The Brand New Roommate

Posted on Sat Jan 29th, 2022 @ 4:33am by Lieutenant Kennedy Ryan Walsh & Lieutenant Mothim-Ril

Mission: Starbase Shoreleave
Location: Senior Officer's Quarters, Deck 4
Timeline: Mission Day 7 at 1900

Lieutenant Kennedy Ryan Walsh had been dreading his primary task on his to-do list since this morning and kept to the end of the day. He took in a deep breath and took a step closer. His anxieties began to spiral as he looked down the corridor towards to the Turbolift. He knew that he would see plenty of Irynya but he felt torn away from his safety net of her, Noah and surprisingly Sheldon Parsons. He had never developed friendships as he had before. On the Reliant he was assigned a bunk number in general quarters and remained there for two years. The Rhode Island class starship felt larger than the Reliant in terms of quarters and amenities.

The step forward caused the door sensor to detect his presence and slide open. The Quartermaster had told him that they had brought his personal items. There wasn't terms of much to unpack as he took a pretty minimalist approach since his posting on the Reliant, keeping most of his personal items in storage. There were a few trinkets he had out in his room he shared with Noah. He closed his eyes remembering the moment the two of them nerded out on Transformers which brought a smile to his face.

He took in a deep breath and mumbled to himself, "To new friends."

Mothim looked up when the door opened. His solid blue eyes met the human with a single blink. "Oh," the Aurelian closed the book he had been reading - something written in another language, likely his native Aurelian script. "Hello." He stood up, showing off his full height, well over seven feet tall at the top of his head, not even including the wings. "You must be the neighbor. It is good to meet you."

Kennedy looked over and watched the Aurelian stand up. His head shifted to take in the majestic orange and yellow feathers of his new roommate. He hovered over fifty-one-point-eighty-two centimeters or one foot-seven inches taller than him. He slowly nodded his head, "I'm Doctor Kennedy Ryan Walsh, the Chief Medical Officer. Please, call me, Kennedy." He wasn't certain what greeting rituals the Aurelians had but he reached out his petite hand.

Mothim took the hand in his own. It was quite a contrast; the Aurelian's long, feathered fingers that ended with sharp talons (that he kept away from Kennedy's hand with practiced care - he was obviously no stranger to handshakes), wrapped about Kennedy's smaller, human hands. "I'm Mothim-Ril, the Chief Science Officer here. Please, call me Mothim." The scientist copied the human's syntax, for lack of a better way to introduce himself.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mothim." Kennedy smiled and shook the Aurelian's feathered fingers. "How long have you been aboard the Sojo?"

"Not long at all." Mothim sat back down, crossing his clawed feet. "Say, I have a question for you; Aurelians don't normally wear clothing. How much would it bother you if didn't wear anything, while in here?" Bad enough that he had to wear a uniform while on duty.

Kennedy's cheeks became flushed and felt slightly uncomfortable with the Aurelian's question. He rolled his shoulders back with uncertainty, "I think it probably is best for you to be clothed in shared our shared space for now. We can talk about this once we've come more comfortable with... each other? Is that okay?"

"Ah," Mothim responded, not bothering to hide his slight disappointment. What was it with humans and their behavior towards clothing? Mothim had asked them before, on previous ships. Some of them claimed it was a discomfort with genitalia, which Mothim might have understood. If Aurelians had external... parts, they might too be as prude as the humans. Some of them claimed it was due to practicality. They didn't have feathers or fur to cover them, so they were used to the garments, as a culture. Oh well. The scientist figured he'd just have to spend extra time in his bedroom then, for his feathers to get a chance to breathe.

"You're in medicine, then?" Mothim asked, changing the subject as he folded his clawed hands into each other.

Kennedy slowly nodded his head. He was indeed in medicine, "Yes. Yes, I am. I was promoted yesterday, I'm a newly minted full Lieutenant." Kennedy grinned as he looked down at the two full gold pips on his collar, "Going to take some use to getting. Do you have any advice for a newly minted department head, Mothim?"

"I can't say." Mothim shrugged. "I'm pretty new to this, too." He had earned his second gold pip about three years, but hadn't found a spot as a department head until his transfer onto this ship. "Congratulations on the promotion, by the way."

"Thank you," Kennedy smiled, "Congratulations on your promotion too?"

"Thanks." Mothim nodded. He wasn't technically promoted; he had been a lieutenant on his previous ship, despite only being assistant department head, but that was only a technically. The Aurelian looked forward to running the science department. "I suppose this is the part where I try to wiggle my way out of getting a mandatory checkup?" The scientist asked the second question with an amused glimmer in his blue eyes.

Kennedy was quick-to-respond without much thinking that it was more of a joke than anything else. He shook his head, "Not a chance. Please make an appointment when you can before we get underway from Pathfinder Station. The sooner the better."

Mothim grinned at that. He wasn't about to point out that it had been a joke, but he found a sort of amusement in the man's serious reaction anyway. "Will do, doc. Will do."

Kennedy lightly nodded his head satisfied with Mothim's answer, "Not sure how else to broach this but I've got a girlfriend onboard the Sojourner. We've only been dating for a short time there might be some evenings she might be over. We most likely are hanging out in my room but sometimes we might hang out here in the common area. Is that... okay with you?"

"Sure," Mothim shrugged. "Whatever." He gave an amiable grin. Inwardly though, he groaned. So I have to wear a stuffy uniform all the time, while you get to bring your girlfriend over? That seems fair.

Kennedy nodded, "I better unpack then. Look forward to living with you. And again welcome aboard the Sojo."

"Thanks. Glad to be aboard."