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[Scene opens in the 2nd floor elevator lobby]
Riley is involved in a brief discussion with another SecOff, once again in his despised dress uniform. As this ends he turns, offering a wave, "Hello, love. How fares the day?"
Clara stalks out of Medbay with a faint grimace, likely due to the presence of the oh-so cheerful dress uniform. She pulls up short to avoid colliding with a Zaeltan delegate, then ducks around a security officer before pausing. That's a familiar SecOff. "Hey, you. Embassy thing done and over with?"
Riley nods somewhat to that, "I hope so. I was heading back here to escape." He gestures absently to your uniform, "You're awfully dressed up..."
Clara rolls her eyes and folds her arms over her chest, shrugging. "Spent the morning giving a briefing on complex metastasis of acute synocintisis, and how to fix it in a field situation. Like it -can- be patched under those circumstances."
Riley attempts to nod like he understands that, the exceptionally vacant look in his eyes of course would seem to indicate otherwise. "Ahh, I see, gotcha..." There's a pause, "Can you hang on just a minute while I go get a dictionary?"
Clara peers at you curiously before the reason kicks in for your confusion, and laughs easily. "Sorry. I got called in to give a medical briefing to visiting Infantry docs, mostly generals of varying degrees. One had the nerve to ask if I was busy tonight," she adds, a fair mix of amused and indignant.
Riley stifles a quick laugh, grinning, "Well are you? Or does a mere Admiral have a chance at winning you away for an hour or so?"
Clara reaches up to poke your shoulder lightly, smirking. "If you're up for the consolation prize, sure. I informed dear Brigadier General Laquet that I most certainly did have plans. Why, have something in mind?"
Riley shakes his head lightly, tucking hands behind his back. "Nope, but abducting you is always rather amusing. Besides, as many late nights as we've both pulled lately, getting out of the building for an hour or so would be good. Or we really can't keep harassing Nick about working too much without getting into bad territory."
Clara glances about furtively, then drops her voice to a stagewhisper. "But see, if we don't -tell- him, he'll never know, right?" Riiiiight. "Sounds good to me, actually. Delegate Fellan is in her third day of labor, and I expect her to have her baby sometime this evening...maybe after that?"
Riley half rolls his eyes at the first, grinning. "Even if he doesn't know. I would. And I'd feel guilty." He nods to that last, grinning, "Sounds perfect to me."
Clara checks her comm briefly, then does another quickly furtive glance about before tapping a brief kiss on your cheek and tugging at her uniform coat. "I'll let you get back to work, then. I've an interview this afternoon, and I'll need to actually figure out what I'm going to ask the poor girl. Did you have any questions you want me to ask specifically?"
Riley seems to consider this a moment and then adds cheerfully, "Ask if she's adverse to dragging people in for annual exams against their will. That'd be a good thing, right?" And with that he attempts to steal a kiss and escape. Yep, he's going to get poked.
Clara plays accomplice to the thievery, then acks and laughs, and does indeed poke you in the shoulder. "Evil man! I shall have you in my medical clutches yet!" she exclaims, then snickers and heads for the stairs, muttering good-natured, dire threats.
SECURITY> Riley wanders in, snagging his messages from their bix and looking rather disgustingly cheerful as he waves.
SECURITY> Niko works. Big surprise. He's tormenting his keyboard into spitting out the proper letters. "Hiya, boss," he calls. He peers at Riley for a moment, then muffles a snicker. "Gorgeous lipstick. That color is very you. You just need the coordinating stuff." And, evil man, he snatches a camera from a desk drawer. Click.
SECURITY> Riley looks rather decidedly sheepish, making at attempt at wiping off said lipstick. "Really? I didn't think it went with my shoes." He shakes his head, de-lip-sticking himself, "Just remember Nick, I know where you live," he teases.
SECURITY> Niko, tucking away the camera before it can be stolen, doesn't look too bothered. "You know where everybody lives," he retorts, with a grin. "Now I have something to hold against your good behavior. Or something like that."
SECURITY> "Good behavior," Riley protests laughingly, "I behave a lot better than -you- do these days."
SECURITY> Niko draws himself up in the chair. "I? I am the -paragon- of good behavior." He practically radiates innocence. He even got a -haircut-, after all. Never mind that it took Anya pouncing him.
SECURITY> Riley has reports, he knows how Niko got that haircut. One brows simply arches, "Uh-huh O Mr. Shorn Sheepie who overworks endlessly. See me believing that?"
SECURITY> Niko rakes a hand lightly through his hair. "Hey, I can't help it that I take after you," he says, with a grin. "And I wasn't really -working- when Anya attacked me, just talking with the kid. Whatsisname, G'ben."
SECURITY> Riley nods amiably, snickering, "Hey, I'm just going to make up for every ounce of harrassment -I've- gotten from you about my work habits."
SECURITY> Niko snags his blue can long enough to take a drink. "But... but I wouldn't harass -you-. No way." His wide-eyed innocence is more than a trifle overdone. "Besides, I've not fallen asleep over my work, so you're still worse."
SECURITY> "Hey, but at least I -sleep-," Riley protests in return, heading into his office with a wink.
SECURITY> Niko calls after Riley, "I sleep! I even sleep in a -bed-, not on a desk!" Then he shakes his head, snickering quietly.
