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[Welcome a new guest in London!

Fran has been here all of two days and is already being paid. The work is...not what she would really like to be doing. In fact, it's a little demeaning to her skills. One of the shadier entertainment houses - the type that caters to the weird, freakish and occult - saw her walking by after she arrived and promptly snapped her up. Fran, being herself, doesn't really care.

It means she's sitting outside of the building at a sort of desk with a sign next to it proclaiming about her strange abilities and medical insights. Basically, she's free advertising. Really she's just supposed to say something vague and tell people to go inside.

So she sits at the table and stares off into space like a good patchwork girl. Always in a daze, head propped up in her hand and swaying just a little. Busy in her own world but bored, too.]

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By coincidence, I'm from the same year.

[A little more interested in him now, so she sits up. Still swaying a bit but that's natural for her.]

Unfortunately, the only person who could answer that question isn't here. I've been working it out myself but with little success. All my data is back home in my lab. I really wish I had access to it. This era is so behind... Oh but my manners. My name is Fran.

Ah, it's nice to meet someone from the same time.

[Smiling pleasantly and friendly!] I'm Shinra. A pleasure to meet you. This may be forward of me, but while we may lack the technology, I don't doubt we could make some progress in understanding. It's a shame we can't talk to that person directly, but if you'd allow me to examine you some time... I'd be really happy.

A body like that is certain to hold some amazing secrets.

[Oh my, that is forward. Blushing and putting a hand to her cheek in what could be a coy gesture.]

What a flattering gentleman! I would be delighted to have an outsider's opinion, especially one with an appreciation for medical pursuits. If you would like, I could prepare a basic report on my various systems beforehand.

[He is already assessing her personality, not that he is much likely to adjust his attitude based on what he learns. But it's still useful and convenient that they have similar interests.]

I'd love that. We could build on it, with any luck. Not to presume, but how much of an examination can you handle? Blood tests and samples are only so useful, when it would be possible to fully dissect. But of course I don't know the limits of your physical abilities.

[Smiling, because he certainly is honest. She really appreciates that. It means he's a very trustworthy person to handle such a wonderful task.]

I can handle a full examination without any need for anaesthetics. My body is quite ideal for experimentation and dissection. I work on myself routinely without any issue.

[Thinking about it, a demonstration seems appropriate. Fran reaches into her cloak and takes out a scalpel. She rests her arm on the table, underside up, and cuts it open precisely and neatly. Reaching in again, she takes a cloth to dab up some blood and then pushes it open a little wider with a small tool to hold her arm open for him. The blood is already clotting and stopping flow.]

I usually explain it as half-dead but since there is little reason to handwave it... most of my body is independent from the rest to the point where unless I consciously deem otherwise, it will take measures to prevent a fatal injury. This is only a small scale example. A recent issue with parasites required me to remove my head while operating. Ah, that might be more difficult here.

[Leaning over to observe her helpful demonstration.]

My, that's really unusual! This type of foresight must have required quite a genius.

[He digs into his pocket, produces a notebook, and writes down his address, handing it to her.]

I don't know what someone like you is doing at this job. You're obviously too intelligent and frankly useful. You could submit yourself to a medical school if that interests you, it'd probably advance medicine by decades. But if you want to let me get a first look I'd really love to take you apart. My equipment isn't our modern, but it's as advanced as you can get here.

The construction of your body is truly a fascinating puzzle.

[She accepts the address quite happily, reading it before tucking it away with her tools. Fran reaches up into one of her bolts and pulls down some surgical thread and a needle, sewing up the cut she made idly as she speaks.]

I agree completely. I arrived only the other day and was pulled off the street by these people. I hadn't thought about applying to a medical school. Perhaps I should. Oh but it only seems right to let you look me over thoroughly for a time first. I'm a little wary of the equipment and methods of the time. Even if it would be more of an accomplishment to kill me...

[Pondering that. Well she hasn't died yet! It seems unlikely. Continuing on with the same bright tone.] Actually I think I'll quit now. They let me sleep here last night, which is the only reason I stayed.

[Breaking off the thread and returning the needle.]

You can come home with me if you like. It's the least repayment I can offer for allowing me a chance to dissect you. This is really quite exciting!

[Yep, strange, cheerful doctors, picking each other up on the street. For science.]

[For science is the only reason needed for anything. Or for love. But love and science go together. Fran stands, swaying just the same as she walks around the table. This is quitting, yes.]

It really is a wonderful change of pace. It's so difficult to have my peers take me seriously at home. [A sigh.] I often wonder if it's my age or gender. So many useless politics in the way of working together for advancing the field...

[It can't possibly be because she's crazy, has no ethics and has a rightfully earned reputation for bringing horrible things with her experiments.]

It's unfortunate but sexism is still quite strong in many fields. Well, I can understand wanting to see a special girl as particularly cute, but there's no reason to look down on women. If it's age, even I have to admit if I were in a normal practice I wouldn't be allowed to undertake the surgeries I perform without supervision. It's simply a fact that experience is the best teacher--I happen to have a lot of it, as well as skill. But skill can't fill every gap.

[Yeah he talks a lot.]

[That's all right. When it comes down to it, Fran can pontificate with the best of them.]

I do understand. While age does not necessarily equal wisdom, the older a person is, the more life experience they are likely to have gathered. Even though I am highly skilled, there are still many things I don't understand. I'm always learning something new through my experiments. I can apply that knowledge to future experiments and still something more will come of it.

