Pause for paws

Posted on 03 Apr 2019 @ 5:50pm by Gunnery Sergeant Kyle Walken & Lieutenant Commander Iria Taltos

Mission: Ka Hakaka Maikaʻi - The Good Fight
Location: Corridors various
Timeline: After Family Is

The soft purring sound came from a red brown turkish angora with mismatched golden yellow, bright green eyes, she was walking along the corridor tail high and ears twitching slightly. Her whiskers were spread out fully as she roamed.

Kyle had a small towel around his neck as he wiped his forehead, he had been working out a bit but he paused. He notices a cat walking towards him, he looks around trying to see if a door was open or someone was nearby. Slowly and gets down on a knee and looks at the cat, "Hey there...ummm cat are you lost? Let's see your collar hopefully they put an id or something."

The Angora regarded him as he knelt down, she paused out of easy reach, the wide white ribbon around her neck was tied in a loose bow, easy to remove or tug free if caught one something.

Kyle didn't make any sudden movements, he knew better than to just grab for an animal. "Alright got a little ribbon around your neck might be something in it that can help me." He sat down in the hallway now and looks kindly at the cat. "Could you come here please." he pats his lap hoping the cat would possibly listen.

The Angora purred and half closed her eyes before inching forward slowly her tail swishing back and forth lightly not agitated but alert.

The marine slowly reaches forward not making any sudden movements as he tries to untie the ribbon to see if there is an id for who this little thing belonged too.

The Angora purred softly and backed away slowly as the ribbon came undone, though the sound of her purs stopped at the very clear sounds of a pair of dogs barking and getting louder.

The Angora turned around showing her feline back to Walken, her fur fluffed out as did her tail, as the canines a new pair of in training K-9 security came running around the corner....

"Seriously?! Someone set this up! There is no way something like this is a coincidence!" Kyle ran towards the cat and grabs it with his left hand knowing that he was going to get clawed up from the Angora and possible bites from the dogs. He turns down another hall looking for an open door.

The handlers for the dogs had been laughing until they heard the exclamation and hurried to catch up with their canine charges, after few whistles and stern commands the dogs stopped running after Walken and the Angora he had picked up. He didn't get clawed yet but the Angora was clearly tense, eyes wide darting between the dogs who sat looking on and the handlers whom were quickly reattaching leashes before turning to face Walken...

Kyle groans as he looks at the two handlers, "Other people are on this ship, please just make sure you watch out for other animals." He was surprisingly calm. He lifts the Angora up so they were faced to face. "Now let's find your owner, you would like that right?"

The mismatched golden yellow and bright green eyes met his gaze before she half closed them, her lifted her left paw and lightly patted the end of his nose, her claws were not showing. "Mrrour." It could have meant an agreement or just a greeting either way she wasn't upset at him.

The handlers were still offering apologies as they hurried their canine charges further down the corridor...

Kyle gently untied the ribbon and read the note inside of it, "Of course you belong to Iria, you know I'm sure she told you this but when we met she crashed into me when she came out of the jefferies tube." He laughed quietly as he searched for the Lieutenant's quarters.

The Angora replied with a soft "Mrourr?" then closed her eyes and purred as he walked, by the time he arrived at Iria Taltos quarters the Angora appeared to nearly be asleep.

Once the room was found he presses the panel outside to announce to the Lieutenant he was there, looking down at the cat he notices that her eyes were closed. He did his best not to wake her.

The door way parted, a moment after the chime sounded, the Angora opened her eyes, purred as she gave Walken's chin a light head butt then she wiggled out of his arms and dashed into the quarters, the doorway hissed shut after the feline's tail was well clear of the closure.

"Well I guess that is my good deed for the day." Walken shrugs as he began to walk away, not wanting to bother Iria.

As he was walking away from the doorway it opened again, though Iria walked out dressed in a long sleeved emerald green t-shirt and black pants, and red running shoes with green and black laces. "Hey Walken, want to join me for a jog or did you get enough running around already?" she asked smiling.

