Posted by Lieutenant Cara Esmé O’Farrell (Counselor / Education Specialist) in Side Sim - A Much Needed Vacay

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) in Side Sim - A Much Needed Vacay

Posted by Lieutenant Cara Esmé O’Farrell (Counselor / Education Specialist) in Side Sim - A Much Needed Vacay
Posted by… suppressed (47) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
“Nope. Keep ‘em closed just till we get to the room.” he said softly. He jerked his head in a silent ‘What’s up?’ to the desk clerk and he carried Cara all the way to the room door.

Gravel

The desk clerk grinned and nodded back. Once they were passed he chuckled quietly and wondered if that counted as something Yos considered out of the ordinary for his sister-in-law.

Cara had a brief second where she wondered what he was up to, and then it was gone. She thought she agreed with an “Okay” but she didn’t actually say anything. They should be through the rotating doors by now shouldn’t they? Mmmm…she could walk but she’d rather lay on him and listen to his heart beat. Maybe in a minute.
“Don…drop meh, ya…hhhhh…sho’sz too.” Impressively her voice was sleepy slurred and not drunken slurred.

Cara

“Not gonna happen.” he said softly. “Hey, hun… why don’t ya just relax until we get to the room?” he said as he opened the door and walked into the dark room. He carried her to the bedroom, laid her down, got her undressed and into one of his t-shirts that fit her like a nightgown. “C’mon doll, drink.” he said as he held her head and tipped the glass of water with dissolved aspirin in it to her lips.

Having successfully accomplished getting her in bed, he stared at her for a long time, smiling in the dark. Then he took six aspirin himself and downedna pitcher of water before crawling into bed next to her falling almost immediately asleep.

Gravel

Cara was having the most amazing dream. Gravel proposed at Mike’s Place. There was something about a drinking contest and Gravel won. Cara grinned in her sleep and rolled over, right into a strip of really bright sunlight. “Uuugghhh.” She yanked the blanket up over her head. Okay so the drinking happened…a lot of it. Her mouth felt fuzzy and nasty and her head had a dull ache that, really should be worse. Maybe she could go back to sleep for a little longer and continue that dream.

Cara

“I have water, orange juice, dry toast, and some aspirin for ya.” a deep rumbling voice said quietly. “How’s the head, chica? I imagine after all that you downed last night, it’s pretty sore.” and Gravel chuckled softly.

Gravel

That wonderful rumble she loved so much rolled and bounced across her skull admonishing her for whatever stupid thing she had done the night before. Cara made a painful noise that was muffled in the mattress. At least he thought it was funny. Laying in bed would not make it better. She would much rather go back to her dream, but now she wasn’t sure what was drunken memory and what was drunken dream.

She didn’t remember going to bed or changing. At least she was clothed this time. She sat up slowly. She groaned as the room tilted. “How much did I drink?” She scrubbed her face with her right hand and stopped and looked at it puzzled. Her ring was gone. She flipped the blanket back, moved pillows, felt around the bedside table, and glanced along the floor before slipping off the bed to look underneath. Her hangover would just have to wait until she found it. Did she take it off? Why? Did it fall off at the bar? How did she not notice last night?

Cara

Gravel chuckled and lifted the mini-PaDD he had just for this moment and began recording. He said “How much did you drink? I’m just gonna say ‘Yes.’ and leave it at that. It was actually impressive. And what are you looking for, crazy woman?” he asked with a grin. She had forgotten. And she hadn’t looked at her other hand yet.

Gravel

“My ring’s gone.” What did she do with it? “My Claddagh that my gran gave me.” (The fact she clarified should have been her first hint.) Gravel’s mini-PaDD was getting a good peek at her rear just barely covered by his t-shirt moving about as she tried to search under the bed. She puffed out a breath, if she could think past the headache she could remember what she did with it. She slid her hands back towards her, and that’s when the sensation on her left hand registered. Cara might have cursed herself. No absolutely not, she did not get that drunk she forgot that. Cara definitely cursed herself, and her face flushed almost as red as her hair. She went still and then sat back on her feet. “Dresluvian rain and bass pickups,” her voice was clear but quiet. She looked at her hand, “Oh…f#*% yeah. I didna dream that.” And just like that the fog in her head lifted. She stared at it and she said his name in that way that always sent shocks across his skin, “Grah-VEL.”

