Text:

[of_deduction]

{ Open to the Public }

I need the professional opinion of a botanist and chemist well versed in the elements and compounds of this world.
SH

[ Unfortunately his knowledge just doesn't cover it. For the moment. ]


{ Private to John Watson }

Meet me at the university lab.
SH


{ Private to Valdis }

I need to show you something. Can you be at the University lab within the hour?
SH

Comments

text;

[consultantsdoctor]

On my way.

text; -> action

[of_deduction]

[ Sherlock checks his unread text messages and rather than respond just sets the device down on the table and returns his attention to the microscope, watching the slide carefully as he does. ]

[ This certainly changes things. ]

action;

[consultantsdoctor]

[It isn't hard to get to the lab once on University grounds and he enters without much announcement. John glances about before crossing across to stand next to Sherlock. He's aware of what the detective has been asked to do and can only guess that this is part of it.]

What do you need? [He certainly isn't a botanist or chemist.]

action;

[of_deduction]

[ No, but he does like to bounce idea off of John-his input, while rarely accurate, is invaluable to him. ]

It's not a drug John, it's a parasite.

[ He doesn't bother to elaborate on what he's talking about-he'd told John some time ago that he'd be looking into the compounds of the "drug" Dust after a promise and reassurance he would not attempt to take the drug himself. ]

[consultantsdoctor]

[Sherlock doesn't need to go into more. They talked about looking into the drug so long as it didn't involve the detective trying it for himself. It sounds like it's a good thing right about now.]

A parasite? [Ugh, he does not like the sound of that. Definitely reminding of his last experience with a drug.] Any idea where it might have come from? Something local or maybe brought in by one of the other Foreigners.

[He leans over to take a peek into the microscope.]

[action]

[spoilsfun]

[Sherlock had been up to something recently. Conan was curious and in desperate need of a distraction.

Which was why he had followed Sherlock to the lab today. Coming out from behind some of the larger equipment, he climbs up on a chair and peers over the table.]

[action]

[of_deduction]

[ Sherlock has been up to something since January, he's only just now really started to give it more attention as his plans have FINALLY started to fall into place. Which meant he's spent a lot more time at the lab than at home. He has the materials and supplies to work on his experiments at home but there was a reason he opted to do it here instead and that reason had found away to follow him and was currently sitting in a chair like he'd done nothing wrong. ]

[ Sherlock just fixes the boy with a look as he stands up straight. It was like he could see what he was looking at from his seat. ]

Did you need something?

[ He asks, tone a bit clipped. ]

Re: [action]

[spoilsfun]

Just curious. What are you working on now?

[He knew it bothered Sherlock when he played the cute little kid card. That's the reason he was doing it now. ]

[action]

[of_deduction]

[ Sherlock only returns to his microscope and tries his best to just ignore the boy. ]

Nothing that concerns you.

[ He states dismissively. The exact wrong thing to tell a detective, he knows but what else could he say? The truth would only prompt more questions. ]

Re: [action]

[spoilsfun]

Why is that?

[Bad move, Sherlock. ]

--> Action

[redlightgreenlight]

[Valdis got the message and despite being annoyed at the summons by one of her investigators, Sherlock wouldn't have summoned her if it weren't important. So she shows up at the University lab with ten minutes to spare, not bothering to actually tell him she is coming.]

You called?

Action

[of_deduction]

[ Sherlock looks up at her arrival and turns away from the microscope. ]

Still haven't quite figured out the location where this dust is being made. But I came across something a little more pressing.

[ He gestures to the microscope. ] Have a look.

[redlightgreenlight]

Ok?

[She arches a brow, curious and wary at the same time, but Valdis walks over and leans down to look through the microscope, not entirely certain what she is going to see.]

[of_deduction]

the "drug" is alive. [ He explains once he's looking into the scope. ]

There are a few organic and inorganic compounds I'm not familiar with, but then I am only from Earth. One thing I do recognise though- [ He holds up one finger. ] is the clear DNA-like structure. I can't tell yet if we should classify it as a parasite or virus but given what we know about it I'm more inclined to say it's the former.

[ He gets up to grab another slide ]

Now this is just an earlier batch, more recently the compounds have changed slightly creating this.

[ he pulls the current slid out and moves in the new one. ]

It's dying-not moving nearly as fast because it can't stablise. With the correct amount of experimenting it would be theoretically possible to get it stablise but this version is particular aggressive when introduced to other organic compounds.

[redlightgreenlight]

[It was moving. Alive. A parasite. She took a step back from the microscope, eyes wide.]

I'm not sure that helping it stabilize is the best route to take. We need to find a way to kill it.

text

[unetrustworthy]

Suhiet at the Healer's Guild knows Herbalism. She asked to teach me.

Is that close?

text

[of_deduction]

If she can identify base compounds from plants then she's ideal
SH

text

[unetrustworthy]

[The pause on Midii's end wasn't as long as it might have been for others, given they had been through this before. So she knew that asking questions was okay.]

What are 'base compounds'?

text

[of_deduction]

A compound is created by two or more separate elements. Base compounds-in chemistry at least, are compounds are substances that exhibit typical basic behaviour when dissolved in solvents other than water. What I'm doing is very complicated and probably not a good introduction to chemistry.

If you have an interest in learning then I can, perhaps, teach you.
SH

text

[unetrustworthy]

[The only thing in that moment more uplifting than realizing she recognized most of the words in his explanation (and was able to decipher the rest with a bit of textual research) was the offer that followed it.]

Really? You would take time to teach me?

Text

[ninjainviolet]

Raine Sage is the head of the Healer's Guild and has been here for a while. She may know who can help you if she can't.

Text

[of_deduction]

Thank you, I'll be sure to send her a message.

Text

[ninjainviolet]

You're welcome.

I grew up in a village where we grew our own herbs for healing and food. Is there anything I can help with right now?

Text

[of_deduction]

Only if you'd be able to identify unique compounds of the plants through chemistry and under a microscope.

Text

[ninjainviolet]

Sorry, chemistry really isn't my strong suit. But I do know what some herbs are capable of--if that helps narrow down the search.

If you're looking for something specific.