astrophysics mingle finale ( open )

[interspatial]

Who: FINAL ASTROPHYSICS "MINGLE"
Where: Astrophysics lab, fourth floor, room 052.
When: Saturday, May 20
Rating: PG-13
Summary: It's time to say goodbye...
The Story:
Jane pulls down the whiteboard of projects and warnings and updates first. Delicately, gently, as if she might just be packing up to move elsewhere later.

And then she stands in the middle of it, in the middle of the mess she bears the weight of. The silence presses against her with the sort of liminal feeling that the whole of Wonderland boasts. That thing that makes them prone to settling, makes them all comfortable even when paranoia pecks-pecks-pecks away from behind the mirrors.

There is no denying her part in this thing, no claiming her own values of research in defense of the experiments of others. You don't build a place and abandon it, and then expect your intentions to remain. Glass shatters, and then more. Papers pepper the air before floating back downward, too serene. It wasn't long ago she and Darcy had unleashed their petty anger on the place...

And then she feels it, the same inkling of self she gets when she's out in the forest for those few fleeting moments when they're both tired and it underestimates her. Tinged with potential and the possibility of something she's forsaken for more than a year now. Not doing is what lead to this. It's time to do. To unmake.

Wonderland is opposites and not-quites. It is everything and nothing, and any scientist knows that all nothing is expansive by nature.

So they consume and consume, and leave nothing of research or experiment behind. The whiteboard remains, haphazardly wiped away to leave a simple message carefully written across the ghosts of old project listings and bickering:

THE LAB IS INDEFINITELY CLOSED.

Comments

[tobelieve]

( Helena didn't blame Jane anymore, didn't believe that she was the culprit but she also knew that the woman was key to something. Some answers, or perhaps even some form of help.

She hasn't been back to the lab in the weeks since she'd arrived, taking the woman's advice and exploring Wonderland for herself. It had given her some clarity, or another perspective, but nothing that could be of much use. She needed a partner for that, and there was a bright woman whom could possibly enlighten her more at the very least.

She just doesn't expect to see the place closed down, or what will be closed once Jane has left. Helena didn't know what had been in the lab before but now everything was gone, minus the whiteboard and the woman herself. There was a frown, arms folded as Helena leans on the door frame )

If I didn't know better I'd say this looked like a guilty conscience.

( She doesn't know better, not really, but she's making a comment about their first encounter. Helena at least knows that Jane didn't do this, so in that respect there's no reason for her to flee -- no guilt. An empty lab though... )

[interspatial]

[ it's not the speaking that startles jane, but the speaker. it feels like ages now that helena had found herself pulled away from something very important and placed it atop jane's shoulders. she hadn't felt guilt then, and she considers it now.

dr. foster smiles tightly. ]

Guilt only makes things worse. This is... [ she sighs. ] Damage control, I guess.

[tobelieve]

( Don't you start making her suspicious after she was wanting to believe you, Jane. If she were more familiar with her she might joke, because of her arrival, that it was already too late for damage control, but instead her question is in earnest curiosity (and maybe a little concern) )

Damage control for what?

( Although Helena did hear the message about the experiments she hasn't connected that this is the same place, or even considered that Jane might have been involved )

[interspatial]

Enabling bad science.

[ bad science is the best descriptor she has to encompass all of this. it could've been different, it could've-- well. she could've made sure it didn't happen here, in a research facility. ]

This started as a place to let people explore Wonderland together. I let it get out of hand.

[tobelieve]

Did you? Unless you had a part in what happened I doubt you're responsible.

( Not everything is her fault, and given that Helena tries to be blameless in things she is responsible for she doesn't think this is Jane's fault. Or should be )

Someone else should clean up the mess.

[interspatial]

My lab.

[ the words come out harsh, a little louder than before. the last person to absolve jane of her part in hurting people stands in front of helena, hands on her hips. tired, but adamant. ]

My mess. I am sorry if you came here looking for information, or a way to be helpful. You'll have to look elsewhere, now.

[tobelieve]

I actually came looking for you.

( Which is far more interesting than whatever had happened in here. She doesn't really know anything about Jane's involvement in this mess, and she doesn't actually care that much either )

After where our last conversation left off.

[interspatial]

Right, yeah. Uhm-- how do you feel about coffee?

[ yes jane ask the lady who thought you kidnapped to coffee, that's for sure going to work... ]

[tobelieve]

( One day, Jane, you'll learn that being surprising is her way of life. Expected things are so boring )

I suppose it's what most normal people do with a conversation.

( And not hold people at gun point, even if one is more fun )

Should I let you finish here first?

