( open ) I won't even wish for snow

[winscenario]

Who: James T. Kirk 2.0 & YOU!
Broadcast: No
Action: Yes, planetside
When: throughout December


▹▹ ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

[ Jim hasn't been in the fleet long, and hasn't really gotten to know a whole lot of people, but still, he jumps at the idea of gift giving. Even if he only gets presents for a handful of people, it'll still be worth it. And of course, this is the first year he celebrates Winter or any sort of Christmas-like season with Victor, so that asks for something a little more special too.

Dressed in winter gear from head to toe (including a beanie, gloves and a thick scarf), Jim strolls through the streets, carrying a few more bags as the day goes on. He's easily lured closer to some of the street stands, and he takes a break every so often for a tasty snack or a hot drink. Otherwise he can be found in a variety of stores, possibly looking like he's having an internal struggle about two different presents for someone, or maybe struggling with the bags he's carrying when it draws nearer the end of the day and he's carrying far too many presents. Oops. ]

▹▹ LET IT SNOW

[ Winter is definitely not Jim's season. He likes warmer and sunnier weather for sure, but still, he doesn't get really grumpy about it, and the novelty of snow holds at least some charm.

At some point he decides to indulge, because why not? He'll be strolling straight through the snow, feet sinking into the deeper parts, grinning and chuckling even though he's probably getting soaked all the way up to his knees. He'll also try to build a snowman, though that proves to be far more complicated than it looks in movies and TV shows. He keeps trying, but for the life of him he can't figure out how to get the snow into a round shape, and he groans when his latest attempt just falls apart and turns into a pile of snow instead. ] Oh, come on! How can this be so hard?

▹▹ BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

[ Exploration and hiking will always hold a special place in Jim's heart. Maybe not so much on this planet, simply because of the temperatures, but he does have a very specific destination in mind: the hot springs.

The walk is a little long but absolutely worth it, Jim decides as soon as his eyes land on the surface of the glowing water. Grinning already, he strips down and hops into the water quickly, where the scars of stab wounds on his stomach are well hidden, and the bite mark going around his arm, shoulder and chest only show partially.

He sighs in relief and absolute delight, his whole body relaxing as he leans back, head resting against the edge, eyes closed. He can already feel his muscles unwind, a well-deserved rest after that walk. ] Now, this is the stuff.

Comments

All I want for Christmas

[postocular]

[ Who knew shopping for gifts for the people you cared about was so difficult after living in an apocalypse? Still, he's looking through the shelves and racks, waiting for something to jump out at him or speak in some way. He knows what he likes, but what are the others going to like that don't consist of items for survival? Sure, knives are always good to have, but it gets repetitive and this year he wants to get his friends something they'll enjoy having..

Carl is about to give up when he's distracted by Jim, carrying way too many things and struggling. Naturally, he goes over to help. ]

Here, I've got those. [ Said as he's helping to liberate one of Jim's arms of bags. ]

[winscenario]

[ Jim looks up at the approach, eyebrows raising in surprise before he recognizes the face. Then he smiles easily, letting Carl take a few of the bags from him. The help is very much welcome. ]

Thanks. I think I got a little too excited. [ Particularly since he still has somewhat limited funds, being fairly new and all. ] Shopping around for gifts, too?

[postocular]

Trying to. I dunno, nothing's really jumping out at me. [ He shrugs. ]

Maybe I'm bad at this. [ Carl will definitely take the distraction in helping, though. ]

Do you have much more to do?

[winscenario]

Honestly, if it's jumping out at you, it's probably not a good gift idea.

[ Jim offers with an amused little smile, teasing. ]

Not really. I think I was pretty much done. I can help you look, if you want?

[postocular]

Unless it's a dog, yeah. [ Not that he plans on gifting anyone space dogs. ]

If you want. I'm not really sure what I'm looking for. I want to get things that they don't need, just something they'll enjoy.

Baby, it's cold outside

[cajunspice]

[It was a bit of a hike and Remy was really wondering if it was worth it. But any doubt had vanished when he arrived at the springs and saw it, letting out a low whistle. They looked really good. He had planned to meet up with Jim there, and after their trek to the Tree, and having carted around boxes of stock back to the Bar, Remy was looking forward to just soaking away those pains for a few hours.

Though, not quite the Jim he was expecting there.] Captain, fancy meetin’ ya here. [Those scars were, well, quite a sight. Not that Remy didn’t have his own collection, most of them showing signs of being older ones from before his time on the Fleet, but Kirk’s looked much meaner. He was also glad he had decided on a swimsuit for the location, assuming there may be others there and not planning on flashing anyone.]

