Counting Stars

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

​

E L Y S I U M S K Y H O O K
VANIR TECHNOLOGIES


A space station didn't quite have dawn or a dusk. Orbiting a planet meant that time and date were relative to the Galactic Standard. Either case, 'morning' came to stir Danger from her slumber. The curtains of her eyes would slid open, and she would blearily blink back sleep as consciousness came to her.

It took her a moment to register where she was, the low quiet hum of the air purifier a near silent drone. Shifting under the slide of dark blue bedsheets, the half awake woman would give a slight frown, arms arching up to stretch over her head. The bedroom was spacious, following the wide open floor plan as the other additions of the suite. Much like the den and the living room, the viewport was immense, allowing again for a pre programmable scene or the view of the slow spinning planet and space below.

The storytelling had lasted well into the night, bringing along with it nostalgic memories of other moments of their past. Funny, at the time, they were not considered particularly eventful, but when one looks back in hindsight, there is a bit of charm to it all.

Alric had graciously offered his bed to Danger, despite her protests that it was ironic that the point of the matter was to get him to sleep in a real bed, not the couch.

That brought a small quirk of her mouth in amusement at that. A thought came. Was he up yet?

Swinging her legs from under the sheets, she set her feet upon the floor. Commandeering a robe, she tied the belt at the waist. With slumber still lingering, Danger would quietly pad out of the bedroom to investigate.

If anything, she could at least start warming water for tea.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric wasn't quite up yet. Instead he was laying on the couch, a blanket half draped over him, half laying on the floor. His chest was bare, but by the leg hanging out from beneath the blanket it was clear that he was wearing a black pair of sweatpants.

None of the lights in the living room were on, the viewport was still perfectly black with only the planet below on the horizon. By any and all indication it was still night time within this section of the apartment, and Alric Kuhn was taking full advantage of that fact. He had always been a heavy sleeper, when he actually got to sleep, and that seemed to be true even in his old age.

There was a calmness about him, a stillness.

His chest rose and fell in even, slow, and rhythmic motions. One hand rested on his stomach, the other was floating off the couch.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Some things never change.

There was a comfort in that, Danger told herself, leaning against the threshold as she would quietly watch Alric rest. Affection rose in her gaze, and for a moment, she indulged herself in simply drinking him in. That he was able to sleep so deeply was a good indication of his health, that he would be okay. The concern she felt for the Tetan only grew with each passing day, and she found herself getting more attached to the comfort of his presence.

Pushing herself from the threshold, Danger slowly went ambling over towards the couch where he lay. His blanket was half on the floor and half on him, reminding her of the times when Makai would fall asleep and he’d need to be tucked in. She loved the younger Dashiell, with a deep affection that would be the only true revelation she’d ever shown in public. He had the trust of a child, the open affection, and the genuine care and attention that would tug on Danger’s heartstrings. Makai Dashiell was a soothing balm that had eased the pain of losing her daughter, and one she was all too happy to devote her affection to.

Now how to transfer that to others, is the question? How to express that beyond a child? That was the more difficult lesson, a struggle she had to overcome. Step by step.

Coming to a slow halt beside him, and she gave a half smile, and her expression softened in open affection. Shaking her head, she went reaching down to catch the corner of the blanket. Carefully, she began to adjust the sheet of fabric over him. He could sleep a little bit longer, she told herself. He needed it.

As the fabric now lay over his chest, she found herself reaching out again. Much like she did with Makai, her palm went lightly stroking in a cafune over the crown of his head, drifting lower to feel the bristle of his beard as she lightly cupped his cheek.

A heavy weight filled her chest, indulging for the moment of seeing him there. Her thumb gave a gentle caress, feeling the warmth of his skin. After a moment, she began to draw her hand away.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He was a deep sleeper, but at the touch of Danger's hand, a small spark of awareness grew within him.

Alric didn't stir, he didn't move, but he did wake up. His eyes stayed closed, his body lay still, he simply allowed Danger's simple caress to move through his hair and beard, shift and send goosebumps down his spine. He lay there in silence, his chest steadily rising and falling. What was one supposed to think at a time like this? What was one supposed to do? It had been nearly nine months now since he had been broken, since the mirror he so often caught himself in had been smashed to bits.

