Being Awake and Being Alive

Instrument Specialist, Sentry, Pathian [RP Blog for Elendel United]

[sinclxr]

He ducked his head, laughing, but with a blush rising on his cheeks. “I do. Apologies for not coming right out and asking, but I, ah… I didn’t quite know how to ask.” Sin smiled. “Thank you. It’s something like…”

He described an instrument that he would need to solder something—like an army knife, but for a certain kind of chemical reaction that would take place within a chamber, and then he suddenly realized that he was asking Etta for instrument access.

"Oh… Etta, you aren’t going to get in trouble for this, are you?" Sinclar asked worriedly. That was the last thing he wanted to happen.

[ettasomell]

As her old friend described the instrument he needed, Etta's fingers itched for a pen and piece of paper. It wasn't the heat that was a problem so much as the pressure the whole thing would be under - and the power supply needed - and the containment - and.... 

So busy was she planning how to arrange the room she needed  to fit this all in that she almost missed his (oh so typical) attempt to be a selfless idiot and deny himself something he needed to prevent her from being slightly inconvenienced. 

"Sinclar," she said in a tone somewhere between exasperation and pride. For a moment, she heard her mother's voice and had to fight back a small shiver. "There is no way I will get in trouble for doing my job and taking advantage of my non-salary perks. I decide who gets machine access, so as long as I schedule us outside of current experiments we'll be fine. I am the goddess of my mechanical domain." She almost finished the sentence before giggling. That sentence would never be repeated. Ever.

"Trust me, old friend. The only trouble will be finding the perfect songs for a playlist. We're doing this. You free on Saturday night by any chance?"

[luluwardwick]

"Oh, no! You’ve done enough already, really. Thank you." And by enough I mean that I don’t need you to break anything else of mine, you rust bucket with eyes. Despite her thoughts, Luci kept a genuine smile on her face as she took the card from the woman. She glanced down at it before continuing. 

"Lisetta Somell, huh? It’s nice to meet you even though it’s under such circumstances.” She sighed, looking at the broken phone in  her hand once more. Hopefully she wouldn’t get called in for any extra shifts this week. And hopefully Ferra wouldn’t need her for anything else in the meantime…

"I’m Luci. And I’ll definitely be giving you a call as soon as I can."   For added emphasis, she lifted her free hand to her ear to mock a phone call. “I can totally take you out to lunch or coffee sometime. It’s the least I can do for you.”

If there was anything Luci knew it was that here was no better way to use someone than to get close to them first. Once the trust was there, it was only a matter of time before she could use the relation -ship to her advantage.

[ettasomell]

"It's really nice to meet you too, Luci!" It was nice - the woman seemed to be really genuine. Not that that was any indication of actual sentiment, if Etta's history counted. Then again, someone who didn't like her wouldn't want to spend more time with her, would she? Obviously not.

"You really don't have to do that! Remember, I'm the one who still owes you a favor!" And besides, if we met up to have an actual conversation it might turn into a pleasant smile contest. Oh Harmony, what if I out-pleasant this woman? What if I don't. Stop worrying about that and focus. "But we can certainly get coffee together - I won't go anywhere near your phone this time. Do you know where Northern Park Coffee is?"

Hey, if this coffee-date...thing...was going to be awkward, might as well be awkward in public where one of her friends might show up. Then again...maybe this isn't the best idea.

[ettasomell]

Etta Somell + tropes

1. The Cutie                               2. Break the Cutie 

3. Trickster Twins                     4. Mysterious Parent 

5. Cannot Keep a Secret         6. Hot Scientist 

7. Justified Criminal                 8. You Talk Too Much 

9. Destructive Relationship    10. The Sleepless

[ettasomell]

Wish you were the one that got away.

By the time the band leader announced the last dance of the evening, nineteen year old Etta Somell was exactly forty seven percent sure she was in love. In high school, she had dated around a bit in Tathingdwel, mainly within her group of friends. But this...this was different. This night had been the kind she saw in movies and heard on the radio.

It wasn't the kind of night that happened to a girl like her.

