(no subject)

[theguidinghand]

CHARACTERS: "Todd"/Guide, James T. Kirk, and all volunteers
LOCATION: Medical Bay
WARNINGS: Extensive description of the Wraith feeding process, and internalized self-loathing. Possible profanity.
SUMMARY: You can never win, you can only break even. With a Wraith, you can't break even - even if you are one.


He's growing used to the fire in his bones, and the thought disgusts him more than he would dare to admit. This repetition of siphoning off a bit of life and then slowly starving again is not the way of a Queen's man. It is short-sighted - but the kine are a short-lived species, as it should only be that they cannot imagine so far into the future. Yet he has agreed to this deal, and their short-sightedness is his own. It will not be long before he starves again, and then more humans will have to sacrifice themselves to him. So this vicious cycle will begin anew.

He kneads the dark vein that winds itself abound his wrist so that it does not swell with enzyme, but he closes his fist as he does so. He can grow used to the fire in his bones, but never shall he look upon a hungry hand without shame.

Guide waits in the medical bay, squinting at the too-bright lights. When he has the strength to do so, he stands; when he hasn't, he rests, sitting as regally as one can in torn leathers.

Comments

[leaps]

Since he and Jaye had fought, Sulu had...well, not exactly time on his hands, since he split his time a little too evenly without leaving excess, but he had time to devote to fencing. And it felt good, getting back into the swing of that, of swords and the old movements that were as familiar and instinctive as breathing.

And having company wasn't a bad thing either.

"Maybe in due time I can stop going easy on you."

This probably isn't the best place for jokes, but whatever. Sulu figures someone has to lighten the mood.

jim has priorities

[goldshirt]

"You're still going easy on me?" Jim asks, an incredulous note in his voice, and he does glance at Sulu this time just to get the point across. He was a tough guy, he didn't need this little ninja to be taking it easy on him so his pride wasn't wounded.

Honestly, Jim sincerely hoped this wasn't a running theme. Were other members of his crew taking it easy on him, too? His brow furrows just slightly at the thought.

lmflakjdg jim.

[leaps]

Sulu's eyebrows raise, and he leans, just enough to nudge Kirk off balance. This was skirting the line of professionalism, he's just about certain it is, but the situation calls for levity.

"I'm kidding, Kirk."

Maybe he was. Sulu didn't count leaving out crazy acrobatics as taking it easy, so it's the truth, as far as he's concerned. Fencing wasn't really about aerial manuevers anyway, not in the purest sense of the matter.

[goldshirt]

He sways under the nudge, just enough for his attention to flick back around to the officer at his side. Jim's gaze narrows, and it's an almost playful sense of accusation. He recognizes what this is, that Sulu is trying to distract him, however slightly. He appreciates it, even though the tension hasn't really left his shoulders.

"That gymnastics crap doesn't count, either. I'm pretty sure that's not fencing, I watched the Olympics on Earth."

[leaps]

There's not a lot Sulu can do. He can't take away what Kirk's feeling, can't get him to leave. But he can soften it, maybe, can blur the edges so it doesn't feel like a sledgehammer.

It's not much, but Sulu does what he can.

"I'm modifying the discipline."