Who Is This Stranger? [Cassius, Eleanor & Idés]

af **Cassius** Søn Okt 01, 2023 9:22 pm

Wednesday, 31st of May
After class hours
Weather; Sunny
@Idés @Eleanor

It had barely been two weeks since the last time Cassius had come to Idés’ lab on campus. In those two weeks he had burned through the zeals he had gotten fast. It was probably concerning, he couldn't remember there ever being a time where that had happened so quickly. Usually it took a couple of months, not weeks. However, Cassius didn’t have time to worry about now, not with everything that was happening lately. So he had just messaged Idés and they had agreed that Cassius would pick up new ones today.

And thus Cassius was now walking from his building to the building with all the laboratories in. Coming up with the perfect excuse when some of his classmates asked if he wanted to join them after class, he couldn’t even remember what it was they had asked him to partake in. They had accepted the excuse and didn’t ask any further, already used to Cassius rejecting every offer. He never had time for a social life outside of his family life, his role there as well as his role in the EFA. Sometimes Cassius wondered if his life had taken another course, would he too live as blissfully unaware as them?

“Hi, I came as fast as I could after class” Cassius said once the door to the laboratory was closed behind him. He glanced around the messy workplace and to his friend, wondering slightly how he ever got anything done with this mess. Cassius placed his bag on an empty chair. “I know this must have been such a short notice, but thank you again for doing this” He added, Cassius was quite grateful for Idés doing this. He would have no idea what to do without his friend’s help on the matter.

af **Idés** Man Okt 09, 2023 4:33 pm

It seemed Idés' life always had a way of getting busy. From the Fallon situation, to the article, to everything else that had happened the last week or so, it was a miracle it wasn’t interfering too much with his work. Or perhaps it is the exact reason work was going smoothly? It was something to take his mind off everything and focus on something that made sense to him. Unlike the chaos that surrounded him, his work was still simple. Or, about as simple as one could call zeal engineering. Especially with the added element of a cross-disciplinary approach and collaborating with Medeia, work was posing new challenges that Idés hadn't faced before. But that part was exciting to him. The new discoveries and learnings were thrilling, comparatively to the difficulty of interpersonal drama. No matter if it looked like Gwyn running from the HQ or Fallon’s spiral into addiction, Idés really wasn’t built to handle it. And is it were, he was deeply unable to turn down anyone who should be in need of his help – which, that was certainly not something there was a shortage of. The need for help, that is. It seemed that most everyone was in some sort of crisis that needed fixing these days. Which wasn't their fault, of course, and Idés was happy to be someone who could do something, but for Iosta’s sake, did it take a lot of energy to worry about others. And that was discounting the fact that he hadn’t visited his family in what seemed like forever – but of course, even if he knew what was going on or not, he did always worry about them as well. It couldn’t be helped when there was always some sort of crisis going on there as well.

Idés stood, leaned over his work table, finally reading up and grading the written exams of the season, something he had been meaning to get to for about two weeks now, but he really hadn’t had the time. Or, other things had been more interesting, he supposed. It was strange, being on the other side of interactions like this – being the one grading rather than the one being graded. He glanced up on the clock on the wall, speaking of people needing his help: Cassius would be here soon. He stood up straight, stretching and letting out a yawn. Sleep, that was something he hadn’t been getting much off lately. Finding rest was hard with so much going on. He emptied the contents of his coffee cup before returning his attention to the papers in front of him.

A moment after, the door opened and Cassius entered, stating how he had come as quickly as he could.

“Of course, anytime.” He nodded, looking at his friend, brows furrowed slightly in concern. Idés reached under his table for the bag of zeals he had exposed earlier that day, but paused, looking at Cassius thoughtfully “I do have to ask, though, is everything alright? Just, you usually don’t drain them so fast.”

af **Eleanor** Man Okt 09, 2023 5:42 pm

This time, as Eleanor found herself pushing open the door to professor Chapmann’s laboratory, she had not bothered with the knocking. Perhaps she would have, had it not been for the cardboard cups occupying her hands making the act near impossible; unlike Aubrey Fraser to whom professor Chapmann had kindly prompted her to go for help, the professor himself did not seem like the kind who opted for oat milk lattes. Instead she had asked for it black, and told herself that he was probably the type who would pretend to like it that way no matter what. Most educators, she had found, rarely cared what form their caffeine came in, as long as it did. Besides, this was not an attempt to impress, like it had been with the secretary, although that had gone surprisingly well! Instead she wanted to say thank you, and for that reason she had even splurged and gotten real, freshly brewed coffee, instead of the tarry stuff usually found in the staff rooms.

