second child, restless child

[negativechill]

[ jim never asked for any of the shit he got and/or gets in life. didn't ask to be a prince, didn't ask for any of the responsibility, didn't ask to be told to marry someone from another planet in a bid to get him to 'settle down,' like arranged marriages ever fucking work and he and whoever he ends up having to marry aren't going to just end up coming to some kind of agreement and just carry on as they were before marriage on the down low.

and jim knows what it is. it'll look good to have a tie with the vulcans and strengthen the power humans have; things have been precarious since his dad died when he was born, so yeah. it tracks. do what they can to keep their shit together.

but why the fuck can't it be sam? he's older, more marriageable, whatever. jim doesn't care. this kind of shit isn't him. sure, he's handsome. sure, he's charming. sure, he's great at diplomacy when he's not too busy doing other things. sure, sure, sure.

if he doesn't even want to settle down with someone he picks himself, what the hell makes them think he wants to marry a stranger?

but see, jim gets through the preliminary stages just fine. they meet—the guy's fine, real serious but that's what he figures from a vulcan anyway, jim likes how smart he is—get to know each other a little over the span of approximately three days, and now they have one more night of single life before they're inexorably tied together for the rest of their lives.

jim's life. vulcans live a lot longer than humans do.

anyway.

the whole shebang is gonna be on vulcan since vulcans care more about ceremony than humans do, and now it's after the final "engagement" dinner with their families. they're not expected to consummate marriage or whatever before the ceremony (or after, even?) he's pretty sure, but they have been sort of sequestered in a suite of rooms to spend time together. or fuck. he's really not sure at this point. he's almost certain it's not the second one.

spock hasn't seemed particularly enthused about the whole thing either, so jim doesn't feel too bad about slouching in a chair in the room they're in and flicking open an old multitool before snapping it shut again, the motion habitual and unconscious. ]

So, what life plans are the arranged marriage thing ruining for you?

Comments

[negativechill]

Please share your original intention, I'd love to hear it.

[ with a wry little twist of his own smile.

meanwhile, he's taking off his suit jacket and tossing it on top of the discarded robes. it's covered in the kind of princely braiding and embroidery that would also be far too identifiable. then, as spock speaks, he takes a moment to roll his sleeves up to his elbows, toss his stupid fancy tie, and unbutton the top button of his shirt. he will do this while being comfortable.

spock has not said that he is the mind behind the majority of the prototype's advanced tech, but jim has his suspicions. all the same, he lets out a low whistle before nodding. ]

Sounds about like what we'd need, yeah. I'm for it.

[logicalities]

[ He does not allow himself to be pleased by the human's whistle, but there is some satisfaction to be found in it. Though they are allies, the Terran Empire has not been made aware of the prototype Spock has been overseeing. He anticipates Kirk's reaction when he sees what the stealth technology actually consists of — the Romulans and Klingons have managed the upper hand many times thanks to their cloaks. Now, that will change.

(Spock is not so selfish that he has destroyed blueprints for the ship. Retrieving it from the shipyard will not put Vulcan or Terra in danger from the simmering tensions of their neighbors in space.)

Spock removes earrings, then starts on the long, beaded strands of ribbon woven through his hair. He eyes them; they are worth millions of credits, but they are also highly traceable. Less traceable than the clothing, though, and if they stop for a black market exchange close enough within the sphere of Vulcan space, it will not give away their destination. That decided, he pockets the jewelry rather than leaving it behind. And then he turns to Kirk, tipping his head toward the door as he leads the way out. ]

I had thought to become something of a wandering researcher. However, I do not object to the occupation of pirate.

[negativechill]

[ jim's pretty excited to see the new tech, and it shows in his demeanor. despite his brazen and womanizing (gender neutral) reputation, it's also well known that he's one of the brightest minds the terran empire has ever produced. there was no way he'd have been up to snuff to marry a vulcan prince, after all, if he wasn't at least smart.

heading out into the corridor and after spock is plenty easy. comes naturally, even, when he's this glad to be getting out of their mutual situation.

at spock's initial plan he hums idly, then offers: ] Nothing saying a pirate can't also do some saucy little research excursions. Gotta fund it somehow.

[ spock is obviously more aware of the layout of the space they're moving through but that doesn't stop jim from keeping an eye out as they move, ticking through solutions for potential roadblocks they may hit along the way. ]

[logicalities]

Saucy. [ Slowly, his lips rounding as he sounds out the word with a distinct air of bewilderment. ] I have never before heard field work described in such a way.

[ And clearly, he has no idea what it means. Surely anything involving edible sauce is to be discounted. Not even humans would use such illogical language.