[A few hours later...]
MEDIC> Glancing up from behind his desk, Kramer starts to speak, then clears his throat and pushes up his glasses, rising to his feet. "Good afternoon, miss," he finally manages. "Can I help you?"
MEDIC> Julie draws herself up, offering a salute. "Lt. j.g. Foster, sir. I believe Major Aleron is expecting me?"
MEDIC> Kramer automatically returns the salute, except ends up thwapping himself in the glasses absent-mindedly. "Ow. Uh, one moment, please." He mutters into his desk comm, then nods and moves to lead the way to the appropriate door. "Go on in, Lieutenant. She's expecting you," he offers in a bemused tone, eyes wide.
MEDIC> Julie blinks at the thwap, and nods her thanks, moving around the desk to follow. "Thank you, sir." Not that she really watches where she's going, her eyes scanning the medbay appraisingly before she steps through the door.
Julie walks here from the Medical Bay.
Clara rises smoothly from her seat as the door opens, the faintest hint of welcoming smile showing as she straightens her lab coat to await the first reaction.
Julie pauses three steps inside the door, again straightening as she snaps a crisp salute. "Major. Lieutenant j.g. Julia Foster, reporting as ordered." Despite the smile, she does not relax, though she has to work to keep her eyes on Clara rather than inspecting the nearby charts.
Clara doesn't change expression, but does seem just the faintest bit approving as she returns the salute just as crisply, then waves at one of the chairs. "At ease, Lieutenant. Please, have a seat. It's a pleasure to meet you."
At ease is so nice. Not that Julie seems any less formal as she steps forward and lowers herself to one of the chairs, posture erect. "Thank you, ma'am. I'm honored to be here."
Clara lowers to her own seat as well, far more relaxed. No surprise, there. It's her office. "Your first trip to Linnae?" She opens a folder on her desk, glancing at the single resume there. "I see you attended the Academy on Regulus. Excellent school, there. The ship's doctor for the Ellis Arnold attended school there."
Julie nods in response to the question. "The Academy there is indeed a fine institution. I take it you're familiar with the good doctor, ma'am?"
Clara inclines her head, smile warming considerably. "A dear young man, certainly. I was on the Ellis recently for a trip to Outpost Seven. How are you finding Linnae, then? Have you had a chance to see much of the Steading yet?"
Julie glances to the side, as if to see through the wall to the city. "Barely, ma'am. My ship just arrived a few hours ago. I was directed," and her amusement touches her bland expression, "By one of the locals to a bistro in the... Java Quarter?"
Clara's smile turns into a full-fledged grin, and she nods once, gesturing in that direction. "The Fruvous? It's in the Java Quarter. A wonderful place...I think I half-lived there during my own Academy days. Linnae really does have a unique society. Particularly here at the Complex. I see here your specialties are emergency care and forensic pathology...any experience in non-human medical care?"
Julie nods a confirmation. "The Fruvous. Fuzzy name. In any case, the place is charmingly quaint." Getting back to business, she nods firmly. "They made sure of that during my internship, and of course we had a mixed crew at my most recent posting. Perhaps not quite as varied as it is here, but a fair smattering."
Clara leans back in her seat, nodding thoughtfully at that as she steeples her fingers. "We do have an extreme variety of cases here. My specialty was xenobiology, and I'm still being confronted with new problems. How do you feel about being faced with situations you may not know how to handle? What would you do?"
Julie pauses dubiously. "I suppose such a situation would be possible under the circumstances. If there's something I haven't dealt with personally, I've probably studied the correct procedure." Her tone is matter-of-fact- she doesn't seem to be bragging. "Getting the patient stabilized would be the first order of business- those procedures are fairly standard. Patient history often holds the answer. I'm not so egotistical that I'd hesitate to call up the computer or even," her mouth quirks slightly, "Listen to the nurses. They've been here longer and seen more, I daresay, and half the time they know as well as the physicians what's going on."
Clara lifts a brow at the initial assessment, although her reaction to the rest of the answer is fairly noncommittal...casual even. "True enough. The nurses here are truly excellent...I'm fortunate to have such a staff. The gentleman who first met you? Major Kramer Langely, Head Nurse. I couldn't ask for a better man at my side in an operating theatre." She falls quiet for a moment, jotting a note on a notepad on the desk, then asking, "Tell me about the Yamamoto."
Julie glances over her shoulder. "He seems... amiable." At the last, she hesitates, then deadpans, "Standard destroyer, 1.4 million metric tons. 116 officers, 324 crew. Last I knew, she was patrolling the Hirzaken sector."
Clara clears her throat, actually looking amused by this answer, and lets her fingers lace together. "No, Lieutenant. Tell me about your time on the Yamamoto, if you please. I know about Naval ships, despite being a groundpounder."
One point to the major for the humor test. Julie smiles briefly before appearing very intent on brushing invisible dust motes from an impeccable pant leg. "Rather demanding work, but I learned a lot. We ran the gamut from battle injuries to toxic plants spitting at the crew. Dr. Pauken... allowed me to work extra hours, so I didn't have much time to socialize. I regret not having taken those opportunities to do so when I could."
