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 (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
The trip to Ireland was longer than it should have been, but it was fun for all. Stories and jokes were swapped and laughs were shared. It was late in the afternoon when they touched down near Cara’s family home, and Gull’dk bid farewells and lifted off when they had cleared the landing area. Gravel hoisted their bags and looked at Cara. “Think you can get us to your house without getting lost?” he teased.

Gravel

The trip was fun and full of good stories and laughter. Cara was almost sorry to see it end. She climbed out of the shuttle and walked out of the landing area and stopped. Her eyes scanned the area. It was cliché but there were dozens of shades of green stretched out. She took a deep breath. This was home. It was the place that invoked nostalgia and comfort. Cara glanced up at him and laughed. “Well if I can no fund it, the whole village will make sure I donna wander off.” She slipped her hand into his and began walking.

The walk skirted the edge of the main part of the village. There were some generally curious and friendly waves at first with whispered gossip following in their wake. Once they got closer that changed. People called her name, there were some cat calls and then, “Cara Esmé! I thought Emilia and Ada were pullin’ the wool! If ya weren’t holding his hand I’d nigh believe it! It take a man that big ta handle you!” There was laughter and a lot of it. “Ya gonna introduce us or not?”

“No, Donald, I am not! I’m taking him ta meet mam and dadai. When yer sober I’ll think about it.”

Donald’s expression was suspicious. “How ya know I been drinkin’?”

Cara kept walked but glanced over, “There’s a beer in yer hand.” That got howls of laughter as the inebriated Donald looked down at the bottle in his hand.

The moved around a bend and then a side street. Cara came ro a sudden stop and groaned. “I told ya, I apologized earlier, right?” Ahead of them there was a two story white house with a sizable yard. The most noticeable thing was a clothes line with her and Gravel’s missing clothes hanging from it. Everyone knee it was hers because of the shirt. It was burgundy and read, “I’m the Middle Sister. I am the Reason we have Rules.”

Cara

“At least they washed ‘em.” Gravel said with a chuckle. He led her closer to the house and then shouted “Emilia, you better have used fabric softener on my shirt! I’m delicate little flower, you clothes-thief!”

Gravel

The door slammed open followed by a whirlwind of bright red spiky hair. Other than that the girl looked nothing like her sisters. “YER HOME!” Cara was nearly bowled over. Emilia appeared in the doorway, her laughter probably heard the next street over. Yoss looked apologetic and shrugged helplessly.

“Hi Ada,” Cara hugged the girl who was practically the same height. Ada let her go and stepped back. She got her first look at Gravel. She looked up… and up… and up. She didn’t say anything. Emilia chuckled and Yoss poked her in the side to keep her quiet. Ada looked at Cara, clearly fighting her teenage curiosity with the manners she was taught.

“Ada, this Gravel. He’s..”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yer hangin’ yer wash together. We all know you two are gettin’ married.” Only a teenager could sound both annoyed and excited at the same time. She crossed her arms, huffed, glared up at the massive man that her sister had brought home. “And what makes you think you deserve my sister?”

Cara

Gravel looked down and scowled at the young teen. He bent down, took a knee so he was looking her right in the eyes, and said “I don’t. But I’m gonna spend every waking moment I have trying to be. Got it? And I am apparently going to have to try to be a damn good brother-in-law, too. So I have my work cut out for me. Now if you’d kindly take a step back, I’d like to shake my future sister-in-law’s hand.” and he stood up and held out a massive green hand towards the girl’s face.

Gravel

Ada looked incredibly bored as he knelt. She tried incredibly hard to maintain that aloof teenage disinterest. It was obvious to both Cara and Gravel, that whatever magic he possed, worked on Ada too. “Yeah…got it.” She did take a step back though and shook his hand. Which was massive compared to hers. “Emilia said you were some big hot shot scary Star Fleet Security guy.” She looked at Cara, “I can think of a lot of words, scary isnna one of them.”

“Stay on my good side, and you’ll never know.” he said with a grin.

“Ada Elise O’Farrell you best me mindin’ yer manners, girl. Close yer mouth. Yer catchin’ flies.” A man’s deep Irish brogue came from the doorway. “Cara Esmé! Get in this house before yer mam tries ta get outta her chair.” Cara turned Ada around with one hand on her shoulder and pushed her toward Emilia and Yoss. When they got to her father, Cara let go of Gravel’s hand and hugged him. “Hi Dadai.” The man’s eyes crinkled with happiness as he hugged her.

Her father wasn’t a small man, but compared to Gravel he was. He looked up at him and grinned. “So yer Gravel Mardusk.” He held put his hand. “You are welcome in our home.”

Cara

Gravel took the hand and shook it firmly. “I am. And thank you, sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He said with a smile. “You have a beautiful home.”

Gravel

He laughed, “Oh aye, I think so. It was a peaceful little haven until about 2 minutes ago, when this one got home.” He gave Cara another quick hug and a laugh at her expression. “And call me Dominik. Come on in.”

Gravel nodded once and followed as he was told.

