Kitty is an illogical moniker.

[science_blues]

Leonard Nimoy's established living quarters were sufficient. However, they did not possess a cat. A cat which he had specifically implied existed on the ship.

Normally, sneaking was quite an illogical venture in line with the retention of accurate information. However, when one seeks to find an organism that may or may not desire to be found, a stealthy approach is the most likely to succeed. It was, also, only logical that she begin this approach before the departure from Leonard Nimoy's established quarters, in the event that the cat was nearby.

She absolutely did not sneak out.

As Spock rounded the corner, and scanned the hallway, she realized a flaw in her plan. The cat was perfectly capable of avoiding her. A new approach was required. She would have to imply, via a distance based technique, that she bore nothing but good will for the creature. Good will and a desire to pet it.

Spock attempted verbal communication, as it was the only distance based technique she was capable of performing.

"Come here, tiny feline of a non-specified gender," Spock hazarded quietly. The cat did not come immediately. She moved down the hall and attempted verbal communication again.

Comments

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

"My age is irrelevant," Spock replied with the careful reluctance of a child who did not wish to be treated as such. "I believe I can use this terminal."

She considered Deforest Kelley and blinked. "If I am not too heavy, you may do so. I shall attempt swiftness in my search."

[de-forest.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure I can manage," said De, bending his knees and extending his arms out to hold her securely under her shouders. He lifted her in one swift motion, and settled her into what he hoped was a comfortable, and practical position. He ignored her prior comment, about her age. Children would be children anywhere, he supposed, although children he had known previously had been extremely keen to tell him their exact, precise age, down to the month, when asked.

"Is that better? Can you reach from there?" She was a bit heavier than he had anticipated.

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Spock answered and started working. It was strange, all of her weight settled between her arms, but Deforest Kelley did not appear to have problems maintaining her elevated status. It took five simple strokes and she searched the active database for entries regarding cats.

A notification about tuna consumption came up and Spock blinked. It was linked to a collar signature. She searched for it. Within minutes, the location of the collar was found.

"The computer says that the cat is in the mess hall," Spock said and pointed at the tiny map on the screen. She did not know the way, but the map seemed clear. "We should go there."

[de-forest.livejournal.com]

"I wouldn't have known how to do that," exclaimed De, "well done." He put her down with an exhale of breath, rather glad that she had not taken longer. Having done that he turned to look more closely at the map that Spock had managed to bring up.

"...I think I can work out how to get there," he said, hesitantly, examining the map closely. "Is that down a level?"

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

"I believe that is indicative of a level above our current location," Spock replied and turned to face the direction of the nearest turbolift.

"Let us go, De," Spock encouraged. Despite her placid expression, the allure of a small feline had inspired a slight gyration in her stance. In short, she was currently shifting her weight back and forth on the balls of her feet, impatient to continue searching and locate the animal.

[de-forest.livejournal.com]

"Oh," said De, looking at the map again, but it didn't make much more sense.

He made to follow her, noting the outward signs of her impatience. Coming up alongside her, he instinctively held out his hand to hers, although he wasn't sure if she would take it. "Or," he said suddenly, as a thought sprang to mind, "would you like to ride on my shoulders, as we walk? You could try to touch the ceiling." She wouldn't be too heavy sat like that, not for a short distance, anyway.

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

Spock was too old to hold hands, her mother had told her so. But no one had ever mentioned an age at which it was inappropriate to ride shoulders. She stopped walking and looked up at Deforest. He was very tall.

"May I?" Spock asked. The change in vantage could prove beneficial...also it seemed enjoyable.

[de-forest.livejournal.com]

"Of course you can," De answered, crouching down again so that Spock could climb on. Having satisfied himself that she was secure, and with a grasp on her ankles, he stood up again, slowly. "You okay?" he asked, making sure.

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

"I am now very tall," Spock informed him, readily. "Your hair is aesthetically pleasing."

She could not make eye contact, she settled with leaning slightly so she could see the human's face. It was a strange angle, but sufficient.

"I will be able to see the cat from here, do not be concerned."

[de-forest.livejournal.com]

De stifled another laugh. "Thank you," he said, "and I'm sure you have an excellent view now. The cat won't get past you."

The turbolift doors were now ahead of them. "Duck," De instructed, taking a deep breath (just a normal elevator, just a normal elevator) and stepping towards the entrance.

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

Spock did as instructed, and bent in order to avoid the threshold. The interior of the turbolift was sufficiently tall to permit her to sit up again. Spock was taller than the controls.

"Computer," Spock attempted but the computer did not answer. She pressed the panel with one foot. "Computer." It trilled. "Deck seven."

The turbolift moved and Spock rested her hands atop Deforest Kelley's head. This mode of transportation was most agreeable.

