archersline | Christopher Pike

Young and logical - a rather odd combination fo words, but Vulcans were odd creators. Especially a half-Vulcan. But Kirk liked to think that he and Spock had grown together, feeding off each other into the men they had become and were yet becoming. He couldn't have made it near so far without him, after all. Thankfully, he never seemed to partake took heavily in the shenanigans of the crew, though Kirk noted he really never did much to curb them either...

"Guess your Number One got things very smoothed out the night before. I'm not sure Spock would trust me to handle that hungover without tucking in the corners, so to speak, the night before," he shook his head. "There was, one time though, that instead of getting my physical in the medbay, I somehow convinced Bones to let me show him I was fit doing some gymnastics. It somehow turned into a near ship wide spectacle."

From Spock, his very Half-Vulcan science officer to Michael, his very much Vulcan raised science officer, Pike had learned that young and logical made an odd but fascinating combination. Typically it resulted in a lot more laughter at someone's expense and a lot of dry remarks, not enough to indicate any sort of inclination towards hijinks but enough to show to Pike at least a sense of humor. Which really, was all he could ask for in somebody on his crew.

"She's good at that, smoothing things over that the rest of us tend to get ourselves stuck in." He couldn't help the moment to chew on his bottom lip at Kirk's choice in words, because he couldn't imagine a time where he didn't have Boyce or Number One around to help harass cadets and junior officers with. But it was Kirk's own story that made Pike smile. "Gymnastics? I can just imagine how much of a sight you were for your crew."

Kirk caught the chewing of his lip, finding it curious. Not for the fact Pike did it, but that Kirk shared a similar tick. A curious thing, a small thing to file away, because he had never noticed his own Pike doing that sort of thing. So many new things to learn, but then, it was a whole new person, after all.

"It did become something of a spectacle," he admitted, and then chuckled. "But we needed it. We'd had a rough time of it not longer before. And while I truly did want to get out of Bones' unique ministrations, giving the crew something to smile at was a very happy bonus."

"Rough times are something Starfleet crews tend to attract, at least the best ones." Because he had to try and lighten the mood a little, because even with their own antics in the midst of them all, rough times always spelled worries about crew, about family. Plus if he thought of his crew as family, he could only imagine what this universes Pike was like and well, again, a path he wasn't sure he was ready to follow.

"I'm glad you could give your crew some happy times. Deep space missions, for all they can be boring at times amidst discoveries, they take a toll." The waiting and then the rushing for the discovery, and of course the inevitable breakdowns for being so far away from home and having to figure out some way to fix it. There was always something going on and it always seemed to pile up at the worst times. "Ever had the pleasure of teaching cadets in the Command Training Program on your bridge?"

He shook his head. "Well, not in recent years. But my five year mission keeps me out here and we don't go in to Earth's sphere very often. Because of that, it's hard for us to transfer crew in and out, and most of my crew has been with me for awhile - I don't get very many new transfers, unless.... well, nevermind. And honestly, I think before now, I wouldn't have made a very good Captain for them to learn under."

He rubbed the back of his neck and looked down at his drink.

"If I'm honest with myself, they gave me the chair way to early, and I was far to eager to accept. I didn't really understand that responsibility when I first took it, and that lack of understanding caused a lot of damage. Now, though, if anyone would be interested, I would welcome it. I'm sure there are some cadets here and on Earth interested - or scared off forever by the last stunt I pulled. We'll find out."

What he had been expecting had been an answer full of bravado, if only because that seemed to be how not only young captains were but just how Jim Kirk seemed to style himself. What he got instead was a pleasant surprise and he can't help but feel sympathy for the younger man as he talks. It's all to familiar pain, what he's talking about.

"It's the ones that are unsure I tend to see thrive in teaching people. I can't imagine that Discovery's crew was at all pleased at first to get cadets aboard, but they all seem to be thriving, both the cadets and officers." It's meant to try and soothe Kirk but he's not sure if it would help or not, but the effort was made. "As to your latest stunt," and here he leaned toward Kirk, "I've always found there are those that will misinterpret things to their own ends. Whether for hero worship or to condemn. Self-reflection is the worst thing possible for anyone's confidence, as is false flattery, but I think you would find the chance rewarding. Teaching tends to make one think things through and reflect, and prove to others why you deserve that ship out there."

He was quiet for a long moment after Pike finished speaking, watching him. Finally, he took a steadying breath and he laughed, taking a bigger gulp of his drink.

"Sorry. Sorry, you just - you sounded a lot like him just then," he smiled, and took another breath, getting up to refresh his drink, motioning for Pike to hand him his glass as he passed. "That's not a bad thing either! I - I'm glad, I think. It's good to know that you have a good soul too."

Christopher Pike | Open Post

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cheese and crackers life needs to chill

it happens <3