Log Date:
	6/13/97, 6/19

Log Cast:
	Kesya, Tance, Rosa

Log Intro:
	For months now, Kesya As'shoriah, co-head Trainer, has been
meaning to take Tance Vokrim, the man she loves, off to Syrine on a vacation
to try to prompt his crystal-mazed memory into bringing up long-buried
details about his past. Tance has been anxious about the trip himself,
and more so when research into his old datapad files reveals to him the
existence of a mysterious pendant -- about which he can only recall that
it was an important thing, given him by his mother, his only link to
his father -- and the disturbing news that his mother was murdered.
Deeply troubled by this news, Tance has balked at what he's found out,
and has been almost grateful that Kesya's ongoing duties have kept her too
busy to go to Syrine with him. They've managed an off-world trip to
Taal'en, but one due to an emergency in Kesya's home community; on Taal'en
only long enough to be introduced to Kesya's family, Tance has been unnerved
by them, especially by her crowd of protective brothers interested in
who Tance is and what his intentions are towards their sister.
	Now, back on Ballybran, Tance has settled somewhat awkwardly back
into what has become his usual life as of late -- a dramatic improvement
for a man who had once been a raving crystal-wrecked basket case. Kesya
has remained extremely busy, however, and thus, missing her deeply, Tance has
taken to haunting Kesya's suite. Tonight, though, they're spending a quiet
evening together when they get a visitor....
----------
Kesya steps from the catering unit, her face bright as her blue eyes rest on 
  you for a long moment. Lifting a jug of beer in a salute, she ambles toward 
  your spot on the couch. "Care for some, hon?"

Shifting slightly restlessly where he sits, Tance smiles wanly. "Yeah," he 
  says roughly. "That'd be good..."

Kesya's pale eyes rest on you for a long moment, her mouth set in a fond, 
  thoughtful half-smile. Deftly pouring out two glasses of the amber beverage, 
  she sits and passes one to you. "You haven't been to talkative since I've 
  been back," she observes. "Cutting been good?"

He accepts the beer readily enough, and offers you another half-smile. 
  "Just... missed yah, you know?" he mutters sheepishly. "Keep thinkin' I'm 
  gonna screw somethin' up if I cut green by myself..."

You hear a soft chime and an electronic voice announces that Rosa is in White 
  Quadrant next to Kesya's Suite.  You hear someone call out, "Hello? You two 
  in there? Bear and I have a little surprise.".
(To respond:  '+answer Out=<message>')

Tance lifts his head, startled.

Kesya's eyes widen in mild surprise at your words, but before she has a chance 
  to respond, the door chimes. Her expression breaks into a smile, and she 
  murmurs, "Rosa." Louder, she calls out, "C'mon in."

Rosa steps in from the hall.
Rosa has arrived.

Kesya stands from the couch to meet the other trainer. "Rosa! Haven't seen you 
  in a while. What brings you?"

Tance and Kesya are parked on her couch, Tance with a mug of something that 
  looks like beer in one hand. He looks vaguely startled, and after a moment, 
  the Singer bobs his head once at Rosa, rising more slowly.

Her little pink Bear tucked under one arm and a small package in the other, 
  Rosa pads into the room, a wide grin lighting up her face. "Hello, you two," 
  she says, then glances at her pink friend. "And Bear says hi too." She 
  chuckles. "We have a present for Tance."

Blinking brown eyes, Tance says intelligently, "Huh?"

Kesya's brows arch at the package, and she casts Tance a bemused glance.
"It was Bear's idea really," Rosa says with a soft chuckle as the little pink 
  Bear peers admiringly in Kesya's direction. "He likes you," she says, 
  looking at Tance. "And doesn't want you to feel lonely when Kesya has to be 
  gone. Soo...." She sets down her package.

The green-skinned singer treads back to her mate's side, resting one small 
  hand on his back as she gives Rosa a cheerful smile. "Wow Rosa, that's 
  really thoughtful. Curious, she glances at Rosa's pink bear for a puzzled 
  moment, then at the package.

