Unlike other areas of the Department of Mysteries, the Thought Chambers remains seemingly untouched save for hanging lanterns and Encephalons swimming about their tank. These all seem to be unwillingly veering in a Northern direction.

Sam was staring at the Encephalons. How long? Who knew. What was she waiting for? Perhaps for one of them to fight back against the current that they had started.. Well hadn't they? How long would these Encephalons swim around this way if not provoked to do otherwise?

Sitting with the usual silence, Sam jotted some notes and time stamped them. She decided it was time to try something. She moved a stand over to the tank with her, placing her quill and parchment on it so she could concentrate.

She decided to start with the most obvious to her... she willed them to change direction. She willed them to turn into synchronized swimmers, and to change their pattern! Come on little guys! Want to be different!

Hmm... she gave it a moment and jotted down some notes.

Strolling in from the Entry Chamber and with his billywig stinger core wand clutched firmly in his hand, Airey Flamsteed surveyed the chamber once...twice...before deciding that it was safe to proceed further inwards. He knew Forrester had a particular...fondness for the Encephalons and could perhaps provide particularly insight to the task they needed to accomplish today.

"We will be cleaning that tank today," he informed the group as he gestured towards the tank with swimming Encephalons inside. "Recent testings have shown that the solution is no longer is providing substantial nutrition to the Encephalons. Adam, Megan. I would like for you two in particularly to take samples back to be examined and modified accordingly. We may need a new hybrid plant of some variety to assist in the restorative properties of the solution, so you can add that to your list when you make the trip down to level four to inquire about resupplying our storeroom. The Encephalons have a slimy mucus excreting from their sulci that you need to collect a small sample from each." Tapping his wand along the tank, he confidently turned his back towards the team. "As for the rest of you, the Encephalons can be particularly....shall we say...enthusiastic when the lid to the tank is removed, so it will be your jobs to administer Stunning Spells so they do not bring harm to themselves or anyone else." Were his instructions clear? If not, now was the time to make their inquiries.

Slipping his outermost jacket off - which meant that he meant BUSINESS - the astronomer conjured himself a coat rack and neatly hung it on there before moving around to the back of the tank and ascending the small platform there that lead to a slide puzzle lock encoded with runes, which he began to work at until there was only one last rune to slide into place. "Ready?"

Some were gliding.

Some were bottle rolling.

Others were merely content using their long stems to wade in place.

The encephalons were on the move and if one did not know any better would almost assume that they were excited to have so many visitors at once. Should any one of the persons venture too close to the tank (as the department head had just now) a very vivid thought would appear inside their mind: let us out so we can shine.

Glad that she had her Hogwarts experience of complicated situations that could arise to lean on now Laurel silently followed in boss man Airey’s wake as they headed into the heart of the thought chamber. What she saw when she looked around the room shocked her speechless and motionless for several moments as she grasped what she was looking at. Laurel was really, sweet crystal balls in a room of tanks filled with brains or encephalons as they were called floating around in them, how weird but cool and creepy wasn’t that?

Taking her wand out from it’s holster Laurel waited silently to hear from Airey what she was supposed to help with. She was immensely glad that she wasn’t going to be the one that needed to get up close and very personal with the brains to take samples. Looking around Laurel asked directing the question to the boss as much as her colleagues. "Is there anything about the encephalons that we need to know or keep in mind when we stun them? Aside from the fact they get enthusiastic when the tank lid comes off?"

They could not see, only sense the thoughts of those in the room. Particularly of those who came closer to their tank. Their home and their prison.

One known as Sylvian took interest in the thoughts of one of the human presences [Nordic Witch] in the room and its stems almost seemed to reach out in her direction.

Before her words and full left her mouth, while they were still thoughts lingering in her mind and on their way out, it 'spoke' to her.

I am eager to get to know you....

It wasn’t as if she had any conflicting ideas as to where they’d been headed. The Thought Chamber couldn’t have been anything other than what she had walked into, yet Dylan had found herself happy for the wand in her hand. While the brains…no, Encephalons, as had been mentioned in the rather detailed instructions Mr. Flamsteed had given their group, were fascinating in some ways, the very fact they were just floating in the tank was rather creepy. They should be inside people, not floating like oddly shaped jellyfish in a tank. It was just odd. As was the idea that they could be particularly dangerous to them in a physical way, which reminded her of the explosion reference from before.

