[video]

[hischair]

— iece of crap. [ There's grumbling as the viewscreen jostles, bright blue (bloodshot) eyes squinting into it curiously. The would-be handsome face glances away a moment later, eyebrows pulled together; he's sick or was prior to arriving, more worn out from the exertion of walking than any young man ought to be. ] Alright, good. You'll do for the time being.

This is Captain Kirk of the starship Enterprise ordering any and all Federation crewmen to report back with the location of the nearest Starfleet outpost. I'm off-world when I shouldn't be. This "computer" — [ you can practically see the airquotes around his sour tone ] — isn't responding as it should or giving me the information I need. I'm getting nothing but interference when I try and open a standard sub-space channel, the frequency's all off ... damn, this thing's gonna fry if I keep messing with it.

[ Opening his mouth to continue, a hurk noise clogs his throat and hastily, the video clatters to the ground as Jim reels around to vomit into the fountain. Classy. ]

[ Of course, where a sick Jim is, a wild, angry Bones appears. ]

Goddammit, Jim! [ He's there all of a sudden, a hand on jim's shoulder holding him for support and a - somewhat crazy expression on his face. ] Jesus Christ, why are you out of the medbay if you're sick?! Don't move or I'll hypo your ass!

Comments

video;

[hischair]

So, Thor. Gonna put on a lightning show for us? Help us out, blast us an exit with your Almighty powers.

[medicos]

You're gonna pull rank now just because he said something you didn't like?

action;

[universaltranslator]

[What a coincidence! Uhura arrives at that time as well!]

[hischair]

I'd really rather not, sure.

[medicos]

Well, we've gathered that much by now.

[ a beat. ] But thanks.

[hischair]

He called you Bones.

video;

[medicos]

A Hipo-what?

action;

[medicos]

Well, there we are.

[ - a beat, and then, to Uhura: ] That suit brings back unwanted memories, for sure.

[medicos]

Well, I'm leaving that to your discretion. You'd have to tell her something. You know that she doesn't buy your bullshit.

And don't forget that Chekov's a smart kid. He'd know everything about the warp core; he'd ask.

[medicos]

Why, do you own that nickname?

video;

[subecho]

A creature. Apology. I thought you a beast master. But the eye can see you do not have the form.

video;

[subecho]

...if it were in my power, I so swear, you would have your answer.

action;

[candothat]

[Kirk, you're a sight for sore eyes... even if you look like death warmed over. McCoy and Uhura, too.]

Captain, Doctor, Uhura! Hello!

[hischair]

I only told him the warp core re-stabilized, I can ... invent something with that. He's practically a year behind our timeline, Uhura doesn't remember anything after Nibiru and I'm missing a whole year of my future. What's the point of all that?

video;

[medicos]

No, I'm a doctor, not an animal handler, unless these beasts you're talking about are alien life forms in danger. In which case, I might be handling them.

action;

[hischair]

It's good to see you too. The only thing of any use I've gotten out of the locals is that we're stuck in a temporal anomaly. Anything to add to that?

[ Take it from here, whizkid, he has a strong hunch you've got a ton to get off your chest. ]

video;

[subecho]

"Alien." What is the... difference between creature and alien?

[medicos]

I'm just saying that they're smart and you should be careful.

You don't miss much during that whole year, anyway.

[hischair]

If I don't want to talk about it then I won't, they'll back off.

[ An ode to Scotty, he asks after a heavy sigh; ] Do we still have sandwiches?

[ It's an old joke and a thoroughly threadbare one, but he unwinds a little with it in front of Bones. ]

[hischair]

Yes?

[medicos]

A lot more than you'd think.

[ there's got to be a million sandwiches in the pantry enough for scotty have his fill for five fucking years. ]

video;

[hischair]

What's happened to your power? Our communicators aren't working either, is it something that affects the entire place?

[medicos]

[ unimpressed. ]

video;

[hexuality]

[Merlin's balls, she knows these two.]

Jim? [Pause.] Er, Bones? Right? No—Dr McCoy.

[She grins though it's a little bewildered, apologetic.]

Or I can pretend I don't know you at all if it'll make adjusting a bit easier.

video; thor stop asking the existential questions

[medicos]

They can be one and the same. It all depends on the context. 'Creature' is usually used to describe animals. On occasion, other people use it to insult someone they consider a brute. 'Alien' is a general term used by humans to describe other beings that are 'out of this world', which in this case is Earth. They're not usually described as creatures because they are not animals. They think and feel as humans do.

But - context, like I said. Sometimes, you use the word 'creatures' to categorize all living beings.