Once upon a time, my friend ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tenebris made a kick-ass verse called Covert, which in her words is "kinda Mission Impossible (IMF), kinda James Bond". Operatives in Covert tend to work in pairs, where the partner responsible for the offensive is called "Dagger" and the partner responsible for defensive or background work is called "Sheath". The best analogy for Sheath would be handler.
Here are some short snippets from my playtime in her world.
Jim has a question
Jim pops the question over lunch.
“Would you like to be my partner?”
It’s a good thing McCoy isn’t eating anything, or else he might have spit it out in shock. As it is, he gets to put down his fork and knife slowly and glower at Jim. “What?”
Jim repeats the same inscrutable line again. “Would you like to be my partner?” He even says it louder. If it’s meant for his benefit, McCoy doesn’t appreciate it. They’re in the middle of a canteen filled with potential trained killers and their associates – he doesn’t think it wise to advertise future plans for beating the structure here. Even if Jim has done exactly that, and in great detail, to him outside of this stupid “orientation”, but McCoy’s just a medic and he figures Jim found him safe. The only possible time McCoy might have Jim at his mercy is if he’s on the operating table, and it’s not like he’d just lay down for McCoy to cut him up anyway.
McCoy is capable of a good smack to Jim’s head for his stupid question, but reluctantly has to rule it out because it just might draw too much attention. Instead he hisses, “You’re asking me?”
Jim shrugs and continues at much the same volume. “I asked Uhura but she turned me down – and totally refused to give her first name as an apology for doing that, I might add – so I’m asking you.”
It usually takes 72 straight hours of shift to give McCoy a stress-induced headache, but Jim can induce one with no problem at all. “I’m a doctor, not a hit man. Why would you ask me to be your partner?”
Jim is smiling of all things. “And this is why I like you so much Bones. Straight to the point.” McCoy finds himself missing the smile a moment later when Jim puts on his serious face – not the fake one, the real one that suggests that Jim is closer to Kirk the cold blooded killer rather than Jim the recruit who gets drunk in bars with McCoy. “You were a military medic before you joined the company, weren’t you?”
“Right, just go advertising that fact to everyone.” McCoy throws up his hands in disgust. “I don’t even know how you know these things – ”
That gets a lopsided grin out of Jim, “You talk when you’re drunk. As do I many people have attested, present company included – ”
“Your point?”
“Given your experience, you’d just fall short of qualifying for Silver Tab.”
McCoy’s blood goes cold. It would figure that Jim Kirk had read up on the whole hierarchy of the company, given that he was going to go through bloody hoops just to get himself to the top on a stupid dare, but from the sound of it Jim hadn’t just done research on the company. He’d researched McCoy too, and based on more than one drunken night at the bar. The bastard. “If you’d read my files closely enough, you’d know that I’m not interested.”
And he really isn’t. He had done the necessary military training and defended his patients when they couldn’t protect themselves, but there was a fine line between that and going out on a mission knowing that you had to kill someone. And Leonard McCoy was fine on keeping on his side of the fine line, which joining the company as a full operative would totally stomp all over. It had been what he agreed on, when he had accepted the transfer to the company.
Kirk however wasn’t quite done. “I know you’re not. I know you’re content on just being a medic in whatever sorry excuse for a hospital they have, if they even have one, and I know it’s a goddamned waste of your talent.”
McCoy makes to stand but Kirk is faster and grabs his wrist before McCoy can think about going anywhere. “I’m not listening to this bullshit,” McCoy warns. Kirk talks right over him.
“You deserve to be heading your own team. But you won’t get it with what you’ve been offered - the top only offers full operatives the top positions. I can give you that chance.”
“And how many people to I have to skewer before I get there?” McCoy snaps.
The smile he gets is all Jim. “None.”
Jim and his crazy ideas. “The company doesn’t work that way.”
“I work that way.” Jim leans in with his bright blue glaze that suggests he can look straight into your brain and pull out whatever he wants. “I’m good at what I do. If you’re my Sheath you’ll never have to clean up after me. You’ll never have to get your hands dirty.”
“You can’t keep that up forever.”
“Three years, that’s all I’m asking Bones. Three years or when I make Silver Tab, whichever is earlier.”
McCoy tries to shake him off, but Kirk has a grip of steel and a force of personality to match. “You’re crazy.”
“It has to be you, not any fresh recruit. We’ve got more experience than the rest of the recruits combined. If we work together, we’ll get the complex cases – ”
This time McCoy does manage to shake him off. Jim looks up at him, looking sad and young and just like one of those new recruits, which Jim is definitely not. “I’m not interested in any case, with you or anyone else,” McCoy tells him, and walks off before Jim can try to make him change his mind.
Chapel and Scotty
The first time Scotty saw Chapel, he thought to himself that she had the most polished hair he'd ever seen. The first time Chapel talked to Scotty, she thought he was nuts.
It was a start.
The thing is, craftsmen didn't quite work like operatives. They were usually found in R&D, or providing support for long-term missions, which meant that they worked in groups, rather than pairs. So while Scotty's tendency to experiment with explosive devices during missions themselves were often - spectacular to say the least - Chapel was not too worried. As long as there were sufficient warm bodies between Scotty and herself, she could handle it.
Then he was assigned to the next group she was in. And the next.
It was during the fifth such assignment, after she had finished translating some of Scotty's orders out of tech and into workable actions, that he finally seemed to notice her.
She was leaning back, hair plastered to her head with sweat, and mumbled to herself, "How did I get stuck with this? I'm a nurse."
Scotty was working with the team, head deep in the whatever, but he looked up at that. "''Cause you're good, lass."
She stared at him. "I'm a nurse," she said, as if he hadn't gotten the point.
He winked. "I know."
She would dearly like to throttle him, settled for crushing a piece of paper on her desk (all the important things had been cleared already, and thank god for relatively non-flammable computers). "I'm surprised you noticed. You seem busy."
Scotty grinned amidst his projects, only 3 of them relevant to the mission and another 5 interesting options that he had discarded but refused to let her throw out ("They'd be useful! You'll see!). "Would be busier if it weren't for you."
She felt a weird grin start to touch her mouth, as if to take that as a compliment, then hardened her mouth. "Would be done with this if you'd stop tinkering," she pointed out.
"Oh, this'll save us time down the line," he said, blithely cheerful. "Might get a paper out of it."
Engineers! Did he not realize what they're supposed to be doing here?
A brisk night walk
McCoy checked his watch, leaned back in his chair and twitched one of the curtains aside. Both he and Jim had liked this apartment for its unparallelled view both ways up the street, and from his position he could see two drunken figures stumbling towards his apartment. He waited until they came close enough for him to make out. A tenseness he won't admit to eased out of his shoulders when he saw Jim's familiar features on one of the figures - at least that meant he didn't have to make a round of the nearby bars to see if Jim needed pulling out of whatever fight he got into this time.
Jim spotted McCoy watching and raised one hand in a lazy salute. McCoy huffed and dropped the curtain. Jim might be settled, but McCoy was most certainly not. Jim had company, and McCoy was not interested in how loud said company could scream. His jacket and keys were where he had left them; he took them both before leaving the apartment. A short flight of stairs later, he was walking out into the cold night.
The city was relatively new to them both, which was the excuse that Jim had used for hitting the bars, so McCoy walked with no direction. It was late enough that there weren't many people in the street, and those that were still around went about their own business and left him alone. And if the latter changed, well, McCoy could take care of himself, whatever Jim might think be damned. As it was, he left the other people alone too, and listened to the sounds of the slumbering city and his feet on the sidewalk. (some padding sentences)
He almost missed the woman - she had just rounded the corner when he stepped onto the street she was leaving - but he caught a glimpse of her profile and found her features familiar enough that he followed her down the street that she had disappeared into. McCoy recognised her as one of his new colleagues from the way she had swept up her hair. For a moment, he wavered in calling after her - he was only a colleague after all - but figured what the hell, he might as well confirm his suspicions. "Chapel?"
She had gone a ways down the street that he had to shout. She did stop and turn at her name, and McCoy was relieved that he hadn't got it mixed up in the rush of new faces that had been introduced to him through the week. It appeared she didn't recognise him, because she was frowning at him. The frown deepened as he jogged up to her. He gave her some distance in concession to her unease and the lateness of the hour. "McCoy, remember? The new doctor, just joined this week."
Chapel's frown broke under a smile of recognition. The surprised smile, combined with the comfortable clothes and shoes, cut a rather different figure from the nurse he was familiar with from work. "McCoy! I didn't know you were in the neighbourhood. You're out late."
McCoy shrugged. "Just needed some fresh air. You're out pretty late yourself."
Her smile turned wry. "I came back from my shift to find that my roommate had spirited most of the food to the labs. So here I am, looking for my supper."
One eyebrow crept up beyond his own volation. "That's quite the sob story. Have you found it yet?"
"Hmmm," she said, pretending to ponder his question. "I think it can be found at the 7-11 down this street. The most options for this time of night."
"I'll keep that in mind for any late-night cravings," he replied. And that was that - the limit of his conversation with most people. There was a reason why Jim got all the girls. Shifting his weight, he said, "I hope I'm not holding you up."
"Oh no," Chapel said quickly, then flushed. "Not really. But I don't intend to stand here all night," she said.
"Right." There, another word out.
The corners of her mouth tucked in, as if she were holding a look in--a smile or a smirk, he didn't know. "You're new here, right?"
