Introduction

[Alric Kuhn]

Things had been going well.

Danger had been living with him for nearly two weeks now, and over the course of those two weeks things had been running smoothly. Most of the time they had been together, either traveling, taking small trips, or simply lounging at home. Even when he was working Danger had mewled about him, seeking to assist him in his work or simply bringing him coffee or other drinks, clearly trying to insert herself into something to do.

It was cute really, and every time she peeked her head into his office he couldn't help but smile.

Of course it had only been a relatively short time, but it had been an enjoyable two weeks. So much so that Alric now mused on doing something else, on a small surprise for Danger.

It wasn't a large step, not as large as it could have been at least, but he knew that it was something she would enjoy, but be cautious about. He smiled slightly, drumming his fingers on the edge of his desk for a moment before slowly standing up from his chair. Alric stretched slightly, then left his office, work done for the day. "Danger?"

He called out for her, beginning to search the apartment.

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

He would find her by the living room, right beside the largest viewport the suite could host. She was opening a rather large cargo box, one of the large insulated types made for fragile items. It was one of the last few items she wanted to bring over from the Stronghold. There wasn't much that she particularly needed, but this was an indulgence she had asked Flynn to pack up for her.

Hunched over the biometic lock, the redhead would set her finger on the display screen. The soft sound of the red laser scanning would turn a bright green in confirmation. A hiss and snap of the cargo case unsealing would follow her cry, "Over here." she said, her hands scanning around the edges of the container to fully unsnap the rest of the latches.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric only raised an eyebrow as he wandered into the living room. Two weeks had passed and he had long ago thought that Danger had ceased bringing things into their new home, though apparently she wasn't quite done yet.

"Whats that?" Alric asked, continuing on to give his own answer. "Those...accessories we talked about?"

He waggled his eyebrows as he wandered passed her into the the kitchen.

The two rooms were connected, only cut in half by a large island counter top that was made of some sort of stone he couldn't yet identify. He liked to make his joke, but as he pulled open the refrigerator door and pulled out a bottle of cold tea he couldn't help but genuinely wonder what Danger had brought along this time, leading him to quickly return to her side.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"Well all good things come to good little boys ," Danger quipped back, impish devilry igniting her eyes, two more simultaneous snaps from the latches would emphasize with dramatic flair. The corner of her mouth twitched, and she bit her lower lip in dramatic emphasis with her own eyebrow wag.

"So I reckon that depends on you." Her throaty chuckle shook her shoulders and chest after. Two more snaps and she was done. Bending over closer to it, she went to lift the lid of the container off.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He perked an eyebrow at her, his hand going wandering lower as she bent down to life the lid from his box. His index and thumb would come together in a slight pinch. "How awful that I'm generally bad."

Alric smirked at her, taking a sip of his drink.

In truth, he expected the crate to contain some sort of artifact or contraption from Tatooine. Most of the things that Danger had brought along with her had been small keepsakes or unique little pieces that she or her father had gathered over the years. Thankfully, none of it had been of Tusken origin, likely because she had known that would not make him happy.

He appreciated that.

Most of the things Danger did for Alric were simply gestures, small things that no one but he would have noticed. The Tetan loved that.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Danger gave a small start, and a short startled cry with a laugh. Had she not been attempting to lift the lid, she'd have smack him on the shoulder for getting handsy. Maybe.

"Oh, you are lucky I didn't drop this lid!" she chastised him, but with no real bite as the grin would linger over her curved lips. A lift and swing of the container would reveal seal foam packs. With a small grunt, she bent slightly to set the container lid to the right. Plopping down in front of it, she would cross her legs and carefully went reaching inside.

She felt Alric's inquisitive gaze on her, watching her every move. It was almost as if it were a lifeday present, attempting to patiently wait to see what was inside. It made her smile grow wider, a light chuckle escaping at that. He was always filled with such curiosity, almost as much as a youngling. She found it adorable.

"Mmm... well, pardon the disappointment, but no, no accessories." she would quip in mild humor, carefully removing the first few foam bags that had packed the cargo container snugly. The first slid off without too much trouble, and she set it to her side. Reaching forward again, she went to work with the rest.

"But I'll get some entertainment out of it none the less," her eyes would flash a bright green in cheeky mirth. Alas, that is when the first carefully bubble wrapped item would make itself known. After carefully unwrapping it, Danger would present Alric with the first figurine for him to take.

A carved ivory Grimtaash. It was an analog dejarik board monster.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He held the piece, turning it over for a second before he realized what it actually was. A small bit of realization folded over his eyes, and slowly he nodded in head in understanding. He smiled at her, knowing what the thing was.

"Is that all?" Alric said quietly. "If you wanted to play Dejarik so bad you could have used my board."

The Tetan hadn't played his game in almost a year now, a long time, though it hadn't been the longest. Truthfully he had been mired in so much shit that he had nearly forgotten it, though as of late he had been meaning to make a move. The happiness that Danger had brought out within him again had made things easier, and he found himself enjoying life more and more. "Not like I can't reset it to where it was when you're done."

Eidetic memory and all.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"Well I’ve some holoboards scattered all over, but this one's my great granddaddy's." she told him, moving to start unpacking the rest. Now it made more sense why she had it delivered to the apartment suite.

“Besides, ain’t yours at your office?” the last time she’d seen it was briefly at Vanir Technologies, if she remembered correctly. The crinkle of bubble wrap would continue as she revealed carved figurine after the next, setting them upon the floor. The Brylewood and Japor Ivory wood checkerboard was more like a small table, intricate in its design. An heirloom really.

It had come as an afterthought honestly. Things had just been so hectic that she hadn't the chance to play in a while. Not to mention, it wasn't her turn. Was about a week ago that in between organizing the kitchen to a more efficient display and reading a third of Alric's books, that she hadn't had heard from her Dejarik partner in almost a year. It wasn't the longest that it's been silent; correspondence games like these could span years depending on holonet connection, or worse, transit delivery. But the realization made her want to bring her board over to Elysium.

It would be nice to set it up again.

"Did you need somethin'?" she would remind him, glancing back up at the Tetan. He had come searching for her earlier, and she wondered what it was.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He smiled for a moment, then handed the figure back to her.

"Yes." A shrug rolled over his shoulders. If she wanted her won dejarik board who was he to deny her? Truth be told, if she had asked he would have converted the entire upstairs to a life sized one. Of course she would never have asked such a thing, but it was a thought that made him smile. "Rose sent another message a few nights ago."

He hadn't mentioned it because it had been a small one, received while Danger had slept. "She asked what I was doing, what I was up to and how everything is."

It hadn't been the first time, and by now Rose was more than aware that Alric had slowly begun to move on from her mother.

"So." Alric said quietly. "I was wondering if you'd like to join me for the reply?"

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Danger's fingers barely brushed the figurine Alric passed back to her when she froze. Her smile lingered, but the expression would wane to one of surprise. Gently taking the figurine of the Grimtaash in hand, the redhead would lower her head, staring down at the ivory carving.

She was thinking about it, that much Alric would be able to discern. Processing it. It wasn't as if Danger would be a sudden inclusion to the twins lives; Alric had mentioned that he had broached the subject that he was spending more time with an old friend. It was a neutral term, and kept them both in this odd dance of not having to define what they were. Perhaps both wanted it like that, either due to a desire to maintain the status quo or because they didn't actually know.

Either way, having Danger become part of the recorded holo message was a step. But a step towards what?

A slight frown would pucker over her brow, and she took a deep breath. One last caress over the knobbly figurine, and she set it back down on the floor with the rest of them. Up went her head, and wide green eyes would lock onto ocean blue.

"Well, reckon its a good thing I took pictures of the Spire hmm?" she told him with a faint smile.

