[PCA] UNIVERSAL CONSTANTS

[skinstealer]

[image description: Synna and Charon visible through the little window of a subway-like tram, seated comfortably as they converse within the tram speeding from location to location within the lab...the colors are warm and inviting, but distinctly metal and artificial.]

SYNNA: You didn't get carsick on the trams getting around to this sector, did you?
CHARON: ...There were trams?
SYNNA: ...did you walk?
CHARON: I flew.
SYNNA: No, not to the lab itself-

 

She chooses to ignore the flight comment, clearly not wanting to open that can of worms. Charon can tell that she thinks he's weird enough as is.

SYNNA: We use a tram system to get around the lab sectors, to help speed things up.
SYNNA: It's a big place, and walking everywhere isn't too efficient.
SYNNA: You must have been bushed to get all the way out here to the staff areas.
CHARON: It wasn't all that hard... though I’ll gladly consider faster methods.
SYNNA: I'll show you how they work.
SYNNA: Both patients and staff can use them, but there are special cars for things like transporting critical patients- think of it like an ambulance, just in the actual hospital.
SYNNA: There's also some just for staff members looking for some privacy, but you need ID to enter either of those.
SYNNA: You probably won't have to deal with the former, but the latter I can hook you up with tomorrow.
CHARON: It's much appreciated.
CHARON: I should be able to handle the motion just fine, so no issue there.
SYNNA: Well, we'll start here- this is one of two staff areas.
SYNNA: They've got offices for the most part, but there's a reception area on the far end.
SYNNA: The other one's towards where you probably came in, facing Mockery- that's the one most people use, and it's a lot busier, and close to the emergency sector as well.
SYNNA: We don't see a lot of people coming in this way, so it's way quieter.
CHARON: What kind of staff tend to make up the bulk of this sector?
SYNNA: Bit of everything, considering people have to have somewhere to do paperwork.
SYNNA: Administrative folks like me and Maes as well- though both of us like to get our hands dirty with more tactile work.
SYNNA: Maes does surgery, I do robotics engineering, and we both handle massive amounts of paperwork in our spare time.
CHARON: You have a robotics department?
SYNNA: I run the robotics department.
SYNNA: People come from all over Taverne to get body modifications here, and I make sure that robotic ones are top of the line.

 

She pats her own left leg, showing off its pink prosthetic material. It's sturdy, and from what Charon can make out- impeccably well made.

 
SYNNA: I work with a lot of engineers in Hearth as well, some even responsible for the creation of construct species.
SYNNA: Keeps me pretty busy, but I took the day off to handle the possibility of someone actually making it through an interview with Maes.
CHARON: Which it would appear I have.
CHARON: I'm curious, are you any familiar at all with older prosthetic tech?
CHARON: I may have to come to you if you do.

 

She glances over at his hands.

 
SYNNA: Noticed that. I haven't seen work that old fashioned in ages.
CHARON: Mm. It's a blend of lost tech and a little extra.
CHARON: There's certain design principles and a level of durability that still make this sort of thing viable in a field like knighting. Makes it difficult for me to be willing to upgrade.
SYNNA: Guess I could take a crack at it, though I may need to do some research beforehand…

 

She leads him over to what appeared to be the entrance to the trams, passing by some lab coated staff.

 
SYNNA: Keep close.
SYNNA: Gets a little crowded this time of day.
CHARON: Noted, I'll try not to lose track of you while we're here.
CHARON: What goes on around this hour that makes people so busy in particular?
SYNNA: Well, it's getting to be close to evening in an hour or two, and you've got a lot of people trying to get last minute work in before switching shifts.
SYNNA: People trying to make it home in time for dinner, you know?
SYNNA: Well..if they don't live here anyway.
CHARON: Mm. I've heard of the large living spaces to accommodate the staff...
CHARON: I suppose I will be allowed to stay here too while I am working, yes?
SYNNA: Yep, just as it says in the application.
SYNNA: We'll make your apartment the last stop, so get excited for that...or don't, they're not that special.
CHARON: I'd never complain about a job that includes housing.

 

She taps her ID at a turnstyle, tapping a button on her way through.

 
SYNNA: Should let you through, but hurry up.

 

Charon does his best to keep up the pace.

CHARON: So I must ask, why is the 'boss' so picky with employment?
CHARON: It sounds like it's been a hard process.
SYNNA: Oh, simple. She doesn't trust anyone, and only wants the best for the lab.
SYNNA: And I mean the best.
SYNNA: So...you must have shown some serious stuff to actually win her over.
CHARON: Better not underperform then….
SYNNA: Eh, if you do, she'll just eat you.
CHARON: She can't legally do that, can she?
SYNNA: I'm kidding, kidding!
SYNNA: She's a tough boss, but not like that.
CHARON: What's she like, then?
SYNNA: You want the short description or the long one?
CHARON: Both.
SYNNA: Short description, she's a grump who needs to lighten up but has her reasons to be the way she is, so don't treat her too harshly.
SYNNA: I mean, call her out on her shit if you can, honestly- but do it gentle, you know?
CHARON: I'll do my best.
CHARON: Seems like she's had a hard time.
SYNNA: You can pick up on that already, huh?

 

She smirks as she takes her seat, a distinct trace of bitterness to it.

SYNNA: Smart dog.
SYNNA: She'll either like you or hate you.
CHARON: Feel like it'll be a bit of both.
SYNNA: Yeah, probably.
SYNNA: As for the long description...I've known Maes a long time, longer than I can really go into comfortably to a guy I just met.
SYNNA: She's not the happiest person, and I think I could probably count how many times I've seen her smile on my hands.
SYNNA: She's not a bad person, but she's tired and overworked and sick of dealing with people giving her hell- and to her, anybody on the planet is someone who's likely to give her that.
SYNNA: You included.

 

The dog ponders this info for a moment.

CHARON: Do you think... there's anything that would help her feel more comfortable?
CHARON: I'd rather stay on people’s good side for a long job like this.
SYNNA: Uhhhh....shit, I'm honestly not sure. If I knew, I'd be doing it myself.
CHARON: Mm. I'll put some time into figuring that out then.
SYNNA: My best guess is like...don't be offended when she doesn't do stuff like laugh at your jokes, and don't have weird expectations of her being friendly or fake smiling or whatever.
SYNNA: She's pretty blunt, and absolutely hates it when people want her to fit their mold of what she should be like.
CHARON: I suppose the priority for now is doing my work efficiently, but there certainly will come an opportunity to ease some tension that may come from working with others.
SYNNA: Yeah? You really think you can do that for her?
CHARON: I'd like to think I have a good shot.
SYNNA: Good luck, man. You're gonna need it.

 

Synna pats him on the back, getting up off of the tram seat.

SYNNA: This is our stop.

 

Charon follows along, getting up from his own seat.

CHARON: Are the others around here any easier to work with?
SYNNA: Oh, yeah. Some are difficult in their own ways, but you'll manage just fine.