video } un; jtk

[episodically]

( so.

jim kirk had not expected to wake up. he'd done his heroic thing, saved his crew, said goodbye to spock and he'd died. he knows he'd died because it had hurt but now, here he was, awake.

alive (he knows that because he'd spent thirty minutes with a hand over his heart, listening to the organ thump thump thump). once he'd come to terms that he had not died (thus making his heroic sacrifice not as cool), he'd realized he had no idea where he was.

space. a station of some kind but it didn't look like anything the enterprise had built. didn't look like anything any of the species he'd run into had built. the jumpsuit he'd woken up in had been shapeless (unfortunate) but in one piece.

time to find out what in the hell he'd just walked into.

it feels strange to grin considering the last thing he remembers is being racked by radiation sickness but the smile looks natural on his face. )

You know, I don't normally mind being kidnapped but couldn't you give me something better to wear?

( hello everyone, jim kirk was here and he was complaining about clothing. )

I suppose I should thank whoever did this for not tying me up. That's always annoying and my shoulders ache for days afterward.

( and bones offered up absolutely no sympathy. he wasn't human, he was just eighty thousand salt grains shaped into a man. )

Now, while I appreciate the niceties shown to me, I'm still a little confused as to what kind of situation I've found myself in. I don't recognize this station or this communicator on my wrist. And I really can't see this as a prank my crew would play on me.

They're a little...stodgy.

( but he loved them, he did. sometimes. when they weren't being stodgy. )

So, did I die and go to space heaven? Because I imagined more pretty dancing blue girls and loin cloths. And if this is truly the afterlife, I'm disappointed.

Comments

[episodically]

Because I'm getting to know you.

( duh. )

I was just dead and now I'm alive and I'm on some strange station, talking to a man with a very voice who I'm trying to learn about.

( it was pleasant conversation by james t. kirk. get used to it. )

[thingpuncher]

Heard my voice isn't the most comforting thing in the world. Sweet that you're trying to butter me up, JT.

[His voice sounds like sandpaper making sweet love to a cheese grater while falling down a staircase.]

[episodically]

Who says I'm looking for comfort?

( he could find that anywhere. but also, he doesn't need comfort. he's fine, he's always fine, he's forever fine. )

Still haven't answered my question. I'm beginning to think you're avoiding it.

( what a shame. )

[thingpuncher]

I think I answered. You were just too distracted by my voice to notice it.

[episodically]

It's a nice voice.

( hey, that was genuine and sincere. )

And I wasn't that distracted.

( a little distracted, sure, but not that bad. give him a break, he'd just woken up after being dead. )

You haven't stopped talking to me yet so.

( making assumptions there, yep. )

[thingpuncher]

It's really not. But you're trying to butter me up, now.

[ARE YOU GETTING IT YET.]

[episodically]

Yes.

( yes, he is. )

Is it working?

( HE JUST WOKE UP AFTER DYING GIVE HIM A BREAK. )

[thingpuncher]

[How far... can he possibly... push this...]

Take your shirt off and we'll find out.

[Later, he'll blame whatever they put in the water.]

[episodically]

You first.

( he wasn't that much of a pushover. )

I'm new. You should welcome me to this place properly.

>video.

[thingpuncher]

Only because you asked so nice.

[And yep, there's Midnighter, shirtless and reclining in a private room. Which means he finally got a private room... so he could do this. The camera cuts off at his navel, so he could be naked, who knows!]

[In other news, I'm going to Hell.]

i had to find an icon and upload it just for this that's how committed i am to my craft

[episodically]

( well now.

maybe being resurrected and dumped into a space station in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by people he doesn't know and without any knowledge of how to get back where he came from wouldn't be so bad if this happened a lot.

he could get used to this. )

Not bad.

( probably understating it but he's not going to be panting and drooling all over the place. he has more poise than that.

and he's also a man who returns the favor when it suits him so, even though he's just wriggled himself into the jumpsuit he pulls the top half down and sends a video back. )

Wouldn't want to feel left out.

a true draftsman.

[thingpuncher]

[JTK's got a charming fucking smile and bright eyes and that's... that's nice. He'll ignore the pang of familiarity.]

What a gentleman. Glad I could help out, giving you a warm welcome and all.

Midnighter, by the way. Or 'M', if you want. Got a name, handsome?

Re: a true draftsman.

