[video]

[doubleblind]

[The video feeds starts with a dark room, followed by a flurry of movement as Cosima rushes round turning on every light in the seemingly empty lab. When Cosima comes into the frame, she looks pale and exhausted, no amount of eye makeup can hide the dark circles under her eyes. Despite the fact that she looks less than healthy, she's moving around the lab frantically, barely stopping long enough to be seen on the feed.]

Two questions. First of all, if anyone can tell me how long I was gone for, that'd be awesome. It feels like months? Weeks? Days? I get why people seemed to be so unsure when they return from those porter glitches or whatever we're calling them.

[She stops to cough, clear her throat, and cough again.]

Second, anyone want to help me completely revamp this lab? I have some serious research that needs to get done and the quicker I get this place up to the standard of my setup back home, the better.

Comments

video »

[magnitudes]

You.

( THERE IS A LOT!!! OF EMOTION!!! )

I thought you kidnapped or murdered and I almost hung your girlfriend over a pit of alligators.

( "almost" means "I considered it for five seconds before Sarah vetoed threats as an appropriate interview method." )

video;

[doubleblind]

[That's an unexpected amount of emotion. And a very worrying statement.]

So, I wasn't just MIA a couple days, huh?

video;

[magnitudes]

How long do you think you and Al can be missing before it's going to freak us out? More than twelve hours, probably. You go missing for two days after this, if you think two days is fine--

( then you're grounded. ) Then you can go screw yourself.

( hi this is So Many Issues, she'll apologise shortly. Hopefully. )

Is she with you?

action;

[coppelganger]

[ Sarah has basically been living at Cosima's lab for the better part of a week, mostly because she's sure it would be the first place Cosima would go if/when she got back. So when she hears somebody enter and start moving things around, she pokes her head out of the makeshift nest of blankets she's made, squints across the room, and feels the tiniest bit smug when she sees that she was right. The smugness is overpowered by an immense relief at seeing her sister back and (probably) in one piece, however. ]

Cosima?

action;

[doubleblind]

[Cosima was expecting an empty lab, not her clone hiding out in a makeshift blanket fort in her sacred chill zone. She startles at Sarah's voice, which quickly turns into a coughing fit. Once she's recovered, she gives Sarah a long and appraising look, searching for the reason why Sarah might've been camped out in her lab space.]

... Sarah? What're you doing here?

[coppelganger]

[ Sarah struggles out of the blanket nest and rushes across the room to wrap Cosima in a tight hug. She looks tired, and her hair's a little wilder than usual. ]

What do you think I've been doing here, you tit? Waiting for you. Where's Alison?

text

[jacksonian]

[ A lab, you say...? The illness in her face and voice don't exactly inspire confidence, but he's looking to invest in biomedical research, scientific advancements, the like... ]

What sort of research do you do?

text

[doubleblind]

I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

[Is that more or less reassuring than her sickly appearance?

The next message comes just minutes after the first.]

Just kidding. Bit of genetics, bit of immunology and medicine, some microbiology... my background's evo devo but I'm trying to diversify my interests.

text

[jacksonian]

[ He...wonders what evo devo is. And decides not to ask, because he wants to look knowledgeable, damn it... ]

What sorts of projects have you produced in the past? And what are you looking to produce in the future?

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[trigeminalheadache]

[ Caitlin hears lab and perks up like a puppy hearing walkies. But some of the eagerness bleeds from her expression when she really focuses on what Cosima looks like. ]

I could lend a hand. What sort of revamping are you doing?

video;

[doubleblind]

Some of the equipment they've got here is seriously outdated compared to what I'm used to working with.

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[hooffaceturn]

[cue a literal brightly coloured teenager looking rather enthusiastic about the idea of a lab.

because spoilers, she's a huge nerd.]

If you need a helping hoof--er, hand, I'd be more than glad to help out!

video

[doubleblind]

[Cosima knows better now than to comment on people's more interesting appearances. Not everything is an exciting genetic mutation that Cosima can study. The teen looks a little young to be pursuing advanced science, but Cosima isn't about to discourage her interest.]

Yeah? You have much experience?

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[quaerit]

[ ....she's been home, clearly. ]

Are you all right? It's disorienting, I know.

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[doubleblind]

[Gansey get's a small, but tired smile.]

Yeah. Yeah, I'm good. Disorienting is a really good word for this.

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[notsheepish]

Um... I can't say I'd have a clue what I'm doing in the lab, but I can help move heavy things if you need?

Also, welcome back, I guess.

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[doubleblind]

Perfect. I know I'm gonna need some help with the heavy lifting.

And thanks. It's good to be back... I think.

video;

[newwaver]

Oh, thank god.

video;

[doubleblind]

I missed you too, Felix.

text;

[pillz]

hwo many of u r there hjesus

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[doubleblind]

[She holds up five fingers with a grin.]

Five. That's what identical quintuplets means.

[nofairsky]

You're a scientist? Can I ask what you study?

[doubleblind]

PhD student, actually. Well, former PhD student. I'm mostly interested in genetics and evolutionary developmental biology. Some biomedical stuff.

[video way late oops]

[ohshutup]

Oh, thank god!

[Clara seems to be in a car when she switches on the broadcast. Vaguely hay-colored scenery passes by in the window, and there's a radio playing tinny classic rock. Immediately, her eyes are searching Cosima for any sign of illness or injury.]

Are you okay? Are you at the lab?

video

[doubleblind]

Hey, sorry I went MIA without notice. Totally not in the plans.

[Cosima has definitely looked better. She looks much closer to how she did back when they were both kidnapped by Russians, and less like her usual energetic self. But Cosima doesn't seem worried about her decline in health. She actually seems extremely excited.]

I'm fine. Better than fine. I'm at the lab, but where are you? Not De Chima.