multiversallogs | OPEN :: A golden bird was singing

OPEN :: A golden bird was singing

Who: Everyone!
What: St Kelley's evening
Where: The Apache and surrounding environs.
When: Veerdi evening.
Notes:
(1) The topic threads are just suggestions; if you've got somewhere else that your characters simply must be, make your own thread.
(2) All mementos will appear overnight in some part of your character's apartment.
(3) Dance!

St Kelley's is one of the more sedate occasions in Baedal, at least as holidays go. It passes more or less unnoticed by the majority of the population as many of them feel it doesn't concern them. It's not their holiday; it's for the others. Those with severed ties and broken hearts. The temple and church preach that it's a time for reflection or for glorifying the generosity of the gods. It's one of the few days on which no one looks askance at first generation Citizens mourning their missing loved ones publicly.

As night rolls around and floating lanterns are set to sea, the Apache in Mog Hill prepares to accept guests from the newer cohorts. It's something that happens every year, making it a practical tradition. The alcohol will be cheaper for first timers, and the music will be kept at a reasonable level.

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"That is a weird holiday," what other reaction was she supposed to have for that? Although she would've been interested in participating, "What did you get? If you don't mind me asking."

If it's anything like this holiday, where people are expecting something personal, she won't hold it against him if he doesn't want to share.

"Tell me about it."

There's just a moment of hesitation before he answers; there's no real reason to hold back beyond his own complicated feelings, roughened up by nightmares.

"I got a medal that was posthumously awarded to my father."

"I'm sorry," about the fact his dad has passed away; she doesn't know if Jim getting the medal is a good thing or a bad thing.

"Did he do the same thing you do?" It's always a bit of a risky topic, talking about dead relatives, but tonight seems the night for it and sometimes people like the opportunity to talk.

"Thank you."

He smiles, though it's sad around the edges, and he nods. "My dad was in Starfleet too, yeah. He was the first officer aboard a ship called the USS Kelvin. The day I was born, the ship got into a battle against a ship that outmatched it in every way. The captain died, and my father became captain of the ship."

He presses his lips together for a moment, his gaze losing just a little of its focus. "He was captain for twelve minutes. He sacrificed himself so the other 800 people on the ship could escape. He was awarded Starfleet's highest honor posthumously. That was the medal I got."

There's a definite sadness in his recounting this tale, the weight of what he lost--before he ever even knew he had it--and how that shaped his life. But there's pride there, too. Even a bit of awe, at what his father managed.

"So I'm kind of the son of a legend, in my service."

She listens without interrupting; the space thing is still fascinating, and one day she'd like to just sit Jim down and ask him a million questions, but now isn't the time. She contemplates putting a hand on his arm, just for a small gesture of comfort, but decides against it.

"He must've been a good man," both in the sense of doing the right thing, and good at his job, "Is it hard, living up to his name?"

"He was, yeah." Jim smiles. "It used to be. I feel like I'm doing okay, now, but for a while the weight of expectations was a real pain in the ass. I'd like to think he'd be proud of me now."

He cants his head away from the water, eyebrows raised. "You heading to the party? I am."

"I'm sure he would be," Not that Steph is a good judge of that, but from the way Jim's talked about his job, she figures he's pretty damn good at it.

"Yeah, I should get inside before I freeze to death," she's not that cold, but between the damp pant hems and the general chill off the water, she's starting to feel it.

"Thank you, Steph."

He nods, and starts walking, slow enough for her to fall into step with him, if she chooses. "I'll walk with you. You're right--it's colder here, near the water. We should get inside."

"Hopefully they have heaters set up."

She takes a moment to look out over the water one last time, before turning and catching up to Jim.

"I wonder what'd happen if someon tried to follow the boats out," not that she'd been contemplating that, but she can imagine there's someone who might be desperate enough to go home.

Jim glances back out over the water, too, following her gaze. "I don't know," he says. "I've heard stories of people going out into the fog and coming back beat to hell. But no one's found a way out yet."

"Give it another month and I'll be getting desperate enough to try," her expression is wry, because that's not as unlikely as she wishes it was, "If I get dead, you'll know trying to head into the fog is a bad idea."

"Take someone with you."

Jim shrugs and looks over at her. "Everything I've heard says those people who go out into the fog in groups fare the best. Can't hurt to keep that in mind."

He's concerned. Young and brash enough himself to know how much another's concern can sometimes chafe, especially unsolicited. So hopefully that bit of information is enough.

