Star Trek: Starbase 777

[ PADD ] To: SCPO. Five of Eight From: Lt. T'she

Thank you for your kind message. I would enjoy having tea with you. I will be there at the earliest convenience.

Sincerely, Tamura T'she

[D] T'she was rather excited for this meeting, excited to actually be with people again, they had spent so much time alone, and really, it was getting to them. There was a small bag in their hands, one full of a few tins of tea, alongside a way to steep it. It was a small gift, or rather, an offering to a friend who had so graciously offered to host. T'she rang to announce their own presence, waiting for the door to open and for them to he let inside, but really, they were not in much of a rush, they did not have anywhere else to be after all -- a fact that they were glad for.

"Enter," Five called out, pushing up from her seat and moving to the door as it slid open. There was a smile clearly present in those dark eyes, and the person on the other side was drastically different from the timid, grouchy transfer from the Winter Ball almost a cycle ago now. "It's good to see you," they greeted politely, stepping aside to let them in. Her quarters were tidy, a few potted plants under grow lights, seeming cozy enough. There were quite a few blankets about, folded up on the arms of chairs. "Here, come in. I wasn't quite sure what tea you preferred, so I haven't done anything yet." Five rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. Nobody had set foot in their quarters on the Starbase, to their knowledge, both before and after the move.

"You need not worry about having anything prepared, I've brought some tea of my own to share with you," T'she said with a small smile of their own. They were rather happy to see that Five had settled in so well, that she had found a home here, home was important for those who cared about such a thing. "If you don't mind, I could prepare the tea for us. It is the least that I could do after you have so kindly invited me into your quarters," They finished before they stepped inside, looking around at their surroundings with a nod of approval. It was... nice, nice and cozy.

"Oh, that's very kind. Thank you." Five tipped their head to the side a little, nodding in the affirmative. "In the meantime, did you want any snacks or anything to go with it? I'm not much in the way of cooking, but I'm sure I could whip something up, or replicate something." It had been quite a while since they'd seen each other, and hadn't really spoken since the Winter Ball. T'she seemed a little more at ease. That was good. Maybe it was because it was quieter. "I might have some fruit or something I picked up... Hm."

They thought for a moment before they answered, weighting their options one way or another, "Anything is fine, though I think I would prefer something without much sugar. I can have some, of course, but I am still part Vulcan." T'she even managed to offer a smile, their eyes actually warm for what seemed to be the first time in a while. They were no longer stressed out of their mind and they were able to actually relax -- which was doing wonders for them.

"Of course, I kept that in mind when picking things out." Five nodded, then waved T'she over. "If you'd like, I have everything you need for the tea right over here." They hummed as they searched. "I suppose it depends on what kind of tea you would like to make. I can figure out what would pair best from there."

"I brought a simple black tea, nothing that would be considered too harsh. This blend has a nice earthy flavor, but it is still pretty light. It goes best with Honey I have found. And... thank you for keeping that in mind, I really appreciate it," They smiled again, something rather genuine. "If you would like to taste the tea that I brought before choosing something that would be acceptable as well," They spoke as they started to move towards the designated area and started the ever familiar steps that they needed to perform in order to make a good pot of tea. In a way, it reminded them of their grandparents, how they would have a cup of tea with every meal.

They nodded, thinking as they looked through everything, careful to dodge any chocolate ingredients for T'she's sake, not wanting their guest to be inebriated on accident. They eventually decided to make some lemon cookies. It'd pair well, they thought. "No need. I've had black tea before, I have honey somewhere around here." Unfortunately, replicated would have to do. "It is good to see you. You seem refreshed," she pointed out, looking over at them. "Or at least a little bit at ease."

The steps to preparing tea came easy to them, almost like second nature, it was a ritual, a set of parts that made up a whole. Warming up the water, preparing the leaves, steeping the tea, adding anything that would enhance the flavor – things like milk or cream or honey. They were engrossed in their task, only noticing that Five was speaking to them after an awkward moment of silence had passed. “Ah, well, my previous post was exceptionally stressful, and because of that, being back somewhere familiar is… suitable to say the least,” they did not have the words to truly explain how they felt, but… they hoped that what they said would get the point across. “You also look much more comfortable here, if you do not mind me saying. Perhaps the posting here suits us both in our own ways,” they mused before they smiled slightly, noticing that the tea was almost ready to be served. “My family used to have a tradition – talking about our respective days over a cup of tea. Perhaps you would like to do something similar here, I am curious to know how the station has been in my absence.”

