Posted by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) in Earth - Somewhere

Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - Somewhere

Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun Edman (Future Citizen) in Earth - Somewhere
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Ragna stirred, inhaling deeply and then slowly letting it out as her head pounded like a distant cadence drum from a ship just out of sight. Her head felt tender, like a muscle that was over strained and wasn’t allowed to rest after. Wood smoke…she smelled wood smoke, which wasn’t strange, but different wood gave off a different scent and this didn’t smell like home. A band of icy cold across her face, she reached up and pulled the compress away. She opened her eyes slowly expecting light to great her overly sensitive eyes, but the room…no…the house was dark, the fire banked and the curtains closed. There was a moment of confusion and then remembrance: Seamus McKenzie. She inhaled slowly…food…there was food, and her stomach both growled and rebelled. She was in his bed! She sat up too quickly a swayed. Holding onto the edge of the bed frame she forced her eyes open, finding his across the room.

Ragna Edman, I got hit by a train

“Breakfast… Ragna. Please, come sit. Tea is ready, as well.” he said from his seat at the table. Angus was laying at his feet. He looked over and gave her a half smile. “I hope… sincerely hope… you feel better. I know you had a hard night.” He nodded his head towards the door.

Ragna resisted the urge to swallow against the quickly firing nerve endings when he said her name. She’d had a half a moment to hope it had just been the intense on set of the migraine, but no such chance. She glared at Angus, lying at his feet like it wasn’t all his fault she was sheltered in this house with…swallow…Seamus McKenzie. She swung her feet to the floor with care and after making sure the room wouldn’t spin she stood up and made the short distance to the table and sat. She bit her lower lip, “Some,” her voice was soft and low, tense, “I feel like if I blink wrong it will come back full force,” and that was the reason for the tension. She picked up the tea and sipped it, closing her eyes for the heat and aroma. “Thank you, Seamus.”

“Storm’s still going, I’m ‘fraid. But maybe we could go over those documents you brought in more detail? Nice way to… pass tha time, as it were.”

Seamus McKenzie, Anything To Get Her To Stay

Regna started to nod and thought better of it. “Anything you want to know. There is a lot there.” She felt better discussing it with him today knowing he was the clan Marshal and not just the game warden. His position as Marshal carried a lot of weight politically and it meant he would be familiar or at least understand the repercussions of the information she’d brought. She looked around, the house was impressive. “Is it built on an ancient foundation or is it all original?”

Ragna Edman, Is this where they had lived?

Seamus looked around at the house and smiled. “I built the house, but the foundation…” and he looked at her, his eyes sparkling, “… the foundation has been here since, oh… probably the mid to late ninth century. There was a house here once… some McKenzie lived here. So I thought it only fitting that another do the same.”

Seamus McKenzie, Living (In or On) History

She reached for a slice of the bread and spread butter on it. She avoided the honey. Local honey, and she was sure it was local, had amazing medicinal properties, but it carried all the local pollen and allergens. Now that was great, but the last thing she wanted was to deal with adjusting to allergens and a migraine. She ate slowly waiting to see how her stomach was going to react to the bread. When she was sure her stomach and her head weren’t going to argue with each other, she took potatoes and eggs as well.

9th century....it was the right time period, right location…”Have you had the foundation professionally dated? Are there any other ruins in the area?” She turned leaning over slightly to stare intently at the floor, her eyes scanning along the hearth the door way and the joins of the wall. “Did you find any marks on the foundations stones before you started building?” She was fascinated and there was an animation returning to her, she loved history, and studying it first hand.

Ragna Edman, This would help SO much

Seamus leaned forward and grinned at her.

“How much do ya trust me, lass?”

Trust? The word sent butterflies winging around her stomach, and as always when Ragna was nervous, she never knew what might pop out of her mouth, “We’ll see how your actions speak for you.” But she was intrigued…

He stood up and came around to her side. “So… you’re gonnae wanna see this.” He put his hand on her elbow and said “Steady. Now come here.” He led her to the corner of the room where there was a large chest sitting on the floor. He let go of her elbow and made sure she was steady. He moved the chest and beckoned her over.

