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fandomweekly2022-01-10 06:56 pm
iluvroadrunner6) wrote in fandomweekly2022-01-10 06:56 pm
Entry tags:
[#121] Stuck in the Real World, Nothing Comes Free (Original)
Theme Prompt: #121 - Brainstorming
Title: Stuck in the Real World, Nothing Comes Free
Fandom: Original
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
Bonus: Yes.
Word Count: 979
Summary: Kerry struggles with finding an idea for her thesis.
It’s always awkward when one of your fellow students walks in on you having an impromptu Celine Dion belt session when you’re supposed to be working on an upcoming lab. Greg’s eyes blink at her in surprise from behind his cute glasses and Kerry startles, lowering the (clean) beaker that she had been using as a microphone and sets it down on the counter while “The Power of Love” blasts from the laptop behind her. She clears her throat awkwardly before throwing out finger guns, because that’ll make things better.
“Greg. Didn’t see you there.”
“Hey, Kerr.” He at least seems amused. That’s probably a point in her favor, right? “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, just… trying to come up with a proposal for my thesis that doesn’t make me look like an idiot.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” She pauses. “Except that wasn’t working, so I put on some Celine Dion and pretend that I am talented enough to do something much less big brained for my career.”
Greg laughs. “While I don’t want to say you don’t have star quality—”
“Oh, don’t worry. Celine is only for empty audiences or when I’ve gotten super drunk at karaoke.”
“Fair enough.” He makes his way closer, leaning back against the front of her lab table. “What’s tripping you up about your thesis?”
Kerry shrugs, running a hand through her red hair with a sigh. “I don’t know. It feels like there are so many options and not enough criteria to narrow them down based on what’s doable in the time allotted.”
“So your brain’s in overload and therefore it’s easier to just live your nineties diva dreams?”
Kerry’s head ducks as she rubs the back of her neck. “It’s like you get me. It’s just so hard to visualize where any of these ideas are going.”
Suddenly, his face lights up with something that almost might be devious if it were on anyone other than Greg’s face. It’s kind of hard to consider Greg devious when he’s just so cute and endearing (and hell, if Kerry knows why, that’s actually a turn on). She almost doesn’t want to ask, but thankfully Greg volunteers the information for her.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“That I’m a failure as a scientist and I should change my major to interpretive dance?”
“No. This calls for a brainstorming session. Proposals are due Tuesday, and you’ll need time to research, which means you need to settle on an idea tonight.” He glances down at his watch. “Okay. You order the pizza, I’ll go get the whiteboard.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.” He grins at her as he goes to duck out the door. “It’s gonna be great.”
Kerry watches him disappear into the darkness of the empty school and briefly wonders what she’s just gotten herself into.
* * * * *
A couple hours later, they’ve plowed through one and a half pizzas and have a white board list full of pros, cons and challenges for each of the ideas that have popped into her head over trying to plan for this thesis. Greg is scanning over each of the items, making sure they’ve covered all of them, before circling a line in the middle with red marker.
“This one.”
Kerry frowns, before pushing up and going to get a better look. “Really?”
He nods. “It’s simple enough to see whether your hypothesis holds weight within the allotted time for your thesis, but is complex and interesting enough that it could be argued at a collegiate level.” He glances back over at her curiously. “And it’s actually pretty cool. I’m kind of curious about what will come out of it myself.”
Kerry lets out an exhale of relief, shifting to rest her head against his shoulder almost unconsciously. It’s just because he’s tall and she’s tired. Or at least that’s what she’s telling herself. “At least one of us has faith in me,” she smirks. “But thank you for helping me with this. I felt like my head was going to explode.”
“Anytime,” he smiles, not making any move to disturb her. “I’m just glad I could help.”
She glances up at him, meeting his eyes from behind the glint of his glasses, and she can’t help but feel herself flush as she pushes into a sitting position. Too much, probably. Just a smidge. “I’ll, uh. I’ll get started on this when I get back to my dorm.”
Greg nods, sensing the awkwardness as he stands, and rubs a hand against the back of his neck. “I can read it over for you before you turn it in. If you want.”
“Yeah, I’d appreciate that.”
“And if you wanted to do a… non-science thing sometime…”
She raises an eyebrow. “Why does it have to be non-science?”
“Well, it doesn’t have to be completely void of science. I’m not really sure such a place exists, but if you wanted to do a non-school science activity where we talk about things that aren’t homework or a thesis…”
“Are you asking me on a date?”
“Yes.” A beat. “Maybe.” Another long pause. “Only if you’d be into that kind of thing.”
Her head ducks with a bit of a smile before nodding. “Yeah. I would.”
“Good.” Greg grins as he takes a step backwards. “Well. I’ll go return the whiteboard, but… text me, or something…”
“How about we go to Harry’s?” It was a pretty casual hole in the wall, often frequented by grad students. “Friday night?”
He smiles even wider. “I’ll meet you there at eight.”
“Good.” She quickly wipes down the info off the whiteboard before going to pack up her computer. “I’ll see you Friday.”
