777: Additional RP Server - ekhaem︱rei’nak-house

July 26th, 2414 - About 1pm Mol'Rihan Time It was barely halfway through the day and Veldan had already done so much. Most importantly, he was now of age - he was 18, and finally unbound from the shackles of a required guardian (though Vovvi and Rilek (and even K'Koshi, all that time ago) had shown him that people had the capacity to truly love and care for a child). It was first time on Mol'Rihan, and he had done several laps of the Administrative district to get everything in order. On his back, Veldan was carrying a bag that was filled to the brim with legal documentation - everything, including a legal name change from R'Dhani to Veldan, paperwork relating to his proof of age ID (which he was carrying in his pocket), and a rather hefty binder containing dual family adoption papers. That's right, Veldan had become a Khellian as well as a Rei'nak. And none of that could remotely compare to what he was about to do. Walking with Vovvi and Rilek in tow, Veldan had reached the Ekhaem district, with it's massive family estates and sprawling high-rises. But there was one, sitting on top of the tallest hill in the entire area - Veldan wondered just how much traditional Rei'Nak manipulation Solon and his older siblings did to get by FAR the best piece of real estate in the district, maybe even the whole city. Even from as far away as he was, Veldan could make out just how lavish and fancy it was inside. (edited)

Rilek had already finished up all her duties on Mol'Rihan with only one last thing to do -- attend Veldan's 'birthday'. She had already given Veldan his gift; Khellian adoption papers. Veldan may have been 18, but adult adoption was surprisingly not that uncommon, especially after the Great Loss. Many families took in houseless individuals and to many people, house was important. It did not give individuals any advantages from a legal standpoint, but from a social one it did. Rilek walked silently behind Veldan, here to serve as support and let the young boy do all the talking. She was dressed for the occassion too, long dark green body-con dress that accentuated her lack of curves, even with the golden belt accent around the waist. She had her finger guards on, all ten of them, all in gold. Her make up was dark green, Rilek was really going for that 'blood green' aesthetic. It was as if she was wearing the blood of her enemies which was pretty metal. Rilek had with them a PADD with the Republic's constitution and judicial documents should Solon or any other Rei'nek even try to escape the law. Rilek seemed calm, walking slowly and proudly.

Vovvi, despite it all, kept her head held high. This wasn't the estate she was so familiar with. Maybe that's what made it easier?.. Even so, there was a sick, sick, feeling building in her stomach, twisting and writhing like a beast fighting to claw its way out of her flesh. She was here for Veldan. Even so, fifty years was a long time. How much had Solon changed? How had he grown up since then, since he was Veldan's size...? She'd opted for something to combat the summer heat, a loose & flowy white dress that rested a little above her ankles, paired with a sun hat with a violet ribbon. It was almost funny how different she and Rilek looked side by side, in terms of aesthetics. Rilek seemed a little more threatening. Her own present was waiting. She figured he could use something to look forward to, in light of all this mess. She spared an idle glance to the side, reaching out to catch Veldan's attention as they headed toward the grand doors. "Are you ready?" she asked quietly, fixing his hair in one swift motion before both hands fell to his shoulders. "I'll hold your bag. We're right behind you, don't forget that. You are so much stronger than you know— alright?"

Smirking a bit as Vovvi made him look presentable, Veldan did a slight nod. "Yes, I'm ready." Was he though? This moment had been replayed in his head thousands of times in anticipation, he was in the moment, about to knock on the door, and now he was having doubts? His brain was being stupid and he knew it. What struck Veldan as the most odd was the lack of attention both he and Vovvi were getting - the Rei'Nak's lost children were walking in broad daylight on the Romulan Capital and no one was paying them any mind. Not that Veldan wanted it anyway - he was about to get the attention of his family, and that's what mattered. Approaching the large rope next to the front gate, that presumably controlled the doorbell - Veldan grabbed it and pulled four times, hopefully that got their attention.

