Chief Addison's Office
This office is something of a haven from the chaos in security central. It only has one viewscreen, although there are controls to direct it to any of the observation lines. A large desk takes up the bulk of the room. It's a battered affair, and shows the signs of great age. It doesn't really fit in with the polished atmosphere of the Complex, but neither does the man it belongs to. Piles of paperwork, scattered datapads, and a lurking terminal take up the majority of the space on the desk, but somehow room has been found for several photocubes and a small plastic penguin. The floor is carpeted in institutional gray carpeting, soft enough to muffle footsteps. The walls have been painted a comforting dusky blue, and are hung with photographs depicting the office with a much more cheerful paint job involving cartoon penguins and neon yellow. Several large electronic maps are hung on the wall, each aglow with various telltales and marker lights. In front of the desk are two uncomfortable chairs and one battered and exceedingly comfortable looking couch. A shelving unit contains stacks of noveldisks and a couple of stuffed penguins.
Contents:
Riley
Obvious exits:
Central
Riley is seated at his desk working on a vast heap of paperwork, his uniform jacket half unbuttoned and a half-eaten sandwich sitting to one side. He looks up, nodding, "Hi Kya."
Kyara gives a half wave, running one hand through her hair as she steps up to the desk. "Hey there. Got a minute? I gotta ask a favor."
Riley starts to make a comment, but pauses instead and simply nods, "Certainly I have a minute. What can I help you with?"
Kyara gives you a curious look for the non-comment, then glances upward, looking slightly frustrated. "I know the rank doesn't warrant it, but is there anyway I can get some new quarters? The ones I currently hold just were never meant for three, much less two and one very hyperactive child. Rol and I occupied the floor last night."
"You can check with Arthur and see if anything's open." Riley explains, biting back on yet another comment. "It'll probably require moving floors, though."
"Moving floors? I thought we'd had enough of that with Lexington, didn't we?" Kya's eyes twinkle with humor. "I'll check with Arthur though, thank you."
Riley shakes his head in wry amusement, but he nods. "I'll send over to him and let him know it's authorized."
Kyara smiles gratefully. "I appreciate that." She pauses, giving you a frankly curious look. "What is it?"
"Nothing much, just remember the old rule, eh? Privates never marry, captains may, majors must. Adopting a family isn't against the rules by any means, or even a bad thing, don't get me wrong, just potentially problematic." Riley's words are even.
You do not have unread mail (3 messages remain).
Kyara listens carefully, sobering a bit, and nods at the end of the speech. "I understand. And aside from the fact that Stilvani do not marry, it's hardly a permanent situation where either of them is concerned." She appears slightly relieved at that belief, then notes faintly, "Clara's not married..."
"No she isn't," Riley agrees quietly, "Nor does she have any desire to be so. It is hardly law, Kya, simply an old adage I felt oughta be repeated. There's nothing wrong with what you're doing, just remember that something could come along at any minute to alter your situation and make sure you have back-up plans."
Kyara pauses, glancing toward a chair. "I see... Is there any particular reason you have in mind that the current circumstances might alter in the near future?" she asks carefully.
"Not that I know of, Kya, but I don't want to bank the fate of a child on an unknown." Riley starts on another page of paper, stifling a yawn.
Kyara nods her fervent agreement with that, a flash of annoyance flickering across her features. "He doesn't need that again, true." The faded blue patch above one eye lifts, and she teases gently, "You neglecting your sleep again?"
"Not really, there's just a lot of this paperwork I guess." Riley nods, "The poor kid's had a mess of a life enough."
Kyara nods with a whispery sigh. "Indeed, according the the child psychology books I've spent all afternoon reading. I'd swear some of the authors never had a child of their own, however." She sends a quick glance over the paperwork. "Why don't you... Oh. That's right. In all the hullabaloo, I'd forgotten Nick's broken. How's he doing?"
"Last I heard he was all right, if a great deal sore. He's on another couple days mandatory leave." Riley explains finding another page.
Kyara shakes her head ruefully. "What was he doing that a comm at the wrong moment would result in medical leave, driving?"
Riley shakes his head as he wends through the work, "In a hurry skating to get here. He rolled down some stairs."
Kyara's eyes widen somewhat. "Oh dear... perhaps I should cancel my skates order."
"He seems to have done quite a number on himself with them, yes," My and doesn't
Riley sound ever so faintly guilty. "Nick's breakable."
Kyara's sharp ears pick up on that faint tone. "Skates," she states firmly, "Are fun, from what I've seen. All people are breakable under certain circumstances. And I bet Nick would tell you the same. You do yourself a disservice by attempting to assume blame for an accident that could happen to anyone."
Riley's brows lift, "Assume blame? Kya? What are you on about now?"
Kyara cocks her head. "You sound a bit self-blaming at the moment. It was you who gave him the skates, wasn't it?"
