Welcome to Gaia! ::

The semi annual Life Division meeting began fairly typically, with H presiding at the head of the long conference, busy with a stack of files. One one side was Stephen and Sunny, the latter looking murderously into her coffee, the former looking politely concerned with a toothpaste ad perfect smile. Dwight was on the other side, a few seats down, fiddling with what looked like a normal watch up until a 3-D display briefly popped out, revealing first a girl hula-hooping in a bikini, then a read-out of the room and each hunter present along with their Fear shield levels before disappearing.

Opposite Stephen, one H's other side was a man in his mid thirties wearing an ugly Hawaiian shirt in lieu of a Hunter coat, smoking a cigar, and looking vaguely hungover. A few might recognize the rough features as belonging to the man who often delivers things to labs, usually requested supplied and equipment from the civilian world. Friendly enough, but not very well versed in the sort of research and work that actually required the delivered items. And very likely the new division assistant.

Once the majority of on-island Life hunters had filtered into the large room, taking a seat at the table or leaning up against the walls, Dr. H cleared his throat, and then gestured to the man beside him. The man pointed to his chest, eyebrows raised, and when the doctor didn't say or do anything further, he stood up and cleared his own throat.

"Ah hey, public speaking ain't really my thing, y'know?" His voice was low and full of gravel and bearing an east coast accent that meant he'd been asked, with regularity, to say, You talkin to me? He also had the easy bearing and casual confidence that said this was totally his thing. "Name's Mary Worth, and I've been working for the boss here going on a good thirteen years now. A bit before that if you count..." A look from H and Mary quickly switched the topic, "Usually I just do the gopher work needed off island. Go fer this, go fer that...yeah you've heard that one before." A pleased grin at the many unimpressed faces waiting for him to get to the point, "But there's been too many assistants coming and going since Clarice, godresthersoul, died. So now you guys've got me acting as assistant."

He gave them a what can you do shrug, "I'm just here as a sort of manager, though. You need something? Funds, space, people, equipment? I'll be the guy who's gonna be finding it for you. Need someone to talk your problems out to? I am a fantastic listener. You guys are the people who make things happen, you're the ******** stars of the show and I'm just the guy helping you reach all that shiny brainiac potential." His eyes glimmered with a sort of weary, maybe still a little drunk, cheer. "So be sure to stay on task and make my job easy, yeah?"

Sitting down, he and the doctor held a 5 second conversation involving a lot of sardonic eyebrows, and then the doctor finally spoke, voice mild but sounding clearly throughout the room. "I hope you used that time to gather your projects together, ducklings. Now who would like to go first?"

It wasn't Ever's intention nor his usual modus operandi to show up on time, let alone early -- so when he blinked into a room that was still relatively empty, he was surprised and just a bit embarrassed. For a moment, he stood in the doorway, shifting nervously, licking his lips. Then he committed, easing into the room and doing the only thing he could. Taking a seat toward the front.

He sank down into it with a sigh, half-turned in place to watch as the room filled up behind him and already regretting his choice. He could have had a cigarette out front, delayed until it was half full, and then been forced into a different seat by circumstances, instead of choice. In truth, it probably didn't matter. No one was going to get more or less attention based on where they sat.

All the people on stage were, more or less, new to him: he'd never made enough of a show of himself to end up in H's office, so while the assistant spoke, he took advantage of the time to look his lead over. Maybe he was just a bit surprised to find someone in charge who looked so normal, compared to Caelius. Attractive, yes, but in a human sort of way. Competent.

The speech came to a halt, he turned in place again, looking back over the rest of his division and studying them, as well. He, at least, had nothing to offer: no proposals or requests. Wiser to keep his head down. Especially since he didn't even know what to expect...

And Lex had sat right by Ami, as per the usual order of events. This time, however, things were slightly off, a hair away from their norm. Was it his calmer demeanor, the gray gaze unblinkingly sweeping over the room as the gravel voiced man spoke, or perhaps the manila folder containing a single piece of white paper, pristine and free of creases. Perhaps it was that, for once, Alexei Jamil was not slightly slouched out of boredom or transcribing notes for the petite woman, but instead attentive and alert to the room's situation.

Once the speech was over and most of the division had settled, Lex drummed his fingers along the table in anticipation. He was still only an intermediate trainee. He couldn't pull out the big guns yet, nor could he ask for too much - or too little. He needed to show drive, but if he showed too much his project would be taken from his hands and given to another. He needed to play his cards close, keep a neutral expression. He'd need to be as cool as a poker player and sly as a fox.

