[video / action]

[candothat]

[There's little light to see by when the video feed begins. The sky's just now turning pale with the approaching sunrise, the stars are still bright overhead, and the City Square--this is a fine video of that most central of locations--is dimly lit and far quieter than it was the day before.

This peaceful, near-silent recording is interrupted by a burst of inaudible off-screen mumbling, immediately followed by the buzz of static and a flickering video. It only lasts for a moment. Image and sound quality are restored and a very awake Chekov, looking immensely pleased with himself, prevents the morning's peace and quiet from making a comeback. What's he doing out in the Square at this ungodly hour? What "improvement" did he make to his network device this time?

Don't ask. He'll happily tell you far more than you want to know.]

There! If that works...

[A hand obscures the video momentarily.]

Nonono--yes, good! That should cover all bandwidths, I think.

[And, as if wholly oblivious to this prelude, Chekov comes back into view and addresses the network.]

Is there anyone at all from the Enterprise here today? Who was not here before, is what I mean. The Academy? Moscow University? If you are here, I would like to talk with you, please. The City is very nice, for a time, but I would give away everything I own here for a decent conversation about transporter theory. Astrophysics, any kind. Rudimentary stellar cartography, anything.

Sulu, Uhura, Mr. Scott--have you been sent to visit?

[Politely, as an addendum:]

Or, if you are not from when I am from, I would not mind meeting you, either.


[ooc: Fourth wall post!  Anything is lovely--castmates, face doubles (although I think that I may play all of those...), other Treks, any character ever, what have you.  Tell him he's fictional or that he doesn't look a bit like Walter Koenig if you like; anything too brain-breaking can be conveniently forgotten, I'm sure!  Sorry for any delays, as well; I just remembered that sleep is a thing.]

Comments

[nofavouritism]

[ Rubbing the bridge of her nose. ] That— I see. [ Someone else might make more sense of it. Spock, certainly, or Mr Scott, they seem the type to easily grasp concepts of time and different universes. Much like Chekov, and after a moment she gives him a smile. ]

So tell me about life here.

[candothat]

[He doesn't care if she's following him or not. At least she vaguely understands what he's talking about; that's something.]

Life here? It is very interesting. Doctor McCoy finds enough to complain of, but, mostly, I enjoy it. There are a number of intelligent scientists and people--and other beings--from a variety of worlds.

[nofavouritism]

[ She gets the gist of it; or at least she thinks so. And it isn't really all that strange in light of all they've just experienced and learnt. ]

So it's a melting pot of different universes, times and species?

[ A beat. ] It sounds interesting.

[candothat]

Yes, although I think there are more humans and vampires than anything else.

["Interesting" indeed. He grins.] It is! You would like it here, mostly, aside from the curses. There are a number of languages and cultures; you would never be at a loss for something to do.

[nofavouritism]

Vampires? [ That sounds like something out of a bad story. But maybe-- vampire like aliens? Or, if there's different universes, she supposes it could be possible. ]

The curses? What are those?

[candothat]

Yes, vampires, like in the old stories. They drink blood.

[How to describe curses...]

The curses are incidents that the deities inflict on us. Some are bad. Some, like this, are good.

[nofavouritism]

So I'm only here because of a curse? What happens if someone breaks the curse?

[candothat]

They are not that kind of curse. I have a friend, Ginny, who says that the curses are more like spells, and maybe they are. Magic insists on being real here.

[nofavouritism]

And you're certain it's magic and not some kind of technology beyond our means?

[candothat]

I have suggested that, but magic is real in many of the worlds that intersect here.

You don't have to believe me. I do not believe me half the time, at least, and it is difficult to accept the thought that magic may exist.

[nofavouritism]

It does seem a little out there. [ Lips curling into a half-smile, something a little dark and painful for all that it's a smile. ] But then that's what I thought about alternative universes and time travel, too.

[candothat]

[That puts a damper on Chekov's mood. The incident with Nero usually seems like something that happened long ago, but Uhura--who hasn't had as much time to recover--makes it feel fresh.]

Magic, I hope, is less dangerous.

[Moving on!] I've been a poor host, leaving you standing here! Would you like something? The cafes have passable food. Not replicated. As much as I miss space, I do like food that has not been replicated.

[nofavouritism]

[ She's sorry for bringing it up the second she sees his face fall; it's all too fresh in her mind still.

Pushing those thoughts down. ] Do they have any particular local cuisine?

[candothat]

[He instantly brightens and begins walking, tugging gently on Uhura's sleeve as an indicator that she should follow him.]

No, not here, no, but there is a wide variety. Most of it is Western, some is traditional Japanese, and there are others. No one serves Russian food, but the Blue Light serves something that I like almost as much.

[nofavouritism]

[ She laughs, falling into step with him easily. ] All right. So let's go there, surprise me.

[candothat]

[It's good to hear Uhura laugh.]

I hope you will be surprised. This is a food that I never saw at home, but maybe you have.

[nofavouritism]

[ It's good to have reason to. ]

We'll have to see, won't we?

[candothat]

Soon enough, yes.

[He holds the door open for her once they reach the Blue Light. It's not too busy at this time of day but there are still servers eager to wait on them. Chekov approaches one and, careful to position himself so Uhura can't read his lips, puts in an order before returning to her.]

It will take a little time. They have no replicators here, and so they must make all food by hand.

[nofavouritism]

[ Looking around, openly curious. ]

It seems so-- old-fashioned.

[candothat]

You have no idea. The things that I must endure... [SIIIIIIGH.]

Please, sit down? If you would like anything, I will pay.

[nofavouritism]

I'd say that you don't need to, but I don't think I have any of the local currency. [ Giving a vaguely embarassed shrug, a sort of what can you do. ]

Thank you.

[candothat]

I would need to even if you did. [This is said with a smile, but he means it.

He waves off her thanks.] It's nothing. I make very good money.

[nofavouritism]

You wouldn't need to. [ She would be perfectly capable to pay for her own meals, provided she had local currency. ]

What is it that you do here?

[candothat]

[He'll let her win, but yes, he would need to.

It's a Russian thing.]

Officially, I have an engineering job. Unofficially, I do many things. [Including some freelance hacking, but that is something that Chekov typically keeps quiet about.] But I do not navigate. There is no need for navigators here.

[nofavouritism]

I suppose there isn't much to navigate, here. It's just one City?