Day 28 Darius isn't quite sure how this happened, but he won't complain.

It's a tie, in the end, after a day of on and off arguing that picked up at random moments such as in the middle of a film and washing up dishes after dinner. If Grace or Harris were around it might've stopped earlier or they'd've done much better at concealing their argument.

Neither of them are happy about the agreement, but their arguing has left them as bored as they were in the morning.

The challenge, issued by Liam based on a challenge he routinely had with his colleagues in grad school, was to use only what you had to 'soup up' a rolling desk chair. Because Tanz Industries has an a nearly unlimited stock of supplies, they did agree to limit themselves to non-dangerous items. Though he had teases Liam about what he might do, Darius understands the spirit of the challenge. Once upon a time, back in college, he witnessed his classmate doing the same. He barely concealed his joy at Liam's suggestion.

"Same room," Liam asks.

"Yes, that way I can keep an eye on you. Make sure that you don't do something against the rules."

"More like you might do something against the rules." Truthfully Liam is glad that Darius agreed to work in the same room. It's not that he's dependent on the man, but the thought of a day alone was enough to make him forfeit to find a different activity.

"Me? You think I'm going to break the rules?"

"If not outright break them, then you'll bend them. I saw you these last few months."

"Do you think I would violate the sanctity of such a time-honored engineering test?"

"Yes."

"Well, let's get to it and I'll prove to you that I can play the honest engineer." There's some irritation in his voice and some of it is real. They spend the next half-hour planning, individually drawing their plans for their souped up desk chairs before going out to get the needed supplies. Before they begin, Liam stops Darius.

"I'm sorry for my comment earlier, Darius," Liam says. "I know that what you did, you had to and you didn't enjoy it."

"Thank you, Liam. Now, shall we get started?"