ximilialog | OPEN // october post-mission log

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OPEN // october post-mission log

CHARACTERS: James T. Kirk & you!
LOCATION: Around the station
DATE: second half of October
CONTENT: post-mission stuff: training/sparring, space lessons, drawing, attempts at cooking, all the while pretending he hasn't been shot
WARNINGS: none for now, will update if need be

INFIRMARY ➢ CLOSED to Erik

[ Adrenaline has been fueling his body for a while now, having allowed him to power through the gunshot wound he took to his shoulder during the heist. It's not looking too bad either, but he definitely lost some blood, and the area around the injury is swollen and aching. He's also looking a little paler than usual, which at this point is to be expected.

He's making a good job of acting as though it doesn't bother him much, though. Behind pressed lips, he grits his teeth while he gets the wound cleaned and bandaged, while he's told that he needs to wait for a little longer before anyone can stitch it up properly, or heal it altogether. He doesn't complain, just nods in agreement, then leans back on the bed, preparing himself to wait for a while until anyone can check his injury. ]

WORK OUT THE STRESS ➢ OPEN

[ Working out is quite possibly not the brightest idea he's had so far, but also: it's been almost a week now, and Jim is absolutely done with sitting around taking it easy. His shoulder is still sore, but at this point he doesn't really care anymore. He can power through it, he's dealt with much worse than this.

So he's made it to the training room, where he's going through a few individual training exercises. He might be doing something more active like HITT training or boxing moves, or other times he'll be going through various yoga positions, which help him with the soreness on his shoulder. On occasion he will be likely looking like he's struggling, but good luck having him admit to that. ]

SPACE LESSONS ➢ OPEN

[ Now back on the station, Jim plans to resume the classes he's offered to anyone who wants to learn more about space. He's contacted anyone who's shown interest, has invited everyone to spread the word if anyone else wants to show up, and he's also put together some reading material on basics of space, how it divides into galaxies and solar systems, how orbits work, what kinds of astronomical objects there are. With questions about how people don't "fall off planets", he has also included a bit of information about gravity, and he's now at the mess hall at an arranged time, with a few books and tablets where he and whoever shows up can go through some information. ]

KITCHEN NIGHTMARE ➢ OPEN

[ So, Jim technically doesn't know how to cook. That said, he's been trying to learn. Mostly on his own, relying on recipes he finds and tips and tricks he's learned from reading, but he's quickly realizing that putting theory to practice is pretty tricky when it comes to cooking.

At least he hasn't set fire to the kitchen yet, but he may be struggling a little between something frying, some batter he's got that looks somewhat overbeat, or just cursing while he tries to disperse a small cloud of smoke that emerges when he opens the oven door. ]

Damn it...

HERE COMES THE SUN ➢ OPEN

[ The sunlight room is another place Jim enjoys visiting, during this downtime. He has with him a sketchbook and some drawing supplies, and finding a quiet spot to sit, he entertains himself sketching various things. Whether the scenery he has here, or other things from memory, like his ship; on occasion he may be even trying to draw simple portraits of people he knows, both from home and from the station. He's pretty immersed in it, but he will welcome any company, and he's quick to offer a small smile when approached. ]

Have a seat, if you want.

WILDCARD! ➢ OPEN

[ Would you like to run into Jim anywhere else on the station? Feel free to pull out your wildcard and write a starter of your own! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Blue accepts the arm without much hesitation, his expression softening with some gratitude. since Jim's not a stranger to walking this guy around, it's not as much an imposition as it could be, is it?

while pushing away from the wall:] Thank you... I hope it doesn't become tiresome...having to walk this slow pace again. [they're not on-mission, after all.]

Don't worry about that. If I minded helping you out, then I wouldn't have offered.

[ Granted, it's a sharp change from the jogging from only moments ago, but he doesn't mind slowing down for Blue. It's not like he was really going anywhere, anyway. ]

Besides, I'm admittedly curious to see if you can pick something up.

[so is he... all the more reason to try.

it doesn't take long for Blue to inquire on a different track, though:]

You were hurt... Weren't you? [in Braccia.]

I was, yes.

[ He puts a clear emphasis on that particular word— was. ]

It's healed now, I'm alright.

[slight eyebrow raise. the good sir doth protest too much, perhaps?]

Sabriel, then...?

