sixthiterationlogs | it's just a little bit of history repeating ( OPEN )

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it's just a little bit of history repeating ( OPEN )

WHO: Beverly Crusher
WHERE: House 20, 6I Inn, and 7I by the water
WHEN: early Feb
OPEN TO: one section closed to Picard, one for Claire, and an OTA
WARNINGS: will update as needed

PICARD - early week

If Beverly is tired of any one thing in the village, it's the letters. She's tired of seeing them, tired of hearing about them, tired of wondering what might happen if she or anyone else refuses. So when this next one turns up, she's hesitant to even open it. It might be one like her first or it might be one like Peggy's. She knows she wouldn't do anything about one of the most horrible ones, but what if it's... something else, something new? Curiosity wars with her for the first day. She's left it in her room since finding it that morning and now she's on her way back to her room. Maybe to open it, maybe to throw it out; she hasn't decided yet. What she does know is that she's tired of the things.

Still, her emotional exhaustion doesn't mean she'll be entirely unfriendly and her housemates are a particularly close relationship. So when she spots Jean-Luc as she makes her way into the house, she manages a tired but fond smile. She doesn't intend to stay, though, and heads past him to get to her room. A wave of nausea stops her, though, and she sways on her feet, catching herself on the back of the couch. Well... that certainly is new and unpleasant.

~~ONE PERSON, FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED~~ CLAIRE - mid-week

The second time she finds a letter, she's much more wary of it. Despite wanting to ignore it and leave it alone, she decides that maybe opening it might be a good idea this time. It's unfortunate, but she'd rather not have something like last time happen to an unknowing stranger. And at least she'd know. Assuming it's a double and not some other instructions or a threat or a "reward" or whatever else. Her hand doesn't exactly shake as she pulls the letter out this time, but she certainly can't be said to be happy about it.

But she finds she was right. The letter is exactly the same this time and she frowns at it. There's no marking on it, no indication of who her "partner" is. How will she find them? By wandering the villages, she supposes.

So she goes about her business as usual and maybe sometime within the next few days she'll find out who it is. She ends up in the Inn, vaguely glancing around before she turns to leave. Apparently, she wasn't paying great attention to who was around her, as she almost runs straight into someone. She stops short, smiling apologetically. "Sorry about that. I wasn't paying attention." Stepping around them, she tries to head back out the door. Except there's the familiar and unpleasant wave of nausea as she gets a little over a meter away. She stops, bending over with a hand to her stomach. The last thing she wants is to become violently ill with those candies again. How embarrassing. But how will she know who she has to stick by for the next day or two? She turns again, glancing around almost frantically for anyone close enough to count.

OTA - later in the week

Eventually, the letters seem to stop and Beverly can't help the sigh of relief. She's done with letters, done with being the Observers' toy. Even if things with Jean-Luc are again taking a turn because of something the Observers did, she's so tired of being forced to do things she doesn't really want to deal with. She's tired of watching other people go through the same thing. If it weren't so cold, she'd be tempted to go for a swim, but she knows what that would do and she's not willing to risk hypothermia and frostbite for any kind of emotional respite. So instead, she takes a walk, through 6I's streets and off into 7I. Anyone who tries to catch her attention will notice she's less enthusiastic and warm than she usually is and she might seem hesitant about getting too close. However, she still won't turn anyone down if they want to talk; she just might not stick around as long as usual.

She eventually ends up on the water's edge in 7I, with her arms wrapped around her for comfort as she stares across the water as far as she can see. There's an edge out there, apparently. An edge to everything. A cliff to keep them all in this tiny little prison. And though she's not the type of person to cry, she can't help pursing her lips against the wave of emotion threatening to overwhelm her.

She'll survive. She always does, and she'll make sure she manages to get everyone else to survive with her.

For now, though, she thinks that giving herself some time to simply be away from her normal routine and deal with her own emotional turmoil, and whatever other trauma the Observers are starting to pull up in her, is a good idea. If the hospital seems to need her later, she'll be back to help. She won't shirk her duty, but she knows Deanna would be encouraging her to take time to help herself if she needs it and she can tell that she definitely needs it this week.

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The sensation she feels is odd, made more so by the fact that the nausea abates as soon as Jean-Luc steps closer. Beverly doesn't immediately think anything of it, just that the wave has passed, and any connections that could be made aren't yet there. She is grateful that he comes to her rescue, such as it is, and knowing that her best friend - and whatever else he may be on the path to becoming - won't leave her while she's so obviously upset and ill helps.

"Wave of nausea, I guess," she answers apologetically. "I was just headed back to my room and I must have reacted to the temperature change or something. Don't worry about me, Jean-Luc. I'll be fine."

It's a light tease, though something in her eyes is just not as bright as normal. Still, she moves not necessarily to side-step him, but simply to continue on her way. This time she gets further away before she starts gagging. Stopping quickly, she leans a hand against the wall, her other on her stomach as it heaves. A second passes, in which she imagines briefly that she might have fought it back, before her body lurches and suddenly something is being pushed out. It's almost like having something painfully claw its way up her throat and out of her mouth. She gags on the large pieces, wondering what on earth could cause this.