"Only a coupla weeks."
"Want to know where the 7-11 is? Definitively, I mean."
"Don't mind if I do."
She nodded in acknowledgement, then continued in the direction that she had been heading in. He was surprised that Chapel wanted to continue the conversation, but he wasn't about to say no. At this time of year the weather was just tipping towards chilly, which McCoy liked because it cleared his mind. Chapel was walking with brisk steps that suggested she preferred to be out of the cold. McCoy let her set the speed and fell in step alongside.
"What made you choose this place? Most people in Asper prefer to stay near the river."
"That place? That's barely a mile from the building. Too close for my taste."
Chapel made a sound of agreement. "I like this neighbourhood," she said as they walked past quiet shopfronts. "There's always new faces that have nothing to do with work."
"You must have been disappointed to see it was me," he quipped. Chapel laughed, bright and unrestrained.
"You're not in my department. It doesn't count," was her reply.
Now that he was out of the hustle of being settled in a new place, he had the opportunity to study her. Apart from the distinct sheen of her hair that she had pinned up neatly even at this time of night, he noted that she had rather strong features. This, combined with her hairstyle, gave her somewhat of a classic look.
She noticed him observing her and look right back. There was a softness about her eyes that balanced out her look. Not bad. "You're staring."
"Is that what they're calling eye contact nowadays?"
She shook her head but her expression was amused rather than annoyed. By then she had led them to the only lit shop in the entire block. It was decently sized, with parking out front that was half full even at this time of night.
fay-e says:
"Oriental flavor."
"Oriental flavor?" McCoy turned his attention back to the shelves. "Never quite figured out what's in that one."
"Salt soy sauce powder, monosodium glutamate, spices - "
"Are you trying to be cute with me?"
"No," said Chapel,fighting back a smile
tenebris says:
HAHAHA
Oh my god, she is trying to be cute with him
But it's being cute with me
YAY CHAPEL
http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/2009/07/deep-questions-what-puts-the-o.html
http://www.japanator.com/elephant/post.phtml?pk=7829
http://heateatreview.com/index.php?s=ramen
http://www.koamart.com/shop/3-ramen_bowl_cup.asp
Chapel and two conversations
She picked up the phone. "Hello."
A breath. Some shifting. "Chapel?"
"McCoy?" She grabbed a chair and shifted it closer to the phone, then sat down. "How did you get this number? Is something wrong?"
McCoy started to say something, then stopped. "No. No nothing's wrong. Jim got this number from Scotty." A breath, two. Chapel waited. "You're on an offsite project this week aren't you?"
"Yes," she replied, wondering where this was going. "Scotty cleared this with Kirk."
"Good," was the abrupt reply. "That's good."
"Are you sure nothing's wrong?" Chapel had to ask, and received wry laughter in reply.
"Nope. Everything's good, or as good as it gets." There was another pause. "Thanks for letting me know."
"You're welcome," said Chapel, manners kicking in.
"Take care."
The phone went dead. Chapel put down the phone slowly, and stared at it.
She had half a mind to call McCoy back, half responses be damned. But when she called his handphone it went straight to his voice mail. She rubbed her fingers against her skirt as she thought. She could call his apartment, if she knew his number. She glanced at Scotty's notepad in case the number she wanted was there, sighed at the mess, and picked up the phone to call Scotty instead.
Scotty's phone had rung twice when the doorbell rang, shrill and long. Did Scotty forget his keys? Whoever it was rang the doorbell again, and she put down the phone reluctantly. In the short walk to the door, the person on the other side had rung the bell another three times. Probably not Scotty then.
She glanced through the keyhole and gasped. Jim Kirk was at her door, and very drunk, from the way he was leaning on the doorbell. Drunk enough that she had half a mind to leave him out there. But then she thought of McCoy's strange phone call, and of how Kirk was not making it back to his apartment under his own power, and reluctantly opened the door.
Kirk all but stumbled into her arms. "Chapel!" he said, flailing his arms in glee and almost knocking himself out of her grip. "Just the person I wanted to see!"
"Me?" asked Chapel, avoiding his arms. She wondered briefly where to put Kirk, before shutting the door with her foot. "Why is everyone looking for me?"
"You have to ask?" Kirk shot back, and actually had the audacity to run a finger along her jaw. "That isn't the sort of question a pretty girl should be asking."
She dropped him ("ow!") and went into the kitchen. Where she contemplated many of the heavier kitchen utensils, but eventually picked out a glass instead. Mama did always say her soft heart would get her into trouble. She had it filled by the time Kirk stumbled in, and handed it over. Kirk grinned and toasted her, sloshing half the water out in the process. "You're a saint," he declared, and drank it in one gulp. He maneuvered himself into a chair, and sat there, grinning at her.
"Are you going to answer that question, or should I just call McCoy?"
"Later." He flapped his hand as if to make that idea go away. "I wanted to talk to you."
She leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed. "I'm listening."
"Look, Bones - " He broke off chuckling. "Oh man, where do I start?"
The bizarreness of the conversation, added to the equally strange phone call from McCoy, sent Chapel's alarm bells ringing. The dread that Chapel felt was out of sync with Kirk's laughter. "McCoy? Is he ok?"
"Bones is fine! Not as fiiiiiiiiiiine as you are, but fine! Although you might consider him fine, heh heh."
Chapel did not let herself get baited into a discussion of how "fine" either she or McCoy was, especially not with McCoy's best friend. "Is that all you have to say?"
"No no no! No, I have lots more to say. In fact I have too much to say, but then you might not understand, and then there's all the rules, and - oh man, I've lost you already haven't I?"
"You could start from the beginning," said Chapel, but that sent Kirk into gales of laughter. She waited for him to get a hold of himself. Eventually Kirk managed, though little snorts of laughter escaped him from time to time as he looked at Chapel. She resisted the urge to check if there was something on her face.
"Look, Christine," he said, when the laughter had mostly died down until all but a smirk remained. "Give Bones another week won't you? For me."
"A week?" Chapel asked. "McCoy doesn't owe me anything."
"But I owe him everything. D'you know he used to be a medic? Saving people, all that shit that you're probably doing every day. But he left that all behind, 'cause I asked him to. I got myself my own personal medic saving my sorry ass," Kirk was speaking in a light tone, but whatever he was saying was anything but. "And then I couldn't even keep up my end of the promise. So I owe him everything. And I'll owe you everything too, if you give me one more week."
"I - I don't - "
"I know, you're probably thinking 'Man! What an ass!'. I understand. Women call me that at least ten times a day. I'm a selfish ass who knows that this is one of his friend's chances at happiness and he's going to leave the business anyway but - " Kirk spreads his hands and shrugs. "I'm asking anyway. Please, Christine. One more week."
She eyed him warily, and he gave her the textbook innocent look - wide blue eyes, cherubic expression, smirk off his face. The effect was somewhat ruined by the fact that he was reeking of alcohol. "I don't know what I'm promising you."
Kirk fixed her with a gaze too steady to belong to someone as drunk as he had seemed a while ago. It made her hand itch for something heavy, but she looked back, cool as she could manage. Then Kirk dissolved into laughter, no, guffaws really, since he was shaking in his mirth and even slapping his knees at the loud parts. "You've got principles man. I like that!"
"Scotty says the same three times a week. More, if I've bribed him."
Fay-e says:
So yeah, after writing ambigious kirk-bones interaction in covert I have no idea what to do with myself
Tenebris says:
Awww
Write more?
Fay-e says:
Hee! I dunno how Kirk convinces him though
Tenebris says:
You don't want it to be ambiguous, introduce a lady in there
Maybe it's a safety concern?
Fay-e says:
What, Kirk can't protect his ass, I better be there?
Tenebris says:
Well, it is kirk
Fay-e says:
Also I kinda melded Leonard's and Reaper's backgrounds =)
Tenebris says:
I know!
And it worked.
Fay-e says:
explains why he can just jump straight to being a Sheath without the training
Tenebris says:
Yeeees
And I really like how you set it up that the Sheath would be GOOD for him
Fay-e says:
Especially with Kirk
who understands his restrictions
Tenebris says:
He would protect him, too
Fay-e says:
takes more risks than he has to to keep bones out of it
Tenebris says:
They would make a good partnership, though they'd drive each other NUTS covering each other's asses
Fay-e says:
"Alright, we're supposed to go this way - Jim!"
"Sorry, spidey senses tingling."
"In the direction of the GUARD HOUSE"
Missions would be snark olympics man
Tenebris says:
So much so
Oh MAN
And then when the problems come? Quiet
Fay-e says:
FIERCE CONCENTRATION
Tenebris says:
You know, it might be fun to jump ahead and write them from the viewpoint of someone else
Fay-e says:
And Kirk comes back injured every time
EVERY. TIME.
whether it's from walking into low clearance bars or provoking a Vulcan to whack him
Tenebris says:
Oh man. he so would
Bones woul just have to grit his teeth
HEE
Fay-e says:
"Good thing you're a doctor, huh Bones?"
"yeah, GOOD THING"
BTW!
I uh, kinda specced how the Enterprise team ends up together
Tenebris says:
HEE
Oh?
Oh oh?
Fay-e says:
feel free to suggest changes, it's not cast in stone
but basically the Company wants an infiltration team, undercover long term and all that
headed by Kirk
Tenebris says:
*nod, nod*
Fay-e says:
And Kirk convinces Bones to go with, since it's almost to the three year anniversary >D
Tenebris says:
Oooh spiffy idea!
