Pink Flowers

[Oisin Ocasta]

Having escaped (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?p=347643) from Oisin counted off doorways as he passed, muttering under his breath as he went. "Pink flowers, pink flowers, pink -"

He halted, eyes settling on the veritable garden of decoration that he'd been told to keep an eye out for. He smiled slightly at the token effort towards customisation that broke up the monotony of the otherwise oppressively white hallways of the Valiant. He reached for the door chime and pushed it, sending a dull, synthesised tone into the quarters beyond.

A thought struck him a fraction of a second later, as his wingman's words echoed in his mind. "Wait. Toddler height?"

The thought didn't get an opportunity to fully form however, as a matter of moments later the hatch slid aside, presenting him with the visage of Chrys Atrides - or at least, that's what he assumed her surname was, based on what Carré had said earlier. He tried to think of something cool to say, failed, and instead flashed an awkward smile. "Uh, hi."

[Chrys Atreides]

"Thanks for sitting with them Lyssa...work ran a little late tonight."

"No problem, Chrys...they're the sweetest little angels. See you tomorrow for breakfast?"

"Wouldn't miss it. Have a good night, hon." Chrys smiled and gave a hug to the round little brunette who served as one of the comms officers. The door whooshed closed behind her and she finally sighed.

She knew she was overreacting to Sanis, but like always, there was just nothing she could do about it. She'd come so far from where she'd been upon her arrival...she hadn't had a real panic attack in months. But sometimes. little things still assaulted her senses and made her remember too much. Like the tone of Sanis' voice and his posture...a few inches in height and some added weight, and he could easily pass for Rhys. Which, Chrys thought, is probably what bothered her the most.

Changing out of her grease-smudged clothes into a pair of soft grey shorts and a fitted t-shirt, she pulled her hair into a ponytail before curling up with the diagnostics reports she needed to review. The door chime broke her reverie a mere moment later, drawing her off of her perch. A quick check ensured that the girls were still asleep before she opened the door.

"Hi yourself..." Chrys smiled, shifting to the side as she continued. "Want to come in? I just made some caf, if you're interested. Just...try not to mind the toys. I swear the girls make the mess of ten children, not two."

[Oisin Ocasta]

Two children. Pink flowers.

Panic raced through Oisin's mind. Children meant a family. Family meant a husband. Husbands usually didn't respond too kindly to guys showing up unannounced at the door. A snatch of half-overheard conversation floated through his mind: Justin's sister... husband beat the shit out of her...

A sinking feeling of dread and regret descended upon him, forcing a nervous laugh out from his lungs. Carré knew, obviously. Probably part of some ellaborate 'haze the new guy' routine; he'd get the crap kicked out of him, and they'd laugh at how hilarious and clever their ruse was, while he lay dying in a pool of his own bodily fluids.

His voice, when it finally escaped, was several notes higher than normal. "Caf would be great!" he replied, with an overly enthusiastic nervous smile, completely forgetting for a moment that he loathed and detested the taste of the stim drink that more or less fuelled the Rebellion.

He followed her carefully inside, perhaps going over the top with his careful efforts to evade the obstacle course of debris that her children had forged across almost every walkable surface. Chrys made much swifter progress, no doubt navigating a pre-programmed route, leaving Oisin abandoned in the centre of her quarters. He stared down as two sets of blue eyes stared up at him out of blonde-framed faces. "Hello," he offered softly, with trepedation.

[Chrys Atreides]

Fingers wrapped around two pristine white mugs, she paused next to the cafpot, blinking as her thoughts played hopscotch with one another in her head.

Sin was the first guy she'd invited into her quarters. Without having a panic attack, she'd done the normal thing and invited him in for caf like anyone else would have. Maybe things really were looking up for the first time since she'd left Lorrd.

With the two warm mugs ready after a moment's fussing, a small but bright little voice reached her ears and elicited a rueful smile. It was too much to hope that Emma's senses wouldn't have woken her up, and where Emma went, Brianne was always close behind. Leaning in the doorway, she watched for several moments.

"My name is Emma. This...this is...Briiiiii....you hafta stop hidin'..." the slightly taller youngling said softly, turning in place as she tried to persuade Brianne to come out from behind her to no avail. "Brianne is a wittle shy...who're you?"

[Oisin Ocasta]

Oisin offered a gentle smile in Brianne's direction; shyness was something he could certainly understand and empathise with, hardly being the world's most confident social interactor. His attention wandered back towards Emma again, and he felt decidedly awkward towering over her with his chin on his chest, wondering if perhaps he should squat down or something, to bring him closer to eye level.

He gave itself a try, lowering himself awkwardly towards the deck; attempts to remain balanced on his feet failed however, and he found himself forced to drop a knee. Arms awkwardly draped over the still-standing thigh to prevent them from folding defensively across his chest, he did his best to reinforce what he hoped was a friendly smile.

"My name is Uh-sheen," he said, answering Emma's question with a slow, phonetic rendering of his name. "I'm a fighter pilot from Rogue Squadron; your mommy has been helping to repair my ship."

[Chrys Atreides]

Emma's eyes widened and her smile brightened as she squeaked "You fwy wif Unca Jussin!"

Chrys laughed as she came back into the room, gently shaking her head as the girls rushed over to her. Brianne instantly wrapped herself around one leg, while Emma clung to the other. "What are you two doing out of bed?" She shifted slowly through the toys as if the girls were heavy. Smiling softly at Sin, she handed him both mugs and leaned down to scoop up the girls.

"Oisin, these are my little angels...who are now going back to bed...say goodnight..." amidst Emma's protests, Brianne managed to shyly wave and whisper goodnight, her face buried against her mother's neck. Emma too offered a goodnight, before Chrys carried them to their room and tucked them back in. The door closed behind her, she smiled a bit sheepishly, her cheeks a touch warm.

"Sorry about that...they're a little excitable when I have new people visit...which isn't very often."