James Tiberius Kirk (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
boldygoing) wrote2035-05-18 02:27 pm
boldygoing) wrote2035-05-18 02:27 pm
Entry tags:
[IC] Voicemail
Captain James Tiberius Kirk, USS Enterprise, is currently unavailable.
Record message? Y/N
Captain James Tiberius Kirk, USS Enterprise, is currently unavailable.
Record message? Y/N
Video Message
The package waiting Jim contains a iPad, and there is only one video on the main screen, that contains the words 'Play Me Please' on it.
When the video comes to life, it is Hunter sitting on his bed. He smiles at the camera. "Hi Jim."
"I thought that since it had been a while since we 'saw' each other, that this might be a nice way to send you a little update on my life." He chuckles.
"I wanted you to know that I have decided to take a little road trip. It is starting to drive me a little crazy that I can't go to the Foundation, or to my Art Gallery. Well... I can go there... but they don't recognize me. And I can not be as involved with either project as I was. The free time is getting to be a little frustrating." Hunter sighs. "I want to do something."
"So after a recent conversation with Faris and Chanath, I decided to take advantage of the end of summer and visit as many of the national parks that are located around the States as I can. Get on my bike and exploring the back country. And just... get out of the apartment for a bit."
"So for the next little while... send your letters to my PINpoint."
Hunter runs his left hand through his hair. There is ink visible on his forearm. And he smiles, holding out his left forearm to the camera. "I got a little piece of who I was with the magic back. The tattoo artist was really great. He took the time to study my drawing, and speak with me, and make sure that the finished project was what I wanted."
"I'm..." Hunter runs a hand through his hair. "I really don't know if I will ever get my magic back. And I am starting to feel a little scared by the thought of it. I guess I am really starting to miss that piece of myself."
"I feel lost without it." He wipes away a stray tear from his eyes. And tries to calm himself with a deep breath.
"I know her name now. Kendra's sister. It is Karlene." Hunter looks back at the camera. "I had a dream, that led me to her. She was in trouble. Three men were about to attack her. And I... I had to protect her."
"I got stabbed Jim." He admits. And frowns.
"Karlene used her magic -- my magic -- to heal me. But I could feel the pain of being changed again. And I told her to stop. She still has no control."
"I told her that I could help her. Get her to someone who could teach her. But she just... ran away again." Hunter sighs.
"And so... I just don't know if I will ever get that magic back. And I thought I was okay with it. But I really am not. I feel all out of sorts."
"I think getting away from the city for a bit will be good for me."
Hunter moves off his bed, and grabs his guitar, before sitting back down. He smiles at the camera. And then plays and sings to I'm Gonna Be.
At the end of the song, he smiles again. "Love you Jim." And turns off the camera.
no subject
And things start off somewhat benign. Cabin fever, a yearning for the great outdoors, all things Jim can sympathize with. And he smiles a little when Hunter shows off his fresh ink, the markings familiar on an arm that's been looking kinda naked without it.
But then comes the confession, and the smile slides straight off Jim's face. Dammit. He'd hoped that Hunter's casual acceptance of the loss of his magic was honest enough, and it certainly had seemed that way. But maybe it had just needed time to sink in, a looming emptiness slowly encroaching as reality set in. Jim has no idea what that must feel like, but it's a hell of an adjustment to make after so many years.
"Fucking dammit." Stabbed? Jim is already halfway to his PINpoint before hearing that Hunter is already healed, and honestly, it doesn't make him stop considering using it anyway. All of a sudden, his boyfriend going off on his own into back country doesn't sound quite as relaxing as he'd thought. But... what can Jim really do? Lightyears away, in a different universe, he has over four hundred lives to watch after, people relying on him to keep them safe and guide them home. He can't protect Hunter from here, and he can't abandon his responsibilities on the Enterprise either. Especially when he's already too late to help.
That anxiety writhes its way deeper, an odd sort of dread that Hunter's not doing as well as he'd pretended, that something like this might happen again and Jim will be helpless to stop it, or even know about it until it's too late. Hunter is supposed to be safe on Earth, or in the Nexus, living a normal civilian life, away from the same sort of dangers that Jim faces exploring the black. He's not supposed to be the one getting hurt. But he did.
Jim stands frozen in front of his desk, PINpoint held in one hand as he watches the video play out, the almost cheery beat of Hunter's guitar a strange contrast to the nagging guilt and fear tugging at him. And maybe for the first time, Jim begins to realize just how deep he's gotten himself into all this. He never meant to care this much.
But he does.
Even when the video ends and the screen shuts off, Jim remains still and quiet, with no real idea of what to do. What he can do. And it's a long, long few minutes before he finally sends a text message to leap the bounds between their universes, an unfathomably large distance between them.
Got your message. I'm expecting you to give me a tour of the best spots when I get back.
He doesn't sign off like Hunter did, the words suddenly seeming more than just rote response, the thing you're supposed to say when you're dating somebody. It's more real, somehow. Heavier. And he's gonna need a hell of a lot more soul-searching before he's ready to admit it to himself. But there's one thing he can say, and absolutely mean it.
I miss you. Stay safe out there.