Post 293: C'mon Baby, Light My Bonfire

Stardate:70710.1530
Title: C'mon Baby, Light My Bonfire
Author: Lair Kellyn
Scene: Beach/Holodeck Four
Time: After Sunset
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Salvek had clearly been avoiding her. His latest means of doing this was by helping to clear away discarded dinner dishes and taking them into the kitchen.

Cleaning up was a waste of time, Kellyn objected. Everything would disappear once the program was discontinued.

By way of a response Salvek had sighed and with obvious irritation informed her that Angus and Trick had actually brought quite few of 'real world' supplies and provisions with them which needed to be tended to. She tried to help, but he shooed her away.

"Go and enjoy your evening." He said flatly."Your help is not needed here."

*He's not talking about the dishes anymore.* Kellyn thought.

Trick and Angus gave each other a look and then excused themselves, going off to set up the card tables for this evening's planned games. The couple was left alone in the kitchen.

"We need to finish our conversation, Salvek," she tugged on the sleeve of his shirt gently. She observed that the clothes she'd brought for him for the evening fit him well. "I like this outfit. You look handsome."

He ignored her compliment and continued clearing dishes. "What conversation would that be, my wife?" He set them into a bin for their return to Seven and began fussing with the business of wiping off the counter top.

"You know very well which one." She was growing seriously concerned. "We have to talk about this. You know that the fever is beginning- the worst of it is only what, two weeks away? Maybe three at most? We can't go into it this way."

"We cannot 'go into it' at all." He concluded. "Not at the present time."

"What do you mean?" she folded her arms. "You've discovered some long-hidden cure for Pon farr and didn't tell me?"

"I will control the condition with meditation," he informed her. "And also medication, if necessary. Now is not the appropriate time for this to occur."

"Not the appropriate- what are you talking about? It's not like you have a choice."

"I will use all modern means available in order to stall off the Plak tow as long as possible." He informed her. "I am currently holding the position of acting executive officer. Now is not the time."

"Liis would never want you to put your health, your life, at risk while she was in command of the ship and it could be avoided. You know that." She reached out to take his hand, and he glared at her.

"Not now, Lair Kellyn. The matter is closed."

*He called me by my full name- he really is angry.*

"Like fun it is." Tears appeared in her eyes. "This isn't over."

She stormed out of the house, grabbing a beer from the bar as she passed by it. She downed the beverage in several rapid gulps, slammed the bottle down on the table and left it. She gestured to Ashlyn, who stood nearby. "Come on, Blondie. Let's go set a fire."

Ashlyn reserved comment on Kellyn's change in demeanor, knowing from the look on her face that she didn't want to talk about it.

"Oh, yay. Let's."

They made their way down the beach toward the pyramidal structure of wood that Lily had set up earlier. February Grace and Sunshine the dog were already sitting there, and apparently had been for some time. Grace pet the dog's head as she stared in the direction of the ocean.

"Was it a pretty sunset from here, Bru?" Ashlyn asked her fellow Trill, as Fox Margolis approached and settled down onto the beach as well.

"It was," February's voice was hushed and obviously emotional. "Lovely."

Kellyn struck a match and lit the kindling. Within seconds after it caught, flames flashed up toward the darkened sky, spraying sparks. Everyone clapped.

"Who wants a drink?" Ashlyn turned to the cooler beside her.

"I'll take one." Kellyn raised her hand immediately. "Any beer left?"

"Right here." Ashlyn handed her a bottle. Kellyn twisted the cap off and tossed it back into the cooler. She took a quick gulp and tipped her bottle in thanks to her friend.

She tried not to think about the fact that Salvek was still angry with her. She had heard that Pon farr and the accompanying blood fever worsened the older a Vulcan got-and it seemed very much to be true in his case.

Earlier onset of beginning warning symptoms and signs. He also displayed a greater tendency toward anger than before, where he had been more melancholy than anything else at these times in the past. This time was going to be different. She took another swig of her beer and tried to tuck that worry away for the night.

"February? Fox?"

"No thank you. But I wonder, did Lily remember to bring the-?" Bru began.

"Marshmallows!" Lily said, approaching with several skewers and a bag of the sugared confection in hand. "Yes, yes I did. How could I forget February? I know they're your favorite."

"Any wine coolers in there?" Fox asked, and Ashlyn dug one out of the ice and handed it over.

"What did you do with Arie?" February turned herself in the direction of an increasingly blurry form that she hoped was Kellyn.

"She's sleeping at the house," Kellyn replied with obvious relief, sinking down onto the sand and crossing her legs. "Finally. I can't believe how hard she fought it."

"She was just having too much fun, Mom." Trind teased as she took a sip of her own drink. "She doesn't want to miss anything."

"Speaking of not missing anything, where did she come from?" Kellyn pointed to an approaching figure. Tall. Female. Klingon.

"N'Dura!" Lily exclaimed. "Please, join us!"

"I heard there was to be food at this celebration," N'Dura sat down on a log before the fire. "I am famished."

"You are injured!" Ashlyn jumped up and inspected the Klingon's face, which sported a shiner and quite a few other bruises. "What happened to you?"

"Nothing 'happened' to me, Doctor." the CSO assured her. "I was merely honing hand to hand combat techniques with a worthy opponent."

"I had no idea you were even here," T'Ana remarked, offering N'Dura some of the food she'd brought down from the barbecue earlier. "When did you arrive?"

"Early this afternoon." N'Dura replied, accepting a piece of meat from the platter and taking a bite. "Commander K'Pajek and I were unable to secure holodeck time elsewhere for our planned relaxation. So we found a secluded spot down the beach in order to conduct our exercises."

"Getting beat up is relaxing?" Fox remarked, shaking her head.

"You should see the other guy." N'Dura grinned, showing off her gleaming, sharpened teeth. "This meat is excellent. What is it called?"

"Barbecued ribs." Lily replied, handing N'Dura the whole platter. "Here's the rest of the slab. Everyone else is stuffed, enjoy yourself."

The Klingon nodded her gratitude and accepted a bottle of spirits as well. She tilted it to her lips. "Not blood wine," N'Dura growled softly, feeling the liquid warm first her tongue and then her throat all the way down as she drank. "But it will suffice."

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Lt. Commander Lair Kellyn
Acting Chief Engineer
USS Independence