4/25/99

You say "Clara? Do you have a moment or two? I just have a few questions, and they can wait, of course." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and announces "Hmm? Oh...just a sec." A short pause. "Yes, I'm free. Just got off shift, actually." Somewhat muffled is her voice saying 'Afternoon Vryce. You look like you're feeling better' before she comes back. "What's up, mon ami?"" in Clara's voice.

You say "I am sorry, you very likely explained this, but... well, why did that happen, last night? My memories of what happened are somewhat scattered, yet." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and blares "I'm not surprised in the slightest. Have you eaten yet? If not, perhaps we can discuss it over lunch?" in Clara's voice.

You say "I have, yes--that much, I did remember. But I could keep you company while you eat, if you like? I can always have some tea--one can never have too much tea." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and says "Tea is an essential fact of life," is the cheerful agreement. "Would you care to meet in the dining hall, then?" in Clara's voice.

You say "Of course, that sounds splendid. Just give me a moment to change clothing, and I will be there." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and blares "I'll see you down there, then." in Clara's voice.

[Travelspam to dining deleted.]

Clara is coming away from one of the lines with a tray, and she shifts it to one arm to give a quick wave to the taller woman. "Corian...there's a table over there," she calls, heading for a smallish table and sliding into a seat.

Corian pauses long enough to claim a mug of herbal tea, then follows after Clara to sit across from her at the smallish table. "Thank you for coming up last night," she says, looking rather sheepish. "I do appreciate it."

Aliana arrives from the Central Atrium.

Aliana has arrived.

Clara pokes her fork at the oddish looking oblong dish, mixing up the various cheeses and seafood bits while smiling warmly. "Not to worry, not a bit. Are you feeling better then?"

Aliana pauses at the doorway...moving to her tiptoes as she tries to peer about. Giving up after a moment, she hops onto a chair and peers. Even then she does not see whom she is looking for, but she does see some people she recognizes and offers a cheery wave before she hops down.

Corian nods to that, fingers curling lightly around her mug. "Much better, yes, thank you. That was somewhat... disconcerting." She hated the treatment, though, horrible awful stuff. Ordinarily she'd return Aliana's cheery wave with a smile, of course, but she's not seated at an agle to see her well.

Clara glances up from the etoufee to nod amiably at Aliana then tilts her head at Corian sympathetically. "I can imagine so. I hope the...suggested treatment wasn't taken amiss?" she offers sheepishly. "It just seemed easiest..."

Corian shakes her head at that, her expression taking on a hint of amusement. "It certainly was not taken amiss, no." After a brief pause, she adds, smile holding some reassurance, "That is not quite the first time we have intentionally slept so, Clara." Yeah. It was the second.

Aliana pads a bit closer, mostly to see if she would be an interruption..overhearing a bit of the conversation she decides to settle at a nearby table with a view to the doorway. She mutters softly to herself.

Clara glances up from her lunch, brows quirking up, although the exprssion is decidedly pleased. "Oh, thank goodness. Very good then. I felt so bad about suggesting a situation that might be uncomfortable." She takes a bite to quell the thought. "Now, you had some questions?"

Corian's cheeks color just the slightest bit. "That aspect of it was certainly not uncomfortable, no," she murmurs, with a smile. "And I had questions, yes. Why did it happen? I do not believe this has happened to me in the past, and I would rather like to prevent it in the future."

Aliana pulls out a small packet from her pack, opening it to reveal several stuffed mushrooms. Her attention seems focused on the door,occassionally she does glance at the other table, but she seems to be making an effort not to eavesdrop.

Clara ahs softly and sets her fork down to gesture with her hands as if to describe an arc. "Given your genetic heritage, like your brother, you've already an excessive metabolic rate. Now, normally the ev'lis merely provides the extra alertness needed. It combines with the glucose in the system to push extra oxygen to the rest of the system. But without food to counteract it, there's an overproduction of insulin in the system, causing jiteriness, inability to sleep, hypothermia. A hypoglycemic reaction, in other words."

Corian nods slowly to that, expression thoughtful. "So it is the combination of the two that I should avoid, yes," she murmurs. "If I had known that I was going to go to Edor, though," she adds, with a faint grimace, "I likely would have avoided the ev'lis. I still do need to discuss that with the Jansites. Such a lack of warning hardly seems proper, especially as they know my eating habits."

Clara nods sympathetically, taking another bite of her lunch. "I'd have to agree. At least to let you know enough to pack something to take with you to eat. The jumps through hyper were probably the catalysts, by the way, making your body work even harder."

