[He winked at her when she tried to return the joke, fighting back the rush of emotion at seeing her alive and apparently unharmed. At least on the outside. What she'd seen and been subjected to in that prison, only she knew so far, and the mere thought of her every experiencing something like that left an acrid taste in his mouth.] I know. I'm actually much funnier.
[As she gradually gathered her wits, her training kicked in, and she reported what she'd found out. Part of him doubted she even knew that was what she was doing, but it made his heart swell a little with pride. He listened to her and when tears started welling up in her eyes, he moved his hands to stroke her cheek as best he could. It wasn't easy, and it made the shackles bite into his skin, but he didn't mind if it meant he could give her some small comfort.] I know, Jo... Well, I didn't know about Tonia or Christine, but... [It wasn't surprising. There would be time to grieve later, though, and he clamped down firmly on the thought of both women as he remembered them
( ... )
[There wasn't really much more to say in the matter, Jim had made up his mind and he wasn't going to back down on this one, no matter how much she argued. He'd made promise to Bones, a silent one, but it was still a promise and one he was going to do everything in his power to keep.
When one of the other inmates made his way over to them, Jim stood his ground, meeting the other man's eyes dead on. Sure, he was bigger than Jim, and Jim recognized him as being one of the slaved that had been there before he arrived, but it would take more than muscle to intimidate Jim. After an intense staring match that seemed to go nowhere fast, Jim let the corner of his mouth turn up in a contemptuous sneer and demonstratively put his hand on Jo's shoulder. There. Claim made. The yard was overseen by guards, and there was little the other guy could do without his implant being activated. It would be saved for the fight.]
*Joanna glared daggers at both the intruder and at Jim himself, physically removing his hand from her shoulder and hissing at him through clenched teeth.* I don't like being touched.
*She sincerely hoped he would understand what it was that she was doing. If she looked like a difficult female then hopefully the big man would lose interest. No one was interested in a prude, and, like she'd hoped, the behemoth wandered back the way he'd come.*
[Jim did understand what she was doing, and was glad she was doing it. But that still didn't mean he didn't have to fight down the urge to apologize for having touched her in a way she didn't want him to, even if it was just for show. He'd been in much closer physical contact with her before, had hugged her and had developed an odd habit of slinging an arm around her shoulders as a greeting, so it stung to have her brush him off like that, even if he knew she didn't mean it. At least, he hoped she didn't.
The other guy skulked off back to where ever he'd come from and Jim tried not to wince at Jo's tone.] Nah, I just enjoy having the shit kicked out of me on a regular basis.
It's fine, don't worry about it. [He shrugged off her apology and the feelings having her brush him off like that had left lingering in him.]
It's not going to make me change my mind about it, no. [His eyes skimmed restlessly over the yard, watching for any more signs of trouble, and maybe just a little bit to avoid hers.] You okay? I mean, apart from the obvious. Are they feeding you okay? They're not hurting you or anything, right?
Except I kind of have to if I'm expected to start breeding with you. *Her tone was anything but amused and she wrapped her arms around herself, hating the thinness of the gown she wore. All of this left her feeling exposed in more ways than one.*
I don't think I've ever eaten healthier in my life. I've got more folic acid in me than a pharmacy. It seems like our captors take their reproductive plans seriously. What about you?
[Jim tried not to wince outwardly at her words. Because no matter the situation, Jo was his his best friend's daughter and he shouldn't be thinking about breeding with her, or practicing breeding with her, much less actually talking about it. He cleared his throat and ignored the awkwardness of the subject.] Yes, well... I'm sure we can find away to work around actually... [He made a meaningful gesture.] I mean, as long as you're not a virgin, it shouldn't be too hard to fool them for a while. I haven't heard anything about them actually staying around to watch that part, so...
[It was a relief to hear that she was at least been fed properly and that she didn't seem to be suffering more than having to work and being robbed of her freedom. Not yet anyway, and she wouldn't have to suffer through worse if he had any say in it.] I'm okay. The food's not bad and I'm getting more exercise than I have in years. The drill master is almost as mean as the one I had at the Academy, so... Good times.
I kind of figured that much. *Though she blushed bright red when he made her sexual experience sound non-existent. She wasn't a virgin, though her experience in that department was on a small scale.* Not as far as I know, though we might have to do some convincing acting to stay under the radar.
*Jo watched with a feeling of dread as their captors came into the yard to begin the separation process. She wasn't ready to go back to her cell, wasn't ready to say goodbye to the one source of comfort she had here. This time she did grab his hand to give it a small squeeze, the only thing she would allow herself given the circumstances.* Be careful, please. If you can't fight then I understand. Your safety is more important. Please.
