Shadow of Her Sins, Chapter Nine (cont)
Jan. 23rd, 2014 09:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jeriendhalNotes: I'm not entirely happy with this scene. It took several days to write and is extremely disjointed, dealing with too many plot points and not enough emotional reaction. But it is what it is, at least until I can look at it more closely and revise it into something better.
* * *
After calling up a pair of ground vans to carry Aunt Razi and company to the medical center, Ali went with Lady Melanie and Lord Rolas the housing unit. They found Salli sitting back in a padded recliner in the living room, her eye socket cleaned and covered in gauze, and arguing with Lu.
“The colony is in crisis,” she told him sharply, as Ali and the others entered. “You cannot expect me to just sit here while my people need me!”
Lu ran his paw over his head fur. “Look, you just got out of the medical center and you're half-stoned on painkillers. You need to lie back and rest. Ali is taking care of everything.”
“Ali needs me as well, especially now. She's already stressed out enough thanks to you.”
Lord Rolas coughed to announce them, then said, “She seems to be doing all right so far, all things considered.”
Salli broke off from her argument, looking up at them in surprise. “Rolas, Melanie, what are you doing here?”
Melanie beamed at her. “Well, once we found out what Ali's true family name was, it was pretty easy to look to cross reference it with the Allied Worlds ship registry to find out which vessel had been her family's, and where her surviving relatives were. So I brought them here.”
“Aunt Razi is here?” Lu asked in surprise.
“And about a dozen more,” Ali told him, fighting a sudden urge to yawn. “They... well they seemed pretty happy to see me.” She wasn't quite sure what to make of that yet. Surely Lu had told them about her being a pirate. Once they found out what she'd done... Well, she guessed she ought to enjoy their company while she could.
“Well where are they?” Salli demanded. “I'd think they wouldn't want to let you out of their sight, after thinking you were dead for so long.”
“If I know Aunt Razi, she and Uncle are at the medical center, helping out, and the rest are doing the same,” Lu said. “We're a service oriented bunch, we Blacksailors.”
“Have you told them yet, about what I am, was rather?” Ali asked cautiously.
Lady Melanie raised paw and made a sort of gesture with it. “I confirmed what Lu had already informed them before he made his trip here, that you'd been taken by Bloody Margo and pressed into her service, and then later by...” she gave Lu a covert glance, “....that infamous Red Vixen.”
“Do they know about me being under arrest?”
“I didn't tell them that. They were so overjoyed at the news of your discovery, it seem crim-, er, unfair to drop that bombshell on them. How much you want to tell them of the situation, past and present, is up to you.”
I don't want them to know anything, she thought. They'll hate me. Ali felt Salli's paw take hold of hers, and give a reassuring squeeze. “I'll have to think about that. I mean, I won't tell them anything beyond what I think will come out of the trial.”
“Well, obviously.”
Salli cleared her throat. “Commander Blacksailor, I thank you for keeping me company. I'm sure your aunt and uncle are eager to discuss recent events with you, especially concerning Ali.”
“Oh, I imagine they'll be busy at the medical center for a bit,” Lu said affably. “I can catch up with them later, after they're settled in.”
Ali fought an urge to roll her eyes. “That's Polite Noble for 'we want to discuss something privately. Get out,'” she told him.
“Ah,” Lu said, the clue finally smacking him in the face, “I can do that. See you later, Ali, miladies.” He bowed politely and left.
“A good enough fellow, but rather excessively earnest,” Salli noted. “Ali, be a good girl and get my tablet so I can get some work done.”
Rolas, who had been waiting with increasing agitation, finally snapped, “Cold and Dark, Salli! How can you want to work now? That evil pirate took out your eye!”
“Would you rather me be curled up in my bed crying, like the old days?” Salli said acidly. ”I lost it once already. The second time around the novelty wears off. Though thanks to Ali and Commander Blacksailor's quick actions, I won't have to worry about getting a matching set. It's going to be annoying enough to waste weeks going offworld to get it replaced.”