The faintest hint of a smile quirked up the corner of their lips at the comment. Yes, Five was much more comfortable than they had been nearly a cycle ago now— was it that obvious? Maybe it was the lack of the hustle and bustle of getting here there and everywhere, or the counseling, or the grief that followed them finally starting to reduce to the smallest ache. Curiosity was their main interest at the moment. "I suppose you'd be right." That would be, truthfully, an understatement. "It sounds lovely. The station has been..." They trailed off, setting down the little plate they held. "Er.. well, it's been a lot, to say the least. There was the Tribble infestation, which was a mess and a half. We were up to our elbows in the things," they admitted, waving around. "And that's not even an exaggeration. I nearly drowned in them."

T’she knew at least a little bit about gauging others’ mental states, it was a skill that they picked up almost out of necessity, needing to avoid the strong emotions of others when they were younger and they barely knew how to control their own. “A tribble infestation? That sounds like rather more than anyone would have signed up for…” they commented quietly before they presented Five with the tea that they had finished preparing. “I am rather glad to see that you managed to survive your harrowing encounter,” the corner of their lip quirked upward. They seemed rather content for the moment, taking the space of a breath to blow the wisps of steam away from the top of their mug, all before they took a sip – having made it just the way that they liked it. “Now, sit, and I rather hope that you enjoy the tea, the blend is quite favorable after a long day.”

"Indeed." Five chuckled lightly, taking the warm mug they were given and cupping it in both hands. "Harrowing, I don't know how I survived." ... "There were cannibal tribbles, though. They had quite a nasty bite..." They shuddered a little at the memory, spooning just a little bit more sugar into their tea. Five took a seat as they were instructed, though hesitated a moment, watching T'she blow off the top of their mug. They mimicked them, taking a cautious sip. "It's lovely," they mused, settling into their seat a little more, tension relaxing with a soft sigh. "Thank you. It's very kind of you, doing all this for me."

"You are healthy now, and that is all that anyone can ask for," They spoke with a soft chuckle -- an almost alien sound considering their usual stoicism. They took a sip of their own tea, enjoying the taste, rather proud that they had managed to make it juuuust right. "I promised to have tea together with you, and I am simply fulfilling that promise. Besides, your company is pleasant -- if you do not mind me saying so."

Five blinked, a little bit red out of embarrassment. "That means a lot to me," they admitted quietly. "Of course, I.. I don't mind at all. Admittedly, our interaction last cycle was the best welcome to the station I could've had. I was...exhausted from travel. Overwhelmed." They rubbed the back of their neck sheepishly.

"That is understandable, I have felt overwhelmed myself for a while previously," they admitted, trying to show some form of vulnerability in order to connect and bond with the other. "I am glad that what little welcome that I could give you was appreciated, however, that means a lot to me. If you could tell... I was never the best at interactions..." they smiled slightly, making light of their own awkwardness.

Five laughed gently, still nursing their tea. It, and this interaction as a whole, left a warm feeling in their chest. "You're doing fine. Fine enough for me," they promised. "You're very kind, you know. Very pleasant to talk to, then and now. I'm sorry it took so long to finally get together for tea, as promised...nearly a cycle ago now." Had it really been almost a cycle since they arrived? It'd gone by in such a blur... "I suppose what I want to say is, if I'm not leaping forward, thank you for being a wonderful friend."

[ D ] The two had a pleasant time until unfortunately the time came to part, where they gave their farewells.

Scene set: Mo, a basket of mewling kittens in his hand, in the corridor, ringing the door. He was here to conduct a very important interview to see if Mx. Eight was the right fit for one of these little guys. They were black and white splotchy-patterned kittens, and the exact patterning of one of them would be up to Five's roleplayer to decide. It was kind of weird to see the Captain in the corridor with a bunch of kittens, but to anyone who knew him, it wasn't weird at all.

Five had ensured their quarters were tidy -- not that they usually weren't, just that they checked everything over with meticulous detail. They steadied their hands behind their back and answered the door to the Captain and his basket. "Captain," they greeted politely, standing aside to let him in. "Come in, sir. Did you want something to drink, or..?"

