Possibilities and Parties
Jan. 23rd, 2018 10:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerMain Points:
Star Trek (the 2009!movie verse) Cambion AU
Summary: Jim checks into the List...
Word Count: 2854
Rating: Gen
Kirk lobbies hard for his crew to have time off around the holidays, he really does. (Though it’s kind of odd to have his crew actually recognizing his efforts; noticing that he knows every crew member by name and greets them with their preferred holiday. He’d have bragged about being the center of attention before, when that would’ve been a defense mechanism to deal with how uncomfortable it is. When their gaze is more comfortable, supportive…he honestly has no idea how to deal with that. Though he’s glad that he’s making his crew feel at home, so that’s a plus, anyway.)
The philosophical part of him wonders about the statistics and whimsy of a universe that gathers so many festivals from people the universe over into one Earth month. He’d wax poetic about it on the bridge if Spock hadn’t raised an affronted eyebrow the second he’d started. He’d only begun to get on Spock’s good side. No need to test the boundaries of their friendship just yet.
Unfortunately, the best he’s been able to secure is shore leave for his crew a month after most of the festivities would have been over—not what he’d been hoping, but apparently (according to Chris) it’d been a huge fight behind the scenes to get them even that much. The official argument used by the opposing side had been that someone had to work on Christmas.
Why they’d chosen that particular holiday out of the hundreds of Federation holidays celebrated during the month is beyond Jim. The argument had been rendered slightly absurd, as there were no missions with time pressure in the Enterprise’s quadrant that would require them to work at that time. Still, if it was all they could wring out of Starfleet, a shore leave would have to do.
Jim finds himself tired, but happy. He’d gone through personnel files Chris had dug up for him. Doctor Carol Marcus was intelligent and definitely attractive, but unlike what he vaguely remembered, she was in weapons manufacturing. His best guess is that, this time around, she’d tried to actually make her father happy by supplying his more warlike tendencies. A quick hacking job had found some of her early essays emphasize non-violence, and in the other universe if he remembered correctly she’d refused to make anything with military applications and soon destroyed anything she or her team created that was found to be dangerous. It’s a bit of a pity, because he can remember that rush of affection and is pretty sure his other self would’ve married her if she hadn’t just wanted a career (well, and their kid, and isn’t that a thought he just doesn’t know what to do with).
There’s Areel Shaw, who he’s pretty sure he actually vaguely remembers from Academy. He’d actually sent her a quick stargram, and in her writing back she sounded pleased to hear from him (and equally amused—but not awed—at how famous he was at this point). She’s probably not the one he’s looking for; he’s decently sure they’re on the same page about flirting with each other when they talk or meet, but they’re also happy with their careers where they are. She’s not a Lieutenant yet, but she is a Lieutenant Junior Grade and he has no doubt she’ll make it. It’s kind of interesting to talk law with her, because he’s pretty sure he’s only interacted with it in fiction, especially twentieth century fiction (and, well, classic games, on occasion). He can tell she’s happy to talk about it, too, probably because people don’t have that reaction very often.
He's pretty sure Ruth is the same Ruth he'd befriended and who wasn't interested in anything else, because it'd be too much of a coincidence otherwise.
There’s a Dr. Gillian Taylor and an Edith Keeler, but oddly enough they’re both from the past, so it’s not like he puts their names down. The same is true of Captain John Christopher, but it’s not like he’d even flirted with the guy, and he’d had kids and was from the twentieth century, so he’d probably not be interested. Or, y’know, even be appalled, which isn’t exactly the reaction he’s going for even if the Enterprise is probably doomed to end up in the past at some point.
There’s Marlena Moreau, but she doesn’t seem to exist and given what he can remember about her ruthlessness, that’s not exactly somewhere he wants to go, either.
