Posted by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) in It’s been too long

Posted by Civilian Jordar (Director of Building and Construction) in It’s been too long

Posted by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) in It’s been too long
Posted by… suppressed (37) by the Post Ghost! 👻
“Alright Rondara, go unpack your bags and make sure that Squip has enough to eat.” Jordar said as he unslung a heavy bag from his shoulder and watched as his now 11 year old daughter and her pet Mellanoid Slime Worm made their way into the house, and quickly as said Slime Worm began to try and eat the coffee table “Get him off of that before I throw him into the sea!” Jordar exclaimed as Rondara turned and rolled her eyes at her father, “You know they evolved from aquatic life right? That would probably make him happier…” Rather than get into another fight with his tween daughter Jordar let out a long breath and said, “Just make sure you two are settled in, I’m going to go find Karina.” Rondara took off her jacket and tossed it on the couch, “Good luck dad, she’s probably already moved on. So nice of you to you know, call her or send a single letter....” She said with trademark sass, from her age and her mixed heritage it would be a wonder if Jordar came out of her teen years alive.

She did though have a point.

It had been over a year, no contact, no more an explanation than “I need to focus on my daughter” and he picked up and left. Sure he had relinquished his post and needed to vacate the colony. No use for a former captain and lieutenant governor mucking up the works. He was never an easy man to work with, especially with diplomacy or anything requiring tact. He was a proud Zaldan! Politeness and courtesy were signs of insult, not signs of kindness. He always got along with the Tellarite delegations or businessmen rather well, as they were a species he could really understand and get behind. It had taken quite a lot for him to hold down his command, his status on the colony, but it was never a good fit.

Karina? She just ‘got’ him. She understood him, and he understood her, but he was getting too close so what did he do? He ran away.

Jordar pulled a small chip from his breast pocket and rolled it across his fingers as he walked back towards the shuttle craft the two had used for the move. The chip, was an ordinary isolinear chip in which was contained a few simple lines of text. “Computer, locate and transport this chip to Karina Enger” He said as he held his palm flat and the shuttle’s computer replied, “Acknowledged” as the chip swirled out of existence in a cloud of teal energy.

It would materialize wherever Karina was, a few inches away on a flat surface conveniently close by. It had no trappings, no wrappings, nothing special to draw her attention, but if she were to put in an a PaDD or console it would read out as follows:

“I think it’s time you were the one to throw me in the pool. Care for a swim?”

–Jordar–

Where was Karina? Sitting on a bench in Sloan Square, finishing her coffee before heading back to her apartment. It was a rare thing, but she had managed two days this month of leaving her office on time. She didn’t know what time do with an open schedule.

A small isolinear disk appeared on the bench next to her. Her brow rose slightly. Before she could pick it up, her Oedian guard took it. After the attack on Attache Jones, security had been tightened.

The man scanned the chip, then plugged it into a micro PaDD he had in his pocket. Seeing the message he turned the PaDD toward her. “I know who it is from. Can you tell me the location it was sent from?” Karina asked. Could it really be Jodar? Was he back on Oed? No word, no warning? She had accepted he had to focus on Rondara, but she had still been disappointed. But to come back and not tell her he was coming?

She would do more than toss him the pool! Though that was a delightful memory. He was returning very quietly. She hadn’t seen Rondara’s school enrollment yet. Not that she watched for it. Her eyes narrowed and she tapped her foot.

The officer gave her the location. She took the disk and her coffee and turned toward the shuttle port as her shadows became shadows again.

She e tired the port and scanned the area looking for him or a shuttle that was still powered on with an open hatch.

Enger, DOE

Rondara was blasting what passed for pop music these days and Jordar meanwhile did his best to ignore the thumping through the walls. In 2400, you’d think that sound deadening would be more advanced but kids were kids, and sound was sound.

He rolled his eyes a little as Squip made its way across the living room, eyes on the plant he had just set down and Jordar gave the worm a stern look. Squip trilled and cooped before it slunk off down the hall to go curl up on Rondara’s bed.

He made his way out to the shuttle, still powered on in case Karina were to come looking. Rondara was right though. He didn’t stand much of a chance did he? But it was worth a shot at least.

