Mingle Log!

[notscrapmetal]

When; July 5th through July 7th!
Rating; G+
Characters; Open to ALL, 4th Wallers and Citizens!
Summary; The celebrations continue, and the Anonymous regime has summoned guests that Citizens might (not) prove very thrilled to see! As opposed to other Fourth Wall events, all visiting characters will have been invited to the City, or they must arrive here of their own will.

Mingle! Explore~!

Log;

There's so much to do and so much to see in this City of cities. From tromping through Xanadu, long walks along the shore, shopping in the Square, hunting in the forest, meeting a contact in the Underground, or getting as many answers as possible at the Welcoming Center how can anyone decide on just one. In three days time so much can be done!

Shops and restaurants are having specials. Happy hour has become happy days in some bars. This is quite the occasion! When the City decides to celebrate, it becomes contagious. Why not smile and strike up a conversation with a stranger? After all, a stranger is a friend you haven't met yet.

Comments

[logistical]

He will only require a few seconds.

[An almost-smile graces his expression, because Jim doesn't sit still when his crew is danger, any version of his crew. It had been what led him straight to that warp core. Spock does not shudder. He is accepting it, slowly. The needs of the many.]

[hischair]

[ A short silence follows where Jim appreciates the simple comfort of having Spock around, a smile demure where it tugs into place on his lips. When he speaks again, his tone is far less authoritative and more confessional. ]

I've missed you.

[logistical]

[He opens his mouth for a barbed reply, but this is the same as I'm going to miss you and he closes it, placing both hands on his lap, attempting to accept Jim's friendship, somehow.]

We... are indebted to you.

[hischair]

[ The way his smile twists and he nods, accepting Spock's effort for what it is, says a lot about how much Jim is learning to read into those seemingly bland phrases.

He rises and claps him on the shoulder. ]

C'mon, let's go bother Bones for now. That was more emotion for one day than even I'm used to, I'm starved.

[logistical]

[And that just gets a Look stop frenching him.]

With your permission, sir, I intend to explore the city, and take as many readings as possible. Just as people are brought here, it is also unpredictable when they may be forced to leave.

[hischair]

[ You are such a baby about that. ]

You also just had a significant shock to your system. Eat something, then you can skip off for a few hours and do your science thing.

[logistical]

[JIM P L S]

It would be more logical to explore, [a pause] "work up an appetite", and then return for a meal.

[hischair]

Don't think I don't know what you're doing. [ fffFFFF. ] Alright, fine. Come and set your comm to the same frequency as the ancient piece of crap Bones is using, I lost mine and I don't want you out of contact.

[logistical]

[He gets up, and deftly makes sure his communicator can contact the one Bones has, before he steps towards the door.]

I shall return in a few hours... Jim.

[hischair]

[ And he'll see him off, pushing down the anxiety that he might not come back through any fault of his own. I trust you. ]

I'll be waiting, Spock.

[medicos]

[ bones doesn't pretend that he hasn't been listening since the moment he left to make food for all of them, and when spock retreats a little in order to stew on his new found emotions, bones is there, leaning against the doorway that leads to the small kitchen area, watching and hearing as the door clicks shut behind the vulcan.

then he turns to jim, eyebrows raised - more in curiosity than judgment, really. ]

Just like that, Jim?

[ he's asked that same question to jim before, in his own time, when roughly the same thing happened after jim woke up for the first time in weeks. the answer is probably going to be the same, but he still needs to ask. as a doctor and a friend. ]

[hischair]

[ Meeting Bones' gaze, he searches it for a clue as to what he should say so as not to mess anything up further. ]

You mean ...?

[ Yeah, he's being extra tentative with this. ]

[medicos]

[ ah, right. ]

With Spock.

[hischair]

A lot happened in a short time.

[ It's one of the most succinct answers he has, and he knows how Bones prefers those. Looking away, he drags off his yellow shirt to be left in the short-sleeved black on underneath, a small weight lifting as he drapes it over the back of a chair. ]

[medicos]

Clearly.

