auspex_caelo | And the Stars Turned Back [for smartass

"...Ghost... puppy?" Yolande looks completely confused by that one, looking from Felix to Stratos for some kind of explanation. Felix chooses to be unhelpful for once and just smiles; Stratos is busy nodding at Jim's words.

"He might be a kind of daedra for all we know," Stratos says though. "I don't think that helps us really. This could just run its course and wear off like his other spells."

"Would it help, perhaps, if we went to parley with him?" Celann suggests hopefully. Stratos looks more alarmed than he means to.

"No! You'd probably just get changed too. I need someone loyal in charge. Anyway, time is Akatosh's domain, so I need you to see if he might break the curse. Akatosh is the chief of our gods," he adds for Jim's benefit.

"I'll parlay with him." Jim raises his hand, smile bright on his face. "Diplomacy's like half my job." His smile is radiant and bright, so excited at even the thought of being important and helpful even like this.

He's not exactly thinking this through though.

"I can parley with Oshkosh too." No Jim. That's a town in Wisconsin, not a god. "....Oh, the biggest god. He won the dick waving contest an' now he's in charge. I got it."

He must have lost his tact with his age. Or he'd be much more polite to a god's face. Either way, Jim kicks his legs against the edge of the chair and continues grinning huge.

Oh, Jim. Celann smiles so warmly when he volunteers to be the envoy. Sure, Felix looks worried, but even Yolande can't help smiling a little. He's just too cute.

...Although Stratos is quick to give him a stern look at the last part. "Jim. Be respectful. His name's Akatosh. He's the god of time, he made it possible for all the other gods to exist. That's why he's in charge."

"Not that you're wrong," Felix murmurs to Jim, "but considering all the dragons are his sons and he personally fist-fought a daedric prince to save us, being respectful is a good plan."

"Well, and besides we're rather fond of him," Celann adds. He'll look so sad and disappointed if you're mean about the gods, Jim. You don't want that.

"That's what I said?" Jim tilts his head to the side ad Stratos's chiding. Looks back to Felix with a small frown. Yeah exactly, he's not wrong. Why nitpick?

"I said I was good at diplomacy but outright bowing, scraping, and ass kissing is not my forte." Especially not to people and/or things that think they're better than people.

"Maybe I shouldn't. I don't even know what's considered polite here."

"It's not ass-kissing, it's reverence," Stratos scolds him. "You have to show proper respect to the Divines."

"Things work differently in Jim's realm," Felix reminds them both, shrugging at Jim although he gives the boy's shoulder a small squeeze. He knows Jim has enough irreverence to share, but this is one area where he does agree with his elder brother. He doesn't want Jim to get on the wrong side of the gods any more than he wants to do it himself.

"Well," Celann says carefully. "I'll see about appealing to them. But perhaps the captain and the tribune should speak to this 'doctor' directly. Is it likely he'll curse them twice, after all?"

Felix immediately tenses, giving Celann a look of betrayed upset. "Let's not test that, thanks."

"Then you should go," Yolande says, swooping on the chance. "Speaking with such beings is your chosen specialty, isn't it?"

"No I mean, I'm not tryin' to be rude." Jim looks between all of them, biting into his bottom lip and growing still. He has a point to make here, but phrasing it is a bit difficult for him in his tiny body and mind.

"I jus' don' understand how something so big an' powerful and whatever would care what I had t'think or say. I'm just one guy not even from this world. A kid even, now. If they're so powerful they made th whole world. The space even...like why do they care about any of us at all? It's like worrying about what an individual ant thinks. nothing you say or anyone says good or bad, should even matter."

He pauses. Kicks his legs a bit and shrugs.

"I guess I just don' get it is all. There's nothin' like that where I'm from." It all seems so pointless.

Stratos opens his mouth to try and deliver a lesson, but... it's kind of hard to come up with a good explanation right now. Not when he's back at that age where such things just are and he hasn't gained the perspective of the bigger picture yet. So he finds himself (like the others) looking to Celann. The knight glances around at all the looks he's getting and sighs a little.

