Pardon Me While I Have a Lil Flashback, Part 2

[Rue Wydown 0]

Pardon Me While I Have a Lil Flashback, Part 2

Commander Ruth Wydown

 

((This is just some back story about my character and her history, a peek in her head while she's knocked out cold on the bridge/sickbay. The dialogue underlined indicates words spoken in the Ralafean language - translated in English for the reader for the fun of it. ))

 

A concussion, two passes with the regenerator, and some strong painkillers later, Rue was released from the medical center. Her roommate had taken Rue's land speeder -- not so much because Rue couldn't drive in her condition, but because she'd met a boy totally inappropriate for herself at the medical center and decided to swan off with Rue's ride. This left both Rue and Clayton stranded in the middle of nowhere. Ever the resourceful one, Clay called around and found a friend to pick them up for an unspecified favor.

 

As they sulked across the parking lot towards their amused driver, the argument that had been simmering between consults now boiled over, sloshing on anyone within earshot.

 

"Clayton, stop clucking. I'm fine."

 

"You were almost killed! Lemme help."

 

"Cluck, cluck, cluck." Rue clucked her tongue at him, dodging the 'helpful' arm he was trying wrap around her shoulders. The dodgy maneuver, combined with her altered state caused her to ping off the parked vehicles around her like the bearing in an antique pinball machine. She gamely smiled through the embarrassment. Mentally, she was cursing the medical staff in language that would make a sailor blush.

 

"Bugger." Clay grabbed her around the waist and steadied her. "Easy now."

 

"I'm oh-kay." She stopped abruptly. "Stop helping."

 

"Then why are you swaying?"

 

"Because you won't stand still."

 

"Hon, I am standing still." Clay rested his hands on her shoulders to stop her movement. She wanted to sneak closer to hug him, but doing so now would cause further mother-henness and she knew right where that would lead. The boy was still scared, rightfully so, but she'd be damned if he was going to start wrapping her in bubble wrap before every adventure.

 

She did, however, let him steer him towards the speeder once more. "Why are you so mental?"

 

"I'm mental? *I* am mental?" Clay chuckled. "This coming from a girl who jumped between sails -- mid-flight -- without warning. No harness, no safety net. No nuthin'."

 

"It was either that, or you'd be buzzard bait on the salt flats right now."

 

"Don't remind me," Clay growled. "Rue, you could have killed yourself."

 

She stopped, again, a parking spot down from their ride. "Noooooo, I could have broken a few bones, maybe taken out a tooth or two. But there's no way I would have died. I *know* what I'm doing. You didn't." She crossed her arms. "What the hell were you thinking? It's only your third ride. Even I wasn't stupid enough to try that stunt on my third try."

 

"I wasn't thinking—"

 

"You're right, you weren't thinking. Luckily, I was. So you tell me, which would you rather me choose: A Dead Clay? Or a Bruised Rue?"

 

It was the first time the two of them had publicly acknowledged that Rue had gotten injured not because of some stupid stunt she pulled, as they told the emergency medical team, but because she was trying to save Clayton from a deadly rookie mistake. She had taken out her two best sails and ended up with a flippin' concussion. All she needed was a souvenir t-shirt and life would be complete.

 

It was at that moment she realized she'd pushed too far today. Clayton's pallor took on a shade of white she'd only seen once…on the salt flats as he stared down at her. The guilt on his face was excruciating. She couldn't blame him for being freaked out over what had happened. Hell, she'd freaked out when she realized what trouble he was in. But the difference was, she was ready to move on from the mistake; he hovered protectively over her in a misguided attempt to keep from hurting her again.

 

"Fine, Bruised Rue; let's go." He hissed through his teeth, stomping towards the speeder.

 

"Oh frell." Rue immediately saw the future painted on his back as he walked away. He was going to walk away from this entire mess. They'd get home, he'd promise to call, but no call would come. He'd drop off the face of the Earth. Fine by her, who needed to deal with a nutter like him anyway?

 

In the meantime, why did she feel so compelled to poke a stick at him?

 

"Ha! I know what your problem is." She jabbed the imaginary stick at his retreating arse, then started walking again. His buddy, leaned against the speeder with his arms folded across his chest, watched in amusement as the scene played out before him like a holo-of-the-week.

 

"What problem?" Clayton turned, scowling at her.

 

"You like me." She paused at his confused look. "No, you *like* me, like me. That's the only flippin' reason why you'd be *this* upset over a bonk on the head."

 

"I like you, but I do not *like* you, like you." Clayton protested.

 

With Rue giving Clay a doubtful look, Clayton's friend chimed in. "Oh, yes, he does." Clayton turned and gave his buddy the evil eye, mouthing threats for getting involved.

 

"Bahwaahaaaa!" Rue threw her head back and laughed, distracting both boys to the point where she was able to snag the ignition key from Clay's pal. She twirled the key ring with an authority that indicated that not only did she intend to take control of the argument, but the speeder as well.

 

"You. Can't. Drive." Clay grabbed the key away from her, dangling it in front of her face just out of reach. "Concussion. Remember?"

 

Clayton's satisfied smirk faded when his friend grabbed the key away. "Neither. Can. You. It's my speeder." The young man smiled. "Now that's settled…" Extending his hand, the smile slipped sideways. "Hi, I'm Mal. I'll be your chauffer this evening."

 

Rue grinned, shaking his hand. "Rue." She paused again. "I know you, don't I?" She squinted at him, mentally matching his face to the rolodex of names she'd collected. "Dimetri's party, a month ago. You were Pan's wingman." She glanced over at the stone- faced Clay.

 

Before Mal could answer, Clay growled. "Oh, for the love of God. Let's go." He rudely pushed past Mal to slide into the front passenger seat, slamming the door behind him.

 

"Well, isn't he a laugh." Mal raised a brow, glancing at his friend pouting in the front seat.

 

"Either I've hit the nail on the head, or he thinks I'm flirting with you." Rue answered simply, watching her boyfriend scowl straight ahead.

 

"And are you flirting with me?"

 

She glanced over at tall, dark, and handsome, giving him the once over: Hazel eyes that hinted toward green, high cheekbones and a prominent Roman nose on a wiry, muscular body Not bad looking, really, she thought, and a good catch – for someone else. She shook her head. "No, you're not my type."

 

Mal opened the door for Rue, something Clay should have done, had he not reverted back to adolescence. "I think you scared him, love."

 

"Hasn't he ever broken any bones?" She said this loud enough to carry inside the vehicle.

 

"No. Let's just say he's lead a very... sheltered life."

 

Rue leaned against the door, smiling a bit. "Maybe he can do with a bit of a scare, aye?"

 

The expression Mal's face mirrored her own. "Aye, he could."

[STSF_BluRox 0]

"You like me." She paused at his confused look. "No, you *like* me, like me.

 

Playing Rue Wydown in the motion picture.....Sally Fields... (and somehow, I'm seeing this in the Flying Nun habit too)