[Intro] Bernadette finds herself drained and remorseful, after her argument with Tamber and Jerrik. Did she _really_ blow up like that to them? She'd _never_ seen Tamber look so angry, and now, she finds herself suspecting what must have possessed him on Hesperia when Kevlan vanished. After putting a plaintive and disturbed Kevlan to bed, Bernadette finds herself having to deal with another unexpected visitor... this one Shenzen, the newly un-retired Chief Psychologist in the Guild. The woman's visit is brief, but long enough for Bernadette to find herself snapping at her, when Shenzen points out that Kevlan's hearing another sing is one thing - getting him to sing is something different. Following that visit, and indeed, during the next day and a half, Bernadette finds her nerves on edge. Tamber and Jerrik are conspicuous by their absence, and even Kevlan begins to wonder where they went, plaintively asking after them when they fail to show up in the suite. Bernadette tries to comfort her beloved and assure him that nothing is wrong, which he gravely accepts - though that, too, worries her. 'He's turned passive again,' she frets to herself. The brief flare of initiative he'd displayed during the recent storm duty seems to have drained out of him, leaving Kevlan once more shy and timid. And he has yet to even mention singing, or to look at his gitar. Deciding to take advantage of the permission she has obtained from Morgan, Bernadette sets out to enact her latest attempt to break Kevlan out of his shell - by coaxing him up to Shankill to see his father. ---------- Bernadette emerges from the bathing room and glances about the suite, her eyes automatically searching for Kevlan. Kevlan is curled up on one of the beanbag chairs, looking without much apparent direct attention at a book in his lap. Bernadette stands near the doorway to the bathroom and smiles. "What are you reading?" Kevlan looks up shyly; slowly, he turns the cover around for you to read. It's an old book, obviously from his homeworld; the cover is worn about the edges. In Standard script it reads, simply, 'Star Legends', with more text in the flowing Estenari script just beneath. Bernadette smiles and pads across the room, going down on her knees next to you and resting an arm on your knee as she looks at the cover of the book. "I haven't read a book in ages..." She looks up at you and grins. "Is it a nice story? Would I like it?" Kevlan ventures awkwardly, "I-i-it's 'bout th' Lady." His voice, in the last several days, has remained at a lower volume than normal, as if he's slightly afraid of being heard by unwelcome ears when he speaks. Bernadette raises her eyebrows and nods, as she looks at the book again. "Maybe I should read it sometime," she says noncomittally. She sits quietly for a few minutes, then asks slowly, "I was wondering...if there was one person you'd like to visit..." she glances up at you again, watching you closely, "Who would it be?" Bernadette, by her expression, appears to have had this question on her mind for sometime. Kevlan blinkblinks at that, his brow furrowing in puzzlement under his bangs - overgrown, you've noticed. They've almost reached his nose, and he is constantly tilting his head to see around them. "Ah... Ah-Ah-Ah dunno," he mumbles uncertainly. Bernadette nods and shrugs with a smile, sitting up on her knees a bit to brush the hair out of your face. "I was just wondering. Me, I think it'd be my brother..." She looks at you again as she sits back on her heels. "He's on Shankill, you know." Kevlan blinkblinks at you, his eyes still fawnlike, though at least he's moving about on his own now. He shakes his head slowly, mumbling, "D-d-din' know." Bernadette shrugs again and looks down at the floor, picking at the carpet. "I, uh...I hear there's someone else on Shankill, too, and kind of thought that maybe..." She trails off, not completing her sentence, or lookng up. Kevlan gazes at you with the quiet patience of a small waif waiting for a revered grownup to finish talking. Bernadette continues picking at the carpet threads. Whether she's aware you're waiting for her to continue or not is uncertain; she remains silent. Kevlan finally lowers his gaze, one thin hand's fingertips tracing around the letters on the cover of the book. Bernadette finally glances sidelong and sees you're either not paying attention, or have lost interest in her silence. She picks her head up and looks at you. "Wouldn't you like to know what I was going to say?" Kevlan looks up timidly out from behind his bangs, and turns crimson. He gives a tiny nod. Bernadette smiles and pats your hand. "Then I'll tell you." She continues watching you closely and resumes "I was wondering if maybe you and I...and Tamber and Jerrik if they want to...should take a trip to Shankill to see our visitors?" She speaks quietly, with a neutral voice. Kevlan blinks, evidently taken aback at your last two words. He doesn't speak, but his gaze fixes a little more clearly on you. Bernadette carefully keeps her face neutral, as well, so as not to influence any decision you might make. She simply gazes back calmly. Occasionally, your thoughts turn to Ballybran. Non-singers around you see: Kevlan peers off into the distance occasionally. Kevlan