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Earth - Seek And Ye Shall Find... Whether You Want To Or Not

Posted Aug. 28, 2021, 6:37 a.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 (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Revna set the mallet’s down and eyed her uncle, he was up to something, but it would have to wait. “Now we know that isn’t how the song is most well known. Ragna here would have you believe that our records are accurate and true and that is exactly how Faolan sang it to Amalie. Now I say it is equally possible,” and Revna locked eyes with Mike, “that in that long bitter separation, Amalie couldn’t stand the thought that she would never see Faolan again, and so she changed the lyrics to remind herself that anything is possible for the right person.”

Runa snorted, “Either way that is how Amalie wrote it down. Now we have a matter of this old clan crest to deal with.” And Runa waved to the combined crest mark with Amalie and Faolan’s marks. In the back one of the older children piped up, “Hey! That’s Marshal Seamus’s mark!” Runa grinned, “That’s right, it is, but it was Faolan’s mark first. Now before we can retire this crest there is something that must be done.” Runa looked at Ragna and nodded.

Ragna pulled the bearded axe from her belt and held it across her palms as she walked up to Seamus. “Now you see, this axe, it isn’t mine. It’s not my mother’s, or Revna’s, nor Runa’s. It hasn’t belonged to an Edman in centuries. It belongs to Faolan, to a McKenzie. I share the same mark as Amalie, and so it’s my job to return it home, and you Seamus share the same mark as Faolan, you live upon the foundation that he built, in a home built by your hands, that honors the traditions of the McKenzie clan, and have been the stalwart defender of your clan. This axe belongs to you.” And Ragna, her ice blue eyes staring into his piercing blue, placed the axe against his chest. And the thunder rumbled and began to roll, and Ragna didn’t flinch and no storm arrived.

Ragna

Seamus looked at her for a long moment, not moving. Then he looked at Mike and Capall. Both nodded. Seamus looked back at Ragna and slowly, very slowly, took the axe from her and slid it into his belt. He then said loudly “Traditions matter.” and with a single swift movement lifted Ragna off her feet an threw her over his shoulder and began walking the direction of their home. The crowd parted to let them pass, and before a single protest could be heard there was a swirl of lights… and they were gone.

“They know they have to be back before sunrise. Don’t you purists have cow.” Tara said and lowered her wrist where she was closing a small cover on one of her exquisite bracelets.

The McKenzies

The last thing everyone heard was Ragna, “It’s about time, Seamus!” before they disappeared. Runa and Revna looked at each other and started to laugh. Oddvar let out a roaring laugh, “I knew Seamus was my favorite!” The Edmans looked at Tara and laughed, “If he’s smart it will be more like mid day.” Cuyler stood up and started moving, purposely towards Helka, “I ain’t drunk tonight.” And then his deep voice carried across the gathering with an air of command, “Alright lads, ya know what’s next!”

Helka cursed, “I’m too old for this,” grabbed Tara by the hand, “RUN!” Cuyler and Oddvar right behind them. Edman woman shrieked, laughed, teased, and then RAN grabbing McKenzie’s with them. The men some jogged after them, some ran, some sauntered away, all laughing. Revna looked at Runa, who was just standing there. “Runa, Move. Your. Rear!” Runa shrugged, “I don’t want to.” Revna shoved her hard in the opposite direction. “Doesn’t matter. It’s tradition.” And Revna took off with a laugh.

Revna

Tara sighed heavily, rolled her eyes, and let Helka haul her away. Capall looked at Mike and everyone running around. Mike shook his head and said “For scary smart, you are really dumb.” and he clapped the man on the shoulder. “Story. Lays out tradition and history. Action. Spurs tradition to be used. Resolution. Go chase down Runa and make her yours, lad. GO!” he yelled and Capall grinned and took off like a shot.

Helka laughed, “Roll those eyes all you want Tara. The clan is loving seeing you be part of everything. And unless you want my brother-in-law to catch up with you…” Helka looked back with a wicked grin. “Oh no…after last night, Cuyler’s gonna work for it.” And Helka made a quick cut to the left and took off.

