(JP) Lt. Robin Hopper & Ensign Nathan Richards - Dear To Me (Part 1)
Robin Hopper
((OOC – This JP picks up shortly after the sim “Lt. Robin Hopper: Swimmingly”...))
((Amity Outpost – The Spire, Lighthouse Restaurant – Back Hall))
The countdown was growing closer and closer to midnight – but, as far as Robin was concerned, it felt more like it was counting down to her death. As the feeling of doom became more-and-more overwhelming, she had excused herself from the group – she thought for just a minute, intending to return. But things had not improved. She now found herself trying her darndest to look as if she were casually leaning (when in fact, she was most certainly slumping) against the wall near the bathrooms as the station spun around her.
oO Where is this coming from??? Oo Everything had been going great, right up until about ten minutes ago. It had been that long since she’d left and by now people were surely beginning to find her absence conspicuous. She tried to replay the events of the last hour of the party in her head, but it was fuzzy – almost as though she’d been knocked over the head or poisoned. Her stomach turned, and she pursed her lips, trying to control her breathing. She was blanketed in sweat. oO God, I might actually be dying… Oo
Her mind reeled, trying to figure out what she should do – who she could go to for help. She didn’t want to sound a medical emergency and ruin the party over what might just be an inexplicable panic attack… But she needed someone to take her to Sickbay, or home, or wherever – anywhere but this crowded boisterous party.
She tapped her combadge and did her best to speak clearly with her insides trying to claw their way outside.
Hopper: =/\= Hopper to Richards… ::Pause:: Na– ::breathing:: Nathan? =/\=
oO Please answer… Please answer… Oo
((Lighthouse Restaurant – Bar))
Nathan leaned up against the bar top, waiting for a new drink to be delivered from the bartender. It had been an interesting night of mingling and conversation, making Nathan feel better after his trip back to Amity. The alcohol was definitely helping as well. He thanked the bartender and brought the drink up to his lips when his combadge chirped and the sound of Robin’s voice came through.
Richards: =/\= Robin? =/\=
Hopper: =/\= I… Need you. =/\=
Nathan raised his eyebrow. Curiosity flooded his brain as different scenarios flashed through, but he pushed those aside. He had to keep his thoughts in reality. Not delve into the ‘what ifs’ suggested by the alcohol.
Richards: =/\= Umm… ::Looking around:: Okay. Where are you? =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Back hall… Now. =/\=
There was an urgency in her voice. Nathan again had to suppress the…scenarios that flashed through his mind as he pushed off from the bar and turned towards the back hallway.
Richards: =/\= I am…on my way. =/\=
((Lighthouse Restaurant – Back Hall))
Robin couldn’t stay standing any longer. If she did, she thought, she might soon lose her balance and fall over or worse, pass out. She reached for a nearby potted plant, but found it unstable – the pot wobbling under the sudden addition of her weight leaning on it. She let out a whimper. Images flashed in her head, though she couldn’t understand why. The California sunset. A kitchen, lit by flashing lights – a party? A hospital room painted in teal. All places she thought she knew, but none of them quick enough to fully recognize.
oO Am I dying? Is this my life flashing before my eyes? Oo
She leaned against the wall again. Nathan moved through the crowd, finally coming up to the back hallway. He rounded the corner to find Robin slumped against the wall, looking very uncomfortable. His brain quickly turned away all of the other scenarios that had begun to flood, leaving only one. She was in trouble. He moved closer, placing a hand on her shoulder to help her stand up straight.
Richards: Whoa, there. You look like hell. What happened?
Hopper: I… I don’t know. ::Grabbing onto his arm:: I’ve never felt this sick… in my life.
Richards: Was it something you had to drink? You didn’t take any drinks from a random person did you? Leave your drink unattended?
Hopper: No… No… I just had the special cocktail, the… Something Velvet.
Richards: Something velvet? ::Thinking:: Oh, the Black Velvet? That nasty beer infused vomit inducer?
Suddenly the images clicked. The California sunset – freshman week at UC Berkely. The kitchen, her friend Sally’s dorm room, lit by the disco ball hung in the living room – the first time she’d heard ABBA. The hospital room – where she’d woken up after…
Hopper: Oh my god.
