4/16/99

[In the atrium.]

Clara walks here from the Recreational Facility.

Clara has arrived.

Aliana walks here from the Recreational Facility.

Aliana has arrived.

Julie walks here from the Recreational Facility.

Julie has arrived.

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."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

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."

[Travelspam to the bakery deleted.]

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 us for a physical of 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.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

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,..."

You whisper "You do not believe that Tarrant was involved in that, do you?" to Clara.

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.

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.

Clara whispers "This reminds me. I'm supposed to go shopping with Elasia for a dress to her wedding to Niko. Would you want to come with us? I don't know when, but we can work it out."

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.

You whisper "The can reminds you of this trip? Perhaps I should worry." She chuckles quietly. "But, yes, that sounds like it would be entertaining--Elasia is a wonderful young woman. As long as my schedule does not interfere, I would be glad to join you, thank you." to Clara.

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.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

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.

Corian chuckles quietly as she follows Clara, adding a "Good night," of her own over her shoulder.

[Travelspam deleted, conversation left in.]

Clara exhales a contented sigh and starts strolling back, asking in a quiet voice, "Was Tarrant otherwise occupied tonight? I cleared him to return to normal activity today..."

Corian looks almost disappointed as she reaches the quarter. "Ah, the rain has ended," she murmurs. Falling into step with you, she says, "I am afraid that I am unsure. I was in meetings this evening, relating to an additional job that I am considering. I told him that I would comm him this evening." She eyes her pocketwatch, then shakes her head. "Well, it is not morning yet, at least."

Clara chuckles and inreases her pace, only slightly. "No, not quite yet. If we hurry, we can make it back before various and sundry men begin to wonder if we've fallen off the face of the planet."

Corian inquires, with a sheepish little smile, "Could I come and pester you, perhaps tomorrow? I meant to do so tonight, but it is so late--there is nothing wrong, of course, I merely have a question or two about... comparative anatomy, I suppose." No, she doesn't mean that.

Clara smiles warmly as the elevator stops at the proper floor. "Of course you may. I should be off work by about three o'clock...perhaps we could hide in my office and I'll make tea?"

Corian echoes the smile, looking decidedly pleased. "That sounds excellent, thank you, Clara. And thank you for inviting me on this outing. I needed it, I believe. Give my regards to my brother?" Or broadway. Whichever you see first.

Clara will likely see the brother first, since she'd have to go home to see broadway. And then her mother would pester her. And her great-grandmother. Nah, too much. "Of course. And the same to Tarrant, please. Goodnight," she adds, then heads out towards the lobby.

[More travelspam snip, to Corian's quarters.]

You say "*quietly, rather sheepishly* Tarrant? Are you awake?" into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and says "Hello Corian, yeah, I'm awake. I've been moving." in Tarrant's voice.

You say "Movement is generally--oh. Moving? Were you able to gain suitable quarters, then? And I'm very sorry that it took me so long to comm. The meeting turned into three meetings, and then I ran into some people and went to the Quarter for a bit." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and blares "They're still small, but they're a -decided- improvement. The bed isn't broken for one thing, and the water is hot. It's all right, love, I understand things get chaotic, and it's good you got a chance to get out." in Tarrant's voice.

You say "Hot water and an unbroken bed are wonderful, yes. Oh... Clara sends her regards, by the way. And do you need any help moving?" into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and announces "Yay Clara, she was exceedingly kind and be-cleared me earlier. I don't know about the moving, I finally got my picture up, I think I'm about set up, although if you are interested in seeing it at some point, it's kind of amusing. Like a packing crate, but comfortable. Although goodness knows it's late, you'll probably want to be getting to bed soon." in Tarrant's voice.

You say "It is somewhat late, yes, but I would rather say goodnight in person, if you don't mind? I even have a housewarming gift, though I did not purchase it as such." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and says "I am hardly going to object to an opportunity to see you, love." in Tarrant's voice.

You say "Shall I come down there, then?" into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and blares "If you'd like to see my new and improved closet, surely. Although as late as it is, perhaps I should come up there, so you will have less far to travel." in Tarrant's voice.

You say "*quiet chuckle* I will be able to manage, I believe, but thank you for the courtesy." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and blares "As you like. It's room G11." in Tarrant's voice.

