[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

[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.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"No!" Kirk reached out and grasped John's shoulder, surprised at how much muscle he actually felt under his hand. "John, look at me."

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

Ohshitfuck.

And this was the moment he'd get hauled off and interrogated. Interrogations always ended badly. He could either spill his guts or fight his way out.

He never spilled.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"John. Look at me." Kirk said gently, shocked. This man was like an animal, ready to run or fight.

He licked his lips, and cleared his throat. "Soldier, look at me. Stand DOWN." Fuck, he sounded like one of the instructors at the academy. He knew it always got his attention.

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

C'monc'monc'mongetitrightc'mondon'tdothisReaper...

Too late.

He could feel himself vibrating, a deep growl rising up out of him. His hands were shaking. He whipped around and faced Kirk, eyes wide and nostril flared, breathing heavily.

"You wanted me to look at you? Well, here you go." He strode forward until he was right up in Kirk's face, nose to nose with the other man. "I'm fucking looking at you. And don't you fucking order me, you child. You have no idea what you're messing with." His teeth bared, lips pulled back in a frozen grimace, he snarled.

"I'm keeping you safe, you cocky bastard. You couldn't fucking handle the shit I'm hiding. You wanna try? Yeah, sure. Go ahead. The entire ship will be dead by Tuesday," he grits out through his teeth. He grabbed the sides of his shirt, needing something to hold. He can feel the fabric ripping under his fingers.

He'd rather tear his shirt than wring Kirk's neck.

Nowyou'vedoneityougoddamnsonofabitch.

Shut. Up.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"I don't give a fuck what you think you're bringing." Kirk snarled, even though inside he knew he should have been afraid. He showed his teeth, eyes narrowed, bristling. "I don't know what you fucking think you're dealing with, but I'm not just going to back down."

He brought up his hand, right beside their eyes. "You see this shit, this burned into my skin? I spent three fucking days on an enemy ship having some fucking pscyho digging them into my skin while his buddy tortured my father. I was hoping I'd die before I accidentally let something slip to them that I shouldn't. I watched an entire fucking planet DIE, felt all six billion of them die, because I fucked up."

"WHATEVER you think you're bringing here I can most certainly fucking handle. So you will learn that this crew and this captain can handle you and whatever you're bringing or some wormhole will come scoop your ass up. GOT IT?"

"Now Let. Me. Go."

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

John took a step back, letting go of the ripped fabric in his hands. He stared at Kirk, just looked at him.

" I.....I'm so sorry." As he spoke, he kept stepping back, holding his hands up. "I-just.... please. Don't corner me. I don't-I'm not..... There was a time, when I would have snapped to attention, and hung on your every word. But bad shit, like the bad shit that fucked up your hand.... Things are different now. That bad shit? It changed me."

He was far enough away now that Kirk probably couldn't hear him. ""

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk stepped right after him. There was something here, something that he wasn't sure what it was, but that he instinctively knew he might be able to do something about. "John. John. I can't tell you what's changed. All I can know now is the person I see right in front of me. And that person? He's like a scared animal who wants someone to pay attention to him but is terrified to."

He never let his eyes drift away, kept his voice calm but firm. He had no idea what he was doing.

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

John stopped. This was... different. Kirk was trying to persuade him to talk, to coax him out of... whatever this was. Even after he'd disobeyed a direct order, displayed signs of disrespect, possibly even mutiny, to a superior.

It struck him. Kirk wasn't Sarge. He wasn't going to be shot in the throat. Not yet.

He crumpled under the weight of that revelation, that he could just let go, follow orders whole-heartedly, trust his commanding officer without a grain of salt, not have to side-step questions that hit too close to home....

He sat down hard on the ground, eyes wide, mouth slightly open.

""

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

The sitting down shocked the fuck out of him. Holy shit, I broke him. Was Kirk's very first thought. The sir was another huge shock. "...John?" He asked unsurely, not knowing what had gone through John's mind to get such a reaction.

Normally he would have reached out and touched the man, squeezed his shoulder or something, but he didn't know if that would end in tragedy or not.

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

John climbed unsteadily to his feet, and snapped to attention, bringing his arm up to salute Kirk.

"Sir, may I ask a question, sir."

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

The salute didn't even make sense for a moment as it was nothing like any he had seen before, but Kirk got it. "Sure, anything." Kirk gestured a little for John to continue.

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

John took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Sir, if I were to hypothetically disobey orders in a dangerous situation, would you, hypothetically, shoot me in the throat for insubordination?" He didn't wait for an answer.

"And, sir, if I were to be keeping a secret that could cost the life of every person on this ship, and you knew, would you push me until I broke?"

He couldn't stop himself. It was like it was pouring out of him.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Would he what?!

"John." Kirk blinked in shock. "I'm not ever going to shoot you in the throat unless you were... I can't even think of a reason that I ever would. Secondly, I trust you to tell me a secret that would put this crew in danger. We're not torturers."

[john-grimm.livejournal.com]

"Sir, if I were to refuse to tell you until I trusted you fully, sir, what would you hypothetically do. Sir."

He was pushing it. He felt like a child. Dammit, he was over two hundred and fifty years old. He shouldn't be this immature.

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"...I'm a twenty-five year old Captain. I don't even think Starfleet fully trusts me, and they gave me this ship. I... I will do everything I can to try and earn your trust, but... I need to be able to trust you, too." Kirk wasn't sure where he was going. It was like walking through a dark place with only a shitty flashlight. Almost everything was dark and he was hoping he didn't trip and fall.