capeandcowllogs | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

WHO:

nottheanswers
WHERE: Avengers Mansion
WHEN: Thursday afternoon
WARNINGS: nothing i know of?
SUMMARY: Bobbi does science, Vic needs science done
FORMAT: Para to start, whatever from there!

He found the place easily enough, he tended to do that these days. He felt the two vials in his coat pocket and hoped they'd be enough for the job he needed. He crossed the lawn to the door and gave it a strong knock.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Bobbi was the only one home, which seemed to be the case more often than not lately. Thankfully, Tony's security system had alerted her to the presence of her visitor from the comfort of the lab she'd claimed as her own. She made her way back upstairs, answering the door with a cordial smile.

"Mister Sage, right?"

He took the hand out of his pocket and offered it to her. "Just Vic is fine. You'll be Dr. Morse, then?"

"Vic it is then. You can call me Bobbi." She shook his hand firmly, letting him inside. "So, Vic, what can I do you for?"

"Alright, Bobbi." He took the two vials out of his pocket as he slid into the foyer and held them up for her to see. "I have two compounds here I was wondering if you might be able to synthesize for me."

She pulled her glasses out of her pocket, putting them on as she peered at the vials. "I can certainly give it a whirl. But I gotta know, what's in the vials?"

"The white one's a simple coloring agent. It takes effect immediately once activated. The green one's a binary gas, changing the state of the first when it's applied to an object." He glanced around at the windows, too open in here. "But there's more to it than that. I can demonstrate, but...why don't you show me the lab? This one's a bit of a trade secret."

"Of course," she agreed, leading him through the main floor and down to the laboratories on the floor below. "The lab on the left is mine. Make yourself at home."

"Now, like I said, I'd like to keep this between us if we can." As they walked down the hall, he toyed with his belt buckle until the compartment in it popped open and he pulled a flesh-colored ball of plastic out. "Can I trust you to keep it secret?"

"Scout's honor," she nodded, eying the strange little ball with open curiosity. The chemist in her was chomping at the bit to get her hands on it. Once they were in her lab, she pulled up a couple of stools for them, dropping gracefully into one of them, gesturing for Vic to have a seat in the other. "What the heck is that thing?"

"This," he started, peeling the ball apart at one end before rolling it out to show it's full shape, "is my mask. Doesn't look like much, or really anything on the outside, but inside you have a viewing window with night vision capabilities and an air filter that provides limited resistance to toxins."

He held it out to her. "Here, try it on. It's cut to fit my face, so it might be a little big." Of course, it wouldn't work anyway without one vital ingredient. He pulled off his belt in preparation for that part.

Eyes wide in amazement, she put the mask on, finding it to be a little big, as he'd said, but not nearly as claustrophobic as she'd imagined. Still, she was slightly on edge with it on. It was a little bit creepy.

"Almost feels like real skin, right? It's made from a revolutionary polymer that had a few kinks that kept it from mass-production. But it doesn't quite stick, does it? Make sure to smooth it out."

He brought the belt up in his hands, with the buckle pointed at her. "That's were the other aspect of the binary gas comes in. In addition to activating the dye, it's primarily a bonding agent." he clicked the button, releasing a spray of gas around her head. Nothing that would give her trouble breathing, mind.

"Now, try to take the mask off. Or even find the seams."

Obediently, she tried to peel away the mask, but her efforts were in vain. It seemed to be quite firmly in place. Indeed, not a seem could be found on the damned thing. Bobbi was impressed, but she felt a bit like a cat whose head was caught in a jar. "Color me impressed. Now how do I get this thing offa me?"

"Nothing to worry about." He clicked the button again and released another spray. "The gas changes the state of the chemicals on a binary system. If it finds it in one state, it changes it to the other, so a repeated exposure releases the binding. Or something like that, that's how Tot explained it to me, at least. It should come off now."

He put his belt back on as he continued. "The only person I've ever had to prepare the gas for me was the guy who invented the whole system, but he's not here, so I'm shopping around for a new supplier."

He pulled the two vials back out and held for her to take. "Think you might be the right person for the job?"

"If anyone in this town can do it, it's me, and if there's a way to replicate the gas, I can find it." She took the vials eagerly, a mischievous grin on her lips. With Bobbi, curiosity usually won out over caution in these sorts of situations. She couldn't wait to get started analyzing the samples and trying new experiments on them. She might be a biologist by specialty, but she always had an affinity for chemistry in general.

"I'll need some time to study the gas, of course. Until I've examined it more thoroughly, I can't give you a time estimate on how long it'll take. But this'll be priority work."

"Glad to hear you're so confident," he said with a smirk. Privileging curiosity over caution was something he could relate to.

"Now that's your end of the bargain, it's time we discussed mine." And here was the main difference with his setup with Tot. He'd started wearing the mask because Tot had approached him first, and they'd continued that relationship out of friendship, sometimes being the only friend the other man had. That wasn't exactly an option at this juncture with Bobbi, and the best way to react to that was a professional one. "So, what kind of fee would you expect?"

"I won't take money for this," Bobbi said firmly, crossing her arms. "The only thing I'll accept is a favor. If the time comes that I have need of your assistance, can I count on you?"

"I can deal in favors," he answered, an eyebrow raised. "But I'm looking for someone who'll make this a regular gig, so my owing you might have to be, too."

"You're a private eye, aren't you? Maybe you can cut me a deal, if I ever need help tracking someone down." Not that she couldn't do it on her own. She was ex-SHIELD, she could track down the slipperiest of fish, but having a professional in her back pocket sure could save on time and energy. "Would something like that be doable for you?"

"I could swing that." It's not like his new powers didn't make that sort of work easier than ever, after all. "So, we'll just say you have me on indefinite retainer in exchange. You need a job done and I'm not busy, I'm at your disposal. If I am busy, I'll do what I can to move you up on the schedule. Sound fair?"

"Perfect," Bobbi grinned, extending her hand to shake his. It was a perfect arrangement, really, and one that would surely come in handy if the Avengers ever got their acts together and started behaving like heroes again. Smiling still, she fished about the desk for a pen and paper, scrawling her number down and handing it to him. "I'll get started right away. If you need anything, gimme a call and I'll get right on it."

"Glad to hear it," he said as he shook her hand. Getting a chance not only to maintain his equipment, but to gain a new ally or two in the process? Not something he was even about to turn down. He pulled a card out of his wallet and handed it her way. "Likewise. You need something, let me know and it'll get priority."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only