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bad-at-names-and-faces · 3 years

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Tea Time

chapter 33

chapter index

It was grey and overcast, and there was a distinct chill in the air this morning. It had been a few days since the ship had left with Corona’s emissary and the prince and princess, and Lars was silently counting down the days until the inevitable as he walked down the hallway to the Ambassador’s room.

“Good morning, Mr. Meyer,” Lars greeted the Ambassador. The other young man from Corona, the one Lars was training to replace himself, had not arrived yet, even though it was the first full work day since the morning the ship had left him alone in Arendelle.

“Here,” the Ambassador said dryly, handing him something, “it’s an invitation to tea with the Queen.”

“Sir?” Lars took the card from the Ambassador, reading through it. “This is only for me?”

“Yes,” the Ambassador replied gruffly. “I assume it will be a briefing for your new position.”

“Of course, Sir,” Lars replied, swallowing hard, and hoping the Ambassador thought it was nervousness about his promotion. Lars could only think of one reason that the Queen would ask him, and only him to tea. Kristoff had obviously told her about their talk. Lars had absolutely no idea what he might actually say to her, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to know what she might have to say to him.

Meyer had already turned to his papers. “We have a few hours until you need to be ready for that, so let’s get to work here. I hope this new young man doesn’t usually sleep in like this.”

***

Inga looked out the window of the study, somehow hoping to see something besides grey sky and dark mountains. Frederick was busy sorting through the letters, and their mother was signing off on some official documents. She felt a kick from her brother, and noticed that he had just passed along a letter from Count Esterhazy, written in Latin, as usual.

“This is just announcing their annual harvest totals, you know, you didn’t need to kick me,” she whispered.

“No, I didn’t know that, which is why I passed it to you,” he grumbled, “it could have been some wedding invitation or something, I don’t know!”

“Why would a wedding invitation list bushels of wheat and barrels of wine?”

“Because… well, the wine would make sense for a wedding!” Frederick’s voice rose in frustration.

Their mother looked up suddenly. “Is there something I should know about?”

“I think Frederick should join Peder and Anton with the Latin tutor again,” Inga smirked as her brother glared.

“Anything else?” their mother asked, her eyes darting suspiciously between the two.

“No,” Inga said quickly.

“Well,” her mother paused, then looked over at Frederick seriously, “it would probably be good for you to spend some time with the tutors this winter if you’re going to go on that trip with Sorensen in the spring.”

Inga could see Frederick tense up on hearing it described as a trip, but was happy that he held back from correcting the detail. She occupied herself with writing a quick reply to Count Esterhazy, detailing the many varieties of squash they were now growing in Arendelle. She tried to tune out her mother worrying out loud about Frederick’s safety if he was going to take the naval training seriously.

"It's not dangerous!" Inga heard her brother exclaim.

"I just..." her mother stopped herself, biting her lip. Inga quietly walked over to pick up a Latin dictionary, realizing she had no idea what the word for squash was, but mostly glad to leave her mother and brother alone for a moment.

“I promise I won’t do anything stupid,” Frederick huffed. “Besides, I’m not the one who got thrown from my horse, but I’m the one you worry about being safe.”

“Who got thrown from a horse?”

Inga turned around to see her brother looking at her, and her mother looking up blankly. Without thinking, she tried to excuse her lack of communication. “I thought you knew. I just assumed when Aunt Elsa wrote you-”

“Who was supposed to write? What happened?”

Inga stomped back to the table. “I was fine. I fell into the water, I had to change my clothes, that’s all! Frederick, why did you have to bring this up now?”

“I thought she knew, too,” he mumbled.

“Can you just tell me what this is all about? Is it about your trip to Corona?” Their mother sat looking obviously frustrated with them, stopping short of banging the table.

“What’s there to tell? The first day we were in Corona, they only had sidesaddles at Elizabeth’s house, my horse got startled, and I fell into the water.” Inga was feeling rather flushed.

“That’s not the way I heard it,” Frederick laughed. “Wasn’t there something about a Viking shield maiden rising from the water?”

“So, you went riding in Corona?” her mother asked.

“Yes, of course,” Inga replied.

“And you were riding with Elizabeth?”

“Yes, but she had gone ahead, and I was trying to catch up. It was foolish, I know, and I’ve learned my lesson. Don’t worry about it. Frederick really can take care of himself, I think.”

“I have the feeling I’m still missing something here,” she sighed, “but let’s take a break for lunch. I have a meeting to prepare for now. You two can have the afternoon off, and I’ll see you at dinner,” she said, standing up to go.

“The weather is terrible, I’d rather just help you,” Frederick pleaded, looking out as a few raindrops hit the window.

“No, it’s private business,” their mother replied quickly.

“Well, eventually at least one of us will have to know everything, right?” Frederick insisted.

She saw her mother briefly glance her way. “Frederick, let’s find a game to play in the library,” Inga suggested. “We’ll worry about state secrets another day.”

As they left to walk down the hall to the library, Frederick rolled his eyes at her. The library was empty, and he walked straight to the chess board and started setting it up.

“Do I get a say in the game?” she demanded.

“No,” he smirked, “but you got a say in how much you told Mother just now.”

“Hardly,” Inga sighed, sitting down at the chessboard opposite her brother, “she just got bored of probing.”

“Why are you acting like you have something to hide?" He made his opening move.

"I'm not. I just don't feel like it's anyone's business right now." Inga didn't particularly like chess, but made her move.

"Nobody will mind," Frederick said, pausing to think after he made the next move. "Although, the council might decide on the succession bill faster."

"What are you talking about?" Inga was glad they were still at the start of the game, because she was too flustered for strategy.

"They won't want whoever is in the line of succession to be in direct line for somewhere else. Not if they can help it." Inga watched as he took her pawn.

"It doesn't matter, I'm too young still," she replied, trying a move she had read in a book once.

"Fine, if you're too young, and you say it's your own business, then there's nothing to worry about," he said, looking at the board. "What on earth is that move?"

***

By lunchtime a cold steady rain was coming down. Lars wasn’t feeling very hungry, but he knew he wouldn’t want to eat during the tea, even if there was food available, and dinner wouldn’t be until evening. He forced himself to have a few slices of bread with butter, avoiding anything that might upset his stomach.

His replacement had managed to show up an hour late. The young man apologized, explaining that he generally slept in when the sky was overcast, especially if it was raining. Lars had never noticed the veins on the Ambassador’s forehead before, but they were quite prominent as he explained to the young man that he would be expected to find a way to show up on time regardless of the weather, and if he needed to hire a servant to knock on his door every morning, it would come out of his own salary. Otherwise he would write to the Emissary to return straight to Arendelle with the other candidates.

Any other day, Lars would have taken the young man out for lunch and gently explained over some beer that the Ambassador had a point, and he should simply get used to it. But today was not that day.

He stepped into his room, and saw Elizabeth seated at the window with his mother. He was forcing himself to keep thinking of her that way, though that made his upcoming tea all the more awkward to think about.

“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said, slightly startled, “I would have had something sent up for you, but I thought you would be going out for lunch.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, coming over to give her a kiss. He gently touched his mother’s hand before sitting down on the bed. “It seems I’m expected for tea with the Queen this afternoon.”

“Oh! Should I change?” Elizabeth asked.

“No, it’s only me she wants to see today,” he said, making eye contact with his mother, who subtly nodded.

“I left my knitting in my room,” Margit Nilsen said as she finished her lunch. “Elizabeth, dear, I'll leave you to help Lars get ready.”

As his mother left the room, Elizabeth got up and sat next to him on the bed, leaning her head on his shoulder. "When is this tea?"

"In an hour," he sighed.

"You'll be fine," she assured him, "they've already selected you, and if you're thinking about turning it down, I need to know first."

"No, I won't turn it down," he said flatly.

She rubbed his back. "So, I suppose you'll want to change clothes. Your nicest suit has Corona insignia on it. Will that be a problem?"

"That might be too formal, anyway," he said glancing over to the wardrobe, "but I'll let you decide."

"Let's see," she hummed as she walked across the room and leafed through the suits hanging there. "Tell me what you know. That will help."

"What?" Lars felt a sudden rush of panic at his wife’s request.

"What kind of meeting will it be?" she clarified, not turning around.

“Just tea,” he replied, forcing his voice to be calm as he took off his coat.

She picked out a suit and brought it over, laying it on the chair next to the bed and then sitting back down next to him. “It's still bothering you... Whatever it was your mother told you last week, I mean.”

“I… did she tell you?” He knew he should tell her himself, but perhaps it would be better if she found out some other way. He wasn’t sure he could say the words yet.

“No, she hasn’t told me anything, and I haven’t really asked. Was it something about your father? I know I’ve heard some rumors.”

“Yes… I mean… no. No, the rumors aren’t anything,” he stammered.

“Well, that’s good to know,” she smiled, helping him with his necktie while he finished unbuttoning his vest. “Those rumors sounded rather crazy. Don’t worry about it right now. You can tell me when you feel up to it. I don't want to make you feel more stressed before this meeting.”

“I’m going to be stressed about this no matter what,” Lars sighed, unbuttoning his shirt as Elizabeth got down to help with his shoes. “I really don’t know what to expect.”

“You’ll have to tell me all about it tonight,” Elizabeth insisted, setting his shoes out of the way. “In the meantime, you’ll do fine, I know it.”

***

Anna sat at the end of the table, breathing slowly and deliberately as the rain beat on the windows. She wasn’t sure she wanted to do this, but Kristoff had insisted it would be a good idea. Kai had set out the tea and some food a moment before, so there would be no interruptions.

She heard Kai’s familiar knock. “Your Majesty?” he asked, opening the door a crack.

“Please come in,” she answered, sitting up straight, pressing her fingers to the table as she caught herself fidgeting.

“Mr. Lars Nilsen, Your Majesty,” Kai announced as the young man stepped in, looking straight ahead, but not quite meeting her eyes.

“Your Majesty,” he bowed.

“Thank you, Kai, that will be all,” she nodded, and the steward quietly shut the door as he left.

“Please, sit down,” she offered, gesturing at the seat opposite hers. She remained calm on the surface, but it was going to take all she had to maintain this image of poise. The occasional fidgeting was bad enough, but the memories from twenty-one years ago, and the panic and shame she felt, were pressing on her mind. She had to remember that everything had worked out, probably for the best. Now, she knew who he was, and he knew who she was. She studied him closely as he walked over, looking at the obvious resemblances.

“Yes, Your M-”

“No,” she interrupted. She took a breath. The whole meeting would be pointless if they were going to be using formal titles and address. This wasn’t a meeting between the Queen of Arendelle and her new functionary. “Sorry… I know it’s a habit, but let’s at least drop the ceremony right now.”

He nodded, sitting down. She poured herself some tea and took a sip, not sure whether she would need to hold up the entire conversation. He looked at his tea cup.

“Please have some tea,” she insisted. He poured the tea, adding a cube of sugar.

The rain continued to beat against the windows for a long time while neither of them spoke. Anna took another sip of the tea. Lars did likewise, and briefly glanced up as if awaiting more instructions. She sighed, trying not to sound as frustrated as she felt. She had hoped that he would have more to say, or at least something to say, so that she could simply listen and answer any questions he might have.

