[Cosima wasn't expecting Clara to knock, so it's a few minutes before she gets to the door. She's dressed causally, in lounge pants and a bralette, with an oversized sweater because it's November and Cosima hates the cold. She peeks out at Clara, opening the door just a crack.]
[She slips her leather jacket off as she steps inside, smoothing the dress beneath it. Her actions have a polite edge to them, like she's walking across neat grass. Aside from Christmas poppers, surprises make her a bit nervous.]
Yeah, one surprise might be enough for today. But I think... I hope you'll like this one.
[She takes Clara's hand and leads her into the living room where it's been slightly transformed. The lights are dimmed and dozens are candles are lit. The coffee table has several containers of takeout spread out on it, all of their favorite dishes from their favorite places. Cosima's laptop is hooked up to the TV, the first slide of what appears to be a PowerPoint presentation in view. The slide reads "Project Leda" written on background of constellations.]</small.
[Clara takes it all in with an open mouth, on the verge of a question - what the hell could this be about? Candles and takeout? Is this to soften some blow, or to celebrate? They've already done marriage and death and loss, and unless Cosima is some species of alien, neither of them are expecting a child.
Then, her eyes fall on the TV, and on the unfamiliar name, and she understands immediately.]
Cosima...
[This is actually it, the explanation she wanted for so long.]
[Cosima's hands gesture haltingly, the only sign of her nerves, urging Clara to take a seat. She settles on the ground beside her laptop, legs crossed and pulling it into her lap.]
[There isn't a bit of doubt in her voice. She kicks her boots off and settles on the couch, just behind Cosima.]
Cos... I really appreciate this. [She leans down to plant a kiss on her head, and then reaches around her for some pad thai and a pair of chopsticks. Her heart swells a bit in her chest, nervous about what she's going to hear, but still overjoyed that Cosima is finally trusting her with it.]
[Cosima twists to look up at her, smile soft and open. She's still nervous, fingers hovering over her laptop keys, not ready to start the presentation quite long.]
I should've done this from the start. I'm sorry it took me this long to get my thoughts in order, to know what to say. [She gestures to the TV screen, with a sheepish smile.] Still not sure I've gotten it all outlined right but after 100 slides, I had to stop.
[She looks nervous as she starts out, gestures more subdued and smile forced. She starts at the beginning, the very beginning, with slides on Neolution and the Duncans, the scientists who created them. Moving on to the Original and everything she's learned during her time on the island. It sounds rehearsed, composed, though she gets excited when she talks science, clearly in her element. Her voice waves slightly when she begins talking about Project Leda directly, the genome, how they edited it, the patent embedded in their genetic code, the infertility and associated disease that they all carry, except Sarah.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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I'm ready if you are.
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[She knocks politely on the door about ten minutes later.]
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[Cosima wasn't expecting Clara to knock, so it's a few minutes before she gets to the door. She's dressed causally, in lounge pants and a bralette, with an oversized sweater because it's November and Cosima hates the cold. She peeks out at Clara, opening the door just a crack.]
You didn't have to knock, you know.
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[She slips her leather jacket off as she steps inside, smoothing the dress beneath it. Her actions have a polite edge to them, like she's walking across neat grass. Aside from Christmas poppers, surprises make her a bit nervous.]
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[She takes Clara's hand and leads her into the living room where it's been slightly transformed. The lights are dimmed and dozens are candles are lit. The coffee table has several containers of takeout spread out on it, all of their favorite dishes from their favorite places. Cosima's laptop is hooked up to the TV, the first slide of what appears to be a PowerPoint presentation in view. The slide reads "Project Leda" written on background of constellations.]</small.
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Then, her eyes fall on the TV, and on the unfamiliar name, and she understands immediately.]
Cosima...
[This is actually it, the explanation she wanted for so long.]
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You ready for this? It's... A long story.
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[There isn't a bit of doubt in her voice. She kicks her boots off and settles on the couch, just behind Cosima.]
Cos... I really appreciate this. [She leans down to plant a kiss on her head, and then reaches around her for some pad thai and a pair of chopsticks. Her heart swells a bit in her chest, nervous about what she's going to hear, but still overjoyed that Cosima is finally trusting her with it.]
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I should've done this from the start. I'm sorry it took me this long to get my thoughts in order, to know what to say. [She gestures to the TV screen, with a sheepish smile.] Still not sure I've gotten it all outlined right but after 100 slides, I had to stop.
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I'll forgive you if you miss a few minor details.
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Well, a hundred slides. I'm all ears.
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You, uh, following so far? Any questions?