Chasing Waterfalls

Posted on Sun Apr 9th, 2023 @ 11:54am by Kindra Graham & Alden Loxley

Mission: Home Sweet Wonderful Home
Location: Fortune's Echo's Bridge
Timeline: 17 November 2517 - 8 hours into 22hr trip - Enroute to Ezra

The tea Kindra had prepared was a special blend, a delicate white tea combined with lemon blossoms, carefully brewed at precise temperature to develop both mild stimulant and relaxation properties. She made her way to the 'Echo's bridge with two mugs in hand.

Entering the cockpit, Kindra set her mug next to the copilot's chair, then offered the other mug to Alden. She caressed the back of his neck with a casual intimacy with her now-empty, tea-warmed hand, the pressure of her touch shifting to something more akin to a neck massage. "How are you holding up? Have there been any updates, about your mother's condition?"

If he was honest, she'd woken him up, but Alden had heard footsteps on metallic walkway and acted as if he hadn't been snoring two minutes ago. Napping was his body's way of reminding him he should be resting, but he was far too stubborn to listen to sensible voices under the circumstances.

"You shouldn't be moving around," Alden chastised lightly. "You're wounded, remember?" but there was warm in his slightly forced smile as he turned his gaze from console to Companion. "But thanks for the tea."

There was a deliberate avoidance of any heavy sighing or overstated worrying in the brief silence that followed, his hands cradling the warm mug gratefully. "Nope, nothing yet. Comms looks to still be down on Ezra, Drake thinks they knocked out a satellite link." His gaze locked with Kindra's and Alden looked pensive rather than upset as he shrugged. "We won't know for sure til we get closer." A short sigh preceded his shift in topic, question coloured with genuine concern. "How are you doing? You really should be resting..."

Kindra gave him a long, concerned look. Of course Alden was worried about his mother, and anxious to get home to her. "Your Mum must be tough, to've raised you and Drake," she teased him a little. "And you're getting' to her as fast as humanly possible. There's nothin' else you can do."

"She had help back then," Alden answered. His voice a little distracted and his gaze more on the starfield beyond the window than on Kindra in that moment. "Dad was still with us too." He did turn to face Kindra though as she finished speaking. "Yeah," he reached out a hand to rest upon hers. "You're right. Always feels like there should be though."

Kindra picked up her own teacup and sat in the co-pilot's chair with care, avoiding any sudden or twisting motions, always aware of the wrap confining her ribs. She felt awkward and graceless. "I have been resting. And Jacy has been lovely, but I don't want to stay in the infirmary or my shuttle. I just... I needed company... you." Kindra sipped her hot tea and shivered, thinking of the cell in the basement of that brothel, and... everything else.

He checked the heating as Kindra shivered, but the internal temperature was as good as it was going to get while they were in-system travelling. Alden watched the steam rise from their mugs, twisting slightly in the clear air above the consoles and wished he could fix all that ailed the Companion right now. It made his soul ache to see her suffer every time she moved, and he couldn't help but wonder if he wanted Kindra to rest more so that he could feel less guilty. Not fair on either of them. "I understand," he said out loud, empathy clear in his expression and tone. "I'm not great company right now, but I am here," Alden offered with a small smile. He should be doing this way better than he was and he knew it.

Kindra started to take a deep breath, but the wrap hindered the expansion of her ribs and she sighed. There was something she needed to say. "I owe you an apology, Alden. For everything that happened with James, and for getting you and the 'Echo tangled up in it all. I was such a fool." She cast her gaze to the floor. "I was so afraid you'd think I left without saying goodbye. And then I was even more afraid that if you figured out what happened and came after me, you'd get hurt or killed."

That surprised him - an apology? What the hell for... Oh...

"Apology not accepted," Alden said, ignoring the ship controls for a moment and trusting the alarms to alert him. "Or needed," he added, and mustered up a warmer grin. He took both her hands, mug and all, in his and cossetted Kindra as much as he could without actually risking hurting her with a hug. "You didn't get us caught up in nothing, that particular messy situation's entirely on your dad and your stepbrother." He lifted one hand and lightly bopped her chin then her nose as Kindra naturally had to follow his upward gesture.

"Besides, I've definitely gotten myself in way more pred'icaments with high chances of hurt and killing than you've ever pushed me at," Alden said, humour colouring his words. "No need to be afraid of nothing. You're safe and on your way to healing. Your dad owes us one. We're still together, in the same place. Leave the past in your wake and look to the future," he gently nudged Kindra's cheek towards the star system beyond the cockpit. "And, hey, you get to meet my mum..." Who, he finished the sentence in his head, is going to kill me when she sees you're injured. And definitely blame me...

