universal_charm | 8th World: Ramifications [ Video / Action ]

[ video ]

[ Kirk's face appears in the journals, distant, cold - at least for the Captain. His head had been itching all morning, and all day yesterday, waiting, hoping it was just Spock needing alone time, but...]

Spock's been kidnapped, so, if you had anything planned with him for the next week... well, going to have to put it off. Sorry.

[ How does he know? Well, that's for him to know and you to pry out of him. But that's his message for everyone, and perhaps it's more of reassurance for himself, though he doesn't like it, not one bit. He ends his message there, though. He'd answer questions about it later, if there were any

Though how to explain to Arya what this was, and that it could happen to him or her or anyone if someone hadn't done it already. Fun.]

[ action ]

[ Kirk can't abide sitting around and moping. It's not him, even though a part of him wants to. First the draft and now this? Sure he had been told it wasn't really the Malnosso's fault, but who else do you blame for this? He wished he could wrap his hands around one of their throats and squeeze and squeeze until the life was out of them, but that wouldn't accomplish much, and he'd probably get in trouble with the Fleet for it, wouldn't he?

Since his favorite option wasn't really an option, he voted for some physical exercise instead.

Sweats on, he went out for a jog around the edges of their little village and then back in through the streets. The burn kept his mind sharped and focused without letting it drift to places it should not. Like... no, no don't go there. He and Spock had talked that out and he wasn't supposed to go there. Sweat dripped down his face and neck, staining his shirt, and he kept pushing until his legs gave and he collapsed by the fountain, gasping for air between dunking his face into the water. He would worry about possible sanitation concerns later.

Later, he would find his way into the Battle Dome, calling up a simulation. He didn't want to bother any of his friends/teachers for a lesson at the moment, preferring to pummel his opponent with the private bubble of his own rage. He keyed his opponent as one of his well remembered bar thugs (and might have born a bit of a resemblance to a certain crew member on his ship with the endearing nickname of "cupcake"). Out of old habit now his arms were rising into the defense postures he'd learned from people like Steve and... and Zevran, feet shuffling into position. One breathe, another, go in for the strike....

If you didn't catch Kirk there, they'd probably find him later, sitting outside Buffy's bar with a beer in hand. He wasn't prone to drinking when upset, or at least he was trying not to be, but neither did he want to be in there, around... around people or huddled in a corner. So he sat outside in crispe air, taking slowly draughts from a brown bottle and looking up at the sky and suddenly cringing, recalling another guy's rather gut churning revelation - those stars were fake, a simulation for their benefit.

And because he felt like being petty in that singular moment, he tossed his hand up, middle finger raised in defiance. It was small, but it made him feel a little better, at least.]

[ ooc: respond to Kirk via the journal, or catch him jogging around town, at the Battle Dome, or out drinking in the evening. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If what you want is faint from exhaustion you're doing a great job.

[Bulma doesn't sound as surprised as she would have been years ago, even if she had always been surrounded by fighting freaks it wasn't until Vegeta entered her life that she got to see first hand what was a man training to the point that he seemed to want to hurt himself more than to get stronger. Back home the attitude worried and angered her, it still did but... In Luceti and knowing this place she could understand it a bit more. It really was no different than to just drown everything in a drink.

Still, understanding doesn't mean she likes to see it or approves of it. So when Kirk stopps and dunked his face into the water, Bulma doesn't hesitate to approach and offer him one of the towels she had picked up to take home for the beauty salon.]

_{[ He sat back from the edge of the fountain, his face dripping sweat and water, breath still coming hard to him. He nodded his thanks to Vegeta's daughter, taking the towel and drying his face, buying himself time to talk without having to gasp between each word. ]}

It's helpful, helps keep my mind from wandering to much, you know?

So trying to faint from exhaustion as I said. Unless you're the type whose mind can wander even when you're unconscious.

[There's some light amusement in her tone but she's also serious, for her the memory of Vegeta thrashing in the bed tortured by his nightmares is a fresh one.]

I still think there are other ways to busy your mind and keep it from wandering besides breaking yourself. Guess it's a men thing to choose that over anything else.

Yeah, probably are, but I need my exercise anyways. I got a kid at home to keep up with - her and her oversized flea bag.