"Yes, but I hardly pushed him down the stairs." Riley sounds almost amused, "Kya, can I just print my lecture on the impossibility of blame falling on one person and just get you to read it again, perhaps? I'm too tired to repeat it."
Kyara shakes her head patiently. "You'd have to. I don't think I've heard /that/ one. So what you're saying is that it's not /all/ your fault- you're just taking your share of the blame? If you're tired," she adds, "A few minutes' break won't hurt."
"Kya, if you've gotten this far without hearing that lecture..." Riley just shakes his head, "I'm not too tired for paperwork, I'm too tired for random semi-philisophical conversation."
Kyara chuckles slightly. "I'm not sure if I'd want to hear the rest of that sentence or not. Very well then. Regular conversation?" Her eyes stray to the fridge. "I daresay you could use more caffeine too."
"Regular conversation, sure, and I don't know about caffiene, there has to be a legal limit." Riley half grins, burying himself in another pile of paperwork.
Kyara chuckles, offering a smile as she gestures toward one of the chairs. "Mind if I sit down then? Harder for the paperwork to distract me if I'm not high enough to see what's written on it."
"If you like," Riley replies, still rummaging through a pile of paperage.
Kyara takes a detour to the fridge to fetch a red can, placing it on the corner of the desk. Hint. Caffeine. Hint. She slides gracefully onto one of the chairs. "It truly amazes me that Security can generate such huge amounts of paperwork."
"Most of this isn't Security," Riley explains, "I'm not just Chief of Security, I;m the base commanding officer."
Kyara nods, gesturing toward the door. "True, but..." She blinks, comprehension dawning. "Nick's XO of the /base/?"
Riley nods slowly, rummaging for another paper, "Yes, Security after all can hardly have an XO or a CO really, not being an AF organization."
Kyara shakes her head ruefully. "Yes, I know. Don't get me wrong, he deserves the job. The perks, that is, not the hassles." Nobody deserves that.
Rummage, rummage, Riley continues to work through the paperwork. "And he's terribly good at it."
Kyara chuckles. "Of course he is. I'd not expect anything else from him. Nick's perfect." She pauses to watch you for a moment. "Perhaps he can recommend a better organizational process for that paperwork."
"He might, but still, I've been doing it for seven years, I've got a system of sorts." Riley continues to work, "It just builds up when crises call one away from it."
Kyara's mouth quirks. "I've watched you have to stop to search for papers six times now in the last half hour. That's averages out to every five minutes. Perhaps the system needs an overhaul," she suggests with an apologetic smile. "Crises? Plural?"
"But if I didn't have to search I'd be endlessly filling them out, and my hands cramp, so the pauses are needful." Riley nods, "As always, plural, the things abound."
Kyara blinks, and laughs quietly. "A very self-beneficial system, I agree." The blue patch inches upward again. "I'll have to pay closer attention in the future. It's seemed pretty quiet to me lately. Comparatively, at any rate."
"Corian's door being blasted by mercs, arresting Valentine, Nick breaking, do I need to go on?" Riley questions.
Kyara chuckles softly, though a shadow flickers through her eyes. "Cori's fine- why /were/ mercs blasting her door anyhow? The thing with Tara would seem to fall under the 'all in a day's work' category rather than a crisis, and even if it /was/ a crisis, it's been taken care of. I'll agree that a broken Nick is a crisis. However, when I first came here," she notes vaguely, "'Crises' were triple the current load."
"Perhaps then, I am getting old," Riley does not sound perhaps pleased to have it suggested that these crises are less than significant.
Kyara shakes her head, saying quietly, "No. No, I think you care very much about... things, to your occasional detriment. And I can hardly fault you for it."
Riley continues his endlessly working on paperwork, "It is my perrogative to do so."
Kyara's mouth quirks. "I didn't say it wasn't. It's a good example for all of us."
Riley hmphs softly at that, looking somewhat amused, "Kya, I'm not an example, people need to be their own examples."
Kyara's expression turns amused in turn. "You may not wish to be, but you are. I believe it's in the official officer's job description. You do, of course, have at least one fault that springs to mind- you're horrible at accepting compliments."
"As long as I can be terrible at -something- I suppose," Riley murmurs as he rummages. "Although if you have ever seen me swim, I think there's a whole dozen faults included there alone."
Kyara perks up slightly. "You can't swim? Or at least, not well?"
"I can swim well enough to pass the tests, but it's not my knack, no. I never had the opportunity as a child. Learned in OCS. I don't much enjoy it, hence several of the other faults including use if unique phrases," Riley explains.
Kyara chuckles, drawing her legs up to sit tailor fashion. "If you were better at it, perhaps you'd enjoy it more?" she suggests.
Riley shrugs amiably, "Perhaps, but if I had time to work on it, I'd like as not spend it on something I enjoy, see." He grins, "A spiralling difficulty."
Kyara chuckles. "Let's hope the place never floods then."
"I -can- swim, I promise. Well enough to pass the AF testings." Riley assures as he finds another page.
