8/4/99

Clara arrives from the Central Atrium.

Clara has arrived.

Niko is, for a miracle, not seated at the round table, but at a smaller one somewhat to one side. Perhaps the reason that he's chosen a smaller table--though it seats four, so there's room--is that he has company: a young woman who looks to be in her early twenties, with coloring similar to his and shoulder-length, straight hair. She seems to be teasing him about something, and he leans forward to poke her shoulder, though he's taking it all with apparent good humor.

Niko is, for a miracle, not seated at the round table, but at a smaller one somewhat to one side. Perhaps the reason that he's chosen a smaller table--though it seats four, so there's room--is that he has company: a young woman who looks to be in her early twenties, with coloring similar to his and shoulder-length, straight hair. She seems to be teasing him about something, and he leans forward to poke her shoulder, though he's taking it all with apparent good humor.

Clara makes her way in, doing her best not to be conspicuous. If she were in uniform, that'd be fairly easy, but when a woman of her height wears a sage green dress and heels, she's conspicuous. She heads directly for one of the food lines to obtain a tray with a fairly grateful response to the server, then turns to scan for a seat. Ah-hah! Security type to torment! She ambles up behind Niko, casting a wink at the young woman in the universal symbol of 'ssssh' and leans down behind him. "Boo!"

Ack! Surrounded! "I didn't do it!" Niko exclaims, eliciting a snort from his companion, who did not, in fact, give you away. Niko, demonstrating his maturity, sticks out his tongue at the younger woman. "Whatever it is," he says, turning, "I didn't--hel-lo!" Yes, he likes the outfit. But, no, he's married, and this is his brother's lady, so he doesn't say anything else with that line of thought, instead grinning rather sheepishly. "Hi, Clara."

Clara lets out a delighted laugh at the response, shaking her head and straightening up again. "No you didnt, but you will soon," she says cryptically, fairly pleased with the response as well. Women like being noticed time and again when it's safe. "Hello yourself, you. Thanks for not giving me away," she adds to the other woman with a grin. "I'm Clara Aleron," she adds, not able to offer to shake her hand, given the tray.

Niko gets a look of rather innocent confusion at Clara's cryptic comment. What didn't he do? He's innocent. Really. "Uh, okay, Clara. Oh." That last is as his companion clears her throat. "Sorry, yeah, introductions. Clara, this is my sister, Aspasia Casymed. Aspasia, this is--well, yeah, she told you. Clara."

Aspasia nods pleasantly enough. "I'm very glad to meet you, Clara." And, yes, her Hellenic accent is somewhat stronger than her brother's, but not so much present that there's difficulty understanding her Standard. "I've heard quite a lot about you. Hopefully, my brother doesn't cause you -too- much trouble."

Clara brightens at that rather significantly, offering a cheerfully warm smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Aspasia. Niko'd mentioned you were considering a visit to Linnae." She gives the other officer a lifted eyebrow and a slight grin. "Oh, not -too- much trouble. I just threaten him with various medical instruments now and again. How are you enjoying your visit?"

Niko, after a significant look from his sister, says, "Oh, yeah. Join us, Clara? Plenty of room. Though with both of you to pick on me, I think I'll be in a lot of trouble."

Aspasia smiles. She's glad to have the assistance, yes. "Oh, it's wonderful. I'll enjoy studying here, I think. And maybe we'll be able to get more of the family to visit, with both of us here." Her dark eyes shining, she murmurs something about the Casymed family taking over the planet.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Clara really is trying not to smirk at Niko, and instead simply grins and circles around to drop into one of the seats, settling her tray on the table. "I'll need to inhale dinner, but I'd love to join you. The joys of being invited to the tea parties of wives of Councillors. Finger sandwiches do -not- a meal make." She tilts her head with interest at Aspasia, then grins brightly. "More of the family visiting would be lovely. I think the extended family already has taken over the planet though."

"Don't see why anybody'd want to eat fingers," Niko quips. "Seems like the knuckles would get in the way."

Aspasia rolls her eyes. She's used to this, though. "That's right, Riley's here as well. I haven't met him, though. Not yet. I'm hoping there'll be time, but I'm due at school for registration tomorrow, so there may not be."