Ooooooh
Fay-e says:
Last mission, last hurrah!
Tenebris says:
Oh my
Fay-e says:
So of course Kirk asks Uhura
Tenebris says:
Of course! They need a good communications person
Fay-e says:
and finds out that despite her claims when she first turned him down, she did spring for a partner in the end - Spock
Tenebris says:
Gets them out of trouble spots
Fay-e says:
yes =D
Tenebris says:
Oh ho! Go Uhura!
Someone to temper her. V. nice
Fay-e says:
CUE JIM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY SPOCK
and their one-upmanship
that has both McCoy and Uhura rolling their eyes
Tenebris says:
Ha ha ha, I bet
Fay-e says:
haven't figured out how they meet Hikaru and Pavel though
but Scotty and Chapel are actually part of the organisation they infiltrate so
that's all I have for now
other than the fact that their infiltration team probably ends up not disbanding after this particular mission
Tenebris says:
OH HO
Scotty and Chapel!
What a team, Peababy!
And hmm, Hikaru and Pavel...
What if they're the inside boys?
Like, Kirk and McCoy and Uhura and Spock are sorta "escorts"
But Hikaru and Pavel are gonna climb through tubes and such
Hmm.
I've never had a student "thank me for a pleasant response" before
Interesting
Fay-e says:
pleasant response?
So Hikaru and Pavel are active agents not in the organisation
Or is it the other way around?
Tenebris says:
Yeah. That's what her e-mail said.
Fay-e says:
And the team was given to me by the Star Trek creators XD
Tenebris says:
Thanks, student!
Fay-e says:
Such a strange comment!
but cool yes =D
Tenebris says:
Nice! Makes me feel better
You mean they're transporting agents of another org?
Interesting
Fay-e says:
more like infiltrating another org
spying on secrets, that kind of stuff
Fay-e says:
(On a totally dorky note, Kirk and co are spying on experiments into human-android soldiers, which lays the groundwork for tf-esque operatives later )
HEE! OOOPS
Tenebris says:
OH HO HOHO
Niiiiiiiiice
Fay-e says:
Also, Kirk is totally Jane Smith
Tenebris says:
Also, Alias does Handler and Spy relations well
Yes. Yes he is.
Fay-e says:
that remind sme
do Covert peeps have separate handlers
or the Sheaths cover that in their job description?
Tenebris says:
They have bosses
But the Sheath is on site mission support
And the Dagger is the bad-ass
Did you ever read fleshflutter's "Someone you Might have Been"
Fay-e says:
Yes, that's why he's sharp and shiny
No! Gimme!
Tenebris says:
Because the Jensen - Jared partnership there is very much how I figure Dagger and Sheath work
Tenebris says:
http://fleshflutter.livejournal.com/?skip=40&tag=spy-verse
Scroll to start.
Though Jensen in this is usually farther off site.
Whereas I picture that Dagger and Sheath work a bit more like Sam and Dean
Where they go right up to that last point
Fay-e says:
*nod nod nod* yup
Tenebris says:
and then the Dagger pops out
Fay-e says:
There's a reason why it's ON-SITE mission support
Tenebris says:
'Cause shit can go down!
Fay-e says:
yeah, be the extra eyes and ears so the Dagger can concentrate on the target
Tenebris says:
Yup!
So Sheaths are known bad-asses
Handlers are usually thought to be, but it's always sorta a surprise
Fay-e says:
whereas in Covert it's an out and out "secret"?
Tenebris says:
Yup
You gotta have skeelz to be a Sheath, too
Fay-e says:
And nerves of steel
Tenebris says:
No kidding
Fay-e says:
especially since partners are supposed to develop rapport
Tenebris says:
Yes
And you'd think that'd make Bones a BAD sheath
because he's cranky in both ways
But he's also a doctor, so...nerves of steel and patience
Oh the patience
Fay-e says:
very patience
he saves the chewing out for when they get back
*PATIENT
Tenebris says:
Kirk can see it bubbling around the edges!
Fay-e says:
and sometimes Kirk does listen
because he feels BAAAAAAAD for making McCoy fret =D
Fay-e says:
And now I want to be evil and have Kirk break his promise to Bones just once
Tenebris says:
That's a good conflict
Fay-e says:
yeaaaaaaah but still EVIL
also I'm not sure whether it's cool with Bones because Kirk's life was in immediate danger...
or whether it wasn't
Tenebris says:
Which promise is this?
Fay-e says:
bones killing someone
Tenebris says:
Oooooh
OOOOH
Like the Lake in Covert!
Fay-e says:
I TOLD YOU IT WAS EVIL
Tenebris says:
But how could he do that?
Fay-e says:
yes and no
more like Kirk having his hands full, someone coming up to shoot him from behind that sort of thing
Tenebris says:
Oh no!
But.
But.
He could wound?
Fay-e says:
Yeah, that's why I said there are quite a few loopholes in it
hee hee
depends on how series Bones is about saving Kirk
Tenebris says:
He could just shoot to kill
Without thinking
And have to deal with it
And then Kirk will be all *GUILT*
Fay-e says:
something like that yes =D
even though it really isn't Bones first time killing someone
Tenebris says:
No, but Kirk promised
I imagine Kirk is a little paranoid about his promises
Fay-e says:
this kirk more so than others, I would think
but also because he kinda arm-wrenched Bones into doing this thing with him
Tenebris says:
*nod, nod* YES
Fay-e says:
INSULT TO KIRK'S PRIDE
plus at this point Bones is more than just a ticket or a guy who's really good at his job
Tenebris says:
YES
Exactly!
Heá a friend!
Fay-e says:
someone who's had Kirk's back all this while
Tenebris says:
Yes
Fay-e says:
and then Kirk let him dooooooooooooown
Tenebris says:
And ho'shit does he feeeel it
Fay-e says:
And Bones totally kicks his ass when he goes into depression
Tenebris says:
Especially since Kirk HIDES it
Fay-e says:
Oh? do tell
Tenebris says:
Well, I expect Kirk is all BONES! BONES, are you--and then they have to get out, and Kirk is all quiet
And Bones is trying snark and he's not getting much, but then Kirk does perk up and response
Respond
Fay-e says:
*nod nod*
And I suppose Kirk is a little roughed up, if he was too busy to watch his own back
Tenebris says:
*nod* Yes
Well, he got jumped!
As Kirk is bound to do
Fay-e says:
and hanging off ledges, remember that
Tenebris says:
He sees a ledge, he's all, "Scuse me, gotta go hang."
I bet Bones calls him and he's like, "Yo!" and Bones is all, "...you're hanging again, aren't you?"
He goes into the gym, Kirk is just hanging for the hell of it
Fay-e says:
*SNICKERS*
I CAN IMAGINE THAT
"gotta keep up my upper body strength bones!"
Tenebris says:
"Oh you know. It's gettin' kinda comfortable."
Fay-e says:
"Yeah, I can see how all the hanging around you do on missions require upper body strength"
Tenebris says:
Did I mention how awesome it is to put Scotty and Chapel together?
Fay-e says:
combat training plus space diving
Tenebris says:
I guess so
Fay-e says:
you mentioned it in passing
but do tell about why it is so awesome =D
Tenebris says:
SO EXCITED
Because it could be RIDICULOUS and yet totally bad-ass
You have Scotty, who is not the most orthodox person
And then you can pick a Chapel to contrast
Competent and emotional Chapel, somewhat like the TV show?
Competent and logical Chapel, also occasionally in the TV show?
Fay-e says:
hee hee she probably sighs a lot
Tenebris says:
HA
I bet she does
Southern girl and Scottish boy
Fay-e says:
but does something about it
Man
Tenebris says:
I mean, it's an awesome odd couple
Fay-e says:
Covert McCoy and Chapel would so get along like a house on fire
Tenebris says:
IN a similar way to Kirk and Bones
Fay-e says:
yes =D
Tenebris says:
IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY WOULD
"Bones could recognize the sane one in a partnership from a mile away. Even if they were covered in blood flecked soot."
Fay-e says:
HEEEEEEEEEEE
oh bonding
Although amusingly, Chapel was not meant to be Covert
Tenebris says:
What did you mean her to be?
I mean, she's a nurse
Working with an engineer
Blood flecked soot is like, Tuesday, for her
Fay-e says:
she was meant to be part of the other org to create a pull between Kirk (who wants Bones to stay), and herself (who presents another reason for Bones to leave)
Tenebris says:
Ooooh
Awwww
Fay-e says:
but she can be underground for Covert, in the end :0
Tenebris says:
AWW
*laughs* Or she joins the hearty crew!
Fay-e says:
the latter is what I was aiming for =D
Tenebris says:
Like I said, maybe the best way to get a sense of these two is to write them from an outsider's POV
So you've got the setup of Kirk's offer
Fay-e says:
Scott and Chapel?
Tenebris says:
*nod* Yes
Fay-e says:
*nod* go on =D
Tenebris says:
Well, you said you weren't sure how Bones took the deal
Maybe he needs to tell someone else?
Fay-e says:
(Oooh Scotty is in Budweiser)
Tenebris says:
Or maybe you just want to play with how Bones and Kirk look to an outsider who knows what they do?