Yet here he was, in a home, comfortable, his daughters well on their way to being grown adults, his best friend back in his life and closer than ever. There was a calmness to his life a stillness. He fought no wars, hunted no cabals, dealt with nothing that would endanger his life. Slowly, everything seemed to be setting into place, going to a place of calm and stillness.

So when Danger moved her hand away, Alric reached out.

He moved slowly, gently, as to not scare her. His hand gently wrapped around her wrist, his hand sliding into place so that his thumb rested within her palm. His fingers pressed gently into her skin, and slowly he pulled her palm back towards himself. The former Titan gently pressed his lips against the pads of her fingers, then said three words. "When you're ready."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Those three little words froze her.

Her small hand, still pressed against the warm velvet of his lips, would flex slightly only to relax, feeling the contrasting sensation of the slight bristles of his beard on her fingertips. She hadn't expected him to be awake, hadn't expected him to do what he did.

Danger's gaze ran over Alric's face, staring at him with wide, apprehensive eyes. A pent up breath held in her lungs, and her mind raced at just what he meant by that. Emerald would roam over the planes and angles of his face. Slumber lingered there edged in his hooded eyes, a quiet serenity. Her answer was there. Her fingers would tremble slightly, brushing against his lips again.

When you're ready.

The pulse on her throat thrummed, and within that expression of vulnerability stirred a desire she was struggling with. It wasn't lust. It was simple, and yet far more complicated than that.

Her body sank into a seating position next to him, that conscious act to get closer. He made it so easy.

Glinting rays of sunlight broke the planet below on the horizon, framing the black of space among the scattering of endless stars. Silhouetted against that faint glow, Danger lightly turned her hand within his, drawing them away from his mouth. Quietly, her fingers went tracing the sensitive arches between his fingers, until her palm went sliding against his. Looking back down at him, she drowned into the pale blue of his eyes, and made a decision.

The tips of her hair would barely brush over his shoulders as she came down, a whisper of foretelling, before the soft press of her lips against his came next.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Perhaps this was the way of things. Perhaps this had been coming since that day on Tatooine, since Alric had rescued Danger from that cave, since he had written down their conversations in those notebooks. Things had a funny way of coming together, a funny way of working out. Alric didn't know if he was entirely ready, he didn't know if he was still broken or somehow fixed by now, but this felt right. They said that time healed all wounds, and he had survived through months of misery and guilt, perhaps it was time for something else.

It was a thought that echoed through him, and idea that pulled at his subconscious as Danger's lips pressed against his own. She had taken what she wanted, was he ready to let her have it?

He thought so.

His fingers tightened against hers, his grip folded around her palm, and slowly Alric pulled Danger into him. His grip was strong, but not rough, he grasped her tightly and pulled her close. There wasn't any more hesitation. Enough time had passed that the despair no longer wracked him, enough time had passed that specter's of the past no longer haunted him.

Enough time had passed that he could move on.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Steam rose from the cup of tea, the soft scent of it floating over towards [member="Alric Kuhn"] as it was extended towards him, much like it had every morning for days prior. A small gesture, but one that would relay the thought and affection that came with it.

After all, the tea wouldn't be scorching hot anymore.

Small favors to be sure, although one would still say that hot tea or stimcaf in the morning on Tatooine wasn't too far-fetched. Then again, it didn't really matter. And as the distant rising sun would frame the planet across the viewport, the two would find themselves indulging in breakfast for the first time in Alric's new apartment.

Fresh toast, scrabbled Nuna eggs, and of course, sausage and bacon. Bring out the cholesterol, at their age, the care for such things compared to the indulgence of the crispy savory delight was next to none.

"What are your plans for the Skyhook?" Danger's voice would drift over the table, offering him his tea. There was a glow to her face, her hair still slightly mused, but the soft smile that clung to her lips was reflected in her eyes. A little bit warmer, a bit more open. Just a bit flushed and maybe the slightest of bruising across her lips.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He smiled at that.

Straight back to business he supposed, that wasn't out of the ordinary. The smile on his lips faded behind the mug that he brought up to his lips, though only for a few moments as Alric found out that once again the tea was just a tad too hot. Perhaps he simply wasn't good at drinking warm beverages.

"Nothing huge." He said quietly. "A communications facility, likely a research lab. Nothing unseemly."

