Commander Wil Ukinix - Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Wil Ukinix
(OOC: This happens hours before Tri’lea comes to see Keehani in Wet Goods to tell her about Naminae Vataix)
((Three Stripes, Mezzanine Level, Grand Mezzanine, Amity Outpost))
Summerside: “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” You know any other Matriarchs or Daughters or whatever it is they call you around here who might have triggered that sort of response from the Mother Perennial of the Eleventh House of Betazed?
Wil chuckled, and looked sideways to consider, before looking back at Arthur.
Ukinix: Arthur, there’s more Betazoid nobles coming and going from this place than uni students at a music festival on Freecloud. Rivi’s mum’s here. It’s odd Keehani didn’t say anything, or know she was coming, but who knows – maybe Numoon- uh, maybe she wanted to surprise her daughter? ::Shrug:: She’s her mum after all.
Not satisfied with that answer, Arthur squinted as a took a sip of his honey bourbon while he let out an unsatisfied “hmm”.
Summerside: Eeeehhhhh… Something feels “off” about it to me. ::Raising an eyebrow:: If you get wind of what’s going on, I wouldn’t be mad if you let your old pal Arthur in on it.
Wil’s shoulders deliberately jiggled a little as he quietly chuckled, to telegraph he’d never do such a thing, but he appreciated the attempt in good humour from Arty anyway.
Summerside: I’ll be doing my own digging though.
Ukinix: Well, it’s not FDC or Starfleet related, so I can’t stop you. But if you’re thinking of writing a story on Rivi and I get wind of it, I have to mention it to her, at the very least out of professional courtesy. ::smirking:: You know all about that, don’t you Arthur.
Summerside: Shaking his head:: Writing a story? Oh, no, no no… I can’t make my whole damn career out of writing tabloid stories about what Betazoid noble’s found themselves in hot water this week or that. ::Chuckling:: This is more of a matter of personal interest… I hate to say it, but I’ve gotten “invested”.
Ukinix: ::shrug:: Nah, you may be right too. Betazoid nobles are a breed of their own. ::Smirking:: Possibly literally, I think half of them may be inbred.
Summerside: Present company excluded?
Wil tilted his head to the left a little.
Ukinix: Ha ha, very funny.
The reporter raised his glass slightly in the air.
Summerside: Well, maybe I’ll have to make a point of finding my way into the gene pool. Imagine that. Arthur Summerside – “First Man” of the Eleventh House of Betazed… or whatever they call it.
Wil deliberately stifled a quick laugh.
Ukinix: If that happens, I’ll see you in Gre’thor. ::Lifting glass:: Another drink? You did say it was your shout, Arty.
Summerside: Yeah, yeah, yeah. ::Motioning to the bartender:: Miss, T’Plotuk, if you’d be so kind?
In true Vulcan fashion, T’Plutok’s eyebrow raised before she moved to get two more drinks ready.
Summerside: ::To Wil:: In all seriousness, Wil, you might want to look into it. You’re involved now – whether you like it or not. Your nosy cousin, bless her, made sure of that.
Ukinix: ::Long sigh::… yeah…
He finished the rest of his Japanese whisky, grimacing a little as he swallowed, before leaning forward and resting his chin on his hand, mindlessly watching T’Plutok preparing their drinks.
Ukinix: ::Looking towards bar:: And all that noble politics crap.
((Flashback – Homestead, Terra Tanunda Vineyard, Tanunda, Australia Earth – Jan 02, 2400))
(OOC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGCdLKXNF3w&t=34s)
Standing on the slightly sloped lawned area that sat alongside rows of vines, Wil watched as Keehani playfully dodged left and right with “Flower”, the black and white border collie dog that was a resident on his grandparent’s vineyard.
Keehani: Now I’m going this way… ::Shuffles left:: now I’m going this way… ::shuffles right:: and now I’m going this way!
Flower barked playfully as she tried to keep in time with the new person that was entertaining her.
Keehani: Aaand now I’m going ::shuffles right, then quickly left:: Ah ha! I got you, didn’t I!
The Betazoid leaned forward and rubbed her hands against the sides of Flower’s head, who panted with her tongue out, before letting out another loud bark of joy.
Keehani: Oh, she’s a delight.
Ukinix: ::leaning forward to pat Flower:: She’s our favourite girl. ::To Flower:: Aren’t ya, Flower!
Keehani: She loves this attention, even more than me playing shuffles with her.
Ukinix: She does?
Keehani: ::looking up:: You can’t tell?
Ukinix: ::Shrug:: Nah, never have sensed emotions in animals. ::Pondering:: Well, I think I may have been able to when I was Acradem.
Keehani: Oh. ::looking back at flower:: I never knew that.
He half wished that “Acradem”, the Betazoid version of himself that had appeared after Wil’s transporter accident, had come home to Earth – that way he’d have the memory of sensing Flower’s emotions.
Ukinix: But you can, right?
Keehani: ::Smiling:: Of course. ::To Flower, playful voice:: Of course I can… of course I can! ::Back to Wil:: Maybe it’s a generational thing for hybrids.
Ukinix: ::Shrug:: Dunno. Could be. Explains why Granddad and Flower get along so well.
Keehani gave a knowing smile, while still looking at Flower and patting her.
Keehani: Oh… now she wants to play again.
That surprised Wil a little, Flower hadn’t even began to telegraph her desire to play yet.
Ukinix: ::Raised eyebrow:: Wow… um… ::looking around:: righto…
Wil made his way over to one of the nearby gum trees, then picked up a stick that had fallen from it.
Ukinix: ::Whistle:: Oi, Flower!
After waving the stick around so that Flower visually spotted it, Wil turned around and threw it as far as he could up a nearby gravel path. The border collie left Keehani in an instant and sprinted after the stick. Keehani let out a laugh, before standing up and taking a few steps to stand next to her cousin.
Keehani: ::Long pleased sigh, watching Flower:: This is the mini-break I needed before I go back to Betazed tomorrow. ::Looking around:: I hope I get invited back here.
Ukinix: ::chuckles:: I’m pretty sure you can come here whenever you bloody like. If Grandma and Grandpa consider you part of the family, one of those spare rooms is yours whenever you want it. The tricky part will be getting them to let you leave a few days later, trust me.
Keehani simply giggled, before watching as Flower came back to the pair with the stick in her mouth.
Ukinix: ::To Keehani:: Grab the stick.
Keehani: ::Reaching forward:: Hey girl, can I-
Flower playfully growled and pulled backwards, initiating a friendly tug of war.
Keehani: ::To Flower:: Hey! Now, how am I meant to throw-
After a few seconds, Flower let go, sending Keehani hurtling backward a few steps – and making Wil burst out laughing.
Keehani: ::Surprised laugh:: Just as mischievous as you I see.
Ukinix: ::Slight smirk:: Runs in the family, Keehani. Go on, chuck it as far as you can.
The newly anointed Matriarch Ascendant pulled the stick back over her shoulder, before throwing it as far as she could. Flower immediately went sprinting after the stick.
Keehani laughed a little again, before standing back next to her cousin.
Keehani: Speaking of family, Wil-
Ukinix: No.
Keehani: ::Innocently:: What?
Ukinix: I’m not stupid.
Keehani: You are a *designate*. You can have a *noble title*, do you know what that means?
Ukinix: Yes. Politics, drama, and hating other people because they belong to an organisation with a different number to yours.
Keehani: ::eyeroll, scowl sigh:: You were wrong before Wil, you *are* stupid.
Ukinix: Oi.
Keehani: By the Four Wil, some people on Betazed would be clambering over hordes just to have a noble title. Look what Tri’lea has to go through just to get hers.
Wil pursed his lips, and crossed his arms. After a small pang of guilt, he reaffirmed his resolve. He wasn’t “people”, he was one person, an individual with his own thoughts and feelings. His decision wasn’t about “people” or Tri’lea. Right at that moment, he didn’t want the title of “Son of the Ninth House of Betazed.” And he didn’t know when, or even if, he would want it.
Flower came running back with the stick in her mouth. Keehani’s displeasure with Wil immediately shifted to joy for Flower, as she leaned forward to grab the stick in the border collie’s mouth. Knowing the drill this time, she waggled it gently back and forth while pulling on it, making Flower playfully growl again. As she did, she spoke to Wil.
Keehani: If… not… now… then… when…
When Flower let go of the stick, Keehani wasted no time in throwing it again, sending the dog at high warp to chase after it.
Ukinix: ::Shrugging:: Dunno. When I’m ready.
((End Flashback))
Summerside: ::Shrug:: Every world’s got their politics. The question you’ve gotta consider is whether you want to be an outsider or an insider.
With his chin in his hand, he subconsciously put his finger on the table and moved it around in circles as he answered Arthur.
Ukinix: Outsider. Definitely.
Summerside: Sure, but it’s cold on the outside, my friend. Damn cold, sometimes…
Wil, thankful for the incoming distraction from the topic at hand, smiled when T’Plutok made her way over to their booth with their drinks. As she left, Arty tipped his hat in appreciation, before holding his new glass out to Wil. The XO returned the gesture, allowing Arty to clink them together.
Summerside: Here’s to keeping warm.
Ukinix: ::Smile returning:: I’ll drink to that mate. ::Clinking his glass against Arthur’s once more:: Cheers, big ears.
[End Scene for Wil!]
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Commander Wil Ukinix
Starfleet attaché and First Officer
Amity Outpost
V239511WU0