"Well..." He pulls a chair over so he can sit down facing Jim. Better to make this a friendly conversation. It always works better that way. "It's not that they're going to strike you down for speaking ill of them. They're not like- well, they aren't that sort of being, I promise.

"Did Felix tell you how the gods made this realm? They each put a part of themselves into it, sacrificing a great deal so that our world, Nirn, would live. It is they who strive to keep this world a place that's good and safe for all of us mortals to live in. So you see, they care a great deal about our world- and they care about us. But they need our help, too. By honoring them and following their guidance, every one of us helps to make Nirn a better and a stronger place. Not to mention being happier and better ourselves." He gives Jim a sincere smile. "Even if you aren't from here, you still matter to them, and so do your actions."

"Sorta. They died an' made space. Somehow." He scratches at his wispy blonde head, looking as though he's trying really hard to think. It's so different from everything he understands about science and physics. Of matter and energy.

It sounds like a fairy tale. But then, Felix can do magic. Real magic. And if that exists, then certainly the rules of this realm are different than his own.

"That makes me real nervous." Does space stop existing if people don't believe in the gods anymore? It sends chills up Jim's spine. Where is Felix? He reaches for the other's hand.

Felix's hand closes around his, the Imperial shifting closer in what would normally be an offer for leaning-on and at this point is probably more an offer to snuggle.

"It's all right," he assures Jim. "There's nothing you have to be afraid of." Not directly, anyway. The Tamrielic folks can do the worrying. Either way it's an (old) easy lie to tell.

Celann nods earnestly. "The gods didn't die, they're simply... not able to act as freely as they used to. But they're still with us, watching over us. Doing what they can to protect us."

"Don't talk about gods' junk. Got it." A mumbled reply because Jim is climbing over the seat to sit with Felix instead. It's been a long time coming, hours of holding back emotional child outbursts and trying to be himself. Jim clings to Felix and buries his head into the Imperial's chest for a moment.

"I wanna be me 'gain."

Felix's arms wrap around him, settling Jim on his lap while he hugs the boy. He's keeping his expression sympathetic. Calm. Hiding the ache in his chest at that muffled whimper.

"I want you back too," he murmurs. "We'll fix it." He looks up at Stratos, who's frowning at them intensely. (Granted, he's been frowning since they tried to tell Jim there's nothing to fear: much harder to hide his 'bullshit' reaction as a child.)

"I'll go talk to Hill, if you want," Felix offers. "I doubt it would matter too much if he did give me the curse."

Stratos looks dismayed, though. He bites his lip and then decides, "Well, we have to rest first, anyway. And get something to eat. Then we can work on breaking the curse." As much as he hates to show weakness, his stomach starts growling much faster this way, and it's even harder to think when he's tired and hungry.

It's hard to be brave and daring when he knows there's nothing he can do. Herder still to be calm, cool, and in command when he's about as menacing as a small dog. Jim Kirk can't do magic, and fixing this isn't something in his power. Not only that, but Stratos has been affected too and Jim wishes he could help him.

Wishes he could do anything other than sit there.

No such thing as a no win scenario. There has to be a way to fix this. Felix is offering to talk to Hill and Jim knows that at least, is something he can do. It shouldn't be hard to get Felix's PINpoint off of him at some point. But for now, he's just going to enjoy this small moment of comfort he so desperately needs. He's exhausted, more tired than he can ever remember being, even in the hospital after he died.

"Am I staying here?" Voice quiet and muffled yet against Felix's chest.

"Of course," Felix says instantly. The auxiliary's stroking Jim's back, ignoring whatever looks Yolande may be giving him at this scene. She's actually trying to frown into the distance instead, while Celann leans on his kneed and looks sympathetic. "Where else would you go?"

And Stratos... Stratos is just watching, trying to decide what to make of this. He feels like it would be weird enough as an adult, to see his brother showing this kind of care and affection to a kid. Seeing it right now... it's kind of disorienting. Unnerving.

"Um..." He clears his throat. "You don't have to stay here, you two. I have to talk about some stuff with Celann and Yolande. You can go rest and find some proper food. Or show Jim around the camp, if he wants."

