[NVC Day 14, Early Morning] -- [And So the Sun Rises] -- [Open to All]

[kirktastic]

After a long night at the theater, meeting Spock and his brother, and everything afterwards, it had been difficult to sleep. Along with the tickets, Jim had received a message about the trial's start the next morning. He had refused to let it bother him all night, just wanting to enjoy some time with Bones despite everything they had been forced to

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[lt_paula]

Paula had entertained thoughts of an early morning swim, but had changed her mind when she dipped her toes into the ocean and found it as warm as bathwater. Instead, she'd wandered down the beach a ways. Making her way back, she spotted a solitary figure sitting on the wall outside the guest quarters. As she drew closer, she realized it was Jim.

"'Morning," she said with a smile.

[kirktastic]

"Paula." He gave her that warm smile of his, feeling almost relaxed after Scotty had come by. He wasn't exactly looking for solitude, so it was nice to just... see some of his crew. Or, in Paula's case, future crew. "You look exceptionally beautiful this morning." Never could resist.

[lt_paula]

"Thanks." Paula perched on the wall next to him. "You don't look so bad yourself," she added with a grin. It was easy talking to him, falling back into that pattern of teasing from when they'd met. "Thinking about going in?" she asked, indicating the water.

[kirktastic]

He grinned at her flirt back, leaning in so their shoulders touched for just a second. There was something easy about her that made him relax. "No, just wanted a few minutes to think. Bones is still dead asleep and he's a grumpy ass if you wake him up before it's time to get up. Unless its an emergency, then he's a grumpy ass afterwards."

[lt_paula]

"One of those who requires a couple cups of coffee to function?" Paula chuckled. It wasn't hard to imagine.

"I can understand taking the opportunity to think. Today's going to be a circus."

[kirktastic]

"Bingo." Jim grinned at her words, but it fell at the idea of the trial. "I don't even know what's going to be going on. I know that I'm not needed for a while but... I think I need to go each day."

[lt_paula]

"Makes sense," Paula commented. There was nothing else to say to that, really. It seemed every news story about the trial had managed to work in the story of Jim's encounters with the Narada. "I'm thinking of going, myself."

She dug her toes into the sand, trying to think of a lighter change of topic. "Oh, did Leonard tell you about the place we ate the other night? Amazing food - I don't know how they do it, but it was just like home."

[kirktastic]

"He did mention it, actually. Said you had some amazing pork chops that I had to try." His lips quirked, just a little. "Honestly, I wouldn't recommend going. You had little to nothing to do with the incident... they wouldn't even let you in. Isn't open to the public."

[lt_paula]

Paula nodded. It wasn't that she wanted to be a spectator, but she'd thought to go on behalf of some of the people she'd known who were lost. Still, she realized Jim was right. Probably better to stay away.

"They were unbelievable," she told him. She'd eaten the leftovers for lunch the next day. "You'll have to check the place out."

[kirktastic]

"Plan to at some point. Some good Earth-style cooking might be what I need." It was a lie, but a long practiced one. The more the trial went on, he knew... the less he'd probably get concerned with eating. Or sleeping.

[lt_paula]

"It's well worth it," she replied. Paula smiled warmly. "I hate to run, but I'm meeting someone for breakfast. See you later?" She squeezed his shoulder lightly before rising to her feet.

[kirktastic]

He gave her that smile of his. "Later, beautiful."