His playful gestures and gentle embrace quelled the protest on Kindra's lips. It was her fault, but she could accept and appreciate Alden didn't hold her to account. "Walter was my Dad," she said, almost automatically. "Kinmont is... Kinmont. My biological father and... Well, I'm still figuring out what my relationship with him is. But he brought me so many memories about my mum, it's like getting a piece of her back."

"I can't wait to meet your mum. Are you very much like her, do you think?" She smiled, imagining an older, feminine version of Alden. Kindra had yet to completely wrap her head around Alden's beliefs around monogamy and faithfulness, but it stood to reason they were rooted in his upbringing. What would Alden's mum think about her vocation? "Do you think your mum will like me?"

Alden disagreed with the sentiment, but could understand Kindra's point of view so, considering her current wounded state he opted not to counter or 'correct'. In his mind, Kinmont was her dad, her father and her source of paternal DNA and yet that didn't always mean a man was any use to a child for anything besides that. Still, Kinmont had come through eventually and was in the process of making things, right. Maybe that could count for something.

"Be good to keep in touch, considering all the information he knows, yeah," Alden said, softly and supportively. "Only he knows his reasons and likely plenty of stories 'bout your mum. Worth it." Alden smiled. He wished he had the chance to talk way more with his own father, but that wasn't an option and this situation wasn't about him. Until Kindra shifted gear in the Thomson direction and he felt that pang of concern ice his insides for his mother's well-being.

"Am I like my mum?" Alden chuckled. "Kinda I guess, but more like my dad. Elle - our sister - she's from the same mould. Drake kinda got the worst traits from them both," he half-joked. He wasn't thinking about the 'Companion-angle' when he answered Kindra's question for more than one reason. Arca Loxley took folks as she found them, but Kindra would learn that her own self. "Course she'll like you," he answered, honestly. "But she really ain't gonna like the situation you've been in."

"You saved me, though Alden. You were... you are my knight in shining armor after all." Even in spite of her telling him he wasn't, right here in the cockpit before docking at Li Shen's, when she'd told him about the situation with her stepbrother.

Alden rolled his eyes with comedic drama and an impish smile. Much as his inner child enjoyed the compliment and being someone's rescuer was kinda his raison d'être, her statement was untrue. "We saved you," he noted, with distinct emphasis on the first word. Kindra's shift in viewpoint wasn't lost on him, but Alden wasn't in fighting mood.

"I'll keep in touch with Kinmont. I want to, plus now that he's made his debut in my life I don't rightly think I could keep him out. It's just gonna take me some time before I can think of him as Dad" And maybe it will do him some good to put some effort into earning the title, she thought. "Kinmont's headed to Persephone now, to help Margaret." Kindra finished the last of her tea and set down the cup. With Kinmont, Margaret, and her childhood home on her mind, Kindra said, "There's one last thing about the situation with James, him murdering Walter, and the Buccleuch estate, that I haven't really explained."

"Walter left his estate to Margaret, James, and me. But the will stipulates that before I can inherit, I must resign from the Guild and give up my license. At the time, seven months ago, I thought I would never be willing to give up my vocation and claim that inheritance. But now..." Kindra's steady gaze held complex emotions. "Now, I'm not so sure."

I'll keep in touch with Kinmont. I want to. That sounded promising, so Alden gave her hands a firm squeeze, smiled and tried not to say anything stupid by means of ruining the moment. Kinmont wanted to talk to Kindra. Kindra wanted to keep in touch with her dad. All was starting to even out on the Graham saga, which was a definite shift in the right direction after a long time astray. "He mentioned where he was headed, yeah," Alden agreed, gently. "Think he was counting on you going with, too," he added, his smile gentle.

Uh-huh, thought Alden as Kindra explained the caveat to her vast inheritance. That's a big one. And yet, he found himself wholeheartedly agreeing with Kindra's parents on this one, whilst vaguely wondering how he'd feel if some future daughter of his wanted the Companion life. Freedom was such a huge factor in his own existence that he couldn't imagine loving the idea, but then... he was no harsh dictator either.

"He was your dad," Alden found himself saying. "Walter, I mean. Makes sense he'd want your full attention on the estate," he added, a wry grin covering a whole bunch of other reasons that Walter no doubt harboured. "But... if only seven months ago you were so certain of your lifepath, and now you're not, I'd say you probably need to think a whole lot more about things before you make any big decisions. It's okay to be unsure when you're faced with key life choices. And it's okay to mull them over some," the grin broadened. "With knights in armour and their mums," Alden added.

Kindra had worried she'd have to defend her initial decision to reject her inheritance, or that Alden would try to influence her now. But instead Alden was expressing only support and understanding. He really was incredible, and she was a lucky woman. "I chose the lifepath of a Companion when I was a child, because I wanted to be like mum. And I continued because…" So many reasons, simple and complex, that Kindra could not articulate in any succinct way. After a few moments she sighed. "It's complicated. And yeah, I have a lot of things to think over."

"I hope some of those reasons were your own," he said, "complicated or otherwise. But really, you have nothing to explain to anyone but yourself, and your career decisions are as fine as anyone else's." A short pause and he kept eye contact while lightly rubbing his thumbs over hers as their hands remained together. "I just want you to be happy." Seeing her so badly hurt had made a lot of things clear, well-defined and simple.

"Kinmont did try to convince me to go with him. But the one thing I am sure about, is that I want to be with you." Kindra squeezed Alden's hands and paused, holding his gaze. As long as he wanted her, she'd be here. "I thought he'd try to convince me one last time before he left the ship, but something about the talk you two had changed his mind." She raised an eyebrow, but didn't really expect him to explain. "If a business opportunity brings the 'Echo to Persephone, I'd like to visit. Only visit. I think you'll like Margaret."

It's complicated. Story of his life, considered Alden, and he nodded patiently. Why Kindra chose to become and remain a Companion was her own and he wouldn't question that harshly or otherwise right now. He did have questions, but thought on his words before speaking them.

"I'm good with that," Alden agreed with a smile. "You and me being together. Long as you want," he confirmed, suspecting clients would come back into play once she was well, but not lingering on that thought. "And hey, I'm happy to know I can influence your dad some," he teased. "Seems like a gruff and particular fella, 'specially when it comes to career and his daughter. But we had a good talk, yeah. An honest one, I think." He could only vouch for himself in that regard, though Kinmont and he had a mutual vested interest in keeping Kindra safe and contented, just very different means of those details.

"Persephone," there was a brief eye-roll, but Alden ended it with an accepting nod. Not his favourite planet. But he was dragging her to Ezra... "Sure we can find a business reason at some point," he conceded. "For now though - let's get you healed up before we do too much travelling round the Verse, k?" He let go of Kindra's hands and focused on his mug of tea, mind drifting back to home and whatever was going down there. "I can't help thinking all this stuff around our mum has something to do with Drake..." he mused out loud. "He never tells me anything and he's been weird as all hell the last few months."

"Drake… I met him only briefly when we landed on Three Hills." Kindra didn't know much about Alden's brother. He appeared to be moderately wealthy, and Drake had helped Alison and Alden get Fortune's Echo fixed and flying again after they found her. Drake had provided help and support for repairs on Three Hills. And Drake had played an instrumental part in rescuing Kindra from James. And yet, Alden seemed full of trepidation whenever his brother came up.

More an attempt to help Alden sort out his thoughts than to satisfy her own curiosity, Kindra gently prompted, "What is it between you and Drake that makes you suspicious?"

Alden hadn't really considered Kindra's experience or current viewpoint when it came to Drake, and the sheepish look evident on his face was a mixture of realisation on that score and the sheer amount of reasons historically that he had for being concerned about his little brother. Paranoia perhaps, but founded in the occasional and meagre grain of truth up until recently. There was a lot to process internally before he could fully answer that question, but there was definitely a clear place to start.

"He's under Niska's thumb, beholden to him on some level. I'm not sure how much, and that's what worries me," Alden said, screwing up his face to show the disgust of such a situation. "And he's rich as a king by my standards," the pilot added with a wry smile and a casual shrug. "But that might just be envy on my part."

"I never took you for a man who'd covet riches, except as a means to an end. To protect and provide for those under your protection." Kindra liked and respected that about Alden, though she knew she might not feel that way if she hadn't been raised in privilege. And she'd seen how it rankled Alden, to ask his younger brother for help with repairs to the ship. "This Niska… I take it he's a dangerous and powerful man?"

"And with your brother beholden to Niska, it sounds like you're worried about what it's costing Drake, beyond material wealth?"

"Oh, I'm not after wealth and fame," Alden confirmed Kindra's assumption. "Enough and my freedom is all I need." A warm smile beamed from pilot to companion, then he checked the sensors again. All good. All still star-studded Black. "But he has some real pretty toys," a wry sigh followed then he continued. "Occasionally I'd like to just know how it feels to not worry about finances, y'know?" She probably didn't, he'd realise later.

Kindra nodded. She'd worried about finances more in the last seven months than in her whole life. Expenditures from her Persephone-based account had been just another way for James to track her, so she'd opened a new account and started over. At the beginning with Jonas as her bodyguard and venturing away from the core, she'd needed to take a few clients she might not have considered otherwise.

"Niska's.... a kinda legal warlord. Well-connected. Business-savvy. Dangerous," came the straight answer to Kindra's question, and Alden rolled his eyes at his own mixed luck. "Us being born on Ezra would have brung us to his attention sooner or later, but our dad worked running cargo for him, so we kinda got ourselves highlighted when Dad died on the job. Wasn't Niska's doing or nothing. I guess having my little brother caught directly up with Niska just worries me more than it should." Alden shrugged.

