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Earth - I'll Make 'Em An Offer They Can't Refuse

Posted July 16, 2021, 1:07 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)
“I think they are insane. And I think your dad… I mean Dad… is a tenth degree horn-dog when he gets drunk; and I think Mom likes that. I think your twin is evil for recording that for posterity, but I want a copy for Gravel. I think your brother has the hardest head of most planets. I think your baby sister is the only one who actually has a heart as she at least checked to see if I was alive before laughing her ass off. And I think I want us to go home so I can show you how much I truly love you… head willing.” and he winked.

Mike


The next day was a flurry of activity. Revna explained that normally gatherings like this started in late afternoon and went all night, but since people had to be transported or shuttled back to Scotland for the next day. There were tables of food -and the clan had really outdone themselves- and plenty of drink - and plenty of mead. Cuyler and Oddvar pulled out their best years. It was always cool near the North Sea and the bonfire was lit but not blazing yet, not this early in the day. Devlin and Alfred were busy running the shuttle and transporter letting those that wanted to attend come back from Scotland or the more southern homesteads on the island. The long ships were resplendent with the cobalt blue and wine shields along the rails and the dragons waxed and polished till they shinned. The forge was quiet, the training ring empty, and the children were running wild around the village.

Runa was dressed in a black underdress with a rich purple apron dress over it. Broaches, but no beads. A leather belt with two pouches hanging at her sides. Runa wore a half cape of fur with a hood that had a deep cowl. Her hair and face would be hidden when it was up. Runa would be a mystery to any McKenzie and so wouldn’t mistake her for Revna. She insisted on getting to meet Tara at the transporter. When she materialized, in true Runa fashion she wrapped the older woman in a huge hug, “Tara!” led her out the door, stopped and said, “You have GOT to see this,” and passed her the micro pad.

Tara looked at her with a confused expression, but looked at the vid on the PaDD. Soon tears were falling down her cheeks and she pressed the back of her hand against her mouth to stifle the laughter. “Oh my… that… oh poor Micheal!” and she laughed.

Ragna, wrapped in Seamus arms, lifted her head and kissed him softly. “We’re going to have to get up soon.” She’d talked to Revna about everything that had happened, and talked to Seamus about worried she was about confronting Argyle. She pulled back slightly, “We’re going home tonight, right?”

Seamus looked at her and said “We’re going to our other home, yes. And by then you’ll nae have a worry about all this cousin business. I promise, wife. We get through today, ok? And tomorrow the sun will shine down on us and we will be married again… but I’d marry ya every day, Ragna. Now come on… ye keep looking at me like that and we may never get outta here.” and he winked and then kissed her.

Revna, in their agreed upon dress code, got up and poured them both a glass of water and handed Mike one, “How’s your head?” She smiled and shook head. She could hear the music starting. People would take turns playing, telling stories, singing, there would be a myriad of instruments sitting around. “Fair warning, we’ll probably get picked on…a lot. Runa will probably start it.” And she grinned before slipping on the cobalt blue underdress and wine apron dress. Yggdrasil turtle broaches, the chains, the copper circlet. What was different was instead of just the blue and white woven belt there was a leather belt and her sword, well Mike’s sword, was slung at her hip. With deft quick hands she pinned the braids she’d fashioned the previous night, into the correct order. She was sure it would make anyone who looked at them smile. It made her smile.

Mike looked at her and smiled. “My head is fine, just sore where the knots were. I hope I at least damaged the sign. Hate to think there’s no reminder of the night other than Runa’s video.” and he chuckled. “You look amazing, by the way.” Mike pulled on a deep blue cloak over the dark red tunic he wore. The cloak fastened with matching pennanular brooches on each shoulder in the shape of a wolf’s head. Dark gray pants and knee high black boots completed the outfit. He’d blend into the crowd of Edmans and be able to be near when Tara made her play.

“Blaire! Come on. Grab the stuff! Terje! Grab the knuckles, and let’s go!” Oddvar grabbed a large cloth wrapped item along with several smaller pieces he slipped in his pockets. He made sure the forge was banked and no flames going and the flew was still open to let the smoke out, and then lowered the shutters to keep the wind from fanning the embers.

Blaire came behind and said “Move yourself, old man! If ya hadn’t wanted to put the final flourishes on those knuckles, we’d be at the house by now! Come on!” and she grinned and she moved past him, slapping his butt for emphasis.

Cuyler wrapped his arms around Helka, “I love you, wife. And I will spend the next months making it up to ya.” Helka laughed, “Cuyler, after all these years I know how to handle your craziness. I know Mike wanted to talk to you about tomorrow, but I think all that craziness is what we all needed. But,” and she turned around in his arms, kissed his cheek, and straightened the torc on his neck, “You will make it up to me. Honestly Cuyler, Seamus had to tell you and then make you keep your hands to yourself.” Cuyler laughed, “Aye he did, and in years to come, my son, isn’t gonna let me live it down. I’m okay with that.” He picked up her torc and placed it around her neck. “Let’s go, you ready?”

The Edmans

The McKenzies

Helka was quick to give Tara a hug and start laughing with her and Runa. Oddvar walked up, “Alright you 3 are laughin’ and I wanna know why. So I know whether to run or join in.” Runa was quick to share the video which had Oddvar in tears gasping for breath. Of course his enjoyment all came from watching his brother ‘chase’ after Helka. He wiped his eyes and took a deep breath and turned to Tara. “Good afternoon, Lady Tara.” Then he glanced at Runa, “Girl get your sword!” Runa glared at him, no WAY, she was not…she sighed as he glared at her. She left and returned two minutes later.

