Medical Bay
Even the circulation of air can't quite keep the antiseptic smell from this room. Immaculately clean, the tiles of the floor are the same pristine white as the walls. Gadgets and gizmos abound. The highest medical technology available for all the races that might conceivably come to the station are present. A pair of beds near the door provide places for emergent cases, their bioscan devices ready for monitoring. Doors lead to rooms for surgery, short-term care, and long-term care. (OOC note: To set your room doing, try 'I'm <doing>'.)
Contents:
Julie, standing by the door.
Clara, standing by the door.
Obvious Exits:
Short Term Care Chief's Office Elevator Lounge
Clara is back by the door to surgery discussing a matter with a bear of a bearded man in a similar lab coat, albeit over civilian office clothing. At seeing the younger woman enter, she breaks mid sentence and smiles, waving her over. "Julie, over here. This is Jones. Jones, this is our newest professional tormenter, Julie Foster."
Julie quietly returns, heading for the coffee maker automatically til she hears the call, and turns to approach the others, giving Jones a courteous nod. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Clara's mentioned your name several times."
Jones offers a quiet smile, which is no surprise. He does everything quietly. "Welcome to the mad house, Dr. Julie Foster." Clara gets a briefly amused look from somewhere in that moustache and beard before he chuckles. "It's all lies, though. Don't believe a word the Doc says 'bout me."
Tarrant arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Tarrant has arrived.
Which of course earns Jones a poke in the arm before Clara notes with a grin, "I don't, she emphasizes. "How was your lunch, th-...Tarrant?" She breaks off as the man comes in, nonplussed. "Is everything all right?" she asks, leaving the other two to make her way to him.
A polite smile touches Julie's lips as she reaches for her lab coat, shrugging into it. "Her words were praisef-" She too cuts herself off, turning away slightly to follow Clara's gaze.
Poor Tarrant. He has the attention of three of the four wicked tormentors in Medbay, and even Jones is turned to tilt his head at the man, reflecting Clara's concern.
Tarrant pokes his head around the door briefly before coming all the way in. He's obviously in a painfully good mood, and for once, isn't even limping at all. Whatever the painkiller handed over was, it must be efficent. He grins to Clara, nodding, "Yeah, sorry to pester you, but Corian suggested I ask you to give me a write off to once again resume living and being a general pest. Treehouse building and all that."
Jones leans down to Clara and murmurs, "I'll let you get this one. I'll be in postop," before turning to make his way back through the swinging doors.
Clara nods at the news and flashes a smile back at Julie. "Want to assist? This's an easy one. Hop up and have a seat," she adds to Tarrant, gesturing at the bioscan bed.
Julie nods, tucking her hands into the pockets of her lab coat as she follows along. "I take it Mr... Tarrant has been here before?"
Tarrant does hop up as indicated, shifting himself up to perch on the bioscan. Affecting mock indignation he harrumphs, "I'd have you know, I am -not- easy, goodness..."
Clara moves to a locked cabinet and thumbs the lock undone before removing one of the very few charts in there before returning, laughing merrily. "Mr. Tarrant Czolgosz, who is decidedly -not- easy, is a friend. One of my more breakable ones, but I seem to acquaint myself with such people. Today we are seeing if he's ready to rejoin the world of the living after being shot by a plasma bolter. Shirt off, sir? I assume you no longer need help..."
Julie inclines her head to Tarrant at the introduction, staying well out of the way. "Plasma bolter?" She gives Clara a startled look.
Tarrant shrugs off his denim jacket, then unbuttoning the denim colored buttondown absently, "Nor am I breakable, Clara, you'll be the ruin of me yet. I just have had a run of awkward luck." Grinning he shrugs off the shirt, perhaps not as easily as he hopped up on the biobed, but with little difficulty. "Nah, I can manage myself now. An actual hot shower, rather than a cold one for the first time in goodness knows how long, and some sleep, worked wonders." He's still looking rather sappily happy, hit him, please, somebody.
Clara isn't smug. Okay, maybe just a -little- smug. Microsmug. She unholsters her scanner and waves Julie over to watch as well. "You needed all of the above," she notes to Tarrant, then notes gently, "Congratulations, by the way. Now, this is Dr. Foster, our newest doc here. Mind if I use you as a teaching subject?" Julie gets a half smile and nod. "Plasma bolter. Ever treated a wound like this?" she gestures at the fairly fresh scarring on the man's side.
Julie gives Tarrant a vaguely amused look. "Cold showers are more refreshing, I've found." She nods to Clara, taking a step closer. "Too many times."
Hey, look, Tarrant can -blush-, and quite a festive shade of red as well. Attempting to ignore the fact however he simply nods, "I don't mind at all." He grins wryly at Julie, "Ah, but having the option might be nice. My quarters are a hot water free zone."
"Your quarters are a broom closet, Tarrant," Clara scoffs, then notes to Julie, "We have some transdermal scarring here, but I think it'll halt itself soon enough. What do you think?" The scanner makes its journey over said section.
"Hey, it's a broom closet with a -couch-," Tarrant points out, grinning. He's careful not to move. "I still hold onto hope however, of arranging to move. Maybe if I grovel."
Julie moves closer for a better look and a glance at the scanner, finally nodding. "Eventually. It'll leave a mark though, more than likely. A rakish one," she adds, glancing up at Tarrant. "No hot water? Perhaps you should change quarters. Preferably to someplace with a bathtub. Epsom-Minari salt bath," she notes with a glance to Clara.
Clara's brows quirk at Julie in appraisal as she nods. "You know, I hadn't thought of that. That'd likely help a great deal," she agrees. "Would you like me to have Riley wrangle over Maintenance, Tarrant? When we decided to cohabitate, it ended us up in the most amazing quarters. Not big, but the -ceiling- looks like a sky." She's pleased about this, still, definitely.
"Now I don't want to go putting you to trouble, Miss Clara..." Tarrant shakes his head slightly. "Although I appreciate the offer, and everything else."
Julie does the slightest double-take at Clara's last sentence, actually snickering softly. "So much for originality," she murmurs to herself, vastly amused, before glancing to Tarrant. "We're doctors. Trouble's routine, and better quarters hardly count as that."
Clara quirks a faintly puzzled smile at Julie before nodding in full agreement, snapping off the scanner and reholstering it. "Let your arm down. She's absolutely right, too. And this would be entirely no trouble. For anyone," she adds, slightly emphasizing the last word with a significant look to the patient. "Now...you mentioned treehouse building?"
Tarrant lowers his arm as indicated, nodding. "Yeah, the park rather lacks one. What kind of crazy place is this, without a -treehouse- for goodness sake. A Sectassian style one, considering the number of Sectasslets." He looks rather sheepish, "Well, if you're sure it wouldn't be any trouble. As much as I enjoyed camping at Corian's, I don't think that's much of a longterm option."
Julie's eyebrows rise, and she slowly looks Tarrant up and down. "A treehouse? Do you have children, sir?"
Clara doesn't seem surprised at any of Tarrant's statements, but instead nods affably. "It's always good to have an extra place to go." Julie gets a grin as she moves to start prepping a hypo. "He means the Sectassian brood, Julie. Our ambassador has the prerequisite five wives...and an accompananing component of kidlets."
Tarrant grins at Julie, shaking his head, "No, although I've been told I -am- a child, does that count?" He watches Clara's preperations in interest.
Julie blinks as comprehension finally dawns visibly in her expression. She mutters to Clara. She glances back toward Tarrant with a polite chuckle. "Depends on who said it."
Clara senses "Julie blinks as comprehension finally dawns visibly in her expression. "Oh, that's right. The loony bin. I'd forgotten." She glances back toward Tarrant with a polite chuckle. "Depends on who said it.""
Clara can't help but laugh at the quiet comment from the other doctor, bringing the hypo back to administer into Tarrant's neck. "At ease, friend. It's just vitamins, minerals, and nutrients with your particular system makeup in mind. Fly free, sozzled owl. Build the kids that treehouse. Let me know when it's finished so I can play too." She grins at Julie and shakes her head. "He's a kid, despite what he looks like."
Tarrant sets about tugging on and re-buttoning his shirt. "Hey, I found new appreciation for being a sozzled owl. Whatever the heck you gave me earlier for pain's been letting me walk straight without having to work at it for the first time in ages. Admittedly, it won't last, but hey, it's nice while it does." The jacket is pulled on over the shirt, "Aye-aye, Major, will do." Julie gets a grin, "More'n one person I'm afraid, but I'm hardly going to object."
Julie chuckles, folding her arms. "Appearances are, then, deceiving. Please don't hesitate to return if the wound bothers you at all."
Clara folds her arms as well and steps back, pose unconsciously echoing the smaller woman's. It's a doctor thing. "Or for any other reason, of course," she adds. "I'll talk to Riley tonight about new quarters."
Tarrant slips down from the biobed, landing neatly. Grinning he tips his imaginary hat to the both of you, half bowing. "Thanks for your time ladies, and I'd appreciate that Miz Clara, I really would." With that, and a wave, he heads for the door, far too cheerful a human being, still more or less limpless.
Tarrant heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Tarrant has left.
Julie cocks her head curiously, gazing after the man. "Mr. Czolgosz certainly is... unique. In more ways than one."
Clara watches said gentleman leave, then nods in quiet agreement and flips open the chart, very much with incomplete information, but with at least things like age and what vital stats are normal, and holds it out so you can see. "We see a lot of injuries in here that are traumatic. Plasma bolts, close range tangling, poison, stabbing...and we stay out of it. Medbay has been, is, and will stay apolitical, I dearly hope. We treat the wounds, and ask how, but never why." She sighs and leans against the bioscan.
