the society for outcasts and makers, a reboot (accepting exactly one (1) more person) (mad science and mystery)

Henry Jekyll was motivated by man things for his society. His passion for science, his undying love for exploring the unknown, and his desire to help people get out of the dark pits they found or put themselves in. However, he was not feeling motivated today. There were new boarders to sort out, more paperwork to file, and a gallery showing of all the resident's latest science projects. Not to mention, both his other, better half and his wore half were having a distressing verbal battle that took all his focus away. It was almost childish, they way the two squabbled.

He descended the stairs, and, while distracted in figuring out how to make his headmates shut up, he bumped into someone and dropped all his papers.

"Oh, my! I'm terribly sorry about all that." he said, moving to pick up the paperwork that had scattered all throughout the main entrance hall.

Rowan and Kain had been walking through the halls of the building, debating the ethics of a study done by the Church. They were both ignoring their surroundings and talking quite animatedly, so it was honestly a miracle they hadn't bumped into someone before this.

Kain, of course, was the one to apologize. "I'm so sorry! Me and my sister weren't paying attention to where we were going!" He picked up a few papers and handed them to the man, Rowan did the same, albeit much colder and without any emotion.

"Oh, why thank you! Uh, Rowan and Kain, wasn't it? I'm sorry, some days it feels like my own thoughts are out to get me."

"Stop treating me like a child!"

"Stop acting like one!"

"Ahem. I'm sorry, did either of you need anything?" he asked sheepishly.

Kian spoke up again. "Ah, yes we're Kian and Rowan-"
Rowan cleared her throat, setting a hand on her hip. "Actually, we're having a debate about the new study the Church put out, the ethics of it. Did you read it, it was published in the papers."

"Ah, the one decrying the possibility of an afterlife? I've read it. It was fairly interesting, I'm a relatively religious man myself and it was fascinating." he said, eyes sparkling a little. "What did you make of it?"

"See? You're just distracting Jeks, and now look! He's all… weird! And talking about religion! Which is gross, and I hate it." Hyde growled.

"Religion has its place, you know. As a moral and ethical guide, a beacon of light in dark times such as these? And besides, ours is the right one, I don't understand how those infidels and barbarians could believe in… in deities!"

Henry winced, not particularly caring for the conversation at hand.

Rowan nodded, face still apathetic. "I do not believe in the presence of a higher being and Kain believes in the basic religion of our fathers culture. Neither of us are followers of the Church, so it is good that we have a point of view from someone who is."

Kain's face was tinted red with embarrassment and he poked Rowan in the side. "You can't just ask someone to debate with us! It's rude!" He hissed into Rowan's ear, loud enough for Henry to hear.

"Don't mind him, I, personally, found it riddled with falsehoods. I am, by no means, a student of ethics, but even ignoring the ethical problems, the information is quite honestly preposterous."

"Well… I don't see many ethical problems with saying 'we just die', but I understand the issues that may present. An afterlife is a comfort to some people, a grounding point in a sea of mystery and misunderstandings. Taking that hope away, well… that could be an ethical dilemmea. However, they provided a reasonable case for our perception of the afterlife to be false." Henry answered. "And I honestly don't mind having a friendly debate on the subject, it'll pass the time. I am, however, very busy today with the gallery showing and may have to leave mid conversation. My apologies for this, obviously."

Kain nodded. "It's understandable! We hope to have more time for a debate later, I'm sorry about Rowan! Good luck with your showing!" He then grabbed Rowan's elbow and began to drag her away from the man. "Rowan! He's the head of this place! You can't just… Ask him to join us in debate!"
"He said yes, I don't understand the problem."
Kain just shook his head and sighed, knowing not to argue with his sister more as he dragged her.

Henry chuckled a little at this. "Last call to put in something for the showing! We have a few empty slots, still." he said in a singsongy voice. Oh, what a burden it was to manage the affairs of over a hundred people, day after day. He waited for a response, hoping that maybe, just maybe, the two would have something to share. He had too much time on his hands, and not in a good way. If they didn't get at least one or two more projects in, the whole thing would fall flat.

Rowan remained still as she heard the man's comment. "Is the gallery showing just art and such?" She asked, taking a hold of Kain's hand that was clasping her elbow with a death grip and prying it off. She walked back toward Henry, making Kain follow her like a lost puppy.

Irene hummed softly to herself, reading as she walked. She had mastered the skill as a child, and it was still one she was a little proud of. She let out a small breath of laughter, hearing Rowan and Kain debating again. She heard the start last night. Speaking of which, she probably shout sit down and read that study… she'd do it after her experiments today. She finally managed to put together a hypothesis, she just needed to find a person or two that were willing to sit for a task so she could test it a bit…

And now she had to restart the page. Damnit.

Rowan remained still as she heard the man's comment. "Is the gallery showing just art and such?" She asked, taking a hold of Kain's hand that was clasping her elbow with a death grip and prying it off. She walked back toward Henry, making Kain follow her like a lost puppy.

"Whatever project you're working on, whether scientific or philisophical or whatever sort of breakthrough you've made, you can share it." Henry said. He was tired, but he just had to make one final push and maybe, just maybe, through the more open-minded among his guests he could secure funding for the next few years.

"We'll do it. Kain has a new case he wants to talk about." Rowan nodded, face still in that blank stare. "Do we need to sign anything and what time is the showing? How much do I need to censor the…" She cleared her throat. "Blood and gore?"

"I'll just put you on the list, make sure you have a full fifteen minutes for your presentation." he said calmly, "and it's in… hmm, it's ten o' clock now, that would put it… four hours from now? The presentation is at two." Henry said. "I really must be going now, my apologies." he ran off to the gallery, suddenly a lot more hopeful.

(hnng how would you like me to jump in, Starlight? Also, does France still exist? since that's where Marce is from and if it doesn't exist, I have a problem– also if it does exist, what are relations like between France and London?)

Rowan rubbed her hands together, a hint of a smile on her face. "I am going to go absolutely wild. You wanna help?" She tilted her head at Kain, who shook his. "No thanks, I have a new case and I'll just do a breakdown of that. Some fraud and murder, pretty basic stuff but'll seem impressive." Kain was quite proud of his work.

(hnng how would you like me to jump in, Starlight? Also, does France still exist? since that's where Marce is from and if it doesn't exist, I have a problem– also if it does exist, what are relations like between France and London?)

(France can exist, and London could have allies pretty easily-France could be one of them. Idk I wasn't much thinking about that stuff lol. And maybe one of your characters could have a question about the gallery showing? Idk.)

(Alright, thanks! Lol. Alright!)

Henry walked into the gallery, examining it for any tiny flaw that could put a whole wrench in the works. He examined the hors d'oeuvres, each of the boarder's presentations for anything potentially dangerous and ended up amending over half of them for safety's sake. He had the servants dust and deal with every single little thing that needed taking care of. The next few hours would be a lot, but it would be worth it.

(does the Society still take in people that need help?)

(Yeah, always!)

(alright! Because I figure that's why Marce would go to them. Victor would go because ~curiousity~ and also nowhere else to go. So I think I'll introduce Vic now, if that's alright?)

(Yeah!)

(alright!)

Victor Frankenstein squinted up at the building in front of him. There was to be some sort of gallery showing here, supposedly, and he had questions to ask. He ducked inside, adjusting his long coat as he did. He looked around, lips faintly pursed. He had no idea what he was doing here; but he couldn't go back to Geneva. Not after how his own actions had torn his family apart. His mistakes. His Creation.

Another man was walking into the building, he was tall, and handsome, ethereally so, and his demeanor was that of a cat's, calculating and precise. He carried a briefcase, overflowing with legal work and looking battered as it could get without breaking. He turned to Victor, giving him a quick once-over out of suspicion, and then introduced himself. "Gray, Dorian Gray. What is your business here?" he asked, as if making friendly conversation.

Victor blinked. "I…had heard that the Society takes in…strays." he said slowly. Victor himself was not short, but Dorian was still taller than him. He took in a slow breath. "I was wondering if I would be able to stay. Not necessarily forever, but…maybe for a while."

"Hmm, you'd have to talk to Henry about that one. Haven't seen the old chap in a while, I'll take you to him." Dorian suggested kindly, but not out of kindness, more out of a sense of tired responsibility. He lead Victor down the halls and into the gallery, where he'd guessed Henry would be. And the man was.

"Dorian! It's been too long!" Henry said, practically making heart-eyes at the man.

"Ah, Henry. We have a new potential boarder. Also, Utterson wanted this delivered to you, he said it was about some will of yours, I didn't catch the details. Preparing for death this young?"

"There's been a sickness going around London, you know." Henry blushed, a little embarrassed by Dorian's demeanor. "Now, what is your name, Mr…."

"Frankenstein." Victor replied, hoping that the news of his family hadn't spread here yet. He didn't want to have to field questions about them just yet. Them or Clerval. "Victor Frankenstein." he looked tired; dark smudges beneath his eyes and a slightly slouched posture, looking like he was about to fall asleep on his feet.

"Mr. Frankenstein. Lovely name, if I do say so myself. Which I do," he laughed at his own joke. He had to keep up a cheerful demeanor, or what would become of his society?

"Ooh, who's the Byronic pretty-boy?" Hyde giggled, gleefully in the back of Henry's mind.

"He said his name was Victor. Hush, Dorian's here. We haven't seen him in so long!" the other Jekyll squeaked.

He cocked his head faintly. "I…thank you?" he replied slowly, a little bit confused and unsure how precisely he should respond. "I'm afraid I didn't catch your name."