Bigger and better. That was often the expectation for how performers should prepare their next show. Shun had had a number of successful shows around campus, already. And as the student council president, she hadn't had the chance to really put together anything truly impressive. At least not yet. The magician was not one to complain, however. No one had made her run for president. She took the position, as it was one where she thought she could do some good.

So far, Shun was enjoying herself. The new responsibilities provided a fascinating challenge and she had tackled them as they appeared before her. Now with the spring festival approaching, Shun resolved to put on a performance that would be worthy of someone with her reputation. Her time was limited, so she had to take the opportunities to prepare whenever she could. And wherever she could.

St. Spica's classrooms were not places that she often visited. There was very little reason for a le Rim girl, like herself, to visit one. But, their facilities were top of the line when it came to the study of chemistry. Le Rim's classrooms were also nice, but they did not have the materials she wished to work with.

The faculty at St. Spica was a little puzzled by her request, but they agreed to it. She found the room empty, after classes had finished for the day. Just so long as she cleaned up after herself, she was welcome to make use of them. Shun had a reputation as an intelligent and sensible girl, after all.

The magician donned a lab coat over her school uniform and assembled the necessary ingredients. The vials of chemicals remained static in their containers. She did handle them with care. While perfectly harmless on their own, when they were combined the results tended to be...dramatic.

Which was why she was interested in them, to begin with. The trick she had in mind could benefit greatly from a considerable bang. Something that was sure to capture everyone's attention...while Shun was busy doing something else, entirely. She pulled the goggles down over her eyes. Now, where to begin in? The magician gave a thoughtful tap to her chin. There were so many options. Safety was one thing she should consider. It would be a terrible damper on the Spring Festival if she started a fire.

Shun flipped through a textbook on the desk and looked through the different volatile combinations. There was one that looked like a promising start, so she selected a vial and carefully poured out a portion into stainless steel dish. A variety of flame retardants had been assembled on the desk next to her, just in case things got out of control. Step one completed, Shun reached for the second vial and read along with the textbook as she read about the intended effects she would be bringing about.

"Tch,"

Came a sound from the doorway. There, a figure with her long hair braided over her shoulder leaned against the door frame with her arms crossed, "Are you trying to kill yourself? That's Tetrahydrofuran and Pyrodene, you should be using the hood." She waited for the girl to look at her and pointed casually from her elbow at the strange oven-like contraption on the wall. it had a thick glass and steel door that slid open to allow access to a small metal area. One could insert two viles of chemicals into designated holders in the hood, cloes the door, and then operate buttons from the outside to mix the chemicals.

She was sure the girl didn't know about the fan or light switches so she entered, she was wearing glasses today, and her lab coat, which was fitted at the back. She flipped on the light to illuminate the space inside the hood through the glass. "Just what are you trying to do? Make a bomb? A firework? You are definitely using the wrong chemicals. This will cause a chemical fire."

She was slightly less annoyed because the girl was a lulim, she couldn't possibly understand science to the same extent as herself. Not to mention she was fairly fond of the lulim uniform, the skirts were adorable. And as the Spican eyed the girls legs she pulled another book free from the shelf and placed it on top of the one she already had open, "This one, Chapter eighteen," With that she stepped back and leaned against the counter near the fume hood.


(a hood link)

"Hm?" Shun responded the noise, with a curious turn of her head. Looking towards the door, she found the source of the sound in the form of a tall girl with a long violet braid over her shoulder. She was a rather serious looking young lady, with a lab coat and glasses. Quite attractive, too, if Shun was being honest. And she saw no reason not to be, either. She followed the gesture over towards the large mechanism that seemed to offer far more safety than a metal dish and some flame retardant. Possibly the safer bit, that Shun should have used to begin with.

Perhaps she was growing a bit too confident in her tests. Better to take as many precautions as possible. She stepped back and offered a polite bow to the Spican girl. Her arm made a graceful swing upwards. Even in her most polite state, Shun could not help but add a flare of the dramatic to her gesture.

"You have my thanks." she said, "But, a small fire is my goal. The compounds are indeed volatile. As you had astutely observed. I was hoping that I would be able to use the reaction to create a nice, bright and distracting flame. Well contained, of course. I would hardly wish to endanger any lives. Ah, but I was being overconfident."

While she admitted this almost-blunder (that could have found Shun with just a bit more than egg on her face) her voice never faltered. It was sincere, in it's gratitude and carried as politely as she always carried herself. She lifted the book up and flipped to the indicated chapter of Eighteen and skimmed through the pages.

"Most interesting." she concluded, "Perhaps I may consult you? I dabble in chemistry, but if I am to get the effects I desire, perhaps it would be best to pick someone else's brain?"

"Oh really?" Asked the purplenette, eyes flickering with interest. "But of course." She moved beside the girl, pointing to a chart of flame enducing chemicals. "See this? Isoprpanol." She swept it off a nearby shelf into a small dish and whisked it under a drink to add water. In a fluid motion she plunged her hand into the solution and started toward a Bunsen burner. "It's simply rubbing alcohol. Mix it with water and coat something in it and..." She lit her hand on fire with a grin, showing the unharmed digits to the other student. "The fire will burn away the alcohol and extinguish itself, but not of course if it catches clothing or some other flammable substance.

"Besides this," she said as the flame extinguished and she moved to wipe her hand clean, "i can make invisible fire, green fire, blue fire, even pink fire. It all depends on exactly what you are trying to do. Some chemicals are far more dangerous than others and some are not easily put out."

Shoka was in full nerd mode, she'd go on to talk about chemicals and explosive properties, which chemicals created what color of flame, which chemicals to mix for more interesting fires and the chemicals to put them out when they were immune to water. Suddenly she realized she was practically giving a full chemistry lecture of flammable chemicals.

"But I digress," she said finally, "I am giving you too much information and don't have enough myself. Tell me again what you want this to do?"

"Oh?" Shun stood back as the purple haired girl moved about the lab. There was an excited energy to her movements, that struck the LeRim President as very similar to an energy she carried whenever she was working on a trick. This was clearly a topic that inspired the Spican girl. Fascinated, she observed as she tested out the solution that harmlessly burned away and extinguished itself on her hand.

The lecture continued, with the other girl describing a wide variety of chemical reactions. All with different colors or effects. And all of them seemed like they would be a wonderful addition to any tricks which might require fire. Shun could always find a good use for a bright fire.

The girl stopped and requested further clarification. Namely, looking for the reason that Shun would want a nice chemical fire. Not that she would go into great detail. A magician needed to keep her secrets, after all. She smiled and gave a slight nod of her head.

"It is quite a bit of information, but useful nonetheless." she said, "Perhaps best used for a later time. In regards to your question, I am looking to perform a magic trick. And I would like to incorporate a bright flame. That would give people something to look at."

And leave Shun free to do something else, while everyone is distracted.