Unexpected Expected Guests

[smartass_captain]

Jim's in between meetings when he feels the tug on the edge of his senses letting him know that 'the lady' is in the apartment again. Felix has managed to give Tiber the slip today so the kneazle has been holed up all alone in Jim's apartment while the captain works. The last few times she's shown up haven't been ideal--rebuilding efforts on the station and staffing for Jim's new ship have eaten into most of his time of late.

Today though, all he has are easily put-offable bureaucratic meetings with his head of departments. Frankly, Scotty, Spock, and Bones can operate fine for an afternoon without him and Jim more than trusts them to do just that. It gets him a bit of an eyebrow from the other men when he begs off but they don't question him more than that for now.

The apartment sounds quiet when Jim lets himself in. The lights are off. Everything's as he's left it. Except he can see the light outside his study door marked orange telling him it's been locked from the inside. He'd shown Isidor how to do that the first day she'd come over after all. A layer of security for her already frayed paranoia about being seen at anything other than her best.

Jim knows the feeling all too well. He's done what he could to accommodate her.

His work desk has long since been pushed off into one of the corners to maximize the floor space in the room. The captain's done what he could to remove anything unnecessary--coffee tables or the like. That's left is a spartan office with a desk tucked into the corners and the only window set to opaque to give a bit of 'natural' light to this otherwise empty room. If it weren't for the terminal at the door it would look almost normal. It's the little things that feel off to any Earth-hailing person. The wood of the trim and desk don't feel quite right. The sense of balance and gravity is ever so slightly odd. Even the glass isn't the same as a normal frosted window. And then there's the smell. Or lack thereof of modern day air pollution that permeates modern living. The air scrubbers of the colony keep Yorktown sterile and clean smelling.

Jim knocks twice on the door to let Isidor know he's there before he punches in the door's override code and it hisses open with the quietest swissssh.

"I've got a pot of coffee going, wanted to see if you were interested in a cup of something a bit different from the blends you usually have access to."

Comments

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Isidor is already well into venting her frustrations when Jim knocks. The sudden interruption makes her freeze and hold the punch bag still. Even though she knows it's only Jim she still feels her adrenaline spike. It's part of the reason she likes to take out her worries with a workout. Exercise and anxiety are both good reasons to be twitchy and out of breath.

All things considered she's doing much better than when she first accepted Jim's offer of sanctuary. But a meeting in an unfamiliar building and some paranoia aggravated by flickering lights and gruelling business negotiations had brought her back to a state that needed some space. By now Jim is used to seeing her in workout clothes drenched in sweat, at least. She'd needed to get over that pretty quickly.

She takes the time to inhale and exhale slowly, then nods. "That sounds nice. Thanks."

[smartass_captain]

Already the smell of sweat and exertion in the small room is being cleared away by the air purifiers. Isidor needn't be aware for long how she smells or the state of the room. Jim doesn't seem surprised by any of it at any rate.

"You can refill your water bottle too if you'd rather not mix coffee and a workout."

Tiber flits his tail from side to side and gives a 'mew!' of greeting when Isidor steps out of the study. The whole apartment seems as barren as the office is. There's nothing int he way of decor on the walls or in the peek of Jim's bedroom she'll get as he leads her down the hall toward his sitting room and kitchen.

The leather couch doesn't feel quite like it's fake, but definitely doesn't feel like any she'll have felt before. More little things that just keep reinforcing how odd this place is. Inset in one of the kitchen walls is an odd appliance Isidor won't be able to pick out as anything form her world, though it does look a very little bit like it might be some kind of microwave oven. The stove is small and sleek and clean enough that it must not get much use. The fridge looks nearly as though it's been built into the frame of the apartment. Perhaps it has been.

"Here." At least the mug seems to be proper ceramic and the liquid inside smells like a properly brewed coffee. The only difference will be in the subtle notes of the drink. It's not quite as bitter as she'd expect. A touch fruity, but of what kind who knows.

"I really like the stuff that's grown on the Verisian colony and managed to get my hand on a bag of the good stuff last time I was out at the market. Sometimes living on a starbase has some benefits."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

When Jim turns to head to the kitchen, Isidor relaxes against the punching bag, pressing her head against it for a second while she catches her breath. She takes time to mop herself up with her towel before she follows him out.

She spares Tiber a small, "Hey, cat," in greeting as she passes.

It's not that she hasn't been curious to snoop through Jim's home, but letting her in was a risk and a kindness on his part. Betraying the trust he put in her respecting his home seemed utterly ridiculous. Now, however, she looks around freely, taking her time before she finally perches on the edge of the couch.

She accepts the cup of coffee but raises an eyebrow at his coffee-talk. "Well of course. Who would drink anything that wasn't a Versian colony blend?" She drawls playfully before taking a sip and turning his attention to the cup. "Actually, that isn't bad."

