Microbiochemistry 101 [Nina]

[jasont]

Talia was right, Stenet Labs was a small and discreet building in West Gotham. If he didn’t know where to go, he’d have tried the entire city before looking there. The objective was to find Doctor Nina Stenet, probably the most brilliant microbiologist-slash-chemist available in the area. She’d been “found” by Talia, though he wouldn’t really have needed any help to discover her if he’d had the chance to dig around.

[Alright, here I am.] – Jason told his driver to pick him up later - feeling extremely stupid in doing so - and got out of the black BMW X5, looking up to the rather average building and wondering how well that would go. He wasn’t really comfortable with having to enlist the doctor’s help without a little intimidation, but improv was part of the game. So somehow the best vigilante in Gotham had been convinced to wear a light-blue business shirt and a custom-made black suit, which, even while allowed some plain jeans and dark-brown boots, he still believed made him look ridiculous. Talia had insisted he at least looked the part while representing her companies. – [Should’ve at least brought a gun.] – If anything happened, getting out would be troublesome. Though nothing was supposed to happen. Not to Jack Redford, close relative of the great Miranda Tate and part of Kord Industries and WayneTech’s major share-holders. – [Ok, “Jack”, go on.] – He made his way inside, automatically taking in every detail available - mainly anything that could help in case of a fight or fast retreat - and fighting an urge to rip the suit apart.

Jason had an enormous need to continue his training and thrive in as many areas as possible, and Dr Stenet’s was mainly unknown to him. Ironically, once more, even while trying to eliminate his need to look for help, Talia’s resources and contacts were right there holding him up. That would have to stop, sooner or later. At least the job that had pointed him in this particular area’s direction was one-hundred-percent Red Hood’s. More specifically, Jason had stopped a group of mercenaries from acquiring the Neurotrol drug from New Hope Pharmaceuticals, finding out a plot of unknown depth to create an extremely violent chemical weapon in the aftermath. He hadn’t been able to find out much more, unfortunately, so while waiting to pursue more leads it certainly didn’t hurt to acquire the know-how to deal with the situation.

Back to the matter at hand, the building’s interior was even more unremarkable than it seemed from the outside. – [Wow. I find it hard to believe someone actually does creative work in here. Then again, there’s Batman and his Broodcave, so I guess anything’s possible.] – His expression obviously betrayed no such thoughts, revealing only a hint of the ever-growing hatred the suit caused him. Jason noticed a reception desk, choosing it as his destination and approaching it casually, wondering how exactly should a teenage multi-millionaire interested in business go about that. Should he idiotically flirt with every female within ten kilometers as his ex-mentor did? Of course, he had spent a few years as Bruce Wayne’s ward, but Jason had hated that whole rich-kid part of his Robin life, excusing himself from every possible social event and having Dick and Bruce to save him from most attempts to get his opinion or statements in parties and social visits. Not only that, it had been years since the last time he’d played the part, he was much younger then, and much less angry. And not a single time had he gone through it alone. Maybe if this was a mission… It all seemed to flow perfectly during those moments, but in such a simple environment it just felt wrong. – “Good evening. I’m looking for Doctor Nina Stenet, my name’s Jack Redford. I’m not certain if my associates called ahead, but I sure hope so.” – They were supposed to, but no one in any of the companies seemed to like him. Might have something to do with the fact they were all rotten bastards and Jason had no problem in pointing that out in the few occasions he’d used this cover. – [Well, whatever.]

[Nina Stenet]

Given that Stenet Labs does all of its business with other corporations, people generally know that it exists or they wouldn't care to know. Which means that making it look at all fancy on the outside or inside rather pointless - it's a building for doing work, not for impressing anyone. Nina would rather think that the lab's output does plenty of impressing on its own.

Shawty had informed her that someone was coming by, and Nina was immediately unhappy with the idea. Any time meeting with anyone takes away from the time that she could be doing real work. And since that person is liable to want something from her, it probably hints at even larger interruption to her work. She'd been tempted to blow it off completely, but these business contacts are vital to ensuring that her work gets widely distributed and therefore will ultimately get to the public quickly and at a decent price. So she might as well let him come by and see just how quickly she can convince him to leave in a decent mood.