Cara

He chuckled and said “Yes, my dear fiance?” and he laughed, still recording. “And your other ring is in your suitcase, safe and sound. I just thought your sister might like to see the morning after.” and he grinned at her.

Gravel

Whatever she was about to say was effectively stopped…twice. Once as she got this really happy and distracted look in her face when he said ‘fiance’. Twice when he laughed and she set the heels of her hands against her head and groaned. Her sister? “Yer evil.” Emilia was going to have a field day.

He laughed softly again and said “I gotta get on the family’s good side from jump. I figured this would cement my good standing with your sister at least, and then she can put in a good word for me.” and he winked at her.

She side leaned against bed and shook a finger at him, “Yer no allowed ta carry me ta bed anymore. It does weird things ta my memory.” At least the lights weren’t overly bright and the curtains mostly closed. Then she looked at him. It was a humorous mix of headache grimace and happy elation. “I have a question for ya. Why are ya over there recordin’ for my sister and no over here kissin’ me good mornin’, future husband?”

“I got all our lives to kiss ya good mornin’.” he said with a grin. “I only get one shot at capturing this moment for the ages.”

Cara stuck her tongue out at him and started to laugh before her head reminded her not to. “Fine ya just sit there and record.” She had to get up there was something she had to do.

Then her mouth fell open. “Oh my god…Big Mike won my pool…”

Cara

Mardusk let out one loud laugh and then slapped his hand over his mouth. “Sorry.” he stage whispered. “Yeah, he did. And I am wondering if he realizes just how much that actually is.” and he chuckled.

Gravel

Cara covered her head, face in the mattress, and bit back a moan. Then with a lot more caution than she showed dancing across the bar she stood up. “Last time I looked, the pot was o’er a thousand credits.” The amount of effort she put unto not being loud was comical. Cara paused next to him grabbing the aspirin and the water and guzzled it. Cara was still trying to figure out why Mike McKenzie bet on that pool. She rubbed her temples…oh! Jackson, one if the retired bouncers, bet on Big Mike. Cara had gotten a huge laugh out if it because the likelihood she would ever had met him was zero. Tugm must have told him about it. “I honestly thought Tugm gave everyone their money back by now.”

Then Cara’s commbadge twirled shrilly and her sister’s voice sounded far too loudly in the quiet room. =/\=CARA O’FARRELL! DID YOU REALLY GET SO DRUNK YOU WERE CARRIED BACK TO YOUR ROOM?” There was a pause, “Judging by the look on his face he didn’t mind.” And Emilia laughed. “Did you go to Mike’s? I bet you went to Mike’s. Poor Gravel he had no idea did he?=/\=

Cara couldn’t find her combadge fast enough.

Cara

Gravel snatched the commbadge and said =/\= I’m sorry, but Ms. O’Farrell is not available at the moment. However if you wish to see the funniest damn thing you have ever seen in your life… along with her engagement ring… I suggest you come to the room before we depart for breakfast. Ta-ta. =/\= and he cut the comms and looked at Cara. “you might wanna put somethin’ on besides my t-shirt.” and he walked past her and smacked her rear… gently, of course… and he walked out of the room chuckling.

Gravel

=/\=Her wh…=/\= Emilia was cut off before her question was formed. Cara stared at him. “My hangover despises ya right now.” Cara grinned and laughed silently. She went digging in her suitcase, grabbed a slice of toast, “There is no enough asprin in the galaxy ta deal with ya and Emilia taday.” She followed him into the other room, grabbed his hand making him turn around. Cara kissed him for long intimate moments. And then she headed back into the bedroim with a look tossed his way before she disappeared in the bathroom. He could join her or wait for her sister.

5 minutes later there was a rapid knocking at the door.

Cara

Gravel left the bathroom to answer the door with several soft and very creative curses and made his way to the door. “This had better be good.” he said as he opened the door.

Gravel

Cara smirked quietly as he left the bathroom. Served him right for giving Emilia that message. Cara was not coming out of that bathroom until her sister was gone. The water was hot and the heavy steam was helping clear her head.

Yoss, looking harried and worried, stood on the other side of the door. He looked up and up and up at Gravel, took in his appearance and demeanor and sighed. “My wife called and said there was something going on with Cara. Said she needed me to come up here right away because she was going into surgery.”

Cara

Gravel smiled and nodded and waved him in. He walked over and picked up the PaDD and pulled up the vid and handed it to Yoss. “Juice? Water?” he asked.

