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Tweak says, "Kura, stop refreshing."

preston rawlings . {viola} (theviola) wrote in musings,
@ 2011-01-10 16:14:00

Entry tags:

batman, elizabeth bennet, highwayman, viola, werewolf of london

Phone calls & Emails
[All from Preston's business number. Caller ID enabled.]

[Phone message to W. Lowell's UofW phone.]
Hello Mr. Lowell, this is Preston Rawlings, we spoke briefly on [...] regarding suits several weeks ago. I'm not sure if you remember. [The message begins business-like but veers into uncertain.] I'd like to speak to you about a [...] similar matter. Please give me a call. [His work cell number. Disconnect.]

[Phone call to E. Pride]
Ring.

[Phone call to B. Thorne]
Ring.

[Email to T. Brandon: A generic sympathies missive and a relatively generous donation to his Charities in P. Worth's name. No reply is expected or given.]

[Email to all Sparke Industries employees. After the appropriate header, from asparke@sparkeindustries.com--a mask email that Preston uses to send business email in the CEO's stead. Some may know this, some may not.]

We understand this is a difficult time for our Seattle-based community. If you are unable to work at this time, please let us know of your need for leave (which will be granted regardless of accumulated time given the state of emergency) or your notice of termination. Hoping that all of you are safe.

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Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings

mariphasa
2011-01-11 04:19 am UTC (link)

Oh! Well. Like I told someone else, the National Guard didn't test anyone that wasn't already bitten. And no one showed signs of being rabid, so they were all released. From what I could tell, no one was talking about there being a community like Creations. So hopefully we're okay for the time being. Though I don't know what happened elsewhere, so I can only hypothesize, and I suppose that could change at any time.

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	Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings theviola 2011-01-11 04:53 am UTC (link)
	Is this some kind of medical condition they can track? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings

mariphasa
2011-01-11 05:14 am UTC (link)

It's... no. It's more like... It's not a condition at all. It's a genetic variation. Creations... We have a different genetic structure than humans. It's subtle, but significant. So it can be tracked, just the way you can track the difference between any living species. Though before this, there was really no one looking, that I can find at least. There may have been private research being done, but nothing in the major scientific journals.

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	Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings theviola 2011-01-11 05:16 am UTC (link)
	Is this something that would come up on a normal bloodwork report? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings

mariphasa
2011-01-11 05:21 am UTC (link)

Oh, not likely. It's really, from what I've been able to find, only something that can be seen when doing DNA mapping. Running analysis of your genetic makeup. It's complicated and fairly expensive and used more in a long-term research setting than in simple medical diagnosis. I believe some people are using it to look at the possibility of genetic diseases, but that's not really what most doctors are looking for when they draw your blood. Unless you're specifically going to a geneticist for that purpose.

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	Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings theviola 2011-01-11 05:38 am UTC (link)
	That is... at least a little reassuring. [Wheels turning, he's thinking.] Are you seeing variations within Creation DNA that might indicate ability, or is it too early to tell? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings

mariphasa
2011-01-11 05:54 am UTC (link)

I admittedly haven't had a very large sample pool of Creation DNA to work with, so I've been mostly studying my own in relation to human and now the Reavers', as I heard people calling them, and that sample pool remains with the National Guard now. It's... not generally seen as a reassuring practice to go around asking people for samples of their genetic material, as easy and painless as the process is. I must unfortunately say that I'm quite a ways away from being able to pinpoint abilities, if that is even possible to do with current technology.