Fay-e says:
Well bones took the deal in the end
but I need to figure out why
but now I want to write Covert Chapel so bad D=
Tenebris says:
So write her!
Get a feel!
Make her talk to 'em, and see what they say about their history?
Fay-e says:
I'm trying to decide if she's an agent! =D
Tenebris says:
Write her and see what she says!
She works with Scotty
I wonder if they're background, admin
Fay-e says:
She definitely works with Scotty
but I'm not sure whether they're part of Covert yet
maybe Kirk gets his wish and Chapel turns out to be part of the Company in the end
Tenebris says:
Kirk wishes she's part of the company?
Fay-e says:
Although I do want blood-splattered days to be Tuesday
yeah
because Bones is attracted and such
Tenebris says:
HEEE
Fay-e says:
WHAT YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T GONNA WRITE BONES/CHAPEL IN THERE
Tenebris says:
Part of me wants Kirk in this to be like, uber silly affectionate with Bones.
DUDE I WAS A-HOPIN'
Fay-e says:
he probably is
Tenebris says:
Which both annoys and works for Bones. AWWW BONES
Fay-e says:
Kirk MOVES IN WITH BONES
in my personal covert head canon
Bones: *face in hands*
(Also in my Star Trek canon too. ROOMIES)
Tenebris says:
Oh no
But the women
What does Bones do abot the women?
Fay-e says:
He kicks them out if he's in at that time
otherwise he goes for a really long walk
LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG walk
Tenebris says:
Awwwwwwwwww
Awwwwwwwwwww
I can see Bones in his jacket doing that!
Fay-e says:
which he times to Kirk's bar crawls
Tenebris says:
*snickers*
Fay-e says:
"Kirk's at a bar again without me. TIME TO GO FOR A WALK"
Tenebris says:
Hmm. That'd be an interesting thing to take Chapel on
Fay-e says:
ooooh
ooooooooooooooooooooooh
Bones. Chapel. out doing late night groceries
Tenebris says:
!!!!!!
Fay-e says:
maybe instant noodles in a 7-11
Tenebris says:
!!!!!!
Domestic KIIIINK
Oh
My
Fay-e says:
>DDDDDDDDDDd
Tenebris says:
NOODLES
7-11 Microwave!
Fay-e says:
Yes =D
or pizza, I dunno
Tenebris says:
Chapel in Bones's slightly too big jacket! With wet hair in my head, for some reason
Fay-e says:
it could be raining
which is why they hide out in the 7-11
Tenebris says:
BUt the scene of them at a 7-11 microwave = !!!!!
PEABABY
Fay-e says:
I got that from my korean drama
>D
ok I shall write that next
Tenebris says:
Awesome
Excellent scene to borrow
KINKALICIOS
And I should sleep
I'm so sleepy parts of me are starting to ache
But you know...THUMBS WAY THE FUCK UP
Fay-e says:
HEE
Thank you
I should make a post with it =D
<33333333
*SNUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGS8
McCoy's in his favourite chair when he gets the call. The number's new to him, but when Jim's out boozing McCoy's learnt to expect calls from anyone. Least it isn't the god dammed fire department.
He hasn't even got the phone to his ear when someone on the other end says "Heeeeeei!" with too many darn vowels, like a teenager trying to act cute. Good thing he wasn't quicker, or the volume would have taken his ear off. Loud doesn't mean coherent: he has to double take before he realises the girl on the phone is asking, "You Kirk's Doc?"
He jabs at the speaker button and says, "That depends on who's asking. How'd you get this number?" Then he dials the volume fucking down, because unlike Jim he's got a sense of self preservation and also respect for the neighbors, which might be the same thing considering Mrs Kaur downstairs.
The girl on the line doesn't give a straight answer. "He's so funny! He said he could drink my moonshine, no problem, even though I told him it had fucking bai jiu in it, and then he challenged me to a drinking competition! When I'd tested it! I mean what I made before, though we tested a lot of this fo'sure, heh heh - "
Jim laying out at the bar isn't anything new, so McCoy cuts through the giggle fit with, "Where is he?"
"Here," is the unhelpful reply. "On the sidewalk. So I asked what made him think he could do it, and he said I got doctor's per-per-miss-en and then he gave me this number."
"Yeah yeah it's the doctor's you got an address for me?"
He's all prepared to run a trace on the silent line and chew Jim out for misuse of resources later when the girl triumphantly shouts, "48 on the 48th!"
It's a bar that Jim's been to before. New friends in old places McCoy guesses. Well that's a start. "Don't move," he instructs, then thumbs off his phone and ignores all calls while he gets dressed.
He isn't even all the way to the bar when he sees two figures outside. One's probably the girl on the phone, though she looks older than her voice suggests. She's curling mussed up black hair around her fingers, and her features would be a dead give away she was Asian if McCoy hadn't figured that out already from her correct intonation of bai jiu. Plus she managed it when she was fucking drunk, judging from the way she's swaying.
He's again reminded of how loud she was when she blurts out, "Kirk, look at the lights!"
The prone figure on the ground is - Jim, McCoy would guess, though he can't recognise his friend when he's hiding from the streetlights under a violently pink parka. He guesses that belongs to Jim's lady friend. Who hums a lot more quietly than she speaks.
He gets about two streetlights away before she notices him. "You the doctor?" she says.
"Yep," he replies, already fishing his phone out of his pocket to call a cab. No way he's carting Jim's drunk ass all the way home. "Sorry to bother you miss. We'll be out of here right soon."
"Wassup doc," she says, in a passable but drunk imitation of Bugs Bunny. "Don't call the taxi, come sit down for a bit."
"Look, I'm sure you're fixin' to go home too."
"Can't just yet," she says, acting like Joanna when she knew her bedtime was near but just didn't want to go. "Sit down!"
McCoy lets himself be tugged down, figuring that he may as well find out where Jim's companion lived before he finds a cab to send her home too. He doesn't expect her to say, "I've got a message from Number One."
If the evaporation of her drunkenness hadn't got his attention, the use of Number One would have. Still, given the effort this woman had taken to talk to him, this could be just another ploy. McCoy rocks back to keep the woman's hands in view as he asks, "Who's she?"
The woman actually snorts. "Someone who'd go to the extent of using a Courier just to get this to you." She reaches into her pocket, ignoring McCoy's flinch, and pulls out a thumb drive.
McCoy doesn't take it. "Who's that with you?" he asks, nodding to the person in the pink parka.
"Oh just a bodyguard. Would it make you feel better if you could see him?"
The man is already sitting up, and it's clear why they chose this ploy - even though he's blonde too, it's the wrong shade even under the poor lighting of the street lamps. The other's look calls to mind junkyard dogs, rather than Kirk's laser focus even at his most serious.
The woman leans between them before they can stare each other down, her curls conveniently getting in the way. "I'm sorry he invited himself. He's got nothing to do with the thumb drive I got in Paris."
Right location, but it didn't explain the whole setup. "What's wrong with the mailbox?"
The woman doesn't even blink when she says, "Plausible deniability. You're staying in a Company flat now, and the cheap ass rent makes you look away if you find extra electronics don't you? Besides, there's the rules too."
McCoy had known the woman was Company since she had introduced herself as a Courier, but the references she just made clinched it. Too bad she was doing a really horrible job of getting him to trust her. He makes a point of folding his arms as he says "If we're talking rules they say I only ought to get messages via the official channels."
The corner of her mouth twitches up, and he almost expects her to say "Come now." Instead she says, "If we went by the rules, Couriers wouldn't have partners."
He blinks and realises that the pink parka is back around her shoulders, along with a possessive arm. The man leans around the woman to smirk, and she shoves his shoulder without even looking back. "Look," she says. "What the Company won't admit but you and I both know is that operatives aren't islands in a stream. Number One trusts you enough to reach out to you even behind radio silence. And she trusts me enough to ask me to pass this on. The least you could do is just take the thumb drive."
She holds it out again. McCoy gives his best glare, but it seems she's gained Chapel's immunity just by hanging out with her. Finally he holds out his hand and she drops it into his palm.
It doesn't explode or teleport him anywhere, so he folds his arms again, the thumb drive tiny in the curve of his palm. "So where is Kirk anyway?" he wonders.
"Sorry about that. He's actually at Molten's. Want a lift there?"
Seemingly on cue, a sleek red car drives up. McCoy doesn't know fancy rides as well as Jim does, but he's guessing that this is a nice ride. Another man leans out of the car, but despite his grin his icy blue eyes hold the same expression that the man on the sidewalk is wearing.
"That's my DD," the woman tosses off almost as an aside. "The car's roomier than it looks."
McCoy stands up and the woman lets go. "It's a nice night for a walk," he says, and is careful to keep his weight on the balls of his feet. The driver's grin widens as he eyes McCoy, eyes sliding up and down his stance. No way in hell he's getting in that car with Misters Stink Eye and Miss Knows Too Much.
The woman lifts one shoulder in a shrug, but she's already snuggling into the side of the blonde. "Fair enough." She lifts a hand in farewell, and then she's inside the car.
McCoy is paranoid enough to watch the car leave, but he finally tucks the thumbdrive away in his pocket. He's gonna have to ask Christine about her choice in delivery services. Right now, he's got a familiar number to dial. The voice on the other end is the right one this time.