It’s odd enough that there’s not much in the way of male names on the list, but while the other Kirk had flirted with everyone just about the same, he’d been a lot more. Jim nearly laughs at himself as he almost thinks the word ‘picky’, but when sex really is kinda a part of his diet, it’s a little more relevant of a word. He really had been the romantic who didn’t want to get involved unless there was some kind of guarantee it could and would go somewhere, and Starfleet in the other universe seemed a lot more career-oriented. (That’s something he’s not going to mention to Pike, just because he’s decently certain it’s depressing.) It’s kind of a weird thing to think about, but…he really does kind of want to try, see if he’s even capable of a relationship like that.
The doctor—McCoy—he vaguely remembers as occasionally grim, occasionally happy. He’s pretty sure he’s not imagining the careful glances and teasing and even a touch here and there, but their friendship was so strong and…well, for whatever reason, he’d never acted on it. The other him, that is. With Spock, either, which is a vaguely disturbing thought he buries quickly and deeply in the hopes that Uhura never discovers it and carves him with one of those, what was it, weird twentieth century utensils…a spork. He’s pretty sure it would hurt, viciously.
Pike had managed to find his information, same as the others. Apparently, he’d been stationed at Vega colony, following a divorce. A pretty bad one, judging by the news and the fact that there was a kid. It seems vaguely familiar, but it’s not like he retains every single memory from the mind meld, particularly when that hadn’t been Spock the Elder’s intention at all. He was worried about the mistake, about setting the universe right and keeping his friends alive, not sharing his friend’s dating history. There’s scientific papers the man’s written and he devours them, enjoying the occasional hidden snark and intuitive science and clear intelligence in the writing. He’d also read about the creation of life, and current law. Reading, to borrow a word from Spock, that was fascinating.
Uhura worried about him and the lack of sleep until she’d walked in on him reading, and like the nosy person she was read the title. The look she gives him is a little fond and confused, but she doesn’t ask.
She’s still waiting for him to talk, and isn’t pushing him. He’s not entirely certain it’s not reverse psychology of some kind.
There are a couple other names Chris and Phil dug up on their own. There’s Dr. Nikodemos Kneller, Élise Abrahams, Dr. Helka Thrussell, August Comtois, a Political Historian with a fascination for the past (Kirk put in an inquiry about something trivial in the twentieth century but had yet to receive an answer), a student of theater (still working on her degree, although the similaries to Lenore made him uneasy so he’d privately crossed her off the list), a Doctor of Sociology, specifically social control (who had directed his letter to Dr. Adams, a prison reformer; he suspected she was perfectly able to answer him but had elected not to and in all probability it was his reputation to blame), and a cadet still working on graduating dual Engineering and Science Tracks with an emphasis in computer sciences that he vaguely remembers having kissed at some New Year’s Eve party a few years ago (at least he’d gotten a response from him and the dialogue had been both flirty and a good refresher on a lot of the details about Kelvin-class ships he really should’ve remembered the first time around), respectively.
There’s an Andorian, Shahriar Th'okyrress, who might work especially if, with the whole way the system works for Andorians, he gets involved in a threesome, but given that it’s him if he messes it up (and Andorians as a warlike people could definitely hold a grudge if he messes it up in a very precise way that, as a self-aware person, he’s fully aware he’s capable of doing) he could cause a diplomatic incident, he’s putting that towards ‘last resort’ category.
Surprisingly, a Vulcan named T’samik actually had asked about him, but he has a feeling the woman’s more interested in examining him as a specimen than anything, and he’s not sure how the whole telepathy-empathy thing would work. He’d sent back some sort of polite reply and hoped for the best.
Gaila had mentioned him to a fellow Orion, but given Gaila’s attitude he doesn’t have much of a hope that he can pull off the whole romance thing with her (and besides, she’s a crew member on his ship and he’s not about to go fraternizing in the worst of ways).
