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

Posted by Lieutenant Cara Esmé Mardusk (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 (27) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Gravel watched his new wife dance with his new father-in-law, and he smiled. As they music faded away, the assembled guests clapped and a few whistled and cheered. Suddenly, there was a loud reverberating bass-like sound… like a massive drum was being beaten. Gravel’s eyes narrowed and he looked around for the two Klingons. They were nowhere to be seen. The sound, however, was coming from outside the pavilion. Gravel walked over and took Cara’s hand and looked down at her and grinned. “Oh… you are gonna want to see this…” and he led her and the more curious (and less drunk) guests outside.

Cara returned his grin. War drums. She wondered if this was a Klingon thing or something to do with the McKenzie-Edmans. Except a quick glance had an accounting of them all.

The truck that had delivered Hall and Oates was parked in the middle of the square. The sides had been folded down and on the bed-slash-deck stood a massive war drum. One of the Klingons was beating it so that it’s low rumble could not only be heard… but felt. As he continued to hit the skin with a large mallet, the other Klingon emerged carrying two bat’leths. He looked at Mardusk and said “Mardusk. Son of House Noggra. Son of T’Kor. Champion of the Cartunan Expanse. You have taken your mate. But are you warrior enough to keep her.” Gravel squeezed Cara’s hand and muttered Fu<k under his breath. He then stood tall and said “I have. And I am. If anyone dare challenge me for her hand, I will accept all comers.” It was then another voice from behind the truck yelled “I CHALLENGE!” and a form walked from behind the drum and into view.

Cara squeezed his hand back and watched with a neutral look. She wasn’t sure if she should look bored, insulted, or blood thirsty, so neutral it was.

The Klingon was as tall as Gravel and had one arm. Gravel growled at the sight of the figure and he said “P’Tar… of course.” and spit on the ground in front of the warrior as he approached. P’Tar gave Mardusk a glare that was unmistakable. “I challenge you, Mardusk of Star Fleet. Do you accept?” Mardusk looked at him for minute and then looked at Cara. “So… this is a test. A Klingon proves himself capable of defending his partner. It’s supposed to be a kind of ceremonial formality.” and he looked back at P’Tar. “But I’m pretty sure he is here to kill me.”

Gravel

Cara looked over the one armed figure and then looked up at Gravel. “Okay. So I’m certain whatever ya did ta make him want ta kill ya, he deserved. Ya will tell me later. What exactly am I supposed ta do?” She waved a hand toward the Klingons. “I mean we have our ancient traditions too. Then ya are obviously adopted inta a combined Scottish Nordic clan. And they look ready ta kill on yer behalf. I’m sure Helka would lend me a weapon. We’re talkin’ four distinct cultures, no ta mention what yer mom looks like she’d like ta contribute.”

Gravel looked at her and said “I’m the reason he can’t clap.” with a wry grin.

She looked at P’Tar once and then back. “Am I supposed ta fight by yer side, stand outta the way ta watch?” There was the Klingon Right of Vengeance, but to utter that, Cara felt was disrespectful. She was absolutely certain Gravel would win.

Lt. Mardusk, counselor

“I dunno. Like I said… this is supposed to be a formality.” Gravel said. He squeezed her hand and let go, stepping forward. He looked at P’Tar. “So. We gonna do this now? Really? It was ten years ago, P’Tar. And you have to admit, you had it coming. Besides… that is a hell of a war wound. Most Klingons would give their-” and he looked at the left side of the Klingon, the one that didn’t have an appendage, “- left arm for a battle wound like that.” P’Tar, to his credit, didn’t take the bait. “Always with a clever quip. We will see how well you speak when I cut out your tongue.”

Cara had to bite her own tongue to stop from saying the totally inappropriate thing that was about to tumble right out of her sassy mouth.

Mardusk shrugged and held up his hands and signed Pretty well, I think. and a few people laughed. The noise caught P’Tar off-guard and he looked at the crowd…

And Gravel punched him right in the face… hard.

The big Klingon stumbled backwards and crashed into the side of the war drum, which wobbled and then fell over and off the truck. Gravel looked at P’Tar, who was stunned silent and sporting a very broken nose. “We done?” Gravel asked as the one-armed warrior shook his head and regrouped. P’Tar clambered to his feet and took a steadying breath when two black blurs raced past the crowd and slammed into his chest. Hall and Oates bared their teeth at the Klingon and saliva feel in rivulets from their mouths. Gravel put two fingers in his mouth and whistled and the two targs stopped growling and sat down, but never took their eyes off of P’Tar.

