"I know those old dime novels about alien civilizations on Mars aren't true." Lexi, one of the new interns groans out as they continue to look pictures of said planet. " But just once I'd like to see more than red rocks."
" I dunno, " Mindy contradicts, " I think I've had enough Mars related excitement in my life time."
She'll be content, ecstatic even, if she never has to space stalk another stranded astronaut in her life.
" Not even aliens with a decidedly Norse mythological flavor?" One of these days, Mindy is going to find out how Susan manages to say sentences like that while still sounding like she's talking about watching paint dry.
"Depends?" She says while going through pictures, "Are we talking about the Blonde Beefcake or Ice Ice Baby?"
"Why not both?" Mark joins in, leaning against the open door like he owns the place, and after the shit he went through Mindy wouldn't be surprised if NASA decided to give a paper that read "I can do whatever the hell I want" as a permit.
"And make that tense sibling dynamic even worse?" She retorts, her eyes not leaving her computer screen, in her peripheral she can see Lexi gaping but Susan, bless her, looks as unimpressed as ever."Not a chance bro."
"Ha ha." Mark deadpans at her "I see what you did there."
"And what brings you to our kingdom?" They've turned into some sort of Hallway Homies, they meet in the hall sometimes and nod at each other or if they aren't particularly busy, talk about things of no consequence and then say their good byes before doing whatever.
This however is a new development.
"I was just passing by," he says, she can hear his footsteps as he walks closer. "Figured I might as well say hi,try to mix things up a bit."
"What, the hallway not good enough for you?" She laughs and spins her chair to face him. Actually looking at him was probably an important step in developing a friendship.
Was this a developing friendship? Should she assume? How does one go about interacting with someone influential as Mark friggin Wattney.
When she looks at his face though, he looks a bit unsure himself, and Mindy berates herself for thinking of him as anything besides human.
You're Mark Wattney." Lexi says before he can reply and the girl means well but she's definitely the most enthusiastic one in the room.
"I'm sure he already knows that." Susan says, already going back to work.
Mark, bless him, rolls with it. " Reminders every now and then don't hurt."
"All right girls, settle down." She says, making a time out gesture with her hands. Something she's been doing a lot recently with these two. " Mark, meet Lexi and Susan."
Lexi gives and energetic wave from her spot, Susan glances up and throws up a peace sign.
"I'm assuming you didn't stop by just to be reminded about your own name, so whats up?" She doubts he came here just to say hi, of all things.
"Well," he says, glancing at the girls while his hands slide into his jean pockets. " I found myself craving korean food and remembered you mentioning a place nearby."
Mindy's brain blanks out for a bit and she can feel both her interns staring at her.
"You wanna show me the place later?" He says, giving her a smile thats weirdly equal parts unsure and confident.
"Sure." She says because really what else was she gonna say, "I'm always up for bulgogi, and theirs is pretty bitchin."
"Cool, cool." He says and they exchange numbers and she can feel her interns staring at her despite hearing the clicking of their keypads.
He leaves with a wave and a smile and she predicts the exact moment Lexi demands and explanation while Susan raises one perfectly executed eye brow at her.
She's going to have to ask her how she does her makeup later, that brow could kill a man.