Posted June 5, 2023, 8:39 p.m. by Civilian Jal'na of House Duroc (Head of Physical Therapy - Sacred Heart Hospital) (Jennifer Ward)
Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in tlhIngan tIq
Posted by Civilian Jal’na of House Duroc (Head of Physical Therapy - Sacred Heart Hospital) in tlhIngan tIq
Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in tlhIngan tIq
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻(snip)
Koden’thal led her to the dance floor. He was surprisingly delicate of touch for a being his size, and a more reserved song started up and he held her close, but not too close. As the music started, he began to to move with while not exactly grace, but a smoothness born of a lifetime of combat training. His emotions were not complicated, nor were they hidden. He was enjoying her company, but his agenda was clear.
Koden’thal
Eela was certainly more confident with her body than she had been even a week ago, and it was clear that while she wasn’t physically training the way she once had her body was stronger than her physical issues might suggest, if he even knew about them. The truth was that the banter and even the dancing now was a nice distraction from the last two and a half days, but a deeper part of her that was safely tucked away just now was quite raw. Could she simply keep it there and enjoy herself? Most definitely. Was that a good idea? Perhaps not.
She gave him a small smile and let him lead the slow progression. It wasn’t anything fancy, but she didn’t require it to be. Besides it distracted her from the internal argument being waged and it wasn’t yet clear who would win. “So, Koden’thal, I seem to be at a disadvantage in that you know possibly much about me and I cannot say the same. What is there to know about Lord Duroc’s trusted guard?”
~Eela
Koden’thal smiled and looked down at Eela. “I was houseless my entire life.” He began. “Fortunately, I was good with a blade and a disruptor, so I was paid to be a mercenary. I earned myself honor in battle, but I was not a true Klingon without a house. I knew that I could petition one, but they all seemed so… so… enamored of themselves. I also knew that no matter what, I would still be looked down upon as I was not born into a house. And then one day I got in a fight with an Antican. I was just about to plunge my blade into their heart when suddenly I couldn’t move my arm.” and he laughed. “The single largest Klingon I had ever seen in all my days had hold of my wrist, and he lifted me off the ground and shook me like a child’s toy!” and he laughed louder at the memory. “He yelled at me and said if I dared to raise a hand against one of his house, he would drink my blood from my stripped-bare skull.” and he smiled. “It was, of course, Lord Duroc. He demanded I take him to his House so they could answer for my dishonor. I told him I had no house, and to do with me what he would; I feared not death.” He slowed their dancing as his eyes took on a more somber… more serious look. “He looked at me, Captain… he looked me in the eyes and I saw fire. Actual… fire. And at that moment I knew the rumors about him were true. He truly did speak to a forgotten god. One who sat at the right hand of The Unmerciful One. I could feel that look burn through me as if my soul itself was ablaze. But the pain was a great one… and it showed me that House Duroc was not only formidable; but that I was worth more that tradition dictated. That my worth was not based on my birth, but on my actions. And it wasn’t that I was worthy of the House… but that House Duroc was worthy of me.” He looked down at her and leaned in. “That is the secret of House Duroc, you know. The House doesn’t make us worthy… we make the House worthy. A lesson all of us know… and one most others have forgotton.”
Koden’thal
She had held his gaze as he spoke and showed nothing less than regard for his words, the things he believed to be true. Her eyes held a depth of understanding, of someone who had herself faced pivotal moments of choice and had stood tall to meet them without wavering. Her eyes also spoke of someone who held deep beliefs that could not entirely be explained by rational thought and evidence. “I know,” she said. “I have seen it to be true,” she said, smiling briefly at the memory of Luis Vargas. “I am glad you found your place. It is a true gift to know where you belong.” This too was a statement of truth that she knew applied to her as well. She had known it with utter certainty the moment the shadow from her past had tried to convince her she was not enough without them. But she was already rooted. Oed had claimed her and whether it was Fate or simply happenstance, Eela felt that truth in every cell of her body.
~Eela
“It is indeed.” he said quietly… and then a large hand landed on his shoulder and a shadow fell across the two of them. “I’m cutting in. Go get drunk.” Urg said to Koden’thal, who simply bowed his head at Urg and the looked at Eela. “It was my pleasure to hold you against me, Captain.” and he turned and walked away.
Eela showed nothing short of amusement as she watched Koden’thal walk away, but in a way she was grateful even if she couldn’t quite explain it. The timing was just… off.
Urg grinned at her then turned and yelled behind him. “Wife!!! Come to me and dance with us! We have friends to save from the clutches of lecherousness!” and he laughed, as did a few around them.
Urg, Lord Duroc
Jal’na turned from where she was talking to Dr. Helaky. Jal’na barked a laugh as well and gave him a hungry stare, “And are those friends going to save me from your lecherous clutches?!” She crossed the distance anyway to the sound of uproarious laughter and cheers.
Jal’na, Lady Duroc
Eela laughed as well. “Who were you saving from whom, anyway?” she asked, still amused.
