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

[boldygoing]

"Maybe, but I don't think we should search for one. Vulcan's gone, and there's no way to bring it back. We can't change the past or fix it back to how it was supposed to be. We have to take what we do still have and make it work, not dwell on the what-could-haves. It's how I deal with not being the same Jim Kirk that Old Spock knew."

[losthunter]

"That is very good advice." And helps Hunter put to rest the last few what-could-haves that still rest in his heart. He is almost completely healed of the wounds that used to be there.

"Tell me about the Old Spock."

[boldygoing]

There's so much that Jim could say about Ambassador Spock, but he starts with the first thoughts that come to mind. "He's from twenty-three eighty-seven, so he's a hundred fifty-eight years old right now, give or take. He's got a better sense of humor than my first officer and he's not afraid to be act more human either but I also know how bad the loss of Vulcan hurt him. We don't talk much because it's a bit weird but we do stay in touch a bit. It's gotta be weird for him too, seeing all of us so young when he outlived us all."

[losthunter]

"I can't imagine how weird that would be for him." Hunter notes.

"Why did he select to act as an Ambassador?"

[boldygoing]

"His dad was one. Is. Was. Time travel's confusing - his father died, Spock's dad is still around." Jim makes a face at the tense confusion. "After we all died and he retired from Starfleet, he wanted to work towards Reunification between Vulcan and Romulus. They used to be the same people a long time ago and split up when Surak started preaching logic and controlling emotion. The Romulans didn't want to do that, so they left and found their own planet, but everyone who decided that is long dead so he wanted to try to bring them back together."

[losthunter]

"Is he still trying to do that, even now he is here in your present?"

[boldygoing]

Jim shakes his head. "No, he's too busy trying to help out with the new Vulcan colony. There used to be six billion Vulcans in the galaxy, now there's only about ten thousand. The survivors need him more, and since a Romulan was responsible for destroying the planet, there aren't many people who trust them enough for any kind of Reunification talks. Doesn't matter that he was a rogue agent."

[losthunter]

"Sounds like he is in the right place, for those who need him most."

Hunter sort of wishes he knew how long the truth LOL will last for Jim. He is running out of conversation points, where the undiluted truth might not be the best scenario. And he doesn't want Jim to feel bored. Or restless.

"You have a lot of good people in your life."

[boldygoing]

Jim smiles at him a little. "Yeah, I do. You're one of them." He rubs at the back of his neck. "I'm starting to get a headache. You mind if I lie down for a bit?"


[Been looking for a good way to ease him out of it, so I figure a nap is a good timeskip point. ;) ]

[losthunter]

"Not at all. Go ahead and use my bed, if you want. I am going to finish up on my painting project."

[sweet. timeskip point would be good]

[boldygoing]

"I will, thanks."

Jim retreats to the bedroom, and Hunter might hear him muttering to himself for a little while. It tapers off after about a half an hour as he falls asleep, quiet for the first time in hours.

When he wakes some time later, Jim is briefly disoriented, having forgotten where he was and why, though only for a moment. His headache is gone, and to his mild surprise, none of those thoughts feel compelled to leap from his mouth like they have been since the LOL began. This had better be over, he thinks, and is pleased when that doesn't become vocal either.

[losthunter]

By the time Jim wakes up, Hunter's painting is complete. He is cleaning up around the art studio, wiping off paint that missed the drop clothes that he had set up for protection. There is not a lot of spots where paint splattered. He is saving the paint-splattered canvas too -- letting it dry into its own art piece.

Something delicious smelling is cooking in the oven. The smells of melted cheese might drift over to where Jim lays in his bed.

Hunter is humming to himself, as he cleans the last of his art brushes, and his own hands. He must have taken a shower too, because there are no signs of paint on his face or body anymore.

[boldygoing]

Huh. Food smells are always something that catch Jim's attention, and he rolls out of bed, running a hand through his hair, trying to tame his rather impressive bedhead. But before investigating, he retreats to the bathroom for a minute for the usual reasons as well as to splash a little water on his face.

He leaves his boots off for the moment, his footsteps all the quieter for it as he moves out into the main living area of the apartment. He catches sight of Hunter in short order, but doesn't say anything right away, just enjoying the fact that his appreciative running commentary is staying put in his head where it belongs this time, watching the man at work.

[losthunter]

Hunter is so caught up in his work, that he didn't hear Jim in the washroom. And is currently unaware of Jim standing in the main living area of the apartment, watching him.

There is a little radio in the art studio, that has been playing music as he cleaned. Happy comes on the radio, and Hunter just starts to naturally dance along with the music. Still cleaning as he dances.

[boldygoing]

Though Jim is enjoying his ability to keep his mouth shut, it's his own choice this time to speak up, his voice teasing. "So that's what they mean by 'dance like no one's watching.'"

[losthunter]

Hunter jumps a little, hearing that voice behind him. He turns, blushing deeply at the comment. "It helps to make the cleaning seem to go by quicker."

[boldygoing]

He grins in response, and shrugs. "Hey, whatever works." The look on his face says he probably has more comments he's not sharing, which hasn't been the case since his unannounced arrival at Hunter's apartment.

[losthunter]

Hunter tilts his head, and waited for a moment to see if Jim will start rambling off his thoughts. And he doesn't.

Hunter smiles. "No more LOL?"

[boldygoing]

"Apparently not," Jim agrees, a relieved look crossing his face. "No more headache, either."

[losthunter]

"Well that is a good thing, on both accounts." Hunter comes over to where Jim is standing, and hugs him.

[boldygoing]

Jim hugs him back warmly, gratefully. "Thanks for putting up with all that. I was driving myself crazy; I don't know how you stayed sane." He's partly joking, but his gratitude is sincere.

[losthunter]

"I just kept reminding myself that you were most likely panicking on the inside, and just kept calm so that you could stay calm."

[boldygoing]

"Well it worked as well as it could've." Jim releases Hunter from the hug, smiling at him. "I think I owe you one."

[losthunter]

"Just one..." Hunter teases Jim slightly.

"I have a lasagna cooking for supper." He notes.

[boldygoing]

"Okay, a few," Jim concedes.

"Is that what that is? It smells pretty good. How long was I out?" He feels fairly rested, so it must have been more than just a short nap. And Hunter has found time not only to finish his painting and clean up, but apparently make a lasagna.