Broken Heartland

Posted on Thu Jul 6th, 2023 @ 4:26am by Alden Loxley & Arca Loxley & Kindra Graham

Mission: Oh, Give Me a Home on The Range
Location: Blue Cloud Ranch
Timeline: 18 November, 2517 - Evening

"Go fetch me the older albums," Arca demanded in the tone of a mother who wasn't wasting time with niceties when she wanted something done now. Her hand brusquely waved Alden off in the direction of upstairs and presumably an attic. "And bring me the one from my nightstand, please love," she added as her son looked to the two women before leaving on his quest.

Once Alden was out of earshot, Arca offered up a hug to Kindra for the taking and gestured to the room before them.

Kindra returned Arca's hug with gentle affection, appreciating the acceptance that embrace seemed to offer. Family was important to Alden, she knew, like an extension of himself.

This was a wide room with a long window to its outside wall, under which sat a desk that was long enough for two people to work at simultaneously and which owned two comfortable, upright leather armchairs as a means by which to do so. Files and ledgers were stacked neatly to one end, the rest an open space in which to accomplish matters of business. Old photographs on the walls told the story of a ranchhouse through several generations, favourite horses and changing outfits depicting a working family.

To the other side, the cosier corner away from both window and doorway's entrance, was a wide L-shaped sofa that had clearly seen some years pass it by. Several throw quilts blankets adorned it with a lazy Sunday vibe and the cushions were non-uniform in colour and design, most adorned with embroidered animals gifting it a home-made vibe. A couple of lamps and a stand-up reading light gifted a friendly, warm brightness to the darker corners and books lined the walls in wooden shelves of varying sizes.

"Please, Kindra, take a seat. Make yourself comfortable," Arca insisted. "Now, before my son comes back, let me hear your thoughts, and be as brutal and honest as you like, lass," she added. "Remember I know him well, good and bad. I can take it. Is he treating you in the manner to which you deserve, love?"

Kindra took a seat on the sofa that was indeed just as comfortable as it looked. Arca's question, both content and phrasing, filled Kindra with consternation and surprise. She was momentarily speechless. Where in the 'verse did she get the idea... Oh. Oooooh. Kindra's hand went self-consciously to her still-bruised eye. "I assure you that Alden is not responsible for my black eye. He did in fact save my life on Three Hills, with the help of his crew and your other son. And Alden made sure the man who did hurt me will never do it again." Kindra gave Arca an earnest, reassuring smile. "Alden is a good person. The best."

Arca took a grateful breath - in, out - and visibly relaxed just a little more. She took a seat beside Kindra, giving the younger woman plenty of room to stretch out as needed, and smiled warmly. "So, saved you from a situation not of his making, I'm also hoping?" Arca asked.

"No, not of his making at all." Kindra tried to think of a succinct way to describe what'd happened to her. "I foolishly let myself get caught by someone who used me for bait to catch my father… whom Alden also saved." Kindra shifted within the stiff confines of the wrap around her ribs – hidden under her clothes, with an uncomfortable twinge of guilt. She shouldn't have gotten Alden and his crew involved.

"Thank you," Arca openly admitted her gratitude. "And we all have our foolish moments," she noted, wryly. "I'm grateful for your safe escape, you and your father. And yet," she hadn't missed the way Kindra had held herself so cautiously from the first time she'd seen her, but then Arca was used to folks hiding their pain. "You clearly still carry injuries for this incident. Let me know if you wish me to call our doctor, or aid you myself in any way."

"Thank you." Kindra reflected that she should have anticipated Arca's observational skills and didn't bother to conceal the truth. "A couple of cracked ribs is all. I saw doctors at the hospital on Three Hills, and Jacy is quite knowledgeable. Healing will just take a little time, that's all."

"As you wish, love." Came the gently spoken, if slightly curt, reply.

"I'm not sure how long you've known my eldest son," Arca shifted topic slightly, "but while he's a good person in my eyes too, he definitely has a habit of getting involved with the complicated and the downright bad. Sometimes far worse than he can really handle." She sighed slightly, and added, her gaze shifting to one that was slightly more emotional. "And he doesn't like to discuss the past much either, so it's tricky to help him navigate those ups and downs." Alden's mother looked to Kindra as if that was a question she needed answered.

"Alden does seem to attract folks in need of help and protection." Did Arca include Kindra among the complicated and downright bad? "It's true, he doesn't like to talk about the past much, or even the present for that matter," agreed Kindra. She was uncertain what Arca wanted to know from her, and although it was tempting to ask questions about Alden, she worried she'd be breaking Alden's trust, going behind his back to ask Arca. Kindra had enough faith in Alden's feelings for her that he'd share when he was ready. "He told me he was widowed, and how he met Anouk, but not much else."

Answering a different implied question, she said, "It was three years ago when I met Alden. He was," Kindra's face lit up, remembering that magical time with Alden on the Cicada and on Pelorum, "irresistible. We spent a week together then parted. I ran into him and Alison a year later on Aphrodite. Then just a month ago our paths crossed on Santo, and I rented the 'Echo's port shuttle."

"Mmm-hmm," agreed Arca, passively, as she considered all of Kindra's words. "He's always been like that, a rescuer. Or at least that's his intent. With Anouk... that was one of the hardest times I've known since his father's death. So much pain there, and Alden wouldn't talk about it. About her. He never brought her back here, though I do have some photographs. He won't want to look at them," she added, prepping Kindra for that inevitability. "But if you're curious, I don't mind sharing them with you. I know how curiosity can be," she confided, simply. "If you have questions, lass, you go ahead and ask them. I may answer, I may not. Yet what tells me that you're very different to that woman is that he's unafraid to bring you home and leave us alone. That, Kindra," she smiled, warmly, and reached out to hold the younger woman's hands in solidarity. "Speaks very highly of you, love."

Then there was a chocolatey chuckle, and Alden's mother beamed amusement. "Irresistible..." she spoke the word musically, syllables lilting happily in a gentle tone. "Yes, his father was the same. A wanderer, a charismatic pirate and a showman. That man loved to show-off, and he had no shame." Arca's gaze drifted from Kindra to the photograph framed above her desk - a younger version of herself and Jericho Loxley - then a lingering moment later, returned to the Companion's own. "The Verse is unkind to sensitive souls, empaths and well-meaning rogues," she said, wondering privately if Kindra would want to stick around. "And you're from the Core?" Arca asked, shifting the subject from her son to another man's daughter.

She was curious to see photos of Anouk, though Kindra's thoughts lingered on Arca's pronouncement that Alden spoke highly of her to his mother. "I'm from Persephone. My family's horse ranch that I mentioned at dinner is there. I went to Sihnon when I was twelve, to study at Madrassa. I came home on holidays, until I was sixteen and the war began."

"Doesn't sound so bad," Arca noted, kindly. "Persephone certainly has all the things we don't," she added with a wry smile. She wondered if it had been Kindra's choice to go to Madrassa, but didn't ask that question as the young woman's mention of the war distracted the elder's attention for a moment. Arca's thoughts remained private on that front, but she followed her guest's visual attention as it shifted focus.

Kindra's gaze returned to the photo of Alden's parents. He favored both of them in appearance, and Alden certainly followed in his father's well-meaning charismatic rogue footsteps. "May I ask, what happened to your husband?"

"You may," Arca said, and she too studied that photo for a silent moment.

"He died out in the Black on a cargo run," said Alden's voice as he entered the room, photo albums in hand. "Ten years ago. But he's buried out back on the family plot."

The sorrow in Arca's gaze was evident as she looked from photograph to eldest son. "Alden brought Jericho home," she said, simply. "But that was a long time ago, and we have happier things to share." The merest of pauses separated that sentiment and the exchange of the albums from son to mother. "Here," Arca said, merrily to Kindra as she handed the first one onto the Companion, "these are Alden's baby albums."

Kindra had questions about Alden's dad, but she respectfully held them back as the conversation moved to happier memories.

Alden, for his part, beamed a big dumb grin. "Luckily I'm not proud," he said, and crouched down beside Kindra in order to share the walk down memory lane. "And you've, well, already seen me naked..."

With a grin and a laugh, Kindra said, "Of the people you've more than a passing acquaintance with, I'd wager most of them have seen you naked, Alden."

"Fair comment," he agreed, good-naturedly.

Sure enough, Kindra opened the album to a random place in the middle. There she could see a relaxed outdoor gathering, with a lot of people talking, eating, and relaxing. And standing proudly on a table in the center of it all was an adorable toddler-sized Alden wearing nothing but a wide-brimmed hat. "Your bum is just as cute now as it was then."

With a nonchalant shake of her head, Arca smiled. Despite the clear trauma they'd both been through recently with regards whatever happened to injure Kindra, these two had an easy-going nature to hand when they were together. That was a good sign, and a definite relief after the secondhand experience she'd lived through with Alden's previous serious relationship. They'd need to have a serious conversation - her and her son - but that would happen later. For now, it felt good to see them both smile and tease each other, to have laughter in the house and a sense of companionship.

"Alden's always been an exhibitionist," Arca admitted, openly. "My boy was never ashamed of his own skin, and he made up his own dance moves as soon as he could stand," she added with a chuckle. "Literally had to fight to get him to wear clothes, until he learned to ride, then he accepted they were sometimes a good idea."

In response to all this perceived love and adoration, Alden cradled Kindra's cheek gently in his left hand, long fingers curving about her jawline. "I still have that hat too," he teased. "If you want me to re-enact the moment."

Kindra leaned into Alden's hand and kissed his palm. "I surely do." With a twinkle in her eyes she added, "You could show off some of those dance moves too. We could do them together."

Once they'd looked through the younger years, seen the arrival of sister and brother, then witnessed a few awkward teenage shots, the photographs jumped to special occasions for the most part - gatherings back on Ezra now limited to moments when Alden made it all the way back home.

---

"Be a love and put those back where you found them," Arca asked her son, closing up the physical albums and passing them to him. Alden raised his eyebrows, but conceded, well aware that his mother was after another moment or two alone with Kindra.

"No problem," he noted, and added. "I'll make some tea, too."

Once he'd left the room, Arca regarded Kindra with an expressive face and a direct question, one not unkindly spoken, but clearly expectant of an honest answer.

"He's not said as much," Arca stated. "But I gather if your schooling was at Madrassa, you were a Companion?" With the emphasis just a little stronger on the 'were'.

"I am still a registered Companion," answered Kindra with straight-forward honesty, putting the same emphasis on 'still' as Arca put on 'were.' For the first time in her life, Kindra's vocational future was uncertain, which made a more detailed answer complicated. With a sigh, Kindra added, "For now, anyway. Why do you ask?"

Well, that was interesting, thought Arca. And a little unexpected. But then Alden did seem to find himself the complex romantic entanglements without even trying too hard. She liked this one so far - independent, strong, direct - good qualities indeed, though it also depended how such moral fibre and skills were used. Manipulation (not always in a bad way) was part of a Companion's skillset too. At least it was in Arca Loxley's opinion.

"Fair question," said Alden's mother once she'd had a moment to accept Kindra's response. "I hadn't expected that to be your answer," she openly admitted. "But now, I suppose I'm curious," she continued, honestly. Her return question was asked politely, and with a look of intrigue in the older woman's gaze that was without either overt judgement or implication as to whether any answer might be considered right or wrong. "Are you seeking to make your mind up based on your needs, or my son's?"

