Carmen/Logs/Harem Building 101
| IC Date: | May 11, 2531 |
|---|---|
| OOC Date: | August 20, 2012 |
| Location: | Persephone |
| Participants: | Carmen Moira Russell Clancy, Murphy, Revjak, Sanyu (NPCs) |
Note: This scene is connected to the Age of Origin TP. What happens when mild-mannered Russell starts to manifest symptoms in the early days of the outbreak? Read on and find out!
Each Uisge - Common Area, Persephone.
This room is large and spacious. To the fore is the access hatch leading to the Bridge, and to it's port side is a spiral staircase leading up into the Observation Deck. Comfortable couches and chairs line the walls, and a large cortex screen for watching vids is placed so each of the chairs and couches can see it. Set aft of the lounge area is the table, fitted with six comfortable chairs bolted into place. Aft of the table is the kitchenette, complete with a refridgerator and freezer for storing foods need to be kept cold or frozen, a stove for cooking, a sink for washing dishes, and plenty of counterspace for food preparation. Lining the walls above the counters are cupboards for storing dry or canned foods and dishes. Drawers below the counters hold various utensils used for perparation, cooking, and eating food. Aft of the kitchenette is the access door to the Medical Bay. A hallway runs along the port side of the hull, allowing for access to Engineering.
When left to his own devices on days between classes, or weekends, or even just overnight when Russell perhaps is the only one on the ship, he tends to relax more. It's not so strange that every once in a while he falls asleep on the couch watching a movie or otherwise.
Today, however, might seem a bit out of the ordinary, though the evidence might suggest how things may have played out. The mechanic is sprawled out on the couch, dead asleep, stripped down only to his underwear. There's some kind of cheesy action movie on the Cortex screen. Five empty beer bottles are strewn about the coffee table and another is on the floor. There's a plate with half of a sandwich on it and a couple of snuffed out cigarette butts and ash smeared over it. A lovely display of drunken inconsideration, all around. <English>
Today is a day of rest for Carmen, and by the looks of her the last few days... she needed it. She has been pushing the envelope for a woman with a due date less than a month away, between the late nights, early mornings, daily commutes and hastily gobbled meals. If she's had any more suspicious pain, it hasn't been around Russell and she's still quite visibly pregnant so.. things must be proceeding about as normal as they could be given the circumstances. Having just arrived at the ship to fetch her school bag, which she forgot the previous day when she disembarked for the evening, she takes the lift up to the medbay and soon comes out into the commons and... stops, blinking, taking in the scene that greets her. Well, that was unexpected. Also, wayyyyy more pasty white mechanic than she ever needed to see. <English>
Yep. Pasty white and scarred up and looking like some kind of drunken lout that doesn't have any of his shit together to save his life. His pants are on the floor next to the couch but his shirt is nowhere to be seen. Back at the galley, the bread is still laying open on the counter and there's an empty container of stir-fry take-out next to it. <English>
After a few moments of speechless gawking and acquisition of photo evidence for future leverage, Carmen tucks her PDA back in her pocket and sets to prowling around the room looking for her bag. She's not sure where she left it, but she knows it's in here somewhere. She gives the couch and its human mealoaf a wide berth, but accidentally knocks one of the beer bottles over. It falls against one of the assorted others with a noisy clink, which causes Carmen to still and glance in the direction of the sofa, wondering if she woke the beast. <English>
The loud clatter of the bottles is enough to stir the man-animal from his slumber and Russ's eyes crack open. He looks around, then spots the nurse-in-training. "Oh.. hey Carmen." He says with a sleepy yawn, but sits up while compulsively scratching at a red splotch on his arm just above the titanium bracelet. "You look nice today." There's a little smile to go with that, and then he glances around, "Warm in here." <English>
Carmen smiles a little awkwardly. "Hey," she replies, "thanks..." she trails off, not really sure what to say. His comment about the temperature provokes a little chuckle, as she considers and discards a few possible replies. In the end, she settles for something else entirely: "Have you seen my backpack?" <English>
Russell's smile grows and he gives her a nod for the 'thanks' earned. He stops scratching and lifts his hand to rub his eyes for a moment, squinting. Then there's an audible inhaling of breath before he let's out a long, "Hmmmm... No. I can help look." He drags himself to his feet, then looks down and realizes his pants are not on his legs. The man swoops down to snatch them up and starts tugging them on while looking around searchingly. "You smell nice, too. Is that apple-scented shampoo?" HE, however, smells like cigarettes and beer. <English>
Any minute now, he's going to notice he's mostly naked and freak out. Surely. But no... he just starts putting his pants on. Well, thank goodness for that. "Thanks." Carmen replies, of his intent to help. Or perhaps for his donning of pants. It's hard to tell. "Pomegranate, actually..." she replies, absently, as she's moving around looking for her bag. Then pauses, looking over at him. "Wait, you can smell my shampoo from there?" She seems surprised by this, and catches up one of her curly blonde locks to sniff it experimentally. <English>
Russell gets his trousers on, giving a little tug at the crotch for comfort. Then he scratches at his arm again while lazily wandering through the room to help her search, but he pauses to look up at her question. He gives another sniff of the air, "Not now... " Then he looks down at his hand and gives it a sniff. "Oh, it's me." He shrugs and rubs his palm against his pantleg. "Any big plans today? I hope we're not flying anywhere. My head is killing me." <English>
"I'm not sure I want to know why your hand smells like apples." Carmen murmurs, glancing toward the litter by the couch but not seeing any apple cores right away. Some things are just best left unknown. "Ah ha! Here it is." Carmen says, finding the bag where it sits leaning up against the end of the couch nearest the aft hatch. She bends a bit awkwardly to pick it up. "No, no big plans today. I don't really feel like flying anywhere this weekend, I just want to rest and study. Do you want me to get you some aspirin or something, for your head?" <English>
