Angels (Pavel Chekov)

94 - Dogs?

Saxon is still trying to get packed when Vienna and Pavel show up to Erik's room. Hikaru and Selwyn are there already and they seem hugely excited. Selwyn has spent a fair amount of time outdoors and he seems to know what he's doing. Saxon finally throws everything together and they head out. They walk to a shuttle bay together and Pavel shoots Vienna a soft smile. He falls asleep on the shuttle craft and Vienna talks to Selwyn. He hates shuttlecrafts and appreciates the distraction. Vienna watches his slender fingers grip the side of the seat and she puts her hand softly on top of his.

"I hate flying," he mutters. "I feel very ill."

"Not long now," she says reassuringly. "Maybe only an hour."

They get to Russia and Pavel wakes up, yawning and asking Selwyn if he's alright. Selwyn has his eyes clenched shut and he nods, not wanting to watch as the shuttle descends. Vienna holds the top of his hands and though he's too scared to mention it, he does appreciate it.

Selwyn is first off of the shuttle and he leans near some bushes and Vienna wonders if he's throwing up. He shakes a little and she goes over, asking if he's okay. His skin is dripping a pale purple watery substance and her eyes widen a little.

"Is that sweat??"

"It's closer to vomit," he mutters. "Kelzenone don't really throw up like humans do. Not unless we're really sick anyway."

He looks up and his forehead and nose are dripping badly. She has a hand towel in her bag and she passes it to him, worried about what's going on. She stays there with him and after another half minute, a smell hits her. She tries not to screw her face up or gag but she starts coughing. Selwyn apologises, noting her expression.

"I might have to find a shower or something. This is just going to be unpleasant for everyone around me."

Vienna pulls up a map on her PADD and finds a public bathroom that has a shower attached to it. She offers to stay with him and he thanks her, glad to not have to be alone.

The rest of the group make faces when they pull up as well. Pavel has a weak stomach and Vienna sees him take a few steps back. She explains where she's taking Selwyn and Erik offers to join them. Pavel tells them he'll take everyone else to get set up on the farm and they part ways. Sewlyn's hair keeps going between pale green and pale purple and Vienna asks about it.

"Purple is normally unwell," he says, running a hand through his hair. "Pale green is embarrassed, most of the time."

Vienna minds Selwyn's bags while he goes into the shower and Erik sits with her on a bench. He seems content being in his home country. He's excited for the nights ahead and Vienna is too. Selwyn emerges and looks weird with wet hair. He thanks them for waiting and he looks a little better.

They start walking together and it's a long commute but they make it out into the middle of nowhere. Erik finds Pavel out in a barn gathering the camping supplies and putting them in a small trailer.

"Ever ridden one of these before?" Erik asks, patting the vehicle that Pavel's loading. Vienna shakes her head and Erik just grins.

When everything is packed, Erik starts the engine and tells Vienna to climb on. There are two carts, one full of the camping gear and one that is an empty trailer just large enough to fit everyone. Selwyn requests that they don't go overly fast and Erik doesn't make any promises, revving the engine and speeding along the farm. There are a few cows as they head out and Selwyn frowns at them, asking what kind of dog they are. Vienna bites back a laugh and Saxon explains that a cow and a dog are two very different mammals.

Setting up is a hassle but Pavel seems to know what he's doing. He plans to share a tent with Vienna and she's glad they'll have their own space. Pavel goes and helps Saxon and Hikaru next, leaving Vienna to sort out the inside of the text. She goes inside and sees the constellations in marker that Erik detailed. She fixes their bedding and Pavel comes back and smiles at her. He gives her a kiss before heading back out.

They start drinking before the sun goes down and start a fire to keep them warm. Vienna agrees to drink too, glad to be free from exams. She has some heavily diluted schnapps and Selwyn mutters something about the tap water on Kelzenone having more alcohol content.

Erik cooks sausages over the fire and tells them about the sights around the city that they could visit during the day time. There are a few interesting places that Erik thinks would be worth going to and Pavel nods to some of his suggestions.

"Where do you want to go tomorrow?" Vienna asks, nudging Pavel gently.

"I was going to go visit my mother. You're welcome to come with me. It's just me going but it'd be nice to have some company."

"I'll definitely come along. Erik's not going?"

"Another day perhaps but no one else speaks Russian so it might just be easier to go separately. I'm in no rush to go with him anyway. Who knows what he'll say to my mum after this morning."

Vienna smiles at him and has another sip of her drink. Erik mutters about the cookies he has planned for dessert and Saxon grins. Erik serves up dinner and they eat together as the sky grows dark. They hear barking in the distance and Pavel looks nervous. He asks Erik something in Russian and Erik shakes his head. They forget about it for a few minutes until Erik looks up and mutters something to Pavel. Pavel stands up and quickly disappears inside the tent. Vienna goes to ask what's happening but she stops when a dog comes over and licks Erik.

"That one is a dog, yes?" Selwyn asks, getting a nod from Saxon and Hikaru.

"This is Barkley," Erik introduces. Barkley is a massive dog and he looks like he could easily bowl over a small adult. Two more smaller dogs show up and Vienna quickly moves the rest of Pavel's dinner before the dogs get to it. Saxon picks up one of the dogs and Selwyn sits next to him patting it.

"Pavel doesn't like dogs?" Hikaru asks. Vienna nods, deciding to go check on him.