"Jim, remember that story you told me about being in two bars at once? Someone seems to have heard you telling the tale and tried to put their own spin on it -"
John Mayer - Heartbreak Warfare
tenebris made a kick-ass verse called Covert, which in her words is "kinda Mission Impossible (IMF), kinda James Bond". Operatives in Covert tend to work in pairs, where the partner responsible for the offensive is called "Dagger" and the partner responsible for defensive or background work is called "Sheath". The best analogy for Sheath would be handler.Here are some short snippets from my playtime in her world.
Jim has a question
Jim pops the question over lunch.
“Would you like to be my partner?”
It’s a good thing McCoy isn’t eating anything, or else he might have spit it out in shock. As it is, he gets to put down his fork and knife slowly and glower at Jim. “What?”
Jim repeats the same inscrutable line again. “Would you like to be my partner?” He even says it louder. If it’s meant for his benefit, McCoy doesn’t appreciate it. They’re in the middle of a canteen filled with potential trained killers and their associates – he doesn’t think it wise to advertise future plans for beating the structure here. Even if Jim has done exactly that, and in great detail, to him outside of this stupid “orientation”, but McCoy’s just a medic and he figures Jim found him safe. The only possible time McCoy might have Jim at his mercy is if he’s on the operating table, and it’s not like he’d just lay down for McCoy to cut him up anyway.
McCoy is capable of a good smack to Jim’s head for his stupid question, but reluctantly has to rule it out because it just might draw too much attention. Instead he hisses, “You’re asking me?”
Jim shrugs and continues at much the same volume. “I asked Uhura but she turned me down – and totally refused to give her first name as an apology for doing that, I might add – so I’m asking you.”
It usually takes 72 straight hours of shift to give McCoy a stress-induced headache, but Jim can induce one with no problem at all. “I’m a doctor, not a hit man. Why would you ask me to be your partner?”
Jim is smiling of all things. “And this is why I like you so much Bones. Straight to the point.” McCoy finds himself missing the smile a moment later when Jim puts on his serious face – not the fake one, the real one that suggests that Jim is closer to Kirk the cold blooded killer rather than Jim the recruit who gets drunk in bars with McCoy. “You were a military medic before you joined the company, weren’t you?”
“Right, just go advertising that fact to everyone.” McCoy throws up his hands in disgust. “I don’t even know how you know these things – ”
That gets a lopsided grin out of Jim, “You talk when you’re drunk. As do I many people have attested, present company included – ”
“Your point?”
“Given your experience, you’d just fall short of qualifying for Silver Tab.”
McCoy’s blood goes cold. It would figure that Jim Kirk had read up on the whole hierarchy of the company, given that he was going to go through bloody hoops just to get himself to the top on a stupid dare, but from the sound of it Jim hadn’t just done research on the company. He’d researched McCoy too, and based on more than one drunken night at the bar. The bastard. “If you’d read my files closely enough, you’d know that I’m not interested.”
And he really isn’t. He had done the necessary military training and defended his patients when they couldn’t protect themselves, but there was a fine line between that and going out on a mission knowing that you had to kill someone. And Leonard McCoy was fine on keeping on his side of the fine line, which joining the company as a full operative would totally stomp all over. It had been what he agreed on, when he had accepted the transfer to the company.
Kirk however wasn’t quite done. “I know you’re not. I know you’re content on just being a medic in whatever sorry excuse for a hospital they have, if they even have one, and I know it’s a goddamned waste of your talent.”
McCoy makes to stand but Kirk is faster and grabs his wrist before McCoy can think about going anywhere. “I’m not listening to this bullshit,” McCoy warns. Kirk talks right over him.
“You deserve to be heading your own team. But you won’t get it with what you’ve been offered - the top only offers full operatives the top positions. I can give you that chance.”
“And how many people to I have to skewer before I get there?” McCoy snaps.
The smile he gets is all Jim. “None.”
Jim and his crazy ideas. “The company doesn’t work that way.”
“I work that way.” Jim leans in with his bright blue glaze that suggests he can look straight into your brain and pull out whatever he wants. “I’m good at what I do. If you’re my Sheath you’ll never have to clean up after me. You’ll never have to get your hands dirty.”
“You can’t keep that up forever.”
“Three years, that’s all I’m asking Bones. Three years or when I make Silver Tab, whichever is earlier.”
McCoy tries to shake him off, but Kirk has a grip of steel and a force of personality to match. “You’re crazy.”
“It has to be you, not any fresh recruit. We’ve got more experience than the rest of the recruits combined. If we work together, we’ll get the complex cases – ”
This time McCoy does manage to shake him off. Jim looks up at him, looking sad and young and just like one of those new recruits, which Jim is definitely not. “I’m not interested in any case, with you or anyone else,” McCoy tells him, and walks off before Jim can try to make him change his mind.
Chapel and Scotty
The first time Scotty saw Chapel, he thought to himself that she had the most polished hair he'd ever seen. The first time Chapel talked to Scotty, she thought he was nuts.
It was a start.
The thing is, craftsmen didn't quite work like operatives. They were usually found in R&D, or providing support for long-term missions, which meant that they worked in groups, rather than pairs. So while Scotty's tendency to experiment with explosive devices during missions themselves were often - spectacular to say the least - Chapel was not too worried. As long as there were sufficient warm bodies between Scotty and herself, she could handle it.
Then he was assigned to the next group she was in. And the next.
It was during the fifth such assignment, after she had finished translating some of Scotty's orders out of tech and into workable actions, that he finally seemed to notice her.
She was leaning back, hair plastered to her head with sweat, and mumbled to herself, "How did I get stuck with this? I'm a nurse."
Scotty was working with the team, head deep in the whatever, but he looked up at that. "''Cause you're good, lass."
She stared at him. "I'm a nurse," she said, as if he hadn't gotten the point.
He winked. "I know."
She would dearly like to throttle him, settled for crushing a piece of paper on her desk (all the important things had been cleared already, and thank god for relatively non-flammable computers). "I'm surprised you noticed. You seem busy."
Scotty grinned amidst his projects, only 3 of them relevant to the mission and another 5 interesting options that he had discarded but refused to let her throw out ("They'd be useful! You'll see!). "Would be busier if it weren't for you."
She felt a weird grin start to touch her mouth, as if to take that as a compliment, then hardened her mouth. "Would be done with this if you'd stop tinkering," she pointed out.
"Oh, this'll save us time down the line," he said, blithely cheerful. "Might get a paper out of it."
Engineers! Did he not realize what they're supposed to be doing here?
A brisk night walk
McCoy checked his watch, leaned back in his chair and twitched one of the curtains aside. Both he and Jim had liked this apartment for its unparallelled view both ways up the street, and from his position he could see two drunken figures stumbling towards his apartment. He waited until they came close enough for him to make out. A tenseness he won't admit to eased out of his shoulders when he saw Jim's familiar features on one of the figures - at least that meant he didn't have to make a round of the nearby bars to see if Jim needed pulling out of whatever fight he got into this time.
Jim spotted McCoy watching and raised one hand in a lazy salute. McCoy huffed and dropped the curtain. Jim might be settled, but McCoy was most certainly not. Jim had company, and McCoy was not interested in how loud said company could scream. His jacket and keys were where he had left them; he took them both before leaving the apartment. A short flight of stairs later, he was walking out into the cold night.
The city was relatively new to them both, which was the excuse that Jim had used for hitting the bars, so McCoy walked with no direction. It was late enough that there weren't many people in the street, and those that were still around went about their own business and left him alone. And if the latter changed, well, McCoy could take care of himself, whatever Jim might think be damned. As it was, he left the other people alone too, and listened to the sounds of the slumbering city and his feet on the sidewalk. (some padding sentences)
He almost missed the woman - she had just rounded the corner when he stepped onto the street she was leaving - but he caught a glimpse of her profile and found her features familiar enough that he followed her down the street that she had disappeared into. McCoy recognised her as one of his new colleagues from the way she had swept up her hair. For a moment, he wavered in calling after her - he was only a colleague after all - but figured what the hell, he might as well confirm his suspicions. "Chapel?"
She had gone a ways down the street that he had to shout. She did stop and turn at her name, and McCoy was relieved that he hadn't got it mixed up in the rush of new faces that had been introduced to him through the week. It appeared she didn't recognise him, because she was frowning at him. The frown deepened as he jogged up to her. He gave her some distance in concession to her unease and the lateness of the hour. "McCoy, remember? The new doctor, just joined this week."
Chapel's frown broke under a smile of recognition. The surprised smile, combined with the comfortable clothes and shoes, cut a rather different figure from the nurse he was familiar with from work. "McCoy! I didn't know you were in the neighbourhood. You're out late."
McCoy shrugged. "Just needed some fresh air. You're out pretty late yourself."
Her smile turned wry. "I came back from my shift to find that my roommate had spirited most of the food to the labs. So here I am, looking for my supper."
One eyebrow crept up beyond his own volation. "That's quite the sob story. Have you found it yet?"
"Hmmm," she said, pretending to ponder his question. "I think it can be found at the 7-11 down this street. The most options for this time of night."
"I'll keep that in mind for any late-night cravings," he replied. And that was that - the limit of his conversation with most people. There was a reason why Jim got all the girls. Shifting his weight, he said, "I hope I'm not holding you up."
"Oh no," Chapel said quickly, then flushed. "Not really. But I don't intend to stand here all night," she said.
"Right." There, another word out.
The corners of her mouth tucked in, as if she were holding a look in--a smile or a smirk, he didn't know. "You're new here, right?"