"Asssspirin." The man repeats, dragging the s's out in a hiss. "The painkiller for when you feel like ass." Russell states, giving up the search now that she's found the backpack. He's waking up more now that he's moved around and gotten some of the blood flowing. "You should let me help you carry that." And without waiting for a response he crosses over to where she's reaching for it, moving right in to give assistance, desired or not. "You're pregnant, remember?" <English>
Carmen chuckles at the joke, which isn't an answer to her question really but might be all she gets. "I've got it.." she protests, a little feebly, but doesn't try to stop him as he comes over to pick it up for her. "Maybe you should wash your hands first." she suggests, helpfully, then eyes him a little bit. "Gee, thanks. I almost forgot." This accompanied with a little eyeroll. But she's used to everyone fetching and carrying for her by this time. Or at least resigned to it. Hey, it beats the alternative, being alone and having to do it all herself. <English>
Russell slings the backpack over his shoulder, then looks at his hands again. "Yeah, sure." He agrees with a shrug and heads over to the sink to scrub them. "We should go out for dinner sometime. We never just hang out, you know?" He says from across the room, reaching up to scrub at his face, too. "We spend all this time working together or studying and stuff, but we don't go out for a nice dinner." He starts running his wet fingers through his hair, trying to slick it back. After a moment hejust gives up on that slow method and grabs up the sprayer, dunking his head into the sink and spraying it down. <English>
Since he took her backpack with him, Carmen really can't go anywhere so.. she just eases herself onto the arm of the couch and settles there for now, hands folded across her stomach. "We could do that, sure. That'd be nice." Carmen says, a little cautiously. After all, it's kind of weird to hear Russell say that. Maybe he's changed his mind about forging friendship bonds with his employers. Not that she doesn't consider him a friend as well as an employee. He's been through a lot with her. Then she blinks, as he sprays down his head. "Are you feeling okay, Russell?" she asks, with both professional and personal concern. <English>
Russell pulls his head up from the sink and does that hair-wipping thing that men with short hair can do to spray water out of their hair rather than do the civilized thing and use a towel. He scrubs at the short locks rigorously for a moment to shake out more of the water, then rubs his hands dry on his pants, glancing at Carmen, "Other than the headache? Yeah." He frowns, "Though... I do need a shirt, if we're gonna go out." He sets the backpack on the counter and points at Carmen, "Stay right there, like your butt is glued to the couch. I'll be right back." The man heads for the spiral staircase and trots up it, gone for a few minutes. When he returns, he has a tight-fitting black t-shirt on and some beach sandals on his feet. <English>
Carmen makes a face when Russell shakes himself like a dog, spraying droplets of water everywhere. Fortunately, she's out of range. "Probably a good idea." she remarks, of the shirt, but just quirks a brow at him when he points and bids her sit. And stay. When he returns, it is to find her relocated from one end of the couch to the other, probably just to be contrary. But she's sitting, at least, and doesn't seem to have touched the backpack. <English>
Russ eyes Carmen when he finds her having moved, but that doesn't seem to bother him too much. He grabs up the backpack again and slings it over his shoulder, then heads over to where she's sitting. "Alright, let's go. Where do you want to eat?" Seems 'sometime' for that dinner has translated to now. He reaches out for her hand to pull her up to her feet. "I feel like steak. Let's get steak. That's good study-food." Is that.. cologne? Does Russ own cologne? He does now! <English>
"Er..." Carmen says, ineloquently, when the timetable for 'going out for dinner' is bumped up to, well, now-ish. "I can't have sushi, but... pretty much anything cooked is okay." she says, letting him catch her hand and pull her to her feet. Though, this too strikes her as odd. Russell? Not usually much for the touching. Plus, his hand is pretty warm. But at least it's clean. And probably less warm from the washing and the finger-combing of wet hair. "I like steak... we should stop by the house and drop my bag off, see if Kal wants to go?" <English>
Russell usually isn't for touching, no. Maybe he's still drunk. There could be more beer bottles she hasn't seen yet. Once Carmen is on her feet, he just holds onto her hand. "Kal? Why would we bring him? He's not going to study for your nursing class." The man replies, rolling his eyes. "Come on, we'll get more work done without him. We'll just bring your bag and study at the restaurant." He'll reach to snag his coat from where it's in a lump on the floor by the couch, then as he straightens, give a little tug to pull her towards the hatch. <English>
"Well, no, but.." Carmen is having trouble getting a word in edgewise, here, which is a bit odd. It just kind of adds to the oddity factor of the... evening? Is it even dinner time? Carmen lets Russell tug her toward the hatch, moving willingly enough after that initial tug. She doesn't belabor the point with him, but she does activate her icomm while they walk and checks in with Kal on their private channel. "Hey sweetie, Russell wants to take me to dinner to study, did you have plans?" There's a pause, then, "Okay, sure, I can do that." She smiles, "Yeah, I know what you like. I'll see you when I get home. Love you." She fills Russell in after she's finished, "Kal's going to work a bit longer, he wants us to bring him a doggie bag." <English>
Russell gives her an annoyed look when she checks in with Kallahan anyway, but he doesn't say anything. He just guides her down the stairs to the cargo bay, "Sure sure, we can bring something back... baked potato or something." When they reach the bottom of the stairs he releases Carmen so that he can pull on his coat, then reaches into the pocket to pull out his cigarettes, lighting one up as he makes his way to the door to exit the ship. No need to lower the ramp for the two of them. "A single glass of wine is perfectly safe for the baby, too. We'll make it a special evening with some good food, studying, and maybe a spot of dancing if you're up to it." <English>