[smartass_captain]

"I think Tiber likes you."

Jim chuckles softly over his mug of coffee and doesn't stop the kitten from bounding up onto the counter to be closer to eye level of the humans while there's things being discussed and potential pets to be had. The captain leans against the counter and follows Isidor's gaze around the place.

"Sorry it's a bit plain. I lost all my stuff when I lost the ship." His voice is quiet and a little bit regretful there. "If you want to be impressed you'd have to step outside."

Not that the apartment is quiet as empty as it had been months before. Felix spending time here means there's Nirnish books littering the coffee tables and end table next to Isidor. Several tablet looking things litter the counter. With Isidor using Jim's study he's taken to keeping the work he brings home out here. There's computers tucked into several of the walls, their terminals a sleek polished black in contrast to the rest of the architecture. Aside from that though, it's not that terribly different from homes in Isidor's own time.

"I thought you'd appreciate it. Felix has to water his down until it's more milk than coffee to stomach the stuff so I don't usually bother getting anything good for the apartment." The captain shoots her a tiny smile. "How's it going, anyway? Work's kept me from touching base with you for longer than I'd have liked."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

"Plain and simple is better than messy and chaotic. You should see my apartment. It's not far off this." Albeit larger, with more expensive looking materials and fewer signs of technology. This place probably has its fair share of nifty gadgets, just not a collapsable ritual pillar.

Thoughts of what the walls are hiding are interrupted by Jim's question. She starts with a flash of a smile. "Well I'm happy to be an excuse for you to splash out on good coffee." That said, her smile dims a little. "Things are… fine. I'm managing. Mostly I'm just tired. More than usual."

[smartass_captain]

"I'm only going to be staying here until the new ship is done, so it feels like a waste to get too much stuff for the apartment. This isn't my home. Just a substitute until it's ready to go."

And while the new fleet ship is coming along beautifully, it's still a ways off from being finished. The work to restock and re-man the ship feels never ending. Jim moves around the counter and picks up one of the Nirnish books and the glass-like tablet device underneath it. Isidor has a punching bag, Jim has his alchemy studies to fall back on as an outlet and a hobby for the time being.

"Sleeping's the worst." Jim puts the book back down on the counter then and the charming host expression fades from his face. "Sleeping means dreaming and my dreams are always a shitshow. Gotta work until you're exhausted. Push yourself until you pass out and there's nothing left in you to dream. Can't go thirty six hours on the regular without sleeping anymore with Felix here but I still try."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

The news that this is a temporary home quickens her pulse until she forces herself to calm. Why hadn't be told her that before? Where was she meant to go when he left it? At least she knew now. She could begin channeling funds to invest in a space of her own, maybe in the Nexus… but then Harrowheart or Viatorus might find it.

Jim's talk of sleep and dreams distracts her from her thoughts. She ducks her gaze, averting her eyes to scan the datapads and books. "I have to accommodate my business' working hours as well. I'd never get away with thirty six hours straight, but I can pad out my work with training. Runa needs training, but I think she's like Viatorus: She's sensitive to other people's emotions."

She picks up one of the books and flicks through it absently. "I know I should be talking to Harrowheart more… but it's hard to be ok all the time. And for a dead guy he has a lot of energy." Her eyes widen for a flash and then she sets the book down. "I'm low on that these days."

[smartass_captain]

"I'll have to figure something else out for this arrangement once the ship's good to go, but I'll be damn glad to get off this colony. As much of a marvel as it is, I don't belong on the ground. Any ground. Artificial or not."

Being stuck in one spot has gotten underneath Jim's skin. An itch he can't scratch no matter how hard he tries. Visiting Tamriel is a decent distraction, same with the Nexus. But at the end of the day he comes back to the same barren apartment without the usual hum of the engines underfoot and the same patch of sky overhead.

Jim nods at Isidor's mention of training as a distraction. Her work doesn't run the gamut of a twenty-four hour day cycle so she doesn't get any easy outs there.

"We have shifts at all hours of the day, so I can pretty easily sign myself up for a double if I'm feeling particularly wired. There's a gym on the ship obviously but I don't always want to worry about other people seeing me. The crew can't see their captain a second away from losing his shit."

The book in Isidor's hands isn't written in any Earthen script, though some of the letters may be familiar to her from their time in the Imperial Capital, however brief. Marcella's ledgers and the signs would have carried the same lettering. When Harrowheart comes into the discussion Jim makes an audible noise, soft though it may be, of annoyance and puts the cup to his lips to drink instead of saying the first thing that comes to mind. Just because Jim and he aren't on speaking terms at the moment doesn't mean he should be rude about him to his...girlfriend? Don't think about the logistics of that right now Jim.