"How can I say no to you Taltos?" The marine laughed softly. "I didn't know you had a cat on board." He states as he walks back towards his friend. "Did you have her back on the Wyoming as well or did you get her from XFY?"

"Yes you can say no to me, you still say it was my fault for the run in." she shot back with a light laugh, then she took off running, "Package deal me and cat go together." In more ways than one.

"That's different and it was your fault." The marine states as he runs after her. "I was like that with my dog..." he mumbles quietly.

Iria just laughed, "So you say, I still say it was your fault Walken," she sing-songed as she jogged around the corner.

"I was in the corridor and had the right away so by entering from a Jefferies tube that means it was your fault!" He shouted with a laugh from around the corner as he jogged after her.

Iria's laughter is still floating to him from her position in front of him she turned to glance over her shoulder then she turned forward again, "Tell yourself that if it makes you feel any better, but I was done with work and exiting the Jefferies tubes hatches, not my fault you tried to enter for your Marine training drills as I was on my way out."

Kyle had finally caught up and matched her pace, "Of course you would say that Taltos, doesn't change the fact that you are the one at fault here Miss Lieutenant." He made sure to say that last part in a mocking tone.

Iria made a pffft sound, than shook her head laughing, "Tell you what Mr Mean and Green, we can make a holo-program to reanact the run in, we'll bring in I would say Commander Tolkath, would be the most impartial person on the ship. He can tell whose at fault, with his logic. If he agrees with me you promise to never call me MISS again." she eyed him as they jogged, "What do you want if you get his vote of being correct?"

"Fine be ready to lose MISS Taltos." The marine laughed aloud before he made direct eye contact with her. "Alright fine if the Commander agrees with you I will never call you Miss again, not sure what I want yet when I win." He answered.

"Ah no you are not getting a holding save for this. You decide before we call in the Commander because I never make a bet I don't know the consequences of if I loose." Not after the one time she bet against her brothers and they cut her hair when she lost. They had barely left a fuzz of curls on her head, she had been mortified for months until her hair had grown back.

"Fine fine, if I win you have to...I don't know...help me learn to cook." He nods, he never really had time to learn aside from the basics. "So how about it Taltos?" He finally stops jogging and holds out his hand.

Iria stopped and eyed him, "I don't see how that helps you out, I am not a master chef or anything I only know a few things but spaghetti sauce can be used in lots of recipes so that is an easy cheat." she mulled it over and then nodded and shook his hand firmly, she grinned cheekily at him then she took off running again. "You're going to loose though."

"A master when it come's to me." Kyle laughs, as the two shook hands and smiles. "I'm sure the Commander will see that you were at fault and I am going to enjoy every second of him announcing that I am the winner...if he agrees to judge it that is." He took off after her.

Iria didn't add another word she was just focused n running ahead of Walken and avoiding the very few folks in the corridor at this hour. She stumpled to a halt about ten inches from a Jefferies the hatch that had swung open unexpectedly. The engineer turned seeing her blinked, "I am so sorry Lieutenant I wasn't expecting anyone to be out and about at this time."

Iria looked at the still open hatch then over her shoulder at Walken as he caught up, "Why we tap on the hatchway before opening so we don't smack folks that don't stick to set schedule." She sounded calm but her eyes were as big as saucers.

"And right there doesn't make my point? A left open hatch and who would have been at fault Taltos?" The Marine had his arms cross once he was standing next to the Lieutenant. "It's not the same but it adds up rather close to ours."

Iria glared at Walken, "That hatch was wide open Walken, I left it open to avoid hitting anyone with it, I was making my exit when you barged in." she waved the Petty Officer on, "Not seem thing at all, here, go on Maddison, be more careful in the future I don't want to hear gruff for folks getting black eyes or something from you swinging hatches open, suddenly."

