[CLOSED] Another corporate show

[kingpawn]

WHO: Walter White and Jonathan Crane
WHERE: The pharmacy in Heropa
WHEN: Earlier in the afternoon before this
WHAT: Crane pays an impromptu visit to Walt on the job.
WARNINGS: There may be some mention of mental disorders and related medications.

[ To say Walt feels like crap is the understatement of the century. No combination of painkillers and coffee are going to erase his headache completely -- but considering Walt had done a great deal of work back home while he was sick, he doesn't lose his focus. He does feel a great sense of unease, however, knowing that in the evening he was going to come face to face with Louis Bloom, a stranger who seemed far too keen on listening to his conversations. But all those thoughts do is make his hands a little unsteady, and with a few, calming deep breaths...Walt's able to get his focus back, filling a bottle with the appropriate dose of pre-made pills before slapping a label on it.

He approaches the awaiting customer, wearing his best pleasant smile which comes off as strained. ] Here you go, Mrs. Jacobs. Now you're going to want to take two pills, every four hours with a full glass of water and a meal. You may feel drowsy while taking it, so please don't operate any machinery. The prescription should last you two weeks, and if at that time, your symptoms return, please return to your doctor. [ He guides her to his assistant so that the transaction could take place before he dips his hands back into the stockpile of drugs, sorting things accordingly, trying to get them on the shelf before the next customer came.

He hears the telltale sound of footsteps approaching, but doesn't turn around just yet. Another customer. They can at least wait until he has the few bottles in his hands in their respective spots. ]

I'll be with you in a moment.

Comments

[restingstitchface]

[Crane has to consider this offer. He loathes charity, detests it, needs to stamp it wherever he sees it, especially when it feels aimed at him personally - and oh he always would, if he could escape suspicion.

He doesn't consult anyone about anything - he doesn't need to because he knows what he's doing.

He can, however, see when a business offer is made. This offer is intellectual, it's intriguing. And it's giving him what he needs. Access to chemicals.

He tilts his head a little.]

Really? What a splendid offer. But won't your assistant be a problem for you?

[kingpawn]

I see no reason why she would be. Especially not if you were to use it after hours.

[ Walt rises to his feet, reaching in his pocket and taking out the set of keys. ]

Would you like to see it first hand?

[restingstitchface]

[Crane rises from his chair. He's a little intrigued, perhaps - but not quite unguarded. He clasps his hands together before him and quirks his brows. It's playful in its manner - as playful as Crane can get, anyway.

He's not scared, either. Aware of danger, yes. But never afraid.]

Of course.

[kingpawn]

[ Walt might be a dangerous man to some, but it's only when he feels threatened -- like a wild animal who has to assert his dominance or a caged prey animal fighting for its life. Crane has nothing to worry about here, but the cautiousness is wise.

Walt leads the way out of the room and once Crane is out the door, he locks it before turning the few steps that lead to the lab. Fitting the key into the knob, he gives it a twist and reveals the lab set up. Like Walt said, it was small. But the technology is new and the few machines that are there, are the ones most commonly used in making medications -- which was what Crane said he was looking to do. ]

Like I said, it isn't much. But feel free to have a look around.

[restingstitchface]

[There's a lot to take in at first. Crane's heart is beating as he flicks his eyes around; distillation equipment, clean hot plates and stirrers, glassware and red, blue, green and black rubber tubing connecting machine to machine.

He pushes up his glasses, and he leans forward over some of the devices. There's a small, satisfied smile as he turns around. Here's a lab suitable for his purposes.]

Very, very nice.

I should think you could make a wide range of substances here.

[kingpawn]

[ Walt nods. He didn't really set up the lab, so he can't take credit for it. But he can agree. It isn't a bad set up. ]

It provides more than enough for what I need. Basic pharmaceutical synthesis. But I believe in our field of work, experimentation goes a far way. With the ever increasing diseases, both physical and mental, the same medications won't cut it and we must always be ready to evolve. I don't believe it would be a crime to use this lab for research purposes -- as long as we don't sell the medication before it's ready.

[ At least not without some kind of authorization or approval. ]

[restingstitchface]

[Crane touches one of the clean, new hot plates like a craftsman - studying it enough to learn every intimate aspect and use. It gives him a nice reminder of how much he prefers his work over people.

A brow quirks as he turns around to question the other man he knows is here.]

Before it's ready we'll have to figure out how to run a clinical trial.

[It's a simple statement for a complex problem. His expression passes on the other half of his message; before it's ready we'll have to see it works. His toxin's his work. Doesn't mean he can't make Walt feel included by consulting him on something as fundamental as this.]

[kingpawn]

Of course.

