[Video | all the locks]

[with_discipline]

[Locked to Tosh]

[She's been avoiding this, but being able to sense Tosh is making that difficult. Also guilt, but ahaha admitting that.] I owe you an apology.

[Locked to Xavier]

[Blame the city for this one, but T'Pol's made up her mind to at least make a solid attempt, here, and that means getting her shit under control.]You offered your help

Comments

[locked]

[goldn_boy]

Never too busy for lunch. Whenever you'd like.

[locked]

[with_discipline]

Later today, perhaps? [She doesn't want to give herself the chance to change her mind. :|]

[locked] (action or...?)

[goldn_boy]

Of course. Would one o'clock work? I can meet you.

[locked] action would be great!

[with_discipline]

That would be acceptable. There is a restaurant on [blah blah address] that seems to have returned to normal business operations.

[action]

[goldn_boy]

I know it. I'll meet you there, then.

[Jim is as good as his word. He shows up, on time, attempting to get his mind off work and focused on whatever it is T'Pol needs. She wouldn't call if it wasn't important--he knows that much.]

[action]

[with_discipline]

[She has a table already, but spots him when he arrives, and lifts a hand to catch his attention if she can't catch his eyes. She's vaguely uncomfortable, but mostly because she's wondering if what she wants to him is ridiculous.]

[action]

[goldn_boy]

[Jim is used to T'Pol being vaguely uncomfortable, but regardless, she's asked for his help, and he counts that as a step, at least. He nods, stepping over and pulling out a chair.]

Are you all right?

[action]

[with_discipline]

[She nods quickly, though somewhat surprised by the concern. She hadn't meant to cause it.] I'm well. I accepted assistance from another telepath. [Which might explain why she was doing the whole Vulcan thing decently again.] I wanted to discuss the - variant philosophies of our universes with you.

[Which really just meant sh was trying to wrap her head around trust instead of suspicion.]

[action]

[goldn_boy]

[Jim nods. Xavier, most likely.]

Ah. Of course. What exactly have you been thinking about?

[action]

[with_discipline]

It comes easily for you, to trust people, while I find myself making an effort to do so. I'd like to change that, but I'm - uncertain how to. [She's pausing long enough to order a tea.] I mistrust humans, though I suppose I don't have a reason to mistrust those not from the Empire. What is it that you find - admirable about humanity? [Questions, this is clearly the best way to get into it.]

[action]

[goldn_boy]

[Jim orders tea as well, just whatever T'Pol's having. He wants to think about this before answering.]

Trust is a funny thing. Maybe it would help to know that whatever it looks like, I don't trust blindly. I assume the best about people because I want to allow them the opportunity to be their best. It doesn't mean I'm not aware of the evils of the world. I've been given ample reason over the years to distrust friends, aliens, humans, even the Federation. But I don't, because what I find admirable about humanity is what I find admirable about sentient life--that they can, and do, make choices to do better. They don't always, and I've gotten burned. But the cost to myself of living in a world where I can't believe that is too high.

[action]

[with_discipline]

[That gets a tilt of the head.]

What do you mean, the cost is too high?

[action]

[goldn_boy]

I'm not sure if I can explain it if it's not in you. I just don't operate well without... optimism. It's like this--I don't believe that positive thinking alters reality. I do believe that it allows many people the strength to follow through on convictions which do make the world a better place. I've been let down. I've been betrayed. But the belief that good exists, that most people are worthy of trust, makes me more likely to contribute what I can. I'm not sure that's true of everyone.

[action]

[with_discipline]

[That gives her pause, though only briefly.] No, it isn't, [she agrees. Positive thinking sounds more like ambition to her, and that has a tendency to go very awry in the empire. But it's a pretty ideal, even if she isn't sure it's attainable.]

And it's easy for you, to trust people you know nothing about.

[action]

[goldn_boy]

[Despite the lack of inflection, he hears it as a question. Because it's not that easy.]

I wouldn't say that. Or maybe it's just that it's easier for me to trust people I don't know, and weather disappointment, than keep everyone at arm's length. It's a choice.

[One that's getting much harder to agree with, even if he hasn't actually been able to fully act on his cynicism.]

[action]

[with_discipline]

[A choice she usually chooses on the opposite end of; it's frustrating that she can't imagine weathering disappointment like him. Of course to her, weathering disappointment would, more often than not, mean dying.

She lets her brow crease slightly.] One you still make? [That even sounded like a question, for once.]