"Welcome, Mr, Worth." He began, nodding to the new assistant who he hoped wouldn't die within the next two weeks. He nodded to Stephen and Sunny as well, before turning to the Doctor as he stood and straightened his tie a little, clearing his throat and sliding the folder towards the lead.

"From simple observation of trainees and full-fledged Hunters, I've found that a larger majority of us are not of science or medical backgrounds, per se. I believe that self study is a help to such Hunters, certainly, but I also believe that knowledge is a key to our success. As such, I would like to suggest that some funds be spent towards furthering Hunter education, should we want it. Classes would only be paid for if they are relevant to the division, of course." Because he knew some jackass would want to take an underwater basket weaving course just to get off island for a few hours a week. "For example; Botany, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Physics, Biology... you understand my point." He quickly concluded, making a small bow at the chest. "If more Life division Hunters had access to this sort of education, I feel more work could be done in a more efficient time frame."

lizbot

Len had a box. It thrummed with a low buzzing tone and covered in a thick purple cloth like it was a magic act and he needed an assistant from the audience. Sure the audience being one of the minipets from the lab but it was the pursuit of science and theoreys.


THAT WAS WHEN LEON FELL INTO BRO LOVE WITH THE NEW LIFE ASSISTANT. Clarice who?

Leon never wanted to have a drink with someone before as much as now.

Leaning back in his chair, H didn't check the folder, considering the hunter instead. "Education has always been here for those with the initiative to seek it out, Alexei." He smiled and didn't comment further, leaving Lex to either sit down or explain his case further. Fortunately most of the room was focused on what the ******** was Leon up to, rather than watching the exchange.

Mary, for his part, took the folder Lex had brought and started leafing through it.

Lex didn't shoot Ami a glare so much as he made a small 'tsk' under his breath. Of course she wouldn't stand by to at least silently support him. Lex couldn't say he expected her to, but the behavior still stung.

Lex balked inwardly at the Doctor's use of his full name; there was a certain way it rolled off the man's tongue that promised poison and things that go bump in the night. He wasn't quite prepared to rebuttal, or defend his case. Lex thought he'd come up with a solid idea, but he should have been prepared.

Retaining his cool facade, Lex cleared his throat and nodded. "I understand, sir. However, I believe intensive courses taken off island, free from the more petty distractions," He shot a look at Leon's box, brow furled for a moment, then looked back to the Doctor. "will ultimately be better for the Life division and Deus Ex as a whole. As temporary students, we will have access to professors who are experienced in their respective fields, a knowledge base among the student bodies of the universities we visit, and even learn some life skills." Because Lord knew the whole island needed some more of those.

A quick fidget with his tie, and Lex sat wrapped it all up. "Of course, online courses are a viable option as well - so as not to take Hunters off island when we could be needed at a moment's notice."

lizbot

Kylee had been right on time for her first ever Life Division meeting-- okay, maybe she had been a few seconds late, and maybe she had panicked upon checking the time frantically while on the way over. But! It was only because she had no idea what to prepare for the meeting, and ended up bringing a notebook along with a pen to jot down some notes.

Thirteen years huh? Her eyes widened slightly at the notion. A..and an assistant had died too?

The latter wasn't that surprising, given her fair share of seeing dead bodies of Hunters in her very first mission, but it still made her fidget slightly. It was a constant reminder that she had to always be careful, lest something... disastrous happened.

Projects? Her attention then turned to Lex, who had first spoke up. She herself had both scientific and medical background-- well, as much as a second year majoring in forensic science had, but it certainly was interesting that not all of them came from the same background, at least those in the Life division. Kylee had originally thought that they were all put here for a reason, but she did suppose that perhaps not all of them had been fortunate to attend college.

But she did not speak; in truth, Kylee was mildly terrified by Dr. H. After all, he was their boss, their leader, and she didn't know much about him except that there were minipets that resembled him.

Instead she only listened. It wasn't as if she had prepared any project proposals, but she could gather information on what kind of projects were important, she supposed.

Mikael had arrived and settled down to watch the meeting, of course he didn't volunteer any ideas because he didn't have any ideas he felt would fit anything. People wanted to go back to school which was weird, he'd never learned anything about monsters at his school, what good would it be?

He simply marvelled at how seriously so many people took things, he felt like he was at a very important meeting though he didn't have a clue what it was about.