[ It is a pretty impressive ship, in his own totally unbiased opinion. Her personal feelings on Starfleet aside, he knows it's an experience to remember, and he's sure she'll enjoy what he can show her there.
He looks up at the kiss, eyebrows raised in faint surprise, just as he's done with the list. Then, he smiles. ]
I wish there was more I needed, you solved my question quicker than I expected.
( if she'd known it would have been this quick eve might have just sent him the question in a message, though she knows that she would have missed out on seeing him.
but the information would be useful to the librarian (not her librarian, just the current librarian who was flitting off on a mission).
there's no offer of a tour, eve protective about her library, and though she's come to find some trust in jim she's more cautious and protective over what's inside. to keep him safe and unknowing )
[ For all that Jim knows, the visit has only just started. He's been in the library for maybe ten minutes, fifteen if he counts the actual walking part, and it just feels like such a short little while. Besides, why would she invite him over for something he could have so easily shared through a number of different long-distance communication channels?
So it does surprise him when she's already tell him she'll walk him back. His lips curl faintly, but he stands up and sets her book back on the table. ]
Here I thought the afternoon was just getting started.
[ His smile is amused, though, and because he's not the type to push, certainly not to the point of unpleasantness, he just gestures back to the hallway. ]
( though ready to take him back, his expression intrigues her and she doesn't move, not yet )
What were you thinking?
( she can guess the most likely option. though she has to admit it is nice seeing him and this would definitely be the shortest amount of time they'd spent together. surely they didn't need a mission or disaster to run into the other (and enjoy it?) )
[ He trails off, letting out a small chuckle, only a hint self-conscious for a change. ]
You were the one to invite me here. I figured it would be something a little more exciting than a fifteen minute visit. But that's on me for assuming; I'm sorry.
[ Of course he would love to see more of the library, and he would certainly love to see more of her. Doesn't mean he's entitled to it just because she asked him here, however brief the visit. ]
( she's quiet for a moment, considering it as her hand finds his again. it's him and whilst he's starfleet and not a librarian it's not (just) his body she keeps him around for.
jim's the first person she's given any measure of trust to in the last century and if his life were something different... maybe he'd have been given the white envelope. but at least he was better than the majority of the starfleet officers she ran into. and she trusted him to listen to her, to be careful )
One thing. A period of history, a collection. You can see one.
( he could pick, whatever it was that would make him the happiest to see )
[ He only knows so much about her, but from what he does know, he understands. And given the secrecy around this place, he also understands her reluctance to let him roam around or stay here too long.
He's ready to just leave and (probably) never come back again, when she makes him that offer. And it's... so hard to even think of something, when she puts him on the spot like that. He lets out a soft laugh, shaking his head as he squeezes her hand a little. ]
I don't know, ah... I have no idea what to choose.
[ Especially when there's so much that's real that he only knew from myth or legend. But oh, that plants a thought in his head. ]
Is the legend of Merlin and King Arthur actually real?
[ That takes him a few seconds to even process, mouth a little open in surprise. ]
You have the Excalibur.
[ That just sounds so insane, so impossible, that Jim's instinct is to argue it's not even real. Instead, he challenges his own reality by promptly following that with— ]
( this time eve does laugh, a softer sound than he'll have before heard from her )
Okay.
( though she doesn't lead him anywhere, instead putting two fingers to her mouth to whistle for the sword. it was easier than trying to find him herself and he'd find her )
Just give him a minute.
( her hand slips out of his to move to the bookshelf whilst she waits, pulling down an especially thick book that she retrieves something from, leaning back on the desk behind her with a small ball in her hand.
they're not waiting long, not when magic powers the sword, before it wooshes towards them, bobbing around in front of eve with what almost sounds like a dog's bark )
Jim, Excalibur.
( and she definitely makes sure the sword sees the ball in her hand. it's got its interest )
[ Jim frowns a little, not really sure what they're waiting for. Is there someone else here, then? Someone or something that's fetching the sword for them?
The answer to all his questions is surprising, and nothing he'd have ever expected, not in a million years. He laughs softly as the sword stays still right in front of Eve, almost as a living creature with a very clear, vivid interest in that ball on her hand. ]
You're kidding me, right?
[ Is the sword about to play fetch? Is that really what's happening? ]
( she wiggles the ball around slightly before tossing it down the hall, it bouncing as it goes and the sword gives chase after it with an excited bark )
I can't train with him all day and he needs to stay sharp.
