Annual Christmas Party in Krugeristan (IC/MT/Ended)

[The Selkie]

"It's alright, it's alright," Vershenov said. "Now, if I may ask, what happened? You weren't anywhere near the fumes. Was it just . . . nerves? Or . . ." Vershenov let a tone of some deeper understanding as to human thought and memory creep into his voice, "Something else?"

"Something else.", Fiona admitted, looking down to her other hand as Sio nudged it, before he gave her fingers a gentle lick. She smiled at her companion. "Something I do not wish to discuss."
Her words had a finality to it, which allowed for no argument whatsoever. She did not want to speak about it and that was final.
Her eyes, though, they showed fear - simple, primal fear.
And that was not because of her hosts.

[Krugeristan]

"It's alright, it's alright," Vershenov said. "Now, if I may ask, what happened? You weren't anywhere near the fumes. Was it just . . . nerves? Or . . ." Vershenov let a tone of some deeper understanding as to human thought and memory creep into his voice, "Something else?"

"Something else.", Fiona admitted, looking down to her other hand as Sio nudged it, before he gave her fingers a gentle lick. She smiled at her companion. "Something I do not wish to discuss."
Her words had a finality to it, which allowed for no argument whatsoever. She did not want to speak about it and that was final.
Her eyes, though, they showed fear - simple, primal fear.
And that was not because of her hosts.

"Fine. Will you be alright, then?" Vershenov asked, quietly. "Even if you don't want to discuss it, we'd like to know if you're going to be alright for the remainder of your time in the country."

[The Selkie]

"Fine. Will you be alright, then?" Vershenov asked, quietly. "Even if you don't want to discuss it, we'd like to know if you're going to be alright for the remainder of your time in the country."

Fiona nodded firmly, confidence returning a small bit. "Yes, I will.", she said and nodded again, "Yes. Sio's with me, after all..."
As if using that as his command, the Curly jumped into Fiona's lap, looking at her. She softly lifted him and held him against her stomach.
"I'll be fine, Commander.", she repeated, "Just give me a few moments."

[Krugeristan]

"Fine. Will you be alright, then?" Vershenov asked, quietly. "Even if you don't want to discuss it, we'd like to know if you're going to be alright for the remainder of your time in the country."

Fiona nodded firmly, confidence returning a small bit. "Yes, I will.", she said and nodded again, "Yes. Sio's with me, after all..."
As if using that as his command, the Curly jumped into Fiona's lap, looking at her. She softly lifted him and held him against her stomach.
"I'll be fine, Commander.", she repeated, "Just give me a few moments."

Vershenov nodded, going back to Golahman and patting the younger man's shoulder. "She's fine, Golahman."

Golahman's face was buried in Assad's chest, clinging tightly to the Syrian president, who didn't seem to mind. Assad looked down at Golahman, smiling reassuringly, before leading him to where Fiona was sitting. "Someone needs a hug," Assad said.

[The Selkie]

Vershenov nodded, going back to Golahman and patting the younger man's shoulder. "She's fine, Golahman."

Golahman's face was buried in Assad's chest, clinging tightly to the Syrian president, who didn't seem to mind. Assad looked down at Golahman, smiling reassuringly, before leading him to where Fiona was sitting. "Someone needs a hug," Assad said.

Fiona heard the Syrian's suggestion and it indeed sounded nice.
Chasing the ghosts of the past back with a simple hug... her arms closed around Sio, pressing him to her stomach, firmly, but not with too much strength, lest he protested. He still gave a coo, as if he wanted her to remain calm and collected in the light of what came back to haunt her.
He knew, after all.

[Krugeristan]

Vershenov nodded, going back to Golahman and patting the younger man's shoulder. "She's fine, Golahman."

Golahman's face was buried in Assad's chest, clinging tightly to the Syrian president, who didn't seem to mind. Assad looked down at Golahman, smiling reassuringly, before leading him to where Fiona was sitting. "Someone needs a hug," Assad said.

Fiona heard the Syrian's suggestion and it indeed sounded nice.
Chasing the ghosts of the past back with a simple hug... her arms closed around Sio, pressing him to her stomach, firmly, but not with too much strength, lest he protested. He still gave a coo, as if he wanted her to remain calm and collected in the light of what came back to haunt her.
He knew, after all.

Assad coughed. "I meant Golahman." He had coughed to hide a slight smile, considering Golahman's visible distraught over his paranoia that Fiona could be ill, which Vershenov proved false, and Fiona didn't see Golahman's reduced state.

[The Selkie]

Assad coughed. "I meant Golahman." He had coughed to hide a slight smile, considering Golahman's visible distraught over his paranoia that Fiona could be ill, which Vershenov proved false, and Fiona didn't see Golahman's reduced state.

