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Lt Pavel Chekov
Star Trek AOS
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Lt Pavel Chekov
Star Trek AOS
OOC Contact
Sep. 18th, 2025 11:13 pm
Use this post to:
- Plot a thing
- YELL ABOUT SOME FEELINGS
- Critique my knowledge of physics and Russian culture
- Ask questions about my interpretation of Chekov (you will get a long, detailed, and headcanon-heavy response, I promise)
- Question my decision to play a minor character with fifteen minutes of meaningful screentime across three movies for
- Cry with me about Anton Yelchin
- Show me pictures of your cats
I'm also on plurk:
Open RP Post
Aug. 26th, 2021 03:39 am
Leave a message, start some action, do whatever! Open to anyone who wants to play.
Open: Aftergame
Aug. 25th, 2021 11:08 pm( OOC Notes )
Pavel Andreievich Chekov -- civilian scientist, former lieutenant on the USS Enterprise, and veteran of no less than three out-of-universe abductions -- has finally come up with a means to travel to other universes.
There are, of course, many ways to get to other universes, but prior to this moment, there has never been a way to enter a specific universe intentionally. All recorded trips to other universes have been accidental, random, and irreplicable. Chekov's targeted extra-universal transportation device (he really needs to come up with a catchier name for the thing before he presents it to Starfleet's Bureaus of Engineering and Research) removes all randomness from the equation, allowing safe and reliable travel to universes that that fall within parameters established by the traveler.
Theoretically.
After several years of theorizing, three years of almost nonstop labor, and some assistance from Montgomery Scotty -- former crewmate, frequent collaborator, and the only person in Starfleet who doesn't think that the Russian's trip to other universes left his genius brains slightly scrambled -- Chekov's prototype is ready to be tested. The twenty-six year-old is almost entirely certain that the test will prove non-lethal even if it isn't successful. The device has all of the same fail-safes as a transporter, making it highly unlikely that its user will be lost in-transit or beamed into the vacuum of space. At worst, it will break after one use or fail to reassemble its operator in the intended universe. Yes, either of those scenarios would be terribly unpleasant, but Chekov is choosing optimism. He needs to believe that it will work. He needs to have faith that the friends that he made in the City, the prison, and the Fleet can be found again.
Chekov does a final survey of his work room to ensure that all of his notes and schematics are in order and easily accessible. Although his motivation to create the device was primarily selfish, targeted extra-universal travel will have its uses to Starfleet; it would be a shame for all of his work to be lost along with him. Scotty will undoubtedly be able to decode Chekov's notes and create a new device, should things go poorly during this test run.
The device is roughly the size of a tricorder -- too small, most would think, to generate the massive amounts of energy required to move from one universe to another, which usually involves entire starships or powerful natural phenomena. It needs to be small. Popping into a universe in something the size of a starship tends to create problems, and Chekov does not want to start with a problem.
He enters his target universes' parameters, takes a deep breath, and vanishes in a swirl of light.
Pavel Andreievich Chekov -- civilian scientist, former lieutenant on the USS Enterprise, and veteran of no less than three out-of-universe abductions -- has finally come up with a means to travel to other universes.
There are, of course, many ways to get to other universes, but prior to this moment, there has never been a way to enter a specific universe intentionally. All recorded trips to other universes have been accidental, random, and irreplicable. Chekov's targeted extra-universal transportation device (he really needs to come up with a catchier name for the thing before he presents it to Starfleet's Bureaus of Engineering and Research) removes all randomness from the equation, allowing safe and reliable travel to universes that that fall within parameters established by the traveler.
Theoretically.
After several years of theorizing, three years of almost nonstop labor, and some assistance from Montgomery Scotty -- former crewmate, frequent collaborator, and the only person in Starfleet who doesn't think that the Russian's trip to other universes left his genius brains slightly scrambled -- Chekov's prototype is ready to be tested. The twenty-six year-old is almost entirely certain that the test will prove non-lethal even if it isn't successful. The device has all of the same fail-safes as a transporter, making it highly unlikely that its user will be lost in-transit or beamed into the vacuum of space. At worst, it will break after one use or fail to reassemble its operator in the intended universe. Yes, either of those scenarios would be terribly unpleasant, but Chekov is choosing optimism. He needs to believe that it will work. He needs to have faith that the friends that he made in the City, the prison, and the Fleet can be found again.
