Meeting Patin

Posted on Wed Dec 29th, 2021 @ 4:16am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Remal Kajun

Mission: *CD*
Location: Bajor

“Tied me down? Who wha?? Ohhhhh Sorry, Patin, please meet my husband Remal.. Remal… Patin” Rhenora blushed as she forgot the airs and graces of introductions. She and Remal had been together for years, she also hadn’t seen Patin in more than that number of years it appeared.

“Pleasure to meet you.” Remal nodded to Patin who was still eyeing him from across the floor.

“Rhenora has told me about you. Sorry I didn’t make the wedding, snow and all, sure you’ll understand.” She was squinting her eyes as though she were studying him as intently as he was studying her. “She said you were one of those quacks, like a Doctor but not esteemed like a real doctor.”

Remal smiled, he was being drilled by the sister figure and in a way it felt good. “Actually, I was a field medic during the occupation. I seem to remember patching up a few of you grass rats a time or two. Afterwards, I turned to helping those who needed help. Counseling in turn brought me to Rhen. So, I surmise that if I’m a quack for loving her, then I imagine, so are you.”

There was silence in the room for a long beat as they continued to stare one another down before Patin finally looked at Rhenora over the brim of her cup and smiled, “I like him. He can stay. Careful though, might ask him to share my bag tonight.”

“ You’d be game” Rhenora snorted over her own mug, the laughter lightening the tone of the conversation. She was happy that Patin was in one of her better moods.“ He snores” She whispered in good nature.

“That’s alright, I doubt we’d be doing much sleeping anyway. Besides, can’t possibly snore any louder than you.” She bantered. Remal shifted uncomfortably and she sniggered a bit into her cup when she noticed.

“ Let him defrost his balls first” Rhenora chuckled, hoping that Remal wasn’t too offended by the comment “Besides if you’re after him in that way then you’d better wait in line”

Smiling, Patin responded jovially, “That didn’t take long. Most of the men around here lost theirs a long time ago. Fell right off. Shame really. I admit, it is a damn good sight to see you again alive after all of these years …Noz” She chugged her drink before continuing, “Thought we’d lost you to space. Can handle a dozen snake heads this one but one snoring Bajoran man promises you the stars… I’m not at all jealous by the way.” She finished with a seething sarcastic tone.

Remal for what he was worth just watched the back and forth banter like one would watch a Quidditch match, mouth closed, eyes wide.

“ I think a few have tried to ‘lose’ me in space, particularly the Admiralty” Rhenora snorted. “Besides Remal has a cottage in the northern continent, we’ve actually been spending some time there. More than in recent times anyways.” She snorted as the warmth of the mead swam through her veins. It was stronger than she expected - which was not altogether surprising with Patin. The woman was fond of her liquor in many forms.

Raising her glass as if to toast, Patin commented, “Ah, a Northern bred man. Spent some time there myself, not by choice mind you. Too dry for my tastes.” She added as she downed the remaining liquid in her glass.

Remal shifted in his seat, “I understand you and Rhen have been through a lot together. If you don’t mind my asking, what did you do during your time in the Occupation?”

“Same as everyone else, I survived. It’s all any of us did really, we fought tirelessly day in and day out.” She paused briefly as she let the words permeate like a new layer upon the snowpack. “I know, that’s not really what you want to hear. You’re more interested to know that I was a munitions expert. I had a thing for making things go boom. Apparently it was a talent of mine.” She looked at the clock upon the wall. “Speaking of which, who is getting up with me in five hours? We’ve gotta start the day early.”

Remal noted how she shifted the conversation around, almost as if she herself were struggling with keeping her thoughts on track. Could have been the booze, but it could also have been something else. He looked at Rhen and gave a big yawn, then cocked his head in a nod, “Noz here, will rise with the sun.”

"Will Noz?" Rhenora retorted with an arched eyebrow. Truth be told she was exhausted to her bones and the recent few days were beginning to tell. A yawn was stifled badly. "We do have to be careful though, we were attacked only two days ago." She started before another yawn nearly split her face in two. "And I'm sleeping for two remember" her eyelids started to drop of their own accord.

Patin slammed her mostly empty mug down on the counter hard enough that some of the liquid splashed out upon the countertop. She stared pointedly at Rhen and responded, “I pity any fool who dares attack me here.” She then gave a half smile and changed tact once more, “Alright, off to bed, bag and beyond. Got a big day ahead of us. The pack needs a release and the Springs are calling my name.”

"Springs, I hope you mean inner spring mattresses" Rhenora mumbled incoherently, eyes already closed where she was sitting. "I'll stay guard...right here...s'all good"

“I’ll tend to her, just point the way.” Remal said while standing up and scooping Rhenora up into his arms. Patin pointed to a small room down a short hall. “And if you’ve got coffee, I suggest a double pot if you want her to be alert in the morning.”

“Um… we don’t tend to get much coffee here, best I can offer is a bottle of Whiskey and some Tramadol. Gives me the kick I need anyway. Goodnight.” She barely waited until he was down the hall before she started dousing lights. From outside in the snow, once the lights were gone, the house blended away into the snow drifts.

Remal partially undressed Rhen before helping her slip into a sleeping bag on top of an old cot, its springs rusty from lack of use. Once satisfied she was going to be warm and semi-comfortable he doused his light and slipped into his own bag, bringing himself nose to nose with his wife, who was already long gone. “G’night little Noz. And goodluck in the morning getting through to our friend out there.”

TBC