Rosa looks down at her little Bear and chuckles. "He thinks your skin is a 
  very lovely color indeed, he says," Rosa relates. "Wants to write a song for 
  you."

One wouldn't have thought it was possible for Kesya's brows to arch still 
  higher, but that's what they're doing now. Surprisedly, she finds herself 
  smiling at Rosa's bear, her cheeks colouring. "Er... a song. Um. Well, 
  thanks."

Once again Tance blinks bemusedly between the two women, moving to the small 
  present on the table, his brow furrowed. Unwrapping it, he pauses for a 
  moment, eyes going wide, and then a sudden sheepish, crooked grin crossing 
  his face.

Baby Green Bear
        A soft teddy bear about a foot in height, one of the few products that 
  comes from the planet Haven. He is covered with short fine jade green fur 
  that is silky to the touch. His eyes are a large black almost liquid and his 
  expression one of mournfulness as if not happy unless someone is holding 
  him. He is wearing a thin black collar with a small golden charm attached to 
  it. You read the inscription: "Did you give your teddy bear a big hug 
  today?" Flipping the charm around, you read: "Being a bear takes extra 
  flair!"

Tance lifts the green bear out of its box, and makes a small coughing noise. 
  Deciding that crossing Tance's face is a good idea, a small blush starts 
  following his crooked grin.

The little pink Bear's eyes twinkle merrily as he seems to be looking at 
  Kesya. "He thinks you're pretty," Rosa explains. She turns to watch as Tance 
  unwraps the package, a hopeful smile on her face. "We thought you'd enjoy 
  having a Bear to hug when Kesya was gone."

Kesya's blue gaze trails after Tance, her head cocked to one side as she 
  watches him open the package. A chuckle bursts from her as she sees its 
  contents and she beams at Rosa. "Oh, how perfect!" She effectively passes by 
  the 'pretty' comment, but her cheeks colour. "Where'd you find him?"

Rosa, laughing, points at her own Bear. "Same place Shana got him. Just had a 
  few words with the appropriate parties."

Tance's blush deepens, and he mumbles, "Well, uh, I like green..." He peers at 
  the litlte bear unsurely. The bear peers liquidly back.

"Bear wanted," Rosa says, "to get a peach coloured bear for you. But I thought 
  a jade green one would be more fitting."

Kesya reaches one slender hand to pat the new addition on its furry head. 
  "He's awfully cute." Her eyes shine with supressed amusement as she gazes 
  across at Tance. "What're you going to name him?"

Lifting his gaze once more to glance at the women, Tance coughs a bit and says 
  gruffly, "Ah, hells, I don't know nothin' about namin' no bears...." He 
  hasn't put the little guy down yet, though. He must like him.

The little pink Bear seems almost to have a smug expression on his little 
  furry face. Certainly a happy one. "Maybe a name will come to you," Rosa 
  says while patting her bear's head. "I just call mine 'Bear'."

"Well, uhm.... thanks," Tance mumbles, peering at Rosa. And her Bear.

Rosa grins, her eyes twinkling almost like her Bear's. "You're very welcome, 
  Tance. It's the least we could do."

Kesya gives the little green bear a thoughtful look, and nods affirmatively. 
  "Sure. Chances are you'll think of a name that'll fit. You could collect 
  opinions." She winks impishly, squeezing the man's arm.

Rosa also gives the little green bear a glance. "His personality may give you 
  a hint," she says. "You never know." She brushes a stray lock of hair out of 
  her eyes. "How're the two of you doing anyway? I've been busy with 2024. 
  Have hardly seen a soul."

Tance smirks a bit, still looking embarrassed as he sits back down heavily 
  upon the couch, bear in one hand, beer in the other. "I'll think about it," 
  he mumbles.

