Songbird and the Scientist

Posted on Saturday 5 December 2020 @ 17:32 by Commander Save'ena (Sav) Tillatix

Mission: Homeward
Location: USS Merlin, Round Table
Timeline: During Return to Earth, 2nd Day of Travel, 1930 Hours
4060 words - 8.1 OF Standard Post Measure

A piece of blank sheet music paper sat in front of Mathias, where he was writing some notes upon the music lines. He would pause every now and then to play a few notes on his panpipes then set back to writing once more. Finished with the first several lines, he stopped and put down the pencil. He stretched a little bit and rose from his seat. He had someone he wished to get to know, the one who makes the USS Merlin fly like a bird.

He sent a message to Commander Tillatix

"Greetings I'm Lieutenant Mathias McPhee, Chief of Science, newly arrived. I was wondering if I could meet you properly at your convenience. Maybe coffee or tea at the Round Table? Please let me know. Sincere regards."


Sav was in her room. As a person on light duty, she took 2 hour shifts on the bridge, or ops doing DC Training, and after that had time on her hands. Miles was on second shift Bridge, so she had some free time. She looked back at her bed, trying to decide if it was going to be uniform or civies when the computer chimed that a message had come in. She sat down at her dip comm system and opened it. She churred out lightly as she touched the computer and information flooded to her about Lt. McPhee. Human, Scottish, multiple hobbies that would make him rather athletic and all rounded. ooOOoo, he played the Pan Pipes. Interesting. Of course, Pan pipes were different than a flute, or an L'Tandrey Double flute, but were similar to Peruvian panpipes except those were double rowed. However, he said 'properly', so was that official or not official?

She looked at herself in the mirror to the side of the comm console and while decent with a black bra and panties, she better throw on a shirt. She telekinetically brought her orange kiss shirt over and slipped it on. Now she activated the in room communication to Mathias' room.

=^= Lieutenant McPhee, Commander Tillatix, I am available. Did you want to pick up your comm? =^=

Mathias turned on the screen, giving a smile when the image of Tillatix came to view.

The picture on the screen before Mathias was of an unusual race, a 'skunkette' as it were. She was smiling, had light green eyes with a Diamond Birthmark on her forehead, and her coloration was reversed. Muzzle, throat and chest fur showing was darker grey, with sides of neck, around the eyes, and hair showing off white. There were black streaks within her long, off white hair.

=/\= *Churring* Wow, your profile pic doesn't do you justice. Anyways, is this a formal meeting between officers of different departments, or is this a personal meeting between shipmates to get to know more about each other? You said 'formal', but you indicated the round table? Umm, also, if informal, I keep proper libations in my quarters and I could bring one for a proper drink as we get to know each other. =^=

=/\= "I wasn't quite certain how you wished us to meet. However, an informal personal meeting between shipmates at the Round Table would be marvelous. And what sort of libations are you suggesting? And since we are going to be informal, I'll change accordingly." =/\=

=^= *Sav visibly relaxed* "That sounds good. *hrmmed* Liquors, let me look. *She looked to her right side of where she was sitting* "I have a Four Roses 8 year Bourbon, Roricks Rocket Spiced Bourbon, Boukman Botanical Rhum, Twenty Boat Spiced Rum, Seyburn Single malt 12 year Speyside Scotch, Ardmore Single Malt 8 year Speyside Scotch, GlenDronach Revival Single Malt 15 year Scotch, and a Molinari Sambuca" *Churring* "My tastes tend to be Bourbon's, Scotches, and Sambucas. I hope one of these will be of a type you like?" =^=

=/\= "The Four Roses Bourbon sounds delightful. I shall meet you at the Round Table, once I get changed. One other thing that has crossed my mind. Since this is an informal meeting, is there a name you wish me to use instead of Commander? If you'd like, you may call me Mathias when off duty or McPhee, whichever you prefer." =/\=

=^='Sahv', pleaee, my nickname is Sav. I will definitely say Mathias when meeting you. After all, this is an informal meeting of officers during off duty times. I will bring the Four Roses Bourbon. A good, smooth, mellow bourbon is definitely a good drink to have when meeting other departments, eh?" *Sav shook herself to free up her base and emotions, her hair settling back and away.* "I will see you soon, Mathias." =^= The communication ended with Sav standing up and accidentally showing a brief glimpse of her black panties.

