Posted June 22, 2021, 7:03 p.m. by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) (Jennifer Ward)
Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - An Unexpected Meeting
(snip)
Cuyler and Helka finished their call to Revna and made their way back up the hill towards the house. As they topped the rise, Helka paused, her hand going for the sword at her side. “Cuyler,” and she nodded off towards the south east. Cuyler followed her gaze and could see a land vehicle moving across the country side, on a direct line for the house. “Seamus!” Cuyler’s voice carried easily across the distance. Kirsten and Ada looked up seeing Helka, sword drawn, and they easily with familiarity slipped their shields to their arms and glanced to where their Chief was pointing.
Over the distance a very loud and guttural “BAAAAAAA” could be heard.
The EdmansThe door to the house flew open and Seamus walked out grinning. “Arms down, all… that’ll be the hero of the night coming home, I think.” Again, the loud bleating “BAAAAAAAAAAAAAA” was heard… and the ground vehicle swerved, swerved back, and then stopped as a jet black blob launched out of the back like a shadowy missile and made straight for the house.
Helka was the first to respond followed in quick succession by the rest of them. To the last of them they all shrugged and went back to what they were doing. Kirsten looked around the garden, impressed. She looked at Devlin, “We’re going to be doing some hunting while we’re here. Hey Oddvar think you can get a boat to haul in some fish and bring it here?” Oddvar shrugged, “Of course, but it’s a bit soon maybe in a couple weeks.”
In less than half a minute, Angus came roaring down the path towards the house and slid to a stop right in front of Seamus. Angus hopped up and down over and over, bleating and shaking his head. His wool had been sheared and bandages covered his sides, but the mighty ram paid them no heed. Finally Seamus grabbed his horns and pulled him down slowly. “Easy Angus… easy… it’s ok… easy lad… ya did good boy… really good… yes ya did.” Angus calmed and then pushed Seamus off and looked around before eyeing the door of the house. “Aye, she’s inside. Why don’t ya go give her the news you’re ok in person?” Seamus said and Angus bleated “BAA!!” and then went and bumped the door open and walked in as if he was the Lord of the manor returning home.
Helka grinned watching Seamus with the ram, but didn’t say anything, but it was kind of adorable.
Seamus closed the door behind him and looked at the Edmans.
“You’d need more shields.” and then laughed.
Seamus
Kirsten and Ada looked at each other and started a very quiet but animated conversation. And then Devlin stopped mid step turned and glared at his wife. “No, absolutely not. You are not teaching that ram to launch itself off of a shield. Kirsten.” The lighter auburn haired woman looked at him, “Oh come on, Ragna would love that. It will be her wedding present.” Devlin opened and closed his mouth twice, shook his head, pinched the bridge of his nose, “Cuyler…talk some sense into her.” Cuyler laughed, “Nope, your wife you deal with it.”
Inside the house Ragna was roused by a very large and soft nose to the face. Once Angus was inside they all heard, “Angus! You daft ruddy ram what you were you thinking?” and hooves prancing but not bouncing on the stones. He head butted her softly making her wince anyway. He snuffled her from head to toe. Ragna reached over and rubbed his muzzle, grabbing one horn, her voice dropping to something more manageable. “Easy Angus, I’m still hurt.” Angus suddenly stood stock still and looked down at her as if admonishing her for getting hurt. “Yes I know you think I’m one of your ladies now.” She ran her hands over the bandages, “I was worried about you too.” The ram pranced in place, and finally settled down, head laid along side Ragna on the side of the bed. “I’ll have to think of some reward for you.”
Tara watched just as amused with Ranga and Helka was with Seamus. She stood up and walked out of the house. She walked right over to Seamus laughing, “Seamus I think you lost your wife to the real hero, but she’s awake now.”
Ragna and AngusSeamus didn’t look at Helka, instead staring off in the direction of the trail. The truck was gone… but now a new vehicle was coming. hovering a foot above the ground, it was sleek and expensive. Seamus looked back at the assembled Edmans, and then went to the house and ducked inside, coming back out with his sword. “Make yerselves scarce. Cuyler, Helka, you can stay; but no weapons. The rest get outta sight.”
Cuyler handed his axe to Oddvar who grabbed his pack and motioned to Devlin who grabbed his as well and they disappeared around the back of the house. Kirsten and Ada, all humor and teasing gone grabbed theirs and slipped into the house. Helka passed her own to Ada to place right inside the door.
Ragna looked up, taking in the absolute stillness and readiness of her friends and their appearance. “Forbann det! Hva skjer? Ada? Kirsten? Ada gi meg sverdet mitt. (Curse it! What’s going on? Ada? Kirsten? Ada, give me my sword.)” Ada shrugged, it wasn’t like Ragna was getting up or could wield it at the moment. But she walked right over to the hearth, grabbed it and placed it on the bed next to Ragna. Angus started to bleat and paw the ground. “Shush Angus, quiet now,” Ragna soothed him softly, but that didn’t stop the ram from turning to face the door and press himself tight to the bed frame firmly between the door and Ragna.
A scant few minutes passed and then the long hover car stopped about fifty yards from the house. The front door opened and an Andorian in a suit got out, antennae waving to wards Seamus. Another got out the driver’s side. The first opened the back passenger door and out stepped a woman. Bright red hair and a form fitting pants and shirt outfit clung to her body as if painted on. Dark boots conveyed her towards Seamus.
Cuyler and Helka got their first impression of what the cousins thought of themselves. Helka wondered briefly how pale the woman stepping out would go if she knew exactly how much more monetary wealth they had than her. It would probably make the woman pawn and grovel all over her. Helka took a seat looking for all the world like the Viking Queen she was, Cuyler standing by her side and just behind Seamus. They were both silent but there was a wealth of understanding passing between them.
“Far enough, Victoria.” The woman stopped and fixed Seamus with a glare, and the two Andorians flanked her. “What happened to familial hospitality… Cousin?” she asked with acid in her voice.
Seamus
Familial hospitality went out the door when ‘family’ attacked their daughter. Neither said it or showed it on their face, but Helka began to quietly burn.
The Edmans
Inside the house Ragna closed her eyes trying to listen, “Kirsten open the windows, just a crack I wanna hear what’s going on.” Kirsten rolled her eyes but did as Ragna asked. Seamus’ voice carried clearly despite the windows being to the side of the house. The question about familial hospitality made Kirsten and Ada shift subtly but they didn’t make a sound.
“Went the way of the dodo after your brother beat my wife and threatened to do all kinds of other things. So take all notion of hospitality and shove it up your arse. Now speak or leave, you’ll nay get a chance for anything else.”
One of the Andorians glowered and took a step forward and Seamus looked at him with a glare that gave him pause. “Ya know, friend, in days past many of my ancestors painted themselves blue when they fought the English. Interesting compound it was, too. Acted like a strong anesthetic… couldn’t feel when they had limbs lopped off or arrows stuck in ‘em. You take one one more step like that lad and we’re gonna find out if’n your skin works the same. Ya hear?”
Ragna snickered quietly and gently ruffled Angus’ wool. Her eyes danced with laughter and menace as her gaze met Tara’s with approval for Seamus’ words. She whispered softly to Angus, “Aye I wanna see that too.” She had to force a very calming breath. She wanted to be outside with Seamus not stuck in a bed here.
Victoria put a hand on the guards arm and he stepped back. Seamus grinned and said “Good dog.” and then he looked at Victoria. “Does he fetch, too? I could go for a haggis.” He turned and looked at Cuyler and Helka. “Haggis? Haggis?” and then nodded and looked back. “That’ll be three haggis and chips, lad. Don’t forget the vinegar.”
The Andorian gritted his teeth but said nothing. Victoria shook her head. “Typical. Seamus, I am here to offer you one chance to redeem yourself. If you step down as Marshall and give the office to Argyle, we won’t press charges against you or that trollo-“ “Aye, you’ll be watching your tongue, Victoria. That’s my wife yer talkin’ about. And that there -” and he jerked his thumb over his shoulder, “- is her parents. And I don’t think they’ll be as kind an’ understandin’ as me if you call her what I think you were about to.”
The girls stirred and Ragna waved them to relax. Trollop wasn’t nearly as bad as the things Argyle had said. Behind the house Oddvar set a hand on Devlin’s shoulder to calm Devlin as much to calm himself. This clan was out of control. Devlin considered the Edman girls family, sisters. With Shauwn always chasin’ after Revna and Devlin always with his brother, they had all grown up together. When Ragna had been born they had all taken a turn in protecting her. She was the apple of everyone’s eye despite her temper. Devlin had never been moved to hit a woman, but this Victoria was coming close to being the first.
Cuyler simply crossed his arms and gave the woman a once over and he didn’t shrug, but he seemed to, and he found her lacking from the styled hair to the expensive clothes, he gaze told her he found her ‘less than.’ But it was Helka, still seated in her chair, not even bothering to acknowledge that there was someone there that really pushed it home. There was an air of power and certainty about Helka, and then slowly she turned her gaze on the woman, one brow raising at Victoria’s mistake, not even bothering to evaluate the woman and totally ignored the guards as if they didn’t exist. That their presence would make no difference in her continued state of un-harm or not.
Victoria cleared her throat and said “Fine. You have our offer. Whats your answer, Seamus?” Seamus stood silent for a moment and then said “I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request.” and he looked at Andorian number one. “That means no.” he said as if in explanation. “Now leave. You’re making the sheep s#!+ smell bad.” Victoria smiled a wicked smile and said “Well, I tried… didn’t I?” The first Andorain looked at her and then at Seamus. Seamus looked at Victoria. “Like that, eh?” he asked.
Seamus
Inside the house Ragna started to push herself up, enough of this, she wanted blood at this point. It was only Tara’s good sense that got her lie back down before she hurt herself and sent Seamus into a rage, and ruined all their plans. Ada shook her head, impressed because Ragna didn’t listen to many people.
Cuyler looked at Helka and back where Seamus was looking and then back and Helka and shrugged in a very masculine dismissive way that clearly said the Andorian could do better.
The Edmans
© 1991-2024 STF. Terms of Service
Version 1.15.11
RSS Feed