milliways_bar | (no subject)

"Manipulation."

But not with plastic surgery.

"Married an alien. His sister turned me blue on our wedding day."

"Ah. Then I guess I have to change my question to, what planet is your spouse from?" He ties to recall if he knows any worlds where such portective coloring is traditional, but can only think of worlds where marriage to such offworlders would be forbidden.

"It's called Antar. Lovely planet. Max is the King."

"Antar..." It's not like he can remember the name of every planet in the Starfleet database. He suspect that even Spock can't. Still, he thinks about the name. "Can't say I know it. But it's a big galaxy.

"I'm Jim Kirk, Earth, 23rd century.

"Max, he's your husband?"

"Yes. I'm Faith Evans, born in Boston. Unless you talk to somebody from Antar, and then I'm Queen Fainothi."

"That'a bit of a leap. Though I seem to recall encountering one or two princesses along the way myself." He smiles for a second, recalling one in particular.

"Is he a figurehead or an actual ruler?"

"Oh, he's very much an actual ruler....and trust me, you have no idea how big a leap it actually was."

"Sounds like there is an interesting story there. Mind if I ask?" It's not like he's getting to go home any time soon, he realizes.

"Not at all."

Faith shrugs, and explains, starting with her childhood and leading up into the Slaying thing.

She doesn't stop talking until she's told him how she found Milliways.

It takes a lot to phase...er, faze a Starfleet officer. So Kirk regards the tale of a vampire slayer with a calm face, and a grain of salt. He's sure there must be a reasonable scientific explanation for vampires and slayers and the rest.

As for Faith's more personal ragged-to-royalty story, he treats that with more regard.

"It sounds like you've lived a lot of life at an eraly age. Almost as if being queen is a vacation from the rest."

"Well, I'm not that young anymore. Closer to thirty than I'd like to admit. But....well. Max is the vacation. Being Queen is just the price I have to pay to have him."

"Thirty is still young. In Starfleet, that's the age at which someone reminds you that you still have a whole career ahead and that you shouldn't settle for being a commander when there are captain's charis to be filled." He remembers being thirty, and his vow to be captain by 35, a vow he kept.

"There was never a Slayer who lived this long before me," Faith says, quietly. "It feels very old to me."

He considers this. He recalls all the valiant young Starfleet officers who didn't see 30, either.

"Well, you made it. And I'd say you are probably just getting started."

Faith smiles. "Yeah. It's looking that way. Weird, but kinda great."

"Ther are worse fates. Being the first human on a new world...in a way I envy you." Kirk, his curiosity sated, gets up.

"It was quite nice talking to you, Faith. Good luck."

"I wasn't the first, actually....but yes, good talking to you too. And thank you."