Posted by Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) in It’s Not a Wedding without Drama

Posted by Lieutenant Cara Esmé O’Farrell (Counselor / Education Specialist) in It’s Not a Wedding without Drama

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) in It’s Not a Wedding without Drama
Posted by… suppressed (24) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
As the last of the preparations outside were being completed, Gravel (and the targs) made the rounds and ensured everything was as it should be. A little over an hour after their departure, the Klingons returned and had a brief and happily animated conversation with him away from the others. Gravel grinned and grasped each one by their forearm and they all laughed.

Gravel (and the targs) made their way to the O’Farrell home and Gravel yelled from outside. “CARA! WE GOT EARLY WEDDING PRESENTS!” A few of the townsfolk were watchingbas the two targs sat on either side of Gravel and looked at the door.

Gravel

Sophie sat the latest stack of pictures of Cara and all the random places she had been found over the years and went to the window and SCREAMED “By the Sidhe! What are those things! No! Cara do NOT go out there!” Cara gave her sisters a long suffering look and opened the door anyway.

And paused.

It was a sight to make any woman giddy and some swoon. Gravel and two massive targs. And they had to be massive if they didn’t look tiny next to him. “Targs?! Domesticated targs? Oh thank the Sidhe, I don’t have ta make candles out of them. They are magnificent. ” Her eyes positively danced at him. “Kelly is goin’ ta string us up in the brig when we take them home with us. And they ARE goin’.” She slapped her hands together like she was dusting them off. “So what do I have ta do? Wrestle ‘em or somethin’ so they know you aren’t the only one in charge? I got bread in the oven, so let’s get ta it.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel looked at her and crossed his arms on his chest. “Already told ‘em I was a boss. You gotta do you, hun.” he said with a grin. “But whatever you do, do it right now. You pause, and you’ll never get their respect.”

Gravel

As with anything it was all about momentum and knowing how the body should move and be made to move. She’d probably get bruised in the process, but Cara wasn’t worried about that.

Right now they were docile and waiting for a command. She did exactly what she knew would get a reaction, she ran straight at Gravel with a yell that left no doubt she was going to hurt him. They charged her, as they were trained to do. Cara dropped, tucked, rolled, and used the momentum to land both feet right into the chest of the first, knocking the breath put of it. She just got her feet in time to grab the tusks of the second as it bowled her over. She twisted and torqued the tusks, planted her feet into it’s belly. It followed the direction of its tusks, and with a little help from her legs, Cara flipped it, where it landed against the stone wall of the fence.

What Cara did next as the first came rumbling back toward her made the targ wary of her. She grabbed it by the nostrils and yanked. It wouldn’t cause damage, but it hurt and made it squeal and thrash about to get away. She waited till it was pulling a great deal before letting go so it stumbled. It shook it’s head and stumbled about. Cara stood and walked over to Gravel, her back to him and glared at the animals. They weren’t happy and ready to go again, pawing at the ground and shaking their heads. They approached with more caution. They were smart, working in tandem as they came at her again. They were suddenly confused though as the wind blew strongly. They sniffed their and looked from her to Gravel. “That’s right, my scent is all over him and his is all over me. Get used ta it. If ya don’a I will make ya inta candles.” There hesitation was enough, “Qam!” The targs stopped and looked at Cara. They were smart and gorgeous. “Jup’a!” They shook their heads and walked toward Cara, sniffing her. She let them and put a hand on each of them, scratching behind their horns. They became nothing but giant puppies after that.

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

“Nice. But I get to name ‘em.” Gravel said with a grin. He put an arm around Cara and looked at the targs. “vIwov. ‘ach DaH bIHegh.” he said and the targs did a little circle of happiness and then bolted out the front yard and out of sight around the back of the house. Gravel shook his head and said “Yep. Skipper is gonna straight up kill us.” and he laughed.

Gravel

“As long as she doesn’a touch a hair on their hides.” Cara slipped an arm around him and her hand into his back pocket. “Well hurry up and name ‘em, Malachite.” As they raced around the back of the house there was a suddenly howling and alarmed barking from inside the house. “SAM QUIET!” The large Irish Wolfhound went silent, appearing in the door way. “Poor old fellow. Missed all the excitement and didn’t know it.”

