8203/Recruiting a friend

Recruiting a friend
Date of Scene:	11 October 2021
Location:	Mairin Moran's Office
Synopsis:	Mairin offerd Demona a job, but it looks like they're going to need to jump through some hoops to make it happen.
Cast of Characters:	Mairin Moran, Susan Sullivan

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Mairin Moran has posed:
    Mairin's office is in a corner of the faculty section of the engineering building. It's barely even an office really. She's not a professor, after all. But she has a leg up on most of the other Adjunct Faculty, so she does get her own space. ANd that's really all it can be called. A space. It's about the size of a large closet, has no window, and is crammed to bursting with a desk, chair, another uncomfortable looking chair for visitors, and books. Shelves and shelves of books. And binders. And notebooks. And folders full of papers. Yet, dispite everything that Mairin has managed to fit in her space, it remains neat and tidy. Because everything has its place and is stored and catagorized acording to her exact specifications. And, to top it all off, there is a little placard on the wall outside the door that reads, 'Dr. Mairin Moran', labeling this for all who pass by, as *her* space.

    Mairin is currently sitting at her desk, a large stack of papers on one side and a smaller one on the other. She flips one page from the big stack, and scans down it... flips it over, scans, then adds it to the smaller pile. And repeats. Grading... every teacher's nightmare.

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Upon invitation, Demona arrives. She's in her mask and hat, covering her features. As she enters the building, people don't notice as much as they would in the math department or even the science building. Musicians can be a little quirky, but a mask wouldn't do well, there. However, in a building where people make things and often have to wear protective gear, it makes more sense.
    Demona walks up to the 'space' afforded to Mairin. "Knock knock," she verbalizes.

Mairin Moran has posed:
    Mairin looks up at the familiar voice, a look of almost gratitude on her face for the interuption. "Demona! Come in! My door is always open to you." She motions to the chair as she sets her pen down. "What brings you by?"

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Let's hope that wording doesn't come back to bite Mairin later. Demona comes in and sits in the uncomfortable chair for visitors. "You told me to come," she says, furrowing her brow beneath the mask. She peeks through the door, then sits back in the chair and says, "Is it cool if we close the door so I can take the headgear off?"

Mairin Moran has posed:
    "Of course." She motions for Demona to do just that, thinking as Demona does. "Oh yes." She chuckles. "I suppose I did. Sorry, I've been a little more absentminded then ususal lately." When Demona is seated and comfortable, Mairin, leans forward. "I was wondering if you might be interested in a job? I honestly don't know what you have going on right now as far as work, but I talked to the Dean and I do have an alotment for an assistant."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    The door closes on its own without Demona touching it. In the meantime, Demona reaches up and slides her fingers under her stocking cap. With a click, the mask loosenes, and in another movement, the woman's face is exposed. "Oh, that's better," she says. She sets everything in her lap and rubs her scalp with her fingertips for a moment. "What would I be doing?" she asks as she moves her hands to her lap to hold her mask and hat.

Mairin Moran has posed:
    "Helping me with my research. Which, I'll admit, isn't very glamorous. Not that my research isn't glamorous, I think it's spectacular. But helping with it isn't exactly. And it doesn't pay much. But you might find it interesting, and it would get you access to the robotics lab, and a few other areas that you can't get into as a non-student."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    "That sounds like an amazing set of benefits already," Demona says. "Machine shop stuff, or is it more electronics? Ooh!" she basically interrupts herself. "Does the university have the capability to fab microprocessors? I've seen that in certain university projects, and oh my god, do I want to be able to build something like that from scratch!"

Mairin Moran has posed:
    "The exact tasks will vary. Everything from number crunching and processing to fabrication. There is one hick-up though," she smiles warily. "To be the most useful... I mean to have access to the bulk of the project, you would have to have a clearance. Which means a background check. You can forgo that, and I could still use you," she adds. "You just wouldn't be able to work on certain parts of the project."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Demona deflates some as the topic of the background check comes up. "Ah," she says, her smile fading. "I'm new," she says. "I told you I'm not a mutant, and there's nothing in my background to hide, but Demona doesn't really...show up in databases. My driver's license isn't even in that name. I didn't really think about it, but I'm not really interested in being on the books using my original name."

Mairin Moran has posed:
    Mairin nods, "I figured. Which is why I've never asked for it. And I completely understand if that is a dealbreaker. I just wanted to extend the offer to you, because... Well I respect your tenacity and skill, and I would like to foster that as much as I can. But, like I said, even without the clearance, I could still use you. The tasks just wouldn't be as... exciting."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Demona huffs out a sigh through her nose. A fresh intake of breath later and she says, "What would I need the backgroud check for?"

Mairin Moran has posed:
    "That would depend on how deep into the project you wanted to go. The details of it are classified TS. And that clearance would get you into the main lab where I do most of my work. But even a Secret clerance would allow you access to most of the less specific information, as well as the bulk of what I do. Such as the design and construction of robotics, as well as working with power distribution and storage systems."

Mairin Moran has posed:
    Mairin leans forward a little more, her expression earnest. "Please understand, Demona. I am not trying to coerce you or pressure you to do *anything* you don't feel comfortable with."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Demona's face is stoic. She has centered herself, and she is not showing any emotions as she listens. "Top Secret clearance is a big deal," she notes. "Who are you working for? Like, what branch of the government or whatever?"

Mairin Moran has posed:
    "The Department of Energy. We're working on a new kind of clean power source. Trying to make it more efficient, more cost effective, and smaller so that it's applications are more numerous. Think... an arc reactor, but unfortunetly not nearly at that scale or workability. Yet," she adds with a grin. "Obviously there are also DoD interests as well, they always want to have their hands in everything, but my primary fiunding comes through the DoE."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    "That," Demona says, hesitating, "is basically exactly what I've been wanting to work on doing to the van," she says. "You weren't kidding about exciting prospects, were you."

Mairin Moran has posed:
    Mairin laughs. "I wasn't. Your van is exactly the reason I wanted to hire you. I could hire one of the post-grads here, and many of them, to be honest, know more than you do. But none of them are more passionate than you. And that is what I'm looking for. Someone who is as passionate about my work as I am."

Mairin Moran has posed:
    "I don't mind teaching on the way... but you can't teach passion," Mairin adds.

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Demona huffs out a sigh. "I really want this," she says. "This is a fantastic opportunity for me. I've been wanting to figure out how to make and use an arc reactor for the van for ages." She rubs the back of her neck. "I'm...not really in the best situation to be employed, though," she says. "I'm not sure if you picked up on this or not, but I'm not alive, anymore."

Mairin Moran has posed:
    Mairin blinks a few times. "I'm... not sure what you mean."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Demona stands, calmly setting her things on the chair. She floats up off the ground and spreads her arms partway from her sides. "Did you forget this?" she asks. She reaches out her hand, a handful of Mairin's books floating from their places. "How about this?" she asks. "My heart does not beat," she says, her voice becoming dark. "My lungs only breathe when I need to speak. I smell the life-force on your every breath. I am undead, Mairin, and it would be difficult to pass a background check."

Mairin Moran has posed:
    Mairin watches with more amused facination then anything else, which turns to curiosity as Demona makes it very plain. "How..." She starts, obviously on the verge of asking a question, but she catches herself and leans back in her chair instead. "I suppose I should have known. But horror has never been my genre. It *does* make for an interesting predicament." She considers for a moment, then shakes her head. "I still want you for the position. Give me some time to see if I can figure something out. SOmething that gives you the access you want, without destroying your life. In the meantime, you could still come on as my aid and help with some of the menial tasks. It would still give you a chance to learn the project."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Things settle gently back down into place. Demona's feet reach. It seems more challenging for her to keep her feet on the ground than to just float around. "Thank you," she says with a smile and a nod. "I'll do what I can in the meantime." She smiles. "You got it right, though. I'm very excited to be working on something like this."

Mairin Moran has posed:
    As everything settles back into place, Demona might just catch sight of a rather peciuliar set of schematics on Mairin's desk. A robot, of an unmistacably feline orientation, complete with tail. The schematics are highly detailed, obviously a final draft.

    "You're very welcome. I'm glad to have you aboard, Demona," she answers. "I knew you would be." She grins, "It's a chance to make something that can truly benifit everyone. In *so* many ways."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Demona has definitely peeked through a lot of stuff she wasn't really invited to see. She doesn't mention it, however. She reaches out a hand to shake. "You won't regret this," she insists, as does every new hire.

Mairin Moran has posed:
    Mairin laughs and goes to shake Demona's hand then hesitates. Not out of reluctance, but remembreing how Demona doesn't like to be touched. But as Demona is offering... she softly clasps the girl's hand in hers. "I know I wont." She lets go and looks around. "You're welcome to stay if you like. I don't have anything planed for you at the moment but I'm always up for company while I grade."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Demona's hand is cool to the touch. Granted, the cat is out of the bag that she's no longer counted among the living. "Do you mind if I go talk to somebody for a bit? I've got some access to more than one machine shop, now, and the van can only be at one place at the same time."

Mairin Moran has posed:
    "Of course! Don't let me keep you." She waves her to the door. "does this someone happen to be a certain aspiring neuroscientist?" she teases as Demona nears the door.

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Demona's gear raises to come to her hands. "I can't say," she says. She puts her mask back on, followed by her hat. "Anyway," she says. "Keep in touch and let me know what needs doing."