Kyara nods amiably. "Good. Much as the image would be ridiculous enough to get Anya to bring out the camera, me hauling you out of the water is not an experience I wish to encounter."
"Not to mention you'd be hard pressed to haul me anywhere dry, let alone sopping wet." Riley offers a wry grin.
Kyara giggles. "That too, yes. Speaking of which, one of these days, I do need to haul you down to the Fruvous. You and Clara, that is. Maybe if I get Nick and Ela to go too."
Kyara pauses a beat before answering vaguely, "Just to let y'all get away for a bit of relaxation, even if only for an hour or two."
"Ahh, relaxation's a good thing." Riley looks bemused, thoughts fading into memory a moment. "Sailing's nice."
Kyara ohs? "Never done that myself, though I've always wanted to." Her mouth quirks in amusement. "You wear a lifejacket when you sail, I hope?" AF swimming standards do not meet /her/ standards.
"Wasn't needed, no stormy weather, and Clara's a fish." Riley muses quietly. "We went for a couple of days."
Kyara's fingernails rattle on the arm of her chair. "Oooh, I'll bet that was romantic. Sounds like it, anyway. Out under the stars, the water whispering softly at night..."
Riley looks rather bemusedly distracted, probably doodling hearts on paperwork, "The most heavenly two days of my life. Water, wind, sun, and Clara, always Clara..."
Kyara peers at you in fascination, smiling in delight. Unwilling to risk cutting off such happy thoughts, she clamps her mouth shut over several (nice) comments that spring to mind.
Riley does keep after this train of thought for a moment, sighing in an entirely lovesick fashion. "It was a marvelous couple of days. Napping in the sun on the deck of a ship..."
Kyara regains her voice- it's rarely lost for long- and says quietly, "Perhaps y'all can make it a semi-regular thing. Or is it one of those things that just can't be repeated?"
"Perhaps," Riley muses, "But time to do so is difficult to find."
Kyara nods regretfully, her voice still quiet. "It does seem to be the rarest of commodities around here."
"It is rare, and precious, and endlessly being eaten away." Riley stifles a yawn, half leaning against a stack of papers.
Kyara mhmmms, nodding toward the red can forming a condensation ring on the desk. "You look like you're about to fall asleep."
Riley doesn't seem to notice the nod toward the can, but simply nods himself. "It's been a long couple of days."
Kyara looks at you for a long moment, then chuckles. "Whatever you do, be careful where you're leaning. You do not want all that paperwork on the floor. Y'know, sometimes watching y'all makes me glad I'm not an officer." She tilts her head then, and hesitantly suggests, "With all due respect, the paperwork will not be done any faster and definitely less legibly if you work yourself until you're sleeping /on/ it. Perhaps a nap is in order? The couch misses you."
Riley shifts up off the paperwork, "A nap will come soon enough. When Clara's off work. I' awfully behind, so many distractions."
Kyara blushes, hugging her knees to her chest. "I'm sorry," she offers quietly.
Riley shrugs, snagging another page, "S'okay."
Kyara nods quietly, watching you in silence for several minutes before clearing her throat. "There /is/ something important I've been meaning to tell you. Haven't had the chance."
Riley looks up from his work, looking perhaps a bit apprehensive. Or is that just tired? "Yes?"
Kyara coughs, looking very much like she wants to look away. "Just wanted to apologize about the promotion thing."
Riley ahhs softly, "There's no need to apologize. Refusing promotion is your perrogative."
Kyara shakes her head slightly. "That's not what Clara said. And even assuming that's true, I was apologizing for disappointing you, not for turning it down."
Riley ahhs softly, not commenting to that at first, just snagging another several pages. "Accepted then, as I will not lie and say I was not dissapointed."
The blue patch creeps upward. "It /was/ rather obvious."
That was Kya, of course, not some other mysterious blue-patched person.
Riley simply nods to that, working through the papers.
Kyara glances toward her chrono, then in the vague direction of medbay, murmuring softly to herself before her gaze returns to you. "However," she swallows hard, "As new information has come to light, I've reconsidered my decision to not make that request."
Riley nods, working through his papers, "If another comes through, you'll have the
same rights in regards to it, to accept or deny."
Kyara blinks. "What? Er, no, I'm being vague, sorry. Remember, that night, I wanted to talk to you about something, then changed my mind?"
Riley blinks several times, "No, sorry, I don't."
Kyara smiles wanly, nodding. "You've had more important things on your mind."
"Anyhow, you've changed your mind?" Riley prompts.
Kyara nods, a bit soberly. "Remember back right after Lexington was elected, you said you wouldn't let me go anywhere til the political climate had changed? Well, it's changed..."
"Then you wish to leave," Riley questions?
Kyara shakes her head quickly. "Of course not. You know me better than that." Her tone is slightly hurt. "What I /would/ like, when you think it's appropriate, is a sponsorship to the Academy."
