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

[damncompass]

It's a bit before he realizes what's going on, and goes across to his desk, and pulls it out of his bag.

"Oh, hi! Sorry. Not used to this thing going off. I think you're actually the first person to call me on it."

[k39zzz]

Jane smiles. "Quite all right. Is the coast clear?"
(Yes, yes, she knows this is ridiculous. But she's not ready to have this conversation with Pete yet.)

[damncompass]

Joshua just raises an eyebrow. "If what you're asking is if Pete's around, he left for West Virginia this morning. Coal miners acting like canaries."

[k39zzz]

"...Let's hope no one's come down with carbon monoxide poisoning yet." And that that remains the case.
"I just wanted to drop by and see how you were doing."

[damncompass]

"I don't think so, but no one's called to check just yet. Artie and Pete went off. I think Helena and Claud're doing... something. Inventory, most likely." He sets the Farnsworth down on a table. "Oh, sure. Give me a few, I'm in my lab. I can get back to the B&B in about twenty minutes."

[k39zzz]

"You have a lab already? That was fast." Then again, Claudia probably set herself to it while Joshua was tying things up in Geneva, and everything Jane's heard indicates she works fast.
"Sounds good. I'll see you then."

[damncompass]

"Acts of Claudia. Once she gets something in her head, it's done." Joshua shrugs. "See you then."

Taking off his gloves, he eyes the room, shrugs and walks up to the Office.

"Hey, Claud, I'm leaving for a bit. How are the miners going?"

[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.