Short Term Care Ward
All is quiet here, save for the occasional moan alerting a nurse more pain medication is needed. Impeccably clean, the ward stretches for quite a ways from the door. The nurses' desk, always manned, is tucked to one side inside the door, facing the corridor. Opposite that is the large cabinet holding medicine and supplies. Half a dozen beds line each side of the ward, separated by temporary partitions.
Contents:
Greer(#1048pq)
Obvious exits:
Out
Clara comes in from the medical bay.
Tara and Greer are playing chess, the game board balanced on the rolling tray thingie that swings over the bed to hold food. At the sound of footsteps, both look up to smile a greeting, though Greer's is somewhat brighter than her mother's. "Doctor Claraaaaaa!"
"Where? Who? Me? Nope, not -me-," Clara exclaims cheerfully, coming around to lean on the foot of the bed and look over the chart hanging there, although she looks more like a coed in jeans and buttondown than a doctor. "Ms. Valentine? Miss Valentine? How would ladies like to get the bejeebers out of here?"
Greer giggles, getting up to offer the doctor a hug. "You are -too-. Out?" Her expression is almost as hopeful as her mother's, as Tara perks up. "Home," the pilot notes with a faint grin, "Is a very wonderful place."
"Well, home yes," Clara agrees with a returning grin and a hug for the little girl. "Okay, kidlet, you got me. I am, I admit it. And out and home indeed, although I was going to invite you both up to my place for dinner? I figured we could make a minor party of it since I baked cookies this afternoon."
"Cookies!" Greer -likes- that idea. "For dinner?"
Tara snickers, pushing the tray aside carefully so she can slide from the bed. "Not having to cook first night out would be a blessing," she admits, then inquires, eyes twinkling, "Pizza?"
"Nooo, not for dinner," Clara responds with extreme amusement, shaking her head and moving back to a cabinet for Tara's clothing before handing it over and starting to disconnect the various monitors and the IV. "But pizza might not be a bad idea. Maybe a large one? I was going to invite Niko Casymed over too. Figured we could toss some fun music in the vid and just kick back and enjoy."
Tara's eyebrows rise. "Sure, Niko's more than welcome. Besides," she notes wryly, "I need to interrogate him. I wonder if Elasia's busy." She pauses long enough for all the various attachments to be un-attached, and heads for a changing room.
Greer bounces, clapping her hands. "Pizza -and- cookies. What kind of cookies are they?"
Clara shrugs amiably, looking almost sheepish. "I'm pretty sure she is. As is Riley, which is why Niko and I were going to keep each other company for dinner. But I know he wouldn't mind if I iinvited the two of you," she explains after Tara, then grins at Greer. "Chocolate chip with walnut, dear. Now you'll have to be forgiving if they're not very good. I'd never baked cookies before."
Tara is very quick about changing, and soon emerges, shaking her head a bit, but she smiles nonetheless. "How long until this comes off?" she gestures toward the bandage over half her face.
"Walnut?" Greer is curious. "Nuts? What planet are those from?" She giggles. "If they're not good, I won't tell you."
Clara gestures for Tara to come closer, having snagged a resonater while she was gone, and grinning. "Right now, actually. Now remember...there'll be some discoloration, but other than that, you should appear fairly normal to the untrained eye. "And walnuts are originally from Earth, Greer, but I believe they also grow them here on Linnae."
Tara grins, pleased, and moves within reach of the major before she takes a seat on the bed for some steadiness as the doctor works. "Already? That's a heck of a lot faster than Scully's doctors would allow."
"I never heard of anybody putting nuts in cookies before," Greer notes, moving closer to watch.
Clara's hands are steady if gentle for removing the bandages, which she pauses to drop into a disintigrator before returning with the resonator to run it gently over the former scar tissue. "I have access to a little better technology, to be honest, and probably a little better training." Her words are almost apologetic. "Walnuts with chocolate chips are a wonderful mix."
Tara chuckles, though she keeps very still. "Don't sound like that. I'm well aware of the limitations of medical practicioners on Scully's. I'm rather grateful I've access to this," she gestures around slightly, "As an alternative."
Greer grins, her tone somewhat distracted as she watches with fascination. "I'll take your word for that. I still wanna try 'em though."
"There," Clara exclaims, reaching into a drawer for a hand mirror and coming back to lift it slowly so Tara can see herself. "There we are...not perfect, but the redness will fade in about a month, at top."
Tara just... blinks. One hand rises to trace the skin around the prosthetic eye. "Clara, you're a miracle-worker," she whispers.
And does anyone wonder why Clara does what she does for a living? Not for the praise, no. But for the look on Tara's face right now. That expression of wonder at being healed. She simply smiles a faint, warm smile and shakes her head. "Despite that Riley has declared me a Messiah, I'm not. Now...pizza and cookies?"
Tara chuckles softly, raising her eyes to smile at the doctor. "For once, I agree with him." She nods, getting off the bed again.
Greer has spent the last few minutes wisely, gathering up the chessboard- it folds to form a box of sorts to hold all the pieces, and stands ready, Murray in one hand, the chessbox in her other.
"I don't," Clara responds with a laugh, snapping off the resonator and returning it to a cabinet. "I happen to know who my father was, and it wasn't deity, unless you count penniless French artists as such," she explains in amusemsnt. "Follow me, ladies! Tonight we dine on pizza!"
Tara snickers, motioning for Greer to precede her. "Depends how good he was in bed," she grins. "Follow the nice messiah, kiddo."
Clara makes an eeew nose at the comment over her shoulder. "I do -not- want to think about that, Tara. Bad enough that my mother hit on Riley," she explains, heading out.
Clara heads out the swinging doors into the Medical Bay.
You head out the swinging doors into the Medical Bay.
Tara's eyebrows are trying to climb into her hair. "Your mother... Oh man! I wish I'd seen the look on his face!"
Clara says "Heeeey, Mister Casymed. Is your wife home? If not, I'm ordering pizza and having more women over to torture you. Still want to meet over at my place?"" into her communit.
Clara snickers back amiably after the comm. "He was traumatized. My mother is rather fond of men, a really disturbing woman. I'd be appalled if I didn't love her so much," she admits.
Clara heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Greer heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Tara is, yes, very much amused.
Clara says "No wooden spoons, just pizza and cookies. We'll see you there when you're ready, Niko." into her communit.
Clara walks towards the Spiraling Stairway.
***** Travelspam deleted *****
You unlock the door and go into room Z13.
Room Z13
The dominant feature of the room is all the built in shelving. Wherever the walls are not taken up with furniture, a door, or a window, there are shelves. Shelves wrap their way around the cooking unit, over and around the room's four doors, to either side of the massive sleeping unit set into the wall, and above and beside the picture window. Beneath the window, which overlooks the Pavilion below, is a scooped window seat, fully long enough for an Edreeni to stretch out on. The ceiling has been painted a soft sky blue and marked with brushed white, almost like a swirl of clouds, providing some light to the darkness of the shelves. The carpeting is a rich blue to compliment the ceiling's shade. A rather long and battered couch and massive coffee table take up a chunk of the empty space and face the comm unit and flatscreen. A large table serves dual purpose as a dining area and a desk.
One door leads out into the hall, another into a white tiled bathroom, a third into the closet, and a fourth into a small side room. (+view is available)
Contents:
Greer(#1048pq)
Clara
Obvious exits:
Music Room Out
You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.
Clara's communit crackles to life and says "I'll... in... few.... I bring anything?... gotten..." in Niko's voice.
Clara unlocks the door and leads the way in, the apartment very much smelling of fresh baked cookies. "Home, sweet, home!" she announces gratefully. "C'mon in, grab a seat, place your drink orders!" she offers, heading over to open the window.
Clara says "Hrm...any of the blue can soda? I'm afraid we're flush out right at the moment. I do have a bottle of wine, but I can't remember if you drink it at all." into her communit.
Clara's communit crackles to life and says "... do,... just... just in..." in Niko's voice.
Clara says "Not to my knowledge? Just yourself, mister." into her communit.
Greer heads straight over to the couch, plunking down in it comfortably. Tara takes a few moments to glance around, nodding appreciatively, before she joins her daughter in taking a seat. Overhearing, she calls over, "Wine's fine for me." She grins at Greer, who's sniffing the air like a pig detecting truffles.
Clara's communit crackles to life and announces "... be... for..." in Niko's voice.
Clara inhales a deeply pleased breath at the window being opened, then heads on over to click on the music, a recording of something to the effect of various nursery rhymes being thrown out the window. Frivolous, but fun music. "Wine it is, for us grownups, and how about milk for you, kidlet?" she wonders, heading over to the comm and tapping in the code for the right place to order pizza from.
Greer pauses to think about that, and nods. "Milk would be a nice diversion from tea," she decides politely. Tara grins. "Niko's going to drink? He doesn't seem the type."
Someone's knocking on the door. Maybe it's Niko. (If you like, you can 'reply <words>'.)
Clara puts away the comm after ordering, then rises to head over to the refrigerator and tug out a bottle of some sort of darker rose'. "You didn't think I was the type either," she points out with a warm smile, taking milk out as well and starting to pull down glasses. "Actually, most of us are willing to have a drink with dinner occasionally. Just not often, and always in moderation." At the sound of the door, she grins and calls out.
Clara calls, "Wilkommen, bien venue, welcome, c'mon in!"
Niko enters from the Elevator Lounge.
Niko is still -just- a touch damp about the edges, particularly about the edges that involve his hair. He does have some of the blue-canned soda, though. "Hello, ladies," he calls amiably. "Hey, now, this isn't fair. Two ladies with such similar names, I'm going to be tripping myself up all evening. And she didn't tell me -you- would be here, paidi, what a nice surprise." That last is to Greer, with a quick grin. He does notice the change in Tara's face, and, after a brief blink, just nods approvingly, apparently not one to call attention to such things.
Tara gives a wave from her seat on the couch, as does Greer. The pilot's eyes narrow slightly, and she offers a sweet smile to the SecOff. "Ah, the torturee arrives." She glances toward Clara with a nod and a snicker. "There's a lot of things about you I shouldn't have assumed."
Greer beams at Niko. "I always am." Yes, she's inherited at least a little of her mother's ego.
Clara is at the kitchen counter working as a bartender. Okay, not quite. She's only going as far as to pour a glass of milk first, not having filled any of the three wineglasses first. She takes the glass over to Greer, laughing. "It's all planned, just to confuse you. Greer, your milk, m'dear. Niko, I ordered pepperoni and sausage pizza. Well, two of them, actually, so we'd have leftovers for Riley whenever he comes home tonight. Is that okay?"
"No torture," Niko protests, with a laugh, absently straightening his shirt. "I've already faced the evil wooden spoon today. I don't know that I can take any more."