Gravel

He stepped in and scanned the room trying to figure out what was so pressing Emilia sent him up here befire he even got to his office. “Oh, well, thank you. Water would be great.” Yoss took the PaDD and began to watch. His expression was slightly embarrassed looking
Seeing his sister-in-law in bed and then on the floor searching for something. Then he paused it when Cara said she was looking for her ring, and zoomed in on her hand. His face broke out into a gigantic smile and he began to laugh. “Oh dear.” He resumed playing and watched the video all the way to the end. His face scrunched up into comical delight. “Her face…whoooo…when you said it was in her suitcase.” He laughed more and wiped his eyes. “Oh dear…her family…”

Yoss

“Think they’ll get a kick outta that? Or am I getting ready to have to deal with a blood feud?” Garvel asked and chuckled. “Because we leave for Ireland tomorrow, and I’d rather not walk into a hornet’s nest without at least some warning.” and he laughed loudly.

Gravel

Yoss’ whole body shook as he laughed. “Oh no. They will love this. Every single one of them. Cara has…a reputation, I am sure you are aware. In fact,” Yoss reached into his pocket and pulled out his own PaDD, “after you called about Cara not finding her way back to the room, Emilia had these made. She plans to give them to you after you get to Ireland.” The PaDD had a picture of two dark Grey t-shirts with white ink. One said ‘If Lost Please Return to Mardusk’ the other ‘I’m Mardusk‘

“Cara is going to be furious. I can’t wait.” And he laughed some more.

Yoss

Gravel grinned and said “I’ll need these blue and gold, too. That way I can make her wear it under her uniform.” and he laughed. He cast a look at the bathroom door for a second and then said “Ok. Tell me what I need to know. Cara talks about her family a lot, but not about them. What are they like? Who do I need to impress, who do I need to scare kinda thing.”

Gravel

Yoss held up a finger and stepped out on the balcony and made a call. He spoke and tapped and then came back in 5 minutes later. “Done, they will even look like your uniforms with the black shoulders.” He grinned. “Her family? Oh…well Emilia already adores you. She and Cara are a lot alike. Emilia just isn’t as wild. Ava will give you hell. Emilia says she is sullen and angsty. I suggest not giving her suggestions. She is tired of everyone telling her what to do. According to her, everyone has an opinion and they all suck. Sophie is a sweet woman and I would say you will need to impress. But she’s a little different lately. Probably her health, but she likes to tease and joke. A bit quirky. Believes in magick and the fey. Dominik is laid back. He may or may not do the protective father routine, but he means it in good fun.”

Yoss drank down the water and glanced toward the other room and the sound of the water still running. “But, unlike her sisters, Cara is really close to Dominik. Also you should know, no one was prepared when Cara said she was bringing you with her. According to Emilia, no one knew Cara had ever dated anyone, until you. Cara has always been very silent about her love life.” He laughed, “Maybe because she saw how Emilia got teased and decided to avoid that.”

Yoss

“Hmmmm… okay. So. Impress the Mom, let the Dad tease, and don’t let the little sister think I’m telling her what to do. Got it. Anything else? Cousins? Old boyfriends to watch out for? Anybody never seen a non-human before in the town or anything?” and he laughed.

Gravel

“Cousins? Probably the whole county is related one way or another if they trace it back. I am the wrong person to ask about old boyfriends. Though if she is like Emilia, the wishful dreamers will pour out if the shadows. I can ask Emilia but like I said, they never knew if or who she dated.” He paused, “Oh! Don’t mention leprechauns. Especially around Sophie. Apparently ‘invoking them brings bad luck.’ I made that mistake only once. Just save yourself the lecture.”

Gravel gave him a look and said “Look at me. I’m green and dating a girl from Ireland. Leprechaun comments are NOT high on my priority list.”

“As for seeing non-humans, I think you’ll be okay. There are several living in or nearby.”

Yoss

Gravel nodded and said “Thanks. That helps a lot. Any other words of advice? I mean, if she actually goes through with this, we’ll be brothers… of a sort, anyway.” and he laughed.

Gravel

Yoss chuckled. “I may not know Cara as well as I do my wife, but fuzzy hangover memory or not, drunk or not, Cara didn’t say yes if she didn’t mean it. As for advice, well…you’ve know Cara for 2 years now, so you probably know this. Accept that crazy is the new normal and enjoy the ride, brother.” And Yoss gave him a huge wide stretched smile.

