#limette

It was as though the Eule was summoned from the shadows. A hand met Kestrel's back, at first just fingertips against her right shoulder that drifted to her spinal structure, now laying flat and rubbing in a small circle. "Kestrel, what happened? We haven't seen you out there in an hour, Limette and I were worried." Kirsche leaned over the her Turmfalke's left shoulder, her face drifting close to the medic's ear.

The sound that left Kestrel's mouth was like a mix between a yelp and a hiccup, sitting up straight in her seat before looking to the left quickly. She had to stop herself from groaning in pain as she felt her internals disagree with the sudden movement. Instead, she squeezed her hands to try and relieve the electric pulse of pain that shot up from her stomach to her head. This whole ordeal had only made her head hurt more and more.

Kirsche read her movements like a book. She was clearly in pain, something internal, Kestrel was scrunched up and holding her stomach when the Eule had come in. Oh poor thing, Kestrel couldn't leave her like this. She shouldn't have been left alone in the first place, her pain was probably already in a feedback loop now.

"Sweetie, Kestrel, why are you at your desk like this? You look unwell, you shouldn't be working right now." The Eule was in complete analysis mode, pulling her rolling chair out from her work station slowly to avoid upsetting her stomach more. Kirsche stepped around and stood in front of the medic, right in the way of her work now. She leaned forward, the owl's claws now clutching the chair's arm rests as she leaned over the other bird of prey.

Kestrel looked away, turning her head down and to the right as a warmth flooded her face. She couldn't meet the Eule's eyes as she spoke. "I-, it's only mid-cycle. There's still a lot to do, I can't just-," she wasn't given a choice in where she looked now, feeling Kirsche's hand caress her cheek, tilting her head up to face the woman standing so close to her now.

A hand met Kestrel's forehead as Kirsche felt her temperature. Not that it would be helpful as the Turmfalke beneath her was already burning up in her flustered state anyway, but it certainly made for a convenient excuse. "Nope, you are going to lay down now. Poor darling you're practically on fire. I'm certain Limette and the others can handle an hour or so without us. They'll understand."

Fortunately, or at least fortunate for her stomach, Kestrel didn't get the opportunity to protest. Kirsche began to wheel her over to the room around the back of the medical bay, rolling straight by Limette.

The Replika in the chair buried her face into her hands, pulling her feet up onto the chair as she was rolled right by the other Eules and straight to the back room where her bed was. Kirsche gave a small smile at the other girls who cooed quiet words of understanding and giggles between each other. Kestrel quietly squealed through her hands. "Kirsche!! I-, I'm fine really you don't have to-," the door closed behind the two, leaving the group of Eules standing around in a bit of surprise.

Limette raised a hand to her own lips, giggling a little before letting out a sigh. "Alright girlies, we should probably hold down the fort for a little while. I'm sure Kirsche had her reasons so Kestrel probably needs the rest." There was a series of nods and quiet words of agreement before the group broke apart, getting back to work quickly.

Within the room, the two Replikas sat next to each other at the side of the bunk labeled as UMFR-SC4012. That last digit was painted on with some old, blue acrylic paint in a big swoopy lettering. The paint was slightly chipped, a few hairline cracks through it showing the many many cycles that had passed since Kestrel had first come into their lives.

Kirsche leaned in close, rubbing her Turmfalke's back gently as she spoke. "Kestrel, please, lay down. You need rest, at least half an hour." It was hard to escape from the Eule's feelings creeping into the back of her mind like a comfortable haze. She was certainly persistent, swooping in behind Kestrel to slide her further onto the bed.

It was hard for the shorter Replika to get a thought together, let alone a word out as she was attacked by a barrage of comfort. Her head was overheated, and when Kirsche came up to her ear to reassure her, the woman's head became heavy as well.

"It's going to be okay Kes. The girls have your work locked down, just breathe okay?" The Eule's breath was warm against Kestrel's ear, and her words droned slowly with a soothing hum. Her mood was soothing and gentle, something that the tired doctor's bioresonance chewed on like a rabid dog. It was like every part of her body, every synthetic muscle and aching joint loosened and relaxed as Kirsche slowly lowered her head down to a pillow.

As Kirsche watched the woman below her struggle to fight the comfort overtaking her, it was time for her secret weapon. The Eule's hand slowly crept along her collarbone frame at the base of Kestrel's neck, down her soft blue chest before coming to a stop at her belly. With every touch and caress, the shorter woman shuddered and squirmed.

Kirsche had her now.

With her slender hands, Kirsche palmed the steadily sinking woman's tummy, gently kneading and massaging along her waist as Kestrel let out a quiet and defeated moan. The Turmfalke lifted her hand and rested her forearm over her eyes and forehead as the feeling of her Eule's emotions and the pressure of the cheeky woman's hands overtook any semblance of a thought.

Kirsche smiled, wrapping one arm around the slowly squirming woman's waist as she lay down beside her, crossing one leg over one of Kestrel's. She continued to rub small circles around and around the upturned bird's belly, resting her head on her chest with a quiet hum. Admittedly, she was so focused on helping Kestrel relax, Kirsche didn't notice the woman's bioresonance infecting her own mind. Her chest was soft, the quiet thuds of her circulatory pump was soothing. Her eyelids became heavy.