Greer gets a quirked grin. "You're always here, or you're always a surprise?" he inquires "And pepperoni and sausage is fine. Might even get some fun dreams from it."
Greer takes the glass of milk with both hands, promptly taking a drink and ending up with a white mustache as she giggles at Niko. "Both, the last couple of days."
"I can't think of any reason to object." Tara sounds amused. "Oh yes, Greer's full of surprises." Her gaze flickers back and forth between the other two adults, watching them carefully as she continues. "It was a surprise, for example, to get shot up by foam darts this afternoon."
"The wooden spoon of doom!" Clara exclaims happily, attempting to relieve Niko of the soda so as to put it in the fridge to chill. "Wine or soda first, sir?" she wonders in between humming along with a song about daycare in a blues beat. "Greer was a wonderful houseguest," she adds, then lifts her brows. "Darts?"
Niko folds himself to a seat on the ground after handing over the soda, the better to be a jungle-gym for any small children that might get the idea to do so. "Yeah, I heard you got to have a sleepover with Clara," he replies to Greer, with a grin. "Bet you two had fun." No comments, Tara, on Niko's own wishes as far as sleepovers with Clara go. The comment about the darts gets a look of innocence, but perhaps it's a bit too innocent, as he doesn't have Corian's knack. "Foam darts, imagine that. And... wine, I think, to celebrate such nice company, company that wouldn't ever think about doing anything to me involving wooden spoons or marble rolling pins."
Tara's mouth twitches as she stifles a grin. "Darts," she confirms, quite aware of Greer giggling and blushing beside her. "Some /e-vil/ person gifted Greer with a toy dart gun, not to mention a lot of ammo for said gun, and I'm afraid your Short Term Care ward became a bit of a battlefield this afternoon, Clara. Unfortunately, I ran out of paper balls before she ran out of darts."
"I won," Greer grins proudly. "Oh yes, we had lots of fun! Did you know Riley's building a -train-? And Murray," she waves her stuffed moose, "Made friends with all the bunnies and penguins."
Tara nods a confirmation to that. "Indeed. I died a very dramatic death. Hmmm. Rolling pins. Remind me to get one of those," she smiles evilly.
Clara stows the sodas before moving over to fill all three glasses with the wine, a darkish purple color but still transluscent enough to see through. She has time to distribute glasses to both Tara and Niko before there's a knock at the door. She heads over to answer it and pay the young man delivering the pair of boxes which she delivers to the coffee table. "Darts. My medbay a warfield for dart guns? Oh, woe is me. I'm so distressed," she explains, winking at Niko and Greer. "Let me get some plates, and dinner will be served."
Niko takes the wine with a murmur of thanks and an overly innocent look to Clara, swirling the liquid lightly in the glass for a moment before he takes a sip. Yes, it's a way to avoid talking while he comes up with an excuse for not getting beaten. "I think that, uh, rolling pins are not evil enough. What would be -really- evil, though, would be a Terran nerf. Frightening things, those. Really." Greer, though, gets a quick grin, and a nod towards the moose. "Nice to meet you, Murray."
Tara takes the wine with a nod, taking a careful sip before swirling it idly. "Nerf? Why, Niko, I never realized you were such a foam connoisseur. Does it run in the family? I suspected," she raises her eyes thoughtfully to the ceiling in a calculated gesture, "That your dear brother is the source of dart evil. That'd be Balance, alright." She seems mightily pleased at the arrival of the pizza, and leans forward to flip open the top box, and snickers softly with a nod to Clara, admitting, "We had fun. I would've won, though, if I could aim better."
"Uh uh!" Greer denies her mother's statement with a giggle. Stuffed moose waves a paw at the SecOff. "Murray says he's pleased to meet you too, and -he- says you're not cute either."
Clara makes one more foray into the kitchen for a stack of paper plates and napkins and returns with her own glass and those to settle on the floor as well, plunking plates by the pizza. "The nerf bat, you mean? That was fun, just so long as it's not a Kashidian nerf," she adds with a grin at Niko. "And Niko is -too- cute. It's just a fact of life. Get used to it, mister."
Niko pauses a beat. Okay, that was just cruel, blaming Riley. Niko must defend the brother, it's a law. "Okay, okay," he says, with a sigh. "It was me. Just don't break me when you hit me, okay, Tara? Then Clara and I wouldn't get a chance to eat dinner, 'cause she'd have to go fix me." He grins brightly at Greer and Murray as he snags a plate and a piece of pizza. "Smart moose--I am -not-, Clara. Not cute. Definitely not. Greer and Murray are right." There is a definite wrongness in having Murray talk about the (un)cuteness of males. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
>>OOC: Niko has frozen pizza in the oven, and is a bit tempted. *grin*
Tara smirks, crowing, "I knew it! Evil, evil, man! Hit you? Oh, I wouldn't dream of it. I'm simply going to dump Greer in Security for a few hours after she eats the... what's that stuff, kiddo?"
"Chernubia," Greer supplies promptly, slipping onto the floor beside Niko to reach for the pizza.
"Chernubia that Corian gave her. Whole family's evil," Tara snickers, carefully lowering herself to the floor as well.
Murray is propped up to watch the meal- he doesn't eat... pizza, after all. His little protruding cloth tongue sticks out at Clara.