Ava pulled Sam back into the house and called, “Cara, yer bread is burnin’!” Cara grinned but Emilia cut her off, “We all wanna eat Cara. Come on. Mam’s no good after watchin’ ya wrestle those targs.” Dominik walked past them and into the house to see to Sophia.

Sophia was physically fine, but she was workingbherself into a lecture of epic proportions. “Cara, that was totally irresponsible. What were you thinking? Those things could kill you! Ya’ve always been wild, but this is ta much!” It went on for several minutes. Cara got up, hugged her mother, “I love ya too, Mam. Now why don’cha tell more embarrassin’ stories while I help set dinner on the table.” She kissed her mother’s cheek and went into the kitchen. Sophie huffed, “As if gettin’ lost isn’a enough. She has ta wrestle with damgerous animals.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel took a seat next to Sophie. “Now would you think for even a second that I would let her do something that would get her hurt? C’mon… you know better than that.” he said with a smile.

Sophie crossed her arms and looked at him. “No Gravel I don’a think ya would let her get hurt. Yes yer a big stong strappin’ lad, but I know no one let’s Cara do or no do anythin’. She’s worse than a stone wall.”

“And listen. they look mean and scary… well, they are… but they are also very well trained. My Klingon House is known for their targs and the training they get.” He looked at her and said “You want to touch one?”

Gravel

Sophie glanced out the window to the back of the house where the targs had run off, clearly undecided. Ava on the other hand hurried into the living room, “I do!”

Cara laughed, “Hey! That’s my line!” Emilia burst out laughing and Ava made a face at Cara. Ava looked at Gravel, “I don’a have ta wrestle it do I?” She didn’t want to do that, but she supposed she could try if she had to. Sophie shook her head with a smirk, “Cara do you see what you’ve started!?” Cara only laughed from the kitchen. “I suppose I will, Gravel, but I’m not wrestlin’ with one.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel chuckled. “I don’t think you’ll need to. Wait here a sec.” He stood up and walked out of the room and to the back door. Opening it, he stuck two fingers in his mouth and a loud whistle sounded across the yard and far out the back past the wall separating town from fields. He waited a moment and soon he saw, off in the distance, two large black forms barreling across the countryside. They had gotten pretty far away in a short time, but were making up the distance obscenely fast for their size. As they came leaping over the stone wall and into the back yard, Gravel held up a closed fist and said “yImev!” (Stop!) and the two beasts slid to a stop less than a meter away from his legs. He looked down at the two and said “Jot.” (Be calm.) and then he turned and snapped his fingers once and the two panting targs walked in behind him.

The only one not curious about the targs was Sam. Recognizing them for the predators they were he growled in warning and tried to get between them and everyone else. Dominik called him over to his chair and spoke quietly to him in Gaelic. Sam quieted and sat, ever watchful.

One of the targs regarded Sam with an almost cool appraisal. It’s head cocked to the side as it looked at the Wolfhound, and then it let out a soft huff and turned it’s attention back to Gravel and Sophie.

Emilia disappeared up the stairs with Yoss, but not because of the targs.

He led them into the living room that became suddenly much smaller with everyone and the two ‘pets’ inside it. Gravel took his seat next to Sophie and snapped his fingers. The two trags moved to him and sat on their haunches, black eyes looking at him expectantly. “Contrary to how they look, they are incredibly smart.” Gravel said to Sophie. “They are also quite receptive to people… well… Klingons, at least. But these have been trained for me, so they follow my lead. Now, repeat after me… jupna’. It means friend.” As Gravel said the word, the ears on both targs stood up and their eyes widened slightly.

Gravel

Ava was practically dancing in place. “They’re beautiful.”

Sophie looked at them curiously. “Well they do seem calm now. Jupna’.” She repeated after him in her heavy accent.

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

“Firmer. Make them know it.” Gravel said.

Dominik looked at his wife. “Remember when the girls decided to prank Old Lady Phoebe? Say it like that.” Sophie looked at him before turning back to the targs even as all three of her daughters groaned. “Jupna’.” The targs eyes riveted on Sophie.