Gravel

Who knew where she came from or how she moved that fast, but Cara was suddenly standing over the prone P’Tar, the spiked heel of her shoe pressing just enough into his carotid artery to let him know how much danger he was in. Her other foot was stabbing into his remaining wrist, the nice soft fleshy part. She dropped her center of gravity, rooting herself in place. “Now listen here, boyo. I’ve played nice ta yer Klingon traditions and interruptions ta my weddin’. I’ve done this ‘cause it’s important ta my husband.” Cara looked like some kind of mythic warrior fey, straight out of legend. Her green eyes blazed and her red hair seemed to crackle. “We have our own traditions and an Irish woman don’a marry a man that hasn’a already proven he can provide and protect her. Now, I’d let this little farse continue if I thought ya even cared a single ounce about my honor and well bein’. However, it’s clear yer here for a child’s tantrum and sense of gettin’ even.”

She dropped down slightly, the heels diggin in. A wicked knife appeared in her hand. Curved, serrated, and deadly sharp. There was no telling where it came from or how she’d hidden it until then. “Now ya have a choice ta make. Ya can swear on the Honor of House Noggra and yer own personnel honor that yer done with this forever, or,” she dragged the knife over his abdomen, “ya can refuse and I swear by the Morrigan, I’ll gut ya like a pig.” That comment got a lot of wicked laughs from the crowd. “Then I’ll drag ya all the way ta Blarney Castle. My sister, she’s the chief surgeon of Star Fleet Medical, well she’ll make sure yer alive and awake for the entire trip. I’ll drag yer arse by hand the 109 kilometers and then hang ya by yer entrails ta the Blarney stone. I’ll feast and get drunk on blood wine while I watch the ravens feast on your body while yer still alive. Then, when yer finally dead, I’ll feed ya ta my targs.”

Cara rose to her full height, digging into his wrist, but letting up just enough for an answer from his neck. “What’s it gonna be?”

Lt. Mardusk, counselor

P’Tar looked up at Cara… and smiled. It was an unexpected look. Gravel looked down at the ‘fallen’ Klingon warrior and said “Like I said… we done?” and he grinned at P’Tar. P’tar looked at Gravel and said “That depends on if your mate is willing to let me up, Brother. But Lord Noggra will be very pleased with her. She has the heart of Kah’les in her!” and he laughed. Gravel looked at Cara and said “So I may have bent the reality of the situation a bit. Yeah, it was a test… but not of me. Lord Noggra wanted to make sure you could handle life in a Klingon House… even peripherally.” He offered P’Tar a hand and he looked at Cara. “You gonna let him up? Or do I need to get a mop and bucket for one of Ireland’s historic sites?”

Gravel

The tone alone of Gravel’s voice told her exactly what was going on. Cara wasn’t sure if she was honored that Lord Noggra was taking such and interest or pissed off over the continued shenanigans. “No until I have his word of honor,” she looked over her shoulder at Gravel, giving him that look that never boded well, “and yers, Husband, that we are done with this. I intend ta enjoy my weddin’ day, no look over my shoulder constantly. So, yer words of honor, or we start makin’ the hike ta Blarney Castle.” Cara arched her brow at both of them.

Lt. Mardusk, counselor

Gravel chuckled and said “You know I wouldn’t do crap like this if it wasn’t really necessary. ‘Sides… ” and he grinned at her and scooped her off the ground so she was sitting perched on his arm, “… it wouldn’t be us if there wasn’t some sorta mischief.” He grasped P’Tar’s one hand and pulled him upright. “Now then… let me do this right. Cara Esmé Mardusk, meet P’Tar… Majordomo of House Noggra. P’Tar, my wife Cara. And yeah, she’ll cut ya.” and he laughed. P’Tar looked down at Cara and took her hand in his. “May the gods send you enemies by the thousands, and your blade run with their blood.” and he bent down and kissed her hand. “Do not harbor any animosity to your man, Mrs. Mardusk. He is beholden to the traditions, just as you now are.” and he grinned. “Besides, if I can overlook his taking off my arm, I’m sure you can overlook such a small inconvenience.” and he threw back his head and laughed.

