| Small Talk |
| Summary: | Cameron and Elpis visit the Observation Deck and meet Radcliffe while they're there. |
| Date: | 28 Oct 2041 AE |
| Related Logs: | None |
| Players: |
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| Observation Deck - Deck 3 - Battlestar Cerberus |
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| With a quiet view to the stars, this tends to be one of the more popular 'quiet areas' of the Cerberus. Up front is a small-unseated area for ceremonies or other activities while the seating rises up behind it. Each level rises up behind the one before it, comfortable chairs and couches set up for crewmembers to relax, get some work done or even take a nap. A large armored plate is lowered during Condition One to protect the interior against a breach in the glass. |
| Post-Holocaust Day: #244 |
There's a small crowd of people here today, a throng of people talking and relaxing, some drinking and smoking while the others are laughing and poking fun at each other, all comrades to the end. There is one however who is standing off to the side, leaning against one of the large viewport's supports, looking out into space. Smiling softly, Brina enjoys the view while absent-mindedly rubbing her right hand, her mind out there among the stars.
Entering into the observation deck with Elpis in tow, Cameron hesitates at the number of people in the room. But Elpis just grins and runs past him with a giggle, dashing to the window and plastering her face against it with avid interest while her guardian enters the space a little more cautiously. Not really in the mood for a crowd, the doctor makes his way over to one side as well, the same side that Brina has chosen, taking a seat there whilst keeping half an eye on Elpis. But the little girl, as always, seems infinitely capable of entertaining herself. Thank the Gods! Ocean eyes flicker up curiously toward Brina as he offers a friendly, "Hello," at least. If he's going to be working on this ship, he really should try to get to know the crew better.
There's a bit of silence between the time when Cameron greets her and it's returned, Brina not even realizing that she's being spoken to for at least ten seconds, she continues to take in the scenery before snapping herself out of whatever trance she managed to put herself in. "Oh! Hey." Smiling, she looks at him and then around, obviously trying to get her wits back around her before trying to continue with conversation. "You…are new? I mean, I…don't recognize you."
The man doesn't take offense, a small crooked smile gracing his lips when comprehension finally dawns over the woman's head like the rising sun. "Pretty new," Cameron confirms with a nod, gesturing to the spinning expanse of Aerilon below as he adds, "Fresh off the island, as it were." Waving a hand, he offers, "Sorry to have interrupted your reverie. Please, don't mind me." At this point Elpis comes over, grabbing onto Cameron without warning and clambering up the poor man like he was a rock, settling herself in his lap before looking up at the woman in question, well, questioningly. "This," he introduces, "is Elpis. And I'm Cameron."
"No need to apologize. I was just thinking about nonsense stuff. Nothing important. And…well, welcome to the Cerberus. I do hope things have been treating you well." Darting a look over to the girl now, Brina can't help but to 'awww' softly, seemingly possessing a soft spots where kids go. "It's very nice to meet you both. I am Brina Radcliffe. I work on the deck. I fix the aircraft and stuff. But enough about me. Please tell me about yourself." It isn't often that she gets to meet new people and she's going to take advantage of it if Cameron allows her to.
Smiling more broadly, Cameron insists, "Nonsense stuff is the best stuff to be thinking about, in my humble opinion. If I could write a prescription for it, I would!" Glancing down at the rugrat on his lap, Cameron warns, "Don't let this angelic face fool you. She's a mischievous imp, nearly as bad as the rest of her box of brothers and sisters," his hands reaching to tickle the girl mercilessly, to which she responds with the obligatory squeals of laughter and wiggling. Glancing up at Brina, Cameron nods and replies, "Good important work. Nice to meet you too. And I don't think that's nearly enough about you, but we can take turns. I'm a doctor. Aerilon was my homeworld, though I spent many years on Caprica getting my degrees. Was very lucky that I was stocked up and on a road trip when Warday came. Probably the only reason I'm still alive. Found Elpis here and a bunch of other survivors and together me made ends meet till you guys came buzzing by. So now we're here. And, I'm happy to say, I've just been officially approved to work aboard the Cerberus in your sickbay. Hopefully I will never see you there," he adds with a wink.