It couldn’t be too hard. Even if there were three of them supposed to be doing the Stunning. Blue eyes had flickered over in Laurel’s direction at the questions asked, too. She wanted to know that as well, especially as she doubted they were supposed to Stun them too much. Stunning spells had power, after all.

“Ready as I can be.” Her wand was, anyhow.

Support cane in one hand, raspberry wand in the other, Adam tap-tap-tappity-tapped his way into the thought chamber. ”As you zay cabtain.” He took a moment to tap his cane around the area for to get the lay of the land before folding the cane up and tucking it away. He then reached into another pocket of his robes and pulled out a couple of vials of varying sizes. ”I Alvays keep ein couble on me. You neffer know vat you're koing to find vile out und around.” He handed a couple to Megan.
Holding a few vials himself. He took a couple of steps towards the tank. He placed one hand on the tank and felt the humming restlessness of the contents.”Do you zink accio vould vork?” he asked Megan, while doubting it himself. Trusting his co-workers to be ready with their wands, because, hey- it wasn’t like Adam was going to be the best shot in the room and also trusting that someone would pull/knock him out of harms way, he tucked his wand between his teeth and began to open his vials and to collect his samples.

Was it just Adam’s imagination or his wacky lacking eyesight or was the tank aglow with a very redd-ish yellow glow?

Interesting.

That was the word Megan used to describe the thought Chamber the moment she set eyes on the inside. Naturally, the only thing seemingly holding her attention were the brains. She stood where she was for a moment staring at them. So creepy! That’s what they were! Even as Airey spoke, she remained looking at them. “Got you!” she said happily, ready to complete the task. “So, you lot discovered another solution that will be better?’’ The casual question was thrown at any Mysteries employee as she headed over to Adam. “Looks like you and I are going to be a team today, Adam! How do we do this? Any special equipment needs to be used? Anything in particular I should know about these Enceph- oh, forget it- brains?’’

Watching Airey work was fascinating. The blond watched him as keenly as she could until he was ready. “All set, bossman!’’ ‘Bossman’ just popped out. It was something she was accustomed to calling Maddox. Whatever. Airey was sort of her boss right now.

Those brains though... they had a mind of their own? It was certainly something to see some gliding about, some doing this and some doing that. Ooh, that Laurel lady had some helpful solutions. Megan recorded then in her mind. Safety was important to her.

Stepping a tad closer to the tank, the woman shook her head at Adam. “I don’t think so. At least I don't think it would be that simple.’’

Tahnia was late to the party. She wasn't a last to know on any sort of news kind of person per se, she just didn't know if her services would have been of use considering she cataloged and sorted and did the mundane sort of work around here. Perhaps that was why she drifted towards the thought chamber, to observe the sort of maintenance that would be taking place with containers full of brains of all things. Maybe she missed the excitement of her previous work.

And maybe she wasn't going to move from her position towards the entrance either. They weren't kidding when a container full of brains was mentioned.

Intriguing. Alluring. Delicious.

The presence of the humans in the chamber certainly had a very captive audience. Another of the collective, this one known as Reil, had taken a particular interest in the presence of the human touching the tank [Krel Ansell] and its tendrils reached forward and stroked the glass opposite of their hand. Flashes of something vivid illuminated certain regions of its form. Yes, it likes this human very much....enough that it whacked one of its tendrils over the top of another known as Galen to glide away.

And glide it did, its thoughts instead reaching out towards another [Silver Tiger] instead. No...don't stun too much...would be best to not stun at all....

Completing one last barrel roll, Templeton reached out and began to examine her [Fearlessleader19]. ....you can try and see what happens...it encouraged, planting the thought in her mind. They would all prefer that spell be cast at them over the Stunning Spell.

And then they could all sense another human presence [Roselyn], though their thoughts were too distant....too faded as of right now. But soon...once the department head unlatched the lid...

Laurel stood motionless, wand in hand, watching the encephalons in the lidded tank as the other co-workers of Mysteries as well as Megan entered. One of the creepy yet fascinating brains even seemed to reach out its stem or something in her direction and then Laurel heard it's voice speak inside her head. I am eager to get to know you.... it seemed to say. Taking a breath to calm herself Laurel asked her eyes darting around at the other employees, slightly flustered. "Are the encephalons talking to you guys too or is it just me that can hear them? Because one of them just said they were eager to get to know me."

Taking a better grip on her wand Laurel looked over at the Boss man. "I'm ready!"