“You don’t have to wait for me to say something, you know,” she told him, closing her eyes for a moment. “You… if you have any questions, please just ask.”

He set down his cup and stared at it. She began to think this meeting had been a mistake.

“I’m sorry,” he said a moment later, looking up. Maybe she was putting too much pressure on him. Why should he have anything to say if she couldn’t think of something to say?

“You don’t need to say anything if you don’t want to,” she assured him.

“No, I mean, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? For what?”

“For… for everything, for me.”

She stopped. “What? Why?”

“No, that came out wrong. I mean... when I was born, and all that entailed.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t sure why, but she hadn’t been expecting that to come up. “It was a while ago now,” was all she could think to say.

“I only found out last week.”

“I know,” she told him.

***

Frederick sat at the dinner table. It was already dark outside, and the rain continued. He was the only one who had shown up so far, and dinner was supposed to have started five minutes before. He had made some conversation with the footman, who offered to bring him an appetizer, but he declined, wanting to wait for the rest of his family.

His father came in, stopping as he stepped in the door, clearly expecting to see more people present. “Hello, Frederick.”

“Hi, Father,” he replied. “We’re the only ones here.”

“I can see that,” Kristoff laughed.

“I’m starting to think everyone is avoiding me,” Frederick said, “except you’re here, so I guess not.”

“I can’t speak for your sister,” Kristoff sighed, “but I’m not trying to avoid you, and I know your mother isn’t. You don’t think that I’m trying to avoid you, do you?”

“I don’t know,” Frederick sighed, “one minute you’re fretting about what to do with me, but then you don’t want me doing the naval training. I know Mother said I’m too young, but most people start younger than me. I’m going to be fifteen. That’s not very young, not for them. She was going on and on about my safety this morning.”

“Your mother is worried about you, and I don’t think you’re going to change that, but she’ll get used to the idea,” Kristoff paused. “But when were we talking about what to do with you? Do you mean the Succession Bill? That’s obviously going nowhere, so I wouldn’t worry about that.”

“I guess I wasn’t supposed to hear, but it was the time I brought you the letter about the American ambassador,” Frederick admitted, "your door wasn't closed all the way when I got there, and I listened in, sorry."

“Oh,” Kristoff groaned, pressing his forehead. “You’re right, you weren’t supposed to hear that, but it wasn’t about you.”

“What was it about then?”

“Never mind that,” his father quickly interjected, “but… you’re doing well. I should probably remember to tell you that. Don’t feel like you have to prove something.”

“I’m not trying to prove anything,” Frederick insisted.

Inga showed up then, with some noise in the hallway indicated the twins were coming soon.

“Did Mother’s meeting go late?”

“No, but it was… tiring,” Kristoff replied. “She said to start dinner without her.”

“Of course,” Inga said in a tone that made Frederick wonder if he was missing something. “Shall we?”

***

The rain had cleared by morning. It wasn’t even particularly cold, or perhaps Inga had finally accepted it was Fall.

“Good morning, Mother,” Inga said, walking into the study.

“Good morning, Inga,” Anna smiled up at her before looking back down at what she was reading.

Inga sat down and looked around. “Where’s Frederick?”

“He’s with his tutors," her mother replied, not looking up from the letter in front of her.

"What? I was joking yesterday. Mostly."

"He didn’t say anything about that this morning.”

“Oh, um, good, then, I guess.”

Her mother passed her a stack of letters and continued reading the letter she was examining. Inga got to work, feeling a twinge of guilt about her words to her brother the day before. Still, it was his decision to buckle down and study. Part of her wished she could feel that amount of motivation her brother was starting to show right now.

After a few minutes of silence while both worked, her mother spoke again.

“So, Frederick seemed to think whatever happened to you in Corona was rather funny…”

“He would.”

"And you?"

"I guess it was,” Inga snorted, catching herself smile a little.

Her mother sighed and went back to signing some documents.

Inga looked out the window, letting her mind wander to planning the next letter she would write to Henry. “I wish things didn’t have to be so very public,” she heard herself say out loud.

Her mother looked at her; the lightheartedness of the past few minutes was gone. “You know very well that plenty of things aren’t public.”

Inga looked down, feeling thoughtless. “Well, I wish that the good things didn’t have to be public, at least sometimes.”

“I’m not asking you to make any announcements or ask official permission or anything like that. Not yet, unless you have plans I don’t know about. But as your mother, I would like to know if you do.”

“What?”

“If I’m misinterpreting what I saw last week between you and Prince Henry, tell me now.”

“Um, yes, I mean, yes, you’re right,” Inga acknowledged, feeling surprisingly relieved, knowing exactly what her mother was hinting at. Her mother didn’t need to know every detail, but Inga realized she didn’t want complete secrecy. She wasn’t about to run off and elope. “And, I guess, thanks? There’s nothing you need to worry about, at least, no, there's nothing to worry about right now. I'll let you know if that changes."

"I'll trust you to tell me then," her mother smiled gently.

Inga found her mind racing ahead on the topic, and continued talking. "Frederick seems to have thought through all the political implications, though. For someone who’s so clueless...”

Her mother chuckled a little and smiled. Inga went back to her stack of letters, and her mother pulled out the next item from her own pile.

“Oh!” her mother exclaimed, “I almost forgot, we need to plan the harvest festival. Would you like to help?’

#my fic #kristanna #the young diplomat #chapter 33 #second to last chapter

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repulsivepangolin7 · 4 years

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Orig-fic: End of watch pt.2

Previous chapter

Word count: 2 765

[A couple of weeks later. Allie is back home in Medford. Coop's parents are about to come back home.]

