[Open] Looking For Trouble In All The Right Places

[legallygreen]

Characters:  Jennifer Walters, Open!
Content:  Enjoying herself at the festival, but tired of crowds of people, Jennifer escapes to more quiet avenues only to find she might still have company. 
Setting:  The festival, just out past the town
Time:  Afternoon
Warnings:  None as of right now

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[doctor_is_out]

There was a beauty to it, Ryuuken could not deny that. The doctor wasn't one for festivals, but the event itself had its charms.

However, it lost its elegance when flowers were raining down on one, while one had business to take care of. There was a plant around here with remarkable painkilling properties, and Ryuuken had walked out of town to find it and add it to the infirmary's supplies. The carpet of flowers made it hard to find, but the man's keen eyes spotted a sprig growing above the petals. Crouching down, Ryuuken pulled a shovel and small clay pot out of the bag at his hip and dug up the specimen, tucking the dirt down with gloved hands.

There, that task was done. As he turned to walk back to the ship, pulling the gloves off as he went, he spotted a young woman he recognized as one of Serenity's passengers, a woman of some importance, he believed. He barely even acknowledged her, just glancing in her direction as he made to walk past where she was eating lunch.

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The day was so lovely. Her basket was filled with the blossoms she hoped to put into water and keep for one of the galas, and she was now enjoying her wine. It was a soft afternoon, turning into evening, and she should get back to the Serenity soon, so that she could put her flowers into water, and get some rest.

Jennifer put her things back into her basket, and glanced up as she saw someone coming into the same small field. He kneeled and picked something out of the ground that was not like anything she had seen falling out of the sky. She finished picking up, and he glanced at her as he walked past, which only piqued her curiousity. She recognized him from the Serenity, but his name escaped her.

"Good afternoon." She called out as he glanced at her. "I do not believe we have had the pleasure of meeting, but we are on the same ship, are we not?"

[doctor_is_out]

He paused, turning his head to look at her. "We are indeed. Serenity, correct?" His words were precise, his manner generally indifferent. Ryuuken wasn't particularly interested in a long conversation, but politeness dictated that he reply. In addition, she was a member of the crew he was unfamiliar with. It would pay to recognize her if she ever needed to be treated for anything.

[legallygreen]

"Indeed. I am Jennifer Walters, Ambassador of Ivona." She replied with a smile. He was very cool, but polite. Not that she minded. Jennifer was a determined woman, and eventually she was certain she could get anyone to warm up to her. She would just have to be polite as well.

"You seemed to have been looking for something very specific in the grass beyond the blossoms, what were you looking for?" Jennifer asked.

[doctor_is_out]

"Ryuuken Ishida. Doctor," he introduced himself in return. "Strange, to have an ambassador on a ship like Serenity," Ryuuken commented. He wouldn't think a ship like that would suit a lady who introduced herself as an ambassador. However, it was none of his business; she could fly aboard whatever ship she pleased.

But she'd asked him a question. His eyes didn't even drop down to the small plant in his hand. "This plant is a powerful natural anesthetic. It's for the infirmary," Ryuuken informed her, pushing his glasses up his nose. Normally, he wasn't one for natural remedies, but this plant was very good for local anesthesia. In addition, Serenity's finances struck him as quite unstable. Keeping a plant like this in the infirmary would ensure a renewable source of painkillers.

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"Pleased to meet you, Doctor." She replied immediately, smiling brightly at him.

As he commented over her place on the ship, she wondered if he were yet another of the crew that had the prerequesite idea that she had no business aboard the Serenity. But Jennifer did not let it bother her, she simply smiled at him again and listened carefully to what he said about the plant, nodding her understanding.

"It sounds very useful then. I did not know that Serenity ran into so much trouble that it would require the doctor to go hunting for herbal rememdies. Do you prefer herbal remedies or are you more interested in scientific methods of medicine?"