[she's the only one he knows who can heal injuries.]

[ Excuse me, but the good sir hath not protested at all. He was just pointing out the injury is gone now, okay? ]

No— Erik. Erik Stevens.

[ Sabriel would be a good guess, though. Hadn't Erik come to him first, he'd have likely reached out to her. ]

[he makes a soft sound of regard, frowning a little as he tries to connect the name to anything recent.]

I don't...know them. [but that doesn't come as much of a surprise.] But...I'm glad.

It was...hard to perceive, but...I could still sense...pain nearby.

I'm sure there was a lot of pain going around. Plenty of people got hurt during the heist.

[ He glances over, making sure he's keeping his pace slow enough for Blue to keep up. ]

But yes, it was hard to deal with it. I'm glad it was easy to heal.

[upon inspection, Blue's expression is a mix of strain and a dogged effort to smooth that strain over. his face is flush, but he's not sweating the bullets he'd been when first getting upright some hours ago. pain dulls when no time is given to fully feel it, though he can't help favoring one leg over the other, needing to rely on Jim for balance more than he'd like.

the pace is fine, because he demands it to be; anything less would bother him too much.

after a quiet few steps:] Please...tell me your impressions of...what transpired...

[ Jim makes sure to adjust his own steps to help Blue with his balance the best he can. As much support he might need, Jim doesn't even bring attention to it, much less show to be bothered by it.

Being asked about his thoughts on the mission, however, is met with a frown. ]

My main take away right now? Looks like the previous deal with the orb needs to be broken for it to come back with us. Doesn't bode well for future missions.

[Blue's brow furrows a bit, eyes still fixed forward. it's hard to not mirror the mood of his escort, but then...he was already not in a good state of mind about things on his own as it is.]

I don't...understand... [he doesn't even bother trying to vocalize it; he speaks better in thought.] Who benefits in the end...

I don't think any of us understands.

[ That's the problem, mainly. Not knowing who this is benefiting, and what it may come down to. They will all be complicit with it, should something horrible come from it. It's not like there's an abundance of information about their 'mission' here. ]

We're almost there.

[ He's choosing one of the doors that's closer to the wing, along the outer ring of the station. It's mostly deserted at this point, so hopefully no one will stop to ask what they're up to while Blue tries to do his thing. ]

[it's an echo of Braccia: Jim, guiding the Mu to a target location, waiting while Blue does his thing. Blue doesn't consciously realize that he'd already begun to trust this person to look after him, thanks in part not only to that encounter in Braccia, but the implicit trust Finn has in him, too.

it's why Blue doesn't even wait to explain or reassure when he's brought to the doors, instead just reaching out and placing his palm on it. there's a little pulse in the air, and then a gentle glow as Blue closes his eyes and tries to--

wait--]

What-?

[his brow knits. with a second pulse, the mental projection of himself flickers just a little over him, creating a kind of blurring effect. both figures bow their heads and lean a little forward, pressing for only a moment before the figment is dashed and Blue is left blinking in bewilderment, drawing his hand back to himself and leaning back into Jim.]

This...doesn't make sense...

[ However similar or different to how it happened in Braccia, Jim doesn't show much surprise as Blue's abilities express themselves. He may seem a little worried when it becomes clear that something here isn't quite what Blue's expecting, and he's standing at the ready should something go terribly wrong.

Thankfully the worst that happens is Blue leaning back against him. Both his hands move up to rest on Blue's arms, keeping him steady. ]

What? What did you sense?

[Blue's gaze slowly scans the door up and down, as if he expects to find some explanation for what just happened. but...nothing. just metal, just their dim reflections off the surface of it. hazy, red eyes stare back at him with just as much confusion as he feels.]

It's like...I'm being bounced back...to myself. Actively repelled. [he reaches to touch the door again.]

I've never encountered anything like this before. [anti-psionic tech in his universe isn't this robust...or humane.]

[ Jim's frowning too, but not out of confusion. He looks the door over, then shakes his head, letting out a sigh. ]

Can't say I'm surprised.

[ He glances at Blue. ] After all, if it were this easy for you to get a look into it, there would be no point in keeping it locked.

[frustrating... but should it be at all surprising? with all the false-starts, stumbles, and walls in front of him in this short span of time, it really shouldn't.

but it is frustrating that what little he can try is, at the end of the day, worthless.

his hand slips away, falling to his side, fingers curling into a weak fist as his expression tightens with that frustration welling up in him.]

