Mission Impossible! (Dum. Dum dum dum dum. Dum dum dum... everybody hum!)
9-22-99
Greer> You head towards the Security Central.
Greer> Security Central
Greer> Contents:
Greer> Niko
Greer> Tally Board
Greer> Obvious exits:
Greer> Chief's Office Brig Elevator Lounge
Greer> Niko is, unsurprisingly enough considering his location, working. It's apparently a good time, though, as the comm headset is worn about his neck, rather than in the position one would generally find it when someone is talking at him. He's working on paperwork, though, probably the amazing RY-47s.
Greer> Greer is... in less than best condition? Sporting a shiner and with ripped clothes, she's blubbering very slightly, as she's manfully (girlfully?) swallowing the tears, though her eyes are bright. She ducks right around the reception desk and heads toward Niko, reaching out to tug at his sleeve. "Uncle Niko? I mean, Mister Niko?"
Greer> Niko turns at the childish voice, and then blinks quite a lot. "What happened to you, kiddo?" he inquires, voice decidedly concerned as he starts to rummage for a handkerchief or something. "Are you all right?"
Greer> Greer points back out the door, sounding quite indignant. "Damien -hit- me. He had to get his cronies to hold me down, though," she snorts, then adds with a touch of pride, "He was gonna push Tommy down the stairs, cause Tommy wouldn't give him his giros, but I stopped 'em!" The girl shakes her head slightly, holding up her other hand gingerly. "Wrist hurts." It's starting to swell a little too.
Greer> "Damian who?" is Niko's prompt reply. See, if he knows who, then he can go loom and generally be evil to the kid, or at least inform him that this sort of behavior is just not acceptable. "And stopping the folks from picking on Tommy was a good thing, but telling me that this is happening was a -better- thing. Maybe we should go see if Doctor Clara's in, though, hm? So she can look at your wrist and make sure it's okay."
Greer> Greer pauses, thinking hard. "Damian Perces-Mendez," she pronounces carefully, and gestures slightly with the uninjured hand. "His dad works in the Complex." That's one way of putting it- Charles Perces-Mendez is the most recent installment on the Grenill diplomatic team. Greer beams, taking that as approval. "I -would- have come got you before," yeah, right- Greer's of that child mindset of invincibility, "But there wasn't any time, really." Oooh, Doctor Clara. That makes the kidlet perk up. "You suppose she's still got ice cream?"
Greer> Niko murmurs something to Tim, who nods. Niko then gets to his feet and offers a hand. (And it's such that it doesn't involve any use of the injured hand.) "I wouldn't be at all surprised if she did," he replies, with a grin. "And what's Tommy's last name?"
Greer> Greer beams, albeit it's a watery smile, as she takes Niko's hand. "Tommy? Oh... Arcadian. Thomas Daryl-Daryl Arcadian. Junior. Why?" Another diplomat's kid. "You think we can get her to let you have ice cream too? Even if you're not broken?"
Greer> "So we can make sure he's okay," Niko reassures. "Matter of fact, I think I know Tommy. He's got dark hair and lots of freckles, yes? Or am I thinking of somebody else." Kaycen is sitting closer to the door, and he holds up a hand to get the pair to pause, rummaging in a desk drawer for a chocolate bar, which he offers to Greer with a brief smile. Yes, he's definitely the strong, silent type.
Greer> Greer nods a confirmation, mouth forming an O of surprise. "That's him! How'd you know that? Do you keep track of -everybody-?" She pauses, the chocolate instinct perking up, and she beams cutely at Kaycen. She glances back and forth between the hand Niko's holding, and her wounded one. Temptations, temptations. After a few seconds, she reaches with her free hand for the candy. "Thank you! What's your name?"
Greer> Niko shakes his head, with a quirked grin. "Not everybody. But I ran into Tommy's father the other day, and Tommy was with him. We had rather a nice chat."
"Kaycen," that person replies. There's another brief smile, and a nod towards the chocolate. "Just in case Doctor Aleron doesn't have ice cream--though I'll bet she will."
Greer> Greer nods absently, unwrapping the chocolate one-handed and suppressing a wince. The first bite produces a look of bliss, however. "Tommy's real nice. He's just kinda small. Everybody picks on him. Not me though," she adds hastily. "He needs to learn how to fight." She casts a quick grin over at Kaycen. "That's a nice name! Kaycccccccen. Sounds like a snake talking." This is a good thing, in her eyes. "I bet she will too! Doctor Clara's -always- preprepared. Well, most of the time anyway," she decides, blushing a little.
Greer> Niko catches that wince, and starts towards the door. "Come on, kiddo. Let's go see Doctor Clara. We can talk with Kayce later."
Kaycen actually manages an honest-to-goodness grin, for that. "A snake, eh? You're not the first one to say that. But go on with Niko, hm? He'll take care of you."
Greer> Greer nods, skipping along beside Niko. "Seeing Doctor Clara's a good thing," she notes solemnly, then looks back over her shoulder with a grin, and carefully waves. "Of course he will. He's a knight! Thank you, Kaycen! Bye bye!"
Greer> Niko chuckles very quietly as he starts for the exit, casting a brief look of amusement towards Kaycen over Greer's head, and murmuring something about snakes. "Knight without armor, yup," he agrees amiably. "That's me."
Greer> Niko heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Greer> Niko has left.
Greer> You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Greer> Niko heads towards the Medical Bay.
Greer> Niko has left.
Greer> You head towards the Medical Bay.
Greer> Medical Bay
Greer> Clara is standing behind Kramer as he types away at a terminal, the medico pair discussing something that's half Latin and entirely frightening sounding. She glances up over his shoulder and starts to grin before the sound comes out in a decided ack. "What happened?" she wants to know, straightening and coming out from around a rather sympathetic looking Kramer.
Greer> "Greer's had a bit of an adventure," Niko replies, offering the child a brief smile. "Sticking up for a friend, in fact. Her wrist, Clara..." Though, hey, it doesn't seem to be impeding the munching of chocolate -too- much.
Greer> Greer blushes, reaching out slightly with the wounded hand, which still holds a square of chocolate. Amazing stuff, that chocolate is. "I'm sorry, Doctor Clara. But I did tell! Mister Niko's gonna take care of -everything-."
Greer> "Oh, saints add preservatives. Greer, darling, fighting really isn't the answer," Clara chides gently, coming over to attempt to scoop the girl up and heft her onto a biobed. "But I do have to say, sticking up for people is laudable. Mister Niko is, hmm?" she asks, unhitching her scanner and clicking it on while giving said armorless knight an amused grin.
Greer> Niko nods firmly to Greer's words. "And telling is a -good- thing, so I can try and see that this sort of thing doesn't happen again." He in fact nods once more to Clara. Yup, he's most -definitely- going to take care of this. "Kids ganging up on each other, you bet I am, Clara. You know some of these diplomats' kids, think they can get away with anything."
Greer> Greer's blush deepens as she wiggles around on the biobed. "I -am- sorry." She sounds so distressed. "And I didn't do the fighting. Damian did. I just told him to stop picking on Tommy. He didn't like that." She grins weakly over at Niko. "I knew it. Doctor Clara said telling you'd be a good thing."
Greer> Clara wrinkles her nose slightly as she nods in full agreement with Niko, eyes on the scanner as she holds Greer's hand with one of hers, the other running the scanner over that arm. "They do indeed, at times, and it's a shame." She pauses to blink at Greer. "He hit you first? He hit a girl?"
Greer> Niko's brows shoot way up at Greer's words. "Has something like this happened before?" he inquires of Greer, shooting Clara a bit of a look as if to ask the doctor if she knew about that happening. His lips thin a bit as he says, "Greer said he had some other kids hold her down, too." Yes, he's definitely annoyed about his, and he's definitely going to have words with this particular child. "And people shouldn't be hitting anybody," he adds, with a murmur about trying to break free of the gender biases of his upbringing.
Greer> Greer shrugs, watching with fascination as Clara works. "He hit me first, yes. What's the difference if I'm a girl or a boy?" She glances up, adding proudly, "I think I busted his nose though. It was bleeding. That was before they all ganged up on me." To Niko's question, she shakes her head. "We just talked about it. Just in case."
