Late April 2012, Geneva, Swizerland

[damncompass]

The door opens, probably miraculously on Joshua's living room. The chaos isn't as bad as in the bedroom, but there are notes and papers all over the desk around his computer, and a few books lying on the couch across from the TV.

"Sorry about the mess. One of these days I'll clean. Really."

Comments

[damncompass]

Joshua rolls his eyes. "Oh, come on you two." He sighs. "Alright, alright. I'll hush at least."

[claudiometer]

"Good. Because we're right."
Mmmmmmmmm, cheesybread.

[balancingminds]

Charles nods and doesn't talk as he wants to eat, Joshua will realize his own worth someday.

[damncompass]

The meal goes on, Joshua falling silent and awkward for a while as he consumes the fondue.

Eventually, the waiter comes, taking away the cheese and oil and bringing out fruit and chocolate.

[claudiometer]

Mmmmmmmm, dessert! Om nom nom.
Nothing like fresh chocolate-covered strawberries.

[balancingminds]

Charles taps Joshua on the nose as he goes for a strawberry,

"Please don't sulk because we think you deserve better than you think you do."

[damncompass]

"I'm not sulking! I'm just... quiet! Claud's the noisier one!" He pauses. "Ok, so I have gone quiet, but..." He flails a bit and eats a strawberry for good measure.

[claudiometer]

"That's what you always say, brother dear."
There is dessert to be had, and it is nomful. But still.

[balancingminds]

"I think there's context I'm missing but for now, dessert. How goes the translating?"

[damncompass]

"Slow." Joshua is relieved to have something else to talk about other than what he sees as his failings. "Half the time I'm not really sure if I'm saying what I'm actually trying to say or not. French is an awful language to try and learn on the fly."

[claudiometer]

"Unfortunately, someone else is going to have to do that read-over for you."
Claudia's made sure it makes sense in English, which it does.

[balancingminds]

"I can do that. My French is solid enough that I should be able to catch any glaring errors but you should also have one of your colleagues look it over."

[damncompass]

"Thanks, Charles. I'll definitely take you up on that. My dissertation advisor will help too, but I'd much rather not turn in a translation mess." He's already sent off the English version, but he knows that the translation's mostly up to him.

[claudiometer]

"You're not running it through Babel Fish and taking what you get as truth. You should be okay in the end."
There are worse places to start than muddling through with a dictionary.

[balancingminds]

"I agree. And soon it will be done."

[damncompass]

"Yes. It will be done, and I will be able to figure out what to do from there." He pauses. "I really hope that nothing happens to derail this. I am not confident in my luck in that regard." Oh, Joshua. Now that you've said it....

[claudiometer]

"Then don't tempt fate, brother dear."

[balancingminds]

"Focus on what you need to do and then figure out what's next."

[damncompass]

"One step at a time, right?" Joshua nods. "I'm sure nothing will happen. I mean, what could happen? It's CERN. Nothing'll happen. I've already been pushed off of a balcony."

[claudiometer]

"You are so butthurt about that balcony."
She teases because she loves him.

[balancingminds]

Charles smirks and finishes of the last strawberry,

"Once you're finished, we'll have a dinner on me. I drank a yard once I presented my dissertation."

[damncompass]

"I'd like that, thanks." Joshua grins, but glares a bit at his sister. "Hey, you'd be butthurt too if someone pushed you off of something in front of all of the Warehouse."

[claudiometer]

"No, I'm butthurt because he involved me in identity-theft shenanigans in front of everyone."

[balancingminds]

"But both of those events are in the past and at the moment, we're looking into what can be. He's not here to defend himself."

[damncompass]

"No, I'm not that great at defending myself. I'll be bad enough defending my dissertation." He sighs. "The past should stay in the past."