1661/Information Overload

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Information Overload
Date of Scene: 26 July 2017
Location: Harrys Office
Synopsis: Harry does research into a drug that has hit the street, and finds some disturbing news
Cast of Characters: Harry Dresden, Karrin Murphy




Harry Dresden has posed:
What time is it? Harry had no idea. The sun could still be up or have set hours ago, but Harry has been in the back lab of his office for hours now doing research and talking to Bob. There is a sign on the front door of the office that says 'closed' to keep him from being disturbed by random clients, even though he hates the possibility of driving away any source of income...but sometimes you just need privacy.

Like when you are dealing with the type of things Harry is dealing with right now in his lab. Things like depleted uranium for one. Try explaining that to someone, if they even could tell what it is. "Bob, once again. Are you sure that this is going to work? I don't like wasting this stuff. It's hard to get and expensive as hell."

"Oh Harry, you care too much about the little things like cost. It should work. I'm 99% sure it will have a reaction. 90% sure it will not explode and about 50% sure it will actually do what you want."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
Of course, Karrin has never cared about the signs on his door, and she's pretty much complicit in everything he's DOING in his office right now. So, without knocking, the short blonde steps in using her key. She is careful to be certain no one was over her shoulder, just in case he was in the front room. Or perhaps because she's still not shaken that paranoia since her time with Two-Face. But, he's not in the front office. So, the blonde moves back, actually knocking once there before pushing the door open unbeckoned. She's got one hand full of a tray of something that smells like coffee and horrible for you donuts.

"You have missed lunch and dinner, so I brought you health food to carry on." Karrin deadpans, closer and closer to her old self every day, but it's been a rough go. She's still also not actually spoken to anyone about what happened.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry has been so involved in his experiments and speaking to Bob, that he doesn't even hear the door open, or knock on the door. It isn't until Karrin speaks that his concentration in broken and he starts, jumping and letting out a "GAAH!" as he turns to face her.

"Hell's bells! Karrin, you just about gave me a heart attack." Harry exclaims with a shake of his head as he glance to her, "But you bring ambrosia, so all is forgiven. Gimmie."

Harry moves forward with his hand out making a grasping motion as he moves towards the coffee, leaning down to offer a kiss to Karrin when he is in range. "You are a goddess, Murph. Don't anyone tell you anything different."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
A slight arch comes to her brow as he protests that she almost gave him a heart attack, "Really? Me? If your heart hasn't given out yet, Harry, I don't even know if that's possible." And she's happy for it. She then steps closer, leaning up and into that kiss, letting it linger just a bit longer than is probably proper but her give-a-damns have long ago gone out the door.

She then hands over the coffee and leans her hip against the back table, blue eyes surveying the work beneath him. "...so, what's the progress for you hermiting yourself a dozen hours in this moldy place, hm? You surely have...Something? Or has Bob been distracting you with his lacking taste in erotica?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Oh, it's threatened to more than once." says Harry after the kiss, picking up one of the coffee cups from the tray and lifting it to his lips for a sip making a happy little noise of contentment. "But so far i've been to stubborn to actually let it stop on me. Go me."

He grins, taking another sip from the coffee as he makes his way back over to the work table. "So far, the progress has been slow. I've managed to take the sample that I got from Goblin-girl and narrow it down to what I think is, I shit you not, demon blood...mixed with an addictive substance like heroin. I was just about to try and see if I could separate out the base components. Bob has been remarkably helpful in not allowing me to blow myself up yet."

"I do my best, boss." The skull shifts on the table to look towards Karrin. " Hello, Hot stuff."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"You know, if you keep that up, Bob, I *will* muzzle you." Karrin mutters in the skull's direction, her voice a teasing bit of a growl, but she's actually somewhat gotten used to the strange knowledge spirit. He's just a part of what is weirdly beginning to feel like home. So, with that threat levied, she takes her own coffee and comes up behind Harry to look over the things on the table a bit deeper. Half curious, half worried about what she might see there. Especially as he mentions demon blood. But, apparently, this isn't any completely vicious blood magic he has to do. He just has...

"...Harry...what is *that*?" She points at the Uranium, a brow arching as high up her forehead as it can go, "And how does it help you figure out the thing we need to know? I mean, don't stop. Keep it up. I'm here to help, but... how the HELL did you get that?" Yes, she actually has suspicious of what it is already.

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Promises, promises" the skull says to Karrin, turning back to look at the items on the table, "But only if you promise to wear leather."

Harry thwaps the skull with the butt of a pencil and groans. "Shut up, Bob."