Clara wrinkles her nose, lightly salting some asparagus and nodding. "He's been frighteningly busy lately, poor dear. He's a wonderful person though, although I might be just the slightest bit biased." All this is said with perfect propriety, along with an elbow aimed at Niko's ribs. "What classes do you plan on taking?"

Niko oofs, then casts a look at Clara. "You've got sharp elbows," he protests, with a laugh. "-You- make comments like that all the time! Riley -is- wonderful, though, yup. Good guy."

"Oh, bias is allowed, though," Aspasia says, with a smile. After a pause, she rattles off a list of courses that would be appropriate for someone starting off a graduate degree in education/political science. "The standard first-year courses for the degree," she adds, with a smile. "It should be fun."

Clara is already working on the other item on her plate, a rare steak rather coated with spices of Caribbean nature. Mid-bite, she casts a vastly amused look at Niko, really trying to pull off an innocent 'Who me?' expression before nodding at Aspasia. "Fairly standard, yes. I took one of those as educational underpinning in med school. Will you be living on campus? Or here at the Complex?"

Niko doesn't buy the look. No receipt. Nothing like that. He just looks amused, though. "Remember," he says to Clara in an undertone, "I know where you live." Well, and that he knows that her roommated would kick his butt if he did anything nasty to her, so it all balances.

Aspasia just smiles at the interplay. "I'm glad to see that Niko's got someone here to torment him," she says cheerfully. "And I'll be at school--I'll be at the university on Bakaretsu, so it's easier just to stay there."

"Remember, I'm the one who fixes you when you're broke," Clara replies in the same undertone, smirking. Which Ela would likely not object to at all. "I do tormet him, I'm afraid. I got permission from Corian, Riley's sister, to do so on a regular basis." She oofs slightly and nods. "That would be a commute and a half, skimmer or no. Hopefully you'll be able to come torme-, er, visit Niko often, though," she adds with a wry grin at said gentleman.

"But," Niko protests, "I haven't broken myself in ages! Ack, this isn't fair, you guys are ganging up on me. Evil women." Yes, the protest has shifted to a grumble, but it's all good-natured. "I'm just glad Losi isn't here."

Aspasia offers her brother an innocent smile. "Mom and Dad might let her visit, though. Wouldn't that be fun? Oh, Corian, yes. I'd like to meet her as well, if there's time. And I'm planning to visit as often as I can," she adds, looking rather pleased with the prospect.

"Why, Niko, -thank- you," Clara exclaims with a brilliant smile before snagging more food. "That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me all day." She turns back to Aspasia with a nod of cheerful agreement. "Corian's a wonderful woman, and a dear friend. She and her husband both are really rather wonderful people. Ela's in a meeting?" she adds as an afterthought question to Niko.

Niko confirms, chuckle morphing to a quiet sigh, "Ela's in a meeting. Lots of them lately, poor lady. Tomorrow might be better, though. And, hey, I'll call you evil all you want, long as it doesn't get Riley annoyed with me. Then again, he lives with you, he knows the scary truth." He grins impishly, briefly looking several years younger than his actual age.

Aspasia nods to her brother's words. "I got a chance to say hello before she had to leave. It looked like she had a long day." She pauses, then. "Speaking of long days, I should probably go get some rest. Tomorrow's likely going to be long for me, as well." She gets to her feet, ruffling Niko's hair. "Have a good night. And it was nice to meet you, Clara."

Clara waves an empty fork at the young woman with a warm smile. "Very nice to meet you as well, certainly. Good luck with your registration tomorrow," she offers, then reaching over to attempt to ruffle Niko's hair as well just because it looked like fun. "Riley won't get annoyed. He's said I'm nearly as evil as Honalee. I was -so- flattered." Yes, she's serious about this.

With a smile and a wave, Aspasia takes her leave, Niko waving after her as well. "That's pretty evil," he says seriously. "And a very scary thought." He pauses as Aspasia disappears, and shakes his head. "I -was- going to offer to walk her to her room, but she would've given me that -look-. She's too old, I swear."

Clara works at finishing her steak, amusment dancing in her eyes before she reaches over to poke your arm lightly. "And ancient you, all of nearly twenty-four. She'll be fine, Niko, no worries. When did she get on planet?"

