The Meditation Gardens (Open Post is Open!)

[sehlatbear]

If Spock had been prone to think of such things in such terms, he would have thought it funny (if he had been willing to acknowledge such a human thing as humor) that a place so unlike his native Vulcan would most remind him of it. The meditation gardens were lush, greenery in abundance organized along classic Vulcan aesthetic principles of order,

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[gold_ambition]

James could not read Vulcan

[sehlatbear]

Now his brows rose in surprise. Jim could read him so well, had done so almost as well as he did now before the bonding. That this James had caught something... Fascinating.

"There are, of course, the differences in individual experience."

It was a hedging sort of answer. Perhaps it would be satisfactory.

[gold_ambition]

James had made something of a study of Spock's face. It was useful--he had to trust at least that he'd know when the man turned against him.

"No, you said the laws were different," he said. "That sounds like something bigger."

[sehlatbear]

Spock sighed, looked around at the serenity of the garden containing them. The peace of it seemed more distant than it had even a moment before. He did not look at James, spoke his doubts more to himself. But this was still a James T. Kirk and Spock could not help something in himself that responded to that.

"I am uneasy regarding the upcoming trial. Certain events have unsettled my mind."

[gold_ambition]

James figured having your planet blown up would do that. Or not his own, but still. Even so, this Spock was strangely... open. Compared to the one he knew. And compared to nearly everyone he'd met here. It confused him.

"I thought this lot had the same thirst for justice, or whatever, as your world," he said. "Besides, is there any question they did it?"

[sehlatbear]

"What is justice, James Kirk? Surak did not die with a hunger for vengence."

[gold_ambition]

Surak again. James shrugged.

"How do I know? In my world, I'm guessing Surak contributed greatly to the ease of the Terran Empire's defeat of Vulcan, so while I'm grateful I'm not sure how highly I esteem his values."

[sehlatbear]

Perhaps Surak had not even existed. The variety of universal permutations was fascinating. There was no end to the recombination.

"My world, James. You have seen it, or a fragment of it. It is not the Vulcan way to seek retribution. Reparation, from those who understand the wrongs they have done, perhaps. We seek healing and balance. In my world, should events have progressed as they did here, Nero would be healed. Ayel..."

He trailed off. Ayel was his friend.

[gold_ambition]

What James had seen of Spock's world[™] had consisted of three walls and a focefield. But they hadn't killed him, he supposed. Not that he'd really done anything.

"Then your world is full of fools," he said. "Nero can't be healed."

[sehlatbear]

"Perhaps."

Spock looked oddly brittle for a brief moment, and then he blinked and turned back to James.

[gold_ambition]

James just watched him, considering.

"You know, I don't get you at all," he said, odd considering in some ways, Spock at least made some amount of sense to him. "Your Jim is one of the most self-righteous bastards I've ever met, which no one seems to comment upon and I can only assume is representative of your world, and here you are talking to me and offering mercy to someone who plainly doesn't deserve it."

[sehlatbear]

Speaking with James was a constant source of surprise even through the pressure in Spock's chest, what he would label sadness if forced.

"Self-righteous? In what fashion? And perhaps in this world I am the fool."

[gold_ambition]

In every goddamn fashion, James thought. But Spock was being polite, at least.

"Your James T. Kirk has to be right about everything," he said. "He is the arbiter of morality for all he surveys. He makes the rules. And he modifies them depending on his own feelings--what's worst is that he doesn't know he's doing it. He thinks he's being logical or consistent or whatever it is he uses to justify himself." He smiled slightly, slyly. "Are you the fool? Have I done anything to warrant his scorn?"

[sehlatbear]

His head tilted again and he considered, sounded rather like a professor when he spoke. "Jim has been wrong in the past. He does not find it enjoyable but he has experienced it. He is simply... correct a large percentage of the time. Are you not much the same, convinced of your own rightness in your role as captain?"

[gold_ambition]

James frowned. He sounded exactly like Spock, smug and superior himself.

"Confidence is a necessary trait," he said. "He preaches tolerance and compassion, and plainly feels nothing but contempt for those who don't know or understand his unspoken laws. Don't you find that the least bit hypocritical? No, of course you don't--your his man, all over. But it doesn't come off, from this end, as compassionate and good--it comes off as smug and overbearing." He shrugged. "Maybe he--or even you--would say that's what I get for being where I'm from, but it's what I see."

[sehlatbear]

"My Jim is... illogical in his reaction to you. However, I believe it is based on repeated experience; he has faced his demons in the form of himself many times, James."

Spock allowed himself a tiny, private smile. Jim was compassionate and tolerant to an amazing degree for a human. It was, in part, why Spock cherished him. He also had a very lovely posterior.

"He not entirely as you have experienced."