shakes a little, though, and finally blurts, "'S-sawful big up theah... " Bernadette appears to consider this and nods. "Yes, I suppose it is," she agrees, but says nothing further. Kevlan blushes again, and looks with apparent embarrassment down at himself. His mouth works a bit before he stammers out, barely audibly, "M-m-m-make you look bad." Bernadette alters her expression to one of confusion. "Make me look bad? How so?" Kevlan slowly turns a deeper scarlet, and stumbles his way through a sentence that, after deciphering out all the extra syllables, emerges as 'Cain't talk good. Ah git shaky.' Bernadette smiles and shakes her head. "That doesn't matter, honey. The only people we'd visit up there won't care if you have difficulty talking. I know Andy won't, and I'm sure the other visitor won't, either." She doesn't prod or push, but she does let dangle, "Besides, you might like to see the other surprise guest on Shankill." She shrugs. Kevlan blinkblinks, confused now, and he tilts his head shyly. "S.... s'prise?" Kevlan's blue eyes take on a small light of curious interest; you've gotten his attention. Bernadette nods and gets to her feet. "Yes, it was a surprise to me when I heard who was on Shankill. I know that this person would like to see you again..." She walks across the room and pretends to be looking at a knick knack on the shelf. Kevlan mumbles bemusedly, "Come... f-f'r me?" Bernadette glances over her shoulder at you and nods after a moment. "Yes, I suppose this person did come expressly to see you." She smiles, and turns back to the trinket. Kevlan, book forgotten, looks completely flabbergasted, still blushing a bit as if the notion of receiving a visitor besides Tamber and Jerrik is a little too much for him to digest. His expression is one that, were he in a more normal frame of mind, would no doubt be followed with, "Ah ain't nothin' special," but as it is, he simply looks stunned and finally asks, as if to confirm, "It's... s-s'prise?" Bernadette turns around completely, trinket in hand, and looks at you with a confirming nod. "A surprise, indeed." She adds, "But if you don't want to go to Shankill, that's okay." Kevlan asks hesitantly, "Y-y-y-you gon' come 'long.... r-raht?" Kevlan pales a little, peering at you oddly for a brief instant, making you wonder if he's made a connection with you and Shankill that might not be best for him to remember right now.... Bernadette smiles and nods. "Of course. My brother's up there. He'd like to meet you." Kevlan gives you a tentative nod, saying obediently, "O-O-okay, Berni... " Bernadette places the trinket back on the shelf and smiles at you again. "Only if you want to, Kevlan." She crosses the room and squats down right in front of you, looking at you earnestly. "You know I wouldn't make you do anything you didn't want to do, don't you?" Kevlan shyly nods. Occasionally, your thoughts turn to your claim sites. Non-singers around you see: Kevlan peers off into the distance occasionally. Kevlan looks around a moment, absently, as if wondering where Tamber and Jerrik are... but then, he's been absentminded ever since his return home. Bernadette smiles and stands up. She goes to the terminal and taps out a quick inquiry and then mutters "Wow..." She bustles across the room and picks up her carisak and guitar. "We'd ought to get going. Next shuttle leaves in a few minutes, love." Kevlan awkwardly stands up, looking down at himself and plucking hesitantly at his rumpled clothing. He straightens it as best he can... then says shyly, "Boots.... " Bernadette looks at your feet and ohs, then goes to the closet to pull out a pair of your workboots for you. She holds them out. "Here you go, honey." Kevlan tentatively pulls on the boots, then as you hustle him out the door, he clings to your hand, like an overscared child. ---------- Praying her plan will work, Bernadette escorts Kevlan up to the moonbase, trying very hard to remain serene and calm to him, though his fawnlike placidity is starting to grate upon her. 'I _can't_ smack him,' she keeps telling herself. Even though she'd really like to. Maybe that would jar some life back into him.... .... but for now, she hopes that seeing his father will suffice. ---------- Lobby of Shankill Station(#0RJs) This is the small lobby area on Shankill, one of the three moons of Ballybran. There are five irised exits leading off into the rest of the moon station, and an archway which leads to the shuttle area. The arch has an opaque force screen below it which occasionally dilates to let people through. This is a central spot on the moon base and there seems to always be someone walking swiftly through the small area, intent upon their business. Obvious exits: Shuttle Area Meeting Hall Administration Transients' hostel Catering Foyer Guild Hall Bernadette has arrived. Bernadette walks down the ramp, with you trailing along behind her. Kevlan, during the entire shuttle ride up here, has been increasingly taut with nervousness. In a strangely familiar motion you haven't seen him do in a while, one of his feet had twitched against the seat during the ride, and even now, his hand shakes in yours. Kevlan watches the occasional Singer pass, and each time, he seems to shrink a little, as if trying to