boldygoing | Road Trip [for losthunter]

Slightly away from the house, a PINpoint door opens and Hunter arrives, riding his Harley Davidson towards where Jim is waiting for him. The sound of the bike echoes across the flat plains of Iowa. And Hunter is wearing a stylized bike helmet too. He stops the bike, balances it before letting the engine shut off.

"Going my way?" He smiled.

The engine noise gets his attention right away, such a foreign sound in this century. Jim smiles a little and snaps his communicator closed, clipping it to his belt. "Depends on where you're headed, stranger," he answers as he looks over the bike and its rider. It's all very twenty-first century. No safety features but leather and a helmet made from incredibly basic materials, by this century's reckoning. Not to mention the very peculiar scent of gasoline fumes it brings along with it. It's an antique, from where Jim's sitting. But he's always had a fondness for old things.

"Nice wheels."

"Thank you." Hunter will have to use a kickstand to steady the bike, once it is turned off, and he gets off it. He takes off his helmet, so he can look at Jim's bike a little closer.

"Yours is so futuristic!"

It's a bit funny to Jim to hear such a relatively old bike described as futuristic. "It's older than the one I used to have. 2219 Monoceros Sport." He reaches back and pats the bike fondly. "Bones may not like it, but I've gotta have some way to get around."

"Well, he is not here." Hunter pulls Jim into a warm embrace. He is a little more padded than normal, due to the motorcycle jacket and chaps.

"Damn straight he isn't." Jim hugs Hunter back, and gives him a kiss on the cheek. His own jacket is more for style than for safety, but it'll do in a pinch. He's also sporting a pair of fingerless gloves to guard his hands, and there's a small flat black square stuck to the back of his neck.

"I haven't planned out the whole day, but I did look up some other stuff we can do while we're out," the captain says, with a small grin. "Lunch included."

Hunter affectionately ruffles Jim's hair when he kisses him on the cheek. He takes a moment to admire the stylish jacket (and the man inside of it).

"Sounds great."

"So, tell me about your bike."

Like bike riders of Hunter's time, Jim is more than happy to expound upon his ride's virtues. "Five hundred brake horsepower, twin fuel cell frictionless engine, plus it's got the solar panel body option so I can recharge on the road. Top speed's about four hundred kilometers per hour but the cops don't like it when you do that on the open road, so we've got to keep it down to one-sixty, max."

[Apologies if anything is super wrong, I know nothing about vehicles and did a lot of googling, lol. :P I had Jim use kph because Starfleet usually deals in kilometers in canon instead of miles.]

"Wow... solar panels..." Hunter is very impressed. And moves closer to the bike so he can check it out.

[I know nothing about vehicles either. So it is all good]

Jim's bike is deceptively light but sturdy, built out of polymers and alloys that Hunter won't recognize, as they didn't originate on Earth. The style and design is close enough to twenty-first century motorcycles, however, that it can't be mistaken for anything else.

There are storage compartments built into the underside of the bike, and Jim has made sure it's stocked with water and snacks, as well as a first aid kit, just in case. The controls seem fairly similar to the ones on the Harley, but there's no spot for an ignition key, just a thin slot about an inch wide.

Jim, in turn, is checking out Hunter's bike. It's been a while since he's seen one this old in design, and he does love his antiques. "This is pretty solidly built."

In contrast, Hunter's bike is a heavyweight cruiser-style motorcycle, with the classic V-Twin engines. The high-torque engine can be seen, placed into a relatively small space in the body of the bike. Hunter's Harley Davidson is a Twin Cam, which is designed to comply with noise regulations.

"Harleys have that distinction of being solidly built."

Jim chuckles. "Don't take this the wrong way, but the last time I saw a bike like this, it was in a museum."

"Well, if you feel up to it, you could take her for a spin." Hunter winks. "I won't tell McCoy."

"Thanks, but I'm trying to be good this time." Jim does appreciate the offer though, and he just might take him up on it at a future date.

"No naughtiness... shame." Hunter smirks slightly.

"So I hope your road trip plans include a lot of back roads and scenery." The back roads will be the best way for Hunter to avoid being spotted on his 21st bike.

Jim laughs a little. "This is Iowa. There's plenty of scenery, don't worry." Jim straddles his bike, and produces a little square chip that he inserts into the slot before pressing the button next to it. His engine doesn't quite have the same deep, gas-burning rumble as Hunter's combustion engine, more of an electric purr that fits in well with the other future technologies Hunter has seen so far.

"We're going to swing by the shipyards on our way out of town, if that's okay."

"That is more than okay. How are repairs doing on the Enterprise?" Hunter asks. He hasn't started his bike yet, wanting to actually hear Jim's answer first.

"It's slow going," Jim admits. "She won't be space-worthy for at least four months, and then she'll have to be retested and recertified before she's ready to go back on duty." Much like himself, as it happens.

"Well, let's get your mind off the waiting... at least for today." Hunter smiles. Then starts up his bike, revving it to life.

Jim pulls the goggles over his eyes and revs his own engine, still quieter than the roar of Hunter's Harley but still powerful. His back tire kicks out as he wheels the Monoceros around, aiming down the long dirt road that leads out towards the main paved roadway, and guns it. The bike glides gracefully over the small bumps in the road, eager to eat up the miles, but Jim holds it back a bit, making sure he isn't outpacing Hunter.

Out ahead, the terrain stretches put to the horizon, mostly flat and green with seedling crops, and Jim angles their path in the direction of the massive hazy structures off in the distance.

It is a good thing that Jim is holding back on how fast he is going, since his bike can hit a higher top speed than Hunter's bike can. His bike rumbles as he drives behind Jim, a constant reminder of the person taking this adventure with him.

Jim positions himself so he can still see Hunter without turning his head too much, leading the way without being too far ahead. There are no other vehicles on the road at the moment, emphasizing how very middle-of-nowhere the small town of Riverside is. A small collection of buildings sits off to the west, marking the main center of town, but Jim barely glances its way, focused on the wide open road and the warm spring breeze in his hair.

As they close the distance between Jim's childhood home and the large structures in the distance, the haze begins to fade until their shape becomes clear. It's an enormous series of scaffolds, permanent in nature, built to cradle the shape of a starship under construction, or under repair. And as they get closer, it becomes obvious that the starship held in the dry dock is familiar.

