<USS Avalon> Pet Peeves

Pet Peeves
by, Jr Lt T'Leara and Ensign Maeveen Nicholas Marsh
 
Ensign Marsh's shoes made very little noise on the floor as he strolled into 
the bio-lab, exuding an air of quiet confidence that did not quite match the 
expression on his face. He'd only finished the 'slight' modifications to his 
uniform this morning, and it would be a true shame to have to change it back so 
soon. After all, he'd spent much of the last evening working on the sleeves 
alone, making them billow and then close in cuffs at his wrists. He'd even 
attached his cufflinks there to complete the outfit. The colors were, of 
course, left untouched, but it did look a bit better now.
 
  A quick glance about the room assuring him that he was alone, Maeveen moved 
hurriedly over to the tank where he held his current experiment. He was using a 
specific combination of plants in an attempt to nullify the venomous quality of 
his pet frogs, making them safe to be handled by humans. Of course, he couldn't 
test this on actual humans, which made his experiment slightly more difficult, 
but there were other ways of checking such things, though they required 
slightly more effort. He reached a hand into the tank, only removing it when 
he'd caught a small frog safely in the palm of his hand.

 
T'Leara cleared her throat quietly, unwilling to startle the man lest he 
release his "pet" by accident, risking human contact with it. "You are aware of 
the toxic quality of your creatures to humans, are you not?"
 
Maeveen glanced up from the small creature writhing in his grasp to find 
himself faced with a rather tall, somewhat intimidating vulcan female. After 
the initial shock of having somehow managed not to notice the woman, a warm, 
open smile spread across his features, his eyes dancing at  the thought of how 
odd the situation must appear. " Well, yes, actually, Ma'am."
 
"I have prepared an anti-toxin, but I rather doubt it would be suffient in the 
quantities I have managed to treat the entire human population of this vessel. 
I recommend the use of caution." T'Leara stated, fighting hard against the 
curiousity that always seemed to manage to lead her straight into trouble. In 
the end, however, she couldn't resist. "What is their purpose aboard the 
Avalon?"
 
" Through the use of certain plants I'm attempting to to reduce their toxic 
quality, if not completely rid them of it." his voice was soft, but pleasantly 
conversational as he walked the small animal over to one of the machines, 
placing it in a small container. "I'm also attempting to give them another way 
of defending themselves... perhaps sharp teeth..."
 
T'Leara struggled against the urge to cringe, remembering the incident with 
'George' earlier. "Perhaps a more passive defense would be recommended for 
those in captivity."

Seeming to consider her suggestion, Maeveen paused for a moment before nodding. 
" Perhaps sort of a chameleon ability, or a ghastly stench."
 
"Perhaps," T'Leara agreed. Deciding to move on to the next topic that appeared 
near desperate for addressing she inquired, "Should you not have changed into 
your uniform before starting your shift? You appear to have come straight to 
your post from the holodeck."
 
 Maeveen cast the woman a sheepish smile before placing his eye against the 
machine before him, beginning the first in a series of small tests that would 
tell him if his experiment had made any progress. " I've only modified it 
slightly, Ma'am. "
 
"Indeed." T'Leara raised a brow, somewhat amused. "And were these modifications 
authorized prior to their inception?"
 
 " Well.." He raised his gaze from his work, drawing back slightly from the 
instrument. " Not exactly, Ma'am. I did ask a man in the hall if he thought it 
would be alright... but I'm not sure that counts, really." He straightened 
himself, casting her another smile. " It would have been a crime to leave it as 
it was, though. If it could speak for its self, I'm certain it would thank me."
 
"I see," she answered, more amused still. "Are not the colors you display those 
of Engineering?"
 
"They are. These little guys aren't work." He answered, still smiling. "More a 
labor of love. Isn't that right, guys?"
 
She held out the vial of anti-toxin she'd carried in with her, it being her 
only reason for straying from the botany lab in hydroponics in the first place 
an held her peace on the entire concept of love. "I shall distract you no 
longer,then, Ensign. I only thought perhaps to bring this in case you might 
need it. You may wish to keep this with you. As a precaution."
 
Emitting a soft chuckle, Maeveen moved towards the vulcan woman, no longer 
viewing her as intimidating, but simply interesting. " Thank you, Ma'am. I hope 
I never find need to use it..." He stopped a few feet away from her, bending at 
the waist and positioning his arms, one in front of him and one behind his 
back, in an elegant bow. " Is there anything I might do for you while you're 
here? Perhaps you'd like a pet... I've a rather interesting bird...."
 

"I think not," T'Leara answered the unusual man. "I've little enough time for 
George and Gracie, despite their relative self-sufficience. I rather doubt any 
other sort would recieve adequate care at my hands." Remembering belatedly the 
nicities most races were accustomed to, she added a rather awkward, "But thank 
you."
 
 His smile broadening slightly, Maeveen took the vial from her. " Not at all 
Ma'am. Ah, but I've forgotten my manners completely. I am called Maeveen 
Nicholas Marsh. From what I've heard, I feel confident in assuming you to be 
Lieutenant T'Leara. "
 
Both brows shot up sharply at the thought she'd not merely been noticed but 
become the stuff of gossip aboard the Avalon already. T'Leara stiffened 
slightly. "You assume correctly, Ensign Marsh."
 
T'Leara's sudden tenseness wasn't lost on Maeveen, though he misunderstood the 
reasoning behind it, and he moved quickly to mend the situation. " They hadn't 
anything really negative to say about you, Ma'am. Though, they did note you 
sometimes fright them when you arrive looking particularly displeased. "
 
T'Leara nodded, not particularly suprised to hear that. "I had noticed," she 
admitted, her tone and demeanor both softening somewhat.
 
Sensing that the 'danger' had passed, Maeveen took another small step towards 
her, maintaining a decent distance while creating a more informal environment, 
and using a bit more than charm to do it. " Might I ask what type of pets 
you have, Ma'am?"
 
It took T'Leara a moment to realize to what he was referring. When it dawned at 
last, she replied, "George is an altered Venus Fly Trap. Gracie is an altered 
Ivy."
 
 It was Maeveen's turn to raise his eyebrows, intrigued at the idea. " Altered 
enough to be considered pets, Ma'am?"
 
"Indeed," she said again. "Though they are admittedly less demanding than 
most." glancing at her hand, she added ruefully, "provided they are tended to 
in a timely manner."
 
 Glancing down at her hand, then back up to her face, Maeveen's eyebrows raised 
even further, his smile faltering ever so slightly. " What would you feed a pet 
that could do that on a starship?"
 
"Mice, large bugs..."she answered. After a slight pause she added quietly, in 
honor of last night's call. "fleet admirals." 
 
Maeveen emitted a soft, amused chuckle at the last item on the list, attempting 
to imagine what sort of person could provoke such malice from a vulcan. " Fleet 
admirals? Any in particular, Ma'am?"
 
"Just one. I would not actually feed him to George, though. No doubt the greasy 
aftertaste would make him ill." T'Leara responded deadpan.
 
Maeveen stared at T'Leara for a long moment, waiting for her to do something 
that would prove her statement to be a jest. After it became apparent that she 
was not going to smile, or laugh, or even smirk, he began to laugh openly, 
feeling somewhat sorry for whoever had earned such hatred from the woman. " 
Perhaps we should send him a frog."

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