OPEN // october post-mission log

[winscenario]

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! ]

Comments

[winscenario]

I don't know her, so I can't defend her. Maybe she was just selfish, maybe she did find a way out of here and jumped ship at the first chance she got.

But you don't know that, either. If anything, I'm defending her right to some reasonable doubt, a right we are all entitled to.

[scarcastically]

[ he frowns. ]

I thought she was — Fuck it. It doesn't matter.

[winscenario]

It does matter.

[ His hand pulls, a gentle tug, but unwilling to let go of Erik’s. ] Tell me.

[scarcastically]

[ erik goes quiet, still. ]

I thought she was here for me. For a moment, that's . . . what it felt like.

[winscenario]

For you?

[ Jim looks a little concerned for a moment there. ]

To take you back? Or— for what?

[scarcastically]

Yeah. To bring me back.

Bring me home.

[winscenario]

[ The way Erik says it makes his heart sink. Screw his injury, he just sits upright and leans closer, pulling Erik into an embrace. ]

[scarcastically]

[ he sort of goes stiff before it seeps away, not used to this kind of interaction and touch. he presses his eyes closed, as if clenching them. he didn't want to say it out loud. he feels the core of anger and sorrow is so closely intertwined, he would lose it.

he'd lose it all

as if he hasn't already completely lost. ]

[winscenario]

[ Jim can't say that he understands what Erik's going through, what he's gone through, but that's alright. He can still feel empathy for longing ache to go back home, even if home is a place that didn't want him.

He can't give Erik that. What little comfort he can offer feels like so little, but it's all he has, and he gives it all, hoping that it will at least help soothe some of this loss for him. ]

[scarcastically]

[ it is an unwinding. he had no real defense when shuri came in and when she left, it felt like a punch to his gut. that tiny flicker of hope, crushed.

he pulls back, somewhat irritated with himself. ]

It's fine, the whole thing's moot.

[winscenario]

It's not moot. You're not wrong in wanting that for yourself.

[ Even if Erik pulls back, he still tries to hold onto his hands. ] It's not wrong to hope for it.

[scarcastically]

[ erik looks down at their joined hands. ]

Isn't it? It's never gonna happen. I had to be their monster for them to let me in.

[winscenario]

[ Jim ponders for a moment, so he's sure of what to say next. ]

I'm not going to tell you that moving on isn't a good idea too, sometimes. But that's not always so easy. Something in here— [ He touches Erik's chest, over his heart. ] —still needs to go back. So... keep hoping. As unlikely as it might be. I mean, can't be much more unlikely than ending up in a place like this to begin with.

[scarcastically]

[ hope. he's never held such a thing in his hands before. even when wakanda bowed to him, he remembered how much it ached.

he wished his father hadn't passed on so much. made him love it. then it would have been easier to bear. ]

Can't say I know how to.

[winscenario]

[ If it was easier to bear, then it wouldn't be important. But it is important to Erik; it's what his father left behind, in him. It's worth something. ]

You can learn. Luckily it's something all humans are incredibly good at.

[scarcastically]

[ erik huffs. ]

Just pick it up, huh.

[winscenario]

Something like it, yes.

[ He tries for a little smile. ]

What do you say to that, Stevens? Dare to hope?

[scarcastically]

. . . N'jadaka.

[winscenario]

[ He raises an eyebrow, confused. ]

Sorry?

[scarcastically]

That's my real name.

[winscenario]

Oh.

[ It... sounds Wakandan. But he feels like he doesn't have to point that out. ]

Why didn't you tell me before?

[scarcastically]

[ he shrugs. ]

Not really one I use. Erik's also real too.

[winscenario]

Well, I like it. I like both.

[ But N'jadaka clearly holds a special meaning. Understandable. ]

Which one do you prefer I use?

[scarcastically]

Erik's fine for public stuff.

N'Jadaka can be . . . private.

[winscenario]

Alright, that works fine by me. N'Jadaka.

[ He smiles. Yes, he likes that name. ]

Now, you really should help around here. Some of the people could use your help. We can meet up later tonight, after things have settled down a little.