Third Annual BF betleH Tournament

Third Annual BF betleH Tournament (http://www.betleh.com/cgi-bin/b3/YaBB.pl)

Day 1 - Opening Matches >> In The Legion bar, late night >> Have to think it through
(Message started by: K`Hare totlh on Feb 20^th, 2005, 4:25pm)

Title: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 20^th, 2005, 4:25pm

K'Hare returned to the Legion after taking care of some minor business. Near the end of dinner with Q'olavraH and the child he'd been called away and she promised to put the child to bed and then meet him back here.

He'd considered suggesting that they meet in his room in the VIP area... it would be an easier place to talk about all the issues that had been raised, but many would view this as him hiding.

He had thought the whispers and comments from those who'd seen ta'pez's mockup had been bad. Now that had stopped, only to be replaced by something worse. He could see them, hear them whispering. He didn't need the hearing of a romuluSngan to know what they were saying.

No, he would stand up to this, accept the insults and innuendos. What was, was. What mattered was his future actions.

So he was hear, in public. And pity the fool who said the wrong thing to him tonight. He ordered several tankards and waited for Q'ol.

OFF:

<tag Q'ol>

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 20^th, 2005, 10:49pm

Q'olavraH had made arrangements for quarters for her and the girl to share. If K'rahl happened to arrive, which was looking less and less likely, she wanted to tell him about things before he stumbled upon the child.

She had promised wovqut that she would be there when she awakened but told her that now she had to go and talk to K'Hare.

The girl had gone to sleep after Q'ol had told her a story about her childhood.

The female Klingon entered the Legion and immediately spotted K'Hare with several mugs at a table and so she moved that way, frowning at the whispers and stares that K'Hare was getting, and the quickly halted conversations as she came within hearing range.

She hooked a chair with her boot spike, spun the chair with her boot and straddled it, grabbing one of the mugs and quickly draining the contents before she spoke.

"The first question is, how much catching up do I have to do?" She smiled. "The second question is, don't they think we know what they are whispering about?" She glared around at all the faces pointed in their direction.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 21^st, 2005, 12:20am

K'Hare frowned. "I am sure they think they aren't so obvious, but I'd rather have them whisper while I face them then have then laugh and joke openly about it when I am not here." He took a drink and kept looking into the tankard as if it had the answers.

After a pause he finally looked up at her looking tired. "I will simply have to accept it. Their attitude is not that hard to understand, all things considered." His voice suddenly turned low. "But I will not let them gain any advantage over me because of this!"

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 21^st, 2005, 12:36am

Q'olavraH frowned. He had seemed fine earlier when they had eaten and talked to wovqut, but now he was suddenly in a very bad mood. Perhaps it had something to do with why he had been called away.

Q'olavraH looked around again and noticed that there was a Starfleet Security officer sat at a table alone not to far away, facing K'Hare.. obviously watching K'Hare. The officer that was assigned to her was sitting on a stool at the bar watching her, but also having some refreshment and chatting with the bartender.

K'Hare saw her looking and said, "Maybe they should sit together ... save a table."

Perhaps since he was a judge he had to have security with him? She grabbed another tankard to cover her confusion over K'Hare's statement, but her eyes were on him the whole time.

Finally she asked, "What advantage could they gain over your double from an alternate universe trying to cause trouble? QaraH told me about ta'pez and his little jokes.. but surely that is nothing to you. The fact of the child gives no one leverage over you.. you are more than able to protect her... "

Her voice died as she tried to figure out what he was talking about.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 21^st, 2005, 12:45am

K'Hare gave his friend a confused look. "But none of those are the reason." He took a drink before saying it. "It's because of the romulan blood, being part pointy-ear."

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 21^st, 2005, 12:51am

Q'ol finished her drink and chuckled. "Khoal thought the fact that he was part Romulan would be more offensive to you than the fact that someone was trying to impersonate you."

She waved at a waiter as she grabbed another mug to bring more. They would need it.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 21^st, 2005, 1:17am

K'Hare nodded with an odd expression, "Yeah." He then took a long drink and reminded, asked, "This Khoal, did he say anything else about me? suran told me that Khoal was the answer to all my questions. When he said that, I didn't realize how many questions I'd have."

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 21^st, 2005, 1:45am

Q'olavraH looked away then, not certain how to answer.

She took a long swig from her mug and then it was her turn to look into the drink as if it held the answers.

She tapped the side of her head without meeting K'Hare's eyes. "There is much in here about your counterpart. As for Khoal, you will have to speak to him when he recovers... if he recovers. If he does not, then when I can find some order in what was dumped into my brain I will record it all."

She looked very uncomfortable as she took another drink and avoided his eyes.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 21^st, 2005, 2:17am

The table was quiet for a moment while K'Hare looked into his mug and thought his own thoughts.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 21^st, 2005, 11:19am

Finally Q'olavraH snorted and gulped down the rest of her tankard and then slammed the empty mug on the table.

"Enough of this. Tell me about the meH'Haj dinner. QaraH told me that ta'pez was unmasked as a half Betazoid and that is how he gains the advantage over others. Your counterpart was interested in whether the ta'pez here had any special gift. Did people turn on him once it was known?" she asked.

QaraH had told her that there had been a confrontatioon and ta'pez's secret had been made public and that the head of house chang had been murdered shortly there after. QaraH had been holding something back, but Q'ol did not know what it was. She hoped K'Hare would fill her in.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 21^st, 2005, 1:33pm

"That's all she said?"

Q'olavraH gave him a look that said "didn't I just say that."

"She didn't say anything else?"

Again Q'olavraH indicated no and her look said out with it or get slapped in the head so K'Hare took a long drink and a deep breath. He suddenly realized that when she came in, she'd been talking about the child, not about him specifically.

"Yes, ta'pez's secret has been revealed. I challenged him to admit who he was and he accepted so now I am obligated to accept him... until he does something else."

Q'olavraH nodded knowingly, understanding, but then it occurred to her that QaraH would have no reason to hold that back. It told her that something else was going on and K'Hare's pained look confirmed it. "And?"

K'Hare sighed again. It was clearly difficult for him to say. "And it would seem I have more in common with the other than I ever knew."

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 21^st, 2005, 1:44pm

She took a drink.

"More in common.. you mean the drink? The betleH in his quarters with the names?" Q'ol asked.

K'Hare had told her about his family, his father and so she knew the story and the names of K'Hare's father and grandfather, and that they were the same as the names etched on the betleH in the other's quarters.

She did wonder about the mother's line and thought that was where the difference must lie, though how the other and the real K'Hare looked so much alike with only the one small difference was something that she continued to go back to in her mind.

"What else do you have in common?" She wanted to know.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 21^st, 2005, 2:08pm

He still couldn't say it directly but he looked at her and she could see the pain. "After ta'pez stood up and declared his name and linage, a federation doctor confirmed it with her ... thing. Then she stated mine." He took a drink and looked down at the table almost whispering. "And then ta'pez accused me of doing what I have known as his sin, have tormented him for. ta'pez, of all people." He drained his tankard but still couldn't face her. "The stars have a great sense of humor."

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 21^st, 2005, 2:34pm

She watched him, listening, at first still confused but then his words sank in. Things started to click into place in her mind.

"You are..." she stopped speaking as it all came clear to her.

K'Hare was strong. His betleH was heavier, he was strong even though when they had first met he didn't train with the blade as much as he should have. She had thought the strength had come from him being colonial stock, but then, what was colonial stock? When a race was conquered it was inevitable that some would breed the ones they had overtaken.

K'Hare was more analytical than any Klingon she had met before, except Khoal. Khoal was the answer to K'Hare's questions.

Her eyes widened as she looked at her friend and other things came to mind. He liked Engineering, he liked Science. He had an ear for languages.. an ear.. she chuckled to herself, amazed.

The special brew.. the blue liquid! It was a form of Romulan ale! She took a swig from her tankard and stared at him. Then it hit her.

"You cheated!!" She bellowed.

K'Hare looked up from his mug at her, confused. "I what? How...?"

She dropped her voice slightly and repeated it, "You cheated! The drinking contest! Of course you can drink Romulan Ale better!"

His look turned from shock, to agreement, and then shame as he looked back down into his drink. He looked hurt.

Q'olavraH growled, standing she knocked the table and everything with it over as she reached across to grab his hair and yank his head up so he would look at her.

"You are you! This doesn't matter. I am from the coloines... I am sure there are traces of other races in my blood.... if not... it doesnt matter. We conquer. That is what we are. That is being Klingon!"

She pulled him to his feet and hugged him hard and then looked him in the eye her expression serious. "I have never known another with a greater Klingon heart, no one with more of a Klingon spirit."

She held him by his shoulders, her grip strong and her gaze unwavering. "We all, all of us, have some of the hurq in our blood. That was part of the price for their short reign and that is simply part of being Klingon today."

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 21^st, 2005, 2:45pm

K'Hare looked around the room and saw all the stares. He stood up straight, retrieved the table, and calmly moved it back into place and sat down. Then, as Q'olavraH joined him he waved to the bar thinking... she has a unique way of getting the waitrons to pay attention.

"You are right of course. I have said as much to my students, to be'eQaraH, yet I hold myself to a higher..." He saw the disapproving look on her face and quickly amended. "... to a different standard. It is simply difficult to accept after so long." He grabbed the tankard as the waitron brought it and drank half in one gulp. "'I have met the enemy and he is me.'"

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 21^st, 2005, 2:52pm

Q'ol reached across the table and cuffed him in the side of the head. "Everyone has the enemy within to contend with, you are not so special in that way." She smirked then.

"Ow." He smiled back. "But when Pogo said it, he didn't here reports of his own attacks on his own forces."

It was clear he wanted to move on to other subjects, but Q'ol couldn't help looking at the little bend in his ear that wovqut had pointed out. Yes, it was quite obvious now that all that pieces were in place.

"Tell me how your students are coming along." She grabbed her own mug and took a long swig and settled in for a long night of drinking and catching up with her friend.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 21^st, 2005, 3:20pm

"They are well. I must give a great deal of credit to be'eQaraH. While I teach them, she spends attention on each individual and pushes them further that I would have tried." He sat back after taking a drink.

"Perhaps it is because she was raised as a mongrel and so better understands how far each can rise." He laughed sarcastically. "Perhaps she needs to teach me."

He looked up smiling determined to lighten the mood. "The students are doing well. There was the incident with sallon I already told you about. But many are performing tasks as regular crew despite still being cadets. So'l led the repair of the Hegh'ta and Hurgh has been a competent quartermaster. Of note, Ing's computer skills are already better than mine, but he still has work to leave his past behind. But the one that has surprised me the most is roS. He has been unexpectedly helpful, especially in regard to this current set of problems. So much so that I am going to make note of it publicly. I haven't told him yet... I was waiting to see how he performed here. A good thing too, he seems upset by the outcome, frustrated even. Perhaps I will need to give them all a lesson in what matters."

She smiled and said, "Losing to a superior opponent is no dishonor."

He nodded. "Of course, you understand."

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 22^nd, 2005, 8:48pm

"I am certain roS will continue to grow as his Klingon heart begins to beat more strongly. You are doing well with them I think."

She took a long swig then and studied her friend.

"Have you taken them to the planet for a hunt yet? All of you need some enjoyment and exercise in fresh air and on real ground. In fact there are lessons that can be taught in a traditional hunt. You and I have yet to hunt together, and I hear that QaraH's skill with the Sargh is great. Her brother breeds the Terran version .. " She tried to recall what the animal was called.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 23^rd, 2005, 1:00am

"No, but the idea is sound." He smiled showing he thought that it was a very good idea. "In truth I have avoided going to the surface, the stronghold of K'brd'lck. Not in fear, of course, but because any confrontation that happened would upset you. Time has passed though. Perhaps he is over it."

It was stated in a way which would allow her to answer or not.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 23^rd, 2005, 1:18am

Q'ol took a deep breath and tried to keep her face neutral, even though a wave of unhappiness washed over her.

She took a drink and then met her friend's eyes.

After a moment she said, "I doubt there would be a confrontation, but you do not need to worry over my feelings. I can survive any upsets such a thing would cause. There are things that are far worse than the upset an arguement between the two of you would cause...... "

She stopped speaking and finished off the mug of drink, it suddenly tasted bitter in her mouth, so she grabbed a fresh mug and took half of it in one long series of gulps.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 23^rd, 2005, 1:43am

"Well then... I guess we should talk about a hunt when the season is right." He smiled. "That gives me some time to make sure the students need a vacation."