"All kids are like that," Brina says while giggling herself, a slightly deeper counterpart to the girl's own laughter when she's tickled. "I was a terror but that is probably because I grew up with brothers. Had to be one to kind of…defend myself at times, I guess. But look at me now. A model of perfect behavior and everything." At the comment about her work being important she blushes and looks down, not sure how to respond to that. "Uhm…thanks. But so is yours. More than mine, even. Doctors keep us alive so we can do our jobs and all that." Shifting uneasily, she looks back up and manages not to die of bashfulness. Darnit, this is complicated.
One brow lifts at her claim of being a model of perfect behavior, a sly grin offered as Cameron notes, "Well, I'll just have to take your word on that for now." Shaking his head, the doctor counters, "I have to disagree. We do equally important work, just very different work. If our ships couldn't fly, we would be defenseless. Neither myself nor Elpis here would have been rescued. The world, as it exists for us now, would cease to exist. That seems pretty damn important if you ask me." Her sudden attack of shyness is surprising as with a soft drawl Cameron challenges, "How many brothers did you say you grew up with?" Elpis sits quietly while the two adults talk, but her attention is firmly upon Brina, studying the nuances of the woman's face. She's definitely not your usual sort of kid.
Brina laughs and then dips her head down while motioning to its crown, making a circular motion as she does. "What? Is my halo in invisa-mode or something?" Joking done, she sobers slightly when he comments on his own opinion of their jobs, her eyes holding first to his and then to Elpis when she considers that. "Alright. I…you're right. I do have to concede the point to you. I guess I just…well, I fooled myself into believing that I'm really…not anyone important. But maybe it's time I changed that. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm being rude. There's hot water over at the refreshment station. May I get either of you something warm to drink?" Noticing how the girl is looking at her, she pauses and then blinks when it registers that he asked her a question about herself. "Two. I was the middle child. So had double the fun of being the only girl and being the second born. Go me, huh?"
"I don't think mere mortals get so see signs of the Gods, generally," Cameron jokes back lightly. He blinks in surprise, however, at her sudden turn around, and if connected to him mentally as well as physically, Elpis scoots off of his lap and goes to tug on Brina's pants to bring her down to her level. And if the woman does indeed crouch down? She gets thin arms wrapped about her neck and a kiss placed on her cheek. "Of course you're important. Honestly, right now? Every single human being is important. We're all that's left. We're the last hope of a dying race. And no, you're not being rude in the slightest, sit down, relax," he offers, patting the chair next to him. Turning to face her more directly, Cameron thumbs at himself and notes, "Only child. SO spoiled. No contest." He leans his chin upon his palm as he asks, "You ever work on stuff that isn't, y'know, ship related? Other mechanical stuff?"
There's a slight start when the girl shows her that kind of affection after she kneels down, it getting her to blush, too. She's been in the military for so long that she's kind of forgotten what it is like. "I haven't thought about that, really. The entire 'last of humanity' thing…" Sighing, she looks over at the drink station and holds up a finger, that being in response to his offering her a seat. "I'm going to grab some tea right quick." Hugging Elpis, she then slips out of the little one's embrace and stands, clearing her throat before going to do just that. It takes only but a minute before she returns, cup of brewing tea in hand, the steam wafting in tendrils that carry a slightly orange fragrance to it. "Only child? Did you ever wish you had a sister or brother," she queries, now taking the time to make herself comfortable in the seat which was offered to her just seconds ago.
Elpis lets the woman go, giving Cameron a quiet look before walking over to the window and once again plastering her face against it, blowing steam upon the surface and then trailing her finger through the moisture to doodle. Shaking his head upon Brina's return, Cameron replies, "Surprisingly not. We were a very tight knit family. Both my parents were doctors and we pretty much spent our days taking care of the locals and traveling from village to village. I got to have lots of 'brothers' and 'sisters' in the end, all the local kids. But I was kinda skinny and small for my age - very bookish. I spent most of my time reading and studying and working with my parents."
