expiationlogs | [ Trek Crew Catch-All ] And you may ask yourself

Entry tags:

[ Trek Crew Catch-All ] And you may ask yourself

Who: Jim Kirk, Spock, Tendi, Bones & friends.
Where: The Trek house!
What: Catch-all for the month's nonsense.
Content Warnings: Profanity. Potential for discussions of survivor's guilt and Gnosia-related trauma. ~~Old man yaoi.~~

See below for closed starters! This post will serve as a catch-all for the Trek cast~

Contact for plotting:

James "Jim" Tiberius Kirk |

trickster88, PM, Discord by Request/Game Discord

S'chn T'gai Spock |

askefise, Game Discord

D'Vana Tendi |

posolutely, Game Discord

Leonard "Bones" McCoy | PM, Game Discord, Discord: chatnoir

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[ The thing no one tells you about having a Vulcan mind bond in your noggin? It can be very distracting.

Jim's not sure he'll ever get used to it, truth be told; that it will never not be kind of awesome, all the time. He's been having problems zoning out lately - separating his mind from Spock's is easier said than done, staying focused on what he's supposed to be focused on or worse, staying cognizant in the outside world and not just the inside of his brain - especially when they're swapping good feelings back and forth. The bond is stronger with proximity, but even across some distance - Jim at STEM, Spock elsewhere ~~probably doing his cat rounds~~, he can always feel him. When a spike of fondness (yup, Spock's with the cats, he knew it-) hits him, or when Jim accidentally burns himself working on a project (him going ow, shit, and Spock politely, but with incredible immediacy, inquiring as to what's wrong) - it's a new normal, one Jim's still getting the hang of.

Spock's been trying to teach him how to shield, to varying degrees of success - but more often than not they get distracted, one of Jim's errant thoughts spinning them off on a...different path of activity. He can't help it; he can't control his thoughts, and something that would typically fade into the background? Spock picks up on it like a bloodhound, has his own reactions to it, and feedback loop continues until -

Well. Until they end up as they are, sprawled across whatever horizontal surface is closest.

At least this time they're on the couch, Bones-the-dog lazily chewing a toy on the floor. Jim's half-sprawled on Spock's lap, face buried in his neck, teeth and lips blooming green bruises along the underside of his jaw. One hand is encircling one of Spock's wrists, two fingers extended to press against his palm (distal palmar, the knowledge that floats to him is not his own, but they're cooking in brainwave stew right now so Jim just sends back a wave of amusement, kissing his way back up to Spock's mouth).

The sharp gasp and subsequent (almost comical, really) crashing sound behind him, however, is enough to pull Jim out of the impromptu makeout session. He lifts his head, turning to blink at the interruption - ah. Tendi, looking like they might have maybe just broken her a little bit. Oops. ]

[Well. There she is.

The thing they don't tell you about these wacky multiverse crossovers is how weird they are. You're just existing, day to day, the way you always have-- but with people from other worlds, other planets, other realities. Realities where Orion isn't even there, or...maybe it just hasn't been discovered yet. Realities with-- with magic, and weird deities, and low tech...

And realities where you really do meet your heroes.

That might be the weirdest part of all, actually. On a ship, there's a huge separation: rank, decorum, work. It's notable to interact with the bridge crew, a lot of the time -- it means you're doing something unusual. Here, D'Vana Tendi is living her daily life in a house with these great historical figures. Historical figures she works alongside, eats meals with sometimes.

Historical figures who are...on the sofa?

Who are...

Oh.

The PADD (not a PADD) slips from her fingertips, clatter crash crash! and somehow even though they're-- well, making noises, you know the ones, and she's sucking in a sharp gasp, suddenly the sound is intrusively loud. And speaking of intrusive, here she is. And, oh crap, she's been spotted. Ahem.]

