Glitched Chemistry Chapter 5 - Fish out of Water
TW(s): Racism, characters shaming Elliot's appearance?
A/N: Hello, I’m so sorry for how long it took for me to update this! I’ve been very busy and just generally depressed. It’s summer break now so I should be pretty free to update more of my stories?? Let's just see how it goes. Also uhh, it is not my intent to promote bigotry and shit IRL or in this fanfic, what Elliot will experience is meant to be a bad thing. Not to worry, the good shits coming soon !!
Tag(s): @unlikely-cypher @thetransdemontroll @the-losthour
“So, you like the magician?” Henrik asks, making the scientist blink a bit in surprise
“Oh well, I’m not too certain about..like..”
“I see. Marvin's a good man. He’s a close friend of mine. He’s very distracting though, as magicians are. Try not to flirt with him on the clock.”
“Yes sir, I understand.” Henrik nods in acknowledgement before stopping in front of a large metal door with a sign on it
‘RESEARCHERS ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT’
“I’m assuming you worked primarily in the lab during your internship here?”
“Uh yeah, It was kind of like a couple years ago, but I was doing it while studying for my PHD. I was mostly just sorting samples and getting coffee though.” Elliot says, fidgeting with his glasses.
“I see. Then this shouldn’t be too unfamiliar for you.”
Henrik scans his keycard, opening the door to reveal the seemingly endless halls leading into the rest of the facility
“Your keycard should be printed by next week, in the meanwhile, I’m sure one of your co-workers would be happy to open any necessary rooms and such for you.” Henrik opens one of the doors in the hallway, allowing Elliot to go in first.
The laboratory isn’t particularly different from the rest of the facility, the floor and walls still the same institutional greys and whites, although here, there weren’t any splotches of colour. Elliot glances at the cameras overhead that seemed to observe his every move while Henrik led him further into the laboratory, towards a group of researchers
“Good morning Dr. Atkins.”
“Oh, good morning, Dr. Schneeplestein. Is there something I can help you with?”
“We have a new addition to the team. Doctor Blaire is going to be working here in the lab with you, studying samples, doing reports and the like. I’m sure you’ll be able to get him acquainted with the equipment and the rest of the staff.”
Dr. Atkins’ glances towards Elliot, his neatly combed hair and pristine lab coat a stark contrast to Elliot's attempt at a ponytail and creased shirt.
“I must get back to my work, have a good first day.” Henrik turns around, leaving the laboratory to return to his office.
Elliot pushed his taped together glasses a bit further up his face, smiling nervously as he held his hand out for Dr. Atkins to shake
“Hello. As Doctor Schneeplestein said, you may address me as Doctor Blaire.”
Dr. Atkins doesn't shake the man's hand. He just looks Elliot up and down, his expression akin to how somebody might react to gum stuck to the bottom of their shoe. That was something Elliot was unfortunately all too familiar with.
“He certainly looks interesting..” A different scientist murmurs to the individual beside them
“Those piercings and the blue hair are certainly a choice..”
“Are we sure he’s qualified?”
Elliot frowns slightly, putting his hand away.
“So ah.. What am I meant to do right now?”
“Just stand somewhere and try not to touch anything. I’m going to need to have a talk with Henrik soon.”
Elliot opens his mouth to speak, protest, anything.. But nothing comes out. He just rubs his arm, staring down at the ground. If he didn’t already feel horribly out of place before, he definitely felt that way now.
Henrik sorts through his paperwork, grumbling.
How was he meant to manage the current situation at hand when his superior had dumped all of Atlas’ incomplete paperwork onto him? Sure he’d gotten a bigger office with nicer equipment, but now he had the work of a supervisor and a normal researcher.
Henrik huffed, cursing Doctor Sawyer underneath his breath..
Henrik immediately stands up to greet his boss, the papers on his desk falling to the floor
“Ah Doctor Sawyer! ..To what do I owe the pleasure of having you visit? I had assumed the inspection wasn’t until next month..”
“I decided that it would be best to peruse through the facility, see how that new hire is doing. Have they been acquainted yet?”
Henrik clears his throat nervously
“Ah, you see, I had him placed into the specimen laboratories. I thought it best he avoided the containment units.. Especially you know whos..”
“You seem..quite distracted, from your work, Henrik.” Doctor Sawyer strides over to Henrik's desk, picking up a photograph of Henrik with his son and turning it over, absently glancing at it
“I can assure you that I am not distracted in any capacity, sir. I have been devoting as much time as possible to the tasks you’ve assigned.”
“Oh good good. I was hoping I wouldn’t need to dispose of any possible interference with your work.” He turns the photograph to face Henrik “If you really are focused on your work.. Then you will reassign the new hire to work within ALTR containment. Supposing you fail to fulfill this task, then I will be required to take drastic measures to reduce distractions.” The frame cracks slightly as he placed it down onto the desk, glancing back over to Henrik
“What did I tell you to do? I said don’t touch anything. You know some of us are actually qualified for this job, and not just diversity hires. I can’t have you breaking the equipment.”
“I wasn’t even doing anything? I was only handing someone a petri di-.. I’m sorry? Did you call me a diversity hire?” Elliot stares at Doctor Atkins with disbelief
“Yes. Diversity hire. I know damn well somebody like you doesn't belong in an environment like this-”
“Ahem.” Henrik clears his throat, looking at Doctor Atkins, disappointed
“This conduct is not appropriate for the workplace. Please see me in my office later. As for you, Elliot, come with me. You’re being reassigned to a different part of the facility.”
Henrik once again leads Elliot down the corridor, stopping him in front of a large metal door
“ALTR CONTAINMENT: AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY”
Henrik scans the keycard and opens the door, holding it open for Elliot. The door leads into a staircase connected to a basement or cellar of sorts. It was too dark to get a good look from where he currently stood. As Elliot begins his descent down, he hears Henrik call out to him.
“..Word to the wise when you enter here. Don’t make eye contact.”
