbsp; He frowned slightly as he continued.<br><br>"Now, the whole family did express physical affection in innocent ways, of course.&nbsp; Kisses on cheeks and lips and hugs, etcetera.&nbsp; And yeah, even between Rick and Walt.&nbsp; So, I guess the answer to your question is...'Maybe?'"<br><br>He gave a brief shrug and chuckle.<br><br>When Brett mentioned what basically amounted to figuring out who the Alpha was, Carter shook his head.&nbsp; He shook Brett's hand in return, his grip tight, but not too harsh.&nbsp; When they parted, he spoke more.<br><br>"I don't think we need to worry about setting up some sort of pack like behavior system, Brett.&nbsp; We aren't wolves."<br><br>He paused, as if expecting to hear the cry of a wolf.&nbsp; In a movie, such a moment would have been perfect.&nbsp; But this time, it passed in silence.<br><br>"Each of my parents had their specialties.&nbsp; Each deferred to the expert in whatever they were doing.&nbsp; Rick knew the land and taught me my skills.&nbsp; Walt was a doctor and dictated how we should live to be healthy.&nbsp; I admit that I bonded with Rick more than Walt...although, to be honest, I've suspected that Walt was my biological father.&nbsp; I favor him in looks."<br><br>"Regardless, I'm not looking to prove that I'm in charge.&nbsp; I just have a hint of what might be out there."&nbsp; Carver gestured with his flashlight outwards.&nbsp; The beam of light was swallowed up by the dark.<br><br>"And how to deal with it."&nbsp; He patted the weapon slung over his shoulder.&nbsp; "I'm not looking to show that I'm some alpha wolf/male, Brett."<br><br>He gave the other man a wry smile.&nbsp; "Don't they say wolves mate for life, one to one and all that?&nbsp; Fuck that, my friend."<br><br>He gave a laugh as the pair of them completed their circuit of the grounds.&nbsp; "Besides, that myth is exactly that; a myth."<br><br>He glanced toward Brett.&nbsp; "I came from a nontraditional upbringing.&nbsp; I accepted that I was never going to be looking for a traditional marriage bond.&nbsp; It took some doing, accepting that about me, but it is what it is.&nbsp; I can't say if this is where I'm supposed to be...but it's not bad.&nbsp; Definitely not bad at all."<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>That One Guy</strong> on <strong>20-04-2013, 00:22:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Brett outside with Carver</em><br><br>Brett listened, and knew he’d put his foot right in it again. He’d been serious, but not literal. Carver attempted to put his mind at ease about not needing pack like behavior. Brett almost chuckled at the thought of not being wolves. This whole group would be dominate in their respective fields out in the world. Here, they each would depend on each other. If no one thought that wouldn’t cause some rabid, feral, behavior from time to time, then they had slept through group development in social studies.<br><br>Brett smiled, noted the firm, but not crushing handshake and walked on with Carver, listening still. Carver was wise, calm, and confident. Maybe his humility was genuine, and he didn’t understand how the women would be all over him for just those qualities alone. Hell, that would make him even more endearing! Brett had plenty of ‘empirical data’ as to how women behaved.<br><br>He shook his head and actually tried to listen to more than just the words Carver had said, but to absorb the message. He’d not come up here, agreed to a year of this seclusion just to bang two chicks with another guy. He’d honestly figured he needed to force himself into something new. Something...well something he knew nothing at all about. Carver did.<br><br>“Well mate, I’m not sure how traditional my raising was, but it’s led me here. I don’t fault my mum, not for a moment. Love the old gal to death. But to hear your childhood tales...well, lets say I’d like to know if the grass is greener. You might not want the job of pack leader mate, but I think for the relationship bit you’re stuck with the job. I bloody hell sure don’t know where to start on such a thing, nor any idea what the end result might look like. Until this little opportunity here, my idea of a long term relationship meant she got breakfast in the morning.” He shrugged, unapologetically.<br><br>That brought them around to the door again, and he took another look out into the wild that surrounded them. He thought he might be terrified of this. Miles and miles of wilderness between him and modern society with all its conveniences. Instead he found it relaxing and inviting. A new challenge and a chance to try something very different than he’d played at before.