Getting Settled

Posted on Wed Feb 19th, 2020 @ 1:47am by Commodore Jane Saulitis & Lieutenant Commander Angus Murphy

Mission: Cruel Meridian
Location: New family quarters
Timeline: MD 01 17:00 Hours
1231 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Patrick reviewed the newly decorated room, eyes darting left and right to take in the details, until they finally settled on the stove he'd already used to make Min some dinner. He turned when he heard the doors open, then close. "Ahh Murph, you're finally home," he smiled, wrapping his arms around the man he loved. "Have you seen Min yet?"

"Yes, of course," Murph gave Paddy a quick peck on the cheek. "Ah.. good. I'm assuming that means you must have found each other then. Everything okay?" he asked, now wondering if something had gone wrong.

"Oh yes," Patrick smiled, "she's absolutely delightful. I cooked steak for her earlier though I'm not sure where she's now. She's gotten big, hasn't she?" Well aware of his partner's dislike for birds, he squeezed his arm in support. "You're alright though aren't you? I can spend time with her as much as possible, if you prefer?"

Murph sighed a bit, "I'm fine. It's a short stay and she deserves my attention. I appreciate--"

Min chose this moment to walk back through the doors, which opened for her when she got to the quarters. The only trouble was she tripped just as they opened, fell face forward and just managed to turn her head before she landed on the tip of her beak. She jumped back up right away to show she was not hurt. "Sorry," she said blushing as much as was possible for a Creoli.

Seeing the bird fall, Patrick dashed away from Murphs side towards her. "Are you alright?" he asked as he seemed to give er a once over, reaching to straighten a single feather which seemed displaced.

"Whoa, whoa... do you need to go see a doctor? Maybe you should get checked out just in case," Murph said as he rushed over with Patrick, apparently worried about the little bird as he inspected her beak.

"I'm fine," Min said as she watched him examine her with his eyes. "I fell on the side of my face." It stung for a few seconds but it no longer hurt. She felt Patrick smooth down her feathers and she looked to see what exactly he was doing without any objection. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Are you sure?" Patrick asked as he stopped fussing with the feathers. He looked to Murph and back again. "Murph's got a point....we don't know what the simplest thing will do to you."

"But I feel fine. I promise. If something was wrong it would hurt. I've been hurt before, I know what it feels like." Min lightly protested. "Are you worried cause my dad died here? Cause Momma doesn't blame you for that."

Patrick cast a concerned glance at Murph as he knelt at Min's side. "No dearie, we're worried because you're a young one, and we're responsible for you while you're here. Its Earth custom that elders.." he coughed a little, smiling oddly for a moment. "Well.. parents I suppose, take care of their children. You might not be our child, but you are entrusted to our care. That means, if you're hurt we're worried about you and want to make sure you'll be alright."

"And your mother would be upset if something happened," Murph added, remembering in his mind vividly how it was telling her that her husband had been killed while aboard Majestic. Then he threw Min a wry smirk. "And we're probably being a little overprotective, aye Patrick?"

"Are you going to have kids?" Min asked extremely curiously, looking back and forth between the two of them.

"Uhm..." Patrick hesitated, looking over at Murph before looking back at Min. "Perhaps in the future," he answered carefully, "I would love to at some point Min, but we're not ready just yet. But who knows what fate holds for us right?" He stroked Min's cheek. "You're here with us now aren't you?"

Min blinked at the touch, her eyes kind of crossing as she tried to follow the movements of his fingers. She made no move to pull away through and voiced no objection. "Momma isn't going to let you adopt me forever though. I think you should have kids. You would be good dads and then i could babysit." She said as she happily skipped farther into the room and sat down in a chair.

This topic had obviously struck a note that resonated differently with Murphy. "I think it's way too early to talk about kids," he said abruptly as he sat down in an adjacent chair. "Min, what are you looking forward to seeing or doing the most while you're aboard. We'll make sure we get that in right away tomorrow."

Min could definitely hear the tone of his voice change. "Did I say something wrong?" She didn't dwell on it though when Murphy asked her what she wanted to do. She thought about it for a moment. "I want to see the bridge."

"No sweetie you didn't say anything wrong. It's just that we're not yet ready for children of our own." Patrick smiled gently at her. "But with you here I'm sure we'll get good practice for that time in the future where we might be ready. Who knows." Carefully he drew her into a semi cuddle. "As for bridge, I'm sure Murph will be able to arrange something. Right Murph?"

"Yes, of course. Captain's already signed off on it, I believe... didn't she say?" Murph nodded. He watched her with Patrick. Paddy was so much more of an affectionate person with her. It didn't come naturally to Murphy and he seemed to weigh that carefully in his mind.

"Uhuh," she said I could fly the ship once we left the station. But I don't have to fly it today, I know we haven't left yet. I just want to see the bridge first." Min responded enthusiastically. "What do you want to do while I'm here Papa Murphy?"

"Uh... well, I think just doing everything on your list will be pretty tight to fit into the scheule," Murphy smiled, "but definitely looking forward to trying to fly in the holodeck that we talked about before."

"I would just be happy to spend time with you." Min assured him. "Momma says I'm an easy child."

"I'm sure she's right," Patrick smiled, "and I'm sure Murph and I can take turns on your schedule though there are places I'm not allowed to go."

"It's no imposition. We're looking forward to it," Murph said, not wanting the child to feel like she was some kind of burden.

"That's good. Well it sounds fun but I'm kind of tired now. I think I'll sleep for a little bit." As soon as the words were out of her mouth she appeared to make a little nest in the chair and bowed her head, falling asleep instantly, her feathers rising and falling with her breath.

Startled, Patrick looked up at Murph. "Should we move her?"

Murphy blinked and continued watching the girl as though she might have been faking it. "That's... really.... strange. I don't know."

Min slept away happily though, once in a while letting out a tiny high pitched whistling noise, completely unaware of her guardians staring at her.

---

Min
Mini future ambassador/Murph's Goddaughter

Lieutenant Commander Angus Murphy
Chief Engineer

Patrick O'Malley
Chef
pnpc Lhaes