[ Now he's faced with a dilemma. How committed does he want to remain to this new guarding of his privacy? For all the carefully unsaid words between them he is aware of what Jim is doing and what he's attempting to curtail before it grows into a new pattern of existence.
Well. Logicallyβ ]
There are indeed other items which I require but they are not pressing. As you have already noted, we will not be able to purchase all these items at once. It is logical to focus on food first as well as [ ahem ] toiletries.
(don't get shy now, we shared the facilities for years)
Food, toiletries, and clothing to wear while our uniforms are being laundered.
(oh, he forgot about the blasted laundry. face in hand, he enters the hair care aisle with a low sigh. this is going to be more challenging than he initially thought, but surely two regimented starfleet officers will be able to manage any and all domestic matters. quickly and efficiently.
[ How could I ever forget our frigid bathroom and its occasional persistent dampness. ]
I suggest a more economical alternative of buying soap components and creating our own with minor modulations as needed to serve individual purposes. I am ready to comprise that list if you do not have it readily available.
(spock wants to make them their own soap products, and all kirk can think is there goes the sanctity of the bathtub. at least it's being sacrificed for a good cause, and not being used as a convenient basin in which to mix a boatload of dynamite.
YET.)
Excellent idea, Mr. Spock. One I'll leave in your capable hands, seeing as I don't have a soap recipe readily available.
I can make a basic stitch, maybe hem a pair of pants, but if you want me to make an entire outfit, Spock, you'll wind up looking like a scarecrow.
The rest sounds manageable.
(does it??? lye?????)
Most of these can be picked up on a grocery run, because I'm certain I won't find them here. I think I'm going to have to take a picture of this whole section, unless you know which type of dryer you'd like offhand.
The reference takes time to register, certainly never having the chance to see such a creation in person but he's aware of their existence and never codified it in relation to clothing rather than their straw-like composition. A hand instead lifts slowly to his hair, privately concerned. ]
I have done no such research yet, Captain. I trust your discretion but can provide facts and specs on differing types if you would prefer. I will furthermore educate myself in the basics of clothes-making.
[ Here he goes, already starting in on this new project at top speed. ]
Don't let me stop you if it's something you'd like to do, but there is a simple way to increase our government stipend. Synchrony, manna, currents. A touch on the shoulder or arm could get us what we need.
A logical mind is forced to come to terms with an equally logical suggestion, one only not immediately agreed to because of its underlying implications, all of which must be carefully digested.
He has served as science officer on the USS Enterprise for years and in that time has made it a priority to ensure that his equipment is functioning at peak efficiency, in many cases achieving his desired results through personal modifications and upgrades. His sensors, after all, must be able to perform three broad functions when coming into contact with an unknown, each one critical: first, they must determine the point of origin of the reading; second, they must report back the composition of that which is measured; and third, they must be able to register the strength of the signal itself.
The purpose of logic is to problem-solve in an uncertain environment. That's what Michael had said once, and still it holds true.
He has devoted no small amount of time in the past three years to the analysis of his relationship with James T. Kirk, but the near-constant peripeteias of life aboard the Enterprise allow for any number of hiding places away from stillness. Now he prompts a functional realization of that undefined bond and he finds himself redirecting his scientific method to adjust it for the rigors of interpersonal dynamics.
Point of origin: The simplest. It has been and always shall be Jim himself.
Composition: That he cannot see. It's as if it's all he can do to bounce atoms off a black box and take a spectrographic analysis of what is returned to him. But even that wave of colors, up and down spikes on the warm side of the spectrum, requires objective comparison. How can that be achieved when he has never encountered Vulcansβ no, when he has never encountered humans interacting with one another as Kirk interacts with him?