Clancy and Murphy are waiting in the cargo bay with the mule, leaning up against it and chatting. They both raise an eyebrow (one each, that is) when the see Russell towing Carmen down the stairs, since she had gone up in the lift. They kind of expected her to come back down in the lift too. The pair of them straighten and make ready to depart, Murphy climbing into the driver's seat while Clancy stands ready to help Carmen up into the mule. Kallahan converted this particular mule a while back to have a canvas cover and roll bars, so it's kind of like a hover-jeep. For now, it is the lady's all-weather chariot. "Wine, dinner, dancing, this is starting to sound like a date." Carmen jokes, as she waddles along with Russell. She glances aside, brow furrowing faintly, as he lights up. Yes, definitely an unusual day in Russellville. <English>
Russell just grins. "Yeah, it kind of does." The man agrees, waiting while she's helped up onto the Mule. Then he hops up after her and settles in, taking a drag at the smoke and kicking a leg up comfortably over the side of the vehicle. He digs into his pocket and pulls out a pair of shade, donning them. He's starting to look like a greaser, except for the sandals. "If not for the baby, I'd take you on my hoverbike." <English>
Once Carmen is handed up into the vehicle and settled into the front passenger seat, Clancy waits while Russell follows her and snakes a hand out with ninja-like speed to pluck the cigarette from between Russell's lips. Pinching off the ember, he tucks the rest in his pocket as he moves around to the other side of the vehicle and climbs in to settle beside Russell. Eyeing him a bit. "If not for the baby, I'd take my own hoverbike." Carmen replies, with a chuckle, as Marianne puts the mule into gear and pilots it toward the ramp. <English>
It's not until he's settled that Russell shows any real reaction to the cigarette. Then the man scowls and reaches to pull out his pack of smokes so that he can light another. Then his blue eyes just settle on Clancy critically and he waaatches the man for a long time. "If you wanted one, you could have just asked." He points out in that poncey accent of his. *Flick* goes another flame from the lighter. "Mari, do you know where the Timber Creek Steak House is?" <English>
Clancy eyes Russell eyeing Clancy eyeing Russell. "No smoking in the car." he says, firmly, in a tone that strongly suggests this is something he doesn't feel he should have to tell Russell once, much less twice. Carmen does her best to ignore the brewing conflict as she fastens her safety belt, while Murphy nods and replies, "Sure do, is that where we're headed?" The question is very obviously addressed to Carmen, who smiles and nods. "Seems like it." <English>
Russell gives Clancy a long, challenging look. Then he brings the flame of the lighter up to the cigarette anyway, completely ignoring James. "Carmen and I are going to have a higher class study session because I could kill for some steak right now and there's no reason not to eat well while studying." He says to Murphy, even throwing her a charming little smile. "You're welcome to join us." Murphy that is. Not Clancy. Someone is working on his harem. <English>
"Murphy, stop the car." Clancy says, simply. The mule halts, having just reached the end of the cargo ramp so it is now sitting just outside the ship. Marianne and Carmen both twist in their seats to look curiously into the back, as Clancy climbs out of the mule and walks around to the other side... where he proceeds to attempt to remove not only Russell's cigarette but Russell as well, bodily, from the vehicle. There is a startled exclamation from Carmen that is largely nonverbal and lost in the shuffle, as Murphy just kind of sits there behind the wheel, watching with professional interest as she lets the mule idle. <English>
Russell looks back at Clancy when the man orders the car to a stop. Then his attention flicks back to Murphy when she listens. Russ takes another pull at his cigarette, his eyes tracking Clancy as the man climbs out of the MULE and moves around the vehicle. When the security man puts his hands on the mechanic to try and pull him out, Russ scowls and puts up a resistence. "Back off!" He snaps, trying to shove Clancy away. "What's your problem?!" <English>
Clancy seems to have expected at least some resistance. He is not easily shoved, and proceeds to haul Russell bodily from the mule and, grasping him by the lapels of his coat, pushes him up against said mule. "What's MY problem? What is YOUR problem, Russ?" the Shamarias' chief of security asks, his voice quiet but with an undertone of steel. Meanwhile, Carmen is struggling out of her seatbelt and trying to tun so she can see better. "James! Russell! Stop it!" she calls to them, but her words don't provoke more than the barest of glances from Clancy. "You know the rules." he says, addressing Russell again, "I've never had to tell you the rules. What's gotten into you?" <English>
Russell tries to twist away but as Clancy presses him up against the side of the vehicle he's forced to grasp blindly for the edge of the Mule to keep from slipping and falling and getting a face full of hoverblast. "You're my problem!" He snarls at Clancy, his ire up. "We're goin out to dinner! I can't have one gorramed smoke?! One?!" He brings his knee up, trying to get Clancy in the junk. Russ didn't learn to fight fairly in prison. <English>
Clancy opens his mouth to reply, but Russell's attack catches him completely by surprise. He's a professional, but Russell is not exactly known for violent tendencies, and the two of them are chummy enough by now that he didn't expect such a low blow. The knee lands squarely where it was aimed, and Clancy loses the ability to speak, reason, and do much else but fall to the ground. Poor guy. "Russell!" Carmen exclaims, struggling to climb out of the venus flytrap that is the enclosed mule with the seatbelt wrapped around her wrist. Not purposefully, mind you, it just got tangled up in the haste and confusion. "James!" Really, poor Carmen is reduced to just yelling names at this point, so very astonished and confused by this turn of events. When Murphy sees Clancy go down, she sets the brake on the mule and hops out, leaving it running since she'd rather not squish her boss if he's partially underneath the craft. <English>
