Uncle!

Posted on Sat Feb 1st, 2020 @ 9:32pm by Commodore Jane Saulitis

Mission: Cruel Meridian
Location: Commander Murphy's New Quarters
Timeline: MD 01 12:00 Hours
1041 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Min found her new quarters to be quite comfortable. She could stretch her wings and flap a bit. Momma had told her to be careful around humans when doing that but as no one was in the quarters but her at the moment, she felt she could get away with a bit of stretching. The door opened startling her and she twirled around, knocking over a vase of flowers on a side table as the doors closed behind a man she had never met but recognized.

Patrick winced involuntarily at the crashing sound. It was so strange to come home in quarters that were at least twice the size he was used to. He froze when he saw the -to him- oversized bird. "Uhm.." he started, not quite sure where to start. "You're Min, right?" He walked up, careful not to startle her again because clearly that's what had happened. "I'm Patrick, though you can call me Paddy. Murph does too."

Min's eyes got wide and she snapped her wings back into place behind her. "I'm sorry!" She dove down, picking up the flowers and the broken pieces of glass, putting them in the replicator. "I didn't expect anyone to come in right then. You are Papa Murphy's mate, Uncle Paddy." She said that as if that's what everyone called him. "I know you."

"Oh don't worry about it dearie." he smiled at her. "You know me?" he continued as he sank down on the couch, patting the spot next to him for her to sit on. "Yes Murph's my mate," he added, smile brightening. "Why do you call him papa and me uncle?"

"Because he's my godfather, which sort of makes him my papa." Min shrugged. "I don't know, Momma always referred to you as Uncle Paddy. Is that okay?" Min asked, she hadn't sat down yet and seemed to be waiting for his response before she did so.

"You can call me whatever feels right to you," Patrick assured her, "and please don't apologize for stretching your wings. We'll move things around a little to make room for you to do so. I trust you've inspected your room? Got all your things here?"

Min nodded enthusiastically as she sat down. She curled her wings around to the front though so she didn't have to lean against them. It was uncomfortable to do so. They enveloped her like a blanket. She looked pleased at his questions. "I didn't bring much. Papa Murphy has gone to get me some paper and a pen so I can draw and record things on my trip."

"Record things like what?" Patrick asked, pulling his legs up and shifting so that he could look at her. "Like a journal?"

"Maybe, but I kind of want to share it too," Min said looking thoughtful. "And I like to draw people. Humans are very interesting to look at."

"Oh dear..." Patrick murmured, feeling a little self conscious now. "We are? How?" He frowned slightly. "Share, as in publish? LIke a reporter?"

"Maybe. I won't report on you if you don't want me to. But can I draw your picture?" Her feathers seemed to ripple, revealing a tiny bit of a golden hue to their tips.

"I'd rather not be reported on, but you can certainly write about my food," Patrick smiled. He caught the golden hue and was mesmerized by it for a moment. "You can draw me if it's for personal use, I really like my privacy...." He looked up at her. "Maybe you can draw Murph and me together too, when he gets home?"

"Sure." Min sighed. "Papa Murphy says you like to cook. Can you cook steak? I love steak . . . and pears."

"Cooking is what I do," Patrick beamed at her, "and I'm sure I can cook anything you want. Within reason of course. I'm sure that I can cook a steak for you sometime. I assume you like pears as a snack, and not together with the steak?"

"I like pears anytime." Min answered quite seriously. "Momma told me to tell you I like my steak rare. Whatever that means. But I would like to try more fruits."

"It means barely cooked," Patrick smiled, "and I'm sure we can have you sample more fruits. Talk to Tarria, she runs the bar here on the ship. As for vegetables I'm sure we can get you to try a wide variety of dishes. including a variety of meat, excluding fowl of course, and eggs."

Min's eyes got wide and she stared at him for a moment. "Okay," she said quietly. "Tarria, got it." Min said starting to wonder when Murphy was going to be back. "I'm hungry," she finally stated.

"Right." Patrick was already on his feet even before she finished speaking, heading towards the small stove he had all but demanded be put in when they moved. "What would you like to eat?"

Min giggled. "Steak silly. Momma says I could eat my weight in it if I tried hard. She thinks I'm going to be very tall."

"Eat your weight?" Patrick regarded her, and then himself. "If I'd eat my own weight i food, I'd be a very big man indeed," he chuckled as he pulled a plate with a few bits of steak from a small fridge. "Would you like to watch while I cook? I know you wanted rare, but perhaps you can tell me how rare, exactly?"

"Yes," Min said. "I can be your assistant." She seated herself closer to the stove so she could view everything going on and also because she wanted to watch every step Patrick took.

"Be careful with your feathers Min, they're probably very flammable." He ignited the flame on his stove and poured some butter in a pan. "Do you prefer any kind of seasoning?"

"No, I don't think so." Min replied. "Just plain. Thank you Uncle Paddy. I'm going to make you something." She didn't elaborate on what that something might be though.

Patrick just nodded, his attention now focused on the meal he was preparing. "You do that," he said absently, "dinner will be finished soon."

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Patrick O'Malley
Chef
pnpc Lhaes

Minvayr
Late Ambassador Vayr's Daughter/ Murphy's Goddaughter
pnpc by Saulitis