Kesya lets out a little sigh at that question, for one brief moment showing a 
  flash of weariness. "Busy," she says with a lopsided smile. "Been on 
  Shankill so long I almost forgot what my rooms looked like."

Tance mumbles, "I'm the one's supposed to forget stuff." He mostly eyes the 
  bear as he says this, though.

Rosa flashes a warm smile at Tance. "Hope you're happy with him," she says, 
  then nods to Kesya. "I can sympathize. The two of us have been remarkably 
  busy with training." She chuckles. "Went out once and lopped off half a foot 
  too, so we couldn't move too quickly. Better now, though."

Kesya wrinkles her nose as she eyes the foot in question. "Hurmph," is all she 
  says. Looking up she comments, "Shana told me how you've been taking over 
  duties while I'm busy with the new Guild centres. Thanks."

Perhaps feeling somewhat out of place in this discussion, Tance flicks another 
  glance between the two younger Singers, then settles down to nurse his beer, 
  and peer consideringly at the green bear. The green bear does not appear to 
  mind.

Kesya settles back into the couch beside Tance, and nestles against him as she 
  continues her conversation. A rueful smile crosses her lips. "Shana does 
  tend to go gangbusters most of the time -- so I'm glad the work's been 
  divided up a bit."

While her pink bear gazes over at the green bear, Rosa grins crookedly. "You 
  know," she says to Kesya, "I've really enjoyed it. There are some very good 
  people in 2024, and it's been a pleasure to help you and Shana out. They've 
  kept both of us busy. Especially since a goodly number of 'em have already 
  dropped."

Ever so slightly, Tance brightens a bit at Kesya's contact. He might even be 
  noted to look relieved.

Kesya bobs her head in reaction to that, her gaze going downward as though 
  peering into the infirmary itself. "And it's a huge class. Not the best time 
  for Maxwell to divide us up, but then, I suppose it's only temporary." Her 
  gaze returns to the bear in Tance's lap, and she lifts a finger to tap its 
  nose.

Rosa rather suddenly looks down at her little Bear. "What's that?" she asks. 
  Turning her eyes to the other Singers, she chuckles. "He thinks you two make 
  a nice couple. And will serenade you any time." Listening to Kesya, Rosa 
  nods. "Glad I could help with the class being as big as it is," she says. 
  "Maxwell has his own reasons for doing things. Hard to understand 
  sometimes...but how'd the installation go, Kesya?"

Over the top of his beer, Tance slides Kesya a brown look that suggests he 
  rather agrees with Rosa's Bear, though he doesn't say anything.

The black-adapted singer shrugs her shoulders, not noticing her mate's look. 
  "It wasn't really an installation as we think of it. You know how the Guild 
  has centres on certain planets where people can do preliminary testing 
  before coming to Shankill?" She pauses, glancing at the other trainer, 
  before continuing. "Well, Maxwell decided we need two more, so I worked with 
  the planets getting 'em." She shrugs again, finishing. "Rather mundane."

"Still," Rosa says, "it was something important, something that needed to be 
  done. Even if it isn't momentously thrill...." She breaks off and looks down 
  at her little bear, exasperated. "No, I don't know if they're going to get 
  married, and no, I don't know if they want you to sing at their wedding."

Tance quite audibly chokes on a swallow of beer.

Kesya coughs in mid-breath, eyes widening at Rosa's words.

Rosa's Bear looks quite pleased. Rosa just sighs. "Sorry about that, you two. 
  He can be a little opinionated at times."

Swallowing, the green-skinned Taal'en native gives the rosy bear a bewildered 
  look, before seemingly remembering it's inanimate. "Oh," she squeeks, then 
  grins. "Not every day you hear a statement like that."

Tance just stares. First at the pink bear, and then at Kesya. He swallows 
  hard, looking painfully shy all of a sudden.