Russell watches Clancy go down and backs off a few steps, eying him warily for a moment. Then, satisfied, he reaches down to snatch up the cigarette, clenching it back into his teeth. He turns and jumps to vault up over the side of the Mule again, back into his seat. "Let's go." There's a wave towards the ramp. <English>
By the time Russell settles back into the back seat of the mule... he's the only one in it. Carmen has just finished extracting herself from the seatbelt and the door flap, her skirt riding up high on her thighs as she climbs awkwardly down to the ground. Murphy reaches Clancy before she does, but she's not far behind. The two women check on Clancy to make sure he's clear of the vehicle--which he is, he's incapacitated but not entirely out of his mind--before exchanging a glance between the two of them and looking up at Russell again. Marianne discreetly speaks into her icomm while Carmen straightens and looks at Russell with a frown, her golden brow furrowed with lines of confusion and concern. "I think you should go on to dinner without me, Russ." Carmen says, "When you get back, we can talk." <English>
"What?? You're mad at me?! That's ridiculous. He dragged me out of the Mule over nothing. I'm not going to get pushed around by him because he's got a tough-guy complex!" Russell retorts, looking at the two women with an incredulous expression on his face. "He'll be fine. He's just a pussy." Yeah, Russ said it. He beckons them back towards the vehicle, "Come on... I'm starving." <English>
"I'm not mad at you, I'm worried about you." Carmen says, worry in her pale blue eyes. "You're not yourself." Those eyes widen when he refers to Clancy as a pussy, and she glances down at the kitty in question, who seems to be recovering and struggling to his feet with Murphy's assistance. Across the docks, the shop's front door opens and Revjak comes out, accompanied by Sanyu. Uh oh. Reinforcements en route. That must have been what Murphy was doing on the comm. Meanwhile, Carmen is keeping a worried and wary eye on Russell. "...and I don't think it's a good idea for me to go anywhere with you when you're acting like this. It doesn't feel right." <English>
Russell faces indecision. What does he want more? Carmen? Or steak? The man considers this, his eyes flicking back to Clancy. "I barely hit him. He'll be *fine*. I was a doctor, remember?" The man says with some exasperation in his voice. He climbs down out of the Mule again and moves over to Carmen, reaching for her arm. "Come on. Please? I just want to get dinner. You need to eat too. The baby." <English>
Oh sure, *now* he remembers the baby. Carmen edges away slightly when Russell climbs out of the mule and moves toward her, but after a moment she stops and holds her ground. Though, she moves her arm when he reaches for it. "Right. You were a doctor. So you should know better than to light up around a pregnant woman. Especially one with an aversion to secondhand smoke. You've always been sensitive to my feelings about your smoking, why is today different? And why did you drink yourself to sleep in the commons, in your underwear?" This, of course, is news to Clancy and Murphy, both of whom look over at Russell in a startled fashion. "You're being uncharacteristically aggressive and insensitive and... kind of territorial, and I got that way once after I'd been doped up without my knowledge. So... no, I'm not going to dinner with you. But I'll make you dinner, if you'll stay, and I can radio Braedyn and ask him to come look you over. Something's wrong." <English>
Russell frowns again when Carmen pulls her arm away before he can take it. His eyes go back to Clancy and he scowls at the man, as if this is all his fault. He focuses back on Carmen and shakes his head, "I'm *not* being aggressive, Clancy was! I just defended myself. I know how!" Then the man lets out a disgusted sound of frustration. "Oh, forget it! I'll go by myself." He says, eying them all again, and this time Carmen might recognize that glint of suspicion in the man's eyes. There was another time Russ showed that mistrust. He turns and heads for the ramp, making to exit. <English>
"And don't think I'm not going to get Clancy looked over too." Carmen says. That earns a 'look' from Clancy but she ignores it. When Russell announces intent to go himself, Carmen makes no move to stop him. She does, though, glance over at Murphy. The woman nods and steps forward. "Come on, big boy. I'll go with you." Marianne says, and moves to accompany him. Something nags at Carmen's mind though, and she emits a string of Chinese curses, softly, ending with, "He's off his meds." Touching her comm, she says over the security channel, "Sanyu, go with Murphy and Russell. Do your best to keep him out of trouble, and bring him home safely." There's only so much she can do, when they're standing outside the ship. It's not like no one on the docks would notice if they suddenly grabbed Russell and hauled him back up the ramp. The little drama between Russell and Clancy already drew a little attention. <English>
Russell pauses and turns to look at Murphy again, his paranoia fighting with his desire to have a lady along. He seems to choose the latter, because he smiles and waits for her to catch up, holding his arm out to her. "You know, we've never really gotten to know each other..." The man suggests, guiding her down the ramp to make a reasonably peaceful departure. <English>
A few hours later...
By the time Russell and his lady friends return from their meal, the mess Hurricane Russell left in his wake has been cleaned up. The commons is once again tidy, and Carmen is sitting on the couch with a cup of tea and her datapad, studying. She's changed out of her sundress and into a pair of yoga pants and a tee shirt. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail. Clancy and Revjak are sitting at the dining table, playing cards. In other words, all's quiet on the home front. <English>
Russell returns with the two ladies, adamant about a grand plan of the trio of them having some wine (he bought a bottle to bring back) and enjoying some music and dancing back on the ship, explaining that he's actually a fine dancer if they didn't know. The only incident during the dinner was that the man got a bit over-generous with a begger that's hit him up enough times before for change but this time he gave the man the rest of the credits he had on him which was almost eighty credits. So maybe more of a non-incident, but definitely a lack of inhibition going on.
