Admin Takki: Here’s work 2 of the lead up to Reiji’s birthday!! I had biology this morning and found my mind wandering to doing an experiment with Reiji aksjdks and so I wrote about it like the depraved fan I am. There isn’t really much romance or plot in this, nor do I know if what I’ve written is scientifically correct (I mean I failed Y11 chemistry so). I just had a lot of fun writing this.... I hope you enjoy!
They were screwed. Completely, utterly screwed. They knew they had bad luck but this was something else. Having a surprise joint unit with the chemistry students was one thing, but for it to then be a paired practical lesson no less. As a biology student they knew they were way out of their league; they never really did any experiments on reactions, focusing more on dissections, modelling and microscopy. Suppressing a sigh, they turned to their bespectacled partner, taking care to not knock over the intricately set up experiment.
“So... Reiji... how are you enjoying the joint unit so far? I think it’s amazing you were able to set this all up so quickly!” They smiled but felt the corners of their mouth tug downwards as they felt his glare on them. Ah, shit.
“I find it quite boring, and rather troublesome; much like yourself, it seems. You’ve done nothing but make meaningless small talk. Make yourself useful and pass me the indicator, would you?” Ouch, that hurt. They turned dejectedly away from Reiji, towards the tray of materials and felt their heart drop yet again. There were at least three indicators in the tray, all of them seeming to mock the poor biologist. Murmuring a ‘oh how I’d rather be dissecting a celery plant’ under their breath, they grabbed the bottle of universal indicator, picked a god and prayed it was the right one. Holding it out to the chemistry student they peeked at the method he’d written and mentally celebrated as it validated their choice.
“So it would seem you aren’t completely incapable.” He dropped some into a test tube of solution and watched as the mixture turned an angry red.
“Done. Now, where’s the tube of wasp venom?” Pushing his glasses up with his wrist, his hands being covered in gloves and acidic mixture, he turned to them. However, he found himself ignored as they looked closely at the mixture alongside the red liquid. Something was off. Carefully, they opened their mouth.
“Reiji, our experiment it to neutralise the wasp venom...” Their tone cautious, they picked up a toothpick from the materials tray. “Yes? I’ve completed the formula to do just that, what seems to be the issue?” A voice laced with venom as acidic as the mixture concocted replied. “The lesson brief is to create a method to neutralise and treat a wasp sting. As things are the mixture will burn off the skin of the affected!” Dipping the toothpick in the reddened mixture, they let out a small yelp as it immediately dissolved in the mixture. Inhaling sharply, Reiji was forced to face this failure of his.
“Yes... It would seem you are correct. I now see why this is a joint unit of study. It would seem I got ahead of myself, however, as a biology student you should’ve stepped in earlier yourself. Please do instruct me on anything I miss when rewriting the method.” He looked away, a light, embarrassed red tint to his ears. Placing the cursed, overly acidic mixture in the far left spaces of the test tube holder, they picked up their pen and tapped a step on the method.
“Everything up until here is good, I reckon, we just need to think about the formula in terms of treatment from here. Maybe we could find a slow-absorb option using a formulated gel or the like.” Taken back by his prac partner’s suggestion, Reiji made a mental note to listen to their suggestions from then on. After all, the unit would last another 2 weeks and he knew a useful resource when he saw one.
“Of course, do tell me if the formula becomes too acidic this time.” Hiding their face by fussing over the method and giving a noncommittal nod, they let out a quiet sigh of relief. Perhaps this joint unit wouldn’t be so bad in the end.
