Taking a Step in the Right? Direction [Valentines post for conjuredskies]

[smartass_captain]

Has Felix ever been to Earth before? Jim doesn't know, but a small part of him hopes not lest he be brutally disappointed in the Iowa farmhouse in the middle of nowhere Jim has given him coordinates to. Not that the snow covered fields are bad to look at necessarily, but it's so plain compared to Tamriel and okay--maybe Jim is just agonizing over details here.

He's made sure to brush the fresh snow off of the path leading up to the house, certain amazing siblings have checked to make sure there aren't any unwanted critters lurking about and that the place is tidy and accommodating for guests. Stocking the fridge, giving idiot-proof meal plans for Jim to execute, helping him clean--they really are the best. Hell, this was even Verity's idea. For which Jim is grateful for, seeing as how he'd been completely content to skip over this without so much a second glance.

Then Felix had lit up like a kid at Christmas and Jim knew he had to throw something together. He's done his own shopping and preparing for today and has a fire going in the living room while he paces by the large window facing the yard definitely not checking the clock every thirty seconds to see if it's time yet. If this were a booty call Jim would be so confident right now but he's actively trying to make a romantic evening here and he's so out of his depth there.

Comments

[conjuredskies]

Home. Hopefully Jim’s ready to deal with an entirely different type of look, because the smile that Felix wears as he looks around is soft and faintly thoughtful. It’s so light in here, so open and warm despite the snow outside. It seems incongruous that he can only see one fire. Then, Jim’s never had a fire on board his ship either (at least not intentionally in his quarters).

He does shiver when Jim’s hands go around his waist, but it’s a happy shiver. The intimacy of it is unexpected; a little startling, but he walked up the path knowing he didn't know what to expect. He leans gently into the other man’s arms, not to throw off their balance. His skin is flushed already and he can’t tell if it’s from the heat of the fire on his face or the warmth of Jim at his back.

“Oh, I’m going where you are.” He turns just enough to meet Jim’s eyes without breaking contact, his hands curling over the captain’s. “I didn’t travel from another realm just to steal your fire. Even if it is lovely.”

[smartass_captain]

Yeah, Home. And how much has changed if Jim's even willing to call it that, really. After everything he's gone through. Bringing Felix here...well. it wasn't his idea that's for sure, but he's surprised at how okay this feels. He's crazy nervous, sure, but it doesn't feel wrong. Doesn't feel staged or fake or phony. The jitters Jim's feeling have nothing to do with this place, for once in his life.

"As you wish." It's more a breath than even a whisper, caressed into Felix's ear before Jim's pulling away and heading for the kitchen. He has to be careful or he's going to ruin this by being Jim when he's trying to be romantic. And even if it is his house, screwing in every room wasn't exactly what he had in mind when he invited the Imperial over today.

It would be so much easier than this. So much easier. Jim's gait is quick as he heads to the kitchen, wanting to get them both a glass of wine before Felix can see his hands shaking. And maybe get a gulp of his own unseen but he'll hold himself back if Felix is right on his heels.

He's going to treat Felix like a king today, so help him. There's flat unrisen bread premade and set up on the kitchen counters. A PADD leaning against the wall has instructions scrolling through on how long to broil everything and what to do. There's a variety of cheeses and toppings set out in little custard cups as well.

"What do you want to try on your pizza?" Jim asks Felix when he arrives in the ktichen, holding a glass of wine out for him. "Have you had it before?"

[conjuredskies]

Jim has the lead. Felix is lagging behind, still looking about curiously. He's wondering how much he should ask about this place when he reaches the kitchen and... it takes a minute of him looking around to realize it is the kitchen. There's no hearth, which is probably more unexpected than it should be. He just expects the fire to be the focus of the room, as a matter of instinct.

It'll take Jim prompting him with the wine to stop him looking around wide-eyed at the counters and the neat cupboards and the sheer lack of smoke stains. Pizza? Oh!

"Ah- thank you - once." He recovers his smile and a little of his balance, sipping the wine to try and act relaxed. "A Nexus friend introduced me. Let's see, what do we have?" He strolls over to inspect the toppings, grinning a little. Pizzas are basically like dinner alchemy: every combination must be tried to find the best effects.

[smartass_captain]

Oh thank god Jim needed a second to down a large gulp of wine before discreetly filling his back up to the same level as Felix's. He's not usually a wine sort of fellow, but this is romancing and romancing has fine red wines and champagne. But that will go with dessert.

It's almost hilarious how little Jim knows about this sort of thing and how hard he's trying despite this.

"We've got two kinds of sauce and as many toppings as I had dishes for. I figure I'll make one traditional kind I know tastes pretty good, and you can do whatever you like with the other one. As many combinations as you want." Because that's half the fun, right?

"Just don't fill up too much, there's dessert to think about too." Okay following the directions he's been left is easy here, a small scoop of sauce spread thin, herbs, cheese, roasted garlic, and some spinach. And that is the true magic of pizza toppings. How little time it takes to put together once the crusts are done. Jim is quick to pan his and stick it under the broiler.

it's kinda cute to watch Felix pick out one tiny bite out of every bowl to taste it before he decides on any flavors for his own pizza. And by kind of, Jim means ridiculously. This guy is something else.

[conjuredskies]

Felix has only half a notion of what Jim is trying to create, or how pizza usually works for that matter. He understands this is meant to be a romantic occasion, but he may have a different idea of what that means. Hopefully it won't end badly.

"As many as I want, hm?" He sounds entirely too happy about that. The freshness and flavor of the herb and vegetable options gets an appreciative sound from him, not to mention the murmur of "oh, pineapple!"

Well, Jim put out all these toppings, and after careful study he likes all of them, so Felix decides he's not going let that effort and thoughtfulness (and delicious food) go to waste. He watches Jim prepare the first pizza while he nibbles and thinks on which toppings to put next to one another.

"I've never seen a kitchen like this," he admits with a sip of the wine. It's good wine, though different enough to be definitely a foreign vintage; Earth grapes were never kin to those of the Skingrad vineyards. A pity that Felix hasn't the attention to spare for it. "It feels a little strange to me not to have a fire, but then it's still warm in here."

[smartass_captain]

Jim really should ask what that entails to an Imperial. It hasn't crossed his mind, yet. And when it does Jim is going to need to put his wine glass down so he doesn't choke on it. What if he's going about this all wrong?

He set this all up referencing Verity and Clint's advice in mind, but Felix isn't American and Jim is just kind of clenching and unclenching his jaw trying not to say anything while he gets his thoughts in order.

"So..." Good. Casual tone Jim. you got this. "You do know what kind of holiday this is on Earth, right?"

[conjuredskies]

He could guess that question was due, sooner or later. Though he hadn't expected Jim would be willing to ask it out loud. Felix looks at him quickly, trying to gauge what he's thinking. There's a hint of tension in Jim's face, and Felix hides his own stab of worry under a rueful smile.

"I didn't," he confesses, eyes on Jim's with the kind of earnest intensity he gets when he's determined not to say the wrong thing. "When the idea of celebrating came up," he gives a small, apologetic shrug, "I didn't know what I was asking." How many times could that be said of their relationship?

"But I did some research before I came," he adds, "so I have, er- some idea, now." And now his smile's a little less apologetic and a little more pleased, despite himself. He still hesitates before he dares to add, "And more reason to be glad you agreed anyway." Which might be the most overt reference he's yet made to the unspoken rule of this arrangement. You just don't say it.

[smartass_captain]

There's something hammering in Jim's ears. It takes him a second to realize it's his pulse and that he's gone a rather bright shade of pink at that last comment Felix made. He's not sure if he's terrified or excited right now and it's a weird place to be. Luckily the broiler can hold his attention for a moment while he pulls out the pizza he'd been finishing off to fill the ktichen with delicious goodness.

"So...How does Tamriel do this?" Jim gestures toward the dining room, where the normal table's been pushed away and a smaller one complete with cloth, candles and more wine is waiting for just the two of them. "Not...the holiday-obviously. But like...you know. Romance type stuff." Jim sets the pizza down in the center of their table for two.

"Cuz I'd like to know before you laugh at me how much of this I"m getting right."

[conjuredskies]

“How could I laugh at you?” he murmurs, looking over the arrangements less to judge them and more to give himself time to think. “I don’t think it’s so different in Cyrodiil. Flowers, gifts, quiet dinners and night strolls along Lake Rumare. Adventures into the forest during the summer.”

Felix looks back at him with a grin and adds, “In Skyrim you just set an attractive suitor some dangerous task to prove their affection. If they succeed you marry them. Very straight to the point.” He chuckles. “We Imperials like to take our time a little more.”

Although. That does bring up something else, and he hesitates about whether to wait. Jim’s the expert on How Things Are Done on Earth, so he chooses to just come out and say it, “I wasn’t entirely certain how to play my part, but I did, ah. Bring something.”

[smartass_captain]

"Neither one of us is rocking a set of tits, man. There are no roles here." Jim snorts and shakes his head. "It just...occurred to me that all of this was assuming you wanted to be romanced like a 2000s American and you are neither of those things, and I'm only one of those things."

"I uh...I didn't get you flowers. Sorry." Jim actually looks a little guilty when he says that. "I just figured, you know. You were excited about this, so I...wanted to make an effort to do this right." Jim rubs at the back of his neck and drops his gaze to the tablecloth.

"This is the first time I've ever celebrated today, to be honest."

[conjuredskies]

Felix studies him a moment, startled at how much of his guard Jim is letting down in this admission. He sets the wine glass gently on the counter, slips over to slide an arm round Jim's waist and lean close enough to nuzzle against his cheek.

"No-one's ever made this kind of effort for me," he murmurs softly, an admission in kind. "And I don't just mean dinner."

Letting Felix into his home, under his guard. Trying something he wouldn't normally. That means something, and even if they daren't put a name to it Felix has an idea what it's worth.

[smartass_captain]

"You're kidding." Jim understands why he hasn't. He's avoided this like the plague, never getting into a relationship enough to bother with this--only ever falling hard for people he couldn't have. This is new for him. To be in a relationship enough to bother with this? Because that's what this is, right?

Somehow, along the way, this became a Thing. A thing Jim desperately wants to keep even though he knows all the reasons why he shouldn't. This makes him happy. Felix. Makes him happy.

"Nice guy like you? Here I thought I'd be beating people away to compete for your attention on a day like this." The cuddling is so nice. When did that happen? When, how did a smart mouthed conjurer from a world so unlike Jim's become so much a part of his life? The captain sighs, leans into the embrace.

"...Let's go get your pizza ready hm? I'm not done treating you like royalty yet."

[conjuredskies]

"No." Felix chuckles. No need to go into all the reasons why, he thinks. He's not sure how many would even make sense to Jim... not without explaining a few things about conjuration he's reluctant to go into. Necromancy and soul-binding probably aren't on the list of romantic Earth topics. He's not sure, mind, but he's going with his gut.

"I wouldn't notice. You always have my sole attention." It's a promise. Not just a deflection from the abashed grin he's wearing. "I'm just lucky I haven't had to duel anyone for you, yet." He's teasing. Absolutely. Just kidding.

He's also not about to argue with pizza. "Well, if you insist..."

Jim, he's going to use them all. All the toppings. Not the whole of each bowl, but everything's going on there.

[smartass_captain]

Felix's pizza can be a cornucopia of flavors. Half red sauce and half white with a rotating flavor wheel so that he can taste and try everything. Flavor alchemy. That's the best kind of alchemy right? The one you can eat?

Jim's honestly curious which parts he will and won't like, because there's certain flavor combos going on there that he sure as heck wouldn't have thought to put together. His own pizza is sliced while Felix's broils and then both are set up at the small table for two.

Ever the conscientious host this evening, Jim is sure to keep Felix's glass topped off with the wine. Now that the admission that he's not an expert at this sort of wooing has come to light, Jim feels less tense about things. It's easier to smile.

"Not gonna lie, that looks like a hot mess. And I can't wait to see you eat it." Jim points at Felix's 'masterpiece' while he teases.

[conjuredskies]

Felix laughs as they sit down. “What, you don’t trust my judgment?”

The first mouthful he bites off is fairly tame: chicken and pepper and white sauce, by the look of it. He shrugs at Jim while he chews, smirking once he’s swallowed. “You see? Delicious!”

After the next bite though, his expression turns to a pained frown. “…Although I think pineapple with pepperoni was a mistake.” Give him a minute... “So were the olives.”

[smartass_captain]

Jim holds out the plate his pizza is on, not saying a word. The eyebrow and grin say 'I told you so' all the same, but that's why Jim made one too, right? So Felix could freely play with his food.

"Don't know if you don't try." Jim quips, chin propped in his free hand while he watches Felix. he's been doing that a lot this evening. Just watching.

"I promise dessert won't be nearly as harrowing."

[conjuredskies]

"Sure you don't want to make it a trade?" Felix teases, gesturing at his pizza. He'll wind up snagging a piece of Jim's anyway, but he's determined to eat as much of his as he can pretend to be edible. Trying something more traditional is just how he gets a baseline. A delicious, delicious baseline.

"What do you have in mind for dessert?" he asks playfully. "You have the look of a man planning something."

[smartass_captain]

"Baked apples with a streusal filling." Jim says around his third or so glass of wine. "Verity insisted on chocolate, but I really don't have that big of a sweet tooth, so I figured I'd share one of my favorite desserts instead. There is chocolate fudge if you decide you don't like it though."

So like every other time, Jim's plan is to get allllll of the things and have his bases covered. Just in case Felix doesn't like any one particular thing.

"But after that I'm more or less out of ideas. Figured I'd just ask you what you wanted to do, if there was any traditional Tamriellic romantic activity we could partake in."

[conjuredskies]

“Hmm.” Felix contemplates that prospect, and the food already before them, with appreciation. “We won’t be moving too fast for a while, that’s quite certain.”

Contemplating what they might do afterwards occupies most of his attention for another couple slices of pizza, which sadly distracts him from passing judgment on at least four flavor combinations. So much knowledge, lost in a heartbeat. “First, of course, I give you your gifts. After that... tradition would say we curl up by the fire together. Talk, tell stories, read poetry if that takes your fancy.” His is a world without movies and, for that matter, without readily portable music.

[smartass_captain]

"I've got the fire going, music queued up, and a blanket big enough for two as well as throw pillows on the floor. We're set there." No flower petals on the floor but that just seemed like a mess and a half to clean up and Jim isn't home often enough to want to spend half a day cleaning for anything less than a particular kind of mess making.

The poetry thing raises an eyebrow.

"I have to make up poetry? That's gonna be...huh. Okay. Challenge accepted."

[conjuredskies]

"Really?" He doesn't hide his surprise at that. But then any occasion that's supposed to call for poetry generally calls for him to get faking. "I don't usually trouble about who composes it..."

It's a relatively narrow selection of potential partners who even care about hearing the stuff, to tell the truth.

[smartass_captain]

"Well, I mean. I've never done it before." Jim admits and gives a shrug. "But if that's important to you and romantic for your world, I'll give it a shot."

Somehow, he doesn't think limericks will count, and even that he'd have to look up off his PADD. This is sure to be very embarrassing for the captain, but he's willing to sit through it for Felix. There's an increasingly short list of the things he won't at least try for the Imperial.

"What kind of poetry?" He's gonna get a fourth glass of wine. Being drunk is sure to help him compose romantic prose. Surely this can only end well.

[conjuredskies]

“It’s certainly romantic, but I can’t claim it’s typical,” Felix points out softly. He’s trying to allow Jim an out without seeming ungrateful, or damping the captain’s determination.

And, well, no-one has done such a thing for him before and it’s hard to ignore the part of him that’s delighted Jim would even try. Which is, of course, the real success in these cases.

“I’m hardly a literary aficionado,” he admits. At least he can try and ease the stakes here. “It’s usually something simple and a little silly. About one part natural metaphors to two parts compliments…” He’s still bemused to be talking about it. "Not that I know what Earth poetry is like, of course."

[smartass_captain]

Note to self. Look up poetry while getting dessert ready. And never, every tell anyone the previous sentence ever happened. He will get down on his knees and worship every inch of Felix's body before admitting to anyone he was about to do research on poetry.

He'd ask what the fuck is wrong with himself but he knows.

Jim's known for some time.

"As long as the bar's low, I think I can handle this." He'll get at least one nice one, and them maybe start waxing poetry complimenting Felix's body in as many ways as he can think of. You know, because it's Jim.

[conjuredskies]

“I have to keep it low,” Felix assures him. “Suppose you return the challenge?” Not that that’s a suggestion. Maybe he ought to be more careful what he says right now. He pauses to look down at the remains of his pizza. He’s polished off most of it – it’s hard to go too far wrong with pizza – but Jim definitely had better judgment. “Although I didn’t take you for a cook either, and I think you’ve beaten me on this.”

He’ll do his best to finish his wine before Jim refills it again, to be a better audience. He's really not sure how he talked Jim Kirk into reciting romantic poetry for him, but that's one hell of an accidental achievement.

Perhaps he'll have to think on this unexpected power he's found. Who knows if Jim wants that happening?