I-- I'm sorry, I was just-- [...actually, she has no idea what she was just doing anymore, but she hastily retrieves her PADD (still not a PADD) from the floor and studies it very...well, studiously. They say never meet your heroes, but they usually don't follow it up with because you might find them making out on the sofa when you least expect it. She's seen a lot of things, living on the lower decks, but this sure earns points for unexpected. As a delayed reaction, she puts said not-PADD over her face.] ...I...didn't see anything? [??? Why is she phrasing that like a question??]

Hey. How are you feeling Mr Spock? Better?

Edited 2024-08-02 23:29 (UTC)

How is she?

[ Spock doesn't jump or flinch or startle in the way most would under these conditions. He can gather what it is that has interrupted Jim's current mission, the blunt of his Human teeth making themselves a known against the firm line of his jaw, but the oops that chases its way back to him is what loops back the internalized sigh before he might catch it. It isn't one of frustration, but rather fonder exasperation as he moves his free hand from its chosen location (the nape of Jim's neck, as it were), tucks it against Jim's side to facilitate a more supported movement from where it is he currently rests.

Perhaps the sitting room was ill-advised. ]

Ah, [ Spock says, almost like an afterthought. And it is, really, against the dry commentary he tips over to Jim silently. He doesn't aim to retrieve his other hand. He knows that Jim will likely relinquish it when he moves, but even so.

Even so, thankfully, his higher functions kick online faster than most species in the Federation. Humans? Certainly. Other Vulcans? As a matter of course. Before he ever tilts his head toward the sound, he's already settling any residual autonomic functions, rerouting any suggestion of vasodilation across the shells of his ears and the high points of his cheeks. The result? He's quite pointedly not flushed a shade or sheen near or about a greener hue of ochre. Instead, he blinks.

He blinks once, twice. It mirrors in many ways the passive observations of a Terran feline, woken from a particularly restful sleep. He clears his throat, just loud enough to catch. One eyebrow twitches upward, fleeting. ]

Excuse us, Lieutenant.

[ His words come clear and unmodulated, almost as if she had simply walked in on them having a typical conversation. It was a conversation in its own right, but that's something he keeps to himself (and, subsequently, Jim). To Ms. D'Vana Tendi, the read is undoubtedly difficult. To Jim? Well, he's still contending with increased cardiovascular activity. That will return to baseline momentarily, but for now? Well, the beat is markedly quickened where it thrums against Spock's side. And if he is in some part ruffled? Well, that's something Jim too will be able to gather before he loosely reconstitutes the typical level of shielding. ]

Edited 2024-08-03 00:02 (UTC)

I am recovering, due in no small part to your efforts.

[ there's a moment where the text bubble appears, disappears. appears again. ]

Despite the prior circumstances, I regret that my actions have caused you harm. I was not able to convey as much earlier. [ another, much shorter pause. ] Has your recovery been similarly expeditious?

[ he knows what jim knows surely by now, but even so. ]

Thats great to hear!

You don't have to apologize, Mr. Spock. It wasn't you, we all know it.

And you don't have to worry about us and injuries. We heal super fast, I'm totally fine now

[ Decorum? In Jim's Starfleet? Ha.

To be fair, back in the day (AKA, Jim's present) they were kind of running and gunning it. Honestly, Jim's convinced most of the admiralty thinks they're making up half the shit they report, but space really is that bizarre when it's all new and interesting. Anyway, he digresses - Tendi is kind, exuberant, and a total science geek (affectionate). She's a capable officer, but she also fits right in with the Spock-Jim-Bones typical brand of nonsense off duty - and frankly, despite the gap in rank the gap in age is only a few years. Is Jim really more mature than most of the junior officers she's accustomed to?

The answer is very definitively no.

Clearly he's a bad influence on Spock, or maybe they're both just enablers. Either way, the history books were kinder to the pair of them than they deserved.

That's not what you said ten minutes ago.

