Post by Blitzfrieg on Dec 17, 2018 5:52:42 GMT -5
Finding passage out of the North Blue was far easier than Ruby had anticipated. After reaching a port, and a heartfelt parting with Denda the Dwarf, she snuck on board a steamship alongside several of the other escapees. They were glad to help, and even used some of their treasure to bring her food in her hiding place. It had been a long trip, with plenty of time for her to pontificate on her next course of action.
As soon as the smallest bit of scientific process was applied, the conclusion was beyond debate. The primary benefit of eating the fruit now was obvious, being that it could no longer be taken from her. This was a severely inviting thing. However she had no idea which fruit it really was. The professor had been researching several, and he never revealed which one he had actually acquired. The fruit’s unknown qualities introduced far too many variables into her yet-to-be made plans. Variables meant increased possibility of failure regardless of her intentions and execution. No. She had to know what the fruit was first. She had to know its effects, and research them thoroughly before acting rashly.
Once she knew her destination was the South Blue, things began to grow clearer. The Silver Islands were in the South, and they housed one of the most renown centers of learning in all of the World Government nations. The Silver University. A few borrowed gold coins from the people she helped allowed her to hop onto a Marine protected transport once they crossed the Calm Belt. From there it was rather uneventful, giving her plenty of time to learn about her destination.
Getting inside the university was nearly as easy, after a short scouting trip along with a visitors tour, Ruby stole herself a University uniform Lab Jacket. A quick trip to the lockers found herself a set of clothes more befitting of the islands fashion. She saw to every possible way of blending in, which as already a smooth process. This....was Ruby’s jungle. A university. A place of learning and knowledge. She was home here, and could easily keep up with any casual conversations, allowing her plenty of opportunities to eavesdrop and learn everything she could. Specifically....where the university kept their Devil Fruit related materials. The answer put her plans back several days, forcing her to blend in more thoroughly, actively participating in demonstrations, lectures, and experiments. In truth, it was a refreshing experience.
Three days in, she knew what she needed to know. A copy of the Akuma no Mi Zukan, the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, was kept in the restricted access library. Only staff, and people with special permission were allowed entry. Permission, as far as she had learned, was granted only by Dean Goldwhisker. However....she also learned that a certain staff member who worked a certain rotation had a certain affinity for bribes. As she had been also learning over the last four or five hours....he preferred these bribes in the form of taking portions of his daily workload.
”Whew....” Ruby sighed, slumping in her chair. She had really pushed it this time, but really....she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Professor Baban had been tasked with setting up and cleaning the Dean’s personal Chemistry Station for a lecture. Considering the Dean rarely stepped outside his specialties, it was considered quite an event that many students and staff were looking forward to attending.
Ruby hadn’t just set up the set and cleaned it....she used it. It was an exquisite set with everything a good chemist could ask for. Nine Florence flasks gently boiling over a modular system of Bunsen burners which could be maneuvered around the assembly by a system of levers and knobs. Glass and brass mixed in an exotic display of craftsmanship and genius, displaying ergonomics that left Ruby a bit breathless. It had also allowed the prodigy to synthesize, concentrate, and stabilize herself a gift bag of handy chemicals she may need in the coming days.
A dozen vials of concentrated lubricant/solvent that had already saved her life once in the past week, a dozen that would burst into a small cloud of thick smoke when broken, and a dozen of a binary agent that once mixed, would combust upon coming into contact with oxygen. The process had been exhausting, requiring her constant attention in order to complete so much so quickly. But cleaning up afterward, covering every trace of evidence that the assembly had been used....that had really wiped the last of her energy.
”That’s quite an excellent job young woman.” Ruby nearly jumped out of her skin, hopping up from her seated position, wielding her rag in front of her like a shield. Her surprise drew a laugh from the small, yellow haired, mustachioed professor in front of her. Or he looked like he could be a professor. He was wearing a sweater vest and waist-high trousers. No lab coat. A janitor? Maybe a staff member from another part of the castle?
“I haha...thank you..um...Mister?” She left the question open, hoping he would fill her in. He did not. Instead the man approached the assembly. Leaning forward, he rubbed a finger over the massive Erlenmeyer flask with a pleased huff.
