Posted June 2, 2021, 4:18 p.m. by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) (James Sinclair)
Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - An Unexpected Meeting
Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - An Unexpected Meeting
Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - An Unexpected Meeting
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻
snipShe sipped the tea, not because she needed it but more to keep her hands busy. Finally she fixed her gaze on him. “Believe it or not I know that. The comment was completely out of character with your description of her and the woman I had spent the last hour talking to. Hence why I asked her to explain rather than doing something much more foolhardy. I like her. I could come to respect her.” She sipped the tea again and then set it aside. “It is a sh$& storm and terrifying and dangerous. There are worse things than physical and financial damage people like your cousins can inflict upon a child. Humor and laughter may be necessary. But she didn’t say it was jest..or how did she put it..hyperbole, she justified it. It wasn’t until she walked out that she said it was a poor hyperbole on her part.”
Ragna McKenzie“And you were quick to judge, not so to accept. Even now you’re pissed. So you may wanna take a minute and think how your reaction didn’t help matters. And before ya go and get your knickers all twisted… I’m nae sayin’ it’s your doing. I think you both have some work to do on this.” and he sipped his tea and looked at her expectantly.
Seamus McKenzie
There were days Ragna hated being her. Today was going to be one of those days. Ragna, you need to think. Ragna try to see their point of view. Ragna stop and listen. Ragna think before you speak. Ragna it’s not all black and white. It would be nice if people would stop and actually listen to her rather than give her space to talk but never listen. Because of course she had a temper so nothing she said had value. Her point of view was different that didn’t make her or anyone else wrong, just....different. Yeah she judged but so did Tara, but she couldn’t say that because Lady Tara could do no wrong. “I’m not a child Seamus, and if you’re going to talk at me like I am you can stop taking me to your bed.” She was tempted to throw hot tea in his lap. “I don’t need you to point out what I did wrong I already came to that conclusion. You asked what was going on and I answered, I didn’t lie about it. ” She stood up moving to the sink. She began to cut a loaf of bread into small cubes. She mixed butter, rosemary, thyme, and mint with the bread. The knife moving with precision and speed that was probably dangerous. She rinsed the bird and cleaned the cavity before stuffing the bread mixture into the bird. She reached up, without looking and took the spit rod down off the rafter and with a deadly finality skewered the bird with it. She wrapped it twice at each end with twine and then set it over the fire.
She cleared and cleaned and washed. Yes she had a temper and she was mad, but was she yelling? No. Was she being unreasonable? She didn’t think so, but then everyone always said she was. She had a headache. Did she say what she was really thinking? That they were just as arrogant as they accused the ‘cousins’ of being? No she did not because that was her temper talking. Did she call Tara daft and feeble minded? No she did not. She didn’t believe that. Did she treated bodily harm or other injury like Tara did? No she didn’t. She tried to understand despite the offense Tara’s words caused. Then she grabbed a flat basket and went outside. She would have had the vegitables from the garden dug sooner, but she had been busy entertaining her Ladyship. As she knelt in the rich loam she heard the distant angry rumble of thunder, and she cursed.
RagnaSeamus watched her angry clean and just shook his head. When she went outside, he finished his tea, cleaned and rinsed the cup, made sure everything was in order and then picked up his bow and hunting knife… again… and walked out of the house pulling his overcoat on. As he walked past her he said “I love you to the ends of the earth, Ragna. Never doubt that. And I respect you just as far. I dinnae talk to you like wee child… but now? Now you’re acting like one.” and he turned and walked backwards as he went down the path to the wilds. “Yeah, ya told me what you did wrong… an’ what herself did, too. But I nae see ya doing a damn thing to fix it. You’re both just stewin’ in your own mad.” As he got further away, he yelled back “One of ya gotta be the bigger woman, my love! The comm works, lass… use it! I’ll be back.” and he turned around waved over his shoulder and then dropped into the ravine and disappeared.
