Captain's First LOL [for losthunter]

[boldygoing]

With the restrictions on his food intake finally lifted, and with months to go until the Enterprise is ready to fly again, Jim Kirk has had all the more reasons to visit the Nexus and explore, particularly the markets. Whether it's finding interesting otherworldly seedlings for Sulu, tracking down a source of authentic Vulcan kreyla for Spock, or bringing home volumes of Russian literature for Chekov, there's always something to bring back for somebody.

Jim's been warned about LOLs before. Both through the brochure he picked up the first time he arrived here, and by some Nexus veterans, namely Hunter and Samus. But in the months since he's been visiting the multiverse, he's still never seen the phenomenon, not even once.

And so it's easy to forget for a moment that he has to be cautious.

He's discovered a Jewish cafe on one corner of the commercial district that's offering free samples to passersby, and it's been ages since he's had real, hand-made vorschmack on rye. So he doesn't think twice before accepting one of the samples on offer, and there's nothing to indicate that there's anything in it other than the usual bread, fish, and other typical ingredients he'd expect. At least, not until the woman running the sample cart asks him how he likes it.

Jim fully intends on simply complimenting her on the flavor of the food, but what comes out instead is, "It's good but not as good as my Grandma Ruth used to make." He blinks in confusion. "I don't know why I just said that. I wasn't going to tell you that." And again... he says more than he intended.

"Oh dear," the woman says, looking mournfully at the sample tray. "I used the wrong seasoning again. Sorry about that." And then she whisks the tray away, vanishing into the depths of the cafe with no explanation or any indication that she plans to return.

And only now does Jim remember the warnings he was given.

"Oh shit. This is not good." He doesn't know what the hell it's done to him, aside from making him chattier than he intended to be, but he doesn't want to go home like this. Especially not when he can't be certain there won't be more coming. And there's only one person he knows he can go to for help.

Jim calls up the coordinates for Hunter's apartment, hurrying to get his ass over there, muttering to himself under his breath.

Comments

[losthunter]

"I created the Foundation after I gained the legal rights to a trust fund that my mother had left for me."

"Basically, it is a place that gives people a 'hand-up' instead of a 'hand-out'. It offers many different things so that someone who wants to get off the streets, or get clean, can learn how to do that. And regain their independence."

[boldygoing]

Jim doesn't quite understand all of that - he doesn't know what a trust fund is, or what Hunter means by 'get clean' (instead assuming it has something to do with bathing facilities), or what the difference between a hand-up and a hand-out are. But he does get the gist of what Hunter is saying, and that's enough. "I hope there are a lot of success stories coming out of it. Your economy and job market's a lot more unforgiving than the one I know."

[losthunter]

Hunter notes some of the confusing on Jim's face. And he smiles softly.

"Is there any part of my statement that you would like me to clarify?"

[boldygoing]

He smiles a little too. "Remember how we talked about slang not translating sometimes? I've never heard of a trust fund before."

[losthunter]

"Basically, a trust fund is a large amount of money that someone sets aside for their child. Or for other trustee, like a charity or non-profit organization."

"In my timeline, when there are divisions between the wealthy and the poor, there are many wealthy families who look for things like trust funds, where they don't have to pay taxes on the money in that account."

"And the money gains interest and keeps growing, until the trustee can claim it. My mother put all of her assets into that trust fund, before she died, so that I could have it when I was old enough."

[boldygoing]

Knowing what he does about older Earth economies, Jim isn't terribly surprised to hear of such extensive wealth hoarding. "So it's another way to pass on the family fortune?"

[losthunter]

"Basically. Most trust fund children are horribly spoiled."

"And that was almost me..." Hunter notes softly.

[boldygoing]

"Sounds like you put it to good use. Probably not what your parents had in mind, but it's your money and your life."

[losthunter]

"Well since my mother died when I was young, I have no idea of what she had in mind for my future." Hunter notes softly.

[boldygoing]

Jim gives him a sympathetic look. Growing up without one parent is an experience they share, even though their lives have been very different. "Were you old enough to remember her at all?"

[losthunter]

"Shadows... I have a painting of her, as much of my memory will allow." It is a beautiful portrait that actually hangs in Hunter's bedroom. The portrait itself is a profile of a woman, stylized with rose petals.

[boldygoing]

"I'm glad you have that." Jim never met his father, so he doesn't even have that little. He'd been way, way too young to remember hearing his voice either, all of two minutes after being born.

[losthunter]

"Did your mother keep any pictures of him?" Hunter asks softly.

[boldygoing]

He nods. "Yeah, there's some holos around the house, and I've seen photos in textbooks and at the annual Remembrance Ceremony, so it's not like I've never seen him before. But it's like... when you see a picture of someone from history. There's no emotional connection to someone you never knew."

[losthunter]

"My dad never kept any photos of my mom. That is why my portrait is only a silhouette." Hunter explains his question.

"I'm sorry you don't have that emotional connection."

[boldygoing]

Jim gives Hunter's hand a light squeeze. "We're a hell of a pair, aren't we?" Opposites in many ways - different parents lost at a young age, different upbringing, different careers and talents - but somehow closer because of it, and the similarities they still share despite those differences.

[losthunter]

"Yes. A pair..." Hunter likes the sound of the word, even though all of the challenges in their lives. And he kisses Jim's hands.

[boldygoing]

Jim hopes that Hunter will still feel that way, once they have the now-inevitable conversation about what really happened on Tarsus IV. For now, he lets himself sit in the moment, appreciating and reciprocating the support that Hunter has shown for him so far.

"You're a pretty good cook, too," he adds. "Much better than the synthesizers make."

[losthunter]

Hunter starts cleaning up the plates and chuckles lightly. "I get it. You love me for my good looks, great sexual abilities, and food preparation abilities."

[boldygoing]

"Don't forget 'well read,'" Jim reminds him, getting up to help clean up in the kitchen. He may be a guest, but he was technically an uninvited one, and Hunter's done a lot for him today.

[losthunter]

"Books were my first true love." Hunter chuckles again. He can tell that something is still weighing on Jim's mind. And doesn't mind distracting him once again. At least until they can start the movie, and have it be the distraction.

[boldygoing]

"Mine too," Jim agrees. He needs the distraction less now than he did when he was still under the effects of the LOL, but he is not going to turn down conversation either. "What's your favorite? I kind of skipped past that earlier."

[losthunter]

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." Hunter answers immediately. "It is a science fiction comedy."

He takes a moment to think over the book itself. "But since it does deal with aliens who are violent, and planets being destroyed... you might want to wait a little before reading it."

[boldygoing]

Jim gives an odd, slightly confused look. "It's a comedy, though?"

[losthunter]

"It has a lot of comedic elements. But just the right mix of drama and conflict to make the story interesting."