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Post by DarkSideCookie on Oct 6, 2018 4:26:30 GMT -8
"As I said before, Ben, he's a kid,""He misses his home, his family and friends. You're not exactly giving him a reason to trust your methods or your motives. I was trying to remind him of the bigger picture."
This was not about the kid. Not only. This was also about her. So, was she trusting his methods or motives? Was she seeing the bigger picture? Ben really wondered but didn't dare to bring this up just now. Not because he would be afraid of her reaction, but because he didn't see a necessity in that effort right now. And so Ben kept watching her in silence until Juliet finally went on, busying herself with the paperwork on her desk.
"And I'll refrain from saying 'I told you so', this time." Ben had to smirk at that statement. A smirk transient that was, as she added something that wasn't to his liking. "I mean, you can't expect me to believe that Alex does everything you ask without question."
"Please keep Alex out of this.", Ben suddenly prompted her in a tone not exactly hostile but expressly declaring that the please has been more like a I won't say this twice addition. And so he directed this conversation back towards the other kid instead. "The boy will have to understand that everything we do is for everyone's and so his own good."
And with that Ben closed their little chat. He was no fool who wouldn't have gotten Juliet's hint of shuffling and stacking papers at her desk to signify that he wasn't welcome, just as he had to realize that this meeting hadn't gone as hoped for. "Well then, I won't disturb your work any longer, Juliet. Keep me posted."
Ben didn't wait for an answer before he finally branched off and disappointedly left through the door, once his face was turned away from her view. Even she will understand that everything he did was for her own good. Sooner or later...
***Ben exits***
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Oct 12, 2018 18:16:13 GMT -8
"Please keep Alex out of this. The boy will have to understand that everything we do is for everyone's and so his own good." "Well then, I won't disturb your work any longer, Juliet. Keep me posted."
Once she was sure Ben was gone, Juliet let out a breath she wasn't aware she had been holding. Mentioning Alex was a mistake, and she recognized having crossed a line. For all of Ben's faults, he seemed to be a devoted if overprotective father to the young woman. Although signs of a rift had started to form when Alex and Karl started getting close. Juliet knew they were just the concerns of a father to a teenage daughter turned up to 11 because of what could go wrong on this island if she wasn't careful.
Juliet poured herself a glass of lemonade and sat back down to her studies with a sigh. She hoped Bennett had made it back to the survivors' camp safely and that he would continue to play by Ben's rules. If he decided to start improvising, things could go very badly very quickly for all of them.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 10, 2019 11:01:30 GMT -8
A few hours have gone by.
Late afternoon has passed.
It is now well into evening.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 13, 2020 21:40:13 GMT -8
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jul 19, 2020 5:25:11 GMT -8
Only hours had passed since he had put Bennett and also Juliet back in their places, yet something was preying on his mind. It was Juliet. Ben knew that, even though she was loyal, she didn't fully trust him. Lately, though, things were going off that course a little too much. It was the same with Bennett, but with the boy, it was not so important to him.
Ben had always been willing to become more to Juliet than just her boss. He wanted her to eventually see him as her partner - maybe in many ways - but if he wouldn't stop this upcoming rebellion now, then it might provoke a revolution in the end. Still, he hoped this visit wouldn't become another argument. It didn't have to be that way, did it?
And yet again was Ben finding himself knocking on the infirmary's door, waiting for Juliet to answer it and letting him in.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jul 22, 2020 14:13:30 GMT -8
Juliet tilted her head and stared at the X-rays, but a different angle didn't change anything. The tumor on Ben's spine was not decreasing in size. Surgery was the only option, and even that was risky in these circumstances. Ethan was a gifted surgeon, but this procedure was beyond him. It was likely to paralyze or possibly kill Ben. And what would happen then? On this island that had supposedly kept Ben healthy and well all this time?