He took off his jacket, wearing just his shirt and tie as he slung the jacket over his shoulder, leaning on the shuttle as if he were in an ancient earth romance movie. Truth be told he forgot that moving did indeed build heat and trying to move a household in a suit wasn’t the brightest idea.

—Jordar, DOBC—

Karina spotted him immediately as he sauntered his way over to the shuttle and leaned against it. He didn’t look quite right in a suit and tie. Jodar had always been more hands on, but, what was that saying? He cleaned up nice. She stayed in the shadows watching him for a few moments. She should make him squirm, but she couldn’t deny how her heart raced and the smile that crossed her face.

Well, he should squirm. She had gotten letters from Rondara, but none from Jodar. Maybe she had been more invested than he had been. Well he couldn’t just saunter his way back into her life like he hadn’t been gone.

Years of working with children kept her expression neutral as she walked towards him and stopped well out of arms reach. “Oed does not have enough pools to throw you in. And if my memory serves, and it does, that was an ocean, and Oed definitely does not have one of those.”

She paused and stared at him, “You would like that. Maybe I should toss you out a shuttle and you can try sky… sky diving.”

Enger, DOE

And there she was. As beautiful as the day he last saw her, and as biting and honest as ever. Why hadn’t he written? Rondara had, they had talked father and daughter enough about those letters but he never had directly. “Your memory is sharp and your words sharper. I have a shuttle here, care to join me on a flight?” He remarked as he turned to face her. It was as close to an apology that she would get, admitting that she was right and that he deserved to take a dive out of the shuttle.

Did her surprise show? An apology? He must be feeling guilty. Good, he should. She looked from him to the shuttle and then around. As if silently asking him if he really thought she was going anywhere alone with him.

it was indeed a long shot and Karina’s internal monologue was playing his tune in perfect pitch. He did feel guilty, he did hope she would go with him, if not in a shuttle but even just a walk.

“You look well.” He said a little lost for words. He had no right to just pretend nothing had happened, or that the last year and a half of silence hadn’t happened. “How is the school?”

—Jordar, DOBaC—

Karina did not look good, and she knew it. Long night’s, very little down time, meals on the go, and the stress. It showed and she knew it. Though she couldn’t help the thrill that he thought she looked good. Jodar wasn’t one to give false compliments. Unless he had changed a lot.

Whether she looked tired and worn down wasn’t the question, Jordar was always one to look past that. It was true, she had bags under her eyes and a slight slouch from one too many late night, but that’s not what he had meant. It wasn’t a false flattery to see that she was fulfilled in her work, tired because of it, but having great success.

“The school is excellent. Competitive, fully staffed, with a waiting list of applicants and students. The university is the same.”

“Why are you back?”

Enger, DOE

“I’m glad to hear it. I’m sure that’s why I haven’t heard back on Rondara’s paperwork, it was submitted two weeks ago, I’m sure your staff is busy handling it.” He stated, finding it interesting that she hadn’t seen it. Perhaps it had just been a mistake or Rondara’s streak of misbehaviors and new interest in dating (although Jordar thought her still far too young for that mind you) had impacted her performance.

“We had a colony ship of 10,000 arrive a month ago. Roughly half are children. Our admissions process has slowed down. There will always be a place for Rondara.” No matter what her attitude or behavior, Karina knew Rondara was intelligent, creative, and curious. Karina would fight for her as if she were her own child.

“I was needed. Since leaving the colony as Lieutenant Governor and resigning my commission I was asked to take on the Directorship of the Building and Construction divisions by the civilian government.” He said as he put his jacket back on and buttoned it casually.

“Also, I had unfinished matters to attend to.” He said with a slight pause. He asked the next couple of questions bluntly as always but in a rare case, he was afraid of the answer. “Are you dating? Do you have any intimate partners?” The implication was clear as day as he leaned his back on the shuttle, one foot on the ground the other on the hull, hands tucked into his jacket pockets.

—Jordar, DOBaC—

Her brows rose in that, are you serious look she got when Rondara would say something totally illogical as if everyone should just accept it and move on. Karina was an ‘unfinished matter.’ It was pretty clear it was finished. She wasn’t really angry at him, more disappointed with how it turned out. So what did he want to finish about it? “The answer to the first is, no.” Who had time for that with the demands on her time. Karina wanted to make him squirm, but he knew when she was lying so saying yes would have been no good. “The answer to the second is none of your business.” Hmmm, that should have been her answer to both. Jodar knew she might casually date, but she wasn’t into casual encounters. So given that, he had his answer didn’t he?

