Summary:Dr. Isley gives a lecture at ESU and meets a rather studious Peter Parker. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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Some jobs are worse than others.
Giving a lecture on measures to increase ethical harvesting and production of medically-beneficial plants is not exactly a minefield…unless you consider the one giving the lecture—the infamous Dr. Pamela "Poison Ivy" Isley, now on the far end of a long road of rehabilitation in both image and worldview.
Usually, the lecture has an audience of staid researchers who are doing post-doc or post-grad work. But with isley, the lecture hall was packed with young men (and more than a few young women, all wanting to get a little glimpse of Dr. Isley.
Dr. Curt Connors had done a pretty good job of wrangling the students, stifling questions about her criminal career, guiding the conversation back to scientific pursuits. Not bad for a guy with one arm.
He had also pointed out one person to her at the beginning, advising her to pull no punched with him. He wasn't much to look at. Short brown hair, mild brown eyes, average face (healthy, but not handsome) and average build if his baggy clothes were any indication.
Except when he looked at her, there were no dilated irises, hungry looks, flirtatious glances, or coquettish smiles. He looked up at her, head tilted slightly as if to listen better, then back to a rather beat-up laptop computer…
Dr. Pamela Isley has, in this case, insisted strongly on Doctor Isley for the purposes of this lecture hall. Having given her initial remarks, focusing specifically on the Amazon, she directs her gaze towards the young man that Connors pointed out at the beginning. And well, she buries a mix of surprise and pleasure that he's not trying to flirt at her, unlike most of the other students (regardless of gender). Now, what was his name again…
"Mister Parker, so what do you think of this plan for the ethical use of natural resources?" She smiles a bit, as she is dressed very professionally, a dark green silk blouse and matching pantsuit, along with a white business jacket over that given that fall is nearly here. Oh, and she's not green skinned at the moment, either, though her hair stays that vibrant red.
Peter looks up, mildly startled. "Me? Well, I've been going over the data you provided. A rotating system of growth and harvest with the types you have in your plan are very thorough in soil preservation. The concept has been explored, but your expertise does give your plan a very sustainable cycle."
He pauses, then continues, sounding a little embarrassed. "However, although I respect your advocation of biopesticides. I…have an issue with one of them, Abamacetin. It's recently come out that if improperly prepared, it carries twelve carcinogens. I was wondering if you might consider using a boric acid solution in place of that."
Dr. Isley hmms, "Really? I hadn't heard that just yet, but I've been a little… preoccupied with working on the Disaster Zone." She smiles a touch, "For those that aren't aware, I've been supervising some cleanup efforts there. But thank you for the information, Mister Parker, I'll make a note of that." And to her credit, she looks like she's doing exactly that, "Boric Acid? Interesting, though wouldn't there be other complications by going that route?"
Peter flushes a deeper pink, then says, "Uhm…well, I could illustrate it, but…this is your lecture, Doctor. I hope I would not be overstepping my bounds if I had a few minutes of your precious time."
Dr. Isley grins, "Indeed. We'll talk about this later." She then continues about ethical ways to sustain biodiversity in the environment, changing subjects and continuing the lecture.
Eventually, the lecture ends, and Dr. Isley ends up exchanging a few words with Dr. Connors, before she eventually comes over towards Peter's desk, smiling down at him with a wry expression, "So… boric acid?" One eyebrow arches, as she tilts her head at the young man.
Peter looks up. She does have that same touch of the exotic, even if her skin isn't green. He sits up a little straighter, then turns the laptop around. The first impression is the crack in the screen, and that the laptop looks a little beat up.
What is on the screen…
Dr. Isley finds herself looking at a chemical composition diagram. She recognized the basic structure as boric acid, but reconfigured as a salt of boric acid. The change is subtle, incomprehensible to someone not versed in chemistry. But she can see it.
"Your plan uses Abamacetin within the nine-to-eighteen-week period of the growth stage. This compound is water-soluble, and inert. In concentrations of 15 PPM, there would be no affect on the plants themselves. That would need testing, of course, but the science is sound. Now this salt of boric acid has a specific structure that would fill an insect's stomach, interlocking to stay in the body. The insect basically starves the more it eats of it."
Pamela hmmms, "Interesting. That definitely would fulfill the requirements of what we're looking for at that phase of the process." She nods slightly, "Definitely something that should have been caught already." She pauses, then adds, half-jokingly, "I don't suppose you're looking for a job?" It's a bit hard to notice the cracked laptop screen, at least, though she's kind enough not to comment on it directly.
Besides, don't ask her how many times Harley got excited and broke something of hers…
Peter smiles apologetically. "I'm…I already have a job. I have a work-study position at Kane Industries. We just completed a hip-replacement breakthrough. Twice the lifespan, with no risk of ill effects.even with heavy use."
Not that his Aunt May would use it heavily.