Clara's brows quirk at that, although otherwise the doctor...the taller one, at least, is stoic. "Pauken, hmm? I've heard of him. An...interesting man," she allows thoughtfully, then half smiles sympathetically. "I don't know if you realize this, but the Complex is a wildly busy place. Still, I prefer my staff to work normal shifts and have a life outside of the office...but there are times it gets crazy. Would you be willing to put a shoulder to the wheel during busy times?"
Julie looks faintly surprised at the question, mainly because it /is/ a question. "Of course. Well. if somehow I were to end up in a coma, I might not be so quick on my feet, but other than that I'm perfectly willing."
Clara is completely unable to hold back the laughter at this, waving a hand and shaking her head before jotting a few more notes down. "I sincerely doubt I'd be heartless enough to require your services in such a situation, anyway. How do you feel about working with civilians?"
Julie spreads her hands. "Not a problem. They're people too." From her bland expression, it might be hard to tell if that's meant as a bit of humor or not.
Clara's lips quirk, although what that indicates isn't precisely clear. "They are indeed. The reason I ask is that much of the medical staff here -is- civilian. Indeed, my own predecessor is a civilian. Major Langely and I are both Infantry, obviously, and Lieutenant Commander Dejarnett is a nurse...but everyone else, including the other two doctors, are civilian. The base commander, however, is Navy. He's also Chief of Security. He..." She pauses, vastly amused for a moment, "he asked me to ask you your feelings on annual physicals."
Julie's eyebrows lift slightly as she reassures the major. "That wouldn't be a problem, I think. At least, I can't see any reason it would be." As for that last... "Annual physicals are, in my humble opinion, a pain in the neck, but a necessary evil."
Was that a briefly smug look from Clara? Naaah, must be your imagination. She nods agreeably at that answer, then folds her arms and leans forward on the desk to regard the other woman intently. "I'd like you to answer these next questions with complete honesty, Lieutenant. Rest assured there is no wrong answer, nor will I take offense at any answer. One...do you think you would enjoy working here at the Complex? Two...would you be comfortable working for an Infantry officer?"
The corner of Julie's mouth quirks up once before being suppressed. "Enjoy it? Ma'am, it'd take me years to find a place as potentially rich in professional satisfaction and expansion of my admittedly limited experience." She pauses, glancing around as if to make sure she's not overheard. "Just between you and me, I've nothing against the Infantry. My father was Infantry, so I'll admit to a touch of bias there." She lifts one shoulder in a light shrug. "In the end we're both officers, doctors, and ladies. I'd say that counts for more than inter-service rivalry."
SECURITY> Niko puts aside the evil comm o' doom and gets to his feet. "Back in maybe half an hour, folks," he announces to the room at large. "If you burn the place down while I'm gone, toss in my paperwork."
Clara inclines her head, this time not bothering to hide her approval of the answer. "That would be my feeling as well, to tell the truth. We do have a very...special atmosphere here at the Complex. Far more relaxed than most places. For example, you're the first person to call me 'Major' all day. Usually I get 'Clara' or 'Doc'. Most of us even call the CO by his first name or 'Chief', even though he's an Admiral. Would you be comfortable in a less formal atmosphere? I know shipboard is terribly formal..."
Julie blinks thrice, struggling to hide her surprise. "I... honestly, ma'am, I don't know. It'd take some getting used to, but I do tend to adapt easily. When in Rome, et cetera. It certainly wouldn't bother me to see it, hear it." She shakes her head ruefully at that last. "Shipboard, at Sirius, the Academy... I haven't had the chance to be less than at least semi-formal in a long time."
Clara leans back in her seat again for a moment, then asks the all important question. "Soda, Lieutenant. Which do you prefer? Red cans or blue?"
Dang, this Infantry lady is just full of surprises. Julie just... blinks. "Er, neither, actually. Creme soda's generally my thing. If I had to choose," and at that she shudders, "I could probably force down a can of blue."
Clara actually grins at the answer, looking about as mischievous as she gets...which is a lot, for Clara. She rises easily and gestures her head at the door. "Trick question, Lieutenant. It's a running joke here among some of us. Cream soda's lovely stuff. I'd like to see you in action, if possible? I've an Edreeni patient currently in her third day of labor. I expect her to deliver tonight. Care to meet her?"
Julie rises as well, releasing a slight chuckle. She nods confidently to the question. "Of course. Obstetrics has always held a certain fascination for me, though I applied my learning toward skills that seemed more practical for a Navy doc."
MEDIC> The sound of footsteps hauls Kramer out of his daydreaming. He has seen an angel, and hasn't a clue what to do about it. Le sigh. "Uh...oh, afternoon, Niko. Please don't tell me you're broken again?"
Clara nods at that as well, somewhat wryly, and heads for the door. "Seriously. Not many women having children in the middle of a combat zone, either. Lots here, though. We've an expectant Sectassian as well. We do a little of everything here, really."
MEDIC> Niko, blue can in hand, ducks into Medbay, rumpled hair making him look even younger than he is. He glances about for Giani--she won't give him as hard a time for the missed therapy sessions, after all. Besides, she's cuter than Kramer. But... alas, it is Kramer who spots -him-. "I'm unbroken, no worries. Just here to get my arm buzzed, neuro-whatsis. Not," he adds quickly, "The regenerator."
