One or Two, Red or Blue... Oops! (Thatch, Private)

[Snake Eye]

Cryxatum, Spring, Era XVII Post-Fractum

It took a little bit for the attendant on duty to even realize that a fae had flow into the waiting area. "Serale. Please forgive my rudeness. I.... well.... I just did not see you." The attendant was young, probably early twenties and quite attractive. The lab coat she wore stretched out in the right areas. It was the main reason she didn't see the fae. She had been in the process of being ogled be another worker.

"Yes, yes," she said quickly to change her thoughts. "The experiments." The work the Institute has done on faes has been coming along. Luckily for them another subject seemed ready to go. "You are to meet with Dr. Melo Sicophus. He is the one that will be conducting the experiment."

She placed a piece of parchment on the desk in front of her. "Please fill out the appropriate lines. Then proceed down the hall forth door on the right."

On the parchment it read:

	Name: City of Residence: Allergies: Food Dislikes: Next of Kin:

[Thatch Puckton]

"Ok. Got it," Thatch said, settling on the desk to fill out the piece of parchment. As he read through it and filled it out, his thoughts wandered.

She's pretty cute, don't you think? I don't blame her for splitting her attention.

True, her appearance is rather...beguiling. But it is unprofessional to let such endowments get in the way of one's responsibilities.

Oh for the love of...she's attractive! She has the right to use that how she wishes.

Whatever you say. Anyway, I'm slightly concerned about this whole thing. The fact that this form is asking for "next of kin' is not all that reassuring.

"This is not a waver, correct?" Thatch asked. "This is only personal information? I would like to know more about the project before I sign anything committing."

Should he be correct, Thatch would place his name on the parchment and give it back to the attendant.

	Name: Thatch Puckton City of Residence: Varying. Presently Jaedaxia. Allergies: To my knowledge, none. Food Dislikes: It somewhat depends. At times some include cauliflower, squash, goat cheese. At other times some include many alcoholic beverages. Next of Kin: Parents - Mr. and Mrs. Puckton

[Snake Eye]

"Oh, such a perceptive little fae," the attendant commented. "It is nothing like that... well, yes in a way I guess it could look like a waiver. Dr. Sicophus just needs the info in order not to harm you. As for next of kin, if the experimentation goes well, he might want to contact your family to have them try."

She drew in a breath that heaved her chest out. The button that held the coat closed looked on the verge of popping. "As for what the doctor is doing, each fae is different. However compensation will be the same. For each trial 100 crowns will be awarded. It will be up to you if you choose to continue."

With that said, she took the parchment, looked over the entries, and pointed down the hall. "Thank you very much, Mr. Puckton. Your results will help all fae kind." A smile crossed her lips as a crimsoned hue touched the tips of her ears.

[Thatch Puckton]

Thatch was slightly reassured by the answer that he was given and when given directions he said,

"Thank you very much. I certainly hope I can help." He paused for a moment before adding, "Oh, and miss. Might I say that you have a beautiful...smile. And I love your coat..."

With that, Thatch zipped off down the hall in the direction that she had pointed, hoping to find Dr. Sicophus.

[Snake Eye]

The door that Thatch was looking for was closed tight. However, in the center of the wooden door was a tiny window, which at the moment was opened. The inside of the room had the look of a sterile environment. The furthest side of the room, opposite the door, was a table. On the table tiny fae-sized furniture was arranged to appear as if it was a small room. There was a small bed neatly made with the finest of silk sheets. A small tan leather couch complete with throw pillows and afghan. A single table with chair completed the decor.

On the table a note was placed under a plate with tiny cookies. A glass of water was close by. The note told Thatch to make himself comfortable. The room, or rather the items on the table, was set up to make him feel at home. Enjoy the cookies was how the note ended.

Only once he was settled did the door open. It was the female attendant. "I am so sorry to interupt your getting settled. But I forgot to give this." She placed a small fae-sized journal on the table. Adjusting her top as to not expose herself, she continued, "Dr. Sicophus would like you to write down information based on the experiments. You can start by your impression of the cookies. Family recipe and all." She smiled.

"Dr. Sicophus will be with you in a few minutes. He is... uh... finishing up with another test subject." With that, she turned to shut and lock the tiny window, and left the room closing the large wooden door behind her.

[Thatch Puckton]

"Ok...um thank you," Thatch said as he took the journal from the female attendant. "I'll make sure to take note of the cookies if I do end up participating in these experiments." He smiled back at her. As she turned to leave, Thatch placed the journal on the table. When he turned back around, he saw her locking the window.

"Wait! Don't close tha-" Thatch began to call out, but she had already walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Annoyed Thatch turned back to once more look over the Fae sized "room" that had been set up on the table.

I don't like this. She's locked us in this room that has all of these things in it that would make this room fitting for one of our size to stay in. And she also gave us that journal. Why give that to us before we've even agreed to participate in these experiments. I can't help feeling like we're already in some sort of testing room.