There's a fence around the shipyard, keeping out unauthorized personnel, but they don't need to enter the fence to get a good look. Jim leads the way to a hill overlooking the dry dock, his path assured like he's been there before.

Hunter is amazed by the sight of the structure. And he can immediately tell why this location was a great one for the shipyard. With acres and acres of flat space, it makes for a perfect place for the shipyard.

Following Jim up the path to the hill overlooking the dry dock, Hunter slows down enough so he can place his foot on the ground, and pause in an idle position looking down on the Enterprise.

Jim's ship looks like it had gone through Hell, and is still recovering. It is a sombre reminder of the battle that Jim's crew had endured. Of the people who lost their lives. Of Jim himself laying in a comatose state. His heart is still fragile after saying goodbye to Kendra, so the sight of the ship reminds Hunter of what he almost lost.

Jim comes to a stop too, looking down the hill - though still up at the Enterprise. Seeing her on the ground makes her look so much larger somehow, yet the scorched holes in her hull are a sobering reminder of what she's been through. Parts of the interior are open and exposed to atmosphere, some from torpedo hits, others simply burned away when the starship fell into the atmosphere of Earth.

But all around her, workmen are hard at work removing the damaged sections, replacing them with newly forged hull plating, or repairing what can be salvaged. It's sort of like watching a doctor do surgery on a patient, slowly nursing the wounded ship back to life. Jim's back twinges in sympathy, and he reaches back to idly rub at the small of his back, easing the momentary glitch of recovering muscles and nerves.

They're both on the road to recovery. And while Jim himself is far better off, he knows that the Enterprise will get there too, in time.

The captain glances over at Hunter, trying to gauge his thoughts.

In a fashion, seeing the Enterprise in this fashion is even more interesting than seeing it floating in space. Hunter gets a better idea of the perspective of the ship.

He turns, sensing that Jim is glancing at him. Removing his helmet, Hunter wipes away a stray tear. "I am one of those sensitive souls."

Jim smiles a little in understanding. "You don't have to apologize for feeling. It's hard to see her like this." He leans forward slightly, resting crossed arms on the handlebars of his bike as he looks up at her. "This is where I decided to join Starfleet. Right here, on this hill. The Enterprise was under construction, right where she is now." It's kind of strange to come back four years later, mirroring the last time he was here with a strangely appropriate accuracy. Back then, they were both unformed, still being built into what they were destined to be. In a way, they've both come home to rest and recuperate.

"You and her have gone a very unique adventure together." Hunter notes softly. He has to appreciate the sight of Jim, looking up at his ship, leaned forward on his bike as he is. "And you will adventure again."

"I sure hope so." He still has yet to hear from Starfleet Command whether or not he's going to return to the captain's chair, and given the sheer amount of disruption in San Francisco that Khan caused, he can't be too surprised that it's lower priority at the moment.

But this trip is supposed to be a fun one, so he doesn't dwell on the matter. "I can't wait to see her back up there again. She's meant to fly."

"So are you..." Hunter notes softly.

Jim smiles at Hunter, grateful as always for his support. "Until then, riding will have to do." He casts one last wistful look up at his silver lady before turning the bike around, heading back towards the open road.

Hunter takes one more look himself, before getting his helmet back on his head, revving his bike up, and following Jim back towards the open road.

It has been quite some time since he had taken a bike tour. He is glad to be able to do one with Jim.

It's been a while since Jim got to do a road trip too. At least since before he enlisted in Starfleet. Iowa doesn't offer the kind of fun, twisting roads of other states, but the relatively straight roads have their own advantages, allowing Jim and Hunter to ride side by side. The clear blue sky above and the wind blowing in his hair feels like freedom, and Jim can't resist the urge to pop a wheelie every now and then, enjoying the ride.

For a short while the road is paralleled by a high fence, and on the other side, away from the road, is a great gaping trench in the earth. Battered signs posted at periodic intervals along the fence proclaim it to be the Washington County Quarry, and that trespassers will be prosecuted. Jim can't resist throwing a slightly smug grin in its direction, wondering if the wreck of the Corvette still lies at the bottom.

It's about thirty-five miles before the city of Cedar Rapids begins to come into view in the distance, its tall buildings rising up on the horizon. Not quite as impressive and majestic as the shipyards, but expansive nonetheless, its structures a mix of old twentieth century and more modern twenty-third century construction. As they get closer, there begins to be more traffic on the roads, mostly hovercars that don't touch the pavement, and a few public transportation vehicles.

Edited 2017-06-09 21:03 (UTC)

Even with the difference of motorbikes, the feeling of being on the road is still the same. And Hunter is enjoying riding beside Jim, glancing over every now and then with a big grin.

He is enjoying all the sites too. The Washington County Quarry. And then the tall buildings of Cedar Rapids.

Jim hasn't really been here before, but fortunately, his bike has a built-in navigation system that projects a holographic trail on the inside of his goggles. He signals to Hunter to slow down as they enter the city limits, entering the flow of traffic streaming into the city. Much like it was in San Francisco - before the Vengeance crashed downtown, that is - shuttles occasionally fly by overhead, and there's a decent amount of foot traffic. This far away from the major interstellar travel hubs, most of the population seems to be human, but there are occasional aliens here and there.

The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art is downtown, and they have to cross over a wide river to get there. Jim slows further as they roll up outside the museum, a wireframe sculpture on the front lawn indicating they're in the right place. There's a small strip along the edge of the road that seems to be reserved for parking, and he rolls the bike to a stop inside the marked-off zone. "One good thing about biking is finding parking is easy," he remarks to Hunter, once the other man can hear him.

Entering the city limits is a little unnerving for Hunter. There is a little more movement that is around him, with those shuttles flying overhead. But he keeps pace with Jim.

When they slow down, Hunter notes the wireframe sculpture on the front lawn. He parks the bike beside Jim's bike. He laughs at Jim's comment, turning his bike off and removing his helmet.

"And pretty easy to navigate around traffic."