"Aren't you hungry an' tired too?" Jim's concern as ever is on others before himself. He pulls himself away from Felix just enough to turn and crane his neck so he can see Stratos, concern etched onto his small face.

He looks surprisingly mature in that moment. A remnant of who he should be peeking through before he looks up at Felix again.

"Is there anything we can do to help?"

"I'm all right," Stratos assures him, notwithstanding the concerned look Felix is giving him, too. "I'm still older than you. Anyway, I'll come and eat soon." And make sure they're doing the same and not getting distracted with the camp.

"I think we'll just have to leave them to it," Felix says to Jim... although there's a quick wink from him. Maybe he has another idea. "Come on. Once we've all had some rest we can work out how to tackle Hill."

"Did you just pull rank on me?" Jim looks flabbergasted for a moment. Needless to say, it's not something that had occurred to him until just this moment as something that could be done to him here.

"Felix did you hear him?" Still, Jim is allowing himself to be lead out of the tent with minimal whining at that voice than makes everyone but dogs uncomfortable. The indignant child whine is a formidable weapon and not one to be under estimated lest they pay the price with wishing they could lose their hearing.

Stratos rolls his eyes: he wants to point out that's not what he meant, but spotting the odd look he's drawing from Yolande helps him swallow that back. "So, um, about our scouts..."

As ever, Felix is the contrast to his brother, murmuring agreement as they go. When he's trying not to wince at the pitch of that whine. "He's always been unfair like that. Trust me, I know."

One of the knights is still on guard outside, and Felix leads them out of earshot before murmuring, "Stratos still thinks he's the only one who can do any useful magic around here. But let's find some food and then I have a plan we can try."

That said, he'll lead Jim (or carry, if implored properly) toward the nearest pot-laden cooking fire, currently being tended by the young squire Jim once gave a sandwich. The boy's in the middle of filleting a couple of salmon as they approach, and judging by his frown of concentration it's still a new task to him. Nevertheless he looks around at the sound of their mismatched steps and Jim gets a special look of puzzlement. A new squire? Surely he's too small...

He doesn't mean to do that, his voice just gets that way when he's indignant and whining. It's probably for the best Felix is taking Jim out of the tent if he's going to be using that voice. Not that he does for long. Felix is superb at making Jim feel better, no matter what size he may be at any given time.

"It's not fair I didn't ask t'be this size or age. How old is he normally?" Does he outrank Jim even when he's the right age? This is very important to his nine year old mind right now. He does however perk up at the mention of food. He trots along after Felix, eager to eat and scheme (and rest).

"..Hi." Jim waves at the squire.

Under the circumstances Jim can surely be excused for getting a bit whiny at people, but Felix can guess he'd find it pretty embarrassing when he was back to his 'old self'. And the more unfamiliar people around, the more stress that means for a kid.

"Ten years older than me. Which makes him... thirty-five? His birthday's in a couple of months." It's an unusually long gap in a human family with only two children, especially for a culture like Tamriel's. Felix adds in explanation, "The Great War came in between."

Felix mostly remembers food helping childish moods, so that's what he's going with. Food, sunshine, and someone who's... probably about the same age as Stratos right now, he just looks younger and smaller. Being half-Bosmer (and the other half Breton, to boot) will do that.

"Hi-" The boy coughs, trying to act more like his station. "Erm, hello." He looks up at Felix seriously. "He isn't a new squire, is he sir?"

Felix shakes his head. "Not at all. Jim, this is Enfys, Sir Celann's squire. That's sort of an apprentice knight. Enfys, this is... ah, Captain James Kirk. He's a friend of mine, and he's usually a fully grown man. But just now he's under the effects of a curse and so he's staying here while we work out how to break it."

Enfys blinks his wide green eyes at him, then at Jim. Then back at Felix, and there's the hint of suspicion in the back of his voice when he asks, "Really?"

He doesn't dare say he thinks Felix is screwing with him, but...

