( OPEN )

[fhux]

WHO: Hux & YOU
WHAT: His first month in the Quarantine.
WHEN: Feb.
WHERE: All over! Tag his open prompt or contact me for a private thread.
WARNINGS: tba

i. central perk in space.

[ It has been so long since Hux was planetside (aside from Starkiller Base which doesn't really count because nothing was new there, culturally, after the First Order set down roots) that for his first couple of weeks without duties, responsibilities, or even a timetable, he flounders for what to do with himself. After throwing himself into his work at the Perimeter Guard (training and such menial obstacles that must be overcome with his indictment) and messaging the network only to find a wealth of the Resistance skulking around, determined to sabotage his attempts to do exactly anything, not to mention Kylo Ren running wild with the most common of ruffians available, Armitage decides Kriff this and goes into the city with no clear purpose. It's horrible yet somehow soothing to have no direction and aimlessly wander, discovering this and that along the way. He takes notes of local engineering workshops and purchases what passes for a datapad from some galaxy he's never heard of, spends a little too long outside a pet store watching a young batch of kittens under a For Sale sign (Millicent), and indulges in rating caff-shops. Or coffee-shops, whatever they're called.

He finds one in particular that he likes. No one knows him or looks twice when he steps inside, half-anxious FN-2187 or Dameron is going to pop up like a mouthy sarlacc and shriek obscenities at him, but he purchases a black caff and some cookies and sits down near a window in peaceful silence, greatcoat folded beside him and the new datapad his current focus as he attempts to reprogram its language into Basic. It's a relaxing task and somewhat flexes his technical skills, keeping his head down so that he is soon absorbed in his work, occasionally raking back loose red hair that flops forward without the usual regulation pomade, sweater sleeves rolled up as the heat of the shop seeps into his pale skin. Oddly, he thinks of his quiet talks with Phasma at the end of her shifts whenever she would approach him in his private quarters to log reports, and he misses the subtle humour that would wryly peel through her helmet as he drank his bitter tea, gently ribbing back and forth. He misses ... a lot about home. Yet, even though most of his time was objectively spent alone on the Finalizer, never has he had the time to actually feel lonely. There has always been something to do.

Armitage isn't happy but neither is he despairing anymore, which is as good as he suspects it will get on this moon. At least the caff is decent and no one is adding new bruises to his collection of faded relics. ]

ii. shuttle adventure. (closed to jim kirk)

[ It's a matter of time before one of the Resistance sabotages his attempts to get anything of worth done at Armitage's new job (he still isn't sure what to do with himself, exactly) but before they do he intends to get as good of an overview of what he's dealing with as possible, and that means actual legwork. No longer does he have a star-destroyer to simply scan the terrain on his behalf and relay any salient information; no, today he arrives on what passes for the Guard's shuttle bay with his homemade datapad under an arm, greatcoat buttoned (minus any insignia that might set off an unwanted confrontation) and ungelled hair whipping in the wind as he approaches the owner of the craft.

Not knowing what to expect with the rebels an unknown factor lurking in the shadows, he straightens up near Kirk and clears his throat. Manages a tight smile. (Certain factors run through his mind, taking note of the height and muscle Kirk has on him, comforted by the concealed blaster and knife Hux decided to keep hidden away on his person ... just in case.) ]

Captain. If you and your vessel are ready and willing, I believe I'm a little early for our tour of the Abandoned City.

iii. getting up, close and wet. (closed to valkyrie)

[ The only significant amount of time Hux spends in the public apartments is to shower, distrustful of the showers at the Perimeter Guard which are so close to the hygiene sectors that Stormtroopers use he can't bear to imagine setting foot inside them. So his routine goes as follows; enter the apartment with spare clothes and toiletries in his satchel, head straight to the showers, return to the bedroom and change into fresh clothes. He keeps a hairbrush and spare towel in the drawers next to his allotted bed, which is fortunate because today he doesn't have another towel to dry his hair with and, having discovered Tico is a resident on the same floor, he would rather not linger longer than necessary.

The aggressive woman known as Valkyrie is, of course, therefore passed out on his bed with her feet in the way of the drawers he needs to get into, dripping and cold in a single towel wrapped around his waist. She's the violent type, he has vaguely heard, so when it comes to waking her up he doesn't take any chances.