There’s two from planets that had joined the Federation recently enough that the first of their representatives had just graduated Starfleet—there’s a Commander Rulniax that’s shooting for Captain (and the whole werebird thing is kinda intriguing but they wouldn’t see each other much—not that Rulniax had indicated any dissatisfaction with the idea if the seductive trill was any indication, but a quick romp is not what he’s looking for, really), and Lieutenant Vulukor, a science officer who, well. There’s a couple problematic issues with her (well, maybe ‘her’, he’s not absolutely sure on biological sex), one being that bringing another science officer on board when Spock already covers all the functions would be a little problematic. Another is that the differences in biology are not well known. The thought of meeting turtle-people was interesting, but he’s not sure how he’d go about seducing or actually having sex with one, given that most of the time they wear their shell and what’s underneath is kept virtually a secret. The report mentioned something about see-through skin and muscle, as well as four limbs to walk on and two for grabbing things, and a beak (like a turtle, but)…well, he’s not sure that the species is sufficiently humanoid to try. He’s game if the Lieutenant is, but when he brought it up over the comm the officer just laughed at him and ended the call. He’s not sure if that counts as a rejection or an agreement about the difficulties involved, but he’s not willing to mess up relations with Vulukor’s people by insisting further or asking potentially insulting questions. The only upside was the rumor that they have great stamina and mate for life, but he has responsibilities to Starfleet too.
It’s frustrating not having simple answers, but then, despite his flippant comment to Chris and Phil he’d known it wasn’t going to be easy, and at least the research was enjoyable, no matter how tired he finds himself now.
He schedules himself as one of the last to go down—he’s not used to celebrating anything, really, and his crew deserved it more than he had—but somehow the orders got mixed up and he finds himself on an earlier time than he’d planned. When any protests were quickly drowned out by a combination of Uhura’s glare and Spock’s eyebrow, any suspicions that it wasn’t just an accident are confirmed, but it’s not like he can argue with it considering his signature’s on the damn thing. He can get away with a bit of sarcasm, though. “I suspect some of my officers are abusing their positions,” he muses as he waits and tries not to pace by the transporter room.
He hears Uhura stifle a laugh. Spock’s poker face is excellent as usual even when he raises an eyebrow, but he thinks he detects a trace of amusement there as well. His emotional control’s gotten a lot better since they met, though, since Jim’s not sure. “Why, Captain, such things should be reported to Starfleet, per Regulation—”
“Shut up and enjoy your victory, Spock,” he responds tiredly, and smirks at the fresh peal of laughter from Uhura. Despite the fact that all he wants to do is go back to his bed and collapse for probably all of Gamma and maybe even Alpha shift, he strides into place and stands firmly when Transporter Chief Kyle announces the pad is ready. He suspects the man is grinning slightly, but it’s hard to tell considering he also has a good poker face. His plan, when they arrive, is to find a nice seat, probably out of the way, so that no one notices he doesn’t particularly feel like standing.
Unfortunately, both Uhura and Spock seem to have a problem with his plans, because they fall in step on either side of him and steer him toward the middle of a crowded bar. He fights the headache that seems to be coming on and resists the urge to massage his forehead. “I’m kind of scared as to what you’re planning next, you two. Seriously, is this mutiny? Because the least you could do is warn me about it.”
“Logically, the least we could do is say nothing, Captain,” Spock points out, and yes, he’s definitely amused about this whole thing in his own Vulcan way.
“Keptin!” Chekov yells, waving enthusiastically. “I am vinning!”
He smiles fondly. “Winning what?”
“I’m surprised the lad’s not under the table yet,” Scotty chuckles.
“He is Russian,” Jim points out, earning a bright, happy grin from the navigator. “If either of you destroy each other’s livers, though, we will be having a stern talk after they fix you up in Medbay.”
“Da, Keptin,” Chekov agrees, and reaches out to pull Jim into a hug. It’s sweet of him.
For a minute, though, he’s worried he’s going to have to turn down the excitable engineer once more. When the hug stays purely platonic, though…
He abruptly comes to a different conclusion. He’s used to people misinterpreting him, not noticing any of his little quirks or what they mean. His crew had been paying attention to him before, sure, but until now they hadn’t known how to properly interpret it. Now it’s like they know that he’s the type to touch people, a lot, sometimes not even intentionally, and that touch in turn grounds him. He hadn’t known before, but even platonic love gives him something. It’s hardly more than a snack, but it’s not like it’s worthless.