Clara is cracking up laughing by now, snagging a few pieces of pizza for herself after handing Niko a plate then scooting the other plates closer to Tara and Greer. "Chernubia? I didn't realize that was actually something to eat," she admits. "I've only heard Riley call m-..." Yes, there's a blush. "Um, well, I've not heard it applied such. What was it?"
>>OOC: Niko takes a moment to crack up laughing at translating 'chernubia' as 'something to eat,' especially in the context of Riley calling Clara that. ;)
>>OOC: Tara ROTFL!
>>OOC: Niko says "Though Corian calling Greer that... aiee. Scary."
>>OOC: Clara -acks- and falls over laughing, turning rather red in RL too. *snicker*
>>OOC: Tara acklaughs!!
Niko munches on his pizza for a moment or three. "Uh, maybe when I'm not working, Tara? I'd be pleased to spend a little time with Greer--even after eating cherwhatsis--but I'd probably end up behind on work or something if she came to visit while I was at work." He doesn't actually seem too bothered at this particular revenge, but, then, he also doesn't know what chernubia is. After another bite of pizza, he casts a shrug to Clara. Obviously, he has no clue. He's a male, though. That's allowed.
Greer gives Clara a curious look, but helpfully says, "Chernubia is a con-fec-tion, but Corian says you can call people chernubia, too, like calling 'em 'honey'.
Tara gives Clara an amused look as she reaches for her own pizza, setting the wineglass aside. "Hmmmm. Well, we can't have you falling behind in work. Tell you what- I've got a nice long meeting next week- you'd be the perfect babysitter. Oh yes." Now who's evil?
Clara munches away cheerfully, trying not to blush. "I knew it was a confection, but I didn't realize it was something that referred to current food. And babysitting off-duty should be a lot of fun," Clara agrees with a nod over a sip of her wine. "Get him to take you to the park," Clara suggests to Greer with a wink.
Niko leans over to ruffle Greer's hair. "Sounds like fun," he says cheerfully. "That okay with you, Greer? And when's the meeting, Tara? I'll make sure Anya tweaks my schedule, if necessary. Ooh, the park, yeah." He could show Greer that hoverboard, and get Tara -really- annoyed with him.
Tara grins. "Apparently somebody sent the stuff to Corian, and she felt a need to share with small cute kidlets. G'ben got some too. Just looking at it made me gain five pounds, I think."
"Oooh, the park!" Greer -likes- this idea. "Can we feed the ducks, Mister Niko? Not chernubia- they like bread though. White bread. Even stale bread. They don't seem to like rye too much though."
Tara taps at her wristunit for a few seconds before nodding. "Three days, and it's in the evening. 1800 hours. Dinner meeting." She grins, glancing up. "Oh, the park'd be good, yeah." Lots of -space- for Niko to chase Greer around in.
"The park where you can show her the playground and all sorts of stuff," Clara notes to Niko with a wink, probably having the hoverboard in mind as well. "A meeting in three days, Tara? I'm glad we got the surgury over when we did, then. No residual pain I hope? It might be a little itchy though," she adds somewhat apologetically.
"We can feed the ducks," Niko confirms. He eyes his own wristunit, then sighs. "Aw, drat, I was hoping it was going to be when my sister was visiting, so she could join in the fun." Yeah. Or help. He exchanges an overly innocent grin with Clara as he snags another piece of pizza. "The park it is, then, in three days. Sounds like a plan."
Tara nods, swallowing a mouthful of pizza. "Three days. Oh," she grins, "I arranged for it -after- the surgery was done. Even if I was still wearing the bandages, that'd be less of an impact than the patch, and might even work up some sympathy." She shakes her head. "Itchy, yeah. I was going to stop down at the Java Quarter and get some cortisone or something." The pilot gives Niko an intrigued look. "Aspasia? That particular sister? Feel free to borrow Greer when she's in town."
Greer beams happily. "And you can push me on the swing, and we can seesaw... Have you been in the treehouse? And with you along I can reach higher branches when I'm climbing trees." Oh yes, she's pleased.
"Cortisone, feh," Clara announces, finishing off a piece of pizza and setting her plate aside before she scrambles to her feet and attempts to ruffle Niko's hair before heading into the closet. "I've got something better. Hey, Greer, get Aspasia to tell you all about Niko as a little boy," she suggests, padding back out with a tube of ointment to hand to Tara. "Lidoxeroxime. Wonderful stuff."
Niko confirms, with a grin, "Aspasia, yeah. She misses the twins and Charis, was just moping about them to me on the comm today. She'd probably have fun meeting -you-, paidi," he adds to Greer. "I might have to introduce you two. Ack." That would be as Clara ruffles his hair, and he ducks, but not in time. "No, no, no getting stories out of Aspasia. Bad idea."
Tara's eyebrows rise as she takes the tube, and she grins wryly, tucking it into an inner jacket pocket. "Thanks. Next time remind me to ask you when we're still downstairs."
Greer gives Niko a curious look. "What's 'paidi'? Like paydirt? Your sister has twins?"
Tara's eyes twinkle, and she bends to whisper loudly to Greer, "Get -lots- of stories from her."
"I can imagine she does miss them. Those pictures you showed me were painfully cute, that's for certain," Clara agrees with Niko, reaching for another slice of pizza and starting munching again as a song about proper cups of coffee comes on. No she's not bouncing. She's just cheerful. "That is a good question. Paidi? It's a lovely word..."
