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[Hey, it's Ardyn out of the blue.]

Madam Lutece, I have something I'd like for you to look at. If you've the inclination.

I think I can summon it. Shall I meet you somewhere in particular?

Wherever you think your scientific inclinations might shine through brightest. The station, perhaps, for its technology available to you?

The station will do-- in perhaps an hour, say?

I'll be there.

[And he won't make her wait. An hour later, and Rosalind should be able to find him easily on the station. He has, in his hands, a small box. ~~WHATS IN THE BOX~~ What could it be??]

[How dare you rob me of the chance to make that joke?

But Rosalind is there in an hour, prompt as ever. Her manner of dress is just a little more relaxed than it was the last time he saw her: nothing drastic, but her dress is a touch more simple and streamlined than the getup she'd had before. It's an attempt to blend in, at least; she's getting a bit tired of the natives gawping at her.]

Mr. Izunia. You'll be delighted to hear I've seen another person claiming to have magic, I'm sure.

[I knew you would want to and I destroyed your dreams

In any case, Ardyn steps forward with a smile. An incline of his head as a greeting, though he keeps the box balanced on one hand with his fingertips, requiring no real effort on his part. He notes her manner of dress, which seems more suited to the tastes of the natives on terra firma proper, but Ardyn seems to be dressed similarly as before. An outfit that echoes back to his fashion sense on Eos, which may still turn a few heads, but does he truly care? The answer is always no.]

Claiming to have magic, or actually possessing it? There's a difference.

The latter.

[And the former, as far as she's concerned, but Nightingale certainly had showed her something. Rosalind raises an eyebrow, nodding towards the box he seems intent on toying with.]

I assume that's what you wanted me to see?

Mm. Not quite.

[And it's with a finality that he steps forward, opening the top of the box to reveal what lies within.

Cookies.]

[Um.]

I beg your pardon.

[She is Not Amused.]

Cookies.

[Friggin' cookies, Rosalind.]

You do know what those are, yes?

Edited 2017-10-04 20:28 (UTC)

I know what a biscuit is, yes. Is there a reason you called me up here to show me them, or are you simply intent on wasting my time?

Do I look like a man who'd be so cruel, wasting your precious time?

[The answer is probably yes. But that actually isn't the reason today.]

Let me ask you something. If you woke up one day, and found these in your home addressed to you -- with no explanation whatsoever -- would you trust them? Especially if they are described on the back of this box to possess some type of "mystery extract"?

[Like. Come on. Ardyn is not trusting this shit at all.]

Ah.

[The plot thickens. Rosalind glances around, then turns, heading for a nearby shelf. There's any number of tools there, and some of them she's really going to have to experiment with, because they look absolutely wild, but-- ah. A pair of tweezers, and she uses them to tug a cookie out of the box.]

I'd say it sounds like you were about to be drugged, frankly, in one way if not another. Mystery extract . . . given they're advertising it, I imagine it has some delightfully charming side-effect that's sure to cause joy and laughter in one and all.

[Jesus, but her voice sound dead. Honestly, the whole thing reminds her of Fink, it really does. Rosalind sets the cookie down on one of the stainless steel counters, cutting it open with the tweezer. Nothing happens. Hm.]

I suppose we could get a test subject, but I'd rather not be responsible for poisoning someone before I've been here a month. Still, if you'd like to try, you are impossible to kill, and I've a good deal of medical expertise.

[He watches as she begins her examinations of a cookie, a slightly humorous sight. But he'll not interrupt, even if he does note her dry commentary about "charming side-effects". Ardyn shifts his weight to the other foot, considering her suggestion.]

Hm.

[Yes, just "hm". It's true that he's impossible to kill, but one of Ardyn's personality faults (one of many) is that he does like to exude a sense of control when he can. Taking something into his body, foreign and unknowing of its consequences, is quite the opposite of that. This inclination fights against curiosity.]

It's tempting, but you can understand why I'm hesitant.

[There's also a strange vulnerability in being subjected to something while Rosalind watches. He's not sure that settles within him well either.]

I'm caught between wanting to unravel the mystery, and knowing that physical affects are not the only consequences that might be wrought from eating free baked goods.

If you do have accelerated healing, I doubt any affects, mental or physical, will last long. Half a minute of discomfort and we'll have solved this mystery.