Richards: What? Did I-
Hopper: ::Incredulous:: Who the #$%& puts BEER in a COCKTAIL?!
Nathan chuckled at her reaction. It had almost been his same reaction when he read the content list at the bar.
Richards: I know, right? ::Smirking:: I can’t believe you were even drinking those.
Hopper: Nathan… ::Serious expression:: I can’t drink beer. The last time I did… I need to get out of here. I’m going to be sick.
Nathan looked at her for a moment. Suddenly it clicked.
Richards: Oh. Oh @$%#. I’ll get ahold of someone in medical to-
She cut him off. The last time this had happened, she’d spent what should have been one of the most exciting weekends of her life in the hospital as they ran tests. Her intolerance to hops, the grains that made beer beer, presented quickly and intensely – but it posed no more danger than taking one too many tequila shots. She might be sick, dizzy, and incredibly uncomfortable, and she was sure to have one hell of a hangover in the morning, but she’d recover.
Hopper: No, no. Please, take me home. I don’t want to spend New Years Eve in sickbay…
Nathan didn’t quite agree with just taking her home. If she was as sick as she looked, taking her to sickbay would be the best option, but he also didn’t want to go against what she wanted. He slid his arm around her waist, pulling her against him to support her as they moved from the hallway back into the restaurant.
Richards: ::Keeping Robin on her feet:: I’ve got you. We’ll move at your pace, okay?
As they began walking – perhaps, more accurately, shuffling, through the restaurant – the music began to die down. For a moment, Robin wondered if she might be losing her sense of hearing, but the reality was far worse. The countdown was almost at midnight, and the chanting began.
Crowd: Ten! … Nine! …
Robin looked up at Nathan, her eyes glistening, as he led her through the excited crowd. The exit – and the turbolift down to the Mezzanine and the train station – were growing closer. This was just about the worst way she could imagine to end a year… or to start one.
Crowd: Eight! … Seven! …
As Nathan looked down at her she offered him a faint smile. He returned her smile, giving her a small squeeze around the waist as they moved. Even being sick, she had that same glisten in her eye. Nathan felt the familiar flutter in his chest, but looked back ahead towards the turbolift doors.
Crowd: Six! … Five! …
Despite her smile, she couldn’t help but feel like she’d made an absolute mess of things since she arrived. Asking him on that date had been a mistake – that realization had begun to crystalize when they had kissed. Now their friendship felt like a strange sort of ‘limbo’ that neither of them knew exactly how to navigate.
Crowd: Four! … Three! …
If things had gone differently, were deeper feelings not at stake, were she not so scared by the thought of someone loving her – or worse, loving them back, were she not sick… she would have wanted to kiss him again.
They stepped through the front door and the sound of the party faded as they neared the turbolift.
Crowd: ::From inside:: Two! … One! …
Hopper: ::Faintly:: Happy New Yeeaauughhh…
She had thrown up. On him.
Hopper: ::Sickly:: I’m… So… Sorry…
Nathan did his best to ignore the suddenly warm patch along his side as he pressed the call button for the lift, looking back down at her with a warm smile.
Richards: ::Gently:: Hey, it happens.
Nathan was surprised at how little Robin throwing up on him was bothering him. He had helped one of his roommates back to their room back at the academy, and had almost lost his mind when they had unleashed a torrent of vomit on him. But for some reason, this was making him laugh.
Richards: ::Through laughter:: Guess I need some clean clothes.
Hopper: Oh my god… I can’t… Ugh…
Richards: ::Smiling:: I’ll just use your replicator.
Hopper: Of course… Oh god, I’m so sorry…
The turbolift doors opened, and Nathan helped Robin inside. He leaned up against the wall, moving Robin from his now damp right side, to his left.
Richards: Oh, ::Chuckling:: Happy New Year.
TBC
Lieutenant Robin Hopper
Chief Science Officer,
Amity Outpost
V239806K11
&
Ensign Nathan Richards
Engineering Officer
Amity Outpost
A239905NR1