#nedcanvde

2018.02.11; Brotherly Conversations

“Why are you so uptight about the fourteenth, anyway?”

That was the question that Matthew had asked his younger brother, Alfred, as the other was busy running around the kitchen in a panic. While he’d already purchased all of the obligatory chocolates that he was going to hand out in a couple of days, Alfred had insisted on making his own chocolates.

“Alfie, brother, you’re doing it wrong. Most of the obligatory chocolates, you buy. Why’re you making all of yours?” he continued, watching as his brother continued to rush around the place, trying not to melt down and cause a disaster. “I’m all set to go on that day, but you’re losing your head over something so small and trivial.”

“Mattie, bro, you don’t understand, I really want to leave an impact! Which is why I’m making it all from scratch!” the younger blonde exclaimed as he ran over to the boiling pot on the stove so he could stir the melting chocolate without risking it burning for staying on the fire too long.

“Alfie, how many times do I have to tell you, you’ve got it reversed? You only make the chocolate for the one you want to confess to! Don’t tell me you have someone in mind already?!” he exclaimed, watching as his younger brother turned around to glower at him with an embarrassed blush on his face.

“Sh-shut up, Mattie! I’m not like you, you’re oh-so-completely oblivious when it comes to acknowledging your own feelings for other people! Admit it, you’re just scared because of what happened to you before…” Alfred retorted, not realizing he’d overstepped a line in the process. He then grew silent the moment he remembered what he said, before muttering a hasty apology and returning his attention to the chocolate he was melting.

Maybe he does have a point… but… I would rather think not… the older of the two pondered to himself after listening to his brother’s tirade (yet again). It was a very sore topic for Matthew, at the very least when romance or anything similar to it was mentioned; which was why he tended to avoid it altogether. But he couldn’t help himself, though—how come this guy from another class kept on, well, trying to talk with him? He’d already made it very clear he wasn’t interested in him…

“…Alfie, do you think…” Matthew began, staring at the table while gathering his thoughts. “…do you think that exchange student…” he continued to mutter, biting his lip as he tried to find the right words to say.

“Bro, I already told you once, I’ll tell you again: quit being dense. Honestly, it’ll get you into more trouble than you’re asking for…” Alfred trailed off, holding the wooden spoon up before sighing and attacking the mound of melting chocolate in the pot. “I find it weird that I’m the younger between us, but you’re the one having problems like this. ‘s kinda weird, you know…”

“…I know, I know I’m weird, shut up,” Matthew retorted as he then stood up from the table. “I’ll be in my room if you need me.”

2018.02.13; Tension in the Air

“Hey, Keeks! I… I have a question for you,” Alfred called out, once he’d spotted his friend through the crowd of students. They didn’t share as many classes together as they could’ve, so talking to him in the hallways was the next best thing.

“Hai, Alfred-san, what is it?” the Japanese exchange student asked, stopping in his tracks to allow the other to catch up with him. Once the loud blonde had come in view, Alfred then blurted out the question without even thinking, “Keeks, did I get it wrong? Mattie told me that the handmade chocolates are the ones you’re supposed to give to your friends… or is it? Or did I remember this all wrong again?”

That earned a bit of a smile from the other, before he replied, “You got it wrong, you know. Your older brother is correct—the handmade chocolates are supposed to be for the person you want to… well, confess your feelings to. Everything else is the obligatory chocolates that everyone gets handed. Don’t tell me you did—” he trailed off, watching the coloration on Alfred’s face drain.

“I—what?! Seriously?!” was all he could exclaim, before the other student nodded and looked over his shoulder. “Oh, speaking of which, your brother’s here, I must go,” he muttered before giving a small bow and leaving Alfred to turn around right in time to avoid crashing into Matthew.

“See, Alfie? I told you so. You got it all wrong,” he began with a teasing grin on his face, to which Alfred responded with a very pointed eyeroll. “Yeah, yeah, no need to rub it in, geez… at least I have a lot of chocolates to eat later… wait, why’re you here? Aren’t you supposed to be in--?”

