Posted July 25, 2021, 10:46 p.m. by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) (James Sinclair)
Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - Seek And Ye Shall Find… Whether You Want To Or Not
Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - Seek And Ye Shall Find… Whether You Want To Or Not
Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - Seek And Ye Shall Find… Whether You Want To Or Not
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻(snip)
“Ok… Runa… may I ask why you want me, specifically, to join you? And please know… I am not complaining. Far from it, actually. Im just… confused… I suppose is the best term for it.” He leaned back and regarded her with a soft smile.Capall
Oh man....yeah now she got what Ragna was talking about with Seamus, his brogue, and her name....d@&+. “Because I want to know the person and not the past transactions. I’ve enjoyed talking with you and it’s still early. I’m no rush. But if you are, I’m not going to make you stay.”
Runa
Capall looked at her for a moment and then said “Ah, but you are. But that is just because you are you.” The barkers came over and set down the two pints and they ordered some food. As she walked away, Capall looked at Runa and said “You want to know person? Very well… I don’t judge myself on what the past holds, you know. Whats done is done, I can’t change it. What I can change is how much I let those past actions reflect on me. My goal is to have the good I do in the future mean more than the bad I did in the past. I won’t run from the past, but I won’t wallow in it either.”
Capall
Runa in clipped the clasp on the capelet and shrugged it off her shoulders. She placed it on the booth next to her, and brushed her hair back over her shoulder. “I think that’s good. Every moment in our lives leads us to where we are. So what is next for you? You said you have a goal to do good. What’s that look like to you?” She wasn’t asking out of prodding or a misplaced need to guide him, but genuine curiosity. She picked up the pint and took a pull off of it.
Runa
Capall took a drink and said “I’ve told Lord Michael I am at his disposal, and I meant that. Whatever I can do to help the McKenzie Clan I will. Outside of that… I’m looking for a job, but until then I’m volunteering for a few charities doing computer work and I’m making sure that Tannery has everything he needs to literally bury Hamish and Argyle. Once I know they and their ilk are finally done, I’ll probably look at a full move. I’ve never been off-planet… maybe I’ll try my luck somewhere else.”
Capall
“So I know you are …good doesn’t quite cover it…with computers. What kind of work do you want to do? There are a lot of interesting places out there. Developed and established, and newer colonies just beginning. What would be your ideal place?”
RunaCapall smiled slightly. “Thank you for the compliment. I don’t really have a specific area I’m drawn to over any other. I gravitated towards design and programming during my undergraduate; but my Master’s thesis was a program I created that utilizes a morphing algorithm with an internal statistic-based risk assessment to detect not only system intrusions; but where an intrusion will most likely occur… and when.”
Capall
Runa blinked, twice. So that almost went totally over her head. Runa liked to play around with creating holoprograms but she wasn’t brilliant at it. She just did it for fun. That was…”I imagine you had…have…a lot of people who want your program.” Runa couldn’t even begin to fathom how that worked. So it was like an alarm that told you if someone broke in, basically, and then looked for weak spots in computer software? She was smart, but next to that not so much anymore. She could only imagine what Revna or Gravel would make of his work. But he wasn’t all work and Runa, and she had no idea why (or maybe didn’t want to admit it), wanted to know Capall. Runa leaned forward slightly, her gaze direct but gentle. “So other than computers and the competition of wrestling as a means to an end, and writing women mysterious and intriguing letters…” her eyes were dancing and she grinned. She was flirting with him. She wasn’t even doing it on purpose she just liked him. This wasn’t the typical over the top blatant flirting of Runa. This was subtle, soft, genuine. “…what do you do for fun?”
Runa
Capall eyed her warily, but then said “Oh… try and oust legitimate governing authorities from the hereditary and effective seats of power. You know.. the usual.” and he smiled at her before chuckling softly.
Runa laughed softly. He had a sense or humor and it was slightly sarcastic…she loved it.
“I collect… well, collected… books. I read a great deal. And I like to go to art museums. I have a fondness for art, particularly the Renaissance period. Earth’s Renaissance. The Andorian Renaissance used far too much yellow.” and he smiled.
“What about you, Runa? What is your favorite past time?”
Capall
“You don’t have your books anymore? I adore books. Everything is on PaDDs and computer terminals now. But there is nothing like holding a real book in your hand.” Runa had stocked the school on Bomlo with real books. She stocked all her classrooms with real books. “Way too much yellow. Have you ever looked at Vulcan art from before The Awakening? Way too much green. And that becomes very disturbing when you remember Vulcan blood is green.”
She blushed, softly, the way he said her name. Oh she was in trouble. “Music, reading, I love sports, any kind, just because. I really miss horseback riding. I don’t get to do it often enough when I’m not home. I like to make holoprograms. They aren’t much but it’s fun. Do you still play any sports?”
Runa
“I still have my books, yes. In storage. I moved them out before the… well… you know.” and he gave a self-deprecating shrug. “If I ever have a home, I’ll try and get them back. Until then, as long as they are out of reach of the traitors, I’m happy. And no, I don’t play anything now, but I stay active. Go the gym, hike, swim… that kind of thing.”
Her heart ached a little listening to him. This man should have a home. Runa had a good sense of people, usually but not quite as good as Revna, and this man wasn’t lying. And she remembered what Revna had said about him. “Have you ever hiked the Orkney’s during the Arora Borealis?”