Hunter's bike turns a few heads, but the pedestrians that end up staring tend to have varying expressions of admiration. Traffic is probably a hell of a lot lighter than what Hunter is used to in his century, leading to a safer ride through town.

Jim pushes his goggles up on his forehead again as he shuts down the engine and pulls out the startcard, slipping it back into his pocket. "I can't imagine how much more crowded these streets would've been a few hundred years ago."

Hunter turns his bike off, setting down the footrest, before sliding off of it. He removes his helmet. "A lot more vehicles on the ground, that is for sure."

The museum is mildly busy at this time of day, a comfortably sized crowd by Jim's standards. Not enough to be overwhelmingly crowded, but enough that they aren't going to be entirely alone in a deserted art gallery.

"Looks like they've got an exhibition on Andorian jewelry and ceremonial weaponry this year," Jim says as they head inside. "There's also a Roman art exhibition that's been going continuously for the last two hundred sixty-three years, which is pretty cool."

"Both sound very interesting." Hunter links his arm with Jim's as they head inside. "I must admit, I don't know what an Andorian is. But Roman art... now that is something that I am always interested in."

"They're one of the four founding species of the Federation," Jim explains, comfortable in taking their time to head towards the Roman art gallery, arm in arm with Hunter. "Blue skin, white hair, two antennae and four genders. They're mostly a warrior culture, but it's one of those 'code of honor' kind of things."

"As in four different genders as a culture, or one Andorian can change into four different genders as a person?"

It takes Jim a moment to figure out what Hunter means by that. "As in the species has four distinct sexes," he clarifies. "Transgender Andorians also exist, and I honestly can't imagine how complicated that must be for them."

"That would be very complicated... but then again, I am not one of their culture. So I imagine they must consider the human species complicated."

The Roman art exhibition is set up in its own dedicated room, and it holds everything from sculptures and vases to coins and jewelry. Jim lets Hunter set the pace, and the direction they'll go first, to check out the artwork on display.

"The Vulcans have this concept called 'infinite diversity in infinite combinations,'" he says as they meander through the gallery. "It comes into play a lot."

Hunter takes his time, going through the Roman art exhibition, pausing every now and then to appreciate a sculpture, vase, or jewelry exhibit.

"Especially now that you have access to the Nexus, I imagine it will come into play even more."

Jim takes a moment to inspect a marble statue from a respectful distance, admiring the skill that went into carving it to be true to life. "Probably," he agrees, but gives a glance towards the other patrons of the museum, making sure they aren't listening in on their conversation. There's enough low background noise to make two men speaking less noticeable than it would be if it was silent, but Jim still doesn't entirely want to risk being overheard.

"There's something kind of mind-boggling about being in a room with art that was made more than two thousand years ago," he says instead.

Hunter wonders if there are some pieces on display here, that would be on display in a museum in his timeline. But he is taking Jim's cue, and not asking any questions that might arise suspicion.

"Art is often the best way to understand the cultures of our past. What we know about the cavemen was best described by the drawings they left on cave walls."

"And that's just what's survived," Jim agrees. "It's a little sad to think about how much has been lost or destroyed over the centuries. Not just in human history, but other species too. There was a lot of really ancient artwork lost with Vulcan."

"And when that history is lost, so does a little part of the species." Hunter really thinks it is unfortunate that Vulcan was lost forever.

"Yeah. It also means that what was saved is all the more precious." It's something that Jim has been facing on a far more personal level than he expected, lately. And maybe it's an unusual way to rationalize his survival when others weren't so lucky, but he's trying to find the positive side.

He looks over at Hunter as they stop in front of a vase, chipped and cracked, but still clearly painted with images of heroes and monsters. "Do you ever think about how future generations might see your art?"

"All the time." Hunter admits softly. "I often wonder what people would think... of me and my history."

"Maybe you should write a book," Jim muses out loud. "Most artists in history never wrote about themselves. On the other hand, they let their art stand for itself."

"Speaking as an artist... I think the reason most artists never wrote about themselves is because they didn't want to tell people how to feel. They wanted people to come to their own reactions. An honest reaction."

"There is a bit more fun in the mystery of interpretation," Jim admits. "I guess it would depend on the subject, too, right? Something depicting real events would be more valuable to history with a clear testimony, but with something more abstract, it's more personal and up for debate."

"But even something that depicts something real can invoke debate and discussion. Consider the Mona Lisa... scholars are still debating the meaning of her smile. And who she was. Or even if she actually existed."

"That's true, but I meant more like pivotal moments in history, like battle scenes from the old wars. So much actual history has been lost through the ages, and sometimes people get wrong ideas of how it really was because they think the painting's supposed to be literally what happened. Like Washington crossing the Delaware. If he'd really stood up in that boat like that, he would've been a great target."

Jim enjoys this kind of debate, a friendly sort of give-and-take with no dire circumstances at stake. It's purely intellectual, theory only, and he's not stubbornly fixed in one opinion or the other. "I can see both sides of the argument," he adds with a smile. "Dull, boring history leaves nothing to the imagination. Like this vase... were there really monsters, back then? Probably not just like this. But there could've been. And if there weren't, was there really a battle, and if so, who were they really fighting? Or is it metaphorical?"

"Some of my creations might be considered in that dull, boring history category." Hunter chuckles. "I paint real life. What I see. The everyday routine of people at their jobs."

"But I also have paintings where I embrace the metaphorical. Sometimes it is about trying to express what you feel..."

"Out of everything you've made, if you had to pick one piece to be the one people remember you for, what would you pick?" Jim's only seen a small sample of Hunter's work, but what he has seen has been pretty good.

"One piece? That is like me asking you which one crew member you would pick as your favorite." Hunter points out.

"But I would hope one of my real life paintings would be remembered."

"Not the more abstract stuff?" Jim asks, curious about Hunter's reasons.

"I enjoy painting abstract, every now and then.... but if I had to choose, I would not want to remembered by one of those pieces. I would prefer to be remembered after one of the ones that have my heart and soul in it."

"And here I put a bit of heart and soul in every piece."

"Okay true... a little part of myself is in every piece I create." Hunter nudges Jim a little.

"I guess, in a way, my real life paintings are the first ones I created. They are still the ones that have a special place in my heart."

