Posted by Ensign Kovan ch’Sirhc (Engineering & Communications Officer) in Main Sim - Alien Planet - Landing Party 2 Inside Valiki

Posted by Ensign Kajhel (Security Officer) in Main Sim - Alien Planet - Landing Party 2 Inside Valiki

Posted by Ensign Kovan ch’Sirhc (Engineering & Communications Officer) in Main Sim - Alien Planet - Landing Party 2 Inside Valiki
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
[snip]

While the girls were clearly in range to hear and understand what Kajhel said, they seemed to just prefer to ignore him likely as being ‘crazy’. The locals here obviously did not like people who weren’t local to their own living area, and so outsiders of any kind, especially with those who were not ‘normal’ were just overlooked or ignored for one reason or another. But when he went off to the side to ‘throw up’, the first girl named Catherine spoke, “..Your blind friend there does not look so good. First he is talking all funny about his stories. Then he is all mopey in attitude. You sure he does not have a few nails missing from his fence post?” she inquired to the group in general.

Rand didn’t know what to say, but she knew what to do. That was stay in character. Never ever break character while the audience was watching. So Rand walked with Kajhel, she was his guide in this cast after all. She knelt down next to him, a hand on his arm. She understood the panic and anxiety and sickness that came when you felt you had really ‘messed up’. She was sympathetic to his feelings having dealt with them all her life. “Breathe slowly Kajhel. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Don’t drop your head it constricts the air way.”

Rand’s presence comforted him. He felt his eyes – his useless eyes – watering up. He was now crying, but quietly. After a while of breathing calmly, as helped by Rand’s instructions, he was able to process what was going on better. Oh, how glad he was Rand was there. He touched her forearm, as a gesture of thanks.

She reached into her bag and then placed something in his hand, a little rough, but small and oval. “Ginger candy. It helps my stomach maybe it will help yours. But you can tell me what you think of the taste.”

It was a peculiar thing – he had never tasted anything like it. It wasn’t entirely bad, but there was something off with it. It was sweet but also very cold, as if eating a piece of ice, yet – it wasn’t physically cold, just tasted cold. And the taste was also contaminated by the acidity of his stomach contests also in his mouth. It was all a strange combination.

“Thanks…” he said. He understood that she wanted him to describe the flavour, so to distract himself from the anxiety and panic within him. “Uhm…” he said, mumbling with the candy in his mouth, “the taste is… odd, fresh yet like a vegetable and sweet at the same time. It sort of neutralizes the acidity in my throat and mouth too. Thank you…”

There was a rustling sound as she bent a flower closer to him. Roman was going to lecture her about touching native plant life before clearing it, but she figured if it was dangerous it wouldn’t be allowed to live inside the village. “I am going to hold a flower up to your nose. I have no idea what it smells like, but we are going to find out. You are going to tell me what it smells like, feels like, what the plant sounds like when I move it.” It was a grounding technique Randy had taught her, to engage the physical senses to allow the mind to focus rather than panic. It also had the added benefit of giving a reason why she and Kajhel walked away.

Kajhel

“It smells like the sweat from a Vul… uhhh, a man from a country where logic is religion.... very subtle, but sweeter, with hints of blue ale – not the blue ale that is fresh, but the one that has gone somewhat stale, if you know what I mean?” Had he just outed himself as a conoisseur of the illegal substance known as Romulan ale…? But that was the least of his problems.... For what is worth, he might have visited some neutral planet and enjoyed it there? He was sure that Rand would think nothing less of him.

All in all, he was extremely happy that Rand had helped him. He followed an instinct, and decided to put his arms around Rand, and rested his head against the warmth of her body. He had not asked for consent, nor felt anything that would indicate consent but not non-consent either, he simply hoped it would be okay. There was nothing romantic nor sexual about it, he just wanted to feel the comfort in this terrible situation.

He just wanted to go home. How long did they have to stay here?

While the other’s started ahead, Kovan lingered back a moment to make sure Rand would be alright. That’s when he glanced over and caught Kajhel wrapping himself around Rand like an unwanted wet blanket. He saw Rand’s discomfort, the way she tensed and the panicked look in her eye. Cold rage swept over him. Kovan saw red. He was on Kajhel in a second, physically lifting the security officer by the collar and yanking him off Rand.

“I don’t know what putrid swamp you slunk out of that made you think it’s okay to latch onto someone like an oversized blue leech -but I’m telling you now you better start pulling yourself together. You are a Starfleet officer and you better start acting like one or I will make you get your act together. Do you understand?” Kovan was furious, barely resisting the urge to throw a punch just for good measure, but that would have been too far. Still. He was angry. Angry that Kajhel would take advantage of the one person who cared enough to help him through his pity party.

Ensign ch’Sirhc
ooc: posted with Kelpie’s permission. Kovan’s behavior is in character for him, but is not a reflection of OOC feelings or behaviors.

It did not take empathy for Roman to know that Kajhel was deeply remorseful. That he’d recognized he’d made a giant mistake. And that was all that mattered to Roman, that it wouldn’t happen again. When he excused himself from the party, Roman could tell it was not going to happen again. The emotions that Kajhel could sense from Roman shifted greatly, from shocked disbelief to sympathy and understanding. And respect, for simply owning up and saying it won’t happen again instead of trying to excuse and explain. He was still worried and stressed for the team, watching the two children intently for their reaction to what must have seemed like an absolutely bizarre conversation.