"You realize that means giving up Roland? And G'ben?" Riley questions softly. "At least for four years."
Kyara nods, grimacing. "It's not as if I've got Roland on a permanent basis, you know. And much as I adore G'ben, I could strangle Tara for not having the foresight to have made /some/ sort of arrangements before being forced to beg Rol to help."
Riley nods thoughtfully, "And not seeing much of any of us, especially not for the first year. By second year weekend passes are common enough, but as a raw cadet..."
Kyara smiles sadly. "I know, and it's definitely not something I like. I'd miss all of you very much." She takes a deep breath. "Got plenty of time to prepare for that, though. There's slots open in the class starting next year. And there's not even a guarantee I'd be able to come back here after graduation. You said it yourself- it's best to be prepared for any eventuality" Her eyes flick toward Central, to your paperwork, and back to you. "I'd be a lot more useful around here though, as an officer."
"If they'll take you, that's a lot of studying and all just to get in. THey only take one class a year made up of -all- the Alliance worlds." Riley shrugs, "They may very well not assign you here. As a cadet, you are no longer assigned to me."
Kyara lifts her chin proudly. "I'll do whatever it takes." She cocks her head at that last. "I suspected that."
Riley nods thoughtfully, simply shrugging, "It is certainly your right to pursue the option, Kya."
Kyara unfolds her legs carefully. "You don't seem too encouraging. Now that I didn't expect, but it doesn't surprise me, I suppose."
"Kya, I am far too tired to be encouraging. It is, and always has been, your decision, and your decision alone." Riley explains softly.
Kyara chuckles. "I knew you'd say that. You're becoming predictable." Her smile fades just a little. "Every decision, whether made for good or bad reasons, has drawbacks. This has been a hard one, but I've come to peace with it. I know what Clara'll say, but..." She trails off, shaking her head.
Riley half leans against a pile of paperwork again, arguing with eyelids to keep them open, "What Clara'll say?"
Kyara glances in the direction of said medical chief's office. "She'll be happy for me."
Riley ahhs quietly, murmuring, "That's a good thing. Happy is good."
Kyara lets her gaze fall. "Well, she was /last/ time I mentioned it to her, at any rate. Either that or she earned an Emmy."
Riley grins half awakely, all but asleep now against the papers. "Yeah. She's prolly happy then."
Kyara glances up with half a smile. "Good. It's nice knowing has the support of one's friends."
"Kya, I want you to do whatever it is that will make you happy in the long run, kiddo." Riley's all but snoozing outright now. "That'll make me happy."
Kyara looks relieved even as she rises to move the papers out of scattering or sleeping-upon range. Drooled-on paperwork does not make the recipients of said paperwork happy. "I do want this," she says softly. "Very much indeed."
Riley does not object to the paperwork being moved, proof he's really gone indeed, instead resting his head on crossed arms on the desl. "Then go for it," he murmurs.
Kyara would not have dared otherwise. "Thank you," she says sincerely, glancing toward her chrono.
You say "Clara? You just got off-duty, right? Just so you don't worry when he doesn't come home, Riley's 99% asleep on his desk. I don't think he can even make it to the couch." into the communit.
Your communit crackles to life and says "*sigh* Yeah, just got home. I...that's fine. I guess. Tell him goodnight for me?" in Clara's voice.
You say "Sure thing. You up for dinner, perchance? I'm not fluffy, but I make a great conversationalist..." into the communit.
Kyara chuckles softly, going to put the soda back in the fridge. "Clara says goodnight, Riley. And I do too." She slips toward the door.
Your communit crackles to life and blares "*rueful laugh* Sure, Kya. Tell you what, I'll come down at least so I can tell the goof goodnight. You down there with him?" in Clara's voice.
Riley murmurs something about Clara and good night, and warm decent sized beds and windows.
You say "Yep, I am." into the communit.
Kyara pauses at the door, glancing over her shoulder... and halts with an expectant glance toward the door.
Clara walks here from the Security Central.
Clara has arrived.
Riley is sprawled half across his desk, head down on folded arms. He's mostly asleep, although from the vague muttering, there's still a bit of something going on up in his head someplace.
Kyara is standing just inside the door, watching Riley with a fair amount of fond amusement. "Okay, maybe I'm /not/ that hot a conversationalist."
Clara gives Kya a rueful grin while tugging at the lapels of her labcoat for a moment, then circles the desk to rest a hand on his shoulder. "Riley? Darling...c'mon. You can make it to the couch, you know you can. I don't want to have to put you on analgesics tomorrow for a sore back."
Kyara chuckles very softly, and turns to slip out. "I'll wait outside so he can be lovey-dovey in private. Oh, if only I had a vidcam..."
You walk towards the Security Central.
Kyara leans back against her desk, bemused, flipping through the paperwork that's already begun to stack up for tomorrow.
Clara walks here from the Chief Addison's Office.
Clara has arrived.
Kyara glances up from the paperwork with a smile. "He all settled?"
Clara exits the office, hands in her pockets and shaking her head with fond dismay. "Oversized goof. Yeah, he's out like a light. You mentioned dinner? I'd ordered a couple calzones that should be up at home by now, but since he's already gone...want one?"
Kyara ooohs, "I'd love it, whatever it is. I was going to offer to cook, but considering the lack of space in my place and," she sighs, "The current mess, that sounds like much more the thing."
"Current mess?" Clara queries, obviously puzzled as she makes her way towards the elevators. "Your quarters were immaculate last time I was up there."
Clara heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
Clara has left.
You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.
***** Travelspam deleted; conversation left in *****
Kyara nods ruefully. "I didn't have a hyperactive 11-year-old staying with me last time you were there."
Clara blinks for several long moments, then heads down one of the hallways while asking, "An eleven year old? Family?" Reaching door 13 in the Z hall, she pulls out a key and unlocks it enters, waving at you to follow.
Clara unlocks the door to room Z13 and goes inside.
Clara has left.
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:
Clara
Obvious exits:
Music Room Out
You come in from the Elevator Lounge.
Kyara shakes her head. "Not officially. Tara got Roland to take in G'ben, and since Rol's been staying with me..."
Clara tosses her keys on the dining table before pulling off her lab coat and draping it on the back of a chair. At the response, her brows shoot up dramatically. "DeMario? Is staying in your quarters?" She gestures at the couch almost automatically while making for the cooking area.
Kyara gratefully sinks onto the couch, glancing toward you with some surprise for the question. "Well, yes. Sorry, I thought... " She trails off into a chuckle. "I guess we were being more discreet than I thought."
Clara shakes her head with a somewhat weary smile while pulling a pair of dinner boxes from the delivery unit in the kitchen. "I knew the two of you had paired up, but not that it was at the...uh, cohabitation level." Just the faintest tinge of pink at her ears. "Soda? Coffee? Tea?"
Kyara's mouth quirks. "Well, I don't know if I'd consider it /that/. He just spends nights with me. Yes, soda, please."
Clara nods affably at this. She and Riley spent a lot of nights together at first too. Sleeping. She pulls a pair of orange sodas from the fridge and crosses over to the couch to offer one soda and one box. "Reasonable enough. It's warmer, at least. And G'ben? That's quite a small room for three people."
Kyara smiles gratefully as she pops open the soda. "Oh, thank you. I thought I was going to die of thirst in that office." She takes a drink and nods. "That's why I went to see Riley, see. He authorized some larger quarters for me." Luckily Kya's not a mindreader, or she'd point out it's rarely sleep that's on her and Roland's agenda.
Clara nods approvingly as she opens her own box and pokes at the calzone to test for temperature before breaking it in half, cheese resisting before separating and curling after the pastry. "Really a good idea. Goodness, when I came home, even his quarters were too small for both of us. Doesn't Roland have his own quarters, though?"
Kyara mhmmms, a smile drifting over her lips. "I suppose. But he'd rather spend time with me. Not that he ever talks about me the way Riley does about you."
Clara swallows abruptly, not quite blushing, but getting one of those terribly sappy smiles. "Riley talks about me?" she manages in a small but fond voice, then shakes her head abruptly and grins. "DeMario's a bit more stoic than Riley, from what I can tell."
Kyara grins wryly. "Riley gets positively /gushy/ about you. Especially about you and sailing combined." She nods affable agreement with that. "I guess that'd be a good word for it. I could wish otherwise though."
Clara manages a shrug as she polishes off half of her own calzone and waves at yours. "Pepperoni and sausage. Guiseppi's a genius with these." She leans back against the arm of the couch now that the initial hunger is assuaged and chuckles. "Knew I loved that man for a reason. But different men show their feelings differently, hon."
Kyara pulls her plate closer, sniffing, and the fading blue patch above one eye goes up. "Oooh, this smells good, for cooked food." She sets to slicing it up into bite-sized pieces. (Her typist, btw, has /no/ idea what calzone is. ;) "Feelings? I don't think feelings are involved."
>>OOC: Clara acks and sorries. Imagine a pizza folded over into a turnover, then baked. Pretty much pizza heaven. I based these on a little shop here in Lubbock run by a guy from Italy. Called 'One Guy's From Italy'. *snicker*
>>OOC: Kyara ooohs and droools.
Clara pauses in a sip of her soda, nonplussed, then slowly sets the can on the coffee table. "You and Roland have no feelings for each other?"
Kyara ponders that while chewing thoughtfully. "Mmm, I do care for him. It's something stronger than friendship, I think, on my end. And I'm his SO." She shrugs. "Not much to it."
"That's...field jargon for significant other," Clara ventures thoughtfully. "Companion. Beyond friendship, yes. At least, in the Infantry, that's what it means. But you sleep in the same room?" Yes, she's still on sleep. For someone who's had a child and is now lifemated, she's really scarily innocent.
