Office Mates

Overtime

Robin and Marian are working in their office. Robin's headphones are on, and he is staring at something on the screen. Marian looks over at him. It has been a while since the two of them went out. For a while, he and Graham had been a regular in her weekends. It's strange how quickly that changed after he got together with Aurora. 

It also doesn't help that she has been splitting her free time between Theo and Liam. With his new promotion, Liam has been able to delegate more at work and has been consistently home every Friday night at a reasonable time for dinner. Marian checks her phone and notices that neither of them has sent a message today. She wonders who she should text first.

Just at this moment, Jace walks into Robin and Marian's office. He signals to Robin to take off his headphones. Robin puts his headphones on his desk and says, "Hello Jace, do you need something?" Jace looks at both of them, making eye contact, "I am here for both of you. I want you two to work together on the next assignment. You two should write a formula for our new client, run simulations to decide on operating parameters, and then write a conclusion for the client." Robin nods his head in agreement. Then he asks, "What priority is this?" Jace signals with his hands, "I want you to get this done first. Put your other projects on hold."

Marian asks, "Does it really need both of us? It sounds like work we normally do." Jace looks at them both again, "Yes. Robin is gifted with writing formulas, but this is specifically for a client request, and I need Marian to put the conclusion into understandable terms." Robin and Marian both look offended at this. Robin speaks first, "Are you saying that my conclusions aren't understandable?" Jace gives him a stern look, "Not to everyone. Marian does better write-ups when it comes to making sense to a client. They respond best to her work. They understand things." Marian's turn to be offended, "Are you saying that I am just a translator?"

Jace rolls his eyes at them. They are both being so sensitive about this. This is why engineers don't do teamwork. If it weren't for such a tight deadline, he wouldn't have paired them up. But he needs it done in one night, and they both have strengths that will help this go quickly. He finally answers them, "Seriously, Robin and Marian, stop questioning my decisions and focus on getting it done." 

Robin nods in defeat. He is not one to question an authority figure. He says, "We can get started on it tomorrow." Jace shakes his head no, "No, it needs to be ready for tomorrow. You need to stay late. I did warn you all that this was when we would be needing you to work some overtime." Marian says, "So, overtime tonight?" Jace replies with a "Yes."

Robin sucks in a deep breath. Tonight. He made plans for tonight with Aurora. He goes to tell Jace, "I already made plans for tonight." Jace looks at Robin sternly, "Well, time to cancel them." With that, Jace walks out of the room without a goodbye. 

Robin looks uncomfortable. Marian tries to figure out what is bothering him. "Sorry, Robin. I hope it wasn't anything too serious." Robin looks at Marian, and he gives her a look that says he is still upset about this drop in overtime assignment. Normally, this is something Robin wouldn't mind, and Marian would be upset over. Things are constantly changing. 

Robin goes to text someone on his phone. Marian assumes it is Aurora. The only other option would be that Graham and Robin wouldn't be bummed about canceling on Graham. He would probably like that. Robin looks up at Marian and says, "It was actually something important that I had planned tonight." Marian smiles and says jokingly, "What was it? You have one month anniversary with Aurora?"

Marian and Robin are interrupted by the arrival of Aurora. She has more casual clothes than normal, so their plans weren't for a fancy dinner. Aurora has her blonde hair in a ponytail tonight. She walks up to Robin all excitedly and asks, "Are you ready to go?" She grabs Robin's arm after asking this and has the sweetest smile on her face.