Don't.

"I can't say I blame you though. Talking to him can be difficult sometimes." That's a more diplomatic way of putting it. Stop thinking about it, Jim.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Talking about the difficulties of talking to Harrowheart is something she's ok with not talking about. In fact, the same goes for anyone. Jim's just lucky she's too stuck in her own head to pick up on the underlying tone of irritation. She gives a vague "Mm" in agreement.

Jim's worry about his crew seeing him on the verge of a breakdown is something she can sympathise with too. Will she mention it? No. She's already told him about that. If he remembers and understands then there's nothing more to say about it. If he doesn't… she doesn't want to drag it up again. Honestly, she doesn't want to drag any of this up again.

She turns to Jim with one raised eyebrow. "This is artificial ground?"

[smartass_captain]

This is going nowhere slowly.

Isidor must be doing better, or at least feeling more stubborn today because she's not giving Jim anything to work with here. Not that he can blame her. Relating to her and her way of coping with things so closely is why he invited her over to his place to begin with. If she's not going to talk, Jim will have to keep doing it, and he's not sure he's got it in him to keep this up for too much longer before his own skin starts to itch with the anxiety of opening up to people who might judge him for it later.

"We're on an artificial biome built along the edge of an uncharted sector of space built specifically for Starfleet's purposes. Stationing ourselves on one of the nearby non-federation planets could be seen as favoritism, so they just up and built a colony where they wanted it in the first place."

Jim sets the mug of coffee down on the counter and heads over to one of the opaque windows. The tips of his fingers barely skim across the sleek black terminal next to them on the wall before they turn clear and give a glimpse of the base beyond the four walls Jim's living in.

"I wanted to invite you out for a run but I was worried you'd get a bit sick. Most folks take a bit to get used to it out there. At least in here things look more or less ordinary." It looks almost normal if not for a slightly pale sky for an urban environment if one ignores the arching circular column blocking out part of the sky out on the horizon showing off an entirely new set of buildings that appear to be extending sideways across Both sides of the structure. Gravity is interesting on Yorktown, to say the least.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

The coffee almost pours all over her.

Her fingers slip, making her cup tilt and the coffee splash as she narrowly avoids dropping it completely. It manages to find its way onto the table before she soaks Jim's couch, and that makes it harder to see the sudden tremble in her hands. Thankfully she's already sitting down, but the horrible feeling of her stomach dropping stalls and sits without vanishing.

Eventually she averts her gaze and puts her hand over her mouth. "I think I'm going to be sick..."

[smartass_captain]

Ooooookay, Jim is just going to switch the seetings back on that window really quick so it's once more frosted and opaque and hiding all the weirdness of Yorktown's gravity and layout. Isidor doesn't do well in three dimensions, do not tell her which underside of what arch they are living on currently, just head back and lead her over to the couch.

Moving right past it to get a large serving bowl just in case she's going to need it and a glass of ice water instead.

"Right. If you're gonna be sick, do it here. Don't try to get up too quickly. I've got something in the bathroom for nausea, hold on." Jim hurries past her down another hallway to go get said medicine out of a sliding panel cabinet that opens with the touch of another terminal.

"Sorry, my CMO is the same way about space and new terrain in general. I thought I'd mentioned that we were on a colony a while ago. Here." Jim hands over the foil packet and casts a quick glance over her. "No going out. Right. That's settled then."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Explaining that she thought it was a planetary colony, or at least one with a normal kind of shape, is not high on Isidor's priorities. Instead she takes the bowl to drape herself over it while she focuses on breathing. Only once inhaling doesn't make her want to throw up does she consider the glass of water and then the foil packet.

It takes her a moment, but she finally sets aside the bowl to take the pill with a generous swig of water. She rubs her temple and then, catching sight of the window again she rolls her eyes and groans. "How can you stand it? Not having anything solid underneath the building? Ugh..."

[smartass_captain]

"You really do get used to it and I was born in a shuttle in the middle of a firefight so I guess I've had more experience than most." Jim's free hand is rubbing at the back of his neck, his face pinched in a grimace. This really wasn't the reaction he'd been expecting. He'll have to be careful about showing off.

"You never mentioned feeling sick just inside despite the artificial gravity so I really did think you'd be alright. But we can train in here once you've got your feet underneath you again. There's no need to go out and I can easily order in food later if you stick around for a meal. I promise you won't have to see that again."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

"Don't even talk about food," she groans and waves her hand to push the thought away.

After another sip of water she's starting to feel a bit more normal again. Not having to look at it means it's easier not to confront the housing rollercoaster outside. "I thought it was a bit strange, but... it's a different universe. I guess I brushed it aside.."

Another minute passes and then she shakes her head and mutters, "I hate not having earth beneath my feet."