Julie lets out a low whistle in response to Clara's words as she glances over the chart. "And here I'd been thinking I'd seen my share of combat injuries for a whi-." She blinks, and points to a figure on the chart. "Is that correct?"
"Politics," Clara replies grimly, "are a viscious business, I've discovered." She glances down at the figure, then half smiles and closes the chart to return to its well locked cabinet. "It was, yes. Surprising, isn't it? And again, we don't ask. We just treat. There are times when Security will need to be informed of an injury...if it comes to that, let me do it? Bring the info to me, and I'll take the heat for it, if necessary."
Julie shakes her head in half-disbelief. "I'd love to get a look at his chromosomes." She glances up at that last, eyebrows rising. "Aye," she agrees affably. "Can't say as I can conjure an image of heat arising from something like that."
Clara shrugs slightly, offering a rueful grin. "Wouldn't think so, would you? Mr. Czolgosz, for example, is one of the few patients I see exclusively. Vryce and Jones haven't even seen his chart, but only because they're civilians. That and they work the wrong shifts to deal with him. Now, aside from the mess of violent injuries, we also get hypochondriacs from the fourth floor. How's your diplomacy level, doctor?" she adds with a wry grin.
Julie pauses, glancing upward with a grimace. "I've had a fair deal of practice in it." Her eyes flicker back to you with a touch of amusement. "Few plasma bolt injuries like to stick to schedules."
Clara snickers easily and pulls a -very- thick chart out of another drawer, also locked, but only by combination, not thumbprint. "Take a look at this one," she offers, amused, thumbing through the top section. "This bit is just the last year," she adds, leafing through the pages.
***** Editor's note- it's Riley's chart *****
Julie gives you a curious look, flipping open the chart to leaf through it slowly, pausing a couple of times. At one point, her eyebrows shoot for the ceiling. "Pudding?" Shaking her head slightly, she goes on, eventually offering the chart back. "I think his guardian angel has an odd sense of humor."
A plague of locusts descends from the heavens.
"Pissed off pudding," Clara clarifies (woohoo, alliteration!), smirking. "I think he has a guardian imbecile, actually, at times. This little moronic angel who remembers to help just in the nick of time." She glances at the ceiling briefly, as if slightly puzzled, then shakes her head. Naah. Couldn't have been locusts.
Julie keeps a straight face. "The nick of time? /He's/ not much better."
Clara answers with a deadpan, "Someone had cleaned his clock on that trip, though too. Broken leg," she adds.
Julie shakes her head, actually allowing a groan for the pun. "And you got to play hickory dickory doc for both?" Okay, stretching it, yeah.
Clara actually grins at that, not groaning at the slightest. In fact, she seems rather delighted at the additional punnage as she flips to another page of the chart absently. "I got to patch them both, yes. I swear, as much trouble as they get into, it's running up the clock on them."
Julie really and truly grins at that one, though her expression soon returns to normal. She gestures toward the chart cabinet. "How often on average would you say they get clocked?" The question is half-serious. "I'm surprised they're not on semi-permanent medical leave. Or is this normal for the other SecOffs as well?"
"Actually, this is about appropriate for most of Security, I've found," Clara replies with just a hint of wistfulness. "This was probably the most frightening of all the incidents I've seen. We had to take it minute by minute, then."
Niko arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Niko has arrived.
Niko breezes into medbay, beskated. He's actually very steady on them, and even manages stopping without any problems. He's got a couple folders in hand, possibly the reason for his visit. He doesn't look broken, at least.
Julie tilts her head to the side for a better angle as she reads for a moment, then glances up. "They don't come much closer than that. I take it there wasn't anybody else available to perfo-" She cuts herself off automatically at the arrival, nodding a pleasant greeting to the SecOff. "If your ears are burning, I'm afraid there's no cure."
Clara's lips quirk in nostalgic, if somewhat sad, memory at the chart as she shrugs. "There was, but I'm the best at thoracic surgery here," she explains, not bragging, but stating a fact. The sound of wheels gets her attention as she blinks, then groans. "I suppose if you've come to break yourself, this -is- the place to be..."
"Ears burning?" Niko replies. "What, you ladies talking about me? And I'm not breaking, Clara, I'm playing paperwork fairy. The wings are under the jacket." He indicates his back as he glides over to offer the folders. "Festive. And I'm being good. I'm taking the elevator and everything. Though I bet I could -get- the stairs, if I timed 'em right." He's joking. Right?
Clara takes the folders and waggles them at Niko with amused warning. "You try the stairs in those mister, and next time I'm not dropping you into stasis when I regenerate the half dozen body parts that snap. And yes, I'm showing her Riley's chart, which naturally includes you half the time. And making clock puns. Time is of the essence."
Julie nods to Niko's question even as she fixes him with a look. The skates don't seem to phaze her- at this point it seems normal. "I wouldn't suggest making the attempt. Otherwise I would be forced to force-feed you with statistics on skating injuries." She nods slightly, mouth quirking at Clara's statement, though she doesn't look away from Nick.
Niko rocks lightly back and forth on the skates. "Y'know, Clara," he says, with a grin. "As often as you threaten me with the regenerator, it's going to have less effect eventually. Maybe you should come up with another alternative." He blinks at
Julie's comment for a moment, then inquires, with all apparent credulity, "Those are -edible-? Dang, I took the wrong stats classes."
Julie nods quite seriously, folding her arms. "They're better with lemon though."
Clara can't help but laugh as she makes her way to a glassed in cabinet and removes a somewhat alligator jaw shaped instrument out and brandishes it at Niko. "Fine. En garde..." she threatens cheerfully, then has to drop her arm and laugh. "Men. Two...no, three things on their minds at all times, I swear."
>>OOC: Niko snickers at Julie.
>>OOC: Clara grins and noddles.
>>OOC: Julie grins.
Niko says grandly to Julie, "Everything's better with--ack, okay, whatever that thing is, Clara, it's evil." At her comment, he mumbles something about spraypaint, looking amused, though he prudently skates out of reach.
Julie lets out a snicker. She glances over at Clara, bemused. "Think we won that round."
"Ack! No spraypaint! You're going to give every man in the place warped ideas, Nikolaos Casymed!" She's kind and doesn't use his first name, mainly because she can't pronounce it. The instrument gets a final brandishing before Clara tucks it back in the cabinet before she grins at Julie. "Of course we did."
Niko sighs mournfully at Julie. "See, you've got me outnumbered, that's not fair. If -Riley- were here, now, it'd be a lot better." Clara gets an angelic grin. "Aww, come on, I'm not warping anybody. Not -me-. Wouldn't be chivalrous."
Julie's eyebrows rise in amusement. "It's emininently fair. We're the fairer sex, and we say so."
Uh-oh. Riley has been mentioned. Clara's gaze goes distantly fond for a moment, even absent before she blinks a few times and pulls herself back into the here and now. "No, I'm darker than both of these goofs," she explains to Julie with a grin. "And you are too warping. Either that, or Riley warped you. Maybe it's genetic."
Niko says, with a wry little grin, "Hey, if we're warped, maybe we take after Terrence." He shakes his head, then. "Sorry, ladies, but I've got to go--need to beard the lion in his den and get Arthur to sign some stuff. Don't talk -too- much about me when I'm gone, eh?"
Julie peers at Clara, murmuring about contagious conditions, and turns her head to give Niko a nod. "Oh, we'd never ever do that. Good day, Niko."
Clara shudders gently, a look of mock terror crossing her face. "Take your lion-repellant. He might threathen to set you on fire," she notes solemnly, then grins. "Never ever. Have fun, tiger," she adds. Hey, -you- brought up big cats.
Niko calls cheerfully over his shoulder as he leaves, "G'day. And I'm flame-retardant, Clara. Got it done after that pyro class, precautionary kinda thing."
Niko heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Niko has left.
Julie shakes her head wryly, turning back to Clara. "Humor's a required element around here, isn't it."
"Not really required," Clara responds, still amused by the episode as she moves to flip the folder shut and return it to its cabinet. "More of a survival method. We get some -odd- things that happen around here. Sometimes it's like the whole world's coming apart at the seams. Ever been in combat? It's like that, only with good plumbing."
Julie shakes her head. "That's one experience I've never had. Not that I'm bothered by that fact. Good plumbing... Which brings up back to Mr. Czolgosz. Was he serious when he said he has no hot water, or was he simply making a reference to lust deterrents?"
Clara blinks several times, then actually blushes slightly before laughing. "No, I'm afraid he was completely serious. From what I know of Tarrant, self control would be one of his strong suits. He literally does live in a made over broom closet. It's horrid."
Julie's nose wrinkles. "That's rather ridiculous. He doesn't exactly look indigent..."
"Just another quirk of red tape in beauracracy. He isn't indigent, but he is fairly transient from what I know of him. Hopefully he'll get to settle down for a time though, now," Clara murmurs, that microsmugness returning. "What about you? Settling into your quarters all right?" she asks, moving to get a cup of coffee for herself.
Julie nods, giving you a curious look for the smug look. "He went and fell in love, didn't he? He had the same look on his face that you do when the Chief is mentioned." She follows along, never having returned to the task of coffee obtaining. "Doing alright. My belongings have arrived, so redecorating's going much faster now."