As they enter the commons, Russ glances around and flashes Carmen a smile, "Hey.. we're going to have wine." He holds up the bottle, wiggling it back and forth, "And music." Then he notices Clancy and Revjak and eyes them warily. <English>
Carmen is not entirely unaware that Russell is on his way back. She has been receiving periodic updates from Murphy while the big spender was out and about. On the coffee table in front of where she sits is a pill bottle and a glass of water. Though, she has little hope of convincing him to take it peaceably. She's been running through her options the last few hours. Bullying? Unlikely to work. But maybe if she's really really really nice, somehow she can convince him to take it. Failing that, there's always plan B. "I like wine and music." Carmen replies, setting her datapad aside. "Can we talk first?" <English>
Russell considers for a moment, then kicks off his sandals and moves to set the wine bottle on the counter. "Sure Carmen, just let me hit the bathroom first.." He heads off to do that, perhaps giving Murphy and Sanyu a chance to flee, or fill Carmen in on more details. When Russ returns, he goes over to the couch and drops down next to Carmen. "What's up?" <English>
Murphy and Sanyu do take the opportunity to flee, but they remain on board the ship in case of emergency. Just down in the cargo bay rather than hanging around up here. When Russell returns, Carmen looks up from her reading and sets the datapad aside again. She offers him a gentle smile and rubs her stomach absently. "When was the last time you took your meds?" she asks, seeming curious rather than accusatory. <English>
Russell was only slightly over-bearing on the 'date' with the security ladies. He's still a gentleman under the derangement that the disease is bringing on and didn't try anything too sleezy. Of course, whose to say it won't get worse. Out on UDC things are all kinds of chaos. Then again, Rodney is out there. The mechanic lays his head back, staring up at the ceiling. "Ooooh... hm. My head is still aching. This morning, I think. Why?" Usually he takes a light dose in the morning and a heavier dose around noon. <English>
Carmen's eyes remain focused on Russell as he lays his head back, and she nods her head slightly as he responds. One missed dose... that's not much. Last time, he missed more than that before he went to crazy town. Carmen mulls this over, frowning thoughtfully. Then she smiles again, gently, and says, "If you didn't get your afternoon dose, that might explain the headache. I didn't want to go through your things, so I got some of your backup meds from storage in the medbay... why don't you take some now?" she suggests, motioning to the bottle on the coffee table with her free hand. "Though, you might want to forgo the wine tonight and just drink some water to stay hydrated while you dance." <English>
Russell rolls his head to the side so that he can look at Carmen, "No.. I don't want to. Thanks though." He says, giving her a faint smile. He sits up then, reaching to snatch up the remote for the cortex screen and flipping it on. "Actually, what I *really* want is some milk. Do we have any ice cream?" He browses through a few programs before pausing on a nature documentary of a cheetah running down some prey. He watches it, transfixed for a moment, then pushes to his feet to head for the fridge. "Do you want any?" <English>
"Please?" Carmen replies, reaching out to lay a hand on his arm. Or trying to, anyway. Her blue eyes gaze soulfully into his. Powers of persuasion, she has them. "For me? It would go a long way toward easing my mind." She throws in a smile for good measure. Russell may not be 'her man' but he is her friend... and she does care for him, in a wholly platonic fashion. Even if he IS kind of creepy tonight. She watches him watch the nature program, though, and dials that 'kind of' to 'getting more and more'. "Yeah, we have ice cream. Sure, I'll have some." <English>
Russell is very stubborn when he wants to be, but Carmen is very persuasive. Blue eyes meet blue eyes, and the man is silent, held in place for a long moment by that hand on his arm. He sucks in a sharp breath and reaches to snatch up the pill bottle on his way to the frige. He twists it open on the way and taps out the dosage into his palm, then tosses them back and swallows without a drink to wash the medicine down. He caps the bottle again and sets it on the counter, then pulls a carton of chocolate ice cream from the freezer. "You should have come to dinner. It was fantastic." Two bowls are fetched and he starts scooping very generous portions into each. There's a glance towards the men playing cards buuuut he doesn't include them. Nope. Alphas eat first. <English>
"Thank you." Carmen says after Russell, as he snatches up the pill bottle and takes his dose like a good boy. Or, at least like a stubborn but resigned boy. While he's gone, she alternates between watching him and waching the cortex. After a few moments she leans over and snags the remote to change the channel to an old kung fu movie. At least it's in color. "I'll bet it was. I had a grilled cheese." Carmen says. Grilled cheese and ice cream. Dinner of champions, and all that. The two men at the table continue their card game, not seeming to pay Russell any mind at all. But make no mistake.. they are keeping an eye on him, and if he makes any threatening moves on Carmen they'll be on him like white on rice. <English>
Russell gives Carmen a nod when she thanks him, then snags up the two bowls after stabbing spoons into them and brings them back to the couch. He passes one to Carmen and drops onto the couch again. "Don't like the meds..." The man shares and takes a big bite of the ice cream, then continues speaking while trying to manage he frozen mouthful, "... makes me theel like thit.. most of the time." He squeezes his eyes closed suddenly as the brain freeze hits, wincing. "Think I'm gonna stop taking them. I've been thinking about it for a while." He opens his eyes again as the sharp pain passes, then looks at the video screen, frowning. There's a quick search and then the man reaches to snatch the remote back whether Carmen is still holding it or not. <English>
"Oh? They seemed to help you quite a bit." Carmen replies, watching and listening from afar. When he brings the bowl of ice cream over to her, she smiles up at him and accepts it graciously, balancing it on her stomach as she takes the spoon in hand and spoons herself up a small bite of the ice cream. "Well, you're certainly within your rights to do so, but you might want to back the dosage down rather than quitting cold turkey. You have to be careful with things that alter your brain chemistry." she advises. She doesn't object to him reclaiming the remote. The woman knows how to choose her battles. <English>
Russell kicks a bare foot up onto the coffee table and has another big bite of the ice cream while juggling the remote to go back to flipping through the channels. An oooold show about King Henry catches his eye and he watches it curiously. "They make me feel dead. Numbed out. Tired all the time." He explains, glancing over at her. Then he asks, "What did you say earlier? About being on drugs without knowing it." He reaches to scratch at his arm again, the area around the rash starting to break out from the irritation to the skin. <English>
"Is it better than the alternative, though? That's the big question." Carmen replies, though she certainly feels for him. "Kal had a bad reaction to a drug similar to the one you're on. I'm just glad you haven't had any. Well, other than when you stop taking them." she smiles gently and eats another spoonful of ice cream. Chocolate really is her favorite. It makes her happy, and Junior too. She seems to be paying more attention to Russell than the cortex program, and her eyes lower when she notices him scratching at his arm. "What's that?" she asks, gesturing with her spoon. Then she answers his question. "A few years ago, someone was trying to kill me. They kept dosing me with a steroid... one of the vectors they used was through second hand smoke. The first time, I had a seizure. But the second time... I basically got 'roid rage and was just... a really horrible bitch until my heart almost exploded." <English>