Harry takes another sip of the coffee and turns to stare at the table in front of him, "Depleted uranium." he says nonchalantly. "If this works as intended, it will weigh down the properties of the demon's blood and separate it out so I can get a cleaner sample than the one that has the drugs added. If not." He shrugs. "As far as where I got it, you don't want to know...I love yoooou."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"You're pushing it, mister." Karrin grumbles to Bob, but she seems content made by the defense of her honor with a pencil butt. She shakes her head slowly and looks back up to Dresden, knowing the spell before them is actually rather more important than disciplining the skull.

A slow breath out through her nose as she gazes between the depleted uranium, Dresden, and the Uranium again. "You are so lucky you're pretty." She mutters beneath her breath, arms folding over her neat chest and a touch of impatience crossing her features. While she accepts all of this, it doesn't mean she has to be comfortable about it. "... Alright, well...go on. Don't mind me. I'm not going anywhere but I won't stop you. Just...do it."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Aren't I though?" says Harry with a chuckle as he looks down at the items on the table. "You might want to stand back a bit...just in case." He glances over to Karrin and gives her a soft little reassuring smile.

He turns back to the table and takes in a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he centers himself, focusing on his task. Taking a pinch of the uranium dust, Harry moves his hand over the vial of blood and closes his eyes, chanting something in feaux-latin as he sprinkles the dust over the vial.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"Just in case. You're really reassuring, Dresden, you know that?" Murphy deadpans, but she does carefully take a few steps back, leaning against the far chair instead of the table he's working on. She keeps her arms folded across her chest and tries to look casual, even as she can feel her breath starting to shallow just a bit and her pulse rate ticking up. Just breathe through it, Karrin. There is NOTHING to fear here -- other than uranium blowing up. Right? It's fine. SHe's still far more jumpy than she used to be and that is hard. So, she keeps forcibly controlling her own breathing as she watches him finish the working.

Harry Dresden has posed:
When the dust is done falling, Harry places his hand over the vial and speaks one final word. There is a rush of energy in the room while a soft glowing light emanating from the vial under his hand. Harry takes a deep breath and opens his eyes, looking at the back of his hand. "Well, here goes nothing."

Harry removes his hand from the vial, and the liquid inside has separated into two, much like if dressing sits out two long. He grins, exclaiming "BOOYAA! Who's the man? I'm the man! Karrin, can you hand me the vials behind you? And the syringe?"

Karrin Murphy has posed:
It's taking all her meditation to keep her own pulse calm, but Karrin is doing it. She hasn't trained in martial arts for years to not know her own body. Still, she jumps a bit too much as he screams booyah, her eyes going too wide. It's just a momentary slip and then she shakes it off, breathing out unsteadily, "Damn, Dresden... talk about heart attacks. Yes, fine... fine..." She mutters beneath her breath.

Then she's turning back, hands mostly steady as she gathers both of the vials requested and then the syringe. She's careful not to drop a thing, but actually does take some concentration and focus. "Here... and just what did you plan to do if I *wasn't* here, hmm?" She asks with a smirk and a pointed look.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden glances at Karrin and opens his mouth, then closes it again. "Hrm." He lifts his shoulder in a shrug and smiles, "I probably would have gotten off my ass and gotten them myself? You being there was just helpful."

He grins, taking the offered items from Karrin and going to work separating the blood from the drug. "I can't tell you how much this all reminds me of Victor Sells, Karrin. The 'new drug' the demonic summonings, the 'Hollow man" shit. If I didn't know better, I'd say it was him...but I watch him die."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"You are so lucky you are holding something that is highly dangerous, Dresden, or I'd have the perfect kidney punch on you right now. Smart ass." Karrin grumbles, but she's finally brought the things over and set them down next to him. She now lingers and leans just a bit closer, since the most dangerous part of the work seems to be over, and while she's been off duty she has done all she can to actually learn about the ways he works. It's given her something to keep her mind occupied doing.

Blue eyes narrow on his motions, tracking the blood as it is syringed into those vials. Her lips set in a quiet, unhappy line as she considers it all. "I... remember that. And just because it's not him doesn't mean someone didn't get his notes, or copy cat... or... hell, a demon brought him back from the dead? Can they do that? Please tell me they can't do that..." Karrin murmurs flatly.

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Stranger things have happened. I don't know about a demon bringing him back, but he certainly could have been made into a ghost." says Harry with a sigh. "I know that isn't the type of news you wanted to hear, but I told you I would never lie to you again."

He leans back to look at her, "The summoning we found wasn't a demon doing something to someone, it was someone doing something to a demon. So, whomever is doing this called up some big nasty for a purpose, and I /think/ I figured it out. God help us if I am right."

He looks back the the vials on the table, "Bob. Run an analysis on the blood. Please tell me I am wrong."