Chekov does a final survey of his work room to ensure that all of his notes and schematics are in order and easily accessible. Although his motivation to create the device was primarily selfish, targeted extra-universal travel will have its uses to Starfleet; it would be a shame for all of his work to be lost along with him. Scotty will undoubtedly be able to decode Chekov's notes and create a new device, should things go poorly during this test run.
The device is roughly the size of a tricorder -- too small, most would think, to generate the massive amounts of energy required to move from one universe to another, which usually involves entire starships or powerful natural phenomena. It needs to be small. Popping into a universe in something the size of a starship tends to create problems, and Chekov does not want to start with a problem.
He enters his target universes' parameters, takes a deep breath, and vanishes in a swirl of light.
A Piratocracy
Jul. 30th, 2021 01:25 amAfter Blackbeard's miraculously successful fuckery and the mess that followed, Chekov kept more-or-less to himself.
Some of it is lingering embarrassment over his outburst on the bridge. The rest is a result of his talk with Frenchie; that made it very clear to Chekov that he is in a place that he doesn't truly understand with no escape plan. The Enterprise isn't coming to his rescue because it is no longer under Captain Kirk's control. He can't contact Starfleet because he fled the scene of a murder and is now a criminal. Talking to his friends, currently scattered across the quadrant, is unsafe until he can set up a means of communication that Starfleet won't be able to track back to the Revenge. And, on top of that, the longer he stays with a pirate crew (are they officially pirates now that the infamous Blackbeard is in residence?), the more difficult it will be to go back to his former life.
It's a lot to think about.
Chekov occupies himself with projects that don't really need to be done. He still sees his crewmates often enough -- with common sleeping quarters and the galley, isolation is virtually impossible -- but he isn't seeking out socialization. Some of the things he said to Frenchie were quite stupid and he's afraid of tripping up around someone less forgiving.
Perhaps if he had been talking to his peers more regularly, he would have known about the elections sooner. As it is, Chekov is unaware until he sees the hand-drawn posters on the walls of the Revenge:
CAPTAIN ELECTION
TODAY!
Do your duty!
VOTE!
The penmanship is immaculate with many lovely flourishes.
And is that... a ballot box?
Chekov puzzles over the poster and the box, wondering if this is a pirate thing or a uniquely Stede Bonnet thing.
Some of it is lingering embarrassment over his outburst on the bridge. The rest is a result of his talk with Frenchie; that made it very clear to Chekov that he is in a place that he doesn't truly understand with no escape plan. The Enterprise isn't coming to his rescue because it is no longer under Captain Kirk's control. He can't contact Starfleet because he fled the scene of a murder and is now a criminal. Talking to his friends, currently scattered across the quadrant, is unsafe until he can set up a means of communication that Starfleet won't be able to track back to the Revenge. And, on top of that, the longer he stays with a pirate crew (are they officially pirates now that the infamous Blackbeard is in residence?), the more difficult it will be to go back to his former life.
It's a lot to think about.
Chekov occupies himself with projects that don't really need to be done. He still sees his crewmates often enough -- with common sleeping quarters and the galley, isolation is virtually impossible -- but he isn't seeking out socialization. Some of the things he said to Frenchie were quite stupid and he's afraid of tripping up around someone less forgiving.
Perhaps if he had been talking to his peers more regularly, he would have known about the elections sooner. As it is, Chekov is unaware until he sees the hand-drawn posters on the walls of the Revenge:
CAPTAIN ELECTION
TODAY!
Do your duty!
VOTE!
The penmanship is immaculate with many lovely flourishes.
And is that... a ballot box?
Chekov puzzles over the poster and the box, wondering if this is a pirate thing or a uniquely Stede Bonnet thing.
Years and years ago, when it had been time to leave the City, Pavel Chekov had shared one of his favorite sayings from home on the network:
If all the options are bad, choose the one that hurts the least.
He'd been fairly optimistic then in the face of bad options--sad, of course, to say goodbye to his friends and those who had become more like family, but pleased that he'd get to keep his memories of the City. Saying goodbye does not erase someone from your life, he'd said, confident and nineteen and too young to wonder if holding on to people after they were gone might be less than ideal.