( literally, especially when once the sword catches up to the ball it spears it, happily bringing it back to eve to go again )
[ Jim lets out a snort, watching the whole scene with bewilderment that borders on disbelief. Maybe he's hit his head somewhere on the way here and is actually hallucinating, who knows. ]
Pun intended, or happy accident?
[ Well, that's one ruined ball. But then, she probably has a few tricks up her sleeve to fix that up. ]
Can I...
[ He gestures to the ball, careful not to get his hand too close to the blade without her giving him the go-ahead. ]
[ He definitely meant if he could throw the ball, but— hell, if a magic sword of legend is gonna let him hold it? He's absolutely going to take it.
With a contained smile, he reaches out and wraps his hand around the hilt. Slow, careful, but his grip is firm, not sure if the sword will let him feel its full weight once he's holding it. ]
( he doesn't get to feel the full weight, after all not many people can wield excalibur, but he's at least doing the impossible and holding excalibur )
Not many people in history can say they've done that.
[ Or the importance, rather, because he can tell that he's not holding the full weight of it in his hand. Part of him is admittedly curious to know if he could, but in the end he decides that feeding his own ego really isn't that important. ]
Thank you, [ He says as he glances at her with a smile. After a few seconds of admiring the sword in his hand, he releases it again. ] It's beautiful.
( understating it. she tosses the ball again, a firmer throw that sends it much further down the corridor before bouncing down a different section. though excalibur chases and captures the ball again he doesn't return, going to lay back on his cushion with his prize )
There is more... ( she adds as a little aside. excalibur wasn't the only thing they had and whilst she'd said one thing she'd show him the section )
( fingers touch lightly on his before she steps away, not fully taking his hand but lingering close, making sure he's with her before she steps too far away )
The Library has been around for a long time, it's why we have some of the collections that we do.
[ Oh, he can handle excitement alright. Particularly this kind of excitement. Honestly, Jim wouldn't mind at all to spend the remainder of his shore leave holed up in this place, but he'll take what little he can get.
With a little smile as their fingers brush, he follows her again through the library, curious to see what she'll show him next. ]
I can imagine, if you've been collecting and safeguarding these items for this long.
( though she doesn't think that's what he entirely meant, though it is possible, judson and charlene had protected the library for 2000 years. she would now.
it's a few more minutes before she pulls him into a side room, a very old fashioned door pulled open to let them in.
inside there are shelves of books dedicated either to the period or about it, a crown hidden behind a display cabinet along with a few other artifacts behind the displays. she lets the room speak for itself when they walk in )
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( unless she included magical creatures in there but that was something very different again )
This is looking like quite the list.
( and she sounds impressed by that considering he's doing it by memory )
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[ Quid pro quo, so to speak. Maybe Starfleet wouldn't love having her there, but it's not like it's forbidden to take guests on board, so. ]
There's more titles I don't know by heart. But I'll look them up for you, so you can see if you've got them around here.
[ The place is massive, so it's very likely that she does. Even if she doesn't, he'll find her a copy to add to the collection. ]
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I look forward to it.
( seeing his ship and getting the rest of that list. whilst she wasn't fond of starfleet she was fond of him which meant she'd see his ship.
she leans in to press a kiss to his cheek )
Thank you.
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He looks up at the kiss, eyebrows raised in faint surprise, just as he's done with the list. Then, he smiles. ]
Don't mention it. I'm glad I can help.
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( if she'd known it would have been this quick eve might have just sent him the question in a message, though she knows that she would have missed out on seeing him.
but the information would be useful to the librarian (not her librarian, just the current librarian who was flitting off on a mission).
there's no offer of a tour, eve protective about her library, and though she's come to find some trust in jim she's more cautious and protective over what's inside. to keep him safe and unknowing )
I'll walk you back.
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So it does surprise him when she's already tell him she'll walk him back. His lips curl faintly, but he stands up and sets her book back on the table. ]
Here I thought the afternoon was just getting started.
[ His smile is amused, though, and because he's not the type to push, certainly not to the point of unpleasantness, he just gestures back to the hallway. ]
Well, you know the way, so you take the lead.
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What were you thinking?
( she can guess the most likely option. though she has to admit it is nice seeing him and this would definitely be the shortest amount of time they'd spent together. surely they didn't need a mission or disaster to run into the other (and enjoy it?) )
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[ He trails off, letting out a small chuckle, only a hint self-conscious for a change. ]
You were the one to invite me here. I figured it would be something a little more exciting than a fifteen minute visit. But that's on me for assuming; I'm sorry.