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 23^rd, 2005, 9:06pm

"Or for your yaS wa'DIch to make certain they want one. I heard two of your students grumbling to each other over the midday meal about how she is enforcing betleH practice, even here."

She chuckled and took a drink, glad he had changed the subject... or perhaps she was glad he was male and oblivious (like most males) of the feelings a female had.

"Make certain to let me know when you intend to take them, I can make certain that there enough Sarghmey to go around, and I of course will come along as well to make certain you do not get hurt." She smirked at him.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 24^th, 2005, 2:11am

"And what of you? Have you recovered from this odd adventure?" As he said it he wondered if her adventure had been more stressful to her or to him. This tournament was keeping him busy and distracted from the issues that had been raised... but he would have to deal with them eventually.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 24^th, 2005, 2:22am

She took a drink and thought about his question.

"I am fine. As I said before there is much up here" she pointed at her head, "That still needs sorting out. Having someone else's memories in your head is ... strange ... to put it mildly. I am however very glad that we were able to get the girl. She will have a chance at a life now."

She took another drink. "And you? How are you? I have to wonder what other things I have not had the time to hear about yet."

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 24^th, 2005, 2:59am

"So much has happened I have lost tract." He took a drink and slammed the cup down on the table. "Tomorrow night at this time I will have some fun. I will come back here and see how drunk I can get!"

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 24^th, 2005, 12:09pm

Q'olavraH chuckled.

"A good plan. I endorse it. I am to meet with an old comrade tomorrow and catch up, so I will not be able to join you, unfortunately. I could do with a night of drunken revelry myself, but I suppose it will have to wait."

She finished off her tankard then.

"I've told B'muan to move herself and the children up to the station. I feel .. uneasy with what I saw on the other side, at the planet. I want the children where they can be protected the best."

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 24^th, 2005, 1:17pm

"My base is your base." He smiled. "I have an large area reserved for my personal use and the academy activities use less than half of it. I can reserve a few rooms on the upper level for you if you don't have other arrangements." He took a drink. "If K'rahl wishes to send a large contingent of House support I am sure I can find space that can be secured to the required level."

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 24^th, 2005, 1:47pm

Q'ol almost scowled but did not.

"A room to recieve guests, a room for the children and B'muan to share and one for myself is all that is needed. B'muan and I and one or two others from the house that I trust will be sufficient. I grow tired of always having shield maidens underfoot. It annoys me. I was always able to protect myself and those who were mine before I had access to them, and I am well able to do it still."

She grabbed another mug and took a gulp. "As for K'rahl, he will do as he wishes, when he is on planet or on base, of that I have no doubt, but I do not anticipate him being there often. He is to busy with his new duties it seems, it has been many weeks since even I have heard from him."

"Perhaps a room for wovqut as well? Or will you provide her with her own quarters?"

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 24^th, 2005, 3:21pm

K'Hare thought it best not to ask questions about forms of combat that were only theoretical to him so he simply answered the last question.

"I hadn't thought about it. I suppose it depends on what she wants to do. She could join the academy and then would be housed with the students. She needs to learn Klingon honesty... to simply be who you are and not who others want. My impression from your story is that she was kept alone and not with a pack of other kids her age."

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by Q`olavraH on Feb 25^th, 2005, 12:28pm

Q'ol searched her fake memories and frowned.

"There were no other children. Before her mother was killed the three of them lived in a compound on a planet, sometimes her father would bring the females along on his trips on the bI'rel. After the mother was killed, the father changed and for the last year the child has been kept alone and the father when he went to see her would go drunk and end up mistreating her." She took a drink from her mug.

"The father was training her with the betleH before her mother was killed, he stopped, but Khoal continued to teach her and show her kindness." She thought for a moment.

"If she wishes to join in lessons I see no reason why she should not." She said.

Title: Re: Have to think it through
Post by K`Hare totlh on Feb 25^th, 2005, 3:33pm

"Then it is agreed. Just inform be'eQaraH of her decision once she makes it."