Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Side sim: Early Morning in the Lab

(snip)

“Other science departments do fine with way nicer heads,” Scott replied. Rand tapped on her notes, and she was reminded a bit of her high school teacher, but she did need to get to work. It was at that moment that someone else entered the lab. “Last I checked, Ensign Scott, you do not have the time to debate how ‘nice’ I am,” said Roman as he took his usual seat. Scott, of course, looked like a child caught with her hand in a cookie jar.

~ NE Scott and Lt Cmdr Alden

Rand was staring at her reports, but she had heard the familiar foot steps. She focused on her work so no one would see the grin that tried to peek out. Both that Scott got caught and two because of who had just arrived. As he sat she slid off the stool and handed him the stack of XO reports she had hand written. She was still working in the science lab reports. Those took a bit longer and she didn’t have all the biology lab notes yet. Her own included. She left the lab and then returned a few minutes later, with his tea from the mess. Black tea with cream and honey.

Rand

Roman grumbled as usual over his paperwork stack. Nearly as soon as he sat down, Rand left and returned with his usual tea. “Now Ensign, how are your notes coming along? Rand is going to need them.” He said. Scott was scribbling furiously in the notes. “Almost done, ish.” She said, whispering the ish. It earned a scowl from Roman.

~ NE Scott and Lt Cmdr Alden

Rand went back to Nibbles cage with a softly, but clearly heard in the quiet of the lab, “Thank you for your help,” to Scott. Oh the girl shouldn’t have been gossiping at work, or having idle conversation when she wasn’t done with her notes. They all knew how Roman was. The difference was, Rand liked the way Roman was. Her simple words weren’t to get her out of trouble, but simply to acknowledge the help she’d given Rand for the past week - both with work and her anxiety. And Rand knew that some times a little acknowledgement went a long way. She was writing down the next amount of food she was scattering (having only given a little bit at a time, trying to coax Nibbles out) and had taken her eyes off the cage as she started to pull her hand out when something pricked her skin.

Scott smiled, still writing away in the notebook, then using the microscope in front of her. Rand’s thanks wouldn’t get her out of trouble anyway, she knew, but she still appreciated it.

She looked over, surprised, it was Nibbles. The mouse had come out and pulled down on her hand before it got out of reach. The prick hadn’t broken through the skin, in fact the claws weren’t extended, but they were a bit long. She wondered if they needed to do something about that. As she was writing that thought down, Nibbles climbed into her hand and sat, chewing on a nut she’d picked up. Rand wasn’t sure if she felt like laughing or crying, but she did neither. She was far too attached to Nibbles, Roman was going to be furious with her. She also resisted the urge to call Roman over to look. He was busy and it would be unprofessional for her to get all giddy about a lab animal.

Yeoman Rand

Roman glanced between Rand and Scott. Rand’s words of thanks might help Scott a little, but he still detested her need to gossip instead of work. He couldn’t help but wonder what exactly they had been talking about. Of course, if Rand had said anything, Scott would probably be looking between them and giggling like a twelve year old. Still, he found his curiosity wouldn’t be satisfied by that reasoning. Perhaps he’d simply ask Rand later…

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Roman…nope Alden…at work she had to think of him as Alden…she’d get herself into trouble otherwise. Cmdr Alden was finished with the reports, and she had the lab notes ready for him, but she couldn’t leave the cage, and so she wasn’t her punctual self in switching out his reports. Rand had tried to gently set the mouse back down in the cage. She’d even reached in, tentatively, with both hands to try and get the mouse off her hand. Nibbles had decided enough was enough and had threaded those wickedly curved claws through her uniform sleeve and back into her paws. Last time she did that, Rand just cut her sleeve off. The memory made her grin a little. She’d tried to ask Alden for help, she didn’t want to hurt the mouse, but he’d thought she was being…dramatic maybe or skittish. He’d been very upset when he found out she was cutting her sleeve off to get the mouse off of her. Rand thought it was a perfectly good solution. No one got hurt and neither did Nibbles. Nibbles hadn’t hurt her this time either, but she was attached. Rand tried to flex the paw and get the claws out by herself, but as soon as she let go of one paw to work the other, Nibbles just reattached herself. Rand couldn’t find the hold sleeve in the cage either.

“No no no, Nibbles, I need this sleeve.” She only had two uniforms left because of ‘the prankster’. With a small sigh, “Cmdr Alden, I need some assistance.” Rand never asked for help with Nibbles, so the comment got the attention of most of the lab personnel.

Rand, mouse whisperer