A knock at the door sent her scurrying to turn off the lightbox and shove the X-rays back into their envelope, stashed in a desk drawer. She went to the door and opened it to find the devil himself. "Ben," she greeted in a cursory manner. "Can I help you?"
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Aug 14, 2020 4:33:50 GMT -8
"Ben,", Juliet finally greeted him at the door. "Can I help you?"
He was a little bit surprised about her sudden friendliness, although he was, of course, no fool and knew it might be just feigned. Ben knew Juliet and her mannerisms well enough already. Anyways, that attitude of hers caused him to take one step back as for the reason of his visit, and one forward as for the effort to finally win her favor and play nice for once. The prisoners could wait for just a little longer.
And so he put on a smile this time instead. "I didn't come at a bad time, or did I?" Before she could have been able to answer in the affirmative, though, Ben was already stepping inside. After all, this was not her private place, even though she sometimes was acting quite a lot like it was.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Aug 15, 2020 11:12:22 GMT -8
"I didn't come at a bad time, or did I?"
"No, of course not," Juliet replied politely. As if it would matter whether she wanted his company there or not. She stepped aside to allow his entrance and then closed the door. "I was prepping to do blood panels on our new arrivals but given their previous behavior, I get the impression they won't submit willingly. Frankly, I'm more concerned about Claire right now."
She diverted around Ben to take a seat at her desk. "There's a possibility that she could go into premature labor," she continued. "We need to make sure the surgical bay at the Staff is fully equipped in order to handle it. Ethan can finish decorating the nursery later."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Aug 16, 2020 15:13:36 GMT -8
"I was prepping to do blood panels on our new arrivals but given their previous behavior, I get the impression they won't submit willingly. Frankly, I'm more concerned about Claire right now."
Ben was only half listening, as he was preoccupied with his own thoughts. He watched Juliet taking a seat at her desk while he was half-heartedly scanning over the sheets on top of it. Nothing of importance, of course, as she was always making sure to keep important documents out of his range unless he asked for them. Yes, he knew her much better than she would think, and he knew he would do well to keep it that way.
"There's a possibility that she could go into premature labor,""We need to make sure the surgical bay at the Staff is fully equipped in order to handle it. Ethan can finish decorating the nursery later."
"Do you think I wrong that boy? Bennett, I mean." he suddenly asked her completely out of nowhere, not even reacting to anything she had said before. Claire was an important matter, yes, but, right now, Ben was going to resume their little chat from earlier today. Maybe elaborating on that would be a way to get through to her on a more personal level. "I know he's just a teenager but sometimes I fear he doesn't get that what we're doing is the right thing, after all." His beady eyes lay on Juliet at that, as if he was asking her a silent question. 'How about you, for that matter?'
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Aug 17, 2020 12:29:52 GMT -8
"Do you think I wrong that boy? Bennett, I mean. I know he's just a teenager but sometimes I fear he doesn't get that what we're doing is the right thing, after all."
This new line of questioning took Juliet by surprise, though she tried not to show it. It was unlike Ben to second-guess his treatment of anyone, let alone someone so much further down the hierarchy. "Well, I think we established this morning that he's rebellious," she concluded, with a weak smile.
"He just needs time. He's questioning himself, questioning authority, trying to figure out where he fits in the world. And he's trying to balance his life here with his life there among the survivors. It can't be easy. But I don't have any doubt that his loyalty is to you, and to this community," Juliet assured him. "If it weren't, he wouldn't fight so hard to keep you from bringing in outsiders. You could have let him talk to Tom, he might have been able to explain things --"
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Aug 23, 2020 10:02:30 GMT -8
Of course, there would be no chance Ben hadn't noticed the surprise on Juliet's features. Her features, though, probably hadn't even changed, but, as already mentioned before, he knew her much better than she would think. Her surprise, however, told him that she didn't know him quite as well. Any question from him, starting with 'Do you think I did' was more likely a question that meant 'How do you think about what I did'. And even if people weren't giving him an answer to that, Ben would be able to read a tendency on their minds, or rather, between the lines. Juliet not being aware of that was giving him hope that he could still positively surprise her if he tried - a fact that brought even a sincere smile to his face.