Greer> Clara glances up at Niko at the murmur of gender biases with a somewhat sheepish smile. Looks like someone else was raised with the same biases, despite her own training and occupation. "No violence so far, just normal bullying. I just found out myself late last night," she explains to im then sighs and shakes her head. "His nose?" No, she won't say that's good, completely against her nature. But she does say, "Self defense is certainly a valuable thing. I think I may have a chat with Damien's parents," she adds thoughtfully, reaching for the resonator to buzz over the wrist. "Now hold still, dear, it's a sprain. Not too bad, but we need to resonate it up."
Greer> "Some people--like my parents--think it's wrong for a boy to hit a girl,"
Niko replies amiably. "Worst trouble I ever got in when I was a little kid. Supposedly girls are weaker than boys, so it's not fair. But I'd like to see them tell that to Lieutenant Mayes, when she's better at that sort of thing than most of Security, even though she's also smaller than most of Security." He can't help but grin approvingly at the mention of the bleeding nose, though he doesn't verbalize said approval. That would be wrong. "I've got dibs on talking to the parents, though, Clara," he adds, with a brief grin."
Greer> Greer grins- she can't help it. Both the doctor -and- Niko talking to Damian... Bwa. Ha. Ha. Ha. "Oh... that's why it's hurting? Ooooh, what's resonating do?" Niko gets a dubious look. "Well, I'm glad I'm a girl then. I think."
Greer> "Can't hurt to have a fully uniformed CMO just for moral support then? Unless you'd rather handle it," Clara allows graciously. Yes, she'll let Niko do the talking and just...loom? Well, not quite. "Niko's right though, girls are just as tough as boys, but it -still- was very wrong of him to hit you. And yes, that's why it hurts. The resonator will relax the muscle and reduce the swelling so that the pain will stop and it can go back to normal. Now, do you want to keep the black eye and let it go away normal, or would you like me to fix that too?"
Greer> Niko shakes his head to Greer. "I don't think anybody should hit -anybody-, really. I mean, it's self-defense, really. Say I didn't know Lietenant Mayes, and for some reason tried to hit her. She could just wrap me into a pretzel if she wanted. Appearances are deceiving." He ponders, then, apparently having forgotten just how much Tara... er, likes Kathlyn, suggests, "Bet she could show you a few self-defense tricks for taking on someone bigger than yourself, though it doesn't really sound like you need it." Clara gets a brief grin, and a shake of his head. "Nah, I can handle it. It's fine. Thanks for the offer, though."
Greer> Greer listens carefully, almost forgetting the pain in her wrist in her fascination. "Oh wow... how long's it take?" She blinks. "I have a black eye? Oh, you -have- to fix that! I don't want Mama worrying!" She cocks her head to look up at Niko, and nods with a grin. "Mama showed me some, but a -SecOff-... she'd -really- know the best ways to, uh, defend m'self." Somewhere, a shudder runs through Tara, and she gets up to check the thermostat.
Greer> Tara sees dead people?
Greer> "Suit yourself," Clara agrees amiably. "Holler if I can help at all though," she offers, not really put out at all. "I get the better job of taking care of this little one here. Now, was anyone else hurt, dear?" she wants to know, evidently not meaning Damien. "And no worries, I'll fix your eye, of course. Good as new," she adds, switching to a different instrument to bring to the girl's face. "Just hold real still now. Lessons with Kathlyn would likely be a great idea, actually. To be honest, the lady just needs to steal a bunch of us for a full class."
Greer> And, as Kathlyn's not particularly a small-child fan, she's likely going to be just as thrilled by the arrangement as Tara. Niko is pleasantly oblivious to that, instead nodding to Greer. "I'll ask her about it when she comes on duty this afternoon, then." Clara gets a brief grin, and a nod, though he stagewhispers, "But she probably wouldn't want to show -us- her secrets. We're bigger than she is." He does wait for Greer's answer to the question, adding on his own, "What about Tommy?"
Greer> Greer shrugs. "Tommy's okay- they let him go. I think his shirt was ripped, but he ain't hurt. I scratched one of 'em though." She beams up at Niko quickly before turning her head to try and look at the instrument Clara's using now, and pops that last piece of chocolate into her mouth. "That'd be -neat-! I might as well start learning all that stuff now anyhow." A giggle escapes her at the stagewhisper.
Greer> "Well, that's a goodness at least. And he can always get another shirt," Clara decides, focused on slowly eradicating the bruising over Greer's eye. "And self defense is always a good thing to know, even the drops and rolls, right?" she adds to Niko with a flash of grin.
Greer> Niko nods amiably at Greer's words, then grins at her. "The more you learn now, the less you have to learn later, eh?" Clara's words get a decidedly innocent look. "Hey, I can't help it Kayce broke his wrist showing me that stuff. I've got it, now, at least. Well, mostly."
Greer> Greer nods agreeably with Clara, turning to peer at Niko, in curiosity for the doctor's grin. Her eyes widen. "Kayce? Kaycen? Poor Kaycen broke his wrist?"
Greer> Clara makes a quiet acking noise as Greer turns her head. "Please dear, don't move," she requests, settling a finger on the girl's chin to hold her head steady while she works. "And I know it wasn't your fault Niko. Kaycen's fine now anyway, poor man. I don't know how he stays sane working with you loonies on a daily basis," she teases.
Greer> Niko nods promptly to Greer. "Poor Kaycen indeed. He did. But like Clara said, he's fine now. And he's as loony as the rest of us," he adds to Clara, with a grin. "He just hides it better."
Greer> Greer blushes, giving Clara an apologetic look, but her eyes widen further. "-You- broke Kaycen's wrist, Mister Niko? He must've been -very- naughty." She snorts softly. "Kaycen's not loony," she denies.
Greer> "Niko didn't break Kaycen, dear," Clara assures, finally snapping off the resonator and setting it to one side. "It was just an accident." Niko only breaks himself? "Suuuure, he does," she adds to Niko with a grin, dusting off her hands unnecessarily. "Okay, we have one put back together kidlet, and one very brave knight to venture into my lair to bring her here. I suppose you both deserve rewards, hmm?"
Greer> Niko gestures Greer's attention to Clara. "It was an accident," he echoes. "And since Kayce is such a nice guy, he didn't hold a grudge. And you can ask him if you want, Greer. I'm pretty sure he'll tell you that he's loony, too. It's a requirement, for working here." At Clara's words, he chuckles quietly. "I don't need a reward, but I think that Greer could do with some ice cream."
Greer> Greer arches a dubious eyebrow, though she sighs in relief. "Oh... you'd never break Kaycen on purpose, would you." It's more statement than question. "And I -will- ask him, too!" This is immediately followed by "Uh uh! Mister Niko -deserves- a reward too." Then she tilts her head, grinning at the thought of ice cream but a bit puzzled. "Reward for fighting?"
Greer> "Nnnoooo," Clara drawls, chuckling as she attempts to help Greer down from the bioscan unit. "Not for fighting. A reward for being so brave while I patched you up," she explains, then quirks a grin at Niko. "You're telling me you're passing up strawberry ice cream? I'm out of chocolate," she admits to Greer apologetically.
Greer> Niko nods firmly to Greer. "I'd not break Kaycen on purpose, no. He's a very good man, and a good friend." Clara's words get a long moment of consideration, and then he shakes his head, with an apologetic little smile. "I should get back to work, actually. Butch is going to have more RY-47s soon, and I've got to clear out the other stuff."
Greer> Greer ohs! Grinning at Clara for the help, she lights on the floor, flexing her wrist experimentally. "It feels -lots- better." She does not seem dismayed at the flavor switch. "Strawberry's good!" she beams. "Can I take some to Mama too? It's her favorite." Her nose wrinkles in a wee bit of disappointment, but she looks up at Niko with adoring eyes, and reaches out, obviously wanting a hug. "-Thank- you."
Greer> "Work, work, work," Clara agrees sympathetically, giving a glance back at her own office with a faint sigh. "I've got a stack of reports to finish and diagnoses to dictate myself before I can skedaddle for the day. Don't forget to grab some lunch, okay?" she suggests, then grins down at Greer. "I think we can arrange that, yes. You just have to make sure it gets into the freezer until she gets home, okay?"
Greer> How is Niko going to say no to a look like that? With a grin, he scoops Greer up for a tight hug. "You are very welcome, m'lady," he replies, as he puts the kidlet on her feet. "And I'll let you know what Kathlyn says." He flashes a grin at Clara as he starts back for the exit. "Work, work, work," he echoes. "That's all anybody ever does here, oh, the horror."
Greer> Niko heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Greer> Niko has left.
Greer> Greer giggles, watching him go. "He's nice," she pronounces firmly, "Even if he isn't cute." The girl looks up with a hesitant grin. "Okay..." She glances around, scuffling a toe sheepishly. "You got work to do? Mama said not to bother you when you're busy..."
Greer> "Niko is very nice indeed," Clara agrees with a bright smile that turns into a splutter of laughter as Kramer points out, "Nope, she's not busy. You're not busy doc. Go eat ice cream," he points out. "Actually, go eat lunch, then eat ice cream. You're off duty until then."
Clara wrinkles her nose at the man, but doesn't argue. He actually can do this to her. "Fine, fine, fine. Greer, how'd you like to join me for lunch?"
Greer> Greer giggles at Kramer, then nods, giving a little cursey. "I'd like that! You like cheeseburgers, Doctor Clara?"
Greer> curtsey, even, no swearing from the kidlet
Greer> >>OOC: Clara chokesnickers. Watch Clara have an apoplexy at hearing Greer swear like a sailor... ;)
Greer> >>OOC: Greer laughs!
Greer> "I do indeed," Clara agrees with a broad grin. "In fact, I know where they make the best burgers in the whole Steading. You up for a walk, kiddo? Or do we need to get you back to school this afternoon?"
Greer> Greer shakes her head, trying to reach for Clara's hand. "I like walks. Everybody needs exercise. And they got a teacher work day today. That's why we were all inside and they caught Tommy on the stairs." Her expression turns to one of disgust for evil Damian's actions of the day.
Greer> "Hush now, there's not a thing you can do about it right now, and I've found on days you can't do anything about your problems, you simply set them aside and focus on what's good about -now-," Clara suggests with a grin, leading the way towards the stairs. "And -now- we're going to focus on a'hunting the best cheesburger in the Steading."
Greer> Greer tilts her head thoughtfully, then nods with a grin, happily skipping along. "Okie dokie." She repeats the bit of wisdom to herself twice in a mumble. "And fries? Waffle fries? Or, oooh! -Curly- fries?"
Greer> "I'll bet they have both," Clara guesses with an eyebrow waggle and a grin. "We can always ask, of course. I know they have waffle fries at least, since that's what I always get."
Greer> Clara heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Greer> Clara has left.
Greer> You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
***** Travel spam deleted *****
Greer> You move towards the Fruvous Bar and Grill.
Greer> Fruvous Bar and Grill
Greer> Contents:
Greer> Clara
Greer> Target
Greer> Obvious exits:
Greer> Java Quarter
Greer> Yes, I know, she's bringing the child to a bar. The good thing is, most places like this are perfectly innocent restaurants by day. She leads the way to one of the tables and taps at it with a grin. "How's this?"
Greer> Clara did that, of course.
Greer> Greer plops herself down in a chair at the table with a grin, letting her feet swing in her excitement. "The table? It's a good one. You can see the band from here, at night."
Greer> "You've been in here at -night-?" Clara exclaims, obviously surprised, even though she knows the child's background. "Who brought you here at night?" she wants to know, tugging the menus from the small holder and offering one over before flipping open her own.
Greer> Greer nods blithely, then blushes. "Uh, brought me?" She buries her nose in the menu.
Greer> "Yes, brought you," Clara enunciates, now amused as she shakes her head lightly. "Well, there are worse places you could sneak into, certainly. I'm sure the staff here probably keeps an eye on you, don't they?" she wonders, then grins as a waiter makes his way over.
Greer> Greer peeks over the top of the menu with a grin, and nods, and sets the menu down. She knows what she wants. "Yep! Harry and Maddie and Jian and Samantha and Piotr and Ned all talk to me, and they buy me soda and cheese sticks."
Greer> "Half-pound cheesburger, mild cheddar, medium well, hold the onions and add mustard. Waffle fries and a cola," Clara orders easily after giving the menu only a cursory glance and tucking it back into it's niche. "All of them, hmm? I only know a couple of them," she admits.
Greer> Greer nods approvingly at the mention of no onions, and grins up at the waiter. "I'll have what she's having, 'cept I like my cheeseburger rare please? And make sure it's a blue can, not red?" She nods affirmation to Clara. "Well, that's not all of 'em. But most. Have you ever seen the kitchen here? It's -neat-. And so big!"
Greer> The waiter nods, jotting down the various orders and pauses to grin. "Two half-pounders with cheddar, one rare, one medium well. Waffle fries on both, one red can soda, one blue can," he repeats, and gets a nod and grin from Clara before he heads off to turn the order in. "I saw the kitchen here once...oh, maybe ten years ago? Yeah, I was still and undergrad student, so it had to be."
Greer> Greer blinks. Twice. Then she leans forward, peering curiously at you. "I thought you just got here a few years ago. Ten years? That's before I was even born!"
Greer> "I came back," Clara explains with a grin, tugging off her jacket and settling it over the back of the chair before leaning back. "I grew up on Earth, then came here to Linnae when I was seventeen to go to the Academy."
Greer> Greer's expression fills with comprehension. "Ohhhhh! What was that like? Mama won't tell me about when she was in the Academy. I thought you had to be eighteen to go to the Academy."
Greer> "They let me in at seventeen," Clara replies with a shrug that turns to a murmur of thanks as the waiter returns with the sodas and hurries off again. "Riley joined the service at sixteen. I guess it just depends on where you're from, really, or when you graduate high school." She tilts her head to think, then smiles. "The Academy was one of the hardest things I've ever done, and also one of the most fun. It was really hard at first, but not near as hard later."
Greer> "But that was on Kashid that he joined, wasn't it?" Greer inquires, reaching eagerly for her soda. "It wasn't AF, right? How come it got better?" SHe acquires a curious, surprised look. "The Academy is fun?"
Greer> Clara's brows lift at the questions as she reaches for her own soda as well, taking a careful sip before nodding slightly. Yes, hers is the soda of the Gods. "That's right...but how did you know all that, impling?" she wonders with a wry grin. "And it got a lot better. When I first got there, I was a spoiled brat, really. I couldn't do my own laundry, I didn't know how to follow orders or anything. I had to learn."
Greer> Greer gestures back toward the Complex, sipping noisily through her straw. "Mama told me. She knows all 'bout Riley." She draws back a little, giving you a dubious look. "-You-? Were a brat? C'moooon..."
Greer> "Hmm. Well, I suppose I can see that," Clara allows thoughtfully. After a moment of quiet, she shakes her head and laughs. "Me? Oh, yes. They used to call me Ice Princess. I used to pull horrible pranks on the nuns that were teachers at my high school. I found out -quick- that that didn't fly at the Academy, with either my fellow cadets, the sergeants, -and- the cadre."
Greer> Greer grins wickedly. "What kind of pranks? What's a nun? Cadre?" All sorts of new words to learn! "So you turned nice cause of the Academy?"
Greer> "Ah, ah, ah!" Clara replies with a headshake and a waggle of one finger as the waiter delivers the food, then sweeps off again. "I'm not telling you a single prank, or your mother will have my head," she exclaims, reaching for a fry to munch. "A nun, though, is a woman who's devoted her life to some sort of religion, and cadre is a group of officers that is in charge. Like Riley, Niko, and I? We'd be the Complex's cadre."
Greer> Greer giggles. "You're probably..." She pauses to set in happily on the food. "Probably right. Ohhhh. So you got -everybody- mad?"
Greer> "Just about, yup," Clara responds, working at slicing her burger in two before starting in on it. "Lots of pushups, lots of cleaning the latrine, some late night wakeups. That first year at the Academy was about awful. And then I realized that the rules applied to me too, and it started to be -fun-. All the teamwork, figuring out new challenges, learning new things."
Greer> Greer wrinkles her nose. "Cleaning latrines? Eeewww! Teamwork?" Now that's got her to thinking. "Challenges, and learning, that stuff I know is fun. Teamwork's important at the Academy?" She reaches for a waffle fry, slipping it beneath the top bun on her burger as she continues eating.
Greer> "Eeew is right, but I sure learned that I could do it just like anyone else," Clara explains with a grin, munching away amiably. "Teamwork is -vital- to the entire military. Not a single one of us can forget that we work with others, and that alone we can't do anything. But together, using all our strength, we're unbeatable."