Clara grins behind her mug, eyes dancing, although she shrugs. "Honestly? I can't say for sure what the situation is. I believe he and a certain young woman did come to conclusions, though. I hope so, at least." Oh, look, the blush is back. "I look like -that-? Oh, good heavens," she splutters.
Julie can't restrain a soft laugh as she gets herself some infidel coffee. "You do indeed. It's a rather fascinating transformation."
Clara manages to look terribly embarrassed during a rapid sip from her mug. "Uh. Well, our own understanding is fairly recent, I guess. I...I apologize. You mentioned decorating? What are you doing to your room? I haven't a lick of decorating sense, but I love what other people do."
Julie shakes her head with a sip of coffee and a tiny smile. "No apologies necessary. It's fun to watch." She pauses to nod and take another sip. Addicted to coffee? Naw, couldn't be. "Oh, I repainted the walls to match a train theme and now I'm working on getting those set up." She is, yes, the mistress of understatement.
"Trains? Real trains?" Clara's eyes widen in dark green enthusiasm. "Oh, I -saw- trains back home. Up on the mainland, they have them in outdoor museums."
Julie blinks at the reaction. "Real trains, yes. Well, model ones, at any rate. Heck, usually I have to explain what a train /is/. You wouldn't, perchance, hail from Earth, would you?"
Clara flourishes her hand in a half bow, inclining her head. "Born and bred Terran native, that's me. Or as my dear lifemate says, a stuckup Terran stickybeak. One of the boys in our neighborhood had a model train when I was a child."
Julie ahs, "So I won't have to explain that either. Yes, I'm afraid my heart is not captured by any man, but by a locomotive."
Clara chuckles and sips at her coffee again, gesturing towards the third floor. "I maintained something similar for years, although my heart belongs to a set of drums. Still does, it's just being timeshared, now."
Julie's mouth quirks. She ventures to tease, "Any man willing to take a drummer as lifemate has my admiration. And free earplugs."
Clara splutters her coffee in a sudden laugh, nodding. "Mine too. Actually, when we finally did move in together, it was to quarters with a tiny soundproofed room off to the side. We keep my drums in there so I don't wake him up at 0300."
Julie nods approvingly. "Wise, I'd say, though I do hope that room is baffled well. That many decibels in a tiny room sounds like a request in triplicate for ear damage."
Clara flitters her fingers by one ear, smirking. "I'm deaf as a post. Have to read everyone's mind to get around," she teases, then grins. "Actually, I do wear headphones. They down the relative sound level so I can still hear what I'm doing without the sound reverberating in my skull."
Julie nods firmly, the motion blending smoothly into a drink from her mug. "Now, I'm just guessing here, but I'd guess that drums would be a fantastic way to take out the day's frustrations."
"Oh, -utterly-," Clara agrees affably, plucking a pen from her pocket and twirling it easily in her fingers. "I actually prefer to work on classical scores from older Terran composers, but I'm also taking lessons from the drummer at the Fruvous. What about you? Are trains good for that? I'd think you'd have to be terribly careful with them..."
Julie shrugs lightly, looking a bit embarrassed. "The trains are good for helping to forget everything else for a while. Takes concentration to put them together, build the terrain, and all that. When I'm frustrated I head down to the nearest rec hall."
You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.
"Downstairs," Clara supplies, glancing at the clock. "Would you like to have a look? I'm well off duty by now, and I do think Riley actually is working a little later tonight. The goof took off early last night and went home to crash without telling me."
Julie blinks, then chuckles. "Guess it wouldn't have done me much good to have checked last night if he had my orders. Sure, I can go for that." She sets her coffee aside momentarily to divest herself of the happy fun lab coat.
Clara leaves her coat on, but mainly because she wears it just about all the time she's not at home, although she does tug the stethoscope from behind her neck to replace it where it belongs. "Probably not. And I'm afraid I forgot to ask," she adds apologetically. "I'll remember to tonight. Shall we?"
Julie smiles slightly, gesturing in a 'after you' way. "No worries. Yes, please."
Clara heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Clara has left.
You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
***** Travelspam deleted *****
You walk towards the Recreational Facility.
Recreational Facility
As massively scaled as the rest of the complex is, it should come as no surprise that the recreation hall is also huge. One end is taken up by a large swimming pool and diving tower. Small cabanas are erected nearby for ease in changing clothes. Another section of the bright and airy room is dedicated to various weight machines for use by various races. Some of them in fact are dizzyingly incomprehensible. Presumably -someone- knows how to use them. A sloping ramp leads up to a jogging track above the hall. The track is lined with large open windows that look out onto the atrium and its gardens. This room is usually occupied at all hours by someone or another looking for a bit of exercise.
(OOC Note: To set your room doing, try 'I'm blank'.)
Contents:
Julie, standing by the door.
Clara, standing by the door.
Obvious Exits:
Atrium
Clara strolls casually into the rec hall, half saluting a few security officers arguing with weight sets. "Here we are. Weights, aerobic exercise, swimming pool, jogging track...even a firing range down at the far end," she adds, grinning. "And a -good- one, with simulated scenery and holopistols."
Julie's eyes widen dramatically, her pace picking up a bit of speed. "Oh my gods... Oh, it's good to be Complex! We didn't have anything like this on board, of course..." After a moment of aweful silence, she casts a look at you. "Firing range? Open to all?"
Eying the weightlifting security guards again with a faint grin, Clara nods. "It's a complex situation, and a good one at that, definitely." Not that she's really looking -at- any of the men, that's not her way. "Hmm?" Her eyes are drawn back to the firing range as she walks along as well. "Priority for AF personnel, then down to diplomatic staff. Then general usage." She grins. "We count as priority, since we're authorized for taggers."
Julie perhaps does not seem quite so enthusiastic about the range. "I should probably take advantage of that. I qualified on 'em, of course, but I'm not what anybody would call an expert shot. Not by a long shot." She pauses, and winces at her own words.
Clara pauses to peer down at the smaller woman in concern, although not judgemental in the slightest. "Bad experience with firearms in your past?" she asks gently.
Julie's eyebrows rise, and she shakes her head. "Aside from fixing up folks who've been on the wrong end of one? Nah. I just prefer my puns to be good ones, even if they're unintentional."
Clara shrugs with her brows, nodding almost grimly. "You and me both. I've done plenty of time on both ends of the weapon, and I far prefer practice to the real thing."
Julie's mouth quirks wryly, very little humor in the expression. "I've never seen that latter, but it's a pretty good bet I'd agree if I had. That line in the oath about causing no harm always makes me stop and /think/ every time I hold a weapon, even on a practice range."
Clara slips her hands in her pockets, gaze going slightly distant for a moment. "Me too, actually. I spent a year as a field medic, and actually did have to shoot someone once in self defense...and Infantry in combat don't get blasters with a tangle setting. Never again. Never."
Julie nods in complete sympathy. "I'm not sure I could do the same. Oh, sure, under orders I'd walk out there with a weapon, but..." She trails off, shaking her head. "Now a tangler, that's a bit easier. Though with my luck, the first time I'd have to use one, I'd short out the guy's pacemaker."
Clara can't help but laugh, resuming her walk towards the jogging track and gesturing at the lit and enclosed tennis and racquetball courts beyond. "More fun stuffs. And a tangler might make a pacemaker filibrate, but not much. Tangling's pretty safe unless it's to the spinal column at point blank. Still, you may want to practice in the range. We can't carry tanglers here anyway, but it's good to be accurate with the tagger guns."
Julie nods her agreement with that, stepping along and looking around. "Need a ski machine," she murmurs before raising her volume back to normal. "I daresay. After that terrorist attack y'all had several months back, I bet just about everybody keeps on their toes."
Clara's nose wrinkles at the reminder as she nods faintly. "That was hard, yeah. Every AF member in the place literally had to melt into the walls and hide. We were prime targets."
Julie mhmmms. "I bet. All's well that ends well though, eh?" An owlish blink, and her feet pause before continuing smoothly. "Literally? That's quite a trick, melting."
Clara rolls her eyes good naturedly, reaching out to push at a wall. "Sure, it's this new hypo I've come up with," she teases, then grins. "No, we all went into hiding, is all. It was...interesting. Not something I'd care to repeat."
Julie chuckles softly. "With luck, then, the year's quota of interesting events has been filled."
Clara places a hand over her heart and utters an emphatic, "Amen." She glances about the area for a moment, then notes, "Well, that's about it for the rec hall. Let's see...I assume you've found the mess hall...and you mentioned the Java Quarter. Have you seen any of the shops down that way?"
Julie nods, her expression brightening. "They've this most wonderful bakery down there. Do you know how long it's been since I'd had fresh bread? I restrained myself to two bags of goodies."
Clara's grin widens almost impishly. "Johensen's, yeah. And the toy store! Have you seen the toy store, yet?"
Julie shakes her head sheepishly. "I'm afraid I got rather distracted by the bakery, and then by conversation. Next thing I knew it was 0400 and I had to head in."
Clara gasps softly, then stifles down on it, utterly sheepish. "I have no room to talk. I was up far too late myself. What say we investigate it now? Or if you've other things to attend to, that's fine too."
Julie chuckles. "Only plywood cutting at the moment, and that can wait. And I'm out of goodies."
Clara does a slow circle to head back towards the door, entirely too cheeful about this. "Excellent. That'll give me the chance to get another package of cupcakes from Mr. Johensen, and more ammunition for my disc gun."
Aliana walks here from the Central Atrium.
Aliana has arrived.