He’s not used to this. He’d read about mentalists, known that he meets some of the criteria—a bad childhood that gave him a reason to read people to survive, being manipulative, sometimes without even meaning to, which includes using touch to convince. He’s not sure what the other Jim’s excuse is but is pretty sure Tarsus is enough of an explanation for anyone. When he’s the one being read, it’s completely different, especially when they’re using his own techniques on him to convince him to calm down, that he doesn’t need to panic or have his overactive paranoia kick in, it’s enough to make him uneasy—but he pushes it away because if anyone’s earned it, they have, all of them.
They steer him to a table near the middle, and Sulu’s there, smiling a little. “I’m surprised it took them that long to strongarm you to a party, Captain.”
“You’re the only one not in on this conspiracy, huh, Sulu? You might just get to be my First Officer.” He claps Hikaru on the back, and the man barely moves.
“As much as I look forward to that day, Captain, I can say I definitely don’t deserve the promotion. I’m in on this, too.” Jim blinks. “So, the summary is that you need sex—not that there’s anything wrong with it if it had been a choice, and no one should’ve judged you for that—”
And his noncommital stare at Uhura gets her to flinch.
“—but it’s not something Starfleet really needs to know about. You’re not willing to take advantage of your crew, and it’s otherwise difficult. So, what’s your type?”
Jim blinks a little more and finally massages near his nose. He glances around and sees that his entire crew is watching him with close attention. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“We’re willing t’ die fer ye, Captain, y’ don’t think we’d help ye out?” Scotty asks seriously.
He feels touched—and more than a little concerned. They’re all trying to play wingman, and he’s guessing Uhura started the whole thing. “You’re all seriously embarrassing.”
There’s more than a few chuckles, but it’s not like they back off, and if they want to waste their time on their shore leave like this, who’s he to judge?
Star Trek (the 2009!movie verse) Cambion AU
Summary: Jim checks into the List...
Word Count: 2854
Rating: Gen
Kirk lobbies hard for his crew to have time off around the holidays, he really does. (Though it’s kind of odd to have his crew actually recognizing his efforts; noticing that he knows every crew member by name and greets them with their preferred holiday. He’d have bragged about being the center of attention before, when that would’ve been a defense mechanism to deal with how uncomfortable it is. When their gaze is more comfortable, supportive…he honestly has no idea how to deal with that. Though he’s glad that he’s making his crew feel at home, so that’s a plus, anyway.)
The philosophical part of him wonders about the statistics and whimsy of a universe that gathers so many festivals from people the universe over into one Earth month. He’d wax poetic about it on the bridge if Spock hadn’t raised an affronted eyebrow the second he’d started. He’d only begun to get on Spock’s good side. No need to test the boundaries of their friendship just yet.
Unfortunately, the best he’s been able to secure is shore leave for his crew a month after most of the festivities would have been over—not what he’d been hoping, but apparently (according to Chris) it’d been a huge fight behind the scenes to get them even that much. The official argument used by the opposing side had been that someone had to work on Christmas.
Why they’d chosen that particular holiday out of the hundreds of Federation holidays celebrated during the month is beyond Jim. The argument had been rendered slightly absurd, as there were no missions with time pressure in the Enterprise’s quadrant that would require them to work at that time. Still, if it was all they could wring out of Starfleet, a shore leave would have to do.
Jim finds himself tired, but happy. He’d gone through personnel files Chris had dug up for him. Doctor Carol Marcus was intelligent and definitely attractive, but unlike what he vaguely remembered, she was in weapons manufacturing. His best guess is that, this time around, she’d tried to actually make her father happy by supplying his more warlike tendencies. A quick hacking job had found some of her early essays emphasize non-violence, and in the other universe if he remembered correctly she’d refused to make anything with military applications and soon destroyed anything she or her team created that was found to be dangerous. It’s a bit of a pity, because he can remember that rush of affection and is pretty sure his other self would’ve married her if she hadn’t just wanted a career (well, and their kid, and isn’t that a thought he just doesn’t know what to do with).