[ Of course he would love to see more of the library, and he would certainly love to see more of her. Doesn't mean he's entitled to it just because she asked him here, however brief the visit. ]
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jim's the first person she's given any measure of trust to in the last century and if his life were something different... maybe he'd have been given the white envelope. but at least he was better than the majority of the starfleet officers she ran into. and she trusted him to listen to her, to be careful )
One thing. A period of history, a collection. You can see one.
( he could pick, whatever it was that would make him the happiest to see )
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He's ready to just leave and (probably) never come back again, when she makes him that offer. And it's... so hard to even think of something, when she puts him on the spot like that. He lets out a soft laugh, shaking his head as he squeezes her hand a little. ]
I don't know, ah... I have no idea what to choose.
[ Especially when there's so much that's real that he only knew from myth or legend. But oh, that plants a thought in his head. ]
Is the legend of Merlin and King Arthur actually real?
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Excalibur is here.
( and jenkins, formerly known as galahad, one of the few friends eve still had considering his immortality and work with the library )
The details are a little murky but much of it is true.
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You have the Excalibur.
[ That just sounds so insane, so impossible, that Jim's instinct is to argue it's not even real. Instead, he challenges his own reality by promptly following that with— ]
Okay, then that's what I'd like to see.
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Okay.
( though she doesn't lead him anywhere, instead putting two fingers to her mouth to whistle for the sword. it was easier than trying to find him herself and he'd find her )
Just give him a minute.
( her hand slips out of his to move to the bookshelf whilst she waits, pulling down an especially thick book that she retrieves something from, leaning back on the desk behind her with a small ball in her hand.
they're not waiting long, not when magic powers the sword, before it wooshes towards them, bobbing around in front of eve with what almost sounds like a dog's bark )
Jim, Excalibur.
( and she definitely makes sure the sword sees the ball in her hand. it's got its interest )
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The answer to all his questions is surprising, and nothing he'd have ever expected, not in a million years. He laughs softly as the sword stays still right in front of Eve, almost as a living creature with a very clear, vivid interest in that ball on her hand. ]
You're kidding me, right?
[ Is the sword about to play fetch? Is that really what's happening? ]
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( she wiggles the ball around slightly before tossing it down the hall, it bouncing as it goes and the sword gives chase after it with an excited bark )
I can't train with him all day and he needs to stay sharp.
( literally, especially when once the sword catches up to the ball it spears it, happily bringing it back to eve to go again )
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Pun intended, or happy accident?
[ Well, that's one ruined ball. But then, she probably has a few tricks up her sleeve to fix that up. ]
Can I...
[ He gestures to the ball, careful not to get his hand too close to the blade without her giving him the go-ahead. ]
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( magical sword, wounds that never heal. though eve doesn't elaborate exactly on why he shouldn't touch it, trusting him )
Go on.
( she nods to excalibur as she pulls the ball from him, and the sword's careful as he drifts closer, hilt first )
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With a contained smile, he reaches out and wraps his hand around the hilt. Slow, careful, but his grip is firm, not sure if the sword will let him feel its full weight once he's holding it. ]
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Not many people in history can say they've done that.
( sadly no pictures but he gets a good memory )
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[ Or the importance, rather, because he can tell that he's not holding the full weight of it in his hand. Part of him is admittedly curious to know if he could, but in the end he decides that feeding his own ego really isn't that important. ]
Thank you, [ He says as he glances at her with a smile. After a few seconds of admiring the sword in his hand, he releases it again. ] It's beautiful.
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( understating it. she tosses the ball again, a firmer throw that sends it much further down the corridor before bouncing down a different section. though excalibur chases and captures the ball again he doesn't return, going to lay back on his cushion with his prize )
There is more... ( she adds as a little aside. excalibur wasn't the only thing they had and whilst she'd said one thing she'd show him the section )
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[ Said jokingly, of course. There's no such thing as too much excitement. ]
Alright, then. Show me.
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( fingers touch lightly on his before she steps away, not fully taking his hand but lingering close, making sure he's with her before she steps too far away )
The Library has been around for a long time, it's why we have some of the collections that we do.
( like excalibur and arthur's crown )
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With a little smile as their fingers brush, he follows her again through the library, curious to see what she'll show him next. ]
I can imagine, if you've been collecting and safeguarding these items for this long.
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( though she doesn't think that's what he entirely meant, though it is possible, judson and charlene had protected the library for 2000 years. she would now.
it's a few more minutes before she pulls him into a side room, a very old fashioned door pulled open to let them in.
inside there are shelves of books dedicated either to the period or about it, a crown hidden behind a display cabinet along with a few other artifacts behind the displays. she lets the room speak for itself when they walk in )
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