Strength: In a way, the most complex and yet also the foregone conclusion. The significant power of their connection is one he's been aware of for some time; telepathic sensitivity denies him any claim at ignorance. Besides, were he not able to validate their compatibility on his own, it remains a fact that it's been witnessed by any number of alien species who have so quickly identified one or the other as their respective weakness. For as jarred as he has been during past melds with emotional, erratic humans, his times of joining with the most passionate and compelling of these minds has not challenged him due to discomfort. Only due to a desire to remain connected longer than is wise, certainly longer than he had been advised by Vulcan elders on a hot planet a lifetime ago. Just how much, he wonders dispassionately, removedly, would they scorn him?
For as murky as the definition of their bond is and as clear its strength, it's the latter that would disturb Vulcan sensibility.
There have been life-long friends with more disquieting and personally disturbing connections than that of married pairs. Soulmate is a word reserved for insult or pity as often as it is for commendation. And now there is a chance for them to measure, quantifiably, just how excessive Spock's failures have been in keeping humans at arm's-length.
He will know. They will know.
And yet... There's no logical defense he can offer, especially not when his equally logical analysis has borne so little fruit. ]
You are correct, Jim. I shall postpone my research until it is determined to be necessary.
I do not comprehend, however, the need for this hairdryer's ornamentation. I would ask that you pass along its specifications as listed while I continue my search for information on other brands.
(as no pause comes, he's deaf to spock's interior monologue.
he was careful to present the option concisely, without pomp and circumstance despite the parade in his chest. what he receives in return is a logical agreement, one he suspects his first officer has cogitated for some time; as a result, kirk decides there must be another explanation for how tightly he's holding his phone.)
Specifications: Salton brand, standard electric hairdryer; adjustable speed (low, medium, and high) and temperature (hot, or cool to "seal the cuticle"); 1875W, 125v-60 Hz; 6.56' cord.
A novelty item that packs a punch. I think it's charming, don't you?
Considerable wattage and cord length. Both make for an item suitable for our purposes. If it is also comparable in price, I foresee no issues with this purchase, Captain.
I suggest that you do not genuinely desire commentary from me on the aesthetic value.
[ I was raised in luxury and that thing is not luxurious. ]
(with neither of them backing down from this silent bluffing war, kirk drops the duck dryer into the swaggy hand basket now resting in the bend of his elbow.)
You know that your commentary is always welcomed and appreciated, Spock. I value your opinion, so don't go holding back on my account.
(pictures it in a vulcan home, lips pressing together to prevent himself from smiling in the middle of a store aisle.)
Oh, no, if there were hairdryers on Vulcan I would guess that they'd be slim, sleek, and polished. Logically contemporary with culturally traditional flare.
Is it customary on Vulcan to rely solely on sonics?
It happens on some occasions that your lack of familiarity with Vulcan escapes me.
[ Why? Because he understands Spock himself so much better than his peers do? Or perhaps simply because he's memorized the man's record and knows it as well as his own, knows he's served with Vulcans often in the past. ]
In most cases there is no logical reason to prefer liquid to sonics for the purpose of refreshment. I suspect you are aware of this, Jim.
Yes, I figured as much, but it's always better to hear it straight from the horse's mouth. I'd rather not make assumptions when I'm one question away from a more accurate answer.
Unfortunately I've never had the pleasure of roaming within any Vulcan city's limits, and it's always been a wish of mine to visit ShiKahr. Your descriptions of it have painted a very fine picture, but I can't experience Vulcan culture from the deck of a starship.
(TAKE ME HOME, I WANT TO GO!!!!!!!
a wistful sigh as he sweeps out of the aisle, stopping suddenly to reach for a package of candles. eyebrows raising, he examines them before adding them to the basket with the dryer.)
On that note, would you like some candles for meditation? There is a "mega pack" of the tall, thin ones on sale.
Captain. I fail to understand the relevance of a large Terran quadruped to our current topic of conversation, nor how I am to perceive this comparison.
[ This is an untrue statement. Spock is entirely aware of the phrase and its meaning. However...
