The counseling of Mr Tumnus
Posted on Wed Feb 26th, 2025 @ 12:57pm by Lieutenant Vura & Mr Tumnus
Edited on on Fri Feb 28th, 2025 @ 5:24am
1,511 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Office of the Chief Counselor - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 0700 hrs
Mr. Tumnus was making his rounds. After leaving his home in the cargo hold, where they brought him back again last night, he had now made his way up the turbo lift again. As it stopped somewhere, Tumnus was now walking around the hallways. He has been here before. He made a friend here once. It was not a two legs, but a four legs like him, but she was not of the same kind as he was. She was a dog. Maybe he would meet her again. But a friendly two legs would be great too. Tumnus was kind of hungry right now.
A door suddenly opened and Tumnus walked in. He looked around. He looked around amazed. Look at all the beds. Tumnus was looking at the couch, and chairs, pillows and bean bags. To Tumnus they were all beds. Places where he could sleep. He jumped on the couch and curled himself up. Oh this is so comfortable. Why don't I live here?
When Vura noticed her door open and nobody walk through, she got up from her desk and said, "Hello? Is someone there?" She was about to walk to the door and say something about this being an amusing joke when she noticed a cat jump onto the couch.
She laughed musically. "Well, hello there kitty. What brings you here?" Vura strolled over to the couch and sat by the cat, wondering how it would react. She longed to touch it, but she wanted to observe it first. Perhaps it belonged to someone or was lost. If so, she should probably talk to its owner to let the owner know that the cat was safe with her.
Tumnus heard the voice of the female two legs, and then she sat down next to him. Tumnus sat up, the collar, the leader of the two legs made for him, clearly visible and the words 'ship's cat' shown on it. Tumnus did not know what it said, but he remembered the leader of the two legs thought it was important for him to have it. So when he met a two legs, like this one, he thought it was important to show it to them and that he was here to help. And he hoped he would get food if they could caress him, which he liked and it seemed to make the two legs happy.
When Mr. Tumnus sat up, Vura exclaimed, "Oh, my, aren't you the sweet thing." She then noticed the collar and looked at it, stating, "Ship's Cat?" aloud. "I never knew that we had one." She fingered the collar and looked for a name. The Counselor then started stroking Mr. Tumnus with the other. "Well, you have some very soft fur, cutie."
Tumnus softly purred, as he rubbed his head against the female's hand. He loved the noises she made. He knew it meant that she liked him. And that was good. Also he loved when they caressed him. It gave him such good feelings and he remembered when he was still a little kitten and his mother would wash him. He also hoped for treats and food. He also got those at some point. But Tumnus was a patient cat.
Vura continued to stroke Mr. Tumnus, admiring her ability to relax. "So, cutie, what brings you in here today?" She looked around, wondering if there was something she could get the Ship's Cat. "I cannot just derive pleasure from you without some sort of reward, can I?" she asked in a purring voice. "Just wait here a moment, would you?"
With that, Vura walked over to the replicator, "Computer, bowl of cat food, preferably something wet and delicious to a cat." The computer did not answer but provided a bowl full of food. She placed it on the floor and said, "Here you go, my pretty pussy."
Tumnus saw the female walk to the magic window. He moved excitedly to the edge of the couch and looked at what she was doing and when he saw the bowl of food touch the ground, he jumped of the couch and walked to it. He smelled the delicious food. It was tuna. He loved everything with fish in it. He immediately started eating, while softly purring.
The counselor chuckled, amused. "I've made you happy, have I? Well, it seems that the replicator knew exactly what to get you. I wonder if there is a saved recipe in there for you." Politely, Vura waited for Mr. Tumnus to finish his meal. She was not going to disturb anyone, let alone an animal when they were eating.
Suddenly, she had a thought, "Computer, can you please identify the name of the cat in my office? The tag says, 'Ship's Cat.'"
The computer tjirped and replied. "The ship's cat is registered in the crew manifest as Mr. Tumnus or Tumnus."
Tumnus finished his bowl and then started to wash himself, and focused first on his front paws. "Mmm..." He thought. "That was nice..." He looked to the female a moment and then returned to his cleaning. He knew the female wouldn't understand him. He could only talk to one two legged female, and that female actually had fur and a tail. So he had assumed, if they had fur and a tail he could talk to them. But he hadn't tried it. But for some reason the other two legs always anticipated his needs.
"Mr. Tumnus," Vura sounded amused as she said the words. "Well, Mister Tumnus, was that a good meal?" She bent down to get the bowl and then walked back over to the replicator to let it disappear. She wondered if she should get another bowl of water for the cat. She watched as the cat, contentedly cleaned itself and then walked back over to him, crouching down to be more on the cat's level. "Can I pet you again or are you still cleaning yourself?"
Tumnus licked his mouth as he noticed the female was next to him. He sniffed her a moment curiously trying to understand what she wanted to do. He sniffed her hands and then headbutted her hands.
Vura giggled delightedly. "I'll take that as a 'yes.'" She let her nails lightly scratch his skin as she stroked his head and back. On a whim, she took her other hand and scritched the cat under his chin.
Tumnus loved that sensation. Yes this female was good. He will come here often too. He purred loudly at the scritches. He pulled his head back and continued purring. He loves his scritches.
Snickering, Vura continued to give Tumnus his scritches. "You're such a sweet little boy. I may have to replicate you a bed or some other objects to play with here."
Tumnus looked at the female and tilted his head as she spoke to him. He wasn't sure what she said, but it sounded nice. Maybe it was something about more food when he came here. Or a bed or toys to play with. That would be really nice. He would need to memorize how he got here.
Vura stopped petting Mr. Tumnus and held up a finger to him, indicating that he should wait. She went over to the replicator and said, "Computer, please make a cat bed of sufficient size for the ship's cat of a red velvety or fluffy exterior material with down interior."
The computer obediently created a cat bed. Vura took it, showed it to Mr. Tumnus and then walked it over behind her mahogany desk and tucked it there. She made a clicking sound with her voice and then said, "Come here, Tumnus. I have a nice soft bed for you that you can curl up and stay with me if you want."
Tumnus heard the sound the female was making. Curious he followed after her and found the bed she had laid out for him. She walked around it and sniffed it curiously. It had no notable smell, so he could give his smell to it. He carefully stepped in the bed. A bit unsure still he moved around in it. It was nice and and soft. He kneeded his nails into the bed. He then curled up into the bed purring.
Noting that the cat was content, Vura smiled and pet him again. "So, me and you, huh? I'm very glad to have the company. I don't get to keep too much but I promise I will enjoy you as long as I have you."
Tumnus didn't really understand what the female said. But the warmth of the bed surrounded him and he fell in a warm and content sleep. He purred softly as he slept peaceful and content.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Mr Tumnus
Ship's Cat, USS Pioneer
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