“I know, Alfie, but that’s not the point, I just wanted to talk to you about… well, remember what we talked about a few days ago? Guess what… he dropped by my class again! And this time he even talked with Carlos, so I definitely think he’s trying to stalk me!”

“What? No way, bro? He talked with Carlos? What for?!” Alfred asked, wiggling his eyebrows in Matthew’s direction.

“I don’t know! Hell, when I asked him about it, Carlos only gave me a look that said ‘it’s for me to know and for you to find out’ without even telling me what it was about! I don’t know, Alfie… things are getting weird around here…” he groaned, running his hands through his hair. He honestly had no idea why the freakishly-tall guy frequently came by to talk with his classmates before hurriedly leaving the scene whenever Matthew would catch him around the area.

Seriously, what was with him?!

2018.02.13; 2 hours before ‘Dawn of the Final Day’

“Sister, do you think I’m doing it wrong?”

The video call was on, and he was busy typing up an assignment that he had to turn in the following day. Never mind if his visits to Matthew Williams’ classroom were becoming more and more frequent, he was trying to get the courage he needed so that he could do what he was planning to accomplish tomorrow! While he’d heard from most of the students that ‘Red Day’ was when people swapped chocolates with each other, he knew that there was at least a significant difference when it came to store-bought chocolate and handmade treats.

“Well, this isn’t the first time you’ve tried doing this, right? What’s stopping you now?” came the reply from his sister over the video call. While it was pretty late for Lars, it was early morning over in Belgium—he was lucky to catch his sister Léa before she’d left for her university classes. “I know you’re nervous. I mean, it’s pretty damn obvious…”

“You think?” he continued, typing away as he added onto the essay he was trying to cram for the next day. “I don’t know if he’ll actually take the chocolate, you know. It was hell looking for the cheapest block I could find!”

“Seriously… seriously, Lars? You’re going to make chocolates, and then you use the cheapest kind?! If you’re really hell-bent on ‘confessing’ to him,” she continued, using ‘quotation marks’ as she emphasized the word ‘confessing’ before smacking her palms to her face out of sheer annoyance, “…you should’ve gone all-out and used something much better! Don’t tell me you nabbed the discount chocolate?!”

“What?! Is it so bad for me to try and save money?” he countered, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the camera as he continued to type away, before realizing that half the paragraph he was working on was wrong. Huffing to himself as he highlighted and erased what he’d written, he then sighed before continuing, “You know I’m living on a budget here! It’s hard enough as it is, and I have to try and keep my scholarship! That leaves me with little to no time to look for a part-time job,” he grumbled as he snorted and began rewriting the paragraph he’d crossed out.

“Yeah, I know you are. It’s just that… do you really have to take your frugality that far? Seriously, brother… seriously…” she tsked, shaking her head and chuckling for a few moments. “Anyway, I have to go now, do you have anything you want me to tell Henri?”

“Well, just tell him I said hi, and to keep his nose out of other people’s business. You know how incredibly nosy he can get…” he grumbled as he then waved with one hand before eventually disconnecting the call. Sighing, as he knew that he might’ve messed up, he then turned his attention to the small box that contained the chocolate he was going to give Matthew the next day.

I hope nothing too bad happens… he thought to himself as he rubbed the sides of his head as he returned his attention to the essay he needed to finish.

2018.02.14, ‘D-Day’

Both Matthew and Alfred, along with the rest of the student body, had turned up to school carrying large paper bags full of the obligatory chocolates they needed to give out. While Alfred had gone to join his classmates (and was seeking out his friends in other courses), Matthew had mostly distributed his chocolates to his classmates as well as teachers he’d met throughout the day.

