Ensign Tho’Bi - I Set No Example

[Tobi]

((Deck Five, Section Seven, Compartment Ninety Nine - USS Artemis))

As he had watched the small cat scamper about his box-like quarters, in pursuit of fabric and ribbon shards, he had fallen into a deep sleep; and remained there, exhausted by the stresses of cat-sitting and ribbon-receiving alike, until the early hours of the next morning; where upon he woke to an insistent meow, from an insistent cat, who had insisted on climbing up onto his chest, in order to insist the young Andorian wake up.

“Meow!”, the white and black face of the little one filled his field of vision, her bright green eyes staring at him. 

Tho'Bi: ::dry mouth:: …hey …little one …you need something? 

As the Andorian glanced over to, what proved to be, a still half filled water and food bowls, he felt the pressure of four tiny paws on his chest; the pressure built in moments, before dissipating, as the cat jumped, paws landing on the deck. The Andorian hauled himself to sitting up and checked the ship time on his PADD; he still had over three hours before his shift began.

“Meow!”, while still insistent, this Meow carried a note of stress.

Scraaap! Scraaap!

“Meow!”

Scraaap! Scraaap!

Dark blue eyes looked down beyond his feet, still encased in their the black of standard issue boots, and the end of the sleeping rack; the little cat, up on her hindlegs, clawing at the dull grey surface of the door. 

“Meow!”

Scraaap! Scraaap!

Tho'Bi: ::gently:: I know little one ::gets up:: this room is small.

Swoosh! The doors parted; the little white and black cat scampered into the communal living room. The young Andorian followed behind in a series of tired shuffles.

Tho'Bi: That’s better …more room to pla-

“Meow!”

Scraaap! Scraaap!

His words were interrupted by the sound of the little cat, up on her hindlegs, clawing at the dull grey surface of the door to the corridor. The Andorian knelt beside the cat.

Tho'Bi: ::gently:: I know, little one …you miss your Mama …you will see her soon.

“Meow!”

Scraaap! Scraaap!

His words were to no avail. The little white and black cat continued to paw at the door, determined to find her way back to the Mama. The young Andorian sighed and cast a glance back towards his cramped sleeping quarters, freshly decorated with shards of fabric and ribbon; he needed to keep the cat distracted, occupied. 

((Time-Skip: Nearly Three Hours Later))

For nearly three hours, the replicator had shimmered blue in freefall, conjuring cat-sized supports, platforms, runs, ladders, and steps; while the young Engineer had situated and installed the various elements around the walls and ceiling of his cramped quarters. Four cat runs now crisscrossed the ceiling at various heights and slopes, with a platform and connecting column, at their center, complete with cosy cat house; a variety of pole, ladder, and step provided a variety of routes from the deck to the ceiling.  

In addition to the centre ceiling house, a cat-sized hammock had been installed below the porthole; a third bed, deep and cosy, had been set into the bulkhead above the side-table; leaving the rucksack to remain as positioned, between side-table and rack.

At first, the abrupt bangs and clunks of cat-tree construction drove the uncertain cat into the familiar gloom of the rucksack; but gradually, as pole, ramp, and ladder took shape and structure, the white and black cat began a cautious exploration of this new land of platform and shelter; before too long, a blur of white and black fur darted along the ceiling runs, scampered up climbing poles, or leapt from step to step, platform to platform. 

Though he did not know if the cat was any happier, she was at least occupied and distracted. The young Andorian checked the cat's water and food bowls and headed out to begin the day shift.

((Main Mess Hall, Deck 3, USS Artemis-A))

Having taken care of the cat's water and food bowls, it was now time to take care of his own. The mess hall was a hubbub of chatter and consumption. Crewmembers queued at replicators, as all manner of cuisine from across the Federation materialised before their eyes and stomachs. For his part, the Andorian stuck to his all too familiar usual.

With an ugly hunk of Raw Andorian Tuber Root and Fat Grass pinned between two ragged slices of Hari slapped on his plate, like an impact, the young Andorian spied the nearly promoted Lieutenant Junior Grade Crashcart, sitting by himself. As the tall Andorian strode over, fellow engineer and former fellow Ensign, Lieutenant Junior Grade Imril also made a beeline for the about-to-be not by himself one-promotion-closer to Field Marshall, Crashcart. 

Clatter, sit. Clatter, sit.

Bancroft: You look… lumpier than usual.

Imril: ::Feigning ignorance of who/what Bancroft is talking to:: Really? I’ve been working out more lately.

The young Andorian eyed the oatmeal with suspicion.

oO a bowl of snot Oo

Imril: Did you stay up even later than usual? Again?

Bancroft: response

As he listened to the Doctor's response, the young Andorian took an impolitely large bite of his monolithic sandwich. 

Tho'Bi: ::talking through chunky chews:: I too had little sleep.

Imril: ::Teasing:: You’re a JG now. You should be setting a better example of observing duty-shift timetables.

The young Andorian nodded and pointed at the nearly minted Lieutenant Junior Grade. 

Tho'Bi: ::chunky chews:: …that's true ::nodding and final chew:: I don't ::swallows:: I'm still an Ensign. I have no example to set,

Bancroft: response

Lieutenant Junior Grade Imril took a taste of their coffee.

Imril: Any particular reason for this particular bout of all-night-ism?

With a second equally impolite bite, the Andorian listened to Field Marshall in-waiting Crashcart.

Bancroft: response

Tho'Bi: ::chunky chews:: I am looking after Dr. Richards’ cat. The little one misses her mama. She… destroyed my dress uniform ::sheepish grin and shrug:: …it at least seemed to make the cat happy for a while …though it was just before the Ribbon Ceremony ::tilts head:: …which wasn't ideal.

Bancroft/Imril: Responses 

As the other two officers spoke, the young Andorian finished his second impolite bite.

Tho'Bi: I built her a cat tree. …hopefully, it will …distract her from missing her Mama. 

Bancroft/Imril: Responses 

The third impolite bite of monolithic sandwich proved too much for the young Andorian; his one meter ninety centimeter frame hacking in a fit of spluttering and coughing.

Bancroft/Imril: Responses 

Blue hand slapped the table top lightly, had the young Andorian known to, he might have compared the action to a wrestler tapping out.

Tho'Bi: ::breathless uneven speaking:: I'm fine …not the first time.

The young Andorian looked around at the two of them and smiled.

Tho'Bi: My mother calls this ::holds up the hulk sandwich:: that ridiculous human sandwich I make with our food ::laughs::

Bancroft/Imril: Responses 

TAGS/TBC

((OOC: Sorry, this took a moment. Got a lot on my mind. Easing myself into Shoreleave.))

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Ensign Tho’Bi

Engineering

USS Artemis-A

A240203T11