An Observant Workout

Posted on 17 Dec 2017 @ 1:25pm by Lieutenant Commander Kit'rin'e & Chief Petty Officer Bianca Donati

1,931 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Errand of Mercy
Location: Gym

Bianca's soft shoes made little sound in the echoingly empty gymnasium as she dug her fingers into a handhold and hauled herself up to the next platform. She'd been here for over an hour, working out her frustrations with her life. Sitting on the platform to catch her breath she pondered where to go next.

Kit'er'ine walked into the Gym for what he planned was his usual routine dressed in his usual work out attire of a two piece outfit in green. At first not noticing the female perched high above but the scent strongly laced on the air. He placed his bag on the floor next to a running machine.

She looked up sharply, thrown from her thoughts by the sudden appearance of the Caitian. His white fur looked incredibly soft, but she knew better than to attempt to stroke him, they had funny rules about that. Did she announce herself, or continue her climb?

Turning the machine on he stretched a little then stepped on. A slow walk to begin with but as the minutes passed the speed grew and grew. As his speed grew his stance dropped to the typical all fours appearance that felines were known for. Before long his tail high and back as it bobbed up and down behind him as he peaked at 54.6kph. Caitian females were faster and while he was still young bursts of speed like that were hard to come by outside of a gym due to space.

She watched him for a few minutes before stretching for the next handhold and continuing her climb. The wall on the gym had several levels and she'd just entered the second one which was more challenging, requiring more concentration. She was wearing a lift belt just in case.

Kit'rin'e slowed his speed over a few minutes to wind down from his run. Thats when he heard something and turned to see a female climbing up a wall. He felt ashamed for missing her, disrespecting a female so was poor form and he had to make ammends. "I apologise for not seeing you there, I was not aware someone was still using the equipment. If you wish it I can leave you to yourself uninterupted?"

He looked up at her wondering if she was the source of the scent on the air or was she the only remaining one of a group that had left prior to his arrival.

The sudden sound of his voice startled a yelp out of her and then a curse as her foot slipped. It wasn't a difficult recovery, just an inconvenience as she swiftly found another foothold and hung there, turning her head to look down at him. Chest heaving as she fought for breath, she said "I don't mind...you being here."

"Would you mind if I joined you?" He asked. He felt bad for ignoring her before and in trying to ammend he caused her to slip, tradition was far from being satisfied. He turned off the machine and wiped his muzzle and mouth with his towel.

A chuckle drifted down to him "Help yourself" she answered loosing a hand from the wall to wipe the sweat from it onto her pants. Repeating it, she used her feet to push herself up to the next handhold.

Climbing was natural to Caitians, water however was a different matter due to the weight issue. He gave the wall a look, it appeared to be in stages with handholds at different levels and positions. Kit'rin'e crouched, a small shuffle and then pounced up into the air and with claws out latched onto the wall some feet above the floor. He slowly started his climb towards her in a steady pace but confidently as this was nothing compared to the sorts on the Homeworld.

She made an amused noise, and with arms trembling a little bit from her climb so far, she pulled herself to the next handhold. Stretching up on her toes, to make the most of her slighter stature, she pushed off a bit to grasp and pull herself onto the ledge with a tiny grunt of exertion

Slowly Kit'rin'e climbed the wall and caught up to her, it was easier for him considering he was a very tall individual capable of covering a larger distance per stretch or climb. "Forgive my manners. I am Kit'rin'e." He introduced. "Kit if it is easier for you."

"Kit'rin'e" she said softly, attempting to get the accent on the syllables the same way he had spoken them. "Pleasure to meet you" she extended her hand to him as humans did, should his culture shake hands. She didn't remember honestly.

He was glad she offered first, he was forbidden to touch without permission and so gently, making sure his claws were away before doing so he took her smaller hand in his much larger one and shook it. "A pleasure." However now the scent was much stronger. "Shall we continue?" Not wanting to strain his claws for too long to grip the wall.

"I need a moment, but you feel free." she said as she stroked a wisp of dark hair that had escaped her ponytail back into it. Grumbling under her breath she released her ponytail entirely, her long hair cascading down her back and then rebound it in a quick braid.

Kit'rin'e continued his climb, slight relief from her scent being up close but the room still laced with it. As he reached the ledge he sat down and caught his breath, leaning forward and looking down to her. "Is everything alright?"