And, back then, he hadn't been alone. Isaak Sirko was going to cheat death and return home with him. The Ukrainian was going to put his life of crime behind him and open a bar in the twenty-third century.
(It hadn't worked. Pavel had ended up in Marina, and he hasn't seen Isaak since.)
It's been at least six years since he left the City--maybe as many as nine, if Pavel's suspicions about how time operated in MarinaNova are correct--and the years have not been terribly kind. Pavel has lost more friends than the seventeen year-old version of him that first entered the City could have imagined he would ever have. On the rare occasion that people returned, it was never with all of their memories. Crew mates came and went--six times, in Kirk's case--and had not always been eager to embrace Chekov as he was. He has fallen in love three times; all three times, it ended with her leaving (or, in Kitty's case, him leaving and finding a different version of her). If nothing else, the years have taught him that love and acceptance are never guaranteed.
So now, six (or nine) years after leaving the City, Pavel is ready to leave the Fleet. He doesn't bother making a public post on the network. He has no words of wisdom or optimism, and even if he did, there are very few friends left to share such things with. Not enough friends to warrant a broadcast.
Even though he still doesn't know where 'home' is, he has decided that he will return to his original universe. Maybe his crew won't want him there, and maybe he's no longer officer material, but that's where his father is. Andrei Chekov is the one person who asked Pavel to stay, years and years ago when he had been fourteen and determined to join Starfleet. Pavel had left, of course, and their relationship had remained icy. Civil, but not warm. He owes his father a conversation, at the very least.
Maybe, once he's back, he'll quit Starfleet. He could become a professor like his mother had been, or he could work in the shipyards like Andrei.
Or maybe he'll stay with Starfleet and hope that an apology and promise to visit will be enough to mend things with his father. Maybe he'll have a chance to do something brave and heroic. Pavel has always wanted to be a hero; that hasn't changed in his years in other universes.
Or maybe, whether he stays with the fleet or not, he'll uncover the secrets of controlled intra-universal travel. He could visit the near future in the version of his own universe where Nero didn't destroy Vulcan and find the Voyager. Janeway and Chakotay and Harry wouldn't remember him, but he'd like to see them again regardless. Pavel could search for Isaak. He could scour the universes for the friends that he has lost--see how Howl and Sophie are doing, if Peter Vincent is still drunk somewhere, if Korra and Hei are together or if that inadvisable team-up fell apart. He'd look for Tessa and Ginny and Delacroix and Doc Brown, and Doc Brown would be impressed with his innovations and understand the science behind it.
He would check in on Lucy. For the last six (nine?) years, he has hoped that she was able to find happiness at home. He likely wouldn't talk to her if he found her; nothing good would come of that. But he'd like to know how she's doing.
He'd say hello to Kara and meet her sister. He'd track down Felix Gaeta and offer him a new identity in the twenty-third century. He'd go see a live Walkure concert.
Maybe he would stumble across another version of himself--a Pavel who did make it home with Isaak after the City, or a Pavel who stayed with Kitty in Marina. Or maybe it would be best if he didn't know how his life would have gone, had things been different. Maybe it's best just to imagine that those Pavels are happy.
He doesn't know what will happen once he returns to his own universe. He isn't even convinced that he'll make it back there; his last attempt to go home, after all, led to MarinaNova. Even if he makes it back, neither the hosts nor the Interceptors guaranteed that they would keep their memories.
Forgetting would be a kindness, but Pavel hopes he remembers.
If all the options are bad, choose the one that hurts the least.
He'd been fairly optimistic then in the face of bad options--sad, of course, to say goodbye to his friends and those who had become more like family, but pleased that he'd get to keep his memories of the City. Saying goodbye does not erase someone from your life, he'd said, confident and nineteen and too young to wonder if holding on to people after they were gone might be less than ideal.
And, back then, he hadn't been alone. Isaak Sirko was going to cheat death and return home with him. The Ukrainian was going to put his life of crime behind him and open a bar in the twenty-third century.
(It hadn't worked. Pavel had ended up in Marina, and he hasn't seen Isaak since.)