[doctor_is_out]

"Trouble? I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Ryuuken informed her, a sharp edge to his tone. "However, I prefer medicine to be an exact science wherever possible. If a wives' tale cannot be proven, then it has no value." The effects of this plant had simply been proven. Too often, people made assumptions based on a placebo effect. That sort of medicine was worthless.

[legallygreen]

Jennifer managed to keep her smile under control as he took offense to the idea that Serenity got into trouble. Yet, she could not help but be amused at the idea that someone aboard that ship did not think it headed for trouble. She composed herself gracefully though and nodded as he spoke about believing in the science of medicine, rather than herbal practices.

"I myself am always more comfortable with proven scientific methods when visiting a doctor." She agreed, plucking a flower that was the right color out of the piles around her and putting it into her basket.

[doctor_is_out]

Oh, he knew quite well that it was headed for trouble. Lots of it. Ryuuken simply did not speak ill of the ship he lent his services to. "As you should be. ...yet you have had no need to visit one so far." His eyes narrowed slightly, professional interest replacing indifference. "Did you have a reason for declining to give us a copy of your medical records? As a passenger, you don't have to, of course." Far be it from him to invade her privacy, naturally. His demeanor made it clear that she was under no pressure to give him an answer.

[legallygreen]

Jennifer smiled at him to cover her annoyance. Prying doctors were not what she needed right now. Instead, she simply shook her head slightly. "Of course not, Doctor. But my personal physician felt it would be better to protect my personal information at this time. Should you ever need the records, I am certain he would be happy to forward them on to you."

Not that she expected him to need them, nor for her physician to leave in a few pertinant details that she had kept hidden for years.

[doctor_is_out]

"Very well," he replied coolly. Goodness knew Ryuuken had his own secrets -- albeit not ones that would turn up on an ordinary medical examination. Most people would have apologized for prying, but such things did not come easily from Ryuuken.

The doctor glanced away. The area was growing dimmer, the only real indication under the cloud that the sun was setting. It was her business if she stayed out here or not, but he had his plant and was through here. The flowers occasionally bouncing off his head really were irritating, not to mention undignified. "If you'll excuse me, I'll be heading back now."

[legallygreen]

"If you will wait a moment, I will walk with you." Jennifer replied with a smile. "I really should not be walking back alone."

Yes, she was pressing herself on him. But Jennifer was also certain that it was for her own good. This doctor seemed to have a very cold bedside manor. He could use some time with other people, so that he might be a little more warm.

As she picked up her items, she frowned, hearing the unmistakable sound of a vuvuzela. She sighed as she picked up her parasol. "Those instruments. So...rude."

[doctor_is_out]

"If you're concerned about walking through a town alone, I'm surprised you're aboard a ship like Serenity."

However, he waited for her. While Ryuuken really wasn't one for company, it wasn't too much bother.

....one of those horns, again. Ryuuken resisted the urge to twitch. "I'd hardly call them instruments, Miss Walters. There is nothing musical about them whatsoever." He was simply grateful that no one on his ship had picked one up yet.

[legallygreen]

"I pay for security aboard Serenity. As such, I find it lacking." She replied as he waited for her. It only took Jennifer a few moments more to pack away her flowers gently, and then stood up, joining Ryuuken.

"I am enjoying my stay aboard the ship though." She said, making conversation as they walked. "And I am afraid I must agree. The vuvuzela is indeed something anyone with any respect for other people would avoid. I may find myself disposed to participate in something as unsavory as thievery if any should find their way aboard the ship."

[doctor_is_out]

Why was she aboard this ship, really? His gut told him that there was more to this woman than met the eye. However, Ryuuken was not the sort to pry. He walked at a fairly brisk pace, but keeping up would not be difficult at all.

"You would be doing the entire ship a favor, Miss Walters," replied Ryuuken.

[legallygreen]

"I may call upon you to be my partner in crime if need be." She teased gently.

Jennifer kept up with him easily as he walked along, wondering if his bedside manner always left this much to be desired, or if she were special. Perhaps he was cold because she was a passenger and not a proper member of the crew. Nobody could be that cold to everyone. Could they?