moves like jagger [open]

[jirk]

Characters: Jim Kirk and open!
Date: May 4th, watch as I refuse to crack jokes about rival sci-fi franchises.
Location: A couple different scenarios, thread starters for each. If you'd like to set up another scenario, PM me and we can hash out something else!
Situation: Jim's acquainting himself with the concept of being, you know, on a giant turtle.
Warnings/Rating: Shouldn't go past PG-13.
Notes: Starting in prose, feel free to hop in with prose or actionspam.

Comments

[jirk]

Yeah, I did some light reading.

[Enough to parse together a rough history of this place. He doesn't like it. But he suspects 'like' and 'dislike' don't really tie into this place. And then there's the matter of the Prime Directive-- not one of his favourite 'Fleet rules. In fact, probably one of his least favourite ones. The idea of standing by and letting things happen no matter the cost or consequences doesn't sit right with him, it never has.]

Okay. So what's your gameplan?

[He's not too proud not to give the kid a chance to let himself be heard. He's been here longer, Kirk can listen.]

[anything_it_takes]

[The Captain of the starship Enterprise is asking Leonardo what his gameplan is.

The Captain of the starship Enterprise is asking Leonardo his gameplan.

It's literally a scene straight out of his most fervent childhood dreams, and it almost throws him off his rails completely. But Leo remembers his pride and professionalism as a leader and as a hero; his thoughts fall into line like well-trained soldiers. He doesn't like what he has to say, but he'll say it anyway. Leo's voice is tight with frustration; he wouldn't say this to just anyone he met, but Captain Kirk has special dispensation via transposed hero worship.]

I don't have... any leads on how to get back home yet. I mean I haven't been here very long, only about three weeks. And - and there are people who've been here years, everybody wants to get home and nobody - well, nobody who's felt like sharing - has any idea. No rumors, no stories... I mean I'd take a legend about someone who managed it even once, but - but there's nothing.

So until we have something to work with, I keep my team hidden and safe. If things get bad with the kedan or our enemies show up, I don't want us to get caught off-guard.

[His expression darkens.] They told us... to get jobs. Start a life here. "Settle in."

[The sheer suggestion is insulting; Leo's face hardens into a mask of sheer determination; he'll be damned. Fifteen or not, there's real strength here, a young steel of far higher quality than the twin katana slung over his shell. The adolescent turtle is stubborn as hell and he'll accomplish this goal if it's the last thing he does:]

But I don't care how long it takes. I'm taking my brothers home.

[And Keeliai, no matter how nice it might be, will never be his home.

Not without all his brothers... and Sensei.]

[jirk]

[He watches the kid's expression, the way it shifts and change. He even recognizes a quality or two. Being a captain - being a good captain is about reading people. Understanding the people on your crew, knowing when they're fit for duty, knowing when they aren't. He reads people. Maybe he's not the best at it, but he's learning.]

Hey. We'll work at it, okay?

[He holds out a hand. Handshakes can be, you know, insulting sometimes, depending on the culture, but he's pretty sure they were still a thing in 2012 on Earth.

The Federation is a peacekeeping armada. Their officers (even the ones that get fast-tracked to the captain's chair) are trained in diplomacy, even if it's one of those things Jim only rarely uses and doesn't much like. But in those theoretical scenarios that he was endlessly, endlessly drilled about in the academy, he never had to deal with kids. Or even think about it. There are so few situations in which he'd actually have to interact with one in a diplomatic situation, why would they even bother teaching it?

So he just forges ahead, because that's what he's good at, and smiles. It's not his usual one, not just the prelude to or symptom of a show of arrogance or general douchebaggery. It's genuine.]

I'll help.

[anything_it_takes]

[Leo's eyes widen, not in offense but with the resounding thrill of all my dreams just came true. There's a little shock too; he hadn't been fishing for help and hadn't expected much more than a strategy consult. To suddenly be offered collaboration with someone who - as far as Leo can tell - is a real-world version of Captain Ryan may possibly be the coolest thing to happen to him in his entire life.

An irrepressible smile of pride broadens his face as Leo reaches out to grip Kirk's hand (which is larger than April's at least, but still fits with room to spare on Leo's palm). The gesture isn't habituated (who the heck does he ever shake hands with?) and the movement is tentative around the edges, but completely heartfelt.]

... Thank you. We aren't used to having many allies, but I think we could use them.

[It's difficult to clamber back on top of his hero worship and past the recurring thought The guys are never going to believe this in order to think clearly, but Leo somehow manages to keep his leader hat on. This is still business, not playtime; he's not some star-struck little kid. He's a hero in his own right, a leader with experience, and he's going to prove to the Captain as he does to everyone else that he's worthy of the position.]

