The Duval Christmas Party - Part Three

Posted on Tue Dec 27th, 2022 @ 1:53pm by Fleet Admiral Heather Duval & Captain Marcus Duval & Captain Duval Mia & Captain T'Nae "Wolfheart" Duval & Commander Ethan "Hardcase" Duval & Commander Arlene Duval-Connor & Lieutenant Commander Anthony Duval & Lieutenant T'Lee Duval & Lieutenant JG Suvak Duval & Ryuujin Duval & Enrique Duval & 1st Lieutenant T'Kera "Demolitions" Duval & Company Sergeant Major Jeffery "The Mountain" Duval & Commander Hsirr Duval

Mission: Mission 118: The Christmas from Hell
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1800Hrs - December 24th, 2393

Fleet Admiral Heather Duval smiled as she watched the encounter between the wizard and the large balrog play itself out, while the scene proceeded. She took a moment to glance around. She noticed that Neither Arlene nor Hazel wasn't present Nadine was. Lawrence and Edmund were conspicuous with their absences as well.

Heather frowned. T'Nae had said that everyone was present. Which meant that Lawrence and her remaining children were present. So where were they? Duval asked herself.

Nadine was sitting across from Heather herself. She was wearing black slacks and a grey shirt, simple but effective. She had her eyes closed, and she was slowly bobbing her head. Heather watched her daughter carefully for a moment. She then glanced over at the children who had been listening to the music.

Heather quickly realized that Nadine was listening to the same music then Ryuujin and the others were listening to. A smile graced her lips but she wondered where her other four children were presently located. Thats when the doors opened and in walked Edmund Duval, with his girlfriend beside him. Edmund was wearing a pair of black pants with a white shirt, with a black jacket. While his date was reading a dark red dress that went halfway down her thighs.

It was well known that Edmund was seeing someone but Heather regarded the young woman. She had not met her and she also suspected that neither had anyone else in the family either. If this was the case then today would be a rather interesting development in Edmund's relationship with his lady and also with the rest of his family.

Edmund looked around at the gathering. His younger sibling came over. "Edmund." she greeted him with a gentle hug. "Nadine, meet Heather Antilles." Edmund handled the introductions. "Heather, this is Nadine. One of my sisters and a general pest at large. Don't mind her too much, she is what she is."

"Oh yes. I'm good at what I do." Nadine grinned at the other woman. "I'm the bane of his existence." she indicated to her brother.

Heather smiled, it was impossible not to do so. "It's good to meet you, Nadine. Ed has told me a few tall tales about you."

"Lies. He doth slander me, so I think." Nadine answered. "Swords at dawn?"

"No. Its pistols, you heathen." Arlene commented as she came up behind her brother. "Have you learned nothing Nadine, while you were hanging around with your club of nutballs?" Arlene inquired about her sister.

Edmund moved off to one side, Heather Antilles following. He looked unsurprised that this argument had started whereas Heather was deeply amused. "Are they always like this...?" Heather commented in a soft tone of voice.

"Oh, always," Edmund answered in the same tone. "Wait until Hazel shows up, then it'll get stupid... and she might want to sit on your lap."

"Kinky," Heather answered with a cheery tone.

"Thats half crazed deranged loony's to you," Nadine answered her sibling as if Edmund and his girlfriend weren't present, and without any rancour in her tone. "Clearly that fact is lost on you," she added. "Arlene, you disappoint me. I expected better from you." she then smiled "tsk tsk." she added.

"I will try to get over it," Arlene responded in a rather cheery voice. "I'll probably fail too," she added. "Why is mom in a dress?"

"Wait what?" Edmund answered. "Mom's what?" he inquired.

"Yeah. Mom's wearing a dress... What sort of black magic voodoo bullshit is this?" Arlene inquired.

"Why don't you go and ask her that question... Jeez. I worry about you some days... Considering you are supposed to have your own command and you are married with children too." Nadine regarded Arlene as she spoke.

"Oh, alright. If I must." Arlene commented.

"No. I'll do it." Edmund commented. "You two, go enjoy the gathering."

Edmund then started walking towards his mother. Heather was one foot behind him and she followed. Heather Duval regarded her son as she rose to her feet. She smiled as Edmund handled the introductions. "Heather. It's good to meet you." as the two women shook hands.

Heather Antilles smiled. "Likewise ma'am."

Heather Duval noticed instantly. "Meeting a Five star Admiral can be intimidating dear," she commented with a smile. "If it helps. Nobody in this room cares overly much about rank and the like. Even though almost everyone in here is in Starfleet. Rank hath its place my dear, but not here and not now. If it helps, you can call me by name. In fact, I'd prefer it."

Edmund smiled. "Not like Jolani who kept calling you by rank rather than name."

"Oh yes. I've been hoping that nobody would bring that up. I'm still doing penance for my own stupidity," Heather Duval commented with a heavy sigh. "I wonder if Lawrence will bring his lady?"

"I hope so. I've yet to meet her." Edmund answered, a wide grin on his face as he regarded his mother, while he teased her about it.

Duval groaned at her eldest. "Leave me alone, will ya?"

Heather snickered softly. "I'm sure the issue, whatever it is... Will resolve itself, soon enough," she commented.

Duval regarded the young woman before her. "Thats highly unlikely, my dear... But I can wish." she then groaned a second time.