1544/Just One Little Thing...

Just One Little Thing...
Date of Scene:	18 July 2017
Location:	Legion Cruiser: Lab
Synopsis:	Lyle's ready to test his miniaturization serum. Brainy's right there to help.
Cast of Characters:	Invisible Kid, Brainiac 5

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Invisible Kid has posed:
        There are times that Lyle envies Querl's ability to maintain a ridiculous number of simultaneous trains of thought—like, most of the time.  Failing that, a serum to replace the need for sleep would be… something he's been told never to do again.  24x7 Lyle is something nobody needs.
        For the moment, the programmable molecular hunters and the reconfigured scanners will have to wait.  He's focused on the miniaturization serum, and the last few tests.
        And a trial run.  Even for someone who's experimented on himself before, that's worth pausing and thinking about it again before doing it.

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        It may very well be that Brainiac 5 has already created that serum—however, it may also be that he really does just take fifteen minute naps every couple of hours when marathoning in the lab, which he does… often.  Somewhat less so, these days.  Sleep is an indulgence, an opportunity to bleed off stress, and you should grab it when you can.
        At the moment, Brainy is currently in one corner of his lab, examining the collar on the formal uniform he just replicated, with its purple longcoat, the Brainiac Triangle set in gold on the chest, gold at the wrists, high, stiff golden boots, and black trousers.  He takes something that looks an awful lot like a lint brush and brushes it off.

Invisible Kid has posed:
        The movement catches Lyle's eye, and he looks up from his microscope.  "Well, you're dressing to impress.  What's the occasion?"  He adds after a second, and smiling lopsidedly, "Looks good."  The break from his train of thought is welcome—he doesn't look exhausted or fatigued, but he does look tired.

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        "That would be the formal dinner we're holding for Miss van Dyne," Brainy says.  "As my executive officer, your attendance IS strongly encouraged."  Brainy says, "So that means getting at least SOME sleep.  And getting your formal uniform ready.  You know, I don't think I've ever seen your formal uniform."  He straightens the coat.

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "That would be my regular uniform, plus my brown jacket," Lyle says indifferently, punctuated with a shrug.  "I can't say I've given the dinner any thought past that I should be there and not collapse snoring into my plate.  I'll get some good sleep, I promise."
        He turns back to his microscope, but doesn't yet look through it.  "But not now.  Too much to do."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        That makes the corner of Brainy's mouth curve up.  "And here I thought an EarthGov superspy was supposed to be prepared for any eventuality and any situation."  He puts his uniform in an airtight container, and puts it away.  "And they call me a workaholic."  Well, he is one, it's just the work he's holicing isn't in the lab so much at the moment.
        "How close are you to finishing it?"

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "The miniaturization serum?  I think it's done.  It's certainly ready to test," Lyle says, picking up an Erlenmeyer holding a good 200mℓ of a watery green liquid.  He grins.  "And as for being an EarthGov superspy, may I remind you that I was generally an invisible EarthGov superspy, so my sartorial sense was irrelevant."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        "Let me fetch you an organic lattice to test it on."  Brainy says, as he walks to a machine, and then… sticks his finger into it.  It comes to life, and he muses, "The lattice should be ready in about an hour.  If your miniaturization serum works on it without any documented negative side effects, we'll be ready to progress to a live trial."
        Then he says, "You know, for a genius, you are remarkably evasive.  Does the idea of a cordial dinner with a woman who is noted for her wit and sartorial sense hold NO appeal for you?  Not even a bit?"

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "I think we're already ready for a live trial," Lyle says, just a touch sullenly.  "I know my own metabolism and biomechanisms like I know the back of my hand… but yes, you're ri– I mean, you have a point, an additional layer of testing is not a bad idea.  I really can't take chances with my invisibility."
        As to the charge of being evasive, all he has to say is, "I always appreciate good wit.  And I've explained my position on fashion."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Brainiac 5 tilts his head, and says, archly, and with finality, "Something is bothering you."  Then he goes about tidying up a bit, before he says, "And while I'm not usually known for being the Legionnaire that people talk to when they're having a personal crisis; I fought very hard to STOP them from doing that—right now it falls under my job description.  So please.  Enlighten me."

