Party's Over

Posted on Thu Mar 24th, 2022 @ 12:15am by Remal Kajun & Captain Rhenora Kaylen

Mission: *CD*
Location: Bajor
Timeline: Current-ish

Drowsy but happy Rhenora floated herself to the side of the pool, extricated herself and found enough towels to conceal the important areas of her body. She spied a dripping wet Patin heading towards the change rooms and a bemused Remal sitting at the bar.

“What was all that about?” She asked as she plonked herself on a bar stool and raised the bartender’s attention.

He slipped his drink to dull the pain. "That? Oh, that was nothing. Just a little much needed counseling session for our friend. She's been bottling up a lot of pain and regrets, sometimes quite literally. I gave her a chance for release. I think both of us are going to feel this session for a while." He finished by rubbing his chest where she had kicked him.

“Counseling session? It sounded like a bar brawl” Rhenora mused as she ordered a spiced tea from the bartender. The drink arrived after a few moments. “Considering the fact you’re still in one piece and alive I have the assumption it went well?” She elbowed him with a wicked smile.

"Counseling session, bar brawl, same thing sometimes. It's the results that matter in situations like hers and I believe progress was made. Really, only time will tell." He took a swig of his drink. "Her issue got me thinking, what would you say to asking Patin to be our baby's Kaimah?"

"A godmother as humans would call it? She who teaches our child right and wrong and cares for them if something happens to us?" Rhebora's eyebrows rose a little. She hadn't seen Patin in that light but it opened the discussion for the future. "Well the kid would come out with a wicked left hook then" she laughed.

He chuckled too but then carried on, “The baby would most definitely be safe. Not to mention well loved. Patin cares for strange and unique creatures because she can’t care for her own making her the perfect parental figure, well, sort of. She’d probably be more like the ‘walk it off’ style auntie we all have, but I can think of fewer people I would trust. We don’t have to decide now. Prophets only know what time will hold for our friend, or our baby, but it’s something worth thinking about, yeah?” He downed his drink.

“Most definitely worth thinking about. I honestly hadn’t thought that far ahead” She admitted, wondering what challenges may lay before them in the next few months. Somehow she knew it wasn’t going to be smooth sailing full of tender moments, nesting and calm preparations. She kept an ear open for the return of Patin, which may or may not happen at any given moment. She switched the topic back to their immediate plans “ So we head north after this?”

“Yes. I imagine when we leave here we can gather our things and board the shuttle for our next stop.” He turned to her, “And I am never, not, thinking ahead.” He turned back to his drink. “Though I must admit, the hurdles placed before us as of late have my mind feeling like it’s full of mud.” The bartender offered another round to which Remal shook his head no.

“ Mud? Well at least part of that is crystal clear water and clarity, the rest of it not so much” She retorted with a smile. “ I for one am looking forward to getting out of the cold” Her words were cut off by a glare from the returning Patin, who plonked herself at the bar and was rewarded with a glass of something that Rhenora could smell the alcohol in from where she sat.

Moving in behind our three patrons, a man in business regals flanked by a pair of serious-looking security personnel. He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, but I must ask the three of you to leave.” He then gestured at the damage Patin and Remal had caused with their fight. “Please, travel safe.” He finished cordially.

“ Oh dear” Rhenora mumbled as she looked around at the damage. She glanced towards Patin who seemed completely unapologetic. “ I apologize, please we will pay for the repairs” Rhenora offered. Patin however scoffed at her words.
“ They can take it out of my paycheck…like all the other times” She sauntered off, not willing to be chastised in the slightest.

The man just placed one hand in the air, “No need. We have a slush fund to cover Patins’, um, ongoing reckless behavior. Please. Just go.”

Remal stood, tossed a sliver of latinum on the bar and waited for Rhenora to follow suit. He had half expected this sort of thing and was surprised they had not approached sooner. “We are sorry. We’ll be on our way.”

Patin was waiting for them when they approached the cable tram that would take them back down to the valley floor. Her expression was that this was just another day, not that she had once again caused damage to her workplace. They would forgive her, and continue paying her because she was the only one who could manage the snow on the mountain and keep the resort safe.

“ Have you told them you’re coming with us?” Rhenora asked once they were safely in the tram.

“No. The way I see it, they are on a need to know basis and as far as they know, I’ve got it covered. Which, I do.” As the doors to the tram closed she elaborated. “I paid a local boy to ride his snow runner up the mountain once a day until I return. Should work out well in the end.” She smiled at her own genius.

“You’re really looking forward to this aren’t you?” Rhenora prodded gently as she regarded the glint in the eyes of her old friend.

“Oh hell yeah.” She fingered the bit of hair singed by the phaser blast. “Someone’s going to pay for my hair. Not to mention the hole in my back.” The smug look on her face said volumes.

“I believe we have transport booked for the morning - best pack and prepare” Rhenora smiled, as the tram car descended rapidly towards the lowlands. Patin would have to organize care for her animals, leaving Remal and Rhenora to do the packing. Just what did you pack for a self sufficient, highly independent and fiercely dedicated somewhat alcoholic?

After the cold slow tractor ride back, the remainder of their day consisted of packing and planning mixed with conversation that always seemed stifled. After Patins confession she remained slightly withdrawn when she wasn't boasting. A trait Remal noticed as he cooked some real food for their dinner. After their miserable breakfast, real food was a necessity.

Once the food was gone, Patin disappeared for a while to tend her animals, giving Remal and Rhenora a bit of peace as they finished preparations. When she returned there was a moment of drinking where Remal noticed Patin did more holding her drink then actually drinking it. Perhaps she was trying to stop, he thought.

They played a Bajoran card game and then retired to their bedrooms where the cold night air was a sharp contrast to the warm waters of the hot springs. Remal found warmth, snuggled up close to the love of his life, a treasure he held close. They were face to face, nose to nose.

He whispered, "It's only been a week. We've been blown up, followed, attacked, knocked out and stabbed, and yet, we've survived. How are you feeling about this little journey we've embarked upon? Are we doing the right thing?" His curiosity was unsettling and sleep would be hard to find should she not provide the sanity he needed.

“ Sounds like our normal way of doing things, besides, can’t have you getting bored or anything” The light-hearted comment was intended to bring a lightness to the conversion. She did understand how such a constant state of turmoil was draining on many levels. Was it that she was just used to it? A coping mechanism almost? “ As for are we doing the right thing? Preserving justice and saving our friends is always the right thing.”

He kissed the bridge of her nose. “See, that’s why I love you. So noble, willing to put your life, the life of your husband and child all on the line for a few friends who are all clearly weird for having chosen you as their friend.” He smiled. “Loons, the lot of us.”

“ Indeed, and I wouldn’t have it any other way” She smiled back at him, snuggling into the comfort of his warmth and allowing it to lull them both to sleep.

TBC