[video]

[candothat]

[The video opens to--well, not much of anything. It's night; the stars are visible, and Chekov's face is lit by the dim glow of his network device. He's remarkably subdued, but he typically does only pause to make network posts when he's in a low or contemplative mood.]

For anyone who has not heard already and knew them, Lena and Asami are no longer in the City. I did not know Asami as well as I wish I might have, but Lena was a good friend. At least she will be happy to be home... she did not like being in the City.

[And changing topics. No one wants to dwell on the negative.]

I have two questions. First, does anyone know how the ship on the side of the mountain came to be where it is? I went inside of it, but there was nothing informative there and most of it was, I think, inaccessible. It looks to me like a spacecraft. I have heard stories in the City of aliens and creatures coming from beyond the barriers, but nothing related to a ship like this.

My second question is this: is it common to experience memory loss in the City? If not, should I be concerned? My medical knowledge is very limited, but if there is something wrong with my brain, I would like to know. It is, after all, the most important thing that I have.

[He ends the feed with a forced smile.]


[ooc: Picture is not IC, just there for your reference.]

Comments

[mightbeconcussed]

She just balances. She has to have the seat down and it's one of those automatic flushers. You know, they work with motion detectors?

[It's kind of weird to be honest, but Lucy doesn't have to change a litter box so that makes her happy.]

[candothat]

That is amazing--the cat, not the flushing. I never saw many animals at home, but I'm certain that none of them acted so much like people.

...Not that it is their fault. Even if tribbles had more than rudimentary brains, a lack of limbs would make any trick difficult.

[mightbeconcussed]

I'm pretty sure she understands what I'm saying when I talk to her and half the time, I think she disapproves of my life choices. She's just got this judge-y meow. I'll never be able to have another cat after her because none of them will ever measure up. Meanwhile, the dog is still afraid of stairs.

[She tilts her head to one side.] Tribbles?

[candothat]

But is she also affectionate? Is the dog?

[He's quick to clarify.]

Not like when the City is cursed, but at home, they are good pets when they are neutered. Their trilling is said to increase serotonin levels in the brain.

[mightbeconcussed]

She can be, at least when she wants to be. Bryant is very affectionate, but he's like 180 pounds so he can't really climb up in your lap the way he wants to.

[oh good that's a good thing to clarify]

and serotonin is the chemical that makes you relax, right?

[candothat]

They sound like good animals.

[Not that he knows.]

Yes--relaxed and happy. I believe my serotonin levels are very high right now.

[mightbeconcussed]

Yeah, they are. There's also a white rabbit named Ingram, but I have to put Bryant up to let him out. He scares the 180 pound dog.

[So much smiling.]

So I'm better to have around than a tribble?

[candothat]

Your giant dog is afraid of a rabbit?

Infinitely better.

[mightbeconcussed]

My giant dog, the one I got to protect me because I live alone, is afraid of everything.

Pavel, you say the nicest things to me.

[candothat]

Perhaps your rabbit will protect you.

I tell you the truth, Lucy. If it's nice, you should be credited with that.

[mightbeconcussed]

He's pretty fierce with his back claws.

[That look on her face is a totally melty 'I'm totally falling in love with you even if I don't want to' look]

Okay. Stop.

[Once he stops, he's going to get a real kiss on the mouth.]

[candothat]

[Nope, Chekov isn't overly familiar with that expression. He does, however, stop quite obediently.

And kiss back, hands settling on Lucy's hips.]

[mightbeconcussed]

[Sure he's not. He does, however, probably get it a good deal from her.

And he is the best, obedient boy ever. The kiss breaks and she pulls back only slightly to reach up and ruffle a hand through his hair.]

[candothat]

[It is one of his favorite of Lucy's expressions, not that he dislikes any of them. Everything--her look, the kiss, every little touch, absolutely everything about Lucy--makes Chekov love her. It wouldn't be wise to say so out loud.]

Lucy, you are very beautiful.

[mightbeconcussed]

[He is so twitterpated, which makes Lucy fall a little in love with him.

His words make her smile and preen just a little.]

You are...the sweetest thing. [She sighs a little happily and runs her thumb over his cheekbone.]

[candothat]

[He's not one to do things by halves. It's all or nothing and, when it comes to being in love with Lucy, it's all. Maybe she can't hold her own in a discussion about theoretical physics, but she's funny and kind and clever in her own way. Resilient, too; no one can endure what she has and still manage to smile unless they're strong.

Chekov isn't terribly eloquent and can't put all of those thoughts into a compliment, but maybe Lucy knows.]

If anyone but you said that, I would consider it an insult. [And he would really like to do that kissing thing again, but they're outside and there may be public indecency laws.] Maybe we should get to your apartment.

[mightbeconcussed]

Right. Apartment. We should...get there.

[Because now she's thinking about more kissing. Lucy has an idea that Chekov likes her in spite of the fact that she seems to be his opposite in many ways. She doesn't ever really stop to think that maybe he'd like someone who can talk theoretical physics because there are plenty of those people in the City and yet he's kissing her.

She takes his hand in hers and starts toward the apartment again.]

Let's hurry. It's cold and while I'm totally okay with atrocious PDAs I kinda think you wouldn't be.

[candothat]

[There aren't a lot of people in the City who know enough about physics to provide a decent conversation on the topic, but there are even fewer who have noticed that Chekov is, in spite of his smarts, still an eighteen year-old. Of those, only one person doesn't seem to get tired of him.

That one person is Lucy.]

PDAs?

[He squeezes her hand and picks up the pace.]

[mightbeconcussed]

[She click-clacks right along with him. Her steps are short and quick because of her heels but she keeps up nicely.]

Public displays of affection.

[Lucy tries not to forget he's eighteen. She doesn't want to damage him for life or break his heart. He had a tendency to make her forget his heart because she's too busy noticing the way hers is fluttering.]

You know, major making out in public. I'm a fan personally, but most people aren't.

[candothat]

Ah. No, that sounds like something I would rather not engage in, but I could make an exception for you.

[Oh, Lucy. Chekov has witnessed the destruction of most of his Starfleet peers and a planet of six-billion and was, in a way, responsible for the death of a commanding officer's mother. If nothing else, he bounces back well. He's more concerned about her heart, as it has already been broken at least once.]

You will need to show me the difference between "making out" and "major making out."

[mightbeconcussed]

[She laughed at the offer.] We'll have a PDA date sometime then. Maybe I can sway you to the advantages of PDA.

[But she doesn't know any of that. She just thinks he's sweet and young and doesn't want to break his heart. She's just not sure how far she can go before he ends up heartbroken. If she knew just how head over heels he was, that would tack another onto the list of reasons she should run away. Her heart has been broken a few times, both here and at home. See reason #498 that a relationship is a bad idea in her opinion.]

I think that can be arranged. Would you prefer a lesson when we get to my apartment or later when we have a PDA date?

[candothat]

I see no reason not to try it.

[If Lucy were to run away now, that would be considerably worse than if she were to leave or if they were to simply discover that they're incompatible.]

A primer at your apartment first, maybe, so I will be more adept once we have that PDA date.

[mightbeconcussed]

[Chekov has it so backwards, at least Lucy thinks he does. His agreement to the date and the test run make her smile though.]

You are clearly a genius, Pavel.

[And they're walking inside the apartment building.]

[candothat]

[Nononono, practice always comes before practical application! Chekov scurries in front of Lucy to open the door.]

It is a failing of mine.

[mightbeconcussed]

[She beams a smile at hi, murmurs a thank you and goes through the door, pausing and looking back over her shoulder until he follows her through.]

I don't think that's usually considered a failing.