
HE WON'T LOVE YOU LIKE I WOULD. | |||||
![]() Sometime, during the marriage of biology and technology, a genetic marker was discovered lurking in the human DNA. The sequence to this marker, colloquially named as the Kerns-Norman gene (KN1, for its first iteration), allowed for certain genetic alterations that resulted in sterile, but highly durable, human beings - nerves were able be, in a word, rewired, and improved upon. With this development, the science for prostheses marched apace, biomechanics rising along with it. Artificial eyes, limbs, organs - you name it, it was developed, tested, patented, sold. This brought along an underground industry of curators - doctors and bodymod enthusiasts illegally alter humans into art pieces to sell. In the advent of this industry, human cloning was perfected as well. And so the first generation of mice were created - artificial human beings designed through cloning and genetic alterations to have their KN gene amplified. While legally utilized to test new pharmaceuticals and medical equipment for regulatory and patent approval, these mice were also bred in captivity to be sold to patrons with very specific interests. Often, these artificial beings are altered with a signature "look" - open ribcages with the organs encased in flexglass, fingertips replaced with painted crystals, artificial orifices installed in unlikely places for particular tastes. It is alleged that most mice do not have a lifespan of longer than five years, past their maturity in culture labs. At present, a quasi-regulatory body sanctions for the breeding and selling of mice in certain districts; escaped mice are terminated if discovered outside of their preassigned trade districts, or returned to their housing labs if found within the boundaries of their districts. The criminal aspect of such an industry, however, is difficult to escape, and the men and women who run and control the districts tend to treat their culture labs as factories. As each district is managed by a family or a group of associates, culture labs are referred to by the appellation given to them by the criminal element in control of their boundaries. As such, districts [ ] and [ ] are referred to as House Gloriana and House Hapsburg, respectively. Another thing: mice do not burn quickly. They have an extremely high tolerance for pain, and a much higher tolerance for combustion. They do, however, drown fairly easily, and it is advised not to leave them unsupervised during grooming periods. |
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Mouse — a homo alterius that has been modified with artifices and/or cosmetic surgery Albatross — a KN gene carrier who is otherwise unaffected by its traits; considered ideal handlers of mice due to their mutual inability to breed with each other. HOUSE GLORIANA (brand: a dove wearing a crown) — For the innocent-looking types; house Gloriana produces in cultivated angel looks. Mice are bred predominantly to be fair all over, from hair to eye color, and are trained to be docile even when under duress or extreme pressure; playing on the desires of those who looking for a "pure" image to wreck or exalt is the niche that Gloriana occupies. House Gloriana is the stronghold of the Church, despite appearances to the contrary with regards to public sentiment. Most mice from Gloriana have pierced maidenheads or kingheads, and the house brand burned over their left-side fourth rib. HOUSE HAPSBURG (brand: a snakehead with a knotted tongue) — For the morbidly perverse types; house Hapsburg specializes in selling highly durable mice, capable of withstanding extreme full contact activities. As a safety feature, most Hapsburg mice have an external spine that limits any sensory input that might trigger a spike in heart rate, in turn triggering a fight-or-flight reflex. Hapsburg's clientele tend to be more discerning than the average ones, and thorough inspections and testings are common in the designated "white rooms" in Hapsburg compounds. Hapsburg mice wear the house brand on the inside of their right cheek. HOUSE BATHORY (brand: a rearing dragon) — the organ mill; house Bathory supplies escorts for the exorbitantly wealthy, mainly for show. These mice are occasionally bought for permanent use as well. Due to this, each member of house Bathory is cloned a very limited number of times and kept in cold storage to meet profitable supply/demand. Mice of house Bathory are often covered in intricate marks through a process of scarification and fitted with flexiglass windows to view their main use: organ farms. Some mice have great lengths of intestines, others housing an odd number of kidneys, others with two sets of lungs crammed between stretched ribcages to accommodate proper growth. Once a mouse has outlived its use/profitability/no longer is able to host a proper environment for the growth of organs, it is usually auctioned off. House Bathory remains one of the main suppliers of meat to the upper class. HOUSE STUART (brand: a rose) — ??? |
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