"Its what we do," Jeff was casual about it, neither bragging nor underplaying it. For the most part he supported the Commander's policy on refugees - but he also shot Kuron a look at the shift closer to Lisa, not at all sure he liked that but also not sure he had a right to make that kind of call. Yet. Lisa, for her part, shifted when Kuron did, just the slightest subtle shift of weight from one leg to the other - except her shoulder was lightly nudging up against the side of his afterward, even if, from all other outward appearances, her face hadn't changed in the least. And Jeff really wasn't sure how he felt about that either. Lisa had a soft heart but it was easy for other people to misread what that meant, at least as far as Jeff was concerned.
"I'm sure you'll fit in just fine," he added the encouragement all the same. There were plenty of other positions that needed filling and plenty of other people the new arrival could attach to once he was established. No sense making a big deal about anything now when he'd just showed up.
Though - Jeff didn't miss the military stance either, for all it was a relaxed version of it.
"Come on. The Commander sent me to lead you in," and make sure Lisa didn't need back up. "He said to let you know he'll be along shortly."
"Has a room been assigned yet?" Lisa wanted to ask as Jeff started moving and she fell into step, not next to him, but keeping even with the stranger.
"Should be by the time everything's done in med bay. "You know how it is. Everything's a puzzle piece right now." Too many people, not enough bunks. Jeff hoped the new arrival didn't mind sharing his space. Lisa just hummed next to him and didn't comment. Which was usually a bad sign. She'd better not commandeer a broom closest and refit it. Her hand slipped out, found Kuron's as they walked, wrapped briefly and then gave a squeeze before retreating again.
"Place is huge," Jeff was commenting. "But all the passages are marked by color strip and number," he pointed. "Once they get you settled in, you'll pick up the color code for where your set of dorms are. Follow any of the same color stripe long enough and you'll end up at a common room. Yellow's mess hall and supplies. Stick with your color and yellow and you'll pick up the layout in no time. This ones medical." A gesture at the grey stripe on the hall they'd just moved into. "Can't get too lost if you stick with a single color code."
There were numbers at each intersection as well and Lisa tapped the 07 absently with the backs of her fingernails as they went past it. Didn't say anything.
"And here we are," Jeff pulled to a brief stop in front of a double set of doors. "It says quarantine but we had to repurpose. Come on, I'll introduce you to the doc before I go."
"There's a computer terminal in the room," Lisa's low voice cut in. Gentle. And the hard look was back in her eyes. "I'll stick around with Kuron and file my report from there."
"Leese," Jeff said it from the corner of his mouth even though it was obvious he knew the new arrival would still overhear it. "The Commander isn't going to eat him."
"I know." She turned her head and looked at Kuron, trying to judge from his face whether she was being intrusive - or welcome. "But its medical tests even if they're not invasive or going to hurt, by strangers. Having a friendly face nearby might make it a bit easier to get through quickly."
no subject
"I'm sure you'll fit in just fine," he added the encouragement all the same. There were plenty of other positions that needed filling and plenty of other people the new arrival could attach to once he was established. No sense making a big deal about anything now when he'd just showed up.
Though - Jeff didn't miss the military stance either, for all it was a relaxed version of it.
"Come on. The Commander sent me to lead you in," and make sure Lisa didn't need back up. "He said to let you know he'll be along shortly."
"Has a room been assigned yet?" Lisa wanted to ask as Jeff started moving and she fell into step, not next to him, but keeping even with the stranger.
"Should be by the time everything's done in med bay. "You know how it is. Everything's a puzzle piece right now." Too many people, not enough bunks. Jeff hoped the new arrival didn't mind sharing his space. Lisa just hummed next to him and didn't comment. Which was usually a bad sign. She'd better not commandeer a broom closest and refit it. Her hand slipped out, found Kuron's as they walked, wrapped briefly and then gave a squeeze before retreating again.
"Place is huge," Jeff was commenting. "But all the passages are marked by color strip and number," he pointed. "Once they get you settled in, you'll pick up the color code for where your set of dorms are. Follow any of the same color stripe long enough and you'll end up at a common room. Yellow's mess hall and supplies. Stick with your color and yellow and you'll pick up the layout in no time. This ones medical." A gesture at the grey stripe on the hall they'd just moved into. "Can't get too lost if you stick with a single color code."
There were numbers at each intersection as well and Lisa tapped the 07 absently with the backs of her fingernails as they went past it. Didn't say anything.
"And here we are," Jeff pulled to a brief stop in front of a double set of doors. "It says quarantine but we had to repurpose. Come on, I'll introduce you to the doc before I go."
"There's a computer terminal in the room," Lisa's low voice cut in. Gentle. And the hard look was back in her eyes. "I'll stick around with Kuron and file my report from there."
"Leese," Jeff said it from the corner of his mouth even though it was obvious he knew the new arrival would still overhear it. "The Commander isn't going to eat him."
"I know." She turned her head and looked at Kuron, trying to judge from his face whether she was being intrusive - or welcome. "But its medical tests even if they're not invasive or going to hurt, by strangers. Having a friendly face nearby might make it a bit easier to get through quickly."