Aliana carefully cuts up one of the mushrooms, only the thoughtful expression on her face betrays the fact that she may be actually listening..that and an occassionaly glance that way, or perhaps she is just looking out the window.

"I had thought," Corian says, with a grimace and a nod, "That we were going to Jansi, which is close enough that going through hyper would not be required." The brief look at the diplomatic facility suggests that things will not go well for the Jansites when Corian has this particular discussion. She does spot Aliana as she does the looking, though, and offers a brief smile befoer turning back to Clara. "The experience was, for the most part, quite unpleasant."

Aliana's smile is warm, despite the rather guilty look on her face as she returns Corian's. Attention returns to the doorway with an impatient sigh.

Clara shakes her head with a soft sigh, brushing back her bangs lightly after a smile at Aliana as well. "Why in the name of purple peanutbutter did they reroute you then? Was there actually an assignement for you on Edor?"

Corian's brows lift. "Purple peanut butter," she murmurs. "The children would prefer that, to be sure." But then she gets back on track, and nods. "Oh, of course. Their Premier's meeting had been on Edor all along. The Edori k'lenest does not speak either Standard or Jansite, though, and they did not trust the Edori translators. But none of their people speak Edori, either. So they asked me for this favor, implying that the meeting would be on Jansi."

Clara rolls her eyes with a frustrated exhalation of sigh. "Naturally. These are the reasons I hide in my nice, safe Medbay, to avoid red tape and beauracracy. Perhaps you could keep a kit of non-perishable vegetarian food ready with your travel bag? C-rations or protein bars. Not pleasant, but certainly better than the options..."

Corian nods thoughtfully to that. "An excellent suggestion, yes, thank you. I used to do that, back when I traveled more frequently, but have gotten out of the habit these last several months." She rubs lightly at her eyes for a moment, then, after sipping at her tea, observes, "Though I should have pressed for more details--should have known better than to go only on implications."

"Maybe they were worried you wouldn't come otherwise?" Ali asks quietly. Opps, so much for not eavesdropping

Clara munches a cheese sauced bit of onion and scallop, giving Ali a faint grin as if to say she hasn't been fooled a bit the whole time. "She has a point, Corian. Politicians are sneaky hyperworms, prone to getting their way."

Corian casts a brief smile to Aliana. "That is a possibility, of course--though the favor was more of a deal--I do this for them, they do something for me." She shakes her head fractionally. "It is entirely possible that they did not believe I would go to Edor. Of course, asking me would be far too straightforward."

Aliana offers them both a grateful smile, turning to make conversation easier..yet still keeping an eye on the doorway. 'I don't think diplomats like to do anything the straightforward way.'

Clara scrapes up the last of her lunch, then reaches for her coffee and nods thoughtfully, regarding the Edreeni woman. "The appointment?" she asks quietly, a soft smile in place. "Did you get it, then?"

Corian nods to Aliana's words. "Some of them do, one cannot generalize, but I do have to say that, as a rule, those are few and far between." At Clara's inquiry, she shakes her head, a brief look of frustration crossing her face. "Not yet. They did not mention it after the meeting yesterday, and I was... aware that I should probably get home, and so did not press the issue."

Aliana glances back at her mushrooms consideringly for a few moments as ifdebating if she wants anymore..apparently the answer is yes, for she carefully cuts up another of them.

Your communit crackles to life and says "Heya', Corian, love? Sorry to pester, but I thought I'd let you know the disaster's over and see how you were doin'." in Tarrant's voice.

Aliana glances at Corian as she hears a voice, then her gaze moves back to the doorway with an impatient frown.

Corian sets aside her tea mug and fumbles for her comm-unit.

You say "Did everything go well, cha'trez? And I do hope you did not go back to my quarters, as I am not there. I am in the dining facility, keeping Clara company while she eats--and I am feeling much better, thank you." into the communit.

Clara glances up as well, brows lifting at the comm. "Sounds like someone's missing you," she notes quietly.

Corian glances back to Clara with a quick, restrained-from-being-sappy smile. "He had to leave suddenly, earlier, you see."

Your communit crackles to life and says "No, I ain't had the chance yet." Gee, such cheerful grammar. He's a little out of it. "Just wanted to make sure you were all right, I had to get out of there s'fast. Thanks." in Tarrant's voice.

Clara's smile brightens significantly as she sips at her coffee, eyes dancing. "It's always difficult to...leave such a situation," she agrees, not -quite- as restrained, of course. No, more in the realm of tweeting birds.

