Opening the institute.

It was late summer when the institute opened its doors, after a long spring and summer spent cleaning and renovating the old mansion. There was no grand opening for the institute, no invited officials, no oversized scissors and a fancy red bow. The only announcement of the opening came from David's cry of triumph when the windmill began to spin, providing electricity into the generator under the house.

Official letters were sent out, and thanks to Nicolai's connections, an article made its way into a major medical journal. Before long they were receiving calls. From parents, guardians and even hospitals, people were offering them their patients. They made only the requisite inquiries, seeming largely relieved to find a quiet, out of the way hospital that specialized in these freak occurences. A perfect way to get rid of a problem patient.

Michael Eisley was their first patient, cheerful and helpful, and if he minded being sent so far away from his family, he said nothing and never complained. He arrived almost immediately upon the opening of the facility, and was there for over a week before they got any other patient, so that the doctors became used to Michael. Aside from the daily hour of therapy, David almost forgot he was a patient at all, because of the way he seemed so normal.

A week later, when he heard the crunch of wheels on the gravel driveway, David looked up from his paperwork with a start. He had settled into the quiet solitude of the mansion, and even Michael's arrival set hardly a wrinkle into that solitude. It seemed strange to think that soon things would settle into a working hospital, and he'd be always busy with patients and paperwork. Casting a last regretful glance out across the lake, David rose to his feet and headed down to answer the door.

For Sakki and Deirdren's introduction. Thread is closed to anyone but Sakki. However! Players are now welcome to start up their own introductions. For each character, please start a new post for their arrival and introduction, and for the sake of story please don't reply to any post that occurs prior to your own character's introduction--make sense? Have fun!

The car was still and silent for a short time, as if the people inside were unsure if this was the proper destination. But then one door opened and a man stepped out, opening one of the passenger doors to reveal a small, pale boy whose fingers were wrapped around the handle of a suitcase.

The man carefully escorted the boy up to the institute's doors and rang, glancing between the lavish front of the mansion and the silent boy next to him.

"Deirdren," he said after a moment, but recieved no response - or even the inkling that the boy had heard him - at all. "Deirdren, this place is going to be much more helpful than the hospital. I promise."

Deirdren tilted his head forward.

"Getting rid of a problem child," he muttered.

"That's not true, Deirdren."

"Final chance. Not like you can take him anywhere else. Finally. Waited for this for a long time. Too creepy around the others."

The man gave the boy a long look, then turned back to the door.

David opened the door as quickly as he could, greeting them both with a smile. "Hello. I'm David Crowe, the manager. It's Deirdren, right? Welcome."

Deirdren hardly looked up when the door opened, his lips thinning for a moment.

"Yes, it's Deirdren," said the man with him. "I assume everything went through all right? I have to get back as soon as possible, it's kind of a long drive ... "

"That's fine," David replied, then turned his attention to Deirdren. "Come in, will you? Your room's all ready. There are a couple available, you can take your pick. I recommend the second floor rooms, they're brighter." He offered his hand, warm and friendly as he could be. "Can I help you with your things?"

The man nodded, and left - a little too quickly, if they paid attention. Deirdren looked past David, his fingers tightening around the handle of the suitcase.

"Doesn't matter. First or second or third or fourth. All the same, can't sleep anyway." His gray eyes slid to the other side of David, looking around him into the building again. "Strange one. Won't look, won't tell. Nothing like the other one."

"Come on inside," David said, leading the way to Deirdren's room. "Dr. Falstrom is around somewhere. You can probably meet him at dinner. Are you hungry?"

Deirdren followed David, his eyes shifting slowly from side to side to take in the rooms he passed.

"Not hungry. No point to eating. Should be, but not." He paused in his words for a minute, only speaking again when they got to his door. "Maybe nights will keep him quiet."

"Keep who quiet, Deirdren?" David asked gently.

"All of them. Both of them. That one that's here now, the new one too. And all those that are coming. Boys stay up at night. Can't let them run wild." Deirdren made his way into the room, dropping the suitcase at the foot of the bed. "So much paperwork to look forward to."

"Take your time unpacking. You'll see Dr. Falstrom later today, if you're up for it. And I'm sure you'll meet Michael. He's a bit overenthusiastic, don't be alarmed."