Silence. Not tranquil, peaceful; the heavy, oppressive sort, echoing off the walls in an infinite cacophony. Solon had never liked silence. He preferred a full house, bustling with noise and people and plenty of cameras to capture it all. However, his children were off running around and enjoying the warm breeze, taking vacation with spouses. He paced back and forth in his study, focusing, focusing on— what? On the clock on the wall, on the star maps shoved hastily into the drawers of desks? How much longer could he keep the press quiet about— Who's there? His breath came out in a shuddered sigh. The doorbell. Just the doorbell. Someone coming home for dinner, likely, or... Two steps, then three, and Solon made his way to the door; an idle glance to the mirror told him he looked fine in case he had to fend another curious reporter querying about his missing child, as the investigation had made no progress, stagnant in... how long had it been? Solon didn't take notice until it was far too late. If only it had been a reporter. Solon opened the door, preparing his usual "there aren't any new updates" speech, when he spotted the two people first. A woman he didn't recognize, and the Khellian matriarch. More importantly, "R'Dhani," quiet, a little shaky, news-worthy crocodile tears as the older man sank to his knees, "Where— how— you're here. You're... Home."

And just like that, he was a fifteen year old again - looking past Solon, the house looked warm and cosy and- # Shut the fuck up. Veldan's body had become a battleground between his brain and his heart, and his heart and come out swinging. He had to bring himself back to the times he was forgotten, he had to force himself to not just walk in and pretend the last two years never happened. To put himself through that pain again - sending him crashing back into reality. Veldan, not R'Dhani, was here now, and for the first time in his life he was in control of the situation. "So now you remember I exist?" (edited)

He paused, blinking a few times as it registered. Solon carefully raised himself to his feet. "Well— R'Dhani, that— I was looking for you all that time, surely you know that much? I— how about we talk inside? There is no need to make such a fuss. I'll make some tea, and..." His gaze drifted idly to the side, seeing the rather large bag with him. "What have you got there..?"

Veldan had been dying to show the contents of the bag™️ from the moment he saw Solon. Silently grinning from ear to ear, Veldan reached into his bag and pulled out a hefty pile of paper and and booklets, making sure to file through each item individually. "Legal papers. For example, this one legally changes my name to my true name - which, by the way, I never felt comfortable sharing with you. Any of you." And he still wasn't going to tell Solon himself. It's on his public file now, he can take the initiative and find it, if he actually cared. Pulling out another document, Veldan held the front up to his father. "This one here is documentation for my proof of age - It's my birthday today, Solon, did you know? Or have you forgotten, like every year since I was eight." Veldan was getting into it now, and he was raising his voice; In a district like this it was practically a shining beacon to reporters, tabloid journalists and general nosy people, who had began to spontaneously appear around the front gate.

Ten years? It couldn't have been ten years since then. Solon had more important things to worry about; house matters, publicity efforts, any renovations... It was never a conscious effort, it was never cruelty. In fact, it could be seen as a noble sacrifice for the greater good of their house; why couldn't R'Dhani see that? He'd never understood the boy. "Would you keep your voice down!? This discussion is better had inside, please! And this is certainly no way to speak to your father—" Solon hissed, his gaze frantically darting from the small group gathering at the gate and the flashes of holocameras back to his son. He even made a move to lower the papers from being held so high up, before Vovvi grabbed his wrist and lowered his hand back to his side.

"That'll be enough of that, Mr. Rei'nak," came her low, quiet voice, calm as the eye of the storm and twice as dangerous. "Your son has come of age, and he'll be taking what's rightfully his. As will I." She let go, tilting her head to the side. If you recall, I was never given such a chance."

"Vovvi.." No, no, no, it couldn't be. It couldn't be. His baby sister, the thorn in his side when he was a teenage boy, the little girl who put rocks in his shoes and drew bright red pictures on his bedroom wall in permanent ink... all grown up? Surely not, they hadn't heard from her in fifty years now! Solon had assumed she was dead after the Great Loss.. "I— you.. Let's not make a scene. Alright? Inside. Please." He moved to try to wave the trio inside, shaking it off to hopefully save his image while he still could.

Who knew house politics could be crazier than the Khellians? Rilek thought as she stood behind Veldan, ready to serve up some legal bitch slapping if needed. She glanced around briefly and waited for Veldan to make the first move through the door as not to stick out too much.