"I'd feel guilty dragging someone else with me. It's not their fault I'm a dumbass," her tone and general demeanour right now make it seem like she's not really taking this seriously. Oh, Steph.

She will keep it in mind though, if it ever does come to it. The first person she thinks of is Hermione, because that whole Apparating thing would be useful, but like. She doesn't want to get Hermione accidentally killed or something.

"Well, no, but maybe someone else wants to try it out. Look at it that way--you're not making it their fault you're a dumbass, you're in it together, either getting out or learning why you can't."

He shrugs. "I wouldn't blame you if you tried; you get stir-crazy here after a while."

"You're not allowed to make sense," she says with mock sterness and a wry expression, "It messes up my guilt complex."

"I would've tried in my first week, if my friends hadn't been here, but I couldn't just wander off and leave them," It's more than she wouldn't dare make Babs lose her again, after she had to do it once.

"I can understand that." Jim nods, sympathetic. "I was about to try it myself, but then my friend turned up. I couldn't risk leaving him here on his own."

Jim Kirk, weighing risk and making the sensible decision. McCoy would check him for fever if he were here.

"I wonder sometimes if that's why so many of us have friends and loved ones pulled through after us. To keep us from poking at too much."

"Huh, I never thought about it like that," it's worth considering, although... "I kind of figured it was just a side effect of the fact we're brought here to do something proactive."

Which is Steph's current theory. And she feels like it's supported by their cohort being outraged at militia violence and other bullshit that goes on within Baedal.

"That could be, too."

He grins.

"And, you know-- this place seems to have pulled in the best and the brightest. It stands to reason if it takes one of us, it'll take our close associates. I'm sure we don't hang out with morons and lazy people."

"Especially when you've got people like you, I'm guessing most of your friends are from your starship?" It's the same for Steph, with her profession, except it's not really a profession and she can't really say all my friends are superheroes.

"Just the one," Jim offers. "Not that I'd wish this place on anybody, but... if I had to pick one, he's the one I'd pick. The one that matters."

He smiles, then, glancing at her. "Dr. McCoy, my ship's Chief Medical Officer, and my close friend."

"Always good to have a doctor around. I'm glad he's the one that here," Steph can understand wanting to have a friend around, even though she wouldn't wish Cass here, "If I ever run into him, I'll keep in mind that he's a good guy."

"I got my ex," her smile is wry, because seriously, why Tim of all people, "And my... friend, Barbara." There's hesitance there because friend doesn't seem to cover their relationship, but Steph doesn't know how to explain that Babs is part mentor, part friend, part mom.

"He's the best," Jim declares, and that's fact. Best surgeon in the fleet, best friend to have, best everything.

And then he raises his eyebrows, grinning. "Thank goodness I didn't get my ex. Exes." He honestly doesn't know if her ex being around is a good or bad thing; he doesn't want to assume so maybe the levity at his own expense will give her an opening to explain, if she wants. "But at least that's not all you got. It's good to have friends here, too."

"I only have two, really, and Tim is the better option," Not that she really counts Dean as an ex, "At least I don't have to beat the shit out of him every time I see him." Which she is contractually obliged to do to Dean. She went through nine months of pregnancy and a c-section for that jerk.

"Babs is amazing, I'm glad to have her here, even if it's weird that she's two years behind me," Weird doesn't even begin to cover it, when Babs came to Baedal not long after Steph's funeral.

"I don't have any exes I'd have to beat the shit out of on sight. Whiiiiich... begs the question." He grins, still full of good humor. "Am I the ex people need to beat the shit out of? It's entirely possible."

He raises his eyebrows at her remark about her friend being years behind her; he's heard of this happening with people all over the city. "Fortunately for us, Bones and I came from more or less the same point in time. Things are confusing enough without us having to deal with something like that on top of it. I hope you and your friend are managing okay--sounds like you are."

"I dunno, did you leave your girlfriend in the middle of a natural disaster and expect her to find her own way home amid the earthquakes?" This is another shitty thing Dean did, and doesn't involve telling Jim about her pregnancy, "If you didn't, you're probably fine."

"We're doing alright, it's just hard to figure what I can and can't tell her. I don't wanna break the future or something, but... there's a lot of good she can do, if she was forewarned," Steph's expression grows a little thoughtful. There are a lot of things she's considered warning Babs about, and a lot of lives that could be saved if she did.

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