Lt. Commander Rune Jolara - Winter Is Coming

[Theo Whittaker]

((The Look Outt - Deck 10 - USS Columbia))

 

:: Rune sat in her usual seat in the Look Outt, close to the window facing the door so she could see who came and went. Krystyan sat in a booster seat beside her shoveling cereal into his mouth by the handful. She wasn’t sure where Na’Toth had gotten off to and she really didn’t care. The Verillian was good with her son but still managed to get on her nerves rather quickly and she wasn’t in the mood for him. ::

 

:: She took a sip of her Masala Chai tea and continued to read the reports on her PADD. She had been flabbergasted when she got the notification that T’Lea was being transferred to Columbia. She had mixed emotions about serving with the crazy Romu-Vulc again. According to the reports, much had changed since the last time they had spoken. ::

 

:: Rune leaned forward with one hand cradling her forehead. She took a deep breath and released it. T’Lea’s mother had been murdered. Her throat tightened slightly as she read the details. Ravius wasn’t what she would consider a good person but she wasn’t entirely bad either. She had helped Rune find out information of a personal nature and for that, she had agreed to do certain things in return, mainly not kill T’Lea… as if she would. ::

 

:: There was also mention that T’Sara was gone, though she couldn’t find any information about where she had gone or the circumstances. ::

 

Krystyan: Toth! Toth!

 

:: The sudden outburst caused Rune to drop the PADD and sit up straighter. She rolled her eyes the moment she saw the Verillian ‘waddling’ toward their table. Krystyan was kicking his feet, one of which was kicking Rune in the shin. After the third time, she grabbed his foot beneath the table and held it in place. ::

 

:: N’Toth scruffed Krystyan’s curly blond hair as he sat down. At the same time, he pushed a PADD toward Rune. She glanced down at the PADD and then back up at the blue faced annoyance. ::

 

Jolara: What is that?

 

N’Toth: ::grinning around the horns protruding from his face:: It’s what’s called a PADD. You know, Personal Access Display Device.

 

Jolara: ::sucking in a breath:: I know that. What is it you want me to look at?

 

N’Toth: It’s your itinerary for shore leave planetside. I took the liberty of planning your R&R since you were obviously not going to do it.

 

:: She pushed the PADD back across the table without looking at the contents. ::

 

Jolara: Not interested.

 

N’Toth: You have to. All work and no play is making you… ::waving his hand:: meh.

 

:: Rune [...]ed her head to the side as her brows grew together. ::

 

Jolara: Meh? What is meh?

 

N’Toth: Dull, grumpy… among other things… Worse than usual. ::He picked up the PADD and activated it. Turning it around so she could see the screen, he scrolled through photos and local information.:: There’s skiing… or rather the Losarian form of skiing, ice skating, sledding. ::He grinned and looked at Krystyan who was leaning as far over as possible to see the pictures.:: He would love sledding I bet.

 

Krystyan: YA! Wan go swedding.

 

Jolara: No. It is too cold.

 

Krystyan: Wan go swedding! Wan go swedding!

 

N’Toth: Come on. It’ll be fun and good for both of you to get some fresh air. ::Pointing at the PADD.:: Or you could go hiking. I know you like hiking.

 

Jolara: I like hiking… ::leaning over:: when it is WARM. I do not like cold. It hurts.

 

:: Her jaw clenched. She had been looking forward to going planetside for some sun and fresh air. But that was before she knew the entire planet was freezing. Not all Al-Leyans were adverse to cooler temperatures but the majority were and for once Rune was among the majority. ::

 

Krystyan: ::louder and slapping his hands down on the table:: Wan go swedding!

 

:: Rune grabbed Krystyan’s hands. ::

 

Jolara: By the branch! Do not do that!

 

:: The moment the words were out and her son’s expression changed from happy to crying, she regretted it. She took a breath and let it out, releasing his hands at the same time. ::

 

Jolara: ::softer, wiping away his tears:: I am sorry. Do not cry. Please. ::to N’Toth:: This is your fault.

 

:: N’Toth shook his thick blue skull. ::

 

N’Toth: You did this all on your own. Further proof you need to go down there. Maybe freezing your a… ::Rune raised an eyebrow.:: butt off will do you some good.

 

Krystyan: ::his little lower lip quivering, tears flooding his deep blue eyes:: Pwease mommy?

 

:: Rune sucked in a breath. She still couldn’t handle when Krystyan cried. Even less so when she had caused it. ::

 

Jolara: Fine. We will go sledding. oOBesides, it will give me an excuse not to see T’Lea just yet.Oo

 

:: Krystyan’s expression immediately brightened, all thoughts of crying forgotten. He let out a squeal. She gave N’Toth a look that said she would kill him if she froze to death. ::