Oh, I wouldn't– I wasn't calling you a caveman. (oh no, he's ruining one of his First Contacts. did he say something rude?) All I mean is that this planet must've developed faster than your planet. Or it had a significant headstart. Time dilation. It's all relative.
(definitely just some nerd.)
As for what I think... well, considering the fact that my name is all over the place in the house I woke up in, it's safe to assume I've either replaced an older version of myself or just recently missed him. The same could be true for you.
Either way, I highly doubt we brought ourselves here.
(exhales slowly, eyes lowering as he considers what he'd like to say. fear changes people. it makes monsters of them. i've seen it. i won't let it happen again.)
Why in the world would I lie to you?
I understand if you're frightened and processing that by lashing out, but I don't deserve to be talked to that way.
[travis scoffs, rolling his eyes: figures this future LARPer would want to grab his hand and kumbaya over their shared kidnapping.]
You're kidding me. [but behind the bravado, is, indeed, the thinnest undercurrent of anxiety: the both of them are stuck here with no way home. the boy's mouth twists-- he gnaws the inside of his lip-- then he hops right back into kirk's face.
if kirk's looking for the holes in his credibility, travis has 'em, and he's prepared to go down the list.] First of all, you didn't even give me your real name, dude. I watch TV, I know who Captain Kirk is. Secondly, all this time dilation alternate self stuff is straight out of a video game or a comic or an anime or something. Next you're gonna tell me Darth Vader is here.
(momentarily lowering his face into a hand to pinch at the bridge of his nose. there is so much to unpack here, and he feels a stress headache coming on.)
First of all, (he parrots back,) time dilation isn't from a video game. If you're from Earth's information age, and it sounds like you are, then you know who Albert Einstein is.
Second of all, I am not going to waste my time answering interrogative questions about my identity. I know who I am; I don't have to prove it to you. How would you even go about convincing a complete stranger that you are who you say you are? I didn't think to bring my birth certificate with me, but God only knows you'd assume it was a forgery.
Yeah, it was. I'm-- I know I'm being an asshole too, but this is just a lot for me, okay?
[now he's irritated AND confused AND probably high as fuck if he's convinced he's in the future talking to james t star trek kirk!!! he's SO fucking grounded when he gets home.]
So I'm in the future and we're friends or something. [does he work for comic-con or something??? maybe kirk's parents were trekkies with a sense of humor?] Do we have to, like, do something here to get back home?
It's my responsibility to help, (he begins, calmer after their apologies.) And If Lieutenant Spock and I figure this out, we won't leave you behind. That's not Starfleet's way.
But what we have to do... I don't know yet. And to be completely transparent with you, I think we might be here for a while. We– our alternates made themselves at home here.
[that's not good news. travis makes a face, but--]
Since we knew each other, maybe we can get some clues if we meet up? I couldn't gather anything about other-me from my own apartment, except that I'm still a nerd, and...
[travis reaches for something out of frame; when he returns, there's a small gray kitten in one of his hands.]
(does he want to meet the kid that just said he'd kick his ass? not particularly. is he going to anyway? absolutely.
he takes a look at the kitten, offers both it and travis a half-smile, and nods.)
Alright. I'll clear it with the Lieutenant and head to your location. I have a map on my device—do you have one downloaded, too? If you do, check the options. There should be a "share" button on it that'll send me your pin.
[it only takes a couple minutes for travis to figure it out. turns out he's in emerald park after all: when kirk follows the pin, he'll eventually find a slightly-younger punk kid seated on a bench, clad in a plain t-shirt and slightly too-big jeans. travis flags him down as soon as he sees the other young man approach; if he's still mad, there's no trace of it in his face at all.]
(while it's taken him a bit, he's still managed to arrive without making travis wait too long, spotting his wave and responding with his own. kirk may be average in the height category, but as a nineteen-year-old farm boy undergoing regular physical fitness tests, he's could cut a rather stocky, imposing figure.
he doesn't, however, due to a warm personality that seems to radiate from him like an aura. he approaches, makes sure his uniform doesn't have any errant wrinkles, and sits next to his new ally with an unrestrained smile.)
Sorry, that took a bit longer than I was expecting. How are you? Are you feeling any better?
[as for travis, he's never been really bulky, and he never will be; not even the version of him a couple decades along can get away from that built-in lanky frame. in person, though, it's easier to tell that he and jim are close to the same age-- and that stuffy politeness is more easily offset by his earnestness.
so he is just a dork. that's a relief.]
It's setting in now, I guess. [he reaches for his phone, making the kitten in his lap stir, and leans over to show jim a couple posts.] I was reading the message boards on here while I was waiting for you. We're not alone here. Not by far.
That's good... but don't force yourself to take on too much too soon. It's human nature to do that, I think. Some fear is healthy and you have to let yourself process it.
(when travis leans over, kirk takes the opportunity to stroke the kitten's head with the back of his finger before redirecting his attention to the phone.)
What sorts of messages are there? Do you think they're all like us? Displaced or transported from other worlds?
(it's a clear dodge. in the future, captain kirk will be a master of manipulating conversation and avoiding unwanted topics. cadet kirk, however, is still learning how to wield his charisma.)
And we're trained for these scenarios. It'll be easier for us to acclimate than the others. "People like us." (automatically, his hand comes to rest on jeane's side, ensuring she doesn't topple over in its overzealous attack on his pantleg. he loves her already, which shows in the gentle, upward crease of his brow. with his opposite hand, he types out a message on his device—a check-in with spock.)
