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

Let the confusion begin

[sumarusfinest]

Well now.

Here's a surprise. It's unusual to see the captain out of uniform in the Plaza, and even more unusual to hear him speaking about family matters. Katsuya fusses with his tinted glasses a moment before hesitantly approaching the table. Excuse him for not taking that seat, but it's been a mutual understanding between the two that they don't get in each others way. The officer has no way of knowing this isn't the same James Kirk he has history with.

"Strained. Though I don't stop trying to reach out to those still living."

His arms are folded in front of him, expression closed off but not entirely cold. Very Severe Older Brother vibes, this one.

"...Why do you ask? Are yours attempting communication?"

[chiron_survivor]

Here comes along someone else who seems to be familiar with Jim Kirk, based on the friendly smile she's giving him. That smile doesn't last, unfortunately, as his question makes her corners of her mouth turn down pensively. "I had a good relationship with them... they didn't survive the war, unfortunately." She fidgets with the lid of her coffee cup. "I always wish I had spent more time with them, especially my extended family... so I suppose if I were in that position, I'd try to reconnect, yes."

[primelogic]

It causes an old Vulcan pain to see this younger version of his friend so distraught over a family that should have given him such support and life. The James Kirk he knows was close with his father, inspired and supported by him all through his early years and saw him become captain of the Enterprise.

The young man sitting at the table has had none of those things. In many ways, Spock is to blame for that. That and so much more about the changed worlds his younger self and their crew now call home.

The sorrow is immeasurable.

He hesitates to take a seat, watching the young captain Kirk from across the plaza at first. What can he say? What could he say? He had vowed not to meddle in their lives. And yet....to see his old friend clearly in turmoil...

[rogueinladysclothing]

Jim in the Nexus isn't an uncommon thing at all these days. Amelia almost passes him by without thinking because his face is one she's so used to seeing and considering they're not really friends? It appears as if it's going to be another day of the rogue walking by without acknowledging him.

But that question is... unusual coming from him. When does Jim Kirk openly ask something so personal? And, as the rogue turns to face him and notices his clothes, when does he dress so informally? What happened to bring that about?

She walks over to him slowly, one eyebrow arched questioningly at him, stopping a few feet back from the empty chair across from him. Her clothes are completely old-fashioned: dark navy long-sleeved linen shirt and matching pants with silver emboidery down the seams under her leather underbust corset and knee-high leather boots. And then there's the matching weapons: a half dozen easily visible daggers and a slingshot dangling from her belt amidst a handful of leather pouches. Whatever her story is, it's not one from any recent version of Earth, that's for certain.

"Last I was home, things were going well between all of us, but there's not really much chance of checking in on that again now that I'm here." A beat as she crosses her arms in front of her chest and gives him an obvious once over in a very discerning way, the dark silver hairpin in her hair tinkling musically as she tilts her head to one side ever so slightly. "Is something the matter with yours that you ask after the families of others?"

[tielle_mortevus]

Taking a seat next to him, she stares listlessly off towards the horizon, deep in thought.

"My family is... complicated... Though with the exception of death, I'd say its never too late to try to mend things. While my birth parents both died tragically while I was still young, I was able to reconnect with my mother and sister after centuries apart. The reunion was short lived though, I had to essentially make myself disappear for my daughter's safety, and winding up here with no way back certainly isn't helping things, but that's a story for another time."

She gives him a smile, leaning back in the chair.

"I take it you're trying to reconcile some family matters as well?"