It's been at least six years since he left the City--maybe as many as nine, if Pavel's suspicions about how time operated in MarinaNova are correct--and the years have not been terribly kind. Pavel has lost more friends than the seventeen year-old version of him that first entered the City could have imagined he would ever have. On the rare occasion that people returned, it was never with all of their memories. Crew mates came and went--six times, in Kirk's case--and had not always been eager to embrace Chekov as he was. He has fallen in love three times; all three times, it ended with her leaving (or, in Kitty's case, him leaving and finding a different version of her). If nothing else, the years have taught him that love and acceptance are never guaranteed.
So now, six (or nine) years after leaving the City, Pavel is ready to leave the Fleet. He doesn't bother making a public post on the network. He has no words of wisdom or optimism, and even if he did, there are very few friends left to share such things with. Not enough friends to warrant a broadcast.
Even though he still doesn't know where 'home' is, he has decided that he will return to his original universe. Maybe his crew won't want him there, and maybe he's no longer officer material, but that's where his father is. Andrei Chekov is the one person who asked Pavel to stay, years and years ago when he had been fourteen and determined to join Starfleet. Pavel had left, of course, and their relationship had remained icy. Civil, but not warm. He owes his father a conversation, at the very least.
Maybe, once he's back, he'll quit Starfleet. He could become a professor like his mother had been, or he could work in the shipyards like Andrei.
Or maybe he'll stay with Starfleet and hope that an apology and promise to visit will be enough to mend things with his father. Maybe he'll have a chance to do something brave and heroic. Pavel has always wanted to be a hero; that hasn't changed in his years in other universes.
Or maybe, whether he stays with the fleet or not, he'll uncover the secrets of controlled intra-universal travel. He could visit the near future in the version of his own universe where Nero didn't destroy Vulcan and find the Voyager. Janeway and Chakotay and Harry wouldn't remember him, but he'd like to see them again regardless. Pavel could search for Isaak. He could scour the universes for the friends that he has lost--see how Howl and Sophie are doing, if Peter Vincent is still drunk somewhere, if Korra and Hei are together or if that inadvisable team-up fell apart. He'd look for Tessa and Ginny and Delacroix and Doc Brown, and Doc Brown would be impressed with his innovations and understand the science behind it.
He would check in on Lucy. For the last six (nine?) years, he has hoped that she was able to find happiness at home. He likely wouldn't talk to her if he found her; nothing good would come of that. But he'd like to know how she's doing.
He'd say hello to Kara and meet her sister. He'd track down Felix Gaeta and offer him a new identity in the twenty-third century. He'd go see a live Walkure concert.
Maybe he would stumble across another version of himself--a Pavel who did make it home with Isaak after the City, or a Pavel who stayed with Kitty in Marina. Or maybe it would be best if he didn't know how his life would have gone, had things been different. Maybe it's best just to imagine that those Pavels are happy.
He doesn't know what will happen once he returns to his own universe. He isn't even convinced that he'll make it back there; his last attempt to go home, after all, led to MarinaNova. Even if he makes it back, neither the hosts nor the Interceptors guaranteed that they would keep their memories.
Forgetting would be a kindness, but Pavel hopes he remembers.
Personal Items
Mar. 26th, 2019 01:03 amFrom the Eyuzi System
- A detailed star chart (featuring a pretty illustration of the planet Lyuku and the moon Eynewa).
- Some lovely blue rocks (said to signify hope and strength).
Gifts
- A set of nesting dolls from Kitty.
- A blue blanket from Kitty.
- A detailed star chart (featuring a pretty illustration of the planet Lyuku and the moon Eynewa).
- Some lovely blue rocks (said to signify hope and strength).
Gifts
- A set of nesting dolls from Kitty.
- A blue blanket from Kitty.
we have not touched the stars
Mar. 26th, 2019 12:19 am“We have not touched the stars,
nor are we forgiven, which brings us back
to the hero’s shoulders and the gentleness that comes,
not from the absence of violence, but despite
the abundance of it.”
Richard Siken
"I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare."
Howard Arnold Walter
nor are we forgiven, which brings us back
to the hero’s shoulders and the gentleness that comes,
not from the absence of violence, but despite
the abundance of it.”