<br><br>“Well, in we go. Thanks for the chat. I know I’m out there, but I just wanted to say I wasn’t really a bad chap.” 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marikir</strong> on <strong>29-04-2013, 06:49:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Carver, just outside the main door, with Brett. </em><br><br>Carver nodded slightly at Brett's words as the pair of them paused outside the door back into the main cabin.&nbsp; <br><br>"Well, I have to assume that you aren't a bad chap.&nbsp; You were picked for this thing, honestly.&nbsp; I'd hope that they would have the wisdom to not throw in a monkey wrench.&nbsp; They spent a fair amount of money getting this all set up, much less upending all of our lives."<br><br>He pulled the door open for Brett.&nbsp; As the pair of them walked in, his voice lowered slightly.&nbsp; The interior of the main room was darkened, illuminated by small solar battery powered LED lights.&nbsp; <br><br>"In any case, we're all here now.&nbsp; The best thing we can do is be true to ourselves and see if it works.&nbsp; I want it to work, but only if it does so naturally.&nbsp; Now, whether or not the rest of the project succeeds, the science part, that'll depend on more than us."<br><br>He paused and turned back.&nbsp; "But, I choose to trust that you, Brook, and Jenna will do your best to make our wider mission a success, just like I will.&nbsp; The rest...that will tend to itself."<br><br>With that, he moved to put the weapon back in it's case.&nbsp; He wished Brett a good night and then retired.<br><br>~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~<br><br>Sometime later, he heard a shift that awoke him.&nbsp; The newness of the place had him slightly on edge.&nbsp; Thankfully, no one seemed to be a snorer.&nbsp; His mind noted that one of them was moving.&nbsp; He glanced over and dimly saw that it was Brook.&nbsp; Sleep seemed to be eluding her.&nbsp; He watched her shadow move through the darkened common room and then into the main room.&nbsp; He saw her move into her medical office.&nbsp; The distant scratching of something told Carver that she was writing.<br><br>That reminded him that he needed to do his journal entry and video rec as well.&nbsp; <br><br>He shifted and let his eyes close.&nbsp; Brook would return to her bed soon, he assumed.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Elina</strong> on <strong>08-05-2013, 19:26:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Jenna, middle of Night 1</em><br><br>Dinner had wrapped up quickly, and Jenna had found herself exhausted.&nbsp; She and Brook had readied themselves for bed while the men went outside, and she'd intended to stay awake and chat a little with her new roommate, but instead she'd fallen asleep quickly.&nbsp; She had been grateful that the shades in the bedroom were heavy and opaque, completely blocking out the light from outside.&nbsp; That it was late and still sunny would throw her off; she knew it would take a lot of adjustment on her part to get used to it.<br><br>She wasn't sure what woke her, but she came alert with a start.&nbsp; Sitting up and rubbing her eyes, she felt around the small nightstand blindly, grabbing her wristwatch.&nbsp; <em>Four A.M.</em>&nbsp; Too early to be awake, and she knew she needed plenty of rest.&nbsp; Their day would be spent unpacking and setting up their compound, and there would be a lot of heavy lifting involved.&nbsp; A pit stop and then she'd need to get back to bed.<br><br>Getting up as her eyes adjusted to the lack of light, she frowned when she noticed that Brook's bed was empty.&nbsp; Apparently, Jenna wasn't the only one who didn't sleep through the night.&nbsp; She left the bedroom and used the restroom, muttering a small 'thank you' to her new boss as she washed her hands after.&nbsp; That they had indoor plumbing was a godsend.<br><br>She found Brook in the small clinic, slumped over her desk asleep.&nbsp; Jenna smiled as the memory of finding her father like this so often assailed her, and she shook her head wistfully as she moved into Brook's room and whispered the woman's name.&nbsp; "Brook, come on," she said a little louder, shaking the woman's shoulder gently.&nbsp; "Time to get into bed."