Posted July 4, 2021, 10:48 a.m. by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) (James Sinclair)
Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - I’ll Make ‘Em An Offer They Can’t Refuse
Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - I’ll Make ‘Em An Offer They Can’t Refuse
Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - I’ll Make ‘Em An Offer They Can’t Refuse
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻(snip)
Revna lifted the remains of the mutilated seat belt over her head stood up and moved away from the chair. “How am I supposed to explain that? Never mind don’t answer that question.” Revna kissed him on the cheek stepped to the hatch and opened it. Outside were a handful of the Edmans and a couple of McKenzies. Revna was nearly knocked off her feet by her mirror image, and spun around. “Hi Runa.” She hugged her twin who kissed her cheek held her at arm’s length and laughed. Runa’s voice dropped, “You are glowing and blushing.” She glanced at Mike as he appeared and she moved, hugging him and a whispered, “Thank you.” And then Runa disappeared inside the shuttle…Revna took Mike’s hand and walked with him towards the waiting group. She scanned the faces, her parents, Uncle Oddvar, Ragna and who could only be Seamus, Kirsten and Devlin, Ada, there was one particular face she was looking for but didn’t see. She knew it had been a long shot, and she was glad she hadn’t said anything to Mike.
She headed for her parents who were already approaching. Helka walked right up to Mike, stared up at him, “Now son, I’m short and old, you have to come down here to me.” And once he did she wrapped him in a surprisingly strong hug and kisses his cheek. “Welcome home.”
Revna in the meantime had been swept up by her father into a massive bear hug. He leaned back and looked from her to Mike and nodded. “He’s good for you.” He turned and offered Mike his hand and then hugged him, clapping him on the back. Helka hugged Revna and whispered something to her that made Revna laugh.
“What in Freyr’s name happened in here?!” Runa stepped out of the shuttle and eyed Mike. Revna closed her eyes and counted to 10. “Hey Mike! Glad my wedding present was a hit!” She cackled and wandered off with a few of the others, laughing the whole way.
Revna looked at Mike. “Come on,” and she nodded towards Seamus and Ragna.
Revna and the restMike followed her over and saw Seamus. Smiling, the two big men embraced each other for a long moment in silence. Seamus finally broke the hug and said “Michael… this is my wife Ragna. Also your wife’s sister… so I guess we really are brothers now!” Mike laughed and said “Naw… always were.” He looked down at Ragna and grinned and said “Mrs. McKenzie, its a real pleasure.”
Mike
Ragna cut a wicked side eye at Seamus and looked at Revna, “He was arguing with me over that earlier.” She turned to Mike as Revna hide a smirk. Ragna looked from Mike to Seamus, “He’s my brother now, I get to hug him, you are going to be okay with that.” She tossed Seamus a cheeky grin before hugging Mike.
Revna rolled her eyes, “And since my husband has forgotten his manners, I’m the other Mrs McKenzie, but you call me Revna.” and gave Seamus a hug, and in the process, “So I appreciate the compliment about my chest Seamus, but Ragna’s better be the only one you’re looking at now.”
Mike said “My manners. Tisk tisk, Diplomat. I was introduced to her. I make my pleasure making her acquaintance, she responds, then I introduce my wife. But you just had ta go and jump the gun. I swear, you diplomats are all the same.” and he grinned at her.
Ragna snorted and rolled her eyes, “Yes yes, she’s SO important now.” She turned on Revna, “Let it go to your head and I’m letting Mom tell Mike about that first time you got drunk on Mead.” Revna, mock scared done very well, turned on her baby sister, “Yep and I will tell Seamus all about that that spring, and the stones, and the fairies.”
Seamus looked at Ragna and said “Yes, I did… I just didn’t know the best chest in the Edman clan would show up at my door a few days later.” and he bent over and kissed her cheek.
Revna laughed, “Oh I like you, Seamus.” She looked from him to Ragna and back and giggled, “Yeah Mike, remember when you said you were glad you met me first…wouldn’t have mattered. I think Ragna would have run me through with her sword…”
Then she turned to give Ragna a long hard knowing look. She hugged her sister and whispered to her, Mike and Seamus, wouldn’t hear but would see the blush that crossed Ragna’s face. “Ha! Knew it,” was all Revna said. She pulled back searching Ragna’s face before brushing hair out of her baby sister’s face before hugging her again.
