riverview | @b.crusher

[Nine years. Nine years since she stepped back through the portal, nine years since she returned to the Enterprise, nine years that inevitably faded some of the memories of this place - but not everything. The faces she knows. Even if she forgets now where that cute little corner market was or what the hell half these gifs and memes mean anymore (if she ever understood in the first place) Beverly never forgets a coworker, a patient, a friend. And she left them all in such a hurry. The portal's connection to her time and place had been tenuous, she had to go then, or risk losing her chance to go home all together.

And now... now she's back, exhausted by the weight of war and the toll of death, new lines etched into her face. When the portal specialist told her it had only been a week since she'd left, she had to laugh. Of course. It seems this place isn't ready to let go of her.

Though not typically a frequenter of the network, it is the easiest and quickest way for her to contact multiple people at once. She doesn't want anyone (else - apologies to Lucretia) to be caught unawares by her sudden reappearance, so she leaves a quick video message:]

Good Morning. This is Dr. Beverly Crusher [of the USS Enterprise no more] reporting that I have returned to Riverview.

[For god's sake, woman, this isn't a mission log. She offers a smile - it's a little sad, but a smile nonetheless.]

I wanted to apologize to those I left without proper goodbyes. I hope you got my messages, at least. I'll be at my apartment for the rest of the day if anyone wants to stop by. Thank you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Breq hasn't been here as long as some of the other people of the quarantine, hasn't quite formed the bone-deep connections that lead so many to wonder whether they'll go or stay. Despite her own quiet surety that she'll stay here, rather than return, she's still used to the nature of this place as being ultimately transient. It's not meant to be anyone's final resting place.

So she hadn't been surprised by the message from the doctor. Rueful, to lose a contact she'd been enjoying, but not at all surprised. Ready to spare a thought and sympathetic word for Lucretia, more than concerned about her own feelings.

This reappearance, though, is definitely a surprise. She's already making plans to drop by later, but for now, a more immediate response seems most prudent, so she uses her device to start up a response, offering a nod and a smile first thing.]

I did. Welcome back, doctor.

[Well coming back certainly wasn't part of the original plan, that's for sure. Beverly's as surprised as Breq, if not more so. But either way, she's happy to see her old friend.]

Thank you, Breq. It's good to see you again. It's... been a long time.

How much time?

[She can see the new lines in Beverly's face, certainly, the weary set to her posture in that video, the weight of time sitting further on her, the way it did on some of Justice of Toren's captains during a particularly stressful annexation. More than just the simple passing of years, that look speaks of the heavy burden of experience.]

I'll admit, I didn't expect the return.

No. [She sighs softly.] I didn't expect it either.

[This time, she has to admit it makes more sense. With the turmoil of the past few years, she's felt that she's lost a little of her grounding.]

It's been nine years, after all.

[Like a reverse Seivarden, Breq thinks to herself. Growing older while the world stays the same, instead of being lost in an escape pod for a thousand years while the world carried on without her.]

I look forward to getting to know the person you've become, then.

Hopefully she's not too different!

[As placid as Breq's expressions usually are, she manages at least to muster a look of dry amusement for Beverly.]

I can let you know what I find.

[Beverly simply grins back at her. She remembers Breq as being a very serious person so it's nice to see her sense of humor come out.]

I expect a full report on my desk in the morning.

An annotated list, with the differences highlighted.

[Then she sets aside the joking for a moment, though she doesn't abandon it for solemnity.]

I'm sure you have plenty to reacquaint yourself with. If, however, you would like to, at your convenience we can meet at the cafe we attended previously.

I would love to! I'm not particularly busy at the moment as I haven't started back at the hospital yet, so let me know a time that would work for you.

[This response takes a little longer to come, but a few hours later, Breq messages a time-- an afternoon a few days later, that presents a gap in her schedule touring beyond the wall, with a few other times noted in case that particular one doesn't work for Beverly.]

[Such a careful and thorough list of options is so Very Breq, Beverly has to smile when she gets the message. She sends her response almost immediately - she's missed her and is excited to meet up again. When Breq arrives at the tea shop, Beverly's already sitting at their table by the window and she gives a little wave.]

[It doesn't take long for Breq to arrive herself, looking likely just as Beverly remembers her, wearing her usual neat, plain clothes and neutral expression.

On catching sight of Beverly's wave, she returns it with a nod and heads over toward the window table to slide into a seat facing the doctor.]

I'm impressed you remembered.

Well, we did have a lot of teas here.

We did.

[She nods agreement, then gestures toward the counter.]

I'll buy this time. As a welcome back.

Thank you. It's... good to be back, actually. I regret that I didn't have more time to talk to people properly before I left.

@b.crusher | video

video | un: breq

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