[winscenario]

[ Unlike Remy, Jim hadn't bothered to bring a swimsuit, even though he had considered the possibility of someone else showing up. He had his clothes nearby anyway, as well as a towel to dry himself off, and he wasn't the least bit shy about the fact that he was pretty much naked from head to toe.

At least the glow of the water and the steam rising from the surface hid his figure from the chest down somewhat. ]

On an ice planet, where else would I be? [ Anywhere warm, was where. Of course he couldn't let the opportunity to visit the hot springs pass him by. ] Been enjoying yourself, so far?

[cajunspice]

[And that didn't surprise Remy one bit. Hell, he was sure his Jim would be the same, and maybe later on he would ditch his too, but for now, yeah, covered. Also, you know, it's cold outside, give time to warm up.]

I be a bayou boy, I don't do cold. 'less it forced on me. [Like being shipped off to a snow planet.

Stepping into the water, Remy let himself get use to the temperature change as he slowly got himself comfortable in the pool.] Ain't the worse place we been, even if it be cold. Just been stockin' up for the bar. Don't wanna carry 'nother crate of drinks 'round for... I would say 'nother planet, but I still gotta put them 'way once get back to the Iskaulit.

[winscenario]

[ No judgment there whatsoever, it was pretty nippy outside. Jim just hadn't wanted to wet any of his clothes, because that would've made the walk back a whole lot more uncomfortable. ]

Yeah, you and me. We did have some pretty rigorous winters in Iowa, but I'll take hot Summer weather any day.

[ But the hot springs? Oh, it was amazing. And Jim knew it wouldn't feel as good if the planet wasn't otherwise this cold. ]

Yeah? Do you usually find a lot of different kinds of drinks when you reach new planets? Or are the types of liquors all more or less the same no matter where you go?

let it snow.

[coinstability]

[It was just curiosity that drew Connor off the beaten path to see what the man hunched over something in the deeper snow was doing. When he gets within a few feet he can tell that Jim is trying to build... something, with the snow, but with limited success. As the heap falls apart once again, Connor stops a few paces away, mindful of the obvious frustration in Jim's voice.]

You're lacking structural integrity - the snow is too dry to hold together.

[winscenario]

[ Jim looks up at the voice, his frustration bleeding away momentarily when he recognizes Connor. He's quick to rein himself in, though. It's likely that Connor doesn't remember him, much like Loki and Taako didn't, and even if he knows Kirk, chances are it's the other Kirk he's familiar with.

So his smile deflates as soon as it shows, and he heaves out a sigh. ]

Right, I... I'm not very good at this, I guess. I've never built a snowman before. [ He cants his head a little, shrugging. ] Wanna help me out?

[coinstability]

[Odd. Connor hasn't encountered that kind of reaction in a while. A brightness that grows dim once the other person sees who it is he's speaking to. There's no recognition in Connor's own eyes when he looks at Jim, but he knows the telltale flash of it when it crosses the other man's face. All he can assume is that he spotted the LED on Connor's temple and realised what he is. A harder task than it would have been when he arrived, now that he's wearing a regular coat and clothes bought from the planet itself, but not impossible by any means.

He's about to excuse himself for interrupting when Jim asks-- that. Which promptly kicks him off his general assumption of how this conversation would go into confusion.]

Oh, well. I haven't built one either. [The perils of offering unsolicited advice: people assume you know what you're talking about. He shifts on his feet, peering down at the crumpled heap of snow Jim was working with.] I don't know how much help I would be.

[winscenario]

[ It really has nothing to do with that, at all. He got to meet three androids back in Riverview, something which he feels very grateful for. He never got to talk to Connor much, admittedly, but Dorian and Markus were both friends of his, and he misses them dearly.

(He also may or may not be a bit of a fanboy, but that's neither here or there.) ]

But you understand in theory. That's a start already. [ He shrugs, then smiles brightly at Connor. ] Trying is half the fun, anyway. Even if we do fail, we'll learn something.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

[twosidedsword]

[Shin-Ah hates the cold. He always has. It reminds him of times not that long ago where it was mostly all that he had for so many years. Cold. Dark. Alone. The memories aren't pleasant and without Yona around they're harder to deal with.

At least now he has Ao.

Perhaps it's why he's drawn to the hot spring. A sign of warmth in this cold world. Of course he's not expecting to see the man already there. A man that he recognizes for more than one reason. One...he's met a Kirk before at the barbeque. Two...he shares a ship with another.

It takes him a moment to figure out which one this is. Actually more than a moment. A lot of moments...

Okay he has no idea which one this is.

