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"Thanks." You mutter out half-heartedly. Ms. Beanie seems to be an actual normal person at least, even if her clothing is a bit eccentric to put it nicely.
The labcoat is the only thing that clues you in to her being a researcher. The rest of her outfit is a mis-matched mess of various alt and punk-clothing clearly taken from the lost and found. The band t-shirt and torn up denim jeans she's wearing are caked in stains you don't want to even think about.
All of it hangs loosely off her beanpole thin body. The mirror opposite of her neat freak friend.
"So! I guess you got some questions, yeah?"
"Yeah. First off, uh, what do you want?" You bluntly ask. "Our mutual..." You gesture at Lucy. "Friend here said you wanted to talk to me."
"Oh, that's simple. We just wanted to say thanks!" Ms. Beanie gives you a warm, genuine smile. "We, uh, kinda lost Lucy in the rush yesterday. Lots of people moving around and she's not the fastest, you know?"
"Mmh hmm, mmh hmm. We really did try to find her but the brutes that work here were absolutely unhelpful." Nicole(?) continues to fiddle with her hair. "We heard you found her, correct?"
"Oh, yeah. She was muttering and leaning against one of the walls."
"H-he helped me to the. C-cafeteria."
"I was just being nice. Even if she looked like that thing from The Blob." You shudder at the memory of how her melting flesh clung to your shirt.
"Ha! See, that's what I wanted to talk to you. Normally, people 'promoted' by the company aren't usually that nice." Ms. Beanie's smile wanes. "Budget cuts, right?"
"Wait, were you 'promoted' as well?"
"Oh! No!" Ms. Beanie shakes her head. "My dad got me a gig here. Good ol' nepotism, you know? Had to sign some really long, boring contracts and NDAs but hey! I'm here."
"Lucy, our dearest friend here, is the only one in a similar position to you." Nicole(?) chimes in. "I suppose it was only natural for someone like you to help her out! A shining example that everyone else should be following!"
"Uh huh." You squint at the two. You turn to check up on Lucy. She's busy trying to eat her slop through her melted, congealed lips. You're just glad she's doing better. You don't really know her but you're not cruel enough to enjoy an innocent person's suffering. Especially if she's in your shoes.
"So, is that it? Did you just wanna say thanks?"
"No. We want to teach you the ropes! Coworkers have to help out coworkers, right, Elizabeth?" Nicole's smile somehow gets even wider. God, it's like looking at the Chesiree Cat.
"Just call me Liz." Ms. Bean- Liz's face turns beet red at the mention of her full name. "It's nothing too formal or fancy. We just wanna help you out like you helped out our friend."
"Uh huh." You narrow your eyes. "What's the catch? Do you want money or somethin'? Does Nick over there want to drain my blood or whatever? Spit it out."
"Nothin'?" Liz tilts her head at you like you're the weird one here. "I mean, nothing yet, we just wanted to talk. That's all."