The little pink Bear is not at all fazed by his comment. He seems remarkably 
  pleased with himself. Rosa looks, well, a little embarrassed. "He surprises 
  me sometimes, with things he says." She glances down at her bear again. 
  "Think so?" she murmurs before looking at Tance. "He suggests a kiss. After 
  the two of us leave."

The green-skinned young woman begins, "However, I'm sure Bear is a fabulous 
  sing--" She cuts off again, blinking in the bear's direction. After a 
  moment, a sly look crosses her expression. "Sounds good to me."

Tance blinks a few more times, then promptly and reflexively downs the rest of 
  his beer. Blushing visibly, he then mutters out, "Well, uhm. Er."

Rosa chuckles softly, winking to Kesya. "He likes to play matchmaker." She 
  looks toward Tance, one brow arced. "You okay? You're not allergic to the 
  bear are you?"

Rapidly, Tance shakes his head, still not uttering a word and looking rather 
  thunderstruck.

Kesya's all-too-innocent gaze turns on Tance then, even as the green bear in 
  his lap peers at him liquidly. Together, they look like they might be 
  greenly ganging up on him. "What, not a good idea?" Amused is simply too 
  mild a term for the look in Kesya's eyes.

Tance croaks, "I could, uhm, go with the, uh, second one..."

Eyes bright with suppressed mirth, Rosa looks from Kesya to Tance. "Perhaps I 
  should go down to check on the recruits and leave you two to...whatever Bear 
  and I interrupted." She winks.

"Uhm. Yeah," rasps Vokrim, peeking at Kesya out of the corner of his eye.

Kesya lets out a bubbly laugh at Tance's croaked words, and leans swifly into 
  him to give him a fond hug. Frowning a bit then, she gives him a stern look. 
  "-You- haven't been eating much while I've been gone, have you?" Her eyes 
  sparkle with mischief, and she gets to her feet. "Thanks Rosa, for the bear 
  and... everything." The other trainer probably knows she's referring to her 
  earlier request to keep an eye out for the older Singer. "It really means a 
  lot."

"I been eatin'," Tance protests.

Hugging her own Bear, Rosa smiles warmly. "Any time, Kesya. It's a pleasure. 
  And Tance? Bear says that steak goes really nicely with peach ice cream as a 
  dessert." She winks, waves and pads back out of the room.
Rosa steps out into the hallway.
Rosa has left.

Tance peers after Rosa and Bear as they gaily depart, then slides another 
  sheepish look at Kesya.

Kesya watches as the door shuts after Rosa's softly padding feet, and she 
  turns back to the other Singer with a sly smile. "Well," she says quietly, 
  sinking back down beside Tance, "That was a nice surprise." She trails off, 
  giving the grizzled-looking man a kiss before looking mildly at him.

Tance holds up the bear, a bit, and mumbles, "Yeah...."
Tance finally brings his dark gaze around to your face, as he struggles to get 
  himself under control. "She, uh...." He fumbles for a moment, having dropped 
  Rosa's name, and he finally just awkwardly waves in the direction she'd 
  gone. "She's like that."

Kesya merely nods, seeming content enough to be in your presence. Your adapted 
  ears can just hear her murmur as she leans into you: "Missed you."

Releasing a noiseless shuddering sigh, Tance wraps his arms around you and 
  draws you against his chest. "Missed yah too, girlie," he mumbles into green 
  curls.

Kesya's unconcious smile is one of sublime contentment as she is snugged 
  against you. She closes her eyes for a long moment, enjoying the silence. 
  Resting her arms over yours, the green-skinned singer finally tilts her head 
  back to sneak a glance at your grizzled features. "I hear you'd been 
  spending more time here than in your suite." She says this with a 
  mischievous wink, brows arching.

"Helps me.... remember you," Tance says sheepishly, a trifle plaintively, 
  though his mouth quirks in half a smile. "Smells more like you in here."

Kesya doesn't seem at all surprised by this, and she twists around in your 
  arms until she's face to face with you, sitting in your lap. "Oh?" she 
  inquires impishly, lips quirked in a smile as she taps your chin playfully. 
  "I was wondering about that. Wasn't /too/ worried though."

"Y'don't mind, do yah, Jade?" he asks anxiously, looking a bit like a small 
  boy who's afraid he's erred somehow.

Kesya's expression warms still more at the sound of your nickname for her. 
  "Mind?" Ducking her head, she gives you a soft, lingering kiss. "Love, 
  there's nothing to mind. You haven't changed one bit while I left. And if 
  you did, I'd still feel the same way." She shrugs then, unable to express 
  herself further.

"I been tryin' to keep my head on straight," Tance tells you, grinning just a 
  little as he leans in to return the kiss. His eyes grow lighter at what you 
  call _him_, as he pulls back to look at you.

A soft chuckle escapes Kesya's throat, one small green hand reaching to gently 
  ruffle your hair. "You certainly don't have any problems with that." She 
  reaches for the bear beside her, absently plunking it on your chest in the 
  crevice formed by her body and yours. "Thought much about Syrine while I was 
  away?"

His smile falters. "A little," he says huskily.

Kesya's eyes narrow thoughtfully as she gazes at you. "Mrm... still not 
  feeling too confident about it?" She leans into you, nestling into the crook 
  of your arm.

Tance slowly nods, briefly tightening his arm around your shoulders. ".... 
  no," he allows after a moment.

You can feel Kesya's hair rub against your cheek as she nods mutely. After a 
  moment, her light trill drifts to your ears. "Why, do you think?"

"I..." Tance pauses, uncertain. His big rough hand strokes gingerly across 
  your back, till at last he continues awkwardly, "I'm... scared. Of what... I 
  might find. Or not find. I'm... not sure...."

The young singer's right hand tightens reassuringly on your shoulder, but 
  otherwise she is silent and still. After seemingly turning your words over 
  in her mind for a minute, she speaks. "Well... this isn't something we 
  /have/ to do. If you'd prefer, we can back off." Her gaze had drifted upward 
  as she offers this 'way out', but now she looks at you as though already 
  knowing the response you'll give.

Tance meets your blue eyes with his plaintive brown eyes... plaintive, but 
  with a spark of something beneath them, behind them. A spark, perhaps, of 
  determination. "I... miss my mother's face, Jade," he murmurs.

The green-skinned singer smiles, her gaze one of silent understanding. 
  "Somehow I thought you'd say that," she murmurs, leaning into you to give 
  you a kiss. "But... you know, there really is nothing to be afraid of. No 
  matter what we find there... nothing here-" She points to the floor, 
  indicating Ballybran, "-or here-" and now she indicates the two of you, 
  "-would change. Understand?"

Tance half-smiles. "We could find out anything, Jade..."

The woman seated in your lap actually tries to look somewhat imperious. "And 
  you're suggesting something about your past would change things here or 
  change my mind about you?"

His weathered features crinkle a little in amusement. Shy amusement, but 
  amusement nonetheless. "You've always been a sure thing, girlie," he murmurs 
  warmly.

Kesya's jaw drops in only half-feigned surprise. "Oh -have- I now?! Well, I'm 
  certainly glad you're feeling so confident in your position!"

Tance's grin grows a little, lopsidedly. He starts to speak for a moment, then 
  pauses before he begins, his dark gaze resting on you, very full. All at 
  once he seems rather shyer than usual. "Confident?" he mutters at last. 
  "Funny... don't feel like that..."

The young woman tilts her head to one side, regarding you silently. "Oh?"

Tance clarifies ruefully, "Confident..." He looks steadily into your face as 
  he says this, though.

Kesya seems mildly puzzled over this, but she shrugs it off. "Hurmph. You're a 
  difficult man to know, Tance Vokrim." She says this with a smile though, and 
  pecks a kiss on your chin before continuing. "You sounded almost wistful 
  there."