Brina can't help but to smile but it's hard to tell why she's doing so now, it being either because of Cameron's telling of what his family life was like or the child who she watches intently. "We were a close family as well," she eventually says quietly. "Our parents loved us a lot and even though we had the whole sibling rivalry thing going on my brothers and I were close, too." Saying everything past tense hurts and a momentary haunted look finds its way to her eyes. "Mother and Father did everything they could to make sure we were happy even though they didn't have a lot of money."
Reaching out, he offers a hand, the pain in her gaze both palpable and intimately familiar. "Sounds familiar. My folks scraped every penny just so I could go to university on Caprica. Once there, I managed to get a grant. But if it wasn't for that first push, that first year, well, never would have made it. No body expects a kid from Aerilon to be surgeon material. Have to prove yourself first." If she takes his hand, his fingers squeeze hers lightly as he notes, "Sounds like you have a lot to be grateful for. Loving parents, brothers you were close to. A great family." But he easily shifts the conversation by noting, "But you didn't answer my question. You just work on ships, or do you do other stuff as well?"
She does indeed put her hand in his, the comfort too much needed to pass up on, the squeeze returned and her smile does as well after a moment. "We have that in common then. Great families…here's to them." She lofts the disposable cup in toast to their good fortune and then sips, the warmth causing her nose and cheeks to pinken as the steam brushes against them when it rises. Being prompted to answer a question she missed, Brina is quick to put her cup down, it set on a table close by while she hurries to reply. "I'm sorry. Yes, I do just work on the ships," she starts with only to then follow that up with, "I didn't really have a knack for engineering when I was tested. But it's good work. Dirty work but it's honest work. I love it."
He lifts an invisible glass to complete the toast before dropping his hand once more. Chuckling softly Cameron counters, "So you're a grease monkey then, huh? Did you soup up hot rods in your youth perhaps?" His eyes have shifted to where Elpis is standing and drawing, watching her quietly, with a hint of worry in his eyes. "Well, if you know any particularly talented mechanics or engineers, you'll have to introduce me. Hopefully I won't have need of their talents, but it would probably be a good idea to suss some out, just in case."
"Actually, I never touched an engine or anything else mechanical until after I signed up and whatnot. I was a boxer while I was a teen. Competed and all that." Pursing her lips, Brina thinks before leaning in, looking around before whispering like she might be preparing to tell him a secret. "I could be of help if a need arises but there is also PO Damon who is one of the best on the ship. Let me know if something comes up and I'll be happy to see what we can do for you."
"What made you sign up with the military?" he asks curiously, "and why not sign up to be something other than a mechanic, if that wasn't your forte?" Her sudden whisper bemuses the doctor, though as he stares and asks dryly, "Why Brina, were you being modest and downplaying your skills?" But his mind is already latching onto the name of PO Damon, making a note of it to track down the man or woman.
Brina holds up her right hand, the outer side of which looks slightly misshapen. "I broke my hand when I was eighteen. It would have put my boxing career on hold for a year or so as it healed so I decided to do something else with my life instead." The hand is put back onto the arm of the chair as she adds, "I did test well and I…I guess mechanics did wind up being my forte. I'm not a genius or anything but I can fix an engine and stuff just about as well as anyone else. Haven't had a complaint about my work yet." Grinning, she waits and considers his latest question before adding, "Maybe I'm just too modest for my own good? I don't know, Cameron. I just never really felt the need to brag about my abilities. Even when I was boxing. It's just how I am." Looking at her watch, she can't help but to frown and rise to her feet. "I got to get to work. But hey, I'd like to talk with you some more. And if you ever need someone to help with Elpis, look me up, alright?"
"Ahhh," Cameron returns as she holds up her hand and explains the matter, though he's a bit surprised at how bad of a job someone did on said injury. "Well, being modest is all well and good, so long as you know inside that you're skilled and get the work done." He smiles up at her as she rises and notes, "Ohhhh, be careful what you offer, I might just take you up on that!" Rising up in turn, Cameron offers his hand again to shake Brina's noting, "Nice to meet you. I'm sure we'll see each other again soon." And with that the doctor lets the mechanic go, calling out to Elpis softly before heading out of the observation deck himself.