Home to Roost for a Time

[smartass_captain]

It's beyond strange to find Jim Kirk in the Nexus dressed down to a teeshirt and jeans. The space captain tends to show up everywhere in his uniform to the point where one might wonder if it's truly the only thing he owns. Of course, then he was living on the Enterprise-A. He was Always Captain Kirk, even when he was off duty on the bridge. That's the thing about being out in space on mission. There's no such thing as truly Off Duty.

But now?

They've come home. The mission is over. His crew is scattered to the wind. For the first time in Years, he's simply Jim Kirk. Judging by how frustrated he is pacing round the plaza? He hates every minute of it. He's got his PINpoint in hand while glowering over what looks to be a freshly painted sign outside a cluster of shops listing each of the businesses to be found in the little side street marketway he's come across.

"Don't tell me it's gone..." Such is the nature of the Nexus sometimes. Jim sighs, dragging his hair out of place with one hand while he tucks away his PINpoint. " Why can't this ever be easy? Where's a guy got to go to get a decent outfit around here Now?"

Comments

[rogueinladysclothing]

It's hard not to notice Jim Kirk muttering to himself as he paces in... not his uniform? An odd sight for someone who's always on duty. Amelia can almost sense his frustration long before she finally approaches, but even knowing the man is at a low, she can't help but greet him with a bit of sass.

"I can recommend a tailor to you," she quips, crossing her arms in front of her chest and leaning into one hip. "Somehow I doubt you'll take my suggestion, though. Even if you do, I'm not certain my man will see you when you walk in dressed like that."

[smartass_captain]

Over the many years Jim's had access to the Nexus by now he's seen a Lot of people come and go from this place. Of all the people to be a Constant though, it had to be Ms. Amelia Ronsam. Not that she's as upsetting as she once was to him--it's hard to be too sour on someone he knows is good friends with his husband.

Still.

He's not above giving her a Look for her completely unwarranted judgement of his dress and character.

"Your man will have to forgive me then, for having limited options for possessions in the wake of my former ship's destruction which took with it most of my personal belongings." Jim quips back just as smooth though he's not trying to hide the annoyed tic of his jaw. "Amelia." He greets then. All barbs aside it's...

Refreshing. To see her somehow.

"It's been a while."

[rogueinladysclothing]

...apparently Amelia's missed a few big events since the wedding reception. Her lips split into a somewhat apologetic grin as she nods. "I'm sure if you explain as much he'll be willing to look past it for your first few visits. Alex is... usually understanding of circumstances like that." It'll help that Jim is a beautiful person and exceedingly charming when he wants to be. That'll help smooth a lot of things over with the tailor.

The slip into a more casual tone brings a small, warm smile to the rogue's face. Dreams, they haven't seen one another in months. Years? A time that feels both short and as if it's stretched on for as long as she can remember. Strange how that works, especially when the mind is otherwise occupied.

"It has. I remember a time when I was always running into you." She laughs softly, her posture relaxing as she looks Jim over. It's so odd to see him dressed down, but it's a step up from the Hawksirt or bleeding and broken from some bad run in or another.

"Loss of your ship and possessions aside, I trust you're well? That Felix is well, and your crew?" She doesn't know the crew, but Jim's a captain to the end and that makes asking after his people polite. "What are you keeping busy with these days? I highly doubt you've given up your sky-faring ways to settle down somewhere." Marriage to her brother Felix aside, Amelia can't see Jim Kirk of all people attempting to sow roots anywhere that doesn't move at his will.

[smartass_captain]

"Well, the mission keeps...kept. It kept me busy. We've landed back safely in San Francisco. It's over now." He glances around the area before coming to grips with the fact that the place he used to shop at just isn't here anymore. He gestures for Amelia to lead him on and will fall into step with her. He still stands as if he's on duty, his posture straighter than it ever used to be when they were just arguing to pass the time years ago.

Jim's grown a lot during his mission whether he sees it in himself or not.

"You'll see more of me now, at least for a little while. I'll be addressing paperwork from the mission for months at least but I've got nowhere to be until next semester at the Academy. Figure I'll give a few lectures and keep my ear to the floor at HQ to when I can request off for another stint." Maybe show Felix around Earth a little if his husband has any desire to do so. Something, anything to stay busy.

"They're fine, I promise. Most have gone home to spend time with their families or have signed on for research time at the base." And that includes Felix. Jim knows that's who Amelia is chiefly worried for. "What about you?"

[pirateangelbaby]

The lack of uniform means that Thor doesn't immediately recognize the young captain for who he is, just another patron of the Nexus here on a mission to find something. He's about to pass by when the voice catches his ear, familiar enough to bring him up short, turning to take a second look. The god of thunder is dressed down himself, cooler weather welcomed with thick jeans and a warm sweater that looks like it might be handmade (though not by Thor). A raven is perched on his shoulder, claws grasping in the closeknit holes in the weave, turned backwards to peoplewatch whoever his master has passed with an idle curiosity.

"I suppose that depends on what you consider decent," he says, giving Jim a tentatively more lighthearted smile.

[smartass_captain]

The bird's a new addition so far as Jim's aware, though his First thought is that this might be Loki in some sort of guise following his brother around for whatever godly endeavors the Asgardians are pursuing in the Nexus today. Jim stops staring at it when Thor finishes speaking to drag his gaze up to the god of Thunder himself to offer a soft sigh and friendly nod by way of greeting.

"I'm at a bit of a loose end for the time being," Jim comments with a shrug that is affecting casual airs but is really anything but. "Mission's over. We're back on Earth. Which means I need something other than my Fleet uniform to wear all the time." No sense in poking around these new shops that have overtaken the store he used to peruse. Jim turns away from the sign to fall into step with Thor instead.

"San Francisco's pretty mild all year if not a bit muggier than I'd like." He glances up and to the side at the god. "How've you been though? It's been a long damn while since I've had this much free time."

[pirateangelbaby]

"Ah," Thor answers, a knowing spark in his eye. "A time to dress as you wish, then. It's been a few years for you, hasn't it?" That seems like a long time, by human reckoning. It can be a long time by his own reckoning, too, but that's a less comfortable thought.

His pace is easy for the captain to keep up with, a casual stroll along well-traveled paths, in no clear hurry to reach a destination. He carries no shopping bags yet, leaving his hands free to gesture as needed, or tuck them into his pockets as he listens. On his shoulder, the raven seems content to stay put, studying Jim with idle curiosity.

"Oh, I've been all right. Uneventful, mostly. We're fairly well isolated in Asvera, though there have been the occasional tourists." Thor's brow furrows in a frown, clearly not entirely pleased by such, though he's not certain whether to resent their intrusion or be grateful that their intentions were so benign - and that their money has helped Asgard's tiny economy. "We're almost to harvest time, and this looks to be our largest yet."

[sharktoothtotem]

Taylor would have noticed him there if she wasn't currently going through the list on her PINpoint trying to find the location of a decent surf shop. She needed some wax, and well she wasn't going to head off to her world just yet for it. Not when she had had some of the best surf she had seen in a while. Her board was actually tucked under her arm.

Though hearing him she glanced over. "Oh, Captain Coffee," Sorry Kirk She just remembers the coffee! "Ya know what you have on isn't bad." Though she should talk, she had shorts on, though her shirt, well... at least the bikini supported and if she was in Hawaii, would be modest. Taylor had a jacket tied at her hips and her water shoes on, sneakers would get sand and that was something she didn't want at the moment. Though men's fashion... no idea where to look."

[smartass_captain]

At least this time the space captain is far more coherent than he was when last they crossed paths. Jim squints Taylor's way before offering her a charming smile and a nod.

"Here I thought My nicknames were reaching." Jim waves her way and turns from the signage. At her remark he's glancing down at his outfit before shrugging. "Well, it's fine, but it's the only non uniform I've got to my name. Lost my belongings in an accident a while back. Didn't matter much once we got the ship back--I got issued new uniforms easily enough. But now...?"

He's going to make sure to give ample space for Taylor to walk given the board she's lugging around. "Looks like you're heading Out." She'd be a lot wetter, Jim thinks, if she were heading In from a session at the beach.

[sharktoothtotem]

"Have a feeling you are nowhere close to Dad with bad nicknames." She grinned a bit. The short board she had was lighter than the one that had been destroyed a while back. "Ah, that would be an issue then. Take it jeans aren't a thing in the future?"

When he mentions the board she laughs. "Was out before sunrise. Comin' back in, but the shop near the beach doesn't have my brand of wax. Realized after that this board needs it. I'm hoping the other sport shop has it. If not, I'm heading back to the big island. Maui would be better, but I don't want to risk it."

[sweetcandygirl]

Harley is back on her feet, since the Wish fiasco that affected much of the Nexus. She watches Jim pace for a good minute or two, before speaking up to catch his attention.

"Ya'wanna me to knit you a sweater, Captain Kirk?"

[smartass_captain]

It's the sort of suggestion that has Jim snorting to himself before he even looks up, though it's done quite a good job of distracting the man from his grumbling. Jim supposes she's got a point. If all he's going to do is stand around complaining it Would be quicker to just knit himself a new outfit.

"Just Jim for the moment, Harley." He stops pacing so he can face her properly. "Mission's over and we're back on Earth. Which means I need to replace a whole lot more than just a sweater, though it's kind of you to offer. I used to browse the men's wear in a small shop over here. Was for Felix then, realizing I should have taken the time to outfit myself now." He shrugs. "Got to find someplace else, now."

[sweetcandygirl]

"Really?" Her face beams with a bright smile when he tells her that she can call him Jim. Seriously, those pearly whites could be seen for miles.

"Men's wear? Well, Alex does a damn good job on all my outfits. But they are all sparkly, and glitterly, and feminine. Which honestly delights him to no end."

"Oh! I know a good mobster tailor who is looking to get into the line of clothing again. I sort of reduced his client list, when I merged the gangs."

[sonof_mogh]

Worf was busy polishing his Bat'leth with a rather used and worn old rag when he heard the human's voice. Frowning, he got up from bending over his weapon and realised it was that Starfleet captain he had met from another time. The Klingon wondered how disorganised humans could be.

"You have lost your clothes? Humans are so disorganised. Have you not got any back at your home here in the Nexus?"

Most people did? At least have some sort of storage space they kept their clothes and valuables in whilst staying here.

[smartass_captain]

To his credit Jim does not visibly startle this time when Worf speaks up. He remembers the Impossible Klingon all too well. It is a damn good way to get the man focused away from the signage he'd been fussing over in a hurry though.

"Well, depends on your definition of the word Lost. Misplaced them? No. But nearly all of my belongings were destroyed along with our previous ship. Uniforms were easily reassigned. I didn't worry about civilian clothes at the time. What use did I have for them mid-mission?" Jim crosses his arms with a sigh.

"But now the mission's over, and this is my only outfit that isn't a Starfleet uniform." So far as Earth clothes go, at least.

[sonof_mogh]

The Impossible Klingon. If Worf knew Kirk had said this then he would get very irate as he always did since the man was always a grump about certain things or topics. He rarely liked to engage in small talk since he found it a waste of time. Straight talking or engaging in battle was more the Klingon's style.

"There are shops here. Perhaps it would be best if you purchased some items for yourself that way. There are no Klingon shops here though. A shame since a good food outlet would be nice. I miss Gagh and Rokeg Blood pie."

These were the delights that Worf missed most from the Klingon outlet on DS9. The Klingon chef cooking for both other Klingons and species alike.

[silverseamariner]

"Greetings, Captain." The Skeksis Mariner gives Kirk a small bow. They might be different breeds of captain, but any captain of the sea or stars has her interest and her respect. And from their brief meeting before, she likes him. skekSa hums over the question. She brings most of her outfits from home, but she's patronized a few dressing places here.

Her tastes are unique, seeing as she isn't fond of the overloaded outfits that are so popular with castle skeksis. Something both practical and attractive is best when you're on a ship.

"As far as outfits go...have you been to see Mr. Needleworthy? He might be able to help get you what you need."

[smartass_captain]

"Oh. Greetings." This one always is a little imposing given how much larger than the human she is but the smile Jim offers is genuine in its politeness. The man from space is at least used to People coming from every corner of the galaxy and reflecting it in their appearances.

He's sucking in a quick breath and letting it out again as he tries to curb some of his frustrations in the face of an acquaintance.

"I'm not familiar with anyone by that name, no." It's not difficult to imagine that she'd need to go custom to get a lot of her clothing made, either. Even in the Nexus it sees like humans--or humanoids at least-- are in he majority so far as populations go. "Did he make your get up? I can see why you'd be a fan."

[silverseamariner]

"It's been a while." The Mariner takes off her hat. She's grown increasingly aware of her size. Skeksis are intimidating creatures, even to people without the cultural or historical context around Thra. She makes an effort to be approachable by their standards, and is one of the few Lords to take her leadership of the clan she patrons seriously.

For skekSa's part, she's curious about humans, since they aren't native to Thra. They look rather like gelfling in some ways, only much larger and without wings. They're alien creatures as far as she's concerned, but very little scares a skeksis aside from other skeksis. She smiles back, trying not to show too many pointy teeth.

"I bring most of my clothes from home, but you're right. Alex made some improvements. So I'm not what you'd call unbiased. But I can give you the address, lad, if you wish. It's difficult to find clothes when you're my height here, or if you have four arms and a tail."

[coffee_elf]

"I dunno, Jim," Rondo could honestly have been near him for a few minutes now; he's easy to miss because of his petite size, but now he speaks up and makes a point of stepping into his field of view. "I haven't been here in a while, myself. There was a specialty food place I was looking for that seems to have moved, too."

"I guess without a lot of laws governing commerce here, maybe it's hard to keep a business going?" Or maybe it's easier, and people just get rich quick and retire.

"How long have you been looking? You look like you're about ready to punch a wall."

[smartass_captain]

"Ah..? Wait, Rondo?" Check the urge to swear relentlessly under his breath, a friend showing up drags a small sigh from the captain while he heads on over to where Rondo's come into view. He's out of practice owing to their not speaking in a while so the greeting he gives is a bit wrong and definitely not pronounced correctly but Jim gets close to a polite 'Hello' in the Arraka'aran tongue. The effort is made at the very least.

"It's not....not for long, really." Jim rubs at the back of his neck. It's a bit embarrassing to be caught so worked up like this when he should by all accounts be taking a bit of a break. "More just...Ah. It's a long story." The sigh he heaves certainly seems to back up that.

"Want to go grab a coffee and catch up a bit while we look around?"

[coffee_elf]

Well, the least he can do to help lighten Kirk's mood is to give him a friendly smile and offer a handclasp. "Wislath-ahi to you, too! That actually translates to 'good evening', but it's after lunch time, so close enough."

It's really nice to hear someone trying, honestly. And interesting! It's rare for the handful of offworlders Rondo sees in his own universe to make the attempt.

"Something's bothering you." It's not a question. "That has nothing to do with shopping. Gotcha."

His smile lingers, and gains a note of sympathy. "You know I never turn down coffee! Let's do it. Let me treat this time, I think you got the last one. And I'm in no hurry today; school's on break for a couple weeks and I decided not to go home for it."

[ginger_firebird]

"It's easier to make your own clothes than you think."

Speaking from a lifetime of being a little too tall or a little too thin for most conventional clothes, Mantis knows that frustration all too well. He can't help but laugh a little at the rising stress coming off of Jim.

"I spin wool and tailor almost everything I've bought. Eventually you have to decide if you'd rather spend all your time and money hunting for a new store or the supplies to make the kinds of clothes you like."

[smartass_captain]

Now That is about the last response Jim expected to get around here, though on a second thought maybe it shouldn't be. The Nexus drags people in from all different worlds and all manner of tech levels. For someone here, making one's own clothes is probably standard common practice. Not so much the starship captain.

"I'm sure it is." Jim replies. Which one is wool made from? Felix would know and that's a stab of unease that maybe this is something he Should be paying more attention to. Though he's never seen his husband carry around a needle and thread for anything. "I have more hobbies than I have time for as is though, and hand made clothing isn't really common where I'm from." Even outside of Starfleet there's really only so much reason to. If it's not a hobby or a status thing, who'd bother when fitted ready made clothing is so simple to request?

"How long did it take you to learn?" He is curious though. Just a little. He is, after all, Jim Kirk.

[ginger_firebird]

Needs make for skills learned. Mantis isn't going to even try to pretend his level of dedication to tailoring his own clothes is common place, even in his own world. He does appreciate that Jim is more curious than anything about his particular skill set.

"That seems to be the most common thing these days. I'm a blend of tall and thin, so most machine made clothes doesn't fit me quite as well as it could. I take seams in and out all the time to make something fall the right way."

He crosses his arms, one hand trailing up to tap on the opposite arm a little. "Let's see... I suppose about a week per new skill. After that, it's repetition and practice until everything is at the level it became. Seams are easy, patterns much less so, and embroidery is a pain in the ass, but you can make clothes that actually look good."