Fiona looked up and saw Golahman hugging the chest of the Syrian President, as well as his comment made one plus one make two - and she reacted.
Softly, she kissed Sio onto the snout and sat him down, before she herself stood up and walked up to the two men, unsure at first as she did not want to sandwich Golaham or tear him out of his current hug... it was a bit of a problem there.
Then she had the idea: Fuck it all.
She came from the side and slung her arms around the necks of both men, pulling them closer to her, softly, but firmly, jumping over her shadow named Assad (only this once and only for Karak, she assured herself) and hugged them both.
She felt awkward.

[Krugeristan]

Assad coughed. "I meant Golahman." He had coughed to hide a slight smile, considering Golahman's visible distraught over his paranoia that Fiona could be ill, which Vershenov proved false, and Fiona didn't see Golahman's reduced state.

Fiona looked up and saw Golahman hugging the chest of the Syrian President, as well as his comment made one plus one make two - and she reacted.
Softly, she kissed Sio onto the snout and sat him down, before she herself stood up and walked up to the two men, unsure at first as she did not want to sandwich Golaham or tear him out of his current hug... it was a bit of a problem there.
Then she had the idea: Fuck it all.
She came from the side and slung her arms around the necks of both men, pulling them closer to her, softly, but firmly, jumping over her shadow named Assad (only this once and only for Karak, she assured herself) and hugged them both.
She felt awkward.

Vershenov would only admit that this was touching, but never admit it to anyone else.

Golahman glanced at Fiona when she joined them, his face streaked with tears. "You're OK?" he asked.

Assad was tempted to let go, but decided not to. He also wanted to say something about how this was a great party tonight, but decided to let Fiona ease Golahman's paranoia first.

[The Selkie]

Vershenov would only admit that this was touching, but never admit it to anyone else.

Golahman glanced at Fiona when she joined them, his face streaked with tears. "You're OK?" he asked.

Assad was tempted to let go, but decided not to. He also wanted to say something about how this was a great party tonight, but decided to let Fiona ease Golahman's paranoia first.

Fiona nodded. "Yes."
Define 'Okay'., she thought to herself, but decided to put on a brave smile, just for Karak. Then she pecked him on the nose.

[Krugeristan]

Vershenov would only admit that this was touching, but never admit it to anyone else.

Golahman glanced at Fiona when she joined them, his face streaked with tears. "You're OK?" he asked.

Assad was tempted to let go, but decided not to. He also wanted to say something about how this was a great party tonight, but decided to let Fiona ease Golahman's paranoia first.

Fiona nodded. "Yes."
Define 'Okay'., she thought to herself, but decided to put on a brave smile, just for Karak. Then she pecked him on the nose.

Golahman kissed her back, gently, wanting to sob more, leaning against Assad while looking at Fiona. "I'm sorry," he said, "I . . . thought something was wrong . . ."

[The Selkie]

Golahman kissed her back, gently, wanting to sob more, leaning against Assad while looking at Fiona. "I'm sorry," he said, "I . . . thought something was wrong . . ."

"Thank you, Karak.", she whispered to him, "I'm okay." For a certain definition of okay. "Just... something unpleasant came back, but it's gone again." I hope. "I'm okay now."
She wanted him to hug her, to put her head against his shoulder and to make her feel safe, but...

[Krugeristan]

Golahman kissed her back, gently, wanting to sob more, leaning against Assad while looking at Fiona. "I'm sorry," he said, "I . . . thought something was wrong . . ."

"Thank you, Karak.", she whispered to him, "I'm okay." For a certain definition of okay. "Just... something unpleasant came back, but it's gone again." I hope. "I'm okay now."
She wanted him to hug her, to put her head against his shoulder and to make her feel safe, but...

"If you don't want to talk about it, it's OK . . . I guess . . . If you want Assad to go, then, that's OK, too," Golahman said. This can't work if we constantly hide things from each other. It just can't work that way.

[The Selkie]

"If you don't want to talk about it, it's OK . . . I guess . . . If you want Assad to go, then, that's OK, too," Golahman said. This can't work if we constantly hide things from each other. It just can't work that way.

Fiona was well aware, that this would not work with them hiding things from each other, but she... simply couldn't tell him, what happened back then. The lamps reminded her of an event, which she buried deep, deep and deeper still in the back of her head, tried to wash it out when it came to haunt her, tried to wipe it away... and found solace in the furred chest of a certain Curly Mountain Fox, who was but a cub back then.
What happened back then... she told only him.
And she did not know why, but it seemed, that he understood. Naturally, he did not tell it to anyone else, but that was another question.
"I think...", Fiona said slowly, "It's best we all retire for the night. This was a rollercoaster..."

[Krugeristan]

"If you don't want to talk about it, it's OK . . . I guess . . . If you want Assad to go, then, that's OK, too," Golahman said. This can't work if we constantly hide things from each other. It just can't work that way.