She had spent all of dinner wondering what he saw in her, and stumbling through her words as a result. She blushed, stammered, repeated herself, and general tied herself in knots. But he had reached across the table, running smooth fingertips over her knuckles and told her to relax. The sudden touch against her skin stilled her more than mere words ever could.

"What's wrong?" he asked, head tilted and eyes focused only on her. With that look she wanted to throw all her secrets at his feet, if only she could find her voice. "Do I make you nervous?"

"Very much so," her voice pitched low and rasped against her throat. "I mean-"

"Good."

--

"Ladies and gentlemen, this will be the final dance. This one is for the lovers who don't want to leave." The director turned back to the orchestra and struck up a slow, smooth song.

"He's right, you know?" she said, head resting on Adler's shoulder. "I don't want this night to end. I mean, obviously it has to end but I wish-"

The music cut out suddenly, and Etta jerked her head up. The band seemed frozen in place, the dancers mid-step, and she looked up at her date. Adler hadn't changed his expression at all, but he certainly didn't seem surprised that the world had stopped around them. "You..." she said. "You're a Slider?"

"Guilty as charged. I was waiting for the perfect moment. You gave it to me." He was smiling now, one corner of his mouth turned up while he surveyed the edge of his bubble.

"I always wondered what would happen to sound waves from within a temporal bubble. I don't know if I'm any good at dancing without mus-"

"Good thing I'm good enough to cover for you then," he said and  spun her around. When he pulled her back, his right hand stretched over her hip and brought her body flush against his. She stared all the way up to his eyes, wondering what he was thinking in that moment. "There are plenty of other things I'm good at. For example," he trailed off as his head dipped closer to hers.

"No, I don't-" She was cut off by his mouth, swallowing her objections with lips and tongue. When he released her, she took a breath and tried to remember her train of thought. "I don't kiss on a first date," she said, though she knew the tremors in her knees and hands and voice took away the confidence of her statement.

"You think I'd kiss just anyone?" He seemed hurt by the mere implication, and she shook her head no. "Trust me, Lisetta. You," he brushed his lips against her fingers.

"Are," he touched his nose to her temple.

"Something," he smiled the way he did before.

"Special." And when he kissed her again, she couldn't hear the influx of sound over the pounding in her ears.

[ettasomell]

[ettasomell]

ooc post

1. I'm caught up on everything that I can find. If you're waiting on me for a reply, just shoot me a link!

2. If you want to add me on Skype, send me a message so I can tell you my name and handle.

3. Thanks. Just, lots of thanks :D

[ettasomell]

that-thalia

"So, it's a bit of a walk back to the university. We should talk about something." Etta bumped her shoulder against Thalia's and made her best eyebrows-raised-in-a-knowing-way expression. "Tell me about this Basil guy."

[ettasomell]

spannerboop

"Oh hey! You're the freshman I accidentally insulted at the party I wasn't technically invited to for the guy I barely know at the coffee shop whose employees I traumatized!"

"Do you want a muffin?"

[vtrystane]

       “ Any of the above are fine, ” Vic replied cordially, walking in the apartment after her.        He looked around the space momentarily, eyes skimming over different details of the        woman’s abode before they would once again find her. It was — though, he’d never        admit as much aloud — one of the things he enjoyed most about his job, to see a part        of people’s lives that weren’t often exploited to just any person on the street. It was        fascinating to Vic, being able to look into the homes of different kinds of people. One        could learn so much from just a glance inside.

                                                                                   He wondered what could be learned                                                                                                from his own apartment.

       He looked back at Etta after a moment, smiling before speaking again: “ Water’s fine,        if it’s not too much trouble. Thanks. You’ve got a nice place, here. I always liked the        third octant. ” Necessary pleasantries. He didn’t like people to feel uncomfortable in        his presence — innocent people, that was. Vic didn’t really care what the opposite felt.

       “ Well, that’s the reason I’m here, actually. I feel the same way about it — odd, I mean.        I was one of the detectives on the case — ” Technically true, even though he wasn’t a        primary investigator. “ — and the way it was closed… well, it didn’t sit right with me. I        think there’s more to it, is what the bottom line is, more that we didn’t get to the first        time around. ” He paused, pulling out a small notepad just in case. “ Would you have        any memory as to whether or not he was involved with any… shady types of people? ”

[ettasomell]

Etta grabbed two water bottles out of the sink, handing one to the detective. She sat on the couch, tucking her feet under her and gesturing to the chair across from her. She was much more at ease then when she had opened the door. The detective was calm and pleasant - a different sort than the local Tathingdwel officers she had run into once or twice. Maybe the EPD officers were better trained.

"There was one really odd thing about him that week, detective, but not a person. It's...well this is going to sound silly." She was a bit embarrassed just thinking about it. "His, well it was his office. The place was completely organized." She kept talking, not waiting for the detective to interrupt.

"I was under Professor Anna Arwell's supervision that semester, and when she heard that Professor Hedlund had died she requested his office space. I got volun-told to clean out his things once the police were done so she could move in. I cleaned up the fingerprinting dust, sent his personal effects to his sister her in Elendel, and I archived his research in case anyone needed it later. But all of his papers were in order, his desk was clear, there was no trash, no open file drawers, nothing out of place. It just wasn't like him to be so organized. Everyone said I was wrong though. And I'm sure they're right, but, well, you did ask."

She had tried to explain that to Arwell and the officer who had spoken to her briefly. They both told her to get some sleep, and leave the work to the professionals. They seemed so sure that she was wrong that she didn't dare bring it up again. She looked at Detective Trystane to see what he thought of it all.

[antiexplosionsquad-blog-blog]

     ”Well, I’m not especially good at DIY, but I can definitely fix the gas leak without too much trouble. As for the other thing, I can’t say I’ve ever had the opportunity to play bad cop. I’m not… exactly a cop, I’m a specialist, but I can see about scolding him into complacency. I totally don’t have a problem with you tagging along, but—”

     Basil scratched his head, sheepish. His rhetoric had never been particularly sound. He was far too laid-back. That said, it sounded like this professor was putting his students in a lot of danger, and if there was one thing he absolutely didn’t stand for, it was carelessness that could hurt other people. 

     It was for a good cause. He’d try his best, better than his best, because it could help. This job had often pushed him into doing things he wasn’t accustomed to, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. This way, he was being challenged and he made a difference—not something everyone could say. 

     He clapped his hands together and gave his usual easygoing grin. “Show me where I’m supposed to start. Are you gonna have to distract this guy while I do my thing, or can I just waltz right in?” A beat. “No, better not. I never was much good at a waltz.”

[ettasomell]

"You are Harmony-sent, Mr. Verge. And if you don't tell him your 'exact' relation to EPD, I won't mention it either." She winked at him as she grabbed her key-card that would let them into the lab. She had to stop from skipping like a school girl as she directed her new favorite person out of her office and into the hallway.

Most of the students were in one of the labs, so only a few lingered in the hall itself. Fortunately, Teldere wasn't an instructor. His lab should be blessedly empty. Not that that would last. "If we spend more than a few minutes, Teldere will just know that someone is touching his things. Not his things, I meant his equipment. His junk. Nope, still not what I meant. Let me start over." Etta took a deep breath and counted to three.

"What I meant to say is that he will magically appear in his lab to yell at me. No need for a distraction - just launch right in." She held her key card to the reader and heard the lock click. As she opened the door the motion activated lights flickered on, and she could see the mess this room had become. Once the lab was safe it would still take hours to clean it to a usable standard. And everywhere she looked was another fire hazard. It looked like she and the specialist had their work cut out for them. 

[sinclxr]

Sinclar couldn’t help the smile on his face. “Thank you for the compliment, Etta. Ah, it’s something straddling the line between. Independent contract, meaning we agreed to a set of terms and I technically work for them, but mostly a personal project. It’s one of those, hm, 10 year things, but it doesn’t stop me from doing work on the side.”