“And you? Is that why you called me here? To make sure I don’t make things awkward for your new partner?”

Enger, DOE

Jordar nodded happily, a smile growing on his face, knowing the biting remarks were the truest expression of her feelings and to a Zaldan that was the highest compliment he could be paid. It also set the stage perfectly. “No friend, the answer to the first is no, there has been no one besides you. And the answer to the second? Quite the same as the first. Would you join me for a stroll and a cup of tea? I read that with the new colonists there are some highly regarded cafes I’d like to try.” He said with a wide grin as he opened his arms to her, hoping but not convinced she’d come in for an embrace.

He had been given briefings on the state of the colony before he took the civilian job, knowing full well the status of the schools, the developments, and the plans.

—Jordar, DOBaC—

Karina made him wait a heartbeat longer, and then she walked toward him, slowly. “I should throw you out of a shuttle. You arrogant, conceded, vorple. You swagger back in here, looking like that, like you did not ignore my ex…” of course she would lose the word now, “my presence for over a year. No comm, no letter. If not for that amazing daughter of yours I would not have even known if you were alive. You think you can act like your behavior was anything less than cowardly, and we can simply go have tea?” She stopped right in front of him, looking up at his face that was so dear to her. “You will have to be a hell of a lot more sincere than ‘let us get a cup of tea’.”

Enger, DOE

Jordar watched as the ferocious woman he had indeed wronged approached slowly, calculating, and cut him down expertly with each word exactly as intended. Him arrogant? True. Conceded? That too. Swaggering? Yeah that tracks. Cowardly?

Cowardly…

That was a harder pill to swallow because of its truth. Was he afraid the she had moved on? Of course. He knew she wouldn’t leave the colony, that’s why he hadn’t asked her to go with him. So when he heard that Rondara kept in contact he had been afraid. He had been worried about what might come of those letters. The information that they might contain.

If this were earth in the 21st century the next step would be to plant a kiss on her lips, to hold her tight and everything would be good right? One way to find out!

He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in, planting his lips on her forehead, avoiding the lips for now because this would work or backfire spectacularly. He embraced her tightly and said something exceptionally rare for a Zaldan and even more so for him. “I am sorry Karina. I was indeed a coward, and I can only apologize to you truly for not considering you” he said as he pulled her back in for a tight embrace.

—Jordar, DOBaC—

Karina’s arms slid around his neck and hugged him tightly. She had missed him. She leaned back, eyeing him with suspicion. “Do not dare apologize Jodar. Do not feed me false courtesy. Do better this time,” she demanded, and then she kissed him. “I have missed you. Even if you are an arrogant, conceded, vorple.” She hugged him tightly, resting against his shoulder. “I know a great new tea house.”

Enger, DOE

“If you think my apology to be a false courtesy you must think very little of me… I have never apologized to anyone in my life, because they did not deserve it. You? You do. I will do better.” He replied with a smile as he felt her lips against his and then her head on his shoulder.

Karina’s head moved in a negative fashion against him. “I think a great deal of you, of which you know. I know you have never apologized to anyone. I simply do not want you to do so because other cultures suggest it as an appropriate action. I have always liked you as you are.”

“You of all people should know that I I couldn’t give a targ’s ass about the cultural practices of other’s, I meant it as I am sorrowful for my actions and wanted to express to you as such. I’m glad you like me as I am because that’s all you’re ever going to get from me.” He replied matter of factly, doing his best to explain to her that he truly was sorry.

“I’m glad you do, I’m parched and this conversation has tired me. Shall we?” He said as he gave her one last hug before he took a step back, letting her take the lead on where they were headed.

Karina turned and headed out of the shuttle port and toward the residential district. The colony had grown, but rather than taller and crowded it had spread out. The university was outside the area if the old dome. That was the last thing Jodar had had a hand in. Despite the growth it was still easier to walk most places. Karina had spent enough time in space, she liked the feel of the ground under her feet.