Greer> Greer frowns slightly, mulling over that in her mind. "That can't be right. I do all sorts of stuff on my own. You do too." She flexes her wrist by way of demonstration, saying, "You fixed me all by yourself." The girl waves a waffle fry in the direction she thinks the Academy is. (She's about 60 degrees off.) "Why didn't you just tell 'em you didn't want to clean latrines? What would happen then?"
Greer> "I did today, sure, but that's just part of my job here," Clara explains amidst bites. "The big job is making sure everything goes smoothly here at the Complex...and it takes lots and lots of people to do that, and we have to work together carefully." The latter question gets a faint grin. "If I'd said that, they'd have kicked me out of the Academy after a while."
Greer> Greer nods slowly, absently chewing. "The Complex -is- big. AF's even bigger, lots bigger, isn't it? I can't find numbers on how many people are in the AF. Oh! Well, that would've been a bad thing. Better to go ahead and clean the latrines, I guess." Not that that notion particularly pleases her.
Greer> "Very big. And there's a team that works to run the Academy, and there's the combat teams that keep our borders safe. And that's the whole goal," Clara adds, gesturing with a waffle fry. "To keep the Alliance safe and protected. Each of us has a job to do, but with a higher goal in mind. Someday I'll let you read some of the oaths I've had to take. They explain it really well."
Greer> Greer blinks, then nods. "I'd like to read those, I think. It's... easier to understand, that way. Safe and protected. Everybody's gotta help with those, don't they? Even people not in the AF?"
Greer> "That's what I think, certainly," Clara agrees with a grin, polishing off the last of her burger and going to work on the last of the fries more slowly. "But then that's a very big part of my life, the loyalty to the Alliance. Some people don't think that safety and law-abiding is all that important, though."
Greer> Greer pauses, shifting uncomfortably on her seat for a moment. "So... did you see Corian and Tarrant today? Did they get all cleaned up?"
Greer> Clara is quiet for a moment, then reaches over to pat your arm. "Sweetheart, just because I believe that way, I understand everyone has different beliefs. That's one of the wonderful things about the Alliance, freedom to believe as you wish," she assures. "And I haven't seen the Czolgoszes today, no. I certainly -hope- they slept in and were lazy, though. They sure looked like they deserved it."
Greer> Greer smiles weakly, nodding, though she is quick to note, "-I- think you're right." She nods a lot in agreement about the hopefully ex-slimy couple, and giggles. "They looked like somebody played a prank on -them-."
Greer> Clara is quiet for a moment more, merely regarding Greer curiously, then finally grins and nods. "Didn't they? I'm dying to find out what or who Scruffy is though, and why it got left behind. Poor Tarrant looked like he needed a teddy bear or...that's it!" she exclaims suddenly. "Greer, when we're done eating, would you like to go to the toy store with me?"
Greer> Greer nods with a grin. "I'm just -dying- of curiosity. I knew a Scruffy once. He was a dog. The name fit." She perks up. "Toy store! I -love- going to the toy store!"
Greer> "Well, I'm sure they'll tell you what they can," Clara hedges slightly, not committing the pair to anything lest the hunt her down and toss all the scary grimy clothing at her. "Scruffy does fit for a dog, though, maybe that's what they found? It'd be hard to bring a dog on a ship, I suppose." The response is met with an unsurprised grin. Ask a child if they want to go to the toy store, and get a similar response to asking a televangelist if they'd like some money. "Sounds good, then. We'll go raid and see what we can find."
Greer> Greer grins. "Not if the dogs shiptrained, it's not hard. You need to make Mama tell you about Fifi sometime." She nods with a more than enthusiastic grin. "And we can get into a foam war with the counter people! You gotta be on my side," she adds.
Greer> "Shiptrained? Oh, I suppose you could train a dog for that, yeah. I've only heard of cats on ships, but that doesn't mean dogs aren't too," Clara admits with a grin. "Foam?" The idea meets with sudden worry. "Um, you do mean like the foam disc guns? Not...like shaving foam?" Or silly string, in Riley's case. Poor Riley.
Greer> Greer's eyes light up. "Shaving foam! Oooooh! I hadn't thought of that, but that'd be -fun-!"
Greer> "Nononono!" Clara objects rapidly with a laugh, draining the last of her soda. "No shaving foam! Laundry would literally come up to my apartment and blast me into next week. We'll stick to foam discs."
Greer> Greer giggles madly. "Okay! I'm -really- good with the foam disc guns! Mister Niko got me one, did you know that? It was soooooo nice of him! Someday I gotta show him just how good I am with it." Is that ominous music coming from somewhere?
Greer> "Are you now? As a matter of fact, I have one too," Clara notes innocently, trying not to snicker as she tugs her ident out of her pocket and hands it to the waiter. "And it was very nice of him indeed, but then he's a nice guy. And cute," Clara notes emphatically, obviously teasing.
Greer> Greer grins. She's feeling quite happy and content, here having lunch with one of her idols. Clara's last comment, though, makes her roll her eyes and double over giggling. "No he's not!" she... defends?... Niko stoutly. "Specially not with that beard!"
Greer> "Mm-hmm. If you say so," Clara allows with a smirk, evidently not agreeing, or just being really obnoxious. Yes, she's evil. She climbs to her feet, tucking her ident away after it's returned, and offers a hand. "C'mon, kiddo. Let's go raid the toy store."
Greer> Greer pops to her feet, happily sliding her hand into Clara's. "Like pirates? Avast, ye toy maties! Prepare to be boarded!" Which inspires another round of giggles.
Greer> "Ack, no, not the pirates!" Clara gasps in her best helpless maiden voice, heading towards the door. "Whatever shall I do? Oh, alas, I am forlorn!"
Greer> Clara walks towards the Java Quarter.
Greer> Clara has left.
Greer> You move towards the Java Quarter.
Greer> Clara walks towards the Shop.
Greer> Clara has left.
Greer> You move towards the Shop.
Greer> Shop
Greer> Of a good size, with quite a few twisting aisles, the toy shop is crammed with fun and festive distractions. The storekeepers seem to believe that people are more likely to buy the toys if they're able to play with them first, as just about every toy in the store has a demonstration model. Though there are some high-tech toys, this particular store seems to specialize in the older toys, as the name may suggest. There are toys of just about every imaginable variety, though the windup toys are prominent. Particularly, there are several sets of headset walkie-talkies that may be used, and small guns that shoot little foam disks. The shopkeepers enjoy shooting customers with these disks.
Try 'roomhelp' for available help.
Greer> Contents:
Greer> Clara
Greer> Obvious exits:
Greer> Java Quarter
Greer> Greer is still giggling as the bell on the door rings as it shuts behind the doctor and the kidlet. She ducks automatically, the clerks grinning in recognition as they fire in her direction. She still gets hit, but laughs, diving for a spare foam disk gun.
Greer> Clara darts in the opposite direction, known to the clerks as well as they supply Medbay with its neverending supply of silly string, and heads towards the stuffed animals. "Heeeeeere, something that looks like it should be called Scruffy," she calls cheerfully.
Greer> Greer laughs and, ducking behind a stack of furry, oddly-chittering stuffed animals, fires back at the clerks before diving after Clara, finding safety behind the toy racks. "Are we looking for a dog? You said something about a teddy..."
Greer> Clara ducks out from behind a stack of puzzle boxes and aims her forefinger at one of the clerks. "Bang!" she declares, then blows across the tip of her finger and saunters back towards the stuffed animals as the clerk feigns a gory death. "A teddy, or something stuffed and happy. Maybe one for each of them? Or should they have to share?"
Greer> Greer giggles happily, definitely skipping and bouncing as she moves to follow Clara. "Oh! What about a girl teddy for Corian, and a boy teddy for Tarrant? Or something like that?"
Greer> Somewhere in the back of the toy store, Kathlyn perks up. Folks are buying teddies for Corian? Woowoo. Of course, then Kathlyn leaves, as she's actually on duty.
Greer> "The really soft, squishy kind that're really soft, too," Clara agrees brightly. She's only here buying gifts for friends. Never mind the bunny down the isle that is calling to her. "Oooh, look!" she exclaims, stooping down by a stuffed giraffe and running a hand down the polka-dotted neck. "Now what would a fellow like this be named, I wonder?"
Greer> Greer nods with a bright grin, then her eyes widen. "Is that a Scruffy? Or do you want that for -you-?" she giggles.