You walk towards the Medical Bay.
Julie walks here from the Chief Aleron's Office.
Kramer starts to reply, but clams up rapidly as the pair of doctors comes out of the back office, and suddenly finds great interest in his terminal, and mumbles something about therapy in a general Clara-wards direction.
Clara leads towards the short term care area, then pauses and sighs at the tall Security officer wistfully. "What's broken now, Niko?"
Julie follows with her firm stride. "Sectassian? A first-timer? The look on their faces when they realize just what they've embarked on when those pains hit..." She shakes her head, pausing as well to glance toward the aforementioned SecOff.
Niko glances over to Clara with a put-upon sigh. "Nothing's broken. I swear, I'm not -that- bad. I'm just here for someone to do that weird buzzing thing to my arm. The therapy. I've got to remember what it's called, at some point." Julie gets a pleasant nod, and a quick grin.
Clara's brows quirk up in pleased approval as she notes to Julia, "Acute nerve trauma from a past and healed injury in the left arm, plus spinal trauma from the same accident...what, about four years ago Niko? We're using a neural stimulator on him three times a week for ten minute sessions...when he remembers to come in," she adds more to Niko. "Niko, this is Lieutenant J.G. Julia Foster. Dr. Foster, Lieutenant Commander Nikolaos Casymed, our base XO."
Julie's hand starts to twitch upwards, but she settles for a pleasant nod. "Always nice to meet a patient who doesn't have to be dragged in for therapy."
Niko's head bobs in a brief nod. "Four years ago, yup. And I've missed some, I know, but I've really had a lot to do. I'll try to remember." He looks between the women with a roguish grin. "Are we being official? Do I have to salute? And thanks for not dragging out the first name, Clara. Anya did that yesterday, horrible lady."
Clara can't help but laugh at that, heading towards a cabinet and gesturing for you both to follow, leaving Kramer to still stare at his screen fixedly. "You can both salute if you like. You salute me, though, mister, and I'll regenerate you instead. Dr. Foster? Would you care to do the honors?" she asks, holding out the device that does -so- look like a regenerator.
Julie blushes slightly, giving Niko an apologetic nod. "Sorry, sir. Habit." She gives Clara a genuine smile of relief, small though it is, as she takes the doodad. "More than happy to. It's been too long since I had the chance."
Niko trails behind Clara, of course, though he eyes the device rather warily. "Please, -please- make sure you get the right one, huh? That'd really be a quick way to make sure that I -would- have to be dragged in here for more, if you got the wrong one." He peers at Julie for a moment, then inquires, almost plaintively, "Could you call me Niko, maybe? Pretty please? The only reason my rank's jumped up is that I was stupid enough to take a job nobody else wanted."
Clara stands back, slipping her hands into her pockets, and watches, eyes dancing a rather amused green. She quirks her brows in a manner at Julia that indicates she should go right ahead, but remains quiet...observing.
Julie gestures for Niko to take a seat, murmuring a request for his chart. "Not that I don't trust your memory, ma'am," she notes hastily. "I just prefer to cover all bases." Her gaze goes back to the SecOff and she graces him with a polite smile. "Whatever you say."
Clara inclines her head, still sporting that mysterious half smile as she moves to tug a chart from the front of a cabinet. A thick chart. One that's had lots and lots of entries. She returns and hands it over. "Our XO is...breakable."
Niko agreeably climbs up to the bioscan, setting aside the can as he does so. He got a polite smile, even. Poor Kramer must be jealous. He rolls his eyes at Clara. "I'm not that bad. Yeesh. Sochos is taking after me, though," he notes. "Poor kid crunched his arm, so the last letter said. He hates the cast almost as much as I did."
Julie does a slight double take at the chart, taking it to flip through the pages. "I guess /so/. Ye gods and goddesses, he's Captain Kirk," she murmurs to herself before setting the chart aside, and inquires, "Sochos?" as she beckons for the arm.
Clara winces visibly, leaning against a counter and watching the younger woman work. "Poor baby. And he's too young to be regenerated too. Ouch." Julie's comment causes her to clap a hand over her mouth as she quietly dissolves into laughter.
Niko peers at Julie for a moment, rather puzzled. "Captain who? And Sochos is my nephew, not quite three years old." With a glance to Clara, he adds, "He wouldn't be even if he were older. Regenerators are too newfangled for Mathraki, and Nacippe's not likely to take him to the mainurb for a broken bone. The family's used to those, after all."
Julie automatically gives Niko's shoulder a comforting pat as she swiftly gets the device strapped into place, each electrode placed carefully. "This won't hurt a bit. Nephew, eh? Oh... Captain Kirk. Character on an old-style holo program who was constantly getting hurt and nagged at by his CMO." Flip goes the switch.
"After you, no doubt," Clara agrees with Niko, eyes more on the actual procedure though as she takes mental notes. "An old Terran show," she adds in description. "Although it's likely I nag Riley more that that captain got bugged."
Niko wiggles his fingers very slowly as the treatment starts, then halts the movement. "Well, I'm not -constantly- getting hurt. Only had a couple major incidents, after all." He regards Julie for a moment, then casts a grin to Clara. "Yeah, but Riley deserves it. He doesn't get nagged enough, in my book."
