Touring the Ship Together

[Alexandria "Alex" Kavanaugh]

Alex happily bounced her way along the corridors, smiling pleasantly to all the people she passed. She couldn't help it. She was happy. It felt like she had come home again to a place she hadn't realized she had even missed. She had loved her time on Earth, but most of her life had been spent flying through the stars in space. Somehow, she had come to accept a moving spaceship as 'home.'

"Come on!" She looked behind her where the adults were but a few steps back, "I want to see how this arboretum is designed!" Alex was too excited to contain any of her feelings. She wanted to see everything, see if it was the same as the Crudaigh had been or if it was different. With only a temporary assignment, her dad would not be staying here and she wanted to enjoy every single moment she could, just in case she never got back to a ship of this magnitude again.

Tag Kathleen/Fau'cheth/Dameon/Anyone else who wants to join in!

[xDameon Ropalski]

Dameon laughed, easily keeping pace a step or two behind her, "This left... And then the right after that. Down two levels, on the right side."

"So, the Crudaigh was a Galaxy, too, then?" He raised an eyebrow, thoughtfully, "First time I've been on a ship this size, actually. Quite an honor." He deftly side-stepped a hurrying young man in Engineering uniform, with the pips of an Ensign, "Ensign," he nodded as he passed. The man didn't respond, his attention buried in a PADD.

"I know the whole ship, though," he tapped his head, and chuckled, walking along, "So if you get lost, I can find our way."

Tag: Any

[remy]

Since the party in Tenforward Jordyn had been laying low. She had gone about her duties in the mess hall, but had stayed behind the scenes for the most part. After setting things in order there she set off for the arboretum to volunteer. She did whenever she could, but due to the recent attack she hadn't had the opporunity to slip in. Now was her chance.

Dressed in a floral dress to set the mood, Jordyn walked down the corridor on her way to the arboretum, her flip flops slapping the floor as she moved. Everyone she passed threw her a curious eye as if thinking 'what-in-the world-is-her-deal?'. Smiling widely at them, she waved a hello and continued on. To say she was in a good mood was an understatement. She felt amazing and that's saying alot given her history.

It was as she rounded a corner that she saw a group of people sauntering in the same direction. The little girl up front captured her attention first. Her radiant smile filled the entire corridor with warmth. The adults behind her looked almost as enthusiastic, but not quite as energized as their younger counterpart.

Jordyn sped up her steps. "Is she giving free tour guides? If so I'd like to join." She winked at the girl to show that she was simply playing along. "I'm Jordyn," she said extending her hand to the closest person.

Tag: Anyone

[Alexandria "Alex" Kavanaugh]

"So, the Crudaigh was a Galaxy, too, then?"

Alex slowed down her pace a bit so she was walking more beside Dameon. She nodded in answer to his question.

"Yup, the Crudaigh was a Galaxy class ship. They're my favorite. She was the first one of her size my daddy had captained and it was fun exploring." She paused a moment while he addressed some passerbys.

"How do you know your way around if this is your first time on a Galaxy ship?" She asked. Alex glanced over her shoulder at Kathleen who was walking closely with the Caitian. Perhaps they were getting to know each other as well. She turned back and beckoned for Dameon to lean down, then with a conspiratorial whisper she said, "This is Kathleen, my new mom's, first time on a ship like this too. I promised to help her learn all about it!" Alex stood somewhat taller as she stated that fact, feeling pride that she could be of such help.

Just then another, very attractive woman, approached. "I'm Jordyn."

Alex smiled brightly at her. "I'm Alex. And this is Dameon, Kathleen, my mom, and Fau'cheth," Alex bubbled on, introducing her to everyone. "Oh, maybe you knew them already." She added, inclining her head towards some of the others. That was when Alex's eyes caught sight of Jordyn's shoes.

"Oohh! I love your shoes!" She gushed. "Kathleen, look Jordyn has shoes like you do!" Alex had turned and beckoned Kathleen up closer to see. They had worn shoes just like that quite often back at Kathleen's house on the beach. Turning back to Jordyn she asked without hesitation, "Are you going to the beach? That's when we wore shoes like that!"

Tag All/Any

[Kathleen Kavanaugh]

Katleen and Fau'cheth walked together behind Alex and Dameon. She was entranced by the energy and sheer joy that the girl was putting out. SHe continued to be amazed at the transformation just boarding Nike had made in her.

If this were any indication at all she figured she just might enjoy her time aboard. She was willing to accept it . She wanted more than anything for Brice to have his dream job back. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he'd leave it all for her but the more she saw of this immense ship the more she marveled at the man she'd married.

She and Fau'cheth chatted while they walked behind the other pair getting acquainted and she learned a little bit about her experience the previous day. It was pretty amazing and yet completely clear to her that she loved her new husband as deeply as she did Brice. She found she really liked the Caitian and thought that Brice might like to have them come to dinner at some point. If her husband knew Alex it was fairly certain Brice knew him too.

"I'm Jordyn."

This was turning into quite the tour group. But it was a way to meet people.

"I'm Alex. And this is Dameon, Kathleen, my mom, and Fau'cheth," Alex bubbled on, introducing her to everyone. "Oh, maybe you knew them already."

Kathleen chuckled "Pleased to meet you" she got in before Alex was bubbling away again. This time about Jordyn's flipflops.

She smiled and nodded at Jordyn "They're certainly my favorites" she'd rather wear flip flops that just about any other shoes. "Our house is near the beach. We spent a lont of time there." she explained to Jordyn.

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[xDameon Ropalski]

He laughed, and inclined his head to Jordyn, smirking, "Ah, good morning, Miss Jordyn." He motioned to the group, "Feel free to join Lady Alex's retinue."

He glanced down at Alexandra, and spoke deferentially, "If My Lady will it so; And, as far as knowing the layout," he smirked, his voice lowering. "I memorized it." He added, quietly, "Sort of." His hand half-pulled a PADD out, the Deck map displayed.

He winked, and murmured confidentially, "Don't worry. We'll be sure to make your mom's stay fun for both of you."

He laughed, and stood fully up, "Plenty of fun."

He motioned Jordyn into the group, smiling, and offered his own introduction, "Dameon Ropalski. A pleasure, Miss Monico."

He smiled brightly.

Tag: Any

[remy]

"I'm Alex. And this is Dameon, Kathleen, my mom, and Fau'cheth," Alex bubbled on, introducing her to everyone. "Oh, maybe you knew them already."

"Hello Alex," she said looking at each person as they were quickly introduced. She had in fact seen Fauceth before, at the party in Tenfoward, but the others she had not.

"Oohh! I love your shoes! Kathleen, look Jordyn has shoes like you do! Are you going to the beach? That's when we wore shoes like that!"

Jordyn glanced down at her flip flops and laughed. "I'm actually heading to the arboretum to volunteer," she said looking at the young girl with a smile on her face. "I thought I'd dress a little business casual today," she added with a wink. A floral dress and flip flops were the furtherest thing from business casual and she knew that. It didn't stop her from wearing what she wanted though now did it? Jordyn looked to Kathleen as she welcomed her and smiled at her comment about her shoes.

"Our house is near the beach. We spent a lont of time there."

Our house? Oh right. She was the girl's mother. Jordyn glanced between Alex and Kathleen curiously. Alex had called her mom and then almost in the same breath called her by her first name. That was strange. She'd never had the nerve to call her mother by her first name...except when she was angry with her that was. Their story was getting more interesting by the second.

"By the beach? I adore the beach. Haven't seen it in ages though," she said gesturing around to the ship, but I think a beach holodeck program is in my near future." She made a mental note to visit one whenever she had another day off.

Her attention was again pulled in another direction.

"Ah, good morning, Miss Jordyn. Feel free to join Lady Alex's retinue."

"Yes, gladly." She had nothing but time on her hands. Today perhaps she could make some real friends.

"Dameon Ropalski. A pleasure, Miss Monico."

Perhaps this Dameon knew more than he was letting on. Had she told him her last name? "The pleasure's all mine." She locked eyes with him and gave a knowing look. She'd have to learn more about him as well.

"So, where were you all off to? Some place exciting I hope."

Tag: All

[Lieutenant JG Fau'cheth]

Alex was a crackup to Fau and obviously to her stepmother as well. Caitinas lived in lodges with many families and the children were well protected by many levels of relations so having a relationship like Kathleen and Alex wasn't odd in the least.

Fau'cheth had only been to the beach a few times while at the academy. She didn't find sand in her fur to be a pleasant experience. She kept a smile on her face though as she listened to them talk.

She was puzzled to understand how Dameon seemed to know even strangers they ran into. She acknowledged Jordyn with a smile having met her the night before.

"We're going to the Arboretum ourselves to check it out." she said "This is Kathleen's first trip aboard a starship"

Her own memories of the Arboretum were a bit fuzzy. She'd been in the throes of the bonding at the time and remembered mostly leaping through tree branches forcing Pesh'ewa to catch her. So this little visit held a bit of meaning for her.

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[xDameon Ropalski]

Dameon smirked nonchalantly, and slowed a step, falling in beside Jordyn, "Lucky that, isn't it? Going to the same place." He slowed, a half-step, to fall in beside her, "Welcome aboard the Nike. First stint on a ship this big?" He tilted his head curiously, his eyes engaging, curious. He gestured slightly with his hands as he spoke, his expression animated, tone soft, and friendly; The combination of his eyes, his small gestures, and his tone would have almost the impression of him and her being the only two people in the corridor.

His loose, comfortable, casual clothes hung lightly on his lithe, muscular frame, his blue eyes bright and intelligent.

"My first, actually," he intoned quietly, reaching up to brush a few hairs from his face; A casual gesture.

Purely on accident, the hairs brushed aside farther back, near the top of his neck, just behind his ear, revealing the bottom edge of a small, pale scar. It vanished into the hairs at the top of the back of his neck. He didn't seem to notice.

Tag:Jordyn, Any

[remy]

"We're going to the Arboretum ourselves to check it out." she said "This is Kathleen's first trip aboard a starship"

"Exciting isn't it?" she said smiling at Kathleen. "Especially with such an amazing tour guide leading the way," she added onto the end.

"Lucky that, isn't it? Going to the same place. Welcome aboard the Nike. First stint on a ship this big?"

"Very lucky," she said, giving a demure smile as she walked beside Dameon. "Oh, I've been on a ship this big before. The experience wasn't half as interesting however," she said with a knowing wink in his direction. She kept her eye on the little girl as she bounded around in front of everyone. Her enthusiasm was contagious and Jordyn found the smile on her lips could not falter. To be young again....

Jordyn peered side long at Dameon. "Is that so? What is your job aboard the Nike?" She couldn't tell from his attire---which hugged his frame in all the right places she noted.

Tag: Dameon, any

[xDameon Ropalski]

He smiled brightly, "Sorry, beautiful. I don't think you're cleared that high." He delivered the enigmatic news with a bright smile, his eyes engaging, resting on her own intently, curiously.

"But you're welcome to keep trying over a drink or two, tonight. Fair?" His lips twisted into a smirk.

Tag: Jordyn, any

[Alexandria "Alex" Kavanaugh]

Having arrived at the Arboretum doors, Alex turned back to her little group and motioned them to hurry along.

"Come on!" She called, as the doors opened and Alex hurried inside. Immediately she was met by the scents of the trees and plants. It felt almost as glorious as when she and Kathleen would spend time breathing in the fresh, salty air along the beach.

Hurrying back she grabbed Kathleen's hand. "Isn't it great! It makes me feel like we're back on Earth, at the house!" Alex grinned. She then turned and looked at the others. "It feels like a jungle!" She declared, giggling slightly at the thought.

Alex was anxious to explore a bit and did so with the group. Finally, after a short time, she settled onto a bench. She looked for all the others and once she found them, she asked, "So where should we go next? Or do we stay here a bit?"

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[Kathleen Kavanaugh]

Kathleen allowed herself to be dragged along by her daughter. She really liked the sound of that... her daughter. She sighed and absorbed the high spirits and joy. Alex was a very special and wonderful child.

"It feels like a jungle!" she grinned and agreed.

She would have been silly not to notice the attention Mr. Rapolski was paying to Jordyn. She was fairly certain they might just 'wander off' fairly soon so she endeavored to keep Alex's attention with her.

The place smelled like several different forests mixed into one. Several kinds of trees, bushes, and flowers were everywhere you looked. This would be a wonderful place to come and meditate for the illusion of the outdoors.

"This is a wonderful place Alex," she said "Thank you for bringing me here!"

She sat down next to her on the bench looking at the water feature and enjoying the music of the water running over stones.

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[Lieutenant JG Fau'cheth]

Fau'cheth separated herself from the others as she explored the arboretum. The ghost of a smile lit her eyes as she remembered the last time she was here and had gone leaping into the branches.

She looked at the trees until she finally found what she was looking for. There they were... claw marks. She leaped up into the branches of the tree and looked back down to where he'd been standing when he'd first used her mate-name and her flight reflex had been broken.

The soft sound of a purr escaped her as she rubbed against the bole of the tree. 'Pesh' said her mind.

Already addicted to him and to his pheromones she was beginning to get anxious to see him again. She knew he was in a meeting with the Captain at the moment though so she couldn't just go find him.

She curled in the crook of the branch loving the sounds of life around her.

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[Alexandria "Alex" Kavanaugh]

"You're welcome!" Alex beamed at Kathleen. She was so happy Kathleen was happy.

"Kathleen..." Alex began, looking down for a moment. Such an action was the only sign that her normal confidence was not as strong in this particular moment.

"Um, well, I noticed daddy sometimes calls you Kiki. Do you think...well...could I call you that, too?" She looked up a bit hopeful and a bit uncertain at Kathleen, her new mother. Alex had loved all the time they had spent together when her dad was healing, but now, now that she was married to dad, Alex felt as though something had changed. She wasn't as certain of how to act around Kathleen. Most of her own life, Alex had never had a mother-figure, so it was a bit challenging for her. She wanted so very much to please Kathleen, yet she didn't truly understand how or even half of what she was thinking and feeling most of the time.

Tag Kathleen/Any