Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side-sim: The Reckoning

(snip)

Rand got up and went and got the stool. She didn’t want it in Roman’s way if he tried to get up, but wanted it close enough he could help Pipkin learn to use it. In the end. She set it closer to the head of the bed near him so the rabbit could get up without landing on his leg, and it was easy to reach so he could move it out of the way. Then she looked at him with mock embarrassment. Well maybe not so mock. She had rabbit proofed, but that had meant going into his things, and that had been nerve racking for her. Roman’s quarters were always neat, but she’d had to make sure none of the draws and edges were warped or had unusually sharp edges, and that everything closed correctly. Rabbits liked to chew cords but luckily there were no loose cords on a star ship, but she had checked anyway. And then she’d checked inside all the lower cabinets to make sure there was nothing dangerous. She’d hated invading his privacy like that. She tried not to look too much. “I was supposed to rabbit-proof?” Her voice sounded appropriately confused but her eyes told a different story. She sat down next to him and reached over to scratch Pipkin behind an ear, which apparently the little rabbit liked. “Of course I did. We can’t let anything happen to her.” And then her voice took on that soft lilting coo that was usually only reserved for Nibbles. “No we can’t because you are too precious, aren’t you?”

Rand

Rand wouldn’t have seen anything really personal. His personal items he kept hidden in something else, like the photo in the pocket of his violin case. Roman did not seem bothered by the idea that she had to look in some of his cabinets and drawers. He liked where she put the stool, it was well within his reach but out of his way, positioned to keep Pipkin from accidentally stepping on his leg and hurting him, or him from tripping over the stool. He could tell she wasn’t serious by her eyes, and Roman knew from her help in the lab Rand was far too thorough to forget something so basic as rabbit-proofing the room before letting the rabbit free in there. Then she turned and started talking to Pipkin and Roman smiled. He remembered telling Rand he’d always wanted one but he’d have never expected her to actually make it happen.

~ Roman

Rand got up and grabbed a small container, about the size of a shoe box. “She has hay and food and water. And they sent a long a dome for her to make a nest in. But apparently this box contains things that are safe for her to chew and play with.” The box contained various shapes of flavored and shaped wood blocks and a what looked like a rope tug toy but was actually made of braided hay and a small blanket type cloth that was made of safe textiles for her. Rand sat the box down next to Roman. “Do you think you could eat or drink something now?” She grabbed one of the treats and held it out to Pipkin carefully. Rabbits were usually gentle but they had strong sharp teeth.

Rand