4/10/99

Jay is at that little table in the corner he likes so much, the one with the good viewpoint of the entrance, and he's making his way rapidly through what appears to be oatmeal, and a rather large bowl of it at that. Spotting Cori, his amiable smile brightens, and he gives a wave.

Corian strolls into the dining facility, pace maybe a bit slower than usual. She pauses to get some juice, then, spotting Jay, she offers him a smile and crosses to his table. "Good afternoon, cha'leket. Are you having a pleasant day?"

Jay waves his spoon slightly, pausing to swallow hastily. "So far, so good. The folks I was working with this morning didn't think they knew everything. Unlearning's such a pain. And how's your day going?"

Corian, leaning lightly against the chair opposite yours, considers a moment before she answers. "It goes somewhat uneventfully, which is, I suppose, a goodness."

Jay nods thoughtfully, reaching for more honey to pour over the oatmeal. "Yeah, no news is often good news. Same goes for happenings. You get enough sleep last night? Ya look a bit tired."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Corianfinally gives up and seats herself in the chair upon which she's been leaning. It's somehwat of a breach of etiquette to do so without invitation, but you're family, so she's not going to wait any longer. "I could have used perhaps a bit more sleep, yes," she agrees. "I will catch up tonight, most likely."

Jay doesn't seem to mind the ploppage as he wags aforementioned spoon at you. "You've been doing that a lot lately," he scolds teasingly. "Not getting enough sleep, that is."

Corian inquires, with a quizzical smile, "And how do you know that, cha'leket? Do you monitor my bedtimes?" She sips her juice, then carefully puts down the glass, gray eyes holding a hint of amusement as she regards you.

Jay's mouth quirks. "No, but maybe I should." He shakes his head. "Other night when we had dinner you mentioned staying up late the night before, talking with your folks."

Corian ahs quietly at that, head inclining in a brief half-nod. She doesn't mention the other late nights, talking to Honalee or other people. "There is no need for you to do so," she says, with a quiet chuckle. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, cousin."

Jay nods slightly in acknowledgement of that. "Sure ya are, cha'leket. It's just one of those things when ya got overprotective family around, neh? I get the urge to start spouting about warm milk and bedtimes."

Corian can't help but laugh at that, inclining her head. "Of course, of course. I am afraid, though, that I drink even cold milk infrequently. Will tea suffice, in lieu of warm milk? And I will get enough sleep today, if that will set your mind at ease."

Jay nods with a smile, gulping down more oatmeal. "That'll do, though it seems a bit odd with the caffeine. Hmmm... when's the last time you took a day off work?"

Corian shakes her head at that. "There is no caffeine in my tea, cha'leket. I rarely ingest caffeine." With a smile for your question, she says, "I took much of yesterday off, and am taking today off as well."

Jay's eyebrows shoot up. "You did what? Cori, are you feeling alright?"

Corian considers her answer for a moment. Somehow, telling you that she thought she was carrying the Messiah just doesn't appeal. "Another day's rest should set me to rights," she says, smile as pleasant as ever.

What, it wouldn't be fun watching Jay spew oatmeal all over nearby diplomats? "Alright then," he grins crookedly, satisfied. "The Great Meeting'll wait til you're back up to snuff." Like he really minds putting that off or something.

Oh, sure it would be fun, but Corian is still trying to preserver her 'nice' image. She takes up her juice for a moment, then inquires, "The Great Meeting? My apologies, cha'leket. Am I forgetting something?"

Jay chuckles, gesturing toward a particular, if currently empty, table. "The Sectassian kidlets?"

Corian's expression clears. "Of course, of course. Ximena will very likely appreciate the help, but I do think, yes, that it should wait for a few days. Xalin is going to visit me this afternoon, but I do not think I am quite ready to handle more than one of them at a time."

Jay blinks down at his oatmeal before looking up, his expression faintly confused. "In that case, cha'leket, I'd hazard a guess you're more tired than you look."

Corian, with a faint smile, murmurs, "Appearances may deceive." She shakes her head, then. "All is well, cousin. I just need a bit of rest, which I will, of course, get later today."

Jay rather obviously suppresses a sigh. "You'd better," he teases lightly, "Or I'll get Rile to throw you in the brig where there's nothing to do /but/ rest."

Corian's brows arch fractionally, despite her amused look. "Riley would not do that," she says, with a quiet chuckle. "Unfortunately for him, I know too many stories about him."

Jay snickers softly, shaking his head. "Now why doesn't that surprise me. Next time we have dinner, a storytelling round'll have to be included."

Corian shakes her head at that, polishing off the rest of her juice. "I'm afraid I cannot do that, as he knows stories about me, as well. And if I start, he will almost definitely do the same."

Jay tries to keep a straight face, and fails. "And what's the bad part?"