[With a smile.] But that means I'll just keep publishing my findings and hope some of it is of worth or interest. I won't give up so easily!

I look forward to reading your findings. The sole of science is curiosity and learning, after all. It's a bit like love, without passion and diligence it can't bloom.

[Did someone say 'love'?]

What a perfect analogy! Devotion to scientific pursuits should be nothing short of love! Skill and experience are parts but without putting your heart into it, you can't push yourself to your full potential. In the same sense, a human being can't be at their full potential in life without a driven heart.

[Awww she's cute!]

Exactly, exactly! Love is truly the most beautiful and terrible emotion. The strength of it can drive people to the greatest extremes. To build amazing things! To cause great destruction! To invent or to learn, truly the motivation of love can't ever be underestimated.

That's why it's so beautiful! To love is to see the best and worst a human can do. Even hate can't bring about the same ruin that a terrifyingly strong love could. That emotion is what has caused the human race to continue despite the destruction. No matter how a scientist breaks down the chemical reactions, like splitting the atom, the result is still too incredible.

I agree. A strong enough love can't be defined or limited, even science can't hope to understand or capture the motivations of a heart in love.

[And they walk to his home like this. Best buddies already, right?]

Oh! [Tangent!] I assume you do need to eat? Or is that erroneous on my part?

[She already loves you, crazy man. Or rather person she thinks is perfectly sane and someone who finally understands her. So beautiful.

And rolls right with the tangent.]

I do, yes! All in all, despite the unique properties of my body, I still require the basic demands of life. Eating and sleeping are necessary. Even I get worn out after a long surgery. I am more durable in general.

[He's thinking for the first time ever he may want an assistant. Ah, but wouldn't Celty be jealous? Not that he'd mind seeing Celty's jealousy... After all, it's not like he'd ever have an affair.]

I thought that might be the case. Do you cook? I don't mind cooking at all. My usual roommate has a unique sense of taste, so I'm often the cook. I currently have a live-in patient for the time that might want to sample your cooking though.

Well, he's a terrible kind of shady person, and basically someone you wouldn't ever want to get to know, but if you can put up with his personality... Actually I can't think of any good points to say about him. He can be insightful though. But I'm afraid you'll have to put up with him until he's healed enough.

[Fran considers this, tapping her chin.] I can cook all right enough. It isn't a speciality of mine by any means but I'm capable of it. If needed, I could learn more.

[As far as Izaya is concerned...Fran smiles.]

I'm sure he's an interesting specimen of a person, if he really doesn't have good qualities. Even the worst criminal I had the pleasure of experimenting on had a wonderful quality. [That he was immortal and she could do anything to him but--] But I rarely meet people I dislike. Maybe he'll challenge my views! How interesting.

[Shinra laughs.] An open mind is good!

I'm fond of him myself, but he really is an awful person. If you're lucky you won't interest him at all.

I don't mind cooking for the most part in any case. I'm quite used to it.

[Fran laughs as well.] Hm? I'll have to see for myself. I've seen some pretty terrible humans so he does have a high expectation to meet now! But that's probably for the best. My friends usually do the cooking at home since I'm busy with work.

He's not awful all the time. He can be very pleasant if he wants. I suppose that's what makes him worse to most people. Despite his flaws, he can be fun to hang around.

Saying all that, I'm hardly a model of a decent citizen myself. If you're going to stay with me, you should be aware I'm an unlicensed doctor working with shady people on a daily basis. I am very good at what I do, of course. And while I'm excited to take you apart, I have no interest in you beyond the scientific. Nor would I want to try to hurt you.

[So... Cheerfully honest. But they are home!]

[Not bothered at all, though she does pause as if thinking of something.]

Oh, yes. Since we're putting our cards on the table to use a turn of phrase, I should mention one thing. Ahhh, how to put this... [She frowns a little since most people speak a little badly about her! She doesn't want to use their wording.] People have different views on my work than I do. I really don't see how anything should stand in the way of scientific progress, though I do my best to respect etiquette.

But I have one moral I absolutely refuse to break no matter what. I value life above all else. I won't let one pass in my presence. Of course, sometimes circumstances are against me as death is inevitable. But life is all that matters.

[Back to cheerful.] As long as you allow me to uphold that, I think we'll be wonderful friends! Even if you don't, my sisters disagree with it and I respect them anyway.

[Unlocking the door and letting her in as he listens to her one moral.]

I don't mind that at all. Though I have no real deep interest in life myself, it is my professional duty to preserve it. It's remotely possible our goals could conflict on that point, but I highly doubt it.

Besides, I am a romantic. To me there is only one thing worth my devotion, and that's the person I love. She may not be here, but I can certainly understand being devoted wholeheartedly to a single thing.

Conveniently your moral is in line with my business. If the medical schools have no interest--I've never had an assistant but I could certainly give the concept a try. Especially if you're quite good.

[Fran looks around, a little curious but not terribly interested. It's more a polite curiosity as she listens. And she smiles.]

I'm very good. I hope I get the chance to show-off a little. It's so rare that anyone shows this much interest, it would be a disservice to the professor's hard work not to demonstrate my capabilities.

[Also wiping at her eyes.] Though, to think you devote yourself for love...it's really too touching. Please feel free to request anything of me. I can never turn down requests based in love. That's my own personal creed.

[And then attention span is gone.]

Is your friend resting?