"I dunno. Maybe." Russell replies, his eyes still on the screen, but he's not really watching either. "I could handle things now. You know? Better than before." He explains, glancing over at her. Then he asks, "Do you mean that? That you're glad I haven't had a reaction?" Then his attention is pulled downward and he shrugs, "Some kind of bug bite or something. It's itchy." There's the flame shaped mark and the spread of red, enflamed skin around it. Then as she explains the past experiences he looks up at her again, sympathy breaking through the haze of throbbing head, dairy cravings, and medication. "That's shitty." Though he leans forward and eyes Clancy, "But that doesn't mean someone can just bloody drag me out of a car and shove me against a wall." He says, no small amount of threat in his voice. <English>
Carmen's explanation might just explain her intense aversion to secondhand smoke, even before she became pregnant. Russell might realize that later, if he's too out of it now. Maybe. "Of course I mean it." she says, of the matter of the reaction. After all, Kal tried to off himself... she wouldn't wish that on Russell. Or any number of other possible reactions to mood-altering drugs. Carmen chuckles at Russell's threatening words, her attention still largely focused on that curious rash. Clancy doesn't rise to the bait, just continues his card game. "It looks more like a rash than a bug bite.." Carmen offers, as a not so professional medical opinion. <English>
When Clancy doesn't rise to the bait, Russ just lets that hard look linger for long while before he looks back to Carmen. "A rash?" He asks, giving the affected area a longer study. "Maybe. I'll get some cream tomorrow." And the thought of cream reminds him of the ice cream. He has another bite and flips through a few more channels until he stops at a rugby game on a sports network. It really is a violent sport, to a degree. Certainly not like golf. "I'm not having some kind of reaction. I haven't had any drugs." He says after a while. "I just... know what I want." He bites down on his lip for a moment, casting another displeased glance towards the two security folk. "Let's go upstairs and talk." Abruptly decided and spoken to Carmen. <English>
"It doesn't necessarily have to be a drug reaction. It could be contact dermatitis." Carmen observes, her expression thoughtful as she spoons up another mouthful of ice cream. She's taking her time with her bowl, even giant as it is. Truth be told, she probably won't finish all of it. She's still eyeing the rash a little thoughtfully when Russell makes his sudden suggestion. That DOES get Clancy's attention, and he turns his head to look over at the couch briefly before going back to his game. As for Carmen, well, she hesitates briefly before nodding. Russell does seem calmer than he did before he left. Maybe a full stomach has done him some good. "Okay, if you want. We can have our ice cream on the observation deck and do some stargazing." she suggests, with a smile. <English>
Russell gives Clancy a challenging look, as if daring the man to get in the way again. He won't be underestimating the mechanic again, hellz no! (That's what the look says) Then Cymbeline gives Carmen a smile, "Perfect!" He says, rising again from the couch. He holds his hand out to her to help her to her feet, "We can talk about dermatitis and constellations." He says with a wry smile, still juggling the bowl of ice cream in his other hand.
Moira makes her way up the stairs from the cargo hold, a very large basket carried in both hands. She's a bit concerned about the lowered levels of security than she's used to seeing, though upon spotting Clancy she relaxes a little. Or at least until she notices the glances being exchanged between security and the man she'd come by to check in on. She pauses a few steps inside the doorway to ask of the room in general, "Everything OK around here?" <English>
Carmen is less than a month away from her due date at this time and is pretty much as big as a house. She wears it well, though, for the most part. Though she looks a bit tired around the eyes. She's wearing a pair of yoga pants and a tee shirt, and her feet are tucked into brightly colored socks... neon pink and neon green striped. In the cargo bay are two more of the security team; they would have greeted Moira and let her pass. Marianne and Rianna. Carmen is also holding onto a bowl of chocolate ice cream. She tucks her spoon into the bowl and accepts Russell's hand up. Getting off the couch is hard right now, especially while carrying something you don't want to spill if you have to pinwheel an arm for balance. "Ooof." she says, once she's upright again, releasing Russell's hand and rubbing her belly a bit. "Settle down, Junior. There's still some ice cream left." she says, then looks over at the door and smiles as Moira arrives. "Moira! How good to see you!" she exclaims, though afterward she glances a little hesitantly toward Russell. <English>
Once Carmen is on her feet, Russ will have another bite of his own ice cream, but his eyes flick to the door when the Companion arrives. The man stares for a moment, then smiles widely, "Moira!" He greets with cheerful warmth, clunking the ice cream bowl down onto the coffee table loudly, the spoon flipping out and clattering. Rather than correct the spillage, he just crosses the room to sweep the other woman up into a hug and lay a chocolate flavored kiss on her lips. "It's more than good to see you." The man murmurs suggestively, though his eyes flick back towards Revjak and Clancy, keeping tabs on them. <English>
Moira looks up to smile at Carmen and gives the mother-to-be a wave as she shifts her basket into her right hand to wave with her left. "It's good to see you, t..." And then her words are caught up as she's gathered up into Russell's arms and kissed rather thoroughly, cutting off her greeting to Carmen mid-word. The kiss and murmured words that follow pull a crimson blush to her cheeks, and her gaze glances up to Russell with a bit of concern. For a man so often nervous even to hold her hand out on a public street, this isn't quite the sort of greeting she's used to getting from him. It's not that she seems to mind so much as she's just trying to puzzle out what has changed. <English>
Carmen drifts toward Moira as well, waddling along behind Russell. The greeting she gives the Companion is a little (okay a lot) less familiar but she does offer a hug and manages to whisper, "Someone has secretly replaced your Russell with Folgers Crystals. See if you can tell the difference." As she pulls away she offers a half smile that is... amused on the surface, but with something more reserved lurking beneath. "What did you bring?" she asks, sparing a glance for the basket, "Is it edible?" Apparently the ice cream may not be enough for her. <English>
The blush on Moira's face really only encourages Russell and he'll press another kiss to her cheek before relenting so that Carmen can hug her. Apparantly Carmen is in the circle of trust even if the other men aren't. He does seek out her free hand, though, to clasp possessively. "Carmen and I were going to go up to the Observation Deck to watch the stars. You should come too..." He says softly, and the unspoken part is that he's never going to let her leave again. Though, he does look at the basket with similar curiosity. <English>
Moira wraps her right arm around Carmen, at least partially returning the woman's hug even as Russell claims her basket-free left hand. She twines her fingers between his as she carefully unwraps the basket from behind Carmen to hand it to the woman. It is full of all sorts of smells, spices and herbs and sweetness wafting up even from beneath the closed lid as she hands the very heavy tote over to Carmen for the woman to peruse as she likes. <English>
"Ooof." Carmen says, as the weight of the weighty basket is transferred. She sways slightly under the weight of it, but manages to correct herself before pitching right over. Revjak rises from the table and comes over to help her with the basket, since she's already holding a bowl of ice cream in one hand. "Whatever it is, it smells delicious. I had a grilled cheese for dinner... I just didn't feel much like cooking. Kal said he'd bring something over later, he's working late." she offers. <English>
Maybe Carmen will appreciate that at this moment Russell *isn't* showering her in assistance for once with that heavy basket. His attention is almost entirely rooted on Moira, and there's a tremendous battle of willpower going on inside the man's head that he's slowly losing. While his boss is juggling the basket, the mechanic moves in to press another kiss to Moira's lips, clearly lacking inhibitions this evening.