He’d even managed to give some to Kiku as well, and had a laugh with the Japanese exchange student as he told Matthew what Alfred had been up to, having eaten most of the chocolates he’d made the night before (and was now literally distributing handfuls of Kisses chocolates to his friends instead as some kind of weird compensation). After they’d exchanged the obligatory friendship chocolates, Matthew then made his way back to his homeroom—only to be stopped in the hallways by the person he was secretly hoping to avoid.

It was Lars van Meijer, the tall Dutch weirdo who’d stalked his classroom every single chance he could get for the past two years now. Hell, he didn’t even know why the guy had spoken with Carlos and Paolo (as well as everyone else he could approach without scaring them off in the process). Was he asking about information on him?! Who knows.

“W-well, fancy seeing you here. What do y-you want… are you…” Matthew began, stammering for a few moments before managing to pull together his best impression of a glare, looking the taller one down as a pair of light-green eyes stared at the light purple that were now boring a hole right into him. “What, i-is there something on my face?” he stammered out, suddenly running a hand over his own features to check for whatever blemishes were there—which were of course, nonexistent.

Now that Lars had finally managed to corner Matthew Williams, he’d lost the ability to articulate properly, and had settled instead for staring at the slightly shorter one, clearing his throat several times before eventually reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a small, giftwrapped box.

“Cat got your tongue?” Matthew continued, now looking at him and observing the other’s actions with a curious light in his eyes. Just as he was about to skirt around the other and return to his classroom, he then felt something being pushed into his hands. Blinking at the sudden action, he then looked at the other, before staring at what was being shoved into his hands—and felt a wave pf panic rising up inside him.

No. Oh, no. No, no, no, no! What the hell is this?! He thought in a panic, before looking at the other—who was now avoiding having to look at Matthew directly. Lars was waiting for the other to accept the gift he’d made for him, his ears turning red as he waited for something—anything—to come from his intended recipient.

“…I’m sorry, I—I… I can’t accept this,” Matthew finally managed to say, once he recognized the package in his hands. “I—I would really want to, but… I c-can’t. I—I hope you understand…” he said, before dropping the box in the process and making a mad sprint down the hall towards his classroom; the better to put as much distance between himself and the strange one as fast as humanly possible.

It had taken a few moments for Lars to comprehend what had happened—a few seconds ago, Matthew Williams was right in front of him; and then when he’d thought to blink, the blonde had vanished. He thought all had gone right until he looked down and saw that the giftwrapped box he’d tried to give the other had fallen there…

Prologue

“Captain’s Personal Log, Stardate 62391.8. We are on the way to Earth for the most joyous occasion of Lt. Commander William’s wedding. I admit that when we first encountered Johan, I would never have imagined that I would one day see him married to my Chief of Security, but their union is proof that love can overcome not just the vast distances of space, but also the walls that can be built between cultures. I am especially happy for them and touched by their union. As the first Ferengi in Starfleet, I do know firsthand, the clashes that can appear between Ferenginar’s profit-driven and exclusive philosophy, and the cash-free and inclusive society that the Federation has embraced. I have been a small voice, promoting the similarities between Ferenginar and the Federation for many years, so it is satisfying to see this union personified. Johan, a human who was orphaned and raised by Ferengi, grew up to navigate the Great River better than most Ferengi. I feel that if it were not for my father’s reforms, perhaps Ferenginar would not have changed so much that it could embrace him. And Commander Williams is one of the shiniest examples of a Starfleet Officer. It will be my honor, to officiate their wedding.”

Captain Nog, U.S.S. Hudson

Johan - First Impressions

“Let her go Kurvim. Let her go and I’ll give you the Crystal.” This had not gone according to plan. In his arrogance he had forgotten how much most Ferengi hated him for being human and raking in more latinum than they could ever dream. They had finally convinced the Syndicate to come after him. No, not him. His Moogie, the woman who had found him in a crashed escape pod when he was four years old, who raised him as her own even though as a human he had the smallest lobes, and there was certainly no profit to it. She could have made him a slave, at best a servant. She chose to raise him as her son.

And now this bastard Kurvin was holding a phaser to her head.

