JP - ENS Chevalier & Ensign Gnai - Home, part 1

[CPT Arianus]

(( Quarter 0712, USS Artemis-A ))

(( Five days after Bajoran accident ))

The doorbell rang through quarter 0712. A bit unnecessarily, as the door opened a moment later, and a hover chair squeezed into the common room, driven by a young man, barely twenty years old, dressed in the color of command red. Youngster parked the chair by the couch and came around the chair to help propel its occupant onto the sofa.

Black: So, finally home, ensign. Are we happy ensign? Are we?

Damien gently caressed his boyfriend's face, his touch filled with love and concern. He then disconnected the crutch from the chair, handling it with care, and placed it near the table within Jaseb's reach, ensuring his comfort. Jaseb, despite his tired and sunken appearance, seemed content, his eyes reflecting a hint of mandatory happiness.

Black: Do you want something? Water, chocolate, coffee?

Jaseb smiled.

oO Five minutes of peace and silence? Oo

Chevalier: Flat white, if you can…

Damien nodded excitedly and hopped off to the replicator, fulfilling everything he could see in his BF's eyes.

Gnai had been alone in the shared quarters for the past five days, and while it hadn’t really seen much of Ens. Chevalier before the disastrous tricorder training anyways, the quarters had felt stiflingly quiet with his absence. It was a heavy feeling, as Gnai felt at least partially responsible for its bunkmate’s injury. Had it not listened to Renirs’ suggestion to investigate the cave, he wouldn’t have been stuck in a Bajoran hospital, rushing from operating room to operating room to mend the leg that he had lost.

So when there was finally some light noise denoting activity in the joint space, Gnai was somewhat startled, but pleasantly so. It was a good sign, things would hopefully be returning to sort-of-normal, or however normal one can be when one has lost a leg. It put down the PADD it was reading a dissertation on magnetism in the interstellar medium, and made its way into the conjoining room, somewhat sheepishly.

Black: Ah, hello, ensign roomie! ::nods to Jaseb on the coach:: Look who the Caitians brought home.

Gnai: ::hesitantly:: Hello Chevalier, and you are…?

Ens. Chevalier looked… better than Gnai had seen him last in the Rakantha Province Hospital. But it hadn’t seen this other… human (?) before. Humanoid, sure, but a lot of them were similar in ways that Gnai wasn’t always certain it could discern. Perhaps it had just missed seeing him, as it had missed seeing Ens. Chevalier before now. Their schedules were at odds with each other most of the time thus far, it seemed.

Black: ::extends his hand to shake:: Petty Officer Damien Black, Department of Cultural Affairs. Nice to meet you.

Damien turned off his chest and threw a slightly affected jab. Not that he expected Gnai to remember him; after all, they had never met in person, but he remembered Gnai well. He knew who Gnai was. What would he be for his boyfriend if he did not make a full background check on his BF's roommate?

Chevalier: AKA a fancy name for a paper-pusher while on duty and barista when he’s not.

An interesting combination that Gnai had no clue what to make of, so it just bobbed slightly. Career paths in Starfleet were not always as cut and dry as they liked to make them seem to recruits.

Gnai: ::pauses then extends its suit’s hand to shake:: Oh, nice to meet you. ::gestures to itself:: This is Gnai, science officer.

Damien shook hands with Gnai and relaxed his shoulders. He touched Gnai's shoulder and then his hands. Then he let go of his hand and turned back to the replicator.

Black: Yeah, I’m creating the art of coffee here, Gnai. Do you want some too? Some favored culture of serving? Milk? Sugar? One or two shots?

Gnai: No, thank you. This doesn’t drink. ::turning to Ens. Chevalier:: Are you better?

Damien shrugged.

Black: Oki douky.

Jaseb looked through Gnai at Damien, watching as Damien meticulously assembled the coffee components, blending them together to create what he referred to as a "miracle." He bit his lip, thinking.

Chevalier: Yes? Generally speaking, like…you were there, Gnai. So, better than yesterday…

Black finally finished his coffee magic and stretched around Gnai's suit with a glass of still-hot coffee, which he placed on the table.

Black: There it is... I will go now, ok? So, play nicely with your roommate and don't be mean to him. Good?

Jaseb obediently nodded. Petty officer kissed his boyfriend on the cheek and turned to Gnai to wave to him.

Black: Bye, Gnai.

And left. As the door closed behind Black, Jaseb raised his hand to the ceiling, first with an empty index finger, then adding a squirt and a thumb.

Chevalier: ::whispers:: Three... ::smiles:: Do you hear it, Gnai? SILENCE. Finally…

TBC

--

Ensign Jaseb Chevalier

Operations Officer

U.S.S. Artemis-A

A240009JC1

&

Ensign Gnai

Science Officer

USS Artemis-A

A240102G11