Pull point plot!

[vorbarra]

WHO: Vorsoaps family and others.
WHERE: Probably mostly DC#7, but all over.
WHEN: March 27 - April 6
WHAT: Ageswap shenanigans ahoy.
WARNINGS: None, actually, except for rampant spoilers for the whole series, most likely, so if you care about that sort of thing, be warned!

Comments

[keep_nothing]

[ She presses on Gregor's back reassuringly, sending a quick It's okay across the link to him.

To Jim she says, ] I know, I look a bit different now. I was wondering if you could help me for a moment.

[overemotionally]

[He's moving slowly, more carefully than before all of this wonky timeline stuff started happening. He stops in front of the two of them.]

Yeah, whatever's going on around here seemed to mess with a lot of us.

[He looks to her side and sees a dark-haired teen, barely able to see his profile with his head ducked. Combining that with how Miles had been and sitting with Cordelia...]

Hey Gregor, almost didn't see you there. [Joking. He turns back to Cordelia.]

Sure, what's up?

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor's surprised to be recognized. It pings something in the back of his brain, just enough for him to slowly recognize him.

Softly, ] Hello, Lieutenant Kirk. [ So he's not gone totally mute, at least. Gregor's mostly left that stage in his life. He just... prefers not to talk. ]

[keep_nothing]

[ Oh good, that's a good sign. She gestures for Jim to take a seat beside her, letting Gregor be safe on his own side. ]

You're close enough to a Betan. I need you to help me walk through some things.

[overemotionally]

[Jim lifts an eyebrow at Cordelia's comment. Hadn't Gregor and Miles explained a bit about being Betan...? He'd think about it later.

He takes one last look at Gregor before sitting on Cordelia's other side, grateful to sit, considering he still wasn't feeling 100% (and probably wouldn't until he worked himself back up properly).]

Uh...sure? Like what?

[keep_nothing]

Well there's several things wrapped up into it, but I'll fill you in as we go, [ she starts with, matter-of-factly and blunt, waving a hand past the details. ] But the brunt of it is about same-sex relationships.

[overemotionally]

[Jesus what the hell did he just get himself into?]

...Uh?

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor stirs. There's a definite note of protest as he buts in with, ] Cordelia--

[keep_nothing]

[ She overrides them both, ] Now Jim, presuming two men care deeply for each other, there's nothing wrong in them sleeping with one another, right?

[overemotionally]

[The look he gives her is his best non-verbal way of saying How could you do this to me considering who you are?]

No, nothing.

[Sticking to your questions only, Cordelia.]

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor really doesn't want to talk. But this is so embarrassing. He doesn't remember Jim exactly, he just knows this is mortifying, and he tries to head it off. Cordelia's getting it wrong and that makes him jump in. ]

You told me that already, and that's not it. He's eight. It's just all my-- my-- stupid older feelings.

[ He does sound vaguely distraught. Mostly he sounds exceedingly fourteen. Nothing like distress to get Gregor sounding his age. ]

[keep_nothing]

[ She raises her eyebrows in mock innocence, momentarily turning from Jim back to Gregor. ]

Oh? These older feelings aren't hung up on sleeping with Miles?

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor starts to blush. He immediately ducks his head again. ]

He's eight, [ he repeats in exactly the same tone as before, indignant and horrified. Gregor is having a major problem reconciling his adult feelings with his present feelings. Even beginning to deal with how uncomfortable he is with men gets diverted by that enormity. ]

[keep_nothing]

He's eight right now, yes.

[vorbarra]

[ What's he supposed to say to that? As far as Gregor's concerned, he's always eight. Nine. Whatever.

He drags one knee up again and hugs it tightly to his chest, mostly to hide his face better. ] I just want it to go away, [ he mumbles, barely audible, already retreating once more. Jim's here. He doesn't want to say anything in front of Jim but he can't totally remember why, and it's starting to make him irritated, all these impulses he can't trace the roots of. ]

[keep_nothing]

Hmm ... [ She tilts her head, a touch dramatic as she appears to consider something he said. Then she shrugs lightly. ]

If you don't want to talk about it, do you mind if I talk to Jim for a moment about something else?

[vorbarra]

[ He shakes his head mutely, mostly to be left alone. ]

[keep_nothing]

Right, then. Now Jim ... [ She turns more back to Jim, still leaving her arm draped around Gregor's back. ]

I wanted to ask you a general question, more about your experience with something.

[overemotionally]

[Jim is just looking between the two of them this whole time incredulous at what he's hearing. When Cordelia refocuses back on him, he straightens up a little bit. Something big was going on and Gregor was pretty clearly distressed. Not something he remembered ever thinking about Gregor before, not something he thought Gregor capable of. Cordelia seemed to think he could do something about this? If he could help out at all...]

What about?

[keep_nothing]

[ The tone of her voice is completely serious now, not faking innocence for Gregor's sake. ]

How familiar are you with dominance and submission? The theory of it, if not the personal experience, though that would help too if you're willing to talk about it.

[overemotionally]

[That freezes him in place. His eyes flick from Cordelia to Gregor and back again. He doesn't outright ask her but his look clearly says In front of him? Now?

He waits a few seconds seeing Cordelia means business because of course she does.]

Familiar enough. I think.

[keep_nothing]

[ She pointedly does not look at Gregor, and she slightly widens her eyes at Jim when he tries to; a signal to not involve him for just the moment. ]

So the dominant role. There are different flavors, right? In terms of how they treat the submissive.

[overemotionally]

[He takes the hint and focuses on her entirely.]

...Right. It depends on the couple's dynamic and how they want it to be.

[he's wondering what the hell she's getting at.]

[keep_nothing]

Now say, theoretically, I heard about how bad the scenarios can be since I've first really heard about them at all. Talk and rumor going on about the negative aspects of it. I'd have thought that was all there is to it, right?

[overemotionally]

Yeah, it gets a bad rap because of that. It takes a lot of trust between partners for it so miscommunication happens all the time.

[One reason for not having gone deeper into this kind of thing for himself, honestly.]