“Johan sweetie.” His mother sobs. “I love you.”

“It’s going to be okay Moogie. Every man has his price, Rule of Acquisition 98. That’s true isn’t it Kurvim? This is no ordinary Crystal. It’s an energy source that’s coveted by the Breen. It has the power of destruction, all in your hands. Imagine who you could blackmail? The power? You could get enough money to retire on a moon somewhere.”

Kurvim, that damned Orion just grins. “I suppose I can think about it. How about you give me the Crystal first. I mean, you have no options anyway, I have the phaser, all your guards are trapped or dead. You can either give it to me and hope I feel generous, or I shoot you both and take it anyway.”

Johan starts the slow walk towards Kurvim, hands up in the air, his right hand holding the Crystal. He’s  running through the Rules in his head and can’t think of any guidance on the Great River to get him out of this. The Crystal is already worth more Latinum than this entire barge so he can’t bribe Kurvim with anything else. The only hope he has now is that Mathias managed to get out an emergency call to whatever ship was nearby that could actually help them. As much as he had avoided the Federation all his life, he had to admit to himself that only a Federation ship would be willing to drop everything they were doing just to help. Please, please, please, please, ‘I swear on the Great River, even if it means giving up everything I’ve built, everything I am, just don’t let my Moogie die.’

When he gets about three feet away, Kurvim laughs. “They’ve always hated you, you know that Johan. Truth is, you’re too expensive a prize to pass up.”

Johan sees the phaser turned to him and he hopes his Moogie will make a run for it. He takes a breath and prepares himself.

A figure jumps falls from the upper balcony, landing on Kurvim’s shoulders. The phaser fires and mostly misses Johan but grazes his forehead. Damn it that stings. He sees his saviour’s legs twisting Kurvim’s head and body around, forcing him to release Moogie, then he sees her jump off and deliver a particularly satisfying roundhouse kick to Kurvim’s head. He doesn’t have time to admire the view though, he grabs his Moogie and runs to the closest corridor, away from the criminal and his phaser. His Moogie is out of breath, Ferengi weren’t usually built to be athletes, so he picks her up and carries her. He knows his ship like the back of his own hand. He built it - every level, every room, planned the layout, the environmental systems, where each game would be located, the decor, the-

“Johan! We’re saved!” Johan grinds to a halt and sees Mathias grinning at him, a little worse for wear but not much. He’s got two Starfleet people with him.

“All of you, take my Moog- my mother and get her back to your ship. I’ll be back!”

“Johan!” She cries, but Mathias has her. Good ol’ Mathias.

One of the other Starfleet people hits their comm badge and commands ‘Four to beam’ - once the transporter light is gone, Johan runs back to the main gallery where he carried his Moogie from the fight. This is his ship, and he’s not going to just abandon it. He needs to make sure Kurvim is gone.

He runs back to see Kurvim being kneed in the face by the Starfleet woman, then knocked out with a two-handed blow to the head. That’s when she looks up, panting - dusting off her uniform, hair dishevelled, cheeks flushed and surprise in those violet eyes.

‘Females and finances don’t mix’ he tells himself. It’s what he always told himself while amassing his fortune and keeping his focus. ‘Females and finances don’t mix’

She smiles gently and straightens herself, as if she hasn’t just finished beating up an Orion Syndicate scumbag, saved both him and his Moogie, as well as his Casino Barge.

“I am Lt. Commander Madeline Williams, Chief of Security of the Federation Starship Hudson. We heard your distress call.”

None of the Rules of Acquisition are going to help him now. He’s avoided the Federation all his life, and now…

“I am Johan.” He spreads his palms. “Welcome to the Latinum Palace. Best Casino in any Galaxy. Not that...you’d know I suppose, coming from a uh...cashless society.” He can’t keep the disgust out of his tone at the idea, but he truly is trying his best to be polite.  

