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Right, grub's up.

I'm going to post a brief prologue, then Prof will kick in with the first proper post.

Thence it's open house.

Please, all OOC chatter to be kept in this thread.

Here's the character list I have so far; feel free to join in:

emmanc: Foreign postdoc, language trouble, homesickness working name Sabine ***CHANGED***

premonition: extra from The Bill, Lara

Beatrice: Max, accountant, possibly boyfriend of emmanc's character

Prof: Prof. friendly old salt, his friends think he's lost his touch recently. Thomas Slater

amy c: Megan, junior intern. A bit strange, but keen.

tiddles: Brad Jefferson Walker Pettier III, Merkin postdoc. Turbo-nutter gunner. NOT in Prof's lab.

Octavia: walk-on cameo

Challenge: cub reporter, perhaps a friend (as close as you like) of Brad's? Working name Toni

Mad Dan Eccles: Michel de Kooij ('Mike' to everyone) Dutch postdoc. Somewhat aloof. Psycho gunner in Prof's lab.

Jenny Hotpants: Judge and Arbiter



Edit: I should add, because I don't think it's been made explicit, that characters can have scenes in parallel with each other. 'Elsewhere, that same day' sort of thing. So there should, all being well, be multiple storylets in parallel that interact, just like in real life. When Prof opens, my character will be there where CharacterProf is, but the rest of don't have to be. That does not stop you writing something!

'Nutha edit:
ST = story time

ST-11-8 years: Mike did his PhD with Tom, then went to JHU
ST-5 years: Mike rejoins Tom
ST-4 years: Charlotte quits & goes to Nature
ST-1 year: move into new lab building

My first post will be tomorrow (unavoidable conflict this evening, Friday night in the Big Smoke etc etc.).

Great opener, Dan, and looking forward to getting it rolling!

Fantastic work so far guys! I have no idea how on earth this is going to work but am enjoying it already...

@Prof - I've changed it to 'Stansted'

@Tiddles, any time you want to be in the lab is fine. Premonition has a character who wants to talk to Brad. . .

I've been beaten with Jenny's editing stick, and have slightly reworked the 'prologue' to make it a little bit more clear who is saying what.

I think it is a good idea if Jenny continues to do her professional editoring schtick, as it can only improve the writing. So please do not feel offended if she writes to you asking to see her after class

Blimey, you are all so good at this! Particularly like the Prof's offering.

I was hoping Brad would explain HPLC to the angry police officer?

Janet, I believe we still need a Pathologist!

Props to Mad Dan for being such a good sport. The thing about fiction I find amazing is how a few little tips about basic craft can make a huge difference. Now someone tell Dan Brown to stop by, please!

hee hee.

MDE, I want to write a scene with Max but I am hampered because not all of the Dramatis Personae have names yet. Can you give them names?

And is Prem no longer the wise old cleaner who sees all and says nothing? I was looking forward to this character because Max would have something in common with her - both lab hangers on, both science-ignorant, even though from wildly different walks of life...

Please advise.

Jenny, I have no problem with criticism! Please help as/when!

ohh... this is so good guys. I like it already, even though I haven't really seen "my part" of this yet... but I'll write something... soon. The police needs someone to breath down their necks maybe?! Or poor Brad needs someone to understand problems with the HPLC

anyone has a name suggestion I'd accept it with pleasure - since I agree with the name loss being a little part in the hampering (although I might have issues with writing anyway so I shouldn't blame it on the names...)

Beatrice, write something anyway and PM emmanc for a name. We can always voodoo edit the names later anyway.

I'm going to edit the first post in this thread with the characters' names.

Well, after I persuaded Premonition to take the role of the fuzz she's going to nag me about that poxy cleaner, isn't she?


No doubt the cops and the press will be buzzing around a lot - and we still have room for more characters anyway. . . perhaps a senior lab tech, who has been in the not-LMB (heh) for 40 years . . .

Edit: Plot point. It is known to your characters (those that read or listen to the news, at any rate) that Charlotte died of Chikungunya fever. This virus is not usually fatal in healthy adults, although it's pretty unpleasant. Charlotte of course did a lot of travelling in her role on the Nature editorial staff.

'Nutha plot point: the Slater lab is looking at mechanisms of viral transmission. Brad's lab is also heavily into virology. I'll let Tiddles tell that story. . .

Yes, MDE. Yes, I am.

Sorry, Bea. Though I am determined that my not so wise old cleaner see the light of day, even if only as an NPC, so feel free to include her if you wish. After all, someone's got to clean up after the labrats.

BUSTED!

NPC?? smells like brimstone, dungeons and dragons around here suddenly!

anyone else out there guilty as charged?

Tiddles:
7th level Rogue Elf

Tiddles, I refer you to the 'Geeks v. Nerds' thread, where you might find more information on your condition.

Prem, that is one ace posting in the story. Editorial hats off.

bit of a potty-mouthed little minx, isn't she?

Tidy started it.

And, thanks, Jenny.