He suddenly lit up, looking remarkably like a puppy who heard its owner whistle for him. “Etta, what was it you said you got promoted to again?” 

[ettasomell]

"I'm the instrument specialist for the science departments, though I'm technically on call for the whole university," she said. She had seen this kind of smile from Sin before, but it was a rare occurrence. She wondered what had brought this on - clearly something she had said. Best to keep talking then. "I fix the broken instruments, make supply orders, teach labs, help students and professors, organize experiment calendars, stuff like that. In exchange I get a lot of money, some publication credits, and free use of any instrument I want. And, you know, the joy of helping others."

He was still grinning, ear to ear. "Do you...Sin, do you perchance need instrument access? Because if so, well, I'm your girl."

[elianecasuana]

    Eliane didn’t set down so much as drop the drink on the counter as Etta collapsed. How had she missed it? She of all people? Mistaking the babbling for that of one deprived of sleep, rather than the hallmark of an onset panic attack. 

    She wasted no time in reacting. “Kara, take the bar!” she yelled, all but vaulting over the counter in her haste to reach Etta’s side. It was strange to see this from the outside. She was so used to being the one going through it.

    She knelt, hands close, but not touching, unsure if touch would make things better or worse. “Ms. Somell, I’m right here. I’ve got you, you’re safe. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Is this a panic attack? Would it help to get you outside?”

    She wondered what might be causing the attack. Was there a trigger that had set Etta off, the way Eliane’s always had? Was it something she could get the woman away from? She tried to think about what helped her when she was in the midst of an attack. Reassurance was good, but for the most part, there was not much to be done other than getting away from the source and having someone there while she rode it out.

[ettasomell]

The overhead lights felt like glass blades slicing into her eyes. The counter at her back and the floor at her feet were ice cold and unwelcoming, pushing against her, pushing her away. She pulled into herself, trying to keep what warmth she had There wasn't enough air - there wasn't any air - as sound rolled in waves, crashing against her. 

Usually she got sick before she ended up in a panic attack on the floor. Exhaustion, dehydration, malnutrition - those were old news. This...this was different. Etta had reached the end of her storage twice before. She stayed awake for eight days straight after her mother died to make sure Maks didn't hurt himself or do something stupid. Eventually he had to drive her to the small neighborhood clinic where she spent two days on a saline drip and psychiatric evaluation. The second had been the eleven days after she broke up with Adler. Every time she closed her eyes she was trapped back in his Bendalloy-induced hell. When her stores ran out, she eventually fell into an unnaturally deep sleep on her brother's couch. There had been a few scary moments over the years, but she had always been able to talk herself down. Sick, tired, scared, overwhelmed - yes. This feeling - no. And she clearly couldn't make it stop on her own. 

"...you're safe. I'm not going to let anything happen to you." One of the pulses of sound made more sense than the others, and she held on to that with what strength she had left. Maybe it was because the words were the kind of comfort she would have gotten from Maks, but he wasn't going to magically walk in the door. 

Correct, but you could try calling him. And you can trust Eliane. 

Well that voice was enough to shake her out of the attack. Her hands were trembling, still pushing against her ears to make the sounds stop. She brushed against the only earring she had left in, the one given to her by a stranger who had helped her change a flat tire in the rain. It was her Pathian prayer earring, the only piece of jewelry she wore constantly (now as much out of habit as out of devotion). So was that...no, Etta don't be ridiculous. That doesn't happen to just anyone, why would it happen to you? She had felt moments of comfort from her God, but never a direct answer - and she had never done anything to deserve it. Still, it was advice worth taking, whatever the source. "M-m-my phone," she managed to stutter out. "C-call Makson. Please."

[luluwardwick]

Luci seethed as the woman in front of her apologized. It was more than obvious that she felt bad about what had happened to the phone, but guilt wasn’t going to un-break it. However the stranger offered to fix the situation, it better be good…

As the woman explained exactly how she planned on making up  for the collision, Luci kept her face impassive but was actually  quiet impressed. This person was compassionate. But perhaps more importantly, she had some connections. Both those things could be exploited if done properly. Luci decided that she should change up her approach to this encounter and fast.

