Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - I’ll Make ‘Em An Offer They Can’t Refuse

Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - I’ll Make ‘Em An Offer They Can’t Refuse

Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - I’ll Make ‘Em An Offer They Can’t Refuse
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
“About time!” said lilting Scottish voice. Lady Tara, dressed in a dark crimson dress with a Queen Anne neckline and long sleeves each trimmed in a dark blue, stood looking regal, beautiful, and… happy? The smile on her face lit up the hall and she gestured to a doorway. “Come on, come on. Dinner’ll be served soon! And we have a lot to discuss.”

Lady Tara

Oddvar came up last, closing the door behind him and stopped. There was a soft but obvious intake of breath and Revna turned to look. Oddvar looked strange, she followed his gaze back to Lady Tara, and then she looked at her Uncle again. She tugged at Helka’s arm and nodded back at Oddvar. Helka just grinned and shrugged and moved forward towards Tara.

“Tara!” She hugged the woman warmly, she could get away with the familiarity. Ragna moved back next to Seamus and then once her mother had moved she hugged Tara warmly, relieved she was fine after her sudden departure. Then seemingly remembering where she was Ragna moved out of the way for Mike and Revna. Runa on the other hand walked over to her Uncle, took his arm and whispered, “She looks stunning in our colors doesn’t she?”
The Edmans

Tara stepped forward and hugged Revna. “Welcome home, lass…” she whispered and thennpulled back and smiled. She then stepped to Mike, smiled…

And smacked him across the cheek. Mike, to his credit, seemed to have been expecting it and didn’t flinch.

There was a ripple of…protectiveness that went through the room, but nothing aggressive, but obviously Mike was already well loved, especially by Revna and Runa. But when Mike took it good naturedly no one dwelled on it. Revna however was finding her good natured patience waring with her fiercely strong feelings for Mike as Tara berated him for staying away. It was certainly a new sensation for her.

“By all the ancestors, boy… you stay gone from these walls that long again and I’ll haunt you the rest of your days.” and then she grabbed him and crushed his arms to his side in a massive hug. “Welcome home, Michael.” Mike smiled at Revna and then said “Gran… you’re gonna break somethin’ if you keep that up.” She let go and smiled at him, patting the red cheek. Then she moved to Cuyler and embraced him lightly, then Runa. Last, she came to Oddvar, who stood staring with his mouth hanging open. She looked at him and gave him dazzling smile and said “Mr. Edman, your fly is open.” and turned and winked at Runa and walked back to the lead. “Follow me, everyone. We really must talk…” and she lead them into a large, formal dining room with a large table and seating for everyone. She took her seat at the head of the table and motioned for the others to sit.

Lady Tara

Runa LOVED Tara, they had that same wild sense of humor and lack of embarrassment. She loved it. She poked Oddvar with an elbow and he shook his head, blinked and then caught up with Tara. If no one else was going to escort the vision before him, by Freyr he was. He pulled her chair out for her, he bowed as she sat, his voice low as to be respectful and aware of the others in the room, “Lady McKenzie, I would never appear in such a crass state in your presence. You look absolutely stunning.” Oddvar moved down the table taking a seat so that Helka was between Cuyler and himself. Runa sat down beside him, “Your my date tonight,” and she kissed his cheek as only a niece can. Revna and Ragna (Looking worn and harried) sat next to Mike and Seamus. Revna turned her full attention to Tara. She would talk when she was ready, but it had been a long trip and she and Mike were ready to get this resolved.
The Edmans

“I want to thank you all for coming.” Tara began. “The wine in your cups is for drinking, but I ask you pause for a moment. I will not belabor my reasoning for this any further.” She pressed a button on a small control device next to her on the table and a large painting of some ancient battle that hung over the fireplace behind her slowly slid up to reveal a view screen. On it were hundreds of files… recorded text conversations, comm calls, social media messages… even what looked like surveillance footage taken from personal communications devices. “This was sent to me this morning. By who, I do not know… although I have an idea. Regardless… what we have here is enough to bury the faction that is trying to destroy the McKenzie Clan. Legally, figuratively…” and she glanced at Ragna and smiled a truly caring smile, “… and after the event at Ragna and Seamus’ home, perhaps quite literally. WHomever did this recorded the incident from Argyle’s personal communicator. We have everything needed to put him directly behind bars for a very long time.”

Runa stirred next to Oddvar, her hand coming to rest on his arm and squeezing, she leaned close, whispering to him. “Recorded? They were listening and didn’t call for help? What kind of people are they?” Oddvar pulled her chair closer and slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Later…” Runa looked over at Ragna who had obviously come to the same conclusion, but the only indication was the way she was holding onto Seamus’ hand. Revna was calm studying the information displayed on the screen. It was all laid out very methodically and clearly. The person who did this was scary smart. “My concern is this their motive. The person who gave this to you. Are they attempting to manipulate you, create a trap, or a false sense of security. OR have they had enough and are trying to fix past wrongs? Both scenarios are plausible.”

“If the source of this is who I think it is, then I find the latter scenario most probable.” She looked at Seamus and said simply “The big one.” Seamus looked confused and then his eyes went wide. “Oh, aye?” He looked up at the screen for a moment and nodded. “Aye… he’s the only one ‘a that lot that has the mind for such. And he always was a might… different. Especially compared to his witch of a mother. Yeah… that could get ‘ol Argyle hemmed up for certain.”

Mike spoke up and said “No. Not good enough. He needs to suffer before prison.” He looked at Ragna and said “Just met or not, you’re my sister now. Somebody f@&ks with mine, I make ‘em pay.”

Ragna didn’t say anything but there was a wealth of understanding in her gaze. Runa snorted, “Hey I’m family too. I didn’t see you lifting a finger that night Lainechgn got a little too moved by the music and got too personal.” and she made a face at Mike.

Tara looked at Mike and said “Exactly. In that vein, Michael… and before we move on… I need to know your intentions. What role you choose will decide how we proceed with our plans over the next few days. You now my position… Seamus’ too.” and Seamus nodded. “But the choice, dear boy, is yours. It may not be a fair choice, I concede, but know I will stand by whatever choice you make from here on. And no animosity or regret, lad. Your life is yours… well, Revna’s really, but you get the gist.” There were some chuckles from Seamus and Tara, but they looked at Mike expectantly.

Mike looked at Revna and kissed her cheek and smiled. He then looked at Seamus and said “Just had to bring up that promise from when were kids, huh?” and he smiled at the big man. Mike then looked at Tara and said “You’ve held us together as a clan for decades, Gran. How about you take it easy for a few and we’ll see if I can keep up and running?” Tara’s eyes watered slightly and she said “Michael… you know the rules.” and Mike sighed heavily. He looked around the table and then slowly stood up.

Revna met his gaze and nodded, “Our life is ours, I will walk beside you where ever we go.”

“Lady Tara McKenzie, I will succeed you as Clan Chieftain and Lord of the McKenzie estates when you decide it is right and time for me to do so. So I swear in front of my wife and the heads of her clan and Clan McKenzie.” He lifted his glass and raised it to Tara. “For hearth and home I will stand.”

Mike

Cuyler watched, taking the measure of Mike and the measure of his daughter and her husband. He stood slowly and raised his glass, “For Love and Loyalty I will stand beside you.” Helka met Tara’s gaze as she stood and then looked at Seamus and then Mike with a grin on her face and then her gaze landed on Tara again before moving back to Mike, “For my sister and our daughters and our sons I will stand with you Michael.”

Revna rose from her seat, squeezing his hand, meeting his gaze. She knew how much he hated not having a choice, “For our heart and our soul I stand beside you as your shield maiden, Michael Angus McKenzie.” Together Ragna and Runa stood, “And we will be the shield wall at your back.”

Runa nudged Oddvar who was watching the whole thing with humor and warmth and pride. He glanced at Runa and mumbled softly to amuse her, “oh right my turn.” The massive Norseman stood, raised the far too comical and delicate wine glass in a hand callused by years of working the forge, “My hammer and my anvil for you and your clans, Michael McKenzie.” And he glared at Seamus, if he had to do it so did Seamus. He was an Edman now after all.

The Edmans

Seamus smiled at Oddvar and slowly stood up, rising to his full height. His eyes pierced the space between him and Michael. He took a breath and then said:

“Well, it’s about godd$#n time.”

Mike burst out laughing, as did Seamus. Tara shook her head and smiled, and then looked at both men who caught the look and immediately fell silent, but still grinned like the six year-olds who thought putting a frog down the back of their grandmother’s shirt was a marvelous idea. Tara nodded to Mike and said only “So be it.” and she raised her glass. “To the future. Skald!”

The McKenzies

The rest burst into laughter as well, mostly because they all knew Seamus by now and that response was so honest to his character. But Revna was watching Mike’s face. She’d never seen him look so…boyish. His life had been hard and without family, at least not all the time. She wondered what Seamus and Tara would make of Gravel. No strike that she wondered what Gravel would make of them and this whole situation. “Skald!” It rang out and echoed across the dinning hall. They didn’t yell but all those massive men in the room with equally proportionate lung capacities…well it was loud. In true Nordic fashion large swallows of the wine were downed. Ragna looked across the table at Oddvar and they started gesturing to their glasses. “Hey Ragna,” Runa pipped up, “How about you come over here and sit with Uncle Oddvar and you two can dissect the wine selection all you want, and I’ll go sit next to Seamus! I haven’t annoyed him nearly enough yet today, and that puts me closer to Mike. I have 3 months to make up for.”