~Eela
Urg looked down at Eela and smiled, then put an arm around both and began to dance. “He is one of my best and most dedicated protectors. A warrior of great strength and unwavering loyalty. Fearless and ablee to face down any enemy… you would have crushed him into targ dung” and he roared with laughter.
Urg, Lord Duroc
Jal’na laughed loudly. “Koden’thal can care for his own disappointments, and I am sure Eela would have crushed him delicately.” She danced for a few minutes and then silently grinned at Eela and then stretched up and whispered in Urg’s ear. “Husband, I do not think I like your arm around another female.”
Jal’na, wife of Urg
Urg looked down at her and said “If that is your wish.” and he looked at Eela and winked. “Captain, I am afraid Lady Duroc has spoken. Yes yes, I know… you are heart broken that my touch will no longer grace your form. Believe me when I say, yours is not the only heart to fall for such a male as I.” and he grinned and then started laughing as he let go of Ella and Jal’na. “I must attend to something. By all means, ladies… entertain one another in my absence.” and he laughed as he strode off the floor and through a doorway. An astute observer would have seen him pull a small communicator out of his gauntlet as he left the dance floor.
Urg, Lord Duroc
People thought Koden’thal was an insatiable flirt and full of attractive confidence. He had nothing on her husband. She watched him walk off, pulling out the small communicator but thought nothing of it. Jal’na shook her head with a toothy grin looking back at Eela. “Knowing my luck, he’s going to come back with his arms around two males.”
Eela shook her head and laughed, highly amused. It was hard to say if was the strange sequence of events this evening or the amount of bloodwine she had consumed (though she was still standing so it couldn’t have been that much, maybe), but she was on this strange sort of emotional high. It was such a counter to the last few days and she understood even now that it was a blip and that she would have highs and lows for awhile. Such was the processing of trauma. But none of that heaviness mattered just now.
She looked at Jal’na and reached out her hand, clasping the woman’s elbow. “I am so happy for you Jal’na. Truly.” Jal’na was not just her physical therapist, and she was not just some patient. Some days it was hard to explain to others how hard it was to to do the things she knew intrinsically that she was meant to when the pain had been foremost on her mind. Jal’na had seen her through deep lows and pushed her through them so that she could stand with confidence. Her gratitude for this woman was immense, and there was nothing she wanted more for the people she cared about than for them to have a measure of true happiness.
~Eela
The still newly minted Lady Duroc chuckled. She grabbed Eela’s arm, “Thank you, Eela. Life will certainly never be dull with him. I am not much for dancing, shall we?” She waved off the dance floor. “How are you feeling, Eela?” She had watched the woman drink more than any non-klingon should of blood wine.
Jal’na, Lady Duroc
With more stability than she outwardly should have been capable of, Eela strode off the dance floor with Jal’na and flashed her friend a grin. “I’m great!” she said with a laugh. “And highly flattered, even if Koden’thal’s timing was absolutely terrible. Though in about five or ten minutes I’m going to take my drunk ass home to bed so that I am somewhat functional in the morning. And honestly? This is a great party, and a much better celebration than the time I got drunk with Klingons. I was a helluva lot younger then too, but if there is one thing that I have not lost as I have gotten older it’s my ability to hold my alcohol, for better or worse,” she said with a grin. A release, a moment to forget her worries for one night as she jumped back into her life again. That was all she had needed and what this had turned out to be. Whatever else happened from here on out, at least Eela knew that she could still ut crap to the side and focus on what was important to her.
~Eela
“His timing was probably more perfect than you realize right now. Even if you don’t wish to partake of his offer.” Jal’na winked at Eela, “It never hurts to know we are desirable.” Jal’na glanced to where Urg had disappeared. “In five minutes if he has not returned, I will go in search of him. When I find him, I will make sure we aren’t seen again for the rest of the evening.” She rumbled lowly and then smiled. “Thank you, Eela. I am glad you could come celebrate with us, tonight.”
Jal’na, Lady Duroc
Jal’na wasn’t wrong. She was flattered and it certainly boosted her mood. “Haliians love a good party, and I always want to celebrate my friends. It was my honour to be here. Enjoy the rest of your celebration, Jal’na, and congratulations again. I love seeing you so happy.”
Eela looked around and rolled back her shoulders. “Now, you go find that husband of yours and I am going to walk out of here without issue. Lieutenant Governors do not stumble out of parties,” she said with a wink before she spun on the ball of foot and indeed went to take her drunk self to bed.
~Eela
Jal’na watched Eela walk out making note of her guards following right behind. Confident she would get home in one piece, Jal’na turned and made her way toward the door where Urg had disappeared. She was quite done with the throngs of people and was ready for a more private celebration.
People were apparently either oblivious or it was some nurse inspired joke to keep her away from him. 10 minutes later Jal’na was quite done with being polite. If it wasn’t for Alice suddenly needing to talk to the woman prattling on at Jal’na, Jal’na may have lost her patience. She slipped through the door, closed it behind her, and leaned against the door. She has forgotten what Klingon parties were like.
Jal’na
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