“See you Friday.”
As she packs up to return to her dorm, she can’t help but think that this is the best possible end she could have had to her day.
Title: Stuck in the Real World, Nothing Comes Free
Fandom: Original
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
Bonus: Yes.
Word Count: 979
Summary: Kerry struggles with finding an idea for her thesis.
It’s always awkward when one of your fellow students walks in on you having an impromptu Celine Dion belt session when you’re supposed to be working on an upcoming lab. Greg’s eyes blink at her in surprise from behind his cute glasses and Kerry startles, lowering the (clean) beaker that she had been using as a microphone and sets it down on the counter while “The Power of Love” blasts from the laptop behind her. She clears her throat awkwardly before throwing out finger guns, because that’ll make things better.
“Greg. Didn’t see you there.”
“Hey, Kerr.” He at least seems amused. That’s probably a point in her favor, right? “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, just… trying to come up with a proposal for my thesis that doesn’t make me look like an idiot.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” She pauses. “Except that wasn’t working, so I put on some Celine Dion and pretend that I am talented enough to do something much less big brained for my career.”
Greg laughs. “While I don’t want to say you don’t have star quality—”
“Oh, don’t worry. Celine is only for empty audiences or when I’ve gotten super drunk at karaoke.”
“Fair enough.” He makes his way closer, leaning back against the front of her lab table. “What’s tripping you up about your thesis?”
Kerry shrugs, running a hand through her red hair with a sigh. “I don’t know. It feels like there are so many options and not enough criteria to narrow them down based on what’s doable in the time allotted.”
“So your brain’s in overload and therefore it’s easier to just live your nineties diva dreams?”
Kerry’s head ducks as she rubs the back of her neck. “It’s like you get me. It’s just so hard to visualize where any of these ideas are going.”
Suddenly, his face lights up with something that almost might be devious if it were on anyone other than Greg’s face. It’s kind of hard to consider Greg devious when he’s just so cute and endearing (and hell, if Kerry knows why, that’s actually a turn on). She almost doesn’t want to ask, but thankfully Greg volunteers the information for her.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“That I’m a failure as a scientist and I should change my major to interpretive dance?”
“No. This calls for a brainstorming session. Proposals are due Tuesday, and you’ll need time to research, which means you need to settle on an idea tonight.” He glances down at his watch. “Okay. You order the pizza, I’ll go get the whiteboard.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.” He grins at her as he goes to duck out the door. “It’s gonna be great.”
Kerry watches him disappear into the darkness of the empty school and briefly wonders what she’s just gotten herself into.
A couple hours later, they’ve plowed through one and a half pizzas and have a white board list full of pros, cons and challenges for each of the ideas that have popped into her head over trying to plan for this thesis. Greg is scanning over each of the items, making sure they’ve covered all of them, before circling a line in the middle with red marker.
“This one.”
Kerry frowns, before pushing up and going to get a better look. “Really?”
He nods. “It’s simple enough to see whether your hypothesis holds weight within the allotted time for your thesis, but is complex and interesting enough that it could be argued at a collegiate level.” He glances back over at her curiously. “And it’s actually pretty cool. I’m kind of curious about what will come out of it myself.”
Kerry lets out an exhale of relief, shifting to rest her head against his shoulder almost unconsciously. It’s just because he’s tall and she’s tired. Or at least that’s what she’s telling herself. “At least one of us has faith in me,” she smirks. “But thank you for helping me with this. I felt like my head was going to explode.”
“Anytime,” he smiles, not making any move to disturb her. “I’m just glad I could help.”
She glances up at him, meeting his eyes from behind the glint of his glasses, and she can’t help but feel herself flush as she pushes into a sitting position. Too much, probably. Just a smidge. “I’ll, uh. I’ll get started on this when I get back to my dorm.”
Greg nods, sensing the awkwardness as he stands, and rubs a hand against the back of his neck. “I can read it over for you before you turn it in. If you want.”
“Yeah, I’d appreciate that.”
“And if you wanted to do a… non-science thing sometime…”
She raises an eyebrow. “Why does it have to be non-science?”
“Well, it doesn’t have to be completely void of science. I’m not really sure such a place exists, but if you wanted to do a non-school science activity where we talk about things that aren’t homework or a thesis…”
“Are you asking me on a date?”
“Yes.” A beat. “Maybe.” Another long pause. “Only if you’d be into that kind of thing.”
Her head ducks with a bit of a smile before nodding. “Yeah. I would.”
“Good.” Greg grins as he takes a step backwards. “Well. I’ll go return the whiteboard, but… text me, or something…”
“How about we go to Harry’s?” It was a pretty casual hole in the wall, often frequented by grad students. “Friday night?”
He smiles even wider. “I’ll meet you there at eight.”
“Good.” She quickly wipes down the info off the whiteboard before going to pack up her computer. “I’ll see you Friday.”
“See you Friday.”
As she packs up to return to her dorm, she can’t help but think that this is the best possible end she could have had to her day.
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