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Aug. 25th, 2018 02:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
holdingacatEscaping Station Management’s wrath wasn’t the hard part. Sure there was some screaming (him) and some unholy screeching (them) and a few more close calls than he cared to think about, but it was doable. Once Cecil had returned to the radio station, he worked his way down to ground floor and soon found himself safe in the parking lot. From there it was a short drive home (avoiding the time loop on Davis Street), and he could relax in his own apartment, another day completed.
No.
The difficult task lay ahead. Cecil Palmer is a man of his word (and a man of words), and…
Well.
He had a scientist to go ask out. Cursing himself for his impulsiveness, he decided it wouldn’t be breaking the spirit of the promise if he at least let himself sleep in his own bed first, before braving Carlos’ lab.
It was early afternoon before Cecil had rolled himself out of bed, made himself presentable for the day, and had a strategy-making breakfast at the Moonlite All-Nite Diner. Carlos is… perfect, but beyond that, Carlos is intelligent, educated, curious, and enthusiastic. Now, Cecil is no academic slouch, he went to college for his degree in Media Communications. But that’s not science, is it?
Ugh, he is so outclassed. This is what he gets for being an impulsive idiot.
Still, Emcee had a good plan, and if Alec could face down his 'maybe', then... well. Worst comes to worst, he can always ask for voluntary re-education. That's what it's there for, after all.
Cecil decides to waste no time, taking himself directly down to Carlos’ lab (just next door to Big Rico’s, at the edge of the Science District) after a quick pit stop at the radio station (no sign of Station Management, hurrah!) to pick up his mobile recording equipment. If he doesn’t dwell on the enormity of the coming mistake, maybe he won’t actually create too much damage. Maybe.
He notes with pleased and entirely misplaced pride that Carlos has already installed proper security on the door, so much better than the simple lock that was there before. Obligingly he bleeds on the lock, and steps inside when the door snicks open.
...
The lab is in mass chaos. There's a pair of scientists marooned on a table where they're huddling from a pack of books circling ominously on the floor. There's another scientist (Cecil supposes) screaming in another room about the smell. Oh God, the smell. Cecil was about to mount a rescue of the scientists he could spot (then go find Carlos), when Carlos, perfect (except for his tragically shorn locks) charges in from the door opposite, wielding a flame thrower, with two of his colleagues in hot pursuit recording data. Mostly the data of how books that aren't working will still burn just fine when enough fire is applied.
Cecil would swoon, if he wasn't worried that a rogue book might take advantage. As it is, he never gets a chance to put his new plan into effect, as he somehow volunteers (or is volunteered) to drive one of the battered scientists to the hospital.
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Cecil is a man of his word, and when he hears that there is going to be a public debate about removing the big lead-plated door in Radon Canyon, and that Carlos might appear... well. Cecil is there with literal bells on. He spends hours debating which outfit to wear, and endured a lot of pokes from Old Woman Josie's sharp elbows once she cottons on to what he's attempting.
Still, it's all for nothing. Carlos arrives late, wind-swept and out of breath, makes some commentary about how there's no time, it's too late... and then he's gone, his beautiful, perfect lab coat fluttering in his wake like a cape.
Josie offers him another cornbread muffin in consolation. He doesn't have the heart to tell her it still needs more salt.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cecil was at his wit's end. Every attempt he had made to get Carlos alone for an interview and then... maybe more has gone disastrously wrong. Finally, he decides to be basic. Sure, everyone knows the moon is fake but maybe there's a scientific way of saying that, so after work he takes himself down to Carlos' lab to ask him what is up with the moon.
Carlos isn't there.
Carlos isn't there all night. He just... doesn't show up. At all.
Defeated, as the sun rises over Night Vale, Cecil takes himself home to try and sleep off this month altogether.
No.
The difficult task lay ahead. Cecil Palmer is a man of his word (and a man of words), and…
Well.
He had a scientist to go ask out. Cursing himself for his impulsiveness, he decided it wouldn’t be breaking the spirit of the promise if he at least let himself sleep in his own bed first, before braving Carlos’ lab.
It was early afternoon before Cecil had rolled himself out of bed, made himself presentable for the day, and had a strategy-making breakfast at the Moonlite All-Nite Diner. Carlos is… perfect, but beyond that, Carlos is intelligent, educated, curious, and enthusiastic. Now, Cecil is no academic slouch, he went to college for his degree in Media Communications. But that’s not science, is it?
Ugh, he is so outclassed. This is what he gets for being an impulsive idiot.
Still, Emcee had a good plan, and if Alec could face down his 'maybe', then... well. Worst comes to worst, he can always ask for voluntary re-education. That's what it's there for, after all.
Cecil decides to waste no time, taking himself directly down to Carlos’ lab (just next door to Big Rico’s, at the edge of the Science District) after a quick pit stop at the radio station (no sign of Station Management, hurrah!) to pick up his mobile recording equipment. If he doesn’t dwell on the enormity of the coming mistake, maybe he won’t actually create too much damage. Maybe.
He notes with pleased and entirely misplaced pride that Carlos has already installed proper security on the door, so much better than the simple lock that was there before. Obligingly he bleeds on the lock, and steps inside when the door snicks open.
...
The lab is in mass chaos. There's a pair of scientists marooned on a table where they're huddling from a pack of books circling ominously on the floor. There's another scientist (Cecil supposes) screaming in another room about the smell. Oh God, the smell. Cecil was about to mount a rescue of the scientists he could spot (then go find Carlos), when Carlos, perfect (except for his tragically shorn locks) charges in from the door opposite, wielding a flame thrower, with two of his colleagues in hot pursuit recording data. Mostly the data of how books that aren't working will still burn just fine when enough fire is applied.
Cecil would swoon, if he wasn't worried that a rogue book might take advantage. As it is, he never gets a chance to put his new plan into effect, as he somehow volunteers (or is volunteered) to drive one of the battered scientists to the hospital.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cecil is a man of his word, and when he hears that there is going to be a public debate about removing the big lead-plated door in Radon Canyon, and that Carlos might appear... well. Cecil is there with literal bells on. He spends hours debating which outfit to wear, and endured a lot of pokes from Old Woman Josie's sharp elbows once she cottons on to what he's attempting.
Still, it's all for nothing. Carlos arrives late, wind-swept and out of breath, makes some commentary about how there's no time, it's too late... and then he's gone, his beautiful, perfect lab coat fluttering in his wake like a cape.
Josie offers him another cornbread muffin in consolation. He doesn't have the heart to tell her it still needs more salt.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cecil was at his wit's end. Every attempt he had made to get Carlos alone for an interview and then... maybe more has gone disastrously wrong. Finally, he decides to be basic. Sure, everyone knows the moon is fake but maybe there's a scientific way of saying that, so after work he takes himself down to Carlos' lab to ask him what is up with the moon.
Carlos isn't there.
Carlos isn't there all night. He just... doesn't show up. At all.
Defeated, as the sun rises over Night Vale, Cecil takes himself home to try and sleep off this month altogether.
