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xp_logsBackdated to Wednesday August 11th 2021
Laurie visits Emma at her place of business to request access to technology and people she doesn't have.
Laurie smiled brightly at the young receptionist, holding out her hand to shake before mentioning her name and that she had an appointment. She was asked to sit, and if she'd like a tea or coffee which she declined before going over to take a seat in one of the plush waiting chairs.
She'd never had the need to visit Emma at her offices before, but in a way, it felt a little better than trying to get ahold of her at the mansion. She wasn't sure she would have had the nerve to ask Emma for help on a more personal level. Even with Doug helping out, Emma had always intimidated her.
Emma sent her mind out into the waiting room, felt the edgy nervous anticipation that Laurie wasn’t particularly dampening down. She didn’t probe further; she always preferred people told her what they wanted in their own words, which tended to shape their thoughts in clearer ways if reading them was needed. She didn’t need to conceal what she was for this visitor, so she just sent a telepathic invitation to Laurie to enter, letting Francine know not to be concerned.
Laurie nodded politely at Francine and made her way into Emma's office, greeting the woman who she'd admired with the smile that was beginning to feel plastered on. While Laurie was far from uncomfortable with telepaths or empaths given her own abilities, she was too aware of the nightmare her head was. It was uncomfortable thinking about just how distressing it might be to catch even a glimpse of the inside of her head on her best of days, let alone what it might be like in there these days.
"Thank you for seeing me, Emma. I know you're quite busy. I won't take any more of your time than necessary."
Emma smiled warmly at the young woman in front of her. “I’m always available for anyone from the Mansion,” she said. “I admit, sometimes the appointments have to happen rather closer to midnight than seems healthy, but there will always be time in my diary if you need assistance.” She tilted her head, watching Laurie for a moment, then added, “I presume you do require assistance?” she asked quietly.
“Yes.”
Laurie took a seat, and a breath as gathered her thoughts. She’d been researching everywhere she could think of, as had Darcy and there were a few trials that neither had easy access to that Emma’s connections might help with.
“I need access to resources that I have no experience or connections with. But honestly, I also need someone who is not myself or Darcy to look into things that I might not even think of. Don't mistake me, I am willing to accept the hand I have been dealt. To give up before I move heaven and earth to make sure it is something I must deal with seems unwise, however.”
“The hand you’ve been dealt?” Emma started and then stopped as Laurie’s somewhat chaotic thoughts escaped the young woman’s grip, swept out over Emma. Emma sat back in her chair then, looked at Laurie. “You mean, quite literally, don’t you? Your arm.”
"Forgive me the egregious pun,” Laurie replied with a slight nod of her head. “I’ve taken solace in black humor quite a bit lately. Yes, my arm. I need resources and connections. I need to know that I did everything I could before I just accept that this is how things are now."
Emma tilted her head, looking at Laurie afresh. “You’re not wearing a prosthetic,” she noted. “You do know, of course, that you have free access to anything Frost Enterprises is researching at the moment. I rarely get involved in the medical issues in the Mansion these days, but the work my company is doing is cutting edge. I can organize appointments for you if you’re finding current tech… clunky.”
"I admit, I have already been taking advantage of your extensive medical team and their resources already, as I had understood that you would not mind." Laurie admitted with a slightly self-deprecating 'my bad' smile. "It is good to know I was not mistaken. But we have not been able to find a single result through these many months of searching. I had hoped that I might make use of your more clandestine offerings, or contacts."
Emma narrowed her eyes, considering Laurie. "I do not let Frost Enterprises participate in any unethical medical experimentation. I may be misunderstanding your intention, but I think I should make that clear. Though perhaps you mean cutting edge, rather than… clandestine."
“Of course.” Laurie smiled painfully bright but simmered it down to a dull beam after a moment. “Of course I meant cutting edge. I apologize for my misspeaking.”
Emma waved a hand in gentle dismissal of Laurie’s apology. “Sometimes the boundaries between the two can be very unclear,” she said. “And there has been the odd Frost researcher who's tried to use what they’ve been provided to become… adventurous. From HR and insurance premium perspectives alone, it’s important that I ensure Frost Enterprises is crystal clear about its standards.” The smile she gave Laurie was somewhat tired. “I get to read the reports from the Ethics Committee. The details can become quite… tedious.” She leaned back in her chair, considered Laurie. “But it sounds like you have exhausted all of the medical advice that’s been made available to you. That you’re looking to cast a wider net?” Emma’s eyebrow made a pale, perfect arch. “Frost Enterprises has, of course, collaborators, competitors, and rivals, who may be working in the kind of area you’re looking towards. Are you looking for just a contact list or something a little more comprehensively researched?”
"Both, to be honest," Laurie replied, nodding along with Emma's comments. "I'd like a list but honestly, if it's an option the more comprehensively researched option would be a Godsend."
“I can arrange that,” said Emma and smiled. “I’ve probably arranged that. Let’s not call it industrial espionage - let’s call it “surveying the market”. I’ll talk to someone in the right department, pull together what we have, send it through to you. Then, if there’s anything you would like followed up, just let me know and I’ll see what I can arrange.” She considered for a moment, then added, “Prosthetic research isn’t the highest priority in the medical division at the moment, so it’ll probably be a week or so? Just to make sure we can do a thoroughly up-to-date scan of developments in the field.”
"That would be perfect." Laurie's smile and entire demeanor radiated sincerity as she stood, ready to leave now that the thing that had been on her mind was settled. "I'll check back in a week then, and truly, thank you."