Greer> Clara attempts to crane her neck, giraffe-like, and ends up looking incredibly silly. "Naaah, not for me, I guess. I'm just not a giraffe person, although he is a neat fellow. George...his name is George." Watch out for that tree! "But it's not Scruffy, no," she agrees, and continues looking.
Greer> A voice from the peanut gallery calls, "But giraffes are cool!"
Greer> Greer nods her agreement. "He's a very nice George." She tips her head back, letting her gaze sweep the stuffed animals, then points, at a platypus. "What about that one?"
Greer> "That...do you know what that is?" Clara wonders, a broad grin crossing her face as she drops to a crosslegged seat by the creature and scoops it up to waggle the bill at Greer.
Greer> Greer giggles, and shakes her head. "All I know is, it looks funny. It's... loony? And Tarrant's looney. They'd go together." She glances back at the rack, and hmmms. "For Corian, we need something... graceful. Like a swan or something."
Greer> "This is a duckbilled platypus, native to Australia on Earth. It has a bill, a beaver's tail, webbed feet, and it lays eggs. Perhaps the oddest creature Terra's ever created," she muses, grinning at the creature. "It's not scruffy, but...it is fun, isn't it?"
Greer> Clara said that, yup.
Greer> Greer cocks her head. "I think its parents were -very- confused," she grins, then nods fervently. "If that's not what you want to get for Tarrant, I'm gonna ask Mama to get it for me. It's -cute-."
Greer> "This may well just be what Tarrant needs, actually," Clara considers for a moment, giving the platypus a thoughtful look. "But...ooooh!" What does -this- button do? Er, no, actually, her attention is just distracted as she tugs another plush critter from the back, a kangaroo with a joey in her pouch, and holds it up. "Mama and baby. We could get one for you to give to your mother?"
Greer> Greer blinks, startled, then starts to reach for the 'roo before snatching her hands back behind her back. She's trying to be polite. "Wow! The mama holds the baby? That's -neat-!" She beams, nodding fervently. "Mama'd like that!" Well, she doesn't know that for sure, but -she- certainly would. "What is it?" She gives the platypus another, closer scrutiny, grins, and nods. "I'm not sure if it's a Scruffy, but it sure looks like a Tarrant friend to me."
Greer> Except that was the reaction Clara was hoping for as she hands the kangaroo pair to Greer amiably. "That's right. They're marsupials, which means when they have their babies, they carry them around in a pouch until they're big enough to move around on their own." She peers down at the platypus in her lap again with a grin. "Doesn't it though? Now we need to find one for Corian."
Greer> Greer grins, examining the marsupial stuffed pair curiously. "Are these from a planet or from a cartoon?" She looks up with a blink. "Oh, that's neat too! It's.... it's cute! Mama and baby together!" She nods, fully intent on the mission, and starts to peruse the other stuffed animals.
Greer> "From the same place, believe it or not, as the platypus, the island of Australia back on Earth," Clara answers, tucking the platypus under an arm and shifting to her knees to begin the search anew for another critter. "Awwww..." That last is involuntary as she comes nose to nose with a Thumper-esque rabbit, then shakes her head rapidly and continues hunting.
Greer> Greer's jaw drops. "Oh -wow-. Terra. I gotta visit there someday. They got the -neatest- animals!" She clutches the 'roos to her- Murray's probably going to have a new friend soon, if she can talk her mother into it- and grins as she watches Clara. One hand sneaks out to snag the rabbit, and it joins the roos in her arms. "Lessee... is there a swan anywhere? Or maybe a kitten? Corian seems like a kitten person."
Greer> Clara settles back to a seat just far back enough to evaluate all of the critters. "I don't know about a kitten, but I think you're on the right track there with felines, sweetie. Maybe something a little more feral...but that -looks- sweet," she muses with a hint of a grin.
Greer> Greer nods thoughtfully. "A tiger? I mean, a cute one?" She glances around, then confides in a stage whisper, "I really -love- felines. I know all about 'em. They love you when nobody else does." And she starts to search thru the rack for whatever felines can be found.
Greer> "Tigers or good..or..." Clara pauses, then darts forward to snag another animal. It's a cat, yes, but polkadotted with little tufts at the tops of its ears. "Ocelot," she reads from the tag, obviously delighted. "What do you think?"
Greer> Greer beams, indicating her approval. The roos and rabbit look too, and nod their appreciation. "Everybody says that's neat! And look at the paws! They're webbed, like a duck's! But it's sweet too. Just like Corian!" Corian is webbed? Okay, that doesn't quite scan.
Greer> Clara grins and pounces the ocelot at Greer cheerfully. "Mrorworow!" she exclaims with a laugh. "Well, sweet, yes. And if elementary school animal studies serves my memory right, a feral kittie too. Although Corian isn't polka dotted."
Greer> And she'd like to stay that way.
Greer> Greer laughs in delight, gently batting at the stuffed cat. "Yeah. But maybe Josif can get her to polka dot her hair." She grins up at Clara. "So, the pla-ty-pus and the ocelot for Tarrant and Corian?" The child digs into a pocket, producing a handful of change that barely amounts to over a whole giro. "Do we have enough to get 'em?"
Greer> Clara climbs to her feet as well, then pauses as another shelf comes to eye level. There's a small fond smile and a pause before she scoops up a handsized penguin in a Hawaiian shirt. "I'd say we do, certainly," she agrees, then looks down with a laugh. "Greer Valentine, put that away, honey. I didn't invite you to a toy store to make you pay. I'll let you pay when you grow up and get a job, how's that?"
Greer> Greer cocks her head, her expression slightly guilty as she stows the change. "But we're -partners- in this, um, mission. But... okay." She cocks her head, peering at the latest find. "Riley likes penguins, doesn't he? He's got lots of 'em in his office. I looked 'em up. You know penguins can't fly, but they can swim?"
Greer> "We are indeed, and you helped to make the choices, but don't worry about the cost, really. They don't starve majors, I promise," Clara notes with a wink, heading towards the clerk's desk amiably and scooting her armful of furriness onto the counter. "Riley does, and I did indeed know that. They live in Antarctica on Terra." She pauses, then adds conspiratorially, "I like stuffed penguins better. The real ones smell funny."
Greer> Greer blinks. "Antarctica? Isn't that in the south? But the polar bears live at the North Pole on Terra, and the cartoons always show the penguins and the polar bears together. Bears are cool," she confides, then cocks her head curiously. "You've seen real live penguins? Can we get one for Riley?"
Greer> "Antarctica is the south pole, that's right," Clara confirms with a bright grin, tugging out her ident again and handing it over. "Polar bears live at the north end of the planet, penguins at the south. Cartoons are in people's imaginations." She blinks at the question, for a moment considering Riley's reaction if someone were to slide a live penguin into his office, then cracks up laughing. "Nonono...no real penguins."
Greer> Greer looks disappointed for only the briefest of seconds before she grins."I suppose he -is- kinda busy for a pet, huh? You should get than penguin for him though, yep. He'd oooh and ahh, I bet." she totally beams. "Everybody's getting neat presents. This is -cool-. I like giving presents!" She still clutches roos and rabbit in her arms, but hasn't set them on the counter just yet.
Greer> Clara tilts her head at the critters in Greer's arms and adds a wink to the clerk, who merely nods with a broad grin and taps in the full total. "Isn't it fun? Now I would say for you, that mama kangaroo would be for your mother, and the joey would be for you. I think that's fair, don't you?"
Greer> Greer nods fervently. "Yep!" She pauses, then adds with a shy smile, "And the rabbit's for you. That's fair."
Greer> Clara pauses with a blink. No, she is not going misty eyed. It's a close thing though, and she trades a look of extreme 'awwwww' with the clerk, then kneels down as he starts to package the platypus and ocelot and penguin. "Thank you, sweetie...I...thank you very much. You didn't have to, you know."
Greer> Greer cocks her head, then smiles. "But you're my friend. And I like making my friends happy. So, I had to." It's quite simple logic, in her opinion.
Greer> Clara breaks into a delighted smile and attempts a hug at that. "Thank you, then. That really is very, very sweet of you," she offers, then sighs happily and climbs to her feet again to accept the bag. The clerk grins down and holds out a hand. "If you'd like, I can package those up for you, Miss?"
Greer> Greer loves hugs, especially from people like Clara, and she enthusiastically returns the gesture. Then she blinks up at the clerk, wide-eyed and a bit timid. "How can they breathe then?"
