Giving the Tour [for losthunter]

[boldygoing]

It has been a week or two since the Enterprise was in any kind of condition to entertain visitors. A supply run here, a survey mission there, nothing close to casual enough for Captain Kirk to justify setting aside a little time to have a guest aboard, his days taken up by the duties of command. And certainly not out in the middle of deep space, where an unexpected visitor would be more likely to be seen as a stowaway or intruder, no matter if the captain vouched for them or not.

But it has been six months since the crew's last chance for shore leave, so after the debriefings are complete, Starfleet Command gives the slightly weary crew a brief three days off while the ship's systems are inspected and recalibrated. And it's a perfect opportunity to make good on his offer from a while ago.

Jim sits at a shuttle terminal in downtown San Francisco, a gold-shirt in a small sea of red and blue, all Starfleet personnel waiting to be taken up to various starships in orbit or in Spacedock. He knows it might be a few minutes before Hunter arrives, and keeps himself busy reviewing reports on a padd, keeping an eye out for the distinctive tattoos of his invited guest.


[OOC: Image links to replace invalid links below:
Spacedock
USS Enterprise
Warp core
Officer's lounge]

Comments

[boldygoing]

Jim grins a little. "Among other things, yeah. It's part of the rec facilities, and if there's one thing every starship needs, it's a way for crew to let off steam when they're not on duty."

[losthunter]

"I imagine it is important to have rec facilities on a ship like this one. Especially if people have been assigned to a longer mission, where they just feel a little caged."

"Do you find ways to let off steam?" Hunter whispers in his ear. His fingers trail lightly against his hip bone. It is sort of nice to just be content with the small gestures and flirting. And even if they are disturbed by a crew member, Hunter doesn't think he would let go of Jim too quickly right now.

[boldygoing]

Jim makes a pleased sound in his throat, shifting his own hand a little lower on Hunter's lower back. "Not that kind, not with my crew anyway. Spock and I play chess every week, and I spar with Sulu every now and then. And you already know about the books."

[losthunter]

"Well, you have me in your life now for that kind of distraction." Hunter nuzzles his neck.

"I am glad to hear that the game of chess is still something of interest."

[boldygoing]

Jim leans into his touch, and it's still rather novel and quaint to him to be with someone so adorably prone to cuddling rather than just fast and dirty sex. Not what he's used to at all, but he certainly won't complain. "Do you play?"

[losthunter]

"I do. I used to play with my tutor all the time." Hunter had to smile a little fondly. It is a little obvious that he had a crush of said tutor. "He was blind. And it was quite interesting that he would beat me every time, all the same."

[boldygoing]

"That's pretty cool. You and I've gotta play sometime."

[losthunter]

"I would really like that." Hunter shifts his head slightly, so he can take advantage of the quiet moment and capture a soft kiss from Jim.

[boldygoing]

Jim responds with his typical enthusiasm, half tempted to lock the door with his override code and do some terribly indecent things to Hunter against the observation viewport. But they have yet to test out the bed in the captain's quarters, to see if it can be spacious enough for two fully grown men, and if he starts something now, they may never know.

"You want a drink?" he asks instead.

[losthunter]

It is a good thing that Jim doesn't voice his temptations. Because the temptation of enjoying those indecent things, while also enjoying the view outside, would be a little difficult for Hunter to pass up.

"Sure. What were you drinking at the pub, the one after the Romulan Ale?"

[boldygoing]

Jim clears his throat. "You mean the totally legal and not at all Romulan ale," he says with a straight face (well, almost). "That was a Cardassian sunrise. It's kind of like a tequila sunrise but it uses Bajoran spiced rum instead of tequila."

[losthunter]

Hunter has to laugh at Jim 'clarifying' his drink. It earns him another kiss.

"Can I have that?"

[boldygoing]

Hey, you can never be too careful. They are in Spacedock, after all, and Jim doesn't really want to risk someone overhearing something they shouldn't. He's already having a hell of a time trying to keep his juvenile delinquency out of the media spotlight.

"Sure. It's been a while since I made one but I remember the recipe just fine. Have a seat."

The captain steals a last kiss before moving behind the bar, delving into the liquor cabinet and collecting the bottles he'll need to create the drink. "I used to bartend at this place in Vancouver," he says as he works, grabbing a highball glass from the other cabinet. It looks glass, but sounds different as it clinks against the smooth bar top. "It was just for a few weeks but I learned how to make just about anything."

[losthunter]

Hunter selects on of the bar stools to sit at, and smiles as he watches Jim work his magic behind the bar. "Did you have a lot of people wanting to express their problems to you?"

[boldygoing]

Jim's not quite as skilled as the barkeeps who make an entertaining show out of the act of creating a drink, but he has sure and steady hands as he pours, creating the gradual gradient of color in the glass. He chuckles a little at the question. "Sometimes. But most of the time, their problem was that they needed more shots," he says with a cheeky grin.

He slides the drink across the bar to Hunter with a practiced hand. "One Cardassian sunrise."

[losthunter]

"Thank you, sweetheart." Hunter catches the drink as it is slide across to him. He takes a sip, letting the flavors dance against his tongue.

"Ever get behind the bar for your crew?"

[boldygoing]

Jim was going to have a brandy, but now that he's made one Cardassian sunrise and he has the ingredients out, it only makes sense to make a second one for himself instead. "Not really. Bones and I have taken turns tracking down booze for a good nightcap, but he's more a hard liquor guy than mixed drinks, so it's usually bourbon or something."

[losthunter]

"You should make it a special event for your crew. They might enjoy seeing you behind the bar."

[boldygoing]

"Now that would be something to see," Jim says, laughing a little. "It's kind of funny... I actually first met a couple of my crew in a bar."

[losthunter]

"You had mentioned meeting one when he was drunk, and you were hungover." Hunter remembers.

[boldygoing]

Jim nods. "That was Bones, on the shuttle the morning after. We were the only two not in cadet red, and I was still covered in my own blood. We made a great pair."

[losthunter]

"Maybe I can meet him someday. And your Spock too."

[boldygoing]

"Knowing Spock, he's probably still on board," Jim says, rolling his eyes slightly, but he's smiling a little. "He says that shore leave is unnecessary for Vulcans and that he thinks work is relaxing. What a weirdo."

[losthunter]

"I can sort of relate. Sometimes, when I am at a canvas, I find it the most relaxing thing in the world. Time has no meaning. And nothing else seems to matter." Hunter chuckles lightly. "I have been known to work for hours, without remembering to eat. Or sleep."

[boldygoing]

Jim goes quiet, and looks down at his hands, busying himself with taking a drink from his glass. "I get the not sleeping part. But I don't think I'll ever get how people can forget to eat."