She did not know why; perhaps it was his awkwardness that had led her to think the professor some sort of reclusive, or maybe it was the result of her own imagined self importance, but it surprised her to the room already occupied. Not just with Chapmann himself, but with a pale young man who seemed to Eleanor oddly familiar. A school bag she assumed belonged to the guest was occupying a chair, but the two men were standing. Eleanor, who had always considered herself to be, well, perhaps not tall, but at least somewhat above average height, felt very small in the company of these two. Almost as if– she felt an unfamiliar heat rise in her cheeks– she was an unruly child having interrupted the adults talking. She fixed her posture; how silly of her. Of course she had a right to be here too. Well, perhaps not to barge in like this, but she had already promised herself to work on that, and that was something, right?

“Sorry,” She said, because that was what you did in situations like these. "I didn't realise I would be interrupting."

af **Cassius** Tors Okt 12, 2023 4:22 pm

Of course Idés would ask him if everything was alright. A question Cassius did not want to answer right now, because Cassius did not have the time to be anything but alright. He tried thinking of any excuse that seemed good enough, but all of them would just feel like a lie. Cassius did not want to lie to his friend, even if stress over exam period approaching combined with the stress of the aftermath of the article and the constant pressure from his family sounded tempting to use. Maybe it was the best to be honest after all? To be honest with both Idés and himself?

Just as Cassius’ mouth opened to speak, the door once again opened, making Cassius’ body tense up and he shut his mouth as he looked over to whoever had entered the room. a young girl, someone Cassius had never seen before. “It’s fine, I was just asking Professor Chapmann about something related to a paper I’m writing for one of my classes” Cassius said to her, or well lied. He did not have a paper at all right now.

It felt weird calling Idés by something so polite and formal, he was so used to calling him by his name at this point. Yet, Cassius could not let this stranger know that they knew each other. She could potentially ask questions on how they knew each other. Sure they were around the same age, yet they came from widely different backgrounds. Something Cassius just realized he had never thought of, the vast differences between him and Idés.

af **Idés** Tors Nov 16, 2023 9:25 pm

Idés eyes were glued to Cassius as he waited for the man to respond, hand still hovering over the bag with zeals. But right as the other man opened his mouth to speak, the door swung open and Idés' attention shifted to the woman who had entered and his hand retracted from the bag he had previously been reaching for. He realized it was Eleanor standing there and – ah, shit, he still hadn’t gotten around to reading Eleanor’s theories.

She had said something, which Idés half realized was an apology right as Cassius said that it was fine and that he was simply asking Professor Chapmann about something related to a paper. And it was a moment later that he finally fully caught up with reality, when he realized that he was Professor Chapmann. Of course, he knew that already, it just felt beyond strange to have a friend call him that. But of course, Eleanor could not know that they knew each other. So, Professor Chapmann it was.

“Uh, yes, paper,” Idés agreed, nodding. Why would Cassius, a business major, write something for one of Idés classes? Or, well, Eleanor probably didn’t know what Cassius was majoring in. Was it even business? Did Idés even know that for sure? Either way, it was nothing scientific. Though, he supposed they didn’t need to explain the paper further – so instead of making up an answer to a fictitious question, Idés said, hoping that Eleanor wouldn’t question the topic of said paper: “Did you get everything you needed for your paper, Cass…-ius.”

Idés cringed internally at almost catching himself calling Cassius by his nickname – it just seemed so much more natural. But was calling him by his first name wrong? Should he have opted for mr. Seymour? How did he address students, again? It didn’t matter, it was too late to correct. Then realized that he should acknowledge Eleanor so he offered her a smile.
“Hi Eleanor, how are you?”

af **Eleanor** Fre Nov 17, 2023 11:25 am

“Oh?” She asked, still standing awkwardly just inside the door and not really sure what else to say or do. It puzzled her a bit that the young man had felt the need to explain himself to her; as if it was any of her business. Once again the familiarity of him struck her; he was good looking in an elvish, fragile sort of way, although he looked ill, and she was certain she had not seen him around the science buildings before. It bothered her that she could not place him, and she might have kept examining him to the point of rudeness, was it not for professor Chapmann’s haphazard attempt at articulation; which made her attention shift to him. Just as the last time they had met, she found herself questioning the reputation of this man; but he had been right in regards to Aubrey Fraser, so she shoved her hesitations aside. At least for now.

Cassius, Chapmann addressed the anemic man, and although the name did not strike her as particularly familiar either, it suddenly hit her where she had seen him before: “I know you!” She exclaimed, which was somewhat of a stretch. “You live on Friedmann street, right?” The man resided in the building across from hers, and she had seen him from time to time, especially in the mornings, “I didn’t realise you were in the science department too.”

