(no subject)

[hikaru_sulu]

There isn't a good reason to be nervous or impatient, and yet Sulu finds himself all but pacing as he waits for Chekov to arrive for dinner. They'd parted ways on the bridge thirty minutes ago and Sulu had suspected he'd need some time to get things in order, but after changing out of his uniform and straightening up his quarters (which hadn't been remotely messy, it just felt appropriate before having a guest come to visit) he found himself at a loss for what to do.

If they were back on Earth, Sulu's sure he'd be cooking dinner for Chekov rather than just getting food from the replicator. Growing up with not only his mother but his grandmother in the house he'd been taught how to cook at a young age, and (like his many other hobbies) it's something he really enjoys doing. He's never handled boredom well, and while he knows Pavel doesn't mind eating the standard fare, Sulu wishes he could make the event a bit more special. Maybe he'll see about finding a way to bake the cakes he'd promised for Chekov's birthday himself; it would certainly make for a much better present that way.

In an attempt to stop walking aimlessly through his quarters, Sulu goes to the eating area and into the cabinet where he keeps his stash of alcohol that he brought on board from home. He has a bottle of vodka in there (though it's about half empty by now) which he takes out in anticipation of offering Chekov a drink. He has whiskey too, and two brand new bottles of sake he'd been given as a gift the last time he'd been in San Francisco. He's not sure what Chekov might be interested in (if anything), but he's prepared to share any and all of his collection with his dear friend.

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[russian_whiz_kid]

Paval was so excite to be spending sometime off of the bridge with his friend that he almost ran back to his quarters to get changed, the navigator had to check himself as he turned a corner too quickly and had to apologize to other crewmates before finally arriving at his living quarters in space.

The question now was; what should he wear? It wasn't a fancy or romantic dinner but surely it was a little more than two people having a replicated meal together, they were friends, best friends and surely Hikaru deserved to see him in something a little more formal than jeans, right.

Just over half an hour later the door chime to Sulu's own private quarters sounded, Chekov stood nervously on the other side wondering if the slacks and shirt were a bit too much as he ran a hand through his freshly washed curls while waiting to be let inside.

[hikaru_sulu]

Sulu, having had stumbled into reading the history of vodka distillation on his desktop computer terminal (in an effort to keep himself busy), looked up at the door chime, a smile coming unbidden to his lips. He keyed off the terminal and crossed to the door, triggering it open manually so he could greet his friend face to face.

His smile only widened at the sight of Chekov standing on his doorstep looking nervous and adorable and (if Sulu was allowed to think it) very attractive in his off-duty clothes. They were friends and Sulu had absolutely no untoward intentions, but he still had eyes. This wasn't meant to be a date (and Sulu was sure his friend didn't think it was one), but Chekov certainly looked like he was dressed for one, and Sulu definitely wasn't complaining.

He himself was dressed casually but nice, charcoal grey trousers and a comfortable, navy long-sleeved shirt with an asymmetrical collar that his mother had always told him looked good on him. Giving Chekov another (friendly) once over, he stood back, gesturing for his friend to come in.

"Come in, Pavel," he said, still smiling warmly. "Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me. There's always so much going on, it feels nice to do something normal, like share a meal with a friend."

For some reason I'm not getting any of my email notifs, so sorry if it takes me a while to reply

[russian_whiz_kid]

Pavel almost bounced into his friend's living area, a huge smile on his face as he took in what Sulu was wearing and was grateful to find that the pilot was dressed smart-casual.

"It iz no problem," he replied, smiling over at Hikaru. "I know vat you mean Hikaru, it is nice to have moments like this but dinner doesn't have to be the only excuse for us to spend time together off of the bridge."

No worries! I'm not getting them either, so something is definitely broken with DW.

[hikaru_sulu]

Sulu grinned as he turned to follow Chekov's path into the main part of the room, and though this wasn't Chekov's first time in Sulu's quarters, he seemed to be looking around at Sulu's belongings. Sulu found it endearing (like just about everything else about Chekov), and he just stood by the door for a moment, smiling at his friend fondly.

Again, he knew Chekov was being sweet and kind to him, and while he also knew Chekov wasn't as innocent as he looked, Sulu was certain whatever Chekov had in mind for them as far as spending more time together probably wasn't the first thing that had come to his mind. But really all Sulu was interested in, truly, was more off shift time with his friend.

"What other excuses do you have in mind?" he asked as he walked further into the room himself, standing beside Chekov.

Good to know it's not just me

[russian_whiz_kid]

Pavel turned to look at his host and not the family picture on the shelf, of course the Russian knew his friend's apartment, there was always something new to discover.

"To play board games, watch holos and other things that friends do to enjoy each others company." He answered innocently, wanting any excuse to spend time with Hikaru.

I think things were broken all weekend. Also sorry for the delay! The last 2 days have been crazy!