Aliana pauses at the doorway, gaze moving around the room.
Julie's eyebrows rise in amusement as she walks along, lab coat in her hands. "So you've one of those as well."
Aliana offers the two a smile as she sees them, 'Afternoon!'
Clara's hands are actually stuffed in the pockets of her lab coat, mainly because she's still wearing it, and she pauses upon reaching the door and returns the greeting. "Aliana, good evening." Julie gets a quick grin and nod. "Riley's sister was kind enough to gift us each with one."
Aliana's brow rises curiously as she overhears the comment.
Julie nods to Aliana after a moment of memory-searching. "Hello there." She gestures toward the Bonded woman, telling Clara with a wink, "Aliana was one of those whose conversation I was distracted in that night."
"I didn't do it" Ali replies almost automatically.
"Should I ask Rhys about that?" Clara replies with a snicker, then ahs at Julie. "Yes, of course. And how is Islien tonight, Ali?"
Julie chuckles slightly. "No worries, Aliana."
Aliana laughs softly, before she pauses as if listening to an unseen voice...then she nods once, "She sends along her greetings..wishes me to inform you that she is doing very well, just a little sleepy at the moment and thanks you for your kind consideration. How are you feeling?" Ali seems rather amused by this.
"Fine as can be," Clara replies, gesturing at the door. "We were just on our way to the bakery, and perhaps the toy shop. Would you care to accompnay us?"
Aliana eyes the track for all of maybe a second, before grinning. "I most certainly would."
Julie coughs, glancing down at the floor. "Did, perhaps, Mr. Czolgosz show you the toy shop, Clara?"
Clara's brows quirk at the question as she resumes her path to the door. "Actually, he didn't. I discovered it back when I was a cadet. I've never really had a chance to go anywhere with Tarrant socially, really."
Clara walks towards the Central Atrium.
Clara has left.
Aliana blinks as she pads after Clara
Aliana walks towards the Central Atrium.
Aliana has left.
You walk towards the Central Atrium.
Central Atrium
Filled with greenery and assorted plants from a hundred different Alliance worlds, this massive atrium is a chaotic and interesting place. The room itself is round, with evenly-spaced archways leading to the other areas. Each archway is color-coded, with a label telling where it leads in standard and the languages of each of the major races. For those who pause to look upwards, the escheresque upper levels of the complex may be seen, as the atrium reaches through the entire complex, with a plasglass skylight at the top through which Linnae's sunlight may filter. Paths wend their way through the carefully tended gardens, and small placards label the groups of vegetation and their homeworld. Some are labeled with the universal symbol for danger, be careful, they bite. Groups of benches are located here and there for the comfort of passing delegates and those attempting to lobby them.
The elevator is at floor number 1 (the doors are closed) and appears to contain one person.
Contents:
Aliana
Clara
Corian
Obvious exits:
Stairs Elevator Diplomatic Hall Arch Out Rec Hall Dining Meeting Hall Spaceport
Corian comes from the diplomatic hall, actually. Really. Not from the stairs. She looks very chipper, and offers a pleasant smile to the trio as she spots them. "Good evening."
Aliana smiles, face warming as she sees the translator,'Hello, Corian..It is nice to see you again.'
Julie's eyebrows rise as she pauses. "Corian? Sounds familiar..."
Corian, with a quizzical smile, says, "Corian Treston, ma'am. I do not believe we have met."
Clara brightens as well and makes the introductions. "Corian, let me introduce my newest doctor on staff, Dr. Julie Foster. Julie, this is Corian Treston, as she said, and Riley's sister."
Julie inclines her head at the introduction. "Very pleased to meat you, Ms. Treston."
Corian, hand over her heart, fingers splayed, offers a graceful bow. "Well met indeed, yes--and please, call me Corian. You are the new doctor in the Complex? I do hope that your stay here will be pleasant."
Clara gestures Java Quarter-wise, noting, "We were headed over to Johensen's, if you wanted to join us? And perhaps the toy store, as well. I need more ammunition," she explains sweetly.
Corian inclines her head to Clara, with a sudden smile. "Then my gift is being put to good use. I would be glad to accompany you. I have need of some more of those cookies--for medicinal purposes only, of course," she adds, gray eyes shining with mirth.
Julie nods affirmation to Corian's question. "I've that honor, yes." She pauses, noting to both women with a small smile, "I can see the family resemblance."
Clara simply waggles her brows at the rest of the assembled women. "Off to invade poor Mr. Johensen, and make him think the distaff of all Copper Hill is descending upon him," she decides, and heads off in that direction.
Corian offers Julie a quizzical smile as she trails after Clara. "Really? I always thought I more closely resembled my father."
Julie's mouth quirks as she falls in step with Corian. "It's the bow."
Clara heads towards the Massive Open Air Pavilion.
Clara has left.
Corian heads towards the Massive Open Air Pavilion.
Corian has left.
You head towards the Massive Open Air Pavilion.
***** Travelspam deleted *****
You head into the Shop.
Corian replies to Julie, as she comes through the door, "That is a gesture that is often used in our culture. But it is a way to identify us, yes, I suppose." Then the aromas of the bakery hit her, and she sighs very quietly, murmuring, "This really is a wonderful place."
Clara leads a small group of women into the store, calling, "Tuusen taak, Herr Johensen!" The elderly man pokes his head out of the backroom and boggles for a moment, then bustles up, frankly appreciative. He may be old, but he's not dead. He can still look so long as Mrs. Johensen isn't about.
An apprecitaive smile fills Ali's face as she inhales deeply, "There is just something about a bakery."
Julie nods her agreement with Cori, breathing in deeply to absorb the aromas of the shop. "I was completely stunned when I followed my nose into this place the other night."
Aliana nods her head, 'Her face was plastered against the case...See, noseprints'
Corian laughs very quietly at Aliana's words. "Now that must certainly have been a picture," she murmurs, before drifting gracefully away to ponder some fudge.
Julie turns red. With a murmured, "Thanks, Aliana," she turns to peruse the pastries.
Corian casts a quick smile over her shoulder to Julie. "This place is most certainly deserving of such a gesture."
Aliana offers a slight bow as she considers the pastries herself.
Clara finishes wrangling with the elderly shopkeeper and comes away with a large foam cup of cappucino and a bad of cupcakes, entirely thrilled. "Chocolate. This should earn me non-evil points somehow. I hope."
Julie can hardly disagree with that. "I could easily live on items bought in this shop for the next decade or so." She turns her head to give Clara an amused look. "With whom are you earning points?"
Aliana finally decides on an eclair and a cup of java. As she moves to join the two, she eyes the bag speculatively, 'Or earn more evil points for bribery?'
Corian wrinkles her nose a bit at Clara's announcement, though she's still obviously amused. "With Riley? But of course." She takes up some of the fudge, then moves to purchase that and the cookies that have already been tucked in a bag for her--she's nothing if not predictable--along with a foam cup of herbal tea.
"Aaah, bribery. I use fudge from home as bribery, actually," Clara replies with a grin, then nods at Julie. "With Riley, which is no surprise. The man's convinced I'm evil on tap. I suppose it's because I told him we have classes in it in medschool."
Julie chuckles quietly. "Will he take chocolate cupcakes to report for his physical without protest?"
"I would show up for a physical if you offered cupcakes." Ali notes agreeably.
Oh, hello blushing. Clara slides peers up to regard one of the shelves of bread in an attempt at casualness. "Uh, actually I did get him to let me give him his physical. Just not in Medbay. Still, the report's in his file. He passed, of course."
Corian takes a moment to investigate the contents of her bag, then nods her approval before closing the bag once more. Her brows arch fractionally at Clara's blush, but she doesn't comment on that, instead murmuring vague approval of the physical-passing.
Aliana starts to comment, but she bites it off midbreath...see, she can show some tact.
Julie gives Clara a startled look, and quickly turns away with a cough. "Well. No need to worry about that anymore. Which would you recommend, the blueberry muffins or the banana nut?"
Kathlyn is here, she's always here when a sly comment can be made. She quips, "Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'playing doctor', doesn't it?"
Clara blinks at the other women, then winces slightly and notes, "A real physical. Good heavens." The problem is, it was perfectly innocent. Clara just blushes a lot. "The blueberry muffins are excellent."
Julie is /not/ snickering at Kathlyn's comment. Really. "Blueberry. Blueberry is good. Ah, what the heck." She orders half a dozen of each.
Kathlyn grins broadly at Clara. "Sure, doc. A real physical. Good for you." She mumbles something about Shan and physicals, before disappearing off into the night.
Corian sends an amused look after Kathlyn, then offers Clara a look that, while amused, holds a hint of sympathy as well. "It is good that you are there to look after my brother."
Clara's lips twitch in a good mix of amusement and mortification as she watches Kathlyn leave, then exhales a laughed sigh. "That women comes up with the most bizarre ideas." Corian gets a grateful smile. "Thank you. Someone has to so he won't turn himself green."
Julie glances toward the others as she takes her purchases. "Others'll do that for him, apparently."
Corian nods her agreement to Julie's words, with a quiet chucklke, then smiles warmly to Clara. "You are most welcome, of course."
Aliana goes rather silent at the mention of the greening...and her eclair gets all of her attention.
Clara clears her throat, all but fleeing from random subjects of certain Security goons, and onto certain pilots. "Have you and Rhys set a date for the wedding yet, Ali?"
Aliana shakes her head quickly, 'No..Not yet. I think his parents want to meet me first.' Funny, she sounds a little worried about that prospect.