[I guess she's really set on this course of action! Rosalind glances towards him, considering, and then offers a slight smile. It's not a nice smile.]

I can give you all the usual assurances about not hurting you while you're under the influence, if you'd like. No taking advantage, nothing like that.

[She says to the man a foot taller and a great deal stronger than her.]

[Okay, and Ardyn actually has to laugh at that.]

Oh, don't worry, Madam Lutece. I'm not concerned about that.

[Again, it's a control thing. And it's hard to trust mysterious cookies from out of the blue -- that is a common sense thing.]

You'll diligently watch over me, won't you? In my thirty seconds of potential discomfort? [And now he's just teasing.]

You do seem so very nervous. It's the least I can do to assure you: you'll be kept safe.

[She's teasing in return, clearly, but now this idea has gotten hold of her. There's Bigby, of course, but beyond him, how many people on this island could try this without fear of repercussion? Ardyn is immortal; what precisely is this going to do to him? There's no better candidate.

(Of course, she could try it. But that's an idea so ludicrous as to not even be mentioned).]

Or don't you want to know what they do?

I admit that I am curious. But as impulsive as I can be, I do like to practice at least a passing caution in general.

[Yes, she could do it. But he already knows that she'll reject the idea outright. But Rosalind is not wrong about one thing: whatever the effects are, it's doubtful that it'll last long in his system. The Starscourge would overtake it, drive it out, dissolve it into dark nothingness, just like it does with everything else.]

But sometimes one must simply be bold. I'm willing to give it a try as soon as you're ready.

[Giving her time to prepare and to record. He knows how you scientific types like to work.]

[Oh, fantastic. Rosalind brightens up considerably, pleased by this development, and gets to work. It's not so hard to find a camera, and the station even has a few devices to record things like ambient temperature and pressure-- not something she thinks they'll need, but they're interesting enough toys she brings them along anyway, because why not.

But the video camera is the most important bit. Armed with that and her own observations, she's ready.]

All right. Go on, and tell me what you feel as you consume it.

[oh my god Rosalind a camera

He eyes it, briefly, but thankfully 2000+ years of existence has made him mostly unaffected by just about everything. He's been in the spotlight before, though Rosalind's newfound enthusiasm makes him wonder, amusedly, if he's just an oversized lab rat in her eyes now. He doubts anything very humiliating will happen, to the point where he'll wish that the camera wasn't there to begin with.

Skewing back into unaffectedness, he's going to briefly reach over to grab the one she's already cut into (it's still clean, it's fine!!), and taking a bite. He's not sure what to expect, but-]

Well, it tastes as one would expect. [LIKE A COOKIE-] If something is supposed to happen immediately, I'm going to disappoint you by saying I don't feel a change.

Some things take time.

[Like, for example, sweets mixed with cannabis. I'm just saying, this whole thing is building up to be a pot cookie joke and the narrative has been remiss in not mentioning it before now.]

It's going to be really disappointing if this all ends in nothing more than the world's stupidest practical joke.

[Still: she comes forward, edging into his space, peering up at him to try and see if there's anything changed about his expression. Pupils dilated, face flushed, that kind of thing.]

[fuckin hell

She can edge into his space if he likes, Ardyn remains unmoving and barely affected. Not that either of them realize it, but standing around hoping for something to happen is the opposite of him experiencing "strong emotions", especially for a man who defaults to ambivalence half the time. So, he lets her examine his face. It's normal and as smarmy as usual.]

And you were so excited over a cookie.

Let's not get the story backwards, Mr. Izunia. You called me.

[But ugh, this is disappointing. Rosalind sighs as she takes a few steps back. She's not about to give up, no, but nor will she wait in silent expectation for something that might take hours.]

You're a thousand. You must have some interesting story or another to tell while we wait.

I'm more than a thousand. [A plain correction.] At least two.

[But anyway-] Yes, I called you, but not because I was excited. You should've seen how your eyes lit up at the notion of an experiment. Scientists never change.

[A scoff.] What sort of story would you like?

Edited 2017-10-06 20:52 (UTC)

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i stg this thread has a point, bear with me

AS IF YOU EVER HAVE TO JUSTIFY THIS

l o o k i felt it needed to be said

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