The question pops up again as she stares at just what's come spilling out of her mouth. What it looks like is heart-shaped candy. But it can't be...

"Jean-Luc," she gasps, realizing that she really just needs him to help support her so she can go lie down. And then she'll figure out what she's just thrown up.

He can tell that for all that she's feeling well enough to offer that gentle tease there's something that's perhaps not entirely as it could be. Which could certainly be a result of her momentary nausea, but it's certainly no guarantee that it's that either. Still, it's not like he's unaware of the fact that the Observers like to throw any of a wide variety of unusual things their way; for all he knows this could simply be another one of those. Not to mention that if she says she's fine, he's more than inclined to take her at her word.

It's only once she starts to continue on her way that he realizes that things are not at all alright, at least on his end, as the brief flutter of nausea he'd felt earlier comes surging back. A fluke, perhaps, or else whatever Beverly has is extremely contagious on minimal contact, but he's barely had time to come to that conclusion before he retches violently, a mess of little hard pieces of something clattering to the floor.

Still, there's no time to do more than get the briefest of looks at what's just come out of his mouth before Beverly is all but gasping his name, and for all that he's not certain what's going on, he makes his way to her side without so much a second thought.

"Something definitely isn't right here."

Even if the nausea had a natural cause, the candy littering the floor certainly isn't and though he tries to avoid it he can't quite help but crunch a few pieces underfoot all the same.

Edited 2018-03-16 05:20 (UTC)

As the new sound of something clattering to the floor registers, she glances over at him, her eyes taking in his pile and then her own. They look oddly similar and that does nothing for her confusion or trepidation over all of this. Nor does the fact that she feels much better almost as soon as he steps to her side.

It's more than a little too familiar, she thinks, as she straightens up again. She feels fine now that he's here beside her and as realization and memory click into place, she reaches for his arm and gives it a gentle tug.

"Let's go sit down in my room. Away from all of this."

They can clean it up later. Right now... well, there are more pressing talks to be had. Like whether or not they're both getting sick or if something else with the Observers is at play.

There is something unsettlingly familiar about this, he has to admit. Especially when the nausea fades as he steps up next to her. But right now, he's more than willing to put that fact out of his mind in favor of leaving behind the piles of whatever it is that they've both been throwing up. Which might still be something that it'll be good to take a look at, at some point. But right now he isn't really feeling particularly inclined to, either.

"Of course."

There's a nod as if to say 'lead the way'. He knows where her room is, of course, but it still feels right to have her take the lead; once she does, he follows close behind. The last thing he needs is to trigger off another round of nausea for either of them; they can test the limits of their range later. Once they've gotten over everything else that's been involved so far.

Beverly easily takes the lead, knowing more than hoping that Jean-Luc will fall into place close enough behind her that they can manage not to feel the full effects of the nausea. Eventually, they make their way into her room and she shuts the door behind them.

"Well, this certainly feels a lot like Kesprytt, doesn't it?" she says wryly. "Although at least we haven't started hearing each other's thoughts yet." A pause and then, "Of course, now that I've said that, we're probably going to."

Though he has to admit that he doesn't really know how much leeway they have before they end up more nauseous than either of them would care for, it's still almost second nature to fall into step close behind her. Fortunately, he's managed to guess right, and no further nausea manages to interrupt them. Which is, frankly, quite a relief.

"Regrettably, yes." True, they hadn't really ever managed to get to the point of genuinely throwing up, back on Kesprytt. But he has no doubt that would have happened all the same, if they'd continued to stretch the bond that had been forced on them, back then. "And to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if we did start hearing each other's thoughts."

Surprised, but not really particularly thrilled, if the tone of his voice is any indication. He might not entirely have objected to getting a little insight into her mind, but once was quite enough, as far as he's concerned.

She sighs wearily as she moves to settle onto the edge of the bed, leaving plenty of space if he'd like to sit with her. At this point, there's no need to stand, although there does seem to be just enough space to risk making both of them ill again, so she's careful not to stray too far from him in case he would rather stand than sit.

"I guess that makes us joined at the hip again," she points out tiredly. "Not that I have any real protests about being attached to you." Mostly she's tired of being forcibly attached to anyone. At least she knows Jean-Luc, though, knows his habits and cares about him. It could be a lot worse if she were stuck to a stranger.

"This might make sleeping arrangements a little more difficult."

And that's the least of their problems. Hopefully, they can manage to have one person outside if either of them needs to use the bathroom anytime soon. Otherwise, things might get interesting. For all that they're trying out a relationship at the moment, she hadn't really intended to dig into the intimacy just yet. Sleeping in the same bed would be one thing, and given that they are trying a relationship she wouldn't be averse to the idea, but anything else just seems a little too much too soon.