"But she's only twenty, Clara," Niko protests. "Just turned twenty, in fact. She got here this afternoon," he adds. "And she'll be fine, I guess. She's been living in Hellas City for years, on her own."

"And where were you at twenty?" Clara prompts lightly, smiling slightly and leaning back in her seat to claim her iced tea. "Weren't you twenty-one when you started here at the Complex? She will be fine, honest. She seems like a bright young woman, and certainly very pleasant."

Niko admits, with a rueful look, "Yeah, but Evinast is -really- different from Linnae, Clara. That's where -I- was when I was twenty. I did start here at twenty-one, though, yes. But I'm not -Aspasia-. She's smart, though, and I'll bet she'll have quite a lot of friends there before long. She'll be fine. She's just my kid sister, that's all, no matter how old she is."

"And that means you're going to worry and want to protect her," Clara surmises, trailing a finger through the condensation on her glass. "That's perfectly normal, oh big brotherly type. Know what else is perfectly normal?"

Niko considers that for a moment, then ventures, "Aspasia poking me every time I try to protect her? I can't help it, though, Clara. It's reflex."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Clara snickers quietly, shaking her head and gesturing with her glass. "No. Well, yes, that's normal too, but that's not what I was thinking, actually. I was thinking more that your name came up on the yearly lottery. Time for me to poke and prod you into severe annoyance."

Niko snags his drink, pulling the glass closer. "Nope," he says amiably. "Sorry, Clara. That's just not going to happen."

Clara blinks slowly, entirely not expecting such a response. "Pardon me?" She tilts her head in utter bemusement. "You are Niko Casymed, yes? Lieutenant Commander and my very dear friend who's never given me an ounce of trouble on yearly physicals?"

"I am Niko Casymed," that person agrees. "Never given you any trouble before now. But, see, a little--okay, big--bird told me that a certain CMO I know hasn't had one of those in a long time." So now Riley's Big Bird? We need new yellow uniforms. "And I just don't think it's fair that we have to do it, but you don't. So I guess I'm on strike, if that's the word, from annuals."

Julie arrives from the Central Atrium.

Julie has arrived.

Clara stares in increasing dismay, then utters an exasperated sound of annoyance, tossing up her hands. "Oh, you are all -impossible-. I'm just fine! For goodness sake, I've never even broken a bone." Never mind the times she's been shot, beat up, or stabbed. Happy fun infantry. "I can't believe Riley talked you into this."

Niko shakes his head. "Riley didn't suggest it," he says, expression shifting to something a little more serious. "I decided to do it, myself." He just hasn't told Ela this, that's all. "If annuals are so important, Clara, you should get one, too. It's only right." As his back's to the entrance, he can't see Julie yet, but he'd probably wave her over if he did, to help prove his point.

Julie, apparently taking a break from her shift, moves toward the grill for a nice basic meal consisting of hamburger with lots of pickles, fries, and cream soda. Pausing to glance around, her gaze lights on Clara, and she moves purposefully toward the table with a fixed pleasant smile. "Good evening, folks. Ah, just the person I was hoping to see..."

Clara looks all -sorts- of ready to explode at Niko, for the dress-wearing doctor has never been known for her sublimely patient and long fused temper. "It's -not- right, not at a-..." She chokes back the words and offers a quick grin at Julie, trying to look innocent. "Julie, well, hello! How are you tonight?"

Niko straightens somewhat, shoulders squaring, in the face of Clara's nearly-exploding temper. He greets Julie's entrance with a hint of relief. "Hi, hello, Doctor Foster, -wonderful- timing. Clara and I were just discussing the importance of annuals."

Julie smiles sweetly, gesturing to one of the chairs. "May I?" She nods agreeably to Niko. "As a matter of fact, Clara, I'd been wanting to talk to you about that."

Trapped! Clara leans back stubbornly in her chair, smile fading to sheer suspicion. "Oh, saints add preservatives to us," she grumps quietly, then tries to brighten into a warm smile. "Of course, of course. It is, naturally, time for Niko's physical. Don't you think he should come in for one?"

"With sodium propionate and BHT to prevent spoilage," Niko quips, sotto voce. At Clara's question, though, he shakes his head firmly. "Not until she does," he says, gesturing towards Clara. "Sorry, no. Not going to happen."

