James T. Kirk

"I don't trust them either Leo," she sighed, pressing her lips together to keep from saying something less diplomatic. It was difficult not to judge them, so extremely difficult to want to treat that-- she couldn't even bring herself to call him Pike anymore, to treat him like someone worth respect.

"And I don't care what you say to them. I know you worry, I'm worried too. But Tina doesn't like people acting like she can't take care of herself. Neither of us do. So just trust her, alright?"

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"They hurt one of my staff already," Bones told her, folding his hands in front of him. "If they did something to her, I -" He closed his eyes. No one really cares what you think about this, McCoy.

"Right. Trust. Okay, we'll just see what happens." He finished his drink and slid the glass slowly out of his fingers.

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"Wouldn't be able to forgive yourself," she finished for him. Tina being friends with the other Spock didn't exactly make her tingle with pleasure either, though her issue was less with him and more with his partner. But she wasn't the one Tina harbored feelings for. "I know. And keep an eye on her sure. Just don't act like a--" Jealous boyfriend, she wanted to say. But instead she said, "just give her some breathing room."

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"Breathing is one of my favorite hobbies."

Spock had escorted Tina, once again on his arm - her dress seemed to call for such courtesies.

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Fucking great. "Good evening," he said to them both, giving Nyota a small look, as if to say, 'Look how I am behaving myself.'

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Tina shot Spock an incredulous look - was that a subtle segue into a conversation? - and then turned to smile at McCoy and Nyota.

"Mind if we join you for a bit?"

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He was not always subtle.

Spock inclined his head politely, acknowledging McCoy, then nodded more fully to Nyota.

"I am unfamiliar with your costume, yet its construction is intriguing."

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Nyota granted Bones a smile, glad that they both seemed to be behaving. For the moment at least.

She gave Tina a nod, glancing at Spock and grateful that Pike was nowhere to be seen. "Terran comic book character," she supplied. "I don't think it would fit you or I'd offer to let you borrow it after I'm done."

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Of course to behave, Bones remained silent.

He watched their faces, wondering how sincere this friendship was - and wondering where the other one, the one that looked like Admiral Pike was.

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"I'm surprised you've kept the mask on this long," Tina said, touching the edge of the material where it met Nyota's cheek. "It can't be very comfortable. I'm starting to regret my shoes a little, and they don't cover my face."

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"Oh believe me, it's coming off soon," Nyota laughed, flexing her fingers in the gloves. "It is all coming off. The only time someone should wear this much leather is if they have a whip in their hand."

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Spock raised an eyebrow and contained his smirk.

He was behaving. Mostly.

He slid an arm around Tina's waist, fingers brushing against her hip, to steer her toward a chair.

"You should sit."

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Bones' eyebrow lifted as well, as his turned away from the scene, trying not to smirk. Spock was just trying to irritate him now...

"Would you two like something to drink?" he asked, reaching around for two more glasses, determined not to let his wariness show. "I've some bourbon here," he pointed to his bottle, "but George can whip you up something if you want."

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"We just topped up, actually," Tina said, raising the James Kirk she had in hand. Her smile held a hint of self-deprecation. "And I think after this one I'd better stop, or I'm going to be progressively less and less fun to spend time with."

She leaned over towards Nyota, adding in a quiet murmur, "and I think I have plans that involve getting help removing this dress later, so..."

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Nyota shook her head, still fine with her glass of water. Leaning closer to Tina, her smile grew a little wider, a devious edge to it. There was just something about knowing her friends were going to get lucky after a long time without it that pleased her. She wasn't exactly sure what that said about her.

"Please tell me it's not," she murmured back, her head ducking briefly to Spock. "Or if it is, you'll definitely be needing that whip."

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"An interesting costume as well, Doctor."

Spock was not practiced at small talk. He sipped the chocolate concoction that George Kirk had handed him. It was not often he indulged in that sort of altering substance. Yet here, people appeared to enjoy the state of drunkenness without fear of assassination. Another difference to be filed away and weighed and measured.

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"I won't need a whip," Tina said to Nyota, "but that's all I'm saying. Don't want to jinx it. I'll tell you after."

She turned her attention back to what the men were talking about. Such as it was.

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Bones nodded at the Vulcan with a smirk. "I lost a bet," he offering conversationally. He could be polite.

"And you?"

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The look he gave Tina was sharp with a certain fondness.

"Brutus. It seemed appropriate at the time."

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Though she wanted to press Tina for more details, Nyota was aware it was rude to carry on a conversation when there were two other people there. And probably not safe, given the two personalities. She edged a little closer to Bones, just to make sure she could diffuse any situation that might arise.

"The Roman Empire," she commented. "Fascinating. And fitting."

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A pleased nod at Tina's friend, Nyota.

"Indeed. We thought as much. We toyed with other ideas but none of them seemed... appropriate."

Appropriate as defined by Tina Chapel, at least.

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Tina choked a little on the word "appropriate" and sipped at her drink to cover.

"I didn't know you had an interest in ancient history," she said to Nyota, after she'd swallowed. "My father is a big fan of Classical literature."

God, this conversation was awkward. Why had she suggested they come over here?

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