e x p e r i m e n t #08 (video)

[mviw]

[Some time Friday morning, September 8th, a new and particularly important broadcast appears on the network.

The feed flicks on to show Ford at a desk in his lab looking both tired and very guilty. ]

Uh, yes! Hello. Uh. Good morning?

[He clears his throat. Might as well get right down to it.]

As anyone who's slept since Wednesday will know, something weird has been happening. I may have been experimenting with a ward against a certain demonic triangle when there was an explosion that caused the ward's effects to warp and, for lack of better layman's terms, gave everyone the ability to traverse the Mindscape--that is, the realm parallel to any waking dimension.

To put it simply: Once you left consciousness at any point, you likely were able to explore your own mind, and the minds of others.

Fortunately, the effects seem to be temporary and I only singed half an eyebrow in the explosion, so... Good news! Everything should be back to normal by tomorrow.

Ahh, science. Well! That's all for today. If you don't want to deal with it, I suggest visiting one of the tea rooms for a delightful pot of industrial coffee. Always works for me!

[With a winning smile from Ford, the broadcast ends.]

Comments

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[postictal]

[HEY FORD, HOWDY.]

how do you keep people out

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[mviw]

Under normal circumstances, a surgically implanted metal plate did the trick for me.

[didntknowbest]

Is that what was occurring? I had assumed it was just Wonderland messing with our dreams somehow again.

...That is somewhat distressing actually, if that was someone's mind that I had unintentionally visited.

I still feel I have to question though, what, if any, safety precautions you use with your experiments.

[mviw]

Hello to you too, Toriel.

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[hypoxic]

I'd be interested in reviewing the notes you've constructed regarding this form of travel. Anything that crosses a dimensional boundary could be fine-tuned to suit our larger research regarding escape.

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[mviw]

Normally I would be happy to combine the research of all the scientists in Wonderland for an escape, but I have the sinking feeling all our failed attempts may be indicating we take another approach--one that doesn't involve building an interdimensional portal.

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[choosetruth]

Is the concept of "safety procedures" entirely alien to you people?

[Georgia hasn't slept much since realizing this shit was happening when she went to bed. The promise of sleep without nightmares doesn't make up for having her head invaded. So she's running even lower on sleep than usual and she's left feeling cranky, scowling under her sunglasses as she sips from her Coke.]

You know what happens to people in my world who ignore basic safety protocol? They get eaten.

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[mviw]

Eaten by what? Does OSHA have a pit monster in your world? [He's being serious but also aggressively sarcastic.] Zombies, I know, I remember.

For your information I do use safety procedures because I share my lab with someone else. [That is the only reason, frankly. And he'd never hear the end of it from Fiddleford otherwise. He definitely wasn't wearing goggles at the time though; an act of stark defiance.]

Safety procedures don't ensure 100% containment, ever, especially not with magic.

voice;

[keephersafe]

[Hesitantly, a quiet voice adds another opinion.]

... I liked it.

voice;

[mviw]

Oh hey, kid! --You did? Huh. [That's good news!] I guess there's a silver lining after all.

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[naughty_nurse]

Mister Ford!

[SHE DIDN'T HAVE A FUN TIME.]

Did you plan for any of that?!

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[mviw]

What?! Of course not! [ D: ] I didn't like that any more than the rest of us.

Did someone hurt you? If someone hurt you, I'd like for you to tell me and I'll give them a piece of my mind. [And his big ol' gorilla fists.] We'll see how they like it.

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[onetruemorty]

Boy, I wanna say I- I'm surprised this is more of an experiment thing than a Wonderland thing, but I can't.

[ Makes the place kinda homey tbh. ]

No hard feelings, though. That, that ol' lady science, huh? She sure does have a way.

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[mviw]

Thanks, kid. She sure does, eh? Frankly, it could've been far worse. I'm not saying it wasn't bad for some people, but it really, really could have been worse.

As far as lab explosions go, that one was practically pleasant.

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[romsapience]

Ah! So, this wasn't one of Wonderland's events after all...

Well, I have to say, these past few days have become very interesting, I can't recall a time where I've actually looked forward to sleeping, or...rendering myself unconscious, per se! Frankly, I didn't know that anyone had the technology to render others to see their own minds - I thought it was all just science fiction!

Regardless, I didn't mind this turn of events. It was rather...enlightening, one would say!

[Turing flashes a smile at the screen!]

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[mviw]

Imagine that, huh? Science and magic really pack a punch when they come together, that's for sure.

[Ford smiles back. Aw. At least two people seemed to get something good out of this.]

That's good to hear though, that you didn't mind.

video--

[achomp]

Only half, huh? I know someone who'd be happy to make the other one match.

[ though by her smirk, it doesn't seem the threat is any degree of serious. ]

video-- AHHH CLAUDIA C:

[mviw]

[Ford's aforementioned eyebrows raise, but then he grins wide and lets out a laugh.]