Revna and Ragna
Mike looked at Seamus and Ragna and Revna and said “My darling wife promised me a drink, and so far has failed to fulfill said promise. So who you gotta bed to get a drink around this place, huh?” and he laughed.
Revna shook her head with a smile, there was no end to Mike’s teasing. And he was happy and that was worth it all. “I told you there would be no....”
“One can hope that the answer to that question is and always will be your wife, Michael McKenzie.” a woman’s voice said from beside the shuttle. A tall, distinguished looking woman stepped to the group…
Lady Tara.
Mike looked at her and swallowed hard. The two stared at each other for a long, tense moment… then Tara flung her arms around Mike’s neck and hugged him close, tears flowing down both cheeks. Mike hugged her back, his cheek on her head. Softly he whispered “Lady Tara… easy, easy. I’m here. We’re gonna make it right… I promise.”
Seamus watched and tears filled his eyes. He put an arm around Ragna and pulled her close to his side. Mike held Tara for another moment before stepping back slightly. “Seanmhair, this is Revna.. my wife. Revna, Lady Tara McKenzie… Clan Chief of Clan McKenzie.”
Mike
Ragna slipped an arm around his waist and hugged him. She stretched up and kissed his cheek. “Told you to trust Revna. It’s all going to be okay now, Seamus.” Ragna had gotten it out of her Da what had been in the letter Revna had sent to Tara. She looked over at Revna who was standing very quietly watching and reached over with her free hand and squeezed Revna’s. Who in turn looked at her with a soft smile and tears, and squeezed her hand before letting go. Revna stepped next to Mike, resting a soft hand on the small of his back, but didn’t say anything. Whatever reason had brought them home, it was worth this. Including paying for the broken chair.
Seamus looked down at Ragna and said “Aye… it is.”
There was a subtle shift in Revna’s posture when Mike introduced her, and then she nodded, rather than inclined, her head and despite wearing pants and not a skirt executed a beautiful curtsey. There was an art in the precision of the greeting depending on rank and title of the two people involved and it was one Revna had obviously mastered. She paused and then dipped slightly lower, a silent and deeply personal additional respect. “I am honored Lady McKenzie.” Then she took both of Tara’s hands in hers, “Please forgive the familiarity, but if not I promise to apologize formally later.” She pulled Tara into a hug and held the older woman for a very long moment. Revna could have thanked her, could have said she understood, she could have said a lot of things, but she didn’t. She and Tara both knew without saying. Then she pulled back slightly, “May I call you Seanmhair?”
Tara embraced her back, hard, a great deal of strength not expected in her form. Pulling back she smiled at Revna and whispered in her ear with a smile “If ya don’t, I’ll kick yer arse. And if ya ever make him cry, I gut you and leave you in a bog.” and then normal volume said “Of course, my dear. I would expect nothing less.” and gave her a small wink.
Now most women would take that threat and return it but Revna just pulled back and met Tara’s gaze, “I would deserve it.” She squeezed Tara’s hands again before tucking herself back under Mike’s arm.
“Oh NO! No no no no! I have both my sisters home and two new brothers. I shall not tolerate tears, even happy ones.” It was Runa, who had returned carrying a padded satchel. She walked right up to Revna and hip checked her and cleared her throat expectantly. “Lady McKenzie, may I introduce my twin, Runa Edman.” And Runa dipped low, and prettily in her dress. “It’s is a pleasure to finally meet you. Ragna speaks very highly of you, and I have to have a lot of respect for anyone who can like her and have seen her temper.”
Tara extended a hand to Runa nad smiled a smile Ragna wouldn’t recognize but one that made Seamus mutter “Oh, shite… here we go.”
Tara took Runa’s hand and said “A true pleasure my dear. And your sister’s temper is second only to her intellect and loyalty. I am most pleased to call at least her and darling Revna ogha. I’d love to call you the same, my dear, but alas there is that derth of a McKenzie by your side…” and she put an arm around Runa and smiled that smile again and Mike muttered “Crap…”.
Ragna and Revna exchanged a look and a knowing smile....
“But not all can truly handle a McKenzie, lass. Its nothing to be ashamed of, everyone has their limittations… Im sure you can make up for quality with… quantity.” Seamus and Mike snorted loudly trying to repress their laughter. Seamus whispered to Ragna “I may have told seanmhair that you said Runa teases you unmercifully. Yeah… she adores you, so she will not let Runa have any peace during all this.” and he chuckled.