Niko pauses a moment, brows furrowing in thought. "Paidi. Uh... it's something that one calls a young person. Kind of like 'kiddo,' I guess, but I'm not sure. It's what I call my nieces and nephew. -No- stories," he adds to Tara, with a grin. "And one of my sisters has twins, yes, Greer. They're four years old, so they're pretty young when compared to someone like you." And, yes, that's a compliment. He's eating, too, though he pauses to murmur the tongue-tangling words along with the chorus of the coffee song.
Greer grins. "Like I said, paydirt. Oh! You're a uncle then?" She gives him a thoughtful look, then nods. "You're too young to be a uncle, aren't you?" She beams again. Niko's -this- close to getting hugged.
Tara grins wickedly. "Oh, c'mon, Niko, the stories of a knight in training couldn't be all -that- embarrassing."
"Niko's old enough to be an uncle," Clara promises Greer with a laugh. "He's -old-," she adds with a wink, brows waggling. "I dunno, we could probably make up stories. Or I could always ask Ela," she adds with utter innocence.
Niko chuckles at Greer. "Paydirt... kind of, I guess. And I'm an uncle, yes. I don't guess that I'm too young, though. Their mother's younger than I am, matter of fact." Yes, he's old enough to be a father, folks. And he'd probably enjoy being hugged. Tara just gets an amused look. "You'd be surprised. I wasn't always the paragon of chivalry you see before you." There's a pause, and a rather dismayed look towards Clara, before he shakes his head. "She doesn't know the worst ones, at least, just from when I went off to school."
Greer seems dubious, peering at Niko. "Are you sure, Doctor Clara? He -looks- like a little boy. Oh!" She bounces happily. "Stories are good!" At Niko's dismay, she reaches over, trying to land a pat on his arm. "It's okay. Stories are fun, really."
Tara just laughs. "Now, Niko, you're making me want to go hunt down your sister just to get all those stories out of her... and on tape. I'm sure they'd be very popular around here." She nods to Greer. "He's got a babyface. Don't you, Junior?" She smiles innocently.
Clara actually coughs at the idea of Niko not always having been a paragon of virtue. She's known him long enough now to guess that he wasn't always perfect. That and she's seen his medical records. "I'm sure, dear," she offers to Greer. "Niko's not all that much younger than I am. Junior?" The name draws both surprise and amusement from her as she glances towards Niko curiously.
And Clara hasn't even seen the medical records from about the first thirteen years of Niko's life, Mathraki not being the best about record-keeping, or passing on what records do exist. And those years were -full- of mishaps. Not being able to say no to a dare is a bad thing when one is breakable. "Well, thank you, Greer," he replies, with a grin. "I think that there are -much- better stories than the ones your mother wants to hear, though." He wrinkles his nose at the mention of a babyface, or maybe at the term 'Junior,' and mumbles something about growing a beard before he adds, with a grin to Tara, "Only Kayce can get away with calling me that, and that's because he's old enough to be my father. Well, and Kathlyn, but she'd hurt me if I gave hre a hard time." He flashes a quick grin to Clara, then. "Well, they weren't allowed to call me 'kid,' after all. Riley wouldn't let 'em."
Greer cocks her head. "Okay," she allows. "But he's a kid, inside. You should -see- all the chocolate he's got in his desk." Niko gets a curious look. "Like what kinda stories?"
Tara snickers. "Yeah, well, Kayce is nice enough to get away with just about anything." She doesn't comment on Kath, but her eyes twinkle as she notes with faked aggrievement, "Yeah, Addison had to go and spoil all their fun."
"You know as well as I do why Riley won't let people call you kid," Clara notes with faint amusement, climbing to her feet to snag the rest of the second pizza and store it in the fridge. She does return with an entire tin of cookies though to replace the pizza. "Anyone need a refill? Or I've got plenty milk, and there's iced tea. Niko, you've got that soda you brought tooo..."
Niko considers Greer's question for a long moment. "Stories that start 'once upon a time,'" he replies finally. "Or 'long ago and far away.' Stories that are old, that tell how things used to be." Yes, Niko likes fairy tales. Tara gets a brief grin. "Kayce is great," he says simply, before casting a rather sheepish grin to Clara. "Well, yes. He made that clear. I'm fine on drinks, though." In fact, his wineglass is missing only about half the liquid it initially contained.
Tara smiles, shaking her head, and taps her own glass. "I'm trying to take it easy. Wine's always had an... interesting effect on me, but thanks." She gives Niko a faint grins. "Kaycen is... an enigma. Which makes him interesting, but he's not half as cute as Korval is."
Greer's eyes widen as she stares at Niko, milk clutched in both hands. "Oh! Like the ones Ali said about. Where's your horse?"
Clara sighs heavily, getting herself a glass of iced tea, as her own wine is gone. "Great, make me look like a lush," she mourns, somewhat amused. "Those really are the best stories, though," she agrees as the song on the player sings something about 'just go to sleep now, close your eyes'. "Kaycen...he's a wonderful man. He's always been so good to all of us. I'd bake him cookies too, but I don't know if that'd be punishment or thanks," she admits with a laugh, reaching for one of said cookies.
Niko peers curiously at Tara. "What's enigmatic about Kayce?" he queries. "And he'd probably appreciate cookies, Clara. I always make sure to save brownies for him when Ela bakes, as everybody else always swarms 'em. Not that there's anything wrong with that." Greer gets a blink, and a look of mild puzzlement. "I have a horse? Wow. Ela's going to be annoyed." And he says this with utter seriousness.
