|
|
Disclaimer: Another log well over the angst and sap quota. Flee now if this is a problem.
Clara is standing behind a desk, leaned over a terminal and using the stylus to edit something rather intently. She isn't hard to pick out either, since she's the only person in sight in full dress uniform.
Corian is, oddly, singing as she comes into medbay--some song about the rain raining every day. She also seems to be singing to a lump in her coat, a lump that is revealed, when Corian moves her coat, to be a very young Sectasslet. She doesn't have the hood of that coat up, so her hair, darkened by water and plastered drowned-cat-like to her head, suggests that today is another of those rainy days.
Clara glances up from the terminal, as singing is sufficiently unusual in medbay as to get her attention, and even manages a smiling headshake. "You've got a growth there, ma'am. I think it needs removing..." She fumbles in the desk for a moment and brings out a lollipop. "These usually do the trick though."
The little boy, also known as "growth", rubs his nose with one grubby fist, brilliant green eyes intent on the lollipop. "I fell," he says seriously. Sniff. Isn't he pathetic? Poor baby, he deserves at least -two- lollipops.
Corian's brows arch a bit at the 'ma'am', but she doesn't comment, instead nodding an amused acknowledgement to the various statements made. "I told his mother I'd bring him up here--she's got her hands full with the rest of the horde."
Clara softens significantly, then starts to turn to ask a question of the nurse on duty, and is rewarded with Kramer already there with a spare labcoat, which she dons and fastens. "Bring him over to the bioscan area, Corian? I think if this little fellow's as brave as he seems, a chocolate bar might just be added to that lollipop when we're done."
That gets a decidedly pleased look from the little boy. "I'm a big boy," he asserts, despite the fact that the pose just termed him little. Corian, with a nod and a fondly amused smile for the child, moves over to the bioscan area. "With all the rain, the cobblestones in the Quarter are rather slippery," she observes. "Especially when one runs a bit too quickly."
Clara returns the pleased look from the lad with a kindly one, ruffling his wet hair gently as she moves to pull a pair of towels from a cabinet. One is offered to Corian, the other draped warmly over the child. "Now you just tell me where it hurts, sir," she urges, reaching for her belt scanner, then sheepishly plucking one off a tray. No belt.
Corian murmurs her thanks as she makes good use of her towel, drying off hands and face, and making an attempt at her hair. The little boy, tugging the towel around himself a little more, points to his left kneecap. "Right dere," he says, with a sniff that's more for show than anything else.
Clara leans down very seriously with the scanner and examines the booboo, then reaches for an antiseptic cleanser cloth out of a jar and starts to clean gently. "Quite a scrape you have here, fella. We'll have you patched up in no time, though. Were you out enjoying the rain with Ms. Treston?"
The little boy nods enthusiastically. He stagewhispers, somewhat to Corian's chagrin, "She likes to jump in puddles." So much for dignity.
Clara glances back to Cori, a light of amusement finally making it to somewhat shadowed eyes before she reaches for a resonator. "So do I," she confides to the boy back in a stagewhisper. "And playing with the ducks. Now hold real still..." she adds in a more normal tone.
Corian murmurs softly, with a quiet chuckle, "It was to entertain the children." And if she was entertained, too, well that's just good planning.
"The ducks runned away from me," the little boy says dolefully, though he obligingly holds still. "Mommy says we can bring something to feed 'em when it's sunny, though, and then they won't run."
"That's right," Clara assures, eyes carefully on her work as she seals up the minor scratches. "Especially the ducks by the lake and in the ravine just outside the Steading. There's one that will even sit in your lap if you feed him." She snaps off the resonator and straightens. "There. All better. And -I- think you were brave. Were you brave?"
The little boy takes a moment to peer at his knee before he nods. "Very brave," he agrees. "Really really a lot brave."
Corian ruffles the child's still-damp hair, murmuring her own agreement to that.
Clara can't hide a smile at that, and moves around to a drawer set in the side of the bed and pulls a chocolate bar from it to hand over along with the lollipop. "Then here you are...the rewards of bravery. But you be careful, okay? No more booboos." She grins slightly up at Corian, as if well aware how unlikely -that- is to happen.
"Thank you, doctor," the child choruses, taking the treats with a gleeful grin. "I'll be careful."
Corian's eyes hold no small amount of humor at that. "Not today, at least," she murmurs. "We cannot speak for tomorrow."
Clara chuckles softly, nodding her agreement. "Not at this age," she replies quietly, tugging the towels more firmly about the boy. "You just take these towels with you, all right? Being warm and dry after being out in the rain is always nice." And she even mostly keeps her voice pleasantly even on that last word.