“I don’t even need a testing kit to know this is perfectly clean. I’ve seen my share of this thing.” Ruby frowned, then realization dawned on her. The mustache....the hair....this was the Dean! Ruby snapped into a modest pose, patting down her skirt and adjusting her coat. The Dean waved her off, anticipating the response.
”Oh enough of that. It’s after hours anyways.” He turned to her. “Hmmm....I don’t see your name tag.....wasn’t Baban supposed to handle this?” He smirked, as though he already knew the answer. Ruby didn’t want to throw her key to the library under the bus though.
“Well you see....I haven’t been here long and I wanted to make an impression....” She gestured to the assembly. “I...i’m not really the patient type...so....”
”Ah. I see....” The Dean turned his head, as if curious. “And why are you so desperate to impress?” Ruby knew that look. She wasn’t talking to a fool. She had to be careful with her words. But she also knew teachers....she’d had the best one ever. She knew the answers they liked to hear. So....by twisting the truth a bit....
”I want to continue my professor’s work....on Devil Fruits” Ruby slumped into the chair again, needing a rest from her feet. It also helped her relax.
“Oh...and your professor can’t continue his own work? What is his name?”
“Bishoppo....and he is dead.” The Dean’s expression softened at that bomb drop. It was the truth, but it had the effect she wanted. “He taught me everything I know....” The Dean held up his hand again, stopping her from continuing. He sighed, and looked at the Chemistry Station.
“It seems he taught you well. I don’t know the name. And that is a shame.” The Dean turned around, starting to walk out the presentation room. She started to sigh in relief, when he stopped. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small book of paper slips, removed one, and placed it on a desk. “The Restricted Access library. Present this in the morning when it opens. Good fortune in your research young miss?” He stood there waiting a response, head barely turned. Tired, and slightly stunned….she answered too honestly.
“Bright. Ruby Bright….” The Dean nodded stoically, and exited the room. Leaving Ruby to collapse on the Chemistry stations desk. She couldn’t believe her luck….and yet. Gathering up the bag of vials she had made, and her lab coat, the exhausted red head staggered out the door as well. She headed to her dormitory, where she would pass out with a smile on her face.
As soon as the smallest bit of scientific process was applied, the conclusion was beyond debate. The primary benefit of eating the fruit now was obvious, being that it could no longer be taken from her. This was a severely inviting thing. However she had no idea which fruit it really was. The professor had been researching several, and he never revealed which one he had actually acquired. The fruit’s unknown qualities introduced far too many variables into her yet-to-be made plans. Variables meant increased possibility of failure regardless of her intentions and execution. No. She had to know what the fruit was first. She had to know its effects, and research them thoroughly before acting rashly.
Once she knew her destination was the South Blue, things began to grow clearer. The Silver Islands were in the South, and they housed one of the most renown centers of learning in all of the World Government nations. The Silver University. A few borrowed gold coins from the people she helped allowed her to hop onto a Marine protected transport once they crossed the Calm Belt. From there it was rather uneventful, giving her plenty of time to learn about her destination.
Getting inside the university was nearly as easy, after a short scouting trip along with a visitors tour, Ruby stole herself a University uniform Lab Jacket. A quick trip to the lockers found herself a set of clothes more befitting of the islands fashion. She saw to every possible way of blending in, which as already a smooth process. This....was Ruby’s jungle. A university. A place of learning and knowledge. She was home here, and could easily keep up with any casual conversations, allowing her plenty of opportunities to eavesdrop and learn everything she could. Specifically....where the university kept their Devil Fruit related materials. The answer put her plans back several days, forcing her to blend in more thoroughly, actively participating in demonstrations, lectures, and experiments. In truth, it was a refreshing experience.
Three days in, she knew what she needed to know. A copy of the Akuma no Mi Zukan, the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, was kept in the restricted access library. Only staff, and people with special permission were allowed entry. Permission, as far as she had learned, was granted only by Dean Goldwhisker. However....she also learned that a certain staff member who worked a certain rotation had a certain affinity for bribes. As she had been also learning over the last four or five hours....he preferred these bribes in the form of taking portions of his daily workload.