"If you want, I can just send you the notes I put together during the lecture, and you can test it out. If it fits your needs, then just put me down as a writing credit."
Dr. Isley chuckles at that, "Gladly, and if this pans out, you've definitely earned it, Mister Parker. I'm glad I singled you out." She grins a little, "Though I think Kane Industries has enough backing to get you a new laptop, at least. Or at least a replacement screen."
Peter looks down, then chuckles. "It's a longtime friend. Besides, until I got the job a couple of months ago, I couldn't afford to replace the screen. I'll probably replace it if the laptop itself breaks, if I need to and I can cover the bills for the month." He chuckles. "I've done a lot more with a lot less, Dr. Isley."
He pauses, then continues, "I'm…glad to see you're excelling in your life like this, Dr. Isley. I hope you find it fulfilling."
Pamela considers that, then nods, "It is, actually. I like to think the anger that drove me still does… but I'm using it in better ways." She chuckles softly, "Though, the echoes of it still reflect in who I am, or rather how I'm viewed by the world at large." A bit of a tired sigh, at that.
Peter smiles, and that smile seems to elevate him to handsome. The smile is warm, his face open and guileless, his eyes earnest and clear.
"Everybody deserves a second chance,but it's up to them to take it. I'm glad you took yours and did something with it." He looks up at the clock, then stands. "It's not who you were that matters, Dr. Isley. It's who you are now."
Dr. Connors steps up, smiling politely. "Mr. Parker, you have Poli Sci as I recall, in ten minutes."
"Yessir." He closed his laptop and put it away, then turned and extended a hand to Pamela. "You can email me at moc.liamg|9102rekraPreteP#moc.liamg|9102rekraPreteP and I'll send you those notes, promise. It was an honor to meet with you, and for the chance to contribute."
Dr. Isley nods towards Peter, "Of course, now hustle off. You shouldn't try to be late, even for political science." She grins a bit, then after the last student leaves, turns her head to look at Dr. Connors, "Thanks for offering the invitation… it's rather nice to be talking to the students for a change."
Dr. Connors watches Peter go, leaving them alone in the lecture hall. He chuckles. "He's a breath of fresh air, isn't he, Doctor?"
Pamela snickers, "That's one way to put it… to be honest, I think he's the only one of your students that wasn't thinking of me in my supervillain outfit." She smiles wryly, "So yes, definitely a breath of fresh air. And a rather insightful young man, I have to admit. We'll need to do some tests on that solution he presented, of course, but if it pans out… could definitely help in the long run."
Dr. Connors nods, then says, "I'll help you pack up your materials." He begins walking down the steps to the stage area where Pamela had conducted the lecture. "He's quite the feather in my cap, I'm happy to say. A brilliant young man. An IQ of 250, if you can imagine that. He's in the Neuroscience program, and he's already moving ahead of the other students in his classes. Although I had feared we'd lose him to MIT." He sighs as he puts one of her folders in the box. "He had to stay in the city. Uncle was killed. Parents disappeared when he was four. One elderly aunt. So, he became the main source of income at the age of 16. In spite of all that, he flourished. And he exhibits none of the issues I've had with some of my other students with similar issues. MIT's loss is my gain, but some days I can't help feeling a little guilty for wanting him here."
Pamela nods, "Well, if he's that smart… I see why you wanted me to call him out." She pauses, and hrms, "You say he has none of those issues. But that seems to imply that he has other ones. Understandably so." She gets a wry look on her face, "I mean, I can't exactly judge people on their response to traumatic events, can I?"
Dr. Connors chuckles. "I think he's a very grounded person. Very strong moral code. Solid work ethic, even if he has slipped a bit in the last few years. Intermittent tardiness, missed appointments. Some students call him the Absent-Minded Professor."
Dr. Isley arches a brow at that, "Seems very… out of character, from what you've described. Does he have friends? Sometimes you need people in your life to keep you grounded." At that, she gets a bit of a wry smile, making sure all her notes are put in her satchel so she isn't forgetting anything.
Dr. Connors nods. "Not many. He has some friends. A few very odd ones, in fact. The son of the CEO of OsCorp. A budding actress. Even a recent immigrant from overseas, who seems…very imposing. They all are very steadfast, from what I've seen. But there were also…reports of bullying. Going back years. But as of late, he seems to have avoided most of that, and has been able to stay away from Beta Phi Omega. The 'jock' fraternity."
Pamela hrms, "Sounds like he feels like an outsider, so he's gravitating to people that feel the same way." She chuckles, "But I'm not the psychiatrist, I leave that work to my partner." Even if she tends to prescribe therapy via giant sledgehammer, but that's neither here nor there. With that, Pamela offers a hand towards Dr. Connors, "In any case, it was a pleasure to talk with him, and with you, Doctor." She smiles warmly at the other doctor.
Dr. Conners shakes her head, chuckling wryly. "I hope his ideas improve your program, Dr. isley. And thank you again for coming to ESU."