Julie's eyebrows rise as she glances briefly toward Clara. "Riley... Addison? The CO?" Her eyes turn back to Niko, or rather, to the gauges showing the current being administered. "Only a couple major incidents. One's enough for most people," she notes wryly.
Clara's expression allows a faint amount of surprise at the reaction to show through as she inclines her head. "Admiral Addison is our base CO, yes. You've heard of him?"
Niko quips, after a moment of peering at his fingers, "Hasn't everyone heard of the great Riley Addison?"
Julie shakes her head slightly. "Not really. I took the liberty of looking up a few things before I came here, including who's commanding. The name was vaguely familiar then, nothing concrete." She chuckles politely for the quip, counting under breath a few seconds more before reaching to turn off the unit.
Clara ahs quietly, still watching the work going on, although she takes a moment to wrinkle her nose at Niko in an expression better suited to an annoying younger sister, despite her relative age.
Niko has plenty of annoying younger sisters, and so recognizes the expression. He responds with a quiet, exceptionally mature raspberry. He's kind, and doesn't direct it at Julie. "Thanks," he adds to the smaller doctor. "Am I done? Got to get back to work, busy busy."
Julie pays no heed to the interplay, or at least she doesn't seem to, as electrodes and finally the therapeutic device is removed. "It's tingling, no? You're done," she confirms. "For now."
Clara adds a faint nod to the younger woman's assessment in Niko's direction, but adds an admonishing, "Not more than a twelve hour shift today, okay? Spend some time with that lady of yours and keep her from pining away. Either that or I go try to cook in -your- kitchen again," she notes ominously.
Niko slides down from the bioscan and takes up his soda, with a chipper "Thanks" to Julie. Clara's words draw a rather sheepish look. "I'll try, but there's a lot to do, and I want to get stuff out of the way so I don't leave a lot for Riley to do while I'm gone. Besides," he adds, ducking almost out of range. "If you cook in -my- kitchen, Ela will be there to keep you from burning down the place. And I get to eat the homework."
Julie draws back a few steps with a quiet, "You're welcome", pretending to examine the therapy unit. She's not listening. Really.
Clara makes flapping motions at the Security officer, grinning. "Shoo, now. Go bother Anya and let me torture this poor young woman some more, okay?" she adds, including Julia in the smile.
Niko chuckles as he heads for the exit. "I'm not going to bother Anya, she'd likely break out the clippers once more. Nice meeting you, Doctor Foster. Don't let Clara harass you to much."
Julie chuckles slightly, nodding after the SecOff. "No worries, I suspect."
Niko heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Clara watches Niko leave with a fond smile, still leaning against the counter with her hands in her pockets. "He's pretty indicative of what we get around here. Addison's folder is even worse...no surprise. He's got fifteen years on Niko. Well? What do you think? Could you work here?"
Julie shakes her head ruefully. "Ever heard the old curse "May your life be interesting'? Those two sound like personifications of it." She pauses to look around once more, then her steady gaze returns to Clara. "I could, with pleasure, ma'am."
Clara returns the gaze for a long moment, then smiles warmly and straightens to extend a hand. "Welcome aboard, Lieutenant. As our dear CO would say, welcome to the loony bin. C'mon, we'll go invade Security and get them to eek out quarters for you."
Julie blinks- that was faster than she'd expected- and allows herself a real if hesitant smile as she reaches to shake Clara's hand. Glancing in the direction Nick went, she adds, "Please, it's Julie. No time like the present to begin blending."
Clara's grin widens as she nods agreeably and starts for the door. "Julie, then. Most of the people in Medbay call me Doc, most out of it call me Clara. I'm game for either. Call me Major Aleron, and I may hide in my office under my desk. That's Kramer, over there," she introduces with a gesture to the firmly blushing nurse who nods politely. "You'll meet the other staff later. Let's go bother the SecOff types."
You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
[Travel to Security snipped]
Niko looks up from his work with a blink. "It hasn't been twelve hours yet," he protests, with a quizzical grin. "What's up, ladies?"
Clara rolls her eyes as she walks in with Julie and waggles a finger at Niko, coming to a halt before his desk. "Ah, but tormenting you was just so -fun-. Nah, she needs a room. Are you folks still handling that for Arthur? I'm afraid to go bug him right now."
Julie gives Nick a sheepish smile, her eyes travelling toward Clara with a touch of surprise.
Niko nods amiably, rustling about for a datapad. "Yeah, we're doing that, still. It's easier, in the long run. Third floor quarters, right?"
Clara nods affably, leaning against a nearby desk...Shan's...and smiling sweetly at the white-haired officer. "You ratted on me," she notes in an undertone, then lifts her brows at Julie. "You look surprised?"
Shan is all careful innocence, "Me? Ratted? Surely you jest." He grins, "I merely moused."
Julie erms, "I'm not used to Security handling housing assignments. Arthur?"
Clara wrinkles her nose at Shan. "You ratted. And don't call me Shirley," she adds, teasing. She nods back at Julie amiably. "Arthur is our Maintenance Chief. Nice man, so long as he doesn't have to come put out a kitchen fire set by Med Chiefs that can't cook."
