TERRACE Draft - Day 1

[lucetimods]

Who: All Draftees
What: Arrival at TERRACE
When: The first day, from 8AM to the wee hours of the night
Where: TERRACE!
Summary: Information post here
Rating: Varies on thread, please mark explicit material.

This post covers the first day, before the attack. Remember, characters here are not expecting an attack and are under the impression they will be going to Region 1 to fight. During this day, draftees will be restricted to T6 and T7 and not permitted access to other areas.

Be sure to tag this post appropriately: [canon] character name

Comments

[fleurdesel]

She doesn't need to be told twice. Adele steps in, free arm looping around Derek's waist as she clings. Face pressed into his shoulder, a steady if unfamiliar heart beat under her ear, she manages to find some form of comfort.

It's terribly unprofessional. It's probably sending some manner of mixed signal. She can berate herself for it later but for the moment, for this quiet moment, she can breathe a little easier and that is because Derek is a kind man when he's not being an ass.

"Thank you."

[rather_be_surfing]

He'll wrap his arms around her gently, giving comfort, but with his hands staying in allowable places. He has no illusions that this is anything except the comfort he's offered her. No strings, certainly no expectations. Just helping a friend.

"It's all right," he winds up whispering that into her hair as she buries her head on his shoulder, "Sometimes, the doc needs some care, too."

[fleurdesel]

She doesn't mean for it to last as long as it does. But the warmth, the support, the anchoring that Derek offers in the loose embrace helps her sort out her mind and lessens the tremors better than were she to try on her own. She'll be better able to focus on her work. Put Ben and the entire battle of tomorrow from her mind. She'll owe him a thank you.

[rather_be_surfing]

He'll let her stay there as long as she needs, although he does keep an eye out in case someone shows up. He figures at that point they probably need to let go. One, because he's pretty sure Adele is not one for public display.

Two...well, rumors. Something neither of them, or Ben for that matter, need. And there was always someone who'd be likely to come to some wrong conclusions. Human nature and all.

When she does finally let go, he'll give her shoulder a comforting rub.

"I have a free moment. You need something to drink, or food?"

[fleurdesel]

Longer than she ought to, but not long enough to be entirely settled. That'd take up too much of both of their time and they simply couldn't spare it. Not now. Not with what tomorrow and the rest of the week might bring. She steps back and wipes at her eyes, massages her temples.

Forces a faint smile. Hardly sincere, but it's there none the less.

"Coffee. Black. If you don't mind."

[rather_be_surfing]

"My kind of lady. Give me a minute."

He'll give her shoulder another gentle, reassuring squeeze and head off in search of coffee. It'll be a few minutes before he heads back, with a cup for each of them.

[fleurdesel]

She's more settled by the time he arrives. Whatever vestiges of fear and anxiety quietly tucked away for a later date. She has work that needs doing and she'll get to it- right after this cup of coffee.

"You know. You are not an utter ass. Not if you bring me coffee."

[rather_be_surfing]

Derek laughs as he hands her her cup.

"Well, glad to know I'm going up on the ladder, anyway."

He'll lean against a nearby table while he sips his own coffee, still watching her carefully. She seems to be better now, but...

"I'll cone by when I can, all right?" he makes that offer quietly. It probably wouldn't be often, not once the fighting started, but it was something.

[fleurdesel]

"From 'utter ass' to only 'sometimes an ass'. It's an auspicious step. You should have a muffin with a candle or something equally celebratory. Perhaps there should be confetti as well."

Banter. Banter and snark and black coffee and it's not tea with honey and Ben and solid ground underfoot- but it'll do. It's what she has and she has to make do or remain a useless mess. And she simply cannot abide the thought of being useless.

"Of your own accord. If you are dragged in banged up and bloody I'll spend more time yelling at you than I will treating you."

[rather_be_surfing]

"Never was much for that kind of celebration, really. Maybe just make a note in the history books; someone will find it eventually."

He smiles, shaking his head.

"I think I'll try and avoid that this time around. You'll have better things to do than remind me of the error of my ways."

[fleurdesel]

"The day of moderately interesting ascension." She smirks.

"And you've better things to do than stand here with a twitchy surgeon, yes?"