Greer> The clerk considers the question seriously, then reaches under the counter and tugs out a pair of loop-handled paper bags. "One for the kangaroos, one for the bunny," he explains with a grin. "They can ride in style, and still have air-flow."
Greer> So the stuffed animals are not homosexual? They have airflow...
Greer> Not that there's anything wrong with that!
Greer> Greer peers at said bags, then nods with a grin, and, yes, giggles, looking up at Clara. "We get to be their chauffeurs!" And she pronounces it 'cho-ffurz', too. She nods with enthusiasm, very carefully placing the stuffed animals up on the counter. Hands free, she starts bouncing again.
Greer> >>OOC: Greer rolls!!!
Greer> >>OOC: Clara looks innocent, of course. ;)
Greer> The clerk, unbeknownst of the great values of proper airflow, tucks the roos in one bag and the bunny in the other, then amiably goes about giving each of the other critter their own bag as well.
"Now we just have to figure out how to sneak Tarrant and Corian's to them. Should we get a card as well?" asks Clara.
Greer> Greer beams, reaching up to clutch the handles on the bags. "Card? Like playing cards? Do they like card games?"
Greer> Clara scoots her hand through the handles of several of the bags as well, grinning. "I'm not sure, actually. I was thinking more along the lines of a greeting card. Or we could always just make it anonymous. Like some unknown stuffed animal fairy."
Greer> Greer hmmms thoughtfully, then grins impishly. "That'd be neat! The platypus and the ocelot can just show up myrsteiously," she doesn't quite have that word down yet, "Outside their door? Then they got a puzzle to solve. And puzzles are fun!"
Greer> Clara considers for a moment, then grins and murmurs to the clerk, who produces a bright green marker with a flourish. She peeks in one of the bags, then carefully writes 'Tarrant' on the front in block letters, then 'Corian' on another. "There. Now they'll know whose is whose." Shall we sneak up there and leave them at their door?"
Greer> Greer's typist needs to find synonyms for 'giggles', for once again, that's what Greer does as she nods. "I hope they like 'em! I bet they will!" She reaches out, tracing the written names with her index finger. "They're so nice. They deserve friends like stuffed aminals."
Greer> "Isn't it good that they have each other, though? They deserve friends like each other too," Clara decides with a thoroughly pleased grin and casts a wave at the clerk before heading towards the door. "Now -hopefully-, we won't get caught doing this. Can you be fast and sneaky?"
Greer> Greer nods amiably as she trots along. "I suppose so." She's seven- 'having each other' means having a mom, to her. "Oh... hmmm. I think so? It's harder, being sneaky around friends."
Greer> "I know, I know...but it's sneaky for a good purpose!" Clara promises, then pauses with a grin. "I'll even show you a few Infantry moves, on how we move around to keep people from seeing us. Would you like that?"
Greer> Greer giggles, then her eyes widen. "Oh wow!" She's just absolutely -thrilled-, and it shows. "-Seriously-?" If this kid gets any happier, she's going to OD on adrenaline or something.
Greer> Clara wrinkles her nose in a grin and opens the door, nodding. "C'mon, it'll be fun," she suggests, then heads out, presumably Complex-wards. Tara is -so- going to be unthrilled with her.
Greer> Clara walks towards the Java Quarter.
Greer> Clara has left.
Greer> You move towards the Java Quarter.
***** Travelspam, etc. *****
Greer> Clara climbs her way up the stairs, not bothering with stealth until reaching the landing of the forth floor. She pauses then, and peeks out into the hallway before grinning down. "Okay, the key to not being seen is to think about what people look for. They look for movement, and they look in the open areas. So you want to stay close to a wall, hide behind corners and in doorways, and when you move, make it quick bursts in between times of no movement. Want me to lead and you can follow?"
Greer> Greer listens carefully, then nods with a grin. "You're the mission leader!" This is a game to her seven-year-old mind, and she's enjoying it immensely.
Greer> Clara walks towards the Fourth Floor Elevator Lounge.
Greer> Clara has left.
Greer> You move towards the Fourth Floor Elevator Lounge.
Greer> Fourth Floor Elevator Lounge
Greer> Contents:
Greer> Clara
Greer> Obvious exits:
Greer> Stairs Elevator
Greer> This is a game to Clara's thirty-year-old mind, too, for that matter, but she does inch the door open to peer out, then is abruptly through it in one smooth gesture and pressed up against the wall just outside it with enough room leftover for you, too. Eyes bright, she holds still a moment, listening and watching, then jerks her head at the appropriate door down the Y hallway.
Greer> Greer follows carefully, mimicking the stealthy moves awkwardly, and has to clap a hand over her mouth to suppress a giggle. Nodding, she beckons for one of the bags, either the ocelot or the platypus.
Greer> Clara hands over the platypus bag with a grin, each movement silent as a mouse. After another moment of watching then, she makes a rapid sidestepping motion along the wall to the next doorway niche, holing up against the wall there, somewhat cat-corner to Tarrant and Corian's door.
Greer> Like many small children, Greer has mastered the art of quiet, and pads along quietly. Her expression is one of absolute fascination, and perhaps one can be sure that spy missions will be prevalent in the schoolyard for a few weeks.
Greer> Clara even has a utility belt! And like any good doctor, she does have surgical tape with her. Okay, so maybe this raid won't be quite so anonymous. She tugs the roll from its place on her belt and tears off two strips before putting it away, then offers one strip over before showing you how to put the tape on the handles so the bags can be taped to the door. When this is done, she goes very still, then darts forward to attach one bag before pulling back, then nods for you to do the same, grinning up a storm.
Greer> Greer keeps her giggle -very- soft as she mimicks the motions, and when all is done, she beams. "Perfect," she whispers, looking up at the doctor for approval and, to a certain extent, in camraderie.
Greer> Clara grins down, eyes dancing in delight at the caper pulled off, then gestures back at the stairway door. "You lead this time," she whispers. "One straight dash when the coast is clear."
Greer> Greer nods, and makes a great show of casting a casual glance around, and then... she dashes! Keeping her laughter to a very low giggle, she bypasses the amused SecOff in the lobby, and streaks down the first few stairs to wait for her partner in... um, sneakiness? :)
Greer> You move towards the Spiraling Stairway.
Greer> Spiraling Stairway
Greer> Obvious exits:
Greer> First Floor <1> Second Floor <2> Third Floor <3> Fourth Floor <4>
Greer> Clara walks here from the Fourth Floor Elevator Lounge.
Greer> Clara has arrived.
Greer> Clara gives the Secoff a quick grin and a wink, then does a quick run after the child, saving her laughter for the stairwell, where it bubbles over merrily. "Woohoo! We did it!" she exclaims, reaching out to ruffle your hair, although she still retains the other sacks. "Now, I need to get back to work, so why don't you go show you Mom the kangaroos, hmm?" she suggests with a grin, holding out that particular sack.
Greer> Greer's eyes are absolutely dancing, and so is she for that matter. She attempts a kamikaze hug, just absolutely brimming with bubbliness. "That was so neat! Oh!" She blushes. "I did it again, didn't I? Got you distracted. Riley won't be mad at you, will he?" she asks anxiously.
Greer> Clara grins amiably, shaking her head. "He won't be angry. I put in a full day's work pretty much anyway, so no worries," Clara explains. She and Greer are on the fourth floor landing, both grinning madly and each carrying a few paper bags with handles.
Greer> Corian is still looking tired, though not even remotely as much so as she did the last time she was seen in public. Oh, and she's clean. Being clean helps. Her expression is vaguely apologetic, but also holds just a touch of smugness. "I -am- sorry that it took me so long, cha'trez," she is saying to Tarrant as she makes her way perhaps a touch gingerly up the stairs. "But you know how they are, of course--always another question." She nods pleasantly to Clara and Greer, then, with a brief, warm smile. "Hello, there."
Greer> Tarrant is, for the record, quietly snickering as he pads up the stairs after Corian. He's tired, still decidedly scruffy, but obviously entertained. "It's okay love, I'm just entertained at how fast those opossums changed their coats when -you- walked in. I swear they were a'cowerin' in their boots." He tips his non-existant hat to Greer and Clara with a smile, "Evenin' ladies."
Greer> Greer nods to Clara with an irrepressible grin, then yipes softly, spotting the Czolgoszes. She straightens up quickly, putting on an innocent smile as she waves. "Coooorrriiiiii!" She tries to distract with a hug.
