redhotsummers | CUDDLR

And here I thought you fucked off into that starry cosmos I get all my power from.

I did, actually. For four years.

But I'm back now.

[ And boy could he use all the drinks. ]

Obviously.

Yeah. Drinks are good. Got a lot to catch up on.

[On both sides. Might as well start over.]

First round is on me.

[ He sends the address of a pretty decent bar. Quiet but has good drinks. They'll be able to talk there. It's been long overdue. ]

[Alex shows up about an hour later, dressed in a pair of dark wash jeans, a simple white shirt, and his ever trusty leather jacket--anything more and he's going to overheat. His longer hair is pulled back in a pony tail, a few strands falling free, but he's tucked those behind his ear. He enters the bar, scanning for Jim, not sure if he's looking for someone who should be looking that different.]

[ Jim has his penchant for wearing leather jackets so he's not dressed all that different. Just different color shirt, possibly a darker jacket. It's the one he left here.

He keeps an eye on the door and almost doesn't recognize Alex at first. The longer hair kinda throws him off. But once it hits him, he's raising his hand to get his attention. Not at the bar but a table off to the side. Seemed better for conversation.

Once he's close enough, he gives a little tip of his head in greeting. ]

Hey.

[Alex sees him and gives a slight nod of his head as well, sliding into a chair across from him. Jim looks--pretty much the same. Maybe a bit older, a few more scars, but then again it's been a while since he saw him last, anyways.]

Hey.

So couldn't stay away from this place?

[Probably means nothing good.

A hint of bitterness hits him when thinks about how Raleigh still hasn't returned, but nope, not going to think about that, fuck that thought.

He's good with this.]

[ His hair's a little longer than it was (not as long as Alex's tho) and he's still got his beard growing but other than that, not much different. Even with being acting captain and coming back from the dead, it hasn't aged him as much as it probably should have.

Alex's words have him huffing out a slight laugh that feels anything but good. He has his own bitterness seeping in but he just takes another sip of his drink. ]

Something like that.

[ More like he came back for someone but it didn't work out that way. He nudges the drink menu, erect on a plastic stand, over to him with his free hand. ]

Pick your poison.

[Alex waves away the drink menu.]

Whiskey.

Shots.

[Yes, Alex is in the mood to get shitfaced. He pauses then--]

A few beers too, break it up a bit. But I'll help pick up the tab. It takes a fifth for me to get tipsy, anyways.

[Metabolism and all.]

[ Jim gives a genuine grin at that, raising his glass in a toast, ]

I can get behind that.

[ Because guess who else wants to get shit-faced? He flags down one of the waitresses and gives her the order for a bottle of whiskey, a few beers and two shot glasses. Once that's done, he turns back to Alex. ]

So. Did you ever go back or have you been sticking it out here?

[Alex gives a little smirk, because really, glad they have the same idea.

At that question, though, he snorts, shrugging.]

Plans change. Look--you want this to just stay really nice and happy? I can do that. But I'll tell you, I ain't been the best company lately. Most of the 'what have I been up to' questions are kinda shit.

[He's giving Kirk an out. More than he might have done before.]

[ Now it's Kirk's turn to snort, turning more fully in his chair to face Alex and setting his glass back down. ]

Life isn't "nice and happy". I know that from experience. You don't have to sugar coat anything for me. You wanna be friends? Start by being honest. I'll do the same.

Okay, let's start out.

[Alex snorts and waits until the drinks are bought. He pours himself a shot, and throws it back, then winces, talking with a bit of a thicker voice.]

I don't know if you knew, but I had a guy I was really fuckin' in love with. Had plans to go back to his world, help him sort it out. Cause you know, that's what you do. [When you finally have someone you love and trust.] Well some shit came up with me, and he decided he wanted to go home--and made it very clear that I was to stay, [He taps a finger on the table] here. Or go home to my own world. But I wasn't going with him. He could send for me but--

--fuck that.

[You wanted honesty, Kirk? You get it. All the bitter shit.]

CUDDLR

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