Sav took out the bourbon from its cabinet and placed it on the table. She finished dressing in leggings and a skort. It was on this trip she would buy more appropriate clothing for being in her mid twenties, even though she still only looked 17. Her body had been locked at that age for a while and just now started to age once more. She sent a note to Miles letting him know where she was, and then left her room to head for the round table.

Once at the round table, she looked around to see if Mathias had arrived yet, or if she was first.

Mathias arrived shortly after Sav did, having changed into more casual clothing. He was wearing a short sleeved dark blue polo-shirt, black slacks and slip on shoes. He smiled seeing Sav all ready there.

"Hello Sav, hopefully you've not had to wait too long." looking around for a table where they could sit to converse comfortably. A table just opened up near the window looking out towards space. A couple of other tables opened up as well. "Where shall we sit?" he asked. "Ladies choice."

Sav heard footsteps behind her and turned around. One thing very prominent at her shirt collar was a light duty marker. She smiled as she focused on the Terran's features to make sure it was Mathias. Terrans looked very similarly, well, to her. She replied, "Not at all, Mathias." She stepped nearer to him, then turning her head lightly, took in a slow breath in order to get his scent. There, now she would know it was him next time. She covered this up by scanning the tables, then said, "The window Seat, let's go, it is a favorite of mine."

Sav led the way while passing the bar. She showed her bottle and held up two fingers while continually walking. At the nod of the bartender, two shot glasses lifted up from the rack behind the bar, quickly moved through the air, to then settle into Sav's hand. Sav shifted and completed leading the two to the window seat. She turned to look at Mathias, curtsied to him, then sat down, considering he had said 'ladies choice', and thus probably expected her to sit down first. She pushed over the bottle and the two glasses. "At your discretion, Sirrah." She churred gently as she glanced out the window, then looked and smiled back to Mathias. "What would you like to talk about first. You have so many hobbies, while I have only a few, and as a Terran, how did you find the academy?" Sav didn't realize her mind was darting about as she kept improving from being on light duty.

"Well my parents are part of Star Fleet on Starbase 308. It's a family thing. Aunt, Uncle, Cousins. All there. I do have two sisters who chose to be civilians and run a shop on the starbase. And as for what to talk about. What are your hobbies, Sav?" Mathias asked. "Also this is the first time I've met anyone like you, Sav. Hopefully you won't find me rude, but, I do know you are helm and I've heard the rumors that you make the Merlin fly as graceful as a bird."

Sav's muzzle colored darker at the 'rumors'. Yes, she did, and she was still getting used to getting praise rather than being in the 'crosshairs', as it were. She replied with her usual, "Umm, yeah, I can fly any ship, rather well. The Captain is the best pilot around, I do my best to be a poor second place. *churrs* You'll get to judge yourself as we'll probably be on the bridge at the same time during Alpha shift. However, be aware, keeping a course steady under warp just doesn't allow showing off." She giggled, then continued, "As far as my hobbies go, I love flying various craft. Heck, I was CAG on board the Merlin before being moved to Helm, and I loved flying with my fighter companion, Venita. Other than that, I enjoy tinkering with my personal equipment, I'm a pretty good dancer, and I try to be decent at playing my synthetaur as well as singing." She hurmed in humor, "Well, I find it fun and enjoyable to sing and play my synthetaur... I'll have to let you be the judge on how good if you get a chance to hear me."

"I would sincerely love to hear you both sing and play. I love music." Mathias replied enthusiastically. "And there is just something about you..." looking at Sav, as if he saw something that wasn't obvious to the naked eye.
"Something magical. In the old days, where I come from, it would be said you were touched by the Fae, as in Fairies. Magical beings who can do extraordinary things." he blushed, "Sorry that may seem a bit...insane as to what I just said."

Sav churr-giggled in humor as she replied, "Awwww, don't beun sorry. Ah kinda like t'at, bein' touched by t'e Fae. Ah grew up ona Apollonia, Fed Frontier Planet, ana know t'e stories. Ah ama rare, very rare, reverse colored Mephetian, so t'ere must beun some truth tah that statement. However, not all good luck, ora extrahordinary, Fae ara fickle and love t'eir prahnks," Sav looked down at the table, grasping for the drink that had not been poured yet. She murred to herself, "Yah, twas ah very devilish prahnk..." She shook herself to rid the bad memories trying to interrupt her time in learning about another officer. She looked back up to him, "Ah would love tah play ana sing fer yah, as long asa yah would join meun wi't yer panpipes. Still, wow, painting, poetry, gardening, jeweler, Snow Boarding, ballooning, diving, rugby... just, wow. Where do yah find t'e time?" She glanced at the bottle, then asked, "Could yah poor a lady a drink, sirrah?" As she had been relaxing with Mathias, she had slipped into her normal Apollonia swamp dialect.

Mathias opened up the bottle and poured the drinks in the glasses she brought over. "Here you go, my lady." giving a smile. He lifted the glass to his lips then paused. His subconscious mind bringing something up to the surface.

Sav nodded her head in acceptance of the drink from him. She brought the glass up and took a long sip, visibly relaxing as the bourbon's liquid fire with its subtle but complex flavors and smells invaded her senses. She.. needed.. that. She focused once more on Mathias, light background small erotic noises coming from her.

"Sav...I just realized that you hadn't had the shot glasses with you before." he chuckled, " I hadn't thought of it until you asked me to pour the drinks. You are magical. Where did these come from? And as for my finding time to do all that I am interested in? A little bit at a time, right now I am just finding my way about the ship and meeting the wondrous crew of this glorious ship!"

Sav's left eyebrow raised as her head tilted slightly. A trill (light churr that raises in pitch) sounded from her. She replied, "Must beun t'e Fae ina me." She lightly churr-chuckled, then continued, "When weun went by t'e Bartender, Ah asked fer two ana grabbed 'em ona our way oveh here. T'en Ah pushed t'e glasses ana bottle oveh t' yah ata t'e same time. Witha ahnswerin' mah questions, yah probahbly just didna notice." She reached out to pat the hull, "Yah, t'e Merlin is ah mahrvelous ship, she tis. Ah love flyin' witha mah companion, ayuh. *pause* So, umm, do yah like dahncin'? Do yah have ah girrrlfriend waitin' fer yah at home?"

"I love to dance and, I just realized I hadn't answered your other query. I would love to sing with you and accompany you with my panpipes. My mind seems to be on the flighty side right now." he paused and took a moment to collect his thoughts, her question about if he had a girlfriend back home struck a chord within him. He blinked, then took a deep breath.

"I don't have a girlfriend waiting for me at home. I didn't have a chance to develop a romance, but there was this girl I had a crush on. I was thirteen when we left for Starbase 308 where my dad and mother had been transferred to. Her name was Abigale Poppy Blackwood. She had striking red hair and she swam like a mermaid. I didn't get the chance to tell her about how I felt. I think about her once in awhile. I've not kept in touch with her though, so much time has passed and she probably doesn't remember me at all. I certainly look different from when I was a lad. I always called her by her middle name. Poppy."

He stopped and blushed a little bit. "I can't believe I just told you this, Sav. You are easy to talk to. I've not really told anyone else of Poppy,except for my immediate family members. And that had been a long time ago. I haven't even thought to find out what she has been up to. "

Sav churred gently, "Tis okay, Mathias, Ah can keep ah secret. Ah have been told many ah time Ah ama good listener, especially wit' t'ese ears, eh?" *Churr laugh* "T'at sounds soooo romantic, sooo romantic. Yah never know. When weun get tah Earth, yah should look her up, ayuh. She may have been trakin' yah ana youren carreer, hopin' yah remembered her. Ana, maybe not. Yah gotta find out, ana ifin yah want tah woo her... t'ink she'ed like ah serenade by t'e two ofa us?"

