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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"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."

Hunter can almost hear the excitement in Jim's voice when he talks about the upcoming exploration mission.

"Shakedown cruise? What is that?" Hunter asks.

"It's just a milk run," Jim assures him, and it's nice that they don't have to change the subject when the waitstaff returns with their main courses, placing the dishes in front of them. Jim nods in thanks to zher, before continuing. "We load up with our full crew complement and head out for a week-long trip where we do nothing but make sure the Enterprise is behaving how she's supposed to under normal working conditions. Engineering tests can only do so much at a time, so we stick around within a stone's throw of the Sol system and run her through her paces. That way if any problems do come up, we're still in reach of help, and we can fix her up before we head out for real."

"Wow..." Hunter also nods his thanks to the waitstaff when the main dishes are placed in front of him. "That is coming up fast."

And before he knows it, Jim will be gone on his exploration mission.

"I can't imagine how different your life will be... once you are up there. Exploring space, a new path that has not yet been explored."

"It'll be different, that's for sure. We've been out there before, but only on short trips, mostly to places that'd been marked for surveying before. Where we're heading has never been charted before, not by the Federation. There could be anything out there, waiting for us to find it. New civilizations we've never met, stellar phenomena that've never been seen or studied. The possibilities are endless." There's a note of passion in his voice, signs of his old self returning after months of hardship. It's been a while since Jim has really felt like himself.

It is very nice to hear that passion in Jim's voice. To see the signs of his old self. The man that Hunter first was attracted to. The man that Hunter is still attracted to.

"You are going to be a wonderful Captain to that crew."

"I hope so." Jim used to think that he deserved such a position, an arrogant assumption that he belonged in the captain's chair regardless of his lack of experience or precedence. He knows better, now. Knows he has to earn it, every day, to be worthy of his crew. And this time, he feels he's up to that challenge. Proud to do it, even. "A captain is only as good as his crew, and mine's the best there is."

His nervousness has all but melted away, lost in the confidence he's regained in his crew, his mission. It's easy to forget how worried he was about tonight, seeing that fond look in Hunter's eye.

And the food is good, which helps a lot. Jim digs into his meal, familiar Andorian vegetables pairing well with the classic Italian seasonings, and he makes sure to slip a bite-size sample of the kookh alla parmigiana onto Hunter's plate, casual and easy.

It is good to see Jim relax even further, that those signs of nervousness from earlier have now disappeared. Hunter is relieved to know that Jim has his confidence back.

Hunter smiles when Jim shares a bit of his meal with him, so that both meals can be enjoyed and sampled.

The meal is absolutely delicious. That there is no need to find new conversation starters. And Hunter makes those little yummmmmm sounds as he enjoys the food, the wine. Of course, the company means the world to him.

"This is amazing."

Jim mops up the remnants of the sauce with a breadstick, washing it down with the last of his wine before he casually leans back in his seat, softly smiling at the man across from him. "How's it compare to the Bajoran place?" he asks, curious for Hunter's twenty-first century perspective on it all. Whether something with Earth-inspired elements would be more comforting in its familiarity than something entirely foreign, no matter how delicious.

"I honestly don't think I could compare the two meals. Both were delicious. And I am glad you thought of bringing me here." Hunter grins.

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