OPEN // december catch-all log

[winscenario]

CHARACTERS: James T. Kirk & you!
LOCATION: around the station; training room & the nearest doorframe for your convenience for the time being
DATE: throughout December
CONTENT: mistletoe shenanigans because I'm a sucker for it; some sparring action; more things to be added eventually
WARNINGS: sex in two threads

➢ MISTLETOE MISCHIEF
➢ TRAINING DAY

Comments

OPEN // mistletoe mischief

[winscenario]

[ It's going to be happening a little all over the station, at any hour of the day too. Jim sticks to a pretty strict schedule despite the lack of a duty roster here, but even then he has the odd night where he can't sleep, and he might be roaming the station just to shake off that nervous energy.

Whether he's simply going from point A to point B (the labs, kitchen, mess hall, crew's quarters and sunlight room are all very easy bets), or donning running shorts and a t-shirt and jogging all around the station, it's not going to be very difficult to run into him somewhere. Perhaps that run-in will happen underneath some mistletoe...

... perhaps he won't look all that upset about it. Rather the opposite. ]

Well, it is tradition, [ He'll say to anyone who seems amused or maybe a little embarrassed, but!!

If he notes any serious discomfort or outright annoyance or hostility about the situation, he'll instead go with— ] We can ignore it, it's fine.

[ But c'mon why're you here if you don't want some smoochin'. ]

leggy out

[firstroar]

[not discomfort, not annoyance, just curiosity. he hadn't noticed the little plant until Jim had pointed it out, and now Blue is looking at it thoughtfully, trying to recall if it means anything to him, but...nothing really comes to mind. nothing as strident as whatever Jim's on about.]

Is it an Earth tradition? Different from...hanging other kinds of plants?

uhuhu

[winscenario]

[ Jim can't help a soft laugh, though empty of mockery or malice. He steps closer to Blue but rests both hands on his own hips, looking up at it and nodding. ]

Yes. That's mistletoe. It's traditionally hung over doors during the winter time, and it's said that if two people are caught under it, they have to kiss. You haven't noticed these all over the station yet?

[firstroar]

[well...]

Ad...mittedly, I don't...spend much time. Looking up. [his mouth curves on one side briefly.] Why are those the rules?

pls run into her in short shorts

[droide]

[ Elthree has no need for sleep, so a "sleep schedule" doesn't even factor into her vocabulary. She takes her downtime when she pleases, and can often be found out and about when most of her organic crewmates are sleeping.

But not Jim, apparently. She crosses paths with him in the curved hall between the common living area and the north wing, where someone has so unscrupulously thought to hang another one of those kriffing plants.

Elthree looks up, then back down at Jim, her optic narrowing. ]

...Fine. But you're going to have to do all the heavy lifting.

[ She gestures towards her lipless face. ]

the shortest of shorts, I hope she appreciates the view because it's really nice

[winscenario]

[ Jim can't help a quiet chuckle, amused by her reaction. She seems a little annoyed by the plant, but evidently not enough to tell him where he can stick it. So, you know, all things considered, not so bad.

Even better when she gives him clear consent, something he always appreciates. ]

Mmm, I think I can make something work.

[ With a wide teasing smile, he steps up closer to her, both his hands moving to curl loosely around the wiring and structure that make up her neck. Both thumbs gently tilt her head up, then he leans down to press a lingering kiss to the rim of the dome just an inch or so below her optic. She may not register the kiss in the same way a humanoid would, but unless she's willing to show him other ways she might share in intimate gestures like that, he's going for what seems more natural and familiar to him. ]

those short shorts deserve better than the ELEVEN DAYS I waited to tag this back... forgive me

[droide]

[ The thing is, cynical as she may be about this Earth holiday, all the positive attention is... nice. Elthree would never admit to it, but it makes her feel good when people are nice to her. She's not completely new to romantic or sexual advances (things tend to happen when you travel with a man like Lando Calrissian), but they've been too few and far between for her to feel accustomed to them, or like she should expect them. No, the only treatment she's accustomed to from organics is apathy and/or outright scorn. So getting a kiss from someone who is objectively handsome, at least by human standards? It's not something Elthree is going to turn down, even out of spite.

Her optic widens when he lifts her dome, lens zooming in and out as she shifts her focus and takes in every centimeter of his face, so close to hers. (Those eyes are so blue, like hyperspace.)

The physical sensation of the pressure of Jim's lips against the plating beneath her optic is-- well, it's nothing to write home about. Physically, it feels the same as if he had touched her there with his fingertips. Her faceplate isn't the most sensitive part of her, certainly. It's the gesture and intent of the kiss that's pleasant, more than anything.

There's a whirring sound from an exhaust fan somewhere in Elthree's chassis, something equivalent to a pleased hum. ]

sneaks right up in here

[hatejakku]

[ Oh, Finn loves it when he catches Jim running around. Despite wanting to, he has yet to drop everything to run with him, but he has stopped and watched him make a few circuits on occasion. It's one of his favorite hobbies.

