poly_chromatic | video »

[ The feed clicks on to show Jim in a garage leaning against the open hood of a car, a dark-haired woman wrapped in his arms. Chinning her shoulder, he leans over to press fond, familiar kisses over her jaw and cheek, wherever he can reach. The good humor of his chuckles is echoed as the screen wobbles. ]

Is this thing on? [ The nuzzle to her neck is playful, as punishments go, for distracting him. Hi, City. ] Hey, this is Saya. We're, uh ... We're together. Bones, Spock, I want you to meet her tonight at dinner.

[She tips her head, every time he goes for a kiss, to try and catch his mouth, but the truth is she's not trying hard, because she's enjoying the attention. Anyone who knows her, who's seen with, and even who's slept with her knows that this isn't typical behavior.

But then she turns her attention on the camera, because Jim said something and it actually did cut through the haze of the honeymoon.]

It won't take long, I don't think. If that's a concern.

It's not a concern, don't worry! They're nice guys. [ Jim, too, appears a little more smitten than he's been with anyone or anything since he was commissioned for his ship. He squeezes his arms around her waist. ] You can stay as long as you want.

[There's a pause, and the corners of her lips curl up in a smile that is more real than her usual one.]

So dinner - and we'll see how it goes from there.

[She takes a moment, and finally catches Jim's mouth, and there's a kiss, as she reaches over and turns the feed off.]

(OOC: Lovestruck curse! Replies will be coming from both Jim and Saya, who got hit by Stupid Cupid.)

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Hey, c'mon. It's not you, Saya. [ Stuffing his comm in a back pocket, Jim wraps her up in his embrace. Large gentle hands run soothingly over her back as he chins a sleek black crown. ] They're just ... surprised.

I don't need them to like me, you know.

[She has her fingers just on the skin of his back, under his shirt]

I just think you would be happier that way.

[ His forehead rests against hers, hands linking in the small of her waist. If he loses his focus here, all he has to do is remember his ship. ]

Do you think this is kind of ... strange?

[She pauses. Yes, she does.

No you don't-

Suddenly a litany of he'll leave you-

Emotions are complicated.]

Are you having second thoughts?

No. No, I love you, I'm just really confused right now.

[ C'mere, girl. Hug time. ]

We'll go to dinner, okay?

I've never had this happen like this before.

[She curls her hands in his shirt]

So yes. A little strange.

[ There's a moment where he's stroking her hair and he considers lying, but ... ]

I have. [ I'm sorry. ] I've felt like this before, like I lost who I was and half of it went somewhere else.

Do you think I would hurt you?

[She's running her fingers into his hair, and there's a caution, a care that's in her look.]

What. No. No, I don't think that at all.

[ Mmm, fingers in his hair ... He raises his head and slides a hand over her own, bringing it down between them. ]

Even if I knew we were in this together, really in it, I still couldn't ask you to be with me for the long-haul. Do you understand why?

[Hopefully not because if they ever had children they would eat Jim first-]

Because you have to go home.

[ There is that, too.

He nods, tucking her hair behind an ear. ] Because I have an obligation to my people to take them home and I want to go with them.

And I have an obligation to you.

[There's a pause, a moment, and she takes his hand]

You need to trust me. Right now.

It's not about trust. [ If he could regulate that sad smile, he would. ] It's about doing the right thing.

Please, come to dinner. Let's at least spend the evening together.

I will.

But you need to trust me, right now.

[Because suddenly the world around them pitches, and she tugs at his arm, and they're in-

It looks like the garage. Sort of. Like a spectral image of it. It's the reflection - or rather, the shadow of the City, the umbral plane. She keeps holding his hand, tightly. This is not exactly where they've been.]

Jim?

[Her voice sound a little far away, and there's something - a sound underneath, like clicking]

[ Wut.

That's basically his thought process as things go a little blurry at the edges, squinting at her as best he can. He tightens his grip on her hands, just enough to squeeze in reassurance. ]

You know I ... [ Do. Except, wtf is with that clicking. ] Saya, what's happening?

This is the Umbra. It's a different plane in the same dimension.

[She won't let go of his hand, not to worry.]

It's dangerous. We can't stay here long for more than one reason. I'm showing it to you because if there's a way out of the City, it might be through here.

[ Holy shit. ]

Why is it dangerous?

[She takes him just outside the garage. The City is visible, but it's hazy, dark, and shadowy. People on the other side look like they're made of smoke, hazy, just visible.

But then on the buildings are things - monster-looking things, things that don't look friendly]

That's why.

Besides, I think you die if you stay here long enough.

[ Motherfucker. Look at that. ]

Are these things guarding us inside the nexus? [ Glancing back to her, away from the monsters. ] Is that why we can't escape?

I don't know. I don't spend a lot of time here, anymore.

[She reaches out and pulls something, and the world tips again, and they're back outside]

I just know that that when I came here, it was through there.

[ Jim lurches and leans over his knees, catching his breath. Dimensional travel isn't kind. Panting lightly is par for the course when his stomach just met his throat. ]

So there's a barrier. Thank you, Saya. Thank you for showing me that.

The feeling will fade.

I want you to be able to find a way home.

[ He squeezes her hand. It's a silent Thank you beyond mere words. There's suddenly a lot more to tell his crew. ]

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