He looked at her for a moment and then laughed softly. “You know… two years ago, if you had told me you missed riding? I would have asked you to come to my house. We have… had… a wonderful stable. I loved riding. Before I filled out in my mid teens, I was quite the equestrian, actually.”
Capall
She couldn’t offer to go now, the lands were confiscated, but she was going to ask Mike about the stables, make sure the horses were taken care of. Leiv would be more than happy to come over and make sure whoever took over was knowledgeable if there wasn’t already someone. Her eyes lit up though and she reached over and touched his arm. “You should come to Bømlo with me. Our clan breeds and raises Shires; We could go ride.”
Runa
Capall looked at her and said “That is… quite the invitation.” he said softly. “I think… I think I would like that very much.” He lifted his glass and took a drink, a big one, and then looked at her and said “So… pity or actual interest? Please don’t be offended, I’m not being flippant. I sincerely want to know. Because I like spending time with you. And I don’t want to assume more than is realistic. I’ve had enough of my hopes being dashed on severely sharp rocks.” and he took another drink.
Capall
She smiled when he said he would like to go with her. Her hand slipped back to her side of the table, considering when the soonest was she could make good on the offer.
Not tomorrow, the next day. She picked up her glass, “Pity?” Runa was taken totally by surprise at the idea. She set the glass back down untouched. “I guess I can see where you might think that. No one would ever accuse me of pity. No, it’s not pity.” He was hurting, and that made her…angry. She didn’t know why, but this time she actually was aware of taking his hand and the heat, electricity, and knowing. His name came out on a musical Nordic lilt, in a way only Runa could say it. “…Capall…actual interest. I can’t predict the future,” distant rumbling laughter, “so I don’t know where our interest will lead, but I promise I will never hurt you.”Runa
Capall watched her for a moment and then said “So you see a possible future here? You and I? Because if that is on the table, I would be more than interested in seeing if that can become… more than possible. But…” and he took a breath, “… there is the issue of my social standing. I know you don’t care. To be fully honest I don’t either. But I have seen what perception can do… the hurt it can cause. I mean… look at Lord Michael. All of that was perception. He is and always has been a good man. But people used perception as a weapon. And if anyone did that to you? Because of me? Runa…” and his voice carried a tone of something new and strong… attachment, “… I’d be remiss if I didn’t stand up for you.”
Capall
Runa didn’t answer right away, giving his words the respect of thinking through her answer. “We’ve only just really met, so everything is on the table. I’d really like to give us the chance to see if it stays that way.” She squeezed his hand. “Perception can do that. Lady Tara was put in a very horrible situation and well it’s easy now to say what might should have been done. But she was alone, and all alone she held the clan together and protected those who needed it for years. So one person can make a difference. You know that. Capall…I’m a big girl, let them try to use you against me, and they will find themselves on the wrong side of my good nature. And if you feel the need to stand up for me, then you do what you feel is right…that’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
Runa
“You are Korean than capable of taking care of yourself, Runa. But you deserve someone who would stand with you while you do. And not to put to bold a point on it… but I would happily stand with you against anyone. Because that is what I feel is right.” Their food arrived at that moment and Capall nodded thanks as the barkeep walked away. Lowering his voice he looked at Runa, green eyes peering directly into hers, and he said “If I had known this was going to be our first date, I would have suggested somewhere else. The drinks here are fine, but the food is absolutely horrible.” and he smiled at her.
Capall
Runa leaned in, voice low, but playful. “We ordered it so we have to pay for it, doesn’t mean we have to eat it. We can go somewhere else.” Anything to make time stop just a little longer. His words carried a chord of truth to it. Mike and Seamus didn’t stand for Revna and Ragna or sit back while they took care of themselves. They stood with each other. Runa was over the moon for them. Just like her Da and mom and Uncle Oddvar and Aunt Trine. She knew she wouldn’t settle for less. Her voice was very low and may or may not be heard over the noise of the pub. “Life is much richer when you have someone to walk beside.”
Runa
Capall took a long, deep breath; eyes fixed on Runa for what seemed like an silent eternity. When he finally moved, it was slow. Deliberate. And his eyes never moved from hersbut they seemed to almost glow with an emerald fire, the flecks of gold in his eyes sparks from the fire. He slowly reached out, taking both of her hands, pulling her forward slightly as he leaned towards her. His lips near her ear, he whispered “Then I have never been more wealthy in all my days.” and his lips brushed her cheek and he rose to his feet and said “Come. Walk with me… kjærlighet.” and he began walking them out if the pub.
Capall
Okay so she’d only just met him but his eyes were amazing. The copper flecks in her own eyes flashed and ignited as she stared back at him. Her eyes fluttered closed as he kissed her cheek and there was that knowing but more clear and stronger, and Runa had no doubts. She had to talk to Mike! and Revna! She grabbed the capelet off the seat with one hand, the other still in his, and stood following them out. She blushed, smiling. “Jeg vil gå hvor som helst med deg.” When Capall looked at her with confusion she translated, “Rachainn a dh’àite sam bith còmhla riut. (I’d go anywhere with you.)”
Runa
Capall smiled and led them outside, turning and walking randomly off in a direction. “My head is spinning. I have no idea where we are going, but all I know is that right now, I don’t care. I just want to walk, with you, destination be damned.”
Capall
© 1991-2024 STF. Terms of Service
Version 1.15.11
RSS Feed