"Only a coupla weeks."
"Want to know where the 7-11 is? Definitively, I mean."
"Don't mind if I do."
She nodded in acknowledgement, then continued in the direction that she had been heading in. He was surprised that Chapel wanted to continue the conversation, but he wasn't about to say no. At this time of year the weather was just tipping towards chilly, which McCoy liked because it cleared his mind. Chapel was walking with brisk steps that suggested she preferred to be out of the cold. McCoy let her set the speed and fell in step alongside.
"What made you choose this place? Most people in Asper prefer to stay near the river."
"That place? That's barely a mile from the building. Too close for my taste."
Chapel made a sound of agreement. "I like this neighbourhood," she said as they walked past quiet shopfronts. "There's always new faces that have nothing to do with work."
"You must have been disappointed to see it was me," he quipped. Chapel laughed, bright and unrestrained.
"You're not in my department. It doesn't count," was her reply.
Now that he was out of the hustle of being settled in a new place, he had the opportunity to study her. Apart from the distinct sheen of her hair that she had pinned up neatly even at this time of night, he noted that she had rather strong features. This, combined with her hairstyle, gave her somewhat of a classic look.
She noticed him observing her and look right back. There was a softness about her eyes that balanced out her look. Not bad. "You're staring."
"Is that what they're calling eye contact nowadays?"
She shook her head but her expression was amused rather than annoyed. By then she had led them to the only lit shop in the entire block. It was decently sized, with parking out front that was half full even at this time of night.
fay-e says:
"Oriental flavor."
"Oriental flavor?" McCoy turned his attention back to the shelves. "Never quite figured out what's in that one."
"Salt soy sauce powder, monosodium glutamate, spices - "
"Are you trying to be cute with me?"
"No," said Chapel,fighting back a smile
tenebris says:
HAHAHA
Oh my god, she is trying to be cute with him
But it's being cute with me
YAY CHAPEL
http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/2009/07/deep-questions-what-puts-the-o.html
http://www.japanator.com/elephant/post.phtml?pk=7829
http://heateatreview.com/index.php?s=ramen
http://www.koamart.com/shop/3-ramen_bowl_cup.asp
Chapel and two conversations
She picked up the phone. "Hello."
A breath. Some shifting. "Chapel?"
"McCoy?" She grabbed a chair and shifted it closer to the phone, then sat down. "How did you get this number? Is something wrong?"
McCoy started to say something, then stopped. "No. No nothing's wrong. Jim got this number from Scotty." A breath, two. Chapel waited. "You're on an offsite project this week aren't you?"
"Yes," she replied, wondering where this was going. "Scotty cleared this with Kirk."
"Good," was the abrupt reply. "That's good."
"Are you sure nothing's wrong?" Chapel had to ask, and received wry laughter in reply.
"Nope. Everything's good, or as good as it gets." There was another pause. "Thanks for letting me know."
"You're welcome," said Chapel, manners kicking in.
"Take care."
The phone went dead. Chapel put down the phone slowly, and stared at it.
She had half a mind to call McCoy back, half responses be damned. But when she called his handphone it went straight to his voice mail. She rubbed her fingers against her skirt as she thought. She could call his apartment, if she knew his number. She glanced at Scotty's notepad in case the number she wanted was there, sighed at the mess, and picked up the phone to call Scotty instead.
Scotty's phone had rung twice when the doorbell rang, shrill and long. Did Scotty forget his keys? Whoever it was rang the doorbell again, and she put down the phone reluctantly. In the short walk to the door, the person on the other side had rung the bell another three times. Probably not Scotty then.
She glanced through the keyhole and gasped. Jim Kirk was at her door, and very drunk, from the way he was leaning on the doorbell. Drunk enough that she had half a mind to leave him out there. But then she thought of McCoy's strange phone call, and of how Kirk was not making it back to his apartment under his own power, and reluctantly opened the door.
Kirk all but stumbled into her arms. "Chapel!" he said, flailing his arms in glee and almost knocking himself out of her grip. "Just the person I wanted to see!"
"Me?" asked Chapel, avoiding his arms. She wondered briefly where to put Kirk, before shutting the door with her foot. "Why is everyone looking for me?"
"You have to ask?" Kirk shot back, and actually had the audacity to run a finger along her jaw. "That isn't the sort of question a pretty girl should be asking."
She dropped him ("ow!") and went into the kitchen. Where she contemplated many of the heavier kitchen utensils, but eventually picked out a glass instead. Mama did always say her soft heart would get her into trouble. She had it filled by the time Kirk stumbled in, and handed it over. Kirk grinned and toasted her, sloshing half the water out in the process. "You're a saint," he declared, and drank it in one gulp. He maneuvered himself into a chair, and sat there, grinning at her.
"Are you going to answer that question, or should I just call McCoy?"
"Later." He flapped his hand as if to make that idea go away. "I wanted to talk to you."
She leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed. "I'm listening."
"Look, Bones - " He broke off chuckling. "Oh man, where do I start?"
The bizarreness of the conversation, added to the equally strange phone call from McCoy, sent Chapel's alarm bells ringing. The dread that Chapel felt was out of sync with Kirk's laughter. "McCoy? Is he ok?"
"Bones is fine! Not as fiiiiiiiiiiine as you are, but fine! Although you might consider him fine, heh heh."
Chapel did not let herself get baited into a discussion of how "fine" either she or McCoy was, especially not with McCoy's best friend. "Is that all you have to say?"
"No no no! No, I have lots more to say. In fact I have too much to say, but then you might not understand, and then there's all the rules, and - oh man, I've lost you already haven't I?"
"You could start from the beginning," said Chapel, but that sent Kirk into gales of laughter. She waited for him to get a hold of himself. Eventually Kirk managed, though little snorts of laughter escaped him from time to time as he looked at Chapel. She resisted the urge to check if there was something on her face.
"Look, Christine," he said, when the laughter had mostly died down until all but a smirk remained. "Give Bones another week won't you? For me."
"A week?" Chapel asked. "McCoy doesn't owe me anything."
"But I owe him everything. D'you know he used to be a medic? Saving people, all that shit that you're probably doing every day. But he left that all behind, 'cause I asked him to. I got myself my own personal medic saving my sorry ass," Kirk was speaking in a light tone, but whatever he was saying was anything but. "And then I couldn't even keep up my end of the promise. So I owe him everything. And I'll owe you everything too, if you give me one more week."
"I - I don't - "
"I know, you're probably thinking 'Man! What an ass!'. I understand. Women call me that at least ten times a day. I'm a selfish ass who knows that this is one of his friend's chances at happiness and he's going to leave the business anyway but - " Kirk spreads his hands and shrugs. "I'm asking anyway. Please, Christine. One more week."
She eyed him warily, and he gave her the textbook innocent look - wide blue eyes, cherubic expression, smirk off his face. The effect was somewhat ruined by the fact that he was reeking of alcohol. "I don't know what I'm promising you."
Kirk fixed her with a gaze too steady to belong to someone as drunk as he had seemed a while ago. It made her hand itch for something heavy, but she looked back, cool as she could manage. Then Kirk dissolved into laughter, no, guffaws really, since he was shaking in his mirth and even slapping his knees at the loud parts. "You've got principles man. I like that!"
"Scotty says the same three times a week. More, if I've bribed him."
Fay-e says:
So yeah, after writing ambigious kirk-bones interaction in covert I have no idea what to do with myself
Tenebris says:
Awww
Write more?
Fay-e says:
Hee! I dunno how Kirk convinces him though
Tenebris says:
You don't want it to be ambiguous, introduce a lady in there
Maybe it's a safety concern?
Fay-e says:
What, Kirk can't protect his ass, I better be there?
Tenebris says:
Well, it is kirk
Fay-e says:
Also I kinda melded Leonard's and Reaper's backgrounds =)
Tenebris says:
I know!
And it worked.
Fay-e says:
explains why he can just jump straight to being a Sheath without the training
Tenebris says:
Yeeees
And I really like how you set it up that the Sheath would be GOOD for him
Fay-e says:
Especially with Kirk
who understands his restrictions
Tenebris says:
He would protect him, too
Fay-e says:
takes more risks than he has to to keep bones out of it
Tenebris says:
They would make a good partnership, though they'd drive each other NUTS covering each other's asses
Fay-e says:
"Alright, we're supposed to go this way - Jim!"
"Sorry, spidey senses tingling."
"In the direction of the GUARD HOUSE"
Missions would be snark olympics man
Tenebris says:
So much so
Oh MAN
And then when the problems come? Quiet
Fay-e says:
FIERCE CONCENTRATION
Tenebris says:
You know, it might be fun to jump ahead and write them from the viewpoint of someone else
Fay-e says:
And Kirk comes back injured every time
EVERY. TIME.
whether it's from walking into low clearance bars or provoking a Vulcan to whack him
Tenebris says:
Oh man. he so would
Bones woul just have to grit his teeth
HEE
Fay-e says:
"Good thing you're a doctor, huh Bones?"
"yeah, GOOD THING"
BTW!
I uh, kinda specced how the Enterprise team ends up together
Tenebris says:
HEE
Oh?
Oh oh?
Fay-e says:
feel free to suggest changes, it's not cast in stone
but basically the Company wants an infiltration team, undercover long term and all that
headed by Kirk
Tenebris says:
*nod, nod*
Fay-e says:
And Kirk convinces Bones to go with, since it's almost to the three year anniversary >D
Tenebris says:
Oooh spiffy idea!