“About that,” Lady Melanie said. “I've got the old Scarlet Claw's longboat sitting in the outer system, orbiting Greenholme's local gas giant. Let me know how much time to prepare, Ali, and I'll have it ready to swoop in and pick you up. I know you probably wanted more time to meet with your family, and I'm sorry you'll be leaving them again, but you know this is for the best.
“No,” Ali said, her grip on Salli's paw tightening. “I'm not leaving. I'm not leaving Salli. She knows what I've done, more than you know now. I have to face the consequences of my actions.”
“Ali,” Salli said softly, “I don't want you to go to prison, or worse.”
“I don't want to go to prison, or worse,” Ali said. “But I don't want to go on the run either. I want to go to trial, and get it over with, not spend of the rest of my life looking over my shoulder.”
Salli nodded gravely. “Then I'll be with you every step of the way.”
“You're certain, Ali?” Lady Melanie said. “I mean, is it that important that you stay with...? Oh...”
Salli sighed, rolling her remaining eye at her. “Yes, we're a couple. Your plan worked, though it may have taken longer than you intended. Feel free to gloat.”
Lady Melanie gave her a hurt expression. “Now why would I do that? You know I only wanted both of you to be happy, and I thought you could be happy together. It doesn't matter whether I was right in trying to make you attractive to one another, only that you're both pleased with the result.”
Salli gave her a conciliatory nod. “All right then. Thank you for bringing Ali's family to see her. That was very generous of you, though the circumstances aren't ideal currently.”
“Indeed, had I known I would have delayed our arrival, even with poor Razi practically trying to go on a spacewalk to push the ship and get it here faster.” Lady Melanie glanced at her husband. “Are you all right, Rolas?”
“I'm fine,” he replied. Ali imagined she could hear his fangs grinding together, as he looked at his wounded sister.
“Rolas, I'm fine. In the Mother's name, you know I've had worse done to me.” Salli yawned widely. “Ugh, I've slept already!”
“You're healing. You'll likely be tired for another day or so,” he said. His gaze turned to Ali. “And when was the last time you slept?”
“Since, um,” Ali tried to count up the hours in her head and lost track. “I haven't had time since we spotted the truck in the canyon.”
Salli squeezed her paw again, looking upset. “That's almost three days now, Ali. You need to rest!”
“I've got to...” She yawned again, trying to finish. “...take care of things. There's still so much to do.”
Lady Melanie glanced to her husband, who nodded back. “We can watch over things until you've both had a chance to catch up on your rest. Just pass your contacts list to my personal comp and send them a prick your ears.”
“Do it, Ali,” Salli told her. Ali nodded and passed her contacts to Lady Melanie, then sent a 'gram to the late Sgt. Longwalk's deputy, the spaceport admin, the chief medical officer, and the head of colony infrastructure that she was popping off for eight hours, and that Lady Melanie was in charge of everything until she woke again.
Ali helped Salli get to her feet, biting her lip as she watched the noblevixen wince in pain. “Let's get you to bed, milady.”
“Are you going to be all right, Salli? Can I get you anything?” Rolas asked anxiously.
“I need a few more hours sleep,” she replied. Ali smiled as Salli patted her arm. “Everything else I have right here.”
“I'll watch over her,” Ali reassured him.
Lord Rolas' expression softened. “Yes, I believe you will.”
They both bid farewell to him and Lady Melanie, and leaned on each other as they headed down the hallway to the master bedroom. Ali stripped to her panties and helped Salli into her sleeping robe, snuggling carefully against the noblevixen, nuzzling her lover's, lover's, neck and shoulder with her nose.
Muzzily, feeling the lethargy induced by exhaustion and the warmth of Salli's fur against her own, Ali asked, “What are you going to do when they take me away from you?”
Salli's paw stroked her head, claws running through her pelt between her ears. “They won't.”
“You know that's not true.”
“I will not let them.”
“You won't be able to stop-”
“Shh, Ali. That's tomorrow. Tonight, I want to be here with you, and you with me.”