[ he does, but that always depends on the timing. he would have liked more from jim, even if he knew he wasn't going to get more than that.

he pushes himself off the wall and strides over to jim, reaching for him, one hand under arm like he's done before. ]

Jim, are you okay?

[hischair]

I'm ...

[ Ducking his head, he leans against the couch and finds he can't meet Bones' eyes as the word fine lingers on his lips. It's such a blatant lie now, more than before, that he sighs and shakes his head minutely, answering in an undertone. ]

That's why I wasn't going to try and get back. [ It's a shameful thing to admit, especially as he's supposed to set standards for this sort of thing. ] I'm still scared.

[medicos]

The last patient I had that died on me, she kept herself pretty strong 'til the end, but when I held her hand she was shaking like a leaf. She knew what was coming, but she smiled for me before she closed her eyes, anyway.

[ his grip tightens a little, almost involuntarily. he hasn't told this story, any part of this story, to anyone. ]

It's alright to be scared, Jim. Everyone is. I'd be more scared for you if you weren't.

[hischair]

[ The story of the little girl gives him pause, and he unfolds an arm to rest it along Bones' for the sheer human comfort the touch provides, plucking his sleeve. ]

I didn't think it would kill me. I mean, I knew it would, obviously, but ... [ How does he explain something like that? First stumbling, then crawling his way back to decontamination just to be able to breathe again, and how much pain has swelled behind his eyes until it had been too hard to focus on his hand over Spock's any more. It had been so aggressive when attacking his system.

Unconsciously, his grip curves around a bicep to stay rooted, blue eyes skittering at the memory. He sounds plaintive, even to his own ears, and he hates that so, so much but it's true. ]

All I wanted was someone there, just to feel them. I was scared and, for a while, for as long as I could see him, Spock ... helped me not be 'cause he was scared too.

[medicos]

I'm sorry, Jim. [ for a long of things. for not being there, for being a dick here. just sorry. ] I'm sorry you had to go through that.

[hischair]

It's alright. It'll be alright, c'mon.

[ Realizing what he's doing, he gives a bracing sniff and loops his arm all the way over a shoulder to drag him into a hug, patting him on the back and hooking Bones in at the waist. His words muffle but carry. ]

We're good.

[medicos]

[ in such an uncharacteristic fashion, he returns the hug, arms going around jim's waist and squeezing him tightly like he's afraid to let go. for the first time since this whole issue rose from the ashes again, bones gets his own confirmation that jim is alive, still alive, and he did save him. it's not just some dumb doctor's foolish fluke. not just his own wishful thinking. and when they get back, jim will be saved, and bones will get to have him for another year, and many more after that.

jim is alive, bones has his best friend back, and they're good. they'll be good.

he sighs, and with one last squeeze, he slowly pulls away from the hug, face pinched. he's either trying to hold back his own emotions by pretending to annoyed or he's just reached his personal quota on feelings and emotions in conversations. ]

[hischair]

[ Jim sinks into the hug whole-heartedly, gathering Bones up as much as he lets himself be held. Whereas there's a part of him that needs to know Spock is safe and alive, he wouldn't ask this of him, the thin line of neediness that comes with caring so much isn't tightrope-walked now but steam-rolled, the scent of food and sweat and something that is delightfully Bones (a slice of home) cheering him up more effectively than duking it out with words ever could. He remembers hugging Sam and how his big brother would scoop him up after a playfight, long arms wrapping all the way around Jim's tiny, shrimpy body. This is no less welcome but he stands on equal ground here, wanting to be the one that his family can run to as much as he looks over his shoulder for them. Maybe he will be in the dark, cold and afraid again someday, but he'll make more of an effort to remember how warm moments like this make him feel and it won't be so bad.

Tactfully, he huffs as Bones schools himself again and glances to the kitchen. He does a genuine double-take. ]

... Did you burn something?

[medicos]

[ that would be the chicken.

he curses and runs. ]

Don't you dare laugh!

[hischair]

[ Rolling his eyes, he follows after him and adopts a distinctly thoughtful, critical tone. ]

What kind of doctor cremates their patients ... ?

[ They'll be alright, all three of them, just like Jim promised. ]