[smartass_captain]

"I hate to break it to you but you're never going to have earth beneath your feet around me. At least not anytime soon. Once the ship it good to go we're headed back out on our mission. So if you need a place to get away then, you'll be on my ship instead of here."

The phobia itself is one Jim understands all too well after years of dealing with and befriending one Leonard H. McCoy Jim just didn't really expect it from Isidor of all people. Her 'can do anything' attitude really is strong. Even when Jim thought he could see through it he still finds himself surprised by things she can't handle.

"I can do my best to make it accommodating for you. No windows, thank kind of thing." Once there's a bit more color to Isidor's face again only then does Jim stop watching her so closely. Isidor's here, which means something's bothering her. Something she can't and won't talk about directly. They can't go out for a run or anything without her getting horribly ill and possibly freaking out altogether. The only other choice is to use the apartment then.

"Give me a minute, I"ll change into some training clothes and we can just spar in here instead. I'll move the furniture in a moment." Tiber hops down from his countertop perch to nudge Isidor's leg gently with a soft 'mew' while Jim heads off to his room to change.

You gonna be okay there lady?

[heirtothedragonsfire]

No ground? Ever? Suddenly the firm apartment floor feels more like it's made of glass than metal. She closes her eyes and focuses on breathing, on thinking about anything other than the lack of ground and the infinite emptiness surrounding them. Although it works at first, she starts to notice the strangeness of the environment around her, the way the energy moves differently, is different. So when Jim mentions sparring he gets her full attention instantly. Sitting still isn't helpful, he's right, so she gives Tiber a stroke and then gets to her feet.

Looking around, she raises her arms to shift the furniture… then hesitates. This is an advanced technologically jammed apartment. What if by magically whisking away the furniture she damages it somehow? She lowers her arms and after realising she wouldn't be able to tell if it was fixed or automated in some way, she calls out, "Do you have a button or something for this?"

[smartass_captain]

"For what? Hold on--!"

Ack, tugging that teeshirt on completely messed up his hair. How uncool. Jim's still trying to push it back into place when he wanders out from his bedroom in something that could almost be considered normal casual wear in Isidor's time if one ignores the actual fabric its made out of.

"Have a button for what now?" Tiber's meowing and headbutting the couch though so Jim's pretty sure he's up to speed on what Isidor is asking. He gives a bit of a chuckle.

"Nah, we're pretty automated but some things you want to be able to move around by hand. It won't take me more than a minute to get this all cleared to one side. We'll have to be careful about space but it's better than nothing right?"

[heirtothedragonsfire]

While Jim gets changed, Isidor stands with her arms folded, her back to the window. She doesn't notice her foot start to tap impatiently, but it immediately stops when the captain reappears. Unraveling her arms, she looks around. Moving all of this manually? Why would either of them do that?

Instead she readies herself and raises her hands. "It's quicker if I do it. Clear the way and tell me where to put them."

[smartass_captain]

Jim isn't following what the raised arms mean right away. He's not going to try to pick her up, that would be weird and not at all beneficial to what they're about to do. When he does catch on a second later Jim's quick to stand aside. His expression's become a little bit uneasy though, his own hands raising up as placating as possible.

"The far side of the room, but--are you sure you want to waste magic on this?"

Jim remembers the conversation he had with the Archon last summer about how magic in her world is largely controlled by the bloodline of a mage but they've only ever been on Earth to test that theory out. Jim's seen both Felix and Stratos try to cast on his ship before--also from a line of powerful mages--and they've both struggled to get the magic to work properly and to recover from its use. BUt if he speaks up Isidor might get sick again.

Maybe it's just better to let her do as she pleases. And admittedly, a small part of him is curious if it works more easily for her.

"I mean, go ahead I guess. Just..I was gonna put everything against that back wall so it'd be out of the way."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

"'Waste magic'," she repeats with a scoff and a roll of her eyes. Before Cyrodiil she could barely remember the last time she really exhausted herself casting magic. There was a reason her family opened doors and held trays of tea with magic. It was so easy, so simple. Besides, every bit of magic was practice.

Turning her attention back to the furniture, she pulls her arms in and then pushes upwards like she's done a hundred thousand times before... Except this time nothing happens. Something's wrong. It's like a twisting deep in her muscles. Isidor frowns and tries again.

This time there's a clear strain in her motions, until she realises that brute force isn't working. With a huff, she tries to centre herself, focus, and reaches out magically, sensing what works and what doesn't. Her movements slow considerably, and her features continually twitch. Eventually, though, the furniture shudders, the vibrations building into an intense drumming before they finally lift. Everything hovers for half a second, and then catapult towards the back wall.

Isidor's arms drop, and she blinks at the mess before scowling at Jim. "What the hell is wrong with this place?"