Following her, Jordar took in the sights, the amazement of the rapid growth the colony had undergone was spectacular, it truly was a different place to the one he had left.

“Rondara will be the death of me Karina. Are girls always so… difficult at 11?”

—Jordar, DOBaC—

She laughed softly, “In my experience, yes. She is learning that she is capable of different opinions than her parents. That she can make choices, but she does not have the life experience or knowledge to express those opinions properly. You will manage. She has always been outspoken.”

Karina looked up at him, “How is she?” There was worry in her eyes and a craving for news about his daughter. Karina loved her fiercely. She had missed Rondara as much as she had Jodar.

Enger, DOE

Everything she said made logical sense of course, standard child development was something he was certainly aware of but dealing with it on a day to day basis? That was something else…. “She misses Orion, she misses her mother. She understands why she can’t go back. Why I wasn’t there in the beginning, and why we left here initially. But she is acting out, a lot. I don’t know Karina, she really is a struggle now, she isn’t the kid you remember. Of course she is sweet, loving, caring, but she’s sneaking out, she wants to date, she’s skipping school, she’s talking back far more now. You’d think I’d appreciate it, but she is fighting me for the sake of fighting me, not because she believes I’m wrong. I ask her if she wants a pet she says yes, I get Squip, she hates it, she yells at me, and yet 30 minutes later they’re cuddling on her bed. I know she loves that damn slime worm but that’s just an example.”

He sounded worried, open, and unsure of himself, he knew he could be honest with Karina, and Rondara was part of why he hadn’t written. Cleaning up her messes and displaying that the cocksure bravado filled man was a crappy parent? He couldn’t keep his house in order yet have a long distance relationship worlds apart…

—Jordar, DOBaC—

Karina was quiet. It was hard sometimes to put what she saw in her head into words. Her mind wasn’t inherently wired for speech. “Rondara has been through…” there was a pause, “much loss, Jodar. Her father, then her mother, her world. She was in an orphanage for awhile. You returned, but she did not know you any longer. She moved to Oed and then moved away again. She lost her home, friends, the familiar, many times. And now she is losing her childhood self. She is starting the journey into an adult. That is a scary change in good cir…cir… events.”

“Perhaps she has some fear. Will her friends remember her? Will they still be her friends? Will she be behind in her classes or bored because she is faster? I can believe that she is afraid she will lose you again as well. Her life has been full of uncertainty. Perhaps you both should see a counselor together.”

Enger, DOE

She was right. About all of it. She usually was, much to Jordar’s chagrin at times, but she always did have that way with the world, seeing through to understand the root problems. “You really think it’s about loss? I suppose who am I to argue and you do make a solid point. I know how much she was affected when she lost you, that first letter she wrote was one she tried to write a dozen times. She didn’t want you to worry, but she cried Karina, she cried for so long when she wrote it to you.” The typical attitude he displayed was gone, he felt like the biggest fool for taking them off world. For abandoning the life they had, it was a main driver for why he wanted to return.

—Jordar, DOBaC—

Karina’s heart wrenched hearing how sad Rondara was. She had suspected, but she never said directly. Karina could punch him. He should have brought Rondara with him instead of coming alone looking to repair a romance. Karina couldn’tblame him though. If she had refused to see him, that would have been horrible on Rondara.

She took a breath. “I think loss and fear. I could be wrong, but that would be my guess. Think about how you felt when you lost her. And all your worry since you got her back.”

“I want to see her.” It was both statement and question. “I’ve missed her as much as I’ve missed you.”

Enger, DOE

“You flatter me but don’t lie. You’ve missed her more, I know you well enough” he said with a smile, knowing just how much she cared for his daughter. Jordar stopped, “Come home with me, I have tea there packed away somewhere, if not the shuttle has a replicator.” He commented as he knew that was the more important relationship to foster. Would they get back together? Maybe? Maybe not? Would she be a second mother to Rondara? Always

Karina stopped and turned to face him. “I am not lying. The relationship ship I have with Rondara is… not the same as us. It is not the same as what you and Rondara share. I have missed you both eq… equally.”

