tushanshu | [video]

[ Olivia's looking down when the camera comes on, trying to find the right way to phrase this. When she finally looks up, it's with a thoughtful, worried expression, and she takes a deep breath before she speaks. ]

It's pretty obvious to me by now that having... abilities isn't exactly uncommon here. It is, where I'm from. I met a few people who did have... I guess you could say special powers, back home, and... Maybe it's just the circumstances those abilities came from, but to say the results were disastrous would be an understatement.

[ She glances away, pressing her lips together. Coming to the point isn't easy. If she were asking one person, that would be one thing, but she doesn't know who to go to, and letting everyone know just how clueless and confused she is right now... It's not her favorite thing in the world. ]

I was hoping someone with some experience with this sort of thing could tell me how you handle those abilities. How you control them. Something happened to me when the city was attacked, and... I don't want it to happen again. I don't want to risk hurting anyone.

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It's fine. I understand. [ They're the same sort of questions Walter would have asked, really, just with less personal asides thrown in. It's a little comforting, in an odd way. ]

There was a... a series of drug trials when I was younger - three or four, I think. I don't remember any of it, but the others were all part of it too, so I think it's safe to say that's the cause.

[This is where a normal person would be making notes about this conversation. Reid, however, just nods.]

Do you have any idea at all what sort of chemicals they were?

They called it Cortexiphan, but what exactly was in it... no, I have no idea. The man who made it believed the human brain has infinite potential at birth, and Cortexiphan was meant to keep that potential from being lost. I'm not sure if these abilities were the intended result, or just a side effect.

[He breaks the word down in his mind. Cortex, from the Latin root meaning 'bark' or 'rind'. Generally associated with the brain, its meaning exceeds that alone and also refers to the outer layer of any organ.

In terms of the brain itself, the 'cortex' is the section that covers the cerebral hemispheres and is comprised of neurons and axons, concerning voluntary muscle movements, learning, language and memory.

-phan, however. From the Greek Phainein, it means 'to appear, display or show'.

Given her words, the intended meaning becomes almost too clear.]

Would you be willing to give a blood sample?

[... since although he technically could do a spinal tap, he wouldn't want to ask nor assume she'd consent.]

[ Funny you should mention that, Reid... ]

That's not a problem, though... I don't know how much good it would do. I was told it doesn't show up except with a spinal tap. [ There's a hint of a grimace. Yeah, she's been there and done that, and didn't especially love the experience. ]

-- Ah. Yes, that would pose a problem.

I'm sorry, I know I'm not exactly being helpful, and I think the drug and the trials were probably designed to make it difficult figuring out anything about them after the fact. I do appreciate the interest, though, honestly.

No, it's not your fault. At that age-- are you aware of whether or not your parents knew about or consented to these trials?

I have no idea. If they did, they can't have really known what was going on, but... I don't remember any of it, and by the time I found out, asking them about it wasn't really an option.

I'm sorry to hear that.

[Since. She's basically implying that they're dead.]

For what it's worth, my door is always open if you'd like to talk. I can also walk you through several meditative techniques if you think they might help boost your self control.

It's fine.

I think I would appreciate that, actually. It can't hurt, right?

[ A pause, and then she tilts her head a little as she asks: ] Can I ask what you do? Where you're from?

I work with the FBI's BAU in Quantico.

[ There's a moment where she just blinks at the screen in honest surprise, and then a little smile. ] Really? You really didn't strike me as the FBI type. ...I used to be a profiler too.

Really?

[TELL HIM MORE]

Well, it's been a while. For the past year I've been working in a... special division, and before that I was a interdepartmental liaison for several years, but profiling was kind of my thing for a while.

I kind of miss it.

Well, there's nothing that says you couldn't get back into it later, right?

[... well, minus the whole. Pyromania thing. Which he's still not completely convinced isn't a hallucination on her behalf...]

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