Jim nudges him right back, smiling a little as they move along to the next exhibit. "I can understand that."

"What about you? Is there something you hope future generations would remember about you, and the Enterprise?"

It's a slightly sobering thought. Most of the media's focus on Jim and the Enterprise has been linked to tragedy, first with the destruction of Vulcan, and now with the battle of Luna that ended with a starship crashed in the middle of San Francisco.

Jim's not terribly proud of these events. While he doesn't regret the Enterprise's role in ending those conflicts, the loss of life involved is too much to see it as something to glorify. And besides... Starfleet is supposed to be explorers, not soldiers.

"Honestly? I hope whatever we discover out there in the black is what we're remembered for," he answers thoughtfully. "Whether it's knowledge, or useful technology, or just solving some of the mysteries of the universe."

"To be able to discover new opportunities and new adventure... a very great thing to hope for." Hunter gently squeezes Jim's hand.

Jim squeezes his hand back. "It's not so much the destination as it is the journey," he says, and the words tickle in the back of his mind, so similar to words that he can hear in his own voice, words he's never said. Echoes of a Jim Kirk who no longer exists, from Ambassador Spock's timeline. "'For people like us, the journey itself is home,'" he says out loud, a strange feeling in that he's effectively quoting himself.

Hunter glances over at Jim. He can tell that there is something more behind the words, something that is important to Jim.

"A journey of discovery, no matter what you aim to discover."

Jim looks over at him and smiles a little, nodding his agreement. "That's kind of life in a nutshell anyway, isn't it?"

"This is a pretty amazing experience." Hunter notes, glancing closer at a jewelry exhibit. "Just being able to appreciate the art. And have a great discussion with a handsome man is a bonus."

"It's nice to try to get my mind off things," Jim agrees. They've seen most of this exhibit, but there are more pieces of art to see, a few hours' worth of exploring the gallery and getting to see the centuries-old collection.

[Want to timeskip or keep going?]

"I am glad to help you do that." Hunter answers. He just wants to see Jim happy. And knows that right now, the waiting and the unknown, is very hard on the other man.

[A timeskip sounds good]

It's been some time since Jim has had the opportunity to explore such an extensive art gallery, and the company makes the experience all the better. And it's interesting to get an artist's perspective on the works that are being displayed, with Hunter's greater knowledge of technique and art history.

It's several pleasant hours later before they head out of the museum, and Jim's stomach growls. "So, what're you in the mood for?"

"Could we try something from a different culture? Perhaps something inspired by one of the alien visitors that you think I might enjoy?" Hunter enjoys trying new things. And this seems like the best opportunity to try something that would not be available to him ordinarily.

Jim grins. He'd had a feeling that Hunter would want to be adventurous, and since Jim is fine eating literally anything, he's had a lot of experience with all sorts of cuisines. "Sure. What sort of things do you usually like?" If he gets a good idea of what the other man's favorites are, he'll have a better idea what similar alien foods he can suggest.

"Surprise me." Hunter is open to whatever Jim might suggest. "I do not have any foods that I do not like. And I do not have any food allergies."

Jim's smile widens a little. "All right, I know just the place then."

Their bikes remain undisturbed, right where they parked them, and Jim inputs his intended destination into the Monoceros' nav computer. They're going to have to go across town a bit, but Jim takes it slow and easy, taking care that Hunter will stay with him on their way through traffic.

The restaurant Jim has chosen has a patio that overlooks a park and pond, and at this time of year, there are migratory water birds out on the water. The restaurant's name is in some kind of boxy, alien script, and underneath it in English it says BAJORAN SOUL FOOD. Most of the staff here seem to be of the same type of alien species, humanoid with ridges on their noses and an elaborate earring on their right ear. Jim gets them a seat at one of the tables on the patio, since the weather outside is so nice.

Starting up his bike to life once again, there are a few people who look their way in interest. Hunter has to smile a little, before putting on his helmet, and heading off to follow Jim to their next destination.

It is nice to receive appreciative looks.

When they reach their destination, Hunter smiles at the fact that they are by the water. Parking his bike and turning it off, he takes off his helmet to take in the restaurant itself. He is a little curious about the staff, especially since they all seem to be the same type of alien species.

"Beautiful setting. Do you bring all your dates here?"

"Nah, this is my first time here too. But I looked up a few potential lunch spots before we left." Jim doesn't have to look over the menu for very long either, as it's mercifully in English, although Hunter will likely not recognize most of the items on offer. "Good, they've got hasperat. I haven't had that in years."

"What is it?" Since Hunter doesn't recognize most of the items on the menu, he will rely on Jim to make some suggestions.

"It's like a really spicy burrito," Jim explains, a fond look on his face. "And I mean really spicy, like melt-your-tongue kind of hot. Bajoran places on Earth usually go easy on the spice unless you ask for Bajoran-hot though. And it comes with mapa bread, which helps cut down on the heat. If you don't want super spicy, ratamba stew's pretty good, if fragrant. And very bright green."

"Well, I have never had any type of food that is bright green before. So the ratamba stew sounds perfect."

"And drink recommendations?"

"Normally I'd say springwine, but with ratamba, I'd go with iced deka tea, personally. I'll be having a kava juice, which goes well with pretty much everything."

"Iced deka tea." Hunter repeats to himself.

"So tell me a bit about the Bajorans."

"Well, they're relatively new to the Federation; we only made first contact with them about twenty years ago. They're not members, but they are trade partners, and their culture is a hell of a lot older than humanity. The earring's a religious thing; they're really spiritual, but they haven't shared much about their beliefs, so it's better not to ask 'em about it."

"I won't." But that doesn't mean Hunter isn't a little curious. Or wants to admire the jewelry a little closer. It reminds him of the large tree-shaped piece on his forehead.

Jim thinks the Bajoran earrings are a work of art, too. And when their waitress comes over to take their order, he's not entirely subtle about admiring the craftsmanship. It's certainly intricate and complex, made by a culture that has clearly had a lot of practice.

"You know, it's probably a good thing we aren't on good terms with the Klingons," Jim says, once the Bajoran woman heads towards the kitchen with their order. "Or I might've been tempted to take us to a Klingon place. Their favorite dish is live worms. Not kidding."

"That must be a little unusual for a human to be used to eating." Hunter smirks slightly. "But then again, the first person to eat Sushi, or Haggis must have faced some 'what-the' reactions."

"I don't think we've had enough non-hostile contact with them to exchange recipes, but some poor ambassador's probably had to choke it down at some point. Personally, I've had worse."

"I can't imagine the amount of research your ambassadors must do." It is a delicate enough situation in Hunter's timeline, just dealing with the differences between countries.

"Me either," Jim agrees easily. "First contact is almost better, because at least then you've got a good excuse for cultural missteps. It's making good neighbors later that's the tricky bit."

"And just think, you get to explore more of what might be out there."

Jim nods, leaning his elbows on the small table between them. "Only about twenty percent of the galaxy's been explored, between all the members of the Federation. We could explore for a lifetime and still only just scratch the surface."

"You have such an amazing opportunity ahead of you." Hunter reaches over to run his fingers up and down Jim's arm.

Jim appreciates the touch, and turns his palm upward to capture Hunter's fingers with his own, fully relaxed. "The chance of a lifetime," he agrees. "Before things went south on us, there were rumors that the Enterprise was going to be sent out on a five-year mission. Starfleet's never done an expedition that long before. It's a long time to spend out in space."

Hunter smiles at the way Jim's fingers entwine his fingers with his own. "And you are worried that the mission will be taken away."

"It already was," Jim admits quietly. "I screwed up, got demoted. But then everything happened so fast, and I got reinstated. And Starfleet's had their hands full handling the fallout in San Francisco, so I don't know if my reinstatement is going to stick or not."

"I believe what that little girl part of Kendra said to you... you are destined to be among the stars." Hunter leans forward to kiss Jim's knuckles.

"I sure hope so." Jim's still not sure how much he believes it. But Hunter does, and Jim can respect that. It's nice to imagine it's true, anyway, even with his realistic fears.

"If we do still get to go... it's a damn good thing this isn't the days of sailing ships, with no way to communicate with the world back home. Five years without contact would be a hell of a long time."

"Yes..." Hunter squeezed Jim's hand a little, just thinking about it. "Yes it would be."

"Have you ever done any traveling back home?" Jim asks, curious. He knows that airplanes and the like were common methods of travel in Hunter's time, but they all seem so slow to him.

"A few times." Hunter is a little glad that Jim changed the subject about how he might be going on a five-year mission. It is a little hard to think about.

"Not as much as my best friend, Lindy. She is hitting every country right now."

"Every country? That's a big deal in your time, right?" Jim has no idea how many countries exist in Hunter's time, but he does know it's more than there are now.

"If you do it right, and take time to explore each country and their historical places... than yeah... it takes time."

"It might be interesting to compare maps sometime," Jim says with a small smile. "See how much has changed."

Which leads him to another train of thought, and he asks curiously, "I know a lot of stuff we have in this century is new to you, but has anything surprised you that it hasn't changed?"

Hunter thinks for a moment. "The streets still seem to have the same grid-style layout. Makes it easy to find your way..."

Jim chuckles a little. "For cities like this, yeah. Some of the old historical cities are still a bit of a mess. You don't wanna drive in Boston unless you've got something cleared to fly over buildings, or you'll never get anywhere."

"That is weird... you calling Boston an old historical city."

The captain shrugs. "It's one of the oldest settlements on the continent that's still inhabited. Founded in sixteen-thirty, if I remember my Continental History right." He's not entirely certain on that, given the gap in his formal education as a teen. "Because it's an important city in the Old USA's history, a lot of the original layout and buildings are still just like they were six hundred years ago. It's a pretty popular tourist spot for historians."

There's a momentary pause in the conversation as the Bajoran waitress returns with their meals. Hunter's ratamba stew is a vivid emerald green, and it smells strongly of exotic alien spices with a hint of peppery heat. The deka tea is similar to a cold chai latte, with an almost flowery aftertaste to it.

Jim takes a bite out of his hasperat, which looks a bit like a tortilla rolled with some kind of sauce and colorful vegetables, its spicy heat immediately making him break out in a sweat, and he sips at the deep purple Kava juice to cool the burn a little.

Edited 2017-06-12 17:38 (UTC)

Hunter doesn't mind the break in the conversation, especially since their food has now arrived. He wants to fully appreciate the new meal, after all. And he has to chuckle a little seeing Jim break out in a sweat.

"You weren't kidding about it being spicy, were you?"

"Nope." Jim grins at him, and takes another bite without flinching. It may be hot, but he's not trying to be macho or impress anybody, either. "Gotta spice things up once in a while to keep things interesting."

"Why am I not surprise to hear you say something like that?" Hunter chuckles. He is enjoying the fact that his ratamba stew is just spicy enough, without having to deal with the spicy heat. Plus the flowery aftertaste of the latte is very nice.

"What can I say, I'm an adventurous guy. I'll try anything at least once."

"Anything?" Hunter chuckles lightly.

"Anything not toxic to humans, sure. Doesn't mean I'll like it, but I'll try it." Jim takes a brief pause from his hasperat to tear the mapa bread roll in half, and he sets one of the halves on Hunter's side of the table. It's a sort of multigrain, full of seeds and other healthy-looking stuff. "Mapa's good for dipping in stew, especially when you get down towards the bottom."

"Thanks..." Hunter flashes him a bright smile. He takes the mapa bread to do as Jim suggested, starting to dip it into the stew.

Jim eats the other half plain, letting the nuttiness temper the lingering heat from the hasperat. He doesn't leave a crumb of either one, and leans back slightly in his chair to sip at his kava juice. "You gonna have room for dessert?"

"I always save room for dessert." Hunter wiggles his eyebrows slightly. "Always."

Jim smiles back at him, and playfully taps the toe of his boot against Hunter's. It's not exactly easy playing footsie in motorcycle boots, but it's the thought that counts. "Awesome. I read good things about the tuwaly pie here. It's kinda like coconut cream."

"Sounds perfect. Should we each order a slice?"

"Sounds good to me," Jim agrees. He's in no rush to finish up and go, enjoying taking the time to appreciate the beautiful weather and the excellent company. It's nice to finally be out of that house for a while, and away from the nagging about his health, no matter how well-intentioned. "Once we're done here, is there anywhere you wanna go?" They passed an awful lot of businesses on their way through town, but if Hunter would rather just hit the road and drive through endless green hills and cornfields, Jim is all right with that too.

"Maybe their is a craft store, that we could visit?" Hunter enjoys finding new materials for his artistic creations.

Jim laughs a little. "Gonna load up on supplies? We can do that."

"Well, I figure that I would definitely find something new here."

"Probably," Jim agrees. "Though if you're after metals, we might want to hit up a hardware repair shop too. You can get all sorts of wire and stuff like that."

"That would be amazing. I have started exploring with metal art."

"Because of the trees?" Jim asks, smiling a little. He knows that Hunter has done jewelry before, obviously, but 'metal art' sounds a lot more specific than wearable items. And he's seen a little bit of the artist's work with the gold wire Jim used as payment for the bracelet.

"I am enjoying making those little trees."

"But after I finished the clay sculpture of the Enterprise, I decided it didn't showcase the silver tones of your ship. So now I am entwining metal into the clay."

Jim had almost forgotten about Hunter's project. He vaguely remembers scrolling through his missed messages while he was still in the hospital, once McCoy let him have his communicator back, but the captain was still fairly loopy so most of it went in one ear and out the other, so to speak. "How's that going?"

"It is a little bigger than I had originally planned. But I needed it bigger, since it is easier to do more detailed work."

"I am trying not to get too caught up in the detail work." But since he hopes to give it to Jim some day, he wants every little detail to be perfect.

"Hey," Jim says, reaching across the table to put his hand on Hunter's, and gives him an encouraging smile. "You make it however detailed as you want. I'm sure she'll be awesome either way."

Hunter appreciates the gesture. And he turns his hand to squeeze Jim's fingers. As strange as it sounds, getting to know Jim in these past few weeks has been wonderful. He is enjoying that they know each other so well, that one knows when the other needs some emotional support.

"This is why I enjoy spending time with you." He smiles.

Jim appreciates the support too, over these troubled past few weeks. It's nice to be able to turn the tables once in a while and return the favor. "And here people always tried to tell me flattery would get me nowhere."

"Not with me, sweetheart. You can flatter me, anytime." Hunter takes the opportunity to kiss Jim's knuckles.

"Oh, trust me, I will." Jim smiles back at him.

The waitress swings by their table to check on them, and before long at all, she returns with two slices of pie and a fingerprint scanner to settle the check. Jim presses his thumb to the scanner, authorizing them to charge his 'fleet account, before he digs into his dessert.

"This probably doesn't fit that diet Bones has me on, but I won't tell him if you don't."

"As I mentioned before... we can do anything you would desire today, and I am not going to tell Bones about it."

Hunter starts to dig into his dessert.

It really is sort of like coconut cream, with an alien flavor to it that's hard to describe. But it's good, in Jim's opinion, and he savors every bite. "The next time we're both in San Francisco, I've got to take you to this Bolian place down on Fisherman's Wharf. They have this really awesome version of grilled cheese and tomato soup where every ingredient is from somewhere other than Earth."

"That sounds awesome."

Hunter has to smile that there will be a next time. He likes making plans with Jim.

Jim assumes that of course there'll be a next time. Hunter's his friend, and even if he didn't enjoy spending time with him (which he does), he'd be a horrible friend if he just said 'so long and thanks for all the hospital visits.'

He's lived most of his life without many real friends, and there's no issues with regulations or rank to get in the way.

"Glad you think so."

Hunter is glad to have Jim in his life. And yes, he considers Jim to be a little more than just a friend. Which is why getting to know him is even more special.

"There is a whole world open to us to explore."

Jim smiles and raises his empty glass in a salute. "But for now, Iowa."

"And perhaps, the next time, you can hit New York City with me." Hunter's glass still has a little left in it. Just enough to return the toast.

"Twenty-first century New York? I'd be down for that." The sheer novelty of being a few centuries in the past is enough of a draw on its own, especially with no DTI agents hanging over his shoulder, and having a guide like Hunter is the icing on the cake. "Anything I'd need to be careful about?"

"There are a few neighborhoods that still have gang and drug issues. But I avoid those..."

"There I a great Drag Bar where I know a few of the dancers. I think you would enjoy it." Hunter smiles.

Jim laughs a little. "I meant things that I say or do that might stand out, but that's good to know." He tilts his head to the side, curious. "Do you have to crossdress in a drag bar? Is that something you have to do to get in?"

"I am sure you would avoid any space travel talk, so I didn't think that would be worth mentioning." Hunter laughs softly.

"No. You don't have to."

"But there is a discounted price on drinks when you do." And he will just take another bite of his dessert right then.

Jim doesn't even hesitate before he replies. "Cheaper drinks and I'd get to show off my legs? Sold."

"Why do I picture a mini skirt in your future?" Hunter chuckles.

Jim looks slightly amused. "Nah, it'd be too much like wearing a uniform."

"Well, whatever you decide to wear, you will look great. And I can do our nails before we hit the club."

Jim perks up slightly at the word 'our.' "Do I get to see you in a slinky dress too?"

"Yes. You do." Hunter blushes slightly. "The Queen's love a drag with tattoos."

Jim's rather looking forward to this now, and not just because the mental image he has of Hunter in an evening gown is an appealing one. A lot has changed in the centuries between their times, and it's nice to hear that the early twenty-first century isn't quite as uptight as he'd thought. It'll be a little bit more like the social standards he's used to.

"Cool," he says with a smile.

"We could make it a whole get-together. I could invite a couple of my other friend. See if they want to hang out with us."

"Sounds good to me." So far, Jim has gotten along well enough with all of Hunter's friends. "I don't think I've gone to an actual club in... at least four years."

"Then we definitely need to do it soon." Another thing to help Jim battle against sitting around and waiting.

[work kidnapped me. No one is around to pay the ransom]

Jim smiles across the table at him. "Sure. Just let me know when."

His own meal is finished, so he nods slightly toward Hunter's pie plate. "You ready to head out?"

[Hopefully you get rescued or escape soon!]

"I sure am. This was a great meal. Thank you."