“Alright alright come on!” Cuyler called. “You can all make fun of me later.” Revna, Runa, Ragna, and Helka all walked over to the fence by the training area and grabbed a shield shrugging it to their backs. Ragna walked over to Oddvar and took the large piece from him. She stood next to Cuyler, Oddvar a step behind her. Then she walked over to Blaire. “Blaire, I asked Uncle Oddvar to make this. I can’t say I had a hand in making it, but it is my design.” She pulled the cloth off of a brand new shield. The design was a match to the shields the Edman women now wore on their backs. But with subtle additions. Their were three crests worked into it, Lothbrok for Blaire’s mother, McKenzie, and Edman. The inscription read, “Gjennom ild, kjærlighet og sverd hedrer jeg deg Shield Maiden, og kaller deg søster. (Through Fire, Love, and Sword, I honor you Shield Maiden, and call you sister.)”

Blaire took the shield and looked at with an appraising eye. Seamus looked dat her and said “Blaire McKenzie, you say something!” Blaire looked up front the shield and her eyes narrowed at Ragna and she said “You know I always wanted sisters.” and she grinned. She unhooked the straps and slung the shield across her back in a similar fashion to the Edman women. She looked at 3ach of them in turn and said “Next time, I’m making us war hammers!” and she grinned.

Oddvar grinned at Terje, “Go ahead, you helped make them.” Terje blinked and walked over to Mike and was a little lost. Revna smiled and put a hand on his shoulder, “It’s alright Terje, his name’s Michael and I understand you did some impressive work last night.” He nodded and took a deep breath. “Master Oddvar and I…I mean I only helped a little…” Oddvar grunted. Terje stood up a little straighter, “We made these. We thought they were more fitting.” He handed a cloth wrapped bundle with more weight than the size would indicate but not cumbersome. Inside were the custom brass knuckles.

Mike smiled at Terje and took the knuckles and smiled, slipping them on and smiling. “Ah, lad… you did good. These’ll make quite the impression, I think.” and he grinned at the young man. “Thank you. I’ll keep them on me all the time.”

Oddvar glanced at Cuyler and Cuyler shook his head. Blaire and Oddvar did this, he had nothing to do with it. Oddvar looked at Blaire and nodded and his voice boomed across the space, “Michael Angus McKenzie come here.”

The Edmans

Mike looked at Oddvar and Blaire, who was now standing next to him. He walked over to the master smiths and stopped about three feet from them. “Careful, Master Oddvar…” he said loudly, ever the showman, “I was just presented with the most incredible set of brass knuckles…” and he gave Terje a thumbs up. “Be a shame to have to try ‘em out on you.” and the assembled clansfolk laughed.

Mike

Revna gently rolled her eyes and was the first to laugh. Runa walked up to her and put an arm around her and whispered, “He brings light to your life, don’t you ever let him go.” She grinned, but there was a deep regret building insider Runa…

Oddvar chuckled, “Yeah okay, I just need a tannery sign and I’m good.” There was more laughter rippling out. He winked at Mike and turned to Blaire. “Your cousin here is an amazing smith, and I’m not so bad myself. So Blaire and I, we got together and came up with this crazy idea.”

Blaire looked at him, “Speak for yerself old man. It was a brilliant idea. You might be old and senile but I ain’t.” Oddvar nodded conceeding the point. “As he was sayin’ ta honor the chief of our new united clan we…”

“Wait wait wait!” Cuyler’s voice chimed in. “He ain’t chief yet, what you two blatherin’ on about. The heat fry your brains?” Revna dropped her head hiding a smile. Dramatic…the lot of them…all the men. “Revna! Get up here.” She looked up at her Da and Runa nudged her forward. Revna met his gaze, “Revna, girl,” Cuyler stopped and just looked at her. “I love all my daughters, but you were always meant to take my place. And it’s time.” Cuyler turned to Helka and very carefully took the torc off her neck and very gently placed it around Revna’s neck. It was a chief’s torc, the pattern of the braid and mix of the metals made it heavier and thicker than a regular one. And on the two ends was the new clan crest. Then from his own neck Cuyler took another torc, matching Revna’s, and looked at Mike. “You both have travelled the darkness of hell and come out the other side, together. You didn’t know it, Son, but you were always meant to take your place with her.” Cuyler placed the torc around Mike’s neck.

Mike looked him dead in the eye and said softly so that only Cuyler would hear “I knew it. Thats why I lived through it, Da… I knew she was waiting for me.”

“You done yet?” Oddvar asked. There was rippling laughter as Cuyler rolled his eyes at his brother. “Good, alright so as we were saying,” Oddvar began again, “To honor our new chiefs of our new united clan we decided you needed something to honor that.”

Blaire held up in two hands a very very large something. It was long. “Made from the blood, sweat, and skill of both master smiths, McKenzie and Edman. A clan sword for your clan.” Oddvar pulled the cloth off of it revealing the master piece he and Blaire had worked all night and half the day on.

Cuyler, Oddvar, Blaire, and the rest

Mike looked and his eyes went wide. Seamus looked and did the same. Mike stepped forward, took it in both hands, and slowly slid the blade out of the sheathe. He turned slowly, showing the naked Damascus steel to the family and onlookers. He looked at Seamus, slid the sheath back on, slung it onto his back, and then looked at the two smiths. He walked forward, put a hand on each of their shoulders, and said “I have no words at all. You have outdone yourselves. I’ll carry it with pride, and I’ll do everything I can to not let you down.” He then looked at Cuyler, Hekla, Runa, Ragna, Seamus… and finally Revna and Tara.

“I don’t know what I’m doing… but I promise to do it the best way I know how. The only way I know how… loud, direct, and honest.” He looked back at all of them.

“Okay, moments passed. Lets go to work.” and he grinned.

Mike


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