Bureau Gossip [Simon Arish/Frederick Langston]
A week later, these two meet and word is already in Langston's mouth. “Have you heard the Director and the Head of Research are now married by the Board?”
Arish frowns, looking up to the man with two cups of coffee walking in his direction. With his foot, he pulls up the chair closer before Langston sits on it; it’s easier to whisper like that. And as he takes a sip of it while processing the information, he gets to say something. “No, but it impresses me more how you know these things earlier than everyone in the Bureau.”
“Working at the Panopticon has its privileges,” Frederick rests his back, likely not expecting a crack out of it.
“And why did no one go down… or up there? Normally people get invited to weddings.” Simon plays with the edges of the cup, feeling himself more awake. “Like, getting a best man and a best woman. We should’ve been their best men.” Another sip. “Or… brought some food, some balloons.”
“Um, I wouldn’t say that.”
“Why not?”
Frederick shrugs. “According to the report, Faden and Pope got, uh, morphed into each other. Biologically speaking.”
Simon whistles. “Phew. Forget what I said then. No guests, no party.”
“Well—their best men could be there.”
“For what? Do you want us to morph into each other, ‘biologically speaking’ too?”
They exchange glances for over two seconds, or three, or even five.
“Listen, it wouldn’t have been a bad idea…”
“But that’s their wedding, though.” Simon discreetly nudges his ankle against Frederick’s, a gesture reciprocated in good measure. “If we get to have time and some privacy…”
“And the Service Weapon.”
“Shit, even that?” Their knees brush now, but one of them will swear it’s unintentional. “Yeah, well. One day, maybe.”
“One day.” Frederick sips on his coffee, and the joke softens him. “Heh, sure.” It’s really not a bad idea. “One day.”