Space Cows

Posted on Sun Mar 28th, 2021 @ 4:44pm by Senior Chief Petty Officer Mason Malone & Lieutenant Kevan Dash

Mission: By Artemis' Bow
Location: Security Office
1439 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

"So... space cows huh?" Mason walked into the office carrying two cups of coffee, along with a small plate of assorted cookies. "Have you heard? The ship is to assist a science team in the observation of what ship's gossip calls space cows. How funny is that?"

"Pilgrims," Kevan corrected. "Though I guess the nickname is sticking." He accepted the drink and took a sip. Not bad - Mason had definitely learned how he took it. "I haven't seen them myself but people are saying they're bigger than a Galaxy-class starship. Can't wait to get an up-close look."

"Bigger than a Galaxy class?" Mason nearly spat his coffee mid-sip. "Oh my, that's very big cows then, we best not get on their best side then do we? So I guess we got to find out if they're really utterly harmless or whether they can form a danger to our ship? I mean, if they're that big..." He set his cup down on his desk and slid into his chair.

"Hopefully harmless. If they're really like cows then they're probably docile," Kevan replied. He caught sight of his fingernails, still painted a glossy pink, as he sipped his coffee. "This stuff still won't come off. Xavier said they used some sort of sealing polymer in the mix. Could be weeks before it'll grow out," he complained. "I look ridiculous."

"I think it looks great," Mason praised, showing his own neon coloured nails. "Just about match mine, don't they?" He smiled approvingly at his friend. "You do realize you could've said no to them getting painted?"

"Sure, but then I'd have looked scared," Kevan shrugged, still eying his own hand. "No way I can back down from something like that, you know me." He chuckled.

"Saying no and being scared are two things though. I wouldn't have thought any less of you, you know that. And I don't give a hoot about what others think about me anyways." He grinned back. "You know that too. Now if you really want to get it off, surely the computer can suggest a few methods?"

"Ah, I tried that already. Even asked the Doc, but he told me he couldn't help. I thought about asking Lt. Keating, but I figured she'd just laugh and make me keep them anyway." He held them out at arm's length. "I dunno, think I can pull them off?"

Mason took one of the held out hands, examining the nails. "I don't know, but what do I know..." He looked up. "I have four sisters, I can ask one of them if you like?" He shrugged. "It doesn't bother me though, if anyone got a problem with me having painted nails then that's their problem right. Not mine."

"Depends - are your sisters cute?" Kevan asked with a grin.

"Eh..." Mason shrugged. "They probably are? Also very ahh unavailable I'm afraid. At least last I know? I did tell you I'm pretty much raised by my oldest sister didn't I? I'm the youngest of the five of us."

"Just a baby then," Kevan chuckled, aware of the irony that he was younger than Mason. "Well if any of them decide to pay us a visit, you'll introduce us won't you?"

"Oh I'd be happy to introduce you to my sisters," Mason laughed, "if you're okay with getting coddled by them? Oh... and if I do the introducing just be prepared for well wishes hm?" His eyes twinkled with mirth. "Because they'll think we're dating, just so you know. You should've seen them coddle my ex when he was first introduced. It was hilarious."

"Huh." Kevan shrugged, not really sure what to make of that. They were friends - close friends, they'd agreed. But Mason was different to most of his other friends. Not only because of the way he leaned, but by the fact that he seemed to care about Kevan a lot more. "So you didn't correct them?"

"When Alex was introduced? No, why would I do that, when he was my fiancé at the time? I haven't told them about you if that's what you're worried about. They just want me to be happy you know." Mason shrugged. "And I do think they'd believe you'd be a good catch, and I'd agree." His smile returned again. "Cute, lovely spots, a little shy about himself maybe. Don't worry though, I'd correct them then." He cast a brief glance at his screen as data was still rolling in. "Even if I wouldn't want to," he added slowly, turning his eyes back to his friend.

Kevan tried not to react to that last comment. "You're funny," he retorted, knowing that their light-hearted bromance had been the cause of rumours among the rest of the department. "You just don't want to watch me flirting with your sisters," he added with a wink.

"True, but you'd do it anyway," Mason chuckled, "and they'd probably find it amusing but politely turn it down for my sake. I know my sisters very well. Do you have any siblings? Are they joined?"

"Nah. No brothers or sisters. Trill don't reproduce as well as most species," Kevan replied. "It's why the joining is so important. Or so they tell me anyway. So no, I have no idea what it's like to have a brother or sister."

"It can be a crowd," Mason chuckled, "and being the baby of the lot isn't always easy either, though I did get away with a lot when I was little. Especially after dad died, and Miranda took over caring for us all." He leaned forward. "Do you want to be joined? How does that work, if you do want to?" It was hard for him to understand, being Human. "I did have houseful of pets at some point. I had three gerbils but I gave them away when I married Alex as he had a cat. And suddenly we had kittens too as Bastet did get out at night. I kept one of them, the rest went with Alex and Angelique. I mean, you did see that little queen in my quarters the other day right? All uppity and looking at you with disdain? My Guinevere."

"It's...not really like having a pet," Kevan said slowly, not sure where Mason was going. "Joining is a bit of a sensitive thing for Trill. It's a rite of passage. Culturally it's actually really important for a lot of people, too." He looked away into the distance a moment. "The joining isn't for me, though. I'm not great at...commitment."

"I'll be the last to profess any knowledge about the Trill species beyond the language but.. doesn't your personality change when you get joined? I'm not sure how commitment comes into play." Mason cast his friend a curious look. "Why wouldn't you be a good host?"

Kevan sighed. It wasn't an easy subject for him, after rejecting the opportunity as a teenager, he knew that it was almost impossible for him to ever go down that path. "Lots of reasons," he said. "Joining with a symbiont is like...deeper than getting married. It's like your soul - your very essence - is bonded to something else, for the rest of your life. So, yes, things change about your personality, your likes and dislikes...I don't think that was something that was right for me."

Mason doubted that, especially since his friend seemed to be mellowing when it came to certain preferences. At least, that was how Mason perceived it. "Well... I think you'd be a great host. You're intelligent, and you're a good person." He smiled encouragingly. "But... I don't want to make you uncomfortable and clearly this is something best... not discussed?" He arched an eyebrow at him. "I won't bring it up again," he promised, carefully reaching out to take his hand. "But if you do wanna talk about it, lemme know alright?"

Kevan blinked at the kind and heartfelt words. He met Mason's eyes for a long moment, not sure how to respond. Catching himself a minute later he shrugged and withdrew his hand. "Yeah, cool. I'm gonna...go get some more coffee," he said, looking at the barely-touched cup in front of him.

Mason's hand remained on the desk, fingers slightly spread. "Can you make me one too?" He asked to change the subject.

"What am I, your slave?" Kevan retorted with a little taunting wink.

"Hmm... maybe?" Mason laughed, "you wanna be?"

Kevan winced at the comeback but shrugged. Maybe it wouldn't be terrible, but he wouldn't admit that. "I'll be back," he grunted as he walked out.