“I tried to listen, I really did. I tried to be supportive but as you well know the Orion are a people of manipulation and subterfuge, coupled with extortion and violence. Many traits she picked up from her mother. I say it as it is, I always know where I stand. I don’t… I don’t know how to be a good father for her.” He said as he waited to see if she would join him right here and now.

—Jordar, DOBaC—

“No one knows how to be a good parent, Jodar. You simply do the best you can.” She began walking again. “You learn as you go along. That is something that you are very good at doing.”

“I will go with you, but I have to make a stop. I made Rondara a promise.”

Enger, DOE

Jordar was uncharacteristically quiet as they walked a short ways before she mentioned a promise. Rondara hadn’t mentioned any agreements or promises, no she mentioned various crushes at school and then lashed out when Jordar tried to say she was still a little young for that. Maybe she had said something? “Of course, shall I wait for you or give you our new address?” He said, not knowing if there was any secrecy in this promise.

Karina shook her head with a small grin. “No, come with me. It is no secret. Ruppeotil pudding. When you left, Rondara asked if she would ever see me again. That I would forget her. I promised I would always have some ready for her.” It was a dish native to her ho.eworld of Vair. It was a demanding dish to prepare, but Karina and Rondara had spent hours together making it. It was Rondara’s favorite. It took two days to prepare. It wasn’t something that could be whipped up last minute. If Karina had it already made, she hoped that would reassure Rondara she never forgot her.

“I too have missed you dearly, and your right as usual, I was a coward.” He said as he put his hands in his jacket pockets, exhaling a little before turning his head to look down the road.

—Jordar, DOBaC—

Karina paused again and touched his arm. “Yes, but you are here now. Whatever kept you away we can deal with now, or not. That is up to you.”

They had arrived at her apartment, and she entered the building expecting him to follow. She opened her door, it was the same, though it looked less lived in. The kitchen was pristine, like she didn’t cook anymore, there was no sign of the work she set aside when she was home, no jackets or blankets strewn about. The most she did here was sleep, shower, and make ruppeotil when the current batch needed replacing.

She set her bag down on the counter and went into the kitchen. She pulled out a bag and opened the fridge. Inside was the crystal dish full of a fresh batch of pudding. She grabbed the special oldling cups they were served in. She wrapped it all up and placed it in the bag.

“I’m ready.”

Enger, DOE

Following her into the apartment was a sad moment, realizing that she had put herself into her work, her routine, and her commitment to his daughter. It was an eye opening moment for sure, as he had gone wildly from idea to idea to help reassure and calm his daughter as they tried to live and work off world. Looking back it would seem that all it did was show Rondara that nothing in life was stable, that he as a father couldn’t keep up one activity or promise from one week to the next, yet here Karina was, making the same pudding week after week for over a year on the off chance she would see the girl again.

“Let’s go, I’ll lead the way?” He replied offering to take the dishes, trying to do something to show his desire to help and be a part, even though this was solely between Karina and Rondara.

–Jordar , BaC–

Karina decided she had made him squirm enough. She stopped, opened the chiller again, and the pantry. What she pulled out was everything necessary to make Jodar’s favorite meal. She had kept it on hand, hoping that they would both come back. She bagged those up, and let him have everything when he offered. “I am hoping you haven’t eaten yet.”

Enger, DOE

“I haven’t actually” He replied not realizing what she had grabbed as he led her down the road towards their home, a small townhouse for just him and Rondara in a more diverse part of the city. It was a little more run down, a little more ‘well lived’ so to speak, but it was where Jordar and Rondara were comfortable. It reminded them both of their time on Orion albeit for different reasons and that was a comforting thing. Now all things considered it was a very safe area, there wasn’t really any unsafe areas in the city, but it wasn’t some prestigious home in a wealthy district either. They rounded the corner and came to the middle unit where they had so recently called home and Jordar turned to Karina, “Maybe you should go first? Door should be unlocked.”

–Jordar, BoC–

Karina liked this area of the city. It reminded her of home. Nothing wad pretentious on Vair. It felt close and varied. She had briefly thought about moving into one of these communities over the past year, but she had no family and was never home anyway. Karina eyed him as he held back. She kissed his cheek. “Set that on the counter for me,” she said of the food.