At this particular moment, Ximena, mother of the Sectasslet in question, comes quickly into the room, all apologies and thanks. She gathers up her little boy, reassuring herself that he really is all right.
Corian adds her own reassurances to the child's news that he's fine, after a quick, rather puzzled glance to Clara.
Clara smiles warmly and goes about reassuring the Sectassian woman, along with high praise for the boy's behavior and promises that he's fine before backing towards the bioscan area. "I have to say this for the Sectassians...they're amazing parents," she murmurs to Corian.
Corian nods her agreement as the Sectassian pair head back to their quarters. "It is necessary that they be so," she says, with a quick smile. "Though one could wish that they had just a little fewer children."
Clara chuckles wistfully, nodding at that as she removes the lab coat and drapes it over the bed. "Most definitely. When one catches something, they all do. Medbay gets...busy at those times."
Corian nods as well, expression understanding and sympathetic all at once. "I can only imagine. It is not surprising that the more well-off families on Sectass employ family physicians." After a pause and a brief gesture towards the dress uniform, she inquires, "Did we interrupt something, though? Please forgive me, if we did."
Clara glances down at herself and shakes her head with a wan smile, brusing a bit of lint from her jacket. "No...no, not interrupting. I was just transferring over some codes. Jones can finish that up for me now, though," she adds, glancing up at the wall chrono.
Corian nods to that, albeit still with a bit of puzzlement. She glances at the chrono as well. "Of course," she says slowly, offering a smile to Jones, should he be there.
Jones glances up from his work, now wearing the labcoat and insignia of a full doctor, and returns the smile affably before resuming his work. Clara tugs at the hem of her tunic as she crosses over to log off the terminal with an air of finality, replacing the stylus to a desk drawer. "Corian, I can't begin to tell you what a pleasure it's been to meet you. I'm glad you came to Linnae."
Corian's smile is pleasant enough, though still a bit confused. "Of course, Clara. I have enjoyed our meeting as well, very much, and I am quite glad to be here." She's gotten to the point where she realizes that something is not right, though she still doesn't know quite what.
Clara glances at the wall chrono again with a faint sigh. "I have to report to my shuttle in an hour," she admits rather sadly. "I've gotten new orders. Will you keep an eye on your brother? He tends to work far too many shifts in a row sometimes."
Corian blinks several times, looking just a bit nonplussed. "New orders?" she repeats. "You're..." She pauses, then, visibly collaring her surprise and stuffing it into a box. "Of course I'll look after him," she says quietly. "He does have a tendency to overdo, yes."
Clara clears her throat, holding up a hand for a moment as she crosses over towards a few of her staff, exchanging hugs and quiet words. Returning finally, she nods slowly, somewhat distracted. "To a research facility. I'll comm Riley with my code when I get there, so give me a holler if you have any questions on that glucose condition...or just want to talk."
Corian nods slowly, expression quite serious. "I will do that, of course. And please, feel free to do the same." One would assume she means the talking part, not the glucose question part.
Clara inclines her head as well, then glances back towards her office before venturing a faint smile. "Well, I guess I should comm Riley and let him know it's time to hit the spaceport. They'll have my hide for a wall hanging if I miss the shuttle."
Corian nods slowly, returning the smile. "Of course," she says quietly. She starts for the exit, adding almost wistfully, "Do keep in touch, Clara."
Clara follows towards the exit as well. "Of course I will. And I'll be coming back when this assignment is up, too," she assures.
Corian nods thoughtfully to that. "That is good news, at least."
Corian heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
You say "Hey, sailor. It's about time...my stuff's already been sent on ahead. You ready?" into the communit.
Your communit crackles to life and says "Just been waiting for you to call, where do I meet you?" in Riley's voice.
You say "Elevator lobby? I was just doing some last minute preparations here in Medbay." into the communit.
You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Your communit crackles to life and blares "I'm on my way, love." in Riley's voice.
SECURITY> Riley heads through, quite intent on leaving and all, not looking particularly happy. Gee, any surprise?
Riley arrives from the Security Central.
SECURITY> Niko glances up in time to watch Riley's run-by, and peers after him. "O... kay," he murmurs, before turning back to his work.
Clara stops her pacing and tugs at the hem of her dress uniform jacket. "Hi there," she offers somewhat hesitantly.
Riley pads out of Security, uniform perhaps a bit more rumpled than usual, although perhaps that's only in comparison. He heads towards you offering a hand, "Hello, love. Almost time then?"
Clara reaches for your hand, tapping at the call button with the one not so occupied. "It is, yeah. I report in...forty minutes. Do you have my orders?"
You push the button.