"Honey, could you get the suitcases from the back of the car?" Inga asked as she leaned back to meet Karl's eyes.

"Sure." Karl's warm voice answered as he opened the rear door of the car, "You want me to bring all the bags in straight away? Or just the stuff that might melt?"

"Take the chocolate and other goodies first?" Inga shrugged back as she shouldered on a backpack. "We can store that away and then go back out to get the rest…"

Karl nodded as he pulled out both suitcases, leaving just one bag in the back for their second trip.

"Honey, you don't need to take both now…"

"What? It's not that heavy…"

"Karl… Even you are getting older…" Inga scoffed, "Taking an extra trip won't kill you…"

"No, of course not…" Karl smirked, "But why take the chance anyway?"

"I swear, if you weren't as handsome as you are, I would have left you decades ago…" her smile and soft tone revealed that it was all a lie. Nothing would have made her leave him, and they both knew it.

"Race you up the stairs?"

"No, nope!" Inga chuckled shaking her head, "I'm not buying into your fo-"

Before she finished her sentence she darted up the stairs before her husband got the chance, placing one hand on their door handle, which had been their 'finish line' for about 40 years or so now.

"You sneaky…" Karl grinned and shook his head, "Remind me again, how did I get lucky enough to find you?"

Inga shrugged, "I don't know. Your lucky stars really must have lined up in a row or something…"

Karl chuckled as he sat down the two suitcases and wrapped an arm around Inga's shoulders before placing a quick kiss on her cheek. "I was lucky."

"No…" she smiled, closing her eyes while he still held his arms around her, "I was the lucky one…"

Karl then squeezed Inga a little tighter before he let go of her and started digging around in his pocket for the key to the door. It didn't take him long to find it and unlock the door.

DELTA*SPECIAL

"I think our kid might be home…" Inga smiled as she stepped into the hallway.

"Yeah. Looks like it…" Karl agreed, "Question is where…"

Inga nodded, "Place the luggage in the kitchen and then do a quick sweep?"

Karl smirked back, "Yes ma'am…"

DELTA*SPECIAL

Their first spot to look was the living room. Nobody was there, but it was obvious that someone had been there between when they left for Norway and now.

"Upstairs?" Karl shrugged, "Might just have come home… He might be jetlagged…"

"Jetlag is hardest when travelling the other way though…"

"Might be tired?"

Inga nodded, "Yeah… Let's go up and have a look. If he's not there, we check the apartment…"

Karl nodded.

Nobody upstairs. Nobody in the apartment downstairs.

"Okay…" Karl furrowed his brows, "Where is he?"

"Could have hit up a few friends…" Inga shrugged, "Gone surfing or skating or something… Or gone for a grocery run…"

Karl nodded, "I'll check if the other car is in the garage…"

"I'm just gonna go ahead and start placing things where they should be…"

Karl nodded and gave Inga a thumb's up.

DELTA*SPECIAL

It didn't take long before Karl came back in shaking his head, "Nope, it was in the garage, along with the Honda…"

Inga's eyebrows climbed a little, "Okay, that's weird…"

Karl nodded. "We could probably call him…"

Inga nodded, "Starts to look like an idea…"

"Will you do it?" Karl winked, "I take care of the laundry…"

"Just don't turn everything pink, okay?"

Karl nodded, "I'll do my best to avoid that.

DELTA*SPECIAL

The phone rang a couple of times before a very familiar, very groggy voice answered her on the other end of the line. It wasn't exactly a greeting yet, it was a cross between a growl and a groan.

"Hey there kid…" she smiled, "You at home?"

A few more sleepy sounds came from the other end of the line before her son managed to piece together a greeting. "Yeah, hey… Yeah… I'm at home."

"At home-home? Or just stateside home?"

Cooper cleared his voice before he answered, "Home-home…"

"Oh, so? Are you outside? Or?"

"No, no… Definitely not…" Coop answered, "No, I used the guest room."

"Guest room? Is that where you are now?"

"Yeah…"

"Want to come out for some breakfast pancakes soon?"

Coop dragged out his answer.

"You okay kid?"

Coop dragged his answer even longer this time around, before settling down on the truth, "No…"

"Care if I come in?"

"No, just come in…"

Inga ended the call and headed over to the door to the guest room on that floor. She gently opened the door and peeked in.

"Hey there…"

Coop gave a little wave with one hand, "Hey…"

"You hurt?"

As if the obvious cast wasn't answer enough.

"Yeah…" Coop swallowed audibly, "You could say so…"

"What and how severe?"

"Dislocated my shoulder… That ain't too bad…" Coop tried offering up a smile, "And I…" He had to take a shaky breath before he managed to continue, "And I crushed my leg…"

"Crushed?" Inga furrowed her brows, "That doesn't sound good…"

Coop shook his head, "No, it's not…"

"When did this happen?"

"A few weeks ago…" Coop shrugged, "A little more than a month actually…"

"So, are you feeling any better?"

Coop shook his head, "Nah… My knee is a mess. And it hurts so bad it ain't even a little fun…"

"Pain is never fun…"

"Ain't that the truth…" Coop chuckled.

"So… How long have you been here at home?"

"Seventeen days." Coop took a deep breath, "Plus ten days at the hospital down in Sacramento…"

"Oh wow…" Inga frowned, "So it's very serious then?…"

Coop's lips tightened over his teeth, "I'll keep it, if that's what you ask…"

Inga swallowed hard.

"Mamma…"

"Yeah?"

"Could you come sit down here with me? Just for a little while?"

Inga nodded and moved over to the other side of the bed, carefully sitting down beside her son.

