PNPC Samantha Richards - You Opened the Flood Gates. Now you Deal With it.
Charlotte Brexis
(( Bancrofts Quarters, Deck 3- USS Artemis))
After her initial intrusion on Doctor Bancroft's space was one of genuinely hoping she was escaping away from her reality for a little bit. He must have sensed she needed that and offered somewhat of a solution.
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: That look? That one right there? That’s exactly why the Klingons invented ritual combat.
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: ::slowly:: … vlt.
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.
He of course didn’t answer right away. When he did there was a huff of laughter.
Bancroft: Back at the academy, I was invited to be a part of a Betazoid flash mob. ::a beat, dry:: Sam… Did you know that Betazoids have a very different definition of ‘flash’ mob than humans do?
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.
Of course she knew. She had children with a Betazoid. She couldn’t even count on one hand the amount of time she had been given the one man Betazoid ‘flash mob’.
Richards: Cheers to that my friend.
He clinked his bottle with hers.
Bancroft: ::crossing his arms:: Alright, Richards. Vlt or Hay’?
Richards: ::Almost too quickly:: Vlt.
His eyes never left hers as he took a slow swig of his beer. oOHere it comes…Oo She knew he wasn’t going to just wave off her less-than-obvious internal turmoil.
Bancroft: Alright. Friends or not – and that’s still up for debate – we both know this isn’t a simple ‘I need to get away from the kids for a sec’ kind of visit. ::pause, eyes boring into hers:: What’s eating you?
The bottle that was half way to her lips froze. Her shoulders tightened, even though she had been ready for the question, it still landed like a ton of bricks.
She set the bottle down with a clink that echoed. The ache in her chest grew to a point that made her feel short of breath.
She wrapped her arms around herself like a self-imposed security blanket and let out a long sigh.
Richards: He’s gone Roy… Talos is gone. I don’t really understand all the details. But his shuttle went missing. ::Shaking her head slowly:: Without a trace. Just gone. They don’t know anything. I have more questions than answers. ::lowering her head almost ashamed:: The man I love is gone.
The silence sat for much longer than she would have liked.
Bancroft: ::exhaling slowly through his nose:: That’s… terrible. No other word for it. ::a beat, softer:: I’m really glad you didn’t sit with that alone.
Richards: Oh I’m not alone. There’s two beautiful babies sitting in my quarters that may someday grow up and ask about their dad and I am not going to have an answer for them.
It broke her. She felt something crack inside of her. All the moments she’s had to be strong, finally coming to a head. Right there in front of someone she hadn’t wished to burden with her problems.
Bancroft: Response
Once the words were out there, they became harder to stop.
Richards: There’s something inside of me that says to keep some kind of hope that he’s alive and okay. ::Angrily wiping away a tear that fell:: The logical part of me says he’s probably dead. ::Looking into Roy’s eyes:: You know the worst part? ::Her lip quivering:: I probably won’t ever know… This is my reality now.
With haste, she grabbed the bottle and downed the rest of the beer. Her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.
Bancroft: Response
Richards: I’m falling apart Roy. On the outside I am doing everything in my power to be the mom I am supposed to be. Giving them every ounce of love they deserve and more. ::Beat, then a sniffle:: On the inside… It hurts. God damn it hurts… Every thought I had for our future… Is gone.
Bancroft: Response
TAG/TBC!
PNPC Samantha Richards