Be My Guest

[losthunter]

Hunter is hosting a few guests at his Nexus apartment tonight. Hunter had been planning this night for awhile, ever since meeting some of the crew members of Jim's ship, getting to know them better, and then telling them about the Nexus. He has been busy planning for the evening, including grocery shopping for some home-made recipes, and finishing some art pieces that will be given as gifts.

Hunter has arranged so that the PINpoint portal is basically connected to his front door. His open concept kitchen and living room will be the first thing that his guests will see, once they arrive through the PINpoint portal. There is a small closet located to the left of the door where they can place any jackets.

The dining room in the living room has been set with all the dining places for his guests. He decided against placecards, since it is more freedom to allow his guests to choose their own seats. On the island in the kitchen is a large plate of vegetarian-friendly appetizers, which features Lavash bread topped with Guacamole and red bell peppers, alongside crescent rolls filled with Jalapeño, mushrooms and asparagus.

The open concept living room immediately flows into Hunter's art studio, where he has a few pieces still being created. There is a large set of French doors that leads out from the living room to an outdoor patio, where there is a rose garden outside. The every-spanning Nexus can be viewed from the patio balcony. Right now, the Nexus is showing the lakeside, where Hunter had first appeared when he had needed support the most.

There are a few closed doors along one wall, one of which that leads to the bathroom, and the other of which leads to Hunter's bedroom.

As Hunter chills some wine, and checks on his main course, he is pretty ready for his guests to arrive. He is feeling excited and happy to be a host.

Comments

[boldygoing]

"Interesting," Spock says.

"Probably a good thing we haven't told Sulu yet, or he'd be grilling you about roses for hours," Jim says with a grin. "Botany's kind of his hobby."

[losthunter]

"And I could talk about roses for hours. But I am sure there are better conversations to be had."

[boldygoing]

"So you live here by yourself?" Uhura asks. She's noticed that there doesn't seem to be any signs of anyone else in residence, in the decor or elsewhere.

[losthunter]

"Yes. For about a year now."

"It has been some time since I shared a place with anyone." There might not be signs of anyone else in residence, but there are random pieces of art work that were gifted to Hunter by his friends.

[boldygoing]

"And that doesn't get lonely?" McCoy asks with a slight frown.

"It's the Nexus, Bones," Jim answers, nudging the doctor. "Trust me, there's no shortage of people if you want company."

[losthunter]

"And sometimes, it is nice to have the place to myself. Blast my music. Work on my art. Walk around with paint or clay on my hands and my skin."

And if Hunter had wanted someone to move in with him, the person he would choose right now would not be in his best interest.

[boldygoing]

"Ah, civilian life," McCoy drawls, taking a drink from his punch.

[losthunter]

"It is the only life I know." Hunter laughs.

"So... care to turn some skewers with me?" He offers to Jim. But anyone is welcome to help out.

[boldygoing]

"Sure," Jim agrees readily. "Bones, you wanna supervise?"

McCoy gives Jim a look like he isn't sure if this is supposed to be a dig at his opinions on barbecue or if it's an insinuation that his mother henning is such that he doesn't trust the captain not to burn himself. "You know, I think I will," he says, muttering something under his breath about tofu.

[losthunter]

"And if you two would like, you can go through my music selection and make a choice for something to play." Hunter speaks to Spock and Uhura, gesturing to the sound system he has in the living room. There is a large CD tower that holds about 100 choices.

Hunter then leads Jim and McCoy out to the balcony outside. Tucked away on one side of the balcony is a hot tub, which is covered right now.

He lifts the lid of the barbecue, letting the smell of barbecue fill the air.

[boldygoing]

"That does smell pretty good," McCoy admits, as the scent of cooking meat wafts across the balcony.

"One of the only good things about being Earthside is getting real food," Jim agrees. Even though this isn't Earth, it still counts enough for him. He eyes the skewers, taking note of their levels of doneness and where the greater points of heat seem to be on the grill, so they can rearrange them to cook evenly.

