Posted by Lieutenant Dagen Thor (CE) in Holodeck Ski Trek Dagen and Reia

Posted by Ensign Reia Shandy (CIO) in Holodeck Ski Trek Dagen and Reia

Posted by Lieutenant Dagen Thor (CE) in Holodeck Ski Trek Dagen and Reia
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>

Reia’s laughter followed Dagen as she made her way after him.

“Yes, I’ll bet you went hungry quite a bit. And I would be happy to pick you up where ever you like.”

“Only till supper,” Dagen replied. “Someone of the bunch would have had some luck. Usually granddad. I swear he was some fish whisperer.” At that point he launched himself off and down the slope, not the least half of his thinking being that she may have to pick him up.

Reia had been concentrating on Dagen a bit too much and had to slow down a bit to regain her balance before continuing at a reputable pace.

• Reia

The trouble with cross country was that they were not downhill and the trouble with this slope was that it was not wide enough to do much finessing. Dagen poled himself along and tucked in as his speed increased. Yes it was nothing like downhill where the wind would be whipping along his face with that cold burn that he loved. However it was also not quite in his thoughts on just how he was going to fully stop at the bottom. For the moment he was going to enjoy this and trust in holodeck safeties. Or at least his rusty skills. Nearing the base he plied his skills to slow himself, however soon after he realized that that was a little too late on the execution of that. As the pathway turned and leveled out there was a broader patch of ground to maneuver. It was there that as Dagen quickly approached it that he executed a pretty decent parallel turn and dug in. With a spray of snow Dagen came to a quick stop. He felt a bare moment of pride in that until he realized he was too far erect and that his upper body was still moving and he went down in the bank at the bottom half buried in the snow.

Reia would find him splayed out spread eagle laughing with a face full of snow.
Dagen

Reia was following Dagen’s tracks, her pace was respectable but a bit slower than she would have liked. Perhaps they would come to some flatter terrain and she would do better.

Coming to the bottom she expected to see Dagen in the distance or, perhaps, waiting for her. Certainly not half buried in a snow bank.

Slowly she came to a stop unable to contain her laughter. She doubled over in a fit. After what seemed like an eternity, she straightened back up, raised her goggles, and attempted to wipe her eyes.

“Need some help good sir?” she asked beginning to laugh again.

• Reia

Eventually the laughter faded and a gloved hand appeared from the white powder. “For me? Yes please,” he replied. “I’m afraid my dignity, however, may be beyond help.” Dagen shifted to try to gain some semblance of leverage but failed as his head was low and on a slope. He finished his statement by spitting out some snow from his lips.

Even when Reia pulled it would be a hard pull .. in fact she might risk Dagen pulling her down too .. though you know, it would be a debatable thing whether that was on purpose or not, one that Dagen to the end of his days would not say whether it was or was not intentional ..
Dagen

Reia stuck her poles in the snow and made her way towards him. Kneeling down, she cradled his head in her arms and attempted to assist him in sitting up. Leaning in, she couldn’t help but kiss his cheek and lips and laugh some more.

Dagen had a mixed vision as Reia worked to prop him up. He remembered a quote from Lin, Thor’s previous host, who said ‘there is no dignified way of standing up in a dress’. By his thinking this was pretty close to that. The Trill pleasantly ‘suffered’ through her attempts to prop him up. It was not an impossibility but simply awkward. While her kiss was pleasant he felt a secondary consequence of his fall .. melting snow slipping down the back of his neck causing him to shudder as Reia kissed him. He hoped it was a good shudder.

“You are quite a sight. And here I thought I was going to be the one to fall. But the day is young.” she said wile attempting to prop him up.

• Reia

“Well, nothing like a chivalrous fella to take the lead in such a thing,” Dagen said as he wrestled himself to a sitting position with her help. “There are times when one simply forgets that one isn’t 18 anymore,” he continued with an exaggerated dramatic effect, his smile and humor not fading. Indeed he’d have negotiated that corner with no issue back in his prime - that being his skiing prime. A gloved hand reached back to brush away what snow remained at his collar that had not slipped down inside his suit. As much as skiing was a sport that was best played standing up, falling was a part of the event. His biggest beef was with himself in his relative skills being rusty even with having done biathlon training to get his game back up and his weight down. Apparently he had done better on the latter than on the former.

As he came up to his knees and brushed off more snow he said, “At least this was an impressive fall. I mean a good 9.2 fall.” Being in a depression brought him up even with Reia’s face. Her rosy cheeks and smile was simply irresistible. “A kiss for my rescuer, who bears brandy as well. Left alone I’d be waiting for a rescue by a portly St Bernard who may or may not have a keg of brandy around his neck. I much favor you as my rescuer.” He paused to admire her before planting a quick hard kiss on her lips. A gentle flutter of breeze that stirred up the snow passed them. The front was coming up but still a ways away. They’d have plenty of time to reach the cabin provided he didn’t do too many more of these nose dives into snowbanks.
- Dagen

Reia put an arm around Dagen to steady herself lest she fall as well. Smiling she kissed him back before laughing again.

