#she doesnt even know who shes talkign to smh

[philomelia]

his smile is soft and wide. cassie knows then why he's a captain. it isn't just about being a good leader, or making the right call, or having the necessary cv-- it's about possessing a charm that comes with ease (cassie thinks that the only reason people ever bothered to listen to an organisation like starfleet was because it had gotten lucky by hiring some charismatic fools). she smiles back, but her lips are a little jagged and her face is a little moon - swept. though jim had been the one found on the brink of collapse, cassie always looks a little dead.

" there's no good stuff on this ship. that's the only way to make sure you don't catch yourself being raided by space pirates. " cassie's lucky in that her ship doesn't exactly attract those distracted by wealth. it's a little metal tincan that was discontinued about fifty years ago (and should've probably been discontinued long before that). the only reason it is still alive is because cassie loves it. and because she has unlimited access to tape. " i think there's some whiskey around, though. if you're in a festive mood. "

his yawn causes her to raise a brow at him. she's almost ready to suggest that he takes another nap, but she doesn't imagine it'll go through. instead, she pulls a chair closer and nods her head towards it. " take a seat. you don't have to go anywhere, " she assures with a gentle dip of her head. " do you know how to navigate one of these things or do you need a quick crash course? "

the dissonance between her words and her tone of voice doesn’t trouble him at all.   if anything,  it makes jim feel right at home.  well,  sort of.  either way,  his smile softens while he focuses on her properly,  vision finally rid of that blurry film that impaired him during their first encounter  —  there is something undoubtedly mechanical about her,  even if he can’t pinpoint it to anything he is familiar with.

‘  i won’t touch your dungeon,  unless it’s where you keep the good stuff.  ’   he quips back with equal humor,  leveraging his weight with a hand on the back of the chair as subtly as possible.  she isn’t wrong indeed,  he really could use a bit more rest,  but he is constantly distracted by his surroundings,  unfamiliar and yet instinctually not so much as to be totally lost.  the equipment around them is a touch more rudimental than he is used to,  still jim has no trouble pointing to a screen displaying their current position.

'  we could try our luck on one of these moons.  they’re small,  it should be less trouble for us.  ’   he blinks,  smile turning sheepish as he raises a hand to the back of his head,  belatedly realizing that he has just invited himself to a recon trip for the ship repairs.   '  uh  —  unless you want me to stay over here?  ’   her ship,  her call.. it’s as easy as that.  the pull towards uncharted territory is there,  despite the yawn that nearly overtakes his mouth,  but he will abide by her judgment with no fuss.