She grinned, excited to see what it was he was going to show her, so focused on it she didn’t notice his hand on her elbow right away. She moved closer and stared down at the symbol etched into the foundation stone.

There, on the corner stone, was a carving in the stone. It was well worn, but legible. A round shield behind a crossed sword and an axe. The sword seemed to be a claymore… much like Seamus’s. The axe was more Nordic, a bearded axe similar to the ones used by the Viking raiders of the era.

“I could never find any reference to it, so I don’t know who it represents.”

Seamus McKenzie, Full of Secrets

Ragna mouth formed a small “O” of surprise and then her ice blue eyes sparked. “Hand me my bag. Hurry up!” She actually snapped her fingers at him. She sank down onto the floor, reached into the bag, pulling out a very small brush and began to work the gravel and loose stone away from the etching. It was old and warn down, dirt worked into it from years of being covered, uncovered by the elements, and then hidden again. She worked for several minutes until she was happy with how clear she’d gotten it. She reached in to her bag and pulled out an actual piece of paper and a piece of charcoal. She layed he paper down and began to rub the charcoal over the etching slowly and meticulously until the very fine details of it appeared on the paper. She took the padd and began to take pictures, a corner of the stone was loose and she took pictures of removing it and then dropped the piece into a small canister. Then she held up the etching and stared at it. Her face went both very very pale, and her eyes lit up. She looked up at him. “Congratulations Marshal McKenzie, you just ensured the security of your clan for generations to come.”

Ragna Edman, This is Amazing and Terrifying

Seamus sat down next to her and gave her a hard stare.

“You know something. So now I think its time for a more candid conversation between us. What does it mean? And what does it mean now?”

Seamus McKenzie, Tired of Only Half the Information

Ragna turned to sit back against the wall. The corner dark and cool. “So just over two weeks ago, my sister, my father’s heir, calls me, and asks me to look up an OLD story. I hadn’t thought of it in years. I had no idea…” She stopped and really looked at him, despite the throbbing and the excitement of what he’d just shown her. “Will you trust me as much as you asked me to trust you?” She put her hand over his and squeezed.

“In 862 a raiding party of 2 ships of Edman warriors left the village right before the storm season came in. They were forced ashore along the edge of Scotland. The account says they’d lost supplies, they were injured, hungry, and let’s be honest, no one wants to see irritated Vikings coming onto their land right before the storm season hits. The reason Revna asked me to find this particular story…she’s got a wicked sense of justice. The Scottish clan they encountered decided that instead of fighting they’d throw a party. And we Vikings love our song and drink.” She pulled out her padd and scrolled, there were images of the the original documents in old Norwegian and then the translation she’d provided, it was copies of songs and stories the two groups had swapped. “Revna thought it was poetic justice that chief with a voice for song saved their clan.” She scrolled the documents further, “That chief was Faolan McKenzie.” She enlarged the image and handed him the rubbing she’d taken. Faolan’s image was an exact match to the claymore on the etching.

She leaned forward reaching past him to grab her brooches. “Among the ship’s crew were several shield maidens. Look,” she took the rubbing and pointed out the shield and ax and then held the large turtle brooch in her hand, her finger tracing out an exact match to the shield and ax. “It’s the Edman crest, Seamus. Our clans have been joined since the 9th century. I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t even know it was there until Revna asked about the story.” She scrolled farther and there on the image of the original document was the symbol of the crossed sword and axe over the shield.
Ragna Edman, he’s going to start yelling again

Seamus looked at everything, looked at her, looked back at everything… then leaned back and said “Then I suppose that makes us allies then. Do you concur, Herald?” There was asparkle in his eye that held no doubt he was up to something.

Seamus McKenzie, A Plan Begins

While he studied the documents, Ragna closed her eyes, resting her head against the wall. There was more to the story, so much more, but nothing that would change what she’d told him. It was details of the lives of those involved.

The storm was still raging outside. There hadn’t been a storm like this in years. Small lines of strain etched around her eyes and showed in the clenching and release of her hand over his. She sighed softly, “Yes yes, what do you think the point of giving that to Lady McKenzie was? To walk away from each other? Really, I know Revna wouldn’t stand for it and I don’t think Mike would either.” But there was something formal in his tone and the use of her title. “Yes Marshal I concur, we’re allies.” Head back, eyes still closed she began to rub her temples absently. “Now will you let me deliver these documents to Lady McKenzie?”

