Lt. Robin Hopper: Sharing Is Caring
Robin Hopper
((Wet Goods Tavern & Karaoke Bar, Grand Mezzanine – Amity Outpost))
Robin slowly made her way towards the bar’s exit. She tried to shake off her bewilderment at the sudden and inexplicable arrival of – what was her name? She’d been so caught off guard, that none of what Keehani had said had stuck. Nothing after she’d let it slip that she was interested in Robin anyways… oO I did interpret that correctly, didn’t I? Oo
Of course there’d been no time to even figure out what Keehani was saying before Lady – or Daughter? – Polgonz, but not Lohani. The other one? – showed up and whisked her away over some distressing matter that must have been communicated entirely telepathically.
As she passed through the Mezzanine towards the train station, Robin rubbed her temple. She’d about had enough of bars and Betazoid nobility and drama for one Shore Leave… Suddenly, the relative peace and quiet of home didn’t seem quite so bad. Maybe a nice relaxing evening in the conversation pit, curled up by the fire with a book and a glass of rosé was exactly what she needed to settle her restless mind – if only she could shut the thoughts off for a while.
She needed to unburden herself. To talk to someone about what a crazy week it’d been. Someone she could confide in, who would understand, who wouldn’t judge her… She tapped her combadge.
Hopper: =/\= Lt. Hop– ::Cutting herself off:: Rambo to John Mason. Do you read? =/\=
There was a brief pause. Robin waited as the train pulled into the station.
Richards: ::Exaggerated tone:: =/\= Affirmative Rambo, Mason reading you loud and clear. =/\=
A little smile made its way onto her face as the train doors opened, passengers spilling out into the Mezzanine to go about their business. Subconsciously, she ran a hand along her arm.
Hopper: =/\= Are you busy? … I’m just heading home and I was wondering if you might want to come over – just to talk? I’ve got a lot on my mind… =/\=
Richards: =/\= Of course. What’s going on? =/\=
Stepping aboard, she could already feel the weight she was carrying begin to lessen. The galaxy was a big and lonely place. Having someone to rely on made it so much easier.
Hopper: =/\= Girl trouble. =/\=
Richards: =/\= Uh oh. Do I need to bring some ice cream and an old Rom-Com? =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Mmm… Couldn’t hurt. ::Little chuckle:: Honestly, I just want to go home and read a book – but I can’t escape my thoughts when I’m there by myself… =/\=
Richards: =/\= Alright. I’m just in Peace Park, I might beat you there. ::Playfully:: Wanna race? =/\=
She took a seat and leaned her head against the translucent glass that separated the bench-style seating from the train’s doorway.
Hopper: =/\= ::Smirking:: Good luck. =/\=
Richards: =/\= ::Chuckling:: I’ll see you there. =/\=
The call ended and Robin stared absent-mindedly through the window opposite her as the train began to glide out of the station towards home. A million different things were running through her mind. This shore leave felt as though it had been one confusing situation after another. There was so much to process… Her sister had applied for an internship aboard Amity, she’d been knocked unconscious and nearly swallowed up by a spatial anomaly, and it almost felt as though Betazoid nobles were crawling out of the woodwork to try and get her into bed.
She shut her eyes and tried to think about anything else as the train drifted homewards.
((Shortly Thereafter – Hopper’s Apartment, Beijing District, Habit Ring))
Robin had rushed home after getting off the train at Archer Station. Though she was confident she’d beaten Nathan, given her head start, it still felt thrilling to run for it, just in case. After racing up the stairs and ensuring she’d gotten there first, she stepped through the doorway and flopped over on her couch, panting.
She was still lying there, five minutes later, staring at the simulated evening light pouring into her windows and through the fenestrations in the leaves of her Monstera adansonii, when her door chime sounded. She smiled to herself, exhausted but victorious.
Hopper: What’s the password?
Richards: You beat me. ::Smirking, winking:: I guess you win.
Robin hoisted herself off the couch and pressed the button to open the door. As it swooshed aside, she looked up at Nathan, grinning.
Hopper: Damn straight. ::Crossing her arms:: You brought your guitar? Where’s your sense of urgency – what if I’d been having a crisis?
She cocked an eyebrow, doing her best to avoid laughing at the absurdity of her faux outrage.
Richards: Response
Hopper: ::Squinting, teasingly:: Fair enough. I guess you can come in then.
Richards: Response
She stepped aside and gestured into the apartment, in the intervening time since Nathan had arrived it had already grown darker within.
Hopper: Computer – Lights. ::Back to Nathan:: I uh, basically ran all the way here and then collapsed.
She felt her cheeks redden slightly as they moved further into her place, suddenly feeling a little flustered, though she wasn’t entirely sure why. She gestured to the kitchen.
Hopper: It’s been a weird day. I’m just going to change out of uniform. Feel free to grab whatever you want – ::self-chastising tone:: from the replicator. ::Squeezing her eyes shut:: Yeah, you see my head’s all weird and I’m tongue-tied and… ::looking at Nathan with an appreciative gaze:: I’m just glad you’re here.
Richards: Response
She stepped through the bedroom door and slid it shut all but an inch or so, so they could keep talking, while Nathan settled in outside. She turned to her armoire and opened it, trying to find something comfortable to wear that didn’t make her look like she’d slipped into a potato sack.
Hopper: ::Speaking up, so Nathan could hear:: Feel free to start a fire in the pit, if you like. I’ll throw some music on in a sec... ::Tossing a skirt and top onto the bed:: what about you? How’s this shore leave been treating you?
Richards: Response
((OOC – Can backsim here, depending on how much Nathan wants to share at this point.))
She listened as she changed, tossing her uniform scant into the receptacle for matter reclamation, and her boots in a heap in the corner, before sliding into the casual sweater and skirt she’d picked out. Once she’d gotten dressed, she grabbed a book from her night stand and made her way back out into the kitchen, heading for the replicator.
Hopper: Well, it’s like I said… Girl Trouble. ::To the Replicator:: Glass of rosé, chilled. ::Beat:: A large glass.
She shook her head as the drink materialized in a flash of light, then picked it up and turned towards Nathan in the conversation pit. With her book tucked under her arm and her wine in hand, she made her way over and set the paperback down on the table at the center of the room – A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Hopper: A friend – well… ::taking a sip, nodding, more certain:: …yeah, a friend, um, revealed that she might want to be more than just friends to me today. ::Biting the inside of her cheek:: I didn’t really even have time to process it though before she got, uh, swept up in some sort of noble bus–
She hadn’t meant to say “noble”. oO Crap. Oo Hoping Nathan hadn’t noticed, she cut herself off by taking another large gulp of her wine and setting the glass down next to her book.
Hopper: In, um, work… stuff… Or, um, private stuff. I’m not totally clear.
Richards: Response
TBC