“Cara!? Dominik is that Cara? I want ta see her. I have ta hear it from her. Emilia and Ada are just makin’ up stories.” An older woman’s voice carried through the house, quite clearly. Cara shook her head and looked at her father, “She sounds fine ta me.”

Emilia chuckled behind them. “Ya know how Mam is.” Cara nodded and taking Gravel’s hand they walked into the house. She hung her coat on a hook in the entry way and made her way down a short hall toward the living room. It was bright and felt airy with wide windows. Yoss had clearly been at work because there was a new addition to the furniture. A large comfortable and sturdy couch. Cara cast Yoss a look and her brother-in-law nodded his head with a grin.

“Calm down Mam. I’m here,” Cara announced as she stepped into the room. Cara’s mother sat in a high backed arm chair, with a stool for her feet and a blanket tucked around her. She was a beautiful woman. Her red hair hair was streaked with blonde rather than grey. She had crinkled around her eyes and laugh lines around her mouth. She had pale skin and a pianists fingers, and deep blue eyes. “Cara! Come here let me see you.” She held her hands out to her middle daughter as Cara made her way over.

“Mam,” Cara bent down and hugged the woman fiercely. “I want you to meet, Gravel Mardusk, my fiance.”

“It’s a true pleasure to meet you, ma’am. Cara has told me stories about you, and it’s wonderful to meet you in person.” Gravel said.

Her mother finally looked past her. Sophie’seyes went wide as they looked up and up and up. “It’s the Sidhe.” She whispered to Cara. “I always knew magick followed you, girl.” She smiled warmly and sat up a little straighter. “Well come here then, young man.”

Cara

Gravel walked over to stand next to Cara. “Well, I’ve definitely been called worse than that.” he said with a chuckle. He looked down and said, slowly and deliberately, “Tapadh leibh… airson cuireadh a thoirt… dhomh a-steach… don dachaigh agad. Agus tha fios… agam gu bheil… gaol agam air… do nighean le mo chridhe uile.” (Thank you for inviting me into your home. And know I love your daughter with all of my heart.) The Gaelic was stilted and lacked rhythm… but it was understandable.

Gravel

Cara side-eyed him. He was keeping secrets. Sneaky sidhe. She grinned though because in two very simple sentences he had completely won over her mother for life.

Sophie’s smile was radiant. “Tá áthas orainn bualadh leat ar deireadh. (We are so happy to finally meet you.)” She moved the blanket aside, and using Cara’s arm she stood, then grabbed Gravel’s arm and led him over to the large couch. “Come sit here with me. Cara is very closed mouthed,” she gave her middle child a disappointed stare, “so you must tell me everything.”

Cara rolled her eyes. She had told them everything when she called to tell them she was coming home. Her mother loved a good story though.

Dominik and Yoss chuckled. “Cara has lost him to your wife,” Yoss said quietly to his father-in-law.

Dominik laughed deeply, “Cara and Sophie might come to blows over it.” Emilia walked over and shook her head, “And while they do, Ada might try to steal him.”

Cara

Gravel laughed and took a seat next to her, but made sure to get the blanket and tuck it in around Sophie. “Everything? Ma’am, i don’t know if we have that kind of time.” and he chuckled, it sounding like far-away thunder. “But I am happy to answer any questions you have. I am an open book… read away.”

Gravel

Cara watched, her eyes dancing as her mother practically primped as he put the blanket around her. Smoothing her blouse and patting her hair. “It’s a good thing we live on a Starship, or she’d be after him to help her all day, everyday.” Emilia shook her head, “He has no idea what he’s started.” Cara chuckled, “Oh yes he does.”

“Cara I need ta talk ta ya a minute. Com’ere.” Emilia tugged on her arm.

Cara didn’t budge, “I am no leavin’ mam alone with him.” Dominik and Yoss chuckled. Emilia drug her just into the hall anyway.

Sophie looked gleeful. She had so many questions but where to start? The most pressing question of course. “How did ya ever get Cara on a date? She was always very… stubborn. Broke a lota hearts that way.”

Cara

Gravel laughed and said “Oh, it all started out innocently enough. I stopped a turbolift she was on right after she boarded. Helped her find her quarters which happened to be next door to mine. Then I offered to take her onna tour of the ship, she insulted me and then threw up, I got her some meds for her space sickness, we traded an innuendo or three-” and he laughed again, “- and then we had a nice dinner and she couldn’t get rid of me after that. I know fate when I see it, Ma’am. And Cara… Cara was fate.”

Gravel

Ada’s jaw fell open, “You threw up on him!!!??? Ewww that is so GROSS. You’re lucky he even looks at ya now.”

“I did no such thing. I threw up after he left my quarters, not on him. I managed ta at least no disgrace myself that badly.”

Sophie looked like a little girl that was just denied her bedtime story about princess, dragons, and dashing knights. Though she looked incredibly pleased by his assessment of her middle daughter. “Ya make it sound simple, and there is no one thing simple about my Cara.” She eyed Gravel up and down and smirked, “Ya must have bewitched her … Good for you!” Cara met his gaze from across the room and barely stopped herself from laughing. “Well then what are yer hobbies, favorite thing ta do? Ya can’t work all the time.”

