Nurse Gloria briefs the trainees about Brenda stepping back

It's your morning group meeting time before your trainee shifts begin. Nurse Bates is scanning some papers while the second hand of the clock traces around to where it will meet the minute hand at the top of the hour.

Olivia and Margarita are sitting together. They are not literally hand in hand or joined at the hip, but you could describe them that way. Olivia is sitting straight up, her tight rows of braids falling in a curtain. Margarita, round and soft where Olivia is tall and tense, slouches a little toward Olivia.

Then there's a space on the bench, then your roommate Dot, smiling, freckled, redheaded, petite. Then yourself. Then Kelly's friend Jen. And then another empty space.

"Where is Kelly?" you ask her friend Jen. Jen is the best focused of your group on the training rotations, and takes good care of Kelly after recruiting her into the program.

Jen frowns. Her jaw clenches. "Doing a business rotation with Brenda," she says. She shakes her head. "I hope it works out." She pushes back her long dark hair and fishes in her pocket for an elastic. "I guess I get to pick up the pieces however it goes."

"Are you worried for her?"

"I don't know if worried for her is what I'm feeling," Jen says. "More like..."

The second hand meets the minute hand at the top of the clock.

Gloria Bates clears her throat. "Trainees?" she says. "Thank you." She surveys your little group in the hospital dressing room the program has borrowed for the summer session. "First I want to quickly make it clear what the official changes are in the training program. With the exception of Kelly, you won't be working directly with Brenda during the rest of your time here. Brenda will be working with our program's sponsors to create a new program focused on a summer business rotation starting next year, connected with the hospital but not limited to it. As a business development expert, Ms. Box will be in her element, leaving the medical training aspects to hospital staff, including myself. Furthermore..."

Olivia and Margarita glance at each other. Olivia raises her hand.

"Nurse Bates," Olivia says. "What's all this about? What's going on with Brenda, and with Kelly?"

They were not part of the bowling trip or its aftermath in Brenda's office. Kelly and Jen were there. Dot heard from you after Nurse Bates dropped you off. So this is news to Olivia and Margarita, who mostly pay attention to each other.

"Kelly is moving to an intern assistant position directly under Brenda," Nurse Bates says. You can see a little twitch in the corner of her mouth. "She will be concentrating on business development work, but she is still officially in our program. Kelly may join us for a later training rotation, time and circumstances permitting."

Kelly's hot pink padlock is still on her locker.

Nurse Bates continues. "Having Ms. Box step back from day-to-day work in the program will make it easier to run our training schedule and calendar with fewer interruptions for you, and less coordination work for myself. I'm also bringing in an experienced RN, Julie Paul, who I've worked with for years, and I trust implicitly. You may share anything with Julie that you would bring to me. You'll be meeting Julie here tomorrow morning at the regular time. Julie and I will be alternating on these meetings from then on."

Jen lets out a sigh. She looks more relaxed.

"Otherwise your rotations will continue as scheduled, and there will be no change in procedure," Nurse Bates says. "Does anyone need anything right now?"

Her arms are crossed. She is hoping for a 'no'.

Olivia smiles. "Thank you for explaining," she says.

No one else speaks up. Nurse Bates uncrosses her arms and smiles.

You and Jennifer have another rotation in Pathology.

You have 1 XP, +1 Hard, -1 Hot, -1 Cool, +2 Control, and know the CHARACTER MOVES Ass-Licking and Masturbate.

What's your next Move? (STALK Gloria Bates? Have lunch with Jennifer and ask about Kelly? Ask if Jennifer got anything out of the bowling alley meeting? Find out if your recruiter Miss Charity is still in town, helping Brenda?)