boldygoing | A Significant Date [for losthunter]

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A Significant Date [for losthunter]

Time is a strange thing, isn't it? The past year seemed to drag on with agonizing slowness, particularly during Jim's long recovery both in and out of the hospital last February, and again during the last few months. But looking back at it now, he'd be hard-pressed to say where the hell the time went. It's been an entire year since he first found the Nexus, and introduced himself to someone who has come to mean surprisingly much to him. How has it been a year already?

Anniversaries are not really his thing. Never have been, not romantically, or otherwise. The events he commemorates every year are not often the joyful type, usually revolving more about things he'd prefer to forget. To have something good to mark the year's passing... it's one hell of a novelty, that's for sure.

Jim arrives at Hunter's apartment in the early evening, dressed in civilian clothes that are several shades nicer than his usual casual look, incorporating a certain spy's fashion advice into today's wardrobe choice. A mixed bouquet of roses and zinnias is nestled in the crook of his arm as he knocks on the door, and though his face is a mask of confidence, there's an uncharacteristic nervousness in the pit of his stomach. Stupid to start worrying now, but apparently that's not gonna stop him.

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It's been a long year, for San Francisco. Getting back to some kind of normal has been a monumental task for everyone, but it's finally reached the point where most people can go about their daily lives without the constant reminders of what happened.

Jim, too, has endured a lot since then. But with his birthday behind him, and his ordeals in the past, the man sitting across from Hunter is much more like his old self again. Getting back to normal, one day at a time.

"I thought you'd like it," he says, smiling back, relieved that his choice of restaurant has met with Hunter's approval. "I haven't been to a real restaurant since our road trip last spring."

It is really good to see San Franciso getting back to some kind of normal. And a huge relief to know that Jim is doing the same -- adapting to his new normal.

Hunter has missed parts of that old self. The flirting. The command voice. The confidence. And that reminder of a date they had last spring gives Hunter many fond memories of that time. He smiles.

And reaches over to take Jim's hand in his own.

"I have missed this. I have missed you."

Jim's smile doesn't falter, and he gives Hunter's hand a brief squeeze. He doesn't particularly want to focus on the horrible shit they've both been dealing with since then, as much as their respective psyches will let them, anyway. Tonight should be about the better things in life, like dinner and good company.

"I missed this too."

Releasing Hunter's hand, Jim picks up the menu to look it over. Most of the items on the list are recognizable as Italian dishes with a xenoculinary twist, though Hunter may not recognize the foreign ingredients. There are a few Italian-style Andorian dishes listed as well, wine pairing suggestions listed for each item. "You need any help figuring out what's what, I'm your guy."

"Yes. You are my guy." Hunter lightly teases Jim.

He appreciates the fact that each of the dishes listed have a wine pairing suggestion. And since he is willing to try any of the dishes tonight, he is going to choose one that has a xenoculinary wine suggestion. He wants to eat and drink like Andorian's do.

Jim decides to stick with the kookh alla parmigiana, and while he's not usually much of a wine guy, this place is just fancy enough that it would be weird not to get any. One Sauvignon Blanc for him, and a plate of gristhera appetizers for the two of them to share.

For Hunter, he'll recommend the Alardi partinna, a creamy pasta-like dish with morsels of native Andorian meats that pairs well with glow-ale. It's something that shouldn't be too shockingly foreign, not like shaysha beetles would be, but still different enough from Terran cuisine to be novel and interesting.

"I'm gonna miss this place," he says, once their orders are in, glancing out the window towards the Bridge. "San Francisco's kinda grown on me, you know?"

Hunter is very grateful for the recommendation. He can't wait to try it.

He glances out the window to the bridge too. "How does that work, once you head on your five-year exploration mission? What happens to your new apartment?"

Jim leans back a little in his seat, returning his full attention to the man on the other side of the table. "In theory, when I come back it'll be just how I left it. I'll be taking any leftover food with me so it won't go bad while I'm gone."

"I sometimes forget, that things are different than how they would be in my dimension." Hunter blushes. "I had wondered how you would keep the rent on it paid, for a full five years. But... currency has changed."

Jim looks momentarily surprised by that too, and laughs a little, more at himself than at Hunter. It's still weird, sometimes, when they stumble into a minor little culture shock like this. "I forgot that'd be something you'd have to worry about. People in your century still do long tours of duty in the military and stuff, right? Do they have to worry about the rent while they're gone?"

"Usually in their case, it is the military who pays for the room. Or will purchase a block of rooms for their soldiers to use." Hunter explains.

"If we still used the same kind of economy, I'd hope Starfleet would foot the bill, then," Jim says, smiling across the table at him. It's comfortably familiar, slipping into the same kind of casual cultural exchange that he's so used to. Definitely helps take his mind off the more stressful thoughts that have him nervous about how the evening is gonna go.