Cara

He chuckled and said “Oh, you obviously don’t know me, then.” He gave a Cara a look of secret understanding before looking back at Sophie. “I play the bass and I try to find your daughter who is inevitably lost somewhere. And Cara tells me you are concert flautist? That’s incredible! I hope while we are here I get to hear you play.” He looked at Dominik. “And you are an archaeologist? Do you have a specialty?”

Gravel

The entire group laughed when he said he had to go find Cara because she was lost. That started a plethora of quick recounts of Cara’s escapades. “You poor thing, it’s a full time job,” Sophie said sympathetically patting his hand. They all waited to see what Sophie would say to his request. She straightened up a bit. “Well I’ve no been feelin’ well, but it is a special occasion, and I do feel better. Perhaps tomorrow after I’ve rested.”

Dominik nodded, “Natural environment. I study how the land and the people shaped and changed each other. Most especially in the prehistoric period. Technology is such now that we can really separate the remains out of different periods more exactly and even build more exact models of the terrain. Gravel would you like somethin’ ta drink?”

Cara

Gravel looked at him and smiled and said “Yes sir… I’d love a Guinness. It was a dry flight, and I’m kinda parched.” and he chuckled. He looked at Cara and silently wondered if there was a Pub in their future.

Gravel

Cara had to stop herself from telling her dad no to Gravel’s request. Really? He was gonna have Guinness now, at her parents house? He was messing with her. She grinned. “I’ll help.” She turned to follow her father towards the kitchen. If she was lucky they would not make it to a pub tonight. And never the one in town.

“Emilia, I know your dad only has a few bottles, why don’t we go get more,” Yoss said. “Ava want to go with us?”

“Oh! I’m feelin’ quite well. Why don’na we all go ta the pub? The fresh air sounds delightful. Then we can see everyone,” Sophia patted his hand again, considering her idea grand. Cara cussed from the kitchen. “Cara Esmé O’Farrell. Ya might be grown, but I can still wash yer mouth out for that lanuage.” Emilia and Ava hurried down the hallway before they started laughing.

Cara

Gravel looked at Sophia and grinned. “I get to take all these gorgeous ladies out on the town?” he asked. He looked in Dominik’s direction and said “I have to say, you all know how to make a guy feel welcome.” He stood up and held a hand out to Sophia. “Ma’am. I know you have been… ‘under the weather’, shall we say… so you just lean on me anytime you need to, ok? I’ve carried Cara home, it’s the least I can do for her mother.” he said with a grin and a wink.

Gravel

Sophia smiled, “Well how nice of ya ta offer.” She placed her hand in his and stood. Dominik chuckled, “I would warn ya ‘bout sayin’ such things around me girls, but yer marryin’ Cara, so I’m certain ya don’na need it.” Ava brought her mother a cardigan and helped her slip it on.

“I don’t know Sophia. You best be careful,” Yoss warned seriously. “Your new soon-to-be son-in-law apparently has tricks up his sleeve. Getting carried around by him makes Irish girls swoon and lose their memory.” He grinned over Emilia’s head at Gravel. Emilia and Yoss were the only two that saw the vid so far. A kitchen towel hit Yoss full in the face from across the room where Cara was standing. Yoss broke out into a huge comical Denobulan grin and Emilia laughed so hard Yoss thought her knees might buckle. Ava looked at her oldest sister, “What we miss?”

Gravel chuckled and said “Nothing… at least you won’t have missed it by the time we are done at the pub, I bet.”

Ava eyed the adults and got a disgruntled look. “Emilia spill! I know Cara won’t.”

Emilia chuckled and Yoss sighed. Ava hated feeling left out. “I’ll tell ya on the way.”

Cara rolled her eyes, “And here I thought I’d be happy ta be home.”

Cara

Gravel moved next to her and looked down at her and smiled. “You are. I can see it your eyes.” he said softly. His pocket buzzed and he reached in to grab the communicator. “Excuse me, please.” he said and stepped outside. A few moments later he returned and said “My mom is going to be here tomorrow evening.”

Gravel

Cara grinned, “O’ course I am.” Oh her family was going to tear the mickey out of her and the rest of the town too. She loved it. This was home and family. Well her first one. That was a weird though - they were making their own family now. Weird but happy.

She watched as he walked out, easily guessing from a short list of who it might be. Dominik walked over and put an arm around her. “Cara, my girl, you are smitten.” Cara hugged him and grinned up at him. “Oh aye, Dadai. I’m bewitched.”

“Your mam? Oh she must come for dinner. I’ll cook. And on the way ta the pub, ya must tell me all about her.” Sophie took his arm and with more liveliness than anyone had seen in awhile, led him out the door, expecting everyone to follow.

Cara

Gravel walked slowly and led Sophia down to the street. “Ok, lady… you lead, and I’ll keep the wolves at bay.” he said with a grin and a wink.

Gravel