[losthunter]

The meat-based skewers are on a closer point to the heat, where they can get an even-heat. The tofu-based skewers are on a middle rack, a little further from the heat. And the corn is on the top rack.

"When was the last time you had real food?" He asks Jim.

[boldygoing]

"You mean before our last mission?" Jim asks, since he hasn't left Earth since the day he got brought to Starfleet Medical in cryogenic suspension. It's been a little over two months since then.

"That was ten days before we came back from Nibiru," McCoy says, doing the mental math. "So that's about eleven weeks ago, give or take."

[losthunter]

"Wow. Then I hope tonight is just what you need." Hunter takes the opportunity to place his hand onto Jim's spare hand.

[boldygoing]

Jim smiles a little, giving his hand a squeeze. "I've had non-synthesized stuff since I got out of the hospital, but more's always better, especially a home-cooked meal."

[losthunter]

"You are adorable." Hunter tells him.

"I am going to get the salad ready. I am going to leave you two BBQ chefs in charge." He smiles at McCoy. "And yes, even the tofu."

[boldygoing]

McCoy rolls his eyes, but there's a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he turns to the grill, and there's a brief - if friendly - scuffle over who gets to man the tongs.

Inside the apartment, Spock and Uhura have figured out how the entertainment system works after some trial and error, and are playing samples of some of the CDs to figure out what the hell they even are.

[losthunter]

Heading into the kitchen, Hunter pulls out a watermelon and blueberry salad from the fridge. He sets it on the table, and moves over to where Spock and Uhura are at his entertainment system.

"How are things over here?"

[boldygoing]

Spock looks up from a handful of CD jewel cases, his subtle expression the same type he wears when faced with a somewhat puzzling scientific mystery. "This technology is quite... antiquated. But I believe we have ascertained its function correctly."

"We're not familiar with most of these artists," Uhura explains further, smiling at Hunter. Which should make sense; after all, nineteenth century music isn't exactly popular in most Earths in the twenty-first century.

[losthunter]

"Good. I am glad you were able to figure it out." Hunter steps over, close to Uhura to check out some of the selections she had been looking at.

"I think something from John Lennon or Harry Styles would be nice."

[boldygoing]

Uhura remembers seeing one of those names on another CD she'd looked at earlier, and she seeks it out, putting the disc into the player. The opening lines of "I Am the Walrus" comes out of the speaker, and though Spock's expression is still very stoically Vulcan, he's clearly baffled by the lyrics.

"Perhaps my study of human literary classics is lacking. I do not understand what this song is attempting to reference."

[losthunter]

"A lot of the 'Beatles' songs were written during the 1960s, a time of revolution, drugs, sex, and music. Some of their songs didn't have a reference... the band members were high." Hunter explained softly.

"Some research has claimed that the title was written in tribute to 'The Walrus and The Carpenter', written by Lewis Carroll. And that many of the different non-sequential lyrics, where things that John had dreamt of, when he was on acid. One of those drugs I mentioned."

"This is actually not the only unusual song they did. But people loved them for it." Hunter smiles.

[boldygoing]

"High," Spock repeats, sounding no less confused by the slang.

Uhura, being a linguist, understands right away where his trouble is. "Intoxicated," she clarifies.

"I see." He doesn't, exactly, in that he doesn't understand why humans have a tendency to ingest mind-altering substances for recreational purposes. But he does now understand the use of the word 'high' in this context, at least. "Human culture is... fascinating, if quite illogical."

[losthunter]

"One of John Lennon's most powerful songs is actually this..." Hunter uses the sound system remote to forward the CD a few songs, until 'Imagine' starts playing. "It started a movement."

[boldygoing]

Ah, a song that makes logical sense. Spock is far more appreciative of this one, if only because it's comprehensible.

Uhura tilts her head to the side slightly as she listens. "What sort of movement?"