Ooooooh
Fay-e says:
Last mission, last hurrah!
Tenebris says:
Oh my
Fay-e says:
So of course Kirk asks Uhura
Tenebris says:
Of course! They need a good communications person
Fay-e says:
and finds out that despite her claims when she first turned him down, she did spring for a partner in the end - Spock
Tenebris says:
Gets them out of trouble spots
Fay-e says:
yes =D
Tenebris says:
Oh ho! Go Uhura!
Someone to temper her. V. nice
Fay-e says:
CUE JIM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY SPOCK
and their one-upmanship
that has both McCoy and Uhura rolling their eyes
Tenebris says:
Ha ha ha, I bet
Fay-e says:
haven't figured out how they meet Hikaru and Pavel though
but Scotty and Chapel are actually part of the organisation they infiltrate so
that's all I have for now
other than the fact that their infiltration team probably ends up not disbanding after this particular mission
Tenebris says:
OH HO
Scotty and Chapel!
What a team, Peababy!
And hmm, Hikaru and Pavel...
What if they're the inside boys?
Like, Kirk and McCoy and Uhura and Spock are sorta "escorts"
But Hikaru and Pavel are gonna climb through tubes and such
Hmm.
I've never had a student "thank me for a pleasant response" before
Interesting
Fay-e says:
pleasant response?
So Hikaru and Pavel are active agents not in the organisation
Or is it the other way around?
Tenebris says:
Yeah. That's what her e-mail said.
Fay-e says:
And the team was given to me by the Star Trek creators XD
Tenebris says:
Thanks, student!
Fay-e says:
Such a strange comment!
but cool yes =D
Tenebris says:
Nice! Makes me feel better
You mean they're transporting agents of another org?
Interesting
Fay-e says:
more like infiltrating another org
spying on secrets, that kind of stuff
Fay-e says:
(On a totally dorky note, Kirk and co are spying on experiments into human-android soldiers, which lays the groundwork for tf-esque operatives later )
HEE! OOOPS
Tenebris says:
OH HO HOHO
Niiiiiiiiice
Fay-e says:
Also, Kirk is totally Jane Smith
Tenebris says:
Also, Alias does Handler and Spy relations well
Yes. Yes he is.
Fay-e says:
that remind sme
do Covert peeps have separate handlers
or the Sheaths cover that in their job description?
Tenebris says:
They have bosses
But the Sheath is on site mission support
And the Dagger is the bad-ass
Did you ever read fleshflutter's "Someone you Might have Been"
Fay-e says:
Yes, that's why he's sharp and shiny
No! Gimme!
Tenebris says:
Because the Jensen - Jared partnership there is very much how I figure Dagger and Sheath work
Tenebris says:
http://fleshflutter.livejournal.com/?skip=40&tag=spy-verse
Scroll to start.
Though Jensen in this is usually farther off site.
Whereas I picture that Dagger and Sheath work a bit more like Sam and Dean
Where they go right up to that last point
Fay-e says:
*nod nod nod* yup
Tenebris says:
and then the Dagger pops out
Fay-e says:
There's a reason why it's ON-SITE mission support
Tenebris says:
'Cause shit can go down!
Fay-e says:
yeah, be the extra eyes and ears so the Dagger can concentrate on the target
Tenebris says:
Yup!
So Sheaths are known bad-asses
Handlers are usually thought to be, but it's always sorta a surprise
Fay-e says:
whereas in Covert it's an out and out "secret"?
Tenebris says:
Yup
You gotta have skeelz to be a Sheath, too
Fay-e says:
And nerves of steel
Tenebris says:
No kidding
Fay-e says:
especially since partners are supposed to develop rapport
Tenebris says:
Yes
And you'd think that'd make Bones a BAD sheath
because he's cranky in both ways
But he's also a doctor, so...nerves of steel and patience
Oh the patience
Fay-e says:
very patience
he saves the chewing out for when they get back
*PATIENT
Tenebris says:
Kirk can see it bubbling around the edges!
Fay-e says:
and sometimes Kirk does listen
because he feels BAAAAAAAD for making McCoy fret =D
Fay-e says:
And now I want to be evil and have Kirk break his promise to Bones just once
Tenebris says:
That's a good conflict
Fay-e says:
yeaaaaaaah but still EVIL
also I'm not sure whether it's cool with Bones because Kirk's life was in immediate danger...
or whether it wasn't
Tenebris says:
Which promise is this?
Fay-e says:
bones killing someone
Tenebris says:
Oooooh
OOOOH
Like the Lake in Covert!
Fay-e says:
I TOLD YOU IT WAS EVIL
Tenebris says:
But how could he do that?
Fay-e says:
yes and no
more like Kirk having his hands full, someone coming up to shoot him from behind that sort of thing
Tenebris says:
Oh no!
But.
But.
He could wound?
Fay-e says:
Yeah, that's why I said there are quite a few loopholes in it
hee hee
depends on how series Bones is about saving Kirk
Tenebris says:
He could just shoot to kill
Without thinking
And have to deal with it
And then Kirk will be all *GUILT*
Fay-e says:
something like that yes =D
even though it really isn't Bones first time killing someone
Tenebris says:
No, but Kirk promised
I imagine Kirk is a little paranoid about his promises
Fay-e says:
this kirk more so than others, I would think
but also because he kinda arm-wrenched Bones into doing this thing with him
Tenebris says:
*nod, nod* YES
Fay-e says:
INSULT TO KIRK'S PRIDE
plus at this point Bones is more than just a ticket or a guy who's really good at his job
Tenebris says:
YES
Exactly!
Heá a friend!
Fay-e says:
someone who's had Kirk's back all this while
Tenebris says:
Yes
Fay-e says:
and then Kirk let him dooooooooooooown
Tenebris says:
And ho'shit does he feeeel it
Fay-e says:
And Bones totally kicks his ass when he goes into depression
Tenebris says:
Especially since Kirk HIDES it
Fay-e says:
Oh? do tell
Tenebris says:
Well, I expect Kirk is all BONES! BONES, are you--and then they have to get out, and Kirk is all quiet
And Bones is trying snark and he's not getting much, but then Kirk does perk up and response
Respond
Fay-e says:
*nod nod*
And I suppose Kirk is a little roughed up, if he was too busy to watch his own back
Tenebris says:
*nod* Yes
Well, he got jumped!
As Kirk is bound to do
Fay-e says:
and hanging off ledges, remember that
Tenebris says:
He sees a ledge, he's all, "Scuse me, gotta go hang."
I bet Bones calls him and he's like, "Yo!" and Bones is all, "...you're hanging again, aren't you?"
He goes into the gym, Kirk is just hanging for the hell of it
Fay-e says:
*SNICKERS*
I CAN IMAGINE THAT
"gotta keep up my upper body strength bones!"
Tenebris says:
"Oh you know. It's gettin' kinda comfortable."
Fay-e says:
"Yeah, I can see how all the hanging around you do on missions require upper body strength"
Tenebris says:
Did I mention how awesome it is to put Scotty and Chapel together?
Fay-e says:
combat training plus space diving
Tenebris says:
I guess so
Fay-e says:
you mentioned it in passing
but do tell about why it is so awesome =D
Tenebris says:
SO EXCITED
Because it could be RIDICULOUS and yet totally bad-ass
You have Scotty, who is not the most orthodox person
And then you can pick a Chapel to contrast
Competent and emotional Chapel, somewhat like the TV show?
Competent and logical Chapel, also occasionally in the TV show?
Fay-e says:
hee hee she probably sighs a lot
Tenebris says:
HA
I bet she does
Southern girl and Scottish boy
Fay-e says:
but does something about it
Man
Tenebris says:
I mean, it's an awesome odd couple
Fay-e says:
Covert McCoy and Chapel would so get along like a house on fire
Tenebris says:
IN a similar way to Kirk and Bones
Fay-e says:
yes =D
Tenebris says:
IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY WOULD
"Bones could recognize the sane one in a partnership from a mile away. Even if they were covered in blood flecked soot."
Fay-e says:
HEEEEEEEEEEE
oh bonding
Although amusingly, Chapel was not meant to be Covert
Tenebris says:
What did you mean her to be?
I mean, she's a nurse
Working with an engineer
Blood flecked soot is like, Tuesday, for her
Fay-e says:
she was meant to be part of the other org to create a pull between Kirk (who wants Bones to stay), and herself (who presents another reason for Bones to leave)
Tenebris says:
Ooooh
Awwww
Fay-e says:
but she can be underground for Covert, in the end :0
Tenebris says:
AWW
*laughs* Or she joins the hearty crew!
Fay-e says:
the latter is what I was aiming for =D
Tenebris says:
Like I said, maybe the best way to get a sense of these two is to write them from an outsider's POV
So you've got the setup of Kirk's offer
Fay-e says:
Scott and Chapel?
Tenebris says:
*nod* Yes
Fay-e says:
*nod* go on =D
Tenebris says:
Well, you said you weren't sure how Bones took the deal
Maybe he needs to tell someone else?
Fay-e says:
(Oooh Scotty is in Budweiser)
Tenebris says:
Or maybe you just want to play with how Bones and Kirk look to an outsider who knows what they do?
Fay-e says:
Well bones took the deal in the end
but I need to figure out why
but now I want to write Covert Chapel so bad D=
Tenebris says:
So write her!
