nexus_crossings | (no subject)

Now getting lost is one thing.

The base this blue humanoid gentleman hails from currently is dense and very easy to get turned around in. Every third street curves over another or the building you wanted was on the underside of some other arch and it can just be a mess trying to get around Yorktown. Norn would be just fine if he was simply a little bit lost. That's a sad way of life for the Andorian.

But to get so lost that he can no longer see the other arching streets of the base? So lost he feels like he's stepped into a Vulcan shop for how high the temperatures have risen? How there's actual humidity leaving the air heavy? It almost feels like he's no longer on the base.

Oh. Oh no.

Luckily there's a very helpful if not garishly dressed human on a screen in the Plaza. It doesn't help the man in a simple red and black uniform to get back home, but knowing there is a system in place quells the panic for the time being. He takes a seat on an unoccupied couch and props his chin in one equally blue hand while watching the denizens of the Nexus wander around. His antennae perk up ever so slightly once he's made up his mind. The next person he sees he'll ask.

"Have you ever broken a rule by...by accident? How did you handle it or the aftermath?" Norn is pretty sure this counts as some kind of leaving his post. Even though he's speaking directly at someone his voice is a quiet hush. Like he might fear being overheard or maybe his internal volume button doesn't go past five.

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"...Of course, sir."

Norn wants to know how two versions of Captain Kirk know about a place the DTI either doesn't or hasn't bothered shutting down. This bearded man may not be Lt. Norn's effective commander but it's still hard trying to loose his tongue for more than a few explanations or words otherwise at a time. He sighs nearly as loud as he was talking (so not very) while they continue on.

How curious this man seems to call a small predatory feline a companion.

"...I wasn't aware you kept a cat, sir." Maybe it's just this guy?

Oh, thank fuck, a topic they can talk about that probably won't lead to the destruction of a timeline or two. Jim flashes a smile over at the lieutenant. "What, Zunar? Yeah, he's the new kid in the house. He's a little troublemaker but he's good company. You a cat guy, Norn?"

"Good for company..."

That sounds rather nice considering how introverted the Andorian is. Still, the paperwork to be allowed a pet on the ship is not for the faint of heart and very few people ever actually end up keeping one aboard. Since he's an officer he'd be allowed to request it but....

"I've never owned a domesticated animal before sir. I don't know if I"m any kind of animal person."

"They're not for everybody," Jim admits, watching the fluffy orange tail weaving around people's legs ahead of them for a moment. "I didn't think I was the type either, but they kinda grow on you after a bit."

"You took in an animal you didn't know if you wanted?"

That seems a bit ill advised, but the captain--er. Captain Kirk. This is all so weird, just so SO weird. This other captian seems more than content with the company of this Zunar. Whatever the circumstances of their meeting they seem well attached to one another now.

"I'd." Norn pauses and watched the cat for a moment. "...I'd be worried that something would happen to any creature I kept if there was a problem on the ship."

Edited 2018-08-26 21:08 (UTC)

"Not exactly. I... looked after one for a while. A friend's cat." His expression is carefully schooled, giving away nothing but a slightly wistfulness. Assume it was cat-sitting if you want, Norn; Jim hopes that you do. "We got along pretty well, so after the cat had kittens, my friend gave me one."

The concern's pretty well-founded, from what Jim understands, and he addresses it with the appropriate seriousness. "For a lotta pets, I'd agree. Zunar's from a pretty smart breed though. I've got him trained on evac drills." Never mind that it's because the 'smart breed' is magic. That's probably what the other captain meant by 'weird,' so mum's the word on that.

"Evac drills? Really?"

Earth domestic felines are much more intelligent than previously surmised. Not that Norn has any real use for that factoid he's apparently picked up but that's impressive. Both his antennae have straightened ever so slightly as he stares after the cat who is leading the way again.

"That's good. ...As much as I wouldn't mind the company I have enough to worry about on board the ship without worrying over a pet too. But maybe some day that will be a good idea."

"Really," Jim affirms with a grin. "Like I said, his breed's kinda an exception. He's still a kitten though, so I'll probably have to refresh his memory every once in a while."

He knows enough about Andorian body language to read the tilt of those antennae, though he doesn't stare at 'em either, just a quick glance to see how he's taking this. "Good way to look at it. Do it when you're ready, not before. That'll save you some headache."