You say "Thank you, I will see you soon." into the communit.

[More travelspam deleted.]

You knock on a door.

Tarrant calls, "Come in."

You unlock the door and go into room G11.

Room G11

This room is positively tiny, hardly more than a closet, even the ceiling is low. But for all that it's a decidedly comfortable location. The walls and ceiling are painted a deep crayon blue with trim of natural colored pine. The brightly quilted bed is a small affair, but rather than pulling down from the wall it is tucked into a recess within it, a comfortable little cave. Storage is located over it, lowering the clearance to a cozy level. Set into the opposite wall is another low alcove, although this one contains an rather deep and overstuffed couch of a deep denim blue. In front of it is a somewhat battered wooden coffee table, sturdy despite its apparent age. A compact but functional kitchen area is tucked into one corner, and a bright pine door leads into a white tiled bathroom. Another corner is taken up with a benched seat and a simple table, which does double duty as a dining and work area. Most of the wall is comprised of built in cabinets, but they are cleverly built so that only the doorpulls give away their locations. The floor is of rather scarred, but brightly polished, white pine, uncovered by rug. Unsurprising really, even a small throw rug would be wall to wall carpeting in here. In what little actual wall space there is, a framed print hangs; a sepia toned picture of Ford's Theater.

Contents:

Tarrant

Obvious exits:

Out

You come in from the Housing Hub.

Corian, a small container in one hand, pauses just inside the door. "Oh, this is -much- better," she says, with a smile.

Tarrant is seated in a half-sprawl on one end of the couch, although he shifts to sit up normally as you enter. Trying to look less like he was half-dozing he grins, "Yeah, I surely thought so. It's comfortable certainly. Please, have a seat."

Corian folds herself lightly to a seat on the other side of the couch. She offers the container, which, upon closer investigation, holds Achitlan fudge. With a quick smile, she looks around the room. "This really is cozy," she murmurs, apparently approving.

Tarrant accepts the container, looking perhaps a bit confused. On opening it he grins in utter delight, "Thank you, I appreciate this, glorious stuff. And you remembered..."

Corian inclines her head. "I... well, you seemed to like it. I saw it, and thought of you, so I thought it would make a good apology for my lateness--though I did not realize just how late I was," she adds, with a faint grimace. "I -am- sorry, Tarrant, I lost track of time."

Tarrant clambers to his feet, going to tuck the container of fudge into the fridge. He has a -fridge- now. It's tiny, but it works. That's all that matters to him. "Please, please, no apologies are needed. I spent most of the day in the library with Gardner, then the evening moving. Err, well, the past hour or so at least. It didn't take long. I am glad you got to get out and about. Would you like something to drink?"

Corian shakes her head. "Thank you, but no. I had a bit of tea at the bakery." She watches your trip to the fridge, noting its presence with approval, then adds, "Was your time in the library helpful?"

Tarrant nods, snagging a stack of plasfilm printouts as he returns to sink onto the couch, a half-sound of relief as he sits. He proffers the stack, a series of brightly colored plans for a rather elaborate treehouse. "Yeah, we got a lot done. Gardner says he'll get the permit in the morning."

Corian flips through the printouts with an approving nod. "Wonderful," she says, lifting her gaze to your face. She offers the stack, looking decidedly cheerful. "That should be quite a lot of fun to build. The younglings will be thrilled."

Tarrant accpets the stack with a grin, settling it back on the coffee table. "We had perhaps a little too much fun drawing those up. I think the librarian was ready to kick us a few times for good measure. We -tried- to be quiet, really."

Corian nods to that, eyes shining with somewhat weary amusement as her hand reaches for yours. "Oh, I am certain that you did. But one does not always succeed, yes?"

Tarrant shifts a bit closer, so he can reach your hand comfortably, gently squeezing it. "I'm afraid not. Especially not when discussing treehouses." He regards you a moment, "You look awfully tired."

Corian moves closer as well. It's kind of like a fox and a prince. "Well," she says, with a rather rueful smile, "I was not anticipating that the meetings would run so long. But I will be fine with a bit of sleep."

"As much as I hate to suggest anything involving you leaving," And Tarrant is indeed having to drag out the words, "Perhaps you should get some sleep."

