Lt. JG Trovek & Amb. Zorkal - "Never Gonna Say Goodbye"
Amanda Nordstrom
((Zorkal Family Home - Cardassia Prime))
The hearing had not occurred as Lukin had expected. With the warning Ferri had given him, he had thought they would have a rocky road ahead of them, that he would have to dig into his contacts, perhaps bribe or threaten some people. And then Broca relented.
That last by itself was shocking, though Lukin had divulged no emotional indication of it in front of anyone. Only Arys would hear his admittance to such a surprise - not because he doubted her but because he had doubted Broca. And that doubt had been unfounded - the man had earned more respect from the Ambassador because of it.
The outcome was what they had wanted. And if there had been any question in Lukin’s mind, it was wiped away completely at the sight of the ebony haired woman who stood before a Cardassian hearing and fought for the life of a child. Lukin knew that had Geleth been left behind to wallow in that prison of an orphanage, she might as well be put out of her misery. But she hadn’t been. Arys prevailed.
The celebration was small, because it wouldn't’ be a *proper* celebration without the child with them, but Lukin had asked Madra to prepare a meal and upon their arrival, it was set out, all the foods that he knew Arys liked best, with a couple of her favourites. When Geleth came home, another would be made, but it would with his own two hands. And yet the meal waited, because upon their arrival at the house, the two skipped eating and went to satisfy a different kind of hunger.
And afterward he lay with her upon the bed, his arms enfolding her into his embrace. The blinds were barely cracked and the rich hues of sunset coloured the sky, and the broken skyline of the mountain silhouetted against the depths of purples, burnt orange and blues as the light faded from existence. One hand idly ran through her hair and he pondered the turn of events, a most satisfactory one to be certain. Now they could truly make plans and aim for the future. And then there was Ferri. Yes, he would need to deal with her as well, but that would wait until the morning.
Zorkal: It seems you have won the day.
Trovek: It seems so.
Arys had managed to maintain her composure throughout the judges decision, and the subsequent signing of paperwork. She had been grateful and graceful through the congratulations from those who had prepped her, and had barely done as much as take Lukin’s hand as the skimmer brought them home.
Then, when the doors to the outside world had closed and they were alone, the emotions had burst forth, and found an outlet eventually. Now she was tired. Tired, yet content.
Zorkal: Now we can move forward on matters.
He couldn’t see her face, her head tucked beneath his chin, but he loathed to move, even with a meal waiting for them.
Trovek: We can. I will set up a meeting with DeVeau to let her know the change of… life-circumstances, I suppose. I am sure Starfleet has several protocols and procedures in place for situations like this.
Zorkal: They always do. Starfleet was well known for it’s ‘protocols and procedures’. Cardassia was as well, though their philosophies differed greatly in many ways.
Zorkal: There’s a lot to accomplish, but we’ll take it one step at a time.
Arys nodded thoughtfully. It was true - there were plenty of arrangements still to be made - starting at the acquisition of an additional place on the ship that would bring them back into Federation Territory, to making one of Lukin’s spare bedrooms child friendly, and eventually ending at the question how they would explain to Geleth that they were leaving Cardassia.
Trovek: I quite liked the additional support I had during the trial, I would not at all mind something similar when navigating the following days and weeks.
A tick plucked at the corner of Lukin’s mouth and had he not been in quite so comfortable a position, he would have nodded.
Zorkal: I’m sure we can arrange something.
Trovek: True… do you have anything specific that is on your mind? A matter you want to move forward with?
Had she read his mind? That thought was preposterous. She was not telepathic. No, but perhaps she had something similar on her own mind - or knew him well enough that she reocgnised that he did.
Zorkal: Do you?
Trovek: Well, amongst other things, I do think we will need to discuss our living arrangement sooner or later. Unless you think differently?
Zorkal: I suppose I might as well broach it here.
He was loath to move, but move he did, as now the conversation had turned to a different and just as serious matter, one that required documentation and a discussion as to where it might end up.
Trovek: Broach what?
She hated that he was moving, and out of principle decided that it made her owner of *all* of the blanket, which she wrapped around herself as she sat up and looked at Lukin.
Zorkal: It’s not quite finished, but if you wish, we can go over it together, refine it and submit it before we leave.
Trovek: You’ve lost me. What are we talking about?
Zorkal: The document.
He didn’t offer any other explanation than that, but motioned toward the door, though he did first pause to pluck his robe from the back of his chair and pull it around him.
Arys sighed and looked around the room, trying to locate her clothes. She failed, wondering if they had been left in the hallway, shrugged, and decided to just remain cocooned in the blanket.
Trovek: Slow down a little. I am sure this makes sense in your Cardassian head, but for us normal mortals, you’ll have to tell me what this is about.
Zorkal: I’ve written up - or rather, partially written up - a contract.
Trovek: Oh, that clarifies everything. ::she rolled her eyes:: That clarifies nothing.
Wrapping the robe around him, Lukin secured the belt, then clasped his hands behind him. Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but there might have been a glint of amusement in his eyes.
Zorkal: I started it before we left Cardassia. I know it’s not usual, but perhaps it would be good to write it jointly. That will also be a more efficient use of our time rather than submitting then revising.
Arys still had no idea what a contract was needed for, and she was pretty sure that Lukin was *aware* that she didn’t know, and had decided to mock her.
Trovek: Of course. We are both busy people.
Zorkal: Since the console is in my office, it will require physical movement. You may wish to get dressed.
He paused, eyed the bundle that lay in his bed, then remarked.
Zorkal: Though I will admit I will not mind at all if you don’t.
Trovek: I am not at all surprised.
She smirked and got up, picking up the closest piece of cloth she found - which turned out to be Lukin’s tunic. Arys shrugged and put it on, for a moment revelling in her conquest. It wasn’t a soft fabric, but it was large enough to fit her frame twice.
Lukin paused, as if he might have second thoughts, but evidently decided that he should follow through with his intentions on the matter he’d already brought up, but he couldn’t help but quip lightly.
Zorkal: I see you’ve stolen my shirt.
Trovek: It’s called sharing, you can wear the dress if you like.
Zorkal: I’ll pass.
She stepped closer, poked his stomach, and motioned for him to lead the way - she had to admit that she *was* curious as to what Lukin was up to.
He caught her hand and squeezed it. Then much like she had on multiple occasions, he kept a hold of it and led her by the hand out of their room and into the smaller one that served as an officer. Once there, he tapped the screen of the console and it came to life. Gesturing toward the chair, he allowed her the front row seat to the work he’d been mulling over since before their trip. A few taps more and it flashed upon the screen, a contract for a union - one between him and a certain Doctor Trovek Arys.
Arys stared at the screen, and it took her a moment to understand what she was reading there. And even once she had understood, she couldn’t quite believe her eyes.
For a while, she didn’t react. She didn’t know *how* to react.
Trovek: I… ::she tried eventually::… did not think this was something you wanted.
Lukin tried to think of a time he might have indicated that he would be opposed to a union between himself and her, but his memory was foolproof, and there was none.
Zorkal: And when have I said that?
She turned around and looked up at him, still at a loss for words.
Trovek: You do remember I left Lauer the day before the wedding, right? You saw the dress and all.
Zorkal: I am aware.
One hand leaned against the table as he gazed over the contract. It was honestly almost done, just a few minor things that he wanted to add or edit, but as he had said, it would be faster that way. She cold make whatever modifications she felt were justified, they could work on it and get it finished and then file it.
Trovek: And that doesn’t worry you at all?
Arys was worried. She had though that she wanted to get married to Lauer until the day before the wedding, where she had realized that she couldn’t stand the man.
Zorkal: Of course, if this is not something you wish, then I certainly will not press the issue.
He knew what he wanted. The question was, did she? He had seen signs that she might, but Lukin was also aware that sometimes he just didn’t get subtlety. Perhaps he had missed something.
Trovek: No. ::pause:: Yes. Wait, was there even a question? ::she sighed:: I do… want this. I just didn’t think-… I adopted a child. About three hours ago.
That was very true. And that was a big adjustment, but this had been something in the back of his mind for a while, and with recent events, it made sense to move forward with it.
Zorkal: You do have the freedom to refuse the contract.
Trovek: I am not saying no. ::She pondered the matter, didn’t come to a conclusion, and decided that more information was needed:: What’s that like, on Cardassia?
But neither was she saying yes. Her question was valid, she was seeking - after all, she was not accustomed to Cardassian ways of doing things - at least, not in *all* aspects.
Zorkal: This is the first step.
He motion toward the screen and the mountain of words that filled it.
Trovek: I see there is a contract. We have those on Earth sometimes but they are less… elaborate.
That was new to him. From what he’d seen, Lukin had no idea that contractual marriages existed on Earth. Then again, he hadn’t ever wanted to marry, nor had he participated in the entails of a marriage, with a human before. Less elaborate - that certainly was a very human term.
Zorkal: First there is a contract. It is then submitted to the intended. Depending upon said person’s status, that will either be the intended herself or the person in authority over her.
He paused, then commented dryly, a bit of amusement in his gaze.
Zorkal: I know better than to submit this to anyone but you.
Trovek: Yes. Because there’s no one left.
The answer came quickly and equally dryly, but not without a hint of bitterness to it. She looked away from him, looking at the screen, or rather, right through it. Only half a year ago, Lukin would have had to ask her grandfather, and her father would have wanted a say in the matter as well. Of course, in truth it would always have been Arys’ decision, but asking for her hand in marriage was tradition. Now they were gone.
The sudden shift made Lukin pause. Sometimes emotions were difficult to navigate, especially with people who reacted differently to something that you considered a joke but wasn’t quite received in that manner. Frowning, he decided to look into the matter of marriage for humans in detail - he had evidently missed something.
Zorkal: I am sorry.
It was an apology. Something hard to come by at times, but somehow it seemed…well, it seemed the right thing to do for her.
Trovek: ::she shrugged:: I am just stating things as they are. Only you now. So don’t you dare leave me too.
And that brought out one of his smiles, the ones that were tender, that exposed something within the harder crust on the outside and gave a hint to the softer side that was usually well hidden. It was something few people had seen, and even fewer remained alive. She was one of them. His arms slipped about her and drew her close to him, pressed to his chest and he kissed her, then proceeded to guide her back to his room so he could assure her in a variety of ways how he promised never to leave.