PNPC Samantha Richards - Game on Doc
Samantha Richards
(( Bancrofts Quarters, Deck 3- USS Artemis))
After storming the gate and showing up at Bancrofts Quarters with drinks in hand and claiming his couch as her own, the two worked through their typical banter of ‘who can make who more uncomfortable’ and moved on to a more delicate topic.
Richards: Mhm… Aren't doctors supposed to be more emotionally intuitive than this?
Bancroft: ::shrugging:: Probably, but I didn’t take ‘Emotional Intuition 101’ at the Academy. It was an elective, and ‘Advanced Bone Sawing’ had the same time slot. ::a beat, gentler:: You’ve got my full attention.
She shrugged and finally lifted up her head to take another long swig of beer.
Richards: Fair enough. ::Looking at him with glassy eyes:: Life is really giving me the middle finger lately. I just need a friend. Someone who doesn’t need something from me. Isn’t crying at me or doesn’t want me to change their diaper. I need adult conversation that isn’t Nathan asking me questions I don’t have answers to.
The weight of it all hit her a bit harder than she wanted. So she finished off the bottle and set it down with a clink before grabbing another one.
Bancroft: ::smiling gently:: Well, I can assure you – nobody wants you here.
Sam stared at him in silence as his words hit straight to her core. A sharp pain in her chest as she watched his hands shoot up and wave around. Looking like someone actively trying to spill his drink on himself. She wondered if she should just get up and leave, but he would probably enjoy that. And she wasn’t going to let that happen.
Bancroft: I mean – nobody needs you here. ::even more quickly:: No-not like that! I mean, I don't need you.
Once she was able to understand what he was trying to say, the ache faded quickly and she just raised her eyebrow.
Richards: You sure have a way with words don’t you?
Roy lowered himself to the couch next to her with some heft. He really wanted beer to be spilled. She just knew it.
Bancroft: ::stead:: Look, what I’m trying to say is: you’re safe here. Just be who you are. Say what you want, or nothing at all. This is a place where you can just be you, however you are.
Richards: Thanks Roy. That means a lot.
A soft gentle silence settled between the two of them. She took a few long deep breaths, for the first time in months feeling like she actually could breathe. She loved the twins, more than anything. But her life was inherently more difficult than it ever had been and no one had given her permission to just breathe.
After a long moment Roy leaned forward slightly with a small change in his tone.
Bancroft: Right. Anyway… you ever play vlt or Hay’? It’s a Klingon game. ::beat, gesturing vaguely:: You take turns asking the other player ‘vlt’ or ‘Hay” and they choose one. ‘Vlt’ means you get to ask the other player a question and they have to answer it truthfully. ‘Hay” is kind of like… uh, ‘dare’, I guess, except I think in Klingon the intention is more like ‘I choose ritual combat instead of emotional vulnerability.’ ::small, amused shrug:: The way I’ve always played it, you just think up something silly for the other player to do. No bloodshed required.
While bloodshed sounded particularly fun, the thought of having Roy doing something “silly” would absolutely brighten her mood.
Richards: Game on Doc. ::downing more of her beer:: Game on.
Bancroft: Response
She could almost sense his regret already.
Richards: I’ll go first! ::shifting positions so she was turned more towards him with her legs tucked under her:: vlt or Hay’?
Bancroft: Response
It was easy to assume he was going to go with the safer option. She tilted her head side to side, letting her thoughts instantly go wild, before reeling back and going with something more Roy adjacent.
Richards: Alright. What is the most shocking and uncharacteristic thing you’ve ever done in public? Something that no one expected? ::Tilting the opening of the bottle towards him:: Remember. Answer truthfully.
Bancroft: Response
She blinked heavily a few times as he spoke. Either he was messing with her, or Roy was actually a bit of a wild card. She held out her bottle towards him.
Richards: Cheers to that my friend.
Bancroft: Response
TAG/TBC!
PNPC Samantha Richards