“Yes, Salli.”
For just then, that was enough.
TO BE CONCLUDED
* * *
After calling up a pair of ground vans to carry Aunt Razi and company to the medical center, Ali went with Lady Melanie and Lord Rolas the housing unit. They found Salli sitting back in a padded recliner in the living room, her eye socket cleaned and covered in gauze, and arguing with Lu.
“The colony is in crisis,” she told him sharply, as Ali and the others entered. “You cannot expect me to just sit here while my people need me!”
Lu ran his paw over his head fur. “Look, you just got out of the medical center and you're half-stoned on painkillers. You need to lie back and rest. Ali is taking care of everything.”
“Ali needs me as well, especially now. She's already stressed out enough thanks to you.”
Lord Rolas coughed to announce them, then said, “She seems to be doing all right so far, all things considered.”
Salli broke off from her argument, looking up at them in surprise. “Rolas, Melanie, what are you doing here?”
Melanie beamed at her. “Well, once we found out what Ali's true family name was, it was pretty easy to look to cross reference it with the Allied Worlds ship registry to find out which vessel had been her family's, and where her surviving relatives were. So I brought them here.”
“Aunt Razi is here?” Lu asked in surprise.
“And about a dozen more,” Ali told him, fighting a sudden urge to yawn. “They... well they seemed pretty happy to see me.” She wasn't quite sure what to make of that yet. Surely Lu had told them about her being a pirate. Once they found out what she'd done... Well, she guessed she ought to enjoy their company while she could.
“Well where are they?” Salli demanded. “I'd think they wouldn't want to let you out of their sight, after thinking you were dead for so long.”
“If I know Aunt Razi, she and Uncle are at the medical center, helping out, and the rest are doing the same,” Lu said. “We're a service oriented bunch, we Blacksailors.”
“Have you told them yet, about what I am, was rather?” Ali asked cautiously.
Lady Melanie raised paw and made a sort of gesture with it. “I confirmed what Lu had already informed them before he made his trip here, that you'd been taken by Bloody Margo and pressed into her service, and then later by...” she gave Lu a covert glance, “....that infamous Red Vixen.”
“Do they know about me being under arrest?”
“I didn't tell them that. They were so overjoyed at the news of your discovery, it seem crim-, er, unfair to drop that bombshell on them. How much you want to tell them of the situation, past and present, is up to you.”
I don't want them to know anything, she thought. They'll hate me. Ali felt Salli's paw take hold of hers, and give a reassuring squeeze. “I'll have to think about that. I mean, I won't tell them anything beyond what I think will come out of the trial.”
“Well, obviously.”
Salli cleared her throat. “Commander Blacksailor, I thank you for keeping me company. I'm sure your aunt and uncle are eager to discuss recent events with you, especially concerning Ali.”
“Oh, I imagine they'll be busy at the medical center for a bit,” Lu said affably. “I can catch up with them later, after they're settled in.”
Ali fought an urge to roll her eyes. “That's Polite Noble for 'we want to discuss something privately. Get out,'” she told him.
“Ah,” Lu said, the clue finally smacking him in the face, “I can do that. See you later, Ali, miladies.” He bowed politely and left.
“A good enough fellow, but rather excessively earnest,” Salli noted. “Ali, be a good girl and get my tablet so I can get some work done.”
Rolas, who had been waiting with increasing agitation, finally snapped, “Cold and Dark, Salli! How can you want to work now? That evil pirate took out your eye!”
“Would you rather me be curled up in my bed crying, like the old days?” Salli said acidly. ”I lost it once already. The second time around the novelty wears off. Though thanks to Ali and Commander Blacksailor's quick actions, I won't have to worry about getting a matching set. It's going to be annoying enough to waste weeks going offworld to get it replaced.”
“About that,” Lady Melanie said. “I've got the old Scarlet Claw's longboat sitting in the outer system, orbiting Greenholme's local gas giant. Let me know how much time to prepare, Ali, and I'll have it ready to swoop in and pick you up. I know you probably wanted more time to meet with your family, and I'm sorry you'll be leaving them again, but you know this is for the best.