[ Walt studies Crane quietly, wondering what he has in mind. To suggest outright that they move forward and prescribe this medication without really knowing what the side-effects are would be wrong. Of course it would. But if people are willing to buy the product and voluntarily choose to take it on the off chance it could alleviate their ailments, doesn't that change matters? Informed consent. A human experimentation. Walt can't honestly say he cares what people get into if they sign the legal forms and choose to medicate their life away. But he doesn't want to come off as so callous to Crane -- a man who specializes in helping those people. ]

I'm sure we have...avenues we can explore. And legalities can always be worked around with consent and a signature.

[restingstitchface]

[Crane misses a long period of time before answering back, thinking and processing everything he's just heard, letting two words roll around on his tongue. Worked around. It doesn't take a leap of logic for Crane to use them to make a judgment of character - he often analysed people from how they chose their words.

He glances over his shoulder at Walt. He's wearing a small, proud smile - and there's a probing sound in his tone.]

Worked around. [A repeat for emphasis, and to ground the topic. Oh, he's noticed you.] Do you always work around legalities, Mr. White?

[kingpawn]

[ Walt is taken off guard. It was a casual slip. He made a mistake and, of course, the psychiatrist would pick up on it. Chilton isn't the only dangerous one here. And Walt forgot about that in a moment of bonding over chemistry and intelligent conversation.

Walt's lips quirk into a faint smile, letting out a dismissive laugh. The difference between Crane and Chilton is Crane doesn't necessarily specialize in the criminally insane. He isn't searching for an interesting subject to mentally dissect. Fears and anxieties are Jonathan Crane's mental disorder of choice, so Walt won't enter the same kind of radar he has when it comes to Chilton. But it's still unsettling to have someone so dangerously close to his secrets. ]

As a scientist, aren't we always? Tests on mice only go so far. It isn't until we have human subjects that any real research and analysis can be done.

[restingstitchface]

[It's an interesting enough subject that he turns around, more to study Walt in depth than out of unbalancing, unfocused surprise. His gaze doesn't stray - it's challenging Walt to prove he's as smart as he hopes, but in a way that's academic and not hormonal alpha-male nonsense.

He holds himself above such animal instinct. But he's smart enough to realize it's presence in humans as a whole.]

I suppose that's true.

[The hidden implication is he agrees with what Walt's saying.]

Now. Many discoveries come about as a result of self-experimentation. The discovery of metabolism, for instance. Single-subject scientific experimentation has a long and well-documented history going back to the ancient eras. There's always a means and a way.

[kingpawn]

[ Walt doesn't give anything away, though he is aware of the way Crane is looking at him. Chilton looked at him much the same -- psychiatrists will always try and analyze. It's best to swallow secrets deep and to do his best to keep them from his face. ]

Self-experimentation? Well, yes. That is certainly an avenue. But it's not one I personally would be willing to pursue. If we're talking about medications -- what would the benefit be in taking something if you don't suffer from the symptoms yourself?

[ No thank you, Crane. But you're more than welcome to go inject your drugs into yourself. Let Walt know how that goes, okay? ]

[restingstitchface]

[Walt's outright refusal strikes his interest. Wasn't self-experimentation a good method for someone so curious a scientist? And what exactly would he refuse to use?

He understands his caution, though. He just wouldn't inject himself with anything, either.]

Greater insight? Proof? I'm certain you know how LSD was discovered. Sometimes medications are discovered purely by accident.

[Don't medication and drugs do the same thing, in the end? They both affect nerve receptors, chemicals and other bodily functions.]

[kingpawn]

[ Walt laughs quietly. ]

It takes a certain amount of devotion and self-sacrifice to be willing to experiment on oneself. And I don't condemn it. As you've said, we've learned a great deal through what others have been willing to do. It's just not a route I would be willing to go down. I already live on a shortened period of time...

[ There's a sad smile tugging at the edges of his lips but then he shakes the emotion away. ]

So yes. This is my work space for the time being. I can't say what will happen in the future, whether I will stay here or move on to something larger. But I at least wanted you to see the facility they've provided for me. And I hope our pharmacy will have the recommendation for your business.

[restingstitchface]

[Crane's calm expression turns slightly empthatic. Not to show emotion, but to foster a sense of understanding. He's not going to ask what Walt meant by a shortened period of time. It's his choice to reveal that, in his own time.

Also to show that he appreciates the generous offer to see Walt's laboratory.]

I'm certain it shall, Mr. White.

[His eyes flick around the room, as they tend to when he senses a conversation drawing to a natural close. One last chance to analyze its owner, perhaps?]

If you move somewhere more fitting for your needs, remember to call me.