Lieutenant Commander Timothy Alentonis & Ensign August Winslett: Adopting Curio
Zeph
OOC: Zeph had been considering this subplot for a while, and misses the good cat named Curio very much.
OOC2: There is going to be a moment in the sim where Zeph will use a different font on purpose.
August’s character thoughts are in italics for clarity.
((Hallway, Deck 12, USS Astraeus))
August muttered to himself as he walked briskly down the hall, staring at the PADD in front of him. This ship was massive. How was anybody supposed to find their way around? In what century were they going to invent a manageable Starfleet vessel for the directionally-challenged? He almost bumped directly into a man standing in the hall also engrossed in a PADD of his own.
Winslett: Oh, excuse me I’m so sorry!
Tim hadn’t noticed he’d stopped in the middle of a hallway, as he got distracted by this one image of a very cute brown tabby, who didn’t look more than a few weeks old. The green eyes, the kind face… He was so wrapped up in it that it wasn’t until someone ran into him he realized where he was.
Alentonis: My bad. Forgot my spatial awareness for a moment. Sorry about that, Doctor.
Winslett: Oh, Commander! I didn’t realize it was you.
August could have kicked himself. How many of the superior officers was he going to blunder into or with? He stopped and considered Tim for a moment. The Commander looked perplexed.
Winslett: Is there something I can help you with, sir?
Alentonis: I was contemplating getting a pet. I still haven’t determined if I’m a dog person or a cat person, but…I am leaning very much toward cat right now.
Winslett: ::forehead creasing:: I’m not sure. To be honest, I’ve never had pets. I love dogs, but my parents wouldn’t allow them in the house. Dad thought they were unsanitary. Can I see what you’re looking at?
Alentonis: Sure. Take a look at this adorable looking tabby. His name is Curio.
Winslett: ::laughing:: Pals With Paws. That’s great! You should totally check it out. And Curio is cute as a button. I don’t know how you pass up getting a chance to meet him. ::pausing:: You want some company? I’m happy to. I doubt I’d be able to find where I was going anyway. I can’t navigate this ship.
The fact that someone was not only encouraging him, but was willing to go along with him was enough of a motivator. He could give the ensign the tour on the way out or the way back, he supposed. It seemed like a good idea, anyway. It was Chythar who said that Tim had to spend more time socializing, anyway. This seemed as good an excuse as any.
Alentonis: Sure! You can either talk me into it or talk me out of it.
Winslett: Sounds good. I have to warn you, I’m usually the one talking my friends into things they’re on the fence about. Life’s too short to not go for it! I’m August, by the way.
Alentonis: Of course, sorry. I’m Tim. I work in the science department.
Winslett: Medical here! So let’s see ::looking at the PADD:: looks like we’re headed for Deck 8.
Alentonis: Deck 8 it is.
Winslett: ::while walking down the hall:: So tell me a little about yourself. How long have you been on the Astraeus?
Alentonis: First tour lasted approximately three months. Second tour, which I’m presently on from May of last year til now. How about yourself?
Winslett: Very recently, actually! This last mission to the colony was my first.
Alentonis: More fun than staying at home, I imagine?
Winslett: ::laughing:: You can say that again. But I’m not deterred. Can’t give my parents the satisfaction of going back home to my dad’s practice. I want to do my own thing. Chart my own course, so to speak.
Aleontonis: I was heavily into Romulan archaeology when I first interacted with officers on a regular basis, and I was a civilian at the time.
Winslett: Really? That’s incredible! I know absolutely nothing about archeology. Well, other than the few tidbits I picked up here and there at the Academy. Do you still do anything in the academic field, or is it full-time commission at this point?
He hadn’t done any archaeology of anything significant in some time, but he did still keep up with the arts & science journals. There was that one creature they found a while back, but it wasn’t the same thing as digging through ancient Romulan artifacts.
Alentonis: I guess mostly academic. A lot of my work these days is in metallurgy rather than Romulan artifacts, which is my main field. How about you? Any particular discipline of medicine?
Winslett: Imaging and internal medicine is my specialty.