Seamus McKenzie, I Am NOT Staying For This Show
If he was trying to p!&s her off he was doing a good job of it. He told her to stop and think, but apparently she was doing that wrong too. Ragna knew nothing would be gained from reacting on her anger. Oddvar had taught her that anger could provide focus and passion and drive, but you had to own it not let own you. She tried to fix it, but Tara threw it in her face and walked out. Just like he was. Self preservation on his part. Be the bigger woman…stop stewing.. wasn’t trying…d@#n him. He walked in as she walked out, she hadn’t had a chance to try. But she did that wrong too. She didn’t say it because she never wanted to turn the full force of her temper on him. She would say things she didn’t mean.
The storm was rolling off the coast far away but she could feel it, the change in pressure the taste of the air was different. She looked up at the sky judging time and distance movement and speed. How long till it got there?
She got up and went inside and turned on the comm unit. It connected and Ragna gave her life up to the gods. “I won’t speak for Seamus but I won’t be coming. Until you get your high borne, entitled, over inflated rear end back here sans stick and resolve this as people and not titles.” And then she turned the comm off and went back to the garden.
Ragna McKenzie ‘No One Accused Me Of Tact’Ten minutes later, as Ragna was bent over in the garden, a deep and decidedly male and not Seamus voice said “That’s what I love about this place…” right behind her.
“The view.” The speaker was a middle-aged man with sandy blonde hair and dark brown eyes. Almost as tall as Seamus, he was portly. He had the look of someone who may have at one time been muscular, but had let exercise fall by the wayside. He was dressed in a very expensive looking suit, and he wore a tailored overcoat and a cap with a large pheasant feather on the side. His eyes were most definitely not on Ragna’s eyes, but were instead focused much lower; a look of lecherous appreciation dancing in the smile he wore. “And who might you be, hmmm? Didn’t take Seamus for the plaything type… but kudos. He has taste, I see.” he said in a low rumble as his eyes looked everywhere but her face.
At that point, a low grunt came from behind the house and soon Angus emerged. His eyes locked on the man, but he didn’t charge. He shook his head aggressively and then moved slowly to in front of Ragna and lowered his horns, pawing softly at the turf.
If The Ram Don’t Like Him, You Best Be Careful
Now this Ragna understood, and she was decidedly terrified. It didn’t take much for her to know that this must be one of the cousins. And that this man recognized no rank but his own. She had a small hand held spade and a hand held hoe to work the garden, and her dagger. She was at the far end of the garden and between her and the house, where her sword was, was this man. Fat, out if shape, but with mass on his side. Lady McKenzie obviously was not coming and Seamus had left, angry at her, and there was no telling when he’d come back. She placed the knife back in her belt, placed everything in the basket, picked it up and stood slowly to her full height of 5‘10” and regarded him like a worm. Ragna knew she was in trouble and she needed to be very very careful. Forgetting the politics at play on this land, she’d seen men with that look before. It made her physically sick.
But there was faithful Angus. She didn’t touch the ram least he react before he was sure he could knock the man over. The truck of course was not to let too much away at the beginning. “Since you are at my home I suggest you mind your manners and introduce yourself first, questions after.” Seamus where are you?
RagnaThe man looked at her incredulously, and then threw his head back and laughed. “Hahahahahahahaha!!! Your home?! Yours?! Oh thats rich. This is McKenzie land, and that is a McKenzie house. As such, it belongs to who I say it does, ya hear me?!” he yelled, his face starting to turn slightly red. Angus pushed back on Ragna, moving her back and not taking his eyes off of the man. “Now I don’t know who you are or where you came from…” the man said, his voice dropping low, “… but you best tell me what I want to know… before I have to decide whether to have you arrested -” and his eyes dropped to her form again, “- or dressed for dinner with me.” and he chuckled.
Not Seamus
Angus was backing her up to the fence and that was not where she needed to be. Unless there was a gate there and she knew there was not. She let the poor beast stay between them but she side stepped subtly deciding to aim for the house, where she had a myriad of objects to choose from rather than the windswept ground beyond the fence where she would have room but the only defence to run. She wasn’t sure she could out run him before he caught her. Run longer yes, faster she wasn’t so sure. “This is a McKenzie house, and you are NOT the McKenzie. She said this was my home.” And she had. Ragna blinked her vision was tunneling and noises were getting fuzzy. She was really in trouble. The temperature in the breeze dropped and a deep throbbing began. “Eyes up here lad. You won’t be getting any of that. There will be no dinner for you unless it’s through a straw.” She managed to make it to the end of the raw nearer the house but no closer to the door. Her gaze never seemed to leave his but she was taking in his whole posture…waiting for what she knew was coming.
RagnaThe redness rose in the man’s face and his eyes became hard… and predatory. His jaw clenched and he spoke through gritted teeth. “I am the only McKenzie you need pay heed to right now, harlot.” and he started moving towards her, his hands opening and his eyes fixed on her.
“Really there is no need for name calling.” Ragna was oddly calm and unphased by his obvious anger and insults. “You obviously know who lives here so I suggest you calm yourself before my husband comes home.” What was it Tara said…one side needed to make an error of epic proportions? Or something like that? The pounding in her head was making it hard to think straight.
Angus… Angus let out a guttural BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! and charged. In just seconds, he closed the distance and lowered his head, almost slamming into the man before he managed to step out of the way and delivered a solid kick to the animal, the toe of his boot connecting with Angus’s side. The ram let out a squeal of pain and fell over, but started to struggle back to his feet when the man kicked him again and he fell back, wheezing heavily and in obvious pain.
Angus.....she bit back a cry of denial least her affection for the ram cause this man to kick him again. Right now she really wished she was Revna. Her sister could throw or shoot anything with deadly accuracy. With his attention on Angus she made straight for the door of the house. But she was going to have to get past him.....
The man stared at the animal, making sure he was down. “Now lets get those answers, shall we?” he said as he began to turn back around towards Ragna.
Definitely Not Seamus
Hand tools clutched in either hand, pointed out, she threw the basket at him, for distraction and then swipped hard with both tools right across his face. She dodges quickly around, running full out for the door, stumbling as the thunder rolled in from the sea, temporarily blinding her.
RagnaThe basket confused him just long enough for the hand tool to make contact and an eruption of crimson appeared on the man’s nose and cheek, causing him to reel and curse loudly. “I’M GONNA GUT YOU FOR THAT!!” he bellowed and made to grab her, but missed as she dodged and went for the door. But as she got close and the thunder crashed, the stumble cost her valuable steps and a fleshy paw latched onto her ankle and yanked her off her feet.
Ragna fell, hard, the air rushing out of her lungs, pain erupting in her back as rib met uneven cobble and rib lost. She had the sense to tuck her head as she landed, but the throbbing and blackness and roaring that beat with the storm blinded her and drowned out his shouting. The tools fell from numb finders as her body absorbed the shock. She kicked out with her free leg, aiming more by instinct. Her vision a tunnel of pulsing pain. She connected with something, shoulder, face, arm maybe…
“I… am gonna… enjoy this!!!” the man said ominously as he pulled her towards him. The hand not on her ankle raised in a fist and shot down, aiming for her stomach.
This Will Not End Well
Ragna, hands and free foot for leverage tried to find purchase to pull away, but the man was simply too big. The migraine raging to full force to her ability to think clearly. In the small space of vision she saw movement and a fist. Her hand scrabbling for anything closed on a handle, and tool or knife she had no idea and she struck out blindly…
Another cry of pain erupted as the trowel met flesh, this time sticking point first into the chubby forearm. Enraged, he yanked the arm away and swore, his blood y face marred with rage and pain.
“SEAMUS!!” The Storm snatched away her defiant, terrified, desperate cry away towards the wilds. The blow of his fist robbed her of the rest of her breath. Heavy fist met soft flesh and another rib cracked. She curled into herself, or tried, Vision gone and blood in her mouth…
RagnaPain erupted as a fist struck her across the face bruising cheek and blackening her eye.
The man stood over her as the rain started to fall, hands clenched into fists and staring as blood ran from his face. He reached up and yanked the garden tool from the spot it was embedded in his arm. A cry of pain accompanied the move, and he turned down to look at the curled up form of Ragna. “I am gonna break every… bone… in… your… body!” he said slowly and deliberately. He leaned over and put his mouth near her head and half-whispered “And then I’m gonna break you.” He looked at her and spit, and then stood up slowly, wiping blood from his mouth. He reached down for a handful of hair as the sky grew dark and the rain began to pour…
The force of the blow lifted the big man off his feet and knocked him several feet away. He landed with a thud on the cobbles, grunting as the wind was knocked from him and ribs gave way to stone. The wind blew sheets of rain, and the man looked up into the storm.
His fist full of hair tugged and yanked and suddenly let go, and her head dropped without control against the hard cobbles beneath her. The force hard enough to make her sees stars in her blinded condition. She curled to her side as she vomited and then fell unconscious.
There, walking slowly towards him, was a red-haired form who seemed to be the very embodiment of the storm around them. Hands clenched into fists, the form approached with all the slow inevitability of the thunder that seemed to accompany each step.
“Argyle…” was all the form said as it reached down and grasped the lapels of the expensive suit coat and raised him up to a half-sitting position.
A column of blue lights appeared next to Ragna and a form swathed in oilskin looked around and then spied the young McKenzie woman on the ground. Gentle arms wrapped around her and a familiar voice said “Oh my child, what happened?”
There was no reply except for pain filled twitches as her body instinctively tried to move away from the pain the storm was creating and then cries as each movement brought pain from injured body parts. Bloodied and scrapped palms and fingers clutched or pushed, who knew which, at the arms holding her.
“Seamus… Sea-” and the words were cut off as the red-haired husband of Ragna brought his brow down in a massive head-butt on the bridge of Argyle’s nose. Bone shattered with a sickening crunch, and the man cried out as the pain blinded him. Seamus brought his head up and then raised his fist, bringing it down in a bone-shattering blow that knocked teeth, blood, and spittle from Argyle’s mouth and onto the cobbles. Argyle’s head rocked to the side, and he cried out, tears mixing with rain on his bloody cheek. He tried to talk, but his jaw wouldn’t move; broken at the joint as it was. Another head butt and the bloodied Argyle McKenzie went limp in Seamus’s hands. Seamus let go of the jacket and Argyle’s head landed with a wet thunk on the ground. Seamus’s hand went to his waist and the hunting knife sheathed there, but a voice yelled out “Seamus!! No! You can’t!” and the fire-headed Marshall whipped his head around to look at the source.
Lady Tara cradled Ragna in her arms and said “Help her, Seamus. I’ll take care of that. NOW!” Her words carried a weight even the storm couldn’t match, and they shook Seamus out of his blood-rage. He looked back at Argyle and delivered a last, powerful kick to the man’s pride, evoking a final scream of pain. He then turned and knelt dow next to Ragna and looked at Tara. She only nodded and he scooped Ragna up and carried her inside.
Seamus McKenzie
Ragna cried out as Seamus lifted her, moving broken and bruised ribs. But she ceased to struggle, as if realizing he was there. Her world only a raging storm of pain and blackness.
Ragna
Seamus carried her in and laid her gently on the bed. He quickly cut away her shirt and looked, seeing the swelling and bruised areas on ribs and stomach. He looked at her face, swollen and blackened, and he had to bite back as the rage threatened to overwhelm him again. He stood up and went to the cabinet by the sink, retrieved multiple jars and bottles, an dbrought them back to the bedside.
First, he applied the tincture for the headache. As long as she was tense, the rest wouldn’t do anything. As he rubbed her temples, he softly said “Easy, love… easy… you whooped his a$$ good and proper you did.”
He kept rubbing until she seemed to relax even a bit, and then lifted her eyelids to make sure she didn’t have too serious a head injury. Closing them and laying a towel across her eyes after, he said “Oh, you’re gonna have a worse headache than normal, my love. But ya should be just fine in a day or two.” he then moved down to her side and stomach. He gently prodded and, when she reacted, he stopped and noted the spot.
Just then the door opened and Tara came in. She threw back the hood that kept the rain from her face and looked at Seamus. Seamus nodded, and she sighed heavily in relief but remained silent. Seamus applied an unguent to Ragna’s ribs and stomach; very gently rubbed it in. Once that was done, he pulled the covers over her and stood and sighed. He went to the cabinet, pulled two bottles of whiskey out, and set one in front of each of them. Tara pulled over a cup and poured it full. Seamus pulled the cork from his bottle and drank straight from it, several swallows before taking the bottle from his lips. He set it down on the table and looked at Tara.
“Well?” was all he said.
Seamus McKenzie
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