"Both. I'm taking both of our needs into consideration. Giving up my license is permanent, and not a decision I can make lightly, though I've changed my registry status to 'unavailable.' It's been only about two weeks since Alden and I rekindled our romantic relationship." Kindra chewed her lower lip. She didn't think he would, but Alden could change his mind. He'd rejected her twice, he might reject her again, especially if Kindra did... whatever it was Alison did. He was still withholding the truth of what happened between him and his loyal, long-time partner, and Kindra needed honesty in a relationship as much as Alden needed sexual exclusivity. "For now I think Alden and I need some down time to just be together, to talk and work things out." Kindra reached out to squeeze Arca's hand. "I love your son, Arca. I would never intentionally hurt him."

Arca firmly returned the hand-squeeze, but shook her head slowly as experienced folks tended to when finding issue with another's words. It gave her a few more seconds to process and consider her response before speaking. When she did return comment, her voice was clear and certain, supportive and protectively judgemental.

"Oh love," she said. "When considering your career, you need to take your needs into consideration alone. Don't you be worrying about my son's - or any partner's - opinion on that score. You think Alden's father considered my wants and needs when he kept at his job? Or I considered his when I remained here to look after this ranch? Your career, what you do with your own life, that's your choice to make. If a partner loves you, they will understand and compensate accordingly. If they don't, then you're not with the right person." Arca beamed a bright smile, the same one Kindra had seen on the rancher's daughter's face. "Trust me. Or don't. But love - the kind that matters - it survives a little selfishness and hurt. Just be sure you're chasing what you really want, because all of us need our own space, our own victories and our own choices."

"I am truly grateful for your advice, Arca." Kindra's words were spoken with genuine warmth and appreciation that Alden's mother thought well enough of her to recommend Arca's own personal life choices, a life path the Loxley matriarch seemed to expect her children to follow. Obviously real love encompassed respect and support for each other's chosen careers, though up to that point Kindra had not quite understood that Alden's parents had lived separate lives. "It would be a much simpler decision if I was not in a relationship with Alden. Luckily, I don't need to decide immediately." Kindra's gaze drifted back to the photo of Arca and her husband. "How often did Jericho visit with you, here on the ranch?"

Arca frowned, confused (though not offended) by Kindra's unabashed question. She canted her head to the side and considered said query from both sides as best she could, her knowledge of Kindra's own internal truth currently a lean tome of knowledge.

"Visit me?" She asked then, laughter creasing into well-worn lines on her face. "He lived here. This was his home." A pause as Arca studied this younger woman's beautiful face, as she wondered what sort of wisdom Kindra's twenty-something years had accumulated. She'd never met a Companion first-hand before, though she'd heard stories of their schooling and skill-sets from others. "Perhaps you misunderstand me," Arca stated, kindly. "I believe a marriage can encompass both freedom and love, it can be a serious committment while allowing infinite personal choice. Neither person owns the other," she assumed Kindra already knew this, but continued calmly in pursuit of her own point of view. "Jericho and I raised our kids together, he worked the ranch when he was here. But he still ran cargo - his true work-love - and he wouldn't be the man I loved if he didn't maintain some of that Loxley independence." Arca's gaze slipped skyward briefly, well aware that while most of his work was his own, some of her husband's jobs had been for Niska. "A person doesn't need to lose themselves to please another."

"If it only takes a fortnight in a relationship to consider giving up your current career choice," Arca pointed out with a bold, not unkind, directness. "Perhaps that decision is more to do with your own mind, rather than with my son?" Of course, the Loxley matriarch had no idea as yet what Alden made of all this. "Be selfish," she said. "Choose yourself first."

Kindra had imagined that Alden modeled his lifestyle after his father, so Arca's description shifted her understanding. Unlike the 'Echo's captain, Jericho must have kept his cargo runs close to home. She nodded along with the sentiments Arca shared about relationships, all perfectly sensible. And yet… why was Arca lecturing her about marriage, and why was Arca pressuring her to declare a decision?

