[ her ears pinned back at the notion that something /dangerous/ could be back there . certainly more cautious now after that warning . ] . . . thank you for the heads up . i will keep that in mind . but , i do have to ask -- shouldn't /you/ know ? or are you merely just leaving me for a +

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Oh, no. It's not that. This will be handled... but when you go back there, I recommend a full chamber. Who knows what exactly lies in those special rooms? [teasing... super sly in his demeanor. folding his arms.]

rank the setup 💖

[ successfully catching the keys mid-air , nodding with a content hum ! ] thank you . i appreciate it , mr. harlow . i'll be on my way now . [ just before she could actually /be/ on their way , they caught a glimpse of where harlow's gaze was at . stopping right in her tracks to look back +

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

[tossing the keys in their direction, smiling underneath his mask, as usual.] Go get spiffied up. I can tend to your post while you're gone. [tilting his head, narrowing his eyes almost teasingly as he eyes their gun.]

[ she stood silent for a moment for her brief pause of thought . then , sighing of acceptance . ] yes . i don't know how much longer i could stay covered in . whatever this is . i think i also need a check-up after to make sure i'm not contaminated with some virus . . .

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Well, there are showers in some inpatient rooms, hmm... The special-access rooms, that is. Do you need one? [jingling a key ring around his index finger.]

i don't believe you . it's too jarring . doesn't go well with my fur . . . . in many ways than one , i'm afraid . . . i feel disgusting . [ ohh if she had a tail , they'd be thrashing it around ! alas . . . the pains of being a bobtail . ]

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Who are you to boss me around? You almost look better in green than you do black... [snickering!]

not another word out of you . [ flattened ears . . . how embarrassing to be perceived like this . ]

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

[snrk...] Quite the misfortune you have going on there...

[ she's covered in anomaly goop . looks like it was splashed onto her . eeewwww ! ]

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. . . that is true . [ she seemed almost embarrassed to admit the correctness of that statement . even through her keen awareness , there have always been some anomalies that have slipped right through the cracks of what she believed to be a perfect wall . ] to admit my own mistakes is +

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

[finger toying with his mask, he stared her head-on, unblinking.] Only some. Some are quieter than others. Notice how some slip by, even after the thoroughness of your check-ins? Not all are so obvious. [pulling his mask up, almost /teasingly/, as he leaned away from the agent. rubbing his ++

[ her brow furrowed as she turned her gaze back to harlow . ] of course i care . if there were any anomalies hiding in the midst , i would’ve swiftly had them dealt with . . . . i doubt there are , though . cameras reveal their lies , you know . [ leaning closer , gazing sternly into +

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Saving them when half the population is infected? At this point, it's a lost cause! But we try, because giving in is far worse than pushing. Supplies run thin and uninfected thinner. Who's not to say there aren't any amongst our ranks? Do you care about that at all? [head facing forward again.]

[ she paused , as if she were giving the idea some thoughts . she was quiet for quite a bit after the question was asked . ] i . . . suppose i hadn't given the idea of my future much thought . i've been fixated on the investigation , the /now/ , rather than my future . [ itching their +

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

So, it's a distraction from the inevitable, now is it? What will you do when you finally catch me? [his head tilts abnormally as his cheek rests on the desk.] Will you run this hospital? Will you save all these people? The funding, the employment... would you do all of that?

you’re twisting my words . that is not what i meant . of course , the apocalypse , the state of our world . . . it’s distressing . the mere thought of the outside fills me with dread like no other . however , much like yourself — i too find this investigation to be of /some/ entertainment . +

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

[continuing to persist, not unlike a nosy fly.] Is that so? Hmmh. Perhaps an apocalypse is fun to you. Interesting way to think about the end of the world, hm? Like it's a game? I kind of love it. You have such a strange mindset... [stopping, tilting his crooked neck to gaze at her curiously...]

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enjoy yourself . . . ? by patting my head ? well , i’m glad ( ? ) such a thing can bring you joy , but i ask that you refrain from laying your paws on me in such a way in the future . . . very unprofessional , mr. harlow . . . [ she says as she was just about to doze off at the desk . but , +

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I thought I'd enjoy myself while you're so amicable! [he giggled with delight, stroking their head one more time before withdrawing with a coy smile stretching beyond his mask.] You aren't trying to nose your way into the No Access, nor are you asking any stupid questions! Perhaps ++

[ just as she was about to rest her eyes , she felt the touch of the other's hand on top of her head . her gaze shot back up , her ears flicking back . ] i don't believe it to be tragic at all . i set myself up for this , and i'll do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of +

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

[he's definitely taking up the window. wiggling his tail around as he then decided to test his luck and pat her right between the ears.] You've been quite so much, haven't you? And you ended up here. It's almost quite tragic that your career put you in this spot, no?

[ her gaze softened , letting out a small hum of acknowledgement . ] thank you , mr. harlow . i'm glad to hear that you acknowledge the work i've done here . [ slightly lowering her head back down , as if relaxing her posture once more . ]

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Is that so? [humming absentmindedly.] For once, it's almost quiet today. Have you ever thought... 'Hey, I've earned this.' Because I certainly think you have.

[ her snout scrunched as he got closer . the smell of rubbing alcohol certainly was caught by her senses . ] no , not bored . more-so exhausted . running around the hospital to check each room has tired out even someone like me . but , as i will admit that i am giving myself a break +

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

[hunched over, elbows on the counter, very near to her face. he smelled like rubbing alcohol.] Ah? So not slacking involves dozing off? Hm... interesting to see how bored you get in an environment like this.~ I certainly couldn't.

[ her eyes widened , and tiny gasp as she heard dr. harlow's voice ! she was definitely in thought about something . ] . . . no . the opposite . i'm not one to slack . you know this . [ squinting her eyes at the doctor . gaze full of uncertainty . ]

ＤＲ． ＨＡＲＬＯＷ@dr-harlow.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Slacking off, now are we? [suddenly there .]

i'm fine . i appreciate your concern greatly , but i know how to keep myself awake during nights like this . [ although not turning her head , she was now giving intern a slight side-eye . ] you should keep that cup for yourself . truly , you need it more than /i/ do .

[ ear perking up in a near instant , very quick to wave a dismissive hand . ] yes , everything is fine . i do not need any coffee , thank you . [ she wasn't even offered ! all the while keeping her gaze forward , and away from intern . . . ]

[ flicking an ear . very poorly trying to hide her own drowsiness . ]

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