[HALLOWEEN PARTY!] -- [Open to ALL PLAYERS!] -- [IC Event!]

[kirktastic]

It had gone out as an announcement over a month ago, sent to every padd and station by one very excited Captain. A Halloween party! Must come in costume, must have fun!

Despite the hell that had been going on for the last few days, Kirk was determined that it still would happen. After a long discussion with the ship's quartermaster, along with a small army of crewmen who wanted to help, the largest rec room was decorated.

A huge buffet table had been prepared by the galley and sat spread out, all in Halloween theme. Green punch with floating eyeballs, cake decorated to look like a gravestone, a huge bowl of candy, a holographic severed hand that was scurrying around on the table top. There was even a bar set up with quite an expanse of liquor that had been secured on Risa.

There was a small seating area off to one corner, a huge dance floor, tables spread out for a real meal, and a small corner set up for music.

(OOC: Just like the thread with Risa... this is a party that's 'open' from now until Sunday night at midnight! Go nuts! This IS supposed to be IC, like the Risa party, so keep that in mind!)

Comments

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

"Got beamed aboard, along with an alternate version of McCoy's daughter." He frowns. Shouldn't the captain know what was happening on his own ship?

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk waved a hand, frowning, "No, I mean, how did you end up in this universe? I know how you got onto the ship."

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

John knew he was traversing dangerous waters. He could tell that Kirk was as sharp as a knife and as smart as a whip. He wasn't sure he could bullshit his way out of this one by being vague.

"Ever since my sister died, wormholes have been popping up every once in a while. They're always close by, when they do, and they don't always wait for me to choose whether or not to jump through before they're whisking me through time, space, and sometimes universes. The 'holes that pull you through universes always hurt the most. Like growing pains, only worse. And you throw up whenever you go through any wormhole. Always."

Maybe he could direct the kid's attention away from why the wormholes were drawn to him, and towards wormholes in general. He doubted it, but it was worth a try.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk's eyes widened as John spoke. He frowned very slightly, thinking quickly. Here they were, with an unknown anomaly that was not only playing with universes, but time and death, and there was a man standing in front of him who went through similar things all the time?!

"...They don't always wait for you... you mean... they come to you?" Kirk questioned, tilting his head.

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

John shrugged. "I guess so. I mean, I don't really get advance warning. They're just... there, and then I'm being sucked through them and coming to somewhere else. It's why I don't have that much stuff. Usually have to start fresh every place I go."

Maybe this would work after all.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk rubbed his chin, careful to avoid the mask. He looked at John after a moment, "How often do they show up? And... are they after you specifically?"

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

This was going to take some skill. Skill John wasn't sure he possessed.

"It differs in every place I go. Sometimes it can be years, sometimes hours. As to the question of if they're after me? Hmm... I don't really know. I mean, there might be other people who get thrown from place to place with a flicker of swirling light. But I've never met a single one. So whether or not those people exist is a bit of a mystery to me."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"Amazing." Kirk shook his head, "Just.. fucking amazing. You've heard at least somewhat about the stuff happening on board?" Even if it was supposed to be a bit confidential, that never stopped the rumor mill from talking.

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

John frowned. "Well, I know that there are people aboard this ship that have no rightful place in the here and now, but I have no idea how they got here. Did they fall through wormholes as well?"

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"We don't know, that's half the problem." Kirk shook his head, sighing. "Just... appearing here, out of no where. That's half the problem is that we can't figure out how they got here. The other half is that we have no way of getting anyone home."

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

John's eyebrows climbed up his forehead ((OOC: Yeah. They do that sometimes. They tried to scale Everest once, but only made it halfway.)). "You don't know.... Couldn't they tell you something about the situation they were in before ending up on your ship?"

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"They did." Kirk shook his head, "Doesn't tell us anything. Any sort of way you can imagine, even some you can't. They just... appear." Kirk slumped a little. This was one of the things that was bothering him, they just couldn't figure it out.

... Fuck. "Sorry." A small grin. "Just been a long week."

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

"I can imagine."

He looked at the man, really looked at him. Kirk looked drained. Like he was running on an empty tank, chugging and chugging away at nothing.

John wondered when he'd break down.

"Maybe I can help?"

Dammit. God fucking dammit. Traitorous mouth. Look what it'd done.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

That made Kirk look up, meeting John's eyes. He didn't know how to read John, didn't know that look exactly no matter how familiar the face was. John wore it differently. He gave a small smile, and gestured a negative. "I'm sorry, John. I didn't mean to unload on you. It's a party, after all." He stepped back, prepared to leave John to the other people there.

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

John lunged forward, catching Kirk's wrist in his hand. "No, wait. Do you want to talk about it? I know it sounds cheesy, but it helps. Maybe it won't fix anything, but it'll definitely make you feel better."

He stopped, frowning. "Oh. You don't actually know me. Look, you don't have to talk to me, but if you wanna, talk to someone. If you really don't..." He shrugged. "Don't. Whatever you think would help you the most." He dropped Kirk's wrist suddenly, remembering that he was still holding it.

"And don't be sorry. You've got nothing to apologize for."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

The reaction was instinct - years of being on the streets, bar fights, martial arts, and after what happened recently. Kirk's hand turned in the grasp and reversed the hold, pressing back John's hand and shifting as if to further the grip before realizing what he was doing. His eyes went wide and he stepped back, hissing, "Shit. Sorry."

He looked to John's eyes, tongue flicking out in nervousness before he hid it all away under a lazy grin. "Hey, don't worry about it. I'm fine."

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

John's eyes widened in turn. "Those were going to be some nice moves, Kid. I'm impressed." Even though Joanna had potential, this man had experience as a fighter. She hadn't been lying about learning all she knew from him.

John saw the facade being quickly slipped back in place. He could handle that.

"No problem, man. Go. Party on. Enjoy yourself." The captain was obviously not quite whole, at this point in time. Pushing would only crack him further.

"But, hey. In the future? We should trade techniques. I'll bet you know your shit."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

So this man was a fighter? The muscle cued to that, and the idea of 'trading techniques' with someone who could fight sounded like, honestly, one very fucking welcomed distraction. "Jim. Not kid, Jim." Kirk said easily, "And definitely. I miss getting to spar."

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

"Ah, about that. I don't spar, but I do demonstrate. Teach too, in my off time. Actually, on the ship, all my time's off time. Huh. Go figure. And, Kid? I'll call you whatever I want. Deal." John smirked, narrowing his eyes.

This should be fun.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"Don't spar?" Kirk questioned.

Oh. Oh? "Okay, old man, I'll keep that in mind. Just remember, on this ship, I'm the captain." He smirked, not giving an inch.

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

John cocked an eyebrow. This kid has a smirk worth acknowledging.

"Nah, I don't spar. I only fight with things..... I mean people that I have every intention of killing.... I mean hurting."

Dammit, dammit, dammit.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Killing. He frowned a little, tilting his head. "You're a soldier." He said quietly, meeting John's eyes.

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

The jig was almost up at this point. He'd started to trust, even like the captain of the ship. He'd started to slip.

"...Yeah. I am." John looked away quickly, staring out over the crowd of people.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"...John." Kirk shook his head a little, "Doesn't matter what you are, kay? Trust me on that. Here, you're John Grimm."

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

"I... I wish that were true. But there are things..... there are things you don't know. That you can't know. I'm John Grimm but I'm also Reaper. That means nothing to you, and I hope it never does."

John closed his eyes tight, clenching his fists at his sides. Fuck. This... this was not how he had wanted the evening to go.

"I don't want to keep you, Captain. Enjoy the party." He turned to disappear back into the crush of bodies.