For all that he probably could continue standing, there's not really any need to either. Not when she's already sitting, and while the situation itself isn't one that he can claim to enjoy over much, that doesn't mean that he can't at least enjoy her company. Especially when it might at least make things somewhat less bothersome in the short term, and he settles in next to her on the bed without so much as a second thought.

"Nor I you. But Kesprytt isn't exactly something that I'd been looking forward to revisiting."

Mostly because of the fact that it is something that's been forced upon them. Left to his own devices he would have been more than glad to spend time with Beverly, and some of that almost certainly would have been spent in close proximity to her. But not having the choice to spend time being even somewhat further apart is... not precisely ideal.

"And I imagine it might."

Not that they haven't spent time sleeping in close quarters before, on Kesprytt. But at the same time, they also hadn't been trying out a relationship as well, which is likely to make things a little more awkward than they otherwise would have been.

Almost as soon as Jean-Luc sits down, she reaches for him, folding her fingers around one of his hands as a way to keep them both grounded. It's probably more for her comfort than his and they both know it. She gives their joined hands a squeeze in response and sighs softly. Neither of them had really wanted to revisit Kesprytt.

"Once was enough," she agrees fervently. "We could... drag a mattress into one of our rooms for the night. Or we could see how sleeping in the same bed works."

The suggestions are soft, as though she doesn't particularly have an opinion either way, but her tone also suggests that she isn't opposed to the idea of sharing a bed. More than likely, they won't feel up to getting intimate, but doing something as simple as lying in the same bed overnight will be more than enough of a step forward in the relationship they've been working on for the last few months.

For all that he absolutely can tell that it's more for her comfort than for his, he can't deny that the feeling of her taking her hand is still a comfort. Especially when they could likely both do with having something to ground them both. Admittedly, it's true that so far this is comparatively mild, when held against both the way events on Risa had ended up and some of the other things the Observers have thrown at them. But that doesn't mean that it isn't still an inconvenience either.

"I would be willing to see how sharing a bed goes."

Like her, he doesn't imagine that either of them will be inclined to get up to anything intimate. But sharing a bed is something that he can't imagine will hurt any, and it is a decent next step in the relationship that they've been fostering. Plus it means that they won't have to go to the effort of dragging a spare mattress into one of their rooms, and while he imagines they'd be able to manage, between the two of them, it's still something that he'd generally prefer to not bother with, if there's no immediate need to.

Plus it'll mean they'll be less likely to accidentally come to the end of their tether in their sleep, besides.

She nods slowly at his answer, taking in his acceptance with something akin to relief. For all that she'd been willing to help pull a mattress into one of their rooms, she's glad they've decided against that course of action. Though sharing a room and a bed might make things a little closer than they'd expected to be anytime soon, she can't say she'll really feel like protesting against it anyway.

In fact, it might pave the way for them to start doing so normally, without being forced into it.

"Well, then," she says softly, letting out a nervous breath of air, "I guess we should choose which room to stay in and make sure the other person has enough clothes and belongings to last a day or so."

It doesn't matter to her which room they choose to spend the night in. That's just a decision they will likely need to make sometime before the sun goes down or they may end up flopping into the closest bed and sleeping in their clothes.

It is a step that they might not have taken so soon if it had just been them. But it doesn't feel entirely wrong to be considering it either, for all that it's not something that they've chosen to do entirely of their own volition. Besides, once the Observers have stopped trying to recreate Kesprytt there's nothing saying that they'll need to continue sharing a bed, should they choose not to.

"I don't have any particular preference. Do you?"

Neither of their rooms has a whole lot in it either way - not enough to really make any significant difference between them - but he figures that the least he can do is to give her space enough to indicate a preference if she should have one. And if not, he doesn't have any objections to them simply happening to choose the bed that happens to be closest. Nor simply to picking one more or less at random.

They might easily go back to sleeping in separate rooms or this might be the push they needed to start sharing a room and a bed more often. Beverly can't deny that it would be nice to have someone to fall asleep with more often. More to the point, she trusts Jean-Luc. In an intimate space like this, they'll do well and it might go a long way to helping them deal with the Observers on a daily basis.

"No," she says, shaking her head in response. "But since we're here in my room already, why don't I gather my things so we can share your room? That will be easier than going to your room and back here."

Being able to share a moment of physical comfort in the wake of whatever most recent inconvenience the Observers happen to have thrown their way will definitely be a help. Not that they haven't already managed to find ways to commiserate and offer physical comfort as needed, but he can't deny that the more intimate aspects of even just physically sharing a bed with someone will help all the more as well. Still, it's not something that he means to spend any great amount of time considering, just at the moment. Whatever happens to come of this will develop in its own time, and just at the moment, he's perfectly glad to simply take things one day at a time.

"That works," he answers with a nod.

And it does take less having to go back and forth than using her room, as he might have been inclined to suggest otherwise.

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it's just a little bit of history repeating ( OPEN )

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