She took a deep breath and extended her own hand to take the the scrap of paper. She looked at it for a few moments before  giving a small, surprised smile to the woman. “Wow…that’s a lot more than most people would have given me. Thank you.” 

Luci looked away once more, this time with feigned shame. “Listen, I’m real sorry about that…outburst. I know it’s no excuse but this,” She held up the broken phone once more. “Has been the cherry of the shit sundae that is my day.” A weak, apologetic smile spread spread across her face. “Besides, it was partially my fault this even happened!”

[ettasomell]

Etta had to hold her breath to stop from sighing in relief. She felt so bad for the poor girl - a terrible day before a clumsy stranger destroys your new phone. She could have been a lot worse, but her sudden switch to kindness showed real character. Her mother used to say something about that - with flowers and bees maybe? None of her mother's sayings made much sense. She'd have to call Maks and ask if he remembered. Which she could do, since she had a working phone...while this girl didn't. Etta might as well be as pleasant as possible. She hadn't been out of her way to be nice to anyone recently, and was due.

"Of course! Let me know know if you need anything else. In fact, let me get you my number," she had a business card for that, fresh off the press, "in case anything goes wrong. And I can let you know as soon as I get the bill and have it paid. Just text me or call anytime, as soon as Castner has your phone. He tends to give loaners as a placeholder, but he can mirror it to your number."

She cut off there, realizing that she shouldn't promise too much from Castner without getting his permission first. He was very...selective in his clientele. And his work wasn't illegal per se, but some of his off the books jobs were off the books for a reason. Hopefully he would be in a good mood when she called to give him a heads up. With any luck, this poor woman would be as sweet to him as she had been for the last part of this conversation.

[that-thalia]

Ah, a Sentry. That makes a lot of sense. Thalia thought to herself as   she led Etta down down a side street that led away from the university. Now that was another feruchemical ability she could really put to good use…even though she would probably end up getting herself sick the way Etta described. She’d had a few close calls herself when she  started living on her own. It was just too easy to get lost in work and  forget to eat, drink, or sleep. But the other tidbits Etta shared were incredibly helpful. Thalia stored them away in a coppermind she used for everyday note taking so that she could put them to use later. Her last tip caught Thalia’s attention: she knew first hand that having a friend was extremely helpful in  staving off the desire to sleep, it had just been a while since she’d had one of those…

As Etta began to ramble a bit, Thalia smiled to herself before turning to address the apology. “No need to apologize! I have a tendency to ramble myself. Usually only when I’m nervous or when someone gets me started on a topic I love. Otherwise, I’m a great listener!” She  chuckled good-naturedly and led Etta down another street.

They were almost there, but Thalia noticed as her coworker (friend?) looked around anxiously. That wasn’t an abnormal reaction because even though this Octant wasn’t known for crime, two women walking alone at this hour were prime targets. To put Etta a bit more at ease, Thalia opened her bag to reveal that she had a firm grip on her trusty taser. She’d never had to use it (yet); it was just nice to have just in case. She winked at Etta as if to say: ‘don’t worry, I’ve got this’. "That’s some great advice! To be honest, I just don’t deal with sleep  depravation well. I’m usually pretty good at finishing my work and getting a full night’s sleep, but lately…well, let’s just say that I’ve been running on coffee fumes and and the suffering I inflict upon my students.” She smiled wide and stopped outside of a well lit shop front. “Here we are!”

[ettasomell]

Etta smiled as Thalia agreed with her - about rambling conversation, sleep, work - and rolled her shoulders to relieve a bit of tension. At least she wasn't out of her stores yet. She could handle the tension and heightened awareness so long as there wasn't a panic attack looming over her head. When Thalia discreetly showed the contents of her purse, Etta was more than a little relieved. This was a safe area, as far as the Third went, but that was one less thing she had to worry about. Not that Adler couldn't be hiding on every street corner. For that matter, Thalia could have secret enemies lurking around them too. Stop, Etta. Just focus.