Richard Siken
"I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare."
Howard Arnold Walter
Permissions
Mar. 20th, 2019 09:28 amOOC
↬ Back-Tagging
Always.
↬ Thread-Hopping If everyone else is cool with it!
↬ Comments in the Subject Line Do it.
↬ Fourth Wall Breakage Go for it. There are no more walls.
↬ Gag TagsPlease.
↬ Preferred Tense/Tag Style
↬ Preferred Tense/Tag Style
I default to present tense and brackets, but I can match you!
IC
↬ Hugging
Hugs are so good.
↬ Kissing I don't know why, but okay.
↬ Flirting Always appreciated.
↬ Fighting If the situation calls for it.
↬ Injuring Sure?
↬ KillingLet's talk about it!
Calibrations 2.0
Jan. 21st, 2019 05:48 pmCHILDHOOD
Trigger: An old-fashioned paper book
Source: Headcanon
Contains: A Russian fairytale, Chekov's Dead Mom (except she's alive and fine!), fluff
That time Chekov's childhood actually looked pretty normal.
Trigger: Starfleet Academy rejection letter
Source: Headcanon
Contains: Fluff, a sassy child, an unamused Starfleet official
That time Chekov was miffed because eleven is apparently too young for Starfleet Academy.
ACADEMY
Trigger: PADD
Source: Headcanon
Contains: Fluff, allusions to bullying, references to Fake Science
That time Chekov made a friend.
Trigger: Communicator
Source: Extended universe (The Gemini Agent)
Contains: Attempted murder of a minor, peril
That time Chekov was almost murdered at the Academy.
Trigger: Insignia badge
Source: Headcanon (ties in with Star Trek 2009)
Contains: Death (implied), sad fluff, allusions to Sasha the cat
The first time Chekov lost a friend.
ENTERPRISE
Trigger: 40 Eridani triple-star system (Vulcan)
Source: Canon (Star Trek 2009)
Contains: Death (not graphic), iconic lines, reasons to seek therapy
Video (through 2:38)
That time Chekov did a great thing (and failed to do the other thing),
Trigger: Sol System (Earth)
Source: Canon (Into Darkness)
Contains: Death (not graphic), more reasons to seek therapy, failure, guilt
That time Chekov was Chief Engineer even though that isn't his division.
Trigger: Beta Geminorum System (Pollux IV)
Source: Headcanon
Contains: Paternal disapproval, allusions to TOS
That time Chekov's father wasn't all that impressed.
Trigger: Orion System (Orion)
Source: Headcanon (insp Beyond)
Contains: Smooching, Pavel being a workaholic, a girl being Over It
That time Chekov was kicked out of a girl's room.
Trigger: Altamid System (Altamid)
Source: Canon (Beyond)
Contains: ACTION, RUNNING, EXPLOSIONS, YELLING
Video (full)
That time Chekov ran around with Kirk while stuff was blowing up.
ROLEPLAY
Trigger: Storage wall (undrgrnd_14 city.y2)
Source: Roleplay (Polychromatic)
Contains: Threats of violence against a Russian, a horrible person, questionable character judgment
That time Chekov had really shitty taste in friends.
Trigger: Storage wall (ides_14 city.y2)
Source: Roleplay (Polychromatic)
Contains: Death of a Russian (not graphic), Lucy, Uhura, sadness
That time Chekov straight up died.
Trigger: Storage wall (tessa_14 city.y2)
Source: Roleplay (Polychromatic)
Contains: Romantic woes, Tessa, kids being emotionally mature
That time Chekov's first girlfriend came back and told him she loves two other men.
*Trigger: Storage wall, character dependent (Kirk)
Source: Roleplay (Polychromatic)
Contains: Kirk, a stupid promise, stuff to make Kirk feel bad
That time Kirk told Chekov that he wouldn't leave him behind. (Spoiler: He did.)
*Trigger: Storage wall, character dependent (Kitty)
Source: Roleplay (MarinaNova)
Contains: Kitty, romantic woes, fluff that is slightly sad in retrospect, smooching
One of those times Chekov told Kitty he loves her and that may have been a mistake.