"Well, I think we established this morning that he's rebellious,""He just needs time. He's questioning himself, questioning authority, trying to figure out where he fits in the world. And he's trying to balance his life here with his life there among the survivors. It can't be easy. But I don't have any doubt that his loyalty is to you, and to this community,""If it weren't, he wouldn't fight so hard to keep you from bringing in outsiders. You could have let him talk to Tom, he might have been able to explain things --"
"You have a point there.", Ben finally interrupted. He wasn't going to get a lecture, and already had his answer from between the lines. It was not so easy with Juliet, though. "I was probably just ---" Now it was him who was a little bit surprised about himself before he went on, obviously hesitant while at the same time confident of this might give their relationship an upgrade. Opening up to someone always did. "The mention of Alex, you stroke a nerve with that, I suppose." This time this wasn't even a lie.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Aug 23, 2020 18:33:29 GMT -8
"You have a point there. I was probably just --- The mention of Alex, you stroke a nerve with that, I suppose."
Juliet nodded solemnly. After all, that was what she had meant to do. Ben had so few buttons that could be pushed by other people; his daughter would always be a glaring one close to the surface. "Well, I can't imagine how hard it is being a single father," she said sympathetically. "On top of all the other responsibilities that you have."
She crossed one leg over the other and leaned back in her chair. "For a fertility doctor, I'm really not good with parenting advice," she confided. "Look, Alex is smart and stubborn. Her being with Karl ... the more you fight against it, the closer she'll get to him. It's human nature. All the way back to Eve and the apple tree. We want what we can't have. And if you were to tell her the risk, the real danger of being with him --" Juliet's voice trailed off as she knew Ben must have entertained the same fear, that Alex would get pregnant and she would die. Like every other woman on this island. And there would be nothing they could do to stop it.
"I know we can't do that," she sighed. "We can't even tell her that you're sick. Ben, she should know."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Aug 26, 2020 9:46:22 GMT -8
Ben didn't need her confirmation nor her words to know that striking a nerve was exactly what she had meant to do. And still, he had to smile over that fact. There was probably no one else around this place who dared to speak about Alex with him the way she did. Juliet was unique, yet not always meant in a good way. She was much more of a danger than a dozen of rebellious teenagers could, and, along with Alex, pretty much a weak point, even though Ben wouldn't admit that she was. "Well, I can't imagine how hard it is being a single father,""On top of all the other responsibilities that you have."Ben remained quiet and instead looked around the desk again until her leaning back in her chair made him turn his gaze back towards her. "For a fertility doctor, I'm really not good with parenting advice,""Look, Alex is smart and stubborn. Her being with Karl ... the more you fight against it, the closer she'll get to him. It's human nature. All the way back to Eve and the apple tree. We want what we can't have."
Or we get what we want by taking the right path and pushing the right buttons.
"And if you were to tell her the risk, the real danger of being with him --" His beady eyes watched her with intense. Of course, he had gone through the fear of what she hinted at. All the more important it was to gather more information about Claire and the baby. Ben wouldn't be able to keep Alex and Karl apart forever, as much as he liked to. "I know we can't do that,""We can't even tell her that you're sick. Ben, she should know.""No." Ben suddenly objected, not loud but in a harsh tone. "We don't tell anyone. We still have time." More time to study those people, the doctor, his abilities - and finally - to bring them. All these thoughts he added only in his mind, for he didn't appertain to make the big decisions over Jacob's head. Juliet's words, however, had reminded him about their task and how important it was to proceed. Now it was the playing-nice part that could wait until later. Suddenly, fully back in his commanding role, Ben added: "I need you to ask those two girls out. We need to know if they got pregnant women in their group as well. Goodwin seems too busy to focus on Ana Lucia." The last he pointed out rather questioning, and also a little bit like this addition was to strike a nerve for his part in the first place.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Aug 28, 2020 15:56:01 GMT -8
"No. We don't tell anyone. We still have time."
