Road Trip [for losthunter]

[boldygoing]

It's a beautiful spring day in Riverside, Iowa. The skies are clear and the weather is pleasantly mild, and across the endless fields that stretch out into vast distances, automated farm machinery is hard at work planting corn for the season.

There's no such machinery around the Kirk farm, though someone has bothered to zap away some of the weeds threatening to devour the foundation. The old homestead still sits disturbingly empty, all but abandoned if not for a few small signs that someone has been there recently. One of those signs sits just outside the house, leaning up against his motorbike as he waits for another rider to come join him, a set of riding goggles resting against his forehead.

The motorcycle has clearly seen better days, but it's nothing like twenty-first century bikes. There are no spokes in the wheels, for one thing - indeed, the wheels don't even seem attached by anything visible, held in place by some invisible force. It's keeping itself upright without a kickstand, as well, even though the young man in question is leaning most of his weight against it.

Comments

[boldygoing]

"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?"

[losthunter]

"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..."

[boldygoing]

"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.

[losthunter]

"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."

[boldygoing]

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

[losthunter]

"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."

[boldygoing]

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

[losthunter]

"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."

[boldygoing]

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

[losthunter]

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

[boldygoing]

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."

[losthunter]

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

[boldygoing]

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.

[losthunter]

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."

[boldygoing]

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

[losthunter]

"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."

[boldygoing]

"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?]

[losthunter]

"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]

[boldygoing]

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?"

[losthunter]

"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.

[boldygoing]

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.

[losthunter]

"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."

[boldygoing]

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.

[losthunter]

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?"

[boldygoing]

"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."