Hahhah, oh yeah? I'd like to see 'em try, kid!

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[kingtrousele]

WAIT, SO THAT ALL WASN'T JUST SOME WEIRD DREAM?? I WAS ACTUALLY TRAVELING THROUGH MINDS?!?!?!

WOWIE!! SCIENCE SURE IS WEIRD!!!

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[mviw]

[OH HEY PAPYRUS IS BACK! But he wouldn't remember Ford and Ford knows this, so--] It sure is! That's why I love it.

Hello there Papyrus! I know you don't know me, but I'm Dr. Stanford Pines. I've met you before, and I know your brother. Welcome back to Wonderland!

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[mcgucket]

Only half an eyebrow? I suppose we should be considerin' that an improvement, given your prior track record...

[... Also you're not getting video because um. Fidds is tired and looks like a mess right now, among other things...]

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[mviw]

[...Ooh. Oh dear. Ford scowls.]

I don't want to hear it from you.

[There's an edge to his voice beyond his usual gruff demeanor, and a look in his eye that's painfully sharp.]

[video]

[sciencelizard]

[Okay, all of that is interesting, and Ford does say only half an eyebrow, but she does have to start by asking the important questions.]

Are you okay?? Why did it, uhm, why did it explode?

[video]

[mviw]

Hey Alphys! Oh, right, uh-- I was trying to compress the physical properties of the ward's ingredients while maintaining their effects' integrity, which was working... somewhat, but then I wanted to make sure the field would be constant, not have any ill effects on the wearer, and be greater than the physical area of the ward itself.

[Ford shifts and clears his throat.] That's... when things got hairy. If I could just make it work, I was going to come to you next to see if you could work with it to keep it in tune with magic from your world.

Back to the drawing board though, as they say.

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[trabryu]

[ When you check this particular feed, one young man sporting the corncob pompadour hairstyle will be up in your face (well... screen), glaring with all his might. ]

You fuckin' serious?! You're the one responsible for all the shit that went down, and you're not even apologising for it?!

[ No introductions, no 'hi's whatsoever. ]

You sure 've got some goddamn manners!

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[mviw]

[YIKES. Ford's eyebrows are raised and he looks extremely skeptical.]

Yeesh. I don't think you're one to talk about manners, but if you want an apology, that's fine.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience I've caused. [It's very matter of fact but it is sincere. Some people were very upset by this, but not everyone. He can only assume this guy was, though.]

[Private Text] - Prepare for teenage hate

[mypartnerintime]

Totally good news

Ahh science right

Giving everyone fucking traumatic experiences since god knows when

ACTION like a rebel

[charlastan]

[It's the middle of the goddamn night, and Stan's outside Ford's door.

This is stupid. This feels so dumb and he just wants to go back to his room. He's not five years old anymore and he definitely doesn't need to go crying to anyone about stupid bad dreams. They're just dreams and he knows damn well none of it can actually hurt him, even if Bill was trying - he's not that much of an idiot.

He's still cold though. Still shaken from what happened. And he's definitely not going to sleep any time soon.

He should be able to handle this by himself. It wasn't real, and Ford's fixing the whole dream walking problem so it's stupid to bother him with it when this is all just going to go away on its own.

"Stop trying to act tough! I'm not Dad. You can actually talk to me!"

It's been five full minutes since he got there and Stan is still arguing with himself, arms crossed. Finally, he sighs...and makes himself knock on the door.]

Ford? ...You there?

[mviw]

[Ford is awake of course; no surprise there. The last of the effects seem to be ebbing away, according to the monitor that's connected to the device on his wrist.

He's reclined on his bed with a book and Archimedes is curled on a pillow next to him, face in his tiny tail, sleeping.

The first response to the knock isn't actually Ford--it's Newton who immediately leaves his place on Ford's bed and rushes to the door to let out a happy bark. Ford sighs, marks his place in the book and rolls onto his feet to leave his bedroom and answer the door.

Perhaps surprisingly, he's in a white t-shirt, dark red pajama bottoms and sock feet, rather than being fully dressed. It's taken a year and a half in Wonderland to almost break him of the habit of wearing casual house clothes, but there's still a set of boots by his door and his coat is hung on a peg above them so he can reach them both at a moment's notice.

He isn't sure he actually wants to talk to Stanley, given the mood this ordeal has put him in. Kind of ironic, really. He won't shut him out though, not a chance. If his brother bothered to visit him in the middle of the night for no obvious reason, something must be wrong. If everything was fine, why deal with creaky old joints when you don't have to?

Ford answers the door promptly. It takes him a few moments to undo all the locks but he doesn't hesitate to open the door. He looks unusually exhausted, being that he always tries to hide how tired he may be on any given day, but tonight he just doesn't feel like putting up the effort.

Newt sits waiting for Stan eagerly, his tail wildly swishing back and forth.]

Heh. When do I ever sleep, Knucklehead? ..What has you up this late?