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[wolfsmother]

[ there's a rustling before the feed begins- but the sound is impossible to place as any one thing. in the background, the tell-tale beep and hum of medical can be heard, chased by heavy footfalls and the clacking of records. melissa's head lifts into the feed, hair a messy knot on top of her head trying desperately to escape.

there may or may not be a plate of waffles and inhuman amount of empty mugs sitting on the table just visible over her elbow. ]

Hey listen, I know you've probably heard it all before, and I know the network is just packed with don't-go-out messages from people you don't even know, but please.

[ her hands come together before the feed, fingers laced and pleading. ]

Please, from all of us working eighteen hour shifts- don't go out. Give us a week? Keep your arms and legs on your bodies? Because frankly, my last decent meal was a microwaved burrito and that was three days ago.

A week, please, that's all I ask.






And maybe if someone could run by with a few extra coffee filters.
We're getting a little desperate.

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[executiveassistant]

[She doesn't know you but--]

Wow. You look run ragged.

[There's a sort of sympathetic understanding in her tone.]

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[sweetmotherofgod]

Coffee filters. Got it.

Do you need anything else?

[That's... not meant to sound as abrupt as it does, gj Heather.]

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[prince]

You're a physician.

[ he's somewhere between surprised and amused. ]

You sound like you need someone to cook you dinner.

[wolfsmother]

Flattery will get you everywhere.

[ her reply isn't so much irritation as it is wry acceptance. ] Believe me, if I had time from some cucumber slices on the eyes between this whole severed limb thing-

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[wolfsmother]

...A cheese pizza and a new season of Sex and the City.

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[wolfsmother]

Ah hah no- no, I'm a nurse. I sort of- alternate between babysitting and errand running. [ her hand waves. NOT IMPORTANT, anyway- ]

And I, you know, it has been a surprisingly long time since that has happened? Usually I do the cooking. And I mean, Scott'll eat pretty much anything, but-

Something tells me that isn't really a problem for you.

[sweetmotherofgod]

[Laughter. She's with you on the pizza, at least.]

Yeah, I'll cross my fingers on that for you.

I can run 'em by now, if you want. The filters, I mean. Can't have you lot trying to re-purpose bandages or something.

[justdumbluck]

[ Eighteen hour days? That almost makes Firo feel bad for not helping out on the ship.]

I could get some coffee filters. Do you guys need some real food over there, too? I could make some soup or somethin'; you look like you need it.

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[servant]

You shouldn't have to beg for that, it's not unreasonable.

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[redhotsummers]

Thanks, for helping him.

[wolfsmother]

Oh god, would you? I've eaten more Cup Noodle in the past three days than in my entire time in nursing school.

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[wolfsmother]

And I completely agree. But, well. You know how people get when someone they love is hurt.

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[wolfsmother]

[ oh-
oh.

she's about ready to start the 'hey don't thank me-' tirade, but a voice like that? she's done enough waiting room talks to know it right off. her voice softens, a wan smile. ]

He's a friend of yours, huh?

[wolfsmother]

[ a laugh ]

Oh god no, no no- that would get ugly.
The bandages- not the series. -Well you know, you can never tell where a reunion show is gonna go? I mean I'm just hoping no one's considered a remake. 90210 is just a whole other bag of worms.




You sound way too young to know what I'm talking about.

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[redhotsummers]

Weird pseudo-ex-mentor.

[He lets out a soft snort.]

It's complicated.

[Because he never is sure what to call Erik. And for all his frustration and anger towards him, he still cares, and would have done anything to make sure he stayed alive.]

[justdumbluck]

[He laughs.]

I'm on my way to the kitchen right now. What do you want in it? I've never had "Cup Noodle" so I'm not sure which ingredients I should avoid.

[wolfsmother]

[ her hands raise ]

Honestly? As long as powder, noodles, and a microwave aren't involved? I'll take it.

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[wolfsmother]

Well, complicated or not-
In my quasi-professional opinion? You saved his life.

That was a brave thing you did.

[justdumbluck]

No powder, no noodles, no microwave; got it. Should be easy as pie.

Anything else you want with it?

[sweetmotherofgod]

Hey, I know Beverly Hills 90210. I mean, I wasn't allowed to watch it 'cause I was like seven when it started, but...

[but she watched it anyway, because that's what kids do, right? Movement, then - a blur of green in the background that resolves into the top level of the gardens as she rights herself. Guess who was laying in the grass and didn't bother to get up until now.]

It's probably happened. When I left, it was like production companies had run out of ideas and just started doing everything over. Kinda depressing, but maybe they've had some new ideas by now. I mean, if people can come up with the kinda stuff that makes a ship like this, they've gotta be able to come up with new tv, right?

[servant]

Yeah. They get unreasonable.

[He grins a little.]

But working for that many hours seems pretty unreasonable too.

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[coffeeking]

You know you have access to General Support, right? We can bring you more coffee, and whatever else you might need. Including food.

[executiveassistant]

Don't worry, I don't tend towards flattery.

[oh darling. your life is hard and she can tell.]

If I had cucumber slices, I'd offer them to you. But I can make a mean cup of coffee.

[voice]

[doc_pompous]

Someone on this ship, I think, should be able to build us an industrial coffee machine.

If we ask nicely.

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[wolfsmother]

Do you bring backrubs?