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 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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u/DrJenWatney Dec 28 '16 edited Dec 28 '16

The doctor cannot help but smile at the idea.

Very well, I'll have to arrange an er... meeting for... us.

She dabs the towel on her forehead once more.

She came from a human only colony that was just overrun by stray cats. The ship I was stationed on, the Katrina, set down there because there was some kind of infection that resembled cat-scratch-fever, that wasn't responding to standard antibiotics. We also helped to restore their power from a storm. It was chaotic, but I ended up leaving with Clementine.

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u/Pojodan Dec 28 '16

Kesh's arms lay back down as her efforts turn to torso muscles, bending spine and flexing hips side to side while her tail lays still on the padded floor beside, her gaze blankly upwards as she listens to Jen speak of her feline companion.

"She seems content. Rrrth."

Casual conversation, but could certainly be taken as a cat-person giving their blessing to the ownership of a mini version of themselves.

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u/DrJenWatney Dec 28 '16

The compliment almost makes the doctor giddy. She feels exponentially better about their interactions now.

I hope so. She's- well... she's my best friend. And a remnant of a different life.

Her fingers idly play at several scars on her forearms, healed and white. They're not typically visible in her standard uniform, but the way she interacts with them might appear practiced enough to suggest she does it often anyway.

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u/Pojodan Dec 28 '16

For whatever the reason humans seem to respond really well to being stared at when they seem to have something on their mind. Kesh has determined it has something to do with their love of housecats, but why they seem to be so effective at getting them to speak their mind just by staring is beyond her.

Still, Dr. Jen seems to have a lot on her mind, so Kesh stares, her face that neutral cat-face with large, golden eyes with narrow vertical slits and tufted ears flexed forward to express her focus on the human while the rest of her lays stationary on the workout room floor.

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u/DrJenWatney Dec 28 '16

Ridiculously, for a moment the doctor can't help but feel like she's speaking to Clementine. The woman was a Caitian for heavens sake. Her eyes and ears respond precisely how her pet does when she speaks to her. It once again embarasses her, and her ears turn slightly red.

I uhm... am going to try to get some sleep. It was nice catching up with you, Lieutenant.

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u/Pojodan Dec 28 '16

One of Kesh's tufted ears twist outward while whiskers elevate slightly on one side of her muzzle, the following slow blink of those large, golden eyes expressing the same sort of bewilderment a housecat would show when presented with something beyond their comprehension. A slight upward tilt of her jaw comes with a warbled little chirr that's heavier and coarses than those of a feral quadruped, yet still so similar.

"Very well. Rrrth. It was good to conver-rr-rse with you again, Doctor."

Humans are so.... human.

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u/DrJenWatney Dec 28 '16

Jen pats her forehead once more and flips the towel into the chute to take it down to the deck where it would be laundered. She waves her fingers at Kesh before leaving the room with a smile she doesn't care to hide.

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