Ragna Edman, ‘Allies’ Doesn’t Mean What I Think It Means

Seamus looked at Ragna for a moment. “Tell me something… Ragna…”

That fire warmed blanket wrapped around her again. It was soothing just like his hands on her temples. With knees drawn up, with a sigh she hung her head down rubbing the back of her neck. He had to stop saying her name like that. She likes it too much.

“Do you believe in destiny? In Fate? That somethings are simply supposed to be an nae matter what happens, those things simply will, regardless of our own intentions?”

Seamus McKenzie, Fully Aware of What Just Happened

Ragna was raised to believe such things, but she also thought people used Fate and Destiny to avoid responsibility, and that was a slight against the gods. “Of course. I think people don’t understand that Fate and Destiny are forces of nature and use them as just words bandied about to justify their actions.” She breathed around the pounding, why wouldn’t it stop? Her voice turned, the was a touch of deep love in her voice and genuineness, “But you can’t know Revna and her life and the events she lived through, and then see her with your Mike, and not believe.”
Ragna Edman, I blame the migraine

Seamus smiled. He moved over and sat next to her. He gently pulled her to him and said “Trust me… Ragna.” and a firm but gentle hand moved her hand from her neck and started to rub the tensioned and knotted muscles in her neck and shoulders.

She scooted away under the pretense of making room for his hulking mass. He was too close, she was too aware of him…and he kept saying her name like a caress. The space she had put between them disappeared as he pulled her to him. She swatted at his hand as he moved hers off her neck. Trust him? “Trust is earned…Seamus.” and then she hissed as he began rubbed at a particularly painful knot that had formed at the base of her neck.

“I believe that as well. And for much the same reason. Your brother-in-law was dealt tha worst possible hand, ye know? And fer him ta grow up ta not be a right ba%$#rd is something I credit both him and the universe for. How much you know about that… Ragna? It’s a story you should know, and Michael dunnae hide it, so I’m nae ashamed to tell it.”

Seamus McKenzie, History In The Making

Ragna thought about it. “Revna told me Mike’s parents died when he was a kid, that instead of being taken in by his clan he was left a ward of the state.” There was no direct accusation there, but confusion. “Something about the cousins not thinking he was good enough. She said Mike mentioned that Lady McKenzie wanted him to take his place as heir but she won’t or can’t talk to him. That he’s tried to abdicate. That he has one cousin that supported him. You? You have to understand Revna would never give anyone the details. It’s just her way. Mike might not hide it but she would never take away his right to decide how and when and who was told. She’s fiercely protective that way.” He said her name…again, like he was the only one allowed to say it. “Knock that off.” She opened her eyes where her head was hanging and saw his tartan....oh gods, she was wearing his colors…a meal…a hearth....no…no not the last one she was sure of it…wasn’t she? …she had a pain filled memory of him holding her sword....no she wouldn’t give anyone her sword. She raised her head an intense stillness coming over her as she scanned the house for her sword. She exhaled slowly as she spotted it next to her dried clothes.

Ragna Edman, Nonono Fate, not now

“Aye… that’s part. Ya see… Michael’s parents… well, his da was the eldest son of Lady Tara, Chief of Clan McKenzie and my grandmother. But he was… well, I’ll never lie ta ya. He was a right bas^%$d and a terrible blight on creation. His ma, bless her… wonderful woman but not a speck of self respect in ‘er whole body.” He kept rubbing and working out the knots slowly encouraging her body to relax. He took a deep breath and there was pain in his voice when he spoke. “Michael’s da… I’ll nae speak his name again… he was a drunk. An abuser. A vile bag of filth. That’s why my Gran sent him to North America. He had got a reputation here… and it didn’t reflect well on us McKenzies, I can tell ya that. So she set him up with a business and off he went. Met Michael’s mom soon after. He was a good businessman, but still a piece of s%$t. He’d beat Michael and his ma, and leave ‘em bloody. Didn’t care… just did it. Dinnae even need a reason. Just to do it. Well… one day, ‘ol Michael he’s had enough, ye see… His da comes at him, drunk and mean and loud…” and Seamus’ voice cracked and tears welled up in his eyes. He moved his hands on Ragna so she wouldn’t see and continue. “And Michael… twelve year old Michael… lays the c^%t out on the ground. Knocks him cold and bloody. But he doesn’t wail on ‘em, no. He’s too good for dat. He looks at his ma and tells her to run, they can get away… and his ma just tends to that bag layin’ on da ground. She picked him over her boy… her son.” Tears flowed proper by that point, and the heartache Seamus felt for his cousin was more than apparent.