Gravel

Cara had expected worse, she wasn’t sure it was over, especially given that Gravel picked her up rather than give her his word. That made her very suspicious. Cara sat on Gravel’s arm without a worry. “It is my pleasure P’Tar,” but her brow went up as he laughed. She glanced at Gravel, “I can see why ya took his arm. He likes ta tell people what their minds should be. No a good thing here.” She grinned as she waved about at the notoriously outspoken peoples around her.

She didn’t get further than that though before Dominik, Ronan, and Yoss walked up to them. Yoss shook his head, “You really did it now. Your friend here just had to say Cara was subjected to yer traditions.” Ronan and Dominik lifted Cara off Gravel’s arm and shooed her away. “I was really hoping you would avoid this,” Yoss said.

“Now Yoss, it’s all in good fun. They take their battle seriously. We take our fun and drink seriously. We know he can handle his drink and Cara.” The whole crowd erupted in laughter and cheers as Ronan spoke, “But now we gotta find out if he can handle his fun. And since this fello’ ‘ere, is his family. Well he’s subject ta it too.” They grabbed Gravel and P’Tar by the arms and ever man from Conmaragh followed them away.

“Malachite!” Cara yelled after him. “Just remember, Luv. No one has rhythm like ya do!” She was trying not to laugh. She knew what was coming, but had thought, had hoped, the the suddenness of the wedding, Gravel would avoid this. Yoss on the other hand was sympathetic, but just as eager for what was coming next.

Lt. Mardusk, counselor

“Stop talking about our sex life in public!” Gravel yelled back at Cara and the crowd erupted in cheers and laughter.

Cara laughed, her eyes dancing, lost in her own private thoughts as he walked away. Emilia nudged her and everyone laughed as she her focus returned. “He’s no wrong,” Cara said with a wicked grin.

As he and P’Tar were led away, P’Tar looked at Gravel and said in tlhlngan Hol “I swear Gravel… if I lose my other arm because of some human nonsense, I will chew you to death.” Gravel laughed and then said “Humans are clever… bloodthirsty too, at times… but these kind of celebrations don’t usually involve maiming or death.” P’Tar stopped walking, which caused the three men walking behind him to walk into him and one fell backwards on his butt. “Then it’s not really a celebration… is it?” P’Tar said and then laughed loudly. Gravel shook his head and then helped the man that fell back up. In Standard, he said “You really worry me sometimes, you know that?” and then he laughed too as they began walking.

Mardusk, CoS

Curler and Oddvar followed. They were always up for a good time. Oddvar pulled something out of his pocket, and a moment later a vid-drone lifted off from his palm and started recording

The men lined up in three rows, sticking Gravel and P’Tar on opposite ends of a line. Yoss, with a shake if his head, and that exaggerated Denobulan grin, took a place in the line. “Alright ya drunkin’ sheep hush,” Ronin yelled from the front. “We got roughly 20 minutes, 30 on the outside before Cara comes chargin’ in here ta reclaim her man. And ain’t one o’ us want ta face her temper. Except that one,” he pointed at Gravel.

“More like go huntin’ for her when she gets lost on the way,” Henry shouted from the back, which erupted in roars of laughter. “Yeah, and that one,” he waved at Gravel too, “wouldn’a let us disband the Cara Search and Rescue, so we have ta help. Let’s get on with it.”

Dominik chuckled as several of the fellows tried to straighten up their posture after almost 24 hours of straight imbibing. “Alright,” Ronin clapped his hands together, “so Gravel we were gonna for go this, but yer brother there reminded us how important tradition is.” He waved and gave P’Tar a cheeky grin. “Given the short time we don’a have time for all traditions, but I think k we can pull this off. Patrick?”

Patrick jogged to the front and Ronin took his place. “Alright. Remember it’s 6/8 time in a 1-2-3 count. Gravel once ya get the basic pattern I’ll bring ya up here ta learn the Groom’s solo.”

Someone started a very lively and traditional tune and they began with Patrick calling the steps and the count.

Lt. Mardusk, counselor

Gravel groaned. “Dancing? Fu<√ing really?” and P’Tar laughed loudly. “HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! You tiny humans have found his one weakness!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” Gravel glared at P’Tar and said “Shut up, you walking slot machine.” He took a breath and glared at Yoss, Ronin, and Dominik. He then began trying to get the steps down. P’Tar chuckled and then, to the surprise of many, began mimicking the dance almost perfectly. He moved with a startling grace, and soon was even improvising some moves of his own. Gravel glared and said “I should’a taken your damn leg!” and then he laughed.