Greer> Clara is a little more composed, but her eyes do widen significantly for a split-second. "Tarrant, Corian, why hello! Fancy meeting you here." She pauses as Corian's shirt simply begs to be read, and gives into the impulse to break into snickering again. "Oh, -my-. Can I join that club?" she wants to know, resting a hand on Greer's shoulder. "Sorry, don't let us keep you, I'm sure you want to get home."
Greer> Corian shakes her head to Tarrant, all but radiating innocence. "I really do not know -why- I trouble them so, but I am also hardly going to complain, as it -worked-." Greer's hug is, of course, admirably distracting. "Well, and there you are, chernubia." Clara's words get a briefly puzzled look, and then a quiet chuckle. "Of course, if you like--the wonders of needing to do laundry, it brings out the more... creative aspects of my wardrobe." Now, gee, why would Tarrant get an amused look at that.
Greer> Tarrant can't help but look a little smug himself about the comment regarding the shirt. Gee, guess whose find that was? Aside from the fact that Corian has taste, and he doesn't, and is hence more likely to buy such a silly thing? "I don't know if laundry's going to get done anytime soon either. I'll be a bettin' the folks downstairs are thinkin' up ways to have us hung, drawn, and quartered. All the mess." He grins, "I don't think we're being kept, Corian's managed to get us some vacation time, so we're free souls for a while."
Greer> Greer grins broadly at Cori, and then throws herself at Tarrant too. "What's drawn and quartered? Yep, I'm here! Where else would I be?" she blathers on happily, then giggles. "Maybe y'all just need to buy some new clothes?" Tarrant's words bring a cheer. "Vacation's good! No more school, no more books..." Et cetera.
Greer> "Really? Vacation?" Clara lights up sincerely now with a truly happy grin rather than the conspiratal giggling of earlier. Yes, she giggles. Rarely. "Laundry is full of sadists who believe we should all live in scary clothing or uniforms. But I have to admit, you two look wonderfully comfortable. She gives Greer a broad grin and a headshake. "Vacation for them, sweetheart, not you. You still have school."
Greer> Corian offers a brief, Kashidian bow towards Tarrant at the mention of the vacation. "They would have said yes to you eventually, though," she observes quietly. "It is just more efficient the way that I did it." Greer's words get a thoughtful look. "Actually, books sound like fun--some pleasure-reading would be wonderful." She nods to Clara, then. "We do deserve some time off," she says, with a brief smile.
Greer> Tarrant is more than willing to be hugged, and hugs in return. It's proof he's still tired that he doesn't attempt to sweep the poor kid up into the air or some such or torment her further. "It's an old-fashioned form of capitol punishment, very messy." Hey, he's not going to -lie- to the kid. His explanation comes with a grin however. "Laundry's silly. But yeah, though I could wish the flannel was clean. I swear we'll never get warm again, evil people." He's cheerful about the evil though. Corian is nodded to with a fond smile, "Far more efficent indeed. You'd'a just had to say froggy and they'd'a jumped, love."
Greer> Greer's nose wrinkles. "That's not half as fun as it sounds," she tells Tarrant with all seriousness, then beams over at Corian, piping, "Books are a girl's best friend!" Then she looks over her shoulder with a rueful grin for Clara. "That's okay. I -like- school." Really.
Greer> "Corian, you must postively be a tiger with them," Clara notes with a completely straight face, shaking her head mildly. "Books are excessively wonderful, as well. But so is food, and if you two have spent time arguing with bureaucrats, you probably missed dinner. I could call and get something delivered to you tonight so you don't have to cook?" she suggests amiably, then ruffles Greer's hair. "I know you do."
Greer> Corian snaps her slender fingers at Tarrant's words. "Oh, cha'trez, I wish you had suggested it while we were still there. That would have been quite entertaining to see." Greer gets a brief smile and a nod, but Corian does reach for Tarrant's hand. Yes, folks, there are some things better than books. Clara gets a quizzical smile. "A tiger? Well, they seem to think that I am. And food is an excellent idea. We probably have stew in the freezer, though, it does not take a moment to heat."
Greer> Tarrant interlaces his fingers through Corian's, he's hardly about to object to that. He nods cheerfully, "Not at all fun, hence why it's best to be avoided." He shakes his head in a brief negative to Clara's words, smiling. "The offer's appreciated though, but we can scare up some food." A snicker is stifled and he nods to Corian, "We can remember it for next time. I still vote we hardwire their AC down to a level it freezes the whole place for a week though."
Greer> Greer dissolves into giggles at the mention of the tiger, and again she tries to conjure up an innocent smile. Problem is, she's not very good at it. "Stew is good! It's got all sorts of everything that makes up what's needed for net... nutri... " SHe casts an appealing glance over her shoulder toward Clara for the right word, then nods to Tarrant. "How do you know it's not fun?" she asks curiously, then cocks her head in slight confusion at the freezing comment.
Greer> "Which sounds good too. Oh, Corian, I'll forward you that message from Josif tonight, if you like?" Tarrant gets a rather amiable grin that fades to mock horror. "Leave the third floor be? Blue isn't really the best color for me to turn," she explains rapidly. "Nutritious," she adds in enunciation for Greer, before casting Tarrant an amused look. -He- gets to explaing why drawing and quartering isn't must on anyone's list for a pleasant afternoon.
Greer> Corian nods quite serenely to Tarrant. "I would not object, cha'trez." She offers to Clara, "Of course, it would be their offices, which would not cause any trouble to you. I think it is only fair." She doesn't explain drawing and quartering either, or its unfun-ness.
Greer> "Cause I read in a book what it was," Tarrant explains unhelpfully with a smile. "And I'm willing to guess from that, that it wasn't much fun." He nods cheerfully, "Oh yeah, just the offices. I don't think anybody else oughta' have to freeze like that. It's plum miserable."
Greer> However, that's good enough an explanation for Greer. Books are -the- authority on all matters, after all. She gives Tarrant a firm nod, something akin to comprehension in her expression. "Then it must be true! Nutritious," she repeats slowly, easily swayed from the drawing and quartering topic. "I thought plums were fresh fruit, not frozen?"
Greer> "Thank goodness," Clara exclaims melodramatically, resting a hand to the back of her forehead, eyes dancing at the idea of freezing out annoying people. "Now, nutrition and rest is what this doctor prescribes. But before Greer and I let you two escape to the sanctuary of home, I do want to know briefly if you're both all right? No fevers, broken bits, nasty coughing, etcetera...?"
Greer> Corian replies smoothly to Greer, "On the planet where Tarrant and I were, I believe that even fresh plums were frozen." She's not joking at all, really. After flickering a brief smile to Tarrant, she shakes her head to Clara. "I am well, nothing is wrong that a bit of rest will not cure. I -am- starting to understand the phenomenon of security blankets, though."
Greer> "An' plums are lovely frozen. Well, on a hot day at least." Tarrant shudders lightly at the thought of frozen food at the moment. "They're certainly a treat, if a trick to eat as well. Frost plums don't even come full ripe until after the first frost. And -those- are amazing cold. My parents have a few trees of them up at their place. It's just a good thing we didn't live there when I was little, or my sister and I'd've snuck off with the bulk of them."
Greer> Greer blinks at Corian, and wrinkles her nose, and shudders. "Eeewww. I don't like -that- much cold. Did you at least get to play in the snow?" she asks plaintively. Tarrant gets a curious look. "Do they taste good?" At Clara's words, her expression turns to one of concern, and she looks Corian and Tarrant up and down, examining them for broken bits.
Greer> Clara is busily doing the same as Greer, although possibly with a bit more idea of what to look for. After a moment, though, she does nod and let a warm smile return. "I've never heard of frost plums, but then I'm not exactly from a cold climate myself. I'm sure they're positively lovely, though." She lifts her brows at Corian in surprise. "Security blankets?"
Greer> Corian offers a reassuring smile to first Greer and then to Clara, before nodding to Clara. "Blankets," she says succinctly, "Are warm. I would not mind an excuse to carry one." She's kidding, right? Sometimes it's so hard to tell.
Greer> "They're very sweet," Tarrant explains to the small child, rocking slowly back on his feet from heel to toe. He grins though and nods, "Just a little. It was a bit too cold to play much. But we made a friend! His name was Scruffy. Waaaay bigger than all of us, with lots of fur, and he was very cute."