Coming closer, he kneels by the water. Jim is likely to recognize the strange quite crewmate from his ship. A young man with blue hair who always wears this mask with eye holes that are only painted on rather than real. He tends to keep to himself in corners but always appears to be watching despite the masking seeming to not allow him to see. And with him here? A little squirrel who jumps off his shoulder into the water and starts floating on her back as she swims around.

Guess you have company now, Jim.]

[winscenario]

[ It's not an unfamiliar face, merely by virtue of having seen him around the ship before. Hard to miss that blue hair and the mask, even if he's never spoken to him before.

If he even... speaks? Jim has to wonder now, what with the guy just kneeling near the edge of the small pool, not uttering a single word. His attention shifts to the squirrel hopping into the water, and he chuckles, watching the cute little animal float around and swim happily in the water. ]

You're not joining in? [ He asks while looking back to his crew mate, eyebrow raised. ]

[twosidedsword]

...

[Standing, he casually takes his clothes off. Including that mask with the attached fur. Beneath is a pair of golden eyes that almost seem to be like jewels. In his world they're said to be one of the most beautiful treasures but he's never really thought of them like that.

Climbing into the water quickly to escape the cold, he ends up right to his chin with a little sigh.

Don't mind him. He hates the cold. So much.]

[winscenario]

[ Considering all the things he's seen, both here and back at Riverview, he has to admit it is nice to find that there's an actual face behind that mask. Not that the company would be unwelcome either way.

He chuckles when the guy sinks into the water, all the way up to his chin. ]

Yeah, I don't like the cold either.

[ He knows that look of relief, so. ]

I'm Jim, by the way. Jim Kirk. The one on your crew, in case you were wondering.

[jolting]

[Victor, by comparison, loves the cold and the snow. But he loves this particular day even more because of an early Christmas present he has to show James. He would have saved it for the day, but it wasn't actually the sort that could be easily hidden.

As said gift proves by bounding into the snow and toward James, barking happily. Victor follows after with a little smile on his face. He waits for the dog to get reacquainted with his owner]

Guess the surprise is ruined. Merry Christmas.

[Yep, he asked the tree for John the dog]

[winscenario]

[ Jim doesn't even look up at the barking at first, so he doesn't even realize what's going on until he's suddenly pounced by a big, hairy thing, and he's tumbling back a little with a yelp.

He shuffles onto his knees, eyes wide when he recognizes the animal. ] John!

[ Letting out a strangled laugh, he wraps his arms tight around the dog, though he seems to be wiggling far too much and far too excitedly for a proper hug right now. Jim still keeps him there, though, trying and failing to keep back tears as he looks up at Victor. ]

How did you get him? I-- how?

[jolting]

[Watching James so happy with the dog makes Victor smile. He takes a few pictures to commemorate the moment]

There's a tree on this planet that will give you things for a price. All I could think about was how much I wished we had a piece of the Quarantine with us, and that's when he showed up.

[winscenario]

The tree? [ There's definite recognition in his tone. ] Yeah, I... was there. I got something, too. But I didn't know it could give you living things.

[ Luckily Victor got him, so that's all that matters. Jim wipes his face, laughing again as he rubs his gloved hands all over John's fur, hugging him again. ]

Oh, I've missed you! I've missed my good boy, yes I have! Did you miss me too? Did ya?

▹▹ ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

[Jim receives a tap on the shoulder towards the end of one of his bigger shopping trips and find Red Robin still in full cape and cowl holding out a bag and a couple of smaller boxes in hand.]

Sorry but you seem to be dropping some of your shopping? Did you want a hand?

[winscenario]

[ Turning around at the touch doesn't really help things. Another bag falls to the ground, and his attention is diverted as he leans down to pick it up, sighing. ]

I might need two hands, actually. [ He smiles at the offer, giving the guy a brief once-over. The suit is kind of odd, but all things considered... yeah, probably not the weirdest thing he's seen. ] Thanks. I think... I need to shove the smaller bags into the bigger ones, just to make this all easier to carry.

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

[He will lean down and pick up the second fallen bag before Jim can reach it.]

I'm not entirely sure you have room in your bags for more bags but as I said I'm willing to help? I do have two free hands and working feet.

You're also liable to lose something to thieves with so much on you.

[winscenario]

[ Well then. In that case Jim just straightens up, smiling gratefully at the stranger for his help. ]

What? You mean there are thieves on a tourist planet? Why, I never.

[ He grins, though. Jim probably would've chased said thieves down the street on principle, but it was likely for the best that he made himself less of a target. ]

I'm Jim, by the way. Are you here with the Fleet, too?