Jim starts to sit up, Spock helping him to gain leverage, but between the shock on Tendi's face (that she's attempting to hide behind the tablet, bless her, but too late, Jim spotted it) and the cut-off reaction from Spock that Jim is getting in play-by-play - he collapses in a fit of laughter, turning his head to bury it in a pillow for a beat. Spock's deadpan dryness while he redirects his biological reactions beneath the surface is too fucking funny.

This is hardly the worst thing Jim's ever been caught doing, so he's just going to go for shameless with both hands. He does manage to sit up under his own power, releasing Spock's wrist and setting himself upright - they're still definitely too close for polite company, but Jim doesn't have the ability to re-route his vascular system, so he's just gonna chill for a second. He's aware that there's this image Tendi seems to have in her head of the three of them as (potentially infallible?) leadership, though speculation as to why that was, exactly, hadn't been confirmed. It's not like Jim's the brass, he's Captain of a tin can. The fastest, coolest tin can in the galaxy, but still a tin can. ]

Cat's out of the bag, Spock. [ Not that they were really hiding it, but weren't they?? Jim didn't know how to tell Bones. He sure as hell didn't want to tell Peter and prove the little shit right. He's also not even sure what he would say. We're lowkey Vulcan engaged/married/~~mythic-level soulmates~~/other infinitely nuanced option?? ] Tendi, yes you did, and I'm not going to ask you to pretend otherwise. We just, ah...didn't expect anyone home yet.

It's - you know - [ Jim makes a helpless gesture between the two of them, unable to help the slight snicker, residual amusement leaking through. ] - kinda...new.

You want the truth or something that will make it less scary to come home?
You really worried her, Pete.
But she's okay, otherwise. Just tired, I think.

[ His fault for, you know, tasing the shit out of her. ]

Your surprise is done.
(You’re allowed into the yard again)

[ The catio is complete! There’s a nice meditation mat in the middle, a neat line of food bowls against the side of the house, and a water fountain Jim had to wrestle with for an hour to get it to work. He’s constructed multiple cat trees with climbing spots connecting them against the chicken wire wall, with toys, scratching posts, and a few catnip plants sprinkled throughout.

A cat paradise, one he’s been trying to hide from Spock all month beneath a tarp - especially once the bond was active. He decided to text him at a spur-of-the-moment interval today to try and keep it a surprise, but who knows if that actually worked. ]

Indeed.

[ it's an agreement in two parts. ]

No, it was not.
However, such things are still a part of me.

[ he would know. he's seen it across more than just himself and outside this situation. ]

To acknowledge a wound is to allow it to mend.
I understand this to be a necessary component, for most Humans.

[ but, veering back into something safer for them both: ]

I am gratified, to know we share this similarity.
Though, you appear to have recuperated several hours ahead.

[ so, there might have been a delay before his first response. you know. healing trance, bond stabilization, et al. ]

Edited 2024-08-03 05:03 (UTC)

[After her fight with Peter, Gwen didn't really know where to go, she just needed to be somewhere else. She was just frustrated and hurt, more than anything, so she thought she would just get some air. Only, no amount of air made her feel ready to go home.

She kept replaying the fight in her head, kept hearing the atrocious words Jim said to her while infected, and old habits came back to her so quickly. She really didn't feel like being around other people right now, once again pulling away and isolating herself. She'd at least let her friends know she was okay if they reached out, so she didn't worry them too much. She really just needed a minute to get her head straight.

It's not a surprise to her when Jim reaches out. She'd honestly been expecting it. After everything that happened, she figured they needed to talk. She doesn't blame him, even if the words still haunt her. It was all shit she was already battling, anyway, it just hurt more coming from someone important to her, just the way the ghost of her Peter had hurt last month.

She was having such a great time here, wasn't she?

Eventually, if a bit reluctantly, she found herself arriving at Jim and Spock's house, dropping down to the path to their door, and hesitantly knocking. She knows she needs to get this over with. It's just Jim. But why is she so nervous to face him again?]