There was something mesmerizing about the glow in the tank. That red-yellow light was buzzing with a certain…etwas Something about the color was captivating, even though Adam knew the red light was a warning that whatever it was was a tad aggressive...But the yellow was soothing. Comforting. He felt a tap-tap-pat against his hand as if the ball of light - which somewhere in his head, he knew to be a brain - was trying to pat him on the hand. Oddly, it was a wee bit comforting to the lonely mostly-blind German.

Questions. Comments. The lady next to him was talking to him. Adam pulled his hand away and pushed his over-sized purple sunglasses up in order to get a better look at his colleague Megan. His blue eyes glowed (a side-effect of the site-restoration potion he was taking) as he blinked at her trying to get the red-yellow color to minimize. Slowly, the red-yellow was replaced with a soft pinky-white in the shape of a human.

”Umm…” came Adam’s response around the raspberry wood wand in his mouth. Equipment? Ways to go about doing this? HA! All very good questions! Questions that Adam didn’t really have answers to, hence the idea of using accio. He hardly ever spent time in this chamber, preferring the quiet noisiness and ambrosial-malodorous smells of the potion chamber. Finally done uncorking his veils, he put them down on the small ledge of the tank and plucked his wand from his teeth. ”Try not touch prain.” A simple enough response, but hey, sometimes people needed to be reminded of the simple things.

Think about it, perhaps a few things might help. Swishing his wand around, Adam said, ”Accio tvo match drakon hide gloffes,” a few things flopped about making a rattle and then something flew towards Adam that was not dragon-hide gloves. A moment later, something soggy smacked Adam in the back of the head. ”Autsch!“ he exclaimed in German.

Somewhere nearby, his big purple sunglasses clattered to the floor. Perhaps he should have said his request in German...

Airey was hyper aware of the influences these encephalons could have. It was reminding him quite vividly now some additional training he wanted to do personally as well as require a refresher for involved Unspeakables and perhaps the department as a whole. But all that at a later date, right now he needed to focus on the task at hand.

Well, after addressing a few concerns from those assisting that is.

"I would suggest avoiding their tendrils, those can be the most dangerous element to their exposure outside of the tank. Could choke a person and sometimes not even a well placed Revulsion Jinx does the trick," he added solemnly as he gave everyone present a quick glance over. Was there anyone donning red today? Need he be concerned about the probability of an unfortunate red shirting incident? He was mostly casting lingering looks over to Adam at the moment seeing as that particular Unspeakable was always getting the short end of the stick when it came to luck. Or perhaps he ought to put the department through some trials to up their skills? More thoughts to consider at a later time.

"The only shining you lot will be doing is of the cleanliness variety" he reprimanded the tank - words that may have seemed to come out of no where were one not standing close enough to the tank to be in the collective loop. Which prompted the man to glance up at everyone. "Oh, and, try not to let them get into your head. Shall we? They have become particularly proficient over the years of research and experimentation in Legilimency." To answer Laurel's inquiry.

As for the use of a Summoning Charm, well. He would leave them to their own devices on that one.

"All right then, prepare to engage the encephalons!" he commanded in a robust tone while his fingers worked the last of the runes on the lock and it snapped open with a soft pop and began to rise slowly upwards into the air. Hopping back, and pocketing the lock, Airey drew forth his wand in preparation.

The thoughts of the woman [Nordic Witch] sent the endorphins buzzing through Sylvian. An impression had been made, one that Sylvian was eager to deepen very soon.

As soon as the lid was -- yeeeeeeeeeeees.

The solution sloshed around as a thick lime green mist billowed forth and fell over the sides, swirled over the floor, and filled the air with a musty, pungent odor. Sensing the exposure and reading the thoughts of the department head [sweetpinkpixie] who had freed them, their tendrils reached upwards, a few coiling over the rim of the tank to pull themselves up out of the liquid.

And then, just as their frontal lobes were exposed to the air in the chamber, they LAUNCHED themselves out from their previous confinements and into the air in overwhelming numbers as though previously orchestrated.

What comes up, must come down...and suddenly it was raining brains.

Hallelujah?

The brains were speaking to people? Intriguing...

Though she couldn't hear them herself, she couldn't help but glance around at the others as if she would be able to physically see the words surrounding them. Or at least have the pleasure of seeing the befuddled expressions. Perhaps she should have studied occlumency rather than gobbledegook, something she rarely had to use in her lifetime. As Flamsteed took off the lock, her attention snapped towards the tank. Stunners were what the announcement said, correct? Though there wasn't too much thought on rules as Tahnia tracked the green mist as it glided to the ground, nose wrinkling at the smell.