Still, things generally remain calm riiight up until the point where Revjak moves in. Russell suddenly wraps his arms around Moira and to haul her back away from the tall Russian, giving Kristov a hard, threatening look. The ex-con moves then to try and push himself between Revjak and Carmen, "She has it!" He growls. <English>
Moira is distracted by the kiss from the movements of Carmen and the others, not noticing at first what is going on. She gasps though as Russell pulls her back, as if the security folks are a danger. She reaches for him as he moves to block off Carmen from them as well, and despite her words being aimed at the mechanic, her eyes are on Carmen as she asks, "What's wrong? What's been going on here?" She lets her gaze move from Carment to Russel, trying to figure out what in the world is going on upon this ship, particularly with all the other oddities starting to pepper the news cycle on the cortex. And then, a fairly important question is added, "Where's Kal?" <English>
She has it, she has it! Except she doesn't. When Russell pushes his way between Carmen and Revjak, she struggles with the basket. She's not a weak woman by any stretch, but between the ice cream, her center of balance being off thanks to the baby, and the overall awkwardness of the situation Carmen loses her grip on the basket and it hits the deck noisily. "Oh! I'm so sorry!" she exclaims, though really she's more concerned by the pissing contest that Russell seems to be starting. "You vill be steppink away from my vard now." Revjak says, in his Russian-accented English, staring down at Russell from his impressive height. Revjak is built like Kallahan, and has a fairly imposing presence. Behind him, Clancy puts down his cards and pushes back his chair. "And do not even be thinkink ov touching my valnuts." The Russian says, which causes Carmen to choke back highly inappropriate laughter. Then she's lifting a hand, touching the back of Russell's shoulder. "Relax, Russ..." she urges, before looking over at Moira. "He's a bit... off kilter, today." Does Moira know about Russell's medication? Carmen has no idea. "He should be fine by morning, but he's been a little bit.. extra manly." That's a polite way of putting it, right? "Kal's at the shop." <English>
Where is Kal? Not here. If he were here things would likely be playing out very differently and not to Russell's favor. Of course, Russ is picking fights with highly-trained security professionals that could beat him to a pulp, so really, Kal's presence might not be sooo crucial. The mechanic keeps an unyielding glare up at Revjak, "I'm not moving." He states succinctly, voice dripping with challenge for the Russian even as he bends his knees a bit, falling into the more guarded stance of someone that's faced larger foes before and is willing to suffer the consequences again. He twitches when Carmen puts her hand on his shoulder, lightly trying to bat her away without pulling his focus away from Revjak. "I'm fine. He just needs to back the fuck off." He says in a low voice. <English>
Moira looks from Russell, to Revjak, and then back to Russell once more. She takes a few steps forward, slowly trying to angle herself into the space between the two men, facing Russell as she does and ignoring the Russian completely. "Hey, Russ... I don't think the men Kal hired for security and protection are going to want to hurt her..." She glances around him to look at Carment as the basket drops to the ground but stays upright, and she knows it's not likely to have damaged anything since it's well packed. "Looks like she's getting a little tired though, maybe you should give her a few moments to get a bit more to eat, and in the meantime I thought maybe I'd spend a few days around here if you'd have me? A few quarantine spots are popping up down on Persephone, so thought it might be safer here on the Each with you all if it's not any trouble? Any chance you'd be willing to drop down to the cargo bay to grab my bag? I couldn't manage both it and the basket on the stairs." Looks like the Companion planned to bribe herself aboard with the offering of food. <English>
Revjak continues to stare Russell down over Moira's head, but he's not making any threatening gestures. As for Carmen, well, she does what any sane person with an ounce of self-preservation would do. She removes herself from the situation, moving off toward the table to set her bowl of ice cream down. For some reason, she feels better with both of her hands free. Tired? Yes, she does look tired. But that's not new, the last few weeks have been taking their toll on the mom-to-be. "You're welcome to stay as long as you... wait, what's this about quarantine?" Carmen asks, brow furrowing with confusion and concern. Apparently she hasn't been following the news today. Maybe she's had her hands full with Russell. <English>
Russell's attention is difficult to pull from Revjak, even by Moira's charms. Though he's loathe allow even the smallest break in that stare, the man's blue eyes do flick down to her briefly as she pleads her case. There's a moment of elation that washes over his face when she mentions staying for a few days, but that in part spurs him to reinforce that need to challenge the Russian. He locks a glare onto Revjak again, but only for another few moments. Then he lets out a huff of a breath and looks at the companion again. "Sure." He stalks off towards the cargo bay, going to collect Moira's bag. <English>
Moira lets her gaze follow Russell as he heads to the stairway to get her duffle bag. If the picnic basket was full and heavy, the bag itself is at least twice as full, closer really to about three times the size... She's never been known for traveling light. Once Russell is disappeared through the doorway, her voice lowers as she moves to help Carmen gather up the fallen basket to carry it over towards the galley for the woman as she asks, "Has he been taking his medicine as he's supposed to?" Seems the Companion has been warned about that blue pill and the paranoia that can show up without it. She also gives a bit of the news, though she tries to downplay it as she tells Carmen, "Book Mem has reported some type of outbreak on Persephone. No details yet on what to watch for, but they're recommending extra sanitation precautions, and quarantining folks that they suspect are ill... Once Kal gets back, you might want to consider taking off for a quick vacation for a few days, at least until they know more. Especially with the baby coming? I was kind of hoping to tag along..." Compromised immune systems and pregnancy both make for bad reasons to stick around. <English>
