PT 015.5 Xho Duma

(edited)

July 6, 2020

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Ok, so you have spent some time in your quarters.  Dread Beast has perched himself on your shoulder and will not let go.

[8:14 PM]

I'd say about fifteen minutes has passed.

Xho07/06/2020

is happy to keep him up there. Though if someone does turn out to be allergic to cats, she will detach him.

[8:15 PM]

fixes her hair to a more Xholike style (combed straight back, maybe a couple tiny braids, very very tidy) and then heads back to see if she can find Grax again.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Grax you find back on the bridge.  He seems to mostly just be oversseing functions and making observations.  He sees you come in.  "Commander Xho.  How are you...acclimating?"

Xho07/06/2020

Quite well, sir, I think. Was anyone injured?

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"A few, last I heard Von Kemp and Viex were tending to patients.  But both seem to be having issues staying solid, so assistant physicians seem to be handling the case load."

Xho07/06/2020

... also, my cat refused to release me. I am aware it is against regulations, but he was extremely... pointy.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"...I think we can make an exception."

Xho07/06/2020

I'm certain Dr. Forgewight's skin will grow back.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"The professor lost an arm.  I think he can manage."

Xho07/06/2020

True. Is there anything I can do, sir?

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"I think Itsy was expressing concerns about Duma.  His heart rate is apparently heightened in the Chimera Chamber.  I was pretty certain he was fine but...if you could look into that for me, I'd appreciate it."

Xho07/06/2020

nods.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

((Also, out of game...how do Xho's blasts work, far as you know as a player?))

Xho07/06/2020

((Well, I think they're meant to take the place of a sneak attack. But they are specifically a form of magic energy, necrotic.))

[8:28 PM]

... if he is done with the chamber, I will let you know, sir.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"I appreciate it, Commander."

[8:28 PM]

((Does Xho know how to use them, or are they a reflex, do you feel?))

Xho07/06/2020

((She knows how to use them. She felt they were easy to control, but that might just be her opinion.))

USS Adventure07/06/2020

((Ok))

Xho07/06/2020

heads down to the chamber.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

You see Itsy outside the chamber.  "Hey, Commander.  Sorry, I know this breaks protocol a bit but...it ain't even his body and I'm kind of concerned."

Xho07/06/2020

There may be other factors. Do you think it would be best to leave the program running and have me enter?

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Itsy: "That was the plan.  It's custom ordered, but it's not...like...dirty.  So should be safe to reveal."

Xho07/06/2020

nods.

[8:35 PM]

Thank you for letting us know.

[8:35 PM]

heads in.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

You enter and find yourself in a forest clearing.  There's a pool of water off to the side, a sunset occuring over a mountain range in the distance, and flowers.  The field is full of flowers.

[8:36 PM]

Dread Beast leaps off you here to bat at some of them.

Xho07/06/2020

smiles, and lets him.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

You hear a rustling in the forest on the outskirts of the field.

Xho07/06/2020

... Duma? ... it's me, Xho.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

There's a growl in response.

Xho07/06/2020

tries it again in Orcish.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

A large figure leaps out from the trees.  It's a warg.  Large tusks.  At the orcish sound it...calms.

[8:39 PM]

It approaches, cautiously.

Xho07/06/2020

keeps going in Orcish, in that case.

[8:40 PM]

... are you Duma, or is this part of the program?

[8:40 PM]

either way holds out a hand.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

You touch fur.  It's matted and rough, but still comforting.  Like petting a big dog.

[8:40 PM]

"...Commander?"

[8:41 PM]

Duma now comes out with a bundle of sticks on his back.  He seems...very uncomfortable in skins that don't really fit Ironspine's body like he'd clearly like.

Xho07/06/2020

Ah, part of the program.

[8:42 PM]

Yes. Are you all right?

[8:42 PM]

doesn't care, though, and scritches the warg with her only hand at the moment.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma (in Orcish): "Longfang, sit."

[8:43 PM]

The warg does so.

[8:43 PM]

"What are you doing here?"

Xho07/06/2020

((Is he using orcish or common?))

USS Adventure07/06/2020

He switches back to common when talking to you.

