smartass_captain | I'm the same way, tbh. (Reply)

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Jim does take another moment to just relish the god-coffee Verity has made for them. He'll explain replicators later and then she will understand because replicated food is like if cafeteria food and hospital food had a disappointing drunk baby that you had to eat. Nutritious, but library paste probably has better flavor. Don't ever explain it to Jim, make him into your coffeeslave as long as you can Verity.

There's a sort of shift in his posture that happens when Verity asks him about space. It's like Jim was remembering himself. His posture is straighter, more confident. Captain James T Kirk is on duty, for the time being. He can still be Captain Kirk while eating a spiced apple muffin.

"The biggest thing to keep in mind is warp-core technology. With it, we are able to utilize faster than light travel by taking effectively shortcuts through time and space. Starfleet has launched a five year exploratory mission that the Enterprise, my crew, has the honor of taking on. Our mission? To explore new worlds, encounter new life and observe whenever possible." There's less joking and much less swearing from Jim while he talks about space.

"Such a mission to explore deep space has not ever been attempted by Starfleet." At that Jim beams a bit with pride. His crew, his family were going where no man had gone before.