Samuel's timing was certainly not that of someone new to lockpicking; Aarik mentally timed him and wondered whether he'd be able to do a better job. They seemed on par, scarily. When he was looked at, he did enter the building first, ensuring that the lock was brought in and the door closed behind them before he led Samuel through. The laboratory building consisted of four classrooms in each corner of the long rectangular building, connected by corridors and huddled around central supplies, office and preparatory work areas.
Aarik worked in one of the preparatory areas - usually reserved for tutors, masters and high apprentices, but a concession was made for him. It was little more than a glorified walk-in pantry with a work bench all the way around it - two stools were tucked beneath the work bench - and three all-round shelves following the same pattern above the bench. An air vent was set into the roof and a long, thin window was set above the topmost shelf in the building's outer wall but these were the only sources of air and light in the trumped-up cupboard. It rarely bothered Aarik, for there were lamps set upon the bench that he could light and he did that first of all, so Samuel could see what was going on.
He kept his work on the first shelf, in a corner at the back of the room. It consisted of a bunch of chests, vials, powder containers and a rather thick sheath of bound notes, ink vials and a few quills but it was all packed up neatly because he would never have left anything out. He walked to the bench at the end of the space, turned around and leaned his ass against the work bench behind him, casually gripping the edges of it either side of his hips as he looked at Samuel. "This is where I work, by myself," he introduced. "My stuff's up here," he indicated with a tilt of his head. "How much do you want to know about it? I have a... few projects on the go," he smiled serenely.