Get a feel!
Make her talk to 'em, and see what they say about their history?
Fay-e says:
I'm trying to decide if she's an agent! =D
Tenebris says:
Write her and see what she says!
She works with Scotty
I wonder if they're background, admin
Fay-e says:
She definitely works with Scotty
but I'm not sure whether they're part of Covert yet
maybe Kirk gets his wish and Chapel turns out to be part of the Company in the end
Tenebris says:
Kirk wishes she's part of the company?
Fay-e says:
Although I do want blood-splattered days to be Tuesday
yeah
because Bones is attracted and such
Tenebris says:
HEEE
Fay-e says:
WHAT YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T GONNA WRITE BONES/CHAPEL IN THERE
Tenebris says:
Part of me wants Kirk in this to be like, uber silly affectionate with Bones.
DUDE I WAS A-HOPIN'
Fay-e says:
he probably is
Tenebris says:
Which both annoys and works for Bones. AWWW BONES
Fay-e says:
Kirk MOVES IN WITH BONES
in my personal covert head canon
Bones: *face in hands*
(Also in my Star Trek canon too. ROOMIES)
Tenebris says:
Oh no
But the women
What does Bones do abot the women?
Fay-e says:
He kicks them out if he's in at that time
otherwise he goes for a really long walk
LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG walk
Tenebris says:
Awwwwwwwwww
Awwwwwwwwwww
I can see Bones in his jacket doing that!
Fay-e says:
which he times to Kirk's bar crawls
Tenebris says:
*snickers*
Fay-e says:
"Kirk's at a bar again without me. TIME TO GO FOR A WALK"
Tenebris says:
Hmm. That'd be an interesting thing to take Chapel on
Fay-e says:
ooooh
ooooooooooooooooooooooh
Bones. Chapel. out doing late night groceries
Tenebris says:
!!!!!!
Fay-e says:
maybe instant noodles in a 7-11
Tenebris says:
!!!!!!
Domestic KIIIINK
Oh
My
Fay-e says:
>DDDDDDDDDDd
Tenebris says:
NOODLES
7-11 Microwave!
Fay-e says:
Yes =D
or pizza, I dunno
Tenebris says:
Chapel in Bones's slightly too big jacket! With wet hair in my head, for some reason
Fay-e says:
it could be raining
which is why they hide out in the 7-11
Tenebris says:
BUt the scene of them at a 7-11 microwave = !!!!!
PEABABY
Fay-e says:
I got that from my korean drama
>D
ok I shall write that next
Tenebris says:
Awesome
Excellent scene to borrow
KINKALICIOS
And I should sleep
I'm so sleepy parts of me are starting to ache
But you know...THUMBS WAY THE FUCK UP
Fay-e says:
HEE
Thank you
I should make a post with it =D
<33333333
*SNUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGS8
McCoy's in his favourite chair when he gets the call. The number's new to him, but when Jim's out boozing McCoy's learnt to expect calls from anyone. Least it isn't the god dammed fire department.
He hasn't even got the phone to his ear when someone on the other end says "Heeeeeei!" with too many darn vowels, like a teenager trying to act cute. Good thing he wasn't quicker, or the volume would have taken his ear off. Loud doesn't mean coherent: he has to double take before he realises the girl on the phone is asking, "You Kirk's Doc?"
He jabs at the speaker button and says, "That depends on who's asking. How'd you get this number?" Then he dials the volume fucking down, because unlike Jim he's got a sense of self preservation and also respect for the neighbors, which might be the same thing considering Mrs Kaur downstairs.
The girl on the line doesn't give a straight answer. "He's so funny! He said he could drink my moonshine, no problem, even though I told him it had fucking bai jiu in it, and then he challenged me to a drinking competition! When I'd tested it! I mean what I made before, though we tested a lot of this fo'sure, heh heh - "
Jim laying out at the bar isn't anything new, so McCoy cuts through the giggle fit with, "Where is he?"
"Here," is the unhelpful reply. "On the sidewalk. So I asked what made him think he could do it, and he said I got doctor's per-per-miss-en and then he gave me this number."
"Yeah yeah it's the doctor's you got an address for me?"
He's all prepared to run a trace on the silent line and chew Jim out for misuse of resources later when the girl triumphantly shouts, "48 on the 48th!"
It's a bar that Jim's been to before. New friends in old places McCoy guesses. Well that's a start. "Don't move," he instructs, then thumbs off his phone and ignores all calls while he gets dressed.
He isn't even all the way to the bar when he sees two figures outside. One's probably the girl on the phone, though she looks older than her voice suggests. She's curling mussed up black hair around her fingers, and her features would be a dead give away she was Asian if McCoy hadn't figured that out already from her correct intonation of bai jiu. Plus she managed it when she was fucking drunk, judging from the way she's swaying.
He's again reminded of how loud she was when she blurts out, "Kirk, look at the lights!"
The prone figure on the ground is - Jim, McCoy would guess, though he can't recognise his friend when he's hiding from the streetlights under a violently pink parka. He guesses that belongs to Jim's lady friend. Who hums a lot more quietly than she speaks.
He gets about two streetlights away before she notices him. "You the doctor?" she says.
"Yep," he replies, already fishing his phone out of his pocket to call a cab. No way he's carting Jim's drunk ass all the way home. "Sorry to bother you miss. We'll be out of here right soon."
"Wassup doc," she says, in a passable but drunk imitation of Bugs Bunny. "Don't call the taxi, come sit down for a bit."
"Look, I'm sure you're fixin' to go home too."
"Can't just yet," she says, acting like Joanna when she knew her bedtime was near but just didn't want to go. "Sit down!"
McCoy lets himself be tugged down, figuring that he may as well find out where Jim's companion lived before he finds a cab to send her home too. He doesn't expect her to say, "I've got a message from Number One."
If the evaporation of her drunkenness hadn't got his attention, the use of Number One would have. Still, given the effort this woman had taken to talk to him, this could be just another ploy. McCoy rocks back to keep the woman's hands in view as he asks, "Who's she?"
The woman actually snorts. "Someone who'd go to the extent of using a Courier just to get this to you." She reaches into her pocket, ignoring McCoy's flinch, and pulls out a thumb drive.
McCoy doesn't take it. "Who's that with you?" he asks, nodding to the person in the pink parka.
"Oh just a bodyguard. Would it make you feel better if you could see him?"
The man is already sitting up, and it's clear why they chose this ploy - even though he's blonde too, it's the wrong shade even under the poor lighting of the street lamps. The other's look calls to mind junkyard dogs, rather than Kirk's laser focus even at his most serious.
The woman leans between them before they can stare each other down, her curls conveniently getting in the way. "I'm sorry he invited himself. He's got nothing to do with the thumb drive I got in Paris."
Right location, but it didn't explain the whole setup. "What's wrong with the mailbox?"
The woman doesn't even blink when she says, "Plausible deniability. You're staying in a Company flat now, and the cheap ass rent makes you look away if you find extra electronics don't you? Besides, there's the rules too."
McCoy had known the woman was Company since she had introduced herself as a Courier, but the references she just made clinched it. Too bad she was doing a really horrible job of getting him to trust her. He makes a point of folding his arms as he says "If we're talking rules they say I only ought to get messages via the official channels."
The corner of her mouth twitches up, and he almost expects her to say "Come now." Instead she says, "If we went by the rules, Couriers wouldn't have partners."
He blinks and realises that the pink parka is back around her shoulders, along with a possessive arm. The man leans around the woman to smirk, and she shoves his shoulder without even looking back. "Look," she says. "What the Company won't admit but you and I both know is that operatives aren't islands in a stream. Number One trusts you enough to reach out to you even behind radio silence. And she trusts me enough to ask me to pass this on. The least you could do is just take the thumb drive."
She holds it out again. McCoy gives his best glare, but it seems she's gained Chapel's immunity just by hanging out with her. Finally he holds out his hand and she drops it into his palm.
It doesn't explode or teleport him anywhere, so he folds his arms again, the thumb drive tiny in the curve of his palm. "So where is Kirk anyway?" he wonders.
"Sorry about that. He's actually at Molten's. Want a lift there?"
Seemingly on cue, a sleek red car drives up. McCoy doesn't know fancy rides as well as Jim does, but he's guessing that this is a nice ride. Another man leans out of the car, but despite his grin his icy blue eyes hold the same expression that the man on the sidewalk is wearing.
"That's my DD," the woman tosses off almost as an aside. "The car's roomier than it looks."
McCoy stands up and the woman lets go. "It's a nice night for a walk," he says, and is careful to keep his weight on the balls of his feet. The driver's grin widens as he eyes McCoy, eyes sliding up and down his stance. No way in hell he's getting in that car with Misters Stink Eye and Miss Knows Too Much.
The woman lifts one shoulder in a shrug, but she's already snuggling into the side of the blonde. "Fair enough." She lifts a hand in farewell, and then she's inside the car.
McCoy is paranoid enough to watch the car leave, but he finally tucks the thumbdrive away in his pocket. He's gonna have to ask Christine about her choice in delivery services. Right now, he's got a familiar number to dial. The voice on the other end is the right one this time.
"Jim, remember that story you told me about being in two bars at once? Someone seems to have heard you telling the tale and tried to put their own spin on it -"
John Mayer - Heartbreak Warfare
Tags: