JP - Lt. Robin Hopper & Kerilyn Hopper: Sorellina (Part 2)
Wil Ukinix
((One Hour Later – Florence, Italy))
Kerilyn stood at the glass ice cream counter, admiring all of the different colours of the different flavours of gelato.
Kerilyn: ::Impressed tone:: Woah.
In spite of her annoyance, Robin couldn’t help but smile at the childlike wonder her sister was displaying – an increasingly rare sight as she grew older. At the same time, she felt a pang of sadness. The Wall Street was a deep space science vessel. It could be years before she saw Keri again… by then she could be a totally different person.
A worker approached the counter, and asked them for their orders.
Hopper: ::To Keri:: So, which one are you going to order?
Kerilyn: I’ll have a *triple* scoop-
Hopper: Are you going to be able to finish that?
Kerilyn: C’mon, how often will we get to come here? I want a triple.
Robin’s smile had already begun to fade. But now she felt herself overtaken by the ‘sensible mom spirit’ that occasionally possessed her, as the older sister.
Hopper: That’s a lot of ice cream.
Kerilyn: Then I’ll tell the mothership about that time you and that boy from high school, you know… ::wink::
Hopper: You’re gross. ::Rolling her eyes:: Get your ice cream… oO If she knew anything, she’d have been specific anyways. Not falling for that trick! Oo
Kerilyn ignored her older sister, and continued with her order.
Kerilyn: I’ll have the chocolate one with the swirls, ::pointing:: that green one looks *delicious* so that one, oh and that brown one with the bits in it… ::reading label:: “caramello”. And for my sister, she’ll have a triple as well, consisting of ::pointing:: banana, uhhh…. ::pointing to same spot:: banana, and… ::cheerfully:: banana! ::smile:: You were right, Robbie, this *is* fun.
Hopper: oO God I hope she is a different person by the time we see each other again… Oo I’ll actually have a double, thank you. Raspberry and white chocolate.
The clerk swiftly served their gelato into two waffle cones and passed them over the counter. Robin thanked him and nudged Keri – who was already several licks into her caramello – reminding her to do the same. From the ice cream shop, they strolled into the cobbled street and looked around at the architecture of the square which surrounded them. People strolled to-and-fro, going about their days.
Hopper: So, do you know what you’re going to do now?
She tried some of the raspberry and found it pleasantly balanced between sweet and tart.
Keri: Um… I’m going to eat this ice cream?
She looked at Robin, and realised it was more of a “general” question.
Keri: Oh. That. I haven’t decided.
As awkward as it felt, and as conceited as she knew she would be for asking, she knew she had to ask her older sister for advice. Begrudgingly.
Keri: What do you… you know… think.
Keri rolled her eyes in anticipation of the lecture she was about to get from Robin…
Hopper: Well, you’re done with high school. I don’t expect you’re planning to sign up with the mining union, and I doubt you have it in you to just lie around ‘the farm’ and do nothing for more than a year… ::smirk:: maybe two.
But was pleasantly surprised when she was much less prescriptive than expected. In fact, it was somewhat casual, and for once it didn’t make Keri put her back up.
Keri: I was thinking about studying politics.
That was a pleasant surprise to Robin as well. She had half-expected a sarcastic answer along the lines of “being uncontrollably awesome” or “criminal activities” or, worst of all, “banana farmer”.
Hopper: Really? As in… at a university? Have you put out applications?
Keri: ::Nodding:: A few.
Hopper: Keri – that’s great! Are you applying to any here on Earth? There are some really great ones… not just Berkeley of course, though I can certainly recommend–
Robin noted Keri’s expression and shushed herself.
Hopper: Sorry. Ignore everything after the first question.
Keri: ::Shrug:: Uh no…. ::awkward smile:: Tellar, actually.
Robin slowed to a stop. A dribble of white chocolate gelato ran over her fingers as it made its way conspicuously down her waffle cone. A vision had entered her mind of the already-feisty-enough Keri Hopper studying politics on a world known for its… provocative style of diplomacy.
Hopper: You’re going to be studying on Tellar Prime?
Of all the places in the galaxy Robin could imagine that could change Keri into someone more bearable – the thought of her sister studying politics on Tellar was so far down the list it was practically the final line.
Keri: ::Lifting chin:: And what’s wrong with that? It’s an education, and I want to study politics, and maybe be a diplomat one day. If Tellar Prime is the only university I can get into-
Hopper: Oh, please. Keri, I think that’s an excellent goal, but you’re really smart. I know you can do better than–
Keri: What would you know? You should be happy for me!
Hopper: I… ::Robin paused, taking a deep breath and shaking her head:: …I am happy for you…
She just couldn’t help herself.
Hopper: But–
Frustrated, Keri pursed her lips, this time deciding not to yell at Robin. She was sick of arguing with her.
Instead, she stared at her sister as she took one lick of her ice cream, and then lifted it and pressed it into Robin’s forehead.
She then ran as fast as she could at top speed away from her sister, giggling the entire way.
Robin stood, stunned – matcha green tea ice cream dribbling over her eyebrow – her sympathy for her sister melting away like the chocolate mint chip that was running down the bridge of her nose. Suddenly the notion of being thousands of lightyears apart for years on end felt a lot more bearable. She had been trying to figure out how to tell Keri that she had been assigned to the Wall Street – a deep space science vessel that would have her far away from home and family… But now… There were no words.
She walked silently back to the ice cream shop, explained hastily that she had ‘accidentally’ gotten ice cream all over her face, and wiped up with a cloth from the shopkeeper. Her own melting cone was dropped in the bin for matter reclamation.
After she had cleaned up, she stormed across the square to where Keri was standing – a rarely-seen fury in her eyes. She grabbed her sister’s upper arm and pulled her across the square to the nearest site-to-site transporter. If they rushed, she could have Keri back at her hotel in San Francisco within twenty five minutes.
Hopper: You’re going home. Now.
Keri: ::Laughing:: You should have seen the look on your face! It was almost as funny as the ice cream.
Hopper: Don’t talk to me. I’m taking you home. You’re moms’ problem again. God, I hope by the next time we see each other you… I don’t know… Get a lobotomy or something.
Keri: Oh, you're such a killjoy sometimes, banana face.
Hopper: Yeah? Well, you’re a %#@$.
((End Flashback))
((2399, Days After Ukinix’s Promotion Party – Amity Outpost, Hopper’s Apartment))
The memory did not sit well with Robin now. Not at all. She had been so hurt, so furious at her sister’s disregard, that she’d spent the last two-and-a-half years as far away as physically possible from her and not once reached out to her. Not for birthdays, or holidays… She’d told herself it wasn’t feasible, but that wasn’t it at all. She’d been enjoying the space. But now, it felt tainted by selfishness.
oO And now I’m sitting here, in my own home, feeling alone and sorry for myself. Oo
She set the glass of wine back on the table, no longer feeling like she could stomach it, and picked up a fresh PADD – her own. As she moved through the list of functions, she settled her mind on what needed to be done. She began a letter.
((OOC Note - Centaurans' birth names are reserved for close friends, family, and intimate partners. Both Robin and her sister, Keri, have private Centauran Names given to them at birth. "Zoi" and "Kino" are shortened forms of Keri and Robin's private names, respectively.))
// Begin Message //
Recipient: Kerilyn Hopper, TPU
Subject: Still Alive?
Zoi – it’s Banana Face.
Yes, I’ve legally changed my name to Banana Face. I wanted you to be the first to know. I know I haven’t kept in touch these last few years. I hope you don’t resent me too much for that.
I’ve been posted to Amity Outpost now, in the Delta Quadrant. So, for the first time in over two years, I have a fixed address. If you ever want to see me again, I’ll be here, and you’ll be welcome. But I will close down all the ice cream shops on board.
If you need anything, or just want to talk, or just want to fight (for old time’s sake), ping me.
Love you,
Kino
//End Message//
As she hit the send button, she sat back, let out a long sigh of released tension, and smiled.
oO That was probably a mistake… Oo she thought, gladness still filling her heart.
END
Robin Hopper
Chief Science Officer,
Amity Outpost
V239806K11
&
Kerilyn Hopper
Civilian
V239511WU0