_{[ He meant her dire wolf, but he wasn't feeling like being charitable right now. ]}

You mean a dog?

[She hopes so, but with Luceti and her own life experience Bulma tries to expect the unexpected. She sighs anyway, looking at him.]

You really are in a foul mood, aren't you? I don't suppose there's anything I could do to help, right?

[It sounds like a rhetoric question. Normally she wouldn't care but the way he had been exercising reminded her of Vegeta and she couldn't help herself. Still, exactly because how it reminds her of Vegeta -the one she has left on Earth, not the one in Luceti even if they are the same man and still similar- she doesn't expect to be able to do anything.]

Dire wolf, but close enough.

_{[ He shrugged his shoulders, wiping his mouth. ]}

I dunno. I just... need to be distracted. I guess me falling down isn't the best option, so you have something better?

_{[ He paused to give her a long look, as if realizing something. ]}

You're not Bulla, are you?

Hard to say, the most that comes to my mind is getting drinks something for which it's still too early or drag you around and have you help me carry things around.

[Not a terribly serious offer given how she could just ask Vegeta or Goku for the same thing, she's not in need for it, but it's an option as any other.]

Hmmm, I'm going to take that as a compliment that says that I look young enough to be a teenager. But no, I'm not. My name's Bulma.

[Want to guess the relation?]

_{[ There is a very, very long pause he does that mental math. ]}

No way. No. Freaking. Way. You're Vegeta's wife?

You know, I think I got a similar reaction when I first learned it. And about Bulla's existence.

[She smiles, giggling a bit. It's nice to see someone else get the "no way" reaction.]

But yes, that's me. Or will be me, depends on how you look at it. I hope he hasn't caused you too many problems.

He's threatened to blow me and my planet up like ten times already. And a pony's. You define 'trouble', though I kind of look at him like a stuffed monkey with a mean streak.

Oh, that's all? I expected something along the lines of actually trying to blow you up with an energy blast or tear you into pieces limb by limb. Or try to cook the pony. Threats aren't that worrisome even for the one I know.

[She laughs again and shakes her head.]

Now, now, don't be cruel. He's not a stuffed monkey with a mean streak. He's a mean streak with a stuffed alien monkey based species.

_{[ That makes his mouth quirk the tiniest bit, despite his bad mood. ]}

Tomato, to-ma-to.

So... I seriously have to know. What do you see in him?

[She giggles and... Pauses awkwardly at the question. See, that question probably would be easier to answer if "they" were already a thing in her time. There's no denial that she has feelings for Vegeta, otherwise she wouldn't have accepted the current situation even with Bulla around. But right now she's mostly forcing out all the confusion she feels regarding her feelings for Vegeta while clinging to a train that's already moving rather than wait on the station another one.

She takes a moment, awkwardly looking around as she sorts her thoughts. Her answer is probably not as convinced as it could be years later.]

I guess... He's actually the best man I know? Or second best, but Son-kun is like a brother to me and he's already married.

_{{ He was quiet, listening to her, watching her face. It wasn't quite the reaction he had expected if they were married... were they married? He knew different time lines were possible, after all, so... ]}

Isn't it a bit worrisome when your husband isn't the best man you know?

[She laughs, it's a forced one but hard to say unless one knows her well or pays close attention.]

In my case I'm just kind of worried that a man like Vegeta is the best one I know. It doesn't say much about my other acquaintances, don't you think?

[Giggle, giggle and then it's gone, her tone and expression waver for a second.]

It's just a bit weird, the Vegeta that I know is definitively the best man I know already. But the one here is even better. That should be good, right? If it didn't make him feel like a stranger at times at least.

[She changes the tone in a moment, smiling brightly again. Pushing the emotional and love talk aside because this guy clearly doesn't want to hear about that. No guy would want to.]

Guess I like complicated men! I take that you're single? A man with a face like you would be wasted by getting married so soon, if you ask me.

Aww, you're sweet. But accurate. Nope, no ball and chain for me. I am a free spirit, a free lover!

_{[ He waved expansively, which might have been a more impressive gesture if it didn't smack of tiredness. ]}

[She chuckles.]

More like a tired free lover to me. Hadn't I seen you running I would have thought someone had given out way too much love yesterday.

8th World: Ramifications [ Video / Action ]

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