[interspatial]

[ jane shakes her head-- this place is done. the relevant pieces are gone, and the writing's on the overdramatically worded whiteboard, so. ]

And if I don't get an Americano in me soon I might scratch the paper off the walls. [ she gestures toward the door, moving toward helena and it. ]

Have you been settling in OK? Pulled a gun on anyone else?

[ ...is that smile? shut up. ]

[tobelieve]

( There's a chuckle at that -- a little surprised, and a little cheeky. And her tone is very cheeky )

You were just a lucky lady.

( She turns with Jane, letting her lead them to the coffee )

I have found a few interesting things out. Did you know that people also believe in time travel?

( She's absolutely pretending to find that idea absurd, as she had with Wonderland, but if Jane called her on it, or the fact that her tone (purposefully) doesn't sound like she doesn't believe it, she'd fess up )

[interspatial]

[ her smirk widens at helena's willingness to roll (and one-up) her snark. she gives a mock-surprised gasp, hand touching her collarbone. ]

Time travel? What a fanciful notion. Magic closets, sure. Eleventh dimensional hyperspace, definitely. But time travel?

[ she hopes that her melodramatic tone does the job, but jane inherently does not like even risking the potential of alienating someone when it comes to science. she drops the tone a little, and her authentic curiosity peeks out behind it: ]

What year did you leave when you came here?

[tobelieve]

2010.

( With Jane not taking her bait she figures she'll play along, knowing it's the easiest way to find out information. She's had plenty of experience in pretending she doesn't know what she's talking about )

Eleventh dimension?

( Okay that part is completely new to her )

[hypoxic]

[It's almost fitting that the lab should look like this after everything's been ransacked this way. Fitz had been on his way to dismantle key pieces of it himself. What good are locks when Mirrors pass as friends? What good is anything if it can just be stolen and perverted? After nuclear fallout, you don't blame the electricity. But you do blame the person who built the bomb.

He doesn't question the destruction. Maybe it was a mirror. Maybe it was someone else. But it occurs to him that a "something else" option might have involved the other labs as well. He heads down to the basement, knocking politely on the door to Jane's lab before letting himself inside completely.]

... Jane? Everything all right?

[interspatial]

[ it's cleaner down here, in a less-organized and more human way. she's been packing up her little office with her own two tired hands. she doesn't stop when fitz enters, but she does pause when he speaks. it's never ok, but everyone knows that. it doesn't help anything. ]

I'm... tired.

[ presently, broadly, in every way possible. she hasn't slept in days, if the bags under her eyes are any clue. ]

[hypoxic]

[Who can sleep at a time like this? Fitz's own face is drawn and gaunt from too few meals. He's clearly had an altercation with someone recently, if his bruised face is any indication. His cheeks are scratched in an irregular pattern, and there's a small line of stitches over his right eye.]

Jane, when was the last time you've rested? You look ill.

[interspatial]

[ what a pair. jane continues sorting small notebooks between two canvas bags. her voice is quiet, conversational. as if she's simply recalling the last time she'd had a good slice of pizza from her favorite hole int the wall. ]

The last time was probably before the Terminator stomped around the mansion with impunity...

[ she looks fitz over, frowning. ]

Are you OK?

[hypoxic]

I'll be all right. [None of them will.]

But maybe we should get you somewhere that's good a proper bed. You look exhausted.

[interspatial]

Yeah, yeah I'll do that. [ her nod is hollow, lacking the acquiescence nodding is supposed to carry. ] Once I'm done here. Some things are just easier when you're tired, you know?

[hypoxic]

Then I'll help you. So that it goes faster.

[If he can manage to accomplish even that much without causing the excruciating death of thirty people.]

[interspatial]

Feel free to keep whatever you'd like.

[ she nods, a little more solid this time, and moves to give fitz space to pack up alongside her. ]

I assume you'll work down here from now on?

[hypoxic]

Keep --?

[He freezes then, paralyzed by the thought.]

Jane, what are you talking about? Of course I'm not going to work down here -- here or anywhere.

[interspatial]

[ she hums, an acknowledgment of hearing and not believing. it's quiet and gentle, and a bit patronizing on top. ]

We don't just stop working.

[hypoxic]

Jane, we have to. We're cursed here -- people will keep getting hurt if we don't stop.

[Jemma would laugh at him. Jane's usually better about humoring whatever thing he's blurted out.]

[interspatial]

Cursed?

[ she fixes him with that tired, no-bullshit-having look. she hadn't used it much since thor, but at this rate fitz might just be asgardian... ]

People get hurt anyway.