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 Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:50 pm
It wasn't anger or revulsion, but a look of awe and a slight tinge of jealousy on the frog-man's fat, necklace green face. "Ah... r-really? Wh-which b-building did you w-work?" Had he been hired before or after Newt had been sent to the village? Bia had been one of the exceptions, but he rarely had come into much contact with lab techs, save in passing. If he had met this Jordan before, then he unfortunately couldn't recall.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:02 pm
His brow perked and a smile crossed his mouth once more. This was unexpected. Most definitely unexpected. “Ah, yes. I worked there for a year. Of course with my credentials I was a shoe-in for the position. With degrees in veterinary medicine and zoology, I was eagerly taken aboard.” He was feeling confidence in Newt’s interest. Excellent. “I was in building two, where I worked as quality control in refining and catching impurities in blood and tissue samples.” He wouldn’t tell Newt about the horrifying experience once he learned that Feral Labs was truly exploiting animals, not helping them. “But, you know, as much as I did for the company, we couldn’t function at such optimal capacity without the diligence of our devoted custodial staff.”
Oh, this felt good.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:07 pm
At the surprising appraisal, the ex-janitor's throat and chest puffed with pride, "W-well... well, it r-really wasn't... I m-mean... I've... b-been here a f-few years myself," He murmured bashfully, "I... I th-think about th-three or so... B-before the ah.... s-stage t-two or wh-whatever you all c-called it... I'm n-not sure. B-before human testing st-started." Newt had gotten his job and held it for so long because he didn't ask too many questions, and did as he was told. Mop up this, clean out that cage, feed the twelve limbed rabbit, replace the flickering lights in lab number 8B... all in a day's work.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:23 pm
“Come now, you’re being fat too modest, Newt. You provided a crucial task in the labs that I dare say only too few could properly accomplish. You should take pride in the knowledge that your efforts allowed myself and even Doctor Moreau himself” he held out a finger, waggling it at Newt for added effect “to perform at the highest level of efficiency. Thank you, Newt. Thank you for being so devoted!” he saluted the frogman in showmanship ‘seriousness’ and applauded him. Stroke his ego and he’ll take any bait.
“Do you still proudly perform your tasks of custodial engineering?” he fancied it up to make him feel even more important and useful “I have a feeling that no one else could even hold a candle to the excellence you hold yourself to in your custodial duties.” His smile widened into a conniving smirk “You have to be why the cafeteria remains so sparkling clean and the entertainment room always look unused. And for taking care of the workout room, I doubly applaud your efforts, my friend. I couldn’t do a proper workout if the machine area weren’t properly tended to.”
“We’re part of a family, Newt. We are a rare breed that too few of the others outside the labs can understand. We’re doing the world great service by showing our loyalties towards a great man’s company. And family sticks together.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:27 pm
The frog appeared to be near tears with bashfulness until that question rang in the air, "Do you still tend to your duties?"
He gave a terrified ribbit, his stomach churning, "Ah... n-no, actually... I... I ah... used to s-sweep up... th-the cafeteria and... entertainment room and the like b-but... ah... I... er... th-that is... s-since... I m-mean... some... some of the others had.... encouraged me to... to do some th-things for m-myself and... ah... w-well, I s-started... m-making things and um... w-well, I d-didn't... s-see the point in... k-keeping to my d-duties."
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:49 pm
“Oh yes! I do keep to my duties still and I do them with aplomb!” he smiled from ear-to-ear with pride, though he honestly had no clue what his assigned duties were just yet. He didn’t need to know that. “I do as I’m told and do it with pride.” Jordan couldn’t help but notice that Newt still wore his jumpers. Certainly there was still a part of him that yearned to return to his duties and lung to that part of his life.
Jordan whistled approvingly. “Those are some nice coveralls you’ve got there buddy and from the looks of it you take excellent care of them. It seems to me that you truly enjoyed your job. It also occurs to me that the others outside the labs weren’t so appreciative of your skills. I bet they turned their noses up at you, even called you at any hour demanding you clean up some mess like they were the king of Siam. They definitely didn’t appreciate you enough if they convinced you to pursue other endeavors. I’m afraid they were too spineless to say anything, but Newt, you’ve got to get back in the saddle. Reclaim your mighty broom and continue your duties, because you are not a slave to their whims, you are a custodial engineer!”
During his long-winded tirade on maintaining responsibilities, Jordan found himself becoming empassioned in his movements, thrusting his arms through the air and stepping lively to make the act of Newt’s duties seem even more important.
