I could do that... [There's a head tilt, her watch arm flopping down to her side before her hand disappears into the pocket of her lab coat.] But I've been here at least thirteen hours straight and can't really be bothered right now.
[Thirteen hours straight and this is the first decent break she's given herself besides taking a few quick bites of a sandwich at some point during the afternoon.]
You're not just one guy. You're the most important guy. The disrespect is appalling.
Thirteen. Too many. [ She's technically still working with him. He wouldn't count escorting his anxiety-ridden (schizophrenic?) butt around as a break. Alan scratches the side of his nose with a finger then tilts his head at her. ] I'm authorized to sign off on overtime slips as head of a department. Just so you know.
[ He's watching her with concern now for her well-being. His own in the background. Did she eat? When the hell does she sleep? What chemicals need thirteen hours? Maybe if he plays into not feeling well longer she'll sit down. ]
The most important guy. Hadn't heard that one before in here.
OT is OT. They keep trying to enforce some sort of cap but I'm exempt for obvious reasons. [You know. The "she's the only one who can make sure Chem doesn't ruin everything" reasons.]
What would that do for me? The overtime slips? I usually sign my own. [She's not the head of her department. Probably never will be. But she does good enough work to get away with nearly whatever she wants. A silent understanding around the complex.]
Well you are. If you look at the grand scheme of things.
Obvious reasons like the one time where you actually went to sleep, the virgin got dosed instead and died twelve minutes in? [ Obvious reasons. He smiles sadly. That poor girl. He always routes for them to make it.
Alan looks up thoughtfully, trying to figure out what exactly that would do for her. Of course she signs her own. The offer is relatively useless then. He pauses and tries to think of something that makes any sort of a difference. He shakes his head lightly and shrugs, exaggerated. ] They'd put it in faster? [ Maybe. ]
I'm- [ "not too sure about that." He lets it fall short of saying. Just take the compliment. Don't argue with her. ] Thank you. It's nice to be appreciated.
[Wendy visibly bristles at that. Eyes widening, staring straight ahead and not daring to take her attention off of the doors in front of her.
This is such a long elevator ride isn't it?
How did he-- No, wait. Of course he knows about that incident. She nearly forgot about it herself (with good reason) and now it's been brought back to the surface and she absolutely hates it.]
Sometimes the approval process does take a little longer than I'd like... [Yep, just gonna shift the topic back to the OT, thanks.
The elevator finally comes to a stop and dings. There's a moment before the doors open, and she feels like she can exhale the breath she's been holding. At last.
I didn't mean- [ He shouldn't have brought that up. It was a glitch. She would've caught it. He can see it. It's a compliment but also bringing up something awful. His mouth draws into a thin line. He looks around and never finds a correction to this. This is why people think he's a dick.
She's moving on. He should too. He looks at the floor with a wide-eyed stare. ]
See. Yeah. Maybe I can speed it up. [ Maybe???? The elevator dings and it takes him just then to realize how heavily he was leaning on the wall there. He pushes himself off then follows her, deer in headlights looking around the hall they exit into. He knows he's been on this floor, been in this hall, and yet he can't remember when.
He follows one step behind her, trying to keep next to her but letting her lead. ]
Yeah. But not too much. I don't like the attention. [ A vague gesture around. ] Should I be wearing PPE to follow you into a lab?
[Nope. Not acknowledging it. She's made her peace or whatever, dealt with the repercussions. What's done is done and in the past and she would very much not like to think about it anymore thank you.]
I'll keep that in mind. [Please get her OT approved. Maybe that will put you back in her good graces, Wake.]
Oh, me neither. [What a lie. She thrives on attention, being told she's done a good job. It's the negative attention she isn't a fan of - and she still seems to get plenty of that too.
Her keycard is slipped from the breast pocket of her lab coat and she's unlocking the door for the both of them.]
No you're fine. [Wendy shakes her head, holding the door open for him to follow. Card slips back into her pocket once they're inside.] Don't worry about it. Just wash your hands in that sink over there for me? Make sure you disinfect.
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[Thirteen hours straight and this is the first decent break she's given herself besides taking a few quick bites of a sandwich at some point during the afternoon.]
You're not just one guy. You're the most important guy. The disrespect is appalling.
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[ He's watching her with concern now for her well-being. His own in the background. Did she eat? When the hell does she sleep? What chemicals need thirteen hours? Maybe if he plays into not feeling well longer she'll sit down. ]
The most important guy. Hadn't heard that one before in here.
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What would that do for me? The overtime slips? I usually sign my own. [She's not the head of her department. Probably never will be. But she does good enough work to get away with nearly whatever she wants. A silent understanding around the complex.]
Well you are. If you look at the grand scheme of things.
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Alan looks up thoughtfully, trying to figure out what exactly that would do for her. Of course she signs her own. The offer is relatively useless then. He pauses and tries to think of something that makes any sort of a difference. He shakes his head lightly and shrugs, exaggerated. ] They'd put it in faster? [ Maybe. ]
I'm- [ "not too sure about that." He lets it fall short of saying. Just take the compliment. Don't argue with her. ] Thank you. It's nice to be appreciated.
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This is such a long elevator ride isn't it?
How did he-- No, wait. Of course he knows about that incident. She nearly forgot about it herself (with good reason) and now it's been brought back to the surface and she absolutely hates it.]
Sometimes the approval process does take a little longer than I'd like... [Yep, just gonna shift the topic back to the OT, thanks.
The elevator finally comes to a stop and dings. There's a moment before the doors open, and she feels like she can exhale the breath she's been holding. At last.
She nods her head for him to follow her.]
More people should appreciate everything you do.
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She's moving on. He should too. He looks at the floor with a wide-eyed stare. ]
See. Yeah. Maybe I can speed it up. [ Maybe???? The elevator dings and it takes him just then to realize how heavily he was leaning on the wall there. He pushes himself off then follows her, deer in headlights looking around the hall they exit into. He knows he's been on this floor, been in this hall, and yet he can't remember when.
He follows one step behind her, trying to keep next to her but letting her lead. ]
Yeah. But not too much. I don't like the attention. [ A vague gesture around. ] Should I be wearing PPE to follow you into a lab?
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I'll keep that in mind. [Please get her OT approved. Maybe that will put you back in her good graces, Wake.]
Oh, me neither. [What a lie. She thrives on attention, being told she's done a good job. It's the negative attention she isn't a fan of - and she still seems to get plenty of that too.
Her keycard is slipped from the breast pocket of her lab coat and she's unlocking the door for the both of them.]
No you're fine. [Wendy shakes her head, holding the door open for him to follow. Card slips back into her pocket once they're inside.] Don't worry about it. Just wash your hands in that sink over there for me? Make sure you disinfect.