She went up the steps, the door indeed unlocked. She went inside and winced. The music was excessively loud. Karina shook her head and followed the mind numbing noise to its source. She knocked, but there was no answer over the noise. She opened the door slightly and stepped in.

Enger, DOE

Jordar nodded as he took the containers and headed to the kitchen and was too accosted with the blaring of music and sighed as he moved to prepare two cups of Marob root tea.

Rondara didn’t hear her door open, and truth be told how she heard anything without hearing damage was a miracle of modern medicine. She sat in her chair working on some drawings, a pair of dark blue slides slipped off under her desk, a golden anklet on her left foot below a pair of dark denim capris, above an Andorian silk shirt with short sleeves halfway up the bicep adorned with a geometric pattern. Her jacket was tossed lazily to her side on the floor. She had two small golden loops per ear and a hint of complimentary blue blush to her pale green skin. Her black hair was braided back in a ponytail as she bobbed her head back and forth before she got a sense that something was different.

Karina watched her, seeing the same sweet but scared young girl she had been. Only now she had punk rock music to help her express it and an ungodly volume to help her mind and heart from having to feel it. She had grown, she was maturing, and had the incredible beauty of her mother, with a rustic edge from Jodar that made her all the more striking. Jodar would be beating back the boys.

Putting down her stylus, she turned slowly to see a familiar face when she let out a scream as if she were being kidnapped, leaping out of the chair and nearly tackling Karina in the process. The 11-year-old hugged the woman tight enough to be uncomfortable, a side effect of her being half Orion, before she looked up at Karina and then buried her head in the woman’s chest once more as she maintained that tight hug. “You came....” She whispered inaudibly before she yelled out, “Computer pause!” She wanted silence in this moment, having convinced herself that given her dad’s actions, Karina would at best be a pen pal, at worst, she was another loss....

–Jordar, BaC–

Karina opened her arms and then locked them around the girl that she wished was her daughter. She held her just as tightly as they rocked back from the force of Rondara’s momentum. She bit back a sigh as the music silenced. Karina rested her cheek on top of the girl’s head. “Of course I came leampu,” she said using the term of endearment. “Always. I am so happy you are back.” She squeezed her tighter with the words. “I have missed you hor… terribly.”

Enger, DOE

“Sel tahderi vu j’hordak fo korgasant… Gisjacheh tahderi…” Rondara whispered in Low Orion, the rough translation / meaning being ‘My father is nothing more than the shadow of a korgasant (a mindless predatory animal from Daros IV). Damn him!” In this context, the Low Orion of the insult implying that he is less than a mindless creature only out for it’s own good, he is it’s shadow, merely slinking along behind the creature always to be in second place, at the whims of the creature and the light cast upon it. There could be books written about Orion insults and their deeply layered meaning, but for now just understand that Rondara is deeply upset with her father.

Karina caught just enough to think she understood. She’d tried learning lower Orion because Rondara would often break out in tirades of the language. But it was a very nuanced language, and spoken language was already hard for the Cairn woman. She didn’t necessarily disagree with Rondara though.

She looked up at Karina, tears of joy and sorrow on her face, “I’ve missed you too, so very, very much. And I think the word you were looking for was ‘horribly’ which would work in this I think because it was horrible…” She broke the hug and sat up a little, “Did he try to win you back? Please tell me you didn’t fall for his ‘charms’ again… you deserve sooooo much better….”

—Rondara, Angry Tween—

Karina smiled and hugged her tighter. “Yes, that is the word I wanted. It has very much been hor… rible. As for your father. I will deal with that. I understand him, even if I do not agree with what he did.” She winked at the girl, “But he will work very hard if he wants to succeed.” She hugged Rondara again then leaned back to look at her. “We do not always get…” she tipped her head, “think the same with others, yes? That seems to be more true in families. We will work through it. We are a family of our own making, yes?” Did Rondara still feel that way? Karina did not want to assume too much. She would always consider Rondara and Jodar her family, even if they were not together.

Enger, DOE

Rondara eased her squeeze a little as she listened, the girl wiping away tears from her right eye with the palm of her right hand. She looked at Karina as if she were dumb, a classic kid move most often accompanied by the word ‘duh’ but while she could absolutely rake her father over the coals, Karina was different. “Of course we are! That’s why I wrote to you and wanted you to come visit, like I know why you couldn’t but I always invited you, like every time, it was getting kinda silly wasn’t it?” She said letting out a small giggle.