[One of my co-workers is leaving on vacation in one day. It will get worse before it gets better]

"Hey, you're welcome." He certainly doesn't like thinking about why, but ensuring that the people that he cares about are fed and content makes Jim happy.

"So besides metals, any other type of material you're looking for?" Jim asks as they return to their bikes, and he enters a search in the Monoceros' nav system to find the nearest craft supply store.

"Fabric. Maybe something that is other-worldly." Hunter tilts his head for a moment. "And I always love finding new paint colors."

"'Other-worldly,' you say," Jim repeats, a little amused. But he knows what Hunter means. Even just the clothes in this era tend to be made from materials that weren't invented or discovered until after first contact.

"Well, let's go see what we can find."

"I might need you to float me for a few purchases." Hunter doesn't have access to a Starfleet account like Jim does. And he is pretty sure his paper currency would get too many stares.

Jim smiles as he starts up his bike. "Don't worry about it. Unless you're planning to get a lot, you're not going to put too big of a dent in my account."

Edited 2017-06-13 23:39 (UTC)

"I am sure we can barter out another arrangement." Hunter started up his bike. Once again the revving of the engine caused some attention from nearby people.

If Hunter really feels the need to pay him back, Jim isn't going to argue. And he leads the way through traffic, following his nav computer towards the hardware repair shop. It's a relatively small store, and while most of what's in stock is specialized repair parts, there's a section in back that displays wires made out of all sorts of metals, everything from common aluminum and steel to rarer metals like silver and gold, and a few metals that Hunter won't recognize, like duranium and terminium.

Since the store is intended to supply hobbyists, the spools of wire range anywhere from twenty feet to one hundred feet, and they're of varying thicknesses as well. Hunter could get quite a variety pack of metal to work with here.

"See anything you like?" Jim asks, looking utterly unconcerned by the prices on display.

"We are talking about the metal... right..." Hunter teased him slightly. He is drawn to the metals on display. Especially the ones he doesn't recognize. He is looking at a spool of duranium wire, wondering how flexible the metal would be.

"This looks like a similar color as your ship." He comments.

"Is it easy to work with?"

"Good eye," Jim praises him. "Enterprise's hull is mostly duranium. It's really strong and holds up under stress pretty well. You'd need pretty high temperatures to melt it down, but wire's a lot easier to bend than hull plating, which is usually several feet thick."

"Then this would be perfect to complete my sculpture." He debates over getting twenty feet of wire, compared to more. It is a new material, and he would enjoy making other things with it.

Jim can take a guess at the reason for that thoughtful look on his face. "It's better to have too much than too little, right?"

"Especially since I can not buy more later." Hunter considers the 100-feet selection.

"I can always get you more," Jim points out with a smile, bumping his shoulder against Hunter's. "Good idea to stock up now though."

"Good point." Hunter decides on an in-between spool size, 50-feet, of the duranium. And also a few smaller spools of the silver and gold.

"These would be lovely."

In Hunter's time, that amount of precious metals would likely be fairly expensive. Jim, however, doesn't seem to be aware of that, seeing them as nothing more than common manufacturing materials. "You have anything special in mind for them?" he asks curiously as they move to the front of the shop, and Jim pays in the same manner he did at the restaurant, via thumbprint scan.

It is a good thing that Hunter is very comfortable with the barter-style setting of the Nexus market. He would be a little worried about how much Jim is spending otherwise. The main thing he keeps reminding himself is that right now, Jim knows how to handle currency matters in this dimension. Things will be balanced when Jim is in Hunter's dimension, and Hunter is paying for things.

"The duranium would be an excellent way to finish the sculpture of your ship. And the silver and gold would be perfect for a few more trees."

"It'll be interesting to see how she turns out," Jim says with a smile. "I've seen starship models printed or cast, but never sculpted."

Hunter smiles softly. He doesn't know if Jim understands that when the sculpture is finished, it will be given to him. But it will be a nice surprise if he doesn't.

"I would imagine it would take a lot of people to complete a real starship." He tilts his head slightly. "Unless, it is mostly technology."

Jim suspects, but he's content to let Hunter do his work without too many questions or interference, so his artwork of the Enterprise is in keeping with however Hunter feels the work should turn out.

"There's automation involved, but there's still the need for people," he says with a nod. "A lot of the framework gets put together by machines, and after that, the insides get put together by people. Lots of wiring and stuff."

The craft store is only a few blocks away, so rather than driving there, it makes sense to walk and enjoy the outdoors a little. Even if it is in the middle of a city.

"It is good to know that the machines haven't completely taken over..." Hunter winks. It is a popular Sci-Fi trope in his timeline.

Walking down the store is rather nice. Hunter can take the time to truly appreciate the sighs and the sounds of the people around him.

Jim doesn't quite get the joke, although he's sure it must be a reference to something. "Nah. Machines do the drudge work, people do the fun stuff. I've done some construction work before. It's kind of meditative, sometimes."

Hunter chuckles. "You and are are going to watch Terminator and Matrix movies, later."

"The biggest 'villain' in some of the movies that I have seen, were machines taking over the human world."

Jim frowns a little, a foreign memory tickling at the back of his mind, part of Ambassador Spock's memories that were accidentally transferred through the mind meld on Delta Vega. "The other Enterprise had to deal with something like that, I think. Something called V'ger."

"Oh? So I guess it depends on the dimension..."

Jim shakes his head a little. "Maybe, maybe not. We aren't there yet. Hell, the other me wasn't a captain for another seven years from now." He pulls a face at the horrible mixture of tenses he just used. Time travel plus parallel universes make everything stupidly complex sometimes. "I don't know when exactly they ran into V'ger, it's just a fragment of a memory, but I think the other me was an admiral when it happened for them."

"I am sort of glad that I have never met another version of myself..." Hunter can't imagine the confusion. "Though with the Nexus... anything is possible."

Jim smiles faintly, glancing over at him. "I haven't met another me yet either, but it'd probably be more straightforward than this. At least then I could ask some questions about some of the really out of context stuff."I

"And imagine, it was only because of the Nexus that we met."

"I've wondered if a version of you existed in this Earth's past," Jim admits. "We probably won't ever know. Meeting you and finding the Nexus... It's definitely made things more interesting."