But today, he finds that Jim has already stopped. ]

Oh? [ Then he glances up and sees one of those plants that's been dotted all around the station. Didn't Dean mention something about them being- Something about kissing? There was kissing involved.

Sorry, his flirty smile is gone in favor of squinting at the green sprig. ]

It's-... It's a kissing thing, right?

[winscenario]

[ I'm sorry Finn, but why is that flirty smile gone just when they're literally both 'trapped' under the official make-out plant of the season? This is the time to ogle him, thanks. ]

Oh, yes. It's a kissing thing. I hear you really have to put your heart to it, or else it doesn't count.

[ Not that he needs any kind of excuse to get Finn to kiss him senseless, but... you know. ]

[hatejakku]

Doesn't count?

[ Doesn't count towards what? Is someone keeping score here?

But he lets the more anxious thoughts go when he looks back to Jim and his flirty smile slowly starts to make a reappearance. ]

Well, we can't have that. I don't want to seem rude or anything.

[catchatting]

[ Zari doesn't care about Christmas and she doesn't celebrate it, but it's hard to resist a fun and harmless tradition, especially when she's standing under the mistletoe with someone as cute as Jim.

What's the best way to get over one John Constantine breaking her heart? It might be something like this. ]

Is it?

[ She can't help smiling, playing a little coy as she reaches out to rest her hands on his shoulders and leaning right into his space. ]

You don't strike me as a very traditional man, Jim.

[winscenario]

[ Had their first meeting gone differently, Jim might not have been quite so bold out of the blue, but they did seem to hit it off well, despite the circumstances. He's also made his interest (very) clear, and she didn't turn him down on the spot.

Plus, she's getting her hands on him the moment he steps close enough to her for that, which is very promising. Oh, he likes where this is going already. ]

I like to pick and choose. Some traditions are worth holding onto, don't you think?

[ He raises an eyebrow at her, a hand resting on her waist. ]

[catchatting]

I guess I can see the merit of a few of them.

[ She can feel a pleasant flush rising in her cheeks. It's been too long since she could just be playful and let go of everything for a moment.

Leaning up just a little on her toes, she presses closer until they're breathing the same air. ]

This one doesn't seem too bad. It definitely has me thinking of you.

[ Zari knows she's a lot of things, but subtle isn't something she's ever tried to be. Subtle doesn't get you millions of followers and a successful business and it doesn't get you the things you want. ]

[spacedisaster]

[ Peter has already been looking for the captain all over the station, carrying a leather messenger bag. He spots the captain in the hall leading to the sunlight room and calls out for him with a smile. ]

Ey Jim! Could you do me a small favor...? [ In a couple of long strides, Peter's standing next to him, unaware of the mistletoe hanging over them until Jim points it out. ] Eh? What tradit...[ Anaaaad Peter looks up, then barks out a laugh. ] They're really everywhere, uh? Bless Dean, really trying to bring love all around the station.

[winscenario]

[ Jim smiles, eyebrow raised when Peter doesn't curse Dean for what he did. Well, not that most people so far have seemed all that upset about being stuck under the mistletoe with him. Which, you now, it's worked well in his favor. ]

Yeah, he got really excited about these, [ He huffs, tipping his head at Peter. ] What favor did you want from me?

[ The mistletoe isn't going anywhere, they'll circle back to that in a bit. ]

[spacedisaster]

Hah, you don't say... [ Kisses are something he only wants to share with Gamora since they started dating years ago, but the mistletoe is a cute, silly tradition. He's not bothered in the slightest, he finds the whole thing pretty amusing, and cheek kisses are just fine. Plus Jim's a handsome guy and Peter likes him, there are worse people to kiss out there.

He leans in as well, not because he's about to kiss Jim immediately, but because he wants to make sure no one else hears them. He's smiling still, though, his general mood much more cheerful these days than when Jim first met him. Peter's got a good reason for that, and it has nothing to do with Christmas. ]

Did I ever tell you that my girlfriend is here? Alive and well, and she remembers me and everything. If you see a gorgeous green lady with black to red ombre hair, that's her. I'm making her a Christmas present, we share a room and I don't want Gamora to find it but the place is really small. Would you mind keeping it in your room until Christmas's Eve?

[coordination]

[ Also a man of a strict schedule and inability to ever really sit still and chill, Yzak comes across Jim on his way back from the simulation room, a couple of books and papers with notes tucked under an arm.

He is one of those people who, on the way back, is glancing up at the mistletoe with an embarrassed (but harmless) annoyance.

He acknowledges Jim with a small nod, and then scowls. ]

I plan to ignore it.

Why the hell is it all over the place like this, anyway!? Did someone actually do this on their own?

[winscenario]

[ Not especially surprised by Yzak's reaction, he just smiles and nods, stepping aside a little so they're not just standing there, with the twigs looming over their heads. ]

Guess Dean just got a little carried away with the Holiday spirit. [ He shrugs. ] I like it, of all the old traditions this one's pretty cute, I think.

[oiorpata]

[ andy is not entirely aware of the mistletoe hanging up. like, she knows objectively it's up and about because she's noticed the way the station has begun getting seasonally decorated, but she mostly notes that it means it's become december? if anything it's good for reminding her of the month, because she is very bad at time. has she been here for months? weeks? it's a mystery. ]

[ she's coming out of the kitchen with a bottle of alcohol and a bag of miscellaneous snacks under her arm when she nearly runs into jim, sidestepping at the last second to avoid the collision, but he's a familiar face, so she pauses when he speaks. ]

Is it Christmas or something? [ her tone is airy enough that it sounds like she's joking, but part of it is genuinely a valid question. ] I like the tradition where they throw it at a god and it kills him.

[winscenario]

[ Jim lets out an amused chuckle, looking from the plant and back to Andy. ]

Christmas, or just your generic Winter Capitalistic Exploitation Holiday, [ He offers, ever so unbiased. Still, despite not being a fan of the whole consumerist aspect that Christmas was so often associated with (and thus why it has lost popularity by the 23rd century), Jim loves the decorations all around the station, and the overall happy spirit that most people seem to associate with it.

Plus he's not about to complain about any tradition that potentially involves some smoochin'.

Figures Andy would know of a different tradition, though. Jim lets out a soft laugh. ]

I vastly prefer the one where I get to kiss people. It's not like we have a lot of gods around here, anyway.

Mischief under the mistletoe

[cruelyethuman]

[Despite the warning from Jim, the Darkling still finds himself in the sunlight room daily. Sitting under a tree, to soak up the weak rays of sunshine, or more often since the room was invaded with snow, walking briskly through it just to feel something other than the sterile air of the station on his face.

It's less of a run-in, as it's the Darkling coming to an abrupt halt, toes digging in to the slick snow right in front of Jim. He blinks, head tilting.]

How did it get throughout the entire station.

[But, since someone had mentioned that he was too old and too set in his ways to embrace a new tradition, that he would never understand it fully, being what he is, he's been determined to show this person wrong.

The Darkling looks up at the sprig of mistletoe over Jim's head, a slow smile spreading across his face.]

Oh no, it's tradition.

[winscenario]

Through someone's intense dedication, I imagine.

[ Jim's not here to criticise anyone who's here to enjoy the sunlight room, least of all right now. The place looks wonderful, blanketed in pure white, bright sunlight cast over everything, with the advantage that it's not all that cold out here.

Despite that, Jim is still wearing a warm coat, gloves and a scarf, looking pretty cozy. His smile grows even wider when he realises it's Kirigan who's approaching, soft laughter bubbling up at the last remark. ]

Well, yes. I'm no expert, but I hear that ignoring it brings bad luck.

OPEN // training day

[winscenario]

[ Despite Jim's best attempts at a sleep schedule, some nights he just can't make himself fall asleep. Some days he can't focus on anything either, too much pent-up energy with nowhere to go when he has so little do keep him busy at times.

A message will ring out across the Orbers' earpieces, quick and simple. ]

Looking for sparring partners. Training room, right now. No weapons.

[ Plain and simple, really. Jim doesn't really care how strong they might be, or if they have special powers. They can just tweak the details. He might not even mind being roughed up some. ]

i'm already sorry

[blackfire]

（ the... festivities have resulted in him spending rather more time in his single quarters than usual — eclipsing an already significant tendency towards solitude. he has only emerged for training and food, and even that is probably not done as often as mccoy would prefer given the censure about his eating habits.

when the call goes out, he is washing his breakfast dishes in the kitchen, and he pauses to send a word of acceptance back and a rough time frame, as well as a brief physical description so the man knows who he's meeting. it's the one activity he can abide no matter the time or opponent — they all need to stay combat-ready for their next mission.

(no name, though. his username is simply the kanji for 'crimson', and he does not elaborate on that.)

he arrives almost eerily in line with his prediction, and when one of the gathered people shows recognition towards him, he heads that way. he's dressed very plainly, long hair drawn back in a messy bun at the nape of his neck. when he reaches jim, he gives him a respectful nod. ）

Are you what most consider to be 'baseline' human?

（ the best conversation starter. he's obviously a sociable guy, brimming with charisma and easy familiarity. ）

don't be 👀

[winscenario]

[ Jim absolutely doesn't mind the curt approach. His own message had been short and to the point, and even getting a message back just to let him know he'd be dropping by and what he'd look like is already more than he expected. One doesn't send out a message like that in the wee hours of the night hoping for deep, meaningful conversations.

He wasn't particular about details, and isn't even now, which is why he doesn't ask for a name just yet. He waves a hand at the guy once he comes in, offering a nod of his own in greeting, lips curling at the question. ]

Ah. Yes, average human. I know some hand-to-hand and mixed martial arts, but that's about it.

[ An important question to ask, something Jim forgot about, but is glad his opponent remembered to. ]

I'm guessing you aren't, if you're asking.

[ Fine by him, honestly. He wants to burn off energy, even if it means getting thrown around some. ]