Chapter II: Being for the Benefit of Dr. Jekyll

Chapter II's Cover

## Overview

Chapter 2, Being for the Benefit of Dr. Jekyll, is the second installment of The Glass Scientists webcomic. It has 39 pages, published from July 15th, 2015, to March 27th, 2016. The title references the Beatles song, "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite".

> "Upon hearing [the song] again, I thought it might help set the proper tone for the upcoming chapter - that of a whimsical, slightly haunted circus with a larger-than-life ringleader."
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> - Sage Cotugno (June 28th, 2015)
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In which Jekyll tours Jasper around the Society, and the Spirit of London at Night negotiates going to Blackfog.

## Summary

After saving him from the police, Jekyll takes Jasper to the Society for Arcane Sciences by carriage. They discuss just what brought Jasper to wrecking the East end, and Jasper divulges that after leaving the academy to pursue his own research on supernatural creatures, he'd been bitten by a werewolf in the woods, and being an amateur Crypto-zoologist, he'd tried (with little success) to treat it. He ended up with the nastiest case of wolfsbane poisoning the doctor's ever seen, turning into at least a half werewolf every night. Jekyll and Jasper bond a bit over Jasper's research on his own transformations, but Jasper soon despairs, having no further plans ahead of him.

Which brings them to the Society: a place built for the love of Rogue Science, "free from the tyranny of the mob *and* the judging eye of the Academy". The doctor tours him around, introducing him to many of the rogue scientist Lodgers that live there. They all specialize in different extravagant things, and some are even famous for their work. They all enthusiastically welcome Jasper aboard, though it's all a bit much to take in at once.

Jekyll makes arrangements with Virginia Ito to have her brew Jasper a new wolfsbane potion, bringing an end to the tour in her and Mr. Helsby's suite. Rachel Pidgely makes her debut entrance, sneaking up on Jekyll to startle him, having been covered head to toe in animals' blood from the meat market. The prank has little to no effect on Jekyll whatsoever, and after a quick introduction of the day manager to the "East End werewolf", Rachel flusters and pulls Jekyll aside to talk, leaving Jasper to talk to Ms. Ito by himself.

Ms. Ito initially seems confident but casual, but upon seeing the botched wolfsbane potion Jasper developed himself under less-than-optimal conditions, she harshly criticizes Jasper's frankly dangerous work ethic. However, she's soon interrupted by many of the other Lodgers, curious about word of Jasper's plans for the upcoming Grand Exhibition. Overwhelmed by the attention, Jasper flees.

Meanwhile, Jekyll talks with Rachel, who fears she ruined her first impression with Jasper with her prank, lamenting that Jekyll hadn't warned her about Jasper coming sooner (although, of course, he couldn't have). Jekyll reassures her and her chances with her newfound hard-and-fast crush, encouraging her to talk to him. Rachel refuses on account of the fact that she can't now; Jasper's run off.

Jekyll finds Jasper in a dimly lit hall by the main entrance, discouraged by Ito's words and the pressure the Lodgers put on him about the exhibition, fearing how he measures up against them all as an amateur scientist in a Society of professionals. Jekyll comforts him about both his experience and his work, and promises to help Jasper personally with the work yet ahead of him. Not entirely reassured but acquiescing, Jasper follows Jekyll to his new lodgings.

After getting Jasper settled in, finally, exhausted, Jekyll returns to his office and is confronted by his alter ego and part time narrator, Edward Hyde. On account of Jekyll cutting into Hyde's night out to save Jasper, he demands fair payment in that Jekyll allows him to go to the Blackfog Bazaar, the travelling scientific black market which currently resides below the streets of London. After a short argument, Jekyll reluctantly agrees to let Hyde go the following night. Self satisfied, Hyde in turn allows Jekyll to return to his paperwork.