Greer nods, quite seriously, and gets up on her knees to reach for a cookie with a grin, then tries to climb into Niko's lap. (Believe her typist- this happens RL!) "Ali said knights have horses. Where's your horse? What kinds of quests have you," she pauses to recall the words, "Ventured forth bravely on?" She bites into the cookie, chewing thoughtfully.
Tara smiles slightly, giving a little shrug as she too goes for a cookie. "He seems strong, but he's still a nice guy. Lots of self-control, too." She grins over at Clara. "Hey, if you don't mind me a tad tipsy, bring on the rest of the bottle."
Oh, dear. Greer's being insanely cute again. Hear that overbearing ticking? That would be Clara's biological clock. She hides an 'awww' behind her iced tea. "Niko's had a lot of quests," she volunteers with a rather warm smile at the man, then grins at Tara and lifts her glass. "Hence I switched to iced tea myself."
Niko is agreeable to having Greer in his lap, apparently, as he assists in this quest. "Well, see, I don't have a horse," he replies. "I rode one once, and it didn't get along with me. Besides," he adds, in a stagewhisper, "Horses are kind of slow. I'd rather get around a little faster than a horse can go." In other words, his driving in a speeder is not unlike Riley's. He doesn't go on in that vein, though, lest one of the elder women smack him, but instead peers thoughtfully at Tara. "Strong guys ordinarily aren't nice? Um, I'm offended?" He doesn't sound offended, though, just curious and maybe a little tired. He flashes a grin to Clara as he's reminded of that question. "Let's see. I've rescued damsels in distress. And, uh, male damsels, too, whatever they're called." Niko obviously needs to brush up on his terminology. He ponders for a moment, then adds, "Oh, and I've got a grail. It was a present."
Greer seems pleased at Clara's comments. "Lots of adventures?" Her eyes widen. "You've got a -grail-? Can I see it?" Okay, she seems faintly disappointed that Niko doesn't have a horse, but accepts his explanation. "Faster? You're a pilot, like Mama?"
Tara laughs a little. "Hard to explain, Niko. Kayce isn't just nice, he's... Heck, I take it back. I can't explain it. He's just so in -control- of himself." Male damsels? She snickers, then grins at Clara, lifting her glass. "I'll finish this slowly then. Goes good with the cookies anyhow. Good cookies, Clara."
Clara all but winces at the reminder of Niko's preferred speed of travel, having ridden with Riley at least before. Never mind that Riley is kind and drives carefully so he doesn't have a screaming madwoman in his passenger seat. "Don't most of you Navy fellows learn to fly some?" she wonders, then notes to Greer, "He even saved me once or twice. Niko's a very brave knight. Thanks, Tara," she adds, brightening at the compliment to the cookies.
Niko confirms, with a crooked grin, "Lots of adventures, and yes, you may see my grail, but not tonight. It's at home, see, and my wife might be there and sleeping by now. It'd probably wake her up if we came in and tugged the grail out of the closet. I'm not a pilot, though, sorry. Just like going fast." He offers a grin to Clara. "I know some of the theory, but haven't actually spent time on a ship, other than as a passenger." He ponders Tara's explanation, then nods. "Yeah. Kayce is a good guy. Understatement, that. He's a rock."
Tara nods firmly. "A rock. That's a good way to put it." And if it weren't for Kayce, Kath probably would've shredded Tara that one time when the pilot was stunned. Tara likes Kayce. "Hey," she grins at Clara, "Those cooking lessons have paid off."
Greer sighs happily. "Lots of adventures. I wanna hear -all- about 'em." She gives his arm a pat. "That's okay. Not everybody can be a pilot." Wide eyes turn to Clara. "He saved -you-? How? When?"
Clara reaches a hand over to snag the toe of Greer's shoe and bounce it up and down cheerfully. "Kaycen," she muses quietly, "I respect a vast amount. Ever since the Denner incident I couldn't be more grateful to him. It's like he's almost a father to those of us young enough to be in that age group." She pauses at Greer's question, grinning slightly. "Oh, let's see. He saved me when we were in a siege situation, and he kept me safe while we went foraging for supplies."
Niko flickers a brief smile to Tara. "Glad you approve." And, no, he's not being snide. Greer gets a nod, and another smile. "Yup. And it's a good thing, too, otherwise it would be tough for a pilot to find a job, with everybody else being a pilot, too. You can hear about all of 'em, though, sure." He looks just a bit sheepish at Clara's words, and shakes his head.
Greer's eyes sparkle. "-Wow!-" She twists around to beam up at Niko. "You're a bone-fido -hero-! I never knew a hero before."
Tara's eyebrows rise in amusement. "A father?" Softly she hums a song that could be recognizable as 'Older (Wo)men Make Good Lovers'.
Clara simply gives Niko a wry grin and an eyebrow quirk, obviously unrepentent at having made him sound to be a hero. "You were a hero, Niko. And the Guido situation, and the exploding pudding, and the Denners, and Denner himself...especially with Denner himself." She shifts a glace to Tara, somewhat puzzled. Country music isn't quite part of her background. "Father-figure at least. Strong, silent, extremely kind."
Niko grins at the kidlet, leaning forward to boop her nose gently with his own. "Not a hero, sorry, Greer. Just doing what has to be done. I'm not Clara," he adds, lifting his head. His expression goes just a bit grim at the mention of Denner, lifting a hand to rub at his eyes, then nods over to Tara. "Father-figure, yeah, like Clara said. There's enough of an age difference. He's going to be--oh, hey, he's got a birthday soon. Two months, I think. I'll have to check."