Armitage uses someone else's pillow to throw at her head, himself keeping a safe distance. In a cutting tone usually appropriated on the bridge of the Finalizer, he barks, ] Up, now!

Comments

[fhux]

[ How very useful the Captain truly is. Still, Hux words himself carefully; that's what happens if someone finds out you've murdered billions of people, in retrospect everything you've said to them will seem ten times worse. ]

I'm supposed to be using my talents to defend the wall, but I'd like to know what lies beyond it first to get an idea of how to do so. Furthermore, if there's any abandoned tech I could appropriate in the future, I'd like to personally know where it is.

[winscenario]

[ Well, if Jim knew about that, they sure wouldn't be out here together. He may not be able to force people back through the portal or control the amount of access and freedom they have in the Quarantine, but he wouldn't make the same allowances when it comes to what little he can control.

And he can control his unit; decide on who gets access, and how much. Hux is smart to have sought out this kind of assistance right upon arrival, and lucky that the window of time wasn't enough for anyone to warn Jim about him. ]

There are some parts you can salvage out there. Nothing in perfect or working condition for the most part— finding this shuttle was a miracle, I'll tell you. But it's not impossible. [ He nods ahead. ] We can land, if you want to look around for a little while.

[fhux]

I'd rather stay on-board, if you don't mind. [ Being abandoned in the wilderness is a threat he hasn't forgotten from the responses on the network. He attempts a smile when he glances up from his datapad. ] I simply want to plot the land, thank you.

Do you often come out here on missions?

[winscenario]

Not at all. I offered to fly you out here, so whatever it is you want to do, just point me in the right direction. [ Jim shrugs. Between coming back from the mission, fixing up what he had to with the shuttle, and getting all the data put together, Jim hadn't exactly had time or opportunity to learn that his new 'friend' wasn't exactly a friendly sort, or even someone he should be associating himself with.

Besides, he'd never leave him stranded in the middle of nowhere, no matter who he was or what he may have done. Just wasn't right. ]

Fairly often, just not always on specific missions. Working at the guard, I've always spent most of my time outside the wall.

[fhux]

[ More comfortably settled now he knows they won't be making any stops, he sends a few coordinates over to Jim via the console, places he has read about on maps and wants to see a little closer. ]

Is it a recreational habit for you as well? You seem very at home in the air.

[winscenario]

Sometimes, sure. [ He inputs the coordinates to the navigation system, then directs the shuttle towards the first destination. ]

But I always try to make each flight at least a little useful, even if I'm only coming out here for recreational purposes.

[fhux]

[ That draws out a small smile and a stifled chuckle, not aimed at Jim as Hux keeps his eyes on his work but inspired by him. ]

That sort of talk would rate you very highly in the eyes of my most trusted captain. She ... was exceptional at her duties and expected the same of all those beneath her.

[winscenario]

[ He hums a little, canting his head. ] Sounds like the type I'd get along with.

[ Or so he thinks, of course. Jim's had his ups and downs since joining the Academy, but now he would say he's very much like that, too. ]

[fhux]

[ He falls silent, morose as he thinks of Phasma's death. FN-2187 doesn't know Hux is aware and hopes to assassinate the traitorous Stormtrooper to avenge Hux's long-time confidante, but he will. Somehow, one day.

After a heavy silence over the soft beeps of data-logging, he blurts out, ]

She was blonde, like you. Maybe all good captains are.

[winscenario]

[ The offhanded remark gets a soft laugh out of him. He grins, pursing his lips and lifting a shoulder. ]

Sure. Why not. My superior officers all looked at me and thought, 'ah yes, another blond one, finally a new decent Captain'. Definitely a prerequisite to my promotion.

[fhux]

[ A snort and a small, daring smile from Hux. Can't be helped. ]

Better than red.

[winscenario]

Oh, I don't know. I like your hair.

[ Oh good, he can smile. That's something! ]

[fhux]

You are one of an extremely elite group then, Captain.

[ Members: one. The last time anyone commented on his appearance was back when Brendol was alive and isn't that an odd realisation. No one said anything to his face about how he lacked his father's swarthiness, anyway, too pale and slim.

