Oct 23 11:05:34 106 PA - Joachim and Maya have another confusing talk
From Chronicles
The laboratory is mostly high technology and shiny. Around the walls, machines of various types lurk, including a large double fronted cooler and something that looks as if it will hold small vials of liquid and then spin them. In the centre of the room, a large metal table stands, without a spot of dirt on it. To one side, a couple of computer screens and a keyboard, clearly connected to the computer on the floor beneath them. The door and windows to the corridor outside have blinds for privacy, and the only natural light comes from the high windows in the wall. The walls themselves are painted pure, clean white, the floor is tiled with white tiles. Overall the room is clinical looking, and a peg behind the door holds several white coats.
Maya was due in the lab a good thirty minutes ago, and yet, she is arriving now, her cheeks flushed and her grin in place. She talks rapidly to nurses, and other staff, swapping information, giving instructions before arriving in her lab. The door is closed behind her and she leans on it for a moment before grabbing a clean white coat and moving towards the machines. Tests run overnight are complete and she picks up a sheet to scribble results on, her face revealing concentration.
As the door opens, Joachim glances up from a stool that's been dragged to the far corner of the laboratory before making a quick mark on a clipboard that had been holding his attention prior. Slipping the pen smoothly back into his own lab coat's breast pocket, he takes to his feet with a simple, "Ah, there you are."
The clipboard and the sheet clatter to the floor as she spins on her heels, eyes wide. "Director!" Instant guilt in her face before she bends to grab the items up again, hugging them to herself as she starts to explain. "I have a friend staying with me, I'm sorry for being late, it won't happen again, it was just that I was trying to leave and..." She stops, frowning, her mouth tightening up as she stops the flow of words. Cheeks flushed guiltily, she narrows her eyes. "Morning."
Tucking the clipboard under one arm, Joachim's eyebrows go up at the sudden shock and guilt-reaction. With the smallest of chuckles, he says, "Good morning. I am not, in fact, here t'yell at you. I'm sure you've got your reasons for bein' late, an' I'm sure that you'll make up any time missed later," he suggests, with only the slightest of barbs. "In any case, this's partly me checkin' up on how everythin's been progressin', and partly me droppin' off a few quick samples."
Instant relief and she blushes, ducking her head as she moves across to the computer, as if to hide behind it. "I will make it up today, Director." She makes the promise in a cheerful tone, forcing the grin onto her face. "Everything is going wonderfully. The work we did on that murder case, not that it was murder, but they thought it might be, that impressed the police apparently..." She glances over, hugging the clipboard to herself. "They thought they might meet with you, perhaps contract out to us more..."
"Oh?" Joachim responds, very little surprise in the question. "Nice to see them finally taking a bit more of an interest in what goes on over here," he mutters dryly before brightening, "But a little more money might be nice to have floating around. Certainly worth looking into."
Maya hesitates, on uncertain ground with the director as ever. She directs her attention to the computer, rapidly hitting keys and inputting the data the machines around her have spilled out over night. "It would bring in enough per case to cover my salary I think.." She speaks quickly, glancing at him, her cheeks flushing. "Are you still finding the work..." She hesitates, searching for a word. "Busy."
Joachim gives a dismissive wave of his hand to Maya's inquiry as he moves to peer idly over her shoulder, "I'm pretty sure that's somethin' that it'll always be. It's not as bad as it used t'be, but there's always more to do with less." Pulling out the clipboard again, he quickly flips through a few of the papers while saying, "I'm not entirely sure I like the idea of dedicatin' the lab here t'doing all their forensics for 'em; we can't have them divertin' too much away from everythin' else." Hesitating slightly, he turns to another page before jotting something down and pulling off a few other sheets, "But who knows. Did they happen to mention when a good time would be?"
His moving closer makes her tense and her fingers fumble with the clipboard, letting it clatter to the desk. "We can priorise the living, let the dead wait but pay the bills." She replies, her voice a little more breathless, and her cheeks flushing. "I mean, it isn't like we don't have capacity, I could take a few more..." The blush deepens more. "Jobs. I mean, I could manage a few more tests in a week." Flustered, she turns, forgetting his proximity in the urge to pace and bumps into him.
As so often seems the case, Joachim finds himself ribs to nose with Maya, eyebrows raised peering down. With a measured step backwards, he nods, "Yes, there likely are quite a few ways to swing it - but that's likely t'have t'be dealt with if an' when we get somethin' set up with 'em." Extending the papers to Maya, he continues on a different topic, "Here's all the paperwork for th' tests. I already started one of the cultures while I was waitin'. None of 'em really need to be rush jobs, but I'd like that one done sooner than later."
Maya takes the paperwork, her cheeks a brilliant shade of red as she reaches for the clipboard to stick them there. "The chief is going to call you." She mumbles, looking over the papers more closely than she needs to, avoiding looking at him. "I'll get that done and bring it to you as soon as it is over." She hesitates before speaking casually, "Oh, and just in case there are rumours, Sebastien is just staying with me while he gets over his girlfriend." A hesitation. "Not that there are rumours, or anything for it to be rumours about, but I thought in case you heard and thought ...I mean he is a paramedic here, and all." She trails off, blushing furiously.
Joachim nods to the glut of information, tucking the clipboard back under his arm as he watches Maya's confession. "Oh? Well, so long as everything is going all right between you two, and it doesn't cause any issues - work or personal - for you, then I'm sure that's all quite fine. And on that note, everything has been goin' well for you? Not been holing up here too much, or gettin' yourself in too much trouble?"
Maya nods, giving him that cheerful grin, usually used when her mind is working overtime behind it. "Everything is fine. Great. No problems." A little enthusiastic, that denial of problems but she turns to the computer, tapping in some information, deleting it and repeating the movement in the right field. "I'm thinking of taking up woodwork." The declaration is tossed over her shoulder, with barely a glance.
"Glad to hear that everything's been goin' well. An' woodworkin's a fine way of passin' time. Never really got into it myself, but you'd be surprised what a master carpenter can do with a few planks of wood." His eyes glaze over for half a moment as his mind goes somewhere else before snapping back. "In any case, there anythin' else?"
Maya nods slowly, hitting buttons on the computer's keyboard quickly. "I thought I might make a new bed or something." For a moment she stops typing, closing her eyes, her face turned away from him before she moves again. She reaches for the clipboard, turning to another machine to check it. "Or shelves." Those two words are muttered. "No, there isn't anything else, Director."
"Excellent. Just make sure you put in that extra time," Joachim says brightly, apparently ignoring Maya's comment. "And if I'm not in for those results, just pass them along to whoever's on call. I'll keep you posted on the final decision with the Police Department."