Trigger: Storage wall (latoli_17 df.y1)
Source: Roleplay (Drift Fleet)
Contains: Death (not graphic), Kirk, guilt
That time Chekov killed someone.
Trigger: An old-fashioned paper book
Source: Headcanon
Contains: A Russian fairytale, Chekov's Dead Mom (except she's alive and fine!), fluff
That time Chekov's childhood actually looked pretty normal.
Trigger: Starfleet Academy rejection letter
Source: Headcanon
Contains: Fluff, a sassy child, an unamused Starfleet official
That time Chekov was miffed because eleven is apparently too young for Starfleet Academy.
ACADEMY
Trigger: PADD
Source: Headcanon
Contains: Fluff, allusions to bullying, references to Fake Science
That time Chekov made a friend.
Trigger: Communicator
Source: Extended universe (The Gemini Agent)
Contains: Attempted murder of a minor, peril
That time Chekov was almost murdered at the Academy.
Trigger: Insignia badge
Source: Headcanon (ties in with Star Trek 2009)
Contains: Death (implied), sad fluff, allusions to Sasha the cat
The first time Chekov lost a friend.
ENTERPRISE
Trigger: 40 Eridani triple-star system (Vulcan)
Source: Canon (Star Trek 2009)
Contains: Death (not graphic), iconic lines, reasons to seek therapy
Video (through 2:38)
That time Chekov did a great thing (and failed to do the other thing),
Trigger: Sol System (Earth)
Source: Canon (Into Darkness)
Contains: Death (not graphic), more reasons to seek therapy, failure, guilt
That time Chekov was Chief Engineer even though that isn't his division.
Trigger: Beta Geminorum System (Pollux IV)
Source: Headcanon
Contains: Paternal disapproval, allusions to TOS
That time Chekov's father wasn't all that impressed.
Trigger: Orion System (Orion)
Source: Headcanon (insp Beyond)
Contains: Smooching, Pavel being a workaholic, a girl being Over It
That time Chekov was kicked out of a girl's room.
Trigger: Altamid System (Altamid)
Source: Canon (Beyond)
Contains: ACTION, RUNNING, EXPLOSIONS, YELLING
Video (full)
That time Chekov ran around with Kirk while stuff was blowing up.
ROLEPLAY
Trigger: Storage wall (undrgrnd_14 city.y2)
Source: Roleplay (Polychromatic)
Contains: Threats of violence against a Russian, a horrible person, questionable character judgment
That time Chekov had really shitty taste in friends.
Trigger: Storage wall (ides_14 city.y2)
Source: Roleplay (Polychromatic)
Contains: Death of a Russian (not graphic), Lucy, Uhura, sadness
That time Chekov straight up died.
Trigger: Storage wall (tessa_14 city.y2)
Source: Roleplay (Polychromatic)
Contains: Romantic woes, Tessa, kids being emotionally mature
That time Chekov's first girlfriend came back and told him she loves two other men.
*Trigger: Storage wall, character dependent (Kirk)
Source: Roleplay (Polychromatic)
Contains: Kirk, a stupid promise, stuff to make Kirk feel bad
That time Kirk told Chekov that he wouldn't leave him behind. (Spoiler: He did.)
*Trigger: Storage wall, character dependent (Kitty)
Source: Roleplay (MarinaNova)
Contains: Kitty, romantic woes, fluff that is slightly sad in retrospect, smooching
One of those times Chekov told Kitty he loves her and that may have been a mistake.
Trigger: Storage wall (latoli_17 df.y1)
Source: Roleplay (Drift Fleet)
Contains: Death (not graphic), Kirk, guilt
That time Chekov killed someone.
Memory: Kirk
Jan. 20th, 2019 11:09 pmSource: Roleplay (Polychromatic)
Time: Year 2 (age ~nineteen)
It's the interior of a house--cozy, with mismatched furniture and an antique charm. Small mechanical devices in various states of disassembly and whiteboards covered in equations, meticulously-drawn diagrams, and Cyrillic shorthand cover most available surfaces. Kirk and Pavel, both a few years younger than they are in Drift Fleet (or at home) and dressed in civilian clothes, sit opposite each other in armchairs. Kirk is leaning forwards, elbows on his knees and hands clasped together. Pavel looks like he doesn't particularly want to be here.
"I'm supposed to tell you not to make any connections to the people here," Kirk's saying. "That your roots aren't to sink in no matter if you've been here ten or twenty years. But I'm not going to do that. Firstly, because I don't doubt you know where you really belong and, secondly, if you can manage to be best friends with the person who killed you, then I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on judging who they ordinarily are." The captain smiles crookedly. "Just don't fall in love, okay? Then I'd really have to be the bad guy."
The navigator frowns thoughtfully, obviously trying to come up with a response that's both desirable and truthful.
"Chekov." Kirk raises his eyebrows. "Please tell me you didn't."
"I can't tell you that, sir, but she left days before you and Dr. McCoy appeared."
"I'm sorry that you had to go through that." Even though Kirk's expression softens, he looks very much like he's on the verge of a headache. "I fell in love a few times when I was your age, if you ever want to talk about it."
Pavel smiles in that polite way that means he's grateful for the offer and has no intention of accepting it. "Thank you, Captain."
They sit in silence for a few moments. Kirk leans back in his chair while Pavel fidgets.
"Look, Chekov," the captain says, all seriousness, "I'm sorry you've been stuck here so long. If I'd've known, I would've done everything I could to get you back."
"I know." His tone is sincere and reassuring. "It was nothing you could know about."
The guilt is clear in Kirk's expression. "Still..."
"There is no need to feel badly about it."
"I'm the captain. Feeling bad about this stuff is what I do." Kirk grins ruefully. "But I'm here now, and I promise I'm not going anywhere without you."
Pavel's smile falters. "That isn't something that you can promise."
"I just did." Kirk reaches over to pat Pavel's knee. "No one's getting left behind on my watch, you got it?"
"Yes sir," he replies.
"I mean it."
"I believe you." And his expression makes it clear that he does.
Time: Year 2 (age ~nineteen)
It's the interior of a house--cozy, with mismatched furniture and an antique charm. Small mechanical devices in various states of disassembly and whiteboards covered in equations, meticulously-drawn diagrams, and Cyrillic shorthand cover most available surfaces. Kirk and Pavel, both a few years younger than they are in Drift Fleet (or at home) and dressed in civilian clothes, sit opposite each other in armchairs. Kirk is leaning forwards, elbows on his knees and hands clasped together. Pavel looks like he doesn't particularly want to be here.
"I'm supposed to tell you not to make any connections to the people here," Kirk's saying. "That your roots aren't to sink in no matter if you've been here ten or twenty years. But I'm not going to do that. Firstly, because I don't doubt you know where you really belong and, secondly, if you can manage to be best friends with the person who killed you, then I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on judging who they ordinarily are." The captain smiles crookedly. "Just don't fall in love, okay? Then I'd really have to be the bad guy."
The navigator frowns thoughtfully, obviously trying to come up with a response that's both desirable and truthful.
"Chekov." Kirk raises his eyebrows. "Please tell me you didn't."
"I can't tell you that, sir, but she left days before you and Dr. McCoy appeared."
"I'm sorry that you had to go through that." Even though Kirk's expression softens, he looks very much like he's on the verge of a headache. "I fell in love a few times when I was your age, if you ever want to talk about it."
Pavel smiles in that polite way that means he's grateful for the offer and has no intention of accepting it. "Thank you, Captain."
They sit in silence for a few moments. Kirk leans back in his chair while Pavel fidgets.
"Look, Chekov," the captain says, all seriousness, "I'm sorry you've been stuck here so long. If I'd've known, I would've done everything I could to get you back."
"I know." His tone is sincere and reassuring. "It was nothing you could know about."
The guilt is clear in Kirk's expression. "Still..."
"There is no need to feel badly about it."
"I'm the captain. Feeling bad about this stuff is what I do." Kirk grins ruefully. "But I'm here now, and I promise I'm not going anywhere without you."
Pavel's smile falters. "That isn't something that you can promise."
"I just did." Kirk reaches over to pat Pavel's knee. "No one's getting left behind on my watch, you got it?"
"Yes sir," he replies.
"I mean it."
"I believe you." And his expression makes it clear that he does.