The water turned off and he stood, “I think that is my que to leave. If you need anything, not just the room, let me know. But I am bot telling Emilia about this. I will let her see for herself.” Yoss slipped out the door laughing.

Yoss

Gravel walked him out and then went and stood in the doorway of the bathroom as the steam rolled out of it and he watched Cara emerge from the shower. “I swear I have never wanted to be a towel more in my life than I do right now.” and he grinned at her.

Gravel

The heat of the water had left her skin rosey and the steam had done wonders to clear the fog from her head and had left her hair in bright damp ringlets. That along with the water and asprin, and she was feeling much more like herself. She paused reaching for a towel, “Well I certainly won’t complain if ya want ta try bein’ mine.”

Cara

The grin never wavered as the door closed behind him…

---

As they lay sprawled on the couch a few hours later in hotel robes (one specially ordered for the massive Orion, thanks Yoss!), Gravel looked at Cara and said “So… you gonna give your family a heads up before we go? Or just see how long it takes ‘em to notice?” and he laughed.

Gravel

Cara glanced down at the ring. The man never ceased to surprise her. And she was going to have a whole life time of it. She looked up at him, “I donna know. I really want ta tell them.” Then she smirked, “Of course if I do that ensures ya can’t change yer mind later. Ya haven’t even lived with the glitter and glue yet. But watchin’ their faces as they figure it out will be amazin’. And since ya made tha’ video I should get ta watch somethin’.”

Cara

Gravel laughed and said “Tell ya what. We’ll wait for ‘em to figure it out and then I’ll show all of ya the video.” and his emerald eyes sparkled with mischief. “Except of course your sister, I’ll show her when she’s outta surgery. And I’m pretty sure I just felt the air pressure change in the building, so there is a storm coming.” and he laughed again. Actually, he simply saw the message I dictator on the room’s comm terminal flash, so he was guessing Yoss was warning them.

Gravel

Cara laughed, “Oh yeah, after yer little secretarial intercedence there is a storm. I’m just no sure if it’ll hit you or me first. Either way I won’ have ta tell my family at all. She’ll tell ‘em.”

Cara had no doubt he was right about Emilia being on her way, but she was in no hurry to get up. I stead she choose to kiss him. She settle onto one of his legs, her hands sneaking beneath the robe to his chest.

Approximately 3 minutes later. knock knock knock Cara ignored it.

knockknockknock Cara kept kissing him.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK “Cara open up!”

Cara sighed a d pulled back, clearing her throat slightly. Then in a perfect mid-western accent, “Sorry Honey! There’s no Cara here.”

There was a pause followed by a confused, “Oh....I apologize.” Then the sound of retreating foot steps. Cara pressed her face into his shoulder to silence her laughter. She held up her hand with 3 fingers and slowly lowered them one at a time.

BANGBANGBANGBANG “CARA ESMÉ O’FARRELL OPEN THIS DOOR!”

Cara rolled to her side on the couch laughing, eyes dancing. Then suddenly sat up, still laughing, and hopped over the back of the couch. “I think I need another shower. If ya wanta avoid her, I suggest ya come with me.”

Cara

A big green hand shot out and grabbed her robe and tthen her waist and pulled her back before moving her towards the door. “Huh-uh. Door. Get it. I’m gonna put on pants.” and he kept her from bolting past him and then shut the bedroom door on her, leaving her to contend with the knocking that was rapidly escalating.

Gravel

Cara snickered. She knew it was a feeble unrealistic hope to get to the bedroom.before he stopped her. Like she had told his dad the night before. She couldn’t outrun him, not that she wanted to. There had been more than one incident on the Atlantis that proved that. Cara grinned at the memories. Especially that one afternoon when Royo had tried to convince her he wasn’t in the security office. Cara had stared right into the camera and told Royo to tell Gravel if he couldn’t have the decency to cancel their date himself he needed another ‘lesson’. Gravel knew exactly what she had meant and she also knew exactly the consequence. Cara had heard him come barreling out of the security office. She hadn’t even made it to the arboretum entrance before he snatched her right off the deck. They He had found a surprisingly secluded spot in the arboretum and they’d stayed there for hours.

Emilia’s voice pulled her back to the present and Cara made her way over to the door. She timed opening it just as Emilia was about to start banging again. That way her sister stumbled forward just a bit into the room. Cara pulled her the rest of the way in and closed the door. “Hush, you are disturbin’ the guests. You’ll get Yoss a load of trouble.”