What in Merlin's name was tha- NOOOOPE.

Her back hit the entrance in surprise as the brains burst from their container, hand instinctively reaching for her wand. "STUPEFY!" It's raaaainin' brains!

Sam had picked up a few things in the office before heading in to the Thought Chamber. As she entered, she saw that her coworkers had gotten started and she was thankful they weren't lollygagging. It did not, however, look as though things were going as smoothly as she'd like. The Encephalons were clearly acting up, and she barely had time to observe before she had her wand pointed at the FLYING BRAINS. Oh, Merlin, what were they doing?!

"Stupefy!" she began.

The back of Adam’s head was still stinging and ringing when Airey decided it was time to open the tank. Adam heard a pop and then felt a swoosh of air as the tank opened. Something splashed him in the face. Wiping his face off with a sleeve, he called for those gloves, this time in German.
Apparently the splash on the face was only the first onslaught Adam was going to face. He just hoped he wouldn’t loose another eyebrow. His left one had just finished growing back in. The yellow-red light coming from the tank was turning a turbulent black-purple. Best get this done with quickly then. The gloves smacked into his chest and he clutched them. ”Here,” said tossing the right-handed one to Megan. Using his teeth, he pulled on the left hand one before reaching over the top of the tank and carefully plunging his vial into the brain solution. ”Careful apoutzee burple-plack lights,” he cautioned her totally forgetting in all the action that she probably had no idea what he was talking about.

While this section of his Department wasn't one of his usual workings, the word had spread around enough to reach Val regarding the situation. Brains. Hm. He followed some of his other department co-workers and oh, some from other sections were here as well. He at least recognized Laurel. In theory this should work out nicely. In theory. Val wasn't going to relax beforehand.

And Val was glad he didn't relax. Because as soon as the locks were released, all thoughts left him as he moved purely on instinct. Because it all happened so fast, brains were flying. "Stupefy!" Val focused on aiming at one straight away.

Soooooooooaring.

Fllllllllllllying.

THEY'RE BREAKING FREEEEEEE!

They had anticipated the spells, thoughts so vivid in the minds of the humans present that it made it all too easy for each to reach out with their slick tendrils towards these boisterous convictions. Ignoring the man who had released them for now [sweetpinkpixie], a few were struck down by the spells and almost seemed to twitch on the ground where they lay and landed on the floor of the chamber with a moist squish not too unlike a wet sponge being thrown against a wall. But this too had been anticipated.

It was Reil who was able to strike first, its long tendrils coiling around the neck and head of the human [Krel Ansell] with colorful thoughts it had been admiring from within the tank. Sliding its slimy form up the side of his face, Reil managed to position itself atop the man's head and then got to work secreting from all its crevices to lay down a thick coat so the transfer could begin.

Another by the name of Ponce was next to make contact, its attention shifting from one human to another as its moist mass slammed against the floor and bounced a few times. Their tendrils reached out and coiled around the shoes of another human [Roselyn] and began pulling itself up her body while leaving a slimy trail in its wake. Must get to the top...must get to the top...hold still for I do now wish to harm you...

Templeton remained on course, it's thick tendrils reaching out for the shoulders of the human it had made its connection to [Fearlessleader19] and coiling around and under them to pull itself towards her face and SLAMMING into it with an oozy SQUISH. Secretions already beginning to take place, Templeton joined Reil in preparation.

The one known by the others as Galen fell short of its target [SilverTiger] and upon coming to a rolling stop had found itself next to the shoe of another [Dokimoto]. This would do. Soon its shorter than average, stumpy really, tendril had latched on to the human but knew it could not hoist itself up. Rather it would need to rely on another trick. Reaching out with its thoughts, Galen began planting images in the human's head - not an encephalon at their feet, but a smart looking hat that it simply HAD to wear. Yes, pick me up....wear me...you know you want to...

Sylvian was by far the most graceful in the air and in their execution compared to the others, making quick work of coiling it's tendrils around the neck of its select human [Nordic Witch] and hoisting itself atop her head. Now to begin the secretion and transfer...

Several smaller encephalons flung themselves from the tank and propelled themselves towards another human [Charely Potter]. It would be a proper encephanlon pile on top of him by the end of things, squishy and wet. Save for the one that the man's Stunning Spell had shot away.