Still, she smiles very politely and looks around. It’s pathetic, it’ll take him about a year to fix it up properly and get it back to its glory - but he has to. For himself but also for Ferenginar. If this destroys him, the conservatives win. The only reason why he managed to grow up in Ferenginar in the first place, was Grand Nagus Rom’s reforms.

“Mister Johan.” Commander Williams’ voice is gentle. “I need to put him in the Brig, he will face trial. And...you’re bleeding. You need medical attention. We can provide that on my ship.”

All his life, Johan had never fallen sway to anyone’s charms the way most other Ferengi did. There was a first time for everything.

Commander Madeline Williams, Personal Log. Stardate 57911.9. It has been one year since we rescued and found the United Benelux’s long-lost Prince Johan. His highness was reunited with his family for four months, then returned to rebuild the Latinum Palace. I suspect it was difficult to be reunited with his family, having been raised among the Ferengi, but they are all trying their best. Our current mission, as a special favor to the Royal House, is to safely bring Queen Belle to the Latinum Palace for its reopening ceremony. I am in charge of security, and I’m the most nervous I’ve ever been. I...hm...honestly I...I call him by title because I’m not...sure what to think of him. I didn’t like him much at first. I have often heard that humans were not unlike Ferengi centuries ago. Like the Ferengi, we embraced Capitalism and profit as our way of life. My own country was formed because of a mad beaver trade! It is all difficult to conceive now. Most times I feel that Prince Johan is cruel to those whom he sees no value in, which is most. He openly scoffs at Federation ways, especially our cashless society. But...he treats me...differently. I don’t let myself be...carried away by the slight attentions of someone. I’ve learned my lesson, all my life. I keep reminding myself, he’s nicer to me just because he feels I saved him, also his Moogie, and his Casino. If anyone else had done so, even...Amelia let’s say, he would do the same. Yes. That’s it. Now I’m going to fulfill my job and make sure that his sister and brother are safe while they visit him. They have their difficulties, but they are dedicated to learn how to be family. Hopefully this trip will help them learn to appreciate the world he grew up in.

--

Johan

Belle is giving that look. That mischievous little look that his Moogie insists is identical to his but he doesn’t believe her (he doesn’t want to believe her). Chrisjan also has a look, a twinkling in his eyes that makes him look like he’s laughing at everyone else all the time. Only this time, it feels like he’s just laughing at Johan.

The Bigger the Smile the Sharper the Knife. Rule #48. It wasn’t quite accurate because his sibling’s cat-like smiles were small and sharper than any Ferengi’s tooth, even after a good sharpening. He should know, he’s used his humanness several times to his advantage to get his rivals to underestimate him. Right now though, he’s so out of his depth.

It’s not his fault that he’s mostly tongue-tied around Lt. Commander Madeline Williams. Who wouldn’t be? Pretty much everybody else, that’s right. Idiots. Well, not really, they knew when someone was out of their league and moved on, but Johan had lived a life of impossibility. There was something in his chest that kept nagging at him to DO SOMETHING even as his head told him to leave the Commander to someone more worthy. He tries that. He hates himself for it. Then he thinks about what he could do about it and hates himself even more. Building the Latinum Palace, Ferenginar’s largest Casino Barge, was easier than trying to talk to Commander Williams and sound “normal.” On the other hand, his siblings were only visiting for a week. After one week, he could go back to feeling horrible because he didn’t manage to say anything to her, rather than feeling horrible in general because the nerves in his stomach made him want to vomit.

The Commander had just left the room, after inspecting it for safety. Now he has privacy with his newly-discovered siblings. Of course the moment the doors shut, they burst out laughing, and can’t stop. Part of him wants to hate them, truly, but he can’t. He knows what it feels like to enjoy a private joke, so he knows why they can’t help but laugh. It’s amazing how similar they are, even being raised so differently. Besides, he’s tired. Organizing the reopening is tiring but satisfying work.

Satisfying and hungry work. He could eat some tube grubs right now. But Belle and Chrisjen were fast getting him addicted to the sweet desserts from his homeland. As if reading his mind, his little brother steps up to the replicator and orders a feast of them!