“What took you so long?” Emilia was not phased at all by her younger sister’s wicked smirk and the way she waved her hand over herself. The loosely belted robe, the wild state or her hair, and the flush that touched every hint of skin was not lost on Emilia.

“We were busy, and ya interrupted us.” Cara walked over to the bar and poured a glass of ice water and made quite the scene over needing to ‘cool off’.

Emilia shrugged, “He told me to come and it’s not like you are on your honeymoon. But that does remind me,” she reached over to snatch Cara’s hand.

Cara grinned wider, no they weren’t, but oh they could be. That brought another image to mind - Serchena informing Cara she would be performing the ceremony and to get her @$$ in gear, again. That woman had all kinds of opinions. Cara laughed softly, she did need to figure out where his dad’s ring got put. She did need to give it to him. With a laugh she jerked her hand away. “Come on, outside. You’ll wake the neighbors.”

Cara settled onto the rather large lounge chair, leaving the other for her sister, who didn’t take the hint. She sat down facing her, grabbed her hand and yanked it all the way to her nose so she could get a really good look at it. Emilia sighed happily. “Cara! It’s stunnin’! An’ ya said yes!”

“No,” Cara rolled her eyes and her voice dripped sarcasm, “I said nay, and I let him put a ring on my hand anyway. Course I said yes. Ya gone daft now that ya got a leanbh growin’ in there.” Cara poked her sister’s stomach.

Emilia giggled, sounding enough like Cara to give proof they were sisters. “So ya weren’t drunk last night? He was just bein’ romantic. And yes I told the staff ta call Yoss if ya did somethin’ weird.”

“Yes he was.” Well he was and she had been walking just fine until she fell for that concern about revolving doors. “When have ya ever known me ta drink ta the point I can’t walk on my own two feet?”

Cara

“Girl holds her liquor better than some Klingons I know.” the low rumble of Gravel’s said as he stepped out on the balcony. He looked at Emilia and said “Hello again. How are ya? Anything new and exciting happening with you?” he said with a grin as he sat down 9n the balcony floor, saving the furniture from the groaning protest he got from… well… every other piece of furniture he sat on.

Gravel

Cara gave him a look and jerked her head at the lounger she was perched on. Cara had not failed to request and Yoss had not missed a single detail. From the robe to the large bed to the couch to the loungers. They were large and reinforced and ensured he could enjoy his vacation. Emilia grinned as Cara looked up at him as he came outside. “Car…oh man, ya got it baaad,” and she snickered. She looked up at Gravel and moved over to the other chair, even as Cara moved to sit next to him on the floor. “I’m well, thank ya. I don’t know about excitin’ but my husband claims he has no idea what the funniest d@mn thing ever was I was supposed ta come see. He’s evasive and dodgin’ the question. And the man canna lie. I have ta say the smittin’ look on Cara’s face when ya walked out the door is pretty amusin’ though.”

Cara shrugged. “Ya should just be happy for me.” Emilia cackled, “Oh I am, but ya are gonna have to live the gauntlet baby sister.”

Cara

Gravel smiled and with a clourish brought out the PaDD. “Please… allow me to expound on what your husband found so damn funny he fell off a chair.” He pulled up the vid and handed it to Emilia.

Gravel

Cara smirked and leaned against him. There was no getting out of it, and honestly she didn’t want to. “Emilia ya sit back in that chair. Don’ya dare falk off it. Yoss will skin me alive if ya fall.”

Emilia blew a raspberry at her sister. “Yoss likes ta worry. I’m fiiiine.” Her eyes stayed glued to the PaDD as it played. Her eyes went wide and she chuckled as Cara tried to hide under the blankets. “Ya were drunk!” Then she started to laugh loudly just in case Cara was still hungover.

“How much did you drink? I’m just gonna say ‘Yes.’ and leave it at that.” Emilia cackled and wiped the corner of her eye. “Oh…oh…” and she laughed some more. “And what are you looking for, crazy woman?” Emilia sat forward waiting for that answer and then paused it and looked at Cara. Cara was trying to look like absolutely nothing was going on. “Cara?! How do you forget you are engaged?”

“I didna forget. I was just lookin’ for gran’s ring.” Emilia looked from Cara to Gravel and her eyes danced, yeah right.