The eye sockets int he skull light up and wash over the vial, "No can do, Harry. You're right. It IS demon blood. A pretty powerful one too."

Harry crosses his arms over his chest, "Fuck."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"What. Harry? What?" Karrin has a thousand other questions, including about the ghost, but none of that matters right now. Right now, the fact that Harry looks half sick and is cursing is what matters. She looks between him and Bob, her blue eyes now fierce with the panic of someone who has no clue what is going on and really doesn't like it.

"So help me god, if one of you doesn't explain what that look on your face is right now... WHat is going on?" She demands. And then she actually shuts up so she can give them time to actually explain.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden takes in a deep breath and sighs, looking over to Karrin. "Long story short? Looks like someone is spiking demon blood and selling it as a drug. And it isn't a pansy ass demon either."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
A slow breath is released and Karrin drags her hand across her face, trying to page through the possibilities that her non-practioner mind knows. "...So...one, this is still a drug. It's addictive and getting onto the streets. That's bad no matter what. But... two... well, explain to me how bad the demon part of this could make it? Could this demon be summoned by his blood? Possess the people who have injested it? What makes this so much worse? Because I know it's so much worse..."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden taps his pencil on the desk as he stares at the vial. "Yes, it is a drug. The is what this part is here." he motions to the clear liquid in the vial with his pencil. "This part is the demon blood." he motions to the black viscous fluid in the vial. "I think the summoning we found, where the..." he swallows "...sacrifice was made called forth an elder demon, and whoever is doing this...Hollow Man, has the demon bound and is taking its blood. Using it to make the drug."

"If the demon escapes its binding, we're fucked. If the Hollow Man sends the demon after us, we're fucked. So if and when we find this guy, we need to be extremely careful. As far as the drug, from what I have been told by you and Goblin-girl....don't ask...the drug has some transformative properties. It is turning folks into lesser demons, and if they all have a blood connection, that means the guy who controls the blood...well.

He controls them all."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
Silence lingers for far too long, Karrin piecing through everything he's told her, time and again, looking for a hole. But there is no hole. They are fucked, completely fucked. She has to acknowledge that. The blonde slowly takes a deep breath in through her nose, shaking her head quietly, "...it's never easy, is it? It's never going to get better..." She mutters that beneath her breath, as much to herself as him. How long have they been defending and protecting this city? What progress have they made?

It's just another heartbeat or two of despair she allows herself before gently picking herself up from leaning there and giving him a faint smile, "...well then... I guess you should tell Montoya and earn your consultant pay. I'm not allowed anywhere near this case, remember? Then...we start preparing defenses. What else can we do? Can we... neutralize it somehow?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
"We do what we always do when we face insurmountable odds and certain death, Murph." says Harry, flashing a small smile. "We hike up our boots, gird our loins, and go kick it's ass."

He looks back to the vial, "I'll let Renee know, sure. I'll also let this Goblin-girl know. Maybe we can get some backup on this that we don't know about yet. We've been in situations like this before, Karrin. We will get through this."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"We will. I just... " Karrin pauses, looking down a moment, not wanting to utter her doubts. To say it out loud might mean she's not doing just fine, as she keeps saying. She just stares at the floor a few heartbeats, lost somewhere else, before she shakes it off and drags one hand down her face once more. "Never mind. We've got this." She gives him one of those smiles once again. She's good at that smile. The everything is fine smile.

"...I'll go home and start some actual dinner. You talk to Renee and anyone else, then come home. Maybe we get some sleep tonight before we actually start kicking something's ass?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden is quiet for a moment as he watches Karrin, before he reaches his hand up to cup her chin in his palm, lifting her eyes to his. "Karrin. It's ok to be scared. Hell's bells, i'm terrified. But we will get through this. Hell, I've just managed to break you own enough to date me, I am not going to give that up so soon..." he says with a wink.

"I'll go down to the GCPD and see if I can't catch her. It shouldn't take me long, then we can go home and forget about this for the evening. Tomorrow, I'll see what markers I have to call in."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
The blonde allows her chin to be caught. She looks up, staring him in the eye without fear now. They've seen each other before, and will again, straight to each other's souls. There is nothing else that needs hidden. Karrin takes in a deep breath, giving the slightest of nods before she turns her head and presses a quiet kiss to the inside of his hand. "... I love you. We will get through this." She whispers quietly. That was the mantra she had to remember. It was what mattered.

Then, after leaning up for the most gentle, brief, but earnest proper kisses possible, she pulls back and moves for the door. "I'll see you in an hour. Just one hour. Dinner will be hot. Don't be late or I'll kick your ass, Dresden, and feed your dinner to Mouse." She gives him one little wink and then moves for the door and out.