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 (19) 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

If Cara had had a drink, it would have come out her nose. “Hey, you don’na get ta use pick up lines anymore Malachite!” She laughed.

Ava on the other hand, was walking beside Emilia and suddenly blurted out. “I’m sure he can too. I would’na mind watchin’.”

“He’s spoken for Ava. Go find yer own wolf hunter,” Cara grinned and nudged her father because Ava just realized she’d spoken out loud and had turned embarrassingly red.

Sophie smiled up at him and patted his arm in a very dotting and motherly way. “I am sure you are very good at it too. However there’s no wolves here and yer not on duty. Yer on vacation.” She led them back the way he and Cara had arrived. “Now tell me, what is yer favorite food? Oh! No, is there any dish ya been wantin’ ta try? I will make it tomorrow.”

Cara

“Wolves don’t take vacation, Ma’am… and some things are just part of ya… ya know ? And I like everything. And honestly, if someone is going to be the center of attention for a meal, it should be Cara. She is the bride, after all.” He then leaned in and said “But whatever you make, just make a lot, okay?” in a conspiratorial whisper before standing up straight and laughing. He looked back at Ava and said “Don’t let ‘em give ya any grief, kid. Cara was sitting at a formal dinner with our Captain and the entire Command team and some visiting Brass and when the conversation rolled around to how much I eat, she wanted to say ‘Hey on a good day I can out eat him.’… but she stumbled and ended putting the ‘out’ on the end of the sentence.”

Gravel grinned at Cara and then said “Kudos to the Admiral, though. He just looked at her and said ‘Im sure that would make for a very good day, Lieutenant.” and he laughed loudly.

Gravel

Sophie stopped, turned around, put her hands on her hips. “Cara Esmé! You Did Not! To an Admiral?! I told ya that mouth was goin’ ta get you in trouble. You want’a put me back un the hospital? Yer supposed ta be good with people! Always makin’ scenes. I thought ya had grown outta that by now.”

Ava stopped dead in her tracks, after having to work out what Gravel was implying and then her jaw hit the dirt path, and Yoss almost knocked her over.

Cara’s brows went up, but her eyes danced with humor. Even being yelled at like a naughty teenager by her mom made her grin. Dominik recognized the look, but wasn’t quick enough to stop Cara. “I am good with people Mam. My job is ta keep tempers even. My stumble worked quite well. Especially since the Admiral was in a foul mood and about ta make us pay for it. He was in quite a good mood after that.”

Cara

Gravel looked at Dominik and just shook his head. “Her perspective of the events. From where I sat, her face was as red as her hair.” He then looked down at Sophia and said “Shall we continue?” and held out his arm to her.

Sophie eyed her daughter. This discussion was not over. Cara grinned as her mother turned around and rook his arm again. Sophie tossed her still red but graying hair. “The bride she might be, but Cara has ways of making her own attention. We don’na have ta do it for her.”

Cara leaned on her dad’s arm. “I’m in trouble.” Dominik chuckled, “When are you not?”

It took a few minutes, but soon they were outside the local pub. Gravel held the door open and waited for everyone to go inside. As the first ones entered, the sound of voices rising in happy recognition floated outside. Gravel smiled slightly. It was always a good feeling to walk into a bar that knew you.

Gravel

Dominik took Gravel’s place beside Sophie, giving her a steady presence as they wove around the tables. “Sophie!” Several of the women and a few men made their way over. They hadn’t seen her since her surgery. They were all, of course, doting, which Sophie ate up. There were several questions pointed at Emilia, asking about Sophie’s health and recovery. The proprietor and Yoss seemed to get along well, and struck up a conversation as Yoss collected a tray of drinks. One being a pitcher.