Niko snags the comm's headset and has a brief exchange with whoever's on the other end. The headset really does wonders for his hair, even though it's shorter now. It's an entertaining look. Setting aside the headset, he quips, "King Arthur, head of Maintenance. And I'm Sir Galahad, at your service. You'll be in room G8, on the third floor."
Riley walks here from the Chief Addison's Office.
Julie coughs away a startled snicker, glancing toward Niko with amusement. "Thank you, s... thank you, Niko."
Riley pads out, a double stack of folders in arm which he drops in a cascadingly thumping pile into Anya's outbox. "Conquered. But if I see another Rj-14 form, I will engage in random acts of brutality." He offers a polite wave to the room, expression warming upon spotting Clara.
Clara brightens right back at Riley and waves him over. "Hey, you. Come meet your newest doctor. Please just don't brutalize her, okay? Riley, Lieutenant J.G. Julia Foster. Julie, Chief Riley Addison."
Niko blinks at Riley's words, then shuffles one of his paper-stacks out of sight, ending that gesture in an answering wave. "If 'Niko' doesn't suit," he says to Julie in a quiet aside, all apparent seriousness, "I answer to several other names as well. You can pick one."
Clara mutters something about 'duck'.
Niko quacks at Clara, then muffles a snicker. Yes, there's a reason that the folks here wanted to call him 'kid'.
Oh, Clara's remark is just /so/ comforting, and Julie snaps back to attention upon spotting Riley, snapping off one of those so-sharp-you-could-cut-yourself-on-it salutes. "Sir." Her eyes flick back to Niko, humor in them, though she doesn't respond just yet.
Kathlyn comes into Security just in time to catch that last. "Oh, yeah," she chimes. "Call the Chief 'sir' a lot. He really likes that. And salute every time you see him."
Riley executes a slight bow, hand over heart, amiably formal. "Nice to meet you." Julie's salute brings him up rather amused, and he returns the salute with a sigh. "Pardon me a moment." He turns around and rummages on top of a high shelf, withdrawing a foam disc gun. A series of shots are taken at Kathlyn before he resumes facing Julie. "Saluting's not necessary by any means."
Julie 's eyes just widen, though she relaxes. She mutters to Clara. Glancing back toward Riley, she nods. "Yes, si..." A glance toward Kathlyn, and she temporizes, "I'll keep that in mind." Back to Niko with a frank look. "What do you /prefer/ to be called? I'd rather use that."
You sense Julie 's eyes just widen, though she relaxes. "Is he always that charming?" Glancing back toward Riley, she nods. "Yes, si..." A glance toward Kathlyn, and she temporizes, "I'll keep that in mind." Back to Niko with a frank look. "What do you /prefer/ to be called? I'd rather use that."
Clara smothers a grin beneath one hand, waggling her brows at Kathlyn in a 'See what you get?' manner before nodding agreeably. This is cut short by a choked laugh as she swallows heavily. Finally she clears her throat and regards Riley thoughtfully, then nods at Julie. "He is, yes. All the time."
Kathlyn ducks the shots, and takes the precaution of gathering up the foam discs. If she gets shot at enough, Riley won't have any more ammo. "Call him Skippy," she assures Julie, blue eyes gleaming with mirth. "Or... ooh, use his -first- name."
Niko supplies, to Julie, "Niko, or Nick. I get both, around here, whichever's easier on the tongue." He absently wads up a blank form and tosses it at Kathlyn, calling to her, "I'm going to sic Shan on you if you don't quit." Oh, the horror.
Riley doesn't fire again, although he does offer the gun to Niko. "Did you ask her the important question?" This is directed at Clara, his expression amused.
Niko takes the gun with a murmured thankyou, firing off a few shots at Kathlyn before returning it. "I've got to get one of those," he adds.
"Duck," Clara mutters again calmly, then smirks at Riley, utterly smug. "I did indeed, you evil man. And she thinks you should come in for your annual physical as well."
Julie gives Casymed a firm nod. "Niko it is then." Funny, though, she isn't about to take Kathlyn's suggestion under advisement any time soon. Blue eyes travel back toward Riley again. "The important... Oh." She laughs, nodding to Clara's statement.
Riley makes a decided noise of joking exasperation, "And you still -hired- her? Wench!"
Niko looks for a moment like he's going to request the gun again, to shoot Clara, but instead snickers. "Riley, they're not that bad." His is still a few months off, though, so he's safe in saying that.
"Excuse me? Who got me the rabbit in the fireproof suit?" Clara exclaims, then hmpfs and gives Niko a brilliant smile. "At least -someone- in the family has sense." Julie gets a slightly apologetic smile. "I'm afraid you've walked into a ravening, if unintentional, den of nepotism."
Julie nods slowly in response to Clara, staring at Riley, though apparently she didn't really hear the words, as she suddenly blinks and the stare moves to Clara. "Beg pardon?"
Riley just hmphs in mock-indignation, "Evil people, all of you. Well, I'm not as easily trapped as all that, so it matters not."
Niko muffles a snicker at poor Julie's question. He takes up paperwork once more, mumbling something about group marriage.
Clara gives Riley a look of purely evil intentions and notes solemnly, "I know where you live, Addison," before grinning at Julie and waving a hand between the fuzz-headed duo. "Brothers, the two of them. Frightening, no?"
