Setting
This is the laboratory; a large metal building with separate rooms where each individual goes to be connected to the game called "Icy Veins."
Minimap
northwest |
north |
northeast |
west |
You are here. |
east |
southwest |
south |
southeast |
Lab is a part of 
Town.
Rhoda had been busying herself with sizing up the lab, trying to ignore the clumsy idiots faffing about a short distance away while she searched for any sort of prominent entrance or noticeable individual who might have been there to lead them inside so that they could actually get down to whatever business they were supposed to be doing as beta testers. Consequently, however, she hadn't been paying much attention to the people currently arriving at the front of the laboratory. Because of this, she only noticed the boy who had tentatively come up behind her, tapping lightly on her shoulder to get her attention.
Suffice to say, the boy got exactly what he'd hoped for, and more.
The instant that the boy's hand touched Rhoda's shoulder, she abruptly stiffened, eyes snapping fully open as she went rigid for a moment. Instinctively, her hand snapped up, slapping aside the boy's offending finger as, rapidly, Rhoda spun halfway about on the ball of her foot, drawing back her arm and swiftly raising it before her as though she was preparing to strike whoever had just touched her, no matter who it might be. For a moment, she glared icily at the boy, and if looks could kill, her harsh, piercing gaze most certainly would have done so. In another second, however, her pale features seemed to compose themselves, and the violent, defensive expression she had held swiftly lapsed back into a featureless, calm mask. Yet, this wasn't to say that her expression softened - far from it. Her narrowed eyes, pursed lips, and otherwise blank countenance displayed no emotion save, perhaps, vague distaste and irritation, her gaze still seeming as though it would pierce right through the boy upon whom its full chill was directed. And, being on the receiving end of that expression, especially after having seen Rhoda's surprisingly violent reaction to being touched just a moment before, there could be no doubting who exactly that irritability was being directed towards.
That's odd. He's only as tall as I am. And yet, the requirement age for participating in a part-time job like this is 16, isn't it? If that's the case, he must be at least as old as me. Well, I guess it's not that unusual. Sheesh. Look at him, though. Painfully forced smile, stutter, nervous expression... And this is the first person who comes to talk to me? That's... surprising. Was I giving a weird expression, or something? Usually someone like this would probably be scared off before he could even approach me. Maybe it's just because I had my back to him, and everyone else was busy falling on their asses? That's probably it, anyway. I don't see why he'd try to start a conversation with me, though. What's the point? Is he trying to make friends, or something childish like that? Great. My coworker doesn't just look like a kid, I guess he acts like one, too.
"Why else would I be standing outside this particular building at an hour when all sane people are in their beds sleeping?" Rhoda asked rhetorically, half-spreading her arms as though to ask the same question she directed aloud, emphasizing the pointlessness of the query that had just been leveled at her. "And, on that note, in what way, exactly, do I appear to be 'passing by?' Sigh. On second thought, don't answer that question. So, since I'm quite obviously here for the exact same reason you are, is there something you want, or is this discussion just as pointless as it seems?" Crossing her arms and legs casually, Rhoda leaned against the wall of the laboratory behind her, cocking her head slightly and looking down on the boy - or at least, to the extent that she could, being of equal height and stature - as though to ask "Well? I'm waiting."
Wonder how long it'll be before he panics and drops this conversation attempt entirely. Probably not too long, if he's as timid as he looks. Well, I suppose it's better to be working alongside a wimp who's too scared to talk to me, childish though he might be, than it would be to have ended up as coworkers with some sort of headstrong idiot, or a flirtatious pig. At least this kid will be easy and relatively painless to deal with.
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