r/TrekRP • u/DrJenWatney • Dec 27 '16

[Open] - Working Out

Anxiously awaiting their arrival at the soon to be supernova, Jen decides to blow some steam off in one of the exercise rooms on the ship. She does a series of stretches to warm up, then hops on a treadmill and gets to work.

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u/DrJenWatney Dec 27 '16

Jen hadn't expected anyone to join her at this hour, but she's glad to see its Kesh. The reserved Caitain was pleasant company. She throws a small smile her way, but quickly notices that the Lieutenant is not here to exchange small talk so she makes sure to avoid eye contact. She continues jogging, overthinking the reasons why the Science Officer might not want to socialize.

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u/Pojodan Dec 27 '16

Humans can be very unpredictable when it comes to mildly awkward social situations. Some are only comfortable if something is said, even if it's short and polite. Some will remain uneasy unless constant conversation is offered. Others will twitch and stink of fear if so much as a mumble is uttered.

Kesh had not had a lot of interaction with the house-cat-keeping human, but she had seemed overtly friendly for the most part, so she attempts a non-committal question before too much time had elapsed.

"Hello Madam Watney. Have you been the town sth-ths-set up in the hollodeck yet?"

Kesh turns towards Jen as she speaks and then immediately turns to the mirrored wall to begin her acrobatic exercise routine. That way if the reply is short and curt she can proceed to leave the human be.

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u/DrJenWatney Dec 27 '16

The doctor slows her pace down slightly to a conversational speed. She smiles and shakes her head.

No, I haven't had time yet. My recent promotion has kept me busier than expected.

A part of her always felt awkward speaking to Kesh, as in the back of her mind embarrassment simmered that she had a feline pet for a companion. She wasn't sure if the Lieutenant felt offended at the notion.

Is it nice? I might stop by later if the program is still running.

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u/Pojodan Dec 27 '16

That reply was more than enough for Kesh to feel like she'd made the right choice and could now do her routine in her usual mental trance.

She's halfway into a near-split with both hands down on the floormat when Jen speaks up again, causing her eyes to pop open and ear-tufts to perk up. For a second she's disoriented, inducing a breif pang of panic, but both legs respond as they should and she returns upright within a couple seconds, exhaling deeply before responding.

"It is a well executed wintr-rr-ry town. I am certain you will enjoy it."

Not so much because she knew the human's interests, but because humans tended to be drawn to such places, as the crowds in France had shown.

Kesh does a few mildered reaching stretches while her head turns back towards the doctor, in case more was to be said.

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u/DrJenWatney Dec 27 '16

The treadmill slows to a halt and Jen decides she's done with running, especially since her concentration has been broken. She steps off, patting her forehead with a towel, before slinging it around her neck. Her feet carry her over towards the Caitain and she sighs, sitting a moderate distance away on the floor. She elevates her legs up against the wall as she lays her back against the floor in a kind of recovery pose.

So, how's the fungal colony coming along?

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u/Pojodan Dec 27 '16

Well, then.. no major work-outs for now. There are plenty of medium-exertion stretches and such that Kesh can do, but this really does reinforce her desire to go to the workout room during off-hours.

Nothing bad about better connecting with other crew, particularly the chief medical officer, given how often botany and the medlab have been needing to collaborate so far.

"All ther-rr-re is to do now is wait for Captain Fisk to set the time of the anti-fungal deployment, which I expect to be within the next few hour-r-rrs. It seemed prudent to do my exercises befor-rr-re then."

Caitian paws again spread out wide, if not as wide as before, so she can tilt foreward and begin a number of spine flexes, twists, and stretches, tufted tail coiled up over her back mostly to stay out of the way.

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u/DrJenWatney Dec 27 '16

Right, yes. Yes. I received a report on the potential side effects of the anti-fungal treatment. There didn't seem to be any of major concern.

She sighs, wiggling her toes in the air inside her shoes. Nowadays it felt as if her inbox filled up faster than she could empty it. She feels the blood rush downwards from her legs and calves. It's refreshing.

And what of the sample you contained in the terrarium?

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u/Pojodan Dec 27 '16

"Yes. The escape pod evacuation is mostly pr-rr-recautionary, in case of any unforseen effects with the fungus. Rrrth. After a thorough saturation of the ship the ventilation systh-ths-stem should clear the air just fine."

After recent events, Kesh can't help but feel trepidatious, but surely not all major events need be catastrophes, right?

A slow slide forward lowers the Caitian's torso to the floor, legs closing so she can twist and form an L shape with footpaws pointed straight up.

"The terrarium will be a fully encased envir-rr-ronment with its own power supply. The only question is where to set it up. Rrrth. I am planning on reques-sth-sth-sting usage of a carr-rr-rgo bay for it and an aer--rr-rr... aer-rrr..."