Maybe there was something undoubtedly positive about this sibling business after all.

“Well Chrisjan, what are we going to do to help our big brother finally ask Commander Williams on a date?”

On second thought, he could have done without discovering that he had siblings. Even finding out that he was royalty was a disappointment - what good was royalty with no money? “You’re going to do nothing. The Commander has more important things to do than to further entertain me.” And besides, she also had no time. He knows that she volunteered herself to guarantee his sister’s safety. But it did also mean that her trip to the Latinum Palace was a work trip, not a leisure one

“No, you’re right, it’s not for me to do anything.” Belle humms. “About her at least. But I did come here to see my brother’s life’s work! Look, we kept the news hush hush back on Earth out of respect to you and your Moogie, so no one knows we’re royalty! We want to follow you around tomorrow as you prepare for the grand opening, through every inch of this barge! Tell us everything! Why you built it that way, why you planned where everything is located the way you did, just...let it out brother! We brought normal clothes! Even disguises! We can modify our physical appearances on the USS Hudson! You can keep your reputation and not risk any blackmail through us. I want to see what my big brother has built, on his own! I don’t really know him yet, but I’m proud of him.”

Johan isn’t quite sure what to make of that, but the tightening in his chest is undeniable.

“Don’t hog the admiration sis!” Chrisjan laughs. Then he turns and looks more serious. “All this time I had the most amazing older brother and didn’t know it for sure. We’ve already spent our lives growing up with the tragedy of thinking we would never know you. I’m not going to actually pass that chance up now that I have the chance to do that.”

He’s a sap. Johan is an absolute sap. That’s why he’s suddenly hugging two strangers that he only met a year ago. But they’re not just strangers, they’re his siblings. He’s gone from having a family of one to a family of...well. There’s a part of him that still wishes someone else was here with them, and not standing outside his door.

Johan now knows that siblings are evil and cunning, and he should have known. All his life he had thought that the Federation was sickeningly sweet and naive, HAH!

Belle and Chrisjan shadowing him on the tour and inspection of the Latinum Palace means that Commander Williams has to shadow them.

“I didn’t get a chance to see it properly the first time!” She exclaims. “You designed and built a self-sustaining ecosystem on your ship! These plants! They’re real and...the water...there’s not much replicating going on is there? The biodome in the central Casino actually has its own weather. The only other place I’ve seen that compares to this is Risa, and it’s a planet! That’s what the forcefield is for right? So people can experience rain without actually getting wet! How did you modify the dampeners for the field? And the plants! Where did you...”

Belle leans in and whispers, “Cat got your tongue? You can step forward and actually...you know...answer some of her questions.”

When he doesn’t move he swears someone pushes him forward so he stumbles next to the Commander. She notices and turns with some embarrassment in those large violet eyes of her.

“Oh sorry! I’ve been rambling haven’t I? I didn’t even give you a chance to answer any questions, but I’m just…” She laughs shyly. “Sorry I’m not...usually like this. I’m just surprised. It was so destroyed when I was last here. I’m happy for you that you were able to rebuild it. I also...I started off in Engineering and Ops before I switched to Command track so…” She shrugs with an embarrassed wave of her hand in front of her to the wall of plants before them. “I like this…”

Warmth climbs up his cheeks and he can’t help but smile. “Uh...well. Since you asked me about the plants twice, and we’re here, I’ll answer that question first…”

He does not see Belle and Chrisjan looking so absolutely smug behind him.

Commander Madeline Williams, Personal Log. Stardate 9734131.1. I’m crazy. I’m absolutely stark raving bonkers crazy. I’m on a runabout to Risa. What am I even...I DON’T EVEN LIKE RISA! Computer, delete this...no, no. I’m already halfway there and I’m still flying, I may as well see this through. Besides, I’ve never gone hiking … on … Risa? Right. Williams out.