Kyara nods at the definition. "Yep. Roland says it means, like, a girlfriend or boyfriend, a lover, a bed-buddy." She giggles softly, reaching for her soda. "Well, yeah. We're too tired for him to get up, get dressed, and go back to his place, even if he wanted to."
Fumble! Clara's remaining bit of calzone drops at that, eyes widening. "Get...dressed?" She clears her throat, desperately grasping at some semblance of composure. Were this a counseling session, she'd be fine. But this is -Kya-. "A lover. Well. I...ah..." Nope, there goes the composure again. Blush.
Kyara blinks over at you, eyes widening a bit. Her fork halts mid-air. "Well, yes. He could hardly stroll through the Complex naked, eh? Clara, are you okay?"
Clara swallows heavily the final bite of calzone...well, the final bite she can choke down, and closes the box slowly. "Fine?" No, not a bit of squeak there at all in her voice. Hello dolpins! Come in dolphins! "I...ah." She rubs her bangs back from her face and sighs. "Sorry. That...I...we... I guess I envy your...ease at taking such a step." And no, she's not implying Kya's easy.
Kyara looks amused and confused at the same time as she resumes calzone consumption. "Which step is that? Taking in G'ben? Believe me,it wasn't my idea."
Clara manages a wry laugh at that, reaching for her soda again and crossing her legs. "No, dear. The idea of you taking in G'ben neither surprises nor dismays me. Very laudable, in fact. No...I, uh..." Yes, she's blushing. A lot. "I meant the matter of an intimate relationship. Physically."
Kyara stares at you in fascination, murmuring, "Red really /is/ your color." Shaking her head as she gets back on track, she notes, "It's no big deal, really. Not for me, at any rate. Or for any Stilvani," she adds in an afterthought. Her eyes flick toward you and back to the calzone. "I'll pass that on to Roland. About it being laudable, I mean."
Clara flaps a hand, even managing a grin. Heck, right now you could stick her in a shop window as a neon light. "Always liked red," she murmurs sheepishly. "I always forget that that's an aspect of some cultures. I believe Kashid is similarly relaxed. Most of Terra, too." She tilts her head, blush fading a touch. "Would you? And let him know G'ben is welcome to Medbay to discuss science and anything else whenever he likes. Delightful lad."
Kyara's mouth quirks. Aha! A possible babysitter! "G'ben'll be happy to hear it. He likes you a lot. Roland was not, in fact, Tara's first choice as guardian for him. You were." She seems amused by this as she continues to eat.
Well, heck. The other team gets a run as Clara's composure gets knocked entirely out of the park and off into the next Steading. She gapes significantly, astonished. "-Me-? Uh, Kya...Valentine and I...oil and water. The woman abhors me. Why me?"
Kyara can't help but laugh a little at your reaction. "Because she feels you've got G'ben's best interests at heart. Doesn't matter that you and she don't get along. She was trying to think of what was best for him."
Run two, and the bases are loaded. Clara shakes her head in full bemusement, sipping at the soda. "Learn something new every day." She glances up thoughtfully. "What made her change her mind and ask DeMario? Do you know?"
Kyara snickers, putting her empty plate down with a satisfied sigh. "Yes, she told me. I didn't talk to her," she assures hastily. "She sent /me/ a letter too. She said she figured Riley'd have her on bread and water for the next two years if she got you to take the kiddo."
Clara is finally back under control and wearily affable again, chuckling. "I can't answer for him, but it wouldn't be real convenient, no. Not that I'd have said no, in the best interests of the child, but children just aren't in the plans for Riley and me." She tilts her head. "How's it working for you? Can I help at all? Do you need anything?"
Kyara smiles, shaking her head with a rueful chuckle. "It'll take some getting used to. Last night Rol dragged him in- almost literally, the poor kid was scared stiff. I just... boggled."
Clara rises slowly and heads over to click on background music, some sort of light jazz, then moves to crack open the window. "Poor little guy. He's a dear, if a handful, I bet." She glances back sincerely. "Really, hon. If you and Roland need a break, I'll watch him. Riley can cope for an evening. Or sleep downstairs," she amends, amused.
Kyara looks extraordinarily grateful. "I may just have to take you up on that at some point. The boy's just... he bounces off the walls, I swear. I don't know how much of it is due to the situation. And a little bit of Riley'd do him good. G'ben's sure he's going to be," her voice shifts to mimic the boy's, "'hunted down, beat up, and thrown in jail'."
Clara lowers to a seat in the window box, unbuttoning her collar and shaking her head. "Poor fellow. Such a life he's had. Still, I can't deny he's progressed significantly since I first met him. I'd like to see him in school, but then I'd be afraid that'd squash his love of learning."
Kyara chuckles. "Depends on the schooling, I guess. Tara did teach him how to read, at least. And that kid's got such a sponge of a mind I wouldn't be at all surprised if the teachers had a hard time keeping up with /him/."