With some effort that became easier once Dagen wasn’t totally off angle they managed to right themselves. Contact in ski suits while negotiating ski poles and an awkward positioned ski made for a playful moment. Dagen, however, thought this would be better suited for a water skiing venture. “My lady, my rescuer,” he said with a flourish as they at last made it back to two feet again. “My kingdom is yours for your heroism in rescuing this poor, ah, uncoordinated fellow.”

“No St. Bernards for me thank you. I don’t know why, but I’ve always thought them clumsy and drooly. And as for being 18 again? Oh my what a year that was. Maybe I’ll tell you more about it at the cabin.” she said teasingly.

• Reia

“One of my teachers in my early grades had one as a pet and brought it in with her one day. The drool was not so dangerous to a pack of 9 year olds as much as scattering its drinking water about with every slurp it took from its bucket.” He laughed at the memory of them scattering as the beast came near them dripping generously. “18 was not so good a year for me, but you intrigue me.” He hooked his boots back into the skis. “Kiss for good luck,” he said, leaning over toward her. “Falls are like chips. Once you have one more follow.” At least that was a common expression when he did it competitively. It didn’t always pan out that way but once the first was done people relaxed more. Dagen was feeling quite relaxed at the moment.
- Dagen

Reia could picture a 9 year old Dagen and a large drooly K9, the thought made her laugh.

“I think the beast outweighed us all.” His mind searched back to the different reactions. Some of the girls fleeing before it with a squeal while a couple of the boys and a bold girl tried to leap on it. He shook his head, humored and fitted his goggles back into place after being just a little askew.

“Yes, I suppose for a class of 9 year olds it would be quite fitting. Oh, and I don’t think it’s your kingdom I want good sir.” she said leaning forward to give him his kiss for good luck before waving him on to continue the lead.

• Reia

Dagen winked after her kiss. “Well the kingdom could get thrown in as a package deal,” he said playfully, eyes sparkling. With a last admiring glance at Reia Dagen pushed off again. This time the grade was not bad and the trail banked now through a wooded region. Pine like growths mixed with bare trees that in turn contrasted with the white snow that they glided on. Here they were more sheltered by the wind and only the moaning of the wind in the upper treetops spoke of ‘nature’ beyond them. “This is an amazing trail to walk in the summer,” he called back. Indeed it looked like the world was on hold here. Frozen. The only life looked to be them at this time as Dagen couldn’t even see birds about; scurrying animals would likely be hibernating. It was like they were the only life there. As they came to the top of a rise, the mountainside fell away in a gentle forested slope then rose again. On the side of the rise Dagen pointed out a dark rectangular shape. “That’s the cabin.”

He felt a rise of anticipation in seeing it. As Reia came up he slipped an arm around her waist and just took in the gorgeous mountain vista before them. It was mostly downhill from where they were though the latter would see a rise. They’d be puffing a little by the time they got there.
- Dagen

Reia took in the scenery as she followed Dagen, she could imagine the beauty of the place in summer. Slipping up beside him, she stood silently for a few seconds.

There was something both comforting and natural about standing side by side with Reia. It was hard for him to place; as he admired the scenery he was very aware of her presence. He could stand here and enjoy this view by himself, though seeing it now with her has changed him. It was beautiful. But he desired more and more to share his experiences with her. Already he was seeing the view through her eyes and what she might be seeing.

“I think I would love to walk this trail with you in the summer, see how different it looks, so full of other kinds of life.” she said studying the scenery again.

• Reia

“Shore leave,” he said at once. There was no hesitation. It had been a while since he had been here. Home yes. But not here. He stamped a pole into the snow and reached out for her hand. “It is lovely. Home.” That would mean staying at home as well and visiting his parents. Unconsciously he smiled and turned to look at Reia. “The smells are amazing of this nature.” So could be the rain and vagaries of nature. A hundred things came to his mind, possibilities, thoughts, hopes and no small excitement.
Dagen

Reia took Dagen’s hand and smiled.

“Shore leave… Um… Yes. Whenever wherever sounds like fun.”

Reia thought of Earth, Australia, and her grandparents. Depending on how far in the future that took place it could be a delight or a disaster. Either way, standing in the snow laden holodeck, Reia felt very confident in that moment. She enjoyed being with Dagen, in his world, and would probably go wherever he suggested but, in truth, she was already making plans of her own. Places she had always wanted to go but had never found the right person to go with, until now.

• Reia