The thought of using Stunning Spells kept repeating in Megan’s mind. It was as though this was the only spell she knew at present. At the same time, even though the brain was seemingly fixated on her, the woman barely noticed. It was that dang thought’s fault. It had momentarily taken over her. That is, until Adam’s voice reached out to her. “Don’t touch the brain. Right.’’ But she had a question. “How did these things come about into existence? I mean, why are they the way they are?” Oh Adam... What an unfortunate little even that was. “Here. Let me help.’’ Megan retrieved the sunglasses and expertly caught the glove tossed her way in the nick of time.

To everyone in general, Megan said, “Let’s try Stunning them.’’ Airey’s words did not go wasted, at least not on her, for they were tucked neatly in a nook of her brain for reference. The blond held her wand tightly, quite prepared for battling the brains if need be.

Without hesitation, Megan grabbed her vials. They had been uncorked earlier which was lucky because it made things easier for her to plunge her gloved hand into the tank. She always made sure to take at least two samples in case there was an accident and she lost one. Today was no different. One vial of the liquid was successfully retrieved and hastily corked.

Unfortunately, this was when the brains began attacking. “ADAM!” The full vial was dropped into one of her pockets. “Stupefy! Stupefy!’’ The spells were desperately directed at the brain attacking Adam. This was short-lived though. There was one attacking her. Naturally, her attention was turned to that one. “Stupefy!’’ Too late. Long, creepy tendrils reached for her shoulders. They reminded her of jelly fish stingers. The tendrils looped tightly around her shoulders. “Get off m-’’ WHAM! The brain collided with her face and latched on there rather securely.

Still, Megan tried to fight it off. This time, her hands were used as she tried to pry it off with as much strength that she could muster.

Air...

The blond could not breathe.

"Stupefy!"

Sam's eyes were darting all over the room as the encephalons ran(?) amok. She was having decent luck with stunning these things, but there were just too many coming at them. Sam was so distracted by an encephalon near her arm that she didn't even notice the one that had latched itself to her leg until it began to tingle.

Looking down for the source, Sam was surprised to see... a hat? What was it doing on the floor? Such a nice hat should most definitely NOT be on the floor. Sam shook her head in frustration, her priorities shifting immediately. The others were fine. Her coworkers could handle the brains for a moment while she secured the hat.

...

It was SUCH a NICE hat! She could just, you know, try it on real quick. What if she didn't get another chance? Sam's eyes were transfixed on the hatcephalon as she picked it up and, temptation too high... she put it on her head.

Tahnia was vaguely aware that her spell made connect with one of the brains, though her attention was too far diverted to the rest of the brains that were falling and surrounding them to really watch it's results. "Stupefy!" She aimed for the left. "Stupefy!" Aim for the right. "STUPEF-"

NoooOOOO??

She didn't spot the one that latched onto her leg until, well, it was obvious. Can it... NOT? Ignoring whatever words were spoken by whoever spoke them, or perhaps were just drowned out by her own choice words, Tahnia vigorously shook her leg to try and wiggle it off as she hopped in hopes of what would be the opposite direction of where the brain SHOULD have been going. She did not survive almost half a century only to die by a slimy squish cushion with personal space issues!

Circe! Laurel lameted in her head as Airey got into an explanation all matter of factly it felt like about what to look out for with these creepy yet very interesting brains. Nodding her head Laurel murmured "Avoid tendrils..Got it." Should be simple enough right? But the ability to choke a person that was alarming she had to admit to herself. The last statement from Airey had Laurel make big eyes as she spluttered out in echo "Their proficient in legilimency? Flaming tarot cards...This won’t be easy. Try to keep them out of your head..I will most definitley try.." Shaking her head she regripped her wand and muttered "Ready!" and then chaos broke lose as it started to litterally rain brains over her head and those of her colleagues.

"Stupefy!" Laurel cast around her as the brains came soaring in her direction. "Stupefy!" Eyes darting around at Adam and Megan she called out "Hurry up with the sampling!" She had her eyes and attention on Tahnia as the other woman was attacked by one of the brains and then started an odd dance sort off trying to free her leg. Laurel was about to offer assistance when she felt something snake herself around the back of her neck and then land atop her head. Freaking out she screamed "GET OFF ME!" as she started to vigorously claw at the tendrils around her neck with one hand and poking the brain off her head with her wand. Laurel did not want to become this enchephalons next meal.