Jemma Simmons is a terrible liar (needanewplan) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2018-09-12 05:30:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !partner thread, jemma simmons, kala dandekar |
Who: Jemma and Kala
What: Meeting in person
When: First week of September - before Kala starts dreaming
Where: Local cafe
Warnings: Low
Status: Partner Thread | Complete
With her wedding coming up in a month, Jemma was a bit busy. That didn’t mean she had shirked in the request of Kala asked of her in help looking for a job. Of course not. She had gone over her resume, put it to the side to see how the woman responded to Orange County weirdness to see if she’d be a good fit at the Agency, gone based on her preference of R&D for pharmaceuticals and put together a list of contacts she had in the area that looked to be a good fit.
Plus? She could hear again, a thing for which she was ever grateful. If she really thought about it, Jemma had been unable to hear longer than the the time from everything with Robbie Reyes up to where she was in the dreams. Because dreamtime made no sense whatsoever.
As it was, Jemma arrived to the cafe early and found a seat to wait for Kala.
This was Kala’s second time meeting someone from the internet in a cafe. She wasn’t half as nervous as last time. Meeting Will had gone better than expected and he was the least alarming of the three people that claimed to dream about her. It was all still a little strange.
Although Kala wasn’t quite as nervous to meet Jemma, she was still nervous. However for different reasons. She wasn’t worried that Jemma was going to be some creep that quite possibly had stalked her. After Jaina had suggested she reach out to Jemma, Kala had done her research before reaching out. Jemma was quite the reputable scientist. And that was why Kala was nervous to meet with her. She hoped Jemma could help her find work in the area. If she didn’t find a job soon she would have to return to Mumbai, and probably to Rajan.
Kala dressed in what she assumed was business casual. A light blue blouse paired with white pants. Taking a deep breath she entered the cafe spotting Jemma right away Kala made her way over. “Jemma Simmons?” she asked just to be sure before she officially took her seat.
The good thing was that Jemma at least had quickly readjusted to not requiring glasses to present what was said to her in text, though there was a slight jolt as she heard her name and looked up to the woman and stood up.
“I am, and you must be Kala Dandekar. Please, sit down.”
Smiling, she waited for Kala to sit before she sat back down herself. She was unaware of Kala’s...particular... welcome to the network though it really wasn’t all that surprising. Some people were far better at keeping certain things quiet than others. But she did recall how strange it could be. And seeing at how Kala had reached out to her via Network…
“How are you settling in?”
“It’s a pleasure,” Kala said before taking the seat across from Jemma. And it truly was. Not many people would take time out of their busy schedule to meet with someone new to the area. Let alone help them find a job. Kala wasn’t sure she could ever truly express her gratitude.
“Pretty well,” Kala replied. “As well as can be expected I suppose, without having a job.” And with having people know random facts about you, but Kala kept that to herself. She was beginning to see that the entire Network was full of strange posts. However, the fact they acted as if they already knew her was still a bit unnerving.
Jemma liked to pay it forward and help those where she could. This was one such situation where she could be of help. Especially as she had clearly missed the woman’s initial post on the Network. They all needed help once in a while.
“Yes, that can be rather stressful and this place has its own unique stresses to it.” Again, it was one of those vague comments that could be taken any number of ways but that people from the Network seemed to pick up on. Honestly she didn’t know how much she had seen, if she’d been around for the latest nonsense from the beginning of the previous month or what. But unique certainly was one way of putting things when it came to the network.
Kala hadn’t been around for long. She hadn’t seen whatever nonsense had gone on the previous month. Hadn’t seen anything strange yet. Nor had she had any dreams. The only bizarre thing that happened to her was the people claiming to already know her. So Jemma’s comment went right over her head.
“I suppose that could be said for any place,” Kala commented thinking she was keeping up with the conversation. Mumbai certainly had it’s own stresses. Family, Rajan. Religion. “What made you want to be a scientist?” Kala went on with the conversation trying to get to know Jemma a bit better.
Nothing wrong with things going over one’s head. If anything, it was a good gauge on where Kala was in the whole...Orange County of it all. If she had no response, it meant that she really was new to the area in a few weeks. If anything, it gave Jemma a frame of reference as she wasn’t the type to just bombard someone with all the insanity that was Orange County unless asked or if a conversation just veered that way.
