[sb118-valkyrie] JP: Lieutenant Is'Kah Xiron and Lieutenant JG Ghee'looth Xiron - Welcome to the BBQ - Part 2
Colgin
((Nor’shalgah Neighborhood, Harbortown, Equatorial Provence, Andoria))
Once the audience was in position, he looked over the crowd with his one good antenna and stopped on a small zhen with her mother. Reaching into his robe, he produced a small metal cup. The mother whispered to the little zhen and placed a metal token in her hand. with help from her mother, she dropped the token into the metal cup with a clack.
In an action like that of an old-style vending machine, the old man straightened up and threw back his shoulders, letting the beggar’s robe fall. He now stood with an authoritative stage presence in a set of finely crafted traditional Andorian warrior’s armor, both his antennae stood ramrod straight at a forward angle, and his eyes were those of a man on a mission. He took his belt, a Ushaan-tor, but unlike the one Ghee had from the Imperial Guard Academy, it was longer with larger serrations. The weapon was as ancient as anything the Oo’rah clan possessed, but in the bonfire’s light, it shone with the brilliance of newly manufactured metal. The elder then did several showy slashes and flicks with it to the delight of the watching children. He held the blade above his head, and everyone quieted.
Clan Storyteller: In the beginning, there was just Emperor Andor and his lover Andoria. Emperor Andor, massive, strong, turbulent, and rageful, and Andoria steady, wise, and fertile, join in a true bond, destined to last forever. They danced and twirled in a void of infinite darkness with just the stars watching, but Andor, like all emperors, wanted more and demanded children. Eons go by, and Andor and Andoria are still alone together in the void. Andoria, not wishing to deny her love anything, assented to Andor taking new lovers. ::He gestured to the bright disc of the gas giant’s other moons.:: Andor and Andoria began to dance and twirl with their new concubines, but still, children eluded them. Andoria, in her wisdom, sees the rage of her lover, knows it is this that makes him sterile. Andoria, again not wishing to deny her beloved, meditated and dreamed into existence children on her own.::He gestures to all the people listening to the story.:: She presented her children to Andor, expecting him to be happy. Instead, he becomes jealous of her creation and her power to make life. He rages for eons. Andoria, desperate to protect her children from Andor, takes them into her womb’s warmth, and she becomes cold to her estranged lover. Her love for him freezes for 1000 generations of her children, but Andoria’s wisdom was as great as her love.
She needed a partner to help her children grow and to give them back the sky. So, while Andor raged, she meditated and forced into being a mirror twin to her former lover, Andor. Andor raged but also recognized that, having dreamed two beings into existence, Andoria was more powerful than he was. Andore was warmth and light, melting the heart of Andoria. He provided for her children so they could return to her fertile lands, see the sky, and dream as she had dreamed. They all began to dance and twirl. Hearts were mended and balanced returned. But Andor, forever being rageful and vain Andor would still from time to time eclipse Andor to remind everyone of the centrality he once had. So, we, the children of Andoria, will keep this fire burning and do not retreat from our promised place.
He then flourished the ushaan-tor in several moves as if the ancient weapon and its ancient bearer could keep away the dark and cold by will alone. The poem over, parents clapped for him, and he brought a chair to continue telling other stories to the children.
Ghee: That was one of my favorite memories of the Light Festival. When all the other myths and legends became something just for children, that one stayed. Maybe because it's clear allegories to the cosmos.::Takes Is’Kah’s hand:: All the early Andorian spacecraft were named for Andor’s concubines.
The hybrid grinned at Ghee as they took her hand. With the other, she gestured around, speaking in an excited tone.
Is’Kah: Sh’za, that is amazing. I love your home. It is beautiful, and I adore the traditions that you have developed.
Ghee:: Smiling to her love:: Well, I was just born into it, but I am glad you are enjoying yourself. It can’t be easy being so surrounded by a new culture.
Drawing Ghee’s head down, Is’Kah pressed their foreheads together and projected a mental antennae brush against the Andorian’s physical ones.
Is’Kah: Thank you for sharing with me.
Ghee: Everything that I am is yours.
Stepping back, Is’Kah took Ghee’looth’s hands while giggling. She was trying to push the feelings she had a few minutes before by pretending to be happy. She was trying to fake it until it became reality.
Is’Kah: Do you want to try the food I made for you?
Ghee: More than anything.
Ghee continued hand in hand with Is’Kah back to the large patio area, which was lit up with festive lighting. Two long wooden tables sat crowded with food. Members of the extended family were picking out spots on the long benches next to choice dishes.
Ghee: Which one did you make?
Is’Kah: I made those, and I also cooked the soup the way you prefer.
She pointed to the dishes while they staked out two open spots nearest the serving dish. The taller woman helped her tiny partner over the bench and assisted her in settling in before stepping over it herself.
Ghee: Once the table has filled in, we will pass the dishes along. Now would be a good time for you to say your grace.
Is’Kah: Yes, sh’za.