"I should," Corian replies, with a rather wistful smile. "Though I will have part of the morning free to sleep, should I desire that, so I suppose the need is not so great as it could be." See? She can stay, right?

Tarrant really very obviously -wants- you to stay, his hand holding onto yours. "It is up to you, I just don't wantcha' doing yourself any harm."

Corian tentatively scoots closer, so that she's almost touching you. "I am just fine," she reassures. "And if it eases your worry somewhat, I will be visiting Clara tomorrow afternoon--merely to chat. If I -am- doing myself harm, which I do not believe I am, she will certainly notice it."

Tarrant is -not- quite cheesy enough to yawn as he tentatively shifts his unoccupied arm to the back of the couch, but there is much of adolescent hesitance to the gesture. "Visiting Clara's always good, especially just to chat. She seems a very nice person."

Well, you're ten, right? If there's adolescent hesitation, then you're precocious. After a few beats of her own hesitation, Corian settles against you, with a tentative smile. "She is that, yes--she is the one who invited me on the outing tonight, and we will be doing so again, it seems, when Elasia goes in search of her wedding gown."

Tarrant echoes the smile with a shy, but wholly delighted, one of his own. He ahhs quietly, "Elasia, is this a name I should know and am forgetting, or have I not heard this one yet?"

Corian supplies, after a contented little sigh, "Elasia Iakovu--she is with the Hellenic delegation, Niko's intended, and a lovely young woman. We have chatted a few times, and she is quite pleasant. As to whether or not you knew the name, that is for you to say."

Tarrant ahhs quietly, shaking his head, and relaxing in contented comfort. "No, I can't say as I know the name, except perhaps in passing. I was just wondering about holes in my memory, as there've been a couple the past several days."

Corian's brows lift at that, expression shifting from near-drowsy pleasure to (relatively) alert concern. "That sounds somewhat disconcerting, cha'trez."

Tarrant shakes his head lightly, "Yeah, well, when it occurs. But like as not none of it's gone, gone, my recall's just a little fried at the moment by the drugs, and being tired. It'll come back soon enough." He pauses a moment, brows half lowered in thought, but he simply cannot place the last word. At last he asks quietly, "Cha'trez?" And miracle of miracles he pronounces it right. That blurred center syllable is all too easy to pronounce with his speech pattern.

Corian suggests softly, her concern not really lessening, "If you are tired, then you should sleep." She pauses a moment to ponder an explanation of the word, possibly to give herself time to summon an explanation. "Cha'trez is... one who causes the heart to sing, perhaps? More briefly, it is heartsong." With a brief, warm smile, she adds, "It is an endearment, of course, for use with a beloved."

"Hello pot? Calling pot, this is kettle, come in pot..." Tarrant teases gently, although he trails off at the explanation, smiling rather decidedly shyly, but altogether pleased as well. "Cha'trez," he echoes. "A word I could get used to hearing you say, most assuredly."

Corian looks just a bit sheepish at the teasing, though she brightens at your reactino to her explanation. "Well, then, cha'trez," she replies softly, "I will have to say it often, then."

Tarrant sighs again in soft contentment, "I love you. I have said it before, but I'll likely say it many times more indeed. It is so wonderful to be with you, even if both of us should likely be asleep."

Corian manages not to look too sappily happy--no, really, who is she kidding? (And not kissing, as her Freudian typist suggested.) She's revoltingly in love. It's just good that she's not exposing anyone else to this excessive sweetness. "I love you, too," she replies. "And... well, I suppose it would not be good to suggest that we are both already sleeping, and this happiness but a dream." Her tone is very gently teasing, though she does sound a bit more tired and that much closer to out of it.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Tarrant acks softly, half tightening the arm behind you in something almost a hug before releasing it again. "Don't even -say- that. I don't want to wake up and find the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me isn't real, anything but that." Regarding you rather sadly he notes, "I think however, you really need some sleep, love. Shall I walk you home? Or if you'd like, there's a bed here you may borrow. Certainly it'd be only fair."

Corian turns towards you in your loose embrace, one hand lifting to cup your cheek. "I am here," she replies, with a rather apologetic smile. "We are here, and this is very much real. But I will not say that again, please forgive me." She doesn't say anything about staying or going, not just yet.

