6079/An Evening Outside the Lab

An Evening Outside the Lab
Date of Scene:	31 December 2018
Location:	Triskelion, New York City
Synopsis:	Jemma is enjoying a late night bite when Skye stops in for a chat.
Cast of Characters:	Jemma Simmons, Quake

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Jemma Simmons has posed:
These are by no means the latest hours that Jemma has been on duty in the sciences section, but she's happy for a bit of a sit-down all the same. Try as she might, her circadian rhythms don't generally correspond to her work schedule, although she hesitates to make a point of saying as much, for fear that some of the less discerning in the biochemistry directorate might consider such to be a challenge. Some processes, Jemma deeply believes, are best left minimally altered.

She hums to herself as she peruses the selection of snacks and --she hesitates to use the word at this hour-- breakfast foods, and she settles upon a couple packets of cinnamon and sugar oatmeal and an apple, which she sets to cubing as the oatmeal cooks in the microwave. It's the simple things, really.

When the microwave dings and she allows the specified waiting time for the concoction to cool to a temperature she would prefer, Jemma takes her small repast to the nearest seat at a dining table and begins to set to.

Quake has posed:
Skye has been... well, everything has been overwhelming of late to say the least, but she's trying to get a grip. And, for the most part, she's getting there. There are still some few issues, though - like holy crap what the hell was that she did in the woods, and just how do you get control of that (not to mention *how* did she do that?).

She's wandered the halls of the Trisk, and while this isn't her preferred break room to hide out in, the sciences lounge is also one where nobody would think to look for her. That she stumbles across Jemma? A surprise, but not an unwelcome one.

Skye's lips purse around a wry smirk. "You don't do coffee, do you? I could go for some." Despite the late hour.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
Jemma blinks and coughs slightly as she wraps the now discarded sections of apple core in a paper napkin for proper disposal. "You're absolutely free to consume whatever beverages you like, of course," she says, "but at this time of night, caffeine is generally contraindicated." She cocks her head toward a beverage dispenser near the kitchen counter. "There are lighter things on tap," she notes.

She puffs lightly on another spoonful of oatmeal and apple pieces while she appraises Skye. "Is there some reason you're making rounds through the sciences section this evening?" she finally asks. "You don't need any help at the moment, do you?"

Quake has posed:
Skye's nose crinkles even as she grins. "I'm not so worried about the caffeine. Night owl." Which was true - most hackers were when it came down to it. This accompanied by a shrug. "Besides, I don't drink the stuff so much as let it go cold while I do other things." Which was also true.

She wanders over to the dispenser and selects a coffee, despite the hour.

"Just thinking," the young woman answers as to why she's haunting these hallways. "Generally I stick to the main break room, but everyone knows to look for me there. I figured if I went somewhere else I could think in peace. Not a biggee. Nothing earth shattering. Just trying to put my head back on straight. We're supposed to head back to the cabin."

Skye brings her now dispensed coffee over and sits with Jemma, and once she puts her cup down, holds up her arms for the other to see. "So far so good," Skye remarks of the gloves she's wearing. "Of course I won't know until I actually try to do anything if they work the way you said they will."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
Jemma glances at the other woman's forearms and cocks her head. "Well, yes, there is that. I would suggest some testing at a slightly lower force first, though," she says, "At least while the local forest stewards might be watching. Carbon sinks are always much easier to uproot than to plant or to restore, at any rate."

She gets up and makes a short eeny-meeny-miney-mo at the juice dispenser before settling on a pulpy OJ and bringing back a small glass for herself that she's watered down by a third. "And if you experience any bruising or signs of bone injury, I trust you'll halt testing immediately until the effects can be thoroughly documented." She sips her juice. "Wouldn't do much good to have you breaking your arms recreationally."

Quake has posed:
At first Skye just blinks. And then she laughs. "I wasn't planning on breaking my arms recreationally, thank-you. And.. trust me, blasting down the forest wasn't my first idea either."

She sighs, and folds her arms on the table, leaning there some. "I'm not 100% sure how I did that - what I did back there, I mean. I could feel it build up, and then things just kinda of went kablooie. It really kind of felt like if I didn't let it go it was going to make me fly apart." Which they'd already discussed. Part of the reason for the gloves to begin with. "I think.. I think it might be easier now, having seen a bit of what happens? And yeah, maybe not so many trees sacrificed next time." That easy wryness is back.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
"Hmmm," Jemma offers contemplatively as she tips up her oatmeal bowl and scrapes the congealing bits together to finish off her serving. "That's somewhat reassuring, if the effect can be moderated easily," she says as she takes her last spoonful. "The 'flying apart' matter, a bit less so."

"The main issue, of course, is how readily it might be controlled, and how robust that control is," she says as she drops the spoon back into the dish and crosses her arms. "At least, I hope it is, because the possibility of the gloves having an upper limit that your... talents might breach is... possibly quite unfortunate." It's the closest Jemma gets to bragging about her engineering work, but it's hardly without objective cause.

Quake has posed:
Skye makes a face. Not quite disgusted. Not quite 'oh mom'. But something akin.

"I know. I think it was I didn't know what I was doing, or what to do. Logan said he'd help." He wasn't the only one. "And they can be adjusted, right? The gloves?"

She bups her hands around her coffee cup. "I know what it feels like now. I didn't before. That's a start, right?"

Jemma Simmons has posed:
"Adjusted, of course, but only to a point," Jemma replies with a quiet sigh. "There's also the not insignificant question of what kinds of exertions they're being adjusted for. It's always vastly preferable to measure several times and to cut only once, but with powers of that... magnitude," she drops the word while canting a look at Skye, "one can never be certain."

She stands up and gathers everything to be disposed of into the bowl before sipping the last of her juice. "Knowing is, as I've been told, half the battle. Whether that's the extent you need or have to know, that's the question," she says as she steps a few feet away to eliminate the evidence of her evening snack.

Quake has posed:
The young woman looks terribly sober, Skye following Jemma's words and nodding. "It's scaring the shit out of me, too. I don't know what it is I am, or what it is I can do. So far it seems like what I'm good at is breaking things."

Like Hydra bases. Medical bay. Forests.

She's yet to sip her coffee.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
"Well... yes," Jemma says with a small shrug. "But hopefully with the proper equipment and protocols, we can find alternate uses for your skills," she says briskly, in a voice that may as well have been narrating a 'Keep Calm and...' poster. Stiff upper lip, and all that, of course. "We haven't observed all the possible combinations just yet," she continues, though her voice trails off slightly.

"In any case, dwelling on such things in the dead of night is not likely to influence any outcomes in a positive manner," she says as she pushes in her chair and starts for the door. "During times of such concern, I've found it's best to put one's energy toward more productive ends."

Quake has posed:
Skye smirks. "The dead of night is when I dwell on things. Hello, have you met me?" There's a small chuckle from Skye, but it's short lived. "I've already been to the shooting range. And I've practiced the flight sims May gave me. I'm running out of distractions. However, sounds like I'm keeping you up."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
"Well, it is getting to be that time of the evening for me," the scientist replies. "I have a few instruments to shut down and put to bed for the evening." She smiles at the hacker and eyes the rapidly cooling coffee. "I'd suggest -- medically, of course -- that you not go ahead with that caffeine and that you don't stay up too late ruminating." She gives a small wave and heads back to the lab.