There’s Areel Shaw, who he’s pretty sure he actually vaguely remembers from Academy. He’d actually sent her a quick stargram, and in her writing back she sounded pleased to hear from him (and equally amused—but not awed—at how famous he was at this point). She’s probably not the one he’s looking for; he’s decently sure they’re on the same page about flirting with each other when they talk or meet, but they’re also happy with their careers where they are. She’s not a Lieutenant yet, but she is a Lieutenant Junior Grade and he has no doubt she’ll make it. It’s kind of interesting to talk law with her, because he’s pretty sure he’s only interacted with it in fiction, especially twentieth century fiction (and, well, classic games, on occasion). He can tell she’s happy to talk about it, too, probably because people don’t have that reaction very often.
He's pretty sure Ruth is the same Ruth he'd befriended and who wasn't interested in anything else, because it'd be too much of a coincidence otherwise.
There’s a Dr. Gillian Taylor and an Edith Keeler, but oddly enough they’re both from the past, so it’s not like he puts their names down. The same is true of Captain John Christopher, but it’s not like he’d even flirted with the guy, and he’d had kids and was from the twentieth century, so he’d probably not be interested. Or, y’know, even be appalled, which isn’t exactly the reaction he’s going for even if the Enterprise is probably doomed to end up in the past at some point.
There’s Marlena Moreau, but she doesn’t seem to exist and given what he can remember about her ruthlessness, that’s not exactly somewhere he wants to go, either.
It’s odd enough that there’s not much in the way of male names on the list, but while the other Kirk had flirted with everyone just about the same, he’d been a lot more. Jim nearly laughs at himself as he almost thinks the word ‘picky’, but when sex really is kinda a part of his diet, it’s a little more relevant of a word. He really had been the romantic who didn’t want to get involved unless there was some kind of guarantee it could and would go somewhere, and Starfleet in the other universe seemed a lot more career-oriented. (That’s something he’s not going to mention to Pike, just because he’s decently certain it’s depressing.) It’s kind of a weird thing to think about, but…he really does kind of want to try, see if he’s even capable of a relationship like that.
The doctor—McCoy—he vaguely remembers as occasionally grim, occasionally happy. He’s pretty sure he’s not imagining the careful glances and teasing and even a touch here and there, but their friendship was so strong and…well, for whatever reason, he’d never acted on it. The other him, that is. With Spock, either, which is a vaguely disturbing thought he buries quickly and deeply in the hopes that Uhura never discovers it and carves him with one of those, what was it, weird twentieth century utensils…a spork. He’s pretty sure it would hurt, viciously.
Pike had managed to find his information, same as the others. Apparently, he’d been stationed at Vega colony, following a divorce. A pretty bad one, judging by the news and the fact that there was a kid. It seems vaguely familiar, but it’s not like he retains every single memory from the mind meld, particularly when that hadn’t been Spock the Elder’s intention at all. He was worried about the mistake, about setting the universe right and keeping his friends alive, not sharing his friend’s dating history. There’s scientific papers the man’s written and he devours them, enjoying the occasional hidden snark and intuitive science and clear intelligence in the writing. He’d also read about the creation of life, and current law. Reading, to borrow a word from Spock, that was fascinating.
Uhura worried about him and the lack of sleep until she’d walked in on him reading, and like the nosy person she was read the title. The look she gives him is a little fond and confused, but she doesn’t ask.
She’s still waiting for him to talk, and isn’t pushing him. He’s not entirely certain it’s not reverse psychology of some kind.