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Holly Marlow</strong> on <strong>15-05-2013, 00:48:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Brook grumbled as she felt a gentle shaking of her shoulder, followed by a strange woman's voice telling her that it was time for her to get to bed. She slowly sat up, then let out a huge yawn and rubbed at her eyes before seeing Jenna clearly. It only took her brain a few moments to process where she was and who the woman was. <br><br>Her voice was soft as she spoke, “Thank you for waking me. I did not intend to fall asleep at my desk again.” She smiled warmly at Jenna before standing and clumsily making her way back to the bedroom. Her bed was so comfortable compared to a leaning over a desk that she had no trouble falling back asleep. <br><br>When she woke again, it was 8am in the morning. Brook combed her fingers through her hair, then headed for the kitchen. She had no idea if this was too soon or too late for breakfast, but she was hungry. <br><br>When she found the coffee maker in the cabinet along with the skillets, she did a silent happy dance before making a pot of strong brew. It wasn't long before eggs and sausage, along with biscuits were cooked and getting ready to be set at the table for her new companions. <br><br>After she set the table, Brook leaned against the counter and enjoyed her steaming cup of straight black coffee. The fact that she still wore pajamas did not bother her at all. This group was to be a family in many ways. Brook was never a morning person, and she refused to get dressed up for breakfast. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Elina</strong> on <strong>08-07-2013, 00:53:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Coffee.<br><br>It was the aroma that served as an alarm clock for Jenna every day.&nbsp; Her coffee pot was set on a timer to brew a fresh cup of heaven for her, signaling that it was time to start the day.&nbsp; As always, she awoke with a groan.&nbsp; She was groggy, and as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings, she was momentarily disoriented.&nbsp; This wasn't her room.&nbsp; And why was it still dark?&nbsp; As she shook her head, it came back to her.&nbsp; She was in Alaska, and today was going to be their first full day of the experiment.&nbsp; She looked at the small clock on her nightstand.&nbsp; It was eight forty-seven in the morning, and although the room was still dark, she knew that outside, the sun would be shining.&nbsp; The special shades blocked did their job well in blocking the light, it seemed.<br><br>A look around the room told her that again, Brook's bed was empty, although both guys were still in theirs.&nbsp; She wasn't surprised.&nbsp; Yesterday had been a long day, and she still felt tired too.&nbsp; She wanted to go back to sleep, but instead, she rolled out of bed.&nbsp; She'd feel guilty if she slept in while the other woman didn't.&nbsp; Besides, the girl time would be nice.&nbsp; She was looking forward to getting to know Brook.<br><br>Padding into the kitchen a few minutes later, she smiled at her new roommate.&nbsp; "Good morning," she said, recognizing that the sound came out mumbled.&nbsp; A morning person, Jenna was not.&nbsp; "Mind if I grab some?&nbsp; You're a lifesaver."<br><br>She poured herself a steaming cup of of the strong stuff, adding in some sugar and creamer from a canister.&nbsp; She'd miss half and half, but not enough to forgo coffee.&nbsp; Sitting down, she took a sip and looked at the rustic stovetop.&nbsp; "You went all out with breakfast.&nbsp; Thank you.&nbsp; I can smell biscuits in the oven.&nbsp; Do you know, I'd never had one until I moved to Texas?&nbsp; It's such a southern thing.&nbsp; How'd you learn to cook?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Holly Marlow</strong> on <strong>30-07-2013, 23:41:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Brook was placing a few platters of food on the table as Jenna came into the room. She smiled warmly at the woman. “Good morning to you. Help yourself to the coffee. I just found the sugar and creamer.” <br><br>After Jenna poured poured her own cup, Brook refilled her cup and took a seat. Everything was ready. The eggs and sausage were being kept warm under the platter covers and the biscuits were being kept toasty in the oven. She took a seat back at the table and pulled a knee up to her chest as she started to sip on her second cup of coffee. <br><br>At Jenna's compliment, Brook snorted, then rubbed at her eyes tiredly. “I couldn't find anything to make gravy for the biscuits, so it won't be that wonderful.” <br><br>She quickly answered Jenna's last question, since her attention was caught by something else the woman had said. “I had a lot of free time when I wasn't on shift, so I took some cooking classes. I only burned the food during the first class. Now what do you mean you never had a biscuit until you moved to Texas? How is that possible?”