Ragna gave Runa a rude once over and then leaned over whispering in Revna’s ear and Revna glanced over at Runa and nodded with a mischievous grin and whispered back to Ranga, “Oh yes, we’re going to have to make some tactical choices.” Runa adamantly shook her head, “Whatever you two are thinking the answer is NO.” She muttered under her breath and looked at Oddvar, “You’ll protect me right?” Oddvar laughed, “Nope.”

The Edmans

Seamus laughed and Mike looked at Revna. “Well… I guess thats that then.” He looked up at Tara and said “So now what?” The question took the wind out of Seamus’ sails slightly and he looked at Ragna and then to Tara.

As the table quieted down, Tara took a long sip of wine and then said “Now? Now we do as we planned… with a small addition. The cousins, and yes Argyle with them, arrive day after tomorrow. They have already requested an early meet, before the wedding, as of this morning. Reconciliation will be discussed, I’m sure.” She looked around the table. “I wish all of you to be present. The Edman presence will surely push them to demand Reconciliation if that isn’t their intention already. When they do, I will protest as much as is expected but I will not recognize the claim until it is done formally. That means a hand-written and sealed document. That will tell us who they have selected as leader of their little tribe, and who they expect to take over. That will in turn be the only one I will speak to. Less voices leads to faster resolution. When they demand I make my choice for successor; that is when you, Michael and darling Revna, make your appearance. Michael, I have seen you command the emotions of arenas full of people… you must be every bit that showman when you come in. From the moment they see you, You. Are. The. McKenzie. You must, in one fell swoop, bring this to an end. If they manage to drag it out, you will fare no better than I.”

Ragna nodded, “We all will be, including,” she paused doing the mental count again, “Another 100 that are hiding out in the woods. Men, Women, and children, all aware of the situation and what you need. And all prepared to give their loyalty to the current Chief and her heir. I would like for Revna and I to get a look at the hall where this will take place. I want to make sure everyone is evenly spread out and not clumped together. Shield walls, literal and figurative, work better that way.”

Revna grinned up at Mike, “We’ll have to better than we were at the Eclipse bar.” She winked quickly at him and looked at her mother. She knew Helka would have arranged some further retribution on Ragna’s behalf. She also knew her mother wouldn’t risk this going wrong. So whatever it was would happen after. “Lady Tara, if you will let me look at those documents,” she nodded towards the screen, “I might be able to give you a good solid guess on who they will pick.” Psychology was her area of expertise after all. And this was a political move, and that’s what she had been dealing with on Manhattan for the last few months.

Mike nodded seriously and said “I know. And I have an idea on what to do already. But I would like to discuss it with you- ” and his head swiveled to Cuyler, “- before we adjourn tonight, if I may. I’m new to the whole politician thing. In fact, I’m usually singing very bad things about them.” and he gave a half-chuckle.

Tara and Mike

Cuyler nodded, “Whatever you need, son. You only have to ask.” He took a drink of the wine, but noticed Helka had barely touched it. His poor wife couldn’t handle such things on an empty stomach and he was sure her stress and nervous energy was making it worse, though no one else would notice. “First thing, I expect all of you here, to be at the village center tomorrow evening. Dress to be outside and on the ground, or if you’re old like me, in a camp chair. Second thing, let’s eat, if that is agreeable with you Lady Tara. We can discuss while we eat or hurry up and eat and then get to work. Either way it’s going to be a long night.” It was a bit presumptuous but from one Chief to another Cuyler and Tara knew they needed to get started.

The Edman

Tara nodded and smiled. “Most agreeable, I’m flippin’ starving.” and she pressed another button and staff began to arrive and soon the table was covered in food: venison steaks, boar meat, breads, fresh vegetables, homemade butter and jam, fresh fish, steamed mussels, pickled vegetables, and more. As the meal wore on, Tara encouraged the staff to come in and take some food back, making sure to introduce each person by name to everyone at the table. Of course everyone knew Seamus, and some knew Mike from his music. As they left at one point Tara said “And don’t worry about any of them. They have all served the clan for years. None of them will say a word about Michael being back.” Seamus nodded in agreement. “I grew up with most of ‘em. They’re solid as the day.”

The rest of the evening passed uneventfully with laughter and relaxing talk… even if the tense undercurrent was ever present. Soon, it was time for everyone to leave. They left as they came in so as not to be seen. As they walked into the basement, Tara handed Revna a copy of the files and whispered to her “Just between you and I. Look at Capall McKenzie.” and squeezed her hand.

As the entourage arrived back in Bømlo, Mike looked at Cuyler and held up a bottle of Napoleonic brandy. “To keep us warm while we talk?” and he gestured away from the village and towards the path to the shore.

McKenzies