[hikaru_sulu]

Sulu smiled (he did that a lot around his young friend, something he made a mental note to thank Chekov for at a later date), and nodded softly at the suggestions. They were exactly the sort of thing Sulu had predicted, and he felt and overwhelming fondness for Chekov; he was the sort of guy who didn't put up a front, was just genuinely himself at all times, and Sulu respected that a great deal (as well as being jealous of how easily he managed it).

"All of those things sound good to me," he remarked, still smiling as he crossed to where he'd sat out the bottles of liquor earlier. "Do you want a drink? I don't have a lot of options, but at least none of it is replicated."

Yeah, saw my inbox on monday and there were over 100 messages waiting for me

[russian_whiz_kid]

Having had to grow up fast in Russia, graduating university at a very young age and joining Starfleet Academy at fourteen didn't leave much time to have an actual childhood and Pavel's innocence had been laying dormant until he could express it around people that he knew wouldn't mock or bully him for it.

"Good, because they vere going to happen whether you like it or not." Chekov replied playfully as he joined Sulu at his makeshift bar. "I vill have vatever you're having, to start vith."

[hikaru_sulu]

"I see how it is," Sulu quipped, sharing Chekov's little grin. "Bullying me into being your playmate. It's a good thing I like you," he added, clearly teasing.

Turning his attention to making their drinks, Sulu decides to go ahead and start with the bottle of vodka he'd pulled out, quickly replicating some ice and pouring a measure of vodka over it. He adds tonic water to his own glass before looking up to meet Chekov's eyes.

"I'm sort of a lightweight so I don't drink it straight. Do you want tonic with yours, or just as it is?"

[russian_whiz_kid]

"Yes, it is." And he knew that Hikaru was teasing him, even without the pilot smiling with him. "I like you too, 'karu."

Pavel's eyes lit up when Sulu pulled out the bottle of vodka, he had to keep his mouth shut and not shake his head when his friend put some tonic water into his own glass.

"I am sure ven the ice melts it vill water the wodka down."

[hikaru_sulu]

Again Sulu felt an overwhelming sense of fondness for Chekov, and a flutter in his heart at the sweet little nickname Chekov had just used for him. His friend was such a lovely soul, and though Sulu got along with the rest of the bridge crew just fine, he'd always felt closest to his navigator. He supposed that wasn't uncommon considering the symbiotic relationship they needed to have to do their jobs, but he genuinely liked Chekov, and cherished his friendship.

Which was the biggest part of why the asinine crush he had on Chekov had to stop. He was careful to keep it under wraps, always cautious about his words, because the very last thing he wanted was to make his friend uncomfortable. The friendship they had was strong and important to both of them, and he would sooner die than see it ruined, particularly by his own stupidity.

"I'm sure you're right," he replied with a nod and soft smile, handing Chekov his glass of vodka. "I'm just impatient," he added with quirk of his lips.

"So, tell me, what's a traditional Russian toast?" he said after a beat, holding his own glass in preparation to raise it.

Yes, mun had to look that up

[russian_whiz_kid]

"Of course I am right," Pavel said part smugly, part playfully. "You are not impatient vith your plants though."

Chekov is a little surprised that Sulu had asked that as most people would have already toasted with 'Nostrovia', which he would've allowed his friend to get away with but instead Hikaru had asked for a proper, traditional Russian toast.

"Vashe zdorovie!" the younger man cried out with pride as he raised his glass.

I have to do that sort of thing all the time, hehe.

[hikaru_sulu]

"You're right about the plants," Sulu conceded, glancing over to a couple he kept in his quarters. "Some things you can't rush."

He offered Chekov a smile at that, and raised his glass. He listened carefully to Chekov's toast and tried to repeat it, but he knew his attempt to reproduce the pronunciation was feeble at best. He clinked the rim of his glass against Chekov's and took a little sip of his vodka.

Once he swallowed, he tried the words again. "What does it mean?" he asked, meeting Chekov's eyes.

[russian_whiz_kid]

Pavel thought it was cute and sweet the way Hikaru tried to properly pronounced the Russian toast, even if he was failing lovingly.

"It means good health," he explained with a smile, draining his glass. "Vere as nostrovia is just a vay of thanking the host."

[hikaru_sulu]

Sulu watched as his young friend tipped back his glass and swallowed all of its contents, and he'd had an idea that Chekov knew how to hold his liquor (where Sulu, in comparison, really didn't), but he was duly impressed by the demonstration.

"I like that, good health," Sulu said, contemplating the vodka in his own glass before looking back to Chekov. "In Japan they say 'kanpai'," he said. "It literally means 'dry the glass'. It's sort of an odd colloquialism, but it just means to finish the drink."

With that, Sulu took a deep breath and finished his own beverage in three hard swallows, coughing a little against the burn of the alcohol down his throat and in his sinuses. "They don't drink a lot of vodka in Japan," Sulu joked, wiping his lower lip on the heel of his hand.

[russian_whiz_kid]

"Kanpai, I like it." Chekov declared as he watched Sulu wipe his lower lip, secretly wishing he was able to lick the lingering alcohol off of it instead.