Just as his captain refers to a city which forces Spock to experience those fine pangs of nostalgia, he is keenly aware of Jim's own homesickness. Not for Earth, of course, but for their ship and for the banter which is so characteristic of their shared existence there. And so he offers him a gift. ]
Another Earth saying, Mr. Spock. Physically, you in no way resemble a horse. They are, however, exceptionally intelligent, loyal creatures. If they were able to speak, I'd listen very closely to what they had to say.
(gift: well-received.
its dual purpose succeeds in both furthering their dialogue and reminding him that an integral component of the enterprise has joined him in this place. he can't be alone; spock is at his side.)
I'll just put the other 999,988 candles back then, shall I? The more conservative pack of 12 should be plenty.
I shall be interested to hear the origin of such a saying.
[ Mostly because he has great confidence in Jim's etymological knowledge and therefore also to his knowledge of phrases and their history, and if he can offer him another gift alongside the first then he will do so. ]
I would prefer priority be given to an explanation, however, as I now strongly suspect I have become the subject of a joke.
You're familiar with the human tendency to exaggerate, and this is just another instance of that. Sure, "mega" denotes a factor of one million, but in a store setting it's an attractive term used to suggest that the item being sold is being sold in bulk.
It also means we're going to save a certain amount of money buying the "mega pack" of twelve instead of the individually priced candles.
(he has no idea what these are supposed to fucking cost)
A "dodeca" pack is no less attractive and it is far more accurate. I accept that you are more knowledgeable than I am on such matters, but I use this colloquial terminology with my suggestion for improvement logged.
[ Well, the dodeca pack should be satisfactory for the time being, assuming the wax is of good quality. Perhaps one might also be utilized in his soap-making. ]
Yes, Captain, please proceed with your explanation.
You're absolutely right, Spock, and I'll be sure to pass your suggestions along to all relevant parties at the store. No officer of the USS Enterprise will go unheard if I have anything to say about it.
(as the ship's entire hr department, he feels obligated to escalate this. he also wants to very badly, because it'll be worth it to see the clerks' reactions.)
Wanting to hear something "straight from the horse's mouth" means that you'd like your information to come from its most reliable source.
It references horse racing. You can't trust the owners of the horses participating, and you can't trust the men taking bets; they'll give you bad tips. Go to the stable boys, however, and ask them which of the horses they believe has the best chance to win. They spend the most time with the horses and know the condition they're in, so you're practically hearing the truth from the horses themselves.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Well. Logicallyβ ]
There are indeed other items which I require but they are not pressing. As you have already noted, we will not be able to purchase all these items at once. It is logical to focus on food first as well as [ ahem ] toiletries.
no subject
Food, toiletries, and clothing to wear while our uniforms are being laundered.
(oh, he forgot about the blasted laundry. face in hand, he enters the hair care aisle with a low sigh. this is going to be more challenging than he initially thought, but surely two regimented starfleet officers will be able to manage any and all domestic matters. quickly and efficiently.
surely.)
-Detergent
no subject
I suggest a more economical alternative of buying soap components and creating our own with minor modulations as needed to serve individual purposes. I am ready to comprise that list if you do not have it readily available.
[ You know. In your head. ]
Do you have any experience as a tailor?
no subject
YET.)
Excellent idea, Mr. Spock. One I'll leave in your capable hands, seeing as I don't have a soap recipe readily available.
Do you need something sewn?
no subject
- Lye
- Vegetable oil (coconut, olive, or hemp)
- Salt
- Baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate)
- Vinegar
I will leave any coloring or scent addition to your discretion.
As for what I need sewn, I am merely attempting to lower our costs by suggesting we purchase bolts of fabric in opposition to ready-made clothing.
[ This is Spock making a considerable sacrifice, fashionista that he is. Of course they could just HUG... ]
no subject
The rest sounds manageable.
(does it??? lye?????)
Most of these can be picked up on a grocery run, because I'm certain I won't find them here. I think I'm going to have to take a picture of this whole section, unless you know which type of dryer you'd like offhand.
no subject
The reference takes time to register, certainly never having the chance to see such a creation in person but he's aware of their existence and never codified it in relation to clothing rather than their straw-like composition. A hand instead lifts slowly to his hair, privately concerned. ]
I have done no such research yet, Captain. I trust your discretion but can provide facts and specs on differing types if you would prefer. I will furthermore educate myself in the basics of clothes-making.
[ Here he goes, already starting in on this new project at top speed. ]
no subject
Don't let me stop you if it's something you'd like to do, but there is a simple way to increase our government stipend. Synchrony, manna, currents. A touch on the shoulder or arm could get us what we need.
How about this one?
(IMAGE ATTACHMENT: LINK.)
i don't know
A logical mind is forced to come to terms with an equally logical suggestion, one only not immediately agreed to because of its underlying implications, all of which must be carefully digested.
He has served as science officer on the USS Enterprise for years and in that time has made it a priority to ensure that his equipment is functioning at peak efficiency, in many cases achieving his desired results through personal modifications and upgrades. His sensors, after all, must be able to perform three broad functions when coming into contact with an unknown, each one critical: first, they must determine the point of origin of the reading; second, they must report back the composition of that which is measured; and third, they must be able to register the strength of the signal itself.
The purpose of logic is to problem-solve in an uncertain environment. That's what Michael had said once, and still it holds true.
He has devoted no small amount of time in the past three years to the analysis of his relationship with James T. Kirk, but the near-constant peripeteias of life aboard the Enterprise allow for any number of hiding places away from stillness. Now he prompts a functional realization of that undefined bond and he finds himself redirecting his scientific method to adjust it for the rigors of interpersonal dynamics.
Point of origin: The simplest. It has been and always shall be Jim himself.
Composition: That he cannot see. It's as if it's all he can do to bounce atoms off a black box and take a spectrographic analysis of what is returned to him. But even that wave of colors, up and down spikes on the warm side of the spectrum, requires objective comparison. How can that be achieved when he has never encountered Vulcansβ no, when he has never encountered humans interacting with one another as Kirk interacts with him?
Strength: In a way, the most complex and yet also the foregone conclusion. The significant power of their connection is one he's been aware of for some time; telepathic sensitivity denies him any claim at ignorance. Besides, were he not able to validate their compatibility on his own, it remains a fact that it's been witnessed by any number of alien species who have so quickly identified one or the other as their respective weakness. For as jarred as he has been during past melds with emotional, erratic humans, his times of joining with the most passionate and compelling of these minds has not challenged him due to discomfort. Only due to a desire to remain connected longer than is wise, certainly longer than he had been advised by Vulcan elders on a hot planet a lifetime ago. Just how much, he wonders dispassionately, removedly, would they scorn him?
For as murky as the definition of their bond is and as clear its strength, it's the latter that would disturb Vulcan sensibility.
There have been life-long friends with more disquieting and personally disturbing connections than that of married pairs. Soulmate is a word reserved for insult or pity as often as it is for commendation. And now there is a chance for them to measure, quantifiably, just how excessive Spock's failures have been in keeping humans at arm's-length.
He will know. They will know.
And yet... There's no logical defense he can offer, especially not when his equally logical analysis has borne so little fruit. ]
You are correct, Jim. I shall postpone my research until it is determined to be necessary.
I do not comprehend, however, the need for this hairdryer's ornamentation. I would ask that you pass along its specifications as listed while I continue my search for information on other brands.
no subject
he was careful to present the option concisely, without pomp and circumstance despite the parade in his chest. what he receives in return is a logical agreement, one he suspects his first officer has cogitated for some time; as a result, kirk decides there must be another explanation for how tightly he's holding his phone.)