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	Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings theviola 2011-01-11 05:56 am UTC (link)
	That's good. [He didn't meant to say that aloud, and takes in a quick breath.] Yes. Well. Thank you for the information, doctor. You're recovering? I--oh. [Remembering.] I did hear about Ms. Worth. [Voice softening, the sympathy is in earnest.] My sympathies. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings mariphasa 2011-01-11 06:06 am UTC (link)
	[A long, awkward pause, quiet and sincere when he finally speaks.] Yes. Well. ...thank you. We weren't actually that close, but we had known each other off and on for... I think around 40 years now. Life moves on, though the world is a little darker for the loss of her. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings theviola 2011-01-11 06:08 am UTC (link)
	Forty years? [You can hear the surprise in his voice. The man on the other end sounds quite young to Preston, and he grew up in Humanity, so he doesn't have much conception of agelessness.] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings mariphasa 2011-01-11 06:23 am UTC (link)
	[He can't help the chuckle at Preston's surprise.] Give or take a few years, yes. We were both interested in genetics when it started taking off in the scientific world. Over there just like it did here. She helped fund some of my research over the years, and we kept in touch from time to time because of that. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings theviola 2011-01-11 06:39 am UTC (link)
	Well. [Like he doesn't know what to say. Impressed, perhaps. A little out of his depth.] Then you have a great deal of experience. Is you research being appropriately appreciated at the university? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings

mariphasa
2011-01-11 06:48 am UTC (link)

[The laugh comes over the line softly, a movement of air more than anything vocal.] In a way? I couldn't really provide them with all of it, since it was done over there. And I had to sort of... fudge quite a few things on my documents when I came over. For now at the University, they mainly leave me alone when I'm not teaching. It suits me fine, as I can focus on some personal research, as long as I show progress on some University sanctioned work as well.

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	Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings theviola 2011-01-11 06:55 am UTC (link)
	[Thoughtfully.] Sparke Industries has a medical research division, and your research would be of great interest to A--Mr. Sparke, I'm sure. Creations... [He trails off. Then reassembles.] Do let me know if you find it... restrictive there. [A slight smile.] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings

mariphasa
2011-01-11 02:44 pm UTC (link)

[A startled pause.] Oh. I... Thank you. That's... unexpected. [Another pause, trying to put his thoughts into words. Words that won't offend.] I actually don't mind it at the University right now. They let me be and they have the equipment I need. Which I'm sure you do too! It's just... I would have to move my office and lab and I sort of just got settled in and, [Starting to ramble more, as he does...] I don't actually mind the teaching that much because it can be a good distraction from the lab work when I need it and they've even offered to give me a grad student which might be nice or a lab tech but then I think that there are some things of my personal research that I don't really want anyone else to see but I'm able to do that at night and like I said when I'm done with my University sanctioned work. [A quick breath when he realizes he's been running on.] So. I'm fine. Where I am. ...for the moment. Thank you, though. I'll keep it in mind. And if anyone at your company would want to discuss research like that in general, I don't mind talking about it. Unless it's too different from what I'm doing, but I would still give it a try to keep up with the conversation... [He finally, finally trails off to a stop.]

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	Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings theviola 2011-01-12 11:22 pm UTC (link)
	[He patiently waits out the rambling explanation, and he's smiling through the last half. Nobody's there to see, and that's just damned cute.] I see. Well, obviously, I'm very interested in your research, even just on a [he clears his throat] personal level, what with... Creations, and all. If you find yourself in need of funding... [He trails off politely.] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings

mariphasa
2011-01-13 04:39 am UTC (link)

Oh. [An almost audibly surprised blink.] Oh. Well. I... That's very generous of you. Thank you. I'm actually fairly well situated with funding at the moment. I submitted a grant not long ago that was approved, so that money should be coming into the University soon. But please feel free to contact me if you want to talk about things! I don't mind talking. I confess that there are not very many people I can discuss certain portions of my research with, and it gets a bit lonely at times. Not that I expect you know all about what I talk about. I don't mean that in an offensive way though! Just... I know that genetics is a pretty obscure topic for most people. But I think I'm getting better at couching things in terms that more people can understand. So if you're interested, I'm on the forums. And obviously you have my phone number...

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	Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings theviola 2011-01-13 06:37 am UTC (link)
	[He laughs.] No, doctor, I'm definitely not a scientist, but I am interested in your developments. Thank you for speaking with me. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Return Phone Call to P. Rawlings mariphasa 2011-01-13 08:29 pm UTC (link)
	Then talking is good. And I can try to keep things from getting too complicated, but if I fail at that, you can let me know. And you're very welcome! Hope I was helpful. Good Day, Mr. Rawlings. (Reply to this) (Parent)

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