He took her hand in his and held it out to one of the animals. The porcine snout sniffed at both and then Gravel took his hand away. A low rumble came from the targ and then it looked at Sophie… and butted her hand with the top of his head. The second one moved closer and repeated the gesture, and a moment later both were laying on the floor in front of Sophie’s feet.

Sophie grinned, “They really aren’t so scary are they?”

Gravel smiled. “They like you. That’s not very common. Typically targs only bond with one, maybe two individuals. These seem much more… pack oriented… than is normal.” He smiled more broadly and said “Now that’s pretty cool.” He showed Sophie where to scratch them and how best to avoid the spikes along their back. “They are naturally sharp, so be careful. C’mon, Ava. You can get in on this. Just go slow at first and remember… JUPNA. Say it with conviction.”

Gravel

Sophie pet them gently but made sure not to hesitate as they laid at her feet. Ava didn’t need a second invitation. She sat down right next to Gravel, “JUPNA’.” She grinned having gotten the word mostly correct. “Can I pet them now?”

“Grah-VEL, did Lord Noggra send food for them? I’m pretty sure they won’a like dog food. Or do I need ta make something? We don’a have a replicator,” Cara came in and set a hand on Sam’s head. She shook her head with amusement at her family.

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel scratched on besides it’s spikes and said “They’ll eat anything. Like literally anything. They’re almost like Bolians.” He looked down at the two targs and their willingness to be touched and said “Ok, names… both are males. Female targs are way too aggressive. So…” and he sat in thought for a moment before a grin spread over his face. He looked at Cara and pointed first at one and then the other. “Hall… and Oates.”

Gravel

“Aren’t most gemales?” Dominik asked deadpan. Sophie glared at him, he winked at her, and she blushed. Ava reached down and let the targ he was petting sniff her. Then she pet it just as Gravel was doing. She did a very good imitation of being a bored teenager (that no one believed), but inside she was just a giddy little kid. Everyone was glad to see it after everything she’d been through.

“I like it. Now ya get ta explain who is vocals and who is guitar.” Cara laughed and muttered about being outnumbered. Dominik’s eyes glittered with mischief, “Well make sure yer first child is a girl, then.” Cara looked at her father, decided she wasn’t touching that one, spun in her heel, and went back to the kitchen. Dominik’s laughter chased her the whole way.

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel looked at Dominik and said “You can start the family planning after we’ve left the planet and not before, thank you very much.” and he laughed. He stood up and said “I’m gonna head out and make sure the Vikings haven’t decided to recruit the Klingons for a raiding party.” He turned his head towards the kitchen and said “Call me when dinner is ready if you can find your way to the door without gettin’ lost, hun!” and he chuckled loudly as he walked out the door.

Gravel

Sophie looked at Serchena and smiled, “But if we wait they will be out of range and can ignore our calls. There is no tellin’ when they’ll be home again.”

Serchena grinned. “My dear, if you ever think they are ignoring you, you simply call me. You have friends in very high places now. None of your Star Fleet children are out of touch from this point on.” and she laughed.

Cara’s voice carried, “Sarchena, I thought you liked me.” Her laughter was infectious and so was Sophie’s.

“Well we may no be in high places, but ya have family here now, Serchena.”

Dominik laughed. “Why do I have a feeling you are more worried they are planning without you, than that they are actually doing it.”

“Ya have one hour till food is on the table,” Cara called from the kitchen. “If yer not back by then, we start without ya. An no one has ta worry about me gettin’ lost.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

“Everyone has to worry about that, doll!” came gravel’s voice form outside, followed by laughter.

Cara chuckled to herself and watched him walk away through the window.

A few moments later, Gravel walked up the gathering area and surveyed the setup and nodded. “Well, as long as the wedding itself goes smooth, this should be one hell of a party!” he said to no one in particular.

Gravel

Cuyler clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “Apparently a local group is going to play music. They aren’t bad. Ain’t like Mike’s friends…what was his name, Oddvar? The one with the neon green spikes?”

“Bubba. Good thing Capall had left that little party before he and Runa saw each other.”

Cuyler laughed, “They hadn’t met yet.”

“You really think that would have mattered?” Oddvar shook his head like his brother had gone daft.

