Balancing the Books

[conjuredskies]

Here’s someone who hasn’t shown his face in public for a while. Felix is sitting on the old Legion desk in his Legion leathers, a small pile of books beside him. For those who get close enough to look, they’re all reference books about Earth, including a children’s encyclopedia and a dictionary. The mage himself still looks a little sleepless, but he’s in far better shape than the gaunt, distracted wraith who showed up for the Halloween party. There’s color in his face, an easy confidence in his posture… and with his hood down around his shoulders, his hair looks like it’s back to its normal black.

Felix draws a deep breath that has nothing at all to do with the letter he’s pretending to read, then folds it and flashes the nearest Nexus-goers a quick smile.

“How forgiving you are you of debts?” he asks. “Those you’re owed, and those you owe.”

Comments

[boldygoing]

A small orange kitten scampers in the direction of the desk, excited to explore this endless Nexus place with its interesting smells and distracting fluttering banners. The fluffball skids to a stop near Felix's feet and bats at his footwear with a curious paw, investigating. Is this good to pounce on?

The bearded Jim Kirk is not terribly far behind, looking a little exasperated, though not terribly surprised. Crookshanks was a model citizen, compared to this little terror. This little guy has the heart of an explorer, and a fearlessness that would make Starfleet proud, but man. Zunar's found enough places to hide in Jim's small apartment that the thought of losing him in an infinite plane is intimidating as fuck.

"Come on, you gotta stay close," Jim says, scooping up the kitten, who mews in protest before realizing that he can see so much more up here, and begins to paw at Jim's shoulder to climb up.

Only then does Jim notice whose boots the kitten was attacking, and he pauses a moment as the question registers. “Depends on what kinda debt. People should keep their promises unless there’s a good reason why not, for the most part. Or make it up somehow, if they can.”

[conjuredskies]

Felix's reaction is immediate, though he makes one wrong assumption: "Oh, for Kynareth's sake. Tiber, how did you..."

Wait. The cat he's leaning over his knees to glare at looks... different. How many ginger kittens are running around the Nexus these days? Should he be glad Jim only brought home one? But speaking of Jim... there's that disorienting feeling of looking up into a face that is and clearly is not his beloved's. Felix nods to the man as he scoops up his pet, but the reply draws a small shake of the head from the conjurer. No getting off that easily, captain.

"But you personally, do you aim to collect on the debts you're owed?"

[boldygoing]

Zunar paws rather insistently until Jim relents, letting the kitten scramble up onto his shoulder, sharp little claws digging into his jacket until the chosen perch has been achieved. The kitten mews in triumph, purring happily, softly headbutting Jim's cheek. Yep. This is his life now.

"Not always immediately," Jim answers, once he no longer has a kitten actively trying to shove its furry little head into him. "Sometimes it's better to have someone owe me a favor I can call in. Kinda depends on how heavy the debt is though. Most of the time if it's something petty, it's not worth it to care."

[conjuredskies]

Felix glances at the kitten once in a while, taking note of the obvious bond between them. Not hard to guess this is another kneazle, and he's as cute as Tiber... not that Felix would admit it. He already has some sense of loyalty to the smallest member of their household.

They have a household. Gods, but that's strange to think.

"Good to know." Felix flashes a smile, then nods to the cat. "I see Jim's not the only one who brought one home."

[boldygoing]

This is the first he's hearing that the other captain ended up with a kneazle kitten too, but Jim isn't terribly surprised. Crookshanks was a popular cat around these parts, and there was a whole box of the little furballs waiting to choose some folks. No need to guess why Felix called this one Tiber, then - although really, what kind of name is that, taking some diminutive of his own middle name? Weird.

"Yeah, this is Zunar," Jim says, reaching up to rub the top of the kitten's head, eliciting a purr. "I haven't put a tracer on him yet but he's making it tempting."

[conjuredskies]

"I expect he's clever enough to get it off as soon as he wanted to," Felix remarks. "Though his brother is no different, so do let me know how it works, if you try it."

[boldygoing]

"Sure, I'll keep you posted. Just don't hold your breath on that." Because yeah, he's definitely not wrong; kneazles are smart as fuck, and a mellow old cat like Crookshanks was nowhere near as mischievous as this little dude has been. Good luck keeping track of him on the ship, Jim.

He doesn't know Felix nearly well enough to judge, but the mage does look better than he did the first time they met. It makes Jim feel a little less pushy about asking questions, anyway. "So, are you thinking about collecting on a debt?" He's pretty sure that it's actually the other way around, but hey, he can be tactful when he situation calls for it. Sometimes.

[conjuredskies]

"I don't like to deal in debts, to tell you the truth. But so many other people like it- the simplicity of thinking that way, I suppose - so I have to understand the rules. I'm more the sort to trade in favors, if I have my own way."

He turns the folded letter over in his fingers, studying this Jim a minute before he adds, "Although in this case, someone's reminding me of a debt I can't really deny owing them. They just haven't settled on the price yet."

[boldygoing]

Jim's eyebrows go up at that. "So what're they reminding you for, if they don't even know what they want from you? Just holding it over your head?" If so, that's a dick move if he ever saw one.

[conjuredskies]

"Sort of. They're assuming - rightly enough, I admit - that I'm in no good position to repay them in the near future, but they want to be certain I do remember the debt." It certainly isn't the nicest of messages, but then he gathers from the tone that his 'friend' isn't in the best of moods with him. And technically he may have earned that, since they're currently in a bit of hot water on his account.

"We'll work something out eventually," he adds with a shrug. "I just wonder if they'll be more forgiving when their mood cools a little. It's not the best time to have debts hanging over me."