Mardusk, CoS

There was a lot of good natured ribbing directed at Gravel, but equally to everyone else. Yoss shook his head. “I had months to get this down. I think they are giving you a hard time because your friends gave Cara a hard time. Not that that crazy girl didn’t enjoy every second of it.” With Dominik beside him and Yoss in front they helped break down the steps further and more clearly. Patrick had been on the dance team with the girls and sometimes forgot that some people were beginners.

Lt. Mardusk, counselor

Gravel Mardusk, Star Fleet Security Officer and Honored Member of a Klingon Nobel House, had been called many things in his life: Behemoth. Inflexible. Brutish. An unbridled application of force. A bipedal sledge hammer. A beast with a strong back. One thing he had never been accused of, however, was possessing an overabundance of grace. Oh, he could move well enough… in a fight. Or in the bed he and Cara shared. But dancing? Oh no… not on his best day.

But try, he did. And by the time the men were about to tell him was up, he had a solid basic movement set down.

Mardusk, CoS

“Alright lads! Time ta go!” Dominik called. It was a tidal wave that even despite his size, Gravel was pushed along back to the main event. The first thing that was apparent was Helka and her maidens had surrounded the area to stop Cara from going looking for Gravel and getting lost. A duty they obviously took quite seriously. Cara was amused by the whole thing and had a very calculating look on her face.

Seeing the men return Cara bit her bottom lip to stop from laughing. “Grah-VEL! You still have ta love me despite my family!”

Lt. Mardusk, counselor

“That’s a big ask, wife! Dancing in public? Really?!” he yelled back and the assembled guests laughed loudly.

Cara laughed too. Honestly there had been a moment, just a brief millisecond flash, of hope that Gravel would escape this. With the wedding being so last minute and rushed to organize. She knew her family though, and she knew her town. She really shouldn’t be surprised that they managed it. Yoss had told her they hadn’t planned on it though. Oh well.

The men arranged themselves and Dominik nodded to the band and there music began and the men began to dance. As he did, Gravel looked at Cara and smiled. He then mouthed You’re gonna make this up to me later… and grinned.

Mardusk, CoS

Cara’s eyes danced, she nodded slowly once and mouthed back, Soon. She prayed it would be soon. They got lucky, being left alone after the ceremony, Cara did not have high expectations they would be allowed to leave any time soon. This party would go on for days.

Cara watched as Gravel moved across the dance floor. The had to bite her lip once or twice. He did okay if people stayed out of his way, but, well, Gravel was a massive example of masculinity. The only one who seemed to understand the idea of adjusting personal space was the equally massive P’Tar. Cara laughed though when she saw one of Helka’s entourage riveted on P’Tar with rapt interest.

Hearing the music shift indicating the groom’s solo, Cara let out a loud wolf whistle, attention riveted on her husband.

Lt. Mardusk, counselor

Bump

Mardiak took a breath and began to dance by himself. He started slow, the band matching his speed rather than the other way around. He went through the movements twice with only a small hiccup here and there. The band started to slowly speed up, and Mardusk kept going for another three series; but by then the band was playing so fast Mardusk just finally stopped and put his hands on his hips and flared at them. “Fu<¥ing REALLY?!” he yelled and the crowd erupted in laughter and cheers. P’tar came up to him and wrapped the green giant in a massive one-armed hug and laughed loudly and then yelled “My brother!!! Kah’less himself will sing of your battles and your honor, but of your dancing the less said the better!!” He released Mardiak… who promptly swung and got the Klingon in the jaw. P’tar staggered back… and then both behemoths laughed loudly and grabbed drinks.

Mardusk, CoS

Cara walked over, drink in hand, and grinned. “The problem, P’tar, is that he didn’a have me with him. It’s difficult ta show off yer rhythm when the object of that rhythm is no in yer arms. Grah-VEL and I move just fine together.” Cara glanced around the gathering, “There are children present, so showin’ off that particular skill is no’ advised.” She winked up at Gravel.

Lt. Mardusk, counselor

“Never took ya for an exhibitionist, wife. We’ll have to explore that some other time.” he said, returning her wink before bending down and kissing her.

Mardusk, CoS

Cara laughed, and then gave quite a show of kissing him to the point of wolf whistles, calls for buckets of ice water, and then finally suggestions to get a room. Cara grinned up at him. “Finally, we have permission ta leave, Husband.”