<br><br>Brook was looking Jenna up and down as if the woman was sort of alien being. She didn't even wait for the reply before she got up and grabbed an oven mitt. With well practiced moves, she took the biscuits from the oven and set the cookware on the table, then used a fork to set a biscuit on Jenna's plate. Sadly the only thing to go with it was butter. <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Elina</strong> on <strong>04-08-2013, 17:08:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Cooking classes, huh?&nbsp; I've never taken any.&nbsp; Dad barbequed sometimes, but other than that, he was a pretty bad cook.&nbsp; Learning how was the only way I got anything decent to eat," Jenna said, laughing softly at the memory.&nbsp; I can remember, I was maybe eight or nine years old?&nbsp; I got a copy of <em>The Joy of Cooking</em> from the library.&nbsp; I used to watch Julia Child reruns on TV, too, when my friends were watching cartoons."<br><br>She pried open a biscuit with the fork Brook handed her and then slathered it with some butter, popping a bite into her mouth.&nbsp; It was delicious, tasting as good as it smelled.&nbsp; "Ah, it melts in your mouth.&nbsp; Good job, Brook!"&nbsp; Her enthusiasm for good food was evident in her voice.&nbsp; "Come on, sit down and have one while it's still hot.&nbsp; I can't believe the guys are missing this.&nbsp; But then, they did a lot of really heavy lifting last night and they've got to be exhausted."<br><br>"So, tell me, what do you think so far?&nbsp; I'm so interested to see how this turns out."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Holly Marlow</strong> on <strong>07-08-2013, 04:27:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Brook grinned as she sat down and placed a biscuit on her own plate. She used a butter knife to pry it open, then put a dab of butter in between before putting the biscuit back in one piece. "My parents did not believe in barbecue. I wish they had, because I can feel my mouth watering for some of that right now. I never did watch Julia Childs. Mostly because I couldn't understand what she was saying. I think she was sauced for most of her episodes."<br><br>Brook took a bite into her biscuit after letting it cool off a bit. It was interesting waking up and having girl chat. "This moment is just odd for me. I can't decide if I'm having a Folders moment, or a Summer's Eve one." She hide her smile by taking a sip of the coffee, then used her fork to steel a link of sausage. <br><br>"I honestly don't know how you are going to get all that work done. My share of the work seems so pitiful in comparison." She lowered her voice and leaned towards the other woman a bit. "As for the men, well, I think Carver seems so intimidating to me because Brett just seems downright naughty. I could not believe he told us that he'd been with more then one student. I'm glad for his honestly, but it just sets off the alarms in my head about being able to trust a man like that."<br><br>She shrugged her shoulders then took a bite of her sausage. "You and Carver seemed to get along well last night."<br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>That One Guy</strong> on <strong>04-09-2013, 21:52:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Bret woke and felt around in the dark looking for the exit. He groaned when he found it, the light from the rest of the house a stark contrast to the comfy bedroom. Still, nature called and would not wait. As he washed up the scent of food and coffee hit him, and his gut just about bounce out of his body in protest of it’s neglect.<br><br>He stumbled out into the kitchen, squinting hard due to the light. “Next time I sign up for some wacky Alaskan experiment, remind me to do it in the part of the year with no sun...” he grumbled on his way, instinctively, to the coffee pot. A cup of black coffee later, and he plopped himself down at the table.<br><br>He’d not heard them talking, as he’d loved to have been called naughty, and might even have had a comment about the trust issues. Still, he just pried his eyes open, looked at each of the women in turn and managed to crack a smile. As he started reaching for biscuits and sausage he asked, “Which of you Goddess should I get on my knees and thank for this amazing breakfast?” He didn’t wait for answer, moaning in approval about a biscuit and chasing it with coffee. “Fuck, that almost makes you forget about this ever present sun!”<br><br>He fell silent as he ate for a few minute, just nodding and grunting in praise as he loaded up for the day. Big breakfast, and several small snacks...got him through just about anything. With a satisfied sigh he looked up and smiled at them both. “Thanks!” It was about then he realized he was only in boxers and a t-shirt sitting at the table with two pyjama clad beauties that he hardly new, and had never slept with. it was a new thing for him and he found he rather didn’t want to fuck it up. The stakes were far higher out here.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marikir</strong> on <strong>18-09-2013, 06:18:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Carver's eyes remained closed as he listened dimly to the voices in the outer room.&nbsp; He had been awake for a bit, coming awake slowly.&nbsp; He hadn't heard all of the conversations, but he heard the voices of the three others chatting idly.<br><br>Later, in his journal, Carver would state that there this brief moment, hearing the others talk together, gave him a momentary pang for his family.&nbsp; The sound of his parents talking had always lulled him to sleep back home.&nbsp; This sound, while different for many reasons, was similar enough to spark that nostalgic moment.&nbsp; <em>It drove home what could happen...and made me realize I honestly was missing that.</em> he would jot down.&nbsp; <br><br>Carver slid from his bed and stretched.&nbsp; In the privacy of the room, he quickly disrobed and put on a warm shirt and pants.&nbsp; It would be a bit chilly still, but the springtime would warm quickly.&nbsp; He was making a quick inventory of what needed to be done.&nbsp; <br><br><em>Fence, sensors, pens, planting, water table assessment</em> he repeated to himself.&nbsp; He picked up the jacked at the foot of his bed and was in the process of pulling it on when he paused.<br><br>Later, he would describe the moment.&nbsp; <em>I was all set to just walk past them and head outside.&nbsp; I had stuff I had to do.&nbsp; Basically, I'm running what amounts to be a farm/ranch.&nbsp; There's always work to be done.&nbsp; But, I was stopped by their voices.&nbsp; Their conversation.&nbsp; The sound of them.&nbsp; Suddenly, I didn't feel the need to be outside just yet.</em><br><br>He slipped the jacket over an arm and moved to the door.&nbsp; He slipped into the main room, closing the bedroom door behind him.&nbsp; He smiled at each of the others, wondering for a moment if he looked like a freak since he was already dressed to go out.&nbsp; He moved over to the rest of them and slid into a vacant seat.&nbsp; He smiled at each of them.&nbsp; <br><br>"Got to get the farm working," he said with a chuckle.&nbsp; "After all, I'd rather you all not starve due to my negligence."<br><br>He poured a cup.&nbsp; "So, everyone slept well, I hope."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Elina</strong> on <strong>19-09-2013, 17:06:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Jenna, at her first breakfast with all of the others.</em><br><br>Jenna heard stirring in the bedroom and wondered which of the men was up.&nbsp; She was enjoying her time with Brook as the other woman shared her opinion of the men, and was thankful that they'd gotten a few minutes of alone time to get to know each other and to compare notes.&nbsp; Her own views were similar to Brook's; she was, in some ways, a bit taken aback by Brett, but she was also liking him in spite of herself.&nbsp; The people she knew were dry in their sense of humor, and she supposed she was too; he was like a breath of fresh air in his outrageousness, and she had a feeling that as long as she kept an open mind, she was going to really like him.&nbsp; And Carver... she was already drawn to his quiet strength.&nbsp; She wasn't intimidated by him, but she could see easily where someone might feel that way.&nbsp; After all, her father had the same quiet strength, and everyone seemed to be pretty intimidated by him, too.<br><br>"Trusting Brett... I'm still trying to figure out how much of his stories are real and how much of it is him trying to get a reaction from us.&nbsp; I have a feeling he's probably way less uptight than the rest of us," she said, laughing softly.&nbsp; "I think he's probably a good addition.&nbsp; Carver's quiet.&nbsp; You seem shy.&nbsp; I can be kind of a stick in the mud.&nbsp; Brett's going to be the life of this little party.&nbsp; And Carver?&nbsp; He's the kind of man I'm used to, all business.&nbsp; I think, out here in the wilderness, he's kind of like that comfy old sweater for me?