[smartass_captain]

Jim watches the first motion fail to yield a result. That's a bit weird. Normally at least something would happen, right? What drives the magic that Isidor wields? How is it different from the magic Felix and Stratos rely on? If her magic is all internal, shouldn't it be usable here too?

Either way, Jim doesn't look too surprised when Isidor has to try again. Not until the furniture begins to shake. Before he can tell her to stop there's a raucous clattering of wood ('wood' really, most things here are replicated after all) against the wall. He winces ever so slightly. "It's in space. Which, I mean, I know the Earth is too but...there's nothing here you're used to dealing with."

The captain folds his arms with a thoughtful frown. "Do athletes of your time do altitude training yet? Pushing themselves physically in an oxygen deficient environment to make their body more efficient at utilizing it? My ship and this colony are not old and do not have the energies Earth or other planets must. There is no magic out here, or at least very little. It's all I can think of to call it since pretty much every mage I've had into my world has had the same problems. There's a deficiency in whatever energy you utilize to control your magic."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

A wounded ego holds Isidor's scowl firmly in place while Jim explains, and then it deepens when he's finished. "Deficiency?" Her eyes slide off to look at the furniture. "That doesn't sound right. It doesn't sound like it feels right."

For the first time in a very, very long time, Isidor wishes her father was here. Not out of any fear, but for the sake of a simple explanation. He would know what was going on, she's sure of that.

But for now, she has half-answers and a sore spot on her pride. "You could have warned me."

[smartass_captain]

"I didn't want to turn your stomach again when you were finally looking something other than green. Plus, I didn't want to assume your magic worked the same way Felix and Stratos' does. Seemed kind of rude to tell you you couldn't do something before you'd even got to try."

Jim gives a weak shrug from next to the Durant mage but doesn't drop his posture from where he's standing arms crossed. All he can do is hypothesize, really. He's not the one with the abilities to test any of those theories out. He only gets data to study when mages come to his world. It's not a common occurrence.

"An energy deficiency, or something. I honestly don't know enough about magical theory to do more than study what happens and form my thoughts around the results I see. I imagine it would be easier on my Earth than it is out here. But that's untested as of yet."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

When Jim puts it that way, Isidor knows she would have scolded him for trying to deter her. That's not something she'll admit, though. As it is she gets to conveniently dodge that issue and save herself from looking any worse.

"It's been a long time since I cast something that wasn't as easy as walking," she mutters unhappily.

This place is becoming more like a world of discomfort for her than a place of sanctuary. No ground beneath her feet, no ease in using her magic. What kind of place is this?

It's not all bad. Being frustrated by all of this means she gets a burst of energy again. Ready to vent, Isidor steps across from Jim and prepares herself. "Right. Let's see how worried I should be about pissing you off in future."

[smartass_captain]

"It didn't take Felix or Stratos very long to get the hang of it. You'll get used to it. You've already gotten used to the artificial gravity just being here in my apartment like this. Give it a bit of time and you shouldn't hardly notice the difference."

So long as they don't go outside, Isidor should be more or less fine once she adjusts. It bodes well that she's getting ready to spar with him too. There's no padding or gear here, though they probably should have that given what they're about to do. It's not something Jim has laying around his apartment though. Jim Kirk doesn't do fights for fun.

Getting into a fight is either done when he doesn't expect to win and is looking for something to give him a physical pain to dull out an emotional one, or a legitimate threat to his person or crew. That's not to say the captain hasn't been formally trained, because he has. Combat classes are mandatory for all Starfleet personnel and advanced classes are doubly mandatory for anyone looking to be in the officer's program. His stance is different from her own. Less guarded, more open footed. At the end of the day Jim's a barroom brawler when it comes to any kind of fight that isn't one where his life is on the line.

To someone who's been brought up in a very structured and rigorous environment Jim doesn't look all that skilled. It won't jive with how he fought back in Tamriel.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Martial arts were always considered a somewhat barbaric, but necessary part of a patron's training. It was Isidor's uncle who spearheaded her education in it, and it was her uncle's determination that she be properly prepared that saw she rarely trained with padding or gear. Instead she keeps herself in, her hands high and her stance ready to change at a moment's notice. Real fights would never give you time to put on protective gear, he often said.

First thing's first, though. She has no idea what kind of hand-to-hand combat Jim is used to, so that's the first thing she needs to rectify. For a start she decides to go for a basic jab to his face from her right, ready to counter if he decides to block and return the favour.

[smartass_captain]

There's no hesitation or holding back in Jim's movement trying to counter Isidor. Ducking and dropping back half a step to his right before putting all of his weight forward into his own strike, Jim moves with a dogged pace. Not bothering to fall back properly.

Frankly, the captain knows already that if he doesn't try his hardest it's only going to take one or two blows to knock him flat on his ass. Which might happen anyway as Jim's full momentum is easily countered and used against him by Isidor.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Really, captain? Putting all your weight into a punch? If she wasn't busy acting out of reflex Isidor might have smirked.

Isidor shifts her feet, stepping backwards out of Jim's strike and then quickly stepping to the side. Grabbing his arm on her way to his outside, she sets her foot in front of his and tries to twist his arm behind his back. If she can just do that it should be easy enough to throw him off his feet.

[smartass_captain]

Look if he holds back then Isidor's going to make him look like a chump...is what Jim would have said if a spark of pain wasn't jolting through his arm. If his body wasn't twisting with Isidor's steady weight guiding his momentum when his foot runs into hers and he's halted from going forward.

Pain and getting the air knocked out of him when he hits the floor rouse something in him that wasn't there before. He lashes out in a kick before Isidor can try to pin him down. He doesn't expect to get her leg out from underneath her with this, but he does want to buy himself time and distance to get back to his feet.

This is still a simulation. It's still not Real. But Jim doesn't want to go down without a fight here either and it's starting to show. He won't have time to do much more than get up and throw up an arm to try and block when Isidor inevitably closes the distance again while he's still sucking in air.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Perhaps it's because all the captains Isidor knows are military, or because he was so energetic in going to Cyrodiil, but the patron had not expected to be able to get him on the floor quite so easily. Once he's there, however, her eagerness has her moving in quickly, only for him to kick at her leg and stagger her.

A sharp hiss of pain and her determination rises. She barely waits for him to get up before she tries grabbing at his arm, his shoulder, and throwing him past her. If she can keep him unbalanced she can win this easily.

[smartass_captain]

Jim is many things but gracefully efficient in combat is not one of them. It shouldn't matter whether this is a simulation or not, but it does all the same. Just like his marks in his combat classes were never stellar despite the things he's lived through, right here and now Isidor is mopping the floor with Jim. Or well. Polishing the coffee table.

A loud clatter sounds through the apartment as Jim stumbles forward and knocks his big head against the coffee table leaning lengthwise where it fell on top of the couch.

"Motherf--!" And now he's on the floor bleeding like a little bitch. Truly the most formidable man in the galaxy right here. "Okay, okay stop! Ow. Fuck, oww. All I'm doing is looking like an idiot here."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

She's so sure he's going to whip around and throw a punch… right up until he smacks his head off the coffee table. Even she has to wince at that.

"Just because we're in space doesn't mean you shouldn't be grounded. You're as bad as Viatorus." And though she scolds him she goes over and helps him up. "Are you alright? I don't want you to have a concussion just because you couldn't stand properly."

[smartass_captain]

"It's fine."

The words sting almost more than the actual gash but Jim swallows his pride as best he can and grabs a tissue to press it against his face. It's tempting to snark and gripe but she's not wrong and that bothers him most of all.

"I'll have to practice if we're gonna make this a habit. Otherwise I'm just going to look ridiculous and you won't get anything out of this other than a laugh."

Jim pulls the coffee table off the couch and sets it down randomly on the floor before flopping down on the couch properly and heaving a sigh.

"At least my alchemy studies haven't been this embarrassing."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

"You should practice anyway if you can't even hold your own against me," she points out. It's almost inevitable that the captain will end up in dangerous situations more often than she will. Maybe she caught him on an off day. Yes, that's what she'll assume. Otherwise she might have to be more concerned for his safety.

Unable to do magic properly here, she can't even offer to heal him up. Instead she sits on the other end of the couch.

"I didn't know you were studying alchemy. I assumed those books were Felix's. Looking to turn lead into gold, are you?"

[smartass_captain]

It's for the best she doesn't know how reactionary Jim's fighting style really is. She'd be mortified by what she saw. Then again, maybe Jim would get some remedial lessons out of the deal. The captain sighs and leans his head back against the back of the couch to try and ignore some of the throbbing pain he's still feeling dulled as it is now to an ache.

Well, she's not wrong. The books do belong to Felix but Jim's the one who's been reading them the last couple of months. Just sitting around hasn't ever sat well with him and this seemed like a nice hobby that might actually help him bluff his way through any family meetings he's going to need to have eventually with Felix's father.

"Nothing that frivolous, I don't think that's an actual thing you can do with it. Trying to be able to help Felix organize and maintain stores mostly. Learning some basics to help him prep and grind potions. He's been showing me cold resistance potions. Says they're better than coin in Tanriel."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

It's hard not to laugh at Jim discussing lead turning into gold. Everyone knows that's not how alchemy works, but it would be cruel of her to tease him for a single naive comment. Especially after she'd just thrown him to the ground several times over.

