Dr. Ellison asks Eze and Wilcox to handle the early tasks on the agenda, such as the fall student cookout. Then she says, "Fletcher has been asking for someone to help him with the old disposal closet in the stockroom. I don't know that it has gotten worse, exactly, but it certainly hasn't gotten better."
You wince. The stockroom's disposal closet was legendary when you were a student. Generations of stockroom managers have stored malfunctioning artifacts and decayed patterns in it. One notorious pattern decayed in such a way that it's both immovable and self-sustaining. Rumor has it that one hapless stockroom manager died when he got pattern-locked to it.
"No way," Wilcox says. "I'm not risking myself on that Superfund site."
Dr. Ellison looks to Eze, who shrugs. "I've already agreed to help with the cookout."
"I'd be happy to help Fletcher," Darcy offers.
"Are you sure?" Dr. Ellison asks. "You and Dr. . have the symposium to develop. I'd hate to stretch you too thin."
"Thanks, Dr. Ellison, but I can handle it." Darcy crosses her arms on the table and leans forward. "It's important to give back to the department, especially as a new faculty member."
She's angling to improve her standing with the others as part of her quest to be department chair. From the grateful looks Wilcox and Eze are giving her, it's working.