[Texts: Lera, Duncan]

[suddenly_science]

[This is not a group text, but she sends exactly the same message to both of them]

I MET ARTEMIS

IT WAS AWFUL

Comments

[firecracker_hopping]

...how bad?

[suddenly_science]

IF I COULD RESIGN, I WOULD BE STRONGLY CONSIDERING IT

[firecracker_hopping]

What, no! What did he say!

[suddenly_science]

HE LOOSELY INSINUATED I WAS NOT A GOOD SHARIFAAAA

[text] -> [action]

[firecracker_hopping]

[...oh crap. Well, Lera doesn't really think comforting her by text is going to be that effective. So there is TERRIFYINGLY NO REPLY because she is monofocused. But in a short bit, there is a knock on Harriet's door!]

Harriet? It's me.

[suddenly_science]

[Why aren't you answer--oh.

she shuffles over to the door and opens it a smidge]

Hi.

[firecracker_hopping]

[Wait maybe this was an awful and awkward idea, crap, crap--oh she's opening it, too late.]

...figured you might wanna talk. Can I come in?

[suddenly_science]

[mopey mumble] If you want.

[pregnant pause

oh right

she actually opens the door]

[firecracker_hopping]

[Lera sighs and walks in, then she looks back at Harriet and scratches at the back of her head awkwardly.]

I'm sorry Artemis is a mouthy shithead who was mean to you.

[suddenly_science]

He didn't mouth! He just spoke uncomfortable truths and made faces.

I kind of hid under my desk when he came in and it went downhill from there.

[firecracker_hopping]

Still a shithead. [Lera frowns and looks firm on that. Though hiding under the desk maybe wasn't the best approach.]

...you wanna talk about what he said?

[suddenly_science]

He said "if the mere thought of a few harsh words can send our Sharifa skittering under her desk, I shudder to think what that may mean for our country's future~."

[in kind of an Artemis Voice

she remembers it perfectly. stupid godbrain]

So really it's all quite cyclical, you see.

[firecracker_hopping]

Harriet...

[Lera sighs and sits down on said desk, folding her hands in her lap.]

You're not a bad Sharifa!

[inchesofevil]

Exactly how awful?

[suddenly_science]

I may have hidden behind my desk after he showed up.

[inchesofevil]

Ouch.

Considering the look he gave me for standing by the door instead of sitting to address him, I can only imagine his reaction to that.

[suddenly_science]

It was, to use Lera's words, "not recommended..."

He was very... him... in person.

[inchesofevil]

Intimidating? Somehow capable of communicating perfect disdain with the slightest arch of an eyebrow? Yeah.

I regret many choices in my life.

[suddenly_science]

But you can thank him for your Zennified motorcycle later so yayy

[inchesofevil]

omg what?

[suddenly_science]

That's why I was meeting with him, I wanted an expert on fuel swapping and he was the one who led the project with the tanks.

[inchesofevil]

No way!

Oh man that's exciting. Hey do you guys think you can make it off-road capable too? Zen doesn't have a highway system.

[suddenly_science]

IT'S ALREADY BEYOND AWKWARD WORKING WITH ARTEMIS WHY DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THE PROJECT BIGGER

[inchesofevil]

Can't you delegate it to someone who's better at dealing with him? Or who just isn't you?

[suddenly_science]

But then he would be like blah blah I shudder at the future if the Khshathra is too scared to even work with me on a little project!

plus I want to learn from him and stuff, anything the old Khshathra didn't know, I don't know.