Late June 2012: Stokes County, South Dakota, The Warehouse/Leena's B&B

[damncompass]

Joshua has realized two things over the past half-week. First, he loves his new job more than anything ever. He can do all of the science he wants, or he can just sit in the office and watch other people do what they're doing while poking on the internet.

Second, he needs a damn car. The rental's fine for now, but he'd checked the other day, and he'd only officially rented it for two weeks. That goes on a to-do list for the weekend.

This day, however, he's locked himself in his lab to finish setting it up and take stock of what he's going to need to get or order.

Comments

[claudiometer]

"Not turning up much so far, but I'm working on it," Claudia says, without looking away from the computer. "What's up?"

[damncompass]

Joshua ruffles her hair as he goes past. "Meeting. I'll probably see you at dinner." It's already halfway through the day.

[claudiometer]

She swats his hand away. "You do that, Regentface."

[damncompass]

"By the way, I've been hanging out on Farnsworth channel 8 if you need me." He grins. "Love you, bratfink."

[claudiometer]

"Duly noted. I'm usually on two. Love you too."

[damncompass]

Joshua prods the door keypad open after a couple tries, and goes out into the mid-day heat of the Badlands.

He takes the fifteen-minute drive back to the B&B, parking (shittily) and going in.

[k39zzz]

Good thing there's plenty of room to park, then.

Jane's already on a couch, with a lemonade (and has already heard from Leena, once again, how she needs to stop dodging Pete).

[damncompass]

"Hey. Sorry I was a bit longer than I thought. It takes longer to walk from my lab to the office than I remember." Sheepishface Joshua.

He plunks in one of the armchairs. "So what's up?"

[k39zzz]

"It's fine, Joshua. I just wanted to see how you were settling in - though if Claudia's already got you a lab, I'm going with 'well.'"
Call it a hunch.

[damncompass]

"Yeah. I'm still in the setting-up stages, and the 'holy crap, I don't have to go into an office' stage, but I think I'm settling in pretty well." Joshua is probably one of the few people who isn't going to take advantage of his flexible job.

He reaches up to wipe off a bit of stray sweat from the outdoors (sometimes he forgets about car airconditioners) and winces as he hits his (still bruised) cheek.

[k39zzz]

...well. She hadn't noticed that on the Farnsworth.
"What happened to your eye?"

[damncompass]

"Uh." He blushes furiously. "I was trying to get into bed, and Helena smacked me."

[k39zzz]

"Ah. You caught her off guard, then?"

[damncompass]

"Yeah. Forgot that she knows kung-fu. Or some other martial art." He pauses. "It wasn't on purpose. She wouldn't."

[k39zzz]

"Kenpo, I believe it was." Something like that, anyway. It's in Helena's personnel file.
"No, she wouldn't. How are things going other than that?"

[damncompass]

"Something like that." Joshua leans back in the chair and shrugs. "Artie thinks I'm breathing down his neck, even if I say good morning and drive to Featherhead to find a Target, Claud likes having me here, I'm pretty sure, Helena's trying too hard to impress Artie again, and Pete's acting lost-puppy." It's not a bad summary.

[k39zzz]

Jane winces. "That's never been a good look on him."
(At least this time the person Pete's lost-puppying over is alive? Small consolation, but better than none.)
"Artie will get used to you being here sooner or later. For everyone's sake I hope it's sooner. As for Helena, she's probably just trying to make sure she's in everyone's good graces, not just yours."

[damncompass]

"No, it's really disconcerting if it comes down to it." Joshua sighs. "And I know Helena's trying. It's just one of those 'ok, you're trying too hard right now' things, and it's getting awkward." He's not even going to go into all of the issues with Artie.

[k39zzz]

"Then tell her as much. Of everyone, she'll take it the best from you."

[damncompass]

He runs a hand through his hair. "I should." It's not that he's worried about getting smacked in the face again. He's just... uncertain of himself right now.

[k39zzz]

Jane raises an eyebrow. "You do know you wouldn't be here if we didn't think you could be both professional and personal, right?"
If he weren't up to the difficult conversations with people he's close to, they probably would have settled for letting him do his research and leaving it at that.

[damncompass]

"Yeah, I know. And it's not exactly that. If it was Claud, I'd tell her she was being a dumbass, and I can be professional with Artie, it's just... I don't even know." And to be truly honest, he doesn't know. "I think I'm just not used to being in charge and important, that's all."

[k39zzz]

"You'll be able to handle it, though. There's a reason you're here and not me."
And she's woman enough to admit it.

[damncompass]

Joshua just shrugs. "There's reasons for everything, but it doesn't mean that I have to be used to them yet." Then again, he still thinks he's mostly just here for the science.

[k39zzz]

"You'll get there in time. And meanwhile, you have work you know what to do with."