By the fire light

Posted on Tue Feb 7th, 2023 @ 3:02pm by Nollel Livaam (*) & Chief Engineer Michael Burnstein

Mission: Mission 16: Hysperia
Location: Hysperia- North part of capital
Timeline: First Day of Festival (MD05)
2490 words - 5 OF Standard Post Measure

Nollel was enjoying the walk through the festival hub for the north part of the capitol arm in arm with Michael. They had yet to properly get off the ship together with their duties and own adventures, they were together but that did not mean they had to spend all the time together. She had even dressed up in the Hysperian style of clothing with a corset style dress in deep purple with a cloak just incase it turned cold or windy.

“It is a shame Maras cancelled on us but I am relieved to avoid that awkwardness.” Nollel admitted intrigued by the whole situation and what misfortune had brought the young woman onto the ship. It was not like Cassie to pick up a stray so she was either really trying to patch things up with family or it was something she could help with. She did not want to pry but she did want to help her.

Burnie nodded agreement. He felt a little badly about not knowing what to say to Maras, but he was a loss when it came to a lot of social stuff. Generally, he didn't worry about it much and just let people shrug it off as him being an engineer, but when it seemed like there was underlying emotional thing, he tended to fade back rather than make a misstep that might be hurtful. "Yes, but it's nice to have a date for just us," he said, smiling at her. She looked gorgeous in that Hysperian dress and he hoped he wasn't going to get challenged to a duel like Oliver if she caught some local's eye. It was less likely though since he was dressed to match her - his new dragonscale jacket over a linen shirt and a nice belt with the rapier Liha had thrown at him so he wouldn't 'go out with 'potential victim' stamped on his forehead'. "Any place special you'd like to go?"

“Very much. Feels like we have not had a proper night together on the planet with the refit.” They had gone out a couple of times at the beginning but nothing since then with all that had been going on. “Not really. I like the idea of one of the bonfires and just enjoying the atmosphere. Not had time to just savour it yet but with a new operations chief I can now have some of my free time back. “ It was a positive in her mind, she had a commission that she wanted to finish.

"And the ship's refit is nearly complete, so I finally have some time too." Burnie smiled, then looked around almost uncertainly. "It feels kinda weird, actually. Good weird. But it's going to take some getting used to." With that, he gave an approximation of a courtly bow while gesturing toward one of the bonfires that seemed set up with a more romantic atmosphere (or at least he spied couples dancing and swinging sparklers, which seemed happy and romantic to him). "Shall we get started?"

"What having a ship that will not break down quite as often on us. It will be nice. Maybe you can get back to doing DnD." Nollel teased and curtsied to him grinning. "Go get settled I will get us a wineskin or whatever that is." She smiled a pouch of wine and from any book, she had read but whether it translated to Hysperia properly she had no idea. She shooed him away and moved to whether there was a makeshift cavern where people could purchase wine, mead and other alcoholic drinks.

While Nollel went for drinks, Burnie found a nice place near the fire to spread a blanket. He was surprised when a couple locals showed up proffering pillows and a bowl of fruits and candies, but he wasn't going refuse. This was the first date night in some time after all, so he handed them a few coins and even ponied up for the fancy candle they offered.

Nollel returned with a skin of mead and flopped down next to him on the blanket. "Well this is a nice spot." She assured already feeling warmed by the fire.

"I thought so," he said with a satisfied smile, and gestured to set up. "I even got all the extra fixings."

“Snacks. You are spoiling me. Why have I done to deserve this?” She teased leaning over to kiss his cheek before she stopped up a sweet popping it in her mouth.

"You deserve spoiling," Burnie said, kissing her back, and then took a sip of the mead. "Oo, especially for finding this. This is good stuff."

"I know." She said taking the mead back and taking a big gulp. It burned the whole way down but it was good. "You deserve spoiling too Michael. Been a long time since you have had time off." She said grinning as she lay down and just stared up at the unfamiliar sky with strange constellations that did not match any that she had seen before.

"It does feel nice to have a night off." Burnie flopped back, lying beside her contentedly. "Especially when I have you to spend it with." After a moment fireworks began to streak across the sky above them and the smile grew on his face. "Perfect evening."

“Mmmhmm… nice to see proper fire works again. Do not think we have had that since Freecloud at News Year's.” She smiled at the memory of the illegal fireworks and the views. It had been one of the moments that had made her realise she did not regret a second of leaving New Laurium.

An older woman in a dove grey dress with a matching wimple over a white coif wandered by and smiled, looking down at them. "What a lovely couple. Would you like to join?" she asked, offering a long taper. "There are still dragon's breath lights to be fired."

Dragon's breath lights. Burnie perked right up at the term Hysperians used for fireworks. "We can light them?"

"Of course. It's open to all couples, even if they're from off-world," the matron assured with a smile. "Some even come to the festival just for this."

Burnie's eyes lit as he looked over at Nollel with a big grin. "Do you want to make some fireworks together?"

“Sure. Seems very apt for us. Going to have to help me up though I have just got comfortable.” She grinned back seeing the way he lit up. Once she was on her feet she took the offered taper from the matron and move through the crowds to where many other couples were standing waiting.

After helping Nollel to her feet, Burnie had held onto her hand. It might just be him with the warm fuzzies he always got with fireworks, but this struck him as quite romantic. But obviously, others thought so too - the couples ahead all kissed when the fuse they lit together sent up a spout of fireworks.

Nollel watched with interest over what was happening as several fireworks shot above their heads not making either of them flinch. Everyone seemed to be loved up and it was infectious to say the least as she snuggled against the engineer's side.

Finally, it was their turn. "Come," the matron said, motioning them toward a fresh station. "Do you wish to be joined in light," she gestured to a flame where they could light their taper, "and kindle a flame together?"

"Absolutely," Burnie affirmed, looking at Nollel with a bright smile.

"Very much," Nollel said looking at the man and caressing his cheek at the grin that was on his face before she moved and they lit the taper watching as the firework fuse lit and started towards the firework.

As the firework lit and set off, the matron said "You may kiss..." There have been more to the phrase, but the fireworks were loud and Burnie wasn't really listening beyond 'kiss', which he did, leaning in a kissing Nollel happily as the sparks flew around them.

Nollel could not hear another over the sound of the firework and grinned as Michael leant in close and they kissed. She wrapped her free arm around him keeping the lit tapper away from him so no one got hurt.

Burnie had missed anything the matron said, until the the kiss broke.

"Your names, please?" the matron asked with a slightly amused smile that indicated the question had probably been asked more than once but ignored by the young couple lost in a romantic moment.

He noticed she was holding a fancy quill poised to mark on a scroll filled with swirly calligraphy and a picture of him and Nollel kissing with fireworks going up behind them that must have been taken and quick printed on to it. Ah, the classic 'buy a picture to remember this' tourist trap, he thought. But it was a good picture, and he wanted to remember this, so he didn't mind supporting the venue by buying a souvenir. "Nollel and Michael," he supplied.

"Nollel and Michael," she repeated, as she wrote their names onto the scroll. "You are united under the spark of dragon breath. Blessed be." The matron offered the scroll, holding it forth in both hands. "May you prosper as man and wife."

“Wife…” Nollel said instantly dropping the tapper and quickly stomping on it to put it out so the whole area did not go up in flames and spoil anyone else’s day. She glanced to Michael and saw the shock written all over his face. “I knew one day our love for fireworks and things that go boom was going to get one of us in trouble but not both.” She whispered to the man not at all sure he could hear her over the fireworks and cheering all around them.

Burnie just blinked in shock, stunned by the turn of events. Some part of him briefly wondered if his grandmothers had found some way to orchestrate this, but that was clearly ridiculous - if they had, his family have popped out of somewhere to join the cheering. It was all so absurd, he almost felt like laughing, so at Nollel's comment a chuckle escaped. "Sorry? I guess I should have read up more on local customs. I mean, I've heard of shotgun weddings, but this..." He shook his head, suppressing a fit of helpless laughter.

The matron still held out the scroll to them which Nollel took and smiled at the man as it seemed that though both of them were in shock that the situation was light hearted. “We need to talk.” She said quietly as the matron realised the situation. They would not be the first or the last to be caught up in the moment she surmised as she watched Nollel lead them back through the crowds.

For his part, Burnie was still enough in shock to just let her guide him away. His mind was racing though, complicated by emotions that were very much conflicted. After the visit to earth, he'd been thinking more and more of a life together - but as an eventuality; after living together awhile and a proper proposal... "I, um, I kinda feel like I should find you a ring and do a retroactive proposal," he half joked.

Nollel turned at his half joke and smiled a little before she shook her head. This was complicated in her own head, she felt like there had been a few steps jumped that neither of them had been aware of. “We… we do not have to do this or honour this.” She said letting go of his hand to undo the scroll to look at it properly.

"We can go on like it didn't happen. I mean, we don't even have to tell anyone, if you want," he said, reading over her shoulder. "But this looks like it's a legal marriage here, and since this is a Federation world... " He pulled at the back of his neck. "Well, that makes us married as far as the rest of the Federation is concerned. ...unless you want to get it annulled?" There had to be a way to do that. They couldn't be the only couple in history to have missed what that ceremony was about, right? Though somehow he was more bothered by the idea of deliberately doing that than of having accidentally gotten married.

She had not considered that it would be valid off Hysperia but that was not the point of it all. “Do you?” She asked turning to look at him properly putting the scroll into her bag. Well that was the million credit question wasn’t it?

"I, uh... " His mouth went a little sideways in a half grin. "Honestly, I don't mind the idea of being married to you. But I don't want to force you to be hitched if you don't want to be."

The blonde could not help but smile back a little. “I am not being forced to do anything. I just… I do not want to trap you with me. My reputation.” She shrugged hopelessly as cheers went up and fireworks went off around them as another couple got married.

"Your reputation?" Burnie's brows shot up. "You know that reputation is half of what attracted me to you, right? I'm not the least bit worried about being trapped with you - I don't want you to feel like you're trapped with a weirdo like me."

“A distinguished medically discharged Starfleet officer. Could be a lot worse.” She assured blushing at his gaze and the comment on what had attracted him the first place. “And yes my reputation… it’s quite messy.”

"Pretty sure you could do a lot better," Burnie replied in earnest. "'Reputation or no. Besides, your rep is less messy than fiery," he flashed a fond grin, "and we both know how much I love fire."

“So we are really doing this?” She questioned in a softly voice not at all sure if she dreaming or not. Someone was wanting to stay married her despite what had happened last time she had attempted to get married.

It was probably madly impulsive, and despite his reputation, the engineer was not usually one to jump into things without careful thought and calculation. But in this case... well, the fuse had already been lit. Burnie dropped to a knee, plucking a small O-ring from his belt kit. "Nollel Livaam, would you do me the honor of remaining my wife?"

Nollel put her hand over her mouth stunned that he was being so impulsive when it was normally her who did something like that but she held out her hand and accepted the O-ring. “Only if you do me the honour of being my husband and tell your family.” She said pulling him up to his feet.