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[hischair]

[ Sighing as he drops in a new leather chair (not a word from you, crew), Jim looks like he's thoroughly making up for a month of hectic near-death experiences, wrapped in a woolly cardigan and one of those yellow tops he can't quite get out of the habit of buying. For anyone from his world, he's gone for an eerily close approximation of Captain Kirk. Except he's still just Jim when he speaks, the echo of his command bleeding through from last month when he had to actively step up to be a Big Damn Hero. Enough of that for now. The only thing he wants in mortal peril any time soon is the morning toast from his amazing lack of cookery skills. ]

Back where I come from, there's this log that I do as the captain that serves as the official documentation of, well, whatever my ship's up to. You always put the stardate, but I haven't been doing that here because we're temporally displaced and there's no point. [ He picks up a PADD (a transparent iPad, by all 21st century accounts) to scroll through what appears to people watching the video as backwards, bright blue writing. ] I forgot that the other night after the celebrations and apparently, while drunk off my ass, tried to make up for this. I'd like to share it with you.

[ Clearing his throat, he reads: ] Captain Awesome's Log, stardate This Is Hilarious Tequila. I am very suspicious of skeletons.

So, yeah, that beauty's staying in there forever, I can't wait for the admiralty to get a load of it one day. [ Dropping the PADD onto his lap, Jim scoots back on his chair to get comfy, arms crossing as he folds his legs. ] Speaking of parties, if you want to come over here on the fifth to celebrate Bonfire Night, you're welcome to do so. I'm gonna grab some fireworks and set them off on the roof when it gets dark but then we'll be heading back into the apartment for food and beers and music, the usual. I don't know that much about the date itself, it kind of died off back on the Earth I know so if there's a tradition I'm forgetting, fill me in. Everyone's invited, I don't actually know a lot of you so this is a good chance to rectify that without the City trying to squash us. Back at Starfleet Academy, when there were too many people crammed into the dorm parties we spilled out into the corridor, I guess we'll do that again here. It was how we all got to know each other and relax around exams. [ What else is he forgetting? Damn, it's been a while since he played host. Rubbing a freshly shaved chin, Jim pulls a face. ] If you don't mind crashing on the floor, we could probably fit ten people in the main room if you get to wasted to drive. That's not meant as incentive, I'm just saying.

House rules are: don't break anything, don't be a dick, the bedroom is a cloakroom and I get to kick your ass if I find you in there otherwise, don't screw around with fireworks unless I'm there and bring your own alcohol. I'm not made of money in this dimension.

Alright, you've got a couple of days to figure out whether you can make it to the house party. Reply to this broadcast and let me know what's going on. Kirk out.

[ Sitting up to turn off the communicator, Jim gives an informal salute. ]

( OOC: OPEN PARTY LOG OVER HEEERE )

Comments

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[hexuality]

[She grins, broad and grateful.]

Yeah, alright. And you can tell me all about it, too. I keep hearing about the Enterprise from everyone, feels like.

[She reaches for her device to shut it off.]

Two minutes.

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[hischair]

Two?

[ Ginny, are you flying over? Giiiirl. He'll leave the lounge window open, just in case. ]

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[hexuality]

[No, flying hurts a bit. >( She'll be Apparating over and it sucks but whatever, it's fast. The two minutes was more so she could put on shoes. And in two, she's outside the door and knocking, and maybe she has a paper bag of sparklers with her just as a free sample or something. Who knows. She's a Weasley, things that light up are her thing.]

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[hischair]

[ !! Surprises abound. Opening the door, he draws her into a friendly hug and rubs her back. Poor tired-looking girl. :( It's okay, Jim's here to light sparklers with you! Speaking of — ]

Hey, little bean. What's in the goody bag?

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[hexuality]

Ow, ow— [But it carries the hitch of a laugh and she lets him hug her, returning it quickly.] Hi, Jim.

[She disentangles herself gingerly, straightening her overlarge emerald jumper and holding out the bag as she steps past the threshold and into the apartment.]

Sparklers. Not very magical, they're the simplest of what we've got, but they last a long while and change colours. Thought you might like them in the meantime.

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[hischair]

Whoops, sorry. Sore back?

[ Taking the bag, he peeks inside and heads into the apartment. ]

I haven't seen these in years, not since I was a kid.

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[hexuality]

Sore everywhere.

[She's grinning, though, depositing herself in the corner of the sofa as she watches him.]

Yeah? Fireworks not a thing in the future, then? That's a shame.

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[hischair]

They're not a huge deal. These look neat, want to light a couple? We'll do it indoors like rebels.

[ Searching for a lighter, hmm. ]

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[hexuality]

Weasleys' Wizards Wheezes finest fireworks are safe for indoor and outdoor enjoyment!

[Look at this walking advertisement. She shifts on the sofa, drawing her wand from her sleeve, and with a soft Accio, a lighter comes zooming through the air and she catches it neatly in her palm, holding it out to him with twinkling eyes.]

Looking for this?

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[hischair]

That's far too convenient, I want a wand. [ The sofa groans when he sinks down next to her, lighting a couple and handing one off. ] Party started early! Our secret.