No sooner has she quelled her smile than Jim says something that widens her eyes. "Cold resistance potions?" Her gaze slips away as the cogs in her mind turn, and then she settles a curious frown on Jim. "Felix makes those?"

[smartass_captain]

It's the classic use for alchemy in stories though! And for a man who didn't know his ass from his elbow until very recently when it came to magic of any kind it's best just to not doubt anything anyone says until proven or found to be untrue. Frankly Jim just feels kind of pleased to be pretty sure he knows A Thing for certain when it comes to alchemy. So much of it feels pretty overwhelming.

Questions like 'why does this work?' or 'how is this possible?' very often end up with answers like 'it just does'. He should probably not be learning alchemy or any kind of magic from Felix but it's the only teacher he's got.

"Well, in Skyrim especially. Greater Tamriel probably not so much. But since that's where the brothers are stationed these days it's best to plan for that." Jim nods. He's careful not to be too zealous about the action since he's still quite a bit sore in the ol' noggin. "I haven't made anything by myself yet, but I've helped prep the ingredients a few times now. Feels like a really weird kind of cooking, really."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

The more she has time to think about it the more Jim has her full attention. So the captain can't make any for her, but Felix is well practised in creating them. Admittedly, she's not sure she's so eager to trust Felix in making anything for her to drink, but the possibilities...

"How does it work? I mean, how does it feel when you use one? Is it instantaneous or does it take a few minutes to work, or an hour? Does it make it easy to hold snow, for example, or does it just keep the chilly air from bothering you?"

[smartass_captain]

"I need to be able to know how to do something from their world at the very least. His family doesn't know about the Nexus any more than my fleet does. We're both trying to keep our heads down when we're in the other's world."

Alchemy doesn't take magic to do the basics with though magical theory and a head for science definitely helps and those things Jim can do. For a man without magical aptitude it's at least a school he is learning to understand.

"Oh, I've had one before, actually. When Reynard was perpetuating his winter beyond the season in the Nexus. It works pretty quickly, makes everything way less harsh. The ice is still cold, you know, but it doesn't sting. The wind doesn't bite. You still know it's cold out but everything becomes well within the tolerable levels. It's kind of bizarre but since I was freezing my ass off at the time well worth it."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

"A smart move. There are some people in every wager who would do more harm than good if they knew about the Nexus. Even though it sounds tough, I'm sure it's for the best." She's still not sure if Jim and Felix's engagement is for the best, of course, but she'll share what approval she can.

That sounds good enough for her purposes. Or worth trying, at least. It's certainly the best solution so far. "Would Felix be open to supplying me with a few of these potions?"

[smartass_captain]

"I can talk to him about it, sure. trying to take lessons in frost magic I take it?"

Jim knows Harrowheart's tried to teach other folks that kind of magic before. It's not something Jim was interested in at the time and even now doing real magic sounds like a huge undertaking for potentially very little to show for it. He'd rather leave it to the professionals and focus on what he excels in.

But Isidor is a mage and she could probably learn something form that if she doesn't know it already. What else could a mage dating a living popsicle want with thaaaaaaaaaaa---

Stop staring Jim. Do not open your mouth. Do not. She will kill you and no one will find the body.

"Uh...huh." That isn't it. There's no way that's it. But the thought is there now and it's not going away.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

"Frost magic?" The confusion on her face answers that question. A bemused smile appears slowly. "... No. I want them because England is cold. So is Sweden for that matter, and I'm probably going to be over there more often."

Of all the things she could be looking for, at least frost resistance potions have plenty of excuses she can give. Jim better believe she's keeping her expression as perfectly composed as ever. That is until she raises an eyebrow at him, looking at him strangely.

"What's that face for?"

[smartass_captain]

Jim is suddenly very acutely painfully aware that Isidor only knows Captain Kirk. But for a few breaks in his facade, he's never been in a position to be himself around the Durant mage. And honestly if she hadn't come to him for advice in the first place he would only know Isidor Durant as the take charge no nonsense fun is a four letter word hard-ass she presents herself as.

"No, yeah. That makes. Ah, perfect logical sense."

He wants to make a joke so badly it's nearly a physical ache. But Jim doesn't know Isidor well enough to know if it would ruin literally any chance at a friendship or help them to bond. He suspects it's probably the former though. Harrow would be making jokes about Jim's appearance to get back at him and they'd be laughing now, and doesn't that just make him ache all over again, missing his friend.

"I just figured, what with all the magic and all you can do without any trouble. And especially for a firey earth kinda lady you wouldn't need potions. Is all. A guy can't be surprised?"

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Isidor folds her arms slowly, each digit of her hand falling to curl around her arm one by one as she tilts her head at him. Oh no, Jim, you don't get away that easily. She's an older sister, she can sniff out distractions like a pro.

"That's not surprise. That's the look of a man who already has an idea of what the answer should be, and isn't hearing that answer."

