Knock on Wood

Clara nodded. "They do, but closer to the town. And even then, I don't really know anyone around here. My family lives in Castle Town, on the river."

{{Snap. What's Clara's last name?}}

"...Oh."

Nance blinked. "Why don't you live with them? I mean, how come you're all alone out here?"

[[Duvalt.]]

Clara frowned, "The sea air is supposedly better for my health." she explained. "When I moved out of the house, I came here like the doctors suggested and everyone else stayed further inland."

{{Phew. Thought I made a boo-boo with Cap'n Charlie's last name. O.o' Disaster averted.}}

Rudy blinked. "No 'ffense, Miss Clara, but you seem perfectly healthy t' me..."

[[XD That would have been such a hilarious pickle.]]

Clara shrugged, reaching for her glass of tea. She held it poised at her lips, "I feel fine, actually. I've just had a history of...little spells."

"...Oh."

Booth blinked. "Such as...?"

"Don't pry, lads," Lorrie said quietly. "If she wants to tell us, she will."

Clara half-smiled. "Oh, it's nothing really."

She took a sip of her tea.

A decidedly drowsy-looking child emerged from a room, holding a limp kitten and rubbing her eyes.

"Mornin', missy," Syrus greeted gruffly. "Heard ye had quite the night, hm?"

She blinked at him, nodding.

Clara smiled at Minikin. "Hi, there. Want some breakfast?"

Turning to focus her unfocused gaze on Clara, Minikin nodded. "Yes, please," she said quietly.

"Two words," Nance muttered, nudging his older brother jokingly. "Write it down."

Clara picked up her glass and toted it to the kitchen, going to fetch Minkin a plate.

Lorelei stood from her chair and offered it to the little girl, who sat with blinked thanks. The ship's cat curled up on her lap, eyes half-lidded. They yawned in sync, jaws opening wide enough to--

"Swallow a whale with that yawn, kiddo," Coran smiled.

Clara brought Minkin a plate and leaned against the doorway, taking another sip of tea.

"Thank you," she said politely, with another smile and nudge from Nance.

Clara must've swallowed wrong, because she coughed for a moment and sputtered into her cup.

Whirling on her heel, she headed for the kitchen sink, clearing her throat loudly.

Every head turned towards the kitchen. Lorelei hurried to the door, concern etched on every line of her face. "Clara? Are you alright?"

If you just breathe...clear your throat. It won't get any worse...

Clara nodded, bent over the sink, waving her hand assuredly. After a moment, she had managed to stop without going into a full-blown fit.

Her voice was cracked. "I'm fine. I swallowed wrong and I didn't want to spit all over the floor."

She grinned.

{ D: }

"...You're sure?" She relaxed a bit, but still looked a tad worried.

Clara laughed. "Positive. Could have happened to anyone."

Smiling, she returned to the dining room. "Sorry, folks."

Following, Lorelei stood, leaning against Minikin's chair as the child ate.

"Not a problem, Miss Clara," Booth said.

Minikin blinked curiously.

Clara smiled at the crowd. It felt good to have so much company.

"Is there anything I can do?"

{{Yeh. For one, ye can get me a pair of fish, an' then somethin' ta scrape this salt crusted between me ears wit'. Please an' thankye kindly, marm.}}

Coran shook his head. "No, I think we're alright for now. You should sit, relax. Don't worry about us, really."

"Says Mister Manners," Nance muttered into his tea glass.

Booth grinned, pausing to wipe off his thick-lensed glasses. "I thought you'd broken the habit of smarming the ladies, O' Shalley."

"I'm not smarming, thank you," Coran shot back defensively. "I'm being a grateful guest. And leave it at that."

"'You should sit, relax'," Nance cooed in a falsetto of his brother's voice. "'Don't worry about us at all. We're just simple boat floaters who couldn't row their way out of a tin pail.'" Dropping the voice, he laughed and scooted his chair back as his brother swung at him good-naturedly.

"Now, now, boys," Lorelei warned, quirking a smile.

Minikin watched all with a tiny smile, taking bits of bacon and feeding them to the fuzzball in her lap.

{{Fuzzball!? I resent tha' statemen', aye! Come over 'ere an' say that, hm? See 'ow tough ye are, then!}}

[[Gwah, I missed this place! T_T]]

[[I missed youuuuu.]]

Clara grinned good-naturedly, taking a seat...um, somewhere. XD

"Never a dull moment?" she asked Lorelei.

"Never," Lorrie confirmed. "Especially with this bunch."

Clara smiled, "I shouldn't doubt that." she said, putting her silverware on her empty plate.