London | Look through my eyes and you'll see the world I see

[fixyourproblem]

Who || Astrid and Brantley
What || A not-so-legal tour inside a military research facility
Where || London
When || One day in April
How || Actionspam or Prose

After asking Astrid to go on an adventure with him and choosing to go on adventure inside a military facility, Brantley pulled some string and managed to gain access to a moreau research facility. The facility is located on the outer ring of London, disguised as a normal pharmaceutical facility, where drugs and medicines are made. The area upfront is open to public, where the facility's cover runs their work. What lies beyond is entirely restricted because, according to the receptionist, lots of potential hazardous chemicals are being researched. But the truth is, it is not hazardous chemicals that they're hiding.

"So, are you ready?" Brantley turns his head to Astrid and smiles as he turns off the engine of the car they're in.

Comments

[pathology]

[possibly the only thing astrid loves more than medical shit is sketchy medical shit, so she was all about this tour. she didn't dress particularly nicely, because she didn't want to give brantley any false hope about getting to hit it. (even tho she usually loves instilling false hope about getting to hit it; that's not what she's here for today.

she looks up from her vigorous bout of texting as brantley addresses her. because she had been ...glued to her phone.] Yeah, sure, let's go. [still 100 percent here for seeing some freaky moreau shit.]

[fixyourproblem]

[Brantley is a bit nervous since he isn't used to do this kind of thing. He is more likely to sit and wait while his contact does the infiltration job for him. But this time, he has a girl to impress and it wouldn't be very cool to let someone else escort the girl. And what's life without a few thrills, right?]

Wait, let's review the plan a bit. We're two biochemists doing some research on gene therapy. They'll let us explore a bit on our own and give us visitor passes that will allow us to get through some of the lower security area, but if we want to see the real things, we will have to improvise, once we're inside. Just relax and let me do all the talking.

[This is a really bad idea, Brantley has zero knowledge in biochemistry. If the topic comes up, he will be having a hard time maintaining their cover.

He takes and releases a long breath before continuing.] Okay, Let's go. [He steps out of the car and starts to walk toward the lobby of the building.]

[pathology]

[yeah she's going to call him out on that tbh. while she climbs out of the car and stashes her phone in her bag.] Do you even know anything about biochemistry?

[fixyourproblem]

Umm...Nope, but don't worry. I'll figure something out. [Besides, biochemistery doesn't sound so hard. He knows water is H2O and 60% of human body is made of water. Just mix the those two, and you'll get biochemistery, right?]

[pathology]

[~figuring something out~ doesn't quite fly with her sorry2say.] Maybe I should be the one talking. I've actually taken biochem classes.

[fixyourproblem]

Uh.. Okay. If that's what you want. [Some how he feels doubtful and relieved at the same time. She seems to know the stuff, but he isn't sure if she can talk her way out of troubles.

When they arrive at the front desk, the receptionist greets them with a smile. Brantley takes out a letter and hands it to her. She scan the letter for a moment, before turning her attention back to them.

"Prof. And Mrs. Powell. Please wait amoment and have a seat while I process your visitor permit." She smiles as she points a waiting area nearby.

Brantley returns the smile and nods.]

Yeah, I forgot to tell you, you are Angela Powell, and you're married to me. Grey Powell. [He whispers to Astrid as if it is not a big deal.]

[pathology]

[astrid was already wearing the most annoyed bitchface after being called mrs. by that receptionist after being told they were both going to be biochemists (meaning she too would have been professor or at least doctor) but the marriage cover is like a cherry on top of the annoyed sundae. it's not a big deal, but it is a deal.] And you didn't bother telling me that before because...?

[fixyourproblem]

[Well, this is going very smoothly.] Sorry. I really forgot, okay? Besides, it wasn't me who chose our cover and it's not like we're married for real.

[pathology]

[hissing into his ear now] No, it's not, but it's still important to know stuff like that because it informs our social cues! Like, our body language should say "married." [but she's not about to amend that now. it's currently saying "about to get divorced."] Who chose our cover, then, if not you?

[fixyourproblem]

[Geez, no wonder they're about to get divorced.] One of my contacts, I just asked him a way to get us in and left the how to him. You can punch me later for it, but let's just focus on mantaining our cover for now, okay? [In hope of she forgets about it later.]

[pathology]

[eyeroll] Like I'm going to punch you. [getting out her phone again. this is the best she can do tbh.]

[fixyourproblem]

[If she wants to play it that way, fine, Brantley will go along. He sighs loudly before continuing his wait in silence. Not long after, the receptionist comes and gives them a couple of ID tags, one for each.

