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[chemtech]

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[chemtech]

[Oh she hates that. And does everything not to make eye contact.]

Yeah, basically. I’ve been really busy.

[Excuses, excuses.]

You know when you make your resolutions for the new year and you blink and it’s already July and you haven’t even made a dent? Or tried? [Pause.] Yeah.

[allbedestroyed]

[Muldoon shrugs then.]

Then the problem is with your resolutions. They're supposed to be goals, not lies.

[chemtech]

…That’s weird. I thought you’d send me on a guilt trip about my lack of drive or something. [A slight smile.]

The problem is me at the end of the day. I guess. [She plays with her hair a little, the ponytail being twirled between her fingers. Not in a flirty way (that’s the usual). She just needs to occupy her hands.]

[allbedestroyed]

[He's not really sure why she'd think that, so he just shrugs again in response, sips his drink and then watches her with a frown as she blames herself.]

Is it?

[chemtech]

That’s what it always is, isn’t it? I’m the problem. [She laughs a little. So bitter about it. Is she skipping the loopy portion of her drunkenness and heading straight to the depressing part? It’s more likely than one would think.]

I’m always in my own way. Like my therapist says.

[allbedestroyed]

[Muldoon's frown deepens and he props his head up with a hand as he stares at her, confused.]

How can you always be in your own way?

[chemtech]

My stubbornness. Lack of empathy. My superiority complex. Astronomical expectations in all aspects of life. Lack of relationships. [A shrug.] I can continue if you like. But I think that covers most of it.

[allbedestroyed]

[At least Muldoon turns his attention to stare off into the distance at some far off point rather than keeping it on Wendy. He's quiet for a long minute while he works through what she's told him.

Finally he looks at her again.]

You're smart and determined enough to go to college, to work in a chemistry department. If you decide to, really decide to, I know you could do whatever you like.

[chemtech]

Thanks, Robert. You always know the right thing to say.

[A squint.] You sure you’re in the right profession? [And there’s a little pause before her features break into a smile. It’s slight, but it counts.]

I can try to start tomorrow. Or whenever I get over this fucking hangover I’m about to suffer through.

[allbedestroyed]

[His answer is an easy,] One-hundred percent. Most people would have told me to mind my own business by now.

[He nods his approval.] Just remember you plan to start at all.

[chemtech]

I’m complimenting you anyway. [A solemn nod.] You’re better than my actual therapist. [Her mandatory, work-appointed therapist that’s just there to cross I’s and dot T’s. Thanks, HR.]

Oh - wait. That’s gonna be the issue. Lemme just - write it down. Or something. One sec. [Put it on her phone? As a reminder. Yes. Wendy decides to dig through her bag for her phone and do just that.]

[allbedestroyed]

[Muldoon can't help but snort at that.] Then you need a new therapist.

[He smiles at that, but is happy to focus on sipping his drink while she fusses about her bag. At this rate neither of them are going to be able to walk home.]

[chemtech]

HR picked them. [A helpless shrug.] Wasn’t my call. I just go to say I did so they’ll stay off my back. Plus I can do it on company time.

[Mmm, overtime. But hey - she’s found her phone! So she’s setting up an alarm for herself. At least - that’s the idea. There’s a whole mess of squinting involved.]

[allbedestroyed]

[Muldoon wrinkles his nose.] Christ. Does everyone in the company have to have one?

[Talking, in Muldoon's opinion, is overrated. And therapists are just fashionable scam artists.]

[chemtech]

Mmm - not everyone? But they're always available to be assigned if necessary. My boss deemed it necessary so here I am. Sleepwalking through three months of mandatory feelings discussion.

[Lin rolls her eyes. There's no way she's cooperating in these sessions. Most likely doing the barest of minimums so she'll be cleared.]

[allbedestroyed]

[He frowns at her, trying to figure out the answer to the question he hasn't even asked yet.]

Why did he do that?

[chemtech]

Would you believe this is an incredibly stressful workplace that most people don’t know how to handle? I mean - I would’ve never known if they hadn’t told me that therapy. [And then she just laughs, shaking her head.]

[allbedestroyed]

[Shaking his head, Muldoon asks for another drink and waits until he can sip on it before he grumbles again.]

Seems pointless to me. Talking never fixed anything. Doing things is what's important.

[chemtech]

That’s… incorrect. Talking can help some things. Just not this. [Blink.] Oh - drinking again? [She points.] Okay.

[Wendy don’t.

Wendy does. What number drink is this again?]

[allbedestroyed]

[What are numbers?]

Talking doesn't help anything unless it's backed by action. [And he demonstrates this by prodding the counter pointedly with each of those last few words.] Talking is messy. All that tone and societal rules and politeness makes things so complicated.

[He looks her in the eye.] It shouldn't be that complicated, Wendy. If people want something, they should just show they want it. Go and get it. Or earn it.

[chemtech]

[Oh good. He isn’t keeping track either. Bless.

She squints at him, nodding slowly as she attempts to follow his words. Maybe the nodding is a bad idea because it makes her a teensy bit dizzy, but she’s okay. Keeping herself upright even though it’s a challenge.]

Okay so I just gotta do it then? Go for it. [She considers this for a moment, nods again. It’s short. The eye contact - she doesn’t keep it, just glances away. Uncomfortable.]

[allbedestroyed]

[Unaware of her discomfort, Muldoon gives a certain nod.] You should! And of everyone you'd accomplish it, too. Not everyone is smart and pretty and accomplished.

[With another confident nod he sips his drink.] You'd get it done if you put your mind to it. Whatever it is.

[chemtech]

[Oh why did he have to stick the pretty comment in there? Yeah, she’s flattered. But she also doesn’t know what to do with that.]

Okay. [A pause.] Do you want to… do this again? Sometime? Minus drinks. [She lifts her glass, shakes it a bit. It’s not full enough to spill.] None of the really heavy stuff, just - sober conversation?

[This is her. Just doing it. And sipping away as she waits for his response.]

[allbedestroyed]

[Muldoon hides his lopsided grin behind his glass, poised to drink after he asks,] Are you asking me out, Ms. Lin?

[He fully intends just to tease. It's not like she would actually ask him out, after all... Right?]

[chemtech]

Yeah. [She nods, clearing her throat as she sets her glass down.] I’m definitely asking you out.

[There’s more nodding. She seems… totally serious about this. Whatever shyness that was there before - gone. Either she’s really good at faking it, or the combination of booze and pep talk are truly doing wonders for her confidence.]

It’s not my usual approach but - what the hell, right? Might as well.