Riley's expression lowers still, if that's possible, but he tugs out said orders from his jacket pocket, offering them as well as another document. "Orders and my formal protest."
Riley walks into the elevator.
You walk into the elevator.
Clara accepts both, swallowing heavily as she nods. "I'll deliver both to my new CO," she promises. "How you doing?"
You push the button marked 1.
The elevator glides downward and goes "ping" as it reaches floor #1.
With a ping, the doors slide smoothly open.
You leave the elevator.
Riley starts to make an answer to that, although he cuts off his words as the crowded Atrium now has to be managed. He weaves his way through the crowd, headed towards the Spaceport.
Riley heads towards the Spaceport.
You head towards the Spaceport.
Riley at last reaches a clear spot, near the embarking platform. Not even bothering to speak for a moment he just moves to sweep you into an embrace.
Clara follows along carefully, weaving through the people before pausing at a display. "The Ellis Arnold..." she murmurs with a final resigned sigh. "It's on schedule, as always." Moving on after you to the clear spot, she returns the embrace firmly, heedless of the passerbys or uniforms.
"I can't believe I'm wishing a shuttle would be late, or stuck or anything, this has to be a first." Riley's still got hold of his composure, but only by a thread. "Clara... Be careful, please? I need you to come back..."
Clara laces her fingers through yours, peering up solemnly and nodding. "I will, love. I swear to you. You have to be careful too, though. Please? Take -care- of yourself. Which means no more exploding pudding," she adds with rueful amusement.
Riley squeezes you all the closer, tucking his head over your shoulder a moment and just holding on. "No more exploding pudding, check. I have to be here for when you come back. So everything can be right again."
"And it will be," Clara assures somewhat raggedly, not letting go for a moment, as if trying to make up for all the time to be lost. "That means you have to eat, too," she adds with gentle admonishment, then hides her face at your chest. "I do love you..." The words are muffled, not pitched to carry beyond you.
"And I love you, a'trezla." Riley murmurs quietly to you, one hand rubbing gentle circles on your back. "More than anything that has ever been or ever will be. I will be here, waiting for you. Till the end of time if I need to."
"Not till the end of time," is Clara's rather broken reply, one or two passerbys giving the pair a faintly odd look before hurrying on in discomfiture. "Just three years, not that long. I could never make you wait that long."
"It will be forever without you," Riley murmurs very softly, his reply halting as he tries not to lose it and make this any harder on you. "I will be here. Waiting. Loving you."
Clara falls silent for several moments, only rather strangled breathing audible as she continues to press her face into your jacket, likely dampening it thoroughly. "There's a datacrystal in your office," she murmurs finally. "On the shelf by your chocolate stash. It's for you."
Riley pauses a long moment, trying to find words, and once found trying to manage to voice them. "A datacrystal?"
Clara pulls away just enough to look up at you and nod, one hand making its way to your hair unconsciously. "You can view it once the Ellis Arnold's made its first jump. Just...well. You'll see," she explains with an adoring smile. "I don't want you forgetting me."
Riley shakes his head emphatically, drawing another ragged breath. "Forget you my love? Forget the woman who holds my heart? It is not a possibility. I will be here, and you will return. Faith is."
"Faith is," Clara responds in a small voice, seeming to understand perfectly before pulling your head down for a kiss, the blaring speaker overhead announcing that all personnel reporting to the Ellis Arnold have five minutes to report to shuttle bay eight.
Riley returns the kiss, seemingly with the intent of making sure you remember him in return. The announcement causes him to wince heavily, pulling you closer in his arms as he breaks off the kiss. "I... I find myself wanting to beg you not to go. As if that would help, as if by begging I could somehow alter this. As if you had any control over leaving me... Be well please, call me when you arrive?" Composure is shakier and shakier, tears trailing their way down his face.
"If they had given me the choice, I would stay here in your arms until the planet stops rotating," Clara promises, equally lost in composure as she clings to you. "I will call, a'trez. And you take care of yourself, too, hear?" She pulls back slightly, whispering up, "I love you, Greg..."
The pained looks increases as you pull away, although Riley does not attempt to reclaim you, realizing the lack of time. "I love you too, Clara. Coab minshak'a, necessity exists. All will be well in time."
Clara lifts a hand to your hair a final time, letting it trail down your face as she reaches up in one last kiss before backing away fully. "Soon," she agrees. "Soon." And then, before she can change her mind, she turns and heads for the ramp, pausing at the doorway into the shuttle and touching her fingers to her brow in a faint salute that ends up in her blowing a kiss and mouthing one last endearment before the bay doors close. A faint rumbling is heard a few moments later as the shuttle lifts off, then is gone.