Regrowth

Posted on Fri Sep 13th, 2019 @ 8:04am by Lieutenant Commander S'hib

Mission: Mission 3: Masquerade
Location: S'hibs quarters
Timeline: Some time after -Back to Work-
989 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

The door to his quarters opened with a silent grace that was quickly disturbed by the tumbling of vines in front of him. "Oh, yeah..." S'hib sighed, parting the floral growth as he stepped inside his quarters. "This is going to take a while." He said with a heavy sigh, pots and tubs overgrowing with plant life. his room now looked more like an ancient temple than a well-tended garden, the ceiling vines had grown out of control and recently flowered. "I need to give you all a lot less water..." He said as he admired the bright pink flowers, still it's beauty had to go... some of it anyhow.

First, however, a change of attire was in order. He was home after all and expected no company, especially since everyone was busy coming back to their own homes.

Slowly unpinning the hidden seam in his collar, allowing his equine skull to fit through what appeared to be an otherwise human-sized collar. Removing his long flowing one-piece uniform in a singular swift moment, pulling his head back as the material fell off his face and down into his arms.

"Computer, please play music from The Glitch Mob." S'hib snorted as he walked towards his bathroom, folding his uniform as he walked. Hooves crunching on dried leaves as the room was filled with loud electronic music, the mix of his spiritual shrine-like living space at odds with the air vibrating in a way that was more akin to a basement nightclub on earth.

"Increase the volume please." He said, his body already feeling the music as much as his ears were.

"Cannot comply, volume levels are already at maximum safety limits." The computer practically shouted as he removed his black duty leggings, rubbing his hands over his now exposed thighs and fur.

"When I get promoted I'm overriding you." He sneered at the ceiling, opening the frosted glass door to his sonic shower. Within moments he could feel his skin and fur tingle as high-frequency waves pulsated over his body.

Untying the braids in his dark grey mane was one of the best parts of the day he thought, unravelling the mass of long hair with a violent head shake, no longer feeling confined by his uniform and dress protocols.

~I need to remind myself to train with marines again sometime soon.~ S'hib pondered as he unstrapped his neatly tied up tail, the meter-long grey hair fluttering down the back of his long equine legs.

~Maybe something physical, running perhaps... though I don't think any of them would be able to keep up...~ He continued, talking to himself as he ran his hands over his body, the bristles of his short fur standing on end from the showers cleansing pulses. ~Maybe If I just trotted...~

Grooming was an unequivocally important part of every Sequellians day, however, it was usually done throughout the day by attentive individuals while in polite greeting or more in-depth routines from friends and family.

The lack of what would have been, near-constant tactile contact on his planet had become a fiercely isolating factor of his life. Something S'hib struggled with on a daily basis, on earth and now especially so In Starfleet.

Thus was the burden of career amongst the stars he thought, reaching out to a small shelf inside the shower and picking up two silver discs, handheld sonic amplifiers with rotating combed heads designed specifically for his body.

His time back on earth although brief was a welcome reset, for the first time since coming aboard the Elysium he had fallen asleep in the company of others. Blissful and affectionate, nothing more, nothing less... just company.

Blinking out of his thoughts for the first time in many minutes S'hib quickly shelved the discs and stepped out, his hooves clicking on the tiled floor once again.

~Computer next song...~ He said walking back out into his living space, meandering towards the furthest wall as he examined what needed seeing to the most.

His largest plant a strange black cactus some four feet tall, sat filling a large clay pot could wait till last. It's bone-white spines occasionally sporting tiny white flowers across its ridged body, It's deathly beauty taking up an entire corner all on its own with intricate handwoven tapestries hanging aside its bulk.

"What a mess you've created...not even following the supports I gave you." S'hib sighed like a disappointed parent, picking up a pair of small pruning shears.

The vine's originating from one end of the room had begun to grow over the ceiling, the large wooden frame above his head hung just below the light fixtures, with just enough room for his full height to remain comfortably standing. However, the plant seemed to have ignored his advice while he was away and had begun climbing down the doorway.

A heavy snort followed by a loud click caused a large portion of the vine to fall away from the door frame above him.

As more and more parts of his overgrown room fell to the floor S'hib couldn't help but gently sway to the beat of various songs, his head seeming to constantly be in motion as he pruned his home. "This is definitely going to take a while..." He admitted again, noticing the large amounts of organic waste he was now going to have to feed to the recycler. If anything at least his replicator would be full of usable biological components for the foreseeable future.

"Hope this works though..." He said somewhat unsure of his abilities as he reached up to the vines above him, It still had a tremendous amount of growing and maturing before It would bear any fruit If any at all.

"Grapes or no grapes you grow down my door again and I'm eating you." He teased, placing the shears down on the shelf once more.

OFF:

Ensign S'hib
Security Officer

U.S.S.Elysium