maskormenacelogs | will I be happy on the back of the shelf

WHO: NORMAN OSBORN and ROSE LALONDE
WHERE: De Chima, Virginia
WHEN: Monday 17th, evening
WHAT: [goblining intensifies]
WARNINGS: Brainwashing teenagers into villainy

[ For all that Norman may wax on about patience, his own patience has grown thin as of late. Anticipation demands action, and action demands motion; the mask in his wardrobe calls to him, but it isn't his time yet.

Rose still has to set his stage. His way.

It has taken him some time to get a new lab, which is small and still mostly undecorated save for the research and instruments Norman came in with -- some small fortunes -- but he intends fully to invest in a larger space once he's built up funds. De Chima, being science prone, offers good prices for rent space. It'll do, for now.

After instructing her on where to meet him, Norman gets ready. He dresses in costume himself right there in the lab, although he's left the mask at home. Next, he readies his nanites, filling a syringe with what looks like a nearly translucent silver liquid. They're the very same kind he'd used on Reilly Tyne years ago, meant to brainwash in two stages: A hypnotic stage, wherein he could command and the subject would obey, and an amnesiac stage, wherein they'd repress or forcibly forget anything they'd done during stage one. No trace of his hand should be present in her actions, in other words. Not if all went smoothly.

He leaves a light on as it begins growing dark. ]

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[Sneaking out has become something of a perfected art at this point. Rose let's herself in - dressed in costume herself (and her coat, to cover it from anyone she passes). In all honesty, she knows she shouldn't have come. If she had any sense at all, she thinks, she'd have made up her excuses.

But here she is.

The new lab takes some time to navigate. She finds him eventually; knocks twice on the door before letting herself in. ]

[ The door opens easily, having none of the bells and whistles of Norman's old labs. It's an irritation, but Norman can be patient, he'll make do.

He turns from the table, looking at Rose as she enters without much change in his expression. If there were any doubt she would show up, there's no trace of it on his face. ]

Rose.

You weren't followed?

[The first thing she does is eye the costume. She smiles tightly while closing the door behind her and shakes her head. ]

No.

[She made certain. Telling Kanaya about this - it can wait. Maybe a few days. For now, she's in the library. There's a notepad in her bag filled with extra notes to support her.

The thing is, she should tell him she's done. She really, really should. Instead, she steps closer and adjusts the weight of her bag on her shoulder.]

Should I assume you have calculated your next move forward?

Good.

[ Which is all for a while; he scrutinizes her for a few moments just to discern her body language, her manner, seeing if he can determine any tells that would indicate lying.

But it doesn't appear to be a lie. And if it is he'll find out soon enough. He nods his head, indicating for her to come over. ]

First of all, Rose, I always have. Don't ever assume I don't already know my next several steps up from whichever it is I'm standing on. [ It's both an answer and a warning. He picks up the needle. ] But since you've been so committed, I thought I'd develop something that could enhance the experience for you. It's a supplement formula -- designed to improve your speed, your strength, your senses, your response time.

[ It is, but not only that. ]

Give it a try.

[She is not convinced. There is not a thing Norman has just said that she is not second guessing. There is not a favor Norman can offer that she will not scrutinize in the future. She eyes the needle with apprehension.

She swallows and cocks her head to the side. In a split-second she tries to fathom why Norman would possibly want to drug her here and now. She can't discern how that would benefit him.

When she slips off her coat, she doesn't consider the possibility of something else. She slips off a glove, tugs her sleeve up and nods. ]

How long will it take to take effect?

[ His smile is as placating as one could possibly hope to ever expect from Norman; thin, calm, pulling out all the stops at sincerity even if there is no sign of kindness within it.

Norman's false smiles need never be kind; that would only make them seem all the falser.

He's got in his hand a strip of elastic to tie around her arm and force up the veins, which he proceeds to tie tightly. With his finger he flicks at the skin of her arm. ]

Fifteen minutes, at most. The effects last a week per dose... or so they're meant to. Coupled with adrenaline, maybe more like five days.

[ The skin is smeared with a swab of alcohol to sterility, and then the needle advances. ]

But we'll find out.

I'll have to invest in concealer, I suppose.

[For all the bruises, probably. She doesn't avert her eyes. She watches it advance, holds her breath as it pierces the skin and exhales through her nose. This one feels like a bruise already. Shots are not a recommended bonding activity, she decides. She glances back at him, worrying her lip with her teeth. ]

Will I be coming here or will I be taking it home?

Don't worry about that. The point of contact will heal over, you'll barely even feel it.

[ As with Reilly, Norman intends for there to be no trace of tampering done whatsoever. No visible needle mark, no lasting presence in her system; the nanites would break down and dissolve after they'd attached their sequencing to some of her DNA.

He lets his eyes drift from the needle, which his thumb is currently pushing the plunger of to move the nanites out, to her, something in his eyes especially raw in that moment. He smiles. ]

I'd rather you come here; that way I needn't have to worry about any of my supply being misplaced.

[It's not surprising. She nods; if there's something she finds suspicious about the intensity of his look, she doesn't make it known. Norman is full of odd, off-putting mannerisms, after all.

She tugs her sleeve down when it's done. She eyes his costume again, and then: ]

Next week, then?

[ Eccentric is the preferred term, but "odd" and "off-putting" can certainly be accurate. When the needle empties Norman withdraws and turns away from Rose so he can dispose of it, seemingly ignoring her question -- or perhaps not hearing it -- until he turns back to her after few more moments pass. ]

Next week. But-- [ He points. ] If you can. Keep me informed on any changes you might notice. Reactions. Abnormalities. Anything at all. You can do that, can't you?

Of course I can.

[There's a petulant desire to bite out I know what to do, but Norman is neither the person to do so with and this is not the place. Abnormalities, allergies - she'll be keeping a keen eye for either. ]

I'm a fan of detailed reports.

[That's it then, she thinks. She picks up her coat and slips it back on. ]

Was there anything else?

No. That should be all, Rose -- I won't keep you any longer. Go about your day, see how you feel.

[ He smirks again, putting away his equipment and turning from her again. He adds idly, in case she was having second thoughts: ]

Make sure to show up next time.

will I be happy on the back of the shelf

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