Julie moves onto another counter, acquiring a chocolate milkshake, and returns to join the group. "Oh, they'll love you. No worries."
Corian sips lightly at her tea, before nodding to Julie's words. "It seems like the prospect of such a meeting could be daunting, though," she offers, with a smile.
Clara nods in firm agreement, sipping at her coffee. "You can bank on it, certainly. Goodness, my mother thought Riley was perfectly charming, and we aren't even getting married." She pauses a moment, then admits sheepishly, "Then again, she also made a pass at him."
Aliana smiles her thanks to Julia and Corian before chuckling at Clara, 'That would have been...strange for him.'
Julie blinks. "Your /mother/..." She lets out a laugh helplessly. "Interesting lady, your mother."
Corian's brows arch very slowly, lips straightening as she attempts not to smile. Her eyes give her away, though. "She seems somewhat unlike our mothers, then, goodness."
Clara waves a hand, rather amused herself and shaking her head. "Mother's in her early fifties, a little thing. Looks far younger than she is, actually. She's never been married, and wouldn't know what to do if she were. And Riley's just barely fifteen years her junior and was in dress whites. I can't fault her -taste-, just the timing."
Julie chuckles slightly, shaking her head. "I can imagine his reaction at the time..."
Aliana pauses a moment, 'How did he react?'
Corian just shakes her head, expression somewhat amused, one hand curled lightly around her cup as she listens.
Clara leans against a wall, trying not to laugh. "He'd been on a double bounce jump to Earth, had his admirality review, and then gets hit on by my mother. I think he was just stunned, more than anything."
Julie's mouth quirks. "And I bet he still remained charming. Your mother approved of him, I assume?"
Corian's brows arch fractionally, and she looks somewhat less amused. "A double bounce jump," she murmurs, with a shake of her head. "That could not have been pleasant."
"Mm-hmm," Clara replies around draining another measure of coffee. "Mother and Niles both. Niles being the...well, part of the family, really." She nods at Corian, smile fading to sympathy. "It really was a hard day for him. Terra and back, all in fourteen hours. Should have been twelve, but his courier was held in hyper for a few hours."
Aliana is silent for a few moments before she ventures, 'What is a bounce jump?'
Julie blinks, her amusement fading. "Held in hyper? Good grief..."
Clara skims her hand along the open space before her, bouncing it twice as if it were hitting bumps. "The hop into hyper and back out," she explains to Ali. "It's...disconcerting at best. Painful for some people. To spend two hours in it..." She shudders faintly.
Corian shakes her head once more, adding towards Aliana in a quiet murmur, "It is a high-speed method of transport. There are those who believe that the advantages of its efficiency counter the discomfort. I try to avoid it, when possible." She grimaces fractionally at Clara's words. "That must have been awful. Poor Riley."
Julie glances over her shoulder toward the Complex. "How long ago was this?"
Aliana oohhs then a proud beam fills her face,'Rhys showed me that.'
Clara echoes Julie's glance, answering, "Six weeks ago? Something like that. His equilibrium was completely thrown off, but otherwise he was fine. He's a high tolerance for the displacement factor."
Corian shakes her head once more, disposing of her empty cup. "And that is a lucky thing, for him," she murmurs, still looking somewhat troubled.
Aliana tilts her head as she considers Corian,'Is something wrong?'
Corian's pleasant smile is back in place as she turns towards Aliana. "He is my brother," she replies simply. "I worry. It is part of our relationship, I believe."
Julie shakes her head in disgust. "That sort of flight management... there's no excuse for it."
"Perhaps not," Clara ventures, albeit with reserve as she trades a look with Corian and murmurs a single word, "Van'chela," at the woman with an eloquent head tilt before grinning at the others. "We have sweets, we have had caffeine. Do we invade the toy store now and make them fear?"
Corian's brows lift sharply at Clara's word, and she moves a step closer to the younger woman, speaking quietly with her.
Aliana grins, 'I like toys' bonded notes before asking, 'What does Van'chela mean?'
Corian mutters to Clara, "You do... involved... that,..."
Clara shakes her head at Corian reassuringly. "No, I know better. We discussed it," she replies quietly, then grins at Aliana. "Friend, doesn't it, Corian? Something like that. I'm afraid my Kashidian is still terrifying."
Julie glances toward Ali at the toy comment, nodding slightly. "Some toys..." Slowly she smiles. "Some toys are well worth it."
Corian ahs quietly to Clara, relaxing somewhat. "Good, very good. I thought as much, but it is best to make sure. And... yes, it means 'friend', with the implication that it is a close friend--beloved friend, perhaps. There are very few people whom I term van'chela, but my interpretation of the word is perhaps different than some, because of the connotations which I give it." She looks ready to go on, then shakes her head, with an abashed little laugh. "But forgive me, this is hardly the place for a linguistics discussion. The toy shop sounds like an excellent destination."
Aliana repeats it softly to herself,'Its a beautiful word' she notes before rising, "To the Toy shop?'
Clara snaps her fingers, chuckling as she gives Mr. Johensen a cheerful wave and lets herself out onto the sidewalk. "See, -this- is why I need to come to you for lessons in the language, Corian. Twisty language."
Julie nods to Ali, falling in with the others with a sip at her shake. "Expanding your horizons, Clara?"
Corian smiles brightly at Aliana. "It is, is it not? Kashidian is full of such words." She extends that smile to Clara, adding, "I would be most glad to assist you in such, if you are able to find the time in your schedule. But much of the language is dependant on where it is learned, and how you intend the words. It is very fluid, which is part of its beauty, but part of its difficulty, as well." Oh, ack, somebody stop her, she could go on like this for hours. At least she's fun to listen to, unlike some lecturers. She follows the crowd, of course.
Clara rolls her eyes, gesturing with the bag as she strolls down towards the toy shop. "More like trying to keep up with a man from a vastly different culture and societal stratus. He already speaks both of my languages, so I'm learning his." She casts a smile back at Corian, nodding. "It really is lovely. I've got a fair amount of vocabulary already, it's just the grammar that's a loop."
Julie ahs softly. "The things we find ourselves doing for love."
Aliana is clearly enjoying the lecture as she listens carefully to Corian.
Corian nods amiably at Clara as she strolls along, head tipping back so that some of the rain falls on her face. "And grammar is somewhat dependant on location," she replies. "It can be frustrating, especially for those who travel frequently, but, again, it adds to the charm of the language." She flickers a quick smile to Julie, which is extended to Aliana.
Aliana shivers in her shorts as she ducks into the toy store.
Clara snickers evilly upon seeing the toystore, muttering something about superiour firepower, then nods as she pushes open the door. "Like French. What I speak is well different that someone from Europe might speak back home, or even those from the Provencal system."
Julie follows, glancing into windows though she appears to be listening quietly.
Corian inclines her head, falling back to let the others precede her into the store, so she can enjoy the rain a bit longer--and enjoy it, she does. "Just so, yes. And there are other languages which are the same, but I hold an especial fondness for Kashidian, of course. I believe that is understandable," she adds, smiling as she finally ducks into the shop.
Shop
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.
Contents:
Aliana
Corian
Clara
Obvious exits:
Java Quarter
Clara makes an unerring beeline for a packages of foam discs, grinning wickedly at them before nodding. "Makes my heart flip whenever Riley speaks Kashidian. Really lovely. You're from Gorgon II, right, Julie? What's that like? I've never been there."
Aliana pads after Clara, picking up one of the guns and inspecting it carefully.
One of the clerks is already armed, and sends a few foam discs flying towards the new customers.
"They've got to be here somewhere..." Julie's staring around is cut short at Clara's call, and she almost whirls with a blink. "Beg par-yipe!" The younger doctor turns to stare at the clerk in disbelief.
Aliana gets struck in the shoulder, eyes open wide in shock before she places both hands over her 'wound' and sinks to the ground.
Clara just yelps with laughter and scoops up one of the demonstration guns to snap a shot back at the clerk before dropping her her knees at Ali's side. "Oh, alas! The fair maiden hath perished!" She peers down at Ali thoughtfully and notes, "I'm not kissing you back to life, sorry."
The clerk grins at Julie. "Go on, try it. It's fun." He waves towards the other guns. Aliana's performance gets a smattering of applause from the clerk and his fellows.
Corian drifts over to the gun display, ducking a disc with deft amusement. She eyes the demo guns, then shakes her head, apparently content to watch.
Aliana offers a giggle before commenting, 'I wouldn't want Rhys to get jealous'
Julie takes a couple of steps back, offering the clerk a weak and completely fake smile. "I'll take your word for it. My aim's bad enough, though, I'd be knocking over displays, I'm sure. Could you, however, tell me if you have any model trains?"
"Can't knock over displays with foam," the clerk replies, "But suit yourself. No models, but we've got some toy trains, second aisle from the right."
Clara snickers and climbs to her feet, setting aside the gun...near Corian...to hold out a hand to Ali to help her up. "Rhys is capable of jealousy? Let me know if he gets all green eyed. I'll thwap him over the head." Julie gets a vaguely concerned look, but no comment.
Julie nods hastily, ducking down the indicated aisle. "Thank you."
Corian shakes her head fractionally, making no move to take up the gun, though she casts a brief smile towards Clara. She glances up as Julie ducks past, but doesn't comment, instead drifting to a nearby puzzle display.
Aliana chuckles as she accepts the hand up, face taking on that rather sappy smile. "He doesn't...At least that I have seen" besotted bonded notes before picking up a couple of the guns and ammo.