Emilia played through the rest of it. The look on Cara’s face when she looked at her new ring had Emilia in stitches. “Oh..if she wasn’t hung over she might have managed ta tackle ya.”

“Hey I rate! He took this vid for me instead of kissin’ ya. Either he likes me or you are losin’ yer touch, Cara.” Cara rolled her eyes and pressed a kiss to Gravel’s neck, while Emilia tries to catch her breath. Emilia shook her head and chuckled a bit longer and started to hand him the PaDD back. Then she suddenly pulled it back and went back and played it again. Her expression was wicked, “Cara?” Cara groaned, “Yeah, Emilia?” Emilia looked at her and then looked at Gravel, “No I think I’ll ask Gravel. I don’t think you will answer me. What did she mean you carrying her to bed messes with her memory?”

Cara shot up from the floor, “Time for you to go Emilia. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

Cara

Marduskaugh3foudly and said “Inside joke. If I told ya what she meant, she’d call off the wedding we haven’t planned yet.” He stood up and said “Brunch tomorrow. We leave for Ireland at 1500.”

Gravel

Emilia pointed a finger at Cara. “I will get that story out of ya.” Cara scoffed even as she ushered, pushed, hugged her older sister back inside and towards the door, “Sure. Oh…and Emilia, no tellin’.” Emilia gave her a good scowl. “It’s my news ta tell. And if ya go blabbin’ I’ll jus’ go tell Yoss how his sister got that black eye.”

Emilia’s paused crossed her arms and glared at Cara for a long moment. Then sighed, dropped her arms and huffed, “Ya would too. Fine.” She looked at Mardusk and sighed. “I hope ya know what yer in for. She donna play fair.” Then she was gone.

Cara turned and grinned. “Now where were we? We have about an hour ta kill.”

Cara

Gravel grinned at her and said “You were about to show me how ya don’t play fair.” and in one smooth movement she was up, off the ground, over his shoulder, and being carried upside down to the bedroom.

About a killed hour later…

Gravel dried off from the shower and looked at Cara. “We should do it before we leave Earth, ya know… get married, that is.”

Gravel

The brush paused for a second as it smoothed through her half dried hair and resumed as Cara glanced at his reflection. Then a totally mischievous look spread over his face. “Oh! Yes. Let’s do tha’. We’ll skip tellin’ them we’re engaged and just invite them ta some place random and have the weddin’.” Cara laughed as she divided her hair and began to braid it. “We’ll get Tugm ta let us use the bar and show up in leathers and combat boots. The looks on their faces....” She was laughing so hard she had to brush the tangle out of her hair.

Cara

Gravel didn’t laugh, but he smiled. After a second he said “Actually, I was thinking we do it at that small waterfall by your house you told me about. The one you said was where the fairies live. Where you and your Granddad went and he told you stories? Do it there, bring my mom. I mean, we can do it back on the Atlantis, but it would be awkward having Kelly marry us when I grabbed her ass that one time.”

Then he laughed.

Gravel

Cara was still chuckling, “Yeah we could, it would be awkward. She’d call ya Hulk and I’d have ta correct her, and it might get…interestin’.” Cara slipped on a sleeveless button up and tied the tails just above her midriff, “but our families wouldna be there.” She smiled at him, “Ya know I love that idea, and I love ya for thinkin’ of it. But ya haven’t seen it yet, so why donn we leave early tamorrow?”

Cara

Gravel smiled at her. “I don’t need to see it. You’re the bride. Its your day. I’m just arm candy.” he said with a grin and a wink. He looked at her expose stomach and reached over and untied the shirt. “Nope. You’ll never get outta this room of you flash that much if your skin at me.” and he kissed her.

Gravel

“It’s our day.” Cara laughed against his lips as he kissed her. “Yeah, but now yer gonna be thinkin’ about it all afternoon.” She buttoned the shirt all the way down and left it lose over her hip rider jeans. She slipped into shoes and grabbed her jacket. “Come on Malachite. You said we would do some touristy things. Ya also told me once that ya wanted ta do something different on vacation. So…I hope ya’ve never done this before.”

Cara hailed a taxi and being very secretive gave the man the address. They pulled up to a very large plain looking building with Audium across the front. Cara slipped out of the car. “The Audium is a theater of sound. You sit in the dark and they use speakers and acoustics to ‘sculpt’ the sound around you.”

