[video | memory theater]

[hischair]

[ The memory kicks in with Jim and Leonard in their cadet uniforms, the latter trying to get through to his distracted friend. There's a sense of needing to be active and occupied until he takes the Kobayashi Maru test again tomorrow, higher stakes pitted on his side this time; his feet lead him to Gaila's room where he wastes some time before Nyota Uhura returns ("You can hear me breathing?") and kicks him out.

The scene flickers to the set of the Kobayashi Maru, Spock's old program, and from Jim's perspective he's being more attentive than he looks where he's lounging in the captain's chair. The subroutine goes as planned while he holds off inputting any more commands, thereby activating it via newly installed pathways through Gaila's stolen codes, and he munches cheerily on an apple as he swans around his bewildered fake crew, chomping loudly and obnoxiously as he glances up to the instructors above.

Third time's a charm, he thinks smugly, taking a bigger bite. ]



( OOC: Jim's memories are broadcasting of the Kobayashi Maru, an exam at Starfleet Academy. It runs at 29:32-33:11 on the nosvideo link, not including the hearing after. If the HD link doesn't work, try this! Jim is unaware of the post at the time of it hitting the network. )

Comments

private video ]

[affectioning]

[ What a familiar scene. Guess Stiles isn't the only one this will happen to today. Scott's not excited for this to happen to him. Then again he's already daring the world into doing things. So, maybe that's his thing. Even though it feels perfectly natural! ]

Jim? I think part of your life is on the network. It happened to Stiles an hour ago. [ But, great job on the Kobayashi Maru! ] Now I want an apple.

[ private video ]

[hischair]

[ When he watches the memory playing out there's a curt God damn it before it flicks to his actual face on the video. So much for laying low from Khan. ]

Yeah, I saw Stiles'. Is this happening to everyone today?

[ private permavideo, looking better there, captain ]

[affectioning]

I don't know. So far, it just happened to you and him.

[ At least Khan will only see the past? The cocky Jim Kirk as he bested the Kobayashi Maru with Gaila's stolen codes. By the way, he's fully aware of all of the above. But, there's no reason to burst a fictional bubble. If Scott's learned one thing - it's ignorance is bliss. Without it, panic. Or, in the case of his mother, a few weeks of staying out of sight. Away from her son she couldn't understand.

But, things have changed. So, that's good. ]

It could be worse, though, right?

[ Stiles had a point. Scott is going to make it, too. Well, worse. Or, more softcore. Or, sadder. Could he imagine seeing, like, Jim's dad and his mom in that first scene? That's still Jim. That would be mortifying. ]

private;

[hexuality]

I didn't watch it. [Because she knows what it's like to have your memories aired for everyone to see.] And I'm sure you know by now that it's up. So—

Are you alright?

private;

[hischair]

It's nothing bad, you can watch it if you want and pay homage to my leet skills. I'm fine, it caught me off guard is all. Didn't know that could happen.

private;

[hexuality]

[OH GOOD. He's not cross about it. Well, beyond having one's privacy invaded, in a way. Usually it's something horrible and terribly private. But then...]

It's happened to me a fair amount. The only time I was glad for it was when it was a memory of a Quidditch match—finally got to show people what it was like instead of just explaining the whole thing.

And so people could— [Kirk, she's copying your accent now.] "—pay homage to my leet skills."

( video )

[cupio]

[ A pause and then she's laughing. He's so charming it's unreal. ] When was this?

( video )

[hischair]

About four years ago, back when I was in the academy. I won the no-win test and got a commendation.

[ If he sounds a little distracted it's because he's trying to see if he can lock the post, unsuccessfully. ]

Can't believe it just popped out of my head like that.

( video )

[cupio]

It happened to me a couple of months ago. [ She sounds sympathetic though, it's not really fun. ]

Are you okay?

audio | starfleet comm ;

[medicos]

Of all the things, Jim.

audio | starfleet comm ;

[hischair]

I didn't do anything, it popped straight out of my head. One minute I was thinking about Gaila and the test, the next I'm getting called to say my brains are all over the network. We look pretty great, though.

Same thing happened to Stiles.

» video

[thenormalsquint]

I was hoping for something juicier.

» video

[hischair]

Sorry, all you get is me being amazing. It gets old fast, I know.

video; starfleet comm

[logistical]

[Just. Stare, before he says dryly:]

Will this be a frequent occurrence, today?

video; starfleet comm

[hischair]

[ 8) Hi, Spock. Having a good day? He hopes you are now. The only thing more obvious than mentioning any of that would be not to and guess what, he's such an upstanding friend he's going to leave it unsaid.

Although I beat your test sings in every pleased laugh-line. ]

It happened to Stiles and then to me, I'd be careful what you're thinking just in case your memories splurge out.

Video

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I doubt you meant to broadcast this, although I suppose it could have been a lot worse.

Video

[hischair]

Mostly feeling bad for the girls. Oops.

[ Not the type of ladies to prance around in their underwear in front of a viewscreen. ]

[mortemscintilla]

[ There's a beat to file the information on the video away. Not because he's planning to play an angle, but because it's training and instinct. When he switches the device on, he summons 'Li's look of wide-eyed nervousness. ]

...Um.

I'm sure you've already been made aware. But your life is flashing before everyone else's eyes. [ Li, Li, Li. There are better ways to phrase that 8| ]

[hischair]

It's okay, it's nothing terrible. I gather this happens sometimes, one of those curses.

video | filter » starfleet comm frequency;

[directives]

Somehow, I imagined you having pulled that off a bit more graciously than that.

[ without loudly chomping on an apple like an overgrown child whose mother hadn't taught him to chew with his mouth closed. also, what's with the orion? ]

video | filter » starfleet comm frequency;

[hischair]

I'd already took it twice, I went for the throat. Knew it'd work. Spock chewed me out for it in front of everyone, anyway.

[ Which Jim deserved in a way. The kind he'll never admit to. ]

private; text

[nooniensingh]

[It's several days later. The furor has died down. And there's a small, discrete bleep to Kirk's device. Oh, hey. New message.]

Ah, the Kobayashi Maru. One of the only decent ideas ever to come out of Starfleet. I had heard of this little incident, through Admiral Marcus. Quite the display, Captain.

Shall we stop pretending, you and I? You've been oh so very careful to try to hide from me, to try to protect your crew and your friends. It's unnecessary, you know.

private; text

[hischair]

[ Jim's entire life boils down to God damn it, Khan, but he has to admit that it was inevitable he'd be able to stay under the bastard's radar forever. ]

We have been granting you anonymity, one would think you'd show a measure of appreciation. It's what you want here, isn't it?

[ It's more than you could ever deserve, he thinks. ]

audio | filter » starfleet comm frequency;

[chakotay]

Was the apple any good?

[ yes because this is totally the important thing here. ]

audio | filter » starfleet comm frequency;

[hischair]

Not half as satisfying as strolling out past all those indignantly puffed up instructors, but damn near close.

[ Ahwww yiss. ]