His description of Niska was scary enough, but it was the tone of Alden's voice when he spoke of the man that sent a shiver down Kindra's spine. "You're the big brother. Of course you worry about him." In a way, Alden was protective like that with everyone on the ship. "Drake is an adult, so he's gotta make his own path, just like you."

Yeah, thought Alden silently. He's making his own path alright, just hope it's not entirely rooted in those clandestine shadows. He didn't speak those words out loud because he had no desire to either worry Kindra with unfounded concerns or dwell on the possibilities himself. Drake's path would hurt or heal their family, and there was little Alden could personally do to alter that. Not without pulling himself and others into the same potential mire.

Kindra was quiet for a few moments, thinking of her childhood desire for real siblings, which led to thoughts of her own potential future as a parent. She smiled and said, "Don't think I didn't notice you were half-asleep when I came in. Seems to me you'll be more help to your mum and sister if you arrive rested. I can keep an eye on things while you nap. I promise I won't try to fly 'Echo, I'll just wake you if anything changes."

At the offer, Alden smiled. He reached for the flask of coffee by his feet and waved it as if that explained (and covered) any and all concerns for his safety. "I fall asleep at the helm, you nudge me, please," he said, "If I won't be nudged, wake Jonas up. She's flying straight and true, we should be fine, but there's no way I'm gonna be well-rested when we reach Ezra." Alden realised the other side to Kindra's kind offer, and recalibrated his response. "Not that I don't trust you to keep an eye on her if I doze, but that I can't find comfort in sleep right now. My dreams are worse than the watchful observing of our journey forward," he said, with wistful apology wrapped about his words.

A hand reached out to grasp Kindra's tightly though, and Alden planted a wet kiss on her cheek. "Keeping me company helps," he promised. "But right now I'm way more worried about you and Momma, than I am able to get some proper kip."

"I might be hurtin' now, but it's nothing that won't heal with a bit of time. If your mum is anything like you, she'll be more worried about you showing up lookin' like you haven't slept. I understand, though." Kindra stroked the side of his face, along his jawline, feeling guilty for what contributions she'd made to his nightmares. The ship needed a second pilot, or Alden needed to train-up a crew member so that he could rest in shifts when 'Echo flew the black. She didn't like to consider it, but they'd be in real trouble if he couldn't fly for some reason. But Kindra kept that suggestion to herself for now. She didn't want to recall Alison's absence to Alden's already heart-worn state.

"One way or another, I can help you maintain a state of... alertness, if that's what you want." She pressed her lips gently to his and teasingly ran her fingertips across Alden's muscled chest to his firm abdomen. "Keeping you talking would help too."

Alden chuckled at Kindra's advance reading of Arca Loxley and leaned into her physical caress with an easy comfort. She was okay. Safe. Protected now by James B's violent exit. And yet Kindra's injuries would persist for some time to come, which meant her kiss felt a little unfairly uncomfortable despite his absolute lack of any external complaint. "Long as our mum's okay," he responded. facial expressions implying he was enjoying the attention, but at a price. "She'll be chastising me for letting get you hurt." A lopsided smile covered his internal addition. And likely keen to get us married, Alden added silently in the privacy of his own head. "I just hope she's okay. Comms cutting out like that ain't good. Feels deliberate. But we just need to get you both all healed up, right?" Simple. Go with Plan A. Heal first. Then get all mischievous.

"Keeping me talking's definitely probably better'n whatcha currently making me want to do," Alden changed subjects swiftly and lightly pushed them apart some. "Neither of us can get too deep into that right now," he pointed out, kindly. "How bout you tell me a story," he suggested, shifting position with the awkwardness that implied an R-rating was out and planting both booted feet high on the console protectively. "Dealer's choice."

Kindra wanted to protest that - with a few creative adjustments - her injuries did not dictate abstinence. But here in the 'Echo's cockpit he was probably right, and of course he was distracted with worry about his mother. She stuck out her lower lip in an exaggerated, playful pout. "If you say so. For now." Kindra leaned back, settling into the co-pilot's chair and considered her repertoire of stories she could tell from memory. "Tell you a story, hmm?"

She took a deep breath, and began. "All children, except one, grow up. They soon know…"

Alden raised a comedic eyebrow at her choice of words (not associating them with their writer through his lack of any real comprehensive literary education), and grinned as he focused his gaze to the system beyond the window and subconsciously applied the statement to himself. Had he grown up? Heading home always made him a little more conscious of his achievements in life, and the measure by which his mother would judge him. He reached out and lightly grasped Kindra's hand, his other remaining on the controls despite any lack of an immediate need for course correction. There was a lot of love on the Blue Cloud ranch, a ton or three of memories, and family. Somehow looking at that distant world as it grew larger before them always made him feel like a little kid again.

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OOC: The story Kindra tells Alden is Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, in case that first line doesn't give it away. :)