Aliana glances between the two, eyes dancing as her own expression brightens at the thought of someone.

You say "I am doing just fine, cha'trez, and thank you for asking. I understand about the haste, of course." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and says "If'n all's well then, over'n'out." in Tarrant's voice.

Corian casts a brief, fond look upwards. No, she's not suddenly gotten religious, she's looking in the general direction of Tarrant's quarters. Turning her attention back to the others, she simply nods, taking up her tea. Her expression grows rather thoughtful.

Aliana finally can no longer restrain her curiousity and she turns to Clara and asks,'How was your picnic the other day?'

Oh, dear. Now -there's- a question to up the sappiness quotient in the room. Clara leans back in her chair, exhaling a contented sigh about a purely insipid smile. "Absolutely lovely. Perfect. Gorgeous. The food was spectacular too."

Corian inquires, gaze shifting between the other two, "Picnic?"

Aliana just beams at that,'Rhys gets all the credit for that, I was in Barrister.' She pauses to sigh happily, 'He likes doing those kinds of things.'

Clara's smile, if anything, brightens as she beams at Aliana. "I have the dishes from it up in our room, all packed back in the basket and clean. Rhys does amazing things to pasta." Corian gets a lazy, delighted nod. "Rhys and Julie plotted to get Riley and I racing down to the lakeside for an emergency. We get there, and there's a tablecloth on that rock we sat on the other day, candles, wine, pasta, and sunset."

Corian ohs softly, a warm smile crossing her face. "That must have been wonderful for the two of you. How thoughtful!"

"Rhys does many amazing things." Ali notes softly, chin resting on the palm of her hand as she looks in the direction of the spaceport.

Clara laces her fingers about her mug, still lost in a lovestricken fog. Is it any wonder nearby diplomats are edging away? "He's a great cook. I threatened to see if I could marry him too," she adds with a grin, obviously joking.

Aliana giggles softly,'I think Riley might object to that one...But I am sure he wouldn't mind giving you cooking lessons.'

Corian starts to say something, but then her comm snags her attention, and continues to do so for however long it takes to make the super cheese sauce.

Clara can't help but echo the laugh, shaking her head contentedly. "Nah, he asked if he made pasta if I'd marry him. Silly man. Still, I might at least get a manicotti dinner out of it."

Aliana chuckles softly, "Perhaps you and Riley could come for dinner one night?'

This seems to drag Clara a bit closer to reality as she offers an almost wistful nod. "I'd like that. Hopefully our schedules would agree to it. It's not often that we have time off at the same time."

Aliana pauses for a moment, a frown crossing her face. "Perhaps you should make time...are your jobs your whole life?'

Clara considers that for a long moment over another sip of coffee, then shrugs. "Not exactly. The the Fleet is, to an extent. It not really that it's everything, but rather that we pull long hours. Hopefully that's changing, though."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Aliana leans forward slightly, considering the Doctor thoughtfully. "I am perhaps the last person to speak of duty..I know about Riley and his oaths of honour...But you each have a duty to each other, a duty that is just as important as the one you have to your jobs." She pauses to settle back in her chair...watching the doctor carefully.

Clara actually flashes up a grin at that, nose wrinkling. "You're preaching to the choir, my friend. I know this, already. And we do spend time together, I promise."

Aliana chuckles softly, 'Sleeping doesn't count.'

Clara snickers softly, shaking her head. "I meant other than sleeping. Goodness. Life will likely settle a bit after Niko and Ela return from their honeymoon."

Aliana smiles, 'Good.' She notes before finishing off her mushroom, "Have they decided where they would like to go?'

Corian takes her attention finally from her comm-unit with a sigh and a vaguely annoyed look, though her attention is caught by Aliana's question.

Clara gestures with her coffee in an inexact direction. "They're taking the Peregrine out for a time, then going back to Hellas, to my knowledge."

Aliana sighs mistily,'That does sound nice.' She pauses for a moment, 'Any chance of you and Riley escaping after they get back?'

Clara shrugs vaguely at the question, draining the last of her coffee. "Honestly? I haven't a clue. We had a vacation recently, so I don't know if it's an option." She tilts her head sympathetically at Corian. "Work being evil?"

Aliana ducks her head in apology, 'I hadn't realized...Shows you how much I keep up with things on the second floor.'

Corian inquires curiously, taking up her lukewarm tea, "The Peregrine? And... rather, yes, but it is nothing I cannot ignore."