At professor Chapmann’s greeting she finally stepped fully into the room, near enough to place one of the cups on the table. “Hi.” She held up her own cup. “I just came by to thank you. For the tip, you know. It worked.”

af **Cassius** Tors Dec 21, 2023 10:00 pm

Cassius was sure their attempt to cover up their familiarity was crumbled when Idés almost called him by his nickname instead. He kept his outward appearance calm while he was near screaming in sheer panic inside his mind. Luckily for them, it did not seem like their cover was blown just yet. Cassius felt slightly revealed… for a moment. Another round of panic ran around his mind when the girl, who Idés had called Eleanor, exclaimed he knew him. His mind raised trying to figure out where they had met, how they had met, but he came up empty, he can’t remember at all having met her. She then said his street, or well, the street his apartment was on.

“I do have an apartment there” He said, slightly stiff, not being able to get out the panic and stress he felt. “I am not actually, I’m majoring in business and economics” Cassius said without thinking. Why did he say that? Why couldn’t he just let her believe he was in the science department? Also did it just sound like he is bragging by the fact that he is double majoring? Cassius wanted to bang his head against the wall at that moment. Anyways he decided to roll with it.

He turned to Idés. “Yes, I got everything, thank you again professor Chapmann” He said, trying not to sound awkward and hopefully succeeding, Cassius just wanted to get out of there as fast as he could before their cover was blown. “This will help with my paper about zeal businesses” He added, hoping it would somehow make it make more sense that he, a business major, was in the lab of a professor in the science department. Hopefully.

af **Idés** Ons Feb 14, 2024 9:28 am

Eleanor exclaimed that she knew Cassius. Idés raised his brows in surprise, as she claimed to know where Cassius lived – which Cassius himself confirmed. Idés shot him a sideways glance when he then corrected her, saying that he was actually majoring in business. He cringed internally, why did he say that? This was a bit of a disaster, wasn’t it? She went on, though, stepping fully into the room, placing one of the cups on the table for Idés to take.

He smiled when she then thanked him for the tip. He was happy to help. And also, this was a more comfortable role to him, the role of a professor. No need for pretense. “Happy to hear that. Ready to make some progress then?”

Then Cassius said that he got everything he needed, somewhat awkwardly as the conversation had already moved on from beyond that question. Idés blinked.

“Zeal business,” he repeated out loud, though he did not realize that until he had already said it and it was too late. Why on earth would he be of help in anything business related? His field was concerned with the scientific — no matter, he was going to play along with it. Hopefully Eleanor wouldn’t question it. He nodded. “Yes. That’s good to hear. Let me know if you need anything else.”

af **Eleanor** Tirs Apr 16, 2024 10:48 am

As always, Eleanor was right. A fact that no longer surprised her, but it nonetheless made her smile. It was Cassius she had seen on Friedmann Street – he had an apartment there. Though by the way he said it, one could almost imagine it being one of multiple apartments he owned. A bit weird perhaps, but she brushed it off; the ice was broken now, wasn’t it? At least she wanted to believe so. They lived close to each other, and had similar interests – or not. He was not, in fact, in the science department, but rather a double major. Business and economics.

She raised an eyebrow, unsure of what to make of this new information. It might be, after all, that she had walked into another office with some sort of ongoing illicit relationship – or well, it wouldn’t be illicit, would it? If Cassius was from a different departure? Perhaps that was why he had been so quick to correct her. Oh well, she thought, almost taking a sip of her coffee before remembering how hot it was – that had nothing to do with her.

At any rate she believed Professor Chapmann when he said he was happy to help. He did seem the helpful type – even when it came to students from other departments. When it came to whether she was ready to make progress, she had just began replying with an: “I think I am,”, before Cassius continued to elaborate about his presence. People in this city were indeed odd, Eleanor thought, as she listened to him explain something about zeal business. Probably not an affair then – or maybe he was just ashamed by it? She really did not care either way, and considered if she should make a comment on that. She decided not, and shrugged instead. This time, when she brought the cop to her lips, she actually took a sip of her coffee – wincing slightly at the hot liquid, and immediately regretting the decision. Professor Chapmann confirmed the zeal-business-stuff. Although he sounded a bit confused by it. Was there ever a time when he wasn’t? But confusion was better than the mess the rest of the place seemed to be in. More interested in propaganda than research… It was concerning, but she did not want to dwell on it too much. Yet. With time enough to prove her wrong. “We are going to adjust some things, but I have a couple of meetings planned now, so, thanks!” She looked back at the door, then asked: “Would it be better if I came back another time?”

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