Maddison carefully closed and sealed the hatch and then left before Iria or Walken changed their minds.

"You scared the poor Petty Officer," Kyle spoke softly as he looks up and down the corridor. He tapped the hatch, "Anyone else inside?" He asks aloud.

"Pfffft, I didn't scare him but even if I did better to find out if he is realible now than later because I get to do his review in a weeks time." Iria retorted lightly, in amusement.

"Hey if this whole engineer thing doesn't work out for you, you would make one help of a Drill Sergeant, just got to get up in peoples face and yell at them a bit more and you would be perfect Taltos." Kyle laughs.

Iria glared up at him, her voice going very soft, "I never yell at anyone that isn't family, I get quieter when talking with others that annoy me, which I thought you already knew tough guy." she turned around and started jogging again, "Besides I heard there was a minium height requirement and I know I am not over five feet and never will be."

Kyle crossed his arms, "Hmm I must be lucky because you haven't been that quiet with me much at all, aside from now." He soon began to jog behind her. "We could find a way around it, we are both smart people...you are a smart person."

"Three times so far. So you're not that annoying yet, once you hit five then your on my list." Her short list for whom to prank when they annoyed her the next time. Her long term list was folks she would send a pranked gift. It ranged from special holo-program with characters that would insult the owner, to extra spicy steak, to muffins that popped up on being touched, covering the person who picked it up in sprinkles, whipped cream, chocolate mousse, and jelly. Sometimes she would substitute a bouquet of balloons that would pop, covering the person in whipped cream, sprinkles and jelly or chocolate. A few folks got hairball bombed but she kept those for very specific types of folks.

"Well I will try not to do that, I don't want to be on your short list because unlike some of the people here, I know what comes with that. Has anyone here made the list yet?" Walken asked.

"Not yet," was Iria's retort as she turned around at the junction and jogged towards him, "been too busy to update it anyway." She added with a cheeky grin and started to run past him.

"I take it I'm leading the pack then." Walken wasn't trying to pass her he was simply keeping pace with Taltos.

Iria laughed softly as she shook her head, "You're not on it yet so there's hope for you yet!" She slowed down and then stopped near the closed hatch where P.O. Maddison exited from. "Besides if I started pranks now it wouldn't be very funny folks are still struggling with stress from last battle, timing is important." Of course now if she did prank anyone Walken could end up telling on her.

"That's a good point, but a good prank could lighten up spirits around here. Military campaigns are stressful on everyone and even something small can bring joy and help out." Walken stats.

Iria made a face at him, "Yeah but if no one else thinks it's funny I am going to catch hell." She shook her head, and started walking again. "Any other bright ideas?"

Kyle slowed his pace to a walk as well, "We could put on a huge musical concert."

"That might work." Though no way in hell was she singing in front of anyone, her brothers had teased her plenty growing up saying she catterwailed. Wasn't a compliment. The idea of trying a light prank, like the popping muffins, was tempting though who to try it on though was the question.

"Do you play anything or sing?" Kyle asks as he stops walking, he never remembered seening her play or sing at anytime.

Iria shook her head, "Afraid I get stage fright but i can whip up a few holographic characters to be in your band, you want them to sing or what?" her cheekiness returned as she added, "I will make sure you have the best lighting and sound to go with your band too."

"So I get to back up programs that can't make mistakes, well hopefully I don't mess up and stand out in front of everyone who shows up." Kyle laughed a little nervous at the thought.

Iria laughed softly, "I can make them less than perfect to help cover mistakes if you want?" If they were too perfect it wouldn't be as much fun either. Least in her opinion.

"Surprise me." Walken laughed.

Iria grinned cheekily, "Was planning to but I need to know how many you'll want to accompany you in the band and how many to sing?"

"One singer and one on another instrument, either string or brass." Walken nods.

Iria nodded, "Can swing that easily!" She would roll some ideas off him later.