hide. But he keeps pace with you. Bernadette pats your hand. "It's okay, love. I'm right here..." She heads for the terminal and taps out a 'whereis' inquiry. Bernadette looks up at you. "Let's get something to eat, okay?" Kevlan nods timidly, not daring to answer, not in sight of so many people.... Bernadette's hand in yours has gotten damp with sweat, the muscles in her arm taut, as well. Bernadette smiles, and you can see tiny little beads of perspiration have popped up along her hairline...a rare display of nervousness...as she ushers you through the hallways. Bernadette strides up the short steps to the catering area. Bernadette has left. You stride up the short steps to the catering area. Catering Foyer The catering area is divided into several sections by waist high walls lined with potted plants. The end nearest the entrance is taken by business cubicles and stalls, some screened for privacy, and a comfortable bar area. The walls surrounding the central dining area are lined with service slots and bright-orange menu panels. After dialing up a meal from the considerable selection available, diners can seat themselves at one of the many tables or booths. Cleaning 'bots whir unobtrusively through the room, removing used dishes and wiping tables. Contents: Bernadette Orynn Catering Unit Obvious exits: Catering Offices Lobby Bernadette clings to your hand as you both enter the catering foyer. She looks up at you, then across the room at your father, saying nothing. Kevlan lets you haul - the right word, despite the fact that he outsizes you by several kilos even when he's underfed - him into the foyer. One thing, at least, that has been assuring is that he's never refused food. His symbiont no doubt won't let him.... Orynn sits across the room, alone at a booth, writing - yes, writing - on a sheet of paper on the table before him. There's an empty beaker beside his elbow. Every so often, he glances up idly at the door... and the next time he does, he blinks. Kevlan freezes just behind you. Bernadette's grip on your hand is tight and she starts as Orynn looks up and sees the two Singers. She smiles nervously, then looks up at you and gives your hand a little tug. She whispers "Surprise?" Orynn breathes, "Son... " and takes in the presence of Bernadette a beat after registering Kevlan's. Instantly, he is on his feet and striding over. Kevlan trembles visibly now, apparently rooted to the spot in which he stands. His eyes well up with tears. Bernadette looks up at Orynn as he approaches and says politely, "Hello, Mr. Sharr..." She looks at Kevlan and gently tugs at his hand again, trying to draw him forward. Orynn reaches the two young people, and stares aghast at the sight of his youngest son. He murmurs fervently, "Sweet Lady, boy, what's happened t' you... !" He smiles as best as he can manage and nods to Bernadette, distractedly, but all his attention is on Kevlan. Kevlan mumbles hoarsely, "P-paw?" Bernadette looks between the two men and reluctantly tries to remove her hand from Kevlan's and stand back, to allow father and son to reunite. Orynn, with that, deftly steps up and crushes Kevlan to him in a fatherly embrace. Bernadette takes a few steps back and remains as unobtrusive as possible, her own eyes swimming now. Kevlan seems about to fall over, but slowly, his hand slips out of Bernadette's as he hugs his sire. ---------- [Closing bit composed as the rest of the scene didn't get to be roleplayed. :) ] The reunion that Bernadette witnesses between Kevlan and Orynn Sharr is a poignant one... but also awkward. She cannot help but notice that Kevlan seems to stumble over his words even more in his father's presence - and the elder Sharr, for his part, seems utterly unprepared for dealing with his son's mental state. Orynn's initial questions about what drove Kevlan into such a condition quickly meet with fearful, stammered denials from the young Singer... and even casual questions about how Kevlan's profession has otherwise gone seem to disconcert him. Regretfully, once more immensely worried over her beloved's state, Bernadette tries to stay out of the conversation, speaking up only when it would encourage Kevlan to answer a question of his sire's. But Kevlan reflexively clings to her, when his ability to speak fails him... and ultimately, she is forced to fill in for him the answers he is unable to give his father. Even so, Orynn is clearly unsatisfied, as even Bernadette's answers are tempered by the need to keep Guild secrets private. At last, Orynn does his best to soothe his rattled son by offering news of home, and presenting him with some of the gifts and letters from the Sharr family back on Estenar. That calms Kevlan... until he fixes his father with a plaintive gaze, and informs him miserably that he'd lost the holo-locket his parents have given him. This takes Orynn by surprise, but only briefly, as he regains his composure. At last, Kevlan's erratic stamina begins to give out... and, reluctantly, Bernadette admits to Orynn that she must take Kevlan back to the planet. Clearly disgruntled that he cannot accompany Kevlan, Orynn nevertheless holds that sentiment in, and lets the two go, promising that he will remain on Shankill as long as his boy needs him.... [End log.]