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If Claudia didn't know better, she'd say Joshua's avoiding anything and everyone since he got back from Minneapolis the other day (and it doesn't help that HG's off on a case). But she's trying to give him his space, and until tomorrow night to get over himself.
Which means, in an effort to avoid stress-hacking the FBI again - since that went so well last time - she's spent an hour chasing that goddamn scarab, and now she's in the bar, catching up on her case report backlog.

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Charles comes over with a basket of chips that he places on the table before sitting,

"You look like you need these."

Ooooh, fries. Sweet.
"Thanks." Claudia grabs a few. "Been that kind of a week."

"I could tell. Want to talk about it?"

"You talked to Joshua since like... early October?"
She knows Charles was at the party, but the way Joshua did the invite, that doesn't mean they talked there.

"Its been a while. I think the last time we talked, I was ten and he was twelve. I've been meaning to speak to him since then but it hasn't happened,"

He needs to do that.

"Right. Then he probably wouldn't have mentioned he's getting a fucking Nobel."
She's damn proud of her brother, and rightly so, but he's been freaked ever since he found out.
"Actually, who am I kidding, he wouldn't have mentioned it regardless. He tried to turn it down."

"I think I might have heard that, but I'm not certain. That sounds like him. Can I help? Its important to hold tight to what you've done and control what happens with it,"

That's what Charles is trying to do with all of his science.

Claudia shrugs. "Helena dragged him tux-shopping the other day and he's been... I'm pretty sure he's been avoiding the world since they got back." Every time she goes to check on him he's revising the manual or reading case files or some other mostly-bullshit work. You know, stuff that needs to be done but not necessarily right now.
"If he's not out of his lab tomorrow evening I'm dragging him to dinner."

"Ah, that type of reaction. That's a good start, he shouldn't get too lost in his own head, because he's harder on himself than anyone. He wasn't as much as a boy, doubting but he was cockier, it looked good on him,"

Though it was strange, Charles enjoyed his time with Joshua when they were deaged.

"Man, that was just weird all around." Claudia spent that week profoundly unsettled; Joshua thinking he was too young for her to even exist was... not good.
"I mean, this is something he's wanted literally longer than I've been alive. And this is the last chance he's likely to have to get it, since he can't exactly publish the Artifact research."

"Yes, it was. That's probably why he's so worried, it went from being a dream to a reality. He doesn't know how to handle it."

Claudia shrugs. "He's also ridiculously power-shy and this is an acknowledgment that he has some."

"He needs to work on that because if he doesn't acknowledge and understand the power he has, someone else will take advantage of it."

"No kidding. I think that's why his boss has been insisting he go, even though he doesn't want to."

"Good, I hope its a lesson he learns soon and without too much pain."

"Yeah, he's really gotta get over the 'I'm just a scientist' schtick."
The Warehouse doesn't bring in people who are 'just' anything.

"There's nothing just about being a scientist, which he should know by now. Do you want me to talk to him?"

Edited 2013-12-07 05:55 (UTC)

Claudia rolls her eyes. "Besides, if that's all they wanted him for they wouldn't have busted out the Regentface business. They'd've just left it at research."
She munches on a few more fries and mulls it over. "I'll see how things go tomorrow, but if I can't get through to him it might be a good idea."

Edited 2013-12-07 05:56 (UTC)

"Yes, and he needs to acknowledge that. He's charming but can be a bit of a dolt at times. If you need me just leave a note or let me know if you see me."

Edited 2013-12-07 05:58 (UTC)

"Will do. Thanks."

"Other than Joshua worries, how are you doing?"

"Not too bad. I think you missed our grand entrance the other week - Ulysses Grant's flask turned up. In Fredericksburg. During their prime re-enactment season."
Things got interesting pretty quickly (and, yes, the costume shenanigans do cross Claudia's mind).

Charles blinks at her thoughts and then bites down a laugh,

"That sounds exciting."

"It was... something else, all right. I'm just glad Joshua realised before we left what we were getting into or it would've just been me and Jinksy, and that's no way to get anything done."

"Oh you two will end up a good partnership in time. You just have a few bumps to deal with."

"We have a good partnership now, when I don't awkward it up." Like, you know, thinking the gay guy is hitting on her.
Or inadvertently reminding him of his dead sister.
"Besides, having people to check both camps' flask stores was a lot better than two of us having to do it alone."

"Awkward always happens, its a risk of being human and he is cute. Yes, its always better to be able to cover more ground."

Claudia shrugs. "At least he takes it well enough."

"He can always tell when people are lying, he probably appreciates your honest awkwardness more than lying. I know that's how I am."

"Yeah, probably. And it's good having someone a little closer to my age around."

"Yes, I understand that. Having Erik around makes everything better,"

His smile is slightly silly.

Edited 2013-12-07 07:20 (UTC)

"...Oh, really now. Did you get yourself a boyfriend?"
Awwwwwwwwwww.

"I don't know if that's a word either of us would use, its complicated. We're partners in figuring out a future and well he is a good kisser."

"Awww. At least he's not freaked out by that aspect."
There are people who freak out about it in 2012, if not as many as in the '60s.

"Not exactly, but then neither of us fit easily into ideas of how we're supposed to act."

"Making your own little island of misfit toys, there. I like it."
The Warehouse does the same thing, in its way.

The reference is two years later than him so he frowns at her,

"That's one way to put it."

Edited 2013-12-07 19:28 (UTC)

Claudia waves a hand. "Christ mas movie, might be after your time, don't worry about it. The point is, you're trying to make a home for people who don't have one."
Who can't find one anywhere else.

"Well, yes, no one should feel wrong for what's in their genes."

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