Memeboxing

[trustycrowbar]

Got a scene you want to play out? Start it out here! Anything goes!

(Because of that, individual threads may not be G-rated. Proceed with caution.)

Comments

[hates_thunder]

[Things were going pretty uneventfully in the labs to-day. Minimal explosions, only a few people running by and screaming and trailing viscous ooze as they went. Really kinda peaceful.]

[Let's check the numbers on that latest simulation, shall we?]

[...]

[Physics doesn't bend that way. And how the hell does anyone stretch a 35-foot fibreoptic wire across a distance of 40 feet? And what is that... is that value... changing?]

[Well, then.]

1/2

[trustycrowbar]

... ...Oh dammit!

[He blusters, rounding to the control panel to halt the experiment and punch up a diagnostic. It's the equipment, it has to be! Condensation or heat expansion or something...]

2/2

[trustycrowbar]

[...and yet the diagnostic shows absolutely noting wrong with the thing. Gordon squints up at it, irritation turning to worried puzzlement.]

...So there's something wrong with the diagnostic, now...?

[hates_thunder]

[Let's hope not, because there's no data that could possibly account for the code characters rearranging themselves into a smiley face. Underneath it, like really stupid ASCII art, more of the code forms the words DON'T LOOK BEHIND YOU.]

[trustycrowbar]

[He takes the printout, studies it... frowns...]

[And then he looks behind him. Hell, wouldn't YOU?]

Double Bonds.

[trustycrowbar]

[Locked to strategic_guile]

Gordon had a bad tendency to lose track of time while he was running an experiment. The criss-crossed lasers and bubble chambers didn't chime the hour, and he never looked at the clock. Even the cot in the back stood unused.

The scientist set the reducing software in motion and tromped next door to the break room for the first time in hours. Coffee. He. Needed. Coffee.

[strategic_guile]

There was one thing that Blaine knew about work-a-holics. Whether they be businesspeople, contractors, or scientists, they always stretched their bodies to the limit and didn't take care of themselves. The blonde was already in the breakroom and had a large cup of coffee in hand. He had come to see how Freeman was doing on his project and saw the frantic page turning and pacing of the sleep deprived. Gordon wasn't going to sleep, so Blaine did the next best thing.

He was in the doorway and walking out when he nearly ran into said deprived scientist. He sighed and held out the cup, prepared how the man liked it. "Here."

[trustycrowbar]

There's a moment where he simply stares, disbelieving, then smiles dully and runs fingers through that messy scruff of hair, before he accepts the cup.

"Thanks. You must be psychic; I was just going out to get some... come on in."

He knew Blaine was less likely to cause a catastrophe in the lab then... well, even Gordon was, and it was better than hanging out in the hallway.

[strategic_guile]

Blaine knew well because he had a mother and older sister who fell into those same habits. They had better hair though, and he only barely resisted the need to reach up and try to fix the unruly sticks on top of Gordon's head. Barely. Mostly the scientist was spared because he needed to at least get into the lab before making any kind of moves.

"Experience is all," he replied, stepping into the domain of science with ease. He walked over to the safest side of the room to perch. "How's it going? You're looking... harried."

[trustycrowbar]

Gordon echoes his actions, perching on the side of a table. "Just getting shit done, is all... It's compiling now, so there's an hour towntime right there. If the data falls in line, I might have an effective double-bond gluon shield in the works. Might keep a few of those damn bombs from hitting their targets... A night's missed sleep will be worth it if it means I can save a few more lives."

[strategic_guile]

Double-bond gluon shield. Blaine lifted his own cup full of tea to his lips and nodded, not understand a single damn word. If Gordon thought about it he would know that, but the blonde didn't bring it up. He was far more interested in the mentioning of 'an hours worth of downtime'.

His prolonged sip done, his gaze landed firmly on the other man's face. "Do you have plans for that hour?"

[trustycrowbar]

"Not really." He replies quickly, staring out into the empty space of the lab. "Clean up a little, maybe. Stare off into space for about twenty minutes. Get more coffee." He was so focused in finishing his work that he hadn't thought about actually USING downtime when he finally got it.

[strategic_guile]

Blaine shook his head. Of course. These damn scientist work-a-holics. He was still staring steadily at Gordon, analyzing the man and his obliviousness. "If you've got no plans, I'd like to schedule myself in."

[trustycrowbar]

He's a little slow on the pickup right now, sorry Blaine. "Erm... alright, sure, why not?"

Worst he can figure is that they go out for a drink, and he realizes that getting out of the lab and being in proximity to people can only do him good right now.

[strategic_guile]

Blaine gave a small smile. He turned and put his cup down out of the way. He reached over and took Gordon's cup from him and set it down as well as he came closer, sliding easily into the other man's personal space. "Why not indeed."

[trustycrowbar]

Hey, he was drinking tha--

"Blaine...?" He's sitting on the table, so he can't very well backpedal. Therefore his normal reaction is useless here. He eyes the other man worriedly. "The hell're you doing?"

[strategic_guile]

You're a little slow on the uptake Gordon, and as much as he would like to be blunt he didn't want to scare the scientist away.

"I said I wanted to spend time with you," he began, his hand lightly tapping Gordon's knee, "and I want to know you more intimately than a drink at the bar."

[trustycrowbar]

"Intimately...?" Oh dear god. He lays a hand on his chest, but only to keep him at a polite radius as he sifts off the table and onto his feet. "Look, I appreciate the coffee but I have no idea where this came from..."

This isn't completely the truth. They'd been roommates for quite some time, but they'd agreed to keep each other at arm's length for the longest time... or Gordon thought that was the agreement.

[strategic_guile]

Blaine didn't push against the hand, allowing it to keep him at a distance. He watched Gordon start to move and slip away and put a hand over the one on his chest.

"Have I been too subtle?" He cocked his eyebrow a little. "Or are you just denying you knew I was interested?"

[trustycrowbar]

He stops still, now that Blaine has a hold of his hand, and frowns at him. "No, you were pretty damn vocal about it, but but I didn't believe y--this is the first time you've actually DONE anything."

[strategic_guile]

He doesn't let go of the hand since Gordon didn't snatch it back and it was keeping him close. "So if I had done this from the start you would've taken me seriously?"

[trustycrowbar]

"I'm STILL not sure if I should take you seriously. Uh, and anyway, 'm not interested." He adds, quickly and quietly. He tugs his arm back lightly, or at least tries to.

[strategic_guile]

Blaine's grip tightens suddenly and Gordon's hand still remains in his despite the jerking. The muscles hidden under his well tailored clothes serve him well. "That sounded like an after-thought. There's nothing wrong with wanting variety."

If Gordon tries again, he'd get his hand back, but the blonde would step closer.

[trustycrowbar]

He does try again, pulling his hand back--the scientist is stronger than he looks. But then Blaine is all up in his face again and he frowns. Like hell he's going to back away. That's probably what he wants.

"Variety. That's a helluva way to put it. Even putting the fact that you're a man aside, I can never tell what your M.O. is with the people you sleep with."

[strategic_guile]

Oh, this wasn't an intimidation technique. He didn't want Gordon to pull back at all, but he knew giving the man space wasn't going to work. He had been doing that for weeks now.

"Variety is exactly the way to put it. Scientists didn't used to always be this stuffy. They were in the thick of things." One hand rested on the table as he stared into Gordon's eyes.

"All shapes, all sizes, all walks of life. That's my M.O. You match it perfectly. Why shouldn't I be attracted to a smart guy?"