Karina shook her head. “No, not silly. In fact I have vacation time coming, I got it all approved. I guess now, I can just stay here. No travel time.” Karina had been hesitant to plan the trip. Orion wasn’t somewhere you wanted to go without having an escort. And she wasn’t sure Jodar would even let her in the door, but she had to try for Rondara. “I loved all of your letters.”

She had invited her on a whim, but Rondara started to really want to believe and hope that Karina one day would come. She’d always make sure that her room was clean and put together, that Karina would have some things she liked or at least shared with the girl, and as such she had a thought and jumped out of her seat and held up a finger “Hold on I’ll be right back!” She said as she tore out of her room, into the kitchen, and rummaged around in the fridge as she mumbled, “Where is it… ok if dad threw it out I’m gonna.... there it is!” She said as she grabbed it and a pair of spoons, running back to her room. “So I always tried to make it like you did, cuz I didn’t know if you were gonna come, but here, I made some Ruppeotil pudding! I don’t think this one is right though it’s too sour and like, almost a bit.... whats the word… metallic? Do you know what I did wrong? Like it’s not gone bad or anything....” She said as she started to pull inward a little, knowing that the pudding wasn’t anywhere as good as Karina’s and was unsure of herself. “You… you don’t have to try it if you don’t want to, I… I think I messed it up, it’s ok, don’t worry about it…”

–Rondara, Unsure Tween–

“I want to try.” She took a spoon, feeling a well of aching in her chest. Rondara had made it just like she had. She scooped out a bite and tasted it slowly. After a moment she nodded. “It is nothing you did. The ruppeotil berries were not quite… ummm… ready for picking… the word?” Karina shook her head, “They were not ready when they were picked and put in stasis. You did an excellent job.” Karina grinned, “We will have pudding for weeks. I also made it. I brought it over with me.”

Enger, DOE

The girl watched with baited breath as her favorite person tried her attempt at the pudding. She held her breath delicately as she heard that.... it hadn’t been her fault? She let out a breath with her lips near pursed, the air leaving her lungs slowly with relief. “They weren’t ripe?” Rondara asked as she thinks that’s the message that Karina is trying to send as she processes the other words, “Wait… Shut up… You remembered?” She said excitedly as she jumped up and held her shoulders up tightly close to her head before letting them down, wrapping her arms around Karina’s neck and squeezing hard. “So how have you been? I know the school is like, really busy now!”

–Rondara, Happy Tween–

“Yes, ripe.” Karina grinned. Rondara always seemed to know what she was trying to say. Then again, so did Jodar. She laughed happily at Rondara’s enthusiasm. “Of course I remembered. I would never forget, leampu.” She sighed wearily. “Yes, school is very busy, but it is good. I am good, but I work too much. And what of you? Did you enjoy your time back on Orion?”

Enger, DOE

The girl hopped onto her feet and grabbed at Karina to pull her up and drag her into the kitchen, “Ok we can continue talking but if you brought over like, actually good ruppeotil pudding she wasn’t waiting any longer. And besides, it was going to be great to actually catch up beyond the typical. She held Karina’s hand as they walked, the girl moving with purpose as she said, “You always have worked too much! How is this new? Glad to hear the school is good though.” She said as she pulled out two bowls and sat them down on the dining nook’s counter before she turned to Karina to give a classical tween glare, “How was Orion? Really? Shall I list the ways…” Before rolling her eyes and asking, “Did my dad put it in the fridge?”

–Rondara–

Karina held her hand and glanced around for Jodar as they entered the kitchen. Yes, she wanted a glimpse of him, to know he was there, even though he had to wait for her reunion with Rondara.

Karina moved over to the chiller and reached in, taking out both bags. She took the ruppeotil pudding and set the dish on the dinning table. When she returned, with a flourish she pulled out Joplaorn, Cairn Apricots, Honey Boar fillets, and brijiarana. It was Jodar’s favorite, but one of Rondara’s as well. “Your father said you have not eaten. I thought I could cook a meal in your new home?”

“Yes,” Karina nodded. “List the ways. I want to know all you have been doing.”