Specifications: Salton brand, standard electric hairdryer; adjustable speed (low, medium, and high) and temperature (hot, or cool to "seal the cuticle"); 1875W, 125v-60 Hz; 6.56' cord.
A novelty item that packs a punch. I think it's charming, don't you?
no subject
I suggest that you do not genuinely desire commentary from me on the aesthetic value.
[ I was raised in luxury and that thing is not luxurious. ]
no subject
(with neither of them backing down from this silent bluffing war, kirk drops the duck dryer into the swaggy hand basket now resting in the bend of his elbow.)
You know that your commentary is always welcomed and appreciated, Spock. I value your opinion, so don't go holding back on my account.
no subject
It is not in keeping in design with anything ever produced on Vulcan.
no subject
Oh, no, if there were hairdryers on Vulcan I would guess that they'd be slim, sleek, and polished. Logically contemporary with culturally traditional flare.
Is it customary on Vulcan to rely solely on sonics?
no subject
[ Why? Because he understands Spock himself so much better than his peers do? Or perhaps simply because he's memorized the man's record and knows it as well as his own, knows he's served with Vulcans often in the past. ]
In most cases there is no logical reason to prefer liquid to sonics for the purpose of refreshment. I suspect you are aware of this, Jim.
no subject
Unfortunately I've never had the pleasure of roaming within any Vulcan city's limits, and it's always been a wish of mine to visit ShiKahr. Your descriptions of it have painted a very fine picture, but I can't experience Vulcan culture from the deck of a starship.
(TAKE ME HOME, I WANT TO GO!!!!!!!
a wistful sigh as he sweeps out of the aisle, stopping suddenly to reach for a package of candles. eyebrows raising, he examines them before adding them to the basket with the dryer.)
On that note, would you like some candles for meditation? There is a "mega pack" of the tall, thin ones on sale.
1/3
2/3
[ This is an untrue statement. Spock is entirely aware of the phrase and its meaning. However...
Just as his captain refers to a city which forces Spock to experience those fine pangs of nostalgia, he is keenly aware of Jim's own homesickness. Not for Earth, of course, but for their ship and for the banter which is so characteristic of their shared existence there. And so he offers him a gift. ]
3/3
A mega pack? ]
We will face issues in both storing and paying for one million candles, Captain, to say nothing of my complete lack of need for such an abundance.
I question why such a pack exists.
[ This, however, is totally genuine. ]
no subject
(gift: well-received.
its dual purpose succeeds in both furthering their dialogue and reminding him that an integral component of the enterprise has joined him in this place. he can't be alone; spock is at his side.)
I'll just put the other 999,988 candles back then, shall I? The more conservative pack of 12 should be plenty.
no subject
[ Mostly because he has great confidence in Jim's etymological knowledge and therefore also to his knowledge of phrases and their history, and if he can offer him another gift alongside the first then he will do so. ]
I would prefer priority be given to an explanation, however, as I now strongly suspect I have become the subject of a joke.
1/2
It also means we're going to save a certain amount of money buying the "mega pack" of twelve instead of the individually priced candles.
(he has no idea what these are supposed to fucking cost)
2/2
no subject
[ Well, the dodeca pack should be satisfactory for the time being, assuming the wax is of good quality. Perhaps one might also be utilized in his soap-making. ]
Yes, Captain, please proceed with your explanation.
no subject
(as the ship's entire hr department, he feels obligated to escalate this. he also wants to very badly, because it'll be worth it to see the clerks' reactions.)
Wanting to hear something "straight from the horse's mouth" means that you'd like your information to come from its most reliable source.
It references horse racing. You can't trust the owners of the horses participating, and you can't trust the men taking bets; they'll give you bad tips. Go to the stable boys, however, and ask them which of the horses they believe has the best chance to win. They spend the most time with the horses and know the condition they're in, so you're practically hearing the truth from the horses themselves.
Understand?
(no subject)
(no subject)
i didn't mean for this to sound this flirty