Julie quickly hides a flash of surprise. "The CO and XO are brothers?" Her eyes flick between the pair, but hey, she's got a job again, and she's not about to voice her thoughts.
Riley perches to sit on the edge of Anya's desk, much of course, to the dispatcher's exasperation. "Yeah, but you wouldn't want to be evil and vicious to me at -home- would you? I might be evil -back-." He looks to Niko, "We're not -frightening-, are we Nick?"
Niko grins cheerfully at Julie. "How else d'you think I got the job?" he jests. "Nepotism, all the way." At Riley's question, he shakes his head, radiating far too much innocence. "Frightening? No way, not -us-."
Riley sighs in quiet exasperation, snickering, "You got the job because nobody else was goofy enough to take it. And because you didn't hit me when I suggested it." For good measure Anya hits him again, thwacking him lightly with a rolled up form in an attempt to banish the Riley gargoyle from the corner of her desk. Riley ignores this.
"They're frightening," Clara promises Julie, vastly amused before smiling sweetly at Riley. "You have to catch me first, my dear. I can hide in my office, remember?" Not daring the wrath of Anya, she leans against Niko's desk and snickers at Niko. "You're evil, oh breakable one. Niko was stationed here before any familial relationship was known. I found it in a genetic scan," she supplies to Julie, lowering her own evil quota for the day.
Julie looks a bit less rattled at Clara's explanation, though that 'my dear' to Riley just makes her clamp her mouth firmly shut after a smooth, "Ah, that explains it."
Riley rummages in his pocket, holding up a single silver colored keycard. That would of course be his master key. He seems to think this is answer to Clara enough.
Niko starts to reply to Clara, then grins at Riley's gesture. That's what he was going to say. "Y'know, you keep calling me breakable, then I'll start saying I'm not, and you saw what happened last time I started doing that," he teases Clara.
Clara pulls out a scanner, frowns at it, then puts it back and rummages about her belt. "Bother, I knew I had a speculum her somewhere," she mutters, then sighs and shrugs. "You win," she adds. Too easy, wasn't it? You bet. Niko gets a quiet ack! "Please don't break? Not this close to the wedding. Explains it?" she adds to Julie.
Julie arches an eyebrow. "You're kidding, right?"
"Often, yes. Don't let it get your goat, though," Clara replies, faintly puzzled. "Kidding about what? That I'd hunt down people where they live? Not a chance. I'll do it. Evil-R-Us...the motto of Medbay."
Niko shakes his head to Clara. "No breaking, not if I can help it. Oh... hey, maybe you could give Ela a hand with her dress? She seems to think that spraypaint wouldn't be appropriate." He mock-pouts, then peers curiously at Julie for a moment, adding, "She's right. Medbay folks are very evil, especially Vryce."
Julie's mouth quirks, and she shakes her head. "Sorry. Head's whirling." She gives Niko an innocent look. "Of course we are. It's in the contract." The other eyebrow goes up. "Vryce?"
Riley nods in general agreement as well, "Medbay people are all evil and demonic and want silly things."
Clara groans and reaches back to poke Niko's shoulder. "Spraypaint is entirely bad for a wedding, yes. Of course, I'll help." Riley gets an arch look. "I'm not wearing spraypaint either, and last I heard, you didn't complain about silliness." She reaches over to pat Julie's shoulder sympathetically. "You'll get used to it. Vryce is one of the other doctors."
Riley awws in mock sadness, "But spraypaint would be such a nice -look-..." He pauses, grinning, "Maybe the happy dress from the ball?"
Niko nods in fervent agreement with Riley's spraypaint-related comment, though he's obviously half in jest. The other half... well, it's been six minutes. "Spraypaint is -festive-." To Julie, he says seriously, "Clara actually isn't evil, nor Jones, but Vryce really is."
Julie ahs quietly, to Clara and Niko, listening to the conversation and /trying/ to follow it. Occasionally her glance moves to examine the rest of the SecOffs in the office as she wonders if /they're/ crazy as well.
"Vryce is a demon born of the nether most abyss." Gee, Riley is -so- helpful isn't he?
Kathlyn is entirely insane. But she's cute.
Shan sighs at Kathlyn, because she's so cute, not because lunatics turn him on.
Clara makes shushing noises at Niko before rolling her eyes merrily at Riley. "The dress from the ball is -right- out. And Vryce is not -that- bad. He's...efficient." She folds her arms and grins at Julie. "Did I, or did I not welcome you to the loony bin?"
Kaycen rolls his eyes at Shan. He's not insane. In fact, he offers Julie a pleasant, rather sympathetic smile.
Anya is still just poking at Riley, attempting to get him to move.
>>OOC: Clara aaacks! Attack of the NPCs! ;)
>>OOC: Niko says "Attack of the killer NP... aiee, GOMH!"
Julie nods, unable to deny that fact. "You did indeed," she admits. A couple of retreating steps are taken toward Kaycen the Haven.
Niko mumbles, apparently about Vryce, "He's evil and obnoxious."
Kaycen gets to his feet to dispose of a report, offering to Julie, with a faint smile, "You'll get used to it. This is actually a slow day. Welcome aboard."
