Family Matters

[boldygoing]

There's a starship captain in the Plaza, sitting at an outdoor cafe style table which bears a half-consumed cup of coffee and a glowing, transparent datapad. Jim Kirk is not in uniform, clad in well-worn civilian clothes, though given that his shirt says PROPERTY OF STARFLEET ACADEMY in faded text, he's probably not trying to be covert. He's fairly focused on the datapad, and one might assume that he's catching up on reports or requisition forms during his off-hours if not for the quietly contemplative look on his face.

And, of course, the fact that he's chosen to take a break here rather than anywhere near Starfleet property.

His thoughts don't remain a mystery for long, as this does tend to be the place to go for advice, no matter how small the matter. "How's your relationship with your family? Have you ever tried to reconnect after spending years apart?"

There's an empty chair on the other side of the table. Feel free to have a seat, if you'd like.



[OOC: Tags don't seem to work, but dupes are okay!]

Comments

[primelogic]

How could it not be?

His failure instigated all of this. The displacement of Nero, the evacuation of the Kelvin, the destruction of Vulcan. So many deaths he must answer for. How much different, better, would Jim's life be if not for him? He has touched some of the pain Jim Kirk keeps close in his heart when they mind melded on Delta Vega. Knows much of his own pain was shared with the young man at that time too.

"I know no such thing but it is gratifying to hear you say so." What would be the point in arguing semantics with Jim? The young captain has him more well figured out than even he knows.

"It causes me great pain when I think of how many lives were altered or ended because of all of this."

[boldygoing]

For Jim, who has now experienced first-hand the devastating consequences that can come in pursuit of revenge, the answer has never been clearer. "You didn't save Romulus, but it wasn't because you didn't try. Everything after that is on Nero. He choose more bloodshed instead of trying to stop the destruction. He had over a century to work with; he could've evacuated the planet, or waited for you and used the red matter early. He could've saved his people. He chose otherwise."

The young captain looks across the table at him, his mind on a similar loss, a similar revenge sought in retaliation, which ended with too many casualties along the way. Far, far too recent. "Maybe my dad would still be dead. But Nero had twenty-five years to think about what to do next, and he chose revenge. That's not on you."