Clue By Four

Posted on Mon Aug 20th, 2012 @ 3:51pm by Commander Oralia Zeferino & Ignatius Reilly

Mission: Sections of the Delta Quadrant
Location: Nexus Club

Cautiously taking a seat at the table where Iggy stood, Oralia watched the electric blue and black spider for a moment. When she put a hand out, palm up, on the table, Iggy backed away a step, until Oralia said, "Let's talk, kiddo."

Iggy moved forward and rested her body in Oz's palm; this was a small ritual the two had had ever since Oralia had discovered that the spider could communicate with her in vastly different ways when touching her. I will not apologize, she said, letting her irritation, anger, and loneliness radiate downward into Oralia.

In that moment, Oz got it - she could feel Iggy; Iggy could feel her. No words were necessary right then and, after a few moments, Iggy moved forward again. This time, she stepped off of the table, one leg at a time, out and onto Oz's torso. She moved in for what might be considered an awkward spider hug, her abdomen on Oz's chest, her fangs and pedipalps by her cheek, and her legs splayed to hook around her shoulders. For her part, Oralia cupped the spider's abdomen in her hands. I had no idea, Iggs. Her eyes prickled uncomfortably as she blinked back tears. You're not unwanted; far from it. You're an interesting addition to life. Just... there are times when I need or want to be doing things that... well... your presence might be inappropriate. Particularly lately, with Jackson.

You love him, Iggy stated without question. And you worry that you are using him to replace Connor. The spider paused and started to back out of the hug; Oz let her do so, making sure she made it to the table. You are not. You lied to yourself once, for a time; lied to Connor as well, when you said you were not in love with Jackson.

Iggs, she found herself blinking back more tears and then she wasn't able to blink them back fast enough. Damn you. Making me cry....

That was not my intent. Iggy stroked a leg along Oz's uninjured forearm.

"I liked you as my pet, Iggs. You were different and strange and the reactions I'd get from friends was pretty funny." She smiled, recalling Gilroy's reaction in particular: he had jumped into a chair and screamed. "As a sentient being, you can be annoying, frustrating, embarrassing. But you're also pretty wonderful and I love you, kiddo."

I knew that. I read that just now, Iggy said.

"Yeah, but I should tell you that, even if you know it."

Is that a biped thing?

"It's a human thing, yes," she laughed. "Do you want to sit through the show and dinner with me? Jackson reserved a table for me."

I would like that, Oralia.

* * *

With their differences at least temporarily hashed out, Oralia carried Iggy to the dining room and Cass seated them, providing a booster seat so that Iggy could sit at table height without being on the table. Rather quickly thereafter, Eli had brought Oz a glass of dark red wine and a smaller glass of beer for Iggy. Her arm was throbbing and Eli brought back a mild pain killer on his next trip.

The human and arachnid sat in companionable silence for a long moment. Oz was people watching, a Security habit that just never went away. She saw the Admiral sitting with Admiral Hawke and his wife, Aia; she also saw Norval; her own officer, Eric Edwards; and a young Trill she didn’t know but quickly realized would be Ian Leyva, now Bren. Eric saw her looking his way and lifted his glass to her. She smiled and nodded. He was perfect for that assignment, all things considered.

Iggy was simply enjoying her beer and being out in public. And being with Oralia.

When the show started and Jackson took the stage for a few minutes to introduce Eli, Oralia had eyes for no one else. And then Eli was there, on stage, and her mind wandered back to Iggy, sort of.

Some people think only furry, four-legged creatures were worthy of being pets... hell, some people were furry, four-legged creatures, even if they did walk only on two legs. Males, for example. By and large, they were simply dogs.... Oz's face scrunched inward in confusion. Where had that thought come from? Then she looked at Iggy and sighed. Iggs, don't influence me like that. You know very well that I like men.

Indeed, I do know that. But you must admit that the male bipeds lack something... brains, for example.

Sipping her wine, Oralia laughed and didn't completely disagree with Ignatius. Well, there are a few worth their weight in latinum, honey.

The Admiral? Oz nodded. He cannot fly very well. The comment made Oz chuckle, since she knew that the shuttle antics were no fault of the Admiral's.

Jackson? Oz not only nodded, she grinned a mile wide and answered, Oh, most certainly.

You do not fight with him?

Fight? No, Oz shook her head and focused on the arachnid for a long moment. Connor and I argued quite a bit. But Jackson... it's so different, Iggs.

When you combine living spaces, where will I go?

"Go?" Surprise had her spitting the word out loud. Her brows drew together as she recalled an argument she'd had with Connor. He'd been adamant that Iggy could not, would not live with them - it was one of his conditions for moving back in. Of course, then he'd disappeared on his 'walkabout' and... that rendered everything else moot. Grief hit her and she drained her glass of wine. Iggy, you will live with me until you no longer wish to do so. Okay? If Jackson wishes to live with me, he'll just have to understand we're a package deal. Besides, we’d have to get to the point where we want to live together. It’s a commitment.

Both fell silent for a few minutes then Oralia ran a finger down one of the spider’s legs and said, I’ve been putting in the documentation necessary to have you declared a new species or, at the very least, emancipating you as a fully sentient being.

Iggy paused, going completely still. What will that mean?

That no one will own you, for one. Right now, in Starfleet’s records, I’m your owner - and I have to say it’s a little uncomfortable being the owner of a sentient being. Companion of, guardian of, fine... but owner? Makes it sound like you’re my slave.

So if this emancipation goes through, then you will have no responsibility for me?

Oralia stared at the spider a moment. Iggs, I’ll always be responsible for you. You’re... you’re sort of like a kid, so everything you do reflects back on me.

That seemed to mollify the spider and she went back to cleaning her fangs with her pedipalps. Wait... everything?

"Yeah. Everything." The words were just easier to vocalize.

Including drinking beer, eating marinated roach and then farting?

"Even that," Oz answered then quickly added, "So don't!"

Too late!

_________________________
Oralia Zeferino
Getting the Clue By Four

Iggy
Wielding the Clue By Four