&nbsp; He's an unknown, but somehow, he isn't...."<br><br>Her voice trailed off, ending in a question.&nbsp; She didn't know if it would make any sense to Brook.&nbsp; She wasn't even sure it made sense to her.<br><br>The bedroom door opened and Brett appeared, looking still a little disheveled, and Jenna could easily see why his students would throw themselves at him, even in groups of two and three.&nbsp; Dark hair that wouldn't lay quite right made one want to run fingers through it, and that shadow of a beard on his face!&nbsp; He seemed to ooze sex appeal, and it was obvious that he wasn't even trying.&nbsp; If she'd had a professor like him, maybe she would have been a little less studious and a little more sex kitten, too.<br><br>Her lips twitched in amusement as he groaned about the sun and drained a cup of coffee.&nbsp; A morning person, he was not.&nbsp; "Good morning.&nbsp; Brook made breakfast, but I'm thinking that getting up early and cooking for us might need to be your job."&nbsp; She winked to let him know she was kidding.&nbsp; <br><br>A few minutes later, Carver appeared, too.&nbsp; Jenna was unsurprised to see him ready to get started for the day.&nbsp; The rest of them were still in their pajamas, but Carver was an outdoors guy, and it seemed that the early morning would be a natural time for him to be up and about.&nbsp; She hoped that he'd relax a little bit with them, let them in and help and be a team, and she supposed time would tell if that was going to happen or not.<br><br>They all said good morning to him, and everyone started chatting about how they'd slept their first night in their new home: Brook not so well, Brett like a baby.&nbsp; Jenna somewhere in the middle, and Carver too.&nbsp; This was as important as the "getting to know you" session they'd had the night before, and Jenna took it all in, grateful for the moment.&nbsp; These were the times that would, eventually and hopefully, define them as a family and more than a group of scientists brought together.&nbsp; All of the work they had to do was going to get done.&nbsp; They'd all be responsible.&nbsp; But it was these moments of camaraderie where they would become friends and not just colleagues.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Project: Brave New World (Holly Marlow, Elina, Marikir, That One Guy)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>That One Guy</strong> on <strong>26-09-2013, 18:33:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Bret just smirked at the joke he’d make breakfast. He had no idea how they might get that much bulk cold cereal up here, but that was about all he was good for in the mornings. He finished up his meal, clearly relishing every bit of it, and then noticed Carver had joined them. “Fuck man, you trying to make me look bad in front of these lovely ladies?” His tone said he was clearly joking. “How the hell can you be so put together before the coffee?” He shot them all a wide smile and lifted himself from the seat and walked, a bit more upright and human, over to the coffee pot.<br><br>He finished the pot off, and immediately set it up for another. One was not enough for him, much less 3 others. Talking to them as he did so, “Well, since Captain Morning Person here is setting a grand example for us all to follow, what’s on the docket today? I figure power might be high on folks wants, as well as those sensors. I’m supposed to have our cliché reality TV video booth set up so folks can secretly talk shit about...er, I mean record our very scientific thoughts and feelings in the name of research.” He turned and winked at them all.<br><br>Looking at them all, it was a good bunch. He didn't fit the bunch at all, but he figured that was the point. He smiled again, “Dibbs on the shower, but I’ll be quick. I’ll be ready in ten....” He about left it there but just couldn’t help himself. He called back as he walked away, “Unless the shower has company...then I promise to be a lot longer...” What the hell, its not like he was going to stop flirting any time soon. Not until a good day or two after he was dead anyway.<br><br>He grabbed his stuff and walked into the bathroom and decided on the first improvement to the house would need to be a much larger shower, just in case anyone ever did take him up on the offer. True to his word, he was out, dressed, and ready to roll in ten minutes; grabbing yet another cup of coffee. “Right, so who wants to go see what toys they left us for power generation and all that?”
			</dd>
		</dl>
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