As is usually the case, Shawty is sitting at the reception desk. It only partly hides the fact that, at 4'9", she's rather small for an adult. Yet when the young man comes through the door her eyes reflexively size him up. Which is to be expected since one of the ways that she assists Dr. Stenet is by being her bodyguard. Which is why she's armed, though her gun is hidden behind a labcoat. She smiles politely as the young man introduces himself, but she doesn't bother to answer.

Nina, having heard someone coming through the front door, could be almost completely certain that it's the person they were expecting - the lab just doesn't get many visitors. So even as the kid introduces himself she's walking from the lab area to the front, and as she rounds the corner she says, "Yes, they did, but they were rather vague about exactly why you were coming by." She tries to keep her face relatively neutral, but Nina has never been very good at hiding her emotions so there's a bit of impatience in her tone and expression. "I'm Dr. Stenet, what can I do for you?" she asks politely.

[jasont]

The miniature behind the desk smiled at him as she might’ve done to a small boy showing her a drawing, and Jason’s mood immediately worsened. He could tell she had some physical training, especially by her analysis of him earlier, and that thought made him unwillingly consider taking her down. – [What the hell, brain, calm down.] – The vigilante crossed his arms, trying not to claw at the suit, and would’ve said something if not for Dr Stenet’s sudden appearance. She was fast, that was a given. While mentally thanking the bastards back at the companies for not failing him on this one, Jason also noticed the good Doctor was less than thrilled with him being there. With all those reactions he almost felt like he was saving them, sure seemed similar. – “It’s just sunshine all around, huh?” – A slightly sarcastic smile followed this remark, but Jason quickly forced himself to get back to what mattered in that situation. – “Don’t let the mood fool you, though, it is an honor to meet you, Dr Stenet.” – It was. He had read some of her work, and she was brilliant. It would almost make that too good if she were a more… Approachable person.

The “hero” seemed to show through Jack Redford a little more as his expression became serious. It would’ve been much easier just being himself, and destroying that goddamned suit. – “It’s simple. I am extremely interested in your work, and your particular skills with it. I would like to learn under you for a little while, mainly about microbial biotechnology, epidemiology and organic chemistry. Though it’s a personal request, my associates are prepared to fund and lend their support to any of Stenet Labs’ researches, both during and after this. It’s… more important than it sounds, not just a rick kid’s idiocy.” – And there goes the Jack persona, even with a name-change he was still Jason all the way to the core. If only it had been a mission…

In a rather poor decision, he decided to ride that streak, turning to the assistant for a moment. – “I could totally take you, by the way.” – His eyes flashed briefly with stubbornness and annoyance, before Jason focused his attention on Dr Stenet once more, the vigilante trying not to look too mentally unbalanced while doing so. – [Ladies and gentlemen, Jason Todd: Manchild.]

[Nina Stenet]

As he explains why he's here, Nina's expression remains completely unchanged. She's equally unimpressed by the fact that he's heard of her as she is by his interest in her work and his offer of funding. She does what she does because she believes in it, and not for fame, praise, or money. In fact she rather wishes that she didn't get any of the above because it only ever proves to be a distraction. This boy asking her to teach him is a prime example of that.

And the comment that he makes to her assistant doesn't improve her opinion of him at all. Though it causes Shawty to momentarily lift her eyebrow in surprise that he noticed that she'd checked him over, before she smirks and says, "Maybe if your chauffeur helps you." But she's used to people underestimating her. It's actually helped her defeat a number of admittedly superior opponents who didn't see her coming - if not because of her height then because of her gender or whatever the biases of her opponents happen to be.

But Nina is in no mood to listen to them banter, and solves that problem by staring at Shawty until her assistant rolls her eyes and goes back to her paperwork. Then she looks back at Jack. "I'm sorry - I'm flattered, but I'm not interested. I don't have the time, energy, or inclination to teach anyone. And I seriously doubt that your reasons are important enough to interrupt my work. If you really want to learn, I suggest enrolling at the university - that's how I learned," she says flatly. She's probably coming across as being rather arrogant by saying it that way, but she doesn't really care. What he's asking for goes beyond the minimal sort of favors that she might have entertained.