"Vell, ve have drunk from Russia, the next one should be from Japan."

[hikaru_sulu]

"I do have some sake," Sulu replied, and when he blinked and caught Chekov's eyes, he found himself sort of stuck for a moment, admiring the way the low light of Sulu's quarters darkened their color, the way they twinkled happily.

He grinned as he shook himself out of his stupor. "Have you ever had sake before?" he asked, reaching into his little liquor cabinet and bringing out the nicer of the two bottles he had on hand.

[russian_whiz_kid]

Pavel smiled brightly when Hikaru said that, glad that they could share in the signature drinks of their homelands. Yes Chekov knew that his friend had spend a lot more time in America than he had in Japan but it was the sentiment and meaning behind what he had asked that meant more to the Russian than that little fact.

"Nyet," he replied with a small shake of his head. "I have not, though I trust you in your choices and to not kill me."

[hikaru_sulu]

"I promise I will never try to kill you. With alcohol or anything else," Sulu replied with a firm nod and a soft smile. He quickly replicated a little serving set, then worked the cork out of the bottle of sake, filling the jug from the bottle before tipping a measure into each of the little cups.

"Sake is made from fermented rice," he explained as he recorked the bottle. "The process is sort of like making beer, but it doesn't taste like beer at all," he went on, handing one of the cups to Chekov. "I think you'll like it."

He could imagine the disappointing shake of his grandmother's head, serving a nice sake like this at room temperature instead of heating it. But doing heating the sake properly took time, and Sulu was already starting to feel a little buzzed from the vodka, making him eager to continue drinking. Even just a little bit of alcohol in his system made it easier to meet Chekov's eyes, and he was probably imagining things, but the way Chekov looked back at him felt different, maybe a little warmer than usual.

"Kanpai!" he said as he lifted his own glass, meeting Chekov's eyes with a hopeful smile.

[russian_whiz_kid]

"I know you vouldn't 'karu, not on purpose anyvay." Pavel said as he took the cup from his friend, surprised that Sulu had been bothered to decant the liquid properly and that had the Russian still smiling, listening to the other man's explanation.

"Kanpai!" Chekov replied cheerily, raising his glass before quickly downing the alcohol with a small grimace but only because he'd never tasted sake before.

[hikaru_sulu]

Sulu watched Chekov's face eagerly to see what his friend thought about the sake, tucking his lower lip beneath his teeth as his eyes widened hopefully.

"What do you think?" he asked, noting the grimace but glad to see it smooth off Chekov's face quickly. "The flavor's a little different, but I always felt like it had kind of a nice aftertaste."

[russian_whiz_kid]

"Vell," he started, drawing out the word. "I don't not like it, it vill take some getting used to like all new things. Though it is not as good as vodka."

Pavel's last statement was said with a cheeky grin and a small laugh as no-one was going to change his mind on that fact.

[hikaru_sulu]

"I can live with that," Sulu replied with a chuckle. Chekov's pride in his home country was one of the many endearing qualities about him, and Sulu loved hearing the stories he told, about where he grew up, about all the things that made Russia great.

"Do you want anymore? Or shall I make you another vodka?" he asked, licking over his lower lip.

[russian_whiz_kid]

Chekov's eyes watched Hikaru lick his bottom lip, probably a little too intensely than a friend should and quickly lowered them further towards the make-shift bar between them instead.

"I vill have another sake, if you have another wodka 'karu." Pavel compromised trying not to blush too much from the naughty thoughts running through his head.

[hikaru_sulu]

Chekov lowered his eyes, causing his eyelashes to fan across his soft cheeks, his skin flushed just a little, prettily pink. Sulu assumed the blush was to do with the alcohol, but the whole picture was so beautiful that Sulu found himself unabashedly staring.

Blushing a bit himself, Sulu poured another little cup of sake for Chekov, then tipped some vodka into his own glass, forgoing the tonic this time. "I like how you think," he said as he handed Chekov his cup. "Sharing each other's cultures." He smiled as he said it, but his mind was full of the things they could share, of what it might taste like if they kissed after having these most recent drinks.

[russian_whiz_kid]

"It is vat me and Mr Scott do." Pavel explained though he didn't have the same thoughts for Scotty that he had for Sulu.

"I have alvays vanted to know more about Japan, ever since I met you." He confessed as he took a sip of the rice wine.

[hikaru_sulu]

Sulu can't help the little flash of jealousy he feels when Chekov mentions drinking with Scotty, but he quickly adminoshes himself. Chekov had the right to spend time with anyone he wanted.

It helped that Chekov said he wanted to know more about Japan, and all because of his friendship with Sulu. "I can try to tell you anything you want to know," he said. "I've only been a few times, but my parents and my obaasan were born there."

He paused then, taking a heavy swallow of his vodka. "You should tell me more about Russia too. I want to know everything about you," he said, then he lowered his eyes, his face going a little hot again, embarrassed by his eagerness.