There are a couple other names Chris and Phil dug up on their own. There’s Dr. Nikodemos Kneller, Élise Abrahams, Dr. Helka Thrussell, August Comtois, a Political Historian with a fascination for the past (Kirk put in an inquiry about something trivial in the twentieth century but had yet to receive an answer), a student of theater (still working on her degree, although the similaries to Lenore made him uneasy so he’d privately crossed her off the list), a Doctor of Sociology, specifically social control (who had directed his letter to Dr. Adams, a prison reformer; he suspected she was perfectly able to answer him but had elected not to and in all probability it was his reputation to blame), and a cadet still working on graduating dual Engineering and Science Tracks with an emphasis in computer sciences that he vaguely remembers having kissed at some New Year’s Eve party a few years ago (at least he’d gotten a response from him and the dialogue had been both flirty and a good refresher on a lot of the details about Kelvin-class ships he really should’ve remembered the first time around), respectively.
There’s an Andorian, Shahriar Th'okyrress, who might work especially if, with the whole way the system works for Andorians, he gets involved in a threesome, but given that it’s him if he messes it up (and Andorians as a warlike people could definitely hold a grudge if he messes it up in a very precise way that, as a self-aware person, he’s fully aware he’s capable of doing) he could cause a diplomatic incident, he’s putting that towards ‘last resort’ category.
Surprisingly, a Vulcan named T’samik actually had asked about him, but he has a feeling the woman’s more interested in examining him as a specimen than anything, and he’s not sure how the whole telepathy-empathy thing would work. He’d sent back some sort of polite reply and hoped for the best.
Gaila had mentioned him to a fellow Orion, but given Gaila’s attitude he doesn’t have much of a hope that he can pull off the whole romance thing with her (and besides, she’s a crew member on his ship and he’s not about to go fraternizing in the worst of ways).
There’s two from planets that had joined the Federation recently enough that the first of their representatives had just graduated Starfleet—there’s a Commander Rulniax that’s shooting for Captain (and the whole werebird thing is kinda intriguing but they wouldn’t see each other much—not that Rulniax had indicated any dissatisfaction with the idea if the seductive trill was any indication, but a quick romp is not what he’s looking for, really), and Lieutenant Vulukor, a science officer who, well. There’s a couple problematic issues with her (well, maybe ‘her’, he’s not absolutely sure on biological sex), one being that bringing another science officer on board when Spock already covers all the functions would be a little problematic. Another is that the differences in biology are not well known. The thought of meeting turtle-people was interesting, but he’s not sure how he’d go about seducing or actually having sex with one, given that most of the time they wear their shell and what’s underneath is kept virtually a secret. The report mentioned something about see-through skin and muscle, as well as four limbs to walk on and two for grabbing things, and a beak (like a turtle, but)…well, he’s not sure that the species is sufficiently humanoid to try. He’s game if the Lieutenant is, but when he brought it up over the comm the officer just laughed at him and ended the call. He’s not sure if that counts as a rejection or an agreement about the difficulties involved, but he’s not willing to mess up relations with Vulukor’s people by insisting further or asking potentially insulting questions. The only upside was the rumor that they have great stamina and mate for life, but he has responsibilities to Starfleet too.
It’s frustrating not having simple answers, but then, despite his flippant comment to Chris and Phil he’d known it wasn’t going to be easy, and at least the research was enjoyable, no matter how tired he finds himself now.
He schedules himself as one of the last to go down—he’s not used to celebrating anything, really, and his crew deserved it more than he had—but somehow the orders got mixed up and he finds himself on an earlier time than he’d planned. When any protests were quickly drowned out by a combination of Uhura’s glare and Spock’s eyebrow, any suspicions that it wasn’t just an accident are confirmed, but it’s not like he can argue with it considering his signature’s on the damn thing. He can get away with a bit of sarcasm, though. “I suspect some of my officers are abusing their positions,” he muses as he waits and tries not to pace by the transporter room.
He hears Uhura stifle a laugh. Spock’s poker face is excellent as usual even when he raises an eyebrow, but he thinks he detects a trace of amusement there as well. His emotional control’s gotten a lot better since they met, though, since Jim’s not sure. “Why, Captain, such things should be reported to Starfleet, per Regulation—”
“Shut up and enjoy your victory, Spock,” he responds tiredly, and smirks at the fresh peal of laughter from Uhura. Despite the fact that all he wants to do is go back to his bed and collapse for probably all of Gamma and maybe even Alpha shift, he strides into place and stands firmly when Transporter Chief Kyle announces the pad is ready. He suspects the man is grinning slightly, but it’s hard to tell considering he also has a good poker face. His plan, when they arrive, is to find a nice seat, probably out of the way, so that no one notices he doesn’t particularly feel like standing.