Laurie visits Emma at her place of business to request access to technology and people she doesn't have.
Laurie smiled brightly at the young receptionist, holding out her hand to shake before mentioning her name and that she had an appointment. She was asked to sit, and if she'd like a tea or coffee which she declined before going over to take a seat in one of the plush waiting chairs.
She'd never had the need to visit Emma at her offices before, but in a way, it felt a little better than trying to get ahold of her at the mansion. She wasn't sure she would have had the nerve to ask Emma for help on a more personal level. Even with Doug helping out, Emma had always intimidated her.
Emma sent her mind out into the waiting room, felt the edgy nervous anticipation that Laurie wasn’t particularly dampening down. She didn’t probe further; she always preferred people told her what they wanted in their own words, which tended to shape their thoughts in clearer ways if reading them was needed. She didn’t need to conceal what she was for this visitor, so she just sent a telepathic invitation to Laurie to enter, letting Francine know not to be concerned.
Laurie nodded politely at Francine and made her way into Emma's office, greeting the woman who she'd admired with the smile that was beginning to feel plastered on. While Laurie was far from uncomfortable with telepaths or empaths given her own abilities, she was too aware of the nightmare her head was. It was uncomfortable thinking about just how distressing it might be to catch even a glimpse of the inside of her head on her best of days, let alone what it might be like in there these days.
"Thank you for seeing me, Emma. I know you're quite busy. I won't take any more of your time than necessary."
Emma smiled warmly at the young woman in front of her. “I’m always available for anyone from the Mansion,” she said. “I admit, sometimes the appointments have to happen rather closer to midnight than seems healthy, but there will always be time in my diary if you need assistance.” She tilted her head, watching Laurie for a moment, then added, “I presume you do require assistance?” she asked quietly.
“Yes.”
Laurie took a seat, and a breath as gathered her thoughts. She’d been researching everywhere she could think of, as had Darcy and there were a few trials that neither had easy access to that Emma’s connections might help with.
“I need access to resources that I have no experience or connections with. But honestly, I also need someone who is not myself or Darcy to look into things that I might not even think of. Don't mistake me, I am willing to accept the hand I have been dealt. To give up before I move heaven and earth to make sure it is something I must deal with seems unwise, however.”
“The hand you’ve been dealt?” Emma started and then stopped as Laurie’s somewhat chaotic thoughts escaped the young woman’s grip, swept out over Emma. Emma sat back in her chair then, looked at Laurie. “You mean, quite literally, don’t you? Your arm.”
"Forgive me the egregious pun,” Laurie replied with a slight nod of her head. “I’ve taken solace in black humor quite a bit lately. Yes, my arm. I need resources and connections. I need to know that I did everything I could before I just accept that this is how things are now."
Emma tilted her head, looking at Laurie afresh. “You’re not wearing a prosthetic,” she noted. “You do know, of course, that you have free access to anything Frost Enterprises is researching at the moment. I rarely get involved in the medical issues in the Mansion these days, but the work my company is doing is cutting edge. I can organize appointments for you if you’re finding current tech… clunky.”
"I admit, I have already been taking advantage of your extensive medical team and their resources already, as I had understood that you would not mind." Laurie admitted with a slightly self-deprecating 'my bad' smile. "It is good to know I was not mistaken. But we have not been able to find a single result through these many months of searching. I had hoped that I might make use of your more clandestine offerings, or contacts."
Emma narrowed her eyes, considering Laurie. "I do not let Frost Enterprises participate in any unethical medical experimentation. I may be misunderstanding your intention, but I think I should make that clear. Though perhaps you mean cutting edge, rather than… clandestine."
“Of course.” Laurie smiled painfully bright but simmered it down to a dull beam after a moment. “Of course I meant cutting edge. I apologize for my misspeaking.”
Emma waved a hand in gentle dismissal of Laurie’s apology. “Sometimes the boundaries between the two can be very unclear,” she said. “And there has been the odd Frost researcher who's tried to use what they’ve been provided to become… adventurous. From HR and insurance premium perspectives alone, it’s important that I ensure Frost Enterprises is crystal clear about its standards.” The smile she gave Laurie was somewhat tired. “I get to read the reports from the Ethics Committee. The details can become quite… tedious.” She leaned back in her chair, considered Laurie. “But it sounds like you have exhausted all of the medical advice that’s been made available to you. That you’re looking to cast a wider net?” Emma’s eyebrow made a pale, perfect arch. “Frost Enterprises has, of course, collaborators, competitors, and rivals, who may be working in the kind of area you’re looking towards. Are you looking for just a contact list or something a little more comprehensively researched?”
"Both, to be honest," Laurie replied, nodding along with Emma's comments. "I'd like a list but honestly, if it's an option the more comprehensively researched option would be a Godsend."
“I can arrange that,” said Emma and smiled. “I’ve probably arranged that. Let’s not call it industrial espionage - let’s call it “surveying the market”. I’ll talk to someone in the right department, pull together what we have, send it through to you. Then, if there’s anything you would like followed up, just let me know and I’ll see what I can arrange.” She considered for a moment, then added, “Prosthetic research isn’t the highest priority in the medical division at the moment, so it’ll probably be a week or so? Just to make sure we can do a thoroughly up-to-date scan of developments in the field.”
"That would be perfect." Laurie's smile and entire demeanor radiated sincerity as she stood, ready to leave now that the thing that had been on her mind was settled. "I'll check back in a week then, and truly, thank you."
