"I wasn't aware you would sink to such petty diatribe," she responded without even the slightest hint of irritation.  She wasn't one to miss a beat in any conversation, let alone with a perceived rival.<br/><br/>As he explained himself she snatched up one of the vials and peered into it in a detached sort of way.  Chemicals were quite far from her speciality.  London's knowledge of the brain's physicalities was top notch, of that there could be no doubt.  But her superior?  Hardly.  They were both in love with gray matter, but were two sides of that same coin.  He more than understood the brain, but just how well did he understand<em>people?</em>Shut away in the dark for months with little interaction or interest with the outside world beyond his classes, it was no small wonder that he had so few companions.  She had no true friends to speak of, but had manipulated quite a number of people into idolizing her.  Some of whom were quite useful to have around.<br/><br/>The vial slid back into its notch with a loud clink.  "Please, London.  My ego is not so fragile that it would be bruised by you.  I'm not the one gathering people to gape in awe of my brilliance."<br/><br/>And she had no doubts that they would be.  It was in her nature to keep her eye on all important individuals.  London was one of them.  Altering the way chemicals interacted in the brain could do a great number of devastating things to a consciousness.  It could even change the body physically.  The vials clearly contained some concoction that made such modifications.  The question to be answered was, in what way?