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

[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."