"Huh? Oh yes, everything is fine." she answered in a bland tone as she stood and launched herself for a handhold so that she could climb to the top and meet him. It was nice to have some competition.

Patiently he sat waiting, she had no doubt seen him run but didnt like that he'd not noticed her sooner, he should have been more alert then that. As she drew closer however another consideration crept up. "I hope you're Mate will not object to my being here with you?"

She snorted in derision "I've not got a mate, nor partner or husband." her voice was a touch bitter but she sighed deeply leaning back on the pad. "Even if I had one, he would have no boundary to forbid me from speaking to another."

Kit'rin'e's hearing heard her words but also how she said them. "I am sorry if I have offended you." His attempt to avoid difficulty with another male seemed to have bothered her in some way though he was impressed with her physical ability she'd demonstrated so far on the wall given her size.

"Not offended by you Kit'rin'e. Merely by my last choice of partner- who was to be married to another when he chose to dally with me. It is...distasteful."

Kit'rin'e tried often to understand the relationship complexities of other cultures and species, they proved difficult at times in comparison to his own. Caitians mated for life, to one only while other species could have one or more partners, wives or husbands. It often caused him a headache. "I see."

She shrugged "Such is the way of some men I guess." her violet eyes found his, and she was struck by the brilliant aqua color. They were quite lovely.

"I am sorry to have raised such a sour topic." Kit'rin'e spoke. "I am still learning about many customs of other races." He brushed his whiskers with his hands to free them from overlapping to caught on each other from the climb. "Do you attend the Gym often?" His eyes looking to hers.

"Peace my friend. There is no harm in words. But yes, I am here most days."

"I try and attend at least once a day for my routines but duties do often interfer." He spoke. He watched her keenly as she moved, fluid, graceful almost Caitian like. Her appearance though flustered from her climb was attractive and slender in figure. He hoped she wouldn't catch him looking but much of her movements reminded him of how the females on the Homeworld moved.

Tucking one leg under her body, she perched on the top ledge with a smile toying at her lips "A marine has to keep herself in shape, even if she is just a desk jockey."

"I am new on board, Chief Engineer." Now that he knew her role he shared his own, feeling that since she shared it wouldn't only be fair to do like wise. "Everyone should be encouraged to keep in shape, it is healthy to do so." Though somewhat hard to say when he outweighed her by an easy 300lbs.

She laughed softly "You're quite the improvement on the last chief engineer."

"I did not get to meet or know him, though given the ship I have much to take on." Kit'rin'e replied, he'd considered just that on the trip to the ship as it was a long and boring one. Though he smiled, greatful for the compliment none the less.

She smiled back at him, sweat cooling on her skin to make her shiver just a little bit. That was good, it meant that she'd exercised well.

There came a problem, proximity. As close as she was to him even in a harmless way just sitting there her scent was strong which for Caitians that was a dangerous thing if exposed too long to it. "Perhaps if you wish, you would honour me by joining me for a meal after freshening up?"

"That...sounds fun." she said surprised to find herself agreeing to it. Aliens couldn't have the same expectations for dinner as humans and Betazoids so therefore it was safe. He would likely not be offended by her disability nor, put off by her mannerisms as he seemed like a very direct person. "I am not very skilled at social niceities, but I will meet you in the lounge once I have showered."

"As you wish." Kit'rin'e smiled, feeling now that he was keeping her from a shower he rotated and started to climb down the wall again. He tried his best to keep his claws from view as he took each step and hand hold. "Shall we?" He offered.

She lashed a slim rope into a holo-stake and secured it to her belt. Fishing a glove out of her pocket, she grasped the rope and pushed off with both feet, allowing herself to drop a few meters before doing so again. In this fashion she was swifter than he, and she was soon on the ground.

Kit'rin'e watched her sail past him. Only fair since he beat her up the wall given her headstart. Once he was a little lower he gave a look to make sure she was out of the way then in true feline fashion fell to the floor landing on his hands and feet. With nearly 500lbs of weight impacting the mat it softened the thud he made on the floor, from his low crouched position in landing he slowly stood and righted himself.

Her rich chuckle trailed back to him as she swept out the door and to her quarters so she could shower.

Kit'rin'e picked up his bag and towel and left the Gym. He'd have to sharpen his claws a little following the climb but they were not too bad, moments at most before they were made good again. He could however smell her scent on his clothing which meant he too needed a shower.

 

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