As he puzzles over his new companion's meaning, Spock takes only one side trip, gesturing Kirk closer to avoid a guard before neatly ripping a panel away from a locked door and twisting wires together to provide terminal access for his PADD. A moment later and he's hacked in. The door swings open to reveal a room filled with weaponry — gleaming blades, heavy lirpas, and shining phasers. An armory.

Efficiently, Spock sorts through the available pieces and selects a few with which to outfit themselves. ]

[negativechill]

Y'know, cool, interesting, wow factor. Something to metaphorically write home about, exciting. The implication is that it's maybe a little naughty but that's the joke.

[ having been around humans most of his life, he's not used to having to explain any euphemisms he uses, but it's easy enough to try and parse it more understandably for someone more literal-minded. if they're going to work together long-term, he'll have to keep that in mind.

he watches spock with the wall panel and the hacking once they've bypassed the guard, both eyebrows raising slightly. ]

Impressive work.

[ low but genuine. as spock chooses a few pieces, jim picks out a couple of extra knives to tuck away. he lets spock see him do it just in case there are any objections on whatever potential grounds (maybe he's about to shove a poisoned blade in his boot or something), but if there's no issue he's gonna make sure he's got enough hidden and tight just in case something happens.

once they're done, he nods to indicate he's ready to go and once they do, he'll stick to spock like glue the whole rest of the way out. he feels a little useless letting spock take the lead so much but like, it's his palace, his armory, his ship, jim can help out more actively later. ]

[logicalities]

Fascinating. There is indeed no regulation prohibiting pirates from engaging in cutting edge research. [ As he gives Kirk a nod, the only acknowledgement he offers for the compliment. ] Then again, is one of the main goals of a pirate not to disobey all possible regulations?

[ Faintly wry, something close to a joke.

He has no opinion on what Kirk wishes to take; nothing that could harm the user is kept in such an armory, and Spock is not willing to use the time to go to the more secure location. Kirk seems to prefer bladed weapons, Spock notes, and opts to pick up several more phasers for Kirk's later use; if they are successful as pirates, ideally they will not be initiating close quarters combat.

They manage to avoid any security as they head toward the shipyard. Spock is aware of the guard rotations by virtue of his excellent memory rather than any preparation; it is fortunate. He has no desire to incapacitate his own guards.

The royal shipyards are filled with gleaming ships, the most advanced in the Vulcan fleet. None of them are the large research vessels or defense cruisers, but they gleam beneath Las'hark's light. Spock strides past all of them, heading toward an area that appears to hold only a small, single-person starskimmer. He keeps walking — and the air ripples, the image of the starskimmer fizzing around him as he walks through it to the prototype ship beyond.

At the hatch to the prototype, he places his hand on a scanner; the door opens after the audible clicking of multiple locks disengaging. ]

[negativechill]

Alright, alright, you got me there.

[ it's a good joke. good job, spock.

jim, ideally, would love to never engage in combat at all. but if they do have to, he just likes to be extra prepared. he does end up picking a couple phasers himself, once every knife he's snagged up is tucked away hidden: in his boot, under his shirt, so on and so forth.

and hey, effectively avoiding security is great.

he does arch an eyebrow slightly as they approach the apparent ship, but his mouth twists in wry amusement as they keep walking and the real thing is revealed. of course spock can open it. of course this is just. spock's ship. he waits for the vulcan to enter before following after him, letting out a low whistle. ]

Gorgeous.

[logicalities]

Indeed, it is an impressive ship.

[ He's allowed to say this because it's true. Kirk is not yet aware of all the reasons this ship is so impressive. Spock can only hope they will not have need for Kirk to learn them.

As it is, the shine of the newly-constructed ship and its state of the art equipment is enough to quality it for impressive. Unlike the other Vulcan ships, its warp ring is not currently visible. For all intents and purposes, the ship appears more like a pleasure cruiser than the warship Spock designed it as. A hallway leads towards the bridge and off towards other necessary areas: the mess, the medical bay, and lifts to the other decks. Everything shines. Spock himself did the final evaluation. There is no ship in the Vulcan fleet, or likely in known space, that can match his prototype.

It is, he thinks with a faint twist of sardonocism, uniquely suited for a pirate vessel, even if that was not the purpose for which it was designed.

Spock turns for the bridge. ]

Ideally, we will have at least an Earth-week before its absence is noted.