Her own Da and Uncle would never allow such a thing to go on. They’d found out about a similar situation happening with their own clan, years ago, when she was just little. She remembered though that he had sat Revna and Runa down and explained to them what was going on, how it had happened, and what he and Uncle were going to do about it. She remembered sitting out of the way, listening to her Da explain it to them, in detail. That when they were older it would be their job, Revna and Runa’s, to protect the clan, even from itself. The thought wasn’t a recrimination against Tara at all, just a perspective on events.

“So Micheal, he bolts. His da?… His da beats his mother to death and then kills himself to escape bein’ punished, f&^%ing coward.” He sniffed and paused in his administration’s to compose himself. He resumed and there was a calm in his voice but and edge slowly built as he spoke. “Now my Gran, she was booked to fly right over and scoop that boy up and bring him home. But her second oldest… Willam…” and he growled in his chest at the name, “… Willam threw a right fit. See, he had decided, even though the law didn’t agree, that with his older brother outta da way, he was now next in line. Had a team of solicitors and heralic experts at the shuttle port waiting for my Gran… and they were clear. If she brought Michael back, they’d drag the clan so far down that we’d never recover. So Lady Tara had a choice, and had to make it right then: Either save the clan and try to have something for Michael to take on and lead proper-like… or watch her kids destroy in ina fit of greed and jealousy. We have near seven thousand McKenzies in the clan… Ragna… and more than a few rely on us just to survive. So, she sacrificed the one for the many. And it broke her. Took her months to get back on her feet. But when she did? She made every effort she could to help him without setting off a Clan civil war. And now that Michael is old enough… and she thinks ready enough… she wants him to take over as Chief. But Michael, gods bless ‘em, he doesn’t want it. ‘Too much responsibility.’ he says. ‘Nobody wants me in that role!’ he says… well I bloody well do. And so does Lady Tara. And so do most of the clan. But my cousins… well… they take after their parents. And thank the Gods most of them were taken by the bloody war!”

She reached across herself to his hand working the knot out of her shoulder and squeezed, not even really aware that she did it, just that he wasn’t alone. But amidst her own shocking and terrifying revelations that she would not put voice to, another much more pressing thought needed addressing…

Without thinking, he leaned in and kissed her bare shoulder at the base of her neck. Just a peck, as if he had always done that and there wasn’t a second thought. “There… any better… Ragna?” he asked, totally unaware of what he had just done.

Seamus McKenzie, Stalwart Defender of the Rightful Chief

Heat and peace and rightness came with such a simple touch, and at the same time it was like a bolt of lightening going through her core. Better and worse all at the same time. She jerked and a flush, that he couldn’t miss, spread from her shoulder, up her neck, and to her face. And he said her name....like that…again. But the ache in her head was better. “Yes, thank you.”

There was a nervous catch to her voice that made her irritated with herself. “Umm…Seamus…does the clan have an archive?” A stead breath, another, and another. She moved away, and she ignored the fact it made her feel cold to do it. “So at the risk of that hot-headed, thick skull of yours taking this the wrong way…Willam can’t be chief. Setting aside Mike’s claim at the moment.” She picked up the etching, “When an heir isn’t found, the lineage is traced back to find the next legitimate line. In this case, it’s here.” She pointed at the crest. “Faolan McKenzie was widower and had heirs, leading all the way to your grandmother and Mike. But he remarried. Amalie Edman was also a widow, and had heirs. The two never had children of their own, but they took their clans as their own, claiming any future progenitor as their own. Amalie’s heir…is Revna. Your grandmother can take this and shove it so far up Willam’s backside it will forever etch it on his dark soul. But I need to find the corresponding documents in the McKenzie archives. Then it won’t matter what he says. Your grandmother can bring Mike here and scream it from the top of the highest moor if she wants, and Willam can’t do a thing about it.”
Ragna Edman, Harold with the answers, even ones you may not want

Seamus shook his head. “You’re nae listening lass… Willam is ded. Killed in the war, along with most of his siblings. But that sense of entitlement he had he passed on to all of my generation ‘cept me an ma sister. But here’s the biggest issue you are missin’, my love…” he said, again unaware of his own words, “… the cousins? They dunnae care about heirs and lineages and inheritances and genealogies. They… and swear to me right here and now you’ll nae say a word of dis to anyone, love… they’ve made it clear they will knowingly and intentionally bankrupt us by dragging us through the courts for decades to keep Michael from Chief. Because they know Michael won’t tolerate their s^%t for a second. And knowing that… and them knowing the MacDonald’s are just waiting fer us ta be vulnerable… they’ve already struck a deal with ‘em. They bankrupt us by dragging this out for as long as they need to… then they sell our land to the MacDonalds in exchange for title and standing with them. B^%$#rds would sell their name for a pittance… dunnae be deserving of the McKenzie name.”

Seamus McKenzie, Caught Between A Rock and A Vision

She began to rub her temples again…gods the man was hard headed. “hardhodet som væren hans, hører ikke, kan bare se det på en måte … (hard headed like his ram, doesn’t listen, can only see it one way…)” She breathed, her head was throbbing. “You’re daft. But yes yes I won’t tell. Okay let me spell this out for you and MAYBE you’ll understand. It’s all about legalities, doesn’t matter if they care for them or not. You said, and yes I know Willam is dead, but I don’t know nor care to know the names of his children, had solicitors and heralic experts to block your grandmother - legalities. What do you think I am? There is enough heraldic evidence here to stop them. Your grandmother could take these papers to the bank, to the estate lawyers, to the Lord High Marshal himself. Showing the lineage, and your cousins would legally be taken OFF the books and have NO ACCESS to the family money, estates, archives, properties, nothing. They won’t be able to sell it. Revna wouldn’t want to do it, but she would, for Mike’s family because they are hers now.” She paused thinking, “Actually it would be my Da, and he would do this to help Lady Tara and Mike. But he doesn’t know, Revna doesn’t know. No one knows but me and you…Seamus. Don’t you get it. If they drag McKenzie into the courts, Lady Tara has the FULL backing of clan Edman. Even without all that with Mike’s rightful claim and Revna’s to clan Edman, legally they can try, but they’ll not win. As for the MacDonalds they don’t have enough back bone to face both of us. At least give the information to your grandmother and let her decide what do with it.” She turned then and glared at him, “AND STOP CALLING ME LOVE!”

Ragna Edman, ‘Legal subtleties and Stomach Butterflies’

He looked at her and his face went hard. “And you are nae listening and being at least as daft as me, then! I’m telling you they dunnae care if they win! It’s not about winning… LOVE! It’s about attrition! YES, we can take ALL a tha to the Lord High Marshall. YES he’ll side with us. YES we can take it to tha courts. YES they’ll side with us too! But those little c&^%s will just keep on suing… over and over and over and over and over and over until we WIN OURSELVES INTO BLOODY OBLIVION!!! THAT’S the fight we can’t take on. THAT’S the reason Tara is shattered every. single. day. THAT’S the reason we are stuck and don’t know what our next step is! AND I’LL BLOODY WELL CALL YOU LOVE BECAUSE YOU KNOW ITS TRUE!” and he leaned in and kissed her, hard… but with so much emotion it almost blacked him out. He immediately broke it and stood up and said “SO THERE… AND I’M GONNA MARRY YA TOO, YA DAFT VIKING, BECAUSE YOU ASKED ME TO AN I SAID YES!”

Seamus McKenzie, So Much For Casual Dating