[de-forest.livejournal.com]

De shifted his shoulders slightly as the turbolift moved, adjusting the spread of her weight across them. He stared straight ahead at the doors (really just an elevator, just a normal elevator), and let out a long breath as they came to a stop, and the doors opened. "Duck again," he said, exiting the turbolift.

"You still alright up there," he asked, once they were safely out. "Are you tall enough to touch the ceiling? I think it would be a good thing, to be tall enough to touch the ceiling."

He looked left and right down the hallway they found themselves in. Which...where was he meant to go now. He tried to remember the map, but the orientation had confused him. "Do you remember what direction it was, darlin'?"

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

Spock had not yet attempted to touch the ceiling. She did so now. With a stretch she could press her hand against the upper bulkhead. There was something strangely satisfying in the action.

"It is interesting to be this tall," Spock answered. "We should go left, starboard."

She removed her hands from the ceiling so they could continue walking.

"Thanks are irrelevant, Deforest Kelley," Spock prefaced as she folded her hands again. "But being tall is enjoyable."

[de-forest.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad you like it. Any time you want to be tall, you just ask, alright?"

He smiled as she resettled her hands on top of his head. That was quite...comforting, in a way. It was moments like these, faced with a connection, however small, with a child, that the regrets that he had never had a child surfaced again. He had come to terms with it a long time ago, but here, being younger again...that feeling was there. Still. Some things were easier left in the past than others, and De was determined to enjoy the chance to spend some time with the child currently seated on his shoulders.

De walked steadily down the corridor. "Was it straight on from here, or do we have to turn off again?" he asked, after a moment.

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

"No further turning is required, our goal is..." Spock paused and looked down as she attempted to visually ascertain the length of Deforest Kelley's footsteps. She could not. "Close."

True to Spock's vague estimate, mostly because it was impossible to be untrue to it, they arrived outside of the Mess Hall within minutes. Several of the various Starfleet personnel in the hallways appeared curious but not overtly confused by the sight of Spock riding Deforest Kelley. This was fortunate, she did not wish to pause her search to answer questions.

[de-forest.livejournal.com]

De noted the glances, but tried to ignore them. Nobody knew him, and if they did, they were probably wrong in thinking so, and had in fact mistaken him for Dr. McCoy. "Right," he said, pausing outside the Mess. "This is it, is it?" Funny, after so many months on board, he still hadn't been to the mess hall. He had avoided it, taking most of his meals in his quarters. "And the cat's inside?"

He was not trying to avoid entering the room at all.

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Spock confirmed and blinked as they failed to move forward. She stared down at Deforest Kelley's head but this action provided no express answers to her silent quandary.

"I assure you, there was no indication that the feline was large or carnivorous," Spock explained quietly. "Though if the lack of absolution the matter makes you uneasy, we can wait and peek through when someone exits."

[de-forest.livejournal.com]

"If Yontaya has grown large and carnivorous all of a sudden, this ship is even stranger than I thought," De said, staring at the door some more.

"It's alright," he said, with a deep breath, stepping towards the doors, "I just needed a minute --duck -- but I'm alright." He exhaled deeply again as the doors swished shut behind them, and turned his head to scan round the room.

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

There were very few people in the Mess Hall. This was fortunate, it would make finding a small cat into a very simple, trampling free task. Spock was uncertain why Deforest Kelley required pause outside of the Mess Hall, but it did not occur to her to ask. It was irrelevant, at this point.

"I am unable to sight the creature from this vantage," Spock said as they moved into the room. "It is not as helpful as I had originally predicted."

[de-forest.livejournal.com]

"Is that another way of saying that you would like to get down?" said De, tilting his head up and round to smile at her with raised eyebrows.

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Spock answered as she tilted her head to make eye contact. He appeared bemused. "That is congruous with the logical progression of my statement."

[de-forest.livejournal.com]

"Alrighty," he replied, crouching down so that she could slide from his shoulders safely. He had considered lifting her up and over his head, but not being entirely sure that he could support her weight like that, had opted for the easier option. "Down you get, then."

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

Spock climbed down as gracefully as she was capable of, which was to say, not very gracefully at all. She adjusted her dress as Deforest Kelley stood and immediately turned her attention to the space around them.

"This will make finding a small feline much simpler," Spock proclaimed. "Come here small feline of an unspecified variety...um..." Spock paused. "Yontaya?"

[de-forest.livejournal.com]

De glanced around the room self-consciously and ran his hand over his face, before sinking into a crouch again and whistling softly. "Here, kitty, kitty," he called, trying not to sound too embarrassed.

[vulcans-purr.livejournal.com]

{ear twitch?}

{name?}

{look around}

{!!!}

{warm-safe-animal!}

{jump down}

{slink over when they are not looking}

{ruuuuuuuuuuuuub against big-person ankle}

{mine}