Lt. Mardusk, counselor

“You know as well I do that if we leave now, we’ll only be encouraging the beating down of our door in a few hours.” He grinned and scooped her up off the floor and spun her around. “Besides… we still gotta do the bouquet and the garter thing. Can’t miss that, now can we?” and he laughed.

Mardusk, CoS

Cara laughed softly as he spun her around. She was an independent, strong willed, stubborn, hot headed, red-head, but she did not mind Gravel ever picking her up.

She tucked her head into the crook of his neck and kissed him on the sensitive spot just below his ear. “But Grah-VEL,” her heavy accent purred in his ear as she pouted, “they will do that anyway. I want ta be alone with my husband.” She kissed down his neck and back up. “And if we don’a leave soon, Emelia and Ava are goin’ ta make me dance, on that bar over there.”

Lt. Mardusk, counselor

Gravel’s arms tightened slightly when her lips met his neck, and he struggled to keep his feet rooted to the ground and not take off running away with his bride. But at the mention of her dancing on the bar, he laughed and said “So who am I to stand in the way of my sisters?” and he turned towards the bar while yelling “EMELIA! AVA! YOUR SISTER SAID YOU DONT HAVE THE GUTS TO TRY AND MAKE HER DANCE ON THE BAR!!” and he laughed as he moved Cara towards the long wooden beam laid out to serve the copious amounts of alcohol being consumed.

Mardusk, CoS

Cara nipped his ear. “Yer sleepin’ with the targs tanight.” It was an empty threat and she was laughing, slightly, but then again Cara could be stubborn. So there really was no telling.

Emilia and Ava laughed loudly. “She didn’a say any such thin’!” Emilia yelled. “She’s no that daft!” Ava added. Cara laughed softly and sighed, disappointed her attempt to get away with her husband didn’t work. She must be loosing her touch, and that thought just made her mad. She perched herself on the bar top as Gravel set her down. Tugm snorted angrily. “Get off my bar, Cara! Not HERE!” Cara laughed and then Ava joined her on the bar and Emilia as well. She was having a soft but heated argument with Yoss about whether or not the bar was stable enough for her to be up there safely.

Ava handed Cara a pair of shoes and she dutifully put them on. “Oh calm down Tugm. Ya had ta know I learned somewhere. ‘Sides this is no yer bar.” Cara winked at him and then, with a lot more grace than should be allowed stood up on the bar. Ava and Emilia followed her.

Ronan tapped the mic, “Alright we need two volunteers ta come make their mark on these coins. Gravel here is one for ya.” He handed a Deich scilling to Gravel. It was a decent sized coin with a harp on one side and an image of the Death of Cú Chulainn on the other. “Make yer mark on this coin. Show it ta Cara, then set it down at her feet, mark down.” Ronan grinned and then handed Yoss and (to Ava’s surprise and furious blush) Connor. Once that was done, Ronan motioned to the bar, “Now gentlemen, if ya would, make yer mark anywhere along the bar ya’d like.”

Gravel didn’t know what was happening, but shrugged and put the coin between his fingers and pressed his thumbnail into the metal. Connor’s eyebrows rose as he watched the big green thumbnail cut a line into the metal. P’tar chuckled and leaned in to the young man. “If you didn’t know already, human, Orions are really strong. And he is stronger than most of them. And as he is now Ava’s brother-in-law, I would suggest keeping that in mind as you pursue Ms. Ava.” Connor gulped slightly and P’tar looked at Yoss… and both men started laughing. Connor’eyes narrowed and he stood up straight and then matched to the bar and made an ‘X’ mark on the bar. Yoss scratched a series of three lines, and Mardusk thumbnailex the wood like he had the coin.

“Alright, lasses, now it’s up ta ya.” Ronan grinned and stepped back as the band began to play. Cara lifted her skirt and began to dance, her feet flying and skirt flaring. Then she stopped and Ava and Emilia copied her. Then Emilia, then Ava, it went in around. Then it became much more complicated as they moved together, moving left, right, spinning and passing each other. The coins bounced and skittered across the bar top getting mixed up in the flying steps.

OOC: The music they are dancing to. It also has a few brief glimpses of Irish dance.

Lt. Mardusk, counselor

Bump

Gravel watched Cara dance and he grinned broadly. To everyone watching, he seemed completely enthralled at the display… but his eyes, while never leaving Cara, followed his marked coin along the bar.

Mardusk, CoS