And all...anyone can do...is just...sit and wait...

[another cage. here, now, is one he can't simply break the way he'd done so as a child.]

[ To be fair, whatever they all could try is just as worthless. There's no one here on the station, despite extraordinary abilities and powers, that will be able to break into the Northern wing, or know what's truly happening in there. At least, not for now. ]

For now— yes, that seems like all we can do. We can try to gather as much intel as possible during the missions, though, and from what systems we can access around here.

[ But Jim sees no point in Blue frustrating himself by continuing to try to look past these doors, with no success. ]

...

[Blue hears him, but it doesn't encourage him much. after all, it's nothing he can do with his own mind, his own will. those are the sort of efforts he'd always had his friends for - Oyae, Brau, Harley...

after a beat:] I need...help getting back. To the infirmary.

[ He's not aiming for encouraging, not this time. It is a worrying situation, and he can understand that frustration all too well. He can feel it there even without that open connection, and share in it without any outside influence. ]

Then I'll take you back.

[ He turns slightly, keeping his arm available for Blue to hold onto. ]

I'm sorry if I'm stepping out of line by asking, but... you don't seem to be doing very well. Here. In general. Is it the atmospheric settings, or the gravity?

[ He's met some species with similar difficulties adapting, so he wonders if it's that. ]

[Blue follows Jim's lead, leaving the door behind them. there's a small measure of relief in moving in a direction that at least simulates progression - a lessening of the self-imposed pressure Blue unconsciously presses upon himself.

the question posed comes with a different kind of feeling. a mix of feeling, rather: pride would have him dismiss concern, shame would have him deflect, and despair would keep him silent and closed up. none of these are great options to have in front of him, and none of them are what Jim's earned, considering what he's done for Blue in such a small window of time. even if it doesn't put him out much effort at all, it still matters.]

It isn't out of line. [even if it's hard to answer point-blank.] I'm still...trying to recover, somehow.

Before Sabriel...found me somewhere in this station...I'd only just woken up. [...] Fifteen years...I was asleep. Until I wasn't.

[there's a lot of gaps to fill in there, but Blue's just not sure how much should be said. would need to be said.]

It's like...my body doesn't remember how to move anymore. Or keep up. [and he's scared that it won't remember, because the hour's already pretty damn late. but that's definitely not needed to be spoken right now - there's other matters of concern besides.]

My hope is...if I just keep trying more, then it will get easier. The way most things that take effort do. Right...?

[ Jim lets out a little 'ah' when Blue explains it. Well, that certainly makes perfect sense, and in a way he's relieved to learn that it's not the station itself that's affecting him this way.

Still, not an ideal situation to be in, especially as they're sent out on these dangerous missions so regularly. To the last bit, he promptly agrees with a nod. ]

Absolutely. I was once in a coma-like state for almost a month, and even that short amount of time was enough to leave me feeling weak when I woke up again. I had to go through physiotherapy and everything. I can't even begin to imagine how it feels to wake up after fifteen years, but— yes, keep trying and moving around seems like the best way to handle it.

I know some simple exercises from back then. If you ever feel like trying more specific exercises.

[Blue's frown tugs a bit at mention of a coma. Jim doesn't seem the sickly type, so he can only assume some kind of harm was done to him, and that's...not great to wonder on, is it?

...he can also for some reason so clearly envision him hitting a hard surface with a very hollow sound. that's strange. why would that ever be a thought that would come to mind. best put that one aside for now, since it's silly and unlikely.

more to the matter at hand:] I'd be...a bit of a fool to refuse, wouldn't I?

[ Look, let's just... breeze right past that like it's nothing, shall we? He's young, fit and perfectly healthy right now, so it's not like it matters what kind of trauma he may have been through in the past.

Anyway, he shoots Blue a small smile, tilting his head. ]

I wouldn't necessarily use that word. You could have all kinds of reasons to refuse, and even if I do believe it might help you, I'm not going to impose. Consider it an open offer, for whenever you want to take it.

[Blue meets his eyes for only a moment before ducking his head to hide his own smile. meeting kindness eye-to-eye is going to be a long process.]

...Thank you, Jim. I'll be glad for the help.

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