6804/Scents, Squirrels and Monkeys

Scents, Squirrels and Monkeys
Date of Scene:	07 March 2019
Location:	New York City
Synopsis:	Clint checks in on R&D and he and Jemma discuss scents, squirrels and monkeys among other things.
Cast of Characters:	Hawkeye (Barton), Jemma Simmons

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Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint might have decided to devote his attention to SHIELD full-time but Clint was still Clint, which meant even though he was currently helping out Deputy Director May, he didn't don the classic suit and tie combo like Coulson would have, but instead rocks the jeans and (purple) t-shirt combo with his SHIELD lanyard hanging around his neck.

Walking into R&D with a tablet in hand, Clint calls out, "Fitz, Simmons, you guys around?"

And naturally starts poking around at whatever do-dads might be nearby. Because Clint and also because, hey, new gear!

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    The adforementioned Fitz does not seem to be present as of the moment. But, that's not to say that R&D is vacant. There is a figure bent over a table, the white labcoat open...and obscuring the form. But not for long, as the figure straightens up, turning to the sound of Clint's voice as a female voice with a decidedly British accent answers. "Ah, Agent Barton! It is a pleasure to see you!"

    Jemma steps away from her tablet for the moment, even as a finger flickers over the screen to save her progress, locking the tablet in the meantime. "I'm afraid that Fitz isn't here at the moment. Silly boy spent all night trying to perfect a delivery mechanism for a cryogenic compound we have been developing. He kept insisting that it was a 'freeze ray' and that it deserved an appropriate design...but all attempts so far have resulted in freezing, and shattering, the pistol design." There is a pause as Jemma offers a smile...a smile that flickers only a little when Clint attempts to reach for the device in question. "I...would recommend not touching that *quite* yet. I wouldn't want you to lose a hand." There is a light chuckle at the end of that statement...but Clint might get the sense that Jemma really isn't joking.

    "So....anyway. What can I do for you today?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Hands, hands are useful.

Stopping his hand an inch from whatever it was he was about to touch Clint asks "For real?" even as he pulls hand back warily. "Thanks for the warning."

He puts his hand into his belt just in case, his other hand still holding the tablet. "And not here just to see Fitz, well, okay, I /did/ want to talk to him about some new arrow designs, but that can wait. The real reason I'm here is May wanted to make sure you guys had everything you needed. We've put a lot on your plate lately, Skye's powers, stuff to keep Skye's dad locked up, plus the new guys with the weird tech in their systems."

Starting to lean against one of the counters he stops himself checking with Simmons first, not wanting to risk any further chance of losing a limb.

"Bet it makes you pine for the days of patching me on oa semi-regular basis."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
A solemn nod answers the "For real" question, even as the biochemist flashes another smile. "Oh, you are most welcome."

    The mention of arrow designs sparks an idea, as eyes grow wide. "Oh...oh...that could work. I mean, I am no engineer, but I am sure we could use the compound and devise an arrowhead that would allow someone such as yourself to near instantly freeze whatever target." As the scientist speaks, she turns to her tablet to take notes, chattering away as she does so. "I mean, it isn't going to be an instantaneous effect, because this isn't magic we are playing with, but it should drop temperatures rather significantly within a minute, compromising it." She then looks up, right to Clint. "Oh, but you probably already have something like that, yes? Oh, well, I am sure Fitz and I can improve upon it."

    But wait...there was actually that other reason for the visit. "Oh! Oh yes, we are quite well here. We enjoy the challenge. I daresay that Fitz is happier than ever, though he really doesn't show it much." Then, with a conspiratorial tone, Jemma leans in to murmurs. "Besides, you would be amazed just how fast resources can be appropriated when people know you can literally freeze them in their tracks. Not that we would!" There is a cringe easily visible in Jemma's features. She probably shouldn't have said that.

    There is no disapproving glance for the particular counter that Clint is leaning on, so it seems safe to lean on. "Oh, no offense, but I rather not find the need to patch you up, as it were. However, you was always a good patient...when you wanted to be."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
"Huh," Clint says shuffling a little bit further from the device. Just to be safe.

"Wait, hold on," he says as the topic turns to a new freeze arrow. "Yeah, I've got one, but you're saying you can make it better?" he says and he quickly taps a few things on his tablet and hands it over. "This is the specs on my current one. Cobbled it together out of a bit of Stark tech and liquid nitrogen, but you guys can make it better I'm game."

What Jemma had proposed was definitely better by a /wide/ margin.

Clint offers a chuckle at the idea of threatening R&D's way into resources. "And here I thought that's how May got things," though the freezing May did was a lot less literal. She just used 'The Look' (tm). "But glad to hear things are alright, I appreciate the work you've done for Skye so far. The gloves seem to be doing their job."

Clint does lean on the counter then and smiles, "Liar," he says of being a good patient. "I'm surprised you guys didn't lojack me the amount of times I snuck out of medical." A beat. "You didn't right? Like for real?"

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    "Oh, we would never consider lojacking you, Agent Barton. Though, there was a fair bit of temptation. Why, I developed an odorless scent that could be tracked up to 50 kilometers away...but we never used it on you." Clint's tablet is taken readily, as Jemma does a comparison with the current incarnation with the proposal. Shifting gears, she adds a few notes to her own tablet while she analyzes the data. "Oh, we can most certainly make it better. The problem with liquid nitrogen is that it sublimates relatively quickly. It cools the surface, but, unless the object is submerged in the nitrogen, it takes longer because of the quick sublimation. This..." as Jemma taps her tablet, "...will deliver a more concentrated payload. Most definitely more efficient. I'll have Fitz work on this when he gets back."