I know what you mean. I don't know why she had to lock that window. But I'm sure it will be fine. We should just wait for this Dr. guy to show up and then we'll be able to ask more about the experiments. In the meantime, those cookies do look rather delicious.

I suppose...but I'd rather not right now. I can't get rid of this nervous feeling.

Come on it's just a cookie. It can't hurt to try just one.

I guess...

Thatch picked up one of the cookies and then sat down on the tiny couch. Taking a bite, he thought,

I hope Dr. Sicophus comes soon.

[Snake Eye]

"Well, well, well.... what do we have here?" came a raspy voice from within the room. "You much be Thatch. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Standing before the fae, a man in a dark robe suddenly appeared. His face was obscured by the hood that was attached to the robe. Only a white, two foot long braided beard protruded. In his left hand a thick leather bound journal was held. The other held a vial of ink with a feathered pen sticking out.

"I am Dr. Melo Sicophus," he said setting the vial down on the corner of the table. "I trust you have some questions, as do I." He sat down on a chair that had materialized. Opening his journal, he took the pen from the ink well and jotted down something in his book.

"Hmm.... your name is Thatch Puckton. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Puckton. Very original. No allergies.... yet. Dislikes include... some alcohol, goat cheese, squash and cauliflower... who doesn't."

He looked at Thatch.

"I see you have taken a bite of a cookie. Yet you haven't written anything down in your journal. For this study to work I need your information. Now describe how the cookie made you feel."

He nodded.

"Yes another bite might be in order." The doctor then faded into nothingness leaving no visible traces.

[Thatch Puckton]

Thatch leapt to his feet when a voice spoke from within the room. Looking around, he was caught off guard when a man in a dark robe suddenly appeared out of thin air. Turning to face the hooded figure, Thatch thought,

Where the heck did he come from?

I would conjecture that he is a practitioner of arcana, which I think is odd; I thought this was a place of science. But I suppose the two are not necessarily contrary to one another. There's also always the possibility of him using some sort of advanced technology.

Thatch listened as the man introduced himself as Dr. Melo Sicophus and then began reading and commenting on what Thatch had written about himself. When he told Thatch he was supposed to write about the cookies, Thatch began to respond,

"Well of course I will write it if I should be part of your experiments, but first I would like to-Hey! Wait a minute!"

Thatch called out as the Dr. Sicophus suddenly disappeared just as abruptly as he had arrived. Frustrated, Thatch yelled,

"Come on! How the hell am I supposed to work with you if you won't even talk with me?"

The nerve of that fellow, Thatch thought as he walked over to the tiny table. Grabbing the plate of cookies and the journal, he stomped over to the couch and sat back down.

I know! Who does he think he is, appearing out of nowhere, telling us what to do, and then just leaving without even allowing us a word in edgewise!

Thatch grumpily took a bit out of another cookie.

These cookies are good thought.

Yes...well as annoying as this is, we did come here to find out about these experiments. It couldn't really hurt to just write something down in the journal. Maybe then we'll at least be able to talk to someone...besides we are technically still stuck in here.

Thatch finished the cookie that he was holding and had one more before picking up the journal and flipping it open. He thought for a while about what to write before jotting down:

	My thoughts on and feelings about the cookies: They are rather delicious. The fact that they are still warm does make them all the more enjoyable. How do they make me feel? Well, there is the physical warmth in my mouth as I chew and in my stomach after I swallow. They taste rich and sweet and overall taste quite delightful. To take examination of the emotional level of the experience, as fresh cookies often do, they inspire subconscious feelings of comfort and happiness, perhaps belong a reminder of home and family.

When he finished writing, Thatch closed the journal and said out loud,

"There! Are you happy? Can I please talk with someone now?"

[Snake Eye]

The door opened.

Walking into the room was a man in a white hooded robe with a black apron tied around his waist. He carried with him a leather bound journal, an inkpot, and a small folding chair. "Serale," his voice sounded clear yet old. "I am Dr. Melo Sicophus. You must be Thatch Puckton. Your bio was handed to me by our receptionist. I know you probably have some questions about the testing."

Placing the inkpot on the table, he unfolded his chair. Upon sitting down, he opened his journal and stroked his long braided black beard. Taking the pen from its holder, Dr. Sicophus asked, "So what questions do you have before we being?"

[Thatch Puckton]

Finally we get to talk to someone, Thatch thought as the doctor sat down and asked him what questions he had.

"Yes, well first of all I'd like to know a little more about these 'tests' before I agree to participate in anything. I mean, what would I potentially be subjecting myself to? Also, I was told that there's some sort of safety waiver? What potential danger is there that necessitates such a thing? I would just like to have a better understanding of what exactly I would be doing for these experiments."

[Snake Eye]

From his seated position the doctor answered each question.

"The tests are rather simple. I am looking to see if fae-kind has any hidden talent to spot hidden arcane powers. You take a pill and then write down what you saw. Then I pay you. If you want to continue, we move on. With each fae, that I have had the pleasure to test, the results vary. Some quit after the first test citing mental anguish. Some finish the series of four. Few have stated small side effects. And a few, well..... a few have passed on."