"Thank you, for waiting. Could you please come with me?" The receptionist leads them through one of the door leading to a long hallway with various rooms on the side. After a short walk, they arrive in a room labeled "Genetic Engineering Laboratory A". The room is filled with various tools and machinaries, but the size and the layout make the room looks spacious. Inside, the receptionist introduces them to a red-haired woman wearing a lab coat. "This is Prof. Joanna Weissman. She'll be in charge of your needs while you're in here." The receptionist then takes her leave as the other woman looks at them with an intimidating glare, somehow observing them. "Research needs, if that wasn't clear enough for both of you." Before they can reply, the woman continues to speak with an icy cold tone. "According to your document, the two of you are biochemists. Please elaborate to me the topic of your study."]

Umm.. Yeah. We're doing some research on gene therapy.

[Brantley answers the question without any worry, but Joanna immediately replies with an unamused glare. "I did say elaborate, didn't I?" Brantley, who doesn't even know a single thing about biochemistery, stands there in silence, trying to make up something.]

[pathology]

[astrid is immune to intimidating stares. this bitch doesn't faze her. which is good, considering … what she's about to do.] Do you not know what gene therapy is? Treating genetic diseases at the molecular level by correcting defective genes by inserting the correct gene to the affected cells. The kind of research you're doing here, applied to our own, has unlimited potential. [knowledge: earth and life sciences 26 + bluff 16.]

[fixyourproblem]

[Joanna's glare intensifies with a look somewhat saying 'game on! bitch!' While Brantley is still just standing there, not knowing what to do.

"Let me rephrase this for you. What is your specific research topic on gene therapy? Or do I need to make a multiple choices question, so it'll be easier for you to answer, Miss Powell?" She focuses the intonation on the word 'miss', clearly taunting Astrid with her 'Professor' title.]

[pathology]

First, I'm not a miss. I'm a doctor, and you will address me as such. Second, it was on the paperwork we had to fill out to get in here, so maybe you should stop wasting our time and learn to read. But, since that's clearly too much work for you, it's cystic fibrosis. [bluff 21]

[fixyourproblem]

[Still with the mask of an ice queen, Joanna answers without swaying, though you can definitely see that she is pissed. "Then doctor, I believe you are smart enough to do your research without bothering the researcher here. You can find every information you need in this tablet." She holds out the tablet, waiting for Astrid to take it from her. "If you can't find it in there, you don't need it. I'll be keeping my eyes on you, so don't even think of doing anything stupid." And she leaves without any warning.]

Nice work. [Brantley whispers to Astrid.

The tablet Joanna gave looks like a normal tablet. With a computer use 5, anyone can find the detailed map of the facility, the detail of the research in the place, and any other information within their limited access level.]

[pathology]

[she snatches the tablet and flips joanna off as she walks away. such classy behavior, surely she is a real doctor.]

No problem. [she gives brantley a shrug before turning her attention to the tablet. which she is having absolutely no trouble operating. (computer use 21)] What are we looking for now?

[fixyourproblem]

Ummm... Why don't you see if that device has the list of the things being researched in each lab? Or maybe you can look for a map first and find us a place where we can plan our next moves? I am not comfortable being around that woman. [He points at Joanna with his eyes. The woman has left their attendance but she is still in this room, handing out piercing glare to other researchers like a silent supervisor motivating the peers to keep doing their works.]

[pathology]

Fine. Time for a bathroom break. [after using the tablet to pull up a map, she takes brantley's hand and drags him towards the nearest bathroom. (nav 10) men's room, so joanna can't follow them inconspicuously. she wishes she had a fake husband to drag around.] Is this better?

[fixyourproblem]

Uuumm... Sure...If this place doesn't make you uncomfortable. [Yeah, because that is important right now.] Well, according to one of my friends, we don't have to be afraid of the securities catching us trespassing as long as we act naturally. So, we just need to find where they keep the Moreaus and find a way to get there. Here, let me see that tablet.

[Brantley tries to use the tablet to see the whole layout of the building, but due to his technological incompetence, you can see him having a hard time achieving that. He eventually figures out how to do it but not without grumbling a few times.(computer use 6)]

Look at this. We can read the name and description of each room using this map. And even if our access level is not enough for the rooms with higher security level, it still shows us the name of the rooms, though without any description. [He selects a few rooms, demonstrating it.] We can see the third basement is parking lot, but the map of the second basement is completely darkened without any walls or doors. Suspicious, isn't it? I think that's where they do their secret research.