Enger, DOE

Rondara let out a little chuckle as Jordar entered the room. Karina didn’t quite get the subtilties of sarcasm and she started to say, “So when I asked about listing the ways, I… You know what, I’ll tell you later. That all looks amazing! Can I help?” She asked excitedly as Jordar said “I’d like to help too if you need the help.” He said fully knowing that his daughter didn’t want to talk about certain topics in front of him and wanted to give her an out if she wanted. In an odd turn, Rondara waved her father over, inviting him to join the work assuming that Karina wanted the help.

–Jordar & Rondara–

Karina nodded, “Alright. Later.” She looked up as he entered. Jodar had no right to look that good. She smiled though and slid the Joplaorns towards him. “You still know how to use a knife, yes? You can slice them long ways.” Jodar had been an undercover intel officer for a long time. He knew weapons, and his skill with a knife was impressive even in something as mundane as cooking. “Rondara take the Cairn Apricots. Peel them and then we will use them to make the sauce.”

Karina rummaged in boxes and cabinets until she found a pot to boil the brijiarana in. Then she began to heat the grill plate for the Honey Boar fillets.

Enger, DOE

Intelligence had been and forever will be messy work, the kind of thing where morals and ethics take a backseat to the mission. Much like cooking really if one were to stretch the metaphor, where one can bruise the vegetable before cutting it. Reducing meat to thin strips. Boiling animals alive to get the best flavor. Distasteful of course but all a matter of perspective. It is in this that Jordar picked up the joplaorns, a reddish green gourd the size of a large apple and produced a razor sharp paring knife and began to peel them to reveal their bluish insides. His cuts were exacting as he took delicate and measured movements to remove just enough of the outer skin. Similar to an interrogation he had performed where he… on second thought, maybe that’s a story for another time. This is dinner they’re preparing after all.

Karina had served in Star Fleet, she’d even worked deeply with intel a few times. She was a teacher at heart though. Still, there was something about a man that knew how to handle a knife.

Once peeled, Jordar cut the gourd into thin even strips, perfectly straight before giving a hashing slice into the body of the strips, the result being exceptionally even hash marks on the backs to allow the seasonings to penetrate better.

Rondara meanwhile peeled the apricots, far more clumsily than her father but still good for her age.

—Jordar & Rondara—

While they worked, Karina filled the pot with water and brought it to a rolling simmer before adding the brijiarana to the pot. It was a grain that cooked similar to oats or rice from Earth, but was much lighter in texture with a strong bitter punch. It complimented the Honey Boar that was very heavy and very naturally sweet. As Rondara peeled the apricots, Karina took the peelings and wrapped the fillets in them. The peels would crisp up like bacon, but they were savory, which would balance out the sweetness of the meat. She set those on the grill plate and they sizzled and hissed and soon the aroma filled the kitchen.

When Jodar had finished hashing the joplaorns, Karina reached around him, from behind, close and familiar, almost hugging him, and she sprinkled seasoning over the top of the vegetable. “Put those on the grill.” She turned to Ronadara, “Alright, do you remember how to get the…pit, the pit out? We’ll give those to your father to crush.”

Enger, DOE

Their closeness was a wonderful reminder of what they once had, what they might have again if Jordar played his cards right. He nodded, “Of course” As he took the seasoned vegetables and moved to grill them. Rondara was watching their interactions and rolled her eyes as they danced around each other in the kitchen, letting out a soft sigh and whispering to Karina when she was out of ear shot, “You deserve better… but it’s nice that you’re getting along…” She said, secretly hoping that they could be that family that Karina had mentioned. She knew her father wanted the best and tried his best, still pissed her off though.... “Yeah I remember, I’ll get a spoon” She said as she fished through the drawers to grab the small slotted spoon and dug the pits out, taking some of the fruit with it and jabbing her thumb with the spoon “Vra’xl!” She swore, a word similar to a four letter exclamation starting with an F. Jordar heard this, “Rondara what have we talked about with your swearing....” Rondara glared at her father before rolling her eyes again, “Sorry.....” She said as she placed the pits on a plate, muttering the phrase “Gleb’nar…” under her breath, a childish insult meaning roughly meaning ‘bossy pants’.

– Jordar & Rondara–