James Tiberius Kirk (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
boldygoing) wrote2018-08-26 03:13 pm
boldygoing) wrote2018-08-26 03:13 pm
Chess Aboard the Enterprise [for smartass_captain]
It feels like it's been ages since Jim has gotten to sit down with the other Kirk, under pretty much any circumstances, really. Between whatever happened with his double's Enterprise and all the pre-launch chaos on his own end, even their interrupted chess game from the previous year was better finished via PINpoint, snapshots and chess positions sent digitally every now and then, drawn out nearly a week before the other captain could claim victory. And then it's just been busy busy busy since then, their duties keeping them both occupied, an unspoken understanding that comes from experience sitting in the very same captain's seat that the ship and her crew come first, always.
Call it a rare yet fortunate break in the routine, then, that they both have a couple hours free at the same time. The door to the captain's quarters is sealed against anything less than a CMO override, a replicated pot of coffee and two mugs set out by the chess set, an unconscious mirror of the setup from the first time they did this, on the other ship. But the small knickknacks are different, small tokens of Hunter's influence following him even here. Small hanging plants below the wall shelf, a whiskey dispenser with a handcrafted Enterprise inside, a strange manual style of calendar set to today's date, among other things. And on top of a wooden bookshelf, a long line of colorful origami animals standing guard over battered old paper books.
With everything set, there's only the guest of honor to attend to, a quick message sent to the second-most familiar contact in his PINpoint.
Call it a rare yet fortunate break in the routine, then, that they both have a couple hours free at the same time. The door to the captain's quarters is sealed against anything less than a CMO override, a replicated pot of coffee and two mugs set out by the chess set, an unconscious mirror of the setup from the first time they did this, on the other ship. But the small knickknacks are different, small tokens of Hunter's influence following him even here. Small hanging plants below the wall shelf, a whiskey dispenser with a handcrafted Enterprise inside, a strange manual style of calendar set to today's date, among other things. And on top of a wooden bookshelf, a long line of colorful origami animals standing guard over battered old paper books.
With everything set, there's only the guest of honor to attend to, a quick message sent to the second-most familiar contact in his PINpoint.
no subject
He's always been the expendable one and he's always known it deep down. He surrounds himself with the best and the brightest and really what do they need him for? It's in Jim's nature to sell himself short when the cards are on the table. His ego is a huge thing right up until someone has to stay behind. Take the fall.
Make the climb.
Jim hums in thought before positioning one of his bishops on the topmost terrace of the board where it will have the most potential to strike. Come at him,
broCaptain."It's not easy and I probably won't be great at it."
no subject
But what the hell, Jim's been learning how to be patient. If it comes, it'll come, when and where it's supposed to. And if not, well, nobody ever said he had to follow in anybody else's footsteps, even if that person is another Jim Kirk. It's not like destiny is a thing.
Even if the universe does seem to have a sense of humor about the whole thing sometimes.
Jim looks across the board at his companion, and gives him a small, knowing smile. "Maybe. But since when have we ever done something because it's easy?"