"Wouldn't mind a black coffee," Mo said as the kittens meowed at the sight of Five. Stepping into Five's room, he looked around, seeing how tidy the quarters were, thinking about what places could be kitten-proofed, looking for any other pets, and taking note of the decor and any other objects of interest he saw - not as part of the interview, he was just curious about other people's hobbies and interior design choices. He might use what be learned to decorate his office better. "Where should we sit? For the cat interview. It's just a few questions." He also needed somewhere to put down the basket so Five could take a look at them.

Five glanced down at the almost musical (meowsical?) chorus of sound, smiling gently to themself. "Of course, you're welcome to take a seat," they offered, gesturing to a set of two chairs by a coffee table. There was plenty of space to set down the basket nearby. Five's quarters were relatively simple. Not much in terms of decor. There were a few dried and pressed flowers framed and hung, a relatively small bookshelf, a few soft blankets folded over the chairs. No sign of any other pets. They set down the coffee on the table, taking a cup of tea with plenty of cream and sugar for themself. "Ready when you are," they offered.

He put the basket in the centre of the table, then picked up his coffee by the handle, blowing on it while keeping an eye on the basket like a bird to a nest. He took note of the bookshelf, blankets and pressed flowers, but not much was relevant except that he'd have to make sure Five knew some flowers were poisonous to cats if ingested. A few kittens poked their heads out, interested in the environment around them, and one started to climb out towards five. Chosen. "Question one: do you have any other pets? One point five: have you ever looked after cats in the past?"

Five watched the little kitten with an air of soft curiosity, tipping their head to the side. Chosen.. They didn't reach out, but were ready to catch the kitten if it wandered off the table. "Don't have any other pets, no." They shook their head. "On one of my previous postings, my partner and I shared a room-- I had a hamster, therapy animal but they had a cat we both took care of." Entranced by the fuzzy little balls of joy, they shook their head and glanced back up to Mo. "Kittens specifically, though, no. I've been doing quite a bit of research, though."

"So some amount of experience. That's helpful." Not like they would've been disqualified if they had none. "I'm glad to hear you've been doing research. There's a lot of misinformation about cats - mostly it's just people confused why cats don't act like dogs, or who've heard some misconceptions and never thought to check if they're true." It was mostly dog people who expected the former thing. He had a little bit of beef with dog-lovers, but now wasn't the time to get into it. "Did you know cats aren't technically nocturnal? They're crepuscular, meaning they're most active at dawn and dusk." His eyes brightened when he talked about it - truly a cat lover. He probably had quite a few cat facts stored up in his brain ready to go if asked. "Anyway, second question: what made you want to take on a cat this time? You can hold it, by the way, but be gentle," he said, gesturing to the kitten that was approaching Five.

Five listened intently, tipping their head to the side. The Captain seemed so passionate about cats, and working so hard to make sure the kittens found perfect homes .. It made them smile, at least a little. "I understand. You'd think people would have it figured out by now, with the thousands of years Earth has had them," they joked. "Ah, I didn't know that. That's really interesting." That was probably why Rito was up so early, usually kneading at Five or Alze's stomach or shoving her face into their chin. They almost laughed at the memory, glancing down at the kitten, at the black spot that covered most of its nose and mouth. "Of course." They gently lifted up the kitten into their lap, stroking its fuzzy fur. "I suppose -- I've been looking into getting a pet for a few months now. Companionship, certainly, is the highest reason on the list. Kittens are very high energy, most of the time, if they're not running around they're sleeping, but.. I would like to think I can handle it perfectly fine. Though I suppose that's your judgement to make, I'd hate to impose."