Johan - First Date

It was easier to send letters. Somehow he can express himself better with just words, than he can speaking to someone face to face. He’s figured this out recently - growing up on Ferenginar as a human has meant that he’s developed masks - Johan the human who is more Ferengi than a Ferengi, the “trusted” businessman, sailor of the Great River. He’s Moogie’s son, he’s the tinkerer. He likes to fix things and build things. It’s when he builds things that he’s the most genuine, because he tends to work alone, and there’s no one to put an act up for. It’s difficult when there are laws like “A contract is a contract, but only between Ferengi.” That means almost every contract and business he first tried out was doomed to failure. He did the only thing he could - find his own way out in the stars, build his own world where he could reinterpret the rules in his own Kingdom as he wished. Then he had become Johan the Casino King.

Going back to Earth, meeting his siblings and Madeline is another exercise in simply being Johan. But he’s finding a part of himself coming out that he’s hidden for so long. It’s hard but…

He hears the runabout and turns to see it landing. The doors open and there she is. He can’t help the smile breaking out on his face. Even if this goes terribly and he makes a terrible fool out of himself, Madeline will be worth it.

“I’m an idiot.” He huffs, following her up the hill that never ends. “If I was going to take you hiking I should have chosen a place less wet. It already rains without end in Ferenginar.”

Madeline just laughs, but then turns and offers him her hand. He takes it, and maybe if he’s lucky, he won’t have to let go. “And here I thought you just loved places that rain - Ferenginar, Risa, you even needed to make it rain in your Casino!”

“That’s for the plants! I never understood how Starships could be so...dead honestly. Metal corridors after metal corridors, you can only see green in a holosuite when you get a break. Why not just have it around all the time?”

She stops then, and looks at him with a shy smile, cheeks flushed. “Thank you for the flowers.” She tries to turn away and keep marching up but he squeezes her hand before he can stop himself. To his joy, she squeezes back.

There’s a beat of awkward silence, hands still intertwined, then...

“So you don’t like holosuites?” She offers.

“I like real things.”

There’s more silence and Johan hits himself for closing that conversation. What could anyone say to that? “Uh...what is your favorite...holosuite program?”

“It depends. In my Academy Days I played Ice Hockey, I miss it so I do that often. But sometimes when I just need quiet, I do things like this. I’ve actually ‘hiked’ in Risa loads of times before. This is the first time I’m doing it for real. Thanks for inviting me. I wouldn’t have come out here without you.”

“Why not?”

“Hmm?”

“Well, you get personal days and leave time. You clearly enjoy doing this. Why not experience the real thing instead of rely on something synthetic?”

Madeline chuckles. “It is quite realistic you know?”

“It really isn’t any different?”

She releases his hand to push a large branch out of their way. “No you’re right, it is. Holosuites are the next best thing but there’s even more elements of unpredictability in the actual place. I think I like it, I just relied on holosuites because...um. Odd that you don’t like holosuites? Isn’t there a Rule of Acquisition that goes ‘Nature decays but latinum lasts forever?’.”

“That has to be one of the most short-sighted rules. I make up my own rules as and when I realize that I’m doing better. Don’t get me wrong, mostly they make sense but...some were just added as idiotic last-minute additions by old Naguses or Trade Commission leaders over the years. All politics, no wisdom.”

There’s an amused but unreadable look on her face at that as she gives him an exaggerated nod. “Would be interesting to see you debate my Captain. But that’s some good insight. As for me, well, I’ll start to prioritize seeing the real places from now on. Thanks.”

Madeline marches on ahead and doesn’t take his hand again. Johan feels the loss of that but soldiers on. He hasn’t overlooked the fact that she’s rather deftly not answered his actual question but he’ll deal with that once he catches his breath. They’ll move faster this way anyway, which is good considering that there actually is a timeline he’s gotten them on. Hopefully all goes according to plan.