When was the last time he had a discussion at ease at all?

Smalltalk without a side of political threats is difficult but he throws his lot in with Jim on this ship, away from the suffocating anxieties of the Quarantine. ]

You have a dangerously disarming charm. Show some mercy.

[winscenario]

[ Jim's all about that. He much prefers it that people relax and are at ease around him. It doesn't take exceptional observational skills to tell that Hux isn't used to that at all, it's in the way he carries himself, even in the way he talks.

So he can't help feel a hint of satisfaction when a bit of that bleeds away. When he gets the guy to smile and joke first, and now, that he gets that comment out of him.

He grins crookedly, a flash of teeth showing as he cants his head towards Hux. ]

Can't just turn it off. Sorry.

[ He's not actually sorry, evidently. ]

[fhux]

[ His lips purse to contain the untrustworthy levity he feels and he sniffs, clearing his throat and looking back to his datapad. ]

Technically, I outrank you. Please consider throwing yourself in your own brig.

[ The crinkle in his eyes betrays his cool tone, a little flustered by getting along with a man he resolved to merely tolerate until the aerial surveillance was over. ]

[winscenario]

[ He lets out a huff, shrugging and waving a hand dismissively. ] Only technically. In any case, there are no Generals in Starfleet.

[ And as Hux can probably tell already, Jim doesn't care much at all for ranks around here. ]

[fhux]

How can you have captains yet no generals?

[ Wrinkling his nose because that makes zero sense. ]

[winscenario]

We just... don't. [ He shrugs. ] We have Commodores and Admirals, though. Those are the only ranks above Captain.

[ Different origins, most likely. At least he's no stranger to the term, it's just not a reality in Starfleet. ]

[fhux]

Absurd.

[ What's wrong with generals! Promptly, Hux decides to go for gold and let his snarky humour slip through. ]

Your Starfleet is broken, Kirk. Please accept my sincerest condolences.

[winscenario]

[ Absolutely nothing is wrong with Generals, they're great! Starfleet just doesn't have a need for them. (Sorry, Hux.)

He lets out a laugh at that, head tipping back a little and all. ]

My Starfleet is doing just fine, thank you very much. Your condolences are appreciated but not necessary.

[fhux]

[ His posture slumps for the first time since entering the shuttle as he leans on a bent arm, forcing himself to pay more attention to logging anything interesting on the moon below. ]

South-east, if you please.

[ In relatively comfortable silence to reclaim his calm. ]

[winscenario]

Yes, sir.

[ The term is definitely teasing, voice quiet as he adjusts the course slightly, following Hux's instructions. Otherwise he stays silent, wanting to give Hux the room and the time to take down notes and collect all the data he might need. ]

[fhux]

[ Liking it a lot when Jim calls him "sir", oh dear. Time passes faster than expected as he refocuses on making his own personal map. Highly conscious of how useful (and amiable) Jim is, Hux weighs his options (will the rebels warn him off taking Hux on another of these trips once they return?) with whether he should push his luck.

He doesn't. ]

That's more than enough for today, I think. [ An hour of surveying has given him a decent amount of information to hoard for later. He nods to Jim. ] Any time you want to return, Kirk, have at it.

[winscenario]

[ Your kinks are showing Hux, just saying.

He knows the area so well that he can practically fly over the city and surrounding forest with his eyes closed, but he keeps following Hux's directions, so he can have a better look at any details that might pick up his interest.

It doesn't take long for the hour to go by. Jim's done surveying flights much longer than this, honestly, but if this is enough for Hux for the moment, then he's all too glad to have made himself useful. ]

Alright, then. [ Doing a sweeping turn over the abandoned city, he starts them back towards the Quarantine. ]

[fhux]

[ Jim is an excellent pilot, so much so that his smooth flying has Hux's head nodding back in his seat and the general fighting to keep his eyes open. He doesn't feel beholden to talk or provide entertainment, dozing with the datapad hugged to his chest. It has been over a fortnight since he quit sleeping in the apartment where Tico is also holed up, committing to sleeping in the comfiest high-backed computer chair he could find while working late at the perimeter guard; exhaustion creeps up on Hux and he dozes easily, mumuring an apology whenever he wakes up enough to notice how badly his self-control has slipped. ]