Ragna looked up at Seamus, “She does?” Ragna was the baby so being adored was not a new thing, but her relationship with Tara had started so uneasily. And she always had the feeling that her family put up with her because they had too, or at least the extended family. “I really love her, Seamus. She’s an amazing woman.” She watches Mike and Tara and Revna and smiles. “They need this, and you too.”
Slipping her own arm around Tara, Runa laughed, “Oh Lady McKenzie your reputation does not do you justice. And at the risk of offending, after seeing my sisters, I am very happy for them. But McKenzie boys have this nasty habit of making Edman girls cry. That’s not for me, so I will admit to the limitation. That is not something I am willing to find out if I can handle. So I will be happy with earning your friendship.” Then she winked mischievously at Tara, “Besides think of all those poor lads who would miss out on my company.”
Tara nodded enthusiastically and said “Yes, yes.. quite so. Cries of unbridled passion and satisfaction aren’t for everyone. Perhaps someday one of the many… many many many many… attempts at knocking the lock off your chastity belt will be successful, my dear. Until then remember… you aren’t getting exactly younger.” and she grinned and squeezed Runa tightly and walked to Mike and Revna before she could respond.
Ragna groaned dramatically next to Seamus. Runa turned and grinned at Ragna and then turned to Mike, “How much do you love me, Mike? The correct answer is a whole heck of a lot but not quite as much as you love Revna. I mean if it wasn’t for me you’d still be tending bar on Atlantis and totally miserable. I made everything better.” While she waited expectantly for Mike’s answer she glanced at Seamus and winked, “You can thank me next.”
Revna, Runa, and Ragna
Mike looked at Runa and said “Mardusk made everything better. You didn’t burn down my bar… a pleasant surprise, I might add. But you did let him at my jukebox. And no… I havent forgot.” and he smiled.
Mike and Seamus
“Yes yes he got you the ride out but you wouldn’t have gone except for me. Oh and Revna seriously, I’ve got some footage of Mike for you to watch…be still my heart.” Runa nodded, “Well then I guess you don’t want this,” and out of the bag she pulls a bottle of Mike’s favorite drink from the bar. “Oh and speaking of Mardusk. CALL HIM. Something’s wrong with him, seriously, I think he’s depressed. Kept waxing poetic about Revna better be good for you because otherwise ‘it’ wasn’t worth it. Seriously call him, soon.”
Mike looked at her and said “You didn’t put it together? You’re a fan of Bubbles, right? You follow her ISpace? You know about the big Orion on and off boyfriend…? The one she stabbed with her shoe…?” and he gestured at her to put it all together.
Revna ever the peace maker, “Okay Runa, give Mike the drinks so he’ll quit his belly aching. I told him there wouldn’t be any where we landed.” Runa laughed, handed it over and then passed Seamus a dark glass bottle. “Ragna calls it honied whisky. Developed and perfected it herself. Enjoy, Ragna is very talented. Have her take you to the meadery while you are here, it’s magnificent. Now of course…” Revna tugged on her arm before she started in on Ragna again. She knew Tara could only risk being there for a short time. Revna linked arms with Runa and then with Ragna. “Seamus I’m going to steal your wife for just a bit. We’re going to walk on ahead, so we can talk. And then,” she turns to Tara with a grin, “you three need to talk and unfortunately Seanmhair will have to keep their eyes off the view and their minds focused. And when you are all done you can catch up with us.” Revna didn’t wait for agreement, she led her sisters away. The original McKenzies needed time and she needed to make sure Ragna was okay and knew what to expect when she saw Argyle for the first time…
Revna, Runa, Ragna
As the sisters began to walk away, a loud chirp was heard and Tara pulled a micro-PaDD from her pocket. “Apologies. I thought I had silenced th-” and she stopped and her eyes went wide in shock. He finger scrolled quickly and her eyes dashed back and forth on the screen, her mouth open slightly.
“I have to go. Now.” She looked at Mike and Seamus and said “Bring Cuyler and Hekla and the girls to the manor for dinner. Beam into the basement, Seamus you know the coordinates. No exceptions!” and she turned and walked back the other side of the shuttle and out of sight.
Mike and Seamus looked at her, looked at each other, and then at the backs of the girls. Mike put his fingers in his mouth and a very loud whistle rang out. As they turned, he waved them back.
Mike, Seamus, Tara
© 1991-2024 STF. Terms of Service
Version 1.15.11
RSS Feed