She could do this. It wouldn't be any different than doing any other role before. Oh there was no halting the slight flutter of nervousness in her belly; this was the first time she would actually be speaking to the woman who had been named after her. Someone whose opinion and feelings were very important to Alric. To her.

"What did she have to say?"

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He smiled as she slowly came around to his suggestion.

"She's near Tatooine now." Alric said slowly, making his way back towards Danger. "She went to see Yuuzhan'tar, heard the rumors about what happened to the planet. Apparently the Crusade didn't do a thorough enough job, most of the Yuuzhan Vong Life has already regrown."

The Tetan wrapped his arms around her, comforting her in a light embrace. "She told me she wants to go to Geonosis next, see some of the hives that they build there."

Rose had made her way all across the outskirts of the galaxy, and slowly she was moving back towards the core. That alone brought some comfort to Alric, mostly because it meant that she was making her way home. It was slow progress, but he knew that soon, perhaps in the next few months, he would finally be able to hold his daughter again.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Leaning back into his embrace, Danger would tuck his arms over her belly. A sigh fell from of her lips, her head coming to rest against his right shoulder. The mention of Geonosis made her think of her, and her mind raced. Taking a deep breath, she let those thoughts pass to the side, canting her head towards him to say, "She's sendin' more comm's more often than not now."

It was a casual observation, but one that she knew would bring Alric a measure of relief and peace of mind. While he didn't fault Rose for the sparse messages, he did love his daughter with everything he had. He worried and he would wonder about how she was and if she was alright. Erkard now traveled with Rose openly, having discovered him some months prior. Alric had told her that she had assumed her father had sent him, and had not sought to correct her assumption.

Perhaps it was best it was left so.

Blinking for a few moments, she would mull on what exactly would the subject of their conversation be. How odd, that she would be so concerned about the topic of conversation!

Life had a way of the ironies of ironies.

"What you reckon you want to say to her?" she asked, referring to the holorecording, unsure of what she was to specifically talk about. Just a general greeting? Was she expected to hold a conversation?

Or maybe I'm just overthinking it....

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric gently squeezed Danger, a slight chuckle going along with the action. A week ago Alric had decided that he would stop planning things, that he would start relaxing and allow things to simply take their course. That, to him at least, meant that he wouldn't plan things out, that he wouldn't think about everything he was going to do, including what kind of message he would send his daughter.

"I haven't really thought about it." He kissed her neck to relax her. "I suppose we could tell her about the spire, about The Hotel, introduce you."

There was a lot to say really, but the message wouldn't be a long one.

He frowned slightly, though hid it in the nape of her neck. "You don't have to be nervous. Everything will be alright."

Alric tried to reassure her, not wanting her to do anything she didn't want.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Danger would appreciate the token of affection, the reassurance. Her left hand came up. Her palm would read over to cup his cheek, caressing it in gratitude. The bristles of his beard rasping against her palm. She tucked her head by the crook of his neck over his right shoulder, and gave a deep exhale.

“You’re right,” she said, moving her hand to thread her fingers through his hair. With a faint curve of her lips, she asked curiously, “When did you want to do it?”

She could take care of the Dejarik board later if he wanted to do it then.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"Whenever you're ready." Alric told her with another gentle squeeze. "I imagine you'll want to do your hair, make-up, you know, all that womanly stuff."

His voice became teasing, a light smirk tugging at his lips.

To others it might not have seemed to be the right time, the moment was a serious one, and normally it would have begged serious answers. Yet with the two of them the small back and forth was a sign of comfort, that everything was okay and settled, that everything was normal. It was simply a part of their relationship, how the two of them operated and did things.

It would seem odd to others, but to Danger and Alric it was simply how they spoke.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

“Along with my couture Peri shoes!” Danger gave a roll of her eyes at that, with a slight elbow to his ribs to pay back his taunt. Truth be told, she wasn’t itching to be rather intimidating from the get go. The girls only knew her as ‘Danger’, an old friend of their father’s, no face to the name and just the companion that had saved his life long ago.