Fiona was well aware, that this would not work with them hiding things from each other, but she... simply couldn't tell him, what happened back then. The lamps reminded her of an event, which she buried deep, deep and deeper still in the back of her head, tried to wash it out when it came to haunt her, tried to wipe it away... and found solace in the furred chest of a certain Curly Mountain Fox, who was but a cub back then.
What happened back then... she told only him.
And she did not know why, but it seemed, that he understood. Naturally, he did not tell it to anyone else, but that was another question.
"I think...", Fiona said slowly, "It's best we all retire for the night. This was a rollercoaster..."

Golahman nodded a bit, looking at Assad, who shrugged.

"I probably should go anyway," Assad said. "I don't know if the ceasefire held up this long. It's been nice to escape the world for a few hours, but, eventually, we return to reality." He gave Golahman a tight hug, before turning to Fiona, offering her a more friendly and gentle embrace. "If you don't wish to, that's fine. I know I've been a pain tonight."

Golahman bent over to pet Sio. "I'll miss you especially." He stood up, looking at Fiona. "Maybe . . . we can write to each other? The old-fashioned way, with letters and ink."

[The Selkie]

Golahman nodded a bit, looking at Assad, who shrugged.

"I probably should go anyway," Assad said. "I don't know if the ceasefire held up this long. It's been nice to escape the world for a few hours, but, eventually, we return to reality." He gave Golahman a tight hug, before turning to Fiona, offering her a more friendly and gentle embrace. "If you don't wish to, that's fine. I know I've been a pain tonight."

Golahman bent over to pet Sio. "I'll miss you especially." He stood up, looking at Fiona. "Maybe . . . we can write to each other? The old-fashioned way, with letters and ink."

Fiona replied to the Syrian President with a smile. "Sorry about the slap.", she said and accepted the embrace, although with a bit of hesitation - it was really nothing personal. "It was... yeah. Let's leave it at that."
She left his soft embrace as Sio barked in laughter, an amused glint in his eyes.
He knew his humans.
"Maybe . . . we can write to each other? The old-fashioned way, with letters and ink.", Karak proposed and Fiona had the impression, that he was nervous.
She nodded, nevertheless, went forward and gave him a tight hug, kissing him on the cheek. "I'd love that. You know my address, right?"

[Krugeristan]

Golahman nodded a bit, looking at Assad, who shrugged.

"I probably should go anyway," Assad said. "I don't know if the ceasefire held up this long. It's been nice to escape the world for a few hours, but, eventually, we return to reality." He gave Golahman a tight hug, before turning to Fiona, offering her a more friendly and gentle embrace. "If you don't wish to, that's fine. I know I've been a pain tonight."

Golahman bent over to pet Sio. "I'll miss you especially." He stood up, looking at Fiona. "Maybe . . . we can write to each other? The old-fashioned way, with letters and ink."

Fiona replied to the Syrian President with a smile. "Sorry about the slap.", she said and accepted the embrace, although with a bit of hesitation - it was really nothing personal. "It was... yeah. Let's leave it at that."
She left his soft embrace as Sio barked in laughter, an amused glint in his eyes.
He knew his humans.
"Maybe . . . we can write to each other? The old-fashioned way, with letters and ink.", Karak proposed and Fiona had the impression, that he was nervous.
She nodded, nevertheless, went forward and gave him a tight hug, kissing him on the cheek. "I'd love that. You know my address, right?"

"Yes. Vershenov wrote it down when we left," Golahman said.

Assad took his jacket. "Hope we meet again, Fiona, on a lighter note," he said, throwing his hood up, "and Merry Christmas." He waved to them while heading out the door with Jerochenko and Evanu as his escorts.

Golahman gave Fiona another kiss. "So . . . hopefully we'll see each other again, and . . . and I'll hope that it's not with tons of people this time." He held open the door, a nervous smile on his face as Vershenov stepped outside to escort Fiona to the airport.

[The Selkie]

"Yes. Vershenov wrote it down when we left," Golahman said.

Assad took his jacket. "Hope we meet again, Fiona, on a lighter note," he said, throwing his hood up, "and Merry Christmas." He waved to them while heading out the door with Jerochenko and Evanu as his escorts.

Golahman gave Fiona another kiss. "So . . . hopefully we'll see each other again, and . . . and I'll hope that it's not with tons of people this time." He held open the door, a nervous smile on his face as Vershenov stepped outside to escort Fiona to the airport.

Fiona nodded. "Hopefully. I still have to give you your second present." There was a glint in her eyes as she said that, one that promised things, but all in due time - there was nothing indecent involved, that would put the honour of either of them into question, though. "See you then... and have fun!"
With that, she left Golahman, walking back a few steps, blew him a kiss, smiling sadly and turned to leave with Vershenov, nodding to the Commander. "Thank you very much.", she told him kindly, Sio on her heels.
For her, the next stop was a business dinner in some far off place, talking to someone she was already acquainted with - and old friend of her mother. Someone, who she had to talk about all things armoured steel and nothing soft like hugging someone she really, really liked.
She was quite sure, that she would not be able to concentrate much on the dinner itself.