The waitstaff comes by with their appetizers, colorful cubes of fried tubers that have been heavily seasoned with some kind of exotic herbs, and served with a savory sauce that tastes nothing like any Earth food that Hunter will have had before. "Gristhera's a really popular hors d'oeuvre in Federation space," Jim tells him, dipping one of the little bite-sized morsels into the sauce before popping it into his mouth. "The flavor appeals to a lot of species and there aren't many who can't digest it."

Hunter is a lot curious about the appetizers that come to the table. He watches Jim dip one into the sauce before eating it, and copies him. "Gristhera." He repeats the word.

"It is very exotic. I can't really... compare it at all."

Even though Jim has yet to run across a food that Hunter doesn't like, a twinge of nervousness shoots through his stomach. "Do you like it?" he asks hopefully. It's not like they'd go to waste; Jim would be more than willing to eat all of it. But he also wants to make sure that Hunter enjoys himself, especially today, experiencing the little facets of daily life on Jim's Earth.

"It is delicious." Hunter reassures him. He is starting to pick up on Jim's nervousness. And he reaches over to touch Jim's hand again.

And very uncertainly, he speaks again. This time in somewhat broken Russian, which he is just starting to learn. "Ты такая умная, так красив, так тактично. Я так повезло с вами."

Of all the things that Jim expected him to say, anything in Russian was not one of them. He's already surprised before it registers what Hunter has said, and then a pink flush creeps into his face. "Это было так романтично," he answers, before reverting back to English. "When did you start learning Russian?" It's only been about a week since the Nexus translators broke, so Jim won't be surprised if Hunter has only memorized a few choice phrases so far. The fact that he did that at all is... surprisingly touching? No one's ever gone through that kind of effort for him before.

The guess that he has memorized a few choice phrases is exactly right. Especially with that look of slight curiosity when Jim answers back. He didn't bring his book with him.

"About a week ago. From one of the language courses offered by the Foundation."

"I always wanted to be able to communicate with you. No matter what happens."

Jim doesn't bother to stop the smile that's teasing at his lips, a warm ember smoldering in his chest. "That's... really sweet of you, Hunter." He gives the other man's hand a soft squeeze, both in thanks and in affection.

"If you want, I can get you some introductory self-taught stuff for Vulcan and Andorian too," he offers, after a moment. Sure, it might take Hunter a while to get the hang of it, but he'll have a lot of time to practice while Jim is out in the black. "They're both about as hard as Russian, but they're the other two languages I'm totally fluent in."

It is so good to see that teasing smile on Jim's face. Hunter feels that instant flip-flip of his heart in reaction.

"I would like that."

"It sort of sucked only knowing one language during that translation malfunction. I couldn't understand you. I couldn't understand Adia or Caspar."

"It was weird," Jim agrees, releasing Hunter's hand and offering him another gristhera morsel while they talk. Gotta eat 'em while they're still hot. "It was like... hearing the Canterbury Tales in its original form, listening to you talk. The only person I didn't have a single problem with was the other Jim."

Hunter will gladly take another gristhera. They are delicious.

"Did I at least sound all sexy, when you heard me speak like that?" Hunter teased.

"How are things with the other Jim?" Hunter doesn't know if he can ask, or not.

Jim chuckles, remembering how strange it was to hear such old English in that very Bronx accent. 'Sexy' is probably not the word he'd choose to describe it, but it was definitely interesting. "It was really striking. I wouldn't mind hearing it again sometime." And then, because he's curious, "What'd I sound like to you?"

Hunter need not worry. Jim doesn't tense up, or give off any other signals that anything is terribly wrong. "Better. I've seen him around the Nexus a couple times since he got back."

"A little foreign. A little mysterious. And still charming as hell, even when I could not understand you." Hunter admitted.

"Got back? He went somewhere?"

It's so weird to think of himself as being foreign to another Terran from the same continent, but yeah, he can see why Hunter would think so. Language is a living thing, adapting as necessary to survive, taking the best bits and mashing them into a different whole.

The question makes him pause for a moment. Of course. Jim had never said anything about it, and in a place like the Nexus, it'd be easy to miss news about one person unless you were seeking it out. "Kind of. Something happened, around our birthday. Destroyed his PINpoint, and... other things." Serious as this topic is, Jim doesn't want to let it drag down the mood, or give Hunter more things to worry about when Jim ships out. "I don't know much about it, and I shouldn't, but he's fine."

Hunter nods slightly. When Jim says he shouldn't know too much about the other Jim's situation, that is good enough for him. There certainly is a good reason for it.

"How are things going to prepare for your exploration mission?" Hunter focuses his question back on the man who matters.

Jim is more than ready to move the subject along too, as they finish off what's left of the gristhera. "Everything's still on schedule," he answers. The wait has been so long, and there've been some horrendous obstacles along the way, but the closer he gets to the Enterprise's launch date, the more the spirit of adventure has begun to worm its way back into his heart, the longing to get out there and learn what the galaxy has to offer. "Crew roster's been finalized and approved, and the Enterprise is due for intensive stress testing starting next Tuesday, to make sure all her upgrades work the way they're supposed to. There's four hangar bays full of supplies set aside groundside; those'll be loaded up right before the shakedown cruise in April."

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