Clara explains to Julie rather matter-of-factly, "See, I was perfectly sane when I first got transferred here, too."
"I sense somehow this is all going to be blamed on me," Riley murmurs, looking rather amused.
Niko nods to Riley. "I was sane, too. Heck, I was nice, innocent... not any more. And it's all your fault." He grins roguishly.
Julie nods, mouth quirking very slightly. "It's just a matter of time, is it?"
Riley sighs, attempting to look dejected, "I should leave then, and go back into my office so my evil sanity erasing waves can be contained."
Clara nods pleasantly...no, rather more insipidly at Riley with a fond smile. "All your fault, yes. Don't forget about dinner tonight." She chuckles and pushes away from Niko's desk, straightening her coat. "And not much time either, no. Shall we go hunt up your quarters? Did you bring anything with you?"
"I won't love, just comm me when you've got a chance." Riley offers a polite wave around, still grinning, and then heads to duck into his office.
Riley walks towards the Chief Addison's Office.
Niko shakes his head to Riley. "Hey, I've got a better idea. You could actually -leave- Security, since you're going to have dinner with Clara and all." Or, no, he says it to Riley's back, and rolls his eyes. "I swear, and he complains about -me-."
Julie gestures vaguely toward the spaceport. "Quarters are good. I've only a carry-on with me. No sense in bringing everything before I knew for sure what would be happening, neh?" She pauses to stare briefly after Riley again, and gives Clara a curious look.
"He complains about you because you deserve to be complained about," Clara counters to Niko with a grin. "Have Ela give me a holler when she wants to go dress shopping. We'll drag Corian along, make it a day." Heading towards the door, she nods at Julie. "Can you send for the rest of your things? Or do you need to catch a liner out again to go get them?"
Niko snorts softly at Clara's first comment, then nods amiably to the comment about Ela. "I'll tell her, will do. Haven't seen Corian in ages, I'll have to look her up." He lifts a hand after the pair, turning back to his paperwork.
Julie gives Niko/Kaycen/et all a polite smile before turning to follow Clara. "I can send for them. They're all packed. Have been."
[Travel to 3rd floor hallways snipped]
Clara leads the way down the G hallway, noting, "This is where all of the Complex staffers live. Diplomats and their staffs live on the fourth floor, most others down on the second."
Julie nods, still glancing toward you curiously every now and then. "Interesting setup."
Clara stops in front of the proper door and taps at it lightly. "This one's yours. They're crackerboxes, but a fair sight bigger and more private than what's on shipboard." She pauses, tilting her head. "What's wrong, Julie? Second thoughts?"
Julie shakes her head quickly. "Oh, no, ma'am." Titles are going to be a hard habit to break, it seems. "I... The Admiral. You two are...?" There is no delicate way to finish that question.
Clara can't help but smile faintly as she leans against the door. "Lifemates. Something our superiors know about and approve of, don't worry. We've been exceedingly careful."
Julie nods, looking faintly relieved. "I take it they approve of the brothers, as well, else I daresay Commander Casymed wouldn't be here, neh?"
Clara chuckles, rubbing at her head and shrugging. "Now there's an accident and a half, actually. Niko was already here and Riley's assistant before I'd even noticed the similarity in their scans. Both men were slightly surprised to discover the consanguinity. But yes, that's been through all the proper paperwork, too."
Julie shakes her head, mildly amused. "This place is not what I expected, I must admit." She glances toward the door. "Semi-permanent quarters are something to be grateful for, however."
Clara half smiles kindly, gesturing at the floor and the people beyond. "The Complex is a...difficult place to work at times. In the time I've been here, I've seen more than I ever thought I would in my life. And it is life or death...I've treated most of Security for wounds, some life-threatening. We tend to kick back when we can."
Julie nods slightly. "I'd expect as much as far as Security goes." She pauses, cocking her head. "That must be rather difficult for you."
Clara tilts her head thoughtfully, then shakes it with a smile. "You'd think so, yes. But I've also made my best friends here. Saints, I met the man I'll grow old with, so I can't complain. And it's -always- interesting. Ask Riley about the time he turned green. Literally."
Julie blinks. "Green? Not with envy, I assume? Oh... that does bring up a question..."
Clara shakes her head at the question, amused, then lifts her brows. "Of course...what is it?"
Julie gestures downward. "The Admiral... as casual as y'all seem, and notwithstanding the suggestion of that... young lady in Security... I don't see myself calling him by name any time soon. What would you suggest?"
Clara laughs quietly, shaking her head. "Kathlyn's a card. A remarkable officer, but a card. Would Chief work for you? It's what I called him when I first got here. Actually, it's what I called him until we reached an understanding."
Julie ahs, nodding with a small, grateful smile. "That'll do nicely, I think. Last thing I want to do now is offend anybody."
"Just do your best, and if you don't know something, ask. That's all any of us can do-..." She blinks at her comm as it spouts information, then grins. "Well, that's my cue. We've got a baby on the way. If you'll excuse me, I'll let you get settled in."
Julie nods, turning toward the stairs, murmuring, "The /real/ uniform's in my carryall." Witha a crooked half-grin, she moves off, calling, "Gimme a yell if things get complicated, eh?"
Julie walks towards the Spiraling Stairway.