Clara nods approvingly, both at Julie hunting down toys and at Rhys' apparant good behavior and likely at the expression on Ali's face before leaning in to murmur to Corian, eyes dancing as she hefts a spray can with a bright orange lid.
Corian smiles warmly at Clara's quiet words, eyes shining with amusement as she responds at the same volume.
Aliana will not turn maudlin and natter on about Rhys, cause..that would be bad..and besides, something seems to have attracted her attention and she literally bounces over to the wund up toys,'Look!' She calls out with all the excitment of a 5 year old.
Julie's good humor is restored quickly when she finds her target- the trains, not the other people in the store- and whistles and chugging soon echo faintly from the second aisle.
Clara bursts into laughter, shaking her head. "No, the shopping reminds me of it, but I -like- the can," she decides, picking up another with a bright green lid with a positively evil grin. "Silly string," she explains in a low voice that likely means trouble for a certain man. Unfortunately, now she's torn between the train sounds and the windup toys, and decides to go pay for the silly string instead.
Corian smiles over to Aliana, calling quietly, "I am quite fond of them, too, but I do not believe they have any giraffes. Quite a shame." Clara gets a look of amusement, and a shake of her head. "No wonder Hona approves so much of you. Riley certainly needs such... adventure in his life."
"Is that what it's called?" Clara replies with a laugh after paying for the cans. "I'm sure he would call it torture, but then it's all perspective." The train sounds finally break down her resolve and she peeks down the proper aisle, oohing softly before disappearing down it as well.
Aliana hmms thoughtfully at Corian...then she carefully inspects /all/ the wind-up...One may be a giraffe in hiding,one never knows.
A few foam discs float after Clara. One of the clerks murmurs, "I love this job."
Corian chuckles quietly as she looks after Clara, then turns her attention to the puzzle display, taking up a brightly-colored one.
Julie happily concentrates on the trains. Of course, she's not playing with them- she's, uh, evaluating. Yeah, that's the ticket.
Clara is here to play, she'll admit it fully. She comes up to Julie's side and beams at the various tiny locomotives. "Anything good here?"
A delighted smile fills Ali's face as she squeezes the bulb that makes the frog jump..."ribbit!" She mimics...yep, she's 20 going on 2.
Julie glances up, a bit startled, and gestures toward the half dozen locomotics and trains circling on the floor. "Not bad, 'specially for a kid. Those," she looks up to nod toward fancier boxes on the shelf, "Are collectors' items."
Clara reaches up to pull a box down from a higher shelf, and to her credit, doesn't blanch at the price tag. Either that, or she really doesn't find the train to be expensive. "Not bad. And it's certainly lovely. I'll bet they'd order anything you needed as well."
Corian perches lightly in a wall-nook for that purpose, intent on her chosen puzzle. Her delicate fingers deftly manipulate the small squares, gently coaxing the puzzle into its solution.
Julie glances back toward the counter, nodding. "I'll have to wipe out their stock first. I hadn't bothered getting these before, not while posted shipboard, buy maybe now..."
Aliana finishes with the frog...then lines up a duck, a rabbit, and a penguin. It takes her a moment to get it arranged, but she does manage to get them all going at the same time...A race?
Clara replaces the train and grins, gaze promptly going to a model skimmer, black with racing stripes. She takes that in her hands and turns it over thoughtfully. "Lots of room, planetside. And while the rooms are small, I imagine you could have a good setup if you don't have a pet."
Julie chuckles lightly, reaching up to run her fingers over the collectors' models. "Can't have a pet. My tracks would be ruined."
Corian remains intently focused on her chosen puzzle, looking all of twelve in her concentration. She looks up, though, as a clerk approaches, disc-shooting gun held lightly in one hand. The two exchange a few quiet words, Corian shaking her head at the end.
Clara tucks the box of the model skimmer under one arm and half grins. "Most likely, yes." The clock on the wall gets her attention as she blinks lightly. "Speaking of tracks, time has made them. Good -heavens-."
The rabbit pulls out ahead.....then almost to the finish line, he stops...Its between the duck and the penguin...bill to bill they go, but in the end its the duck that wins.
Niko and Riley would be proud. Yay ducks!
Julie glances down at her chrono. "Oh, it has! You're not headed back to medbay, are you?"
Aliana carefully puts the toys back, her gaze moving around the toy store...as if trying to decide what to look at next.
Clara chuckles quietly, shaking her head. "And still be at work at 0600? Not a chance. I'm going to go home and change into something suitably old and comfortable and let my hair down. You staying here?"
Corian catches enough of the exchange between Julie and Clara that she takes out her pocketwatch to peer at it, then blinks. "Goodness," she murmurs. "I wonder what time that meeting ended."
Julie hesitates before nodding with a slight smile. "Yes, I think I'll take some time to explore this place a little more."
Aliana pads to the back as she overhears the conversation, "Rest Well, Clara" She says with a warm smile before turning to Julie,'I am going to as well.'
Clara grins and offers a wink. "I don't blame you. And I won't forget to ask about your orders this time." She nods down at Ali affably. "Thank you. My best to Islien and Rhys, also." She turns to head towards the front of the store and make a final purchase.
Aliana nods her head,'I will.' It only takes a moment before bonded is distracted again, this time by a wooden train set.
Corian clicks the puzzle she's holding gently back to its original position, and gets to her feet. "Clara," she says, drifting towards the front of the store as well. "Do you mind if I accompany you back to the Complex?"
Julie waves after Clara, very quickly absorbed in pondering trains again.
Clara tucks her purchase into the bag with the silly string and smiles warmly at Corian. "Not at all," she offers, then calls back, "Goodnight, Ali, Julie!" before snatching up a nearby gun and snapping a few shots at the clerks before setting it back down and ducking out of the store.
Clara walks towards the Java Quarter.
Clara has left.
Corian chuckles quietly as she follows Clara, adding a "Good night," of her own over her shoulder.
Corian walks towards the Java Quarter.
Corian has left.
Aliana is quite happily playing with the trainset, rearranging the tracks into a new pattern.
Julie notices, and can't help grinning. "Those're trains," she calls over.
Aliana looks up with a grin,'Oh..These are the things you collect?'
Julie mhmmms. "These, to an extent." She gestures toward the toys. "Actual working models for the most part."
Aliana almost relutantly stands and pads over to consider the working model, her face brightening as she does so. "I like those..Do you have any now?'
Julie mhmmms. "I haven't had time to unpack them yet. They just got here today."
"May I see them sometime?" Ali asks quickly.
Julie smiles proudly. "Of course. I love showing off my trains."
Aliana pauses to scrutinize some of the trains before asking, 'How long have you been collecting?'
Julie thinks back for a moment. "Hmmm. About three years, I think. I was in the Academy when I discovered 'em."
Aliana tilts her head as she considers the doctor, "what made you want to collect them?'
Julie grins. "I rode on one. A real train, I mean. Just sorta fell in love. And afterwards, at the gift shop, they had these model trains, and magazines about 'em. The rest, as they say, is history."
Aliana's eyes widen with interest, "What was it like to ride in one?"
Julie ooohs, "Heck, that's hard to describe. Well, for one thing, you're surrounded by all this /power/. And it's not quiet power, like on a ship. It's fairly loud. And you can feel every motion of the train, and watch the countryside go flying by."
Aliana is enchanted even by that, her eyes sparkling in excitment,'Maybe someday I can ride a train?'
Julie hesitates. "I don't see why not. You'd have to go to another planet for it though, unless somebody built one here."
Aliana nods her head before musing,'I wonder if dragons can fit on trains? How big are they?'
Julie glances back and forth. "Let's see. Starting here..." She walks down the aisle, counting paces, and finally stops. "About this long. And the width would cover three or four aisles, I think, depending on the train."
Aliana pauses for a moment, she seems to be consulting mentally with an unseen companion finally she nods, 'Islien said she can make herself really small.'
Julie's eyebrows rise as she returns to the train section. "She can?"
Aliana giggles,'That is what she said...But that is also relative...There is a limit to just how small she can make herself, not matter how much she says she can'
Julie cocks her head curiously. "How large is she? The pictures in the Linnae files don't really give anything to compare to."
Aliana hmmms, 'SHe is 10 meters from tip to tail...and her wingspan is about 16 meters.
Julie tips her head, calculating. "Er, can she, like, draw her wings in tight?"
Aliana nods, "To about 5 meters wide'
Julie hmmms. "Might be able to get her into a boxcar..."
Aliana nods her head quickly as she picks up a model of a boxcar,'Like this?'
Julie nods, smiling. "That's exactly right."
Aliana carefully inspects it, then notes,'No windows?'
Julie shakes her head. "Might be a vent on top."
Aliana hmmms, then nods..."Mayne Islien can fly alongside it>"
Julie grins faintly. "Maybe. Trains go various speeds. Long as it's not one that goes too fast, might work."
Aliana chuckles,'First we have to get to a place that has them...then we will worry about Islien then'
Julie chuckles slightly, nodding, and decisively reaches up for a collector's edition Lionel locomotive. "This, I'm taking home with me tonight."
Aliana nods, 'That is a fancy one.'
Julie mhmmms, glancing briefly toward the pricetag. "It'll make a lovely addition to my collection."
Aliana nods her head, 'I do look forward to seeing it.'
Julie grins, much more relaxed than earlier. "I'll let you know when it's done. Might take me a week or so to get it all put together."