“Has any of the residents ever thanked you for performing your duties with a grade of perfection? Have they ever invited you over for reasons other than unclogging their toilet? Newt. You are the master of your world and you are destined for greatness. You are a proud member of the Feral family. Not many are privileged to that claim. That makes you like my brother, Newt. And brothers stick together. They look out for one another.” Jordan calmed himself for a moment, balling a fist to cover his mouth as he coughed, lowering his closed eyes for dramatic tension.
“We make life for the others more livable. The labs take great care of us. They love us. Doctor Moreau loves each and every one of us. In return, all we are asked of is to be steadfast to our diligence in our tasks. Certainly, there is time for projects on the side, but you must remember who you are first and the service you provide to others who require your excellence and devotion.”
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:12 am
Newt was speechless for a good long while before he managed to sputter something that was coherent enough to understand, "I... w-well... ah... " Indeed, his unmistakable janitorial uniform lay in a rumpled heap on the blanket while he had been out swimming, and when the dog-man mentioned it, he was quick to grab it and pull it on over his large flat feet and rutund belly. "W-well... ah... Muh-muh-miss... er.... M-maryke once... g-gave me s-some j-jewelry f-for... c-cleaning up s-sick in her b-bathroom..." He offered, "And... th-then l-later sh-she... er... s-sort of... explained her l-love life to me... th-that was a... er... f-friendly th-thing, not a jan-janitorial thing, r-right?" He smiled uneasily. Truthfully, since giving up his duties to simply do what he wished, he had slowly slowly been developing a sort of pride about his little personal projects. He enjoyed going swimming in the mornings instead of attempt to get to the cafeteria to sweep before the village staff closed in and took the work from him- "Ah! Er.. and... th-there's already a.... s-staff to clean the v-village. Th-they d-don't need me." He tried to protest.
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:28 am
He was content to let him speak his defense. By allowing him to speak, Jordan could more effectively crunch him into a corner, to coerce him to go back to his duties, by using Newt’s own words against him. It was a power game that everyone played at some point or another. He’d been on the receiving end enough times to know how it was done.
“Ah! Maryke. I do know her, as well.” He smiled and patted Newt on his backside, wiping off some of the muck from his paw in the process. “Well, there are always exceptions to the rule.” He really couldn’t use her in any negative connotation, not after she had been so instrumental in giving him romantic advice in dealing with Kim, then being there for emotional support at the surprise party. “Newt, buddy, all I’m saying is there’s room for fun activity, but before that comes your duties to the company. All fun and no work makes the higher-ups frown. Think about how much easier your life could be if you just stuck to your broom and disinfectant, did your job, made a positive impression on the big man, himself.”
Jordan’s eyes lit up as he was suddenly inspired. Certainly someone so dedicated to janitorial duties was repulsed by the thought of uncleanliness, even in all his froggishness, Newt had to still find uncleanliness unpleasant. Sure, he was covered in muck, but he did put on those coveralls rather quickly at the very mention of them. Somewhere down inside the animal was a germophobic custodial engineer. “Oh the horror, Newt!” he was hamming up the drama “Imagine the horror of someone waking up to a black mold infestation in their bathroom! Who possesses the tactical skill to combat such a lethal menace? Who, I ask, Newt?” he patted him on the back heartily, not giving him the chance to respond “You, Newt. We need our fine custodial engineer to fight off mold, fungus, and… dare I say… germs.”
“Only you have the elite training to eliminate germs from our habitats. You want everyone to remain healthy, don’t you? I know that if I ever have a problem that can only be taken care of by the scientific ingenuity of our custodial engineer, I’d like to think you’re just a hop, skip, and a jump away from saving the day.”
And just to top it all off properly “Newt, you’re important to the team. We couldn’t function without you.” Jordan smirked in that oh-so friendly, manipulative manner as he leaned up against a tree, folding his furry arms behind his head.
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:37 pm
"B-but... I w-wasn't... I m-mean.... I th-thought I had... I w-wasn't... " The frog-man gaped at the dog, unsuccessfully attempting to defend himself between breaths of Jordan's long impressive speech. "But I th-thought... D-doctor Aubrey s-said I d-didn't have to anymore...!" At the mention of the germs, an old fear bubbled up in his tubby froggy heart. "W-what? I... b-but... isn't there a... a whole t-team here to... to k-keep things clean and... I m-mean... I d-don't have any k-keys anymore..." What was this man talking about? It had been made fairly clear that he had been discharged, and it only made sense that he couldn't have been returned to the mainland. He was happy to not have been disposed of in another fashion. He didn't know why he still wore his jumper- it made him feel secure, he supposed. He hadn't wanted to admit it, but he had always silently hoped the labs would have noticed his early attempts to keep up with his supposed duties, but it never really seemed to matter any. If he didn't go clean, the night staff or some other islander would have gotten to it before him.