(( Mini Timeskip ))
(( Pals with Paws Adoption Center ))
They’d arrived at Pals with Paws, and the first noises they heard were the mixture of meows and barks as both cats and dogs sang out in a disjointed cacophony as they were hoping for new homes. They were greeted by an enthusiastic male teenager wearing a ballcap, pair of baggy jeans and a blue polo shirt with the Pals with Paws logo in the upper right corner.
Fredrickson: Ah, good morning! Looking to adopt?
Alentonis: Yep, I saw this adorable little guy on your site and thought he’d be perfect.
Fredrickson: Oh really? Which one?
Alentonis: I believe his name is Curio? Little brown tabby?
Fredrickson: Ah yes. Right this way, gentlemen.
Winslett: Thank you! ::Addressing Alentonis:: Are you nervous?
Alentonis: A little. Almost don’t know how to react.
Winslett: It’s kind of exciting! You’ve just seen the picture so far, but you never know. This may turn out to be a companion for a long time. If he stays with you for a long time, you may look back on this day years from now and remember the first time you ever laid eyes on him.
August hoped he wasn’t putting too much pressure on the Commander, but he couldn’t help being excited for him.
As they got into the back area, the various animals were busy preening or otherwise trying to make a good impression. Fredrickson listened to the conversation behind him but didn’t intervene with it, for right now. As he led the pair to Curio’s cage, he checked the food and water of the surrounding animals.
Alentonis: You’re probably right. Just a case of nerves, I guess.
Winslett: I know. And he has such soulful eyes. I think that’s how you read a cat’s personality: through the eyes. ::pause:: They read us too, you know? I think it’s as much about him choosing you as it is you choosing him.
Alentonis: Again, you’re probably right.
Once they got to the cage, the handler opened the kennel and procured a small kitten, offering him to Tim. The little tabby glanced up at the professor, those piercing green eyes gleaming like emeralds for a moment. There was a moment of silence, and the two without speaking seemed to be holding a conversation. For Curio’s end, it came out as a meow audible to all three. To Tim, it sounded like words.
Curio: I choose you. I am yours.
Alentonis: oO There’s something special about you… it’s in the eyes… Oo
Curio: You want a companion, to love and to hold. I need you as much as you need me. We will both love each other with all that we are. I choose you, Tim.
Alentonis: :: to Winslett :: I think I’m sold. Look at those eyes.
Winslett: ::smiling broadly:: Then it’s meant to be.
Fredrickson: He was brought in a few weeks ago by a family who found him in their backyard. Landlord didn’t allow pets in the building, so they brought him here knowing we’d find a good home for him. He’s vaccinated.
Alentonis: Do I have to fill out any kind of paperwork?
Fredrickson: Yes, there is. Thankfully, since he was already checked out by the vet there is a lot less of it. We also offer a free engraving service to modify the tag with their new owner’s information if that is something you’d like to take advantage of.
Tim smiled and looked down at the cute little kitten in his arms, who meowed softly and rubbed against his chin. Once again, what came out as soft mews to the others came out as crystal clear words to the scientist.
Curio: You and I were meant for each other, Tim. I am your cat, and you are my human.
Alentonis: I think I’ll engrave it myself to form a more personal connection, if you don’t mind.
August was giddy. The Commander had clearly formed a strong connection to this cat. Sometimes, beings who are supposed to love each other find themselves at just the right time. Sometimes, it actually all worked out.
Fredrickson: I think he likes you, sir.
Winslett: ::reaching his hand down to give the kitten a loving goodbye scratch behind the ears:: I think I’m going to head back to Sickbay if you don’t mind, Commander.
August wanted the two to have as much time together as possible to bond. This was a special moment for both of them. They needed to share it alone.
Curio nuzzled August’s hand in reply to the gentle scritches, then went back to nuzzling Tim.
Alentonis: Not a problem, doctor. Thank you for coming.
As the doctor headed back toward sickbay, Tim filled out the remaining paperwork with his free hand and continued to cuddle the cat with the other. Within minutes, he had officially adopted Curio and made his way back to sickbay.
Medical Officer
USS Astraeus, NCC-70652
A240202AW2
Lieutenant Commander Timothy Alentonis (PhD)