[negativechill]

[ jim takes stock of each thing they pass, memorizing the layout of the ship so he has the proper lay of the land, so to speak. if anything does happen, it's stupid as hell to get lost in the ship you're traveling on yourself.

he shadows spock to the bridge, moving to gaze over the controls but not touch anything just yet, though he looks over his shoulder at spock after a moment's consideration of what he'd said in the corridor. ]

Our absence is going to be noted immediately. Do not enough people know about the ship to consider it your choice for leaving? Unless they assume someone else kidnapped us, I guess.

[ fair enough considerations: he barks out a laugh after a moment, shaking his head. ]

A little funny that it'd have given us even more wiggle room if we'd gone missing from our honeymoon, but then we wouldn't have had access to the ship. I'd say six in one hand, half a dozen in the other, but I'll be honest, I prefer the ship.

[logicalities]

It is customary for Vulcan bondmates to engage in a period of seclusion following the initial act of bonding. The same will be expected of us, particularly as you would require greater acclimatization to the bond.

[ Unlike Kirk, Spock seats himself at the navigation controls and begins a standard pre-flight check. Everything lights up green, the ship coming alive around them with a soft hum. ]

While I am doubtful it will be assumed that we have been kidnapped, this ship is highly classified. [ A beat. ] Additionally, those others who are aware of it may have a mistaken impression as to its flight capability.

[negativechill]

Okay, so, for all the talking up of our bond they were doing to convince me of this thing that everyone was aware I had no choice in, [ until now, of course, with their escape, ] nobody told me about that part. Maybe they didn't want to scare me off into running away.

[ wry.

jim settles in next to spock to watch every procedure he goes through for the check: what every toggle does, which readings get the green light at what levels, everything. he cocks a brow at spock's last admission though, gaze flicking from the controls up to his face. ]

Oh yeah? What's the impression they have versus the reality?

[ he's getting a much clearer picture of the things spock isn't saying with each new snippet. ]

[logicalities]

Most likely, they assumed that being informed the bond involved a psychic element would be adequate to prepare you for what was required.

[ Equally wry; Spock is under no illusions regarding the way Vulcans hoard such delicate information. That Kirk was even told the bond involved a physiological element at all is more than Spock had expected. No, more than that; he is surprised that the bond was even spoken of in a positive manner. Typically, that much would be considered a reveal of too much information.

Kirk's interest in the pre-flight process is gratifying, and Spock leans in toward the human slightly to ensure he receives an unobstructed view of what he's doing. It would be optimal if they are both able to fly the ship, as they are now, at least for the foreseeable future, partners.

To that end, he levels his voice, allows it to slip to the casual deadpan that serves as a Vulcan's amused tone as he answers. ]

They may mistakenly believe that the ship requires at the least another month of work before it will be flight capable.

[negativechill]

I feel like knowing of something is nowhere near the same as knowing anything about what it actually entails, so it's a pretty shitty assumption to make.

[ apparently they really, really wanted to make sure jim kirk's squirrelly ass didn't run off before getting hitched by allowing any positivity about it to exist. joke's on them, probably, because neither of them are coming back now.

jim does appreciate the way spock leans so he can take in how everything works properly, and he commits it to memory, thoughtfully going over it a couple times in his head to really cement what action has what effect.

he outright snorts at that last part, though. ]

And what a mistake to make. Nothing like having a backup plan.

[logicalities]

That is an accurate summation of your situation. Additionally, you should know it was done intentionally.

[ They are partners now, after all, and Spock can hardly scare Kirk off a marriage from which they are both fleeing more than he already has been. It is ironic in a manner Spock can appreciate as humorous. That Kirk also seems to appreciate the irony in his situation is gratifying.

He can hardly complain about the person he is currently partnered with, but it is preferable to have a partner who is not disagreeable.

The ship lifts off with barely any internal momentum; it handles as beautifully as Spock has designed it to. He waits a moment more to ensure the cloaking device remains active even in flight, then begins plotting a course out of the system.

Absently, he informs Kirk: ]

This was not my backup plan.

[ It was his primary plan, even if he had not fully allowed himself to admit that. ]

[negativechill]

Oh, I have no illusions that it was accidental. Most Vulcans I've met haven't struck me as the 'does anything accidentally' type.

[ it is nice to note they both find this whole thing ironic, yeah. he likes spock so far, he's found, and he doesn't know what to do with that other than appreciate that he's not completely insufferable or anything.

he settles in as spock sets their course, then blinks over at him after that commentary. the way he's sitting looks easy enough, relaxed enough, arms loose over his chest, but his fingers tapping on his forearms are a little sign of the unavoidable anxiety he's been feeling recently, aftershocks now even though the actual stressor is gone. he shifts in his seat, angling more toward spock. ]

Really glad to fit in the primary plan, but now I feel like I need to know the backup, because I doubt you only had one plan to get out of this.