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:49 pm
The dogboy remained leaned against the tree, cocking his head upward as he continued to hold his arms still folded behind his head. He’d flustered the frog and that was good enough an accomplishment. That at least meant Newt was so confused he’d begin to question himself and his actions between working for the labs and making wind chimes at the riverside. A sly smirk crossed his mouth, causing the corner to curl back in a mischievious manner. “Hey, I’m just looking out for you, buddy. That’s all. You’re in charge of your life, but are you sure the path you’ve chosen is the right one for Newt?” Devil’s advocate was a fun game to play. So was getting into people’s heads.
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:31 pm
The right choice? Every time he caught his own reflection, or was startled by his own monstrous shadow, or even the catistrophic state of his duplex had convinced him that he had to have made at least one very bad mistake somewhere along the line of his life. "I... I'm n-not sure I understand...." His hairless green brows knit as he frowned, suddenly afraid, "I... I d-don't have my old sup-supplies anymore- I b-broke my cart!" He had removed the wheels of his bucket to make into pulley's for Gaius's theater! He had figured he didn't need it anymore. That was when it dawned on him.
Besides Aubrey, no one had actually... said he had been fired. He hadn't had any belongings in his duplex, really. Just his cleaning supplies. They hadn't stopped him- he had kept busy- they had wanted him to.... His mouth opened and closed, eyes wobbling as he huddled down against the ground, legs pulled against his sides. Maybe Aubrey had been the test.... maybe her seemingly kind words had been a final test from the labs! What if he had stayed obedient? What if he had kept up with his duties, despite everything? Despite the opinions of the other test subjects.... maybe they would have cured him! Or... no, it was fairly obvious that his record was riddled with mishaps and abysmal failures. For that matter, he never even really liked being a janitor!
Mind made up, he looked up at the half furred man, throat inflating in a timid ribbit, "KrrKIT! Ah... d-do... do I h-have to?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:59 pm
This was progress. He’d burrowed into his head and made Newt question himself, his actions, and his future with the labs and the island itself. The flowery speeches were wearing down the frog’s defenses. Jordan was too proud of his handywork. This was a new course for him. He’d never acted this way before the island. Was this his way to survive? A defense mechanism? Or a more sinister, subconscious by-product of the mindbending subliminals? In any event, Jordan was relishing this power he held over Newt, wittling at his mind, his sanity, to break him and remake him useful to the labs.
The answer to Newt’s question was simple. The frog was relying on Jordan to steer him in the ‘right’ direction. “Of course you do, Newt. It’s your place on the island. The labs take care of us and when we’re good boys, they give us special perks.” Jordan padded confidently over to Newt’s huddled form, patting him on the back “It’s a simple choice, my friend. The labs are the only salvation in this. We need them and they need us. Even I serve my purpose happily. Be a team player, Newt. Work with us, don’t fight against us.” He extended a paw down in offering to help the frogman up, putting on his kindest smile.
“We are important in a ways the other test subjects could not fathom. Our purpose supercedes anything they could envision.”
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:02 pm
Newt wasn't sure what to make of this train of thought. He wobbled as he let the dog-man pull him upright, ever uneasy on two feet. "I... I'm n-not... not sure I understand you... er... entirely... I m-mean... wh-what about the other c-cleaning st-staff? And... and sup-supplies and...?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:46 am
“You’ve got a lot to think about- and I understand that. It’s natural that you’d find yourself confused after you’ve been away from the contact of the labs for so long. It happens. To everyone. It’s human nature, you know?” after helping Newt to his feet, he paced behind him and made a few circles around him.
All of this was coming from somewhere he didn’t quite understand himself. It was becoming part of what he thought he needed to be. It was one method to becoming a good boy. He needed to impress Doctor Moreau and what better way of doing that than by reaffirming Newt’s convictions to the labs.
After distracting him with his pacing, Jordan rested against his tree once more, with his arms folded confidently, even cocky, behind his head. The dog was all smiles, sly, slick, conniving. “You are part of the cleaning staff, Newt. That’s not my area of expertise, but I’d suspect you could tell me more about the cleaning staff and their functions than I could guess at. If I chose to run away from my duties, it wouldn't mean I'm no longer a part of the labs team. We have obligations. And as far as supplies, the labs are willing to meet our commodity requests.”
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Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:07 am
The man was making Newt more and more nervous rather than more obedient, and as soon as he was leaning against the tree again, Newt crouched down froggishly once more, throat trembling anxiously, "B-but... I d-don't... p-particularly w-want to be a jan-jan-janitor anymore."
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