She did manage to tune back in in time to hear Thalia repeat her thoughts about having a friend around. If she could get out of her own head long enough to actually pay attention, that might be where they were going. Other than to the coffee shop, of course.

Etta took a moment to consider her companion. She was working late and alone, on a probably thankless project. (Nothing that required work this late was easy or pleasant. Nothing.) She had been so happy to take a break  with someone she barely knew. And she was making an effort to get to know her and keep the conversation flowing, something Etta was not helping with. Time to perk up and be more like herself.

The bright lights and wide windows of the coffee shop let her drop another layer of tension. She slowed her tapping almost completely and fought back a yawn. "Do you take all your friends here, or just the ones that can barely stay awake? I promise I'll be much more interesting as soon as I have some food in front of me. So what's good here?"

[tessalinden-blog]

     “ Very true. One of the women I work with lives in the apartment building across from      mine, actually, but we never knew how close we were until about three years after we      initially met. ” Tessa shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her; she was rather used      to it, honestly, the hectic lifestyle that accompanied living in the big city. It was all she      knew, after all, and as maddening as it could be sometimes, Tessa couldn’t picture      herself living anywhere else.

                          Etta’s offer took the woman off-guard, though she smiled warmly despite                           the surprise. She’d never been asked to hang out so soon after meeting                           someone… and, usually, it was her doing the asking. It was nice, though.                           Etta seemed a happy spirit, and Tessa could always do with a few more                           of those in her life.

     “ That would be lovely, Etta, ” she said, a reassuring smile on her face. “ I’d like that      very much — and I’m not just saying that because you offered to bring wine. Actually,      that may have something to do with it… but, in all seriousness, I would really like that. ”      She paused, noting they were near their exit. “ You said you had a brother? I always       wanted siblings, that must be nice. Are you two close? ”

[ettasomell]

Etta was instantly relieved when her invitation was was accepted. She returned Tessa's smile, feeling a bit lighter through her bronze drag. She thought she caught a flash of surprise when she asked, but Tessa seemed happy about it. Etta had never been able to see through fake smiles before, but something about Tessa seemed especially sincere. 

There was something about insincerity that was completely invisible to her. Ostensibly, she knew that people lied, cheated, and hid. Interpersonal communications were wrought with misrepresentation and misdirection. Some kids listened when their parents told them the stove was hot. Others learned only when they got burned. Etta never learned at all.

She heard a ding from the subway PA system and realized her stop was coming up. She didn't feel like stopping the conversation over something as small as having to leave the car soon. And when Tessa said she was actually excited to hang out.... "I think lovely is the perfect word for it. It's a...well, date's not the right word. I don't think there is a right word honestly. And I should give you my number before I get started on my brother...." She fishes out one of her brand new business cards, cell phone number listed in shiny embossed letters right in the middle.

"Because I could talk about my brother forever. I mean that. I could recount every single moment, tell you all about him and the shenanigans we got up too...." She paused, remembered that many of said shenanigans were quite illegal, and pulled her words in a different direction. "It was only my mother and the two of us our whole lives. We even did all those stereotypical twin things - made up languages, feeling each other's pain, reading the other's mind. He's...well, he's my best friend." She knew how sentimental that must sound, but it was true. She smiled again, happy about her company and happy that she was on her way to see the aforementioned brother.

[venturess]

     This case just continued to get more and more complicated, and she was getting heat from the Captain already to close them quickly before the Yomens started causing trouble. The detective jotted down a note to go pay a visit to the campus security office and to see if there were any cameras in the parking lot. She was getting very tired of this case. Every time she thought she was getting close to the True Survivorists, she was forced to find more loopholes to fit through. 

     This time, she thought she was getting close. Getting one of them to talk would be another matter entirely, but if it was a university student, it was possible that they might be a newer recruit. Easier to scare those ones into talking, but the tradeoff was that they didn’t know as much as she would like. Oh, well. It was something.

     The news about the chloroform and kerosene was interesting, if concerning. The quantities that were stolen were large enough to be worrisome. Kalrien didn’t want to puzzle over this new conundrum in front of the young woman, but she would think on it later.