"The bear... er, uh... _Rosa_," and he states her name with the relief of a 
  recovered memory, though he sounds profoundly embarrassed all the same, 
  "rattled... nah, never mind..." He starts blushing.

An amused bubble of laughter sounds from Kesya, and she waves the bear's furry 
  little arm at you. "What, him? It's not all that surprising that Rosa gave 
  you a gift. She likes you."

"But, uh, her... Bear," Tance says weakly, looking more and more embarrassed. 
  "Crazier 'n' I am, talkin' through a bear..."

Kesya's brow creases as she frowns, her gaze going to the door through which 
  Rosa left. "Yeah... I'd been a bit worried by that. But the medics say 
  there's no real harm in it, and it might be her way of dealing with singer 
  stress. Better'n going off the deep end like some do, I guess." She shrugs, 
  and turns back to you, speaking after a pause. "Why're you blushing?"

His mouth quirking with a faint 'damn. I am?' look, Tance mutters weakly, 
  "Interesting... ideas... the Bear has..."

Kesya chuckles dryly, leaning against you once more. "I never know how to take 
  what the 'Bear' says. Obviously it's Rosa's subconcious, but Rosa's 
  subconcious comes up with the weirdest things."

"Yeah," Tance breathes huskily, "weird things..." He hugs you again, sounding 
  a trifle shaken, striving to steady himself.

Kesya straightens against you, sensing the tension in your voice. Returning 
  the hug, her blue eyes search out yours. "Nothing's wrong, is it?"

Instantly, he shakes his head, blurting, "Nah... nothin'. Weird idea anyway..."

Kesya, curious now, gives you a wide smile, nudging up next to you to kiss 
  your neck. "What is? Shana and I base half of Training on weird ideas, you 
  know." At this she lifts her head to look at you with a knowledgable nod.

"Singing Bears," Tance mumbles tinily, turning rather more noticeably red now.

Kesya gives you a look that indicates she's wondering if you might be a few 
  cards short of a deck tonight. "Singing... oh, right!" Chuckling softly, she 
  shakes herhead. "Dunno how Rosa can imagine a stuffed animal singing at a... 
  -oh-."
Turns out Kesya's the one who's a few cards short of a deck this evening. 
  "That /was/ a little surprising, huh?" She casts you a quick, curious glance.

Promptly plastering on as casual a grin as he can manage -- and one that does 
  not hide the startlement or the nervousness in his brown eyes -- Tance bobs 
  his head. "Yeah. She's, uh, surprising."

Kesya gently runs one hand along your chest, as one might when stroking a cat. 
  "It obviously got you thinking," she observes, her own cheeks showing 
  subtle, darkened shading. "Or you wouldn't have mentioned it."

Tance swallows hard, perhaps at the contact to his chest, perhaps at the topic 
  at hand. "Just, uh... kinda... flattened me, I guess, Jade...." He tries to 
  smile.

Kesya's smile is more easy as she stretches herself out to reach a kiss to 
  your lips. "Me too. I'd never thought of anything like that."

As if grateful for the distraction, Tance readily answers the kiss. "Weird 
  idea, huh?"

Kesya answers by arching a brow, looking mildly amused. "That sounds like a 
  test." She considers your face, pale blue eyes finally resting on your brown 
  ones. "Not so weird."

"What," Tance splutters, "you'd think about marryin' a crazy old..." He gets a 
  closer look at your face, though, and trails off. When he manages to speak 
  again, it's simply with, "You... don't think so?"

The black-adapted singer merely shakes her head, her pale eyes on yours. "No, 
  not weird... just... a surprising thought." She smiles at you then, and 
  nestles again in the crook of your arm. "But a nice thought, all the same."

Willingly, Tance cradles you against him, thinking in wonder, _Jade. My... 
  wife?_ The idea makes a strange, shy light in his expression, and as he 
  holds you close to him, he suddenly blurts, "Then... you would?"

