Celebrating Birthdays

[no_ordinarylife]

It seems like yesterday they were just celebrating his birthday. It's been months since the crew assembled in the lounge and the newest ship to bear the name Enterprise is almost ready for her initial test flights. The deep seated anticipation has driven him back to work. It's the only way to keep himself sane. There are people he wants to see before his time at Yorktown is over. Amara is at the top of his list. He secretly hopes he can convince her the next five years would be worth her while.

He arrives with not just one, but two, bottles of tequila. One in each hand.

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[no_ordinarylife]

A snarky answer almost pops from his mouth. Instead, he looks down briefly and the faint smile slides away.

"Yeah, I do," he admits quietly.

[cadet_amara]

"For what it's worth, it looks good on you." She observed. "I know it's probably a lot less fun, but... it suits you."

[no_ordinarylife]

The years have brought massive ups and downs, long periods of morbid introspection, and stretches of boredom punctuated by life threatening excitement. Paradoxically, exploring space is everything he expected it to be and simultaneously surprising.

Jim has never taken a serious compliment well. As is his way, he becomes less and less wordy the more uncomfortable he feels. "Thanks," he replies sincerely.

She has no way of knowing he almost traded it all for a desk job.

[cadet_amara]

She could understand that. She'd never been very good at getting compliments either. She was always looking for the angle, trying to figure out what the person wanted out of her in exchange.

"Whatever happened to the boy who used to get into bar fights with me?" She teased, lightening the mood. "He could really take a punch."

[no_ordinarylife]

Has he really grown up? Or is he just better at hiding himself? The teasing brings a smile back to his face. God, he's missed talking with her.

"He still can," he shots back. "The trick is finding the right bar."

[cadet_amara]

"With the right mix of booze and drunken assholes?" She grinned. "And off the radar enough that no one would recognize the oh so great Captain Kirk?"

[no_ordinarylife]

It's not a mix that happens too often these days. And certainly not here in Escher's Hell.

"Being a hero has its drawbacks."

[cadet_amara]

"Yeah. This place has an extreme lack of dive bars." She agreed. "Shame. Guess I won't be giving you my rendition of "Lime in the Coconut" this time then."

[no_ordinarylife]

"Have some more tequila. You might change your mind."

[cadet_amara]

She laughed, shaking her head.

"I would think you'd want to avoid the horror that is me singing."

[no_ordinarylife]

"You're off key, loud, and definitely proud. What's not to love?"

[cadet_amara]

"Oh I don't know, the sound?" She laughed, shaking her head a little.

[no_ordinarylife]

"You'll fit in just fine. We do karaoke every other week. Nobody else can sing either. You should hear Chapel's rendition of 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'."

[cadet_amara]

"I look forward to it." She grinned, raising her glass a little in a quick toast before drinking it.