PSL - To Boldly Go To One's Own Future

[brotherthine]

Mycroft had woken up at his usual hour to go through his morning exercise routine - five miles running, some free weights, and then a shower and a choice of suits. He wasn't entirely sure why he felt the need to dress as if today was going to need a particularly good blending sort of armor - but there he was. Dressing in his favorite tan tweed, with the blue silk tie and handkerchief. Dressed as if to fade in, make himself seem like he was just a ghost in the background.

The spectre at the feast, hah.

He rapped on Jim's door, but hearing nothing, made his way downstairs.

Where he found the man, curled up on the sofa with the oddest contraption he'd ever seen in his life. Both eyebrows raising, he pitched his voice, just so.

"Good morning. Coffee?"

Comments

[james_kirk]

"It's not like you ate a big breakfast. You should at least eat the fish." Wow. Jim actually nagging somebody about their health? Bones has rubbed off on him.

[brotherthine]

"I am fine, Jim." He folded his hands back in his lap, tilting his head to the side. "I can always get something ordered back at the office."

[james_kirk]

"Okay, that's fine." Hey, he's not gonna force him to eat. Jim's happy just getting the fries. "What time do you get off work?"

[brotherthine]

Mycroft hummed quietly, as he took out his phone to check his schedule. He paused, before looking at Jim and saying sincerely, "Thank you for your concern. I ... appreciate it."

He nodded his head, just so, before he pulled up his calendar. "Around six."

[james_kirk]

Jim just smiles at the thanks, thinking non's really needed, but appreciating it nonetheless. See? Just more proof that Mycroft's a nice guy in disguise.

"Six? Plenty of time. Good. And I forgot to ask, but have you received any aggravated messages from your brother yet?" he asks with a grin.

[brotherthine]

Mycroft is not a nice guy - he's British. They have manners. That's what happens in a country where they are raised to be polite.

One corner of his mouth twitched up. "Several, actually. If he knew your name he would be cursing it."

[james_kirk]

All that does is make Jim grin even more broadly. Oh, he knew that would be happening, but it's so amusing to hear it. "And, as far as I'm aware, telling him it's from 'Jim' would only make the situation worse."

[brotherthine]

"Oh, it would more than likely turn his tantrum into a fit.... and I would rather avoid that, thank you." He arched one eyebrow, "Would it be all right if I chose our place for dinner?"

[james_kirk]

"Sure. You know London a lot better than I do, so I'll trust your judgment on where has edible food." Jim had to admit, he wasn't dead yet, so that was probably a good sign.

[brotherthine]

"As always, your trust is invaluable." His phone buzzed again, and he plucked it out to look at it. "Oh my - that is quite visual." He handed the phone over to Jim, so he could see the message from Sherlock. "I think he is getting closer, though."

[james_kirk]

Jim peers at the phone and then bursts out laughing. "No. No, he's not. Oh, he's gonna be so pissed." He hands the phone back, grinning like a madman. "Vulcan puzzle spheres are particularly frustrating because they look like they're going correctly and you think you've just about got it, but theeeeeen you hit a point days, hours, weeks later where you realize you've been going about it all wrong and you have to flip your thinking upside-down."

[brotherthine]

"Oh dear ... " Mycroft's eyebrows rose together. "Then I am not sure how much this is going to improve my relationship with Sherlock, but at least it will keep him occupied."

For quite a long time.

[james_kirk]

"If he's as smart as he's supposed to be, then he'll figure out his issue in... I'm gonna say 90 minutes. Then I'm predicting another angry message. You gotta remember that Vulcans are a race that prize puzzles that take years to solve. I could have brought him something a lot more difficult." He still seems insufferably smug about the whole thing.

[brotherthine]

"Well, I look forward to that particular call." He glanced at his watch, then looking over to him thoughtfully, "What are you up to for the rest of the afternoon?"

[james_kirk]

"Thought I'd take a little tour of London while you were working." Jim actually just wants to plan escape routs and good places to beam the hell out of there when the police come to chase him down. "Did you have something else in mind?"

[brotherthine]

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to distract a group of ministers ... but your afternoon seems relaxing and I do not wish to take you from your vacation entirely." He smiled, as he waved for the check. "Please, do keep to your plans."

[james_kirk]

"Wait, wait. Distract a group of ministers?" Okay, Jim definitely has to know more about this, so he leans forward, clearly interested. "Why?"

[brotherthine]

"Oh yes - I need them to be thinking about why you are there, and not what lies they are telling." Mycroft's lips twitched. "And it appears you seem to be interested?"

[james_kirk]

"I'm always happy to serve as a distraction. What is it you want me to do?" Jim really is good at that particular task. Nobody has ever been successfully able to ignore Jim Kirk for long.

[brotherthine]

"Well, mostly I want you to sit there and be charming as possible. Listen to what they have to say, and occasionally smirk sexily. Take notes - or not, draw sketches of hippos for all I care. Just ... look like you're there for Questioning Purposes."

[james_kirk]

Jim laughs at this idea because it sounds ridiculously fun. "John taught me a great way to draw squiggly line giraffes. Maybe I'll practice that while I'm flirting with strangers."

[brotherthine]

"That sounds like an excellent plan," Mycroft all but purred with smug glee. "Thank you, Jim. I shall owe you one."

[james_kirk]

"Though, I gotta wonder, what are you trying to get out of these guys?" Yeah, that's part of the payment: Jim's going to ask endless questions.

[brotherthine]

Mycroft's smile became, if possible, even more devious. "Let us just say it is what they are trying to get out of me. This will allow me to access true motivations."

[james_kirk]

Jim chuckles at that. Of course. He should have known. Not that he minds helping out with that, either, so it doesn't make any difference to his previous agreement. "You can pay me in pastries. I love pastries. Cinnamon buns especially."