Gathering: Garden party, interrupted

[concierge]

From grand galas to informal gatherings, parties of one sort or another were not an unusual occurrence at the Nexus Hotel. Today was no different, a low-key affair erected in the rotunda of the Italian gardens with the aspiration that tea sandwiches and mimosas would facilitate mingling of the hotel's ever-shifting population.

What was unusual, however, was the inclusion of a wayward, bipedal lizard courtesy of a door standing open on the hotel's facade. Green, spry, perhaps five feet long and roughly as tall as a man, this new guest featured a curved, hard plate across his (or her) forehead that was perhaps indicative of the stubborn nature lurking beneath -- Perhaps because the foliage was so tasty, this little dinosaur resisted all attempts by the staff to corral it back to its home. It would run away from ropes and outstretched arms, knocking over bottles of champagne and destroying the decor before settling several feet away to chomp on some accommodating flowers.

Comments

[boldly_going]

"I never doubted it," Jim assures him. It's not flattery, it's the truth. He's never really worried about the gender issue and now that they're both men, the heat between them hasn't really changed. It's as if he just woke up one day and realized he's into his best friend and it's perfectly natural.

"Did you?"

[leftwithmybones]

"I mean, maybe for a bit, I did," he confesses. "Jim, we were roommates for how many years at the Academy? I saw the way you went through people," he points out. "I guess a part of me was thinking," and still thinking, if he's honest, "that I'm not gonna be enough for you, not for a long run kind of thing."

[boldly_going]

"Big difference. I was friends with you first," Jim points out. "And I make it a point never to mix friends and sex. So you're different from the start because I can't really stop being your friend just because I decided to date you. You know?"

[leftwithmybones]

"Yeah, I get that," he agrees, and he's grateful for it, seeing as he knows it makes all the difference in the world to have a friend before you take the next step to make things more serious. "I mean, I think it's working. We both like each other a whole hell of a lot," he reasons. "And besides, I already knew I loved you years ago."

[boldly_going]

"You'd have to, to keep after me like you do," Jim says, arching a brow. "Because let's be real with ourselves...I'm a pain in the ass to keep alive."

[leftwithmybones]

"Not just keep alive, but smuggle onto a ship," he points out, seeing as that one had put him in a very perilous position that threatened his career, but at the same time, he honestly doesn't think he could've done it without Jim. He finishes his drink and sets it on the grass below, fitting his palm at the small of Jim's back. "I guess I might keep you."

[boldly_going]

"Permanently or just until I lose my good looks? Because the men in my family look good for a long time, you're going to have to wait a while to trade me in for a new trophy," Jim teases.

[leftwithmybones]

McCoy slowly grins and leans back so he can get a good look at Jim. He's seen pictures of George Kirk and though he only aged to a certain age, he's also seen Winona, knows how well they age in that family. "You really think I'm the one doing the trading in this relationship? I'm the one who's got nearly half a decade on you," he points out. "You'd be looking for a new trophy."

[boldly_going]

"I think being the trophy is more fun than looking for one," Jim teases. "Because, let's be real,I'm definitely the pretty one in this operation."

He shrugs a bit. "I don't mind the age difference."

[leftwithmybones]

"I'm plenty attractive, but you're right. You're definitely the pretty one," he says, not intending to argue when he's plenty secure in his looks. It helps, having been married, because then you know that someone wanted you enough to get a ring on you. "It just means if we stick together, you might have to end up taking care of me."

[boldly_going]

"I think you're going to end up taking care of me. I'm the one who is constantly getting himself into mortal peril," Jim says.

"But I promise I'll be an excellent patient."

[leftwithmybones]

He doesn't want this to become him taking care of Jim, always the responsible, boring one. Still, he's grateful that Jim might give him a chance, seeing as there's been times in the past where Jim had bucked off his care out of stubbornness and he wants to avoid that. "You will, huh? And why excellent now?"

[boldly_going]

"Because I have motivation not to annoy you," Jim says cheekily in reply. Because, really, that's the game, isn't it? To annoy Bones to death, to get some attention from him. Now he has all the attention he wants or needs.

[leftwithmybones]

"Yeah, you've definitely got a lot of reason," McCoy does feel inclined to agree, seeing as he knows that he's much more eager to give Jim things if Jim is willing to play nice and do things his way. His smile broadens and softens at once. "You're charming as hell, and I think you know it."

[boldly_going]

"It is one of my numerous talents," Jim says, tugging him close for another kiss.

"Just like kissing is."

[leftwithmybones]

He wants to be persnickety and tease, but the trouble is that he's quickly falling right back to old easy habits, like letting himself be pulled into a kiss like this because it's good enough to take his breath away. Sighing into Jim's lips, he mumbles a quiet, "lucky you're right," because he can't let him get away with nothing.