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "It's not a crisis," Lyle says.  "It's a reasonable hesitation in the face of that which has defined me most of my life.  I am almost entirely certain that the miniaturization serum will not wreck my ability to turn invisible.  But I'm not 100% certain.  And that tiny uncertainty is bothering me all out of proportion to its probability."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Brainy tilts his head, and then says, "Ultimately, Invisible Kid," He puts his hand on Lyle's shoulder, "I have one hundred percent confidence in your abilities as a scientist.  I have one hundred percent confidence in you as a person.  No one is infallible, and sometimes acts of true genius require failure."  And then he murmurs, "So the question is, if something DOES go wrong—do you have absolute confidence in our ability to fix it?  How confident are you in me?"

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "Confident in your intellect?  Completely," Lyle says with certainty, idly swirling the Erlenmeyer in his hand.  "Confident in my own—well, everyone has their neuroses.  But if nothing else, I can re-create my invisibility serum.  I know how that works."
        And with a swift, almost spasmodic motion, he drinks the flask in his hand.  "Let's find out if I really am a genius."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        That makes Brainiac 5's eyes widen just a tick—
        And he says, very loudly, more of a strangled shout, really, "I WASN'T TELLING YOU TO DRINK IT NOW!"  He points.  "THE LATTICE!  THE ORGANIC LATTICE—"  He points again.  "LATTICE— PROCEDURE— SAFETY—"

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "I've done enough tests!" Lyle protests.  "And further tests are for when we don't have a subatomic saboteur running around our sprocking SHIP!"  He takes a couple deep breaths to calm himself.  "Too late anyway.  I've done it.  I just need a few moments to assimilate it.  It should be fast acting on me—like I said, I know my own biochemistry like I know the lab layout."  His eyes are a little wide, almost but not quite manic.  "Besides, I get do to mad science now and again."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Querl is just kind of staring.
        And then… he fetches his Omnicom and runs a scan of Lyle.  Bip-bip-bip-bip!  "How do you feel?"  He says, "Vital signs slightly elevated, mental state peaking…."

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "Of course they're elevated," Lyle says simply.  "I'd be an idiot if I weren't a little nervous and a little excited.  Mental state also to be expected, I'm paying attention to what happens closely so of course it's peaking.  I want to know everything that happens."
        He taps a few buttons on his own OmniCom, and watches his vitals as well.  "So far so good.  It will be a few minutes before I have full conscious control."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Brainiac 5 continues his observations, in silence.  Eventually he says, "This is my formal admonishment of your reckless action by the way, Lyle.  Please consider yourself duly censured."  He runs the scanner up and down Lyle again.  "Hm, you've gained two kilograms." That's a dig.

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "So noted," Lyle says.  "I am officially censured."  He says it like he might say "I have brown hair" or "I'm from Earth."
        He takes a few deep breaths, pranayama style—in through the nose, out through the mouth, forcing a greater sense of calm on himself than he has any business actually feeling.  Calm is important.  Calm means control.  Control is more important than calm.  "Okay," he breathes, "every sensor you have.  I'm ready to try."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Brainy nods, and calls up his holocomputer, which is a damn sight more powerful than his Omnicom.  A holographic lens forms in the air in front of Lyle.  "All right.  Go ahead."

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "On three.  One."  *breathe*  "Two."  *breathe*  "Three."  And as he says three, Lyle visibly begins to reduce in size, slowly at first, then more rapidly as if the size change were a hyperbolic function.  And the pitch of his voice goes up as he reduces in size.
        There are only two problems.
        The first is that his flight ring is left behind as he disappears into submicroscopic size rather than transparency.
        The second is that the only reason his ring doesn't make a metallic ping on the floor is because it lands on his clothes, which also fail to miniaturize with him.

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Brainy looks down, and his eyes widen again.
        And then he makes a noise.  *Spffff*  He puts his hand over his mouth, and sucks in a breath, which goes *snrrrrrrrrrk*
        And then he loses it.  Brainy has a nice laugh!  Really he does.  It's very tonal.  "AH HAH HAH HAH HAA HA HA HA *snort*"—

Invisible Kid has posed:
        Well, for the moment, it's not all that sprocking funny to Lyle!  Do you have any idea how difficult it is to identify your own uniform from a gajillion other atoms?  The thunderous laughter from WAY above doesn't help any! 
        Still, as long as he's down there, he might as well have a whack at Our Little Problem, in addition to acclimating to the situation.  "HEY!  SHORT STUFF!  YOU HEAR ME?  I DARE YOU TO SHOW YOURSELF!"