Corian tsks quietly at that, though she still apparently sees the humor in the situation. "When would it end?" she inquires. "I believe he knows more stories than I do, so he would likely win, and we cannot have that."

Jay's eyebrows lift in amusement. "Now that's one competition I think I'm glad I'm not part of."

Corian inclines her head. "Quite," she says, with a smile. "So you can understand why I would prefer that it not begin." She glances at her empty glass, then says, "I'm afraid that the time has come for me to return to my quarters. But perhaps I will see you later, cha'leket?"

Jay rises to bow deeply. "I'll make sure of it. Sleep well, cha'leket."

Corian gets to her feet. Her bow is somewhat less deep, though her oddly apologetic expression could suggest, possibly, that this is not of her choosing. "I will certainly do so. Enjoy the rest of your day." And with that, she heads lightly from the room, disposing of her cup along the way.

You say "Cha'leket? Do you have a moment or three?" into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and says "For you? Of course oh sister of mine for whom I am denied the joy of buying noisy toys. What can I do for you?" in Riley's voice.

You say "Could I possibly steal you away for a short time? There is that which I would like to discuss with you. *amusement* And I have no objection to noisy toys." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and announces "Certainly I am available for theiving. Just tell me to whence I should be stolen? *snicker* It is not the same." in Riley's voice.

You say "I am in my quarters. I am able to go elsewhere, of course, but I would prefer to stay here, I believe." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and announces "I'm on my way." in Riley's voice.

Someone's knocking on the door. Maybe it's Riley. (If you like, you can 'reply <words>'.)

Corian calls, "Come in."

Riley enters from the Elevator Lounge.

Riley has arrived.

Corian is perched on the couch, fuzzy blanket tucked to one side for now. Her terminal is on the coffee table, muted and occasionally blinking his protest. Tea is waiting; apparently, she decided not to ask whether you wanted it. "Thank you for coming up here, cha'leket," she says, with a warm smile.

Riley ambles in, offering a polite bow of kin to kin, smiling, although the expression is tinged with concern, "Thank you for inviting me up. How are you feeling?" Tea is always welcome, and one whiff of it causes Riley to brighten.

Corian waves you to a seat, then turns the gesture to one of dismissal at your words. "It is nothing that a bit more rest will not fix. I am most grateful to Clara for finding the source of the trouble." She sips lightly at her own tea, adding, "She's a wonderful woman, Riley."

Riley slides into the indicated seat with a nod of thanks, unable to keep from grinning like an imbecile. "Yeah, yeah she is. I'm very lucky indeed that she suffers my existance."

Corian's smile is fond, but rather thoughtful as well. "I think perhaps that you both are lucky, having found each other." She pauses for a moment, expression sobering. Peering into the tea, as if it will tell her what to say, she observes, "Though, unfortunately, praise of your lifemate was not the entire reason that I asked you to come here." Gray eyes lift towards your face. "You had an... acquaintance, one Guido Sarducci? Do you know of his whereabouts?"

Riley's expression dims to professional seriousness. "Last I was aware he was in prison on Caridnal. Although the last time I can personally verify his whereabouts was in the Vault, some time before that."

Corian shakes her head fractionally. "I seem to have the knack for telling you that things are not as they should be," she muses. With another headshake, she adds, "He was seen just over a week ago, on Akorsh. I am uncertain as to his current whereabouts, but I find it highly unlikely that he is on Caridnal."

First Lexington and now Sarducci, Riley's brows lower, looking perhaps more startled by this information than he was the other. "Akorsh? But that's half the galaxy from Caridnal? What in the? How did?"

Corian considers her next words for a long moment, one finger tapping gently on her mug. "There is an organization to which he belonged," she says slowly. "He is, I believe, no longer a part of it, but there is someone in the group for whom he is working. It is entirely possible that this person assisted in his travel, though I cannot say of a certainty."

"Organization?" Riley questions, reaching at last for that mug of tea, perhaps seeking something comfortable as a grounding source for his wildly processing thoughts. "Why would this person assist Guido if he's no longer part of this organization?"

Corian ventures, still choosing her words with obvious care, "It is my understanding that he is under the sponsorship of someone who is--he is a tool, I was told."

"What kind of organization is this?" Riley questions, more or less echoing his earlier question.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

It takes a long moment before Corian replies. "The organization is the Department of the Interior. I am not sure how much you know of it, cha'leket." And she doesn't really seem especially willing to give more information than you have.

It takes a long moment before Corian replies. "The organization is the Department of the Interior. I am not sure how much you know of it, cha'leket." And she doesn't really seem especially willing to give more information than you have.