Julie places her tray squarely on the table, slipping into the indicated seat. "As a matter of fact, Clara, I believe you're absolutely correct. As are you, Niko. Clara, I spoke to the Chief. I even went so far as to threaten him with foam disks. We had a nice little battle. And he said -he- won't take his annual until you do. Now, don't you think you should set a good example for the men, hmmm?"

Clara can't help but grin at Niko's ending to the statement of preservatives, shaking her head in amusement that rapidly turns to exasperation again. "You are entirely stubborn. I could order you to take your physical, you know," she notes to Niko, lips pursed. "I'd rather not, though." Julie gets a truly distressed look. "Don't you think I'd know if there were something wrong with me though? Honestly, I'm fine."

Niko murmurs, with a shake of his head, "The doctor who treats herself..." He doesn't finish that statement, though, lest it get him smacked, or regenerated or something. He gives Clara a rather mournful look for the talk of orders. "You wouldn't do that, would you, Clara? That'd put me in a really bad spot. I'd really hate to disobey orders."

Julie chuckles politely. "Clara, doctors are the worst patients, and you know it. I know I'm downright horrid as a patient. However, I'm also highly skilled at pestering. Moreso than I am at shooting toy guns, admittedly. And I -will- pester, Clara. I'll pester you too, if you don't come in, Niko."

Clara's nose wrinkles at this in dismay as she wraps her hands about her glass, discomfited. "Oh, bother. And you -know- I wouldn't give you an order you wouldn't obey, since I'd hate to see you in trouble. Niko, you're evil, terribly, terribly evil. Both you -and- Riley are evil. Julie, you're evil too. Here I just try to help all of you, and what do I get? Abused." Clara's now Jewish instead of Catholic, just in case you were wondering.

Niko shakes his head once more to Julie. "Not until Clara does. Sorry. You can pester me all you like, but I've got four--no, seven sisters. I'm used to being pestered." He peers around the room. No, one of those sisters didn't mystically appear. "Better just to nag Clara. You get her, you'll get me, too--and apparently Riley as well.' He nods to Clara's words regarding his evil. "I am. But it's in your best interest for me to be evil, Clara. Really."

Julie nods, beaming. "I'm evil personified. Really." Lifting her eyes heavenward, she shakes her head. "Niko, did you know I really love a challenge? That was perhaps not the wisest thing you could have said." Now she gets around to starting in on her burger. "Clara, would you like me to quote the date of your last physical. And how -can- you expect the boys to come in for their annuals when you won't take yours? Especially the Chief. I am truly amazed. Amusing as the Chief is, he does seem rather more steadfast in this than you."

Clara mutters something about no one having -begun- to see stubborn, settling into her best 'I'm a lady' pose and crossing her legs, expression calm. "I still don't see why you're both being so...emphatic. Goodness knows, if something were wrong with me, one of the other doctors would pick up on it. I trust my staff implicitly," she adds with a smile for Julie. "And I can expect this of them because I know just how often they both hurt themselves and get hurt. Security of -all- people needs their annuals."

Niko lets out an exasperated little sigh. "Clara, when was the last time I got hurt badly enough to end up in Medbay?" he inquires. "Besides, aren't annuals supposed to be preventative? To -keep- stuff from going wrong?" He grins crookedly at Julie, then. "Pester away. It'd just be more efficient to pester Clara, that's all."

Julie smiles slightly. "Thank you, Clara, but -he-," she jerks a thumb toward Niko, "Doesn't appear in the least bit unhealthy. Yet you insist on him having a physical. And what's good for the gander is good for the goose. And if anything, Medical needs their annuals even more than Security. If -they- end up broken, who's going to take care of them if something that would've been caught in your physical goes undetected." Amused, she glances toward Niko. "Commander, heal thyself. I can't believe you'd worry that wife I've heard so much about in this manner."

Clara absolutely brightens at this, a slightly amused grin on her face, and she completely skips over all the rather good reasons why she should have a physical. "That's -right-. Of course I'd never order you, Niko," she decides consolingly. "I'll just have a chat with Ela..."