“No,” Ali said, her grip on Salli's paw tightening. “I'm not leaving. I'm not leaving Salli. She knows what I've done, more than you know now. I have to face the consequences of my actions.”
“Ali,” Salli said softly, “I don't want you to go to prison, or worse.”
“I don't want to go to prison, or worse,” Ali said. “But I don't want to go on the run either. I want to go to trial, and get it over with, not spend of the rest of my life looking over my shoulder.”
Salli nodded gravely. “Then I'll be with you every step of the way.”
“You're certain, Ali?” Lady Melanie said. “I mean, is it that important that you stay with...? Oh...”
Salli sighed, rolling her remaining eye at her. “Yes, we're a couple. Your plan worked, though it may have taken longer than you intended. Feel free to gloat.”
Lady Melanie gave her a hurt expression. “Now why would I do that? You know I only wanted both of you to be happy, and I thought you could be happy together. It doesn't matter whether I was right in trying to make you attractive to one another, only that you're both pleased with the result.”
Salli gave her a conciliatory nod. “All right then. Thank you for bringing Ali's family to see her. That was very generous of you, though the circumstances aren't ideal currently.”
“Indeed, had I known I would have delayed our arrival, even with poor Razi practically trying to go on a spacewalk to push the ship and get it here faster.” Lady Melanie glanced at her husband. “Are you all right, Rolas?”
“I'm fine,” he replied. Ali imagined she could hear his fangs grinding together, as he looked at his wounded sister.
“Rolas, I'm fine. In the Mother's name, you know I've had worse done to me.” Salli yawned widely. “Ugh, I've slept already!”
“You're healing. You'll likely be tired for another day or so,” he said. His gaze turned to Ali. “And when was the last time you slept?”
“Since, um,” Ali tried to count up the hours in her head and lost track. “I haven't had time since we spotted the truck in the canyon.”
Salli squeezed her paw again, looking upset. “That's almost three days now, Ali. You need to rest!”
“I've got to...” She yawned again, trying to finish. “...take care of things. There's still so much to do.”
Lady Melanie glanced to her husband, who nodded back. “We can watch over things until you've both had a chance to catch up on your rest. Just pass your contacts list to my personal comp and send them a prick your ears.”
“Do it, Ali,” Salli told her. Ali nodded and passed her contacts to Lady Melanie, then sent a 'gram to the late Sgt. Longwalk's deputy, the spaceport admin, the chief medical officer, and the head of colony infrastructure that she was popping off for eight hours, and that Lady Melanie was in charge of everything until she woke again.
Ali helped Salli get to her feet, biting her lip as she watched the noblevixen wince in pain. “Let's get you to bed, milady.”
“Are you going to be all right, Salli? Can I get you anything?” Rolas asked anxiously.
“I need a few more hours sleep,” she replied. Ali smiled as Salli patted her arm. “Everything else I have right here.”
“I'll watch over her,” Ali reassured him.
Lord Rolas' expression softened. “Yes, I believe you will.”
They both bid farewell to him and Lady Melanie, and leaned on each other as they headed down the hallway to the master bedroom. Ali stripped to her panties and helped Salli into her sleeping robe, snuggling carefully against the noblevixen, nuzzling her lover's, lover's, neck and shoulder with her nose.
Muzzily, feeling the lethargy induced by exhaustion and the warmth of Salli's fur against her own, Ali asked, “What are you going to do when they take me away from you?”
Salli's paw stroked her head, claws running through her pelt between her ears. “They won't.”
“You know that's not true.”
“I will not let them.”
“You won't be able to stop-”
“Shh, Ali. That's tomorrow. Tonight, I want to be here with you, and you with me.”
“Yes, Salli.”
For just then, that was enough.
TO BE CONCLUDED
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Date: 2014-01-24 06:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-24 06:28 pm (UTC)