“Should I ask about the answer you left hanging or ask you something else?” He huffs - he may not like holosuites but it certainly looked like he was going to have to spend more time in them just to get his physical fitness levels up. He did not want to be embarrassed again at how obviously out of shape he is compared to Madeline. Then again, she is a master strategist and Chief of Security on her ship, who took on lot of physical roles because her Captain was the Grand Nagus’ son, because Ferengi were not exactly the strongest species in space. So, he expected her to be in much better shape than he, but still!

“How about I ask you a question. Dare I ask, why do you like Risa so much?”

Oh what a question. “I don’t know if I like Risa that much, but I’m familiar with it. Other than Ferenginar and the Latinum Palace, it’s a home of sorts. I made my first fortune in Risa, and Risa was the first place I ever felt...accepted and able to be myself. I first started designing the Palace here. I wouldn’t be who I am without Risa...even though yes, it always rains here too. Maybe one day I’ll try a desert planet. My turn?”

Madeline smiles her acceptance and stops to take a drink of water. Finally a sign of fatigue!

“Alright...could you maybe...tell me about your home?”

“It’s a little boring compared to yours.”

Johan has to shake his head. “I find that homes are never boring. Not really. Even if the landscape is dull, the symbolism in our heads make up for the rest.”

She smiles at him again, amused. “Good point. Well, I was born in a city called St. Johns, in Newfoundland, Canada. My parents lived right by the coast…”

Before he knew it, they reached the peak of the hill.

“There’s a cabin here?” Madeline asks, taking in the simply built hut in front of them, built with wood from the surrounding rainforest and covered by leaves as its rooftop.

“It’s more of a viewing station. Come on.”

“Oh?”

“Come on!” Now he finds the energy to jog to the chairs that were set up outside. He knew there was an advantage of booking the most remote and least luxurious place in Risa. Sunset Cottage was literally that - a little cottage that took too much energy to trek to simply to enjoy the best view of Risa’s double sunset.

“Wait...you asked me to travel with you on a holiday to see…” Madeline coughs. “The most romantic sunset in the Federation?”

Johan freezes and looks up at her, she’s standing right in front of him now. “Is there...yes? Did I not mention…?” Maybe he had covered it up in a lot of words because of how nervous he was. “Maybe I…” Were his intentions not clear with the flowers and the letters? “I apologize if…”

Oh. He can’t look away from her blazing smile. Beautiful. How was it possible for someone to be so beautiful? Somewhere in the back of his brain, he hears his siblings’ voices yelling “Well tell her that Johan! Say something!”

“Thank you.” Is what comes out instead. He’s such an idiot. He clears his throat and looks down at the grass for a moment. “I mean, thank you for coming. Here. With me. I...I’m not quite...smooth I should say, or brave when it comes to women. I had the smallest lobes out of anyone on my planet and...”

Madeline doesn’t laugh at him as most Federation people do at the Ferengi. “Large lobes or no, you made yourself the richest man from Ferenginar. And if you were raised on Risa I’m sure you would have, I don’t know, built the best environmental controls that gave you control of the planet, and if you had stayed in the Federation, you would have become a brilliant Captain. You’re a survivor Johan. You would have thrived and made your way no matter where you ended up.”

What she says silences him with his own gratitude. She understands and...she thinks so highly of him? She knew exactly what to say. “I mean it Madeline. Thank you for joining me here. I. knew when I first saw you that I probably wasn’t special enough for you but-”

“You think that?”

“Of course I do. You’re a brilliant strategist, absolutely terrifying in a fight, and I’m not entirely sure why you’re not the Captain of the Hudson yourself. I’m not sure why you give me the time of day. And of course, you saved my life, my Moogie, and my life’s work. I’m pretty much...yours Commander. I’m not sure why you’re giving me the time of day, but as long as you are, I’m not wasting it.”

She’s shaking her head even as she closes the distance between them and softly kisses him. Of course it starts to rain, but he doesn’t care. He wraps his arms around her as the rain softly falls on them and around them. As the suns set, it covers them in a misty, golden glow.