[ Totally writing his name in the light because that's a staple rule of sparklers no matter which universe you come from. ]

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[hexuality]

[Just so happens these sparklers are made for just that! They leave a trail of letters in their wake in the air, hanging there for a few long seconds before fading away. Ginny joins him, actually does GINEVRA because it looks prettier. Yeah, that's why.]

I think we'd all be in trouble if you had a wand. [HOW LITTLE THEY KNOW ABOUT THE COMING MONTH. Her wand, however, flicks to shut off the lights so the sparklers are more visible.] Also? Your sparkler handwriting is terrible.

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[hischair]

[ :0 Best sparklers ... KHAN IS A SHITHEAD HAHA. Yes, best use. ]

We don't use pens much, just styluses. Mostly people type in the 23rd Century, hence why my handwriting looks like I'm falling down a mountainside.

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[hexuality]

Khan, huh?

[Her brows raise because she recognises the name and then he speaks and they knit, her sparkler lifted in the air and hovering.]

I hope you didn't fall down a mountainside. [Pointed, mild.] You weren't there, were you?

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[hischair]

Don't ask, he's not a problem anymore.

[ He shakes his head, writing GIN FOR THE WIN overhead. ]

I was probably dropped on my head as a baby, we shouldn't rule it out.

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[hexuality]

He's gone?

[Because she knows that was a concern quite early on. She tips her head back to look at what he spells out next and exhales something like a laugh, cheeks colouring.]

I'm sure you were an adorable baby. [ICKLE JIMMY is what goes tracing through the air next.] Charming everyone with those eyes of yours. Troublemaker.

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[hischair]

He is, thank God. We were about to go crazy with him living next door. And I was a very well-behaved baby, okay, right up until ... maybe twelve.

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[hexuality]

Good. I know what it's like to have someone from home that makes things a little... difficult.

[Tom Riddle and Bellatrix Lestrange are SUCH GEMS. Ginny glances at him when he answers her, smile softening some and she thinks back to one of their first conversations when he came to the City, asking gently,]

Your brother, right?

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[hischair]

[ Wow, he ... was not expecting that. ]

Uh, yeah. The whole thing I told you about.

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[hexuality]

[She sees that, has the grace to blush because too often she speaks without thinking it entirely through.]

Sorry. [She moves her sparkler like she's tracing some city skyline, exhaling.] Sometimes I forget—I mean, I've been thinking about family a lot, lately. Doesn't mean I should go barging in on other people's.

[She rubs at her cheek like that'll lessen the colour there, then - ]

You said you were going to draw something?

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[hischair]

It's okay, sweetheart, just caught me off-guard is all. [ Jim slides a pad and pencil from under the coffee table and slouches back down beside her, doodling the basic schematic of the Enterprise and chatting as he does so. ] You want to talk about your family?

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[hexuality]

[She shrugs a little, lifting her wand and extinguishing the sparklers with a gentle wave. Then Ginny settles against his side, almost resting her head on his shoulder as she watches him sketch.]

Not much to talk about. [The mountain left her shaken but it's been a few days and she's better than dwelling. She should be. That's why she's here, isn't it, to forget?] Nothing you don't already know, anyway. [She shifts to free her arm and points.] So what's this?

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[hischair]

[ He hums, making a mental note to check up on how she's doing in the future. ]

This is my ship. It's enormous, the flagship of the 'fleet. [ Doodling a mini bridge, he puts a stick-figure Spock standing behind a seated, similarly stick-figure Jim, things like SCIENCE STATION and COMMUNICATIONS labelled. ] Annnd here's where the senior officers hang out on the bridge ... see, this is my chair.

[ He ducks his chin to meet her nose to nose, booping her with the end of the pencil. ]

You're okay to sit in it because I say so, if anyone asks.

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[hexuality]

[She breaks into a quiet, helpless sort of grin and ducks her own head in response, almost knocking their foreheads together but not quite.]

Is it that special? [Yes, with the way she slants her gaze at him, she knows that it must be.] Can you control the whole ship from there? [But Sulu is the helmsman, she does know that. Ahem.] I don't know if I can make a firework detailed enough to get your whole bridge crew, Captain.

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[hischair]

It's the captain's chair. That means if you sit in it without authorization, you get told off.

[ Waggling his browsss. ]

Never mind the fireworks, I'm illuminating you on my home here. This is where Uhura sits, and Sulu and Chekov are over here ... they're always chatting to each other, but pretend I didn't tell you I noticed. Bones is supposed to stay in medbay, but he's always mooching around to see what's going on up here.

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[hexuality]

Well, if the Enterprise ever swoops into the City, I'll take you up on that offer.

[Then she falls quiet and lets him explain it, watching him sketch and point out the different seats, and she wonders if she could ever sketch out Hogwarts with the same care and attention to detail. It's been a few years, it feels like, and like no time at all. Maybe the Burrow.

Yeah, she could do the Burrow.]

You mean he's always making sure you aren't getting up to any trouble. [She elbows him gently in the side, smirking.] I expect it's better you're all up there together, anyway. Family, right?