    The mention of the gloves offers Jemma a sense of relief, plainly visible. "Oh, I am glad to hear that. The vibrations were simply too much without the gloves. I am happy to hear that they are working as intended." A pause, before Jemma asks her own question. "How is Skye adjusting? I am sure it is a lot to take in. Especially with her father thrown in to the equation." There is no mention on the fact on how they are incarcerating him. Some things are just better left unspoken.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
"Heh, I bet," Clint says of the temptation of lojacking him. "I am sure May's thought about it a time or two with Skye," he says offering an easy smile like thinking of some private joke. "And really? Has it been tested in the field, the smell I mean?"

Clint wasn't a science guy by any stretch of the imagination, but he could soldier through if he put some effort into it, "Wow, that looks good," he says. "If you guys can make that work, then I'll owe you and Fitz pizza and beer, and I mean the good stuff from Gino's."

Well it was 'good stuff' from his point of view. As for the beer, it was that frou-frou microbrew stuff, long story there, it was from a place by his old appartment.

"Yeah, I'm sure she'll drop by and go over them with you sooner or later, she's got a lot on her plate right now," Clint begins and Jemma brings up the biggest item on that plate: Skye's father.

"Yes, him," Clint says. Which brings him back to his interest in that substance. "Don't suppose the tracking sent could be put on him, could it?"

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    An affirmative bob of the head is given. "We tested it on a squirrel. Let me tell you, they are hard to catch. But...we managed to get one, applied the tracking scent, then released it in Central Park. Using Fitz' tracker, we were able to pinpoint where it ran off to." There is a sense of pride in Jemma's tone. "It is a viable substitute to electronic trackers. It is just a matter of distance."

    There isn't a mention of pizza and beer being owed. After all, it is what they do. Not that it would be refused. There is acknowledgement of Skye's current situation, with Jemma keeping that sunny disposition. "Oh, of course. We'll be here whenever she wants. I mean, Fitz and I practically live here, so it wouldn't be hard at all to find us." Well, except for Fitz today. But...that could be because Jemma made him go sleep. Not that she is telling others that.

    The question about using the tracking scent is answered quickly. "It certainly could. It could be introduced easily enough. For example, one could add it to the clothing after they have been laundered." Jemma eyes Clint warily. "may I ask why? Are you planning on letting him go and tracking his movements?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint chuckles imagining Fitz and Simmons chasing a squirrel through Central Park. "Is there video of the test?" he asks with a barely surpressed grin.

"And 50km is not bad," he says about the matter of distance. It wasn't a satellite tracker, those things were worldwide but who screened for smells? "Especially if they don't know it's there. I'd ask how it works but we both know it's going to go right over my head. But got to say, that's pretty cool."

"No doubt," Clint says of practically living in the lab. "Beginning to feel that way about Operations these days," he says rubbing the back of his neck. It'd only been two days since Clint had taken on the job, clearly not the office sort. "But I'll let her know you're available."

Clint shakes his head. "Not planning on letting him go, no. but figured it wouldn't hurt to have a way to find him in case he wanders off on his own. Anyhow, I'll bring it to Skye, see if she's game, the whole thing is her show, but I'd feel better with some insurance."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
Jemma allows herself a slight smirk, as she no doubts understands the hilarity of the mental image that squirrel chasing provides. "Oh, perhaps. We used the D.W.A.R.F.s to help with the tracking. There is bound to be some video somewhere, unless Fitz managed to purge it." So, there's a window of hope for squirrel shenanigans in the future. She shifts from one pest to another. "It is a good idea to tag him. It certainly wouldn't hurt and it is something not easily detectable. It could be that extra insurance you are looking for. Not that he should be able to get out of the containment unit we devised...but Skye might actually want to see where he goes. If she has any questions on the tracking scent, we can discuss that at the same time as the gauntlets. Maybe even show the video as explanation. I am sure she would just love to watch us fearless rodent hunters." There is a soft chuckle at that.

    Then, as an afterthought, Jemma murmurs softly. "Oh...don't tell Fitz I told you about the squirrel. He would never forgive me. He just had the most awful of times trying to lure one close enough so we could tag it."

    Jemma's eyes shift, from Clint to a clock on the wall. For once, a slight frown touches the corners of her lips. "Oh, is that really the time?" Returning her attention to Clint, Jemma offers an explanation. "I was running an experiment. Or, rather, I *am* running an experiment involving some spore cultures from that little issue we had a while back and a bioelectric suspension we have been tinkering on the side. I am studying the effects of prolonged exposure...and the cultures should be ready to check now. You can stay and observe if you like, though I must warn you. Things might get....messy." With that, Jemma buttons up her lapcoat and pulls out a set of goggles from the outside pocket. "Want to watch?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
"Well, keep me posted if there's another test," Clint says his smirk becoming a little more apparent. "It should be...educational." Or at the very least amusing.

Though as to Cal. "Yeah, I'd suggest bringing it up with Skye, like I said, it's her thing, but I dunno not sure I fully trust the guy, not like she does," maybe it was a father thing, it wasn't like Clint's own had won any prizes for parenthood before he'd wrapped the family car around a tree in a drunken stupor. "But I trust Skye, so, it's her call...." he pauses. Remembering the whole problem with the Punisher. "...Even if she says no though, I might need some of that for another thing, I'll explain later."

As for the squirrel, Clint mimes zipping his mouth shut. "Won't hear a word. But I bet five bucks he mentioned the whole thing would be easier if you guys had a monkey."

The mention of the time has Clint checking the clock, he was just starting his duties, but a break wouldn't hurt anything.

"Got another set of those things?" he says nodding to the goggles, his way of saying: count me in.