The Lab of C. Foley

why did i come back to this

“It does, yeah.” He have a small chuckle. Of course, he was looking forward to the lab as well—he was just exhausted.

“Good thing one of us knows what she’s doing.” He slid his paper next to hers to compare how on-point the two were.

“So what happens after we check this? Do we just go up to a table and start on our own? The packet has instructions here…”

A light blush colored her pale cheeks at his remark and she quickly busied herself with looking over his paper. It pleased Claire greatly that she seemed knowledgeable to her lab partner. To her relief, their answers matched up. She was afraid that she would have to carry her partner—it wouldn’t be the first time—but this young man matched her efforts. 

Was… was she glaring at him? Hershel found himself looking at her cautiously - he didn’t think he’d said anything worth the look, but maybe he was just that detached from how things worked that he’d said something wrong without even knowing.

“I… see. As long as I haven’t offended you somehow. I didn’t mean to, if I did.”  Not right now, at least. He had no problem with offending people, but only when he was doing it intentionally.

“Oh - no, I don’t mind at all. Trust me, I’m more than used to it. Looking like I do day in and day out, you sort of grow to ignore the stares.” He’d experienced worse things than being stared at. “No problem with being curious. I mean, look at me. I’m green. I’d have been surprised if I didn’t throw you off. I’ve experienced much worse, so don’t worry yourself over a bit of staring and some questions. Not as though I’m not aware of my name and all the havoc it has the potential to cause.” Which was why in business, he used a false name. Not so much to throw people off his scent, so much as to prevent more than a little chaos from erupting.

Offended? Claire feared that her staring may have been interpreted as ill will towards the poor fellow. Her cheeks flushed hot in embarrassment over her unintentional rudeness. “Oh, no! Not in the slightest. I was only taken aback.”

His commentary only served to further confuse her. She felt like Alice, falling down the rabbit hole towards insanity. “So, you’re aware that there’s another Hershel? Are...are you two related somehow?” 

“That, I didn’t.” He hadn’t even gone to university, and was willing to bet that no-one would admit him at this point. “It’s an interesting subject, but I’ve never studied it, no. My passions lay in plants and gardening, actually. Much to the irony of my skin color.” He added, gesturing at himself.

If only she could see the vines hidden beneath his jacket, then it would be twice as ironic.

“I was a bit interested in archeology in my youth, but… things happened. Plans changed, and I found new passions elsewhere.” He wouldn’t change it, but his history wasn’t pleasant to think on anyways. “Maybe one day I’ll take a few courses, but for now I’m happy where I am. Why do you ask?” He knew why. Hershel knew exactly why. ‘Hershel Layton’ was an archeology professor, kind and patient and a perfect gentleman. He was a gardener, was rash, didn’t think things through, and also a killer. Beyond physical appearance, they weren’t at all very similar.

She squinted at him as he spoke, trying to understand what was going on. Was this a prank? Was this her darling Hershel trying to punk her? After staring him down for a moment or two, she decided that this was not a prank. His answer confirmed her suspicions—there were two Hershels.

“Er, no reason. Just...curious.” She wasn’t going to explain her bizarre theory, that there were two of the same man running around London. He would think she was insane. Still, Claire couldn’t help but feel he knew more about her than she did. Just who exactly was this stranger?

[Brenda had been trying to focus on the lecture. The professor had just specified the requirements for their first assignment, and part of it was an analysis of a short story, which could be found at the college library. Since she didn’t have a class after this, she could go straight there after class and start reading. She was only vaguely aware that someone sat next to her when she whispered at her.]

“Hm–? Oh, it’s alright!”

[She whispered back to her– Brenda hadn’t even realized she had seated next to her! Did she arrive late?]

“Our first assignment is due in two weeks. I can lend you my notes after class, if you’d like? And– ah, yes my name is Brenda.”

Claire almost panicked after hearing she missed learning about the first assignment—but Brenda’s offer calmed her almost instantly. She sent a small thanks out to universe for turning her luck around.

“Mm? I think so.”

The one morning he hadn’t had his tea… he had overslept and didn’t have the time to make himself a cup. Of course, he could get by without it…

… but not during a 9 a.m. class.

“Phytochemistry…” He glanced at his partner. Goodness, perhaps the reason he wasn’t feeling too awake is because she’d sapped the energy from him–she looked ready to burst.

“To be perfectly honest, I didn’t know phytochemistry existed before today.”

She felt bad for the poor guy—she was all but bouncing in her chair and he looked dog-tired. She offered him a sheepish smile, hoping that he didn’t think she was weird for being so excited. She thought he was kind of cute, in a nerdy sort of way. Not that she had much room to talk.

Oh, well - at least now he knew where he recognized her face from - Claire Foley, physicist, victim of an explosion caused by Bill Hawks greed. Either this was one that got lucky, or she had yet to get that far. Hopefully the former.

“…Ah. Now this is going to be interesting.” She likely already knew ‘hershel layton’. So how would this go? Hershel braced himself to be smacked for ‘daring to imposter’ the man. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Claire.” He responded, shaking her hand. “Hopefully I won’t get in trouble for telling you that my name is Hershel Layton. Lord knows many people wish I wasn’t.” Although it had gotten him out of an arrest by virtue of Alfendi Layton potentially having to explain why his own father was being arrested on so many charges.

He wondered if he could shake the more recent one that way, should he ever return. God knew Lucy wouldn’t care, though. Damnable girl.

“And, no. I’m not lying. It really is my name.”

Her brow furrowed as she took in this information, understanding what her meant by interesting. He appeared to have the same name and face as her beloved boyfriend, but last she checked, he wasn’t green. How peculiar...There had to be a scientific explanation for this. She decided to try to test the waters. She doubted this was the same man—she was certain her Hershel was waiting for her at their apartment—but it didn’t hurt to check, did it?

“Hershel Layton...” she mused, more to herself than to him. “Did you happen to study archaeology in university?”

But before she could get her mad scientist on, she had to perform the pre-lab exercises to ascertain that she knew what was expected. It wasn’t a difficult task, just a short multiple-choice quiz covering the basics of the lab.