”Whew....” Ruby sighed, slumping in her chair. She had really pushed it this time, but really....she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Professor Baban had been tasked with setting up and cleaning the Dean’s personal Chemistry Station for a lecture. Considering the Dean rarely stepped outside his specialties, it was considered quite an event that many students and staff were looking forward to attending.
Ruby hadn’t just set up the set and cleaned it....she used it. It was an exquisite set with everything a good chemist could ask for. Nine Florence flasks gently boiling over a modular system of Bunsen burners which could be maneuvered around the assembly by a system of levers and knobs. Glass and brass mixed in an exotic display of craftsmanship and genius, displaying ergonomics that left Ruby a bit breathless. It had also allowed the prodigy to synthesize, concentrate, and stabilize herself a gift bag of handy chemicals she may need in the coming days.
A dozen vials of concentrated lubricant/solvent that had already saved her life once in the past week, a dozen that would burst into a small cloud of thick smoke when broken, and a dozen of a binary agent that once mixed, would combust upon coming into contact with oxygen. The process had been exhausting, requiring her constant attention in order to complete so much so quickly. But cleaning up afterward, covering every trace of evidence that the assembly had been used....that had really wiped the last of her energy.
”That’s quite an excellent job young woman.” Ruby nearly jumped out of her skin, hopping up from her seated position, wielding her rag in front of her like a shield. Her surprise drew a laugh from the small, yellow haired, mustachioed professor in front of her. Or he looked like he could be a professor. He was wearing a sweater vest and waist-high trousers. No lab coat. A janitor? Maybe a staff member from another part of the castle?
“I haha...thank you..um...Mister?” She left the question open, hoping he would fill her in. He did not. Instead the man approached the assembly. Leaning forward, he rubbed a finger over the massive Erlenmeyer flask with a pleased huff.
“I don’t even need a testing kit to know this is perfectly clean. I’ve seen my share of this thing.” Ruby frowned, then realization dawned on her. The mustache....the hair....this was the Dean! Ruby snapped into a modest pose, patting down her skirt and adjusting her coat. The Dean waved her off, anticipating the response.
”Oh enough of that. It’s after hours anyways.” He turned to her. “Hmmm....I don’t see your name tag.....wasn’t Baban supposed to handle this?” He smirked, as though he already knew the answer. Ruby didn’t want to throw her key to the library under the bus though.
“Well you see....I haven’t been here long and I wanted to make an impression....” She gestured to the assembly. “I...i’m not really the patient type...so....”
”Ah. I see....” The Dean turned his head, as if curious. “And why are you so desperate to impress?” Ruby knew that look. She wasn’t talking to a fool. She had to be careful with her words. But she also knew teachers....she’d had the best one ever. She knew the answers they liked to hear. So....by twisting the truth a bit....
”I want to continue my professor’s work....on Devil Fruits” Ruby slumped into the chair again, needing a rest from her feet. It also helped her relax.
“Oh...and your professor can’t continue his own work? What is his name?”
“Bishoppo....and he is dead.” The Dean’s expression softened at that bomb drop. It was the truth, but it had the effect she wanted. “He taught me everything I know....” The Dean held up his hand again, stopping her from continuing. He sighed, and looked at the Chemistry Station.
“It seems he taught you well. I don’t know the name. And that is a shame.” The Dean turned around, starting to walk out the presentation room. She started to sigh in relief, when he stopped. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small book of paper slips, removed one, and placed it on a desk. “The Restricted Access library. Present this in the morning when it opens. Good fortune in your research young miss?” He stood there waiting a response, head barely turned. Tired, and slightly stunned….she answered too honestly.
“Bright. Ruby Bright….” The Dean nodded stoically, and exited the room. Leaving Ruby to collapse on the Chemistry stations desk. She couldn’t believe her luck….and yet. Gathering up the bag of vials she had made, and her lab coat, the exhausted red head staggered out the door as well. She headed to her dormitory, where she would pass out with a smile on her face.