"Fine, as you wish," Juliet agreed. Perhaps Ben was still hoping for a miracle. He'd assured her the island was capable of delivering them. But no one on the island had ever been stricken with cancer before, and now here they were. In all outward appearances, Ben was fine. But there would come a time when he wouldn't be, and then there would be questions.
"I need you to ask those two girls out. We need to know if they got pregnant women in their group as well. Goodwin seems too busy to focus on Ana Lucia."
She tilted her head to consider him and blinked slowly, careful not to acknowledge his counterattack. "He's doing the job that you gave him," she replied plainly. "If Ana Lucia is their de facto leader, he has to gain her trust." Granted, Goodwin was not her property alone; he was married to another woman in their community. They had kept their relationship quiet, but of course Ben somehow knew.
"Has Mikhail gathered all the information he can on the passengers?" Juliet inquired.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Sept 3, 2020 1:27:15 GMT -8
"He's doing the job that you gave him,""If Ana Lucia is their de facto leader, he has to gain her trust."
Of course, she would back him up. And of course, she would cover that action with impartiality. If she just knew how predictable her unpredictability was.
"Has Mikhail gathered all the information he can on the passengers?"
"Last time I asked, he said he's working on it.", Ben replied without dwelling on the former subject of their conversation. "But we both know how chatty that man is. Can't even say how often I told him to carry the damn walky-talky with him." The last he had added with a quiet sigh of annoyance. He knew Mikhail was a loner, but it also must be clear to someone with an important job like this, that Ben would have to urge him at some point if he wasn't providing him with a status update every now and then. It was also a fact that Ben didn't like to see company with Mihail in a face-to-face. He was giving him the creeps.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Sept 6, 2020 16:30:52 GMT -8
"Last time I asked, he said he's working on it. But we both know how chatty that man is. Can't even say how often I told him to carry the damn walky-talky with him."
Juliet let a short laugh escape her lips. It was so rare that anyone would fail to answer to Ben's every demand, let alone that Ben would comment on it with something akin to sarcasm. So Mikhail being relegated to the isolated Flame station was probably best for everyone. The one-eyed Russian was a bit...intense. Still, their visit to the Flame had brought those precious few moments of seeing her sister and her young nephew. If Juliet were more optimistic, she'd suggest a return trip. But that was a long shot.
"He knows how important that information is," Juliet remarked. "I'm sure he'll get it to us in due time." To us, Ben, not just to you. "In the meantime, our guests are probably hungry from their escape attempts. I'll swing by the cafeteria before I go back to the security office. Anything else you want me to ask them?" she inquired.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Sept 12, 2020 17:42:31 GMT -8
"He knows how important that information is,""I'm sure he'll get it to us in due time.""In the meantime, our guests are probably hungry from their escape attempts. I'll swing by the cafeteria before I go back to the security office. Anything else you want me to ask them?"
"Not for now," Ben replied, already heading for the door to leave, but then he turned around one last time: "Oh, and Juliet? Bring them something to read. You know I got trust in your choice of books." It wasn't clear if the closing statement had been meant jokingly or not, since there was no sign of a smile on his face, and also because they had this sharing past of one kicking out the other from a certain book club. A lack of smiling didn't mean a lot with Ben. Jokes at somebody's costs were even more effective without.
*** Ben exits ***
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 5, 2021 18:28:57 GMT -8
The rest of Day 13 and all of Day 14
pass by fairly uneventfully. It is now:
Day 15 - Mid-Day
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 12, 2023 21:10:05 GMT -8
The rest of Day 15 passes by. It is now:
Day 16 - Morning
Thursday, October 7, 2004
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