Clara offers Aliana a kindly smile. "Ah, not to worry. It was..." She thinks a moment. "Almost five months ago, so an easily lost time." She nods affably at Corian. "Our boat. Double master, forty-two foot kestral class." The affection for the craft is unmistakable in her voice.

Aliana oohhs, 'G'Ben was telling me about that...He wants to learn to sail.'

Corian ahhs softly, her expression clearing. "The boat. Yes, Riley mentioned it. But 'almost five months ago' hardly counts as just having a vacation, not in my book."

Clara beams at the mention of the boy. "I'd be more than glad to teach him, certainly," she decides, then blinks at Corian in surprise. "It doesn't?" She really is surprised. Who needs a vacation more than once every year or two?

A complex functionary comes strolling in..Pausing at the door he yells out, 'ALIANA!' To which Ali jumps to her feet and waves, 'Be right there!' She calls back. Turning to the other two, "I have a delivery to one of the Steadings...if you will excuse me?'

Corian shakes her head. "The trip only lasted a few days, yes? A few days out of five months does not, no." She blinks at the bellowing functionary, murmuring something about rudeness, then nods to the Bonded. "Of course, and do enjoy the trip."

Clara furrows her brows at the bellow, but nods to Ali. "Certainly. My best to Islien, Ali. Good day." She tilts her head thoughtfully, then nods. "We went for two days. Poor Niko, he'd just been made XO. Goodness, it was hard enough for him without Riley there."

Aliana grins as she pads off, taking the packet carefully before sprinting off..apparently it is needed.

Aliana heads towards the Central Atrium.

Aliana has left.

Corian nods to that, sympathetic enough. "But it has been five months, as you say. He is much more used to the job, now." After a moment of consideration, she says, "You took two days of five months for vacation. That is just over one percent of the time. I do believe you should attempt another." Her smile is quick. "You see, before I took up the job just before this one, five months was a bit over my average stay on each planet. And I tried to take at least a few days each trip to sightsee."

Clara taps at the rim of her coffee cup thoughtfully, almost wistful. "We had a really, really wonderful time last time," she notes tentatively. "And he did mention spending some time on the beach. I just figured he was half asleep when he mentioned it though."

Corian suggests, with an amused smile, "Ask him again sometime, perhaps, when he is awake?"

"Maybe," Clara capitulates, still thinking. "I might. I'm fine, actually. He's the one who could probably do with some time off." Hello kettle. "Still, last night was sort of like a vacation," she explains, grin returning. "We even got to see the sunset. I'd almost forgotten that it does that on a regular basis."

Corian just looks at you for a moment. "Of course, Clara," she says blandly. "You have absolutely no need of a vacation. Would Riley say the same about himself?" She shakes her head slowly, setting down her tea mug. "Perhaps stubbornness is a requirement for admission into the Complex."

Clara waves a hand, grinning slightly. "I go hide in the park on a regular basis. It's therepeutic," Clara counters. "Stubborn? Who's stubborn. I'm not stubborn. I'm...steadfast," she decides after a moment of thought and a snicker.

"Stubborn," Corian repeats, albeit with a smile. "Most of the time, that is not a negative thing." She leans forward, resting lightly against the table. "Sometimes, though, it is."

"Are you trying to say I'm being stubborn?" Clara doesn't seem bothered by this, but rather quite amused. "I've been told that before. I can't imagine why. Still, vacation is an odd critter. Days off are nice, but then those take place here in the Complex. Vacation implies going somewhere, being unavailable in case of emergency."

Corian inquires, "But do you not have additional help, now? And Niko seems capable enough in his job." With a shake of her head, she adds, "If you do not want a vacation, though, it is hardly my place to attempt to persuade you to do so."

Clara grimaces at her mug for a moment, then looks up uncertainly. "Honestly, I just don't know, Corian. Would you suggest another vacation so soon to him if you were me?"

Corian considers the question for a long moment. "It could be that he is waiting until Corvil's wedding--though, I am afraid to say, I am not altogether certain when that is going to be."

Clara's brows quirk up at the mention of the other wedding with interest. "Are he and his fiancee closer to actually setting a date then? That would be good. Surely Riley would be able to get time off-planet to attend that."

Corian makes a vague gesture of uncertainty. "I have been shamefully remiss in my contact with that particular branch of the family," she says, rather sheepishly. "At this point, your guess would likely be somewhat better than mine."