A Secret Santa gift arrived for Five: The gift was simple, at least, in theory, a houseplant from Risa, something known to many as the Risian Orchid – a plant that appeared to “glow in the dark” as it were. The base of the plant, in a sturdy pot, was wrapped in shiny paper and tied with a large ribbon with an even larger intricate bow. Tied to this ribbon was a little card, full of instructions for care (things like “keep in low light” and “replace water in the globe once a week”). In the pot itself was a fancy glass globe, dispensing water at a steady pace, as well as a few decorations on sticks that could be customized depending on the recipient's preference. Beyond this was another card, decorated with sparkles and a tropical scene, with a note of well wishes on the inside. “Happy Holidays MCPO Five of Eight! I heard you enjoy plants, so I chose one of my favorites to bestow upon you. May it bring you comfort in this holiday season! – your Secret Santa”

"Companionship was mine as well," Mo said, nodding as he observed Five give the cat some affection. That black spot around its nose and mouth... It looked like it'd tried to eat molasses. It was after he'd emerged from cryo he'd gotten Bandit, and she'd been there for him through his whole recovery. He was going to mourn Bandit like a sibling when she passed... But her little Bandititos would carry her spirit forward. "Third question: what will you do in an emergency? Not just a medical emergency, but when this station is in peril, as it sometimes is." Having pets in Starfleet was a whole different beast to having them on earth. You had to be prepared. "I can advise you on the answer to that question, though. I've had to make arrangements myself."

Five considered that query for a long moment, rubbing the kitten's head with their thumb. "My first impulse would be to make use of the resources aboard the station," they offered cautiously, tilting their head a little. There were plenty of pet daycares, a veterinary spot she'd heard things about. "Of course, I'd have to make sure they're socialized properly, that they don't hurt anyone. In the event of an evacuation where I stay behind--" like those damn tribbles-- "I'll make arrangements send them off as well, just to be safe." Five glanced up at Mo to make sure their answer was okay. "Advice appreciated if you deem it necessary, sir. You're more experienced than myself."

He took another sip of his coffee before replying, "That's essentially what I do. I can put you in contact with who I have look after Bandit in an emergency." Some sort of pet daycare was definitely available, and evacuation was a matter of putting pets in pods with the human evacuees mostly, although the idea of smaller pet pods for evacuation did amuse him. "I can write up a document with more detailed info and send it to you, as well as any further questions I have. I think those were the main three I wanted to ask about." The real priority here had been to meet Five face-to-face and get a feel for who they were. "I think we're done here - let me just finish my coffee, and you can distract that kitten in the meantime. It seems it quite likes you." The kitten made a small, high-pitched peep, like if a single exclamation mark was a noise, as if aware it'd been mentioned.

Five smiled in reply, clearly relieved they seemed to have answered fine. "Thank you, sir. I'll happily follow your example," they said, nodding in the affirmative. Contact and information was the best way forward, and they had a good feeling about this so far. They laughed at the odd little sound the kitten made, wholly engrossed in the fuzzball while Mo finished his coffee to the extent they forgot to speak for a moment. "Thank you again for this opportunity. I'm happy to be considered." And it was smart, interviewing people he didn't know to make sure they were the best fit for Bandit’s kittens. He clearly cared a lot about them, and Bandit herself. Five hoped to have a chance to meet her someday, though was concerned it may be unprofessional.. They played with the kitten until it was time to say goodbye, gratefully wishing the Captain farewell and the family of cats good health until they met again.

The green lights never quite went away. They always seemed to be in the corner of her vision, following her, following that chill up her spine that froze her to the bone. Five jolted awake, one hand clutching the blanket over her as the lights on her implants blinked and flashed in rapid succession. Her heart pounded in her chest as if it sought to escape the confines of her ribs. Blinking back hot tears, they reached up to wipe their eyes, hissing in quiet discomfort at the bumpy texture of scar tissue and the cold metal on their face. Everything was too loud right now, her pajamas were rubbing too much on her skin and making her want to cry even more. She hugged her own arms, metal digging into flesh, waiting for her breathing to steady and her heart to slow again.

Five rolled over onto her stomach, staring at the big ball of black and white fluff in front of her. "I still feel tingly," she mumbled, reaching out to give him a snack. "Like the adrenaline hasn't quite worn off yet. Isn't that a little silly?" Holly, as a cat, said nothing in response. Five laughed to themself, scratching his head. "We're doing drinks again next week. I'm... Excited. I'm not used to hanging out with a big group like this. Being held up on Farrah's shoulder, holding the flag— holding victory— I think I still have butterflies..." Holly nuzzled against her hand, searching for another treat with a little "meow?" of curiosity, before shoving up into it for more pets. "You're right, maybe they'd like to meet you someday. Or at least, one of them. Or maybe I'm finally losing it and I'm talking to a cat, thinking he can understand me.* Blink. "... Probably that."