James T. Kirk

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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"My mom is an archaeologist," Nyota replied. Speaking about her parents career wasn't exactly fun conversation, but she didn't want this to fall into an awkward silence which she would try to resolve with some far more embarrassing topic. "An interest in ancient history was drilled into us from birth."

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"Where's your captain?" Bones asked casually, deciding not to bother with the small talk. "I wanted to see what he was dressed like."

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Spock tensed. He would brook no insult to his captain.

"He is circulating. As Caesar."

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"And you came as Brutus?"

Bones' face was exaggeratedly curious. "That seems an interesting choice, if your Roman history is the same as ours."

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Tina grabbed the nearest clothed part of Spock that she could reach, hoping he'd understand that it was a plea for silence. Squeezing his - oh, just perfect - thigh in warning, she quickly said, "Spock has an odd sense of humor."

And now what? Yank her hand back and draw attention to what she'd just been doing? Leave it there?

Wish that a hole would open up beneath her feet and swallow her, saving her from all of this?

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His eyes actually widened at Tina's hand high on his thigh. He slanted a sly look through his lashes at her.

"My captain and I both found it amusing, actually."

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Nyota tensed at the mention of Pike, though she kept a polite smile plastered on her face. The only sign of her discomfort was the way her fingers tightened around her glass, knuckles whitening.

"Ironic." she commented. "Romans were a huge fan of irony. I'm glad you have a sense of humor, Spock."

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"Apparently," Bones agreed, sipping his drink. "Anyway, its good to see you both out and mingling amongst the crew."

Standing, Bones nodded at both the ladies. "And if you will excuse me, I see someone I need to talk to," as he began walking toward the party.

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It was amazing to see the doctor turn his back on them. Such a foolish maneuver.

"He is very accomplished at walking away, from what I have witnessed."

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Tina removed her hand from his leg and raised an eyebrow at him. "You've got a pretty small sample set there, Spock."

She sipped at her drink again. "But he is, it's true."

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"Tina, Nyota. I am aware there are things Tina wishes to discuss. If you will excuse me?"

He bent a bit further at the waist - almost a bow. His universe was very formal indeed.

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"Go have fun," Tina said, making little shooing gestures with her hands. When he was out of earshot - probably - she turned to Nyota and made an exaggerated face of embarrassment.

"That wasn't weird at all, huh?"

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Nyota wasn't surprised that Bones left, and gave him a small wave. Neither was she surprised when Spock followed soon after, though she could only hope they wouldn't run into one another again.

"Well at least they were polite," she offered with a shrug of her shoulders, though she couldn't help but shake her head at the awkwardness of the situation. "It could have been worse. Not sure how, but it could have been."

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"Oh, it could have been so much worse," Tina said, taking another fortifying sip of her drink. "The reason I got all grabby-hands when the costume came up is that he didn't show up intending to be Brutus. He was carrying a lyre."

Now that she knew that Nyota had a working knowledge of ancient historical figures, she figured her friend could connect the dots on her own.

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