"I am not certain, but I probably could see if I can track her down, it will depend on what happens with our current mission. Plus I've got a possible date or could it be called at least a planned outing with Caroline, I mean.. the counselor. She wants to introduce me to something called the Andorian Sunrise. I am looking forward that and being in her company." a dreamy look in his eyes. He then shook his head, and takes a drink of the bourbon, feeling the warmth on his tongue, letting it linger and dance on his tastebuds before swallowing.

"This is really good bourbon" Mathias said.

Sav's interest was peaked. She took a sip of the bourbon to help calm her many questions. First, though, about the bourbon, "Yah, tis very good. Ah don't mix mah drinks. Ah like neat only, so Ah choose mah liquors fer flavor ana wit'out ah wateren taste." She churred once more and continued, "Wit' Caroline, that isa sooo coolio, Mathias. Ah t'ink yer both lookers fer each ot'er. She isa great lady, witha mad skills ina surgery ana counseling. She... hasa helped meun so much... so much, Ah owe her mah life." Sav looked at Mathias with interest, then a slight change in demeanor came over her as her subconscious came into play to protect Caroline. Without realizing it, her left muzzle lip lifted up showing a large canine with some front, very needle like teeth. On her hands, some wicked climbing claws part way came out from between her fingers, similar to a Tigers, but larger. Sav now said with a heavier tone in her voice, "Caroline isa special Lady, Mathias... treat.. her.. right.. ayuh?"

Unlike with Hayley when she threatened him life and limb, Mathias didn't flinch when Sav bared her claws and her teeth.

"Sav, I am not going to play foot loose and fancy free with Caroline and I agree she is a special lady. At the moment, I only know just tidbits about her. It really wouldn't be fair for me to try to sweep her off her feet. Also if I did that and if we aren't a compatible match, it would hurt her grievously if we were to part ways. And from your reaction and I'm most certain the same sentiments would be from the others. I wouldn't be found , if I did something bad to her. I would probably hunt myself down if I did something like that. I abhor people who like to play with peoples emotions and twist them into pretzels."

At 'reaction', Sav glanced at where she was, slightly crouched, and damn-it, her claws were semi-out. She swallowed, as she forced herself to come back to full sitting posture, trying to think how to salvage this. 'Way to go Sav, wonderful first impression there gal,' were her thoughts.

He finished off his drink, and set the glass down, then leaned back in his chair.

"I want to be friends with her, I am hoping to be. At this rate, and the bit of a pickle I am finding myself in, I may end up just being an acquaintance or at the very least a fledgling friend. I simply refuse to put her in a position of being hurt."

Sav looked in wonder at Mathias' pose even as she listened to his words. She shakily brought the shot glass up to take a larger swig, then sat it down, noticing her claws were no longer showing. She now managed to nod at Mathias. Drawing in a breath, she finally got out, "I'm so sorry, Mathias, I didn't notice my reaction. Umm, umm, you're relaxed. Thank you for realizing its concern for a friend. My first 'beau', was... was... not that good." She flinched, her left hand shifting over to cover her lower abdomen. A shudder went through her, and, then she downed the rest of her drink. She scooted her glass across to him, an apologetic look on her face, asking, "Another please?" She swallowed, and added, "I apologize, I truly do, that showing was unbecoming of me." She snorted out a cleansing breath, then added, "That said, I truly adore your approach to dating her. I only wish you the best.. you sound like a keeper. Soo, are we still on for getting together another day to sing and play?" Her body was still trembling slightly even as she searched out his expressions, and smells to see if Mathias was still wanting to be friends with her.

Before he poured Sav another drink, Mathias reached out a hand and gently placed it on hers. "Sav, it is all right." becoming a bit misty eyed. He saw the pain she was expressing at what seemed a loss of something important. He could tell that something terrible had happened especially with the way she said her first beau and her protective movement towards her abdomen.