Xho07/06/2020

also switches back.

[8:45 PM]

You had initially asked for only a few minutes, but it has been some time, and your vital signs were apparently... peculiar. I thought it best to make sure you were all right.

[8:45 PM]

Good warg, good.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

He nods and looks...sullen.  "His name's Longfang.  My father wouldn't let me keep a pet, but I found him in the clearing and would bring him meat everyday.  So...he was kind of my secret pet."

Xho07/06/2020

nods.

[8:47 PM]

... I can leave if you wish. You do not have to tell me anything.

[8:47 PM]

He is very beautiful.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"...the captain is in my body, so he'll know soon anyway."

[8:48 PM]

"If he doesn't, already."

Xho07/06/2020

I feel you can count on his discretion, whatever the issue is.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"...when did you feel you fit in with the Federation?  Speaking from one untrusted subject to another."

Xho07/06/2020

Before I joined. It was at home that I did not fit.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"I didn't fit at home, either.  I felt for a while I fit better with the Federation but...I am not so sure of that now, either."

Xho07/06/2020

... your record and your performance in the past three months strongly suggests otherwise.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"I am great when off handling my sector.  But in diplomacy, when being a 'face' of the Federation...I am just not able it seems.  I still come across as a big, lumbering monster there as I came across as a loud, angry, uncouth woman in my tribe."

Xho07/06/2020

I cannot speak to the latter, but I assure you that the former is distinctly untrue.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

He nods.  "...I don't know if my transition progress was in my records or not.  ...the Captain's gonna be in for a surprise when he needs to use the restroom."

Xho07/06/2020

It is likely in your medical records, but not in your general file.

[8:57 PM]

Most likely he already knows, as pants are... different.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"Hm.  ...Well...thank you, Commander."

Xho07/06/2020

nods.

[8:59 PM]

I am not sure why he would be surprised. It is not that uncommon, surely.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"I believe it is not common.  I am also not complete in my transition yet so...frankly, even I don't like dealing with it a lot of the time."

Xho07/06/2020

This must have been extremely difficult and upsetting.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"It's not comfortable having boobs again.  At least, of all the woman I jumped into, dwarves do not believe in those ridiculous human woman grooming habits."

Xho07/06/2020

They shave body hair, don't they?

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"They do.  And facial hair if they have any."

[9:05 PM]

"There's even eyebrow trimming sometimes."

Xho07/06/2020

... I do not even use makeup beyond the eyeshadow, and that is only to re-emphasize my uniform.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"Isn't make-up more common amongst men in drow society, though?"

Xho07/06/2020

Yes. It has become more popular among women in the past few decades, and slightly less so with men.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"Makes sense.  Grass always being greener."

Xho07/06/2020

I have largely acclimated to the generally opposite gender roles here, though some things still occasionally do catch me off-guard.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"Oh?"

Xho07/06/2020

There are many more men of higher rank in the fleet than at home.

[9:12 PM]

But even then, it is only proportions rather than absolutes.

[9:13 PM]

There are generally fewer differences between elven men and women than in other peoples, also.

[9:13 PM]

Even this...

[9:13 PM]

gestures at her Theo-body.

[9:14 PM]

... is not... that disturbing. However, it is only temporary; if I thought it was permanent I would likely be far more disturbed. As it is the captain had to lend me a jacket.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

"...it's a nice jacket.  Even with the scratch marks."

[9:16 PM]

He points to the shoulder where you now see little kitty claw marks.

Xho07/06/2020

I will have to have that repaired. Dread Beast insisted on joining me.

[9:17 PM]

He was adamant. And quite sharp.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Dread Beast emerges with the head of the flower he defeated in glorious combat.

[9:17 PM]

Dread Beast: "Mew!"

Xho07/06/2020

eyes her kitten.

[9:17 PM]

... do not eat that. You are an obligate carnivore.

[9:18 PM]

It will only make you vomit.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

He's not eating it.  Just carrying it around in his mouth and wrestling it.

[9:18 PM]

It's roughly half the size of his entire kitten body.

Xho07/06/2020

Good cat. Good.

