Absolutely in LOVE with your idea that crew!Mack waters the plants in life support 💕
If you're feeling inspired could I ask for some hcs of Mack with a Captain who was originally a biologist/botanist (before they went to captain school lmao) and life support is their favorite room to hang out in bc of the plants? If you want more specifics maybe something with the Captain teaching Mack all about the plants? But anything is fine tbh I just think this is such a soft & sweet concept and would love to see more
i absolutely love this request! i myself love plants and things, so this was a lot of fun to write :] (also, a few days late, my apologies. i had a school choir concert, but i'm slowly getting back to answering requests)
when you're the captain, you have a certain level of duties. checking on gunther in ads, celci in cryo, and burt in reactor, checking in with mark about the ships status, and the list goes on. it's hard to find some time to myself.
unlike my previous job, a botanist. with that job, i pretty much worked alone. hell, i had even thought about opening up my own botanical garden shop at one point before i became captain.
however, i didn't, leaving all of the information of plants fresh in my mind.
so, like usual, i went around, finishing my rounds. today i had noticed the plants in life support, and wanted to check them out a bit, so as the crew retired to their rooms/pods, i headed there.
as i opened the door, i noticed that i wasn't alone. which, really, wasn't all to difficult as the other person started spewing words at me.
"oh, uh, captain! how nice to see you...! i, uh, i was just, um, checking on life support! yeah, that's what i was doing! mhm, yes." i heard the rushed voice of one of my crew members, mack, say.
"no, mack, it's alright. first of all i don't believe that for a second. second of all, i think you might be in here for the same reason as me." i sigh and smile. that boy sure can get worked up over nothing.
"and w-what might that be...?" he questions, still nervous as hell. "the plants, mack. i'm here to see the plants." i smile and chuckle a bit.
"oh! then yes, that's true! i uhm, i enjoy looking at the plants, though i'm not too sure what they are..." he sighs a bit, and walks over to a plant with very, very large leaves, holding it very gently.
as i walk over, i stand behind him, putting my hand on his as he holds said leaf. "that one'a a colocasia. more commonly known as elephant ear. it's actually a fairly common plant back on earth." i explain.
"i never got to see many plants back on earth, heheh. as soon as i was old enough, my parents got me ready for this training, so this is kinda all i've ever known." he says nervously, his free hand rubbing the back of his neck.
"i used to be a botanist. my whole job was plants. so if you ever want to know anything, let me know. i'd be happy to have someone to talk about plants with again." i respond.
"so let me get this straight. *the* captain that everyone lives very much and is so cool and everyone fawns over. you. *you* didn't even know you were gonna be a captain until, what, a few years ago?" he questions.
"yep. i was going to open a botanical garden and sell plants. though, stores cost a lot of money, so when i heard about a cool opening as a captain, i took the job. next best thing, i guess. i love space, and i still get to talk about plants." i say as i sit down on the ground, mack joining me shortly.
i can see as he begins to get tired. first a small yawn. then, his eyes start to close. next thing i know, his head in on my shoulder.
the hardest thing i've ever done on this ship, i think, is figuring out a way to stand up and pick up mack so i can carry him to his room. though, that might be some personal bias.