JP MAJ Pavlova and LtCmdr Iddas: Two Parties (nt)

[Andrew F]

(( Bajor Academy of Technical and Military Sciences, Hathon, Bajor ))

::The party had started has many of these things did, with speeches from a number of people who worked with Teevin, or as they referred to him, History Chair Ijo.  He accepted the accolades, from his place next to Cada at the main table, with a quiet, somewhat embarrassed, dignity, two moments standing out in Aria's mind.

During Teevin's main introductions, the speaker referred to Teevin's militia experience, the lives he saved.  The sentence was one of dozens in the speech, but seemed to cause Teevin the most embarrassment, not out of shame, but as if he didn't want the attention.  Aria had seen this reaction from Teevin before, and from other Resistance fighters, especially those who had not joined the Militia.

The other was when the presenter was recalling a story of Teevin speaking of his pride in his family, and his two daughters.  How proud he was of both of them, one in her short life, the other out in the galaxy with a brilliant career.

Aria didn't think she reacted, but she felt Irina's hand squeeze her own.

Teevin gave a short speech, with laughs and inside jokes that Aria didn't understand and sat down, so everyone could enjoy their meal.

A short time later the meal was over and guests were mingling, a distinguished man sat himself at Aria, Irina, and the girls' table, deserted except for the four of them and now the man who was engaging them in a story. ::

Bajoran Man: ... and so that's when our transport when down, followed by an entire squad of Cardassians. ::taking a drink:: Professor Ijo, Teevin, pulled me, my brother, and my father from the transport, got us moving.  He then laid down cover fire letting us get away.  ::leaning back in his chair:: He must have covered us for kilometers, hours.  Every other other transport that day was captured, the people sent to work camps, and never came out.  ::he rose a drink towards Teevin, who was engaged in conversation with someone:: I have a wife and children because of that man; we are expecting out first grand child.

Oddas: ::quietly:: I've never heard that story.

Pavlova: Most people don't like to talk about their deeds in war.

Bajoran Man: It doesn't surprise me.  I once asked him why he didn't join the Militia, or the government.  He told me it was time for us, Bajorans, to reenter quiet leadership, universities, whatever it takes to make Bajor and the Galaxy normal again. We did what we had to do to drive the invaders out, but that didn't mean we had to stay on war footing. He's why i joined the University.

::With that the man nodded towards someone and excused himself. ::

((A Short Time Later, Ijo Home, Bajor ))

::Aria was standing on the Balcony of her room, leaning over it, watching the street, now mostly a crowd of revelers. She heard Irina walk up behind her, coming to rest next to her. ::

Pavlova: What’s going on, some kind of festival?

Oddas: ::smiling and taking Irina's hand:: No, its a wedding, well, actually, ::thinking to the Admiral's party:: its what you would call the reception, two actually.

Pavlova::confused:: : Two receptions?

Oddas:  ::pointing to the east where a vertical banner had been unfurled: :: "Huke/Aayi" and ::pointing at another to the west:: "Iwo/Cine".

Pavlova: Looks like fun.  How long will it last?

Oddas: ::shrugging:: Days, weddings are happy, and if another family joins in it could last longer.  People coming, joining in, leaving to do whatever, coming back to party.

Pavlova: Sounds wonderful, strangely, I went to Irish funeral that was much the same.  A very long, drunken and happy celebration of the deceased.  No sorrow, just lots of singing and laughing.

::A loud cheer went through the crowd, making it louder than it had been even before. From somewhere, someone yelled "Yuwi/Uti" ::

Pavlova: Okay, what just happened?

Oddas: ::grinning:: Someone making the party last longer.  ::scanning the crowd and then pointing to a Vadek:: Some consider it a blessing for your reception to move a happy couple to be so moved to get married during your celebration. ::she kept looking through the crowd and found a woman dressed in civil uniform and pointed her out to Irina:: Others point out, its an opportunity to get the ceremony done for free.

::The feelings and memories ran through Irina’s mind at light speed.  She remembered Dimitri proposing over in a coded message, and AJ proposing as they boarded the USS Victory.  She knew exactly what she wanted, but just wasn’t sure if it was too soon, or if Aria really wanted to settle down just yet into not only marriage, but parenthood.  Twice before someone had proposed to her, and  twice  before the whole thing had ended in tragedy.  oO You never proposed to anyone Oo.  The fear was real, at the back of her mind, that if  she proposed to Aria and somehow she said yes,  that it would end in tragedy before it began.  But  what if she didn’t?   If she said nothing,  wouldn’t that be an even greater tragedy, to never know and not  try?  Conflicted emotions, hope and fear, but most importantly love  overwhelmed  her and she knew that she had to ask.::

Pavlova: Well..::Irina gently turned Aria to face her:: : Not that I need to save money or anything, but…

Oddas: Irina, what ...

Pavlova: Will you marry me?  Right here, well, actually right down there, right now?

::Aria took a deep breath, worried, trying to head off the anxiety she knew was about to hit her like a wave. She had come to Bajor expecting awkwardness, fear, turmoil.  She had found safety, shelter, home, because Irina had insisted on the trip, because she was here, because Irina was by her side.  It was an easy decision, an obvious decision.  ::

Oddas: oO stay calm Oo Irina, I love you.  I'll marry you, and move with you and hope to make you happy and ecstatic you are happy here.  ::Aria began to realize it was worse than she feared, her babbling was mixing with, joy, to make it much worse than she had feared :: Are you sure this is what you want? ::glancing at the reception:: You're not just caught up in the ---

Pavlova: I've never been more sure of anything.  ::Irina pulled  her in  close::

Oddas: ::beaming and holding Irina's face to kiss her deeply:: Yes Irina, I'll marry you, right now. You have some decisions to make, my bride to be.  Vadek or ::searching for the word:: civil minister? Do we drag the kids along?

Pavlova: I'm an atheist, but I've read about your prophets, I understand what they are, and your people's connection to them. You choose, so long as we are together it doesn't matter to me who makes it official.

Oddas: ::hugging Irina tight:: I love you.

Pavlova: Then let's grab the girls and go down there.  You might want to grab the Ijos as well.

::They found themselves in a simple tent, the Vadek, a younger man, and an assistant along with the girls and Cada and Teevin.  Cada looking particularly happy and holding her husband's hand tightly. Teevin looked proud, more comfortable than he had earlier in the night. Cada, who had helped make the arrangements, whispered to an assistant when they entered to have the lights lowered when they entered, so it was dim, but not dark. ::

 

::Light dimmed, Irina took  off the dark sunglasses and put them in her purse, wishing  that somehow she could see color.

 

Katya: I thought weddings had to be in the garden, with rings and all that.

 

Jazmine: That’s only  human weddings.  This is a Bajoran wedding.

 

Katya: Mommy’s not Bajoran.

 

Jazmine: I guess now she’s a Bajoran-in-law.

 

Katya:  Me too.

 

Jazmine: Yes, all of us.

 

::Aria's right hand was holding Irina's left, arms raised together waist high as the assistant draped a long cloth over them, about 15cm wide and almost touching the floor on either side of their arms, scarlet in color.  Her heart was pounding, her nerves threatened to over power, she tried to focus on what the Vadek was saying, but could only think of Irina, Katya, Jazmine, the life she was creating.  ::

 

Vadek: ::looking at Aria:: Aria, do you promise to protect Irina and her family as they walk in the light of the prophets, shield her from the enemies of the world, enrich her life, bring her happiness when no others can, stay with her when sickness threatens, never desert her when riches do and treat her as your own flesh and blood?

 

Aria: With all my being.

 

::It was all so magical, the fairy tale wedding she  had always imagined as a child, and yet exotic, alien, mysterious, and all  the more romantic and meaningful for it.  Then, suddenly the attention was on her.::

 

Vadek: ::looking at Irina:: Irina, do you promise to protect Aria and her family as they walk in the light of the prophets, shield her from the enemies of the world, enrich her life, bring her happiness when no others can, stay with her when sickness threatens, never desert her when riches do and treat her as your own flesh and blood? 

 

Pavlova: Until my last breath.

 

::The assistant took the scarlett cloth and folded it gently before handing it to Jazmine.  The Vadek handed Aria a bowl of water with two hands which Aria drank from before to Irina, who took a sip and passed it back to the Vadek. ::

 

Vadek: ::holding the bowl in the air:: Boray pree hadokee. Tolata impara boresh. Preeya Aria, Preeya Irina, abrem varo atel..

 

Oddas: ::whispering to Irina, grinning wide:: That means we're married, the wedding's over.

 

::Irina wrapped her arms around her wife and lifted her into the air as she kissed her deeply.

 

Pavlova: This is the happiest night of my very long life.  I really mean that.

 

::Suddenly the couple was crushed by the hugs of everyone in the room.::

 

Cada: ::hugging Aria:: I love you Aria.

 

Teevin: ::hugging Irina:: Congratulations Irina!

 

Girls: Hey, what about us?

 

::Before they knew it they were gently corralled to the street where the party was continuing without them, until, from somewhere a voice boomed loudly "Oddas/Pavlova!" and all eyes turned toward them and the crowed cheered, electrified anew.::

Lt. Commander Oddas Aria
Executive Officer
Duronis II Embassy / USS Thor,  NCC-82607
ASDB Co-Facilitator - Training Team
E239305OA0

and

Major Irina Pavlova

Chief of Security 

Duronis II Embassy / USS Thor

Author ID O238908HA0