Identity Crisis - Snippet 1
Jan. 11th, 2010 04:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
athersgeoAs I mentioned in the intro post for this project, I will be posting snippets up here for you to take a look at, be entertained by and, should anyone be so moved, offer feedback on. This is the first one of those.
It comes early on in the story and is my way of getting to know both Ruthie and Vincent as characters beyond names randomly thrown out.
At the sound of a knock on the doorframe, Ruthie looked up from the miscellaneous papers strewn across her desk. Peering over the top of her glasses, she wasn't surprised to see Vincent standing there. What did surprise her was the lack of a lab coat.
"Quitting early tonight, Vin?" she said.
A ready grin crossed the lab tech's face. "Early, boss? I've already pulled three hours of overtime."
Reflexively, Ruthie glanced down and looked at her watch. Sure enough, it showed that it was just after nine in the evening. How had she managed to end up working late when the shift had been this quiet? A chuckle pulled her attention back to the doorway, where Vincent was still standing and looking far too amused.
"Whatever that is, it must be fascinating," he said.
"It's audit season," said Ruthie with a shake of her head. "Can you believe they want to know how much coffee we drink, to the nearest cup?"
Vincent tipped his head back and laughed. "I'd believe anything of the City Hall pencil pushers. Have they got you counting swabs yet?"
Ruthie rummaged through the papers on her desk until she found the inventory list. "Don't need to count them – already know how many of them we've used, just by how many we've ordered."
"I was kidding."
"City Hall isn't."
"Perks of being the boss, huh?"
Ruthie scowled in his direction. "Just be grateful I didn't get you in here helping out as senior lab tech."
Vincent's only response was another chuckle. "Well, I just thought I'd stop by and let you know I was gone."
"Hot date?"
"Only with my Tivo," said Vincent with a smirk. "I just didn't want to blow all my overtime in the first week of the month. Besides, it's not like I've got any hot cases right now."
"Yeah, does feel kinda like crime took a vacation and didn't bother to tell us," said Ruthie, slipping her glasses off and pinching the bridge of her nose. "Guess we shouldn't complain – probably come in tomorrow and find we've got a triple homicide with a side order of arson, rape and a stolen pet cat."
That provoked another laugh from Vincent. "Boss, you tryin' to give us ulcers there?"
Ruthie smiled. "No – just covering my ass against Murphy's law."
Still chuckling, Vincent shook his head. "See ya tomorrow, boss."
Ruthie watched him leave and then eyed the papers strewn across her desk. Maybe he had the right idea about going home.
It comes early on in the story and is my way of getting to know both Ruthie and Vincent as characters beyond names randomly thrown out.
At the sound of a knock on the doorframe, Ruthie looked up from the miscellaneous papers strewn across her desk. Peering over the top of her glasses, she wasn't surprised to see Vincent standing there. What did surprise her was the lack of a lab coat.
"Quitting early tonight, Vin?" she said.
A ready grin crossed the lab tech's face. "Early, boss? I've already pulled three hours of overtime."
Reflexively, Ruthie glanced down and looked at her watch. Sure enough, it showed that it was just after nine in the evening. How had she managed to end up working late when the shift had been this quiet? A chuckle pulled her attention back to the doorway, where Vincent was still standing and looking far too amused.
"Whatever that is, it must be fascinating," he said.
"It's audit season," said Ruthie with a shake of her head. "Can you believe they want to know how much coffee we drink, to the nearest cup?"
Vincent tipped his head back and laughed. "I'd believe anything of the City Hall pencil pushers. Have they got you counting swabs yet?"
Ruthie rummaged through the papers on her desk until she found the inventory list. "Don't need to count them – already know how many of them we've used, just by how many we've ordered."
"I was kidding."
"City Hall isn't."
"Perks of being the boss, huh?"
Ruthie scowled in his direction. "Just be grateful I didn't get you in here helping out as senior lab tech."
Vincent's only response was another chuckle. "Well, I just thought I'd stop by and let you know I was gone."
"Hot date?"
"Only with my Tivo," said Vincent with a smirk. "I just didn't want to blow all my overtime in the first week of the month. Besides, it's not like I've got any hot cases right now."
"Yeah, does feel kinda like crime took a vacation and didn't bother to tell us," said Ruthie, slipping her glasses off and pinching the bridge of her nose. "Guess we shouldn't complain – probably come in tomorrow and find we've got a triple homicide with a side order of arson, rape and a stolen pet cat."
That provoked another laugh from Vincent. "Boss, you tryin' to give us ulcers there?"
Ruthie smiled. "No – just covering my ass against Murphy's law."
Still chuckling, Vincent shook his head. "See ya tomorrow, boss."
Ruthie watched him leave and then eyed the papers strewn across her desk. Maybe he had the right idea about going home.