Ava broke off and made her way across the room to where the other teenagers were. When Cara walked in just in front of Gravel they were the focus of every set of eyes. “Well well, Cara. We all thought ya got lost and would never find yer way home.” The tone was a forced jovial with a strong overlay of bully written all over it. “Some of us prayed it was true,” he muttered into his glass. Cara kept right on walking. Liam was a coward and a bulky, and never grew up. She weaved around the tables, stopping to speak to the older folks first. You never ignored your elders. “Ah shut yer trap Liam. Yer just still sore she laid ya out forbtryin’ ta take her lunch money. Grow up, pup,” a woman yelled across the room. There were nods and snickers.

The pub was typical. High polished wood, comfortable chairs, crowded, brightly lit, the temperature comfortable, and the atmosphere warm. The bar was stocked with everything imaginable and the smell of food wafted from the kitchen as the doors opened and a server balanced a large tray through the crowd.

“Well Cara, who is this?”

Cara looked up at him. Time for family number two. “Inis, this is Gravel Mardusk. No, Emilia isn’t weaving a yarn. Yes we’re gettin’ married, on Wednesday at Mahon Falls.”

The older woman looked up at him and smiled. “It is my pleasure, Gravel.”

Cara

“My pleasure entirely, ma’am.” Gravel said. He smiled and shook a few hands, and gave a long look at the ‘Liam’ character. He looked back at Cara and said “That the one you laid out when you were younger?” he asked slightly louder than was necessary, but hey… he could have not said a word and then it wouldn’t have had to be addressed.

Gravel

Cara rolled her eyes. “Aye, one of them. Difference is, the rest of ‘em grew up. He’s all bluster. Not brave or stupid enough ta really cause a scene in a crowd. Ronan,” she nodded to the bar tender, “won’na let him get drunk or cause trouble. Don’na worry about him. He’s just a sheep playin’ at bein’ a jackal.”

Cara

“Jackal?” Mardusk asked and turned to look at Liam. He then asked over his shoulder to the O’Farrells as a whole “Now, I ain’t from around here. Is a jackal… a kind of wolf?” without looking away from Liam.

Gravel

“No, it is not,” Cara answered immediately. She was going to get banned for causing trouble.

“We never had jackals in Ireland. The last sightin’ of a wolf was in… 1786,” Dominik answered.

Emilia grinned with glee. “Yes, yes they are. Smaller, more scavenger than attack predator, but yes they are in the same family as wolves.” Cara glared daggers at her sister.

Cara

Gravel nodded slowly and then said “Hmm. Good to know.” and then turned back and moved to the large table. He looked down at Sophia and Dominik. “I would never cause trouble in your guys’ pub, just so you know.” and he picked up the pitcher. “To new friends. New family. And to the people of Ireland. Sláinte.” and he held it out towards everyone.

Gravel

Dominik nodded and raised his glass to him. That got a chorus of cheers. Ronan had been setting drinks on the table. He chuckled, “Trouble? There is no way ya can cause more trouble than the O’Farrell girls. And all four of them are here.”

“Ronan, I only have three daughters, “Sophie corrected him.

“Aye, Soph, I know. And mam makes four. Oh don’t give me that look. I have a looong memory.” Yoss took one of the non-alcoholic Cidonas and opened it for Emilia and then slid the other to Cara.

“So Cara, how far did ya have to go to find a man that met your standards?” Ronan asked.

“All the way ta the Romulan boarder, almost ta where it meets the Klingon border.”

Cara

Gravel looked at Ronan and said “Yeah… but I’m worth the trip.” and he grinned and winked at the man. That brought a round of laughter from everyone save Liam… who suddenly slammed down his glass, stood up, and half-yelled “I’ll not drink with some alien! Not in my pub!” and stormed towards the door. The rest of the pub fell silent for a moment, and a few eyes fell on the Orion to see how he would react. Mardusk just shrugged and looked around in mock confusion. “Aliens? Where? No one told me the English were coming!” and the pub erupted in laughter. Liam’s face screwed itself into a visage of contorted rage and he sputtered some intelligible sounds before spinning and storming out the door. Mardusk watched for a second and then turned and looked at the pub. “Sorry. I didn’t know his family tree branched that way.” and the eruption of laughter intensified.

Gravel