Carmen's gaze follows Russell as he departs, though once he turns Revjak moves to help Moira with the basket in silence before returning to his seat at the table. Meanwhile, Carmen looks to Moira and smiles thinly. "I wasn't sure if you knew about his medicine. He missed his afternoon dose today, but... I'm concerned. Last time it took a few missed doses to really get his paranoia amped up, and this time he just seems... aggressive. I think he wanted to wine and dine me earlier, it was the strangest thing. And he got into a scuffle with Clancy when he refused to put his cigarette in the car." She grimaces faintly, glancing toward Clancy.. who doesn't bat an eyelash. He's looking at his cards again, resuming his game with Revjak. Carmen takes in the news that Moira has with a grimace and a nod. "Yes, it does seem like a good time for a holiday. Though, we'll want to be careful. If one of us is already infected, we don't want to spread it to other worlds. I'll tell Kal to wrap things up and bring his project--and the kitties--with him when he comes, preferably sooner rather than later." She smiles, suddenly, "We can go to Paquin, you can see our new property!" Yes, this seems much better than hanging around at ground zero during an outbreak of some sort. <English>
Russell is slow to return, and when he does, he has another cigarette in his mouth and a little trail of smoke follows after him. The duffel is slung over his shoulder and he heads for the spiral stairs, but there's another long, hard look at the two men playing cards as he's crossing the common room. <English>
Moira smiles and nods at that offer, thinking some time quiet at the beach sounds like a perfect way to get Russell to relax while he gets the meds balanced back into his system. "Russell said you'd bought land, but we didn't have time to get all the way out to see it last time. I think some sun and time away from stress might help him get settled again." She ponders over the rest of things, but adds it up to him having missed her, they'd not been able to catch up for a while, and if his greeting was any indication, the date she's had to cancel seems to have left him a bit on the insecure side. A reassuring smile is offered to Carmen as she tells her, "See if Kal can get himself out early. The news sounded like things were still in early stages, and the news conference seemed to indicate that as long as basic precautions were taken there wasn't any reason for people to be overly concerned." And then Russell is making his way back into the common area with her bag, and the warm smile she'd given to Carmen turns to him, as she lets her eyes light up with a sparkle, the picture image of a woman blissful to see a man she's missed, doing all she can to try to help keep the peace. <English>
"I think you'll like it. I don't see how you couldn't. It's gorgeous." Carmen tells Moira, looking both excited and happy at the mention of the new property. Hopefully Moira won't be too disappointed to learn it's not anywhere near the beach. "You're probably right. We're all due for a vacation. Unfortunately, I still have to go to school." she smiles a bit wryly, but... she's almost done, just another week to go. If the baby will let her, that is. As if on cue, Junior delivers a kick that sparks a small wince, and Carmen rubs the spot soothingly. On the outside, anyway. "I will." she tells Moira, of Kal, and while the Companion is making eyes at her neanderthal mechanic she touches her icomm and exchanges a few brief words with Kallahan. Filling him in, as it were, and encouraging him to come sooner rather than later. <English>
Russell catches that smile from the companion and it does distract him from the silent dispute he keeps riling up with Revjak and Clancy. He pauses at the base of the staircase, fighting another one of those internal battles of impulse against higher level thinking and reason. "Are you coming?" He asks, jerking his free thumb upward as he lets his eyes wander over Moira with unmistakable expression of desire on his face. Just a little creepy, yep. Though, she's a companion so maybe she's used to it. <English>
Moira is most certainly used to seeing that look on men's faces, but it's not one she's used to on his. But that smile stays on him as she moves to join him at the foot of the staircase, and since he has her bag in one hand and a cigarette in the other, she places a hand at the small of his back as she turns to murmur something in Russian to the two men playing cards at the table before she tells him softly, "Carmen mentioned making a trip to Paquin to show off the land she and Kal bought once he gets back. And if I recall, you promised to teach me how to drive that motorbike of yours next time we were out on that soft sand with time to kill..." Her gaze holds his, and she lets a bit of a purr warm her voice as she murmurs a suggestion that's much more brazen than the woman typically is, "So let's go get a bit of 'rest' before then?" <English>
There is no reaction from Clancy to Moira's brief utterance in Russian, but Revjak looks up sharply, his pale brows knitting together as he frowns at her. Then past her, in Russell's direction. The big man grunts softly, his only reply. Meanwhile, Carmen is left sitting at the table, a somewhat awkward observer in the interplay between Moira and Russell. "Uh... have fun," she offers, to the departing... couple? Pair? Whatever. Her ice cream and her chat with her husband via the comm seems to take over her attention once Moira and Russell are away. <English>
Russell smiles when Moira crosses to join him and he looks curiously at the woman when she spits out Russian to Revjak. Though, it's the explanation of the newly planned trip that really grabs his attention. "Paquin?" He asks, looking back at Carmen. "Sounds good. Ship's good to go." A big change from his complete lack of desire to travel anywhere earlier. Then Moira's murmured suggestion is more temptation than the man's crippled willpower can resist and he'll turn to head up the stairs, hauling along Moira's heavy bag. <English>