Clara laughs quietly, shaking her head. "Not a clue, actually. I've never even spoken with any of his family aside from you, Honalee, and Jay. I've just heard stories. Well that and how the couch was grounds for battle."

Corian nods to that, eyes glinting with amusement. "I did not even try, when I visited. It was rather entertaining to watch them, though."

Clara grins, lifting her mug. "Smart, smart woman. I think I'd be hiding in a corner, myself. Actually, I'd probably try to do that if I had to get within a lightyear of his mother. Have you met her? Major Addison, I mean. Not the mother the two of you share."

Corian's head inclines in a brief nod. "Of course," she says, with a quick smile. "She is... a fascinating woman." She's hardly going to mention that she was scared of this woman when she was a kid.

Clara would likely be afraid of her now, let alone as a child. She nods thougthfully, then smiles wryly. "And a father. That right there's an odd enough concept. Ah, well. Takes all different types of families, and that's a good thing." She flickers a glance upwards, then lowers her voice considerably. "What about you? A family in the future, maybe?"

Corian murmurs softly, with a brief smile, "Two fathers." She considers the question for a long moment, then, with perhaps a hint of regret, shakes her head. "It would hardly be fair."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Clara can't help but smile as she repeats the correction. "Two fathers, of course." Leaning back in her chair, she nods someway ruefully in agreement. "I know the feeling. Ah, well. I suppose that's what other people's children are for. Spoil them, give them back."

Corian nods thoughtfully to that, considering her tea for a moment. "I suppose that is, at least in part, why I am friends with Ximena--though, of course, we would be friends even if she did not have enough children for three of me."

Clara laughs easily at that, gesturing a hand at the door. "And the family together has enough children for easily ten women. I doubt I could ever be that brave." She glances upwards again. "Was Tarrant's knee all right after I left? Do you know how that's coming along?"

Corian nods, after a brief pause. "I believe it was all right, yes. It seemed so, at least--he had a bit of difficulty getting up when his comm sounded, and he is still limping somewhat. Should he still have been?"

Clara exhales a sigh, nodding ruefully. "Unfortunately, yes. The damage was just too extensive for us to fully repair. But I think, I hope that he'll be in less pain when it fully heals. And that was the point really, to provide relief from the pain."

Corian nods to that. "At least he will have some relief, yes. Do you know how long it will take to heal fully?"

"Two weeks," is Clara's prompt reply. "Well, two weeks from the procedure. He just needs to be careful until then, and take the pain pills when he needs them," she adds, rolling her eyes in faint amusement. "Why is it men are always more willing to be in pain than a little incoherent?"

Corian shakes her head, her own amusement touched with a hint of guilt. "Well, I can understand why he did not once I arrived home," she admits. "But I really do not see why he did not take them earlier. After all, I was uncertain as to my arrival time; he could hardly have known."

Clara sets aside her empty mug, waggling her brows approvingly. "Well, yeah, that's true. Having someone coherent enough to take care of you when you don't feel well is really nice."

Corian nods her agreement to that, smile turning only a bit sappy. "It was nice, yes," she murmurs. "Very, very... nice." She blinks, then, realizing that last was out loud, and coughs quietly. "Mm. Yes. There is that which I should do, before I... discuss the situation with the Jansites."

Clara, to her credit, doesn't laugh, but she does grin broadly in full understanding before glancing at her wrist and blinking. "Oh, good heavens," she mutters. "I'd no idea it was so late. Thank you for keeping me company through lunch," she offers, settling all her dishes on the tray for disposal.

Corian suggests, getting to her feet and taking up her mug, "It was a late lunch, perhaps." Yeah, it didn't last several hours. "And you are most welcome, of course. Thank you for the conversation. I enjoyed it very much."

Clara rises to her feet as well. "Late and extended," she replies apologetically. "Thank you as well. Give Tarrant my best. I'll comm him later for a checkup on his status." She moves to set her tray in the appropriate place, then tugs at her lab coat. "Have a good evening, Corian. Good luck with the Jansites."

Corian disposes of her tray, and murmurs a thankyou, with a faint grimace. "Thank you. I do hope that I will not need the luck, but the well-wishing is appreciated. I will pass on your greetings to Tarrant--please give mine to Riley?"

Clara nods affably, starting for the door at a stroll. "Of course I will. He should be off work...well, sometime this evening," she ventures with a laugh. "I'm not really sure when he went in this morning. Evening, Corian," she concludes at the doorway with a grin, then heads off towards the stairs.

Clara heads towards the Central Atrium.

Clara has left.


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