Lamont Cranston / The Shadow (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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sixwordstories2015-01-02 12:53 am
shadow_ag) wrote in sixwordstories2015-01-02 12:53 am
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[Idly swirling contents of a beaker.]
[That voice takes him from whatever headspace he was just inhabiting and he gives an amused smile at the older man.]
You've caught me. Clearly, I have a habit of playing with non-trivial quantities of Fuming Nitric when I need something to occupy my hands.
[It's nothing more than a simple saline solution. He sets the beaker down on his table and leans an elbow on the desk.]
You've caught me. Clearly, I have a habit of playing with non-trivial quantities of Fuming Nitric when I need something to occupy my hands.
[It's nothing more than a simple saline solution. He sets the beaker down on his table and leans an elbow on the desk.]
[Lamont is lost in his headspace but not oblivious. Something catches the corner of his eye and he turns his head to look over at the corner of the lab. The contents of his beaker are perfectly harmless, nothing more than a saline solution, but the beaker could be a weapon if this is a threat. However, if it is, it seems to be taking its time so for the moment he simply turns in his chair and watches the shadows coalesce.]
[And for a moment, it looks like it might be a threat. The air becomes... ominous, uncomfortable to be in. As if something had changed about the room that made it less safe. A strange, haunted sensation-
And then the shadow dissolves before it gets too thick, leaving behind one seven foot tall, white robed and veiled figure. It's hard to say what their expression is, considering most of their face is hidden.
But the body language seems to be that of a five year old who's been abandoned in a free candy and toys store.]
And then the shadow dissolves before it gets too thick, leaving behind one seven foot tall, white robed and veiled figure. It's hard to say what their expression is, considering most of their face is hidden.
But the body language seems to be that of a five year old who's been abandoned in a free candy and toys store.]
[His grip tightens on the glassware as Lamont slides to the edge of his seat as he watches the figure, and struggles to fight off that foreboding sense creeping up his spine. He's not one for knee-jerk reactions so he simply levels a hard glare at the being.
When that feeling starts to fade, however, he lets out a quiet breath he'd been holding and stands, looking over at the figure. They may be excited, but this is a full research laboratory, and there are plenty of hazards, many which are not apparent at first glance.
Over on the chemistry benches there are bottles of acids, bases and solvents. Over a Bunsen burner he has a small beaker of water boiling so at least that's relatively harmless considering the contents of many of the amber-colored bottles carefully organized at each workstation.]
How did you do that? [Ever the scientist, Lamont finds himself more curious by the way this being's appeared, instead of asking for a name at the moment.]
When that feeling starts to fade, however, he lets out a quiet breath he'd been holding and stands, looking over at the figure. They may be excited, but this is a full research laboratory, and there are plenty of hazards, many which are not apparent at first glance.
Over on the chemistry benches there are bottles of acids, bases and solvents. Over a Bunsen burner he has a small beaker of water boiling so at least that's relatively harmless considering the contents of many of the amber-colored bottles carefully organized at each workstation.]
How did you do that? [Ever the scientist, Lamont finds himself more curious by the way this being's appeared, instead of asking for a name at the moment.]
[They seem to be enchanted by the colored bottles, going over to inspect those for a brief moment before honestly seeming to be magnetically pulled by the Bunsen burner. The light seems to be what does the trick, the impressively tall figure having to bend down to get on nose level with the mostly blue flame.
It almost looks like they didn't hear him, looking around for something to catch the fire with, before glancing over and finally spotting him. There's a pause as they think.
And then they mime writing over one dark skinned palm. They can't talk, so it seems.]
It almost looks like they didn't hear him, looking around for something to catch the fire with, before glancing over and finally spotting him. There's a pause as they think.
And then they mime writing over one dark skinned palm. They can't talk, so it seems.]
[Lamont is quite worried about how enticed they are by the dangerous bottles. He stands, abandoning his harmless beaker in favor of supervising this expression of curiosity. He's nervous with how close they are to the fire and has a warning on the tip of his tongue when they finally give him their attention.]
Oh. Here. [He pulls a notebook from a drawer nearby, flipping to an empty page as he sets it on the desk and places a pencil next to it. All the while he keeps a sharp eye on the figure, not wanting them to cause a dangerous situation around the chemistry.]
Oh. Here. [He pulls a notebook from a drawer nearby, flipping to an empty page as he sets it on the desk and places a pencil next to it. All the while he keeps a sharp eye on the figure, not wanting them to cause a dangerous situation around the chemistry.]
[They know all about fire and what not to do with it.
They aren't nearly as well versed with chemicals though. But for the moment, they're distracted with the paper, and they scribble on it quickly. They know what language they need to write in, at the very least.]
Shadow. I am shadow.
Easy for me.
They aren't nearly as well versed with chemicals though. But for the moment, they're distracted with the paper, and they scribble on it quickly. They know what language they need to write in, at the very least.]
Shadow. I am shadow.
Easy for me.
Sorry. I was just thinking on a conversation I had with Weston the other day.
[He easily motions to a tall stool nearby should the other man wish to sit on something instead of leaning. It's slightly taller than other seats in the room, something intentionally suited to their taller frames.]
A trifling matter really. Is there something I can do for you?
[He easily motions to a tall stool nearby should the other man wish to sit on something instead of leaning. It's slightly taller than other seats in the room, something intentionally suited to their taller frames.]
A trifling matter really. Is there something I can do for you?
[He reads the message and gives a gentle smile. What a curious choice of words to see in his lab notebook of all places.
Since they seem quite capable of understanding what he says, he doesn't bother to write and resumes speaking.]
What brought you here?
Since they seem quite capable of understanding what he says, he doesn't bother to write and resumes speaking.]
What brought you here?