So do you have any crew here, Captain? When did you arrive?

[jirk]

[Jim grins. Yep, he definitely likes this kid.]

Just got here. If my crew's here, I haven't found 'em, but I'm not worried. They can look after themselves.

[anything_it_takes]

Yeah... I'm sure they can. [If only Leo could say the same thing about his brothers. Oh, they can "look after" themselves, they're highly-trained ninja after all. Unless you take into account Donnie not eating, or Raph posting open video everywhere, or Mikey's.... er... Mikey's Mikey.]

Well- since you're without any crew, is there... anything you need help with? I uh, noticed you were scanning for readings. [Leo gestures at the tricorder in Kirk's belt. He doesn't know that's what it's called, but it's close enough to the instruments in Space Heroes that he knows what it's for. More or less.

The mutant turtle never in a million years imagined that anything like Space Heroes actually existed anywhere, and how he's met a real live spaceship captain. Leo's eagerness to learn, to find out more about what life exploring the stars is really like, perhaps even to work with Captain Kirk in a meaningful capacity - it's nearly vibrating under his skin. But he's trying very hard to sound nothing more than casually helpful.

Like teenagers throughout the known galaxy (and undoubtedly beyond), he's nowhere near as subtle as he's trying to be.]

What - what I mean is, if you're looking for something, maybe I've seen it around?

[jirk]

[Jim laughs, shakes his head.]

I'm not looking for anything specific. Well, except my ship, but you'd know if the Enterprise were parked around here anywhere. But, uh-- this?

[He pulls the tri-c from his belt and waggles it a little in the air.]

This is just a [slight pause.] scanning device. I'm taking readings. For. You know. Science.

[anything_it_takes]

[The warmth in Leo's smile comes from thoughts of his brother. "For science" indeed. Donnie will FLIP when he finds out that not only does Space Heroes exist - or a version of it anyway - but there's real science involved. Leo's gangly brother always hated it when programs got the science wrong, citing the importance of accuracy.]

So you can give your scientist the, er, "readings" when you hook up again, right? [Smart. Prepared for eventualities. Leo files that away with a note to apply the approach to his own leadership skills.]

[jirk]

Oh, I can sort of muddle my way through it too. It's not my strongest point, but I'll manage just fine until my science officer gets here.

[He had to take at least first year courses across every subject at the Academy, okay? He can fake it.]

[anything_it_takes]

[Leonardo's classroom is a dojo, and Sensei doesn't do science – he taught a basic level of arithmetic, but neither saw the need nor had the expertise to address higher concepts. A first-year education is pretty impressive by the turtle's standards. Of course, even if Leo did have educational opportunities, he is just fifteen, and not the sort who would have eagerly picked up algebra or geology (that honor goes to his taller brother, of course). Not unlike Kirk, his intelligence lies in other areas.]

Science officer, huh. [A Dr. Mindstrong, you say? Why yes, Leo would love to geek out over the parallels between Kirk's universe and his own beloved Space Heroes!] What's he like?

[jirk]

He is a serious pain in my -- [casually editing for a fifteen year old audience doo dee doo] -- butt. He always does everything by the rules and he's a total stick in the mud.

[Contrary to the words, it's obvious by his tone that he thinks the world of the guy. Sometimes his and Spock's relationship feels a little like predestination - like falling into some rut from a former life or something. And in a way, it is, and he wonders if he should feel cheated about that. Like he didn't get to decide for himself.

But if it's happened so many times across so many universes and alternate realities or whatever, there's got to be a reason for it. He knows Spock's a good guy, fundamentally, for all that they butt heads. He's a good guy, and they're friends. Maybe it would have happened anyway, without Nero. It's not really something he dwells on, not like the fact that his alternate universe doppelganger grew up knowing his father.

He shakes his head a little.]

But he's one of my best friends. Just don't tell him I said that.

[That last bit is said in a bit of a theatrical stage whisper. Careful, Leo, he is Bequeathing Unto You a great secret.]

[anything_it_takes]

So, Captain, what you're saying is… you don't get to be captain of the Enterprise by following all the rules? [There's a resoundingly delighted light in Leo's eyes as he paraphrases a Space Heroes quote, almost as if he half-expects Kirk to recognize the line. He couldn't help himself, be gentle.]

Don't tell anyone I fell out of that tree and you have a deal. [If there's one thing Leo is good at – well, he's good at a lot of things, but this in particular – it's engineering a mutually beneficial agreement. Besides, Sensei didn't raise no foo'. Hero worship or not, Leo's too sharp to let leverage like that just slip on by. You just gave him an inch, Captain, so he'll take that mile thank you very much~]

[jirk]

That [he points directly at Leo] is exactly what I'm saying.

[And then, a grin.]

Deal.