There's an exceptionally bewildered pause from Riley's direction. Then something resembling cluefulness kicks in, "I know they watch the watchers...Guido was..." He frowns. Okay, he happens to be wrong, but he's trying. "That friend of yours, he works for..." He's floundering a bit here, far too innocent to comprehend the Department, really.

Corian offers you a faint smile, one that holds a trace of sympathy. "Mr. Sarducci worked for the Department, yes." She doesn't say anything about that friend of hers. Sure, he's told other folks, but that doesn't mean -she- is going to do so. "It makes me somewhat concerned for your safety," she adds. "From what I have heard, he may still carry a grudge."

Riley stifles a quiet sigh, taking a long sip of tea. "I swear, just when it looks like things are making sense." He chuckles ruefully, "Thank you though. I appreciate the warning. I'll have to talk to customs. And warn Nick."

Corian inclines her head. "I'm sure you will do what is necessary," she says quietly. A faint smile crossing her face, she suggests, "We should make an attempt to spend some time together when I do not have ill news to impart."

Finishing off his tea, Riley nods with a wry grin, "We really ought to. We have not had as much time as I could have hoped. So, aside from evil returning people, how has your life been?"

Corian inquires, with a gesture to your empty mug, "Would you like some more? I still have half a pot of it, I believe." She takes another sip of her own tea, savoring the aroma and the taste for a moment before she answers. "My life has been, as a rule, quite pleasant. I have been talking rather often with Honalee, which has been wonderful." She pauses a beat, perhaps remembering something. "Which reminds me--Mr. Veruzac asked me to pass on a message to you."

Riley shakes his head slightly, settling one hand along the arm of the couch. "No, but thank you. I'll snag something with caffiene in it later." He grins fondly, "How's Honalee? I've not had much time to comm lately..." There's a mildly puzzled pause, "A message?"

Corian offers, "I have a few red cans, if you would prefer? I generally keep a few, for guests." She pauses a beat, then says, "Hona is well, though she says her health is not as it was. Grandmother is making sure that she listens to the doctor." A fond smile crosses her face, though only fleetingly. "And... a message, yes. He asked that I pass on his apologies, for his absence. He also expressed his pride in you." She looks for a moment like she's going to add more, but then shakes her head.

Riley shakes his head in mild dismissiveness, "No thank you, but I appreciate the offer. You stay put." There's a quiet pause at that last, "No apology is due -me-, of all people. I certainly lost nothing in the arrangement. It is mother he ought to be apologizing to."

Corian nods slowly to that, though not without a grimace. "Cha'leket, I do not believe that Mother would talk to him long enough for him to do so. I tried to tell her about our talk, and she ended the conversation." She is silent for a moment, then observes, "He really does seem to miss her, very much." And, yes, she does sound a bit sympathetic.

"Well -no-," Riley agrees in a wry tone, "But still, she's the one due the apology. Not me. I was only as snide as I was because he was being...him...at the ball and all."

Corian shakes her head fractionally. "I have no illusions about the man, my brother, but his manner towards me was very polite. He did not even suggest anything that made me uncomfortable."

Riley nods amiably, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply he was being otherwise, but he has been rather effusively friendly towards a number of individuals here. Combine that with Jay..."

Corian nods to that, with a faint smile. "It is somewhat ironic, that--neither you nor Niko exhibit that behavior, yet Mr. Veruzac and Jay seem very alike, in that." No, she doesn't say a -word- about Terrence bonking Aunt Kareen.

Riley doesn't mention Terrence bonking Kareen either, although he does note, "Honestly, if I were raised by Aunt Kareen I might be a bit on the starved for affection side too."

Corian nods her agreement to that, with a faint grimace. "It was very odd--a planet some years ago had a specific speech pattern, so they could not pronounce my name, and ended up calling me Kareen. I was... somewhat disconcerted, at first."

Riley acks quietly, nodding with a chuckle. "I'd be disconcerted as well. She and mom are...intriguing people I suppose."

Corian nods her agreement. "Intriguing," she murmurs. "Yes, quite." She sets aside her tea mug, observing, "But you are busy, yes? Should I let you get back to what you were doing?"

Riley looks rather sheepish, climbing to his feet, perhaps seeing your words as a dismissal. "It is a lunatic job, and you should be resting."

Corian gets to her feet as well, to see you to the door. "Lunacy is relative," she observes, with a faint smile. "I do hope you enjoy the rest of your day, though, cha'leket. I was glad to have this time with you."

Riley bows lightly to you, nodding. "Lunacy in this family most assuredly is relative." He moves to leave, adding once more, "Rest, or I'll sic Clara on you, Cori."

Corian offers a very small bow, and a quick smile. "I am not so fragile as all that, but I will rest, my brother, if it will make you happy." And, in fact, she does return to the couch.

Riley leaves the room.

Riley has left.


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