Tarrant regards you in an excessively fond fashion, voice lowering a bit. "You need not ask forgiveness, love. Not when you have made me the happiest man alive, or dead for that matter." He brings up his hand, covering yours on his face a moment and then attempting to bring it over slightly so that he may ever so gently kiss it.

Corian doesn't seem to mind that at all, as she assists in the hand bringing-overing, a quick smile crossing her face. "And you say that you are not charming," she murmurs, with a warm smile, "Yet you give me such a convincing demonstration of that charm."

Tarrant hmphs softly, looking rather amused. "I am not charming. I am in love. It is altogether different."

Corian starts to retort to that--love is charming, after all--but is caught unawares by a sudden yawn. "Oh, dear," she murmurs. "I suppose I really -should- get some sleep." She really doesn't -want- to leave, but she also doesn't want to stay and have yet another discussion on who gets to sleep on the couch.

"You do seem outright tired indeed, m'love." Tarrant reaches up with the same hand he snagged yours for a kiss with and gently brushes back a length of your hair. "You could use some sleep. Why don't you just curl up down here? That way you don't have to trek back when you're this tired. The bed's not as big as your own, but it looks comfortable enough."

Corian dissolves into quiet laughter at that, shaking her head fractionally. "I would love to be with you, but I should head back to my own quarters, I am afraid. Your first night in your new room, you should be in your new bed."

Tarrant looks perhaps a bit saddened, and altogether sheepish. "Darn, I was hoping to con you into it. I uh, rather like having you around and all. I suppose the past couple of nights have rather spoiled me."

Corian considers for a moment, then ventures, "If you would let me sleep on the couch, perhaps? Yours looks like it could pass my interview process, after all. It seems most comfortable, and quite kind as well."

Tarrant blinks several times, looking perhaps a bit sorrowful, "I can't convince you to take the bed? I'm sure it's a nice bed. I like couches. I could call the bed the couch if that would help?"

Corian shakes her head, barely catching another yawn and shoving it behind her eyes. "I am sorry, cha'trez," she replies, actually sounding apologetic. "I cannot take your bed, I am sorry." After a pause, she adds, wearily amused, "If for no other reason, Hona would find out--somehow--and she would torment me with it for ages."

Tarrant chuckles softly, shaking his head. "Well, if you can't be convinced...I'd...well, I'd love to have you here, if you think you would be comfortable."

Corian lightly pats the couch. "I would be just fine," she replies, with a smile. "I have slept on far worse, after all. Your couch is quite comfortable, after all."

Tarrant very gently dis-entangles himself, moving to a cabinet to pull out several thick blankets and a couple of pillows. Bringing these to the couch, he sets about making a nest of it, as best he can working around you. As he finishes, he moves to the edge of the alcove, pressing a panel, and tugging at it to reveal a curtain that screens off the couch area. "If you want to make a real nest of it," he explains.

Corian watches your preparations with a kind of drowsy pleasures. The meetings took a lot out of her, apparently. She eyes the panel with fascination, murmuring, "This really is a wonderful room, Tarrant. I do not believe that the curtains are necessary, though."

"I couldn't be more pleased with it, certainly. Clara must've talked to somebody, she said she would. Still, to let you know they're there." Tarrant offers a bow of sorts, although he uses a hand against a cabinet to steady himself for it, as he's rather beat himself. "Good night, love, cha'trez."

Corian burrows under the blankets, curling into a compact little bundle and murmuring something vague about Clara and thankyou notes. "Good night, cha'trez," she replies, voice blurred with sleep. "Dream sweetly, enjoy your rest."

Tarrant reaches down to gently tuck the blanket in around you before dimming the lights almost to darkness. Removing his boots and vest he climbs into his bed, although not without a wistful look in your direction as he does so. "Sweetest dreams to you as well." He curls down beneath the brightly colored quilt.

Corian is already asleep, so she doesn't notice the wistful look. Too bad. It might get her to consider some things, what a concept. She's just a bundle of sleep, under the blankets. Yes, Corian sleeps.

Tarrant takes a moment more to find sleep, not because he isn't beat tired, but because he's enjoying being curled in his bunk-gone-cave and watching you through the almost darkness. Finally, still wistful, but altogether content, he drifts to sleep as well.


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