"I know you have only the best of intentions toward me, and you want the best for your son. Perhaps it will put your mind at ease to tell you honestly, Alden and I are a long way off from marriage." It had been a fortnight for her since their relationship rekindled, but only three days ago Alden had barely been willing to acknowledge they were even in a relationship. Kindra was certain marriage was the furthest thing from his mind. Allowing her mild irritation to bleed through, she said, "I'm not a fool, and I'm not losing myself to please anyone. As I've said before, I have plenty of time to give the matter long and serious thought. I'm not taking clients currently. If I do, eventually choose to give up my Companion license, Alden will be a factor, yes. But there are many other factors influencing my decision."

"Oh love," Arca smiled and shook her head gently as she picked up Kindra's overt undertones easily enough. "I wasn't implying you were about to get married, or not. Those decisions belong to you two alone."

Kindra sighed and resigned herself to explaining some to Arca. "I've spent the last seven months hiding from my stepbrother James, the man who did this." She gestured to her black eye. "Mainly on border planets and ships in between, where the Companion vocation isn't well understood or respected. My work is important and rewarding, but also dangerous outside the Core." Kindra looked down at her hands. She could not properly care for the needs of a client when she was afraid. "Getting kidnapped and almost killed, putting the lives of people I care about in danger… has put some things in a new perspective."

Arca nodded, her heart aching for the younger woman's wounds - both physical and no doubt emotional - in response to this recent attack. She didn't interrupt Kindra with a vocal response, but simply reached out with both of her hands and rested them supportively upon the Companion's own. Her reactions remained pure body language and gentle empathetic response as Kindra continued to speak her words.

"But if I'm no longer taking work as a Companion, there really is no reason for me to continue renting the Echo's port shuttle, except to be with Alden." Oh, Kindra could think of a dozen ways her extensive training in negotiation and business would benefit the 'Echo's bottom line. But she'd seen how that worked out for Alison, who as an ex-companion shared many of the same skills.

Kindra met Arca's gaze, and saw a little of her stepmother Margaret's spirit there. "With James gone I've regained access to my old bank accounts, so I don't need to worry about earning credits for a while. And my stepmother and father have returned to the family ranch, to put things back to rights. I could… maybe should… go home to Persephone and help. Staying with Alden to explore the possibilities of our relationship... now, that would be the most selfish thing I've ever done."

Keeping her opinion to herself to allow Kindra to say what was on her mind and in her heart, Arca simply paid close attention to the younger woman's body language, her battered face and underlying perceived emotions. There had clearly been some very unpleasant times recently, preceded by a period of hiding and 'running' through a series of border planets and uncomfortable locations. Yet here Kindra still was, out in the Border and with a good crew around her.

"Thank you for sharing your story with a stranger," Arca said, her expression and tone conveying a very real sympathy and gratitude. "And forgive me if I upset you," she continued, feeling comfortable in her own questions, but realising Kindra's position was a little less home and a lot more out in the wilderness of the Verse. "It's been a long time since Alden trusted me to meet one of his romantic partners. He was 17 I think, the last time," she added with a smile. "Please, treat my home as your own, stay as long as you wish and if I upset you while you're here, simply tell me. When it comes to making big life decisions, I've had plenty of my own experience, but I appreciate that I'm a stranger to you, so if I cross that line with my concerns and questions, you can say so. I don't offend easily, but I do care very much for those my family bring to visit."

She looked to Kindra with an open directness as she added. "And if my son needs a kick up the arse, please let me know that too." The grin that followed was honest and brightly offered.

"Alden doesn't need anything like that, I'm sure," said Kindra with an appreciative chuckle. Then she held out her arms to offer an embrace. "Thank you for welcoming me into your home, Arca."

Arca wrapped her arms about the younger woman and gave Kindra a good, firm squeeze. Whatever had happened, however and to what end she and Kindra had been injured, she knew one thing, Alden's current and deliberate absence from this conversational meeting spoke volumes. Maybe neither of these kids needed a kick, but there were certainly still words that needed to be exchanged.


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