Unfortunately, both Uhura and Spock seem to have a problem with his plans, because they fall in step on either side of him and steer him toward the middle of a crowded bar. He fights the headache that seems to be coming on and resists the urge to massage his forehead. “I’m kind of scared as to what you’re planning next, you two. Seriously, is this mutiny? Because the least you could do is warn me about it.”
“Logically, the least we could do is say nothing, Captain,” Spock points out, and yes, he’s definitely amused about this whole thing in his own Vulcan way.
“Keptin!” Chekov yells, waving enthusiastically. “I am vinning!”
He smiles fondly. “Winning what?”
“I’m surprised the lad’s not under the table yet,” Scotty chuckles.
“He is Russian,” Jim points out, earning a bright, happy grin from the navigator. “If either of you destroy each other’s livers, though, we will be having a stern talk after they fix you up in Medbay.”
“Da, Keptin,” Chekov agrees, and reaches out to pull Jim into a hug. It’s sweet of him.
For a minute, though, he’s worried he’s going to have to turn down the excitable engineer once more. When the hug stays purely platonic, though…
He abruptly comes to a different conclusion. He’s used to people misinterpreting him, not noticing any of his little quirks or what they mean. His crew had been paying attention to him before, sure, but until now they hadn’t known how to properly interpret it. Now it’s like they know that he’s the type to touch people, a lot, sometimes not even intentionally, and that touch in turn grounds him. He hadn’t known before, but even platonic love gives him something. It’s hardly more than a snack, but it’s not like it’s worthless.
He’s not used to this. He’d read about mentalists, known that he meets some of the criteria—a bad childhood that gave him a reason to read people to survive, being manipulative, sometimes without even meaning to, which includes using touch to convince. He’s not sure what the other Jim’s excuse is but is pretty sure Tarsus is enough of an explanation for anyone. When he’s the one being read, it’s completely different, especially when they’re using his own techniques on him to convince him to calm down, that he doesn’t need to panic or have his overactive paranoia kick in, it’s enough to make him uneasy—but he pushes it away because if anyone’s earned it, they have, all of them.
They steer him to a table near the middle, and Sulu’s there, smiling a little. “I’m surprised it took them that long to strongarm you to a party, Captain.”
“You’re the only one not in on this conspiracy, huh, Sulu? You might just get to be my First Officer.” He claps Hikaru on the back, and the man barely moves.
“As much as I look forward to that day, Captain, I can say I definitely don’t deserve the promotion. I’m in on this, too.” Jim blinks. “So, the summary is that you need sex—not that there’s anything wrong with it if it had been a choice, and no one should’ve judged you for that—”
And his noncommital stare at Uhura gets her to flinch.
“—but it’s not something Starfleet really needs to know about. You’re not willing to take advantage of your crew, and it’s otherwise difficult. So, what’s your type?”
Jim blinks a little more and finally massages near his nose. He glances around and sees that his entire crew is watching him with close attention. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“We’re willing t’ die fer ye, Captain, y’ don’t think we’d help ye out?” Scotty asks seriously.
He feels touched—and more than a little concerned. They’re all trying to play wingman, and he’s guessing Uhura started the whole thing. “You’re all seriously embarrassing.”
There’s more than a few chuckles, but it’s not like they back off, and if they want to waste their time on their shore leave like this, who’s he to judge?
whoops forgot I'd already mentioned Ruth in this 'verse so this is an outtake: There’s a Ruth, but apparently any Ruths that were in Starfleet were on the ships destroyed along with Vulcan, which is a sobering thought. He doesn’t even remember enough about her to be sure, but he raises a glass to her anyway. (Scotty doesn’t need much prompting to do the same.)