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel chuckled and said “Now this I gotta hear. I know Bubba; if the one you are talking about is loud, large, and as likely to stop a battlecruiser with his face as a photon torpedo. And if it’s a Bubba and a girl story? Well… even better.” He went over to one of the tables and reached under and pulled out a dark red bottle. He cracked the seal on the neck and smelled and smiled. He walked back over and took a long pull from the bottle before holding it out to the two men. “Here ya go… some of the reserve Blood Wine. Might as well know what you are getting into before tomorrow.” and he grinned. He was sure the two men could hold their drink… from what Mike had said the entire family could. But Gravel also loved watching humans drink Blood Wine for the first time. No matter how it went, it was always funny.

Gravel

Cuyler took the bottle and a swig. He chocked down a cough and passed it to Oddvar. Oddvar raised a brow at his brother’s expression. “That good?” Ofdvar took a swig and his eyes went crossed, and he inhaled sharply as it burned his sinuses. He coughed several times. “Whatda they make this with?” He coughed again and then grinned, “Hey! HELKA! Come try this!”

Gravel grinned. “It’s called ‘Blood Wine’ and it’s made by Klingons who aren’t really know for their skill in hyperbole.”

The Nordic beauty came over and eyed the bottle. She sniffed it. “No! Cuyler you know what happened last time you got really drunk, and that was with Mike. I’ll dump you in the bay this time.” Cuyler gave her a lecherous look. “It would be so worth it.” He snagged an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. “Let’s both get drunk. I bet you can’t drink a whole cup of it.”

Every Edman-McKenzie there stopped dead and watched with mischief on their faces and credits changing hands. Helka grabbed the bottle and took a swig. She absolutely did not make a face, but shrugged. Inside she knew she’d be passed out drunk quick on this stuff. What was it made of? “Okay, I’ll take that bet. I pick the cups.” She flipped open her comm and made a request. 5 minutes later a large chest appeared and she flipped it open.

Skulls. She looked at Gravel, “Blood of your enemies and all that. It certainly tastes like it.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel looked at the skull tankards and said “Hmmm… might wanna wait till the town is drunk before bustin’ those out, I think. The Mother of the bride especially.” and he chuckled.

Gravel

Helka shook her head, “Oh these are just for Cuyler and my little bet. I promise not to scare her. That would be exceptionally ill-mannered.” Helka closed the box and tapped the transponder on it and it disappeared back to whence it came. She gave the bottle back to Gravel.

“Alright, so Bubba and Runa,” Cuyler said. “I’m sure you heard from Mike about the upstart problems he had. Well he arranged for some friends of his to show up to help out. Bubba was one of them. There’s a commotion down at the gate, Oddvar and I go down there, and laying on Hamish’s slider is this huge, crazy looking, spiked haired man, looking asleep. Until Hamish opened his mouth and started spiting insults about Mike.”

“It was all very amusing watching Bubba make him soil himself. All of a sudden we here Runa yell ‘Mike! Bubba’s out of gum!’ Bubba whips around and looked like a kid at Christmas. Starts towards her, hand still holding Hamish, stops, holds up a finger and then knocks Hamish’s lights out. Before he hit the ground, Bubba had Runa off the ground, swingin’ her around and squeezing the breath out of her.”

Oddvar chuckled, “Apparently Runa used to travel to all of Mike’s shows with Bubba and the rest. He found out Mike had married Runa’s twin and,” Oddvar laughed hard, “Sorry, never seen Runa blush before. Bubba asked to the entire assemblage if they knew that Runa had thrown her underwear at Mike specifically on several occasions and was crazy about him. Runa denied doing anything like it. Bubba asked how she got them off without taking off the skin tight leather pants she wore. Runa slipped up and said she didn’t because it was her bra she threw. Girl was so red we had a second sun.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel’s eyes widened and he said “That was Runa?!?!? Holy hell, I remember that show!” and he laughed loudly and for quite a while. “Please please please tell her, FROM ME, that I saw that show and had I known that was her? Oh, she never would have lived it down.” He laughed some more and then his eyes went wide and he said “Oh… oh oh oh oh oh… we should invite Bubba to the wedding!”