[Dinner and chess was something they had discussed a while ago, but given the state of the city, nothing was going to happen for a time thanks to the chaos of July. After everything, it was good to try to get back to some semblance of normalcy. It would be easy to fall into regret for her insane, infected actions, but after being here for so long, it was easier and easier to accept that things about this place would forever be out of their control and try to get back to normal.

So, dinner it was! Caitlyn wasn't sure that Vi would care so much about the chess match, but free dinner and booze? As if Vi would refuse. And it was nice, having an excuse to dress up and enjoy themselves. It was funny, as a child, she always hated dressing up and going to events and parties that her parents either threw or attended, but as an adult now, she found it wasn't always so bad, when the company was right.

Opposites definitely attract in the case of Caitlyn and Vi, so while Caitlyn was ready extra early, Vi was not, but at least it mostly evened out, meaning they arrived at Jim and Spock's about five minutes past the original agreed upon time. Vi trailed behind as Caitlyn knocked at the door, her heels clicking as she stepped back to wait.]

[ Jim hasn't seen Gwen in about a week. After confirming that her and Peter were both physically okay, Jim had backed off intentionally. He knew as well as anyone the kind of toll something like this could take on a person, and he also knew it was better to give Gwen space to process it, rather than forcing his presence on her too early. While it wasn't him, not really, it was his hands. His fists, his voice, throwing those words at her. Words he knew had hurt her, deeper than any physical violence he could have levied.

Words she'd absolutely taken to heart, based on their last conversation. After a week, Jim knew it was about time he took them back, whether she was willing to let him or not. It was important he say it anyway.

Gwen agrees to a visit without too much cajoling on Jim's part, and Jim opens the door a few beats after the knock. He's wearing an apron (he bought it for Spock as a ~~not really~~ joke; look, Jim's got to do something to amuse himself around here) and looks to be in a little bit of disarray - the apron has not helped with the flour covering his person, a smear of it high on his cheek.

The reason for the problem is obvious when Bones comes barreling over to greet her, knocking past Jim's knees and jumping up to Gwen, tongue lolling excitedly. Jim huffs and smiles, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. ] He's been a menace. I keep telling him dogs can't eat chocolate, but he refuses to believe me.

[ The invitation to dinner had unfortunately been postponed, after...everything. They'd taken a week to recuperate; Jim's side was still giving him some trouble if he overextended himself, but otherwise things were mostly back to normal (if a little quiet, for Aldrip). It was then that Jim rallied to organize the dinner - it would be good to see Caitlyn, to meet this Vi he's heard so much about (her...partner? Jim's maybe assuming a little, based on the way Caitlyn talks about her). Just generally push past the dark cloud the Gnosia had left over all of them, perhaps.

When Jim opened the door, his smile instantly brightened for Caitlyn, welcoming her in with the offer of a friendly side-hug. It smells like cooking basil and garlic, a warm aroma throughout the house - he's managed to get the spaghetti squash into the oven without incident, hopefully they come out unscathed. ] Welcome, hello! You look great, by the -

[ And then Jim sees Vi, and goes completely still. Oh, shit. The flash of surprise and recognition is probably blaringly obvious on his face, if not through the bond to Spock, wherever he might be behind Jim in the interior. A murky memory floats to the foreground of his mind - Vi's face, from the alley where they had pincer-attacked her during the infection. Oh yeah, that's her. Jim had no idea; he'd actually been trying to find her, to at least send a written apology over the network. ]

Well - [ There was no balm to awkwardness besides acknowledging it, and Jim offers his hand to Vi, manfully pushing past it. ] - hi. You must be Vi. Jim Kirk. Nice to meet you - as, uh, myself.

[It's impossible for her eyes not to land on that apron first. As bad as she's felt, it's really hard to suppress a laugh at it.]

That's a look.

[Says the one in a sweatshirt and leggings in the middle of summer. In her defense, she didn't really pack, so much as throw the first things she grabbed into a bag. But it's fine, she'll survive. No matter how anxious and nervous as she might be, she can't be mad at Bones. When the dog bounds towards her, she drops to her knees to greet him, a small smile finally showing up again on her face.]

Hey buddy! [She is absolutely going to make sure Bones gets all the pets he deserves.]

What are you making? [She's trying to keep it light, even if she's rocking on her feet when she stands again. She had ate plenty of sandwiches and other snacks he had brought in to STEM, so it wasn't too much of a surprise to see him baking, or whatever it is he's doing right now. Cooking away his feelings? She knows, as bad as she feels after everything that happened, he has to feel worse. He's the one that said and did all those awful things. Having no control over yourself like that? That had to be horrible.]

Edited (whoops forgot how long the event lasted my b ) 2024-08-04 19:55 (UTC)

[ Hey, if he gets a laugh out of her Jim is absolutely taking the win, whether or not it's at his expense. He grins and smooths out the apron so the lettering isn't wrinkled, eyebrows rising. ] I prefer to call it like I see it.

[ Jim tilts his head, smiling as Bones happily absorbs all the pets he can get. Attention whore to the max; he'd pouted for a full 24 hours after Jim and Spock had stumbled home, exhausted from their week of madness. Funny that something that caused so much damage could be trivialized down to the interruption it had made in a dog's routine - Jim had sleepily laughed about that one for thirty minutes, until Spock had all but hit him with a pillow to get him to settle. ]

Cookies. Chocolate chunk with cinnamon. Smells good, right? [ The aroma coming from the kitchen does appear to confirm his claims - and likely tells her how much cinnamon he used.

Cooking away his feelings - well, the cooking is only part of it. They're for her, though of course Jim will likely just pretend it was a casual decision. If he actually manages to make a decent batch, he'll be handing them out to everyone he and Spock crossed paths with ~~there were a LOT of people in cages...~~ ]

Come on in. Make yourself at home. [ Jim opens the door wider to allow Gwen entry, retreating back towards the kitchen to fuss with the oven. He manages to shove two trays full of cookies into the oven, cranking the hand-timer for twenty minutes. ] Son of a -

[ Jim's apology tour is in full swing by the time he's able to coax Claude into a visit.

Jim had heard about the apothecary, the damage that had been done in Claude's absence; he'd gathered the leftover supplies from his catio project and passed them on to the construction crew responsible for the cleanup. He wasn't sure how much it would help, but it certainly couldn't hurt - and Jim had no shortage of things to begin making amends for. He leaves it for a week, aside from a note that goes unanswered for three days (as is Claude's right - he stuck Spock full of arrows and held his own, but they still ultimately beat him to shit and left him in a pit). He's surely dealing with other things, but when Claude does get back to him, Jim extends the invitation for a drink. He'd prefer to say his apology face to face, and wants to see how Claude is faring, after everything - besides, liberal application of booze doesn't hurt, either.

The house is kept on the warm side, for Spock's comfort, and at the moment it's fairly cozy. Jim's got the lights on in every room, coffee table clear for once - the organized bins beneath the table speak to the usual level of mess, filled with components for their various projects. A bottle of bourbon, two glasses, and a plate of cookies (?) are set out to welcome his guest. Bones the dog is sulking on the carpet, having been shooed away from stealing a cookie (not for lack of trying). Jim, for his part, opens the door with an easy smile - not the baring of teeth the Gnosia had given, warning imminent danger, but back to his usual affectation. Easy, simple, earnest. ] Claude, welcome. Come in!

I really screwed up didn't I...

I'm coming home, so it don't matter what you say. I just... Wanted to know before I got there.

No one is perfect, if this place is going to rub our faces on it, at least we can be together and deal with it together too.

But you're human too, right? I... Found out a lot about you in this weird thing
Super insane what you can do
But I think I understand you a little more now.

Weird spider DNA man

Perfection has inconsistent metrics and is informed by sociocultural bias.

[ a beat. he might be sulking a little, but that's a small price to pay. how dare everyone see him for what he is, etc. ]

However, I suppose there is merit in what you say.

[ progress? ]

My mother is Human, yes.
By your measure, I would be "half."

[ that's an understatement of the century. all the reasons for his seemingly casual xenophobia is at your hands now. it's self-denigration, based solely on the hatred and prejudices that has been directed at him all his life. hell yeah, babeeeeeey. ]

I recall.
I suspect my body was attempting to enter the healing trance, but was impeded by the nature of the infection.
The results were therefore closer to what you would call a "lucid" or "fever" dream.

As we are a psionic species, we do not take to intrusion lightly.
Whether it be perceived or actual matters little, in fact.

[ a beat. ]

To borrow your phrasing, it appears our "weird DNA" is a boon in these circumstances.

[ is there a joke there? there is. ]

These matters aside: do not hesitate to inform me if you begin to or persist in experiencing any ill effects related to your time spent within my proximity.
Headaches, emotional disturbances, and nausea are not entirely uncommon.

Which is why no one is perfect we're basically saying the same thing!

I think it's cool, Mr. Spock.

Hah! I can get that. I wish... I wish you had told me you could do all these things, though, mister Spock. I also didn't tell you everything either, but my stuff is kinda like, super nothing compared to all the stuff you have going on. I think we are all even in the knowing now?

I'll tell you. I'm mostly
Uh
Fixing things.

[ the next part takes a long, long moment. it is not something he talks about. it is seldom anything he talks about, in fact. those who knew and know are by standards of the federation "dead," his mother, or jim. his father may know in part, but he ignored much of his "difficulties," as he called it. sybok was another matter entirely. ]

Please understand, it is not in my nature to speak of such things.

As a culture, we are intensely private.
As you have felt as I felt, you must now know Vulcans were once violent, implacable beings.
Before the rituals and regulations we now arm ourselves with, we very nearly succeeded in destroying our kind.
And so, to bring any outsiders into our midst is considered taboo.

What do you believe may happen, if a Human were brought into such a thing?
If they were, say, to marry and produce offspring?

What do you believe most Humans may have first and still feel, to be exposed to these abilities?

These visions I have imparted to you --
Even these were not uncensored.

[ if they weren't, he would have been in considerably deeper shit than he can even imagine. he'll have to talk to him eventually and obliquely about michael, about how he is forbidden to tell anyone due to the absolute catastrophe that might befall his own leg of the universe if such things were uttered out of turn, but if it has not already - it likely won't. even so. ]

If you are amenable to assistance, I am able to... Repair any physical damages to your current place of habitation?

Unless you may find me of other use.

[ though, he rightfully suspects he might mean gwen. that isn't really his wheelhouse, but he'll listen. ]

Edited 2024-08-05 20:36 (UTC)

It's not that I don't understand. It's that I think you should

But maybe, mister Spock, I shouldn't be meddling. This is your personal business, right? I totally have no right to tell you how to feel. I was you but I wasn't you as much as you are you if you get what I am trying to say

I think your mother was a very brave person, is what I actually think.

I have stitches, it's fine on that part

But I mean. Do you eat pizza?

Yeah, Pete. But it's okay, we all do.
The people who care about us care anyway, you get me?

Good. She needs you there.

[ A pause. He shouldn't meddle, and Jim doesn't mean to, but Peter's a big boy, he can handle the truth. ]

She was scared, Peter.
When Spock got you, I think she was terrified.
I know I was.

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Page 1 of 4

[ Trek Crew Catch-All ] And you may ask yourself

[ closed to Spock, Tendi ] it's cool we're just friends

absolutely nothing "just" is happening here

to mr spock (two days after)

to not-mister jim (before he goes home after rescue)

just two bros sitting on a couch approximately 76.2mm apart

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and they were roommates...

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the cat’s pajamas >> Spock

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closed to Jim | apology tour

closed to Vi, Jim, & Spock | double date night

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[ closed to Claude ] nightmare blunt rotation

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