“This is quite true.” As for the question on how she got into science? “It feels like I’ve always been interested in science at times. I always focused a lot in school and really enjoyed science. Finding answers for questions previously assumed unknown, the great mysteries. There’s also a sense of...peace I suppose about being able to hold onto certain scientific rules. Especially when things get to be overwhelming.”
Something which was far more common in Orange County than Jemma liked to admit.
“How about you? What got you interested in science?”
Kala nodded as Jemma spoke. She agreed with everything the other woman said. But then it was time for her to answer the same question. “Precisely,” Kala agreed. “Like you I was always quite good at science in school. To me science is just another way to explain the miracles of faith.” Kala was very much a devout hindu.
“With pharmaceuticals I’ve experienced what the rich drug can do. I want to do my part to create new drugs. Help people heal.”
Jemma gave a small nod at the better way to explain the miracles of faith. She was getting a bit better with her tact. Though for her, there was never any disconnect between science her Judaism. There was an emphasis on asking questions and working things out without some divine this is the way.
“It’s a shame when people fail to see the connection between their faith and science.” They wanted specific answers and ~God always had the answers~ or other rubbish was ridiculous. Science didn’t negate one’s beliefs and yet so many who had a large audience claimed otherwise.
“A very noble cause, though.”
Kala was a bit surprised that Jemma seemed to agree with her. She knew many scientists who did not have any type of faith. Rajan among them. Though at least he accepted her and her faith, unlike his father who was very much against Hinduism. “Exactly,” Kala replied with a large smile. She already liked Jemma based on her reputation and the fact that she was willing to help Kala without even knowing her. But the fact that she understood the connection between science and faith? It made her like the woman even more.
“Thank you,” Kala replied modestly. “Though that could be said for all science.” It was a way to better the world in some way or another.
She might not be the most devout, but it was still part of her, and in some ways Jemma had turned more to Judaism since moving to the States as a way to be closer to her family. She had always been a bit more agnostic in the belief of miracles and the like but she was still Jewish. It was still part of her. And if there was one thing that she hated, it was the use of religion or anything to discredit others and to uphold bigotry and the denial of basic facts. Jemma still believed that magic and the sort were just things that didn’t have answers yet but that didn’t necessarily have to negate what one believed either.
“It could, but unfortunately it all depends on how one uses science as well.”
True, Radcliffe had noble intentions when he started the Framework to save his ex-girlfriend, but unintended consequences. Then there was everything that Hydra did, perverting science to cause harm and destruction. Jemma was optimistic and hopeful by nature, but she also wasn’t blind to what science could be used for if in the wrong hands.
Kala was a bit of an optimist herself. She couldn’t see why anyone would want to use science for anything but could. However, she couldn’t exactly deny the fact that there might be some people out there who might misuse it as well. “I suppose you’re right,” Kala said with a sad sigh. “I like there to believe that there are more of us out there, that like to use science for good. Rather than the other way around,” she continued giving a small smile.
While Jemma couldn’t understand why people would use science to hurt people, she had seen it happen and so it was just part of that lived experience she would never really be able to escape even while holding onto her general optimism and hope. She was probably more jaded (okay, there was no probably about it) since she had first come to Orange County three and a half years ago, but it was still part of her core.
“I like to think so too and have been lucky enough to mostly meet those who hope to use science for good.”
And fought those who used it for bad. But that was not a first meeting conversation. Not even one to really have unless it became necessary or circumstances changed.
Kala hadn’t run into anyone who used science for evil yet. If only she knew about BPO, but she had yet to dream and thus new nothing about them. And in her real life, back in Mumbai, she was surrounded by scientists who only wanted to help. Although part of her knew the company she worked for was doing it more for profit than for the cause. At least they were still creating something that helped others.
“Now I just need to find a company who feels the same,” Kala said with a nervous smile.
And the perfect segue into why they were meeting in the first place.
“Yes,” Opening up her bag, she pulled out the report she had made for Kala with the different companies she had contacts with. Because of course it was a report. Color coded and perfectly organized to go into the history of the company, what each focus was, contact people and the like.
“Here you are.”
“Thank you,” Kala said with a large smile as Jemma handed over the report. She had really put a lot of thought and effort into it, evident by the color coding. It meant a lot to Kala. “Let me repay you by buying your coffee.”