[Ordinarily he is more at home on his feet, but this winter has been harder on him than usual. If he looks tired, he can only hope it will be attributed to nothing more than poor lighting and old age. He takes a seat on the stool, with a clearly restrained cough.]
When we spoke before, you said your focus was in chemistry. Do you have much experience in designing antidotes or counter-agents?
When we spoke before, you said your focus was in chemistry. Do you have much experience in designing antidotes or counter-agents?
Some. What are you looking for?
[He's no pharmacist, but since he owns the lab he has quite a few in his employ, and he's made certain to learn as much from them as he can, and then educated himself beyond that. He's developed a few interesting powders and cocktails of his own to use in his exploits.
He's had his share of colds, so he attributes that cough to nothing more for the time being.]
[He's no pharmacist, but since he owns the lab he has quite a few in his employ, and he's made certain to learn as much from them as he can, and then educated himself beyond that. He's developed a few interesting powders and cocktails of his own to use in his exploits.
He's had his share of colds, so he attributes that cough to nothing more for the time being.]
[It's a good thing they choose communication, because otherwise Lamont would have been reaching out to prevent them from touching the bottles. He runs a very neat space, but there's no telling if the outsides are contaminated with trace amounts that could cause serious harm.]
The green bottles are acids. The brown ones are bases. The clear ones are solvents. They're chemicals I use in my work, and they will hurt you if you touch them without wearing special gloves.
The green bottles are acids. The brown ones are bases. The clear ones are solvents. They're chemicals I use in my work, and they will hurt you if you touch them without wearing special gloves.
[They're trying very hard to be polite. They don't know much about dangerous chemicals, but they do know not to touch things that aren't theirs without permission.
Even after being told it could hurt them, they're still side-eying the bottles with deep curiosity]
Wear gloves? See? Please?
Even after being told it could hurt them, they're still side-eying the bottles with deep curiosity]
Wear gloves? See? Please?
Something to counteract three-four methylenedioxy-methamphetamine. MDMA. It's... in more frequent use, in my city, and a hazard for those in my employ.
[What he has been insisting to himself is merely a chest cold has been persistent, but not bad enough to send him seeking a doctor. The Shadow is, at times, careless with his own health. For now the cough is merely an annoyance.]
[What he has been insisting to himself is merely a chest cold has been persistent, but not bad enough to send him seeking a doctor. The Shadow is, at times, careless with his own health. For now the cough is merely an annoyance.]
[Lamont lowers his eyes a moment, rolling through a vast mental index of chemicals he's familiar with, and finally coming up with the name and recognizing it as a side-product of a process that he'd heard about. He is, however, familiar with the recently documented effects of substituted amphetamine abuse and frowns as he looks up at the older man somberly.]
I can try. I should be able to synthesize something comparable but samples would be better. Any impurities in the target compounds could make it more difficult to come up with a potential counter-agent.
I can try. I should be able to synthesize something comparable but samples would be better. Any impurities in the target compounds could make it more difficult to come up with a potential counter-agent.
I can get you samples easily enough, but you may not want their presence in your lab advertised. I'd appreciate discretion in the project, of course.
[The younger man is lucky if he can't guess at the extent of this substance's popularity in the older Shadow's world. That he feels a need for a countering drug for the sake of his agents may be enough of a hint. There are times when undercover work requires them to come into all too close contact with such drugs.]
[The younger man is lucky if he can't guess at the extent of this substance's popularity in the older Shadow's world. That he feels a need for a countering drug for the sake of his agents may be enough of a hint. There are times when undercover work requires them to come into all too close contact with such drugs.]
[Lamont sighs, but clearly they want to learn and he can't fault them for that.]
I'll handle the chemicals, and you can watch. If you mix them wrong it can kill us.
[Lamont reaches over and picks up some protective goggles, handing them over to...right, he doesn't have a name yet.]
What's your name?
[While his curious company writes their answer, he'll be picking up his personal pair of goggles and a heavy pair of rubber gloves from another bench.]
I'll handle the chemicals, and you can watch. If you mix them wrong it can kill us.
[Lamont reaches over and picks up some protective goggles, handing them over to...right, he doesn't have a name yet.]
What's your name?
[While his curious company writes their answer, he'll be picking up his personal pair of goggles and a heavy pair of rubber gloves from another bench.]
[They seem to be delighted by this, bouncing in place as he hands over goggles for them to put on.
They quickly do so, and then scribble something down on the paper]
Many names.
Abd Al Alim. Abd Al Hakim. Tahir. Zulema. Many names to pick. Pick one. Make one.
[After that, they hover around close to him, trying to see everything he's doing]
They quickly do so, and then scribble something down on the paper]
Many names.
Abd Al Alim. Abd Al Hakim. Tahir. Zulema. Many names to pick. Pick one. Make one.
[After that, they hover around close to him, trying to see everything he's doing]
I'll be the sole handler and they'll be secured discretely. I don't want to draw that kind of attention.
[He can make an educated guess that it's prolific enough in certain circles that the man's dealing with to make it this serious of a problem for his agents.
As for discretion, Margo helps him in nearly all his projects, but even she knows there are a few he doesn't want her involved with, either for her own safety or to protect her from certain knowledge that could make her a target for his enemies. She's curious but respects his demands for secrecy when he gives them, which isn't often. Likely quite a change from the Margo the older man once dealt with.]
[He can make an educated guess that it's prolific enough in certain circles that the man's dealing with to make it this serious of a problem for his agents.
As for discretion, Margo helps him in nearly all his projects, but even she knows there are a few he doesn't want her involved with, either for her own safety or to protect her from certain knowledge that could make her a target for his enemies. She's curious but respects his demands for secrecy when he gives them, which isn't often. Likely quite a change from the Margo the older man once dealt with.]
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