[episodically]

( it doesn't even feel all that strange to be standing in an unfamiliar space station half naked.

least he hadn't been drinking this go 'round. )

You're a boon to this place. I hope everyone gets to experience such hospitality.

( but if they don't, he'll just feel damn special. )

James Kirk. But, Jim's fine.

( midnighter. that's a name. that's an unique name. he likes it. )

[thingpuncher]

Nah. I think we've gone over how I can be pretty selective. [And a wink. You're special.]

Hey, Jim. I'd offer to answer some questions, but I think we're about as new as each other.

[episodically]

You know how to flatter a man.

( he was gonna remember that wink. remember it and remind you when he decided to make sure you remembered him, midnighter. )

I appreciate you telling me that before I started asking unnecessary questions. Wouldn't want you to feel interrogated.

( because he did have a lot. and while sometimes interrogations could be fun, this probably wasn't the time and place to propose that. )

I've woken up in worse conditions. Last time I ended up alone on some desolate planet, I didn't even have the warm welcome I got here.

[thingpuncher]

Now that's just terrible. Lemme know if you wanna get even warmer. [He could be even more shameless and tell him what room he's in, but... 'you come on too strong'. Yeah, yeah, he knows.]

You go space-hopping a lot?

[episodically]

Depends on how you're offering that warmth.

( because if you were just going to throw a blanket at him, he was going to be disappointed. and he was going to keep the damn blanket. )

A lot's kind of an understatement. Space is where I've been for the last several years of my life, captaining a starship. Pretty good work if you can get it. Nice to have a change of scenery so often.

( but man, shore leave was even sweeter when you spent months and months in space. )

[thingpuncher]

Take a guess.

[But more importantly-- his eyes light a little at the mention of space, captaining a starship. It sounds like some scifi bullshit. It sounds overly ideal.]

[He's wondered, before, if Earth just isn't the right place for him.]

How does 'captaining a starship' work? You just rock around the galaxy?

[episodically]

I have a guess.

( many of them. )

Tell me anyway. I like the words.

( see, he did like your voice, midnighter. )

And yeah, that's pretty much what I do. Planet to planet, exploring new galaxies, meeting new species, brokering peace, acquiring new tech, everything.

For some reason, they've put me in charge of all that. Guess I'm just good at giving orders.

[thingpuncher]

What, I'm always gonna be the one putting out first? Give a guy a complex.

[He's transmitting his naked chest over an open comm give him a break.]

And banging blue girls. Helluva way to make a first impression.

[Given that job description, he'd assume Jim was an asshole, and honestly, that's not entirely off the table, but... he wants to think well of him. He's charming. Affable. Midnighter wants to think well of people in general. A reoccurring character flaw, apparently.]

So you're in the space navy. A GL with no ring. Lemme guess, you save the world a few times?

[episodically]

Telling me you wouldn't have asked if the tables weren't turned? Besides, I think it takes more than that to give you a complex. Captain's intuition.

( okay, even if he hadn't gotten the words, he still knows what midnighter had been hinting at and he'd liked it. )

I'll have you know that when I'm working, I don't bang anyone.

( that all came after he was off duty, of course. but sometimes not even then. he was good but even he got rejected. )

Just a few.

( once or twice. )

But, wasn't just me. I had help.

[thingpuncher]

Me? I'm the trusting type. But sure. Captain, you on the job right now?

[See? He's listening.]

The whole crew pulling together, that kinda thing?

[episodically]

Nope. It appears that I am going to be off duty for the foreseeable future. So, guess that means I can bang who I wanna bang right now.

( because this is not the enterprise and he doesn't think anyone would take kindly to him just showing up and shouting orders. )

That kinda thing.

( was that cliche? probably. )

They're a good crew.

[thingpuncher]

Then it sounds like I could warm you up.

[ARE YOU GETTING IT YET.]

[But something in his expression shifts into a kinder thing when Jim mentions his crew.] Good we got someone here with actual team experience. Seems like nearly everybody on this thing's a solo player. [Himself included, though he doesn't say it.]

[episodically]

Sounds like you could.

( HE GOT IT. )

Where are you?

( because as much fun as it might be to go door to door and meet people, he was a little more focused on other things. )

Wasn't always like that. There were a lot of growing pains before I learned to play nicely with others. But, you get people's lives in your hands, you learn quick.