Interview

He was most untidy, his blond hair was shaggy, and his nose was mottled with blackheads almost as numerous as his freckles. He looked, for all intents and purposes, like an Offender. This thought Sebastian did not bother to reprimand himself for.

Ms Blake regarded the interaction between the pair with the same vacant vigilance as the camera network. She gave them both a 4.555 second burst of the customary company-line smile and;

"Why not go to the cafeteria together? Get something to eat and you can get to know each other?"

"Uh, where is it Missuz Blake?"

"Mizz Blake please, and to answer your question there are map systems all over the premises…"

"Yeah, but eh…"

"It’s ok Bobby, I’ll find it, thank you Ms Blake", Sebastian said.

***

"Eesh! Soya, tofu, protein cultures! Whaddever happened to good ole fashioned home cookin’ huh?"

"Well Bobby, I guess the company feels that it’s important for its workers to eat healthy, I think that rather nice of them don’t you?"

"I guess so."

"So Bobby, what brings you here?"

"Eh, my Paw, he thought it’d be good for me, I mean, I got good grades in school ’n awl…"

"…I see…erm, could you pass me the salt please?"

The salt-dispenser skated down along the table like a hockey puck. Had Sebastian not caught it in time it would have most likely chipped the plate. Above, once again, the ubiquitous cameras, Sebastian bit his metaphorical tongue and smiled back.

"Thank you Bobby."

His eating habits were obscene, he slurped when he drank, gouged his protein steak like he were Jack the Ripper, shoving his veg overboard in the process. He wolfed the food down ravenously, and during so had no qualms with speaking with his mouth full. What was he doing here, Sebastian wondered? He looked at him again as Bobby took another gulp from a smuggled caffeine-laced soda, and belched loudly.

To top it all, he wiped his mouth with the tablecloth.

The Agency had taught Sebastian to accept all types of people from all walks of life. And Sebastian held with this conditioning quite well. It was as though it were a natural disposition for anyone to have, and he need not be told to do so. However Bobby was really testing his patience here, it was like they admitted Joseph as his rival. Why?

First Sebastian tried to imagine the scenarios wherein such a character could be even admitted for review, but could come up with none. The only one he could really envision was nepotism, but in this day and age?! It was unlikely. Then he scolded himself again, he was allowing himself to become distracted, and he tried to keep the rapport as polite and friendly as he could while also keeping it to a minimum. But it was impossible with Bobby’s relentless inane questions. He would ask him something, and, like a child, would then proceed to ask, "but why is that?" Or "how come they do this?" Sebastian found his patience tested to the limit. And used every joule of mental energy possible to try to stop himself from snapping at him. His techniques were failing him.

Bobby had a mischievous streak, he kept joking around.

He wanted to "explore" the place. And pleaded with him to join him, there was no way Sebastian could refuse. They walked through the foyer again, towards the main electro-genetic labs. A tall attractive blonde Premier brushed past him and Bobby ogled her tactlessly as her high-heels clattered off the marble floor.

"Hey!" Bobby nudged him forcefully, grinning, "What you think of Shauna? She’s a bit of a babe huh?

"She is quite an attractive lady, and very helpful…"

"Hah, and see those legs- mmm! Long and tanned, just the way I like ‘em! Huh?!"

"I don’t think I care much for your sexist attitude Bobby."