Strange. Rob considered himself no better than average at reading people, but at his previous facility, social interactions had always been flavored by grandstanding and controlled hostility. But here... the ease of the loud conversants a few tables over seemed genuine as far as he could tell, although this Ryan person seemed to have some minor seniority over the others somehow.

[color=a187be]"Is this seat taken? Just because we're in some odd, and likely illegal, test facility is no reason to be strangers with another."[/color]

Rob swiveled to face the newcomer, a petite woman about his age, and stood up to offer a handshake and a smile. [color=00acf5]"Hey, that seat's all yours if you want it. Just transferred in last night--you know, I thought I was done with high school, but here I am again, feeling like it's lunchtime on the first day of freshman year."[/color] He shook his head with a rueful grin. [color=00acf5]"I'm Rob. You?"[/color]

He'd stopped actively listening to the boisterous debate ongoing to his left, but his ears perked up a bit as it took on a sour note. He glanced over his shoulder, briefly meeting the eyes of a dark-haired newcomer whose demeanor radiated contempt.

--------

[heaviside]: not to interrupt the rag-on-Audi0-fest
[heaviside]: (although you are insane Audi0, you know that, right?)
[heaviside]: but has anybody got the decrypted work assignments for today?