[At the mention of the meetings, the northern-sounding young man scoffs, immediately distracted. Big day, his arse. He doesn't see what everyone's so worked up about. Splitting the atom's all well and good on paper, but what applications does it have? Who would go through with it? And because of that, here he is stuck with menial upkeep tasks for what feels like most of the department. It's just unnecessary buzz all round.

His friend's misgivings about the quirky young foreign repairmen don't seem so easy to dispel, but he does turn his head to give his fellow student a weary look.

Across the room, with his hands pressed together around the seal, Ed doesn't immediately capitalise on their lapses of attention. His fake smile momentarily freezes. Splitting the atom? ...Did they hear about that part before?

No, dammit, he's getting a grip. After a fashion. He shakes his head and hurries over to the pipe.

At the brief but harsh crackle that follows, both of the students jump.]

Uh oh, would you look at that? That was a spark. [A weird-looking one, and the noise didn't really resemble anything igniting, but he pushes on before anyone can point that out.] Looks like my friend here made a miscalculation somewhere. Don't worry, that's what we're here for - but I think you two better clear out of here first. [Right at the end of his sentence, he drops most of the facade.] Now.