Niko blinks at Julie, and starts to say something, then pauses to peer at Clara. "Wait," he says, looking between the women. "That's not fair. Telling Ela'd be a really -bad- idea, Clara. It--" He thinks fast. "It'd probably put stress on our marriage, because she'd want me to do it, and I just can't until you do. You wouldn't want to do that, would you, Clara?" Please? Don't get him in trouble? Throw the tennis ball?

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Julie smiles, quite self-satisfied. "Ah, now, Niko, we don't -have- to tell her. Elasia is a diplomat, no? I'm sure she's well aware of the dangers inherent in a community comprised of so many different species. I'm surprised she hasn't dragged you down to Medical already, Niko. Perhaps she needs a refresher course." She cocks an eyebrow at Clara. "Of course, the Chief did seem a bit worried when I spoke to him, about your not having submitted to a physical yet." Yes, Julie plays dirty. "Ah well," she sighs dramatically. "I'm just glad I'm not the one who'll have to do all the paperwork explaining to Fleet about all the late physicals."

Awwww. Cute Niko. All of Clara's evil circuits misfire in the face of such cuteness, and she all but melts, sighing quietly. "Oh, all right. I won't mention it to Ela. "She's terribly busy anyway, I really shouldn't worry her." She wrinkles her nose at Julie again, wincing. Ow. "Um, yes, well. He started it. And not to worry, I'll take care of the paperwork."

"Refresher course?" Niko looks just a little disturbed by this. "Um. In what? She's really, -really- busy, Doctor Foster. Lots of meetings. No time at all." Clara gets a bright grin. "See? Yeah. What Clara said. Very busy. Shouldn't be worried."

Julie's eyebrows rise in amusement. "Since when am I 'Doctor Foster' to you, Niko. And I'm sure a short message sent to her terminal would do. Something along the lines of addressed to you, but 'accidentally' sent to the wrong computer." She looks back and forth between the two of you, and sighs. "You both make it very difficult to live guilt-free."

Clara gives the other doctor a rather impish grin, totally at odds with her current state of looking more like a society matron than a military doctor. "Of course we do. Living in the Complex is like one big family. What fun is family without guilt?"

Niko considers Julie's words rather dolefully for a moment, then offers a hand, apparently so she can shake it. "Congratulations, you're officially more evil than Clara. I'm still not going to go in until Clara does, though," he asserts. He snorts at Clara, then. "Hey, when the CO and XO are related, can the rest of the Complex be far behind?"

Julie chuckles, giving Niko's hand a very firm, if brief, shake. "Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment. Clara," she grins, though there's an underlying serious tone to her voice, "My fear is that we're all going to be disowned if we don't get this done. Next time, Niko, I'm simply going to challenge you to a boxing match and give you a reason to report for a physical." Yes, she's joking.

Clara gasps at Niko's words, feigning melodramatic injury and pressing the back of her hand to her forehead. "More evil than I? I shall -have- to work much, much harder!" she declares, then reaches for her glass to take an amused sip. "When the CO and XO are brothers, the rest of the place can run away in terror. Or move in with one of them. Or work for them. I personally like the method of replacing shaving cream with silly string." She casts an amused look at Julie. "Don't break him too badly."

Niko gets to her feet, gathering up his glass, and that of his sister, which she kindly left for him. "On that threatening note," he says, with a grin, "I think I'm going to head up and see if my wife is at home. Or maybe I'll find Jay and see if he can block any messages to her terminal from you," he adds to Julie, with a quick grin. Clara gets a look of feigned fear, combined with one of those 'uh-oh, I'm in trub-ble' looks, and then another grin. "Have a good evening, ladies."

Julie tilts her head, considering the named options. "Hmmm. Working for them will have to do, officially, at any rate." She blinks, and can't supress a giggle. "Silly string. That -is- evil. Oh, I wouldn't. Just cauliflower his ears somewhat." The innocent look is back, and she gives Niko a cheerful wave. "You too, O breakable one."

Clara chuckles and shakes her head affably enough, tilting her glass from side to side. "Goodnight, Niko. Give Ela my best, and tell her that you're a stubborn and annoying man. I'll yell at you later," she promises.

Niko starts for the exit, lifting one hand to shield an ear as he drops off the glasses. Then, tossing a grin over his shoulder--catch!--he departs.

You head towards the Central Atrium.


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