Recess #11: ABC Checklist of Labwork Reserved for Namie Yagiri When She Has Time / Seasonal Responsibilities, Created by Okabe Rintarou in Under Five Minutes in His Infinite Spare Time, in No Particular Order of Precedence
*!* to be checked over by coworkers—meant to be skimmed *!*
a) perform alchemy (you realize that's a magic trick, right?) Kurisu's note: Translation—this is his roundabout way of saying he wants you to attempt the impossible as if it was entirely reasonable. Although I'm sure he'd be quite pleased to watch you try.
b) develop specialized chemicals for use in new instruments
c) invisibility (w/ Kurisu) Namie's note: As if! I can't catch up that fast! Kurisu's note: Too right
d) treating time-travel sickness (Namie's mental note: collab. with Shinra)
e) analyze the chemical structure of gel-bananas and their possible beneficial properties Mayuri's added note: analyze gel-anythings!
f) solar cell research (?) Kurisu's note: He wants to know how it works, just rip it from Google
g) sort real moon rocks from fake (geology books on the second bookshelf third down!) Kurisu's note: They're most likely all fake, they're from Okabe's childhood collection and he's gullible... Okabe's scribble: I got at least three when I was fifteen at a reputable museum! But I can't remember which they are! Kurisu: uh-huh Namie: All fakes Kurisu: I told you so Okabe: Humph, I'll test them myself. Kurisu: I told you so
h) provide a use for _ (useless invention of the month here) Okabe's note: they're not useless! Namie (seconded by Kurisu): Debatable
i) help Okabe create _ (useless invention of the month here) Okabe's note: they're NOT USELESS! Namie: They won't be if I'm going to be the one designing them
j) El Psy Congroo / Reading Steiner test (?) Kurisu: Don't ask, you won't even know he did it—it technically takes 0 seconds
k) the perfect saline solution for saltwater fish (a present for Nae—?)
l) a science experiment volcano for a party / bottle rockets... ("scientific party tricks" — a birthday for Nae—?)
m) refining metals; coating metals for custom microchips (Daru's old PC refurb project); stripping the wires / coating (do it with Mayuri while watching her favorite anime)
n) chemo-particle/quantum physics (time physics - learn from Kurisu)
o) participate in brainstorming (it'll be done in meetings anyway)
p) distract Mayushi (sew outfits with her, try them on) - a.k.a., cosplay at key moments. Namie's note: Yeah right. Mayuri's note: Aaaa Nami-chan but you'll liiiiiike it 3 I got the perfect outfits for you*!* It will be nice you'll see *!*
q) create flashy pyrotechnic things (Chinese New Year tradition)
r) DNA analysis (do we have the equipment...? And what will we be analyzing for?) Kurisu: no, forget it, not important, he's just curious
s) spot and kill all mold/fungi growing on walls (you call this a chemistry lab?!) Kurisu: you have a point, so I'll hire the appropriate agencies; meantime, don't stir up anything sensitive here!
t) compare brands of Windex, clean the lab
u) re-create an artificial substance with a texture that could pass for blood, preferably with home-make materials Kurisu: Okabe's paranoid, please humor him, it's for a good cause.
v) Easter eggs (dyes are expensive...!) Kurisu's note: Just give me the calculations and I'll figure the budget ahead of time; and no, not necessarily expensive, with the right preparations. I'll get you a recipe.
w) Untangling slinkies that Okabe was going to use for some project-or-other... Kurisu's note: Some other scientists got to this already, don't rush
x) post-tsunami, using a Geiger counter or other device to calculate the radioactive fallout around the lab Namie's note: slightly above average but insignificant, of course...
y) teach Daru how to be a 3D gentleman Namie's note: srsly? NO. Daru's note: Please?! [redacted] mai waifu [redacted] Namie's note: I am not going to be accessory to a time paradox. Sorry. It will happen or it won't.
z) cook something nobody has eaten before or buy dinner for everyone (Namie's note: time for Korean Black Sauce).
Author's Note:
I hope you caught my casual digs at science and recent discoveries and advances. When you are at the forefront of a science, things can go in and out of vogue very quickly. Of course Okabe is supposed to be focusing on time-travel, but come on, why not dabble in something else for a bit, if he can manage it? The new discoveries might have unexpected implications for his current work.
My excuse for the Easter-egg dyeing: that's Kurisu's thing. There would be no reason for the rest to celebrate otherwise, as Easter is a Christian tradition...but dyeing eggs is always a fun, messy experiment, which has to be the kind of thing Okabe loves.
I hope you got a good idea of what Namie's new workplace is like.
Yep, this chapter was kind of random, but rest assured: plot will be coming back soon through the newest interstitial sections, the "recesses."