Kesya relaxes against you, her thoughts wandering as you speak. She blinks 
  suddenly, as your words register in her mind. "Are -- what, are you 
  suggesting...?"

"A-ah, it's a weird idea," Tance stammers out rapidly, turning deeply red 
  again, his expression panicked. "D-don't even know why I... I..."

"Shhh, hey, it's okay Tance..." Kesya's words fall in a jumble. "I just didn't 
  know if you meant what it sounded like." Her fingers play over your 
  shoulders almost unconciously, as she bites her lip. "Did you?"

Tance lowers his eyes, profoundly embarrassed. "Jade, I... I-I'd be a karkin' 
  lousy husband," he blurts grumpily. "Can't remember where my suite is half 
  the time, forgot all your brothers' names already, keep meanin' to get you 
  somethin' nice, a-a-and I keep forgettin'... hells, no way I'd remember your 
  birthday, girlie, or an anniversary... I... I...."

Kesya cradles your face in her hands, raising your chin so you're forced to 
  look at her. Her expression is earnest, voice low and steady. It's obvious 
  she feels strongly about this. "Tance, listen to me. I don't care about 
  dates on the calendar, and even I get all my brothers mixed up sometimes. 
  Who cares?" Pressing her lips together, she continues more lightly. "You 
  should know by now that that's not what's important to me. -You- are 
  important to me. Sure, you forget dates and names... we all do. But -you- 
  stay the same, and that's what matters to me." She kisses you lightly, 
  lingering before withdrawing in a wry tone, "If all I wanted was a reminder 
  of dates on the calender... well, I can program my computer for that."

Cracking a wan lopsided grin, Tance looks into the delicate green face before 
  him, and says gruffly, "I'm the one that needs reminders, girlie."

Kesya's smile echos yours as she gives you another kiss. "Let me worry about 
  that."

"You... really wanna... fret over that kinda thing... permanent-like?"

Kesya's mouth quirks, her eyes warm. "Tance, I never had any sort of timeframe 
  in mind... all I know is..." She pauses, unsure of how to continue. "... Is 
  you've managed to become terribly important to me. I don't know what that 
  means." She blushes, shrugging apologetically. "I guess I'm not too 
  experienced in this sort of thing. But I do know that I'd do anything for 
  you... and so... little reminders are nothing at all. See?" She looks 
  tentatively at you, as though for confirmation.

The man holding you smiles abashedly. "Thanks," he mumbles. "Don't tell you 
  that enough... I-I guess I could get in some time, if you want... I mean, if 
  you would...." He trails off, scowls momentarily at himself -- _kark it, 
  Vokrim, say something straight out for once!_ -- and sucks in a steadying 
  breath. "Jade, d'you wanna--"

Suddenly a loud beeping sounds from the computer, causing both Singers to 
  startle. The meditech's clear voice sounds from the machine. "CS As'shoriah, 
  please report to the new arrivals section of the infirmary immediately. Your 
  assistance is needed urgently." Then, without even waiting for confirmation, 
  the screen goes blank again.

Tance jerks physically at the computer's interjection, his head snapping 
  around to the source of the call. Then, quite abruptly, he flushes scarlet.

Kesya lets out a heavy sigh, dropping her head to your shoulder for a brief 
  moment before getting labouriously to her feet. She gives you a quick, tight 
  hug before making her way to the door. "Gods, I'm sorry love... they have a 
  knack for timing." She pauses, unsure -- knowing the call is urgent, but at 
  the same time, seeing the expression on Tance's face. "I'm... damn. I have 
  to go..." She glances at the door, then back at you. "Want to come down with 
  me?" Hardly a fun-filled invitation, but hey.

"I'd... just be in the way," Tance says gruffly. "I-I'll wait, if you don't 
  mind..."

Kesya bites her lip, nods, and heads out the door. "Hopefully won't be too 
  long, love." And with that, the door closes behind her.

[To be continued...]