Going the whole nine parsecs was likely not the best way to make a first impression. To be frank, her reputation preceded her, and based on who did the chatting, it could very well mean a number of things. So with that in mind, Danger would stretch forward, moving away from Alric’s embrace as she sat up straight. A hand ran through her loose waves of silver glinted auburn hair. She had not smear of make up and to a degree, she felt her age.

Grabbing her spectacles, she slid them on. Bold black reading glasses that allowed her to focus on the small print.

“Well, reckon if you have to see me in my birthday suit every morning, Rose can handle a few crow’s feet or two.” she gave a slight chuckle, a mammaquatia of mirth under the simple button up blouse she wore.

“How about we do the call, and then you can help me finish setting up my board?” she just needed him to help her pull it out and set it where she wanted it. She could place the figurines for her game after.

And then send Handsome K’lor’slug a poke through holomail.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

A small smile crept onto his face as she slipped form his grasp and spoke of seeing her bare every morning. That brought a small amount of joy to him, not the idea of her naked, though that was a joy in it of itself, but the fact that she was there. The fact that he woke up, and there she was, beautiful as always. It was something that he took to heart, something that he enjoyed greatly and perhaps even loved. The fact that Danger, the person that had always been there for him really was there for him now.

The smile spread, and slowly he took a step forward.

The floorboard beneath his boot creaked slightly, though that was the only warning that Danger would receive.

Before the legendary Trade Queen could stop him, or even help herself, Alric was upon her. In a single quick scoops Alric swept Danger from her feet and picked her up. One arm would cradle her legs, the other would lift at the small of her back. The Tetan would heave Danger off of her feet and turn around on his heel, beginning and immediate spring towards the stairs.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Danger's whoop of laughter would echo throughout the apartment, leaving behind the container and the dejairk figurines on the floor. He took quick steps, much to the protest of the woman in his arms, claiming that he was going to hurt his back trying to carry her all the way to the den.

He paid it no mind, and Danger gave another laugh, shaking her head at his antics. Her arms held him, and as he made his way up the stairs, she couldn't help but take in the view of their apartment.

Their apartment.

It was still so strange. But nice. It was a fresh start for them both. Smiling into the crook of his neck, she nuzzled it, pressing a kiss against it.

Life would never be perfect, but in this moment, for Danger it was.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He smiled as she kissed his neck, though said nothing to her. Instead he simply chuckled and kept moving, trailing his way towards the sofa that sat down there. It was his old one, the one that he had slept on for many months and called his bed. The two of them had come to the mutual decision that it would be moved down here, placed in a spot that Alric could come to it to relax.

More often than not, they both ended up on it, playing a game of some sort and just relaxing.

To Alric that was happiness.

"Okay." He said, trying to calm her by kissing her temple. "Lets get down to business."

He moved towards the sofa, and gently deposited Danger onto it.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

She sank into the plush couch, then scooted over to the right to allow him some space to sit down. One could practically see the good nature and cheer the Tetan was expressing. It radiated from him with the excitement of a youngling.

He was happy. It made her smile.

Alric would step back from the couch, busying himself to get the holocomm recorder he had used for this specific task. He normally came down here to send his messages and Danger had always given him his privacy. This was the first time he had invited her to join him, so she couldn’t quite shake the flutter of nerves in the pit of her belly. Yet the comforting smile that he flashed over to her as he came walking back would relax her.

Drawing her legs up, she made herself comfortable. One knee to her chest while the other lounged tucked in under her. By all intents and purposes, most wouldn’t recognize her at first glance that she was the Trade Queen, that would take a bit more focus. Most expected the polished veneer, not the relaxed, on vacation, and slightly mused bespeckled one.

Certainly not the face plastered from one end of the ‘verse to the next.

Staring up at him, she gave a half snort, then went reaching to thread her fingers through his hair to comb it.

“Your hair is all over the place.”