Greer> Greer does the slightest double take at the word 'Scruffy', and here comes that innocent look again. "Scruffy? Is he a dog?" she asks. "I knew a dog named Scruffy once. Is Scruffy a good friend? Can I meet him?"
Greer> Clara gestures at Tarrant significantly, although her grin is for Corian. "Security blanket," she murmurs with a smile of 'well there you are'. The name from Tarrant gets a grin down at Greer before she nods amiably. "You mentioned Scruffy last night. If he was that big, I'm assuming he wasn't a dog, then?"
Greer> Corian manages not to look either amused or longsuffering at the mention of Scruffy. "We -had- to leave him, cha'trez. He would not have fit on the ship." She shakes her head to Greer. "Scruffy is a..." She murmurs a word in that liquid, musical language, then shakes her head. "Beast-of-burden? Something like that. We both could ride him." She doesn't comment on the friend-ness of him, instead leaving that to Tarrant. At Clara's words, she smiles rather brightly, giving Tarrant's hand a bit of a squeeze. (Yes, he's hers, nobody else's not sharing. No threats of maiming, though.)
Greer> "He was cute, and adorable, and he -liked- us," Tarrant is helpful on this subject, and enthusiastic as well. "But yeah, he was too big I'm afraid." This is said with a soft sigh, "He was -furry-. Cheerful and happy and furry and..." He snickers, "Ooh, I'm a blanket?"
Greer> Greer blinks. "Beast of burden? Like a really big horse?" Curiosity lights in her eyes, which turn to Tarrant dubiously. "You don't -look- like a blanket."
Greer> "Why not? You're cheerful and happy and...well, not especially furry, no," Clara muses clinically. "Made surgery a lot easier, certainly." She shakes her head to clear the thought and grins. "Men make wonderful security blankets though. When you're forty, you'll understand," she adds at Greer with a wink. "I'm sorry you had to leave your pet behind. Perhaps there will be others," she adds reassuringly.
Greer> Corian reaches up with her free hand to pat Tarrant's arm. Yes, yes. He's going on about the animal again. "He was warm," she adds thoughtfully. "And he saved us from having to walk in snow much of the time, which was nice." She nods to Greer, then, though with a quirked smile for the age that Clara gave. Though, it may be noted, she does look vaguely amused at the mention of other pets. "Not something quite so large as Scruffy, I hope," she murmurs.
Greer> "Ahh, sadly with the job there's not much space for pets," Tarrant scuffs a boot lightly on the ground. Awww, poor guy, can't have a cute furry animal. Isn't he sad and pathetic? Why are you snickering. "And finding space for Scruffy would have been a -little- tricky. Not to mention he wouldn't like the warmth, and I don't care how cute the thing is I ain't staying anywhere that cold."
Greer> Greer can't repress a giggle, exchanging a look with Clara. "Something a lot smaller," she agrees with Corian, eyes dancing. Then she gives Tarrant a totally sympathetic look, and goes to hug him again. He looks like he needs it. "I bet Scruffy will remember you forever though."
Greer> "For your sake, and on behalf of everyone that missed you and as your doctor, I am -seriously- glad you're back in a liveable climate, pet or no," Clara exclaims seriously. "And I'm sure you'll find something Tarrant." Awww, Greer's being cute again. Clara gets a rather cheerful grin, probably tied several times around the girl's little finger.
Greer> Corian leans close to kiss Tarrant's cheek, then quirks a brief smile at Greer. No, she didn't get as attached to Scruffy, obviously. Clara, though, gets a firm nod. "I am rather glad as well, yes. And if you all will excuse me, I think I need to get back upstairs, and perhaps find that stew."
Greer> Oh see, now he gets a -hug-. Tarrant is entirely game for hugs and returns it with a sheepish look. "Maybe a rock. Then we wouldn't have to worry about feeding it when we were off." He offers another tip of his hat as well, "And I think I'll head up with my lovely wife, as tracking down food seems smart."
Greer> Clara steps to the side despite the easy width of the stairs, trying to catch at Greer's hand and waving her sack-ridden arm at the door to the fourth floor. "Shoo, go and get dinner and relax and start enjoying that vacation I'm sure you've earned," she instructs with a smile. "And welcome home. And speaking of home, why don't I see you to yours, missy, hmm?"
Greer> Greer grins up at Tarrant, letting her hand be caught by Clara as she takes a step back from the man...kid... whatever he is, she likes him! "Yes," she nods with a giggle, glancing toward the stairs leading toward the proper floor, "You really should go home. And get food. And, uh, whatever it is y'all do for fun," she blathers, then looks up to Clara with another giggle and a nod. "Okie dokie! Mama'll like the mar-sup-ials."
Greer> Corian doesn't comment on what she and Tarrant do for fun. It probably involves playing with toys, knowing them. She smiles cheerfully, ooh, she gets to keep Tarrant. Yay. "Going home and relaxing sounds like a wonderful idea," she says as she starts for the stairs. "Thank you for the suggestion, Clara, and I am sure that we will enjoy ourselves." She pauses a beat at the mention of marsupials, but doesn't comment.
Greer> Corian says good night, too, really, she's not rude.
Greer> Tarrant tips his hat once more to the females he's not married to before trailing after COrian, "Home does indeed sound wonderful. Sleep..." This last word is said with the reverence due a saint, rather than just a concept. "Evening, y'all."
Greer> Corian is Saint Corian the Nice? In any event, she heads up the stairs.
Greer> Corian walks towards the Fourth Floor Elevator Lounge.
Greer> Tarrant walks towards the Fourth Floor Elevator Lounge.
Greer> Clara casts another wave at the couple, grinning and shaking her head and murmuring something about a very good vacation indeed. She starts down the stairs towards the second level. "C'mon kiddo, let's not keep you up late again tonight."
You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.
Greer> Greer dissolves into giggles, barely able to walk as she follows along. "I hope they like their surprises! Awwww, but I -like- staying up late. But it -is- a school night," she admits reluctantly.
Greer> "It is indeed, and I'm sure you'll have oodles to tell your mother before you're able to sleep," Clara surmises with a faint grin. "And I've got work rather early in the morning, so I'm thinking of sneaking the penguin in to Riley and running home myself."
Greer> Greer nods enthusiastically, then blushes. "I did it -again-. Kept you up late." She stares at her shoes.
Greer> Clara reaches a hand out to ruffle your hair with a warm smile. "No, dear, you didn't. It's not late yet for doctors, although it is late for little girls. But it might -soon- be late for doctors, so see? No being kept up late."
Greer> Greer peeks upward, a grin growing, then she throws herself at you wanting a hug. "I guess it's not -too- late. Not like last night, at least, huh? Thank you! Thank you for the kangaroos! And for lunch, and for surprising Corian and Tarrant, and... and... and everything!"
Greer> Clara laughs easily and is more than willing to return the hug. "You, my dear, are most certainly welcome. I have to say I haven't had this much fun in months. Hopefully we can do it again eventually, hmm? Maybe take Corian next time, or Josif."
Greer> Greer nods enthusiastic agreement to that notion. "Or maybe both! Oh oh! Josif, definitely. Mama wants to make friends with him, you know. Or maybe Tarrant, if he's not busy? Tarrant's... Tarrant's.... Tarrant's -fun-."
Greer> "Tarrant's very fun indeed," Clara agrees, straightening up and raking a hand through her hair. "We'll see what we can put together, hmm?"
Greer> Greer agrees, definitely. "And Riley! Riley needs to take a break too, and have some fun." At this rate, she'll be planning a party next thing ya know. "And I wanna meet Mrs. Knight. I mean, Mrs. Niko. I ain't never met her, you know. And we can have butterscotch and caramel ice cream, just the way Tarrant likes it, and..." She keeps on rattling on as she moves toward the door to her home.
Greer> Clara follows along, chuckling and shaking her head slowly. "Sweetheart, sweetheart, if you can get all those people together at once, you'll have worked a miracle. Now you should scoot and get some rest, and show your mother the kangaroo, hmm?"
Greer> Greer grins over her shoulder, her blathering ceasing momentarily. "I will! She'll ooh and ahh, I know she will. G'night, Doctor Clara!"
Greer> "Goodnight, Greer, may your dream be as sweet as you are, dear," Clara suggests with a wink and a hair ruffle. "Tell your mother hello for me."
Greer> "I will!" Greer promises, beaming brightly. Despite clothes rippage (which hasn't occurred to her will need to be explained to certain mothery types), it's been a -good- day!
