Peppermint Rot | The Glass Scientists au and fic

Chapter 1

The room was silent, save for the sound of pen on paper. Until there was a knock, two gentle yet strong raps agaisnt the door.

"Come in" gruffed the man writing. He was an older gentleman, wearing rather causal clothes. A stainless white shirt, a navy blue silk vest that had subtle yet beautiful embroidery flowers, a maroon ascot to match, and dark trousers with matching shoes. He's sitting at a finely carved oak desk with two expensive wine bottles and other rich niceties upon it. He had been writing on an indecipherable paper. His pen stopping and resting above when the door knocked. The room has a rug from the door to the desk, and curtains that rise all the way to the high ceiling. All in all, it looks quite lavish

The door opens to reveal Dr. Jekyll "Good evening to you, Lanyon Sr" he greets with a polite, if nervous smile. He closes the door behind him just as Lanyon Sr stands up from his desk. "Dr. Jekyll", Sr greets with a kindness never given to his own child, "What brings you here? Is it because we didn't get to properly talk at my ball the other day?"

"Well" Dr. Jekyll still seemed to be nervous, "Yes, sort of. Sorry for leaving so soon by the way" The Doctor winced slightly at his awkward words but the older Lanyon simply barked a laugh and slapped the man on his back, "Hah! Don't worry about it son, I heard you had gotten tired, and with your little exhibition so soon it's hardly that much of a surprise." Dr. Jekyll noted how the man so casually called him son, as when speaking with Robert the man always clearly used it as a formality.

Becoming a bit more confident at the man's fondness towards him, he straightened his posture, yet fidgeting with his hands. "Ah, that's, what I wished to speak with you about actually. As you well know the exhibition is nearly a week away, and I'm worried that we wont have enough funding to make it to then" Lanyon Sr stared "T-Theres a number of important payments that are past due. I've tried liquidating my assets, I've already sold most things in my house, but it doesn't seem to be enough, all I ask of you is to fund us just for this week, and I promise not to bother you about funding for the Society again" Jekyll gave a smile

Hastie doesn't say anything, he walks over to his desk and opens one of the wine bottles, pouring it silently. "Hmm. Perhaps Robert" he said the name with a tone of distaste "Did not properly relay the information to you. The Society is expensive, and I have more important things to be doing with my money. You're an admirable man Jekyll, hard working, I'm sure you could last just a week, less even." He puts down the wine bottle and picks up his glass, taking a sip. He hands the other to Jekyll

Dr. Jekyll silently grabs the glass and continues to fidget "I'm glad you have such confidence in me sir, but I truly cant, these payments are far past due and I'm afraid someone will come shut down the society at any moment. I've checked and even if I were to spend every last cent of the Society's and my own funds I wouldn't be able to make it."

Lanyon Sr. seems irritated now, he puts his glass back on the desk. "Well you have ingredients dont you? Just make some potions to sell, it's not like you have any competition" Dr. Jekyll makes a slightly confused noise at that and starts gesturing and looking down at his hands "I can't. I dont have any warrants or proper approval, you've heard me complain about how they've never responded to my request"

"So?" Sr was increasingly more agitated "Just sell anyway, I'm sure you could charm them into believing you were approved, and that the missing paperwork is a fault of their own" Dr. Jekyll sputtered at the suggestion "That's illegal!"

He glared "You could easily get away with it. Sometimes to keep things running smoothly you have to tell a few lies. Get your hands a bit dirty. This is hardly the "worst" suggestion I could give you" Dr. Jekyll, who has since stopped fidgeting puts his glass down and stands a bit straighter "I'm sorry sir but I simply cannot-" Hastie cuts him off "You WANT this little dream of yours to succeed right? Shouldn't you be willing to do anything for it?!" Dr. Jekyll curled in a bit at the mans sudden shouting "I do want it to succeed, but-"

Hastie threw the unopened wine bottle at him.

Jekyll crumbled.