Making Good on IOUs [for losthunter]

[boldygoing]

True to his word, about five days after Jim's first venture into the Nexus, he finds the time to send a message to Hunter's PINpoint via his own version of the gizmo, an attachment he's hardwired into his standard-issue communicator.

Hey handsome. Enterprise in port for minor repairs. You free this evening? -Cpt. JTK

He sure hopes so. It's been a long day, and he'd love the chance to relax with a friend. Bones and Spock are both busy with personal business, but that's just fine with him, since he owes the friendly neighborhood artist a night at a bar someplace.


[[OOC: Image link to replace broken one below: Jim's civilian outfit]

Comments

[boldygoing]

'On the streets' sounds a bit more serious than just roaming on a perpetual angry roadtrip, like Jim did, and he frowns a little. "What was that like?"

[losthunter]

"Hard." Hunter strokes his finger along Jim's arm to ease what might be a difficult conversation. "One had to basically struggle for basic living rights, such like food, sanctuary, safety."

"I met a lot of good people there. They inspired one of my art exhibits."

[boldygoing]

Jim's body goes tense at the mention of struggling for food, though if Hunter wasn't literally in such close physical contact, he might never notice because it doesn't show on the captain's face. "Well," he says, carefully keeping his voice as even and steady as he can manage, "I'm glad you knew them, then. You still keep in touch?"

[losthunter]

"Yes. I recently acquired a Trust Fund, and turned it around into a foundation to help those who are still struggling to find their own paths."

"We built a multi-purpose building. It includes a food bank. A computer lab. Resume and work experience resources. Counsellors. A clothing bank."

"Our goal is to basically help those who want support to gain independence and pride in that they are the ones who are making all the steps needed to give them a better future."

[boldygoing]

"Sounds like a noble goal," Jim says, trying to force himself to relax. Tarsus IV was thirteen years ago, but there's no escaping its lasting impression on him.

[losthunter]

Hunter takes both of Jim's hands in his. He can sense that Jim is very tense right now. And doesn't know if this is the best time to go into anything deeper, but still wants to show his support.

"I try to help, where I can."

[boldygoing]

If Jim knew that Hunter has really noticed how bothered he is, he'd appreciate the lack of questions. But he doesn't realize that's what the handholding is about, so he just musters up a smile and squeezes Hunter's hands a bit. "Gotta admit, your economy is weird to me."

[losthunter]

"And I got to say that so far this evening has been great, with a wide variety of topics. Even touching on politics and economy." Hunter leans forward slightly, and brushes his lips across Jim's knuckles.

[boldygoing]

Jim certainly doesn't pull away, and he smiles a little, appreciating the contact and the attention. "And the night is still young."

[losthunter]

"Plenty of other topics to brave." And he braves another lip brushing once more.

[boldygoing]

Jim doesn't know whether or not Hunter meant this to be a distraction, but he is on board with this change of topic anyway. Way more pleasant than dwelling on memories he would rather leave buried in the past.

He closes his fingers around Hunter's, rubbing a thumb across the back of the other man's hand. "Have you done this before?"

[losthunter]

Hunter looks up at Jim, tilting his head slightly. The question doesn't really touch on what 'this' is, but he figures he can safely cover a few options.

"Been out for drinks with a handsome man? Yes."

"Kissed that handsome man? Yes."

"Seduced, or was seduced by, a handsome man? Yes."

[boldygoing]

"That's a lot of 'yes'es." His voice is a little teasing, but he's still pleased by the answer. "I wasn't sure if your time was out of that stupid phase where people cared who anyone else sleeps with."

[losthunter]

"It is. People still care." Hunter shrugs lightly. "There are people who feel they should be able to dictate how others live their sexual life."

"But there are those people who live their life, without caring about those who try to dictate their lives."

"And it has taken me a while to get to that point myself. But I grew up in a household, with a father who had this 'picture-perfect' life picked out for me. Then Kendra changed my life, and I had this whole 'need to find one true love' mentality."

"I am a lot more happier with who I am today."

[boldygoing]

"Glad to hear it. Everyone should know what makes them happy." Jim's not sure he believes in having only one true love, but then it's not like Hunter set his own conditions on the curse that this Kendra person put on him.

[losthunter]

"It has been a journey."

"I have found so many great people since coming to the Nexus. And people that I do love... each in a different way."

"It is nice, not to have a curse define me. Or who I should be with."

[boldygoing]

"That's a pretty enlightened attitude, from a guy of your timeline." He doesn't mean it to be an insult; he's genuinely impressed.

[losthunter]

"I credit a lot of my enlightenment to Jack." Hunter gives credit where credit is due.

[boldygoing]

"I'm sure, but at least some of it's you," Jim says with a small grin. "No one can make you believe anything; you've got to be willing to listen."

[losthunter]

"And so how many 'yes's do you care to list?"

[boldygoing]

Jim laughs out loud. "Depends. Do you want to be here all night?" He shakes his head slightly. "Probably easier to just say that outside having a stable long-term relationship, I've done most everything at least once."

[losthunter]

"Not here. But I could spend the whole night with the company."

"Is it more customary not to have long-term relationships in your timeline?" Hunter asks, mostly because he would like to get a better understanding of where Jim is coming from.

[boldygoing]

That first comment gets him a charming grin, clearly a shared sentiment between them.

"It's not really that," he answers, drinking a bit of his Cardassian sunrise as he considers what he wants to say about it. "Casual relationships and hookups, that kinda thing, is pretty normal. But that's more about sex than love. Marriage is absolutely still around, and if you've got someone, or multiple someones, that you wanna spend your life with, that's normal too. I just never got around to it, you know?"

[losthunter]

"Sounds a little like my world, in a way. Casual relationships and hookups. Marriage to someone, or multiple some ones."

"And you got to be happy with what makes you comfortable."

[boldygoing]

"Well, that and the fraternization regs are a pain in the ass to get around. Starfleet's not a fan of captains hitting on their crew, for some weird reason."