Aliana nods her head quickly,'And you have other duties.' Yep, Ali knows about those.
Julie nods. "True enough, but Clara mentioned that she prefers her staff to have normal working hours."
"Herself included?" Ali asks innocently.
Julie's mouth quirks. "She didn't specify."
Aliana chuckles softly,'Clara is the best..I am glad she and Riley are together..They do deserve to be happy.'
Julie nods her agreement with that. "I couldn't have been more surprised when I heard about that situation."
Aliana tilts her head slightly before asking, 'Why is that?'
Julie gestures slightly. "There's regs against fraternization."
Aliana sounds this out slowly, 'Fra-tern-iz-ation? What does that mean?'
Julie shifts the Lionel box under her arm. "It means socializing between officers and enlisted, or between a commanding officer and those beneath him."
Aliana considers this for a few moments, 'But is she beneath him...She is the head Medical officer...and he is the head Security Officer?'
Julie ahs, lifting a finger, "But he's also the CO... Commanding Officer... of the base."
Aliana ohs softly, 'Why is it wrong?'
Julie sighs slightly. "It's not that it's wrong, exactly. It's just that problems can arise. For example, a commander might hesitate to send his lover into a dangerous situation where she's needed."
"But she is a doctor" Ali points out, 'She needs her tubes and boxes and things..'
Julie chuckles. "I'm not sure as I'd put it that way. We do pretty well with one little medkit in most situations. I was speaking more of battle situations though. Doctors /so/ end up in those, 'specially the ones that are Infantry."
Aliana chews her lip thoughtfully,'But that seem so unfair....They are both wonderful people, who deserve to be happy. If they are happy, they can be that much more effective in their jobs'
Julie grins slightly. "True. They did get the okay from the Chief's superiors though, so the fraternization rules are being waived."
Aliana ponders that for a moment,'If they are waived for some...then why do they exist at all?'
Julie shrugs. "Keeps problems from happening before they start."
Aliana frowns thoughtfully as she considers this, then shrugs..many things make no sense to her...Her smile returns to her face as she notes,'I am glad...I think they are alot alike.'
Julie chuckles. "I'll have to take your word for that. I haven't observed them long enough to draw a conclusion."
Aliana nods her head,'At least what I have seen of them..I don't have the opportunity to see either on of them often.' She notes almost sadly.
Julie nods, feet shifting to a more comfortable stance. "Not surprising, considering how much they work and all."
Aliana glances down then hmmms, 'Would you like to get a java..or a cup of tea?'
Julie glances down at her melted, unfinished shake. "I could go for some hot chocolate..."
Aliana nods her head,'I just need to buy these' She says as she hold sup the guns and ammo.
Julie nods slightly, turning toward the checkout counter. "And I my new train."
Aliana carefully counts out her giros and hands it to the clerk and acceprs her package.
Julie hands over her ID for a swipe through the machine, and soon has card and bagged locomotive in hand. "Shall we?"
Aliana nods as she slips out into the night.
Julie falls in step. "Where to?"
Aliana points to an java bar, 'They would have Hot Chocolate there, I am sure'
Julie nods her approval, her steps becoming quicker. Idly she stuffs her labcoat into the bag with the train.
Aliana slips into the shop, then up to the counter, "I would like a lemon tea, please...Julie? What would you like?'
Julie grins. "Hot chocolate, lotsa whipped cream on top."
Aliana grins as she repeats her order...then slips a couple of giro notes to the barista.
Julie acks softly. "You're not paying for mine, I hope?"
Aliana nods her head, expression rather proud of that,'Yep.' she says with a grin.
Julie shakes her head in chagrin, though she smiles. "Thank you. You didn't have to do that though. My treat next time, okay?"
Clara walks here from the Java Quarter.
Clara has arrived.
At this time of night, seeing anyone about is unusual, and especially seeing Clara in sweats and a t-shirt, canvas shoes, and hair loose about her shoulders is definitely odd. A book is tucked up under her arm as she makes her way to the counter without looking around.
Aliana blinks as she sees a familiar form, then offers a soft greetings,'Evening Clara'
Clara glances up at the greeting in weary surprise, then smiles in return, obviously having been deep in thought. "Evening, Ali," she offers, then turns to order a pot of Earl Gray.
Julie is happily gazing into a toy store bag in fascination, but looks up at hearing another voice and actually smiles broadly, though with a touch of concern. "Couldn't sleep?"
Clara leans against the counter and shrugs lightly, half smiling. "Mmm. Not exactly. I think I've been keeping someone awake at night, though. Figured it was best to leave him in peace."
Aliana smiles her thanks to the barista as the order is set down, Ali hands Julie her hot Chocolate and takes her tea, "Would you like to join us, then?'
Clara gets her own pot of tea and cup a moment later and considers this, then nods with a smile. "Thank you, yes," she replies, following after Aliana. "Is it always so quiet this time of night down here?"
Aliana nods her head,'There is generally an hour or so, when most of the complex people have retired...and the people from the underground have not started emerging.'
Julie ahs softly. taking her chocolate to follow along. "It's rather nice, the quiet."
Clara shakes her head to distract an errant curl from getting too close to her teacup, nodding. "Very nice, indeed. I'm afraid I'm usually quite thoroughly asleep by now usually." And for some reason, she sounds a little guilty about that.
Julie suddenly blinks at Clara. "Thought the drum room is soundproof?"
Aliana nods her head to Julie,'Its perhaps one of my favourite times in the quarter...I try to be home before it starts to pick up.' She pauses at Julie's question and glances at Clara.
"Hmm?" Clara blinks at the question, taken by surprise as she hesitates to see who will chose a table. "Oh, it is, yes. I haven't drummed at night for maybe two or three weeks now, though. Maybe I should."
Aliana heads over to one that has a view of the quarter outside, asking over her shoulder, "Drum room?'
Clara follows along, sliding into one of the seats before peaking in the teapot and nodding. "Mm-hmm. A small soundproof room just off our quarters. It's where I keep my drumset."
Julie smiles sheepishly, gliding along and into a seat. "I thought perhaps that's what was keeping him up."
Aliana ohhs,'I didn't know you played the drums.'
Clara chuckles, shaking her head as she lifts the infuser out of the teapot and sets it to one side, then fills the cup. "I do, but that doesn't keep him awake. He says...bizarre dreams. Never gets down below REM. I guess I'm kicking him, or something," she muses, shrugging.
Julie blinks, pausing in the middle of setting her packages carefully under the table. "That /is/ unusual. And not good. It subsides if you're not there?"
Aliana sips her tea as she listens carefully.
Clara taps a measure of sugar into the cup and stirs, nodding. "Last few nights he's napped on the couch while I was working or out elsewhere, and he slept fine. But in bed with me? More of the same dreams. He needs that deep sleep stage."
Aliana mulls that over carefully, 'What sort of dreams does he have?'
Julie nods, taking a slow sip of hot chocolate and giving herself a whipped cream mustache in the process. Absently licking her lips, she starts to suggest, "Have you tried inducing..." She breaks off to blink at Ali.
Clara pauses in stirring, regarding the cup with a thoughtful frown. "Like he's still awake, he said. With echoing sounds. I don't know. It's...not like him." She blinks up at Julie, setting aside the spoon. "Inducing? You mean, sedating him?"
Aliana looks abashed as she catches Julie's look, but Clara's words catch her interest again as she murmers softly, 'Mine come when I am alone.'
Julie shakes her head in response to Clara's suggestion. "I read something in a journal a year or so ago... Something about using neural signals to induce the various sleep stages."
Clara reaches a hand over to rest on Ali's forearm for just a moment, noting reassuringly, "You're never alone, Ali. You have Islien," before tilting her head curiously at Julie, hands wrapping about her cup for warmth. "Neural signals? Which instrument did they use for it?"
Julie's expression transforms dramatically to a look of pure frustration as she gropes for the answer. "I only skimmed it... It was a new technique. I've still got the journals..."
Aliana nods her head with a smile, falling silent before she adds anything more. Attention moves back to Julie, listening carefully.
Clara sips at her tea, eyes weary but kindly over the cup. "It's all right, don't worry. I'd like to see the journal if possible, but there's no hurry, even if I can just let him sleep tonight."
"But where will you sleep?" Ali asks in concern.
Julie nods, not looking much less frustrated. "I'll find it, bring it in tomorrow. Something about stimulating various glands to produce the natural depressors..." At Ali's question, her eyes flick back to Clara.
"Me? There's a place for me," Clara assures easily. "Probably in my office, actually. Why else would I have that couch?" she adds with a touch of humor. "Releasing the proper endorphins as a natural soporific..." she muses at Julie's information. "I don't know how well that would work. See, he -is- falling asleep, but he never gets lower than the dream stage."
Aliana wrinkles her nose at that, "Why don't you borrow Rhys' room...It right on the same level...I am sure he wouldn't mind."
Julie hmmms. "Well, better for him to dream at least, than not. Strange he should be having... or is he? Having the same dreams night after night?" Another blink at Ali.
Clara, to her credit, doesn't splutter in her tea, but does grin at Ali. "Ali, Rhys is like a little brother to me. He's not a man I'd really care to share a bed with, or any other man, for that matter." She seems vastly amused, though, at the thought. "Same dreams, yes...to my knowledge, at least."
Julie snickers softly, looking somewhat preoccupied as she repeats, "Strange. That implies an outside source. He can't identify the sounds?"
Aliana looks rather blankly at Julie, then at Clara..."The reason I offered was cause he isn't using his room right now...and I know he would offer, were he here.'
Clara finally does blush, albeit in good humor as she shakes her head. "Thanks, Ali, but my office really is fine. And I do have another place to go that's as good as a bed," she promises, then shrugs at Julie. "That's why I said maybe I've been kicking him. Poor man might be getting bludgeoned while I'm zonked."
Clara adds, "But no, I don't think he can. Just...some echoing quality to them."
Aliana falls silent as she considers this.
Julie glances toward Ali with a smile. "Heck, I'd offer her my place, but it's really a mess right now what with the painting and all." She nods thoughtfully, sitting back in her chair with a sip of chocolate. "That doesn't explain recurring dreams though."
Aliana offers tentatively, as if unsure of herself,'That black box that you put on me when I was sick...Would that tell you anything?'
Clara shakes her head with a smile at Julie, then at Ali. "Not likely, no. It would tell me that, yes, he's dreaming, but not why. That's something he and I will have to discuss while he's awake, I guess."
Julie nods uneasily, sinking into her 'thoughtful' mode. Only her eyes express anything as her expression turns immobile.
Clara lifts her cup for a small sip, regarding the other doctor before noting, "What is it, Julie? If you have any ideas, I'd be grateful, really. I'll be the first to admit I can't see the forest for the trees at times."
Aliana has discovered that much can be learned by simply listening...and that is what she does now.
Julie glances toward Ali for a moment, and finally shrugs. "I'm not sure if I have any ideas or not. Situation reminds me of... sensory deprivation experiments and such."
Clara's fingers come to her lips for a moment as she inhales a deep breath. "The time in hyper," she murmurs, taken aback.
Aliana's lips move as she repeats the words to herself, will have to find out what they mean later.
Julie glances up, face animating a bit. "Yeah."
Clara slumps back against her chair, for some reason unaccountably relieved. "But why would the dreams only bother him when...not just me. Anyone." Ideas dawn on her face, the proverbial light bulb turning on over her head. "It's just that I'm the only one he sleeps with. Of course."
Julie can't help but quirk a grin at that. "I certainly hope so." She sits forward intently, wrapping her hands around her cup. "But has he complained of it happening while he sleeps when you're not around? Would he, even?"
Aliana pauses,'You said something about 2 extra hours...Why did he have those?'
Clara shakes her head rapidly. "Actually, he has gotten to sleep without me there. And he slept peacefully." She purses her lips at the reminder of the extra two hours and sighs. "Some sort of traffic re-routing. No one really ever explained it to us. Well, not to me at least. He might know, and not want to worry me."
Julie nods with a wry grimace. "Somehow that's not surprising. Still, I'd be willing to bet the hyper's related somehow. I just don't know /why/ it would wait this long, or only manifest when somebody's near."
Roland walks here from the Java Quarter.
Roland has arrived.
Clara stifles another flash of dismay, hiding it in a quick sip of her tea. "Neither do I," she replies in a quiet voice. "I almost hope he has the dreams tonight. So I know it isn't me."
Julie mhmmms, catching sight of Roland and offering a wave. "We can test the theory. Do that, and another night see what happens if he falls asleep with somebody else in the room."
Aliana considers that for a moment, before pointing out, 'You won't know that it is you until he sleeps with someone else.'
Roland heads over to the table the chicks are at, holding a pot of Java. "Refills anyone?"
Aliana giggles at Roland,'No thanks.'
Oh, dear. Clara does -not- seem to care for this idea as she wraps her hands about her mug. Still, she nods slowly. "Yes. That is...scientifically sound," she replies, fully calm. But she doesn't cluck. Instead, she glances up in surprise and shakes her head calmly at Roland. "Thank you, no."
Aliana peers at Clara as she states with emphasis,'Sleep...Nothing more...Perhaps Niko? or Corian?'
Julie motions with her half-full cup. "I'm okay, thanks." She nods to Clara sympathetically. "I..." She grins at Ali. "We... are not suggesting sleeping with him, literally. Just somebody sitting nearby."
Roland furrows his brows slightly as he peers around. "First of all you deny me the privelege of pouring you this very caffieneted substance, but you're also talking about someone sleeping around." He shrugs and pours the mug he carries in the other hand with Java and gestures. "Mind if I sit?"
Aliana motions to an empty chair with a smile,'Please do.'
Clara shakes her head briefly, eyes distant in thought. "No, no one who may potentially have another companion. Giani would do it, though." By now, she's thinking out loud, then refocuses and blushes, nodding at Roland.
Julie lifts an eyebrow. "Nobody who may potentially... I'm not following you on that one." She nods toward the empty chair with a polite smile for Roland. "Besides, I'm drinking hot chocolate."
"Someone who doesn't already have someone else to spend the night with," Clara clarifies with a wry smile. "Although Corian likely fits that description. She may be a good person to ask."
Julie looks vaguely amused. "I fit that description too. Of course, all this is assuming it only happens when somebody is there."
Roland sips at the java as he seats himself down, giving the conversation a confused eye.
"Why would that make any difference?" Ali asks with a note of puzzlement.
Clara can't help but laugh, reaching for her teapot to refill her cup. "It doesn't. I just don't want to deprive anyone of their partner for a night." She pauses in pouring to peer at Julie. "And you're a doctor, too..." she muses.
Julie chuckles, lifting her cup for a sip. "Also a wise precaution in case said partner of whoever did the sleep-watching is /jealous/. I can just hear it- 'Really, honey, I was just watching the Admiral sleep. We didn't do anything up there in his quarters all alone'." She nods to Clara with a slight smile.
Roland raises an eyebrow. "Uh, why are you guys plotting on having someone stay with Addison for a night?" he asks the whole, but mainly at Clara really since she seems to be the one encouraging this, the irony of the fact perhaps.
Aliana explains,'Its a test to see if Riley will dream.'
Clara leans her forehead in her hand, laughing. "Oh, goodness. And then I'd have to hurt the person with a speculum." Roland gets a wistful nod at Ali's explanation. "That's it exactly."
Julie chuckles, her comment producing the reaction she'd hoped for. "Exactly." She nods at Ali's words, adding, "Dream with a normal sleep pattern."
Roland nods his head sagely. "So he does that little REM thing but the dreams are irregular or something?"
Clara's eyes go distant again as she peers out the window Complex-wards, then shakes her head and taps sugar into her cup again. "No, he's having the same dream continuously, and never leaves REM while asleep. In other words, no real rest."
Julie taps her fingertips thoughtfully against the table. "And even if we're on the right track as to cause and effect, we still need to find a way to counter the effect."
Roland scratches the back of his head. "Has he always been like this?"
"It just depends on the cause," Clara supplies quietly, stirring at her tea. "There could be any number of solutions." She glances up from stirring to shake her head. "No. It's recent."
Aliana sips her tea slowly before asking, 'Maybe finding out more about that 2 hour delay..Maybe that did something to him?'
Roland blinks at Ali. "Delay?"
Clara nods vaguely. "You've got something there, Ali," she agrees, then half laughs sadly. "Oh, joy. My forte...research," she mutters, obviously joking. "Mm-hmm. Courier got stuck in hyperjump transition stage for two hours."
Roland raises an eyebrow. "Courier for what?"
Julie nods her agreement with Clara and Ali both, giving the former a sympathetic look.
Aliana starts to answer, looking relieved as Clara answers...she was having trouble with the verbage.
Clara shakes her head at Roland apologetically. "I'm sorry, Roland. I've said too much already. This...I can't discuss a patient's problems."
Roland blinks blankly by a bunch of babes. "All right."
Which is why Julie gave Ali that long look at the beginning of the conversation, but what the heck. "You're tired, Clara," she notes gently. "And you've a shift starting in two hours. Might I suggest either heading for that couch, or switching the schedule around for this morning."
Clara is nearly three decades past infancy, and sips at her tea lightly, gaze distant again. "You're likely right. I'm not really going to try to sleep now, but I could at least get some paperwork done." She glances a sad smile at Roland and Ali. "Could I please ask you two not to repeat anything I've said? I tend to run at the mouth when tired and around friends. I apologize."
Roland holds up his hands. "Not a problem. I know better than not to meddle too much in the world of the AF and its folks."
Aliana pauses for a moment, looking into her tea before answering. Her gaze moves from Clara to Julie then back to Clara, "I honour the trust of our friendship, you need not worry that I would betray that trust"
Clara chuckles easily, draining her tea. "I think this falls more in the realm of 'Riley and Clara learning to live with each other' than AF, but thank you. I appreciate it." She reaches over to squeeze Ali's shoulder. "I know you wouldn't. But I had to ask. Thank you," she replies warmly.
4-16-99
You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.
Julie nods as she rises, snagging her bags from the floor. "I think it's time for me to toddle off too." If nothing else, of course, journals are going to be searched. "If y'all will excuse me? Ali, thank you for the hot chocolate."
Aliana nods quickly,'Sleep well Julie...and enjoy your train'
Clara settles her teapot and cup off to an empty table to the side, then rises and scoops up her book, one hand raking through loose curls. "Late, late, late," she agrees, pulling up a measure of good cheer. "Goodnight, folks."
Julie nods, eyes lighting up at the mention of her precious train. "I will do exactly that," she murmurs, giving Clara a thoughtful look before she turns to go. "Good night, folks. See you in a few hours, Clara."
You walk towards the Java Quarter.
Q-HTML V2.1 (evaluation copy) by Craig Cockburn created this page on 19-Apr-1999 at 11:39:38