Clara leans down to unlace her boots and settle them off to one side. Her CO is gone for the night, so she doesn't have to be -quite- as meticulous. "Mm-hmm. Either that, or they'd try to repress him in order to keep him in line with the class. I explained scientific method to him, and I swear, he was thrilled," she offers, fondly pleased.
Kyara frowns faintly. "Repression sucks," she notes bluntly, then chuckles. "He wants to know everything. Tonight he was asking how fish work. Ah, speaking of classes..."
Clara's brows quirk up as she leans her elbows on her knees. "He's an inquisitive fellow. Classes? What about them?"
Kyara smiles hesitantly. "I told Riley tonight I'd like to go to the Academy."
Clara is quiet for a moment, considering this statement. Finally, she tilts her head, reaching one hand up to absently pull a pin from her hair. "What did he say?"
Kyara's mouth quirks in a wry half-grin, half-grimace. "He told me exactly what I thought he would- that it's my decision if I choose to pursue that path. That was after he pointed out that I'd have to give up Roland and G'ben for four years, and that for the first year I wouldn't be seeing much of y'all."
Clara nods in full agreement, snagging down another pin. "He's absolutely right. I'll provide a little more, though. Academy was the best thing that ever could have happened to me. I desperately needed it. And I thought I was going to die the entire first year. It was miserable."
Kyara tilts her head curiously. "Why?"
Clara chuckles softly, a few more pins making their way from hair to hand. "Because I was a stuckup, spoiled little rich girl brat with a bad sense of humor. I thought I was socially superior to my DIs and the upperclassmen." She smirks wanly. "I learned. Quick."
Kyara laughs quietly. "I just bet you did. I'm not sure whether to be grateful or not that Riley had the Academy in mind for me for just the same thing."
Clara starts pulling down various curls (which thankfully don't smell like perm solution) and grins. "Hon, you're light years ahead of where I was. I was only seventeen when I joined up. I guess the hard part is that the froshes are lower than low. Peons. Hazing happens, and you deal. And survive...and it really is survivable. But it's much worse than enlisted boot."
Kyara wrinkles her nose. "Gee, great." She gives you a thoughtful look. "Riley didn't sound too happy about the idea either."
Clara waves a hairpin at you, offering a wistful smile. "And Riley was exhausted beyond belief tonight. I doubt he'd have been exuberent about much other than a blanket and oblivion. It's not a bad idea, Kya. Personally? I'd miss you. I can't speak for Riley. But the Academy is a -good- place. I would do it again in a heartbeat."
Kyara chews on her bottom lip, saying softly, "I'd miss all of you too. But Clara, I'm going career, and I think I can do more good as an officer than I can where I am now."
Clara shakes her head, still smiling. "I know you do, hon. I hadn't meant that as an impediment. Heck, I missed my mother and Niles terribly, but it was the thing to do. What would you want to specialize in?"
Kyara brightens at the reassurance, and ahs, lifting a finger. "I actually did do some research into the courses available at the Academy. Political science would seem... natural." She looks amused. "And I figure it'd up my chances of being assigned here after graduation. Then again, there's the counterintelligence stuff."
Clara chuckles as she rises, nodding. "Political science would indeed be a shoo-in for you. My own undergrad was in...big shocker, xenobiology." She vanishes into the bathroom a moment to lose the hair pins, then emerges to flop back onto the couch. "What about counterintelligence? Not the -safest- line of work," she ventures.
Kyara mhmmms, taking a slow sip of the soda. "True, but it appeals to me. I suspect it could come in handy to Riley too, if I'm able to swing an assignment back here."
Clara links her fingers behind her head and leans back into the couch thoughtfully. "I don't think I can deny that," she replies slowly. "Although he's talented in dealing with bureaucracy." She frees one hand to stifle a yawn, then hesitates. "Kya...it's off the topic, but may I ask you a personal question? As your physician?"
The blue patch above Kya's eye rises again. "Of course. You can ask me anything, Clara."
Clara blinks at the blue for a moment, but manages to drag her attention back to the random topic at hand, faintly worried. "I'm only asking this as your doctor, hon. I promise I'm not trying to butt in. But...do you need to start on a monthly course of suppressors? Or a contraceptive implant?"
Kyara blinks. Twice. "I... it had not occurred to me..."
Clara exhales a slow breath, nodding. "I was afraid of that. Why don't you come on in tomorrow and we'll check you out and see about getting something like that going." She pauses, then adds with a sheepish smile, "I suggest the suppressors, but just because they're so easy."
Kyara smiles wryly, though her eyes are a bit distant as she counts under her breath. "Tomorrow, gotcha. Suppressors are just fine."
Clara leans over and pats your arm gently, offering a sympathetic smile. "It'll be fine, Kya. Don't you worry about a thing."
Kyara flashes a grin. "Ah, I'm not worried. It's just maintenance."
