Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Reia Shandy (C Intelligence -Comm Officer) in Australia Day - Dagen and Reia (open rp)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Dagen Thor (CE) in Australia Day - Dagen and Reia (open rp)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Reia Shandy (C Intelligence -Comm Officer) in Australia Day - Dagen and Reia (open rp)
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
After arriving in Australia the week before Australia Day itself was filled with activity. John and Dagen seem to take quite a liking to one another and the girls didn’t need to worry about being subjected to shop talk. John often found ways to take Dagen off for short little boys trips he called them. He showed his Trill grandson in law around town quite proudly. He often talked with him over leisurely lunches about restoring the Sydney Opera House to its former glory and even showed him several models and many plans of the old opera house. They were interesting conversations about the history of the town they lived in and deeper conversations as well. At one time John became very serious with Dagen.

While Dagen’s forte was more engines and ship design he admitted he was fascinated with the talk about the Opera House and its design elements. The models were fun and reminded him of being a kid again working with models. Though then it was more vehicles and the like rather than houses. The one thing that he found that gramps liked more than talking of his architecture was eating. And boy did Dagen eat. And get shown off to equally aged folk about the town where they apparently got together and ‘solved the world’s problems’ over a pint or more. It was in that time that he tended to wax poetic and his tales grew a little more ribald or legendary, but he seemed well liked among his peers. But it was when he grew pensive that he paid more attention.

“You know, we haven’t seen our Rainbow that happy since she graduated Starfleet. I would really hate to see her sad again so I hope that you take very good care of her. Her childhood was a little complicated but I don’t know how much she’s told you about that really. I’m so glad that she’s found someone like you to take care of her. Don’t let her fool you, she may be very sweet on the surface but I’m sure you found that sassy side. She’s like her grandmother in that way, don’t let her fool you, don’t let either one of them fool you, women.”

Dagen listened. It was not a talk that was different that he had not heard from his parents and certainly his mother’s sister who had quite an earful to say about women. While Dagen was polite in hearing he did have a bit of a proud streak in that he ‘had’ in essence had 3 other lifetimes under his belt with both good and bad examples of relating to women not to mention being one. But that said when it came to Reia and figuring her out more, Dagen was more all ears than at other times. Of course, when his aunt was going into things that she was sure Reia would like in more intimate times he found himself blushing and making an escape. He nodded about the sassy and that Reia had a caring and quite intuitive nature that was uncanny and unnerving. “I intend to take care of her,” he said, “and more.” He chuckled then asked, “Why is it that women, just when you think you get an idea about them, hit some kind of psychic scrambler switch and it’s like hitting reset but to a different baseline?”

He knew the ladies were out shopping for this Australia Day. He had overheard them talk about a beach cookout which sounded like fun. A bonfire or ten happening. Some music concert thing happening not far away from the destination so they’d be able to still hear the music and activity without the fuss of the crowd there. Add to that fireworks and eating well and such and Dagen was in. The idea about a casual stroll down an open air mall with shops and food and souvenirs and the likes was a good atmosphere to lead into the beach. It was a little odd hearing the different generations talking about swim suits and with the sparkle in Reia’s eyes it sounded more like mischief making to him. “Have we got a plan for this holiday coming up or is that all in the ladies’ purview?

“Well, the plan is to get up in the morning and have a bit of breakfast. Then we pack up the beast and head down around mid-morning. Everything kicks off around then. So, we’ll just set up and go from there. It’s a little different since when Ray was home so this will be a little new for her too.” said Gramps.

With that, Gramps got up and prepared to get them both home.

Dagen smiled at the way gramps avoided his question; evidently such answers were universally a mystery, something that Lin was want to say was as it should be. Mid morning, check. That made for a casual morning especially for him who was wont to sleep in. Schedules were for ships and being on shift. Holidays were to cast those aside with as much vigor as he showed for his work. In his family growing up the ‘early to bed early to rise’ was a cardinal sin when on holidays or days off. And in that Dagen was certainly not a sinner.

“How different?” he asked, fishing to know a little more of this event and what to expect. He had the jist of it from reading and listening but knowing what gramps stressed in his description would be telling of what he was most interested in seeing and doing. Idly he did wonder how many of the locals had their own ‘beast’ and custom tech that self-identified them, much like the collection of ‘hot rods’ that pre WWIII Earth used to have amongst their youth. By his observation ‘gramps and gran’ was more of a era that never really outgrew that.

Reia and Becca were able to spend a lot of time together that they hadn’t been able to do in quite some time. The two women had a tumultuous relationship the closer Reia got to becoming a young woman so this was very good for both of them. They went through Reia’s old room that she and Dagen were currently sleeping in. Luckily for both of them, John and Becca had gotten a brand new bed for the room which was much improved from her childhood bed. They had found some old pictures of Sandy and even Reya’s mother. Usually Becca and Reia would shy away from pictures of Reia’s mother Catherine but, this time they actually took them out and looked at them for a little while. Those were the quiet times between the two women. There were also glorious fun times with many visits to the Bluestone because who couldn’t resist a grande nutcracker? Just when Reia thought she had her grandmother Becca Shandy figured out, they went shopping. Becca was usually quite a conservative woman but this year’s swimsuits for Australia Day were not conservative at all and neither was Becca. She had Reia trying on everything from itty bitty bikinis to things that were even more scandalous, if one could imagine that. Finally they settled on several different skimpy outfits that would definitely meet with Dagen’s approval.

“Oh wow, I don’t know which one of these I like better. Well, I know Dagen will like all of them but what will Gramps say?” said Reia.

“Gramps will probably say you’re a married woman and please buy a sarong. So, let’s hit this rack over here.” Becca said moving to the last rack in the shop.

• Reia

Dagen

Over the next evening a glorious dinner was had and preparations were made for the next day. Reia and Dagen and actually slept in Reia’s old bedroom, with a much bigger bed. It always seemed a little weird to read to come back home but this time actually seemed so much more lovely than the others.

• Reia

To Dagen the use of Reia’s old room was a bit of an adventure. Something to see .. what was on the walls, or hints of what used to be there. What old things was still there to get a glimpse of young Reia. What did she do with this large bed? Dagen thought he could lose her in its size compared to the more compact version on the ship. He found he kind of preferred the smaller bed with more opportunities to bump into Reia in the night. To Dagen, Reia felt almost reticent in their occupying it. Was she nervous about her growing up days and her room with suddenly having Dagen there too and what her grandparents thought was ‘going on’ now? Which, given the extra real estate of the bed Dagen did take advantage of.

“What has changed since you left?” he asked quietly in the morning, laying close to Reia. The sun was up and faintly streaming through the curtains of the room making a soft midland light in the room. Outside the buzzing of insects was a soft drone at the bushes and blossoms under the window. He was not ready to get up yet but knew that morning was getting on. Soon they’d have to move.
Dagen

“Well, as I’m sure you’ve noticed the bed is bigger. My sweet little princess bed would not have fit the two of us trust me. As far as gram and gramps, they are much more lively than last time I remember seeing them. I’ve done a snoop into their medicine cabinet and I cannot find any new vitamins, yes they are still that old-fashioned in some ways. I’ve had a look at their replicator records and I don’t know what they’re taking or doing but it seems to be working. The town is the town but just a little faster. The house is mostly the same. I’m sure it’s been redecorated a few times the color scheme is different and all that. You’re here and that’s different and I love it. Other than that, it’s just lots of Polish but a lovely patina.” said Reia.

Reia was already sitting on the edge of the bed slipping into one of the several swimsuits she had bought for the day. She had been a good wife and bought Dagen several things to wear that day, not knowing exactly what he would like but, knowing him, there was a pile waiting for him to try on. Standing, she turned several times and glanced herself in a full length mirror that was on the back of the door. It had been there since she was 12.

Dagen saw the pile and already had noted the top and shorts he was likely going to wear. Size was not important; Reia had that covered easily. He just dallied and took in her choice of swimsuit and, more importantly, her slipping into it. He shifted and wondered if that ‘princess bed’ would have held them. As for energy on the grandparents side, well, he would be called blessed if he had half their energy at their age. With some regret he tore his gaze from Reia to the mirror, but then could see her reflection in it so that was still good. He did, however, refrain from his urge to say, “I can fix that!” regarding the crack in the mirror. Some things needed to stay where they were.

“One thing that hasn’t changed is this mirror. There’s a chip in the upper left hand corner that I made when I was about 16. I had come back from academy on a weekend visit, we had gotten into an awful fight and I had thrown something and it cracked the mirror. Anyway, they never fixed it and I’m glad. It lets me know I was here. Meet you downstairs love we need to get the beast loaded.”

• Reia

With a start he realized she was heading out the door and he let out a sigh before standing and finding what to wear. The shorts were easy; a colorful, almost spotted type of boxer like light shorts. The top was .. different .. it was who knew what style that was called but it gave him lots of room in it even if it was orange. What he wasn’t sure of was the way it showed off his hairy form and just how salt and pepper that was getting too .. with another sigh he slipped on his slipper like loafers and headed down. He was the junior member in many ways and so was happy to help loading the ‘beast’.

And how much there was!! Were they going for a week!? They seemed to be ready for any contingency here including staying for days with the amount of food, tarps, blankets, hats, coolers, fireworks stuffed in a basket, chairs, umbrellas and so on .. could this ‘beast’ take that and them? Well, they would have to see but it was done initially with care and then as more and more came out with .. well, wherever something would fit .. they looked like a set of refugees fleeing to the beach ..
- Dagen