Nodding, Is’Kah bowed her head, whispering a prayer to her Goddess. Normally, she would set aside the first portions of the meal, but in this case, she had already completed her sacrifice in the kitchen.
Ghee’looth’s three parents climbed onto the bench on the opposite side of the table from the two ladies and a cousin sat next to Is’Kah, and someone she did not recognize sat next to her. The hybrid felt her partner’s annoyance at being singled out, causing the half Vulcan to squeeze Ghee’s hand.
Sitting directly across from Ghee was her shreva, shen mother, Asaiza. Ghee had felt bad not having spoken to her beyond their greeting at the door earlier. She sat between her two spouses, looking onto her daughter and her partner, but her antennae gave away nothing.
Adaiza: How are you holding up, Is’Kah? I hope this much family is not overwhelming. Believe it or not, but the neighborhood is usually very quiet. These eclipses happen at such an irregular interval that some overdue it. The last one was nearly two Terran years ago but only lasted a day.
Giving Adaiza a soft smile, Is’Kah spoke warmly.
Is’Kah: I find myself enjoying the event. It warms my katra to see my family come together.
Mir’looth::Leaned in and touched antennae cup to cup with Shen:: Is’Kah seems to be adapting fine. She was a real hand in the kitchen.
Adaiza: Oh, good. I would hate to think Ghee is still eating replicated field rations like you did in school.
Ghee’garie: When she came home, all she lived on were Bolian pastries and Klingon coffee.
Is’Kah: ::mumbles:: Still tries.
Adaiza: Or street food outside of those clubs.
Is’Kah: There is nothing wrong with street food. We often visited the Taco Trucks outside of the Academy together.
Mir’looth: She never did eat well. Remember when she was little, all she would eat was Terran peanut butter.
Is’Kah: Peanut butter? Does this mean I need to make some special cookies for you, sh’za?
Ghee was feeling her cheeks darken at being called out by her parents. Under the table she squeezed Is’Kah’s hand in embarrassment.
Ghee: Mothers! I am not a child anymore, and the peanut butter you are confusing me with Glive’vann.
The group was briefly distracted as serving dishes began to be passed about the table. Ghee discreetly took a sausage from one of the passing plates, still feeling self-conscious about the parental scrutiny of her diet.
Ghee: Is’Kah and I try to sit down to a meal at least once a cycle. We have more than full-time duties on the ship.
Adaiza: You could always come work in the university archives. You used to love exploring the racks of scrolls.
Ghee: Those scrolls have been there for centuries, they will wait a few more years. Anyway, Is'Kah and I were not warping through the unknown that expands the knowledge held in places like the archive.
Is’Kah: Maybe after retirement, but until then, my sh’za and I will be Starfleet’s sword and shield.
Another dish passed by this one, with a bowl of starchy millet with cubed vegetables. Ghee took a ladle full onto her plate and sent the dish further on its way.
Mir’looth: You must save room. Is’Kah really took to Andorian cooking quickly.
Ghee wondered for the dozenth time where the rest of her siblings were and how she was getting all the attention of her parents.
Ghee::to Is’Kah:: Oh, you saw the secret stew ingredients?
Mir’looth: Hush, you know who may be able to hear you.
Winking at Ghee, Is’Kah gave a slight nod to her. She had indeed seen the secret ingredients and had the recipe to make some for them later.
As Ghee was being dragged through her adolescence by her mothers, Ghee’garie looked onto Is’Kah with sympathy.
Ghee’garie: Sorry for all the::sarcastic antennae flick::drama. Our Ghee’looth does not come home enough. Her mothers have become very possessive, and on top of it, she brings such a zhri’za with her. I imagine it will be the talk of the block for the rest of the eclipse. Don’t take it personal, my Shi's Chei just made Subaltern in the Governorate Emergency Medical Rescue Service, and everyone in the family is just wagging their antennae off about how proud they are to have a hero like that in the Clan. Well, the two of you will likely get a lot of that treatment.
Is'Kah: Zhadi, it is more than alright. I enjoy meeting the rest of my family. The acceptance of most of them fills a hole in my katra that I didn’t know was there.
Ghee’garie: So, Mir tells me you made this?
The hybrid nodded, a grin on her face.
Is’Kah: I did. I enjoy cooking, even if it’s with replicated ingredients. As my shen’s zhen, I want to take care of her, and cooking is just one of those ways to show my affection for her.
Ghee’garie: It is good to know she is in capable hands. You should use that new seniority to make sure she takes care of herself. I saw Loothy’s room at the academy. I can only imagine what she is eating. Sure, it is all the nutrition she needs, but it is not family. I was newly bonded to Mir and Adaiza when I volunteered for the Dominion War. The families' first Light Festival, I was on some coms relay platform out in the galactic north over the Neutral Zone. Everything we ate was replicated.
Is’Kah: So, about those embarrassing childhood moments, ::beat:: do you have any blackma- I mean childhood photos to share of my sh’za?