From beneath the hood, the doctor gauged Thatch's reaction.

"As for the safety wavier... well, I believe you have already filled it out." He looked to where the fae was sitting. "Funny.... I don't recall having given you one." Then he glanced at the tiny journal pointing to it. "Where did you get that?"

[Thatch Puckton]

Thatch listened to the doctor explain the experiments and considered whether or not he wanted to participate. He'd always expected some sort of risk, but was what the doctor described worth getting involved in. Thatch was still thinking when the doctor said that he'd already signed the waiver and then asked where he'd gotten the journal. Concerned, he looked up at the doctor and, holding up the journal, asked,

"This? The woman at the front desk came in here and gave it to me? She's also the one who gave me the paper to fill out. And you were just in here a moment ago, were you not? You appeared out of nowhere and told me to write something about the cookies in the journal, so I did."

Suddenly something clicked in Thatch's mind and he kicked himself for not noticing it sooner.

"Wait a minute. What happened? When you were in here before you were wearing a dark robe and your beard was white. What did you decide to change and quickly dye your beard? What's going on?"

[Snake Eye]

Dr. Sicophus listened as Thatch explained about the wavier and the journal. "I am sorry, but I do not know of who you could be referring to. My attendant is a male. Plus he has the day off. If you could give me a description of the young lady I will look into who she is."

The good doctor did not appeared phased when he was told about the dark robed figure. "I did not set foot in this room until a few minutes ago to meet you for the first time."

He paused. The pause lasted a few seconds while he tugged at his beard. "Interesting. You say the someone appeared that was the exact opposite of me. Very interesting."

He began writing down in his journal. His mutterings were incomprehensible. When he finished his scribbling, he reached into his apron and produced a small sack. It jingled when he sat it on the table.

"I will give you a one hundred crown advance if you allow me to test you. There is something with you." Pausing again and looking at the tiny fae room, he asked, "Cookies? Where did those come from?"

[Thatch Puckton]

Thatch's confusion and curiosity continued to grow as the doctor responded to what he had said.

"Hold on. You're telling me that the woman I saw was not your attendant? Well then who was she? She gave me the paper to fill out and told me to meet you in this room. And she is the one who brought the cookies. Both she and the 'opposite' you told me to write about them in this journal. As for what she looked like..."

Thatch thought back and trying to remember what she had looked like.

"Well...um...she was fairly young...and she was wearing a tight fitting lab coat. Rather attractive actually. She was particularly...well endowed."

Thatch tried his best to remember any other defining characteristics, but he couldn't seem to recall anything of the young woman's actual appearance. A bit embarrassed, he continued,

"Um...yeah. That's about all I remember."

This was really getting strange though. If the young woman he had spoken with was not working for the doctor and it had not been the doctor who had appeared in the room earlier, then what was going on.

I don't like this. Things are getting a little too strange and unpredictable. If all of this is happening before we've even taken part in these tests, I don't know if it's a good idea to proceed.

Come on. Aren't you even a little curious as to what's going on around here. Maybe if we let the doctor test us, we'll find out.

...I really am quite curious. Oh what a decision. I suppose it might not be too bad. Maybe he can help us figure out what's going on around here.

"Listen doctor. I would like to know what is going on around here as much as you do. Regarding the tests, if you think my participation might honestly reveal something, I would be inclined to accept your offer. However, I'm somewhat concerned by the idea that some have actually died taking your tests. Is there a high chance that such could be the result if I participate or has it been a rarer occurrence? Honestly, I'm curious and want to hear something that will help me to say yes."

[Snake Eye]

All of the information that Thatch provided was written down in Melo's journal. Looking at the pixie, the doctor tried to clam his nerves. "Death is a very rare occurrence. I have personally conducted these tests and over the hundreds that have been done only five deaths have occurred."

Standing, he gentle sat the journal on the chair. Walking over to where Thatch was sitting he continued, "Tests on the other subjects has helped me perfect the potion I am creating. When this potion is completely tested it will sold to all fae-folk. It is an attempt to help your kind in any arcane endeavors you may wish to pursue."

He tugged at his beard. "It is a potion to amplify your arcane abilities and awareness."

Picking up a cookie, Dr. Sicophis held it in the palm of his hand. With a deep breath in, upon the exhale the cookie caught fire and disintegrated. Rubbing the ashes of what was a cooking between his fingers, he brought it to his lips. A quick lick had him turn and spit on the floor. "Blast... wishing powder." He picked the other one up, examined it, and it too was vaporized.

"I will get to the bottom of who the female is, but the other me could have only been here if you had wished me here. But why look different... I will need to think on that."

Hoping all was explained, the doctor told Thatch to keep the hundred gold coins. "This I hope covers any discomfort from what you have had to go through already. And to think, we haven't even begun yet."

Picking up the tiny journal, the doctor read the entry the fae had written. "The other me had you describe the cookie... that's funny." Putting the journal down, he asked, "Do we begin?"