Cara

Gravel looked at the building and grinned. “I’ve heard about this place… sounded kinda cool to say the least.” and he looked down at her. “Well? Lead on, Shorty. Let’s tourist the hell outta this place.” and he laughed.

Gravel

“Just because you are giant doesna mean I’m short. I am perfectly average.” Cara couldn’t even say it with a straight face. Cara walked up to the box office and retrieved their actual paper tickets and they entered the lobby.

The experience started the moment they walked through the entrance. The themes of the night werr already seeping into their consciousness via sound, projection and art in the lobby. It was a wide are with high ceilings and beams and outcroppings that made the recorded voice travel and boom and soften as the sound moved. Welcome to the Audium. Please step through the darkened passage way and follow the floor lights. We ask that you silence all devices and to remain in silence. The Audium’s co-founder, Stan Shaff tells us, “Sounds touch deeper levels of our inner life, layers that lie just beneath the visual world. All sounds are communicative – sound is birth, life and death; sound as time and space; sound as object, environment or event. Audiences should feel sound as it bumps up against them, caresses, travels through, covers and enfolds them. I ask listeners to see with their ears and feel with their bodies sounds as images, dreams and memories. As people walk into a work, they become part of its realization. From entrance to exit, AUDIUM is a sound-space continuum.” Please enjoy the sounds.

They, along with the small crowd were ushered down a twisting, darkened hallway, with hidden speakers zipping sounds around. The hall led them into the auditorium, where they sat in a large love seat, in total darkness, and werr enveloped by 176 speakers in sloping walls, a floating floor, and a suspended ceiling.

Sounds were “sculpted” through their movement, direction, speed and intensity on multiple planes in space. Live performance of composed works gives a human, interactive element to Audium’s spatial electronic orchestra. The show for the night was ‘Escape the Noise.’ The composition took the listener on a sonic journey through San Francisco: spring from the loud clatter of the Tenderloin to a remote Baker Beach cave. A familiar afternoon in the Sunset District gave way to an ecstatic celebration in the Mission. Hear birds flitter above, while children laugh and play below. Electronic melodies bump up against each other and burst.

Cara

Even though they were in the dark, Gravel closed his eyes. The sounds washed over him, and soon he was lost in the underlying rhythm of life around the city. He reached over and took her hand instinctually, not even thinking about it. For the entirety of the show, he just sat and listened. He smiled at parts, sighed at others. And when it was over and they were moved to stand and leave by the sounds, he held her hand and led her through the darkness.

Gravel

Cara held his hand, lost to the sounds, lost to a city she very much loved. She smiled, even smothered a laugh at one point, and once the sounds triggered incredibly hard memories. She leaned against his arm then, but even the hard memories were a reminder of what was so special about the city. When it was over Cara stood and followed him out. It was a good thing too, because the lights that led them in were still off and didn’t start until the first turn in the hallway. Though Cara would never admit it, she probably would have run into a wall, fallen, and cracked her skull open or something.

The lights came back slowly as they made their way back to the lobby and out the door. It was an incredible experience, and Cara was in no rush to break it with talk, so it seemed for most of the audience. They treated the building as almost a sacred space with their silence, until they moved outside the building.

Cara

Gravel looked down at her and said “Ok… you win. MUCH cooler than my dad’s grave.” and he chuckled. “I bet he woulda really dug this place.” he said softly as he turned back to look at the nondescripts, gray / tan building. He then looked back at Cara and said “But now… food. I’m starving. Where we goin’?”

Gravel

“Oh nothin’ can compare ta meetin’ yer dad, Malachite. I’m glad ya enjoyed it,” Cara stretched up and kissed his cheek before moving toward the end of the sidewalk. “There is a food truck ‘convoy’ that picks random places ta meet. Tanight it’s at Beach and Benches park on the bay. It’s supposed ta be a bit of a party. Street performers show up, they light fires, have music. We can get a ride and be there in 10 minutes. Or two blocks down there is a quiet little Italian bistro called Limoncello.”

Cara

“I think quiet sounds good. Besides, food trucks HATE me.” and he grinned. “Lemoncello it is. And then… back to the hotel to pack. Sound good?” h3 asked and offered her his arm.

They walked down the two blocks and found the quaint little bistro nestled in between small shops in a dead end side street. The hostess led them to a booth and Gravel wedged himself into one side facing the door. After a bit of adjustment, he made himself comfortable.

Gravel