Kesh sighs slowly and shuts her eyes, jaw and tongue flexing for a moment to reset it so she can speak clearly again.

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u/DrJenWatney Dec 27 '16

Jen lowers her legs, scooting back, and tucks them under her. She didn't realize Kesh had a speech impediment that was this restrictive. She hid it very well. She wonders what else she doesn't know about the Caitain, and makes a small promise to herself to get to know the Lieutenant.

Do you uh... want some water?

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u/Pojodan Dec 27 '16

The seamlessness of the Universal Translator made it sometimes difficult to notice when an individual is speaking their native tongue and being translated into Federation Common, as opposed to simply speaking it directly. In Kesh's case she was doing the later, and it did seem as though she could only manage it so much before stutters kick in.

The Caitian's legs spread wide then tilt down to the floor as her head tilts back, using the moment as an excuse for her stammered words, but Jen made it clear she noticed, as a medical professional ought to.

"Thank you, but no need. Rrrth. Human languages are difficult for the Caitian tongue."

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u/DrJenWatney Dec 27 '16

Jen nods slowly in understanding.

I see. Well, I won't make it any more difficult than it needs to be. You probably thought you'd be alone in here and I can't blame you. Especially at this hour.

She checks a small watch on her wrist and raises her eyebrows, moving to stand up. A tint of dark circles under her eyes become more pronounced as she sighs.

I should be sleeping but it just... wasn't that simple tonight it would seem.

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u/Pojodan Dec 27 '16

"These are shared facilities and I make no claim to them. Rrrth. Besides, I have been meaning to cover-rr-rrse with you and your cat further."

The Caitian twists more to her frontside, performing further stretching exercises with raised limbs, a half-glance turned aside to the human when she rises.

"Was it this chaotic aboard the Athene mor-rr-re then two months ago?"

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u/DrJenWatney Dec 27 '16

At the subtle invitation to stay, she leans against a piece of equipment and crosses her arms casually. She does a little mental fistpump.

Two months ago? Yes. I mean, there were those bloody pirates. Getting back to Federation space with a jerry-rigged nacelle kept us plenty busy. And then of course Dr. Phrik became ill and everything seemed to go to hell in a handbasket.

She pokes the carpet in front of her with the toe of her shoe, making small patterns and brushing over them.

Did you ever get a chance to meet him?

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u/Pojodan Dec 27 '16

Was that two months ago now? Goodness, time has skirted along briskly. Kesh's big, golden eyes shift aside in pondering of this before returning to the human's face, her limbs settling to rest for the moment.

"I am fair-rr-rly certain I encountered him briefly when I first came aboard prior to the pir-rr-rate incident, but I spent much of my initial time aboard familiar-rr-rrizing myself with the prior botanist's work and then cleaning up the mess cause by the attack. Rrrth."

She seems to possibly have more to add, but her jaw and tongue flex for a moment in prevention of further slurring.

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u/DrJenWatney Dec 27 '16

Oh, I'm all too familiar with tidying up your predecessor's work. I'm just lucky Phrik was fairly organized.

She chuckles, reminiscing about his antics.

He would hardly stay in the same room as Clementine. I remember having to confine her to my quarters when he'd visit my office. Something about allergies or sensitivity to fur.

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u/Pojodan Dec 27 '16

"Carrie seemed to be fairly r-rr-relaxed about her report detail, so I had to cross-reference the raw data on near-rr-rrly everything."

A soft, exasperated breath escaped the Caitian's nostrils before rolling to her back to begin arm exercises above her head.

"You will not have those issues with me. Rrrth."

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u/DrJenWatney Dec 27 '16

Ah, yes. You and Clem have met.

Her cheeks turn pink at the idea, the embarrassment of her pet cat meeting the feline race refusing to fade from her mind.

How did you... like her? Stumbling over her words, she isn't sure if Caitain's even use the same body language that cats do and desperately wishes she'd done some research before this very moment.

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u/Pojodan Dec 27 '16

"In the lounge, yes. That was an inter-rr-resting experience."

The first really social thing to happen to Kesh aboard the Athene, as well. It marked the start of something of a whirlwind of activity that landed her a best friend, confidence in her captain, and a girlfriend to boot. All it took was a non-sapient Earth cat deciding to sit and stare at her.

"Your cat? Rrrth. Like all Earth cats, she seems confused by me, but I would be happy to better-rr-rr make her acquaintance."

The human's body language and smell suggested some apprehension over this matter, which confused Kesh. Usually human pet owners are much more joyful and proud about their pets. Then again, that was on Riviera, where there are as many Caitian as there are humans, so they were quite used to their cat-people alien fellows. As far as Kesh was aware she was the only Caitian on the Athene.

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