Clara can't help but laugh at that, finally relaxing just enough that the blushing doesn't resume. "Tell me about it. Mine're habit after all these years. I don't need them, but I still take them. It's just a simple hypo, and I can even give you your own kit, if you want to administer them yourself."
Kyara blinks. "How come you..." She cuts herself off sheepishly. "Sorry." The half-blue Stilvani turns a little green. "Er, I suppose I can do that."
Clara actually half-grins this time, albeit sleepily, and enough so that only her ears color faintly. "How come I what?" she asks. "Don't need suppressors?"
Kyara nods sheepishly, all sorts of possibilities going through her mind. Let's see... Clara and Riley waited forever before doing anything... maybe he can't...
>>OOC: Kyara normally doesn't do mindreading poses, but couldn't resist that one. :)
>>OOC: Clara laughs and laughs! That's hilarious!
>>OOC: Kyara snickers. "Leila's gonna slap me."
Clara isn't a mindreader by a longshot, much to her superiors' dismay, although she does smile faintly, tilting her head and choosing her words carefully. "Contraceptive implants are not...limited to women," she offers slowly.
Yep, that was definitely a good thing to get cleared up. Kya's eyes widen slightly. "Ohhh. Good. Doesn't put the /entire/ burden on us then."
Clara wrinkles her nose, bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms about them. "Well, not entirely. It's not as if there's any medical technique that lets them go through the joys of pregnancy, though." She glances about furtively, then lowers her voice in a conspiratorial whisper. "We female doctors are -trying- though... "
Kyara giggles, clapping her hand over her mouth. "/That/ would be highly amusing."
Clara waggles her brows comically under a spill of copper curls, then grins. "Wouldn't it? I love my lifemate, but I doubt even he could manage the pain of delivery. Tres ouch," she adds loftily, then giggles as well.
Kyara snickers into her soda. "I'll take your word for that, I think. I am not the mothery type, I'm afraid." Unless you count her mothering of all the guys in Security, of course. "I'd love to see... Oooh! Now /that'd/ be a prank. Next time you examine him, look real startled and tell him he's showing signs of pregnancy. With all the craziness around here, he might even buy it for a few seconds."
Clara nods almost wistfully. "Neither am I," she agrees, then blinks several times at the suggestion before literally falling back against the arm of the couch laughing helplessly. "Oh, I'd have to have Kramer there with a camera..." she splutters, snickering.
Kyara nods, dissolving into snortling giggles. "And a /camera/. The look on his face..."
Clara is still pretty much useless from giggling as well, shaking her head. "He'd threaten me with another lobotomy," she decides with extensive amusement. "And then toss me in the brig."
Kyara aawwws, eyes twinkling merrily. "Maybe. Right after /he/ got done laughing too."
Clara's expression softens a hint, although she's still grinning merrily as she casts a glance down and Security-wards. "True enough, yes. He's got a sense of humor..." She cuts off the comparison and offers and apologetic look. "Sorry. I'm afraid I get a little sappy when I'm tired."
Kyara gives you a curious look. "I do seem to attract unfinished sentences today," she muses with a smile, then jerks her head in the direction of Security Central. "He does too. Something in common?"
Clara waves a hand in amused apology. "Oh, I was just going to say that's one of the reasons I keep him around." She glances in that direction with a fond smile. "One of the few things, yes. But we learn more all the time. It really is odd...I know the human body and psyche excessively well. And yet I never really understood just how much there was to learn about another person."
Kyara smiles faintly, shadows flickering in her eyes. "I'm glad you ended up happy. Even if he is bent on working himself to death," she adds with a slight frown.
Clara rolls her eyes and nods. "Tell me about it. Well, if nothing else, I'll drag the man off to lunch tomorrow. -I- am taking the day off, or rather, I have it scheduled off, and even if he won't do the same, he can take a food break." She breaks off a yawn, then looks apologetic. "Ack. Oh, hells. Kya, I'm sorry, hon. I've been up nearly 22 hours running now. You're welcome to stay if you'd like some peace and quiet, though."
Kyara blinks, and shakes her head quickly, getting to her feet. "Silly Clara. You're as bad as him, I swear." But she smiles fondly. "I'll come see you day after tomorrow about the suppressors then, okay?"
Clara waggles a finger, rising as well and smiles warmly. "Come see me tomorrow. It's a ten minute exam and hypo. Easy as pie. We'll hide in my office and break out the coffee for it."
Kyara rolls her eyes, amused. "Now /that/ sounds good to me. Tomorrow it is then." Her smile broadens as she pauses near the door. "Thanks for the cal... caz... the food."
"Calzone. It's Italian. DeMario'll likely know them," Clara offers with a sleepy grin, pushing back curls. "Sleep well, Kya. Give DeMario and that brave little fellow my regards."
Kyara grins, opening the door. "Calzone. I oughta hire you to teach me how to cook it." She winks, and slips out. "G'night, Clara."
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