Excuse me. I'm not trying to be rude, it's just protocol to give the Lieutenant an update every fifteen minutes. I'm not supposed to be on missions yet. (this is bound to get tiresome, but he seems content to follow spock's orders—especially when he's been allowed to come out with travis.) ... so, uh, did you come with the cat? You seemed to imply she was already here, but I didn't think to ask before.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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(definitely just some nerd.)
As for what I think... well, considering the fact that my name is all over the place in the house I woke up in, it's safe to assume I've either replaced an older version of myself or just recently missed him. The same could be true for you.
Either way, I highly doubt we brought ourselves here.
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I'm so fucked if my parents think I ran away. If you're screwing with me right now with all this sci-fi crap, I'm gonna kick your ass.
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(exhales slowly, eyes lowering as he considers what he'd like to say. fear changes people. it makes monsters of them. i've seen it. i won't let it happen again.)
Why in the world would I lie to you?
I understand if you're frightened and processing that by lashing out, but I don't deserve to be talked to that way.
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You're kidding me. [but behind the bravado, is, indeed, the thinnest undercurrent of anxiety: the both of them are stuck here with no way home. the boy's mouth twists-- he gnaws the inside of his lip-- then he hops right back into kirk's face.
if kirk's looking for the holes in his credibility, travis has 'em, and he's prepared to go down the list.] First of all, you didn't even give me your real name, dude. I watch TV, I know who Captain Kirk is. Secondly, all this time dilation alternate self stuff is straight out of a video game or a comic or an anime or something. Next you're gonna tell me Darth Vader is here.
[he huffs.] I just want to go home.
1/2
First of all, (he parrots back,) time dilation isn't from a video game. If you're from Earth's information age, and it sounds like you are, then you know who Albert Einstein is.
Second of all, I am not going to waste my time answering interrogative questions about my identity. I know who I am; I don't have to prove it to you. How would you even go about convincing a complete stranger that you are who you say you are? I didn't think to bring my birth certificate with me, but God only knows you'd assume it was a forgery.
2/2
... I'm sorry, Travis. That was rude of me.
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[now he's irritated AND confused AND probably high as fuck if he's convinced he's in the future talking to james t star trek kirk!!! he's SO fucking grounded when he gets home.]
So I'm in the future and we're friends or something. [does he work for comic-con or something??? maybe kirk's parents were trekkies with a sense of humor?] Do we have to, like, do something here to get back home?
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But what we have to do... I don't know yet. And to be completely transparent with you, I think we might be here for a while. We– our alternates made themselves at home here.
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Since we knew each other, maybe we can get some clues if we meet up? I couldn't gather anything about other-me from my own apartment, except that I'm still a nerd, and...
[travis reaches for something out of frame; when he returns, there's a small gray kitten in one of his hands.]
Um, that I got a cat.
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he takes a look at the kitten, offers both it and travis a half-smile, and nods.)
Alright. I'll clear it with the Lieutenant and head to your location. I have a map on my device—do you have one downloaded, too? If you do, check the options. There should be a "share" button on it that'll send me your pin.
I can use that to track you down.
to action??!?!
Okaaaay... share?
[it only takes a couple minutes for travis to figure it out. turns out he's in emerald park after all: when kirk follows the pin, he'll eventually find a slightly-younger punk kid seated on a bench, clad in a plain t-shirt and slightly too-big jeans. travis flags him down as soon as he sees the other young man approach; if he's still mad, there's no trace of it in his face at all.]
Yo, Jim! Over here.
WOOOOOOOO
(while it's taken him a bit, he's still managed to arrive without making travis wait too long, spotting his wave and responding with his own. kirk may be average in the height category, but as a nineteen-year-old farm boy undergoing regular physical fitness tests, he's could cut a rather stocky, imposing figure.
he doesn't, however, due to a warm personality that seems to radiate from him like an aura. he approaches, makes sure his uniform doesn't have any errant wrinkles, and sits next to his new ally with an unrestrained smile.)
Sorry, that took a bit longer than I was expecting. How are you? Are you feeling any better?
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so he is just a dork. that's a relief.]
It's setting in now, I guess. [he reaches for his phone, making the kitten in his lap stir, and leans over to show jim a couple posts.] I was reading the message boards on here while I was waiting for you. We're not alone here. Not by far.
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(when travis leans over, kirk takes the opportunity to stroke the kitten's head with the back of his finger before redirecting his attention to the phone.)
What sorts of messages are there? Do you think they're all like us? Displaced or transported from other worlds?
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[jeane mewls, hopping over to paw curiously at kirk's leg.]
Anyway, I think they are. Lots of talk about the 'locals' and how many months they've been here. I think the forum's just for people like us, even.
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(it's a clear dodge. in the future, captain kirk will be a master of manipulating conversation and avoiding unwanted topics. cadet kirk, however, is still learning how to wield his charisma.)
And we're trained for these scenarios. It'll be easier for us to acclimate than the others. "People like us." (automatically, his hand comes to rest on jeane's side, ensuring she doesn't topple over in its overzealous attack on his pantleg. he loves her already, which shows in the gentle, upward crease of his brow. with his opposite hand, he types out a message on his device—a check-in with spock.)
Excuse me. I'm not trying to be rude, it's just protocol to give the Lieutenant an update every fifteen minutes. I'm not supposed to be on missions yet. (this is bound to get tiresome, but he seems content to follow spock's orders—especially when he's been allowed to come out with travis.) ... so, uh, did you come with the cat? You seemed to imply she was already here, but I didn't think to ask before.