"No... No I don't think I will come inside. In fact, I have one more document to present." Dropping his bag to the floor, Veldan pulled out that oversized binder of legal paperwork. "Dual family membership papers to the Khellians, because even though I've known them for less than 6 months. Rilek has done more for me then any of you ever did." The Rei'Naks had a policy - anyone who joins into the family must change their last name to Rei'Nak. Veldan was sure that double-barrelling his surname would get a rise out of Solon. On the topic of Vovvi, Veldan realised he hadn't told anyone about something. "Oh, and I changed some personal information - Vovvi is now legally considered my next of kin and emergency contact, not you." The reporters were practically swarming the front gate now, having to be held off by the Rei'Nak personal bodyguards. Veldan didn't dare turn around in fear of getting his corneas vaporised by the flash photography.

"Why, you insolent little—" Solon sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, doing his best to keep composure. Keep it together. Not while there are paparazzi so close. He'd never had much of a temper, but by the elements he was getting close. "Fine. Fine. Soil your image on another name, destroy our family, why should I care when you clearly don't?" Irrational and out of line, but he was overwhelmed by the sudden crowd of voices and flashing photos, his presumed-dead sister and his youngest son. It was all too much. "Very well. You'll have what you're entitled to. But you listen to me, young man," his voice grew quiet and grave here, "you will be back. You'll regret everything in this little power trip you've gone on, and you'll be right back on my doorstep, one way or another." (edited)

Solon was right, Veldan was on a power trip - but no one couldn't it wasn't earned or deserved, having this one up over the man who basically left him. As Solon finished his sentence, Veldan's voice went equally quiet and grave. "The only time I'll back on this doorstep is if I'm holding the key." Realistically it would never happen, nor did Veldan particularly want it to - he was happy on 777, the people there treated him well and supported him. Proving that he really was Solon's son, he masked his expression with a smile and spoke in a normal, almost content tone. "As you may be aware Solon, Romulan law states that when a child comes of age, they are entitled to a small percentage of family funds and one 'family heirloom' set aside for the child. I can guarantee you forgot to do this, so the law also states that if nothing is set aside the child is entitled to one item of their choice." Maybe Veldan might have to rein himself in a bit.

Solon brushed the group aside to go try to herd the crowd of paparazzi, so Vovvi stepped up, her hand firmly on Veldan's shoulder. "Let's go find something you want," she said quietly, then affectionately ruffled his hair once they were out of earshot. "I am so proud of you, did you know that? You've worked so hard to get here. I wish I'd had the nerve to talk to my father that way," she chuckled with a gentle smile, squeezing Veldan's face between her hands to kiss his forehead. "Right. Let's get to it, then. What were you thinking?"

"If I'm gonna be honest I didn't know I had it in me." And if he had done this A) like 6 months earlier, and B) without the help of Vovvi and Rilek, it wouldn't have gone nearly this smooth. Looking up and down the corridors of the house, Veldan eyes settled on probably the greatest thing he had ever seen in his life. A pair of Swords - actual, real life swords from before the Great Loss, still with their sheaths. Veldan became starry-eyed and gently lifted one of them off the wall they were hanging from. It was incredibly ornate, and bore the ancient sigil of the Rei'Nak family. The other, still hung on the wall, was from a family he didn't recognise - it was presumably from a defunct house. Once he brought it back to the station he could try and find it's closest living relative. "Oh yeah, I know what I'm claiming. Since these swords are presented as a pair, it can be assumed that they are counted as one item - so I'm claiming them both." Veldan had read the small text before coming here, if Solon challenged it he knew that it would hold up from a legal standpoint - and Rilek could back it up too.

Taking something for herself, to be described in a much more vivid detail at a later time, Vovvi admired the unfamiliar sword with a quiet sort of wonder. She would've chosen something like that, too, at his age. "Is there anything else you want to do, before you go?" she asked, carefully tucking her own item away. Out of sight, out of mind, at least for the time being. "There's a good chance you'll never see this place again, per your own preference. So.."

Never see this place again... Veldan could live with that. Taking the other sword down from the wall and tying them both to his bag, Veldan began to walk out to true, unfiltered independence. Holy fuck did it feel good. "Oh! There was one thing..." Veldan turned around to the paparazzi swarming the house, and practically yelled out loud for the entire district, no, the entire city to hear. "Suleiman is having an affair with Sollak, his sister in law. I'm pretty sure they have a kid together." Ahh, the things you found out when you formed bonds with the servant staff. Leaving Solon to unravel the nuclear turd of a situation that he had left the family in, Veldan walked away to his new life. Freedom at last.