Lt. Jg. Ryden Tarus Kel - To Our Seats
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Ryden Kel
Dec 25, 2025, 6:48:53 PM (4 days ago) Dec 25
to sb11...@googlegroups.com
((Qo'noS District - Starbase 118))
Ryden felt a flicker of relief as they approached the opera house. The
grandeur of the building was imposing, but in a way that felt
grounding rather than intimidating. Shadows stretched across the stone
steps, etched with intricate patterns that caught the torchlight.
There was a sense of history in the weight of the walls, like the
building itself had witnessed generations of stories.
Kel: I think I could use something that doesn’t ask me to be careful
with myself for a couple of hours.
Voss: Maybe we’ll be getting you a season pass before all this is over.
Kel: Honestly, that might not be the worst idea. A few hours of just…
experiencing, without worrying, could be nice.
Lyra paused to consult her PADD, and Ryden noticed the brief tension
in her posture, the careful way she checked the message from L’Rana.
When she finally put it away, the subtle shift in her energy was
almost palpable, though she masked it quickly.
Voss: Oh I… this is the worst part for me. Just walking in and…. I
always feel like I’ll say the wrong thing or miss some vital detail
and make a fool of myself. It’s silly, I know. I have to triple check
everything, and plan out what to say.
Kel: I think I understand that feeling. At least now I know I’m not alone in it.
Voss: ::laughing:: Well and it’s extra funny, because, as I’m sure
you’re starting to realize, once you actually get me to start talking,
I don’t shut up.
Kel: That’s fine. I can handle that. Conversation’s never been a problem for me.
Voss: I’ll stop stalling. We wouldn’t want to be late.
The doors loomed ahead, heavy and carved with patterns that shimmered
in the torchlight. Crossing the threshold brought them into a space of
opulence. Red velvet drapes hung from a ceiling that towered nearly
four meters above them. Gold veins ran through the polished stone
floors, reflecting the lantern light, and Ryden couldn’t resist
letting his eyes trace the intricate patterns in the woodwork.
Kel: This… this is spectacular.
Voss: Isn’t it? I bet it’s modeled after –
Her words cut off as a Klingon woman approached, her gaze direct and evaluating.
Klingon Woman: You have entered the Tang Te Voc Opera House. ::she
obviously didn’t think they had meant to:: Our performances do not
begin until this weekend.
Lyra inhaled deeply, and Ryden noted the subtle tension in her
posture, the way she seemed to center herself before replying.
Voss: L'Rana HaDwI' jIH tuq Kovek - Neerta jup ghaH 'ej QoQ ra'wI'
ghaH. DaHjaj much wIbejmeH wIghoSta'.
The woman’s expression softened, a grin breaking across her face, and
she clapped Lyra on the shoulder.
Klingon Woman: toH, Dochmey choH 'oH! jup SoHna' 'e' vIrurlaw'. I am
Ama’erta, I manage the front of house here.
Voss: Lyra Voss, and this is Ryden Kel.
Kel: Pleasure to meet you. Thank you for letting us in early.
Ama’erta: ::warmly grasping their hands:: A pleasure to meet you both.
::she pulled out a PADD and examined it for a moment:: Ah yes,
L'Rana's little soprano. Let me find you some seats. Follow me.
Ryden followed, taking in the echoes of their footsteps across the
polished floors. The lantern light stretched shadows along the walls,
and the scent of wood and stone filled the space. He felt the
excitement rise... a rare, unguarded anticipation. For once, it wasn’t
about being measured or careful; it was about being present, and
letting the moment carry him.
The theatre swallowed them in a warm, golden glow the moment they
stepped inside. Ryden’s eyes roamed over the space, taking in the
plush red velvet seats, the carved wooden balconies, and the sweeping
arches that framed the stage. The scent of polished wood and aged
stone mingled with something faintly floral... perhaps incense or
cleaning agents....and gave the room a weighty, almost sacred quality.
Kel: Wow. It’s… bigger than I imagined.
Voss:?
Ryden followed Ama’erta along the central aisle, noting how the soft
carpet muted their footsteps, making each movement feel deliberate.
The walls were adorned with reliefs of Klingon figures in mid-gesture,
swords and instruments carved into their poses. Even from here, the
stage loomed like a promise: a place where emotion could be unleashed
without restraint.
Kel: I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a theatre that feels… so alive.
Voss: ?
Ama’erta led them to their seats near the center, far enough forward
to have a clear view of the stage but tucked close enough to feel like
part of the crowd. Ryden slid into the chair, noting the firm but
comfortable padding beneath him, and allowed his gaze to drift upward
to the intricate ceiling above, painted with what looked like
constellations.
Kel: These seats are perfect. I can see everything.
Voss: ?
Ryden leaned back slightly, letting the quiet of the theatre settle
around him. He felt a rare calm, tempered by a hint of excitement. The
lights above the stage gleamed faintly, and he realized how much he’d
been craving this kind of immersion... where he didn’t have to measure
every word, every movement, every thought.
Kel: I think… I could get used to this. Even if I don’t understand a
single word yet.
Voss:?
The two of them settled into the rhythm of the theatre, Ryden’s
attention flicking between the stage, the balcony, and the small
movements of the audience members around them. Every detail... the
texture of the curtains, the distant hum of ventilation, the flicker
of torchlight on the gold trim... made the space feel alive, and for
once, Ryden allowed himself to simply take it in.
-----
Lieutenant JG Ryden Tarus Kel
Medical Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240109RK1
Ryden felt a flicker of relief as they approached the opera house. The
grandeur of the building was imposing, but in a way that felt
grounding rather than intimidating. Shadows stretched across the stone
steps, etched with intricate patterns that caught the torchlight.
There was a sense of history in the weight of the walls, like the
building itself had witnessed generations of stories.
Kel: I think I could use something that doesn’t ask me to be careful
with myself for a couple of hours.
Voss: Maybe we’ll be getting you a season pass before all this is over.
Kel: Honestly, that might not be the worst idea. A few hours of just…
experiencing, without worrying, could be nice.
Lyra paused to consult her PADD, and Ryden noticed the brief tension
in her posture, the careful way she checked the message from L’Rana.
When she finally put it away, the subtle shift in her energy was
almost palpable, though she masked it quickly.
Voss: Oh I… this is the worst part for me. Just walking in and…. I
always feel like I’ll say the wrong thing or miss some vital detail
and make a fool of myself. It’s silly, I know. I have to triple check
everything, and plan out what to say.
Kel: I think I understand that feeling. At least now I know I’m not alone in it.
Voss: ::laughing:: Well and it’s extra funny, because, as I’m sure
you’re starting to realize, once you actually get me to start talking,
I don’t shut up.
Kel: That’s fine. I can handle that. Conversation’s never been a problem for me.
Voss: I’ll stop stalling. We wouldn’t want to be late.
The doors loomed ahead, heavy and carved with patterns that shimmered
in the torchlight. Crossing the threshold brought them into a space of
opulence. Red velvet drapes hung from a ceiling that towered nearly
four meters above them. Gold veins ran through the polished stone
floors, reflecting the lantern light, and Ryden couldn’t resist
letting his eyes trace the intricate patterns in the woodwork.
Kel: This… this is spectacular.
Voss: Isn’t it? I bet it’s modeled after –
Her words cut off as a Klingon woman approached, her gaze direct and evaluating.
Klingon Woman: You have entered the Tang Te Voc Opera House. ::she
obviously didn’t think they had meant to:: Our performances do not
begin until this weekend.
Lyra inhaled deeply, and Ryden noted the subtle tension in her
posture, the way she seemed to center herself before replying.
Voss: L'Rana HaDwI' jIH tuq Kovek - Neerta jup ghaH 'ej QoQ ra'wI'
ghaH. DaHjaj much wIbejmeH wIghoSta'.
The woman’s expression softened, a grin breaking across her face, and
she clapped Lyra on the shoulder.
Klingon Woman: toH, Dochmey choH 'oH! jup SoHna' 'e' vIrurlaw'. I am
Ama’erta, I manage the front of house here.
Voss: Lyra Voss, and this is Ryden Kel.
Kel: Pleasure to meet you. Thank you for letting us in early.
Ama’erta: ::warmly grasping their hands:: A pleasure to meet you both.
::she pulled out a PADD and examined it for a moment:: Ah yes,
L'Rana's little soprano. Let me find you some seats. Follow me.
Ryden followed, taking in the echoes of their footsteps across the
polished floors. The lantern light stretched shadows along the walls,
and the scent of wood and stone filled the space. He felt the
excitement rise... a rare, unguarded anticipation. For once, it wasn’t
about being measured or careful; it was about being present, and
letting the moment carry him.
The theatre swallowed them in a warm, golden glow the moment they
stepped inside. Ryden’s eyes roamed over the space, taking in the
plush red velvet seats, the carved wooden balconies, and the sweeping
arches that framed the stage. The scent of polished wood and aged
stone mingled with something faintly floral... perhaps incense or
cleaning agents....and gave the room a weighty, almost sacred quality.
Kel: Wow. It’s… bigger than I imagined.
Voss:?
Ryden followed Ama’erta along the central aisle, noting how the soft
carpet muted their footsteps, making each movement feel deliberate.
The walls were adorned with reliefs of Klingon figures in mid-gesture,
swords and instruments carved into their poses. Even from here, the
stage loomed like a promise: a place where emotion could be unleashed
without restraint.
Kel: I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a theatre that feels… so alive.
Voss: ?
Ama’erta led them to their seats near the center, far enough forward
to have a clear view of the stage but tucked close enough to feel like
part of the crowd. Ryden slid into the chair, noting the firm but
comfortable padding beneath him, and allowed his gaze to drift upward
to the intricate ceiling above, painted with what looked like
constellations.
Kel: These seats are perfect. I can see everything.
Voss: ?
Ryden leaned back slightly, letting the quiet of the theatre settle
around him. He felt a rare calm, tempered by a hint of excitement. The
lights above the stage gleamed faintly, and he realized how much he’d
been craving this kind of immersion... where he didn’t have to measure
every word, every movement, every thought.
Kel: I think… I could get used to this. Even if I don’t understand a
single word yet.
Voss:?
The two of them settled into the rhythm of the theatre, Ryden’s
attention flicking between the stage, the balcony, and the small
movements of the audience members around them. Every detail... the
texture of the curtains, the distant hum of ventilation, the flicker
of torchlight on the gold trim... made the space feel alive, and for
once, Ryden allowed himself to simply take it in.
-----
Lieutenant JG Ryden Tarus Kel
Medical Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240109RK1
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