Mathias spoke gently, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Whatever happened, Sav, I am truly sorry, that shouldn't have happened to you or anyone else for that matter." he swallowed hard, took a slow breath inwardly then let it out slowly, willing his emotions to calm. "I would love to get together to sing and play. Very much so." his face brightening up considerably as he thought of doing just that. "Aye, lets make plans and make it happen." he moved his hand from hers and then refilled their glasses, and moved the glass back towards Sav.

Sav would be able to tell, Mathias did indeed wish to be friends with her.

Sav's expression turned to wonder and thoughtfulness at his actions and words. Her motherly protective instincts kicked in as her tail shifted to come over behind him while seemingly becoming 'fuller'. She took a deep breath him, gathering his scents, his pheromones, and could tell he was truly expressing as he felt. She watched nodded, not trusting herself to speak yet. She gladly accepted the glass, her body visibly relaxing, even though her tail stayed up behind Mathias. Sav took a sip, then churred loudly with a murr intermixed. "Yah, yeah, Let's definitely make that happen. I can tell you're a very good sentient, a good person, someone I would love to earn respect and call, Friend."

She took another sip, then looked down at the table. "Yeah, sorry about bringing up my past. Things are more than me, honest. It just, my past, it intrudes once in a while. *Sobbing laugh* I just got my life back, thanks to Caroline, and while I am much better, there is still a little of the toluene poisoning still remaining besides recovering from major reconstructive surgery. It's just hard, tis all." She shook herself, then muttered, "Okay, neither here nor there, focus Sav."

She looked to Mathias, smiled, and continued, "So, you want to get together before we get to Earth, or afterwards? I think I would like to visit Scotland and get a chance to play in a local dance pub... or whatever Scotland calls them." Sav's mood had fully shifted to beaming and a desire for getting out and playing her synthetuar, her beloved gift synthetaur, that had been reconstructed and given back to her.

"How about after we get to Earth if that is okay with you? And I would love for you to come to Scotland and we play music and sing together. My grandparent would find you magical like I do. In the town that I lived in they have a pub and we could play there." feeling enthusiastic about it.

Sav churred while blushing lightly, "After Earthfall sounds mahvelous tah me, Sirrah. Ah would love tah meet those ova yer lineage and endearment." She took another drink then snorted in humor. "Heh, Caroline hasa been wanting meuh tah get out more.. ana tis a great opportunity. Yah will call whena yer setup fer it? Umm, ana, Ah have a Beau, he invited asa well?"

"Yes he is. I would like to find out who the lucky guy is, who has your affection and trust." Mathias grinning from ear to ear.

Sav blushed lightly, but turned coy. "Ah will ask him, ana ifin he comes, yah will meet him, ayuh." Sav finished her shot. She looked at the glass, then Mathias and the bottle. She realized he had not taken another shot. She grinned at him and asked, "So, half shot fer each? Then we toast, ana call it ah night? Well, fer meun, anyways? Ah know tis early, but asa Ah'm on light duty, tail end Ah hope, Ah should take it easy.. Ah really want tah be in shape fer several sets of songs wit' yah in t'e future wit' yer family ina attendance, yes?"

Mathias looked down at his filled glass and laughed. "I was too involved in talking to you instead of concentrating on the drink." he picked up his glass and raised it to Sav.

"I am looking forward to us singing together and to find out who your beau is." he lifted the glass to his lips and drank it down, placing the glass back onto the table. "Thank you, that was very delicious. And yes, it is time to call it an evening. And yes, to your last statement." he smiled.

Sav churr-giggled. He didn't pour her half a shot so she could do the same. Still, she raised her empty shot glass to Mathias and tilted it back when he did with his. She shifted out of her seat and stood up. She now curtsied and said, "T'ank yah fer ah wonderful evenin', Sirrah. Have a good night." Sav took a couple of steps back, then gracefully turned, giving room for her tail behind her for that turn. She now headed off towards her room, happy to have made a friend.

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