milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Mr. Universe is at a table in the middle of the bar. He doesn't have his laptop open right now, but instead there's a small tray of chips, diodes and transistors off to one side, and a shattered circuit board in front of him.

He has a repair kit open on the table, and he's trying the delicate job of fixing it.

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Jim Kirk, ten days Bound, and still getting the lay of the land, notices the man and his computer parts. He would guess that they bear more resemblance to the jury-rigged computer sock built in 1930s New York than to the duotronic circuits that controlled his ship.

"Good morning."

He's in the middle of a delicate piece of work and doesn't look up. He doesn't ignore Kirk, though.

"And a fine good morning to you too, friend."

"Mind if I ask what this is that you're working on?" Kirk keeps away, just in case something sizzles or sparks. Which was typical on the Enterprise.

It's not attached to anything, so the only thing likely to sizzle is the solder gun. But that's safe for now.

"This circuit board met with a little accident", he explains, finishing off the task of the moment. "So I'm fixing it."

"Circuit board...I suppose we have such things, but the times I've seen inside computers, they look different. Though I have experts who I let take sare of fixing such things anyway." They teach many things in command track, but not engineering of any sort.

"You're probably from a different time than me", is the offhand response. "Or a different 'verse altogether, quite possibly."

"It's beginning to seem common. I'm from the 23rd century. Jim Kirk." He moves a bit closer, sure that this man has a steady hand.

"Mr. Universe. 26th century." He keeps working, undisturbed. "A pleasure to meet you."

Yes, clearly a different timeline if 26th century technology looks more primitive than 23rd.

"That's a rather unusual name."

"It's not the one I was born with, as I imagine you can guess", he says casually. "But it's the only one I've used in quite some time."

"Ah." Kirk isn't quite sure what to make of that. "You're some sort of...celebrity?" He recalls that in some times and places, the famous were called by more outlandish names. Some of publicity, he thinks.

"Iiin a manner of speaking, yes. In certain circles, I could be called a celebrity." He's more than a little proud of his skill. "In others... I went to some pains to make sure no one knew my name."

"I'm afraid I don't understand." Well, maybe a little since there were times that Krik didn't enjoy the fame that came with his exploits and wouldn't have minded being someone else.

"Looks complicated."

He barely glances up to see who's speaking.

"It's... tricky. But nothing I can't handle."

Jay lets out a string of babytalk from Ash's arms.

"So what is it?"

That gets his attention enough for a sideways look at the baby, who is not green and thus does not hold his interest so much.

"It's a circuit board. It got broken, so I'm fixing it."

"How'd it get broken?"

Jay attempts to reach towards it, but Ash stops his tiny hand before it gets very far. The kid's got an uncanny fascination with shiny, potentially dangerous objects.

"Someone threw it at a door. Yes, please don't let him touch anything."

It's not that he doesn't like kids, particularly. He just... likes order, and social interaction is not his strongest point.

"Don't worry, I got him under control."

Because curious baby + fragile object = CHAOS.

"Why the hell would someone throw a circuit board at a door?"

Obviopusly, he's never had computer issues.

"He was having a moment of frustration concerning something entirely unrelated", Mr. Universe explains, "and it happened to be what was in his hand."

"Ah. Gotcha."

Because that he understands.

"Fortunately for all concerned", he continues, "this particular victim of frustration is far from irreparable. And I can give it back to him, when it's back in one piece."

"Well that's good."

He shifts Jay to a more comfortable position.

"I'm Ash, by the way."

"Mr. Universe. Pleased to meet you."