#...today dr is kal'tsit

[makeitlookdecent]

i did cc#10!!!!! my first contract!!!

[exoticalmonde]

Stultifaring The Navis (Formally)

I had at least 5 of the medals since the last time, which makes it all both easier and harder, because last episode in the ship of seaborn - I did not have Lappland. So you can guess I had no way to auto run anything in EX.

Anyways, I've armed myself up so well I only had to sit and laugh at this pathetic little creature

and whatever lies this is trying to insist on

Anyways, since I got lots of money from the purple tickets and the overall shop, I managed to get W's new skin and I am REELING at her quotes. I have grown to l-.... like... her. Kind of. In the way that Ines would like her I guess, and I like Ines in the ways that W would like her. It's tolerable. I don't WANT to hate them, I do not in fact hate them. I just don't know them well enough to care but I would absolutely give my husband a chance and bond with the women in his life because if he trusted their character and ended up picking me, then who am I to ever argue?

So I've been going wild with his

[Transcribed: Hoederer, what's wrong? Oh, the book you wanted me to check out? How should I know? What's that pile of ash in the fire? Hm... Oh! I "mistook" the book for tinder a little while ago. Eh, it's fine. We're cooking dinner with knowledge tonight. It's gonna taste fantastic, don'tcha think?]

I AM SO MAD ABOUT THE BOOK IF THERE IS ONE THING I AM A MATERIALIST FOR ITS BOOKS AND W IS *Shaking her* WOMAN

---

[Transcribed: Check this potato, Ines got a head like so-Hmm... now that I think of it, you could probably squeeze a bomb into a potato. Maybe a good trick to play on some miserable dumbass. Hey, Hoederer, you want a potato?]

Dying.

---

['Transcribed: Hey, Hoederer, I've been thinking. If the two of us went at that nasty Kal'tsit, how do you figure our chances taking her out? I mean, you guys are always planning for all contengencies, so we gotta have a plan for that one too, right? Hah, now that's a funny look on your face.]

I LOVE THAT HIS FACE IS SO EASY TO READ HE IS SO TRANSPARENT AROUND PEOPLE HE TRUSTS I AM GOING TO MELT I LOVE HOEDERER SO MUCH

[Transcribed: My name... My name... Hey hoederer, you're always reading books, so why don't you come up with a name for me? Theresa said I should come up with a new one... Wait a second, what's with all those books? Pick a name myself? Go to hell!]

---

[Transcribed: Theresa called me over and told everyone what an amazing fighter I am, but she didn't look happy at all. How can I make her happy...? What if I invited her over and cooked her a nice dinner?]

She is so gay for Theresa... Good for her, good fo- *remembers Theresa is meant to be dead and now that she is not dead she is on the enemy's side and we are both devastated* Ah.

[Transcribed: How many pieces of candy am I worth now? I actually like that method of valuing people. You sure we shouldn't go with that?]

I will never give up on the idea that you just... cost candies. This really is such a Laterano situation instead of a Sarkaz one. And don't get me started on the whole 'they were once the same-' yeah, isn't that terrific?

Today is a special day where we do all the visiting

And the shopping

Picking up my fish husband from the training grounds so we could take him for a little nap since he's been there for a while.

Taking him for a little walk down memory lane.

---

Previously: Me, while guiding Dr. Kryo: "Show me the little handies." Pinkie: "I hate that, because it... usually means a handjob." Me, insistently: "Give me visuals of your little handies, Kryo." Kryo: "Oh my." Lundi: "Just take my Lappland." Kryo: "Taking Lundi's Lapipi." Me: "I hate that. Terrible. Suddenly I understand how Pinkie felt."

---

That being done, let's finish with what I actually came here for

YOU

It took me forever to get this level. I actually spent less time on the boss stage than trying to figure out how to use 3 roombas to clear the mess those seaborn create and---

The urchins. The squid urchins have always been the answer.

But that didn't stop Ebenhold to complain about all the times I failed.

Ebenholz: "We can hardly call this a win. Are you the one that got a headache and not me?" Me: Slams fists on table Ebenholz: Me: "Graf Urtica… don't challenge me. I can kill you on a whim." Ebenholz: …. Me: …. Ebenholz: ….. Me: "Oh. Yeah. Now I see my true self shining through huh?"

---

"First time?"

"We've been here before."

"This Motherland aint big enough for both of us."

"It's three against one."

"Let me introduce you to my little friends."

*I actually let one slip, so we had to edit the team's skills a little bit*

HAHA! You cannot get through

'Brethren, the road is clear! I can see it now! There's land ahead, the taste of hope is upon my tendrils and I can feel that there's nothing to stop us anymore. No enemies in sight, all losses have been atoned for. I shall be the first to lead you to the motherland, I will take you with me and I will never forget the names of the fallen---'

*instantly frozen and evaporated*

---

There was nothing funnier this night actually than all the quotable memes where both me and Dr. Lundi are laughing and screaming at the stupid fish in every phase it exists in.

Here is my contribution to the meme everybody's been talking about now that all of arknights have a Lappland, a Jay or *checks notes* Ho'olheyak or however you spell the name.

[ordinaryxxgirl]

@saintlydesired asked: It's a once in a blue moon occurrence. But Kal'tsit isn't opposed to letting Daciana take care of her after a stressful workday.

"Relax, Dr. Kal'tsit...Let me take care of you this time, okay? All you need to do is bask in the attention..."

It wasn't often that Daciana got to help Kal'tsit work off the stresses of a particularly...Tiresome work day, but today seemed like it had taken a heavier toll on the Feline than normal. So, she was all too happy to carefully guide the woman she loved into her room, lock the door behind them, and gently help her undress.

She could feel her heart beating in her chest as her right thumb tenderly, gingerly, caressed the Director's folds...She was certain anybody else might have gotten the most severe scolding that Terra itself could ever envision, knowing how serious the other could be most of the time. Even now, she looked rather serious...Even though there was a faint, barely noticeable flush on her beloved's face.

When she had first realized her feelings...Daciana had never thought that she would ever get this far, let alone that she'd be the one relieving the other's stress like this. But...No, she was getting too distracted thinking about Kal'tsit, which was kind of ironic considering the intimacy of this moment...She didn't want to make her beloved wait too much longer for her relief, after all.

So...Carefully, her left hand would reach forward, cupping Kal'tsit's right cheek mere moments before her thumb would slip into the Director's mouth, her eyes locked onto her beloved's verdant eyes. She so dearly wanted to get lost into this moment with her...To have a moment that never ended...

But...As her right hand resumed its gentle caressing, her index finger tenderly rubbing the other's clitoris for stimulation...The blonde would quietly lean forward, voice almost reverent as she whispered against Kal'tsit's lips. Then, she would give a brief, yet still very much loving, kiss on the other's lips...And slowly slip her finger inside of the Feline's folds, carefully plunging her digit in and out.

...Right now, there was no need to call her Docor Kal'tsit, or Director...The person in front of Daciana was the woman she loved most of all, in this beautiful moment. And she deserved to be addressed as lovingly as she liked...

"That's right...You're doing so very wonderfully...Relax...And let me melt all of that rotten stress away, my beloved Kal'tsit...We'll take our time with this, okay? Trust me..."

