Lieutenant JG Roy Bancroft - What You Leave Behind (Smells Like Incense)
Carter Schimpff
(( Deck Five, Sector Three, Compartment Eleven - USS Artemis-A ))
Jaran: Apology accepted. At least you're doing better than the six year old who threw up on me when I did it once.
Roy fiddled absently with the corner of a nearby PADD, flipping it over once, twice, then aligning it precisely with the edge of the table – before immediately nudging it out of line again, as if out of spite.
Jaran: Anyway. How much longer do you have to put up with me here, do you think? I'm sure you're excited for your new room assignment.
Roy bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, glancing around the cabin he’d shared with Imril – the first real friend he’d made aboard the Artemis. The place was small and spare, bulkhead gray and vaguely antiseptic, but it had been his. The room he’d laughed in. Dreamed in. Met a mushroom of indeterminate sentience in. Once, memorably, wept in.
Jaran’s question hit harder than expected.
The fact that he wouldn’t live here anymore was only just arriving at his mental doorstep – and it brought with it a dozen conflicting emotions, none of which had filled out the proper paperwork.
Bancroft: ::distantly:: Well, Ollie – Lieutenant Bergmen – says my new digs should be ready by tomorrow. So I suppose you’re only stuck with me for one more night. Better make it count!
Jaran: Sure, sure. ::winking:: Run off and leave me alone, I guess. You'll be back when you miss the incense.
Roy let out a breath through his nose in amusement. He smiled – small, lopsided, and mildly theatric – then rolled his eyes with a smirk.
Bancroft: Please. ::laughing:: My late-night reading and 0300 pacing are nobody’s idea of a roommate perk. You’re just sorry I didn’t say I was leaving tonight.
He sank into one of the two desk-console chairs, let himself swivel a lazy quarter turn, then reclined and crossed one leg over the knee of the other.
Bancroft: ::pretending to inspect his fingernails:: So. First mission’s on the viewer aft. First real patient without an instructor or attending hovering over you, and they didn’t bite, scream, or spontaneously combust. You even got to dose an entire civilization, which is becoming something of a tradition around here.
He paused, his ice blue eyes leveling with Jaran’s.
Bancroft: What’s the verdict? Starfleet Medical everything you dreamed it’d be?
Jaran: Response
Roy raised his eyebrows at Jaran’s answer, then tilted his head like he was seeing them for the first time.
Bancroft: That’s a remarkably healthy outlook. Was that pre-installed in the base model Jaran Jira, or did you pick it up aftermarket?
He let the moment breathe, gaze softening slightly as he leaned back.
Bancroft: And for the record – ::leaning back to stretch:: – “I’ve had enough talking for tonight” is a perfectly valid response. Believe me, I’ve ridden that train straight to the end of the line plenty of times. I promise my feelings won’t be hurt.
Jaran: Response
TAG/TBC!
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Lieutenant JG Roy Bancroft
Medical Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240205RB1