fandom_clinic | FTEC, Monday Night

She wanted to check on the tests she was running in the lab. She would do that, and then she would head on her way to the beach, just like she promised herself, maybe even stop off at Caritas and grab a drink before. Or maybe after. But she wouldn't get sucked in, no sir, not at all.

That was the mantra she was mentally repeating as she entered the clinic very shortly after sundown. She smiled at Janet on her way to the lab, pausing by the desk. "Having a quiet evening?"

"Oh, hey," said Janet, wondering if she should have maybe hidden under her desk for the whole shift. "Quiet until now, anyway. What brings you in on your night off?"

"Just checking on a few things in the lab," Nat replied. She folded her arms and leant against the counter. "And then, I promise I'll get some semblance of a life. Really."

She noted Janet's hesitation and her brow knitted in concern. "You feeling okay?"

"Are we supposed to have lives?" asked Janet, faking confusion. "Because no one told me that." She paused, wondering if she could plausibly get away without an answer, and decided not. "And, ah, I spent the entire weekend hiding in my room, convinced I was a paranoid hacker who'd been bodyswitched somehow. It's a little embarrassing."

"Ah." But the tone in Natalie's voice said that she didn't really understand. A wry smile traced her lips, turning into a lopsided grin. "Just another boring weekend in Fandom, then?"

"It was supposed to be a quiet weekend," said Janet, sighing and propping her chin on her hand. "Just not because I thought I was someone else in my body. Which I think is what happened."

It was a little silly, when she thought about it.

Nat shook her head, wrinkling her nose and massaging her temple. "Oh, my head. Not sure I can wrap my brain around that." She chuckled.

"Trust me, it's not any easier from this end," said Janet dryly. "I hope your weekend was better than mine, at least."

"It was...quiet." She shrugged. "I stayed home, watched movies, did some reading -- I was a total couch potato. Which is why now, on Monday, I say I need a life. It got a little too quiet."

"So do you have any plans to acquire a life?" asked Janet. She grinned. "Socialization? Human contact of some kind? I never see you outside of the clinic."

"Oh, I'm usually around, but, given the fact that I've been working nights for the past, oh, fifteen years, I end up doing most of my 'socializing' at night.

"I stopped by Caritas the other night, went for a walk on the beach; I have friends over once in a while. I guess you could say I'm easing my way into a life."

"You have to work your way into it slowly," said Janet, nodding seriously. Her eyes were glimmering with amusement. "Otherwise you might sprain something."

"Definitely wouldn't want that to happen." She grinned conspiratorally. "Well, I guess I'll check my specimens and head out in search of. You need anything? Dinner? Good coffee?"

"Coffee?" Janet perked up. "Good stuff, not the muddy stuff we keep here? I'd sing your praises. If I were the type to sing, anyway."

"I think I can manage that." Nat chuckled, moving back toward the lab. "Black? With Cream? Latte? Mocha?"

"Mocha," said Janet decisively. "Chocolate is always preferable, unless you've been up 36 hours straight." She grinned and then eyed the lab curiously. "Do you mind if I ask what kind of tests you're running back there?"

Nat poked her head around the door frame, after having flipped on the lights. "Oh, just seeing how the skin cells react to long term exposure to certain antihistamines and environmental conditions."

She disappeared back into the lab for a moment, then reappeared, switching out the lights. "And it looks like I'll have some more notes tomorrow."

Janet raised an eyebrow. "That sounds pretty interesting, actually." She really couldn't talk about needing to get a life sometimes. "Positive results?"

She wasn't going to snoop. She was just going to think about it. A lot. And maybe the equipment in the lab needed calibrating?

"A few. How sustainable they are, I'll have to see. I've seen something like this before, and the effects were very...short lived." She smiled. Inside, she was trying not to bust. If it was sustainable, she may have just found a cure. Her experience with the Lytoveuterine-B left her just a little gun shy. She didn't want to go through the roller coaster she'd seen Nick on.

"So...grande mocha? Or is tonight a venti kind of night?"

"Venti's the bigger size, right?" asked Janet, a smile playing around the corners of her mouth. She'd seen that air of suppressed excitement before. Hell, she'd had that look before. "Because the correct answer is always the one that involves the most coffee."

"One venti mocha it is." Natalie laughed. "I'll be back in a few minutes." Waving, she headed toward the doors and out into the evening.

Once Janet was sure Natalie was out of hearing range ~~for a human~~, she got up and walked quietly into the lab. Natalie's notes were absolutely fascinating, and when she looked under the microscope--

Janet blinked, adjusted the 'scope, and looked again. That was...completely within her area of specialty, actually. She glanced toward the rest of the clinic. Natalie would be coming by with that coffee soon, and she might want to stick around and chat ~~in some kind of handwavey manner~~, which would be fun.

She put down the research, didn't let herself give it any longing looks, and went back out to the front desk to make it look like she'd been flipping through a magazine while waiting for Natalie to come back.

OOC: Post-chat with coffee handwaved by mutual agreement.

*ring*

Parker's pretty sure Janet's back to normal-- and Broots is in his own body-- but it's always good to check.

Janet picked up her phone, saw the caller ID reading 'Parker,' and groaned. "Please tell me you didn't record that phone call," she said, by way of answering the phone.

"Very luckily for you-- apparently? -- no. What the hell was going on, Janet?"

"I have no idea," said Janet. "Apparently somehow I thought I was Broots. I'm too embarrassed to listen to the radio, but I know half the school was in the same boat."

"Gahhh. So you weren't *actually* bodyswitched, just hallucinating? What, did the Gremlins attack en-masse? That's what it sounds like." Parker shook her head while unpacking her bags, finally. "Uh. Sorry if anything I said to 'Broots' was out of line...."

"I'm not thinking about gremlin spit in the drinking water," said Janet, shuddering in disgust. "Though I did go out and buy a few gallons of distilled water this morning."

"Oh, ugh. Thank you. I'm drinking bottled water for the rest of the week." Parker made a face. "But you're okay now? And you didn't get drunk like I told 'Broots' to?"

Janet grinned. That was revenge for Parker's attitude during the phone call. "I'm okay now. And no, thankfully. 'Broots' couldn't find where we'd hid the alchohol." She snorted. "I liked being five better."

"Being Broots *is* weird. You have my sympathies. Seriously." Parker started to chuckle. "We were talking about who we'd switch bodies with on the way back, and his name never came up. I did wonder where you were, though. Glad it was simpler than it looked."

"I have no idea if anyone thought they were me," said Janet. "To be honest, I think I'm glad of that." She shook her head. "Could you imagine someone thinking they were me? That might even be more embarrassing."

Parker snickered. "At least if you ran into them and saw their impression of you later. Depending on who it was, and what they thought of you, many many needles may have been involved."

Janet stuck her tongue out at the phone. "And if anyone had thought they were you, they'd have spent the weekend cringing in horror at not having enough designers in their wardrobe."

"Got that right." Parker grinned at the phone. "Coffee and cookies tomorrow, after classes? To catch up?"

"Caffeine and sugar sounds like a plan to me," said Janet. "So should I come by your room, or do you want to stop by mine?"

"Mmm, my place. I haven't spent enough time with Esme, lately. After afternoon workshops. I have some more Jamaica Blue Mountain to share too."

"You know, I'd be there even without the inducement of that kind of coffee," said Janet, grinning. "But that sounds amazing. Want me to bring anything?"

"Whatever the special of the day is from J,GOB. And if you can find strawberries? Esme will love you."

"How could I break Esme's heart?" asked Janet, sighing dramatically. "Special of the day it is, then. See you tomorrow, Parker."

FTEC, Monday Night

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