[lydia-is-bored27]

*Vrrmmm-THUNK!*

Today a new face is welcomed aboard, a mobile suit of burning orange and stripes of black and white —a signifier of it's prototype-like nature, lifts into Rhodes Island's hangar, with Kal'tsit casting dis-approving glances at it.

There are better ways to keep Dolores's hands clean from the brutality of war, replacing one weapon to another "less" lethal one is hardly a solution, but the Law in Laterano only knows what Flauros could've done to Dolores. It is also in her nature to be a pilot, taking away her MS is no different from taking her diginity, and Theresa wouldnt approve of it despite the best of her wishes for Dolores.

Kal'tsit dryly sighs at thought, for once in her long life has she never felt more helpless than she is right now, but she quickly pushes away the feeling when she hears footsteps approaching her.

"The RLMS-10E Proto-Hizack flight type, she's a beauty isnt she?" A Forte woman walks up to her as she revels at the sight of the Mobile Suit, her attire is no different from any mechanist, but you could from her gait that's she's more than that.

Efthymia, the Director of Mobile Suit Development in Rhine Labs, there are many interviews with her that speaks of her story of leaving Minos in pursue of knowledge and technology for her people, often times it was romanticised. After all it was quite a heroic thing to do, abandoning everything and leaving her home for the betterment for those she loves.

"Director Efthymia, to what brings you here today?" There's a slight chill to Kal'tsit's words, a chill that Efthymia seems to be unaware of.

"Oh please! You can skip the honorifics, I'm just here to visit an old Professor of mine. She is fine, right?" Efthymia beamed at her like one does to a friend, although Kal'tsit does not refer to her as such.

"She is, but I'm afraid we cannot allow you do that right now, considering Dr. Dolores's current... Situation." Kal'tsit quickly turns her down.

"Ah yes... Amnesia was it? Then could you atleast give this to her?" Efthymia fishes out a crumpled letter and hands it over to Kalt'sit, "It's from two of Dolores's little juniors, they're heading towards Sami I think? When they heard that Professor Dolores was alive they were so eager to send a letter that they treated me like I'm a messenger, the little brats." There was a little heat from that last statement; Her honesty with her words is quite a virtue.

"*Sigh*, anyways, I hoped to see the professor one more time. But if she needs space, I'll give her some. Just give me shoutout when she's doing better, K?" Efthymia does another disatisfied grumble, and with a sudden phone call taking up her attention, she finally leaves.

Kal'tsit looks back again towards the docked MS, perhaps calling for help from Rhine Labs is risky, but what else could she do?

"Just what else can *I* do, Theresa?"

[johannstutt413]

(requested by mathmaticalknight) DND night at RI

“Doctor, are you-” Amiya entered the Doctor’s office late in the afternoon, about an hour before his shift ended, and found him putting on his coat. “-busy? Are you leaving already?”

“Yeah, I’ve got an appointment to catch. Didja need something before I leave?” He stopped, giving her his full attention for the moment.

The Cautus shook her head. “No, not if you’re busy.”

“Bunny, ya know I’m never too busy for you.” Neither was his fiance, after all. “What’s going on?”

“Some of the other Operators invited me to something they’re calling ‘Leviathans and Landships,’ and they said you would help me with a character?”

The Doctor froze. “They invited you to...Was it Blaze?”

“It was,” she smiled innocently. “She also said you might complain about having too many players already.”

“Damn. Well, if she wants ya to play with us, I’m not gonna say no to both of ya. Besides, I’m leaving early to prep anyway.” Oh, but how to introduce her-

Amiya cocked her head. “You’re leaving work early to play games?”

“No, to prepare to play games. Very important distinction.” He grinned. “I’m the GM, after all.”

“...The Game Master?” The Cautus knew full well he wasn’t the General Manager of anything - not since selling his Kazimierz Knights Club, at least.

He nodded. “Location, snacks, the events of the game itself - all my responsibility. Granted, this week it’s Kal’tsit’s turn to buy snacks, so those aren’t my direct responsibility-”

“Dr. Kal’tsit is playing, Blaze is playing, you’re running it...and I wasn’t invited sooner?” She stared at him hard enough to paralyze him. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Oh, bunny, it’s nothing like that, I just wasn’t sure how any of this was going to shake out, and then by the time I got comfortable, well...Sorry.”

The Guard/Caster sighed. “It’s alright. I’m playing now.”

“Right. Speaking of which, we do need to make you a character.” The Doctor continued walking. “I have all my books and stuff ready to go in the VIP meeting room, just need to get the ones with player options out for you to look at. How much alternative history do you read?”

“Alternative history, Doctor?” Amiya fell into step with him, as she so often did.

He waved a hand in the air. “You know, those books with goblins and magical swords and stuff? How much did Blaze tell you?”

“Um, not a lot. She said you’d fill me in.” He groaned, and she frowned. “Should I have asked her to tell me more?”

“No, but there’s a lot of information to give you and not as much time as I’d like to take to do it. Three hours for a character is already tight, but catching you up on the story, too? Damnit, Blaze, I’m not a miracle-worker even if I can do Arts...” Still, they’d already crossed this bridge. No turning her away at this point.

When the pair arrived at the VIP room, they weren’t the only ones there early. “Good afternoon, Doctor.”

“Good afternoon, Kal’tsit.” He gestured to Amiya. “Blaze invited her to play, so we need to make her a character. Would you mind helping out?”

“I’m leaving now to pick up the food for the game tonight, but I’m coming back after that.”

He sighed with relief. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“That is what a Medic does, isn’t it?” The Feline patted Amiya’s shoulder as she left. “I’ll take care of your vital statistics; after seeing some of his math for Surtr’s character, it will be better that way.”

“I legitimately misread the book,” he grumbled as he began flipping open book after book to its table of contents page, looking for a specific heading that’d tell him there were player character options in it somewhere.

By the time Dr. Kal’tsit returned, the Doctor had his computer open and was scrolling through some of Deepcolor’s character portraits to find one for the Cautus’ character, and she was leaning against his shoulder for a ‘better view’. “Comfortable, Amiya?”

“Mhmm- I mean, um, I need to see the pictures.” As luck would have it, at that exact moment, one caught her eye. “I like that one.”

“Do you, now? Kal’tsit, any issue with Amiya playing a Specialist? Pretty sure we have the basic roles covered, after all.” He pulled out a character sheet as the Feline walked around to see the portrait in question.

Specialist? “I see Enmity Guard here, Doctor.”

“Not Stalker? All the shadows scattered around him?” He caught himself there. “I mean, they don’t have to be a guy-”

“It’s fine, Doctor. I want to play a male character.”

Cool, moment passed safely. “But yeah, I’m pretty sure Stalker or Steadfast Specialist will work. We already have a Summoner, a Focused Medic, a Cleaver Guard, a Flagbearer, and a Chain Caster, after all, and Blaze’ll probably appreciate the frontline help. No offense to your Summons, of course.”

“None taken.” Monst3r was in their crystal at the moment, after all. “Same level as we are now?”

“Yeah, we’re bringing her in tonight. Now, the fun part: explaining how this person is joining the party while they’re completely unreachable from outside the Aura Sphere...” This was going to take awhile.

Twenty minutes before game start time, Manticore slipped into the room, her dice bag being the only indication someone had arrived. The Doctor found her almost immediately regardless. “Good evening, Manticore. Amiya’s going to be joining us tonight.”

“Oh?...How nice. What kind of...character...are you playing?” The Specialist took her seat on the right side of the Doctor (so he could hear her easily) as the Cautus moved her things to sit on the other side of the new arrival. “Did the Doctor...find a new tank?”

“New tank? And make Blaze mad at me? Sounds like a death flag to me,” he commented, otherwise absorbed in rewriting his plans for the night’s session.

Kal’tsit shook her head. “We built her a Stalker to match the portrait she liked.”

“A S-stalker?” The Manticore blushed. “You mean...like me?”

“When I saw the picture, I thought of you,” Amiya noted with a smile.

Manticore’s tail curled around her chair legs for safety. “You...you remembered me...”

“Hey.” Deepcolor strolled in, setting her dice down while leaving a seat between her and the Cautus. “Joining the party, Amiya?”

“Blaze invited her. Speaking of, Doctor, she and Surtr are still on a mission, if I remember the deploym-”

A *bang* from the hallway stopped the Medic in her tracks as another Feline and Sarkaz landed outside the door. “You can take that out of my paycheck,” Blaze sighed, picking the pair of them off the ground.

“We apologize for our la- Blaze.” Surtr squeezed her backpack strap. “We’re not late.”

“Well, yeah, because I blasted us here.”

She spun in place to stare her down. “You forgot the time change across the Kjerag border.”

“Wait, is it- oh, shit, I did.” By then, however, the Feline could see into the room, and so she knocked the Sarkaz inside to reach the empty chair next to Amiya. “BUNNY!!!”

“Ah!” The Cautus was lifted out of her seat and squeezed like a stuffed animal.

The Doctor sighed. “This is going to be a thing now, isn’t it?”

“I believe so,” Kal’tsit agreed, closing the door behind them as Surtr took her seat, and then taking her place next to the GM. “Now that everyone is here, we can begin...Once Blaze has set our Specialist on the ground again.”

“Aww, can’t I just keep her in my lap?” She gave her fiance the eyes-

Nope. “Ya both have sheets to keep track of...besides, ya don’t squeeze me like that when I come home from the office...”

“‘Cause you’ve got bird-bones!” Blaze finally sat down, allowing Amiya to do the same. “Just ‘cause you’re jealous...”

“Where’d we leave off last time, anyway? We just got done killing that Leviathan, right?” The Sarkaz steered the group back in the direction she was interested in going - continuing the plot.

The Doctor shook his head. “No, that was the session before. LAST session, well, things got interesting. Let me set the scene...”

[yashkonu]

Laurentina/Specter/Irene poly, Need.

(unreleased subject matter oh boy here we go time to speculate)

Irene was, at her core, a straightforward sort of person. Recent events had gone far out of their way to complicate that, but she still held it to be true--and she wasn't alone in that, if her operator file was anything to go by. It had been a busy day for the more reserved medical staff when she'd been called in for her clinical analysis, and now that evaluation contained phrases like "what if Occam's Razor had a gun" and "weird, but in a refreshingly predictable way" in the commentary.

She'd have to make a point to talk to Dr. Kal'tsit about Warfarin's idea of professionalism.

The woman at her side stirred, tugging the covers up over her own chin, and Irene set that straightforwardness to work. Specter today. Laurentina would have been fondling her by now.

Irene sat up a bit, just enough to stretch without dislodging the shark curled close at her ribs. Once she'd worked out a bit of sleep-stiffness, she let a hand fall to lazily ruffle Specter's hair. A soft sigh slipped from her lips; a slow tilt of her head became an affectionate nuzzle into the bare skin of Irene's side.

...And when she felt the faintest brush of pointed teeth against that skin, Irene knew what she was in for for the remainder of the morning. She might, in fact, have to see if anyone could cover her shift in the training room later.

She'd been with Specter and Laurentina for some months now, and in that time had learned that in many ways, the two were more similar than they appeared. One key way they differed, though, was in the way they hungered for Irene. Laurentina was a feeding frenzy once her appetite was stoked--toying and teasing that inevitably lit a fire in her and built to a ravenous surge of raw undiluted need.

Specter, on the other hand, moved more slowly. Like this, her affection would brim and overflow, sweet touches gaining heat and hunger by slow steady degrees, a rising tide that drew Irene in slowly and inexorably.

Eyes like ruddy sea glass watching her every twitch and whimper whenever she looked down...

Irene shook off the thought for just long enough to fumble for her tablet and fire off a quick message that she couldn't make it to her shift. She tried not to show up with bite marks on her anyway.

[zorkaya-moved]

she's stuck her claim on the feline, bitemarks and soft bruises from their playful night before are evident on kal'tsit's pale skin. they wake up awfully sore, when zarina shifts in bed, they can only bring themselves to stare at her before hiding underneath the sheets in embarrassment. " .. i'm sleeping in. "

@pervicax

Unlike many other mornings, the rude awakening did not come today. Instead, the lonely bed had another person occupy the space next to her. Her eyes opened to see the sleeping Kal'tsit, the white sheets covering their body yet she could still notice the marks left from the previous night. The sounds, the touches, the pleasure. All echoes in the woman's head as she looks down at her own body upon sitting up, but making sure that the other isn't losing the heat accumulated under the blanket. It's not cold in the room, but it's not hot either. If cold was pleasant to Zarina's skin, it didn't mean it would be pleasant for Kal'tsit, which Sokolova took into consideration. With a yawn, the woman stretches while letting out a quiet moan of pleasure upon feeling her spine crack and her muscles start to wake up, following their owner into the new day. It seemed like Kal'tsit woke up as well at the rustling of bed sheets and Zarina thinking of getting up. Ah, she wished to bring the other some hot coffee or maybe even breakfast in bed. Her priorities remained the same in treating her partner right.

Zarina doesn't notice the expression Kal'tsit wears as she steps out of the bed just when the other's gaze would fall on her naked body. The scratches on her back are seen before she pushes her hair off her shoulder to fall on her back, covering some of the marks. The wavy silver locks hide away enough, but it was enough to witness the rewards given yesterday for making Kal'tsit feel good. Their sweet sounds of pleasure would be remembered forever by Dr. Sokolova as she takes a coat off the hanger, putting it around her herself just not to walk fully naked in the room, not out of shyness but because there are some cigarettes in her pocket and a lighter than would be nice to have when she gets outside upon putting on one piece of her underwear.

Only then does she hear Kal'tsit voice, it's muffled but she can catch their words. Turning her head to look at where her fellow doctor was, she could only see the Feline under blankets, creating a small mountain on the bed while taking more sheets and blankets to cover herself. It makes Zarina chuckle as she waves it off, switching her gaze to a mirror to trace her fingers over the mark left by Kal'tsit on her neck. It makes her smile but the one who left it won't know, she won't know the gleam of pleasure and satisfaction in seeing herself being marked all over just like she marked her partner.

" Alright, Kal'tsit. I'm sure you're still tired. I hope that I didn't go too hard on you yesterday. I'm going out to smoke for a bit, " yes, dressed like that. " Do you want me to grab you anything when I'm done? " She'll put on some clothes after smoking, thankfully.

[ashitarc]

" take a break, " kal'tsit sets aside the file of sussurro's next patient, glancing at her calendar. " we typically get caught up in the atmosphere here– it's easy to forget things outside of it. " she turns back at them. " it's your birthday, and amiya wants to show you a surprise she and a few others made for you. you're excused for the rest of the day. "

" shouldn't i be reminding you of that, dr. kal'tsit? "

the vulpo watches as their file moves away, a bit puzzled as to why their medical director's suddenly taking interest. it's an open secret that very rarely does anyone in their department willingly takes breaks, more as their rank grows, it seems. while sussurro knows how to take advantage of one, it doesn't mean they do so as often as they claim.

then, it hits them.

it's the fourth of september.

it's their birthday, and amiya and the others are wanting to celebrate it? the idea's both embarrassing as it is flattering, and the glance the other direction. a curled gloved hand rises to half cover the rising warmth against their features.

although they're better at controlling it than others, their tail flitters a little, curious, if not a bit excited to see what they have in store.

" ... then, i won't keep them waiting. thank you. "

they turn towards the door. it hisses open quietly as sussurro says one last thing before vanishing.

" i know it's unreasonable to ask you to take the day off too, but it'd be a nice present if i knew you took a nap today. "

[exrhlab-archived]

✯ for an early morning text !

[text]: Doctor, you have several appointments later today, including the nutritionist who would like to speak to you about your snacking habits.

[text]: Attached is your schedule. Give it a look over before we meet in a few hours.

[text]: Please try not to run today.

[text]: I will enlist Dr. Kal'tsit to assist me if you do.

[ptilopseth]

POV you are my spotify as i repeat ‘covid-19 type beat’ ‘stay safe’ and ‘no flex’ while writing that part of this bit

sqrt(-1) love you bit, transcription of comic i need to scan. nothing truly saucy happens but you will be able to tell if you need to do the ol’ clickie off

BEEP.

The clock-in device for Rhodes Island emits its usual shrill sound, and Dr. Seth Warren steps into the building at five AM sharp. The base infrastructure smells of machinery, of cleaning solution, and of Seth really, really needing a coffee. After a quick detour with Dr. Kal'tsit ("remember to do your work, etcetera, etcetera"), Seth steps into his office and finds his usual secretary Ptilopsis arranging books. It's a surprise to see her actually awake at such an hour, considering her narcoleptic tendencies. "Hi, Ptilopsis." Seth sets his messenger bag to the side of his desk, and sits down to begin working on whatever recruitment papers or promotion sign-offs he's got to deal with today. "It is a new day. The Doctor is now online." Ptilopsis turns away from her books and towards Seth. "Detecting emotional surge within Ptilopsis." "Who're the roses from?" Seth eyes the very noticeable glass vase of red roses on his desk. Not often he receives such gifts from Operators. And it isn't like Dr. Kalt'sit or Amiya to gift him anything as extravagant as this. "They are from me." Ptilopsis says very matter-of-factly, as if Seth was supposed to suss that out from simply looking at them. "Oh. Well, thank you, then." "...I believe you are misunderstanding the intent of my gift." Ptilopsis walks over to Seth's desk to confront him directly. "Oh, am I, now?" Seth leans back in his chair, crossing his arms indignantly, as if there are often times where he understands anything at all. "Yes. You are. Out of 500,435 queries, I wanted to choose the most adequate vessel to express my feelings for you." "Wait-" "Doctor, may I remind you that roses are a stereotypical symbol of love." The words kinda stab Seth through the chest. His face flushes, but his reply does not indicate such an appearance. "Then you're lying." Ptilopsis tilts her head, confused. "You're lying to make fun of me." "Lying? Surely you are aware I cannot lie to you." "Yes, but-" "I ask you to stop there." And so it is done. "If you will notice the additional note on your desk, you will see that I have compiled a list of the most vital reasons that contribute to why I feel as I do. Please observe." Seth picks up the handwritten note, one created with very flowy handwriting unexpected for Ptilopsis. "Dearest Doctor Seth Warren: Through intense research and data analysis, I have concluded that I, Operator Ptilopsis of Rhine Labs, am in love with you. The flowers on your desk symbolize such feelings. Additionally, please review these ten reasons that I consider the most vital to my attraction towards you." Seth does as he is asked and reviews the ten. His eyes linger on #1: "As you are aware from reading my case file, Originium poisoning has allowed me to see the world in a newer light. As such, I realized recently that there is merit in attempting to observe the world through a less analytical lens. Of course, I cannot truly do as such unless my Oripathy is cured; but after exhaustive study of the object of my desire, and through one query, I have deduced that the serotonin which is delivered to the system nexus when I see you is the most vital reason behind my romantic feelings towards you." Seth sets the note aside and lays his face between his arms resting on the desk. "Ptilopsis..." "Yes?" "Are you sure? With me being- you know-" "I am aware you suffer from occasional bouts of a mental illness identified as depressive disorder. However, this will never affect my ability to, or degree to which I am romantically interested in you. And I truly see no harm in the transition of one's gender, so long as it provides you with some form of happiness or an increase to the mental or physical quality of your life." Seth turns away for a moment- "Or do you not trust my analysis? I may find need to rerun the queries I have calculated." -And turns back, now finding it difficult to look Ptilopsis in the eye. "Rerun them how?" And this isn't a lead-on; he's genuinely curious. "...Please do not reboot the system. Ptilopsis is analyzing your query. ...I have deduced via 40,523 queries that the most adequate way to validate the truth of my data is to participate in the common romantic gesture in which two or more parties press their lips together." Seth sighs, and stands up to face Ptilopsis, just a few feet away from her in front of his desk. "Ptilopsis... tell me you know what a kiss is." "Relax. It was just a joke." The two are silent for the longest two seconds of Seth's entire life. "If you are not comfortable with the gesture, I will not force you to participate." "No, it's just..." Seth's eyes well with tears, and- "...Ptilopsis has discovered that the emotional source behind your tears is that of dopamine. Why do you cry? Is something the matter?" Seth buries himself in Ptilopsis' strangely comforting hug. "I'm alright." "Is this a verifiable truth? I do not want to leave you in such a state." "Yeah." "Then what is the meaning behind your tears?" Seth pulls away from Ptilopsis. "Because, I- Ptilopsis, nobody has ever said they loved me like that before. Not like you have." "I see. Please do not reboot the system. Ptilopsis is analyzing your query. ...I have formulated a solution through 435,642 queries. I will simply take it upon myself to remind you. ...Adding protocol to base system commands. ...Protocol added. Initiating protocol." And with the ghost of a smile on her face, the most she can manage: "I love you. I love you in such a way that I do not believe data can adequately describe. There is something very strange about the ways you push yourself, but I will admit it is one of your multiple admirable qualities. Despite your lack of memory, you have never hesitated to call on others when you falter. A capable leader knows when to perform such an act. You also have a certain way of bringing yourself up from your downfalls. You may tend to keep to yourself, but rest assured that I can assist you in managing such emotional valleys. Lastly, for now at the very least, your craft has always sparked some kind of interest within me. The system nexus has encountered errors while attempting to parse your creative works, but that does not mean I do not support you in such endeavors. In fact, I will ponder these errors from now on and make an effort to repair the system and fix them." "I..." Seth is expectantly speechless. "You do not have to weave such prose in response. A four-word reply will suffice." "I love you too." "Is Ptilopsis granted administrative permissions to go forth with the earlier activity outlined?" "Yes. But! Do I have permission to get saucy with it?" "Based on the associations of your previous uses of the phrase, I have deduced the meaning of 'get saucy.' Ptilopsis gives you full administrative permission to 'get saucy' so long as it assists in satisfying such a need." "Well- it's not a need, but... I'm not into it unless you are." "Do not worry. Ptilopsis is currently experiencing such a desire. I do not need to deduce via query that I am very into it." "Good," Seth leans close to Ptilopsis, so close that their lips are brushing. "Just had to check." And the two kiss, Ptilopsis' arms finding their way around Seth's waist, and Seth positioning his hands on Ptilopsis' hips. With a series of intricate steps to the right, Seth presses Ptilopsis against the bookcase flush with his office wall, and releases from the kiss. His lips graze down Ptilopsis' face, and come to rest just above her collarbone. "Ptilopsis has deduced that the action you are about to take is one that would result in the creation of what I believe is a hickey." Seth leans up, looking to Ptilopsis, suddenly embarrassed. "Do you not want that?" "I do not mind. I will notify you if you take an action I do not want to be a part of." Slightly less embarrassed, Seth leans back down and gently bites into Ptilopsis' neck, once on the right and twice on her left. "Ptilopsis has a request." "Yeah?" Seth brings himself back up to Ptilopsis' eye level. "Do I have administrator permissions to take part in the same action?" Seth nods. Ptilopsis latches onto Seth's neck just below his jawline; Seth's breath hitches. "Uh-" Ptilopsis immediately retracts. "Did I go too far?" "I- uh, yes, I think? Sorry, I just-" "Pay it no mind. I will not continue if such an action discomforts you in any way." "But I-" "The system nexus has a very high tolerance for what you personally consider 'saucy,' as stated earlier. Do not worry." "Gonna be honest with you. No idea why I asked you that." "It is fine. I believe I will ask the same thing if such a situation as this ever occurs again." "You want it to?" "I do not need to run a query to determine that my answer is a definite yes." And just then, Seth's phone rings from inside his jacket pocket. He carefully removes one of his hands from Ptilopsis' waist to grab his phone and answer it. "Hi?" "Hi, boss?" There's only one Laterano at Rhodes Island with that pep in her voice at five in the morning: Exusiai. "What's up? "You were supposed to be briefing us in the RIIC command center fifteen minutes ago." "Fuck." "Where are you? I saw you clock in this morning, and then you probably went to your office, but, like, I know Kal'tsit gives you a lot of paperwork, but not that much, right?" "Uh. I had some complications." "Complications, right." Exusiai says it in a knowing tone. "...I won't rat you out, boss. Promise." "Not a lot of people can say that, Exusiai." "Can you put Ptilopsis on the phone real fast, though?" Seth hands the phone over to Ptilopsis. "Hey, Ptilopsis?" "What may I assist you with, Operator Exusiai?" "I assume it worked?" "Yes it did." "Cool. But that was meant to take, like.. a few minutes? What happened?" "We had some complications." "Oookay, now I want to know." "Seth and I mutually decided to begin making out in the middle of his office. We then gave each other hickeys." "...I'm gonna hang up. Just get to the command center." "Affirmative." Ptilopsis hangs up the call for the two of them. "What was that about?" "Operator Exusiai will not tell anyone. She swore a vow of secrecy when I first asked her for advice on how to best court you." Seth steps away from Ptilopsis, his non-free hand accidentally lingering on Ptilopsis' hip for a moment longer than intended. "Court me? Awfully, uh... formal." He walks over to his desk and picks up his messenger bag, hoisting it over his shoulder. He takes his phone back from Ptilopsis and tucks it back into his jacket pocket. "It is simply the truth." "Court, like, date? Or marry? Or intercourse?" "I have deduced through three queries that the appropriate answer to this question is 'yes.'" Seth's face turns beet-red. "Oh. I think we should go on a few dates first, though." "I am in agreement. I do wish to truly know you before advancing in such measures as described." Seth does one last sweep for missing items. All good. "Wanna head out?" "Yes. Although I would like to ask for administrative permission to perform two tasks." "We're late." "They will take only a moment." "What's up, then?" "As a gesture of goodwill, may I lightly kiss your cheek?" "Yes, what? You don't have to ask about that." Ptilopsis provides a quick peck on the cheek in affirmation of Seth's reply as the two make their way out of Seth's office and into the hallway. "I would also find joy in performing the classic romantic gesture of holding hands as we walk to the command room." "My palms are sweaty, Ptilopsis." "I do not mind." "Pff- okay, you win." Seth closes the door to his office, locks it, and takes Ptilopsis' hand in his. ...And then, from around twenty feet back, in the shrill tone of a Supporter Operator whose skill with mechanics is unmatched: "Ohmygod, Ptilopsis and the Doctor are dating?!"

[exoticalmonde]

Dr. Evealia Operator Records

Recently I saw someone talk about their Dr. sona or lack thereof when it comes to interacting with the Arknights community, so I got curious as to what I've come up so far with Dr. Evealia.

Thanks to Dr. Kryo's constant reposts of the yuumeship tag daily questions and sometimes pestering me to actually work on talking more about my sona when the crippling anciety of me being cringe is making it difficult, I decided to compile all the information here today.

Dr. Pinkie: *Puts ramen packs and water in mouth*

Dr. Puffin: *Sips monster every day and confuses Kal'tsit with the name of the drink*

Dr. Eve: *Drinks so much lemonade the acidity in her body is like that of 5 batteries*

Dr. Kryo: *Chews tea packets*

---

---

Despite this conversation and me constantly forgetting myself, Dr. Eve is not Elafia but a chymera, more specifically a pantheon, but she hides her fox tail under the coat and long dress she wears:

[Transcribed:

Dr. Pinkie: "Shrimp buffet is free .3."

Dr. Kryo: "The shrimp buffet is a frequent stop, Not for memories but shrimp tasty"

Me: "Me putting on my bathing suit the moment you say there are fried mussels or calmari.

Dr. Eve despite being elafia stuffs herself so full of mussels she goes into shrimp coma every 6 months while visiting Pinkie's ship"]

---

I think skill 2 would be healing (if going by Dr. is a 6 star operator theory) and skill 3 is shwinging a couple of waves of petals like waves from a sea. Not to forget Dr. Eve is a Lord and uses a sabre, a weapon picked up before she went into a coma.

Dr. Eve:

Summons originium flower petals, peach in colour and mostly transluscent, which pass through allies and heal them while damaging enemies.

/Her fear was unreasonable because he is too kind and gentle to actually think that her forgetting how to play any instrument would be something unbecoming. She just wants to impress him./

And that she is also a Leithanien, so if she plays any instrument it would be the flute /wood/ or a hurdy-gurdy.

But Czerny doesn't know because she is afraid he might challenge her knowledge and she hasn't touched the instrument for a long while. It was just in her room so she assumed she knew how to play from before.

---

Dr. Lundi's infected eye being flashy and cool and also a little sad to look at.

---

Meanwhile:

XY: Hey Doctor, where is your infection?

Dr. Eve: Pulls a comedically old Xray board over myself showing that everything in a 20cm radius around my heart including is glowing like it's Christmas

She easily gets warm, so temperatures on RI are a maximum of 22C spring/summer and 28C fall/winter.

Dr. Evealia's infection is external, a formation of pure black clusters starting from the back of her neck at the hairline and going around the base of her neck/across her clavicles and upper part of her ribs almost like a necklace. During winter it s easy to cover them and shield them via special wool/cotton scarves, but during the hot seasons Kal'tsit has prescribed her to wear something like a cone if she's not with the Dr.'s coat. It makes it look comically like she's a cat in cone jail, but it's just for her own safety.

The infection thereon becomes internal and has concentrated around her heart.

When her infection begins acting up Dr. Eve begins having heart palpatations and chest pains which leave her winded.

During such a state if she is forced to use arts the scent of the flowers may become simmilar to that of opium, which could lead to addiction. The effect of being exposed for too long to that scent could lead to immune system weakning and inflammation in infected areas.

This is why it's recommended to not leave for a mission with Dr. Eve unless everybody is equipped with masks.

Dr. Evealia also can increase the strenght of her attacks by playing the hurdy gurdy, which is her updated S3 - much like a skalter buff in the sense it last for a set duration and sends waves of petals towards the direction she is facing.

The 'addictive' scent may cause side effects to operators simmilar to an overdose (breathing difficulty and nausea), but the longest that 'overdose' state has ever lasted was during a four hour exposure and it passed only 30 minutes after they were seperated.

Operators overved to become very hungry afterwards.

---

Including music that I stumbled upon accidentally but it feels like something her S3 would be when completely loaded:

---

Top operators constantly by her side are Czerny, Chongyue and Ebenholz. Around that, Lumen is her designated caretaker around Kal'tsit. Ebenholz, while sworn to stay by her side, also has to wander off often to tend to his headaches. They have a handshake over that because heartache/headache and their brother stomachache are literally the bane of mankind.

As a chimera - fox tail, deer ears and pattern on her back lead to believing that her horns may not be deer horns but something showing sarkaz roots. It's unknown if that's true, just a rumour. They look like completely normal elafia horns though.

---

When the infection acts up Lumen is always around, making sure that the Dr. Has somewhere to sit and something to drink. It's peach juice.

---

I just thought this is very funny also considering how much I am leaning towards the Sarkaz these days

Also said art in question: Link here

---

I GOT WHAT I ASKED FOR

---

Tweeted question that was aforementioned: Link here

---

Eveader Traditions:

One doesnt eat dinner and one doesnt eat breakfast, but if they are both on Rhodes Island they will eat lunch and dinner together if they can.

Whenever Eve is reading around the fireplace Hoederer sits close and reads with her.

They exchange books often to refresh their mind and broaden their horizons. Hoederer thinks that Eve's books are very imaginative and Eve thinks Hoederer's books are boring but in the end it's more fun when they can pause at any moment to talk about it.

Eve brings Hoederer snacks and Hoederer brings Eve drinks. He's probably the only one who actually bothers her to drink lots of water.

Their walkie talkies are linked so they can talk at any moment

This question is: Linked here

---

So prompted by Dr. Kryo I responded with:

Doc thoughts-

Gifts Dr. Kryo would give to certain folks

Surtr- A Necklace

Dr Lundi- A Signed album of a band she likes

Dr Eve- A rose statue for her desk

Dr Pinkie- A Coupon book with various food places in it

Mostima- A rare snack he saved for her

Pozëmka- An engraved fountain pen

Beehunter- Premium honey with a good amount of strawberries

Nightingale- A post for her bird

Kal'tsit- A mug that says "Ur alright.-kryo"

What Dr. Eve would prepare as presents for her closest ones:

Hoederer - A Diary that consists of all letters/moments we spent together between battles with my thoughts and feelings up to the point I fell in love, after which it begins as something like a love story travel guide I named 'The Story of….' leaving him to continue or not.

Chongyue - A visit to a very spiritually infused with the best of vibes hot springs in the snowy mountains/potentially somewhere to hang out with his sisters later.

Czerny - After long and painstakingly difficult relations with Leithanien, he's allowed to play in the Afterglow again. He freaks out because inside the box Eve gifts him is just a sheet of paper and for a moment he thinks it's an 'Im pregnant' note.

Eve gifts him some of her best alcohol after to mend that awkward but insanely funny situation.

Ebenholz - A gramophone. The sound waves from it are said to lessen headaches. Its a form of therapy.

Lumen - A snow globe of the light tower and a part of the Iberian coast that is a switch-on light.

Dr. Lundi - An entirely decorative gunblade made out of glass with flowers, fields of wheat and house designs already mounted on a black background and framed. The weapon's name is 'Brittle'. Interstingly enough it is in fact not brittle. Due to Lundi's clumsiness it is made out of especially tempered glass that doesnt break when dropped. At least from 1.70 in height.

Dr. Kryo - Brass knuckles in the shape of a dragon head with its fangs being the sharp part of that weapon. They come in pairs red and blue that change to the opposing colour depending on the temeperature.

Dr. Pinkie - A giant tea set with cups, plates, spoons and a tea pot and tea steeper and spoon ring holders and jars for sugar honey and milk that are all in the shape of bizzare sea creatures.

Lee - Her gift for him disappeared, he's taken up the task to find it himself.

Lessig - A new and improved soundproofed room.

SilverAsh - That man has everything and Eve almost cried herself to sleep in Courrier's and Matterhorn's room because their master is such a menace but in the end she gifted him a tail ring with imbedded smoky quartz which shows Tenzin in flight. Tenzin got a leg bracelet with a tiny chubby snow leopard on it that Eve swears is not a caricature of SilverAsh the man.

[ordinaryxxgirl]

@babelmedicus asked: She might be a grumpy lynx, but Dr. Kal'tsit is comfortable enough in Daciana's presence to emerge dressed like this.

"You're dressed very stylishly today, Dr. Kal'tsit...Not that I'm complaining, heheh. You look completely beautiful in that negligee...So, what's first on your agenda for today? Perhaps you'd like me to...Ah, be of assistance to you, maybe?"

A playful smile crosses Daciana's face as she slips up to Kal'tsit's side, gently grasping the other's hand in her own and pressing her sizable breasts into the Feline's right arm. A little obvious, perhaps...But, the blonde's attraction to the lynx was hardly something that could be denied by her, either.

[zzakr]

@zorkaya​ .   "Courier, shh!" Dr. Sokolova hushed at the Vanguard while dragging down her hood. She was hiding away from the Guard units today for personal reasons, majorly from Flamebringer, Ch'en, Hellagur, and SilverAsh. Those four were looking through her clown mask all too easily. "I'm hiding. Sneak out with me or pretend you haven't seen me. I want to go into town for half an hour." She also wanted to escape from Kal'tsit's eyes for a bit. "Sneaking outta the back door, Amiya provided." Thumbs up.

    ❛    a   -   ah   ,   doctor   ?    ❜     SILENCED   ,   voice   no   louder   than   the   other   as   ears   immediately   went   near   ,   broadening   range   to   hear   her   PLEA   .   it   doesn’   t   take   long   to   find   yourself   in   various   situations   here   in   rhodes   island   -—-—-   even   sir   silverash   himself   have   shared   some   stories   to   tell   (   mostly   regarding   the   doctor   ,   but   no   need   to   get   that   out   )   .   truly   an   AMAZING   partner   of   Karlan’s   .   hearing   the   tactician   ,   you   couldn’t   help   but   laugh   in   discrete   -—-   i   guess   sir   silverash   has   a   very   interesting   taste   in   friends   .   smiling   as   you   frequently   do   before   continued   with   a   whisper   .   -—-—-   ❛    i   can   deliver   you   just   like   my   PACKAGES   ,   doctor   .   just   leave   it   to   me   !    ❜     thumbs   up   .  