[In the interest of not making her more uncomfortable than absolutely necessary, he chose not to comment on her blush. Though it did tell him he hadn't been completely wrong in thinking she wasn't very experienced where sex was concerned. He hoped that wasn't about to change because of him, one way or the other.] We'll figure it out somehow.
[When the guards started separating them, he was as reluctant as she was to let go, and he squeezed her hand back firmly, trying to lend her as much comfort and support as he could.] I'll be fine, Jo. Take care of yourself, okay? I can't do this without you.
[He paused for a moment to look at her, unable to let go of her hand, or let go of all the good things she represented. Then, with a small smile and one last squeeze of her hand, he let her go and moved back to where the men were being herded inside again, hoping he'd get to see her again soon. Until then, he'd draw strength from this short time he'd had with her and that brief feeling of her hand in his.]
*She moved with the other women, avoiding Shivan's questioning look. Jo knew the Andorian woman would corner her about what had happened with Jim later, and she had to figure out just how much she would tell her. Until then she would worry and try to do as Jim had requested-- and keep working on her backups in case he wasn't successful in his own plans.*
[As she gradually gathered her wits, her training kicked in, and she reported what she'd found out. Part of him doubted she even knew that was what she was doing, but it made his heart swell a little with pride. He listened to her and when tears started welling up in her eyes, he moved his hands to stroke her cheek as best he could. It wasn't easy, and it made the shackles bite into his skin, but he didn't mind if it meant he could give her some small comfort.] I know, Jo... Well, I didn't know about Tonia or Christine, but... [It wasn't surprising. There would be time to grieve later, though, and he clamped down firmly on the thought of both women as he remembered them ( ... )
Reply
When one of the other inmates made his way over to them, Jim stood his ground, meeting the other man's eyes dead on. Sure, he was bigger than Jim, and Jim recognized him as being one of the slaved that had been there before he arrived, but it would take more than muscle to intimidate Jim. After an intense staring match that seemed to go nowhere fast, Jim let the corner of his mouth turn up in a contemptuous sneer and demonstratively put his hand on Jo's shoulder. There. Claim made. The yard was overseen by guards, and there was little the other guy could do without his implant being activated. It would be saved for the fight.]
Reply
*She sincerely hoped he would understand what it was that she was doing. If she looked like a difficult female then hopefully the big man would lose interest. No one was interested in a prude, and, like she'd hoped, the behemoth wandered back the way he'd come.*
You're insane.
Reply
The other guy skulked off back to where ever he'd come from and Jim tried not to wince at Jo's tone.] Nah, I just enjoy having the shit kicked out of me on a regular basis.
Reply
It's not going to make a difference to tell you that I don't like this plan, will it?
Reply
It's not going to make me change my mind about it, no. [His eyes skimmed restlessly over the yard, watching for any more signs of trouble, and maybe just a little bit to avoid hers.] You okay? I mean, apart from the obvious. Are they feeding you okay? They're not hurting you or anything, right?
Reply
I don't think I've ever eaten healthier in my life. I've got more folic acid in me than a pharmacy. It seems like our captors take their reproductive plans seriously. What about you?
Reply
[It was a relief to hear that she was at least been fed properly and that she didn't seem to be suffering more than having to work and being robbed of her freedom. Not yet anyway, and she wouldn't have to suffer through worse if he had any say in it.] I'm okay. The food's not bad and I'm getting more exercise than I have in years. The drill master is almost as mean as the one I had at the Academy, so... Good times.
Reply
*Jo watched with a feeling of dread as their captors came into the yard to begin the separation process. She wasn't ready to go back to her cell, wasn't ready to say goodbye to the one source of comfort she had here. This time she did grab his hand to give it a small squeeze, the only thing she would allow herself given the circumstances.* Be careful, please. If you can't fight then I understand. Your safety is more important. Please.
Reply
[When the guards started separating them, he was as reluctant as she was to let go, and he squeezed her hand back firmly, trying to lend her as much comfort and support as he could.] I'll be fine, Jo. Take care of yourself, okay? I can't do this without you.
[He paused for a moment to look at her, unable to let go of her hand, or let go of all the good things she represented. Then, with a small smile and one last squeeze of her hand, he let her go and moved back to where the men were being herded inside again, hoping he'd get to see her again soon. Until then, he'd draw strength from this short time he'd had with her and that brief feeling of her hand in his.]
Reply
*She moved with the other women, avoiding Shivan's questioning look. Jo knew the Andorian woman would corner her about what had happened with Jim later, and she had to figure out just how much she would tell her. Until then she would worry and try to do as Jim had requested-- and keep working on her backups in case he wasn't successful in his own plans.*
Reply
Leave a comment