Edited (Realized Felix never answered Jim's question... :o) 2016-07-31 12:54 (UTC)

"Son of a bitch." Jim is not that old even when he's all grown up. Felix does outrank him and he is not at all pleased to know that. To his child mind, it confers a level of authority he really does feel at least somewhat obligated to listen to. Older kids are different than adults. Jim sees him more as someone he can relate to, rather than someone to be feared or rebelled against at all costs.

"Yeah usually I'm waaaaay taller and cooler and fighting big ugly people. When i'm here. That's happened before." He nods helpfully, as though his word really makes it all the more believable. "That'll teach 'em to think I'm some kind of fucking wuss."

Felix has to laugh at Jim's discontent. But then he's clearly forgotten how much age counts for when you don't have very much of it.

When Jim comes out with the f-word, on the other hand, Enfys looks a little bit shocked. "Hey! Watch- I mean... um... you shouldn't use words like that." Just a bit awkward scolding the younger boy when Felix is right there looking amused.

"Chevaliers have more delicate sensibilities than common soldiers," Felix notes to Jim. Even though Enfys doesn't have anything of the knights' accents: he sounds a lot more like the Nord bandits actually. "Best go gently with them. And Enfys, there's no need to look so doubtful. He really has been known to teach bandits a lesson or two."

"Why not? Grown ups say it all the time." And Jim is a grown up, as he has just patiently explained to the squire here. Felix never gets mad when he says bad words. He usually just laughs, really. He automatically looks up to Felix for some kind of explanation, and he doesn't have to wait long for one.

"Isn't that like, the opposite of being useful? Being more delicate than the ordinary guy?" Jim shakes his head, but it does make a certain amount of sense. Like all the stuffy bureaucrats he has to report to every now and again back home. They don't like that kind of language either. It's not Jim's fault that sometimes, the word 'shitshow' is the most accurate description of his missions.

Not that this is his fault, most of the time. These things just happen.

"It's okay. Felix doesn't mind that kind of words." Jim reaches up and pats Enfys on the shoulder. Well, as close to it as he can reach anyway. He's still mighty small for a camp full of full grown soldiers.

Enfys frowns at Felix for encouraging this bad behavior. "Well Sir Celann minds. And so does the tribune. If you talk like that people will think you're ignorant and ill-bred and they won't treat you well." Judging from the way he's talking to Jim, he's having a really hard time accepting this 'really an adult' business. And there's the matter of loyalty: "And Sir Celann is not delicate, he's the finest swordsman in the camp!"

"All right, Enfys," Felix says patiently. "I'm sure Jim understands. But right now we're both very tired and we need to eat. What's on the fire?"

"Um... venison stew. And there's some bread and honey from this morning, and some pastries from yesterday..."

"What do you think?" Felix leans down to ask Jim.

"Does he?" He really didn't seem to when Jim was back in the tent with Felix but then this kid reminds him of Chekov a lot with his energy and enthusiasm. And, oh lord, he's smaller and younger than Chekov by quite a lot like this. The baby of his crew is more than twice his age and twice his size. Jim takes a moment to think about that, a blank expression on his face. This time, when he swears, he does so breathlessly and in Andorian so as not to offend this squire's delicate ears (though Felix is sure to have heard Jim say it quite a lot, usually when he's stressed or in the bedroom).

Because that's not distracting when a child says it. Jim doesn't remain lost in thought for long, snapping back to attention when they start talking about food.

"Sounds good. I've never had deer before. Or elk, whichever you call venison here." He nods up at Felix. "An' the sweets sound good too!"

Enfys nods seriously in answer, giving Jim a suspicious look at that last outburst. For a kid with such a stick up his backside, he does know the sound of invective when he hears it, even in a foreign language. Besides, he can see Felix trying not to grin.

Nonetheless, he wipes his hands and dutifully finds a couple of pewter bowls to ladle some stew out for them, after checking it's reached the edible stage. He points out the box where the dumplings are to Felix, who unwraps their cloth covering and sniffs them before picking out a few.

"Some of these might have snowberries in them," he frets under his breath, "but they're red, so it should be easy to tell them from the apple ones..."

And the Stars Turned Back [for smartass_captain ]

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