Unseemly would be factories, cloning laboratories, and things of that nature. Alric wasn't quite willing to risk his reputation, even if it was just rumor, on turning a luxury skyhook into a factory. More than a few people would complain, if not try to get back at him. Better to go easy at first.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]


"You really can't stand hot beverages can you?" her amused query would pinpoint on the slight grimace that went washing Alric's face. Might as well go straight to it, as he likely wasn't going to comment on it. She slid into her seat across from him, cupping her own mug between her hands, elbows to the table.

Straight to business? Not so much, just was what she knew. Not to mention, this was going into territory she wasn't too sure of, much the less familiar with. Compared to the whirlwind of passion fueled by anger and a volley of emotions, this was different. It was there in the slight lowering of her lids, in the slight color of pleasure to her cheeks. To say that her heart fluttered at Alric's response earlier was putting it lightly.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He grinned. "I've always thought I've done better with cold."

It was an allusion to his time on Tatooine, to the misery he found on that world. Maybe his inability to process hot drinks was a part of that, or maybe it was just something silly that couldn't be explained. Either way, there was genuine amusement to his response, his smile wide and his body loose and relaxed.

"Maybe we should see how you do." His smile continued. "With the cold, I mean."

He flashed her a smirk before again trying to take a drink.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Her smile would hide behind the rim of her mug, and the corners of her eyes crinkled. Softly, she blew lightly across the surface of her stimcaf, cooling it a bit to take a sip.

"Reckon I can get you somethin' else, if you like." the corner of her mouth turned up, and she took a sip of the sweet black brew.

At least, until he mentioned about how she does with the cold. Her smile faded, and her nose wrinkled in distaste. A mental image of Hoth came to mind. Flat, cold, white, and boring. It was one of the worst smuggling runs she had to make back when she was a Captain instead of the owner.

A thought came to her then. It was his turn to select a new place for them to visit. His rather begrudged companionship full of sass when they went to see the Cathedral of Winds came to mind. As did his rather sly expression at the mention of a cold place to visit next. A sudden wariness narrowed her eyes.

"Why? Are you askin'?" her eyebrow rose in probing inquiry "Or are you tellin?"

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He simply smiled.

"Why, Miss Arceneau, you must think I'm truly evil if you think I'd subject you to something like that." He mused out loud, looking abashed and appalled. "But just as a question, entirely unrelated to the current conversation of course."

Alric's eyes darted to her feet for a second. "What size ski boots do you wear?"

He doubted Danger would know that, much less know how to ski, but teasing was always fun. The idea of a vacation in the snows rather appealed to him, and he had been meaning to have Vanir branch out in the construction of something more than simply factories and research labs. Sure there was the museum...but a resort might be fun.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]


A mild glower went drifting over the rim of her mug, telling the Tetan that she knew he was full of Nerf poodoo. It only was confirmed when he asked the question about ski boots.

Being one who wasn't so inclined to go gallivanting on cold and icy planets, the necessity of using ski boots, much the less the idea of skiing, ever came to mind. She held no fond memories of the cold, so up until then, going out of her way to visit a planet that would be below a respectable temperature was a no no unless it was for business. So no, she couldn't rightly answer that question for him.

It didn't need to be said that she had no clue on the size.

"Tit for tat, Kuhn," she would say dryly just prior to taking another sip of her caf. There was snort of half amusement, and she set her mug down to get another crisp of bacon.

"Remember that." she said that with a deliberate bite of the breakfast food, the crunch an amusing emphasis as if to say, 'Go on, try me.' It wasn't much a threat as a promise. And yeah, okay, maybe with a bit more sass than that.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

There was something to say about that. There weren't many worlds that Alric absolutely hated, and he had spent more than two weeks living on the one he hated the most simply out of spite, and then concern. There weren't many places that Danger could drag him to where he would be miserable, in fact, as he thought more about it he realized that there weren't any. Alric had already lived his nightmare, maybe it was time to introduce her to hers.

With that realization, no small amount of smugness came to Alric Kuhn.

"But Danger, think of what else the cold means." His voice became smooth honey, his smirk transforming into a charming smile.

He had the upper hand, and he would very well use it.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

She didn't even miss a beat.

In a deadpan, Danger took her mug, and gave a mock toast to the former Titan.

"Hot tea?"

With pointed emphasis, she took a large deliberate sip of her caf. One couldn't stop the mirth that danced in her eyes then.

And maybe just the tiny bit of excitement.