You? In trouble? Has that literally ever happened? Do you have a single
black mark on your record? I don't think you do. Which is a miracle
considering I'm your captain.
[ Look, he knows what kind of influence he is, okay? Might as well
embrace it instead of running from it. ]
It hasn't happened yet. You have no idea what trouble I have caused in my years away. I might be a changed man.
[Even though he still wasn't inclined to talk about his time in other universes without prompting, it was abundantly obvious that no, he had not changed all that much and it was unlikely that he'd been up to anything that could be categorized as trouble.]
Tch, it will never happen at home. If I want to become a captain by thirty as planned, then I need a perfect record.
[That was half a joke; even if Chekov was that ambitious, he was already well behind schedule. He hadn't budgeted for three years between ensign and lieutenant!
He requested a drink as well. Whatever the house specialty is.]
You are a very different person. I would scandalize all of Starfleet if I followed your example.
[He may not have been wrong. Kirk had a boldness, conviction, and charisma that encouraged others to follow him and, more often than not, led him to success. Kirk wouldn't have gotten where he was without intelligence and strategy, of course, but his unconventional approaches required a strong personality and stronger confidence to back them up.]
[ Strong personality, confidence, and more than a little faith. After
all, for all his crazy ideas, he could never succeed in them alone. He
needed everyone's help to make them happen - from the craziest ship
maneuvers to the dodgiest diplomatic plans. If he didn't have the crew he
would have failed so, so many times. Or even gotten where he was, in all
honesty. His success was much because of them as it was his own charisma.
]
They could use a bit more scandal if you ask me. They're getting a bit
stuffy again.
[It took every bit of that charisma to earn the trust and faith of the crew. Kirk had something special that most people, not even other captains, had, and it made people willing to follow.
No modesty needed, sir.]
Then I will consider doing that once we return home. If it goes poorly, I can always blame your influence.
[He probably wouldn't. Pavel's wild plans tended to be one-man shows performed in secrecy... like tearing down the Russian mafia by way of hacking during his downtime at university. Which is a story that he may have alluded to but never outright shared.]
I mean, you probably wouldn't even need to, people would just assume.
[ Look, he's come to accept how he is often viewed by the admiralty on
his record. He does what he does and he doesn't apologize, because
sometimes you make the hard choices, the ones that go against what you have
been taught, have been told - because they're the right thing to do. ]
But I did actually call you here to talk about a promotion, of sorts, and
not in the abstract.
Fenris is gone, so the position of First Mate is open.
[ He said it brisk and clinical. Admitting he was gone was still hard,
even months on. ]
And I think you make the perfect fit. If you want the position, that is.
Not as prestigious as if it was on the Enterprise, but...We need to trust
each other here. And I trust you implicitly.
But you didn't let me die. I didn't. Even I have moments, Chekov. And the
important thing is that you didn't keep hesitating. You didn't freeze. You
moved.
[His smile took a turn for the politely puzzled. It was a lovely sentiment, but Pavel had not been under the impression that his presence was a particularly vital part of anyone's existence for some time.]
You would be asking Jarvis to accept a promotion, probably.
[When in doubt, reply with questionably-funny humor!]
Maybe. Perhaps it would be Anders, but I don't mean in terms of needing to
fill a position.
I mean... I mean there's a relief in having someone I know here. Who's
lived the same things I have. I know you're not quite the Pavel I remember,
that you have some other experiences, but you're still Pavel, and you're
here, and that means a lot to me.
I guess in a way you help keep me from losing it entirely.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: [ Voice ]
No, not yet, though you'll be the first I call if that happens. Meet me planet side, at this bar.
[ Beep-boop, have an address sir. ]
[ Voice > Action ]
[And later, at the bar:]
It occurs to me that you may have asked to meet with me in person because I'm in trouble.
Re: [ Voice > Action ]
[ He raised a brow at his navigation officer. ]
You? In trouble? Has that literally ever happened? Do you have a single black mark on your record? I don't think you do. Which is a miracle considering I'm your captain.
[ Look, he knows what kind of influence he is, okay? Might as well embrace it instead of running from it. ]
no subject
[Even though he still wasn't inclined to talk about his time in other universes without prompting, it was abundantly obvious that no, he had not changed all that much and it was unlikely that he'd been up to anything that could be categorized as trouble.]
no subject
Heh, that's true. We'll be sure to have a big party the day you get your first one.
[ He grinned broadly, motioning to the bar tender to bring him a drink. ]
no subject
[That was half a joke; even if Chekov was that ambitious, he was already well behind schedule. He hadn't budgeted for three years between ensign and lieutenant!
He requested a drink as well. Whatever the house specialty is.]
no subject
[ His mouth twitched at the corner of his grin. ]
Perfect record to be a captain? Chekov, have I taught you nothing in these past years?
no subject
[He may not have been wrong. Kirk had a boldness, conviction, and charisma that encouraged others to follow him and, more often than not, led him to success. Kirk wouldn't have gotten where he was without intelligence and strategy, of course, but his unconventional approaches required a strong personality and stronger confidence to back them up.]
no subject
[ Strong personality, confidence, and more than a little faith. After all, for all his crazy ideas, he could never succeed in them alone. He needed everyone's help to make them happen - from the craziest ship maneuvers to the dodgiest diplomatic plans. If he didn't have the crew he would have failed so, so many times. Or even gotten where he was, in all honesty. His success was much because of them as it was his own charisma. ]
They could use a bit more scandal if you ask me. They're getting a bit stuffy again.
no subject
No modesty needed, sir.]
Then I will consider doing that once we return home. If it goes poorly, I can always blame your influence.
[He probably wouldn't. Pavel's wild plans tended to be one-man shows performed in secrecy... like tearing down the Russian mafia by way of hacking during his downtime at university. Which is a story that he may have alluded to but never outright shared.]
no subject
I mean, you probably wouldn't even need to, people would just assume.
[ Look, he's come to accept how he is often viewed by the admiralty on his record. He does what he does and he doesn't apologize, because sometimes you make the hard choices, the ones that go against what you have been taught, have been told - because they're the right thing to do. ]
But I did actually call you here to talk about a promotion, of sorts, and not in the abstract.
no subject
[Chekov was of the personal opinion that, someday in the possibly-far future, Kirk needed to become an admiral himself. That would shake things up.]
What kind of non-abstract promotion?
no subject
Fenris is gone, so the position of First Mate is open.
[ He said it brisk and clinical. Admitting he was gone was still hard, even months on. ]
And I think you make the perfect fit. If you want the position, that is. Not as prestigious as if it was on the Enterprise, but...We need to trust each other here. And I trust you implicitly.
no subject
[He was just as sincere and solemn as he would be if offered a position that was more than a largely meaningless title.]
Thank you, si--Jim.
no subject
[ He smiled, relieved. ]
You've earned in, Chekov. More times over than I can count. And when we get back to our world, I'll make sure you get it there too.
no subject
You nearly died on the red planet when I hesitated. I'm not certain that qualifies me for a promotion in any universe.
no subject
[ He placed a hand on his shoulder. ]
But you didn't let me die. I didn't. Even I have moments, Chekov. And the important thing is that you didn't keep hesitating. You didn't freeze. You moved.
no subject
Respectfully, I don't know if I believe that you have moments.
no subject
I do. I just hide them better and tend not to tell people about them. Keeps up the illusion.
[ He waggled his fingers as if sprinkling a bit of something on something. ]
no subject
[He was teasing. There were few things Kirk could do that would accomplish that, at least as far as their relationship on the bridge went.]
no subject
You mean my #1 Captain mug isn't enough reason to take me seriously?
[ He gasped in mock horror. ]
no subject
no subject
Indeed there is.
[ He sipped his drink and he laughed softly. ]
You know sometimes I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here, Chekov?
no subject
You would be asking Jarvis to accept a promotion, probably.
[When in doubt, reply with questionably-funny humor!]
no subject
Maybe. Perhaps it would be Anders, but I don't mean in terms of needing to fill a position.
I mean... I mean there's a relief in having someone I know here. Who's lived the same things I have. I know you're not quite the Pavel I remember, that you have some other experiences, but you're still Pavel, and you're here, and that means a lot to me.
I guess in a way you help keep me from losing it entirely.
(no subject)