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Brainiac 5 squints, as he picks up Lyle on his sensors.  "Okay," he says.  "So we know the serum works—you should've asked me to adjust your uniform and your flight ring first—" Did he think of that…?
        "Hee hee hee!"  He did!  That fink!  Brainy says, "Well."  He says, "I don't think he's in the lab.  Now… can you change back?"  He moves to pick up Lyle's flight ring, and then he picks up Lyle's uniform.
        "I'll just… hang this up for you. *Spffffffffffff*-hahahahahaha!"
        Brainy's holographic computer is helpfully adjusting the things he says to an atomic level so Lyle can hear them!

Invisible Kid has posed:
        Lyle makes a noise an awful lot like 'grrrRRRrrrr' in the back of his throat.  "It was worth a shot!"  he yells back, with a tiny shaking of his fist.  "Yeah, let me see what I can do about normalizing my size… hang on."
        With alacrity, Lyle begins returning to a visible size.
        Wisely, the larger he gets, the more invisible he gets.

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Which makes Brainy look back at Lyle with a little pursing of his lips.  See?  He's in control.  All business!
        …then he holds up Lyle's uniform, on a hanger.  And breaks down into a giggling fit again.

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "GIVE me that!"  Nothing at all—presumably Lyle—snatches the uniform away from Querl and commences putting it on.  So eventually the Invisible Kid's uniform is standing there, sans Invisible Kid, who only fades back into view once he's decently covered up.  "The only reason I don't punch you in the nose is because I would be laughing just as hard if this had happened to you.  Did you pick up my ring?"

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Brainiac 5 holds it up between two fingers.  "I don't know," Brainy says, "I'm tolerably amused by the oversight."  Then he says, "Besides, there are a lot of people back home who've speculated about what, precisely, Invisible Kid has to hide—"  Brainy sighs, and walks to a device to begin working up the treatment that will allow Lyle's uniform and ring to shrink along with him.  It's not going to take any effort, it's the same treatment Vi's uniforms get.  "And while the whole thing's somewhat JUVENILE—"  He shakes his head, and brushes a tear away from one eye.  "Ah.  Heh!"

Invisible Kid has posed:
        Lyle snatches the ring just a little petulantly, and puts it on.  "Yeah, laugh it up.  Like you've never had an experiment go pear-shaped on you.  I'll be nice and not mention specifics!"
        And then even Lyle has to laugh, despite his best efforts not to. "Okay, that was pretty funny.  I can't believe I forgot to check my uniform and ring.  That's a mistake I last made when I was twelve!"  He grins wickedly.  "And, you can tell everyone you've seen me naked.  Only technically, of course…."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Brainiac 5 raises an eyebrow, and says, "Well."  He murmurs, "I always did think you were cute, Lyle.  Shame that you never asked.  Then again, I suppose my more overt reaction to Laurel probably threw people off of the scent."  He continues working.  "Coluans being attracted to intellect and all."  He comes back up with a spray-bottle, which he proceeds to fog Lyle's uniform with, before he takes the ring back to drop it in the bottle and swirl it around, before he takes it out and dries it off.  "This is a temporary version of the treatment."  He hands the bottle over.  "Which you'll need to reapply every few days.

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "Hopefully I won't need more than one application.  The sooner we can take care of Our Little Pest, the happier I will be," Lyle says, turning around so his whole uniform can be covered.  "The sooner we can be rid of him, the happier I will be.  Then we can focus on our real problems."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        "Quite," Brainy says.  He finishes spraying down Lyle's uniform, and then says, "If all goes well, we'll have dinner, you and Miss van Dyne will catch Micro Lad, and then we'll have dessert.  K.O.K.O. has come up with something called a banana trifle.  I chose to indulge its fancy."  Brainy tilts his head, and smirks, ever so slightly, before he sets the bottle down on the counter.

Invisible Kid has posed:
        Lyle first flicks out of visibility, then back in.  That's the important thing—his invisibility hasn't been messed with, and he exhales in relief.  He still has that, thank Bob.  As long as there's still that, everything is good.
        Then, and only then, do a few of Brainy's comments sink in.  "Uh, 'cute'?" he asks, and a close enough observer might detect the faintest of blushes.

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Brainy tilts his head, and says, "Yes, yes.  Lyle Norg, I AM attracted to you.  It's hardly an earth-shaking revelation that my… egh, base urges don't align to a strict gender conformity, is it?"  He begins tidying up again.  "I chose not to make it clear for a plethora of reasons.  First, the relationship dramatics some members of the Legion indulge in disgust me.  Second, when we were younger, I, what's the phrase?  'Hated your guts'.  And then when that faded and I became aware of my own feelings, I decided it'd jeopardize the excellent working rapport we developed.  Besides, Condo."  He puts something in a cabinet, and says, "Does it change the way you see me to hear it openly?"

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "No, not really," Lyle says, very slowly, although his blush deepens just enough that one doesn't need to be an especially close observer to notice it.  "I… uh… uh."  Well.  Speechless isn't a way one often finds Lyle.
        Then his back straightens.  "Okay, maybe it does.  A little," he finally says, then, much more quietly, "You… really think I'm attractive?"

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Brainy turns his head, and says, "Well, yes," in a matter-of-fact tone, while he closes the cabinet.  "Exceedingly so.  I generally prefer blondes, of any gender, but you are, by my subjective measure, actually rather handsome."  He picks up something else, and puts it away.  "I do try to cultivate a certain reserve, sometimes.  But I'm no less biological than anyone else.  I lose my temper.  I find things incredibly funny.  I fall in love, on occasion, though I find that sort of emotional compromise… annoying. Why does my finding you attractive matter?"  He's genuinely curious.  "Besides, I already told you, by the time I realized it, I resolved never to compromise our working friendship.  I'm aware of it.  I work through it."

Invisible Kid has posed:
        Lyle takes a deep breath, then another one.  "I… have to admit, I don't mind you finding me attractive," he says, slowly.
        Silence.
        More silence.
        And then he repeats something he said under the influence of more than a little silverale: "I've always been fond of the color green…."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Brainy is silent, for a moment, and then he says, "It's very odd, for me.  Coming into my own as a—"  He strokes his chin, "Well, let's not use salacious terms."  He turns, and walks to Lyle, and puts his hand on his shoulder, before he touches foreheads with him.  "I care, Lyle.  I always will.  And… it affirms and gratifies me emotionally that our attraction IS mutual.  I don't usually think of myself as attractive—it's simply not a priority for me.  But it's nice to know."  He gives a small smile, and then says, "But really—I wouldn't trade our synergy in the lab for anything.  Would you?"

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "You know what?" Lyle asks, and then, before he loses the nerve to or Querl can stop him, leans forward and plants a kiss on his cheek, then sits back with an expression that's almost triumphant.  "I think our lab work can survive emotional entanglements.  We're both too much alpha nerds for anything else to happen."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Querl leans back, and then says, "Who knows, Lyle?"  He pats his shoulders, and then says, "Who knows what the future holds?  Well.  Aside from Dream Girl, who knows."  He smirks. "Well, this has been revelatory.  And emotionally gratifying.  Also, extremely funny."  The corner of his mouth turns up, and he says, "So, Lyle.  I am expecting you to be at dinner."  He taps him on the forehead, gently.  "Formal uniform.  If only because I'm dying of curiosity."
        Then… he leans in, to return the kiss to Lyle's cheek, briefly.  But he's still smirking.

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "Don't count on a tie," Lyle says with a grin.  "My uniform plus my brown jacket, I already explained that."
        However, Lyle can't help but lean into the kiss, and close his eyes, and sigh softly.  "Okay, don't count on a tie unless you're *really* well-behaved," he says a little huskily.

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        Querl says, "Now then.  Your experiment was, by every measure I have, and I have more than a few, a total success."  Brainy uses his force-field to shove Lyle toward the door.  "Go do other things.  It's a busy day tomorrow and I DO have a lot of work to do."  That shimmering force-field hand tries to gently eject Lyle from the lab.

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "Hold it."  Lyle slips aside from the force field.  "I'll go quietly so long as you promise a full night's sleep yourself.  You don't get to shuffle me off to quarters if you're going to stay up and make a zombie of yourself tomorrow."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        "I will be going to bed shortly," Brainy promises.  "Within the hour.  I need to finish cleaning up the lab and finalize what's for dinner with K.O.K.O. and then that's it until 0800.  Now, shoo."

Invisible Kid has posed:
        "All right," Lyle says, heading for the door, "but I'm going to sit up until I see you head for your own room.  So if you want me to get some serious sleep, you're going to have to not waste time in here!"  He grins disingenuously.  "So if I don't get enough sleep before the van Dyne dinner, it's your fault!"

Brainiac 5 has posed:
        "Good NIGHT Lyle," Querl repeats, before giving him a gentle shove out the door.  Then, once he's alone, he turns to finish the tidying up—and immediately breaks down into a fit of giggles again.  Most un-Brainyishly.