"If a version of me did, I would wonder if he was an artist... and if any of his art was displayed somewhere." Hunter notes softly.

"Were you into art before the whole... magic thing happened?" Jim asks. If not, then it doesn't seem likely. As far as Jim knows, there's no magic in his universe.

"I was too afraid of that part of me."

"And sometimes I wonder, if other versions of me never had a Kendra... what would have happened to them."

"It is never a good train of thought."

Jim certainly agrees that it isn't a great train of thought to chase, but he frowns at something Hunter says. "You were afraid? Why?"

"My dad... didn't exactly see art as a lifestyle choice."

"Ah." That pretty much answers that. They haven't spoken much about their parents, but Jim doesn't need to hear anything else to understand Hunter's brief answer.

"I am much happier now." He takes Jim's hand in his own, with a soft smile.

Jim gives his hand a little squeeze. "Glad to hear it."

They're almost to the craft store, and it's much larger than the tiny hardware repair shop. A person could spend hours browsing the shelves, stocked with most items an artist might need. Paints, brushes, canvases, several different types of clay, enormous bolts of fabric in dozens of textures and colors, feathers and buttons and beads, upon countless other items.

"Holy...." Hunter's eyes go wide at the sight of everything that is available. He could get lost for days, looking for stud in this place. And suddenly he is very worried about exceeding Jim's offer to cover some costs.

"This is amazing."

Jim laughs a little, happy to put that look on Hunter's face. "Just don't forget, we've got bikes."

"I guess I shouldn't try to put too much through my PINpoint portal either. Might look suspicious." So Hunter will focus his search on items that he can not regularly get in his dimension.

There'll still be a lot to choose from, but it's a more manageable list of items. Jim follows Hunter around the store as he looks at the supplies on offer, casually looking around too. "I've got some room in my saddlebags if you need to borrow some space for your haul."

Hunter is attracted to a bolt of soft yellow fabric, that has the softest shine of gold on it. He thinks of the Drag Night date he has made, and selects that fabric to bring to April, who has made him clothing before. He is also interested in some metallic paints, that shine in the light.

"You spoil me."

Jim definitely approves of the choice. Gold is one of his favorite colors, with pretty obvious reasons why. "Do I?"

"Yes. But I do have my own tricks of getting to spoil you." Hunter teases softly.

Jim just smiles a little. He's not used to having someone wanting to shower him with affection, not unless they want something from him, and sometimes he still doesn't quite know how to respond to it. So instead he just nods towards Hunter's intended purchases. "Gonna get anything else while we're here? I think I saw Spican flame gems a few aisles over."

"Flame gems? Now that sounds interesting. Lead the way."

"They're not actually on fire, but they do glow," Jim explains as they seek out the correct aisle. There are other glowing materials in this particular part of the store, but the captain has no trouble finding the right ones, and picks up a decently-sized bag full of varying shapes and sizes to show to Hunter. There's a wide variety of colors in the mix, as well, both in terms of the gemstone and in the soft glowing light they emit. "They're real gemstones, but they're so common that they're really cheap."

"They are really cool." Hunter runs his fingers over the gemstones. "I love them."

"I thought you might." Jim grins at him, and turns back to the shelves, seeking out a small glowing bottle of liquid. "Antarean glow water's what you need to polish them up. Only takes a couple drops."

"Perfect. I think this is a perfect amount of stuff. For today..." Hunter teases.

Jim smiles in amusement as they head up towards the checkout. "You've already got plans for these. I can tell."

"It was the objects themselves that inspired the plans... thank you for bringing me here today."

"No problem. I gotta admit, I'm curious what you're gonna make." But he supposes he'll just have to wait and see. Which is fine.

"You should come over some time, when I am creating... see the process for yourself."

"Sounds interesting. Sure." Once Hunter's purchases are paid for, Jim gives him a hand carrying the art supplies back towards where they parked their motorcycles.

They should be able to fit everything between the storage container in Hunter's motorbike, and the one in Jim's motorbike. The bolt of fabric will have to be strapped onto the end of Hunter's bike.

"Anything else you want to do?"

"Well I definitely don't want to go home yet," Jim answers. He's enjoying the time away from duty and overbearing doctors, without any deadlines to worry about.

He considers their options, and gives a speculative look to Hunter. "Ever been to the Mississippi River?"

"No. I haven't." Hunter smiles. He is enjoying his time with Jim and is glad to have something else to do with him.

"We're about two hours away, if you want to go for it." Jim rather enjoys just spending time on the open road, and it's a straightforward enough route that he and Hunter will be able to ride side by side, enjoying each other's company.

"Let's do it."

Hunter checks his gas tank, nodding to himself. "Once we get about half-way there, if we could find a deserted place to pull over. I can then PINpoint my supplies home, and get the tank filled."

Edited 2017-06-15 15:38 (UTC)

"It's Iowa. Finding a deserted place isn't gonna be hard." All the more reason to go for it. And while it's possible that this detour might mean it'll be late before they get back to Riverside, Jim definitely doesn't mind.

"I totally want to make a comment about finding a make-out spot..." Hunter grins, revving his engine to life.

Jim laughs out loud, and starts up his own bike. "Cornfields aren't very romantic. But we've got options."

Hunter smiles, just because it is sweet that Jim wants a little romance in his life. He can make that happen.

"Lead the way, handsome."

[Looks like a good spot to wrap up. ;) ]

[Looks perfect. Another great (and sweet) scene]

[Agreed. Good for Jim to get out and about. :D Thoughts on next thread?]

[We have a few options from past threads.
1. The dinner with Jim and the crew members who know about Hunter's Nexus connection

2. New York/ Drag Date night

3. New York/ art gallery date night]

[I would be up for any of those. :D As Hunter will be hosting any of those, I'll let you pick.]

[Option 1? That way, it would still follow the timeline of Jim recovering. And wouldn't timeskip too much.]

[Fine with me!]

A thread with a few links for descriptions

http://losthunter.dreamwidth.org/7585.html

Road Trip [for losthunter]

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pretend I know stuff...

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Had to write this twice because my iPod ate it the first time :(

that sucks when it happens

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