Greer blinks, and giggles at Niko, turning back around and snuggling down in his lap. "You are too a hero. Doctor Clara said so," she states matter-of-factly, then tips her head back to look up at him again curiously. "You think Doctor Clara's a hero too?"
Tara chuckles. "He could be seen as that, I suppose. Does that make y'all sibs?" Let's twist the family tree a -little- bit more.
Clara doesn't really answer, but she does lean over to attempt to squeeze Niko's arm in a manner of comrades, one person who went through that brand of hell to another who was there too. She ends up with a ruffle attempt at Greer's hair, grinning. "Not a chance, kiddo. I'm just a simple doctor." She gives Tara a rather amused look. "Not yet, at least."
Niko wraps his arms lightly around the kidlet, hugging her close for a moment. Yes, this is a man who should be a father. "Yes, Clara's a hero," he contradicts. "She does some pretty amazing things, don't you think? She's helped a lot of people, myself included. Fixed me when I was broken a couple times, in fact." She's glue! He blinks a bit at Tara, then chuckles. "Well, we already are, kind of, with Riley." Clara gets a brief grin, then he adds, "No such thing as a simple doctor. Well, except maybe Vryce."
Greer revels in the hug, returning it delightedly. "Oh yes," she nods. "Doctor Clara's wonderful! She fixed me, and Mama, and -everybody-." Then her nose wrinkles, and she states, "I don't like Doctor Vryce."
Tara just snickers. "Rah nepotism," she teases. "I'm so looking forward to the day when Addison's sitting in his office, mumbling 'I made him an offer he couldn't refuse'."
Oh, dear. Now Niko's being painfully cute along with Greer. Isn't there more wine around here somewhere? But Clara sticks to iced tea, blushing slightly and shrugging. "I just do what I was trained to. Nothing brave there." She blinks at Tara before dissolving into laughter, setting down her tea. "How come you never call me Admiral...?" she rasps, then snickers.
Oh, dear, he's getting hugged back. What kind of look would Niko get from Ela if he informed her he wanted a baby? He doesn't comment on that, though, instead resting his chin lightly atop the child's head. Look, Clara! He's being more cute! "I don't like Doctor Vryce either," he stagewhispers down to her. "Not a nice man." Tara's words get quite a bit of snickering. "The Godbrother? Oh, my." And appropriate, considering that Riley's player is God.
Greer shakes her head just a little. "Not nice at -all-. And he doesn't like chocolate." Heretic. The adults get a faintly confused look for the various snickers and laughter.
Tara snickers muchly. "Of course, we'd all have to add vowels to the ends of our names. Oh heavens..." She leans back against the couch, grinning, and takes a sip of her wine. "Mmmm. Comfy. You got a nice place here, Clara," she notes appreciatively.
TICK. TICK. TICK. Yes, folks, this would be Clara's biological clock again. What's worse is Riley would agree to parenthood if she asked. He's already said he would. "Not me," she notes, grasping on the funny stuff again. "I could just go with the family name and try for the Irish end of the deal. We're talking about an old, old story, darling," she adds to Greer with a smile.
Niko starts to get to his feet, scooping up Greer as he does so, the better to set her on her feet, with the care that one might ordinarily take with spun glass. "Very nice," he agrees with Tara. "And I think you're going to end up with another slumber party if I don't get home. My next shift is going to come far too soon." He flickers a quick grin to Clara, then, with a murmur about family connections to the Hellenic mafia. Maybe he's joking. Maybe not.
Greer ohs quietly. "I don't think I ever heard that story." She gives Niko a wistful smile and waves. "You could sleep here with Doctor Clara," she offers. "The bed's big enough."
Tara chokes on her wine, spluttering a bit, and dissolves into snickers. "Hey, if that's true," she rasps, grinning up at Niko, "Gimme some names."
"Thank you...Arthur did a fantastic job picking it out for us," Clara responds finally after a rather amused look at Niko for the Hellenic mafia quip, being a little slow since her player is also on happy fun cold meds. She scrambles to her feet as well to attempt to swipe a hug from Niko, grinning. "Thanks for coming over, hey? Give Ela my best. And if he stayed, where would Riley sleep when he comes home?" she wonders to Greer without even spluttering.
Niko replies to Tara, with a quirked grin, "My grandfather, actually. Ciprian Heriseu. He died when I was tiny, though, so I doubt he'd be any help." He returns Clara's hug, naturally, and, either exhausted enough to be relaxed about it or greatly daring, does his best to kiss her cheek lightly, the sort of kiss a brother might give to a sister, if she doesn't have cooties. "My best to Ela," he agrees. He hunkers down, then, to grin at Greer. "And Ela would probably miss me. I'm supposed to have sleepovers with her, see."
Tara's mouth quirks. "Very little help, yes." She wiggles her fingers in something akin to a wave. "Sleep well, Niko." Clara gets an amused look. "Arthur? Grouchy old Arthur? You're kidding, right?"
Greer goes for a big hug on Niko. "Oh! That'd be a bad thing then." She glances toward Clara before releasing Niko. "It's a -big- bed," she says solemnly.
Clara doesn't seem to mind the kiss at all, and returns the favor with an attempt at ruffling Niko's hair helplessly while grinning, then heads around to drop to a seat in one corner of the couch. "It is a big bed. But Niko and Riley are big men. I wouldn't fit," she replies just as solemnly,then grins at Tara. "Amazing, no? I think he likes Riley though. Me he wants to skin."
Niko returns the hug, just tightly enough to be tight but without causing discomfort, eyes closing briefly in a decidedly wistful, homesick expression when his face is out of Greer-eyeshot. His sister isn't the only one who misses the small children of the family. He ruffles the kidlet's hair--his own is ruffled, after all--then gets lightly to his feet. "Besides," he adds, with a grin, "I'd probably end up with elbows and such where they don't belong. It's better that I go home to my Ela." Aww. -His- Ela. He offers a hint of a bow, then turns to head for the door. "Have a pleasant evening, ladies. And don't stay up too late."
Clara sketches a salute at Niko with a warm smile. "Your Ela," she murmurs in approving agreement. "Orders to kiss her, Casymed," she quips amiably. "Sleep well, Niko. G'night," she offers.
Greer waves quickly. "G'night, Mister Niko!" Her eyes still sparkle. She's gained another idol.
"That's so sweet." Tara smiles. "Later, Junior."
Niko can be a graven image, woo hoo! He just flickers a grin over his shoulder to Clara. "Like I'd need orders to do that. G'night, the three of you."
Niko walks towards the Third Floor Elevator Lounge.
Greer sighs happily, and turns back to Clara, plunking down on the floor. "Maybe you're right," she admits. "Riley -is- a giant. Mister Niko's big too."
Clara exhales a quietly contented sigh, watching the man leave with a fond smile. "It makes all the sense, kidlet," she offers from where she is on the couch. "They -are- brothers. Riley's just part Edreeni, which means he's extra tall. Niko's a very nice man, though."
Tara nods her agreement, grinning. "And he seems to like kids, too. We'll have to keep inflicting you," and she pokes Greer's tummy, making the girl giggle, "On him. And on Ela, if we get the chance."
"He is nice," the little girl affirms, then blinks. "Riley's part Edreeni? -That- explains it."
"He's from a huge family. Children are vastly important to him," Clara explains, then chuckles. "Keep inflicting, but I don't know how soon they'll have children. They're as busy as Riley and I are." She chuckles at Greer, rubbing at her eyes. "One-eighth, yes. His great-grandmother is full Edreeni."
Tara's mouth quirks. "That explains all the relatives around here. -Some- of 'em have to pop up. Ah, but I know better than anybody that putting things off can be a mistake, neh? That's why I keep bugging him to have kids," she notes sheepishly.
Greer leans forward, peering at the doctor. "You're tired. And you got work in the morning," she realizes reluctantly. "Have you ever met his great-grandmother?"
"It just depends on the circumstances, to be honest," Clara admits, jerking her hand sheepishly down from rubbing her eyes. "They're both fairly young still. Niko's five and a half years younger than I am, actually." She gives Greer an apologetic smile. "I am tired, sweetheart. It's been a long day. And I have met her. Actually, she was the CMO here before I was. She's a doctor too."
Tara glances toward Greer before nodding slightly. "Young, yes. But Niko's job is very... adventurous, shall we say?" She blinks. "That doctor you mentioned, the one who pulled you in from the field for this job? -That's- Addison's great-grandmother?"
Greer nods firmly, getting to her feet, and reaches for both cookie and her mother's hand. This isn't easy, mind, when one is also clutching a stuffed moose. "That's neat, that you got to meet her. I bet she's a real nice lady, just like Riley."
"That's her," Clara affirms with a laugh. "Hard to believe they're related sometimes, and then sometimes it's blindingly obvious. I adore her though. And she's a very nice lady Greer." She lifts her brows at the girl with a grin. "Is it past your mother's bedtime?" she wonders, although it's getting harder for her to mask her own weariness.
Greer shakes her head, grinning sheepishly as she tugs on her mother's hand. "You're a doctor. You need lots of sleep, so you can be alert."
Tara gets to her feet, setting the stil half-full wineglass on the table and looking amused. "I'd've liked to have seen that. Somehow I can't picture Addison yelling at his own great-grandmother for doping him up. Greer, however, is correct, as usual." She smiles down fondly at the girl. "We've taken up an awful lot of your time today."
Clara climbs to her feet as well, only to circle around the table and try to claim a hug from Greer as Niko had. "I appreciate you guys coming, actually. This was a lot of fun. But I need sleep, you're right. And I'll wager both of you need sleep as well."
Greer drops her mom's hand briefly (but not the cookie) to return the hug enthusiastically. "We like coming! I do, at least. -Mama- needs her sleep. She was the one that got operated on."
Tara grins wryly. "And you're a little girl, and little girls need their sleep. I let you stay up far too late as it is, Greer." She looks up to nod to Clara with a smile. "Hey, give us a yell when you're up here on your lonesome. We'll be glad to keep ya company. This evening was great, Clara."
Clara straightens again, raking back her hair and grinning with easy sleepiness. "You both have good reasons to sleep. We all do. And I will, Tara. Thank you both for coming. Let me know if the eye gives you any problem, hmm? Goodnight, ladies," she adds amiably.
Tara chuckles, ushering Greer toward the door after the girl retrieves her hand. "Alright, alright, I'll sleep too. I will, Clara. Y'all have a good night too."
Greer waves back with a grin right before the door shuts behind her. "G'night, Doctor Clara! Thank you for the pizza, and the cookies, and..." The door closes, muffling the last words. "And the milk!"
Greer moves towards the Third Floor Elevator Lounge.