"I think I'm forced to retire…" Coop said in a toneless voice, "I don't think I'll get back to fighting shape…"

"As long as you're alive…"

Coop nodded.

"So? Have you been all alone here while we've been gone?"

Coop shook his head, "No… I called up an old friend… Had company the first two weeks I was home…"

"So when did he leave?"

"SHE left three days ago…"

"She?" Inga smirked, "Do I spy a potential girlfriend for my boy?"

Coop blushed instantly, and Inga didn't miss it.

"So, who is she?"

"Allie."

"Allie?" Inga repeated, "Isn't that the girl…"

Coop nodded, "It's her…"

"Doesn't she live in Georgia? The one that got away and married a few years ago?"

Coop shook his head, "Nah, she divorced and moved to Medford."

"Oregon?"

Coop grinned and nodded.

"So?" Inga grinned, "Rekindling?"

The way Coop's color deepened made it impossible for him to try to wiggle his way around it.

"Nice."

Coop couldn't help but nod.

"Soooo… Is she coming back soon?"

Coop nodded, "Yeah, well… She was thinking about coming over during the weekend in about three weeks."

"So fun!" Inga smiled, "May I go full-on mom?"

Coop chuckled and shook his head, "Please, don't go all up to eleven on that please…"

"You sure?" Inga teased.

"Yeah…" Coop nodded certainly, "We don't want to scare her off, right?"

"No… No-no-no…" Inga grinned, then winked, "No, of course we want to keep her…"

They heard the door to the laundry room shut and both figured that Karl had re-entered the hallway.

"Inga, where are you?"

"Guest room…" she answered, "I found our kid…"

Coop let out a short laugh, "Kid? Really?"

"Technically, you're still our kid…" Inga shot back, "Even if you're older than we were when we had you…"

"Oh wow…" Coop scrounged up his nose and placed a hand on his chest, "That one really hurt…"

"Is she bothering you with the old 'I want grandkids' theme again?" Karl asked as he entered the guest room.

"Just a little…" Inga chuckled before Coop got the opportunity to answer.

"Hey son…" Karl nodded as he stepped halfway inside the room, leaning on the door, "How are y… Wait, you hurt?"

Coop took a deep inhale before he nodded. "Yeah."

"What happened?"

"We crashed with a big truck. The front of the car we had jacked caved in…"

Karl nodded, "-The car you jacked?"

"One of my guys managed to end out Humvee…" Coop shrugged a little, "And the guy who had previously had the Mitsubishi we wore never needed his car again…"

"The car you wore?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's the definition for it when you press five full size Delta's into a rather small-ish Japanese car…"

"Tight fit?"

"Very…" Coop frowned, "Not sure if the three riding in the back wore seatbelts, but whether they did or not, the wouldn't have moved an ich as soon as they managed to close both the side doors. I mean, they were crammed in there."

Karl chuckled, "Ain't one of them almost as big as you?"

"A little shorter, but yeah…"

"Let me guess, Dunc was up front with you?"

"Shit, how is Dunc?" Inga suddenly remembered.

"He's fine, broke his arm a little." Coop shrugged, "Not the worst break he's had."

"Good." Inga let out a relieved breath.

"So… I see you've got your leg up…" Karl gestured towards where Coop's leg was elevated on top of a bunch of pillows. "That's the worst of it or?"

Coop nodded, "Yeah."

"Broke it?"

Coop shrugged, "Straight up crushed it…"

"Crushed it?" Karl frowned and folded his arms over his chest, while Inga did that mom thing where she gently tousled with Coop's hair.

"Yeah." Coop swallowed hard, "Crushed."

"How long before you're back on your feet?"

"Well, back when it happened I kinda acted tough and said that I'd be back before anyone knew it…" Coop sighed."

"-And?"

"And now it's been north of a month, and I still don't feel comfortable not having my leg up like this. And I can't move much…"

"More than a month?"

"Yeah…" Coop confirmed.

Karl's frown deepened as he pushed off from the door frame. "Sorry to hear that son…"

Coop nodded.

"Hey, about those pancakes…" Inga cut through, "Either of you want some? I can bring some in here for you…"

Coop smiled, "Thanks, that'd be great."

Inga nodded and smiled, "Okay, I'll make some for you…"

Then she got up, and exited the room.

DELTA*SPECIAL

"So…" Karl walked over to where Inga had been sitting by their son a little earlier, "What does all this mean?"

"What do you mean?" Coop raised his eyebrows and tilted his head to look at his father.

"Have you gotten any better?"

"A little…" Coop shrugged, "Not enough to really say that I've gotten better…"

"Will you?"

"What?"

"Get better…"

Coop shrugged, "I'll get better, but it's not guaranteed that I'm gonna get all that good. At first the doc over there said he couldn't promise me that I'd ever walk without a limp. He later changed that to that I probably never would walk without a limp…"

Karl took a deep breath and sat down on the other side of the bed, "How do you feel about it?"

"Right now?"

Karl nodded.

"I'd really like for this leg to stop hurting about now…" Coop chuckled awkwardly.

"I get that…" Karl nodded, "But… Not really what I meant…"

"Nah… I get it…" Coop nodded, "You mean, where's my head at?"

Karl nodded.

"Think I'm good." Coop shrugged, "I haven't thought about crossing over."

"Good." Karl allowed himself to look straight at his son, "Because you're important to us…"

Coop wasn't able to mask how he felt like all the air in the room had gone and left him unable to inhale, or exhale.

Both father and son was left there sitting in silence for a couple of minutes before Karl cleared his voice and bumped Coop's cheek with a couple of knuckles. "Hey, wasn't meaning to choke you up or anything…"

Coop bit his lip and rubbed at his eyes to remove any trace of tears which potentially had formed in them. A fabricated cough was necessary to level his voice enough for him to trust his voice. "Yeah… Yeah… I know…"

Karl nodded.

