004 ◉ audio; dated to the 14th

[imaginate]

[ The audio clicks on and there's a long pause. When Kyle speaks, his tone is calm, perfectly controlled. It's his Business Voice, blank save for the barest hint of anger. ]

This is Kyle Rayner of the Green Lantern Corps. I apologise for the inconvenience, but our clinic at EA-3B is currently undergoing repairs and won't be able to take more patients at this time. We'll be temporarily operating a backup at WA-1A. [ He attaches a map, showing where it is. ]

Any and all hands with medical experience or healing abilities are always welcome.

[ Another long pause. ]

And if someone could come collect Avatar Korra, that would be appreciated.

[ There is a brief pause, as though he's debating what more to say, before the audio clicks off. ]

Comments

[jirk]

Can we say 'Spock' in this scenario?

[All seriousness!]

[imaginate]

[Idly:] Well, one of my names is the Emerald Knight... [he trails off.] I'm not overusing this metaphor, am I?

[jirk]

Tiny bit.

[He holds up his fingers about an inch apart.]

[imaginate]

Hey, I'm just an artist. Metaphors are for novelists.

[He puts away the last of the groceries, and then leans against the countertop, as if to say now what?]

[jirk]

Excuses, excuses.

[Jim, unselfconsciously mirroring Kyle's posture, leans against the sink.]

Okay. Dos and don'ts.

[imaginate]

[He comes close, puts a hand on Jim's waist and flexes his fingers, getting used to how it feels. It's not chess, or go, or backgammon, or whatever. They've stopped playing like that.]

[Quietly, looking down at Jim's feet (not the cast):] No pain. I won't go there, not ever. [We have enough scars.]

No cuffs, nothing metallic. Ropes, vines are both fine. Blindfolds are out of the question, as well as anything that affects my vision. [He inhales, sharply, that's always going to be a sore spot for him, no matter what. He holds up his ring.] I can't ever lose control of this, so nothing that pushes me there, even a little bit.

[A long pause.]

Usually I remember, but make sure I'm not wearing it when I sleep. My nightmares set it off.

[Kyle's hand drops again and fiddles with the hem of Jim's shirt.]

Everything else is open. Honestly, I miss the telepathy most.

[jirk]

[Jim just shrugs.]

I'll try anything once. Or twice, or-- you know, however many times it takes until I figure I either like it or don't.

[... and then, okay, he's curious.]

Thought I couldn't get the ring off?

[imaginate]

[He's still, for a moment.]

Voice command. State your name, pick a code. Tell no one it can do this. [And then he remembers Damian mimicking sounds. Damn.] We'll have to change it regularly.

[He holds up his hand, for Jim to speak.]

[jirk]

Captain James Tiberius Kirk. 'NCC-0514'.

[He doesn't expect Kyle to get it. After all, that's not really the point of passwords.]

[imaginate]

ACCEPTED. SUBJECT: KIRK, JAMES T. IS NOW AUTHORISED.

[It glows, and Kyle keeps his hand where it is, so Jim can try to remove it, now. No, he doesn't get the password, but he does get that it was personal, and maybe it's something he's not supposed to touch. So he won't.]

[jirk]

[Jim gives him a bit of a Look, and then he tugs the ring off. It's... a weird weight in his hand, and he studies it briefly.]

[imaginate]

[With the recent depowering, Kyle doesn't feel its loss as acutely. He just shrugs and waits for Jim to finish his examination.]

[jirk]

[Jim tosses it lightly in his hand, cants his head just slightly to one side.]

Mind if I try it?

[imaginate]

[He blinks, surprised at the request.]

Sure. Maybe later?

[jirk]

[He grins.]

Works for me. Here.

[He holds it out for Kyle to reclaim it.]

[imaginate]

[He smiles, and takes it. There's a small spark as he puts it back on his finger and he feels alive.]

[jirk]

[Jim claps a hand to his shoulder, and then heads to the ice box to rummage through it for something to eat. He is a growing boy, thanks, and all this walking around with a cast has his appetite amped up to eleven. He grabs a few pieces of fruit, juggles them casually, tosses one at Kyle, keeps the second for himself and sets the third on the countertop for later debate.]

[imaginate]

[He catches it, quickly rings up a construct chopping board and knife, which he uses to cut the fruit into bite sized pieces before he picks up a piece and chews, thoughtfully.]

[jirk]

[That is like a million times too fancy for this farm boy, Kyle, Jim just bites into his with enthusiasm.]

So. Fixing the clinic.

[imaginate]

It's done. She'll have her house back in two days once I check the plumbing.

[He's very happy about this, okay.]

[jirk]

Seriously? Wow, you work fast.

[NO REALLY HE'S IMPRESSED he was totally ready to roll up his sleeves and pitch in but. Uh. Guess not?

... He's actually a little disappointed about that. The Jim Kirk Make Work Project has been a little lacking since the whole leg breaking thing.]

[imaginate]

Kindness of strangers can get you a long way.

[He's oddly quiet.]

It's been... a while.

[It's nice.]

[jirk]

[Which. Brings him back to one of his original points, and Jim falls silent a moment.]

I'm sorry your family's not here.

[Sora's one person to stave off the darkness, but Kyle needs the corps just like Jim needs his crew. One person's a stopgap. A dam. But they aren't everything.]

[imaginate]

Sora's all right, but she's not... close.

[I'm expected to be bulletproof. She knew his weaker moments but he-- wasn't her Kyle. Not now.]

I've been alone before; I'll manage.

[I have you.]

[jirk]

[He nods, to that non-verbal statement. Then, wryly, around a bite of apple,]

I don't actually hate you.