With that stare of hers she's just daring him to say she's wrong, or to prove her right. Either one will do. She likes a challenge, and she likes being right. This. This is the true Kobayashi Maru.

[smartass_captain]

Snort.

Isidor may look like she's ready for a fight but Jim leans his head back against the couch and lets the grin he's been suppressing spread slowly across his face. She wants to go here? Really?

With Jim Kirk.

Okaaaaay.

"Look, up until this exact second I hadn't considered what the implications would be of sleeping with a guy with a less than optimal for humans thermal readout. What is that even like? Cold feet would be a nightmare, and snuggling would be only welcome in the summer I'd think."

Jim's sitting up straight now, left arm folded as though he's going to mirror Isidor's posture right back at her but the left is gesturing constantly as he talks, opening up as if to grasp at an answer hanging unspoken with between them before waving is though to brush it away.

"I wasn't gonna ask, you know. I was gonna keep my goddamn mouth shut. I'll ask Felix about the potions. I can think of plenty of uses you'd get out of them." He's onto you Isidor, but there's lines you don't cross out loud unless pushed and he's grown up enough not to leap headlong over this one.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Her fingers dig into her arm in a vicegrip. She can't believe this. She can't believe he's just saying this. Out loud! That's not how this works!

The long silence that follows is telling. That and the stare Jim is getting are the only indication of the internal screeching threatening to make Isidor's head implode.

She could, of course, take this opportunity to expand her inner circle and share the burdens of trying to navigate a living-undead relationship. It's right there. But Jim is smirking. Smirking. It's not the first time he's gotten under her skin, and the adrenaline from what little sparring her could handle is still there. She unfolds her arms and places her palms on her knees. It doesn't help. It doesn't solve him being so disrespectful either.

All it does it make it is easier for her to turn and slap him across the face. Not with as much power as she could use, but with plenty of speed.

[smartass_captain]

"OW-!"

The hand that's whipped across to smack Jim could have left a sonic boom by how fucking fast it cracks across his face. He's leaning away from her already and while his face stings he holds both hands up in the air in a show of surrender even as he's barking out a startled laugh.

"You asked me to tell you what was on my mind here! Calm down, already. I won't tell Felix what this is about. I haven't broken a single promise I've made you, not about to start now."

His whole left cheek is way too warm from the welt that's going to be left there. It's been a long damn time since Jim has been hit like that.

"I promise. It's none of my business what you two get up to."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Isidor isn't sure if that was cathartic or stressful, but she folds her hands on her lap. Partly in case Jim decides to retaliate, partly to lessen the stinging of her palm. "I didn't ask you to be a disrespectful dick. If you're going to dare mention my private life with a grin like that on your face again I'd prepare for worse than a slap, if I were you."

"As far as you or Felix are concerned, it's for the cold winter coming in." She flattens a crease in her trousers. "That's more than understandable with the way the Nexus has been, anyway."

[smartass_captain]

"Disrespect--how do you even maintain a friendship with Harrowheart? It's like you go out of your way not to have a sense of humor. Don't ask for things if you don't want them. Lesson learned for both of us. Me because I'd really rather not get the shit kicked out of me every time I make a joke with a friend."

Ow, damn. There's a touch of irritation there but Jim decides that this was probably something he earned even if he doesn't agree with it.

"Don't give me orders on how to think, Isidor. I'll keep your secrets but I'm not going to play stupid." Jim gingerly rubs at his cheek before heaving a sigh.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

"If you'd have refrained from being such a smug prick about answering me, I might not have minded quite so much. I don't consider rudeness humorous." Unless it's directed towards someone she dislikes, of course.

She doesn't even think before she offers a retort quick as a whip, "Perhaps you should. In this case it might be more of an improvement than you seem to think. How are you a space captain anyway? Doesn't that require some kind of training in diplomacy?"

[smartass_captain]

"I hate to break it to you, but if you wanted a demure gentleman for a friend and confidant you should have stuck with Stratos. He'll play stupid even though he sees more than anyone I know. At least with me you know where I stand."

At least with most things, that is. Jim shakes his head and gets up with a grunt of pain that he doesn't bother to cover up like he would if Felix was around. Isidor knows she kicked his ass. No use pretending it doesn't hurt.

"That would be...because I'm not on the job right now. I know it's shocking, but I do have a personality outside of the job. Getting a refill on my coffee, want any?"

[heirtothedragonsfire]

"You don't have to be on the job to apply life skills."

If Jim managed to move around without so much as a wheeze, Isidor would be simultaneously pissed and impressed. Instead she simply watches him closely. Annoyed as she is at him she doesn't want him collapsing because of her.

"Sure… I shouldn't stay long, though. I can't hide away from my own world forever."