[9:20 PM]

picks him up and offers him to Duma.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "I'm good.  More of a dog/wolf person."

[9:20 PM]

Duma: "I'll be out soon."

Xho07/06/2020

puts her kitten on her shoulder.

[9:21 PM]

All right. ... I would like to be your friend, if you do not object.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "You're a great friend!  That'd be awesome."

[9:22 PM]

Duma: "...just do me a favor and don't tell anybody about this program, please."

Xho07/06/2020

There would be no need. I will tell the captain you are all right; that is all. And he will be very glad; he also values your expertise and capabilities.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "...even after I punched the crab diplomat...person?"

Xho07/06/2020

That was minor enough that it is not even in the records.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "Good.  Good.  ...I think I'd still like to be a captain someday."

Xho07/06/2020

I am sure you will succeed in that goal, and of course, I will help however I can.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "Like you don't wanna be Captain too."

[9:27 PM]

He smiles.

Xho07/06/2020

... I am not sure. I know I am currently not ready to do so, but I have less experience than you do.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "I mean...sort of, I guess."

Xho07/06/2020

I did not expect to make it past lieutenant, junior grade.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "You served on a ground team for years."

Xho07/06/2020

I enjoyed it a great deal. ... I would have been happy to have been an ensign for my entire career. I belong in Planefleet. And so do you.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

He nods.  "I hope I do.  I like it here.  I like this ship.  I wish Theo would tell me more about how it works.  I like how we help people.  I...feel more myself in uniform."

Xho07/06/2020

I do too. This coat helps, however. ... and you should ask the doctor. He is extremely willing to explain. And surprisingly patient. I have spent significant time in engineering, first learning how the engines sound and then later, their basic operation and some of the ways they could potentially malfunction.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "I don't want to bother him too much.  He seems...very irritated when people come to him for things."

Xho07/06/2020

If and only if it is for reasons unrelated to engineering. In his area of specialty he is fairly patient.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "Good to know.  Frankly, he's kind of scaring my people in engineering and operations a bit.  They might be glad to hear that."

Xho07/06/2020

Tell him you are interested in how the engine works. Also, he is very fond of candy.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "...I don't think I am going to give him candy.  ...or, is that only a courting ritual in orc tribes?"

Xho07/06/2020

It can be, but only in context. I did not hand him candy, I had it delivered in quantities not given in courtship. It is more in the nature of a bribe. ... one of my teachers at the academy said it was always best to keep the engineers and the doctors on one's side.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "Makes sense.  In our culture it's also only for courtship if it's homemade.  But before the Federation there also...wasn't store bought candy for that purpose."

Xho07/06/2020

I could not get his arm to work, so I removed it. ... and promptly dropped it on the floor. I do have an apology offering of cherry sours, however.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "Good.  I'm sure he makes those things to withstand that, though."

Xho07/06/2020

I will be appropriately penitent and hopefully, that will be enough.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "...have you checked with um...the people from your class?  After they've been all jumbled around?"

Xho07/06/2020

No. I felt it best to give them space. Why?

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "I just hope they're ok.  They went through a lot and now they've probably changed with each other...again."

Xho07/06/2020

nods.

[9:55 PM]

... that is true. I will check on them.

[9:55 PM]

... perhaps not until after we have fixed this.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "Fair.  They have Dr. Aevarnis."

Xho07/06/2020

And they were stuck with me for... a very long time.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "...yeah....I'm not sure what to do with that, frankly."

Xho07/06/2020

Thus far, I have simply been giving them space.

[10:01 PM]

... I had best let the others know you are all right. ... I am very glad you are.

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "I am.  Just needed some time to sort myself."

Xho07/06/2020

nods.

[10:04 PM]

... please feel free to let me know if I can help at any point.

[10:04 PM]

Thank you for letting me pet your warg. He is very sweet.

[10:04 PM]

then heads out!

USS Adventure07/06/2020

Duma: "He is and I will.  Thanks."

[10:05 PM]

He stays in a bit longer.  We can end here or jump to the next thing you wanna do.

Xho07/06/2020

((We can jump! She'd tell Itsy he's OK and just needs a few minutes to wrap up, and would then go back to find the captain, probably.))