Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - Somewhere

Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun Edman (Future Citizen) in Earth - Somewhere

Posted by Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Earth - Somewhere

(snip)

“Aye… that’s part. Ya see… Michael’s parents… well, his da was the eldest son of Lady Tara, Chief of Clan McKenzie and my grandmother. But he was… well, I’ll never lie ta ya. He was a right bas^%$d and a terrible blight on creation. His ma, bless her… wonderful woman but not a speck of self respect in ‘er whole body.” He kept rubbing and working out the knots slowly encouraging her body to relax. He took a deep breath and there was pain in his voice when he spoke. “Michael’s da… I’ll nae speak his name again… he was a drunk. An abuser. A vile bag of filth. That’s why my Gran sent him to North America. He had got a reputation here… and it didn’t reflect well on us McKenzies, I can tell ya that. So she set him up with a business and off he went. Met Michael’s mom soon after. He was a good businessman, but still a piece of s%$t. He’d beat Michael and his ma, and leave ‘em bloody. Didn’t care… just did it. Dinnae even need a reason. Just to do it. Well… one day, ‘ol Michael he’s had enough, ye see… His da comes at him, drunk and mean and loud…” and Seamus’ voice cracked and tears welled up in his eyes. He moved his hands on Ragna so she wouldn’t see and continue. “And Michael… twelve year old Michael… lays the c^%t out on the ground. Knocks him cold and bloody. But he doesn’t wail on ‘em, no. He’s too good for dat. He looks at his ma and tells her to run, they can get away… and his ma just tends to that bag layin’ on da ground. She picked him over her boy… her son.” Tears flowed proper by that point, and the heartache Seamus felt for his cousin was more than apparent.

Her own Da and Uncle would never allow such a thing to go on. They’d found out about a similar situation happening with their own clan, years ago, when she was just little. She remembered though that he had sat Revna and Runa down and explained to them what was going on, how it had happened, and what he and Uncle were going to do about it. She remembered sitting out of the way, listening to her Da explain it to them, in detail. That when they were older it would be their job, Revna and Runa’s, to protect the clan, even from itself. The thought wasn’t a recrimination against Tara at all, just a perspective on events.

“So Micheal, he bolts. His da?… His da beats his mother to death and then kills himself to escape bein’ punished, f&^%ing coward.” He sniffed and paused in his administration’s to compose himself. He resumed and there was a calm in his voice but and edge slowly built as he spoke. “Now my Gran, she was booked to fly right over and scoop that boy up and bring him home. But her second oldest… Willam…” and he growled in his chest at the name, “… Willam threw a right fit. See, he had decided, even though the law didn’t agree, that with his older brother outta da way, he was now next in line. Had a team of solicitors and heralic experts at the shuttle port waiting for my Gran… and they were clear. If she brought Michael back, they’d drag the clan so far down that we’d never recover. So Lady Tara had a choice, and had to make it right then: Either save the clan and try to have something for Michael to take on and lead proper-like… or watch her kids destroy in ina fit of greed and jealousy. We have near seven thousand McKenzies in the clan… Ragna… and more than a few rely on us just to survive. So, she sacrificed the one for the many. And it broke her. Took her months to get back on her feet. But when she did? She made every effort she could to help him without setting off a Clan civil war. And now that Michael is old enough… and she thinks ready enough… she wants him to take over as Chief. But Michael, gods bless ‘em, he doesn’t want it. ‘Too much responsibility.’ he says. ‘Nobody wants me in that role!’ he says… well I bloody well do. And so does Lady Tara. And so do most of the clan. But my cousins… well… they take after their parents. And thank the Gods most of them were taken by the bloody war!”

She reached across herself to his hand working the knot out of her shoulder and squeezed, not even really aware that she did it, just that he wasn’t alone. But amidst her own shocking and terrifying revelations that she would not put voice to, another much more pressing thought needed addressing…

Without thinking, he leaned in and kissed her bare shoulder at the base of her neck. Just a peck, as if he had always done that and there wasn’t a second thought. “There… any better… Ragna?” he asked, totally unaware of what he had just done.

Seamus McKenzie, Stalwart Defender of the Rightful Chief

Heat and peace and rightness came with such a simple touch, and at the same time it was like a bolt of lightening going through her core. Better and worse all at the same time. She jerked and a flush, that he couldn’t miss, spread from her shoulder, up her neck, and to her face. And he said her name....like that…again. But the ache in her head was better. “Yes, thank you.”

There was a nervous catch to her voice that made her irritated with herself. “Umm…Seamus…does the clan have an archive?” A stead breath, another, and another. She moved away, and she ignored the fact it made her feel cold to do it. “So at the risk of that hot-headed, thick skull of yours taking this the wrong way…Willam can’t be chief. Setting aside Mike’s claim at the moment.” She picked up the etching, “When an heir isn’t found, the lineage is traced back to find the next legitimate line. In this case, it’s here.” She pointed at the crest. “Faolan McKenzie was widower and had heirs, leading all the way to your grandmother and Mike. But he remarried. Amalie Edman was also a widow, and had heirs. The two never had children of their own, but they took their clans as their own, claiming any future progenitor as their own. Amalie’s heir…is Revna. Your grandmother can take this and shove it so far up Willam’s backside it will forever etch it on his dark soul. But I need to find the corresponding documents in the McKenzie archives. Then it won’t matter what he says. Your grandmother can bring Mike here and scream it from the top of the highest moor if she wants, and Willam can’t do a thing about it.”
Ragna Edman, Harold with the answers, even ones you may not want

Seamus shook his head. “You’re nae listening lass… Willam is ded. Killed in the war, along with most of his siblings. But that sense of entitlement he had he passed on to all of my generation ‘cept me an ma sister. But here’s the biggest issue you are missin’, my love…” he said, again unaware of his own words, “… the cousins? They dunnae care about heirs and lineages and inheritances and genealogies. They… and swear to me right here and now you’ll nae say a word of dis to anyone, love… they’ve made it clear they will knowingly and intentionally bankrupt us by dragging us through the courts for decades to keep Michael from Chief. Because they know Michael won’t tolerate their s^%t for a second. And knowing that… and them knowing the MacDonald’s are just waiting fer us ta be vulnerable… they’ve already struck a deal with ‘em. They bankrupt us by dragging this out for as long as they need to… then they sell our land to the MacDonalds in exchange for title and standing with them. B^%$#rds would sell their name for a pittance… dunnae be deserving of the McKenzie name.”

Seamus McKenzie, Caught Between A Rock and A Vision

She began to rub her temples again…gods the man was hard headed. “hardhodet som væren hans, hører ikke, kan bare se det på en måte … (hard headed like his ram, doesn’t listen, can only see it one way…)” She breathed, her head was throbbing. “You’re daft. But yes yes I won’t tell. Okay let me spell this out for you and MAYBE you’ll understand. It’s all about legalities, doesn’t matter if they care for them or not. You said, and yes I know Willam is dead, but I don’t know nor care to know the names of his children, had solicitors and heralic experts to block your grandmother - legalities. What do you think I am? There is enough heraldic evidence here to stop them. Your grandmother could take these papers to the bank, to the estate lawyers, to the Lord High Marshal himself. Showing the lineage, and your cousins would legally be taken OFF the books and have NO ACCESS to the family money, estates, archives, properties, nothing. They won’t be able to sell it. Revna wouldn’t want to do it, but she would, for Mike’s family because they are hers now.” She paused thinking, “Actually it would be my Da, and he would do this to help Lady Tara and Mike. But he doesn’t know, Revna doesn’t know. No one knows but me and you…Seamus. Don’t you get it. If they drag McKenzie into the courts, Lady Tara has the FULL backing of clan Edman. Even without all that with Mike’s rightful claim and Revna’s to clan Edman, legally they can try, but they’ll not win. As for the MacDonalds they don’t have enough back bone to face both of us. At least give the information to your grandmother and let her decide what do with it.” She turned then and glared at him, “AND STOP CALLING ME LOVE!”

Ragna Edman, ‘Legal subtleties and Stomach Butterflies’

He looked at her and his face went hard. “And you are nae listening and being at least as daft as me, then! I’m telling you they dunnae care if they win! It’s not about winning… LOVE! It’s about attrition! YES, we can take ALL a tha to the Lord High Marshall. YES he’ll side with us. YES we can take it to tha courts. YES they’ll side with us too! But those little c&^%s will just keep on suing… over and over and over and over and over and over until we WIN OURSELVES INTO BLOODY OBLIVION!!! THAT’S the fight we can’t take on. THAT’S the reason Tara is shattered every. single. day. THAT’S the reason we are stuck and don’t know what our next step is! AND I’LL BLOODY WELL CALL YOU LOVE BECAUSE YOU KNOW ITS TRUE!” and he leaned in and kissed her, hard… but with so much emotion it almost blacked him out. He immediately broke it and stood up and said “SO THERE… AND I’M GONNA MARRY YA TOO, YA DAFT VIKING, BECAUSE YOU ASKED ME TO AN I SAID YES!”

Seamus McKenzie, So Much For Casual Dating

The anger was making her head pound, like the thunder rolling across an ocean with nothing to stop it. Then he kissed her and the worlds spun, there was a bowing and snap of reality, as the worlds righted themselves again. A shocked rush of air leaving lungs and her migraine gone, as if it had never been. She stood up, watching him, assessing him, she moved, bag and items in hand, and with quick deft movements threw the blanket over the line. “Bloody hard headed! If they don’t have the funds they can’t pay to fight in the courts, but forgetting that, McKenzie won’t fight ALONE, but you’re just so SURE that no one but you can find an answer you won’t even consider there might BE an answer you haven’t thought of. You aren’t dealing with JUST Scottish law anymore!” Tartan skirt off, but she couldn’t bring herself to throw his color to the floor. She folded it carefully, fingers trailing over the weave, while they argued, and set it carefully on the bed. Stockings and shoes on, his blue shirt, that tossed to the floor, underdress, apron dress, brooches, and she snatched up the sword and slung it across her back. “You won’t even GIVE it to her will you? This was just another way to ignore me, and brush me off!” She tossed the blanket on the bed, snatched up all the papers shoved them in her bag, spinning to glare at him, ice blue fire spiting at him. “YOU CAN SAY IT BUT IT DOESNNA MAKE IT TRUE. I DID NO SUCH THING AND YOU CAN FORGET THAT. I AM NOT MARRYING YOU!” She spun, flung open the door and disappeared into the storm.
Ragna Edman, I might be daft but not as much as him

Seamus was mad. Why wouldn’t she listen? Why did she have to be so damn stubborn? Why did she- And a clap of thunder shook the house and he looked at the door.

“Daft wench! Gonnae git herself kilt’d out in this!” And he threw open the door and followed her out into the raw elements.

With every step the wind raged and the lighting and thunder crashed. Rain came down in sheets and in seconds he was drenched to the skin. He could just make her form, white-blonde hair whipping around her in the storm. “Ragna! Ragna wait! Are ya that daft, woman? We’re gonnae die out here for your pride? Is that it? And it’ll be the both of us… ‘cause like it or not you and I are together an I ain’t leaving! You said so yourself! If not by word, then by deed, dammit!” The last sentence was spat out as they crested a large hill. Behind them, the rolling hills of the Highlands. In front of them; and long slope leading down to a rocky beach some three hundred yards away. Caught between land and sea and surrounded by wind, rain, lightning and thunder; he finally caught up to her.

The wind and thunder carried her screamed denial away, flung it hard into the ocean as so much floatsom, to sink into the depths and freeze there on the sea floor, whither and die. The lie in her denial having no life to keep it afloat. She did NOT! Not by word or deed…did she? She sent a prayer winging away with the storm, for clarity and calm. She looked out at the sea, white blonde hair and skirts whipping like they were part of the storm. The sea always called to her, but not today, today there would be no solace or escape that way.

“Come back… Ragna!” he yelled over the storm. “This is a waste! And you know what I said was true! Every word! If it wasn’t, call me a liar!”

Seamus McKenzie, Storm or No Storm

“You’re right it was a waste! You were never going to hear me out, never let me try to help Revna and Mike. You don’t see me! You don’t even see my title! You’re trying to confuse me! I did NOT ask you to marry me! I’m not marrying anyone!” She had her sword it was strapped to her back. She wasn’t giving it to anyone. She reached in the bag intending to use her comm to call her Da for a ride, instead her fingers wrapped around a smooth stone. Her eyes never left his. She pulled it out and glanced at it, a rune stone: Inguz. She chucked it at him. Frustration, disbelief, uncertainty all warred within her. Not the answer she’d prayed for. She roared it all to raging heavens and then out of seemingly nowhere, faithful Angus head butted her right into Seamus’ arms.
Ragna Edman, I Am The Storm!