Tara made her way out of the firelight and once she was well shadowed, she smiled and lifted the hem of her dress up and was suddenly off at a sprint that resembled more deer than woman. She easily outpaced many of the younger ones who looked at her with mouths agape. Her speed even caused a few to slow down and stare to a point they were caught by their pursuers.

Oddvar slowed to a walk as his brother took off after Helka and shook his head with a chuckle. He watched Tara take off out of the shadows and the antics her distraction created. But he did not run after her. Something Mike had said about Tara being widowed twice gave him pause. He knew that heart ache, though he’d only been married once. There was no doubt he found Tara to be an amazing woman, funny, wickedly smart, and attractive, but Oddvar didn’t know if she wanted to be pursued. And he was not so arrogant as to assume that just because he wanted to know her better that she was interested. So he walked in the direction she went with no intention of chasing her, not yet anyway.

“Come and sit, Oddvar Edman…” a voice said out of the darkness. Tara had apparently doubled back, and was now sitting on a large rock by the nearby stream. “Let the younger ones frolic and chase. We should save our breath for talking, wouldn’t you agree?” and she pointed to the rock next to hers.

Runa ran, half heartedly. She usually enjoyed dodging and evading and hiding out till morning, but not tonight. She ran into a group of trees and slipped behind one and leaned up against it quietly.

Capall walked into the stand of trees and listened for a moment. “Runa…” he said to the darkness, “…I know the importance of tradition… but I never really felt it. So I have a suggestion. What if we were to go somewhere… right now… and you can explain… show me what I have been missing?” and he listened for her.

There was a soft intake of breath, Runa loved the way he said her name. Her voice came quietly from beside and just behind him. “And where would we go, min kjærlighet (my love)? I would go anywhere with you.” Then she moved, changing her location. She was quiet but not really trying to hide from him, she was just teasing. Then from directly behind him, “And what do you want me to show you?”

Capall was silent for a long moment, and then he whispered “What love is.”

Mike watched the Clan… his clan… celebrate and become one. He stood on the steps to the manor and smiled. Looking around, he saw Revna and waved, but didn’t run. He just smiled…

And then he winked.

And then he turned and walked towards the Manor, his kilt swaying with his step.

The McKenzie Clan

Revna was standing off to the side watching. Home, Family, Clan all the things that mattered to her. She looked around for Mike. He wasn’t going to run after her, she knew that, but he would chase her in his own way. The problem was there was no way of knowing what that way would be. She spotted him on the steps and the sight of him took her breath away. While she was contemplating how quickly they could be done with this tradition, he winked at her. Revna’s heart took off and she flushed. That wasn’t fair, he was cheating, and she loved it. But she dodged around the side of the manor anyway.

By the time Mike made it through the front door of the manor, Revna had already entered from a side door and was standing in the main room waiting for him. She smiled at him and started walking towards him, using the split in the skirt to full advantage. “Michael McKenzie, we have a problem. You’ve been winking at me all day and you haven’t done anything about it. I even put this dress on for you because it’s your favorite.” She stopped just an inch away from him. “Now if you don’t hurry up and kiss me, I might loose my mind.”

Revna

Mike smiled and leaned down and barely brushed his lips against hers. “Then I guess you will have to lose your mind, then, wife. And you are only half-right about the dress. It’s my favorite of your clothes… but we both know you in clothes is not my favorite.” and he kissed her quickly and then dashed for the stairs, bounding up them two and three at a time; his kilt bouncing and giving her the briefest glimpses of what it meant to wear a kilt ‘properly’.

The McKenzies

Revna huffed, that man needed to come back and kiss her properly. She leaned against a chair and watched him race up the stairs. She didn’t run, she was tired, and she couldn’t out pace him anyway. A slow steady breath and she climbed the stairs and laughed. “Mike…” her voice trailed after him. “Wrong way. I already found a room.” She turned in the opposite direction he had gone. “I may need help with our preferred dress code. Oh and leave the kilt on for me, my love.” Revna had found this room when she’d changed earlier and had checked, no one used it. She left the door cracked and then the sound of a piano came drifting down the hallway. The only song Revna knew how to play and then, softly her voice joined the piano.

The Edmans

Mike listened and walked slowly to the room where Revna was. He leaned in the doorway and listened as she played and sang.

The McKenzies


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