` `   —   &   :    UNPROMPTED  /

[pseudomonacarriea]

Amiya's door would open, rather strongly, pushed with force, though not entirely intended. The huntress Skadi would walk in, having no doubt received some trouble from a medical operator with a taste for blood only moments before.

Though it is not solely the reason she has come, it is not entirely to complain. In truth she has little reason to speak to Amiya, but the girl has shown herself to be responsible and a quality leader.

And at times, when the huntress cannot speak to the Doctor or Kal'tsit, this one of the rare times she chooses someone else.

And that today is, Amiya.

Prompted Ask -- Always Accepting!-- @polublar

The sudden swing of the door caught the young Cautus off guard. Her fingers gripped the papers that she was holding with a tense hold. Seeing Skadi walk in, she began to relax. Long ears droop, releasing some of the tension that made its way up there. Setting the papers down, her attention moves to the Ægir.

Was there something on her mind? The two would meet on occasion. Most of the time, Amyia would be accompanying the Doctor or Dr. Kal'tsit. They weren't on bad terms; Among the bustle of Rhodes Island, the young woman was busy keeping up with a myriad of tasks.

"Welcome back, Skadi. Is everything all right?"

She asks with a polite tone and regathered composure in heavy contrast to earlier.

[johannstutt413]

The next day, Blue showed up at my office at 0545...in time to hear Amiya trying to convince me not to make her my assistant.

“Amiya,” I sighed, running my fingers behind my hood as the door opened, “this is the one time I’m going to say this: I’m making her my assistant for the foreseeable future. If you won’t help with the initiation, I’ll do it myself- good morning, Blue!”

“I’m sorry to give you so much trouble this early,” she blushed, noticing Amiya’s unusually frazzled appearance as well.

The donkey/rabbit (?) leader (??) of Rhodes Island shook her head. “You haven’t caused him any trouble yet, Blue Poison, I just...I have my concerns.”

“And what would those be, again?” I gestured first Blue to come forward, and once she was close enough, I removed my gloves and took her hand in mine. “Skin contact is perfectly fine, her duties for Dr. Kal’tsit can be attended to throughout the day, and she’s certainly more than competent enough to do the work. I mean, hell, we let Kroos do it and that worked out fine, so why not give Blue a chance?”

“...If this is how you feel, Doctor,” Amiya finally relented.

I didn’t release Blue’s hand, which made her blush once the conversation was over and Amiya left the room to sulk. “Thank you, Doctor.”

“Step one: establish the new order.” I glanced down at my hand. “Step two...do you mind if, uh, I don’t let go? It’ll be maybe an hour at most.”

“You thought you had to ask?” She wrapped her other hand around my arm and set her head against it.

I blushed beneath several layers of obscuring uniform. “I just wanted to be sure. Alright, let’s get going.”

We walked the base, earning the occasional stare, but it was early enough that most of the other Operators weren’t quite at their full capacity. At one point, Dr. Kal'tsit passed us and asked Blue if she would be available for a toxicology report; she agreed to meet after our first walkthrough, but also handed her that day’s toxin sample, saying this would take precedence over future conflicts. I squeezed her hand a little as she said it, and I almost felt her heart skip a beat.

“And that’s basically it,” I concluded as we returned to my office. “We do that several times throughout the day, handle some paperwork on the back-end for recruitment and whatnot, and at close of day, I’ll lock the office, and we’re done.”

“So we go from walking the base together, to being alone together in your office, and alternate like this the entire day? Are you sure you’ve thought this through, Doctor?”

I shook my head. “Nope, but I figure if I start to bore you, there’s always watching the security cameras.”

“The security cameras?” Blue slipped around my desk to look at my computer screen. “You can see what happens on those?”

“Some nights I go back through and make a blooper reel for myself of the funnier moments. Anyway, do you need to report to Dr. Kal'tsit now?”

She nodded. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes. See you soon.”

My assistant stepping out of the office to attend to something is a regular thing; after all, despite taking the time to walk the floor with me and such, they do have their own jobs to do. For the twenty-five minutes she was gone, though, I noticed that absence more acutely than I think I really had before...I amused myself with security footage while I waited for her to come back.

“I’m back, Doctor,” Blue announced as she opened the door to my office. “Dr. Kal'tsit said she would like to speak with you as soon as possible, so I told her you had a sizable amount of paperwork to get done to prepare for the latest batch of new recruits.”

“New recruits...I appreciate the quick thinking, Blue. And the reminder that the first recruits of the quarter should be coming in; guess my plan for a relaxed first day with you has sort of fallen through.”

She smiled. “That’s okay; I’m fine with anything as long as it’s with you. How can I help?”

I showed her the general process - opening the bags of folders dropped off at my desk at the start of the day, sorting through candidates with potential, sending out invitations to those of interest and agents to those who accept, and either shredding the useless ones or filing those we send after in a cabinet. It can be a bit thankless - whole days of nothing usable - but she took it in stride, asking questions I’d never considered and removing some deficiencies she found in the process on instinct.

“You’re a natural problem solver, Blue,” I told her after noticing the shredder could just as well lead to the incinerator directly considering our location in the base. “Has it always been like this for you?”

“It’s sort of how I understand toxins - everything has weak points, and while when you’re fabricating toxins you want to exploit them, it’s not hard to think instead, ‘How do I make things better?’” She said it with such nonchalance, but the blush on her face let me know she understood the intention.

I glanced at the clock - time for another patrol. “Whenever you’re ready, we’ll head out for another walkthrough. Can you grab the clipboard by the door as we leave?”

“This one?” Blue pulled the inspection checklist off the wall. “Oh, I see. Is it time for dorm inspections already?”

“We don’t really have a schedule for them, so I figured today is as good a day as any.” Plus, it meant getting a chance to show more people at a time how delightful Blue was to be around.

I think she saw the same thing as soon as I said it but decided against saying anything. Like before, Blue took my hand with a smile. “In that case, let’s be on our way.”

“Oh, and when we get back, it should be time for lunch.” I knew the route well enough, so I turned towards her as we walked. “Mess hall’s serving meatloaf and potatoes, if I remember right. What do you like to eat, by the way?”

“Um...bugs, I guess.” She shrunk a little. “I snack on fried crickets while I work, and most of the time the cafeteria has an insectivorous option on the menu. Never liked red meat that much.”

Interesting. “I don’t know if I’ve had cricket before...or any bug, for that matter. If they have something today, I guess I’ll try it- oh, here we go. The inspection begins.”

Inspections, as far as I’m concerned, are less checking to see if the Operators are maintaining some kind of health standard and more about morale; so long as they’re doing well at their work and aren’t fighting, it’s counted as a plus. We started with the production facilities, and from the instant we arrived, I sensed the others confusion. Hadn’t they made it pretty clear to me, after all, what my interactions with Blue Poison were supposed to be? And now I’m holding hands ungloved with her as we walk throughout the facilities for inspection? Most of them must’ve been wondering where they went wrong. To her credit, at least Frostleaf didn’t seem to take issue with our behavior - she slid her headphones off one ear long enough to greet us both before returning to her work. 