Roman was still… Unsure of Kajhel’s telepathy, it weirded him out for lack of a better phrase. But despite pushing Roman to allow him to use it, Kajhel had not mentioned it the entire mission. Roman wasn’t sure he preferred it that way or if he’d rather the extra information. He let go of the girls, figuring they’d be more likely to want to help if he wasn’t holding their arms like they were prisoners or something.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Kovan moved beside Roman, figuring the two of them could cover the rear of their group while the others walked up front with the two girls. “Sounds like there’s a black market in this town and those markets don’t spring up just because they’re in fashion.” It was deeply fascinating to Kovan, who spent a good chunk of his life among traders and merchants. “The docks would be an ideal spot for gathering information. Local workers who know the area well and travelers from all over moving through. And this Marzo character might be inclined to give us insights into the local culture that could help us going forward.”

The second still unnamed girl turned to a nearby alley in a defensive stance, Catherine a second later did the same. “..Wait something or someone is coming!” the second said just as a crash was heard.

As the group walks, a crash was heard from a back alley, and from it emerged Alwyn, falling down along with some broken crates. The group could hear the doctor mumbling about some merchant while he stood up, putting back his cloak before he noticed his comrades and took a better composure.

“Oh, there you are ! Sorry I, um… I lost track of you when you ran after those girls, and a lot of things happened…” He then realized the group was led by the said thieves and added : “Were you taking them to the authorities ?”

Doctor Alwyn Yarwood - Ensign

Both girls looked at each other as if quietly exchanging some kind of question and answer. Both then made to brush their hair back behind their hoods, and the second then scratched her left arm casually before returning their attention to the group.

“Not at all,” Roman said to Yarwood, shaking his head. “Hopefully, they are introducing someone to us who can help us with our… problem.” By problem, he of course meant their mission, the search for the warp trail. The fisherman the girls were supposed to be introducing them to had seen lights in the sky that sounded an awful lot like a warp bubble.

”..If we are finished with you stumbling blind outlanders, can we keep moving please?” Catherine asked.

Once they got going the group trudged through the nearby market area. It was quite bustling different wares being called out from fruits, vegetables, ropes, and other general goods, there were even two stalls which had a bored looking old woman and an equally bored looking old man occasionally calling out about offering information, knowledge, or rumors for the right price.

Kovan watched the market bustle with longing. The sounds of a lively market was not something he thought he would keenly, deeply miss. There was something thrilling and exciting about markets, the lifeblood of cities. He wanted to loose himself in the crowd, to see every strange and exotic ware, to find something he wanted to have and bargain for it. It hurt to keep his focus on their team and the two girls. A hurt not too unlike the withdraws he’d experienced from drugs or alcohol.

The second girl as they passed those two rolled her eyes, “..Pish half the time those two when they give out information on ‘rumors’ just make stuff up, no way to verify it till you get there and then when you get back here they are so entangled as ‘friends’ with the local militia they overlook it. Bunch of con artists if you ask me, but they do still give out enough good reliable information to folks and the militia especially that they get away with the bad stuff for idiots..” she said, again brushing her right ear as she spoke. The first girl chuckled nodding a bit and rubbed her nose, but said nothing else.

Rand wondered if it would be worth talking to the two people the girls pointed out. Most certainly it would be a gamble if the information was useful or not and they would be far over charged for the potential lies. What got Rand’s attention though was the subtle hand signals. After studying Tradealogue with Kovan, and her theatre training, Rand was aware of the significance of body language and signaling. She moved getting Kovan’s attention and raised a brow with a slight tilt of her head towards the two girls. Had he noticed or was she making more of it than it was? She didn’t think so, but Kovan was their language expert.

Kovan caught Rand’s look. He had noticed. Could be a simplified sign language, something the girls made on their own or from observing adults. Silent communication would be a critical skill for a pair of pickpockets and these girls have proven to be cunning and motivated to survive. He returned Rand’s look with a slight nod of his own head and would keep a closer look on the two girls body language going forward.

Passing the market the group took a side path which lead into a residential area, this seemed a district for the middle class folks, as well as businesses not suited for the market or elsewhere. It was evident here that the district was more ‘homely’ in scope. But they had hardly any time to take it in then they were through it and into the docks.

Entering this area the wafting smell of fish, and unwashed bodies hit them like a punch to the gut. The girls though seemed unphased by it. Mixed in with the stench was also a few nice smelling scents that were likely of someone running a stall or the like grilling, smoking, or such with fish and bread. Ahead passing through another gate the guarded by a pair of bored militiamen in leather armor and armed with spears, they emerged from the city unto the lakeside docks themselves. Along the dock 12 piers were set up all host to a variety of sized fishing vessels. All 12 were occupied at the moment, all showing them empty of their crews, or only having a few idle hands moping about the decks. Pointing to the 11th ship in the line and the largest of the 12 the second girl spoke, “..Down there is Marzo’s ship. Can we go now?” she asked.

OOC: Bump!

GM CockRoach

Rand waited to see what Alden would do. Personally she didn’t think the girls should be paid until they actually introduced them. For all they knew the girls were lying about something or everything or nothing.

Yeoman Rand

Kovan would rather they confirm Marzo’s identity before letting them go. He almost said as much before catching himself. He discretely looked around, attempting to gauge what kind of reaction their group may be getting and see if anyone was paying too close attention to them.

Ensign ch’Sirhc COMMO/ENGR

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)

Roman did not want to let them go until they introduced them to Marzo, either. They could lie, or perhaps they were telling the truth, but perhaps Marzo wouldn’t believe that the girls sent them unless the girls were there to confirm it. He looked quite uncomfortable dealing with kids though, he hoped it would go quickly. “Erm, no, not yet. Can’t you introduce us before you take off?”

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO