Private Secret Tunnel!

[Klar]

The invitation was surprising, but entirely welcome. Klar had insisted on cleaning up dinner, as Xuko had done almost all of the cooking. And then she'd put off doing so because of how much fun she'd been having talking about her top twentyish favorite films. And then she'd had to explain WHY they were important. It was a whole thing.

The Codru-Ji joined Xuko readily, setting her own blanket off to the side. She didn't really need it if they were sharing one. Cool wind blowing off the lake aside, it was still summer. As blanket and arm closed around her, Klar settled comfortably in. She had a good rapport with Xuko and a maybe-sortof romantic-adjacent thing going on with him, but they hadn't really cuddled before for an extended period. And cuddling had a chemistry all its own to puzzle out, unique to the people participating.

In Klar's case, she sat slightly crooked with her back to Xuko's chest, her legs folded beneath herself. Maximum warmth leeching, nearly a lounge. Plenty of room to relax. She set her nearly-empty thermos within reach, stifling a yawn.

"Have you ever considered," Klar mused thoughtfully. "That this lake was likely formed by a meteor strike? If one were to hit right now, we wouldn't even know about it. Just a flash, and lights out forever." She explained quietly. "I think that's beautiful, sort of. Lakes and meteors, that is not..." She laughed nervously. "Not dying to meteor strike. But that all that rock and fire and violence can create a beautiful lake, teeming with life. A place where people come to appreciate nature."

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

As grateful as Xuko was that Klar had accepted his offer to share the blanket, he was doubly so that she didn't completely invade his space to do so. Even so, his two hearts tap-tap'd a slightly faster rhythm with proximity to the Codru-Ji. Xuko wasn't sure if it was from appreciation, surprise, or nervousness.

Probably some combination of all three.

There was much that he had to learn about whatever this was, he recognized, that went beyond just asking Klar questions. Xuko had already identified that she would most likely enjoy moments of physical connection with him, which was part of why he had invited her under his blanket. Additionally, the life of a Jedi was a dangerous one, and their careers could take them to very different corners of the galaxy at the drop of a hat. Throw in both of their questioning, and their future together was even more unpredictable. But, to borrow Klar's metaphor, the 'meteor strike' of their failed spelunking expedition had paved the way for something new.

Whatever he and Klar had might not be a lake teeming with life just yet, but it was a start.

"I understand" Xuko replied, jolting his thoughts back to the present. "Although there are worse ways to die than by a sudden meteor strike."

That probably wasn't the most romantic conversation to have, Xuko belatedly realized- at least outside of Iridonia. Hurriedly, he changed the subject.

"Thank you for doing the dishes."

Internally, Xuko facepalmed.

Klar

 

[Klar]

"It's only fair. You cooked. Thank you for cooking!" Klar replied comfortably, nursing her tea as she looked up at the stars. "I can't cook at all. I'm absolutely aces at cleaning things, though. You have no idea how many times I got put on dishwashing duty." The blonde snickered, leaning her head back against Xuko's shoulder. After all, she'd spent the years between coming out of her cocoon and joining the NJO in domestic servitude to a hutt. And for once, that'd meant being a maid - not a bedwarmer or dancer. Thankfully.

Whatever came to develop between her and Xuko, Klar liked being close to the people she cared about. Emotionally, socially, physically. She knew he wasn't as comfortable with casual physical affection as she was, so even just sitting like this felt a little like she was imposing on him. He seemed largely alright with it, but with how laconic Xuko tended to be? She could never be sure. She was attentive for small changes, shifts in his tone or demeanor that suggested he might want some space but not want to bother her by asserting it. A little like he'd done in the cave - hiding his crisis.

"We should probably get cracking on that project outline when we get back." Klar mused quietly. "Just thinking out loud. I'm not trying to pull us out of the now. I love the now. THis moment is wonderful. You're wonderful. Just speaking the thought as it comes into my mind." She explained idly. "I wonder if that counts as living in the moment because I release the thought, unconcerned, into the world? Or if I'm not living in the moment because I'm thinking about what we need to do when we get home. Maybe it breaks even?"

Klar rubbed her chin theatrically, then chuckled and shrugged her shoulders. "Sorry. Rambling." She murmured. "...I appreciate how you let me talk, Xuko. Even if it rarely goes anywhere meaningful."

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko gave Klar's shoulder a gentle squeeze, which translated to something approaching a side hug. "I enjoy your company and the sound of your voice" he replied, sincerely, figuring that was better than asking Klar if she could both wash and dry dishes at the same time because of her four hands. "Regardless of if we are talking about now or some time in the future." She was correct about their outline, he realized, even as the project- and the temple- felt very far away in the moment. Life at the temple would resume soon enough, he realized; he and Klar would be back to their routines of classes, meditation, coursework, and training. By this time tomorrow they would most likely both be back in their dorms.

"This will not be the only time you and I do something like this, right?" he asked; like Klar, he was enjoying this wonderful moment, and he suddenly found himself unsure about what dating looked like in the year 902 ABY.

Klar

 

[Klar]

"Do you mean discussing the project or...?" Klar gestured vaguely to the lakeside around them with one hand and the stars above with the other. Two hands gave the motion a grand sort of air, but it was about as casual as could be. "I suppose clarifying doesn't matter TOO terribly much. Yes to both, if I get my say." She promised. With her head on his shoulder, Klar glanced up enough to make eye contact and smiled warmly. She'd have grinned, but it was a little late and a little sedate to bring that kind of thunder. "This is wonderful. Let's make it a regular thing."

From the side, Klar was able to wrap two of her arms around Xuko in turn and bask in the moment. He was warm, he smelled like good sweat and suntan lotion, she could faintly hear the staccato beat of his hearts. It was a nice, comfortable moment. The sort of thing you thought back to when times were hard.

"People will talk, though." Klar teased gently, prodding his abdomen. "Brace yourself for that. It's gonna break a few hearts when I start stealing you away for weekend camping trips on the regular. I'll have made myself some enemies."

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

"I was hoping that you would say that" Xuko said, enjoying the sensation of Klar's head on his shoulder and her arms wrapped around him. All of this was new, strange, exciting, challenging, and moving somewhat faster than he imagined that he'd be comfortable with, but Xuko decided that being pushed outside of his comfort zone was worth it.

Xuko was surprised at Klar's next statement, however. He hadn't considered, nor did he care much, about the gossip that their pairing would undoubtedly spawn; especially as he was usually far removed from such social circles. But the potential for jealousy directed towards Klar fed a surge of protectiveness inside of him... as well as mild concern as he had no concept as to how serious that sort of problem might be.

As a result, Xuko was suddenly all business. "I do not wish for you to be endangered on my behalf. What can I do to help you against your enemies?"


Klar

 

[Klar]

Really, she could have phrased that one a little better. Klar burst out laughing and waved a hand in a placating gesture - attempting to soothe Xuko's sudden tone shift. "No, no - I don't have any actual enemies." She promised quickly. "No danger. Not that I know of." Klar added for good measure through stifled snickering.

She sat forward a bit to look more clearly towards him. "I was referencing that there are liable to be some folk who are jealous when they think I've got exclusive dating rights on 'Iridonia's Ass', when we start disappearing on camping trips every other week or whatever." Klar explained cheerfully. "Even if I don't. Because we're not dating. But even if we were, you'd be free to see and love whoever you like - as discussed earlier. That's-" She stopped, shook her head, and laid it back on Xuko's shoulder. "Rambling. Ineffective rambling, which is even worse." The blonde laughed. "But. No. No enemies. Jealousy. You're wonderful, Xuko, but I can't imagine anyone would want to harm me to get me out of the way in pursuit of you."

Still snickering quietly, Klar returned her arms and head to where they'd been earlier - getting comfy again. "It's nice to know you've got my back, though." She promised. "I didn't doubt it, but I don't hate that side of you."

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

"Oh. Good." Xuko said, relaxing again as Klar explained that there was no danger. Then he blushed a little as she brought up a particular term he'd been foolish enough to supply her with. Xuko could already guess that Klar would not let him hear the end of that one.

Xuko did appreciate that Klar understood that his offer of assistance was one of support and not his attempt to fix the problem for her. Klar wouldn't be the type to create a problem and then send him in to fix it, and as a result he could trust her both to fight her own battles and hopefully, ask for his support when she needed it. "Anytime" he promised.

Then another thought occurred to him, spurred by part of her explanation. "How will we determine if we are dating, if that is something that we decide to do?" he asked, his tone one of curiosity. "Would that be defined by a more physical connection?" He couldn't imagine that Klar would restrict a relationship behind physical intimacy, especially if theirs was more open than some relationships, but it felt like a helpful clarification question to ask Klar. Everyone approached these kinds of things differently.

Klar

 

[Klar]

Klar blinked, thought about it for a moment. Then a moment more.

She sighed a little and shrugged. "I think it's something that only we could really decide?" She suggested. "The label only matters to us. I don't think either of us ascribe to any traditional, like... courtship rituals, and we're both adults." Klar explained pointedly, lacing the fingers together on the hands that weren't holding onto Xuko. "If we decide we're dating, we are. I don't think anyone would really care to police our label. What we do or don't do physically is between us anyway."

Klar flushed, shifting her legs - betraying a slight discomfort. "I imagine it's like - if I wanted to refer to myself as your girlfriend or your boyfriend or neither, that's something that we figure out together. What anyone else feels or thinks about it? Irrelevant."

The blonde Codru-Ji lay her head back down on his shoulder. She reached out, making a grabby motion until Xuko got the message and took her hand. "...but we aught to consider a second or third date before we worry about labels, I think." Klar murmured. "I don't want to rush into anything. We're both kind of... nonstandard? So we should take our time. Plan each step." Which wasn't a surprising position for Klar - who would look up the cultural relevance of a cookie before eating it - to take. She liked to be prepared, she liked to do her research first. If there wasn't a body of research, she wanted to establish it.

Klar let the silence linger for a moment, making space for Xuko to speak his thoughts.

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

There it was, again; Klar was unafraid to speak her mind, but she also allowed room for Xuko to do the same. As Xuko had noted before, it was a rare trait in a yapper. Sensing Klar's discomfort, Xuko briefly laid his head upon hers, before realizing what the grabby motion meant and interlocking his fingers between hers.

"That makes sense" Xuko nodded, content. It was very Iridonian; the two of them would have a conversation, determine what their boundaries and preferences were, and go from there. There was certainly positive momentum in that direction, as today's events had revealed, but knowing that Klar was every bit as intentional about this as he was took a lot of the guesswork out of things. It also meant that neither of them had to feel rushed or pressured to define their relationship until they were ready to. "Then I shall look forward to a second date so that we can learn more about ourselves and each other."

A random thought occurred to him, spurred by the fact that he was holding her hand. "I do not wish to change the subject if there is more you want to speak about on this, but... do you have a dominant hand? Or hands?"

Klar