Most of the others expressed their confusion in their individual ways: some said nothing, maybe shrugged to themselves, before returning to work; some watched us while we passed through, shared glances with each other, or otherwise avoided engaging me while still sharing their lack of understanding with one another; and a few, the blessed few, had the guts to ask why Blue and I were holding hands.

Going through the training area was the most notable; Doberman was the only Operator who noticed us come in, which I think speaks rather highly of her training regimens. She acknowledged me, realized who I was with, and immediately pulled me aside and out of . “Doctor, I need to speak with you.”

“Is it about my prolonged contact with Blue Poison?” I smiled. “Are you worried about something?”

“Has she been with you all day?”

I nodded. “0550, to be precise.”

“And you haven’t noticed any symptoms?” Doberman gave me a once-over. “Anything off whatsoever?”

“My hand feels rather empty right now, but other than that, no.”

She growled at me. “I’m being serious. As our company’s most lethal poisoner, if there’s even the possibility she’s accidentally carried something onto you-”

“Doberman, if she had, I would already have had an antidote administered to me by her. I’m fine.” I shook my head and turned back to my assistant. “Let’s go, Blue - things seem to be going as usual here.”

“She seemed pretty insistent, Doctor,” Blue half-whispered as we walked back towards the HR office, our final destination. “You won’t have any issues with her, will you?”

I shrugged, pulling her a little closer as I set my shoulders back. “If something does come up, I’ll just have my HR complaint on your behalf ready to go.”

“Doctor…”

“I’m serious about that, you know,” I emphasized. “This goes past skepticism straight to discrimination, and I won’t stand for it.”

She gripped my hand tighter. “That route wouldn’t help either of us, Doctor, and you know it.”

“You’re right, you’re right...it’s why I want to try the more gradual way first. Well, that, and I like having you around, talking to you, and everything else, and taking our time with this means more of that, so.” I dragged us down the same tangent as the night before, but when you’re stuck in a rut, it’s not hard to do just that.

“If you were like this with anyone else, you might have a few complaints about you,” Blue smiled to herself, “but one must make up for lost time.”

We finished the inspection and returned to the office...where Kal'tsit was waiting for us. “For someone swamped with documents, you seem to be pretty relaxed about staying in the office.”

“We were doing inspections,” I waved off, my hand slightly tightening around Blue’s. Hers responded in kind.

“It’s hard to believe we used to get along so well,” the other doctor sighed, shaking her head as Blue closed the office door behind us. “Anyway, I admire what you’re attempting with this not-quite covert PR mission, but Blue Poison is invaluable to myself and Rhodes Island as a whole as a toxin and antidote designer and manufacturer. Having her shuffle papers with you and go on walks is, to put it bluntly, a waste of her brilliance.”

I couldn’t disagree there. “For the sake of argument, could she conduct that work in my office?”

“...Blue Poison, does that seem logical to you?” Kal'tsit locked her eyes on Blue, who managed to hold her superior’s gaze.

“Most of work is digital,” she replied calmly, “and for the physical trials, I could conduct them during breaks or while passing through the labs.”

Kal'tsit sighed. “Without a reduction in your productivity?”

“I would argue that having the Doctor to bounce ideas off of would help immensely.”

“My degree isn’t in biology,” I chimed in, “but I do remember biochem rather well.”

The other doctor nodded. “I remember several good discussions on some of my earlier treatment ideas...Alright, Blue Poison, I grant you permission to work out of this office. Keep to our established benchmarks, and we should have no issues maintaining this arrangement. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good,” she sighed in relief, “because I was not about to get into a fight with him about this. I’m keeping you from lunch, so I’ll take my leave.”

I opened the door for her. “You wouldn’t like to join us?”

“...I know a date when I see one, Doctor. I won’t keep you from it.”

“A date?” I shrugged once she’d left. “Well, I guess it has to be now, doesn’t it, Blue?”

My assistant nodded. “Can’t be helped. Heard her loud and clear on that.”

“In that case, where can we get the good bugs?”

“Well...” She thought a moment before continuing. “Penguin Catering delivers.”

I rubbed my hands together. “Excellent. I’ll make the call, you tell me what to order.”

Twenty minutes later, courtesy of Exusiai (“Thanks for the tip, Doc!”), we had two people’s worth of edible-looking food. I started to wonder if Blue had been messing with me about the bugs, but then I saw a stray piece of chitin in my burger, and I knew she hadn’t been.

“Insect protein burger with fried beetles for you,” she explained, “and a variety platter for me.”

“Is that earthworm lo mein? Wow, they don’t joke about serving everyone, do they? Is there um...anything special I need to do to eat the beetles?”

Blue smiled. “Just bite down - the chefs should have taken care of everything else.”

“Alright...Huh.” Beyond the especially satisfying crunch, I didn’t feel anything particularly ‘buggy’ about it. “So you eat like this whenever you can?”

“It speaks to something primal in me.” It was then I noticed that she alternated between using her fork and, when a beetle woke from its half-death to mount its escape, her tongue to-

Wait, how long was that tongue again? “Uh, Blue?”

“Yes?” She gasped. “I flicked that one with my-”

“Uh huh.” I still don’t know if I felt more confused, disturbed, or turned on when that happened.

She blushed. “Sorry. I forget most non-Anura don’t use their tongues as a utensil…”

“I mean, I don’t mind,” I clarified, “I just didn’t know. Actually- no, nevermind.”

“Doctor? What were you going to say?” Her tongue flicked again, this time just lightly into the air as if to remind me of its presence.

I coughed out, “It’s kind of hot.”

Dead silence for a few moments. Then, “You think so?”

“I mean, yeah?” Boy, I made things awkward. “Like, it seems pretty prehensile, so...I dunno. Sounds like a fun time.”

“...After I make you that cake, will you do me a favor, Doctor?”

After all the little comments I’ve made, I owe her as much. “Sure, what do you have in mind?”

“I want that kiss we talked about last night.” Blue’s tongue snagged a beetle from my plate with pinpoint precision. “Is that fair?”

“...Will there be tongue? Ah, who am I kidding, I’d like that.”

She sighed. “You’re not going to stop thinking about the tongue, now, are you?”

“I just forgot what Anura means,” I admitted. “I promise to work it out of my system by tonight.”

“I’ll keep you to that, then.”

We kept talking for the next hour or so, and I learned a few more things - she likes that I call her Blue and isn’t too keen on sharing her name for now; the frog-eyes on her hood are speakers that wirelessly connect and play into her ears, and in fights, she likes turning on classical music to keep her focused; her own favorite dessert involves the smallest dose of a light neuroinhibitor, which she promised not to use in the cake she was making for me later.

Oh yeah, the cake...that was a fun time.

[scifielves]

The next time Blaze would return to her room, she'd find a sealed envelope addressed to her. Inside, it would state that she was due for a gynecology exam from Dr. Kal'tsit, and also an optional proctology exam as well, with instructions to bring whatever Blaze felt was necessary. Hopefully Blaze could read between the lines of what she was being asked. (reapersofbooty)

"Eh? A gynecology exam? And optional proctology exam? I didn't think either of those were the director's specialty..." She's not particularly reading between the lines, if only because she was absolutely beat from her deployment today. She had just gotten out of the showers to wash all the blood off and was ready to fall down when she found the letter. "Well, I'll ask her about it tomorrow..." If she thinks its necessary, Blaze would comply. She'll think about it more deeply in the morning.