"Hey pappa…"

"Yeah…"

"I've got a problem…"

"Go ahead…"

"What am I gonna do with my life now…?"

Karl shrugged, "Intelligence?"

"Pappa, be serious…" Coop glared back, "Please."

"You could…"

"I've never been big when it comes to school like stuff, and you know it…"

"Yeah, I had to sign your report card, remember?"

Coop chuckled, "Exactly."

"You'll figure something out…" Karl nodded, "I know you will."

Coop nodded.

"What do you want to do?"

"I want to get back to my guys…"

"I get that…" Karl nodded, "But come on… Throw me a few ideas…"

"I don't know…"

"You could probably be a teacher of some sort…"

"Nah…" Coop shook his head, "Too much school like… Besides, teachers have to stand a lot…"

"No, I don't mean regular teacher…" Karl shook his head, "But you could be a workshop teacher or like one of them that takes care of troubled kids."

"I don't think so…"

"Why not?"

"If I can't physically keep up with those troubled kids, they'll just slowly walk away from me." Coop chuckled, "Imagine that, I'll be limping after them trying to persuade them into actually going to class, while they race away from me by walking backwards…"

Karl chuckled despite himself. "Well, workshop then?"

"Nah… Well… Maybe…"

"Maybe?"

"If I end up being well enough to do that, then yeah… Sure." Coop nodded, "But right now I can't imagine that I'll get that well…"

"So, would you like to work with humans or with your hands?"

Coop shrugged.

"You're great with both…"

Coop smiled, "I'm really going to miss the army…"

"Maybe you could still do some sort of job there?"

"I don't want to work behind a desk…"

"No." Karl shook his head, "I'm thinking about the VA… You could be a kickass counselor…"

"Nah…"

"Yeah, you'd be doing a great job…"

Coop shrugged.

"Just think about it a little, okay?"

Coop scoffed, "I really don't think it would be right for me…"

"Just think about it."

Coop chuckled and rolled his eyes, "Okay… I'll think about it."

DELTA*SPECIAL

"So… What do you think dear?" Inga asked her husband later that day, "Think he's going to be alright?"

Karl nodded, "Yeah… That one always comes down on his legs…"

Inga looked down at the table, unable to meet her husband's eyes, "We used to think the same about Charlie…"

Karl nodded and his face fell a little. "Yeah, we did…"

"Charlie never got beat down like this…"

"No. He didn't…" Karl nodded, "But… I think Coop's good."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Coop's tough…"

"Charlie was too…"

"He was." Karl nodded, "But Coop's a different kind of tough. And he's learned that it's okay to ask for help. That's something our oldest one never learned…"

Inga nodded, "And he's not looking for the genie at the bottom of the bottle either…"

"Yeah." Karl nodded, "Coop's gonna be alright, he just needs to find his new purpose."

"Yeah, he's always been big on that."

Karl nodded, "I aired the thought about becoming a counselor at the VA for him…"

"And?"

"He might warm up to it over time…"

"Let's hope he does." Inga smiled a little, "He'd be great at it."

#original character #original story #Cooper #Allie #permanent injury #Delta force

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childrenofathoria-rp-blog · 7 years

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◆Out Of Character Information◆

Name/Age: Lash 25 Preferred Pronouns: She/Her Timezone: EST Desired Character: Farryn

◆Character Information◆

(1) What pronouns will your character be using? Would you like to list their sexuality at this time?:

Farryn will go by she/her pronouns. When it comes to sexuality she is not entirely set in stone. Her idea of the perfect mate is based upon personality and character. She knows the relationship she wants is a special bond and when she finds it she will know.

(2) Any changes or comments?

I would like to change the FC to cynthia addai robinson. I love the current FC but I feel like this change would give more graphics fitted to the setting. I love walking dead and therefore the face of Sasha calls to me but sometimes writing FCs from shows I love is hard to do. The alternate FC is of the same ethnicity and she is very tough and intimidating in her looks. Although I feel like Sasha, in a sense is much like the character of Farryn and either FC would work just fine. I like to try and fit period FCs in when I can but if the change is not possible I completely understand. (APPROVED)

(3) Why this character? (briefly tell us why you picked this character)

I knew I wanted to take a Werewolf as a second character despite the tragic story of the vampire painter. Farryn truly is a two sided coin. She is so tough and yet secretly yearning for a meaningful relationship. Her expressions are trained to hide the truest of her desires, a mate. I see a lot of things stemming from this idea and how it can become a weakness to such a devoted warrior. What if her mate was someone outside the pack? What if her mate was deemed an enemy? How would this affect her unwavering loyalty? She has spent the majority of her live proving herself to others but the moment someone proves their worth to her, shows that they love her; will her loyalty fail her?

I cannot wait to explore her journals and plot out exactly what a suitable mate means. Farryn is undoubtedly searching within the pack but I sort of see it not working out according to her perfect plan. I think Farryn is very calculated in her duty and there is a line between duty and personal happiness. I think her journey to realizing that will be fun to explore. I doubt she is a stranger to pleasure and I think she dives into meaningless relations trying to make some spark ignite into a blazing fire. She has a passionate side. Whoever she mates with will know no one truer than her.

Also being a Homid werewolf was crucial in the decision. I wanted to distinguish between humanity and that first change. Who bit her and why? I would love a flashback para for this. There are so many emotions to explore in such an abrupt change. She wanted this and it was consensual between whoever bit her. That doesn’t change the amount of pain she experienced throughout and the moments she nearly died during the change. There is so much to explore with Farryn

(4) Interpret this character:

Farryn understood that being human would not be enough to protect her family in their little home on the outskirts of Hala. It was far too close to the sounds of hooves pounding against mud in that terrible rhythm of the hunt, a story told from mothers to children so that they remained distant from the edge of Hallowed Oak. Beware of Little John and Robin Hood and their deadly chase. Farryn heard the tale so many times at the dinner table. Her brothers would sneer and snicker as she listened in fear. Her father was a man who frowned upon her mother’s superstitious mind. The new age had more to offer than old stories told by weak minds. He never believed in superstition, more he turned a blind eye to the obvious truth of it all, but then the Centaurs took his oldest son. Fen was Farryn’s twin, the moment he succumbed to the hunt of Little John and Robin Hood, she knew. It was as if a piece of her soul had been plucked from her. Her father believed then, after it was too late to do anything about it. That was when Farryn vowed to protect her remaining Brothers and sought to sway Inga into taking her under her guidance.

Farryn’s mother may have been one of Inga’s human friends. Her mother taught Farryn a lot of about nature and werewolves. It’s possible that she knew some or a fair few in Hala but her husband refused to condone the relations as she was under his roof. Being the stern narrow-minded human he was, he would not allow his family to be party to unnatural beast, as they were in his opinion.

Farryn’s mother was a woman of superstition. She knew more than anyone she knew about things that seemed unreal or unnatural. It was her mother who told stories of Garou, the first wolves to walk upright. She spoke of Mother Gaia and nature. All these stories fueled Farryn to find the truth in them. Many would see her mother as crazy for her diligence in teaching her only daughter the myths of the hallowed oak but it called to Farryn on a deeper level. Soon her mother had nothing left to tell her that she had not already memorized. It was that moment that Farryn was directed to Inga around the time that her twin was killed. Inga was an intimidating person but Farryn’s loyalty and determination must have sparked something between them.

Farryn believes that loyalty is above all else. This stern-faced warrior has earned her place among the Lupus wolves. She is a pillar of loyalty to her kind but beneath that she is seeking a life she has been deprived of. Since she started down the path of the Fenris-Urs she has never taken the time to find a mate. She has always been leashed by the need to protect her family, or maybe she used it as an excuse to keep her passionate side in secret. She hides behind the shield what others might deem a weakness. When she finally lets the dam break she might find that her priorities need rearranged but as for now she is lyal til death.

During those vital days between the bite and the moon, Farryn was restless. Many werewolves looked at her with distaste. Farryn never let the prejudice stop her from fighting her way to the pedestal she is in now. She protects all wolves; lupus and Homid alike. Having Inga on her side was enough to curb the mindset of other young wolves. The snide remarks became a fuel for the fire to succeed in her later years. She turned the entire negative stigma into power. Inga trained her well but Farryn retained well too. Being a wolf meant being a protector for those who could not protect themselves.

She maintained a relationship with her mother and brothers after being turned. Her father took his own life as he was unable to get over the death of his favorite son. Looking at farryn frozen in his likeness took its toll. Years and years and years passed. Her mother grew old and died, her nieces and nephews grew elderly while Farryn froze in time. This has taken a toll on the werewolf. She feels more and more outcasted by her pack because of her age. She has lived many years stuck in the repetition of her duty and neglecting her own ever-present feelings. This realization hit her harder than expected. It sparked a more delicate side to her warrior self. She held the values of family, lineage, and procreation high in secret. She longed to continue her family name as strong Garou. She wanted a wolf mate.

All in all she is the type of person who is very good at perceiving and calculating her way through life. She knows who she is and what she wants. Sometimes getting to that point can be a challenge but she will get there. She has an immense amount of determination and drive. What she shows the world is exactly what she wants them to see but its not fake. The only thing she keeps hidden is her desire to find love. Honestly her journal is the only release she has to let herself be vulnerable. She was born determined to be the strongest person she can be. Faced with all she had endured she will stop at nothing to protect those she cares for; her pack and her human family.

I have this unescapable idea that her mate could be Benson. It would be outside of the pack and send her loyalties on a trip. I also would think any specie could suffice. As long as she finds her mate outside of the pack or in a member of low standing it could be a great struggle for her since she is so loyal to the pack

Farryn isn’t exactly fitting in with her pack right now. So many years have passed that there seems to be a rift forming where once she held fast. Younger wolves get on her nerves with their youthful ignorance. She is aged, a seasoned warrior who has truly proved her worth time and time again. It is probably the self-conscious nature of being a Homid that keeps her from interacting with her kin as much. When she was younger it was all about fitting in and now it is just about loyalty. Nita seems to be her only comfort, a similar beginning to her own. She likes Nita and tries to make a point to interact with them. Farryn wants to train her but is held back by the unease of the rise in the undead population. She is still willing but during training she may seem distracted.

Alastair is someone Farryn looks up to. He is a strong wolf, as strong as she hopes to become one day.

Elsu is another werewolf that Farryn holds in high regard. In her early years she sought his guidance in everything and it was that guidance that helped her become the loyal member she is today. She enjoys conversing with the elder.

Tristan is the wolf she finds to be most annoying. He has been training to become alpha but is no where near seasoned enough for her tastes. She will follow him, protect him even but she will never truly be able to believe him to be alpha until it actually happens. She will always see the little boy behind the title.

Vera is a wolf that Farryn has come to revere. What if one day she has a vision about her? What will Farryn’s future hold? Though farryn is confused about her abilities she finds them to be captivating.

◆ Interview Questions ◆

(1) Question One: Do you still know who your biological family is among the humans in the City of Hala? Or has to much time passed?

(Questions take place as Farryn is seeking guidance from her elders. Therapy session so to speak)

I processed the question with unwavering confidence despite the sudden dread in remembering the passing centuries. Seven hundred years passed while my family grew and changed before my frozen state. I think more about my words now while they wait for a response. Time stands still for me to articulate the response carefully. “The pack is my family now but yes, I know who they are, who all of them are.” My hands move slightly; a trait I cannot ignore now. I always speak in emphasis with my extremities mimicking motions with words outspoken.

I take to standing now. The room seems to be closing in with nowhere to run. I am caged in and It makes my speech less refined. I want the question to be done with my simple response but they seem to be waiting for more and with a sigh I delve into a more elaborate explanation, “I know their names and where they live, hell I even have spoken to them recently. They do not know me from any other Tom, Dick, or Harry in the World. It is a blessing and a curse in that respect. “

I realize I am pacing back and forth waving my hands as I speak of the matter of my family. It did bother me slightly that they would never know how hard I work to keep them safe. I train and train to be sure they can live on through the years ahead. My eyes catch those of my Elder, they seem to be sympathetic despite me having gave no indication of the sorrow harbored deeply beneath the surface. Did they know? I would not doubt they were capable of seeing more than I let show. Their life has far surpassed mine in spiritual understanding. I want to be alone now, think over the questions and revisit the memories of the past, “Perhaps it is time to meditate? Shall we?”

(2) Question Two: What type of weapons do you like to use? Do you commission personalized pieces?

The question is enough to lighten my dwindling mood. “You know me, I am all claws and bite.” A chuckle escapes my lips for the first time during our chat. They seem to have ignored the desire to begin meditation but perhaps I need to loosen up with talk of what I know best.

I smile from ear to ear as my hands move passionately in front of my body while I speak. “I prefer the freedom in hand to hand combat, literally hand to hand. No weapons needed. Gaia’s gift does not need assistance from man forged steel to get a point across.” I feel strongly about the subject. Being a warrior wolf has been the one thing I have dedicated my life to. “I would face any peril for the sake of my pack and in such a way that the enemy will never forget who or what I am.”

◆Writing Sample:◆

The fever consumed her internally. Her blood ran as hot lava with the force of a thousand stampeding bulls at the pulsing g rhythm of her heart. It was hotter than she had ever felt. Worse than the most sever fever or the scorching suns of summer, her body ached beneath the wrath of it. Pain held a new meaning for her, stronger and more intense than she had ever felt; it overtook her mind and will. She fell to the earth in a heap of breaking bones hugging at her middle to ground herself to something, anything. She had wanted this and even in the middle of the hellish torment…she wanted this.

A beasty snarl loosed from her lips as she pushed herself off the ground. She was in a state of limbo, indescribable with human words and yet so vivid. It was as a dream so detailed in the moment but forgotten on the wings of tomorrow. Time itself seemed to fall into a slower beat. Seconds became minutes and minutes became hours. Her thoughts were everywhere, running wild with her increasing senses. Farryn’s soul was molding to something new, a duality of sorts. Her inner wolf clawed its way to the surface but remained submerged. It was as if Farryn had been suspended over a mirror looking down at herself as a wolf. She stretched her hand forward to touch the fur but she drifted upward. Every stretch of her hand sent her farther away from what she wanted. Farryn was at that vital point where her body would either die or complete the fusion of souls.

She remembered the warnings spoken in some far off place. It felt more like a dream now; covered with fog with muffled words. The pain and her own will, that was what would dictate her success. Her half clawed hands clenched at her side. She could see the reflection of the wolf with her eyes glaring at her. It was beckoning to her in an eerie silence. She felt the earth vibrate beneath her. Pain erupted in her stomach as if a million needles exploded in her veins. Farryn screamed a silent scream as one by one her ribs popped into a new form. Then it came to a screeching halt while she panted in her half formed state with her nose pressed against the mud. She could feel the packs eyes on her, their gazes’ fueled the fire of rage and she threw herself at them, growling and clawing at air until she ran toward the depths of the forests. If she were to die this way, in suspended transformation, she would do it with the sliver of remaining dignity she had left.

She fell as she reached the trickling stream. Water splashed over her face and hands. As hot as she felt the water should have boiled into thin air but it only teased her with little moments of relief. Farryn rolled to her back allowing the water to surround her. Her head rested on a rock while she submerged her body in the frigid water. She would have given up. Most humans, bitten humans, did not survive the excruciating pain of the first full moon. Farry was sure she had the passion for it but here she lay, alone and scared as her body fought to keep her grounded to her humanity. She wasn’t sure how to push herself over the edge into a full transformation.

Just as hope had nearly dissipated entirely, Farryn heard it. Somewhere in the distant espance of forest was a creature she was all too familiar with. She sniffed the air to smell the scent of a horse and sweat. Immediately she knew they were coming. Memories flooded to the surface with enough force to send her into another bout of intense pain. Bones broke and formed into something entirely new to the human. She felt freedom wash over her as it never had before. The relief when she shook the water from her pelt had her howling with giddiness. She had transformed to the beating of hooves in the distance.

IT took a moment to gather herself in her new form. She stood like a newborn deer after birth. Her legs shook with her weight as she spaced them out a little too far. She became used to the motion and telling her brain to move one paw in front of the other in the proper succession. Farryn had finally become the wolf she always longed to be. Her pack stood on the banks howling as she came up out of the water, baptized by the feverish fire of the bite. It was a wolf version of applause. She was now on of them, she felt she always had been or maybe that was just the soul of her wolf’s thoughts.

#athoria accepted #lsrpg #supernatural rpg #fantasy rpg

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