Ghee’garie::His antenna twitched, and a broad smile crossed his face:: Oh that. Well, all the family photos would be on the family server, which I am sure you have seen. But there may be some in a locked file. What was the password?
Ghee: Charan? Please, she does not need them.
Is’Kah: Sh’za, don’t deny your mothers the joy of embarrassing you. After all, we’ll be doing it to our children when they bring home their partners for the first time.
Ghee’garie: I wonder how well our near zhen knows Graalen. If you find a file named ‘Shla’hlast’ you may try loothy’s birthday, old Andorian calendar of course.
Ghee::To Is’Kah:: You don’t have to do that.
Is’Kah: When we visit Vulcan, my mother will show you my baby holo’s. I know she has a few that she’s been waiting to share with you.
Ghee’garie: Oh, that would be wonderful.
Ghee: I find it hard to imagine you as a child. In my mind, you were just you, but smaller.
Tilting her head, Is’Kah smirked at Ghee.
Is’Kah: Sh’za, dearest, I stopped growing when I was 14. I was this size as a child.
Ghee’garie: Of course, zha was a child.
Ghee silently dipped her dark bread into the stew, letting it soak up some of the broth.
Adaiza: If you really want to see what Ghee’looth’s childhood was like, you two should go out to the Kardola land in the Inland Wild. Remember how much fun we would have visiting there? You used to love swimming in the river and hiking in the mountains.
Is’Kah felt a spark of joy flash through her at the mention of Ghee’looth’s childhood. She did want to visit, but those desires were dashed moments later.
Ghee: I am not sure Is’Kah would be into anything that rustic.
Adaiza: Rustic, don’t be silly, they have all the modern conveniences. Is’Kah is in the clans now, she needs to see her blood right, and you can use some time outdoors.
Taking Ghee’s hand, Is’Kah lifted it to kiss the back of it. While she understood the reluctance at having to experience everything you disliked about your childhood, as she had a similar disdain for her own, they both still needed to understand where the other was coming from.
Is’Kah: Sh’za, if I am your zh’yi, then I need to experience everything that is expected of a clan zhen. I will be expected to teach our zhei about their history, after all.
Ghee::Her right antennae raised in a questioning gesture.:: I am sure we will do right by them.
Tilting her head, Is’Kah blinked a few times as the realization of what she had said sank in. She had just told her parents-in-law that she planned to give them grandbabies to dote on. While she had planned to have children with Ghee, she wasn’t sure she was balanced enough to be a parent at the moment.
Is’Kah: Sh’za, I think I might have slipped up and said something I shouldn’t have…
Ghee::She placed her hand on zha’s knee and leaned her forehead to zha’s:: Relax dear. Everyone here is excited to see you, too.
Mir’looth: I am sure when the two of you::beat:: or more meet the right guys that you will be a great Zhavey.
Smiling at the family's antics, Is’Kah kissed Ghee’s cheek.
Is’Kah: I know this is hard for you but thank you for sharing it with me.
Ghee::blushing a little bit at the emotional display in front of her family.:: It has been a joy sharing this with you.
Mir’looth: Now aren’t you so cute together.
Ghee’garie took a small holocamera out of his shirt pocket and recorded the moment.
Ghee could feel her cheeks burn from the attention. No matter how far she had gone, coming home to this house would always make her a child again.
Ghee: Well, that is one more for the album.::Trying to change the subject.:: The Inland Wilds are very pretty, and I would not mind seeing you decked out in clan armor.
Adaiza::Aloofly eating some of Is’Kah’s pancakes:: Is’Kah must see the clan armorer. Zha will need something to wear to the clan games next season.
Ghee: You know, we can’t guarantee we will even be in this quadrant next season?
Adaiza::Leaning in to touch her antennae to Ghee’garie:: You Starfleet officers always make it sound like you are stranded on the far side of the galaxy. I mean, when we are back here sometime in the future, it will be nice to have you come to the games.
Ghee::Giving in:: Yes, Shreva. But we are starting a new mission. Is’Kah and I have been transferred to the Valkyrie. It will be a slightly different work schedule.
Ghee’garie: Well, if any two officers could handle it would be our lieutenants here.
Mir’looth: Send holo images so I know what to send you to decorate your quarters. You know, Loothy did not have a signal thing on her wall at the Academy.
Ghee: I was a cadet. I was not allowed anything on my walls.
Mir’looth: I will pick out some nice serving bowls. You may want to have guests over for meals.
Ghee’looth bent her antennae in surrender as her parents dotted on her in front of her spouse.
Is’Kah: Thank you, they will be a nice addition to our new quarters.
Lieutenant Is’Kah Xiron
Chief of Tactical and Security
USS Valkyrie, NCC-16418-A
R240101I14
Pronouns:
She/Her (Player and Character)
Zha/Zhen (Character)
and
Lieutenant JG Ghee’looth Xiron
Acting Chief Engineer
USS Valkyrie-A
D240010GX2