     ”I appreciate your cooperation, Miss Somell. Rest assured, I got permission for files like these”—she raised the papers and then tucked them into her folder—“from your boss already. I already know what I’m looking for.” Although the addition of the chloroform was an interesting addition. If it had been someone else who had stolen the chloroform, however, it was out of her hands. “Unless you can think of anything else, I think that’s about it.” Kalrien pulled out a card and handed it over to Etta. “In case you remember anything more.”

[ettasomell]

Etta was relieved to know that her boss had signed off on this. Not out of any particular desire to follow the letter of the law - especially in a case where the information could stop someone from getting hurt - but because she could pass on a lecture about student privacy and university policy, thank you very much. She did have to squish some embarrassment over having basically told all that to a law enforcement official.

The detective didn't seem the least bit bothered by her chatter, so no harm done. She was just glad to have been able to help. The missing chemicals all written down together like that made a scary list. Any one of them could bring down a building, but several of them were hard to fight once ignited. And the more she thought about the chloroform, the more that worried her too. Maybe she should double check with the professors and see if that really was missing. Maybe she should look into a few of the more...shifty students.

Maybe she should leave the investigating to the professionals.

Etta took Detective Venture's card. She would keep it handy, just in case.

"Like I said, anything to help. I'll try to think back over the past few weeks, but I do think that's it. I'll let you know if anything else comes up, though." Etta turned back to her desk, thinking she should visit the stockroom some time and assuming the detective would find her way out.

Fin.

[antiexplosionsquad-blog-blog]

     Well, this wasn’t his standard fare in jobs. Holt had probably sent him because he didn’t know what else to do with the situation. Basil didn’t much know what to do, either, but he was going to do something. 

     ”If I’m being technical, my job description is something along the lines of defusing bombs. But”—he rolled his sleeves up and crossed his arms, giving a grin—“I guess in this case the bomb is just… an entire room. Got any suggestions? I can fix the gas lines well enough, but that doesn’t take care of the existing fumes. Don’t imagine you want them being vented through the rest of the school, either.”

     He rubbed his chin in thought. “I don’t actually have the authority to arrest anybody, but I could flash my badge and try to pull the cop routine.” He wasn’t technically a cop, but whatever this ‘Professor Teldere’ didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. “Give him a little scare.” Basil planted his hands on his hips. “But those are only a few ideas. If you’ve got anything, I’m all ears.”

     The man laughed suddenly. “Oh, right! I’m Basil Verge. Sorry, got ahead of myself.”

[ettasomell]

"That sounds like a great place to start Mr. Verge." Etta sighed in relief. Finally - finally - this would get taken care of.  "The gas line is the priority I believe. I got into the lab yesterday to try and open a window, but they all had metal latches, and rusted ones at that. I may not be a specialist, but even I know that a metal-against-metal spark would be a bad thing to happen. Very, very, bad." 

She bit off a new tirade against building codes before she could derail the conversation again. Maintenance should have been called in when the latches started aging. For that matter, the windows should have been replaced ages ago to help with ventilation. The building was old, but that was no excuse to risk student lives.

"Anyway, if you can fix the broken line and scare Teldere into letting me put everything else where it should be, because it's not like he would ever do it himself, that would be wonderful. If you get the chance to open a window, then I can get Health and Safety in there to request maintenance on the vents. Honestly, I am just so rusting glad that you are here!" She still felt like an outsider to most of the campus, being much younger than many of the people she was supposed to be bossing around. Her work had endeared her to some of the staff and most of the students, but it was a relief to have back up when dealing with one of the hold-outs.

"There's just one thing - can I be there when you confront Teldere in his lab? I know how childish this sounds, but Harmony I need to be there and see his face when he finds out how much trouble he is in. Of course, I completely understand that it's not professional and you don't need a tag-along, so I can just show you his office and lab and leave if you prefer." She said the last bit in a rush, looking down and trying to restrain the grin she had had since he had walked into her office, hoping that he would let her come with.