Gravel

Helka just grinned, she could see why this was Mike’s best friend. “Oh, Revna doesn’t let her live it down. She was headed right for Runa with that look that makes Loki stand aside. Runa disappeared. After a few hours we couldn’t find her and Revna was really upset. She thought Runa thought she was actually mad. Then a few hours later here comes Runa with Capall. Mike and Seamus gave her hell about bringing him there. Then Mike goes on that just because he let her in the bar and he married her sister, she was asking too much bringing him there. I thought Runa would cry. Then she looks him in the eye, shames him for accusing her of such a thing, and disowns us all. She chose Capall over the rest of us.” Helka grinned. “Thatbgirl never did anything that wasn’t dramatic. She must have caused you all kinds of trouble on that ship.”

Cuyler chuckled, “At least Capall isn’t an intergalactic pirate.” He looked at Grabel, “Your wedding, invite whomever you want. Tell us where theybare and we’ll get them here.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel smiled and then shook his head. “Naw… this ain’t about a reunion of punks. ” He looked back at the house. “This about that red-headed walking broken compass back there.” He snapped his fingers and then looked at Helka. “Oh, favor to ask. Keep your eyes on Cara. Girl could lost in a round room with one door.” One of the towns people walking past said “Ain’t that tha truth!” and laughed.

Gravel

Helka blinked, “Sure, I can, but if she is so easily lost where is she now and who is keeping an eye in her?”

“She’s in the house, thankfully. Lots of folks in there. Besides, between her sisters and her mother, I doubt she she is alone for more than a few seconds at a time.” Gravel said with a laugh.

Helka and Oddvar exchanged a look, “My girls being together in one place is not an assurance that things are fine.”

Cuyler’s faze followed townsman, “That sounds like we need more information. I mean, if you are talking about raiding a village and running away with your bride. We have that down to a science.”

Ronan walked over, carrying a large vase of flowers. “He means we have a standin’ personalized SAR team just for Cara. The girl got lost so many times, she tied up all the regular emergency services. So we had ta have a team jus’ for her.”

“Ohhh…” cuyler looked at Gravel, “I tell ya, sounds like you would be safer just hauling her off with a band of good men so she doesn’t get lost on the way.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

“She’s gettin’ a bell for her neck for a wedding present.” Gravel said with a grin.

Gravel

Ronan laughed loudly. “Ronan?! What’s so funny?” One of the women asked. “He says he is gettin’ Cara a bell to wear around her neck!” Everyone cracked up laughing, some crying. “Gravek, better make sure you have Emilia permanently and surgically attach it or she’ll lose it!”

“Alright, well tell me where to pick her up in the morning and I will make sure she has her own personal honor guard for the day,” Helka said.

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel pointed at the house. “Right there.” He then turned and looked at Cuyler and Oddvar. “You boys feel like a party tonight? Never got married before, but I wouldn’t mind a bachelor party.” and he grinned.

Gravel

Cuyler clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “Have ya seen the results of Mike’s bachelor party?” Helka scowled at him. “That wasn’t a party that was you and Mike just getting drunk. I will dump you in the fjord this time.”

Cuyler chuckled and grabbed his wife and kissed her, leaving her flushed. “So worth it. And you won’t have Seamus around to save you.” He looked at Gravel, “Welk take you to Bømlo and have a grand party of it.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

Gravel smiled and said “Sounds good… or we could always just go the lodges just outside of town. Either way, I’m gonna drink you boys under the table tonight!” He looked around for a moment and said “We should get all the guys in town together and round up food and booze. I mean, it’s not a bachelor party without enough guys to start throwing punches.” and he chuckled.

Gravel

“Oh we can do that. Give me a list of the booze and we’ll get it.” Cuyler said. They would do it up in style.

From behind him was a loud snort and a growl. “Only count me in if that red haired demoness isn’t gonna be there. And I got his special beer.” Tugm walked around to join them. “No way am I missing this. Gotta make sure she’s really off the market. Save me thousands in repair.”

Oddvar cupped his hands to his mouth and in a bellow that easily carried, “BACHELOR PARTY AT THE CABINS TONIGHT!” Cheers and whoops went up and people started moving to get finished.

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor