SSB Auction : Hegemonic Automaton, Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corps, Damorian Manufacturi

[Makai Dashiell]

"What's a carnival?"


Curious eyes would look over [member="Danger Arceneau"] . Carnival? What would he be doing at such a thing? Whatever it was there would be testing to see how 'fun' certain things were. Maybe it was a speeder? Sometimes they were fun, especially if one was going fast. Or....maybe it was some type of game system. Makai got a HoloStation 4 for Life Day....could be something Miss Ar-cen-now was working on.


Makai smiled as her hand ran through his thick curls, much like his mother did at home. He listened to her explanation of others doing the Bazaar work. It had seemed the first year he had come Miss Ar-cen-now rarely left the floor....now she was walking along with him.


"I guess so."


Mouth opened to ask a question and he quickly shut it, deciding against it. Instead he stuck on this carnival thing.


"What are we going to see thats fun? Like....we're going to see games? Or speeders?! Fast speeders..."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

"You've never been to a carnival?" there was surprise in her green eyes, prompting a glance up to his father. Her brows drew forward, then lightly ran her fingers again through his hair. She honestly couldn't stop. It was just so natural to. Maybe it was the touching, the ability to show affection to a child and have it reciprocated without barriers or agendas.

Maybe it was because she knew that she'd never be able to do the same to any youngling of her own.

There was a somberness in that thought, that she was the last of her line. The years had certainly passed by now, and even then, Fate had seen her have to suffer terrible internal scarring to prevent the chance of a natural conception. Now she was old, her body no longer suited for such a task even if she didn't have the scars to prevent it.

Two of her children had gone on to the Netherworld, and there was no amount of wishing that could ever change that.

Danger would force her smile to stay, as she didn't want to worry Makai. " Well, there are hovercoast rides there." she stretched out her hand towards the Galan hybrid so he could take it.

"And food stalls. Lots of games." she began to explain to him. "Ever had a candy gelden-sun apple before?" she would lead him towards the door. A passing glance would latch upon Judah.

Hmm. They would have to have a conversation later.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

"No" Makai looked back at [member="Danger Arceneau"] as if she was the one who had been missing out instead of the other way around. Iced blue eyes looked between Miss Ar-cen-now and his father, wondering what the big deal was. Perhaps she was angry that Dad had never taken him to a carnival or something similar.


There was a boardwalk at home, closer to where his fathers company was headquartered. He had been there countless times. Same thing, right? There were no hovercoasters but there was a...what was it called...ferris wheel? Makai had been up in that several times but didn't know the difference between such a thing and a hovercoaster.


Scale-speckled hand reached out and firmly grabbed hers. Brows knit together at the mention of some type of fruit...but it was candy?


"Food?" Makai could always eat. "Whats a candy gel-whatit apple? Is that food too? Fruit with candy stuck in the skin? Fruit isn't candy Miss Ar-cen-now....not even juna berries dipped in chocolate."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

Danger couldn't help but give a light chuckle at Makai's innocence. Ah, today was going to be a day of revelations and wonders. Opening the door, Danger would guide Makai through, pausing only to turn to Judah.
"If you need me, just contact me through the comm. Everyone here can get me within a moment's notice." she told him, so that he would be aware that if an emergency came up, Danger and Makai would be easily accessible.

Turning back to Makai, she would shut the door behind her. It was not going to be a day full of he and she. Oddly, she felt a quiver of excitement about this. "You've never had a candy apple, Makai?"

He gave a somber shake of his head, confused by the prospect and about to tell her again that fruit wasn't chocolate.

"Oh my dear sweet child," she bent down to kiss him on the temple "Just you wait." she added, straightening to her feet with a small chuckle.

"Do you like caramel, Makai? How about nuts?" these were the first questions as they both began the small amble towards the turbolift. If anyone thought it was strange for Danger to be walking around with a youngling, well they knew better than to bother her about it.

RIght now, her entire focus was on having some fun with the younger Dashiell.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

As his very fleeting goodbye to his Dad rang out, Makai quickly found himself in the hallway with [member="Danger Arceneau"] .He found it a little odd she was so caught up on this candy apple thing. What was so special about an apple with fruit pieces on it? Perhaps it was one of her favorite foods to eat and she merely wanted to share it.


Still, Miss Ar-cen-now was fixated on food and what he liked. Maybe she was hungry.


"Caramel is fine....Nuts? I don't know. Mama puts them in salads....I eat nut-butter sandwiches with juna berry jelly. Sometimes honey....sometimes both..."


Folks were staring as Miss Ar-cen-now walked past with him. Makai flushed a little, embarrassed. He wasn't used to all the attention, although many humans often stared at his scales. Especially if his Dad took him to some small town or somewhere without an ocean nearby. Tatooine didn't have oceans anymore, so maybe it was no surprise people found it odd to spot him on the Arceneau compound.


"Can I ask you a question Miss Ar-cen-now? In the turbolift....I don't wanna ask here..."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

Danger's smile grew wider. "Oh then you are in for a treat!" she told him, the duo making it to the turbo lift. Danger noticed the few looks coming their way, but she just gave them a cordial smile. However, when Makai mentioned about asking something at the lift, Danger gave the youngling a look of concern.

"Of course, sugar." she told him, the door of the turbolift sliding open for them to enter. Makai stepped in first, Danger following after. A press of her finger would select their floor level, and the doors gave a hiss shut.

"What's your question?"

 

[Makai Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]


The little lurch in his stomach didn't have anything to do with the turbolift. Some soft music played in the turbolift, mindless background music that seemed to be set to the hum of the motors. He wasn't sure how to start his question. Maybe it wasn't really important but it wasn't something he could really ask his parents.


Silence stretched on between them for a long moment.


"If two people are mad at each other.....does someone hafta leave if they stay mad? I saw on the HoloNet...sometimes that happens. Someone leaves 'cause they don't like each other anymore. I don't think thats fair."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

At that, Danger grew tense.

Why would he ask that? she would wonder, a small frown drawing over her face as her dark auburn brows folded. Coming down to crouch in front of him, Danger brought her hands up to his shoulders, rubbing them softly up and down his arms in an attempt to comfort.

"What do you mean honey?" she would query, searching his blue speckled face. What had happened to make him ask this question. Something must have placed that seed. "No, Makai. Just because someone is upset doen't mean they don't like each other anymore."

Yeah, going to have to have a little chat with Mistah Dashiell after this.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

"I guess so."


Skeptical look greeted [member="Danger Arceneau"] .Although the woman was doing her best to reassure him, Makai wasn't so certain of her words. Brows furrowed as he thought how better to describe the situation. He found it difficult to do, even to the Trade Queen.


"I don't know how to say it....just....different..."


Little shoulders shrugged, at a loss of how to verbalize his feelings beyond 'different'. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything at all. There was no one else he could really ask though. Miss Ar-cen-now was his best friend. If even she wasn't, Makai recognized she was wise enough to give advice on such things.


Thankfully though he was saved by the turbolift. It had come to a stop and dinged, indicating their floor had been reached. It stopped him from standing there looking lost, not knowing what to say.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

Worry and concern washed over the Queen of Trade's visage.

One way or another, she would get to the bottom of this. She wasn't going to prod Makai for information, but simply talk to him throughout the day. She could tell that the youngling was struggling about the topic, confused and still a bit wary. It greatly disturbed him, and it made her heart ache.

Lips thinning for a moment, Danger took a deep breath and forced an encouraging smile. Another rub of his shoulders and then a comforting squeeze. "Come on, we can get that candy apple and we can go over to the ferris wheel."

The bulk of the carnival was indoors, allowing for the air conditioning. But while it was on the inside, the entire ceiling was illuminated to mimic the sky. Through intricate life like holograms, one could believe that they were wandering around an open area with the twin suns about to set in the horizon. It cast an interesting and lovely ambiance, the carnival lights illuminating the wide expanse of rides, food and game booths, and revelry setting.

She straightened to her feet and held out her hand again. "Once we are there we can talk some more okay?"

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Scale-speckled hand would take [member="Danger Arceneau"]'s once more. There was a bit of nerves as he carefully stepped off the turbolift into the carnival. Not at the event itself, no, but the location. Soon there would be a burning at his throat, his skin would quickly dry. The twin suns were setting in a spectacular show. It looked as if fire had erupted over the horizon, casting its flame into the clouds.

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"Okay..." He was trying to conserve water already. Talking would make it worse....but as they walked in deeper towards the carnival, there was no large blast of heat. There was still a measure of humidity in the air -- faint, but much more than the desert had.


Ice blue eyes searched the ceiling above. They were outside, right? It was pretty, a sunset to rival that of his native Ceto. If there was any measure of water on Tatooine, Makai would find no reason to ever go home.


"Are we outside?"

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

There was something about the wonder of a child. Something about how they perceive the 'verse through innocent eyes that tugged at Danger's heart. Makai's expression held a bit of confusion, and just a bit of awe. He had expected to be affected by the arid heat of the Tatooine sky.

"Mmm... No sweetie." she told him, coming to a small pause to point up to the sky. "We are in a really big building. I had this constructed so everyone could be able to enjoy the carnival without having to worry about the heat."

"See the sky? It is taking the current sunset and mapping it out for us to see. All the stars in the sky and the Twin Suns are all holographic representations. Makes it looks just like home." Home for her, of course, being Tatooine.

"Do you like it?" She would ask him, motioning the sky and all the bustling lights and cheer of the carnival around them.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]


"So a really,really big holo screen?"


Eyes went back up to the ceiling, studying it carefully. There was no sign of it looking like a giant holographic screen to himself, although he was just a boy with an untrained eye. High above the sinking twin suns, a few faint stars were starting to appear, mapped out on the giant screen above. The mechanical part of him was curious -- wanted to go find the control room and see how it really worked. Something he would have to sneak in next visit.


"I like it"


He was speaking more of the screen than the carnival. Having never experienced one, there wasn't much he could chime in on just yet. It seemed interesting....lights and rides. Like an amusement park or zoo on a smaller scale.


"What do we do?"

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

That simple admittance. Those simple words to relay his pleasure was enough to brighten Danger's day. She practically preened. "We..." Danger began, lightly clutching the youngling's hand. "Are going to get that candied apple, and then go to the first carnival ride."

The carnival was in full swing. There were all sorts of food booths, and the scent of fluff spun candy, and various grilled meats on sticks. However, there was a singular purpose in this. That purpose would reveal itself as they approached the candied apple booth. Bushels of apples and the scent of caramel was thick in the air.
"Alright sweetheart," Danger began, looking at the booth. "I'll get one and you can try it and see how you like it okay?" she would tell him. "Go ahead, pick whatever apple you want."

 

[Makai Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]


"Okay."


Food then ride. Hand rested lightly in hers as they navigated the booths and stalls set up. There was quite a bit of food, some he had seen before and some he hadn't. Eyes would glance up every so often, thrilled at the prospect of seeing the outdoors but not actually being out in the desert. It was a fun treat, perhaps more amazing to him than the carnival was.


Arriving at the candy apple booth, Makai looked at the baskets upon baskets of apples. There were various colors and sizes to the fruits. Most appeared to be regular applies, the type his Mama brought home from the market. Iced azure eyes looked to the Trade Queen as she was scanning the apples for herself.


At a loss of what to do, Makai picked an apple out of the basket, a pinkish-red hue. He looked it over before biting into the apple. It tasted just fine, juicy with a sweet-tart flavor. There was no mistaking it was an apple. Another bite was taken out of the flesh, as if a second bite would reveal the candy.


"It tastes like an apple Miss Ar-cen-now."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

Danger couldn't help it. She began to laugh. It was a laugh that would flow through her entire body, a joyful one that was rare to hear from the Queen of Trade herself. In her eyes, there was none more precious that Makai Dashiell himself. Unable to help herself, she bent down and pressed a kiss to his temple. A very public display of affection in the Southern Systems Bazaar for all to see.

Danger didn't give a damn.

"Haha.. I'm sorry, sugar. This is what we do." the vendor's lips had twitched, but he kept his humor to himself. Reaching over towards the vendor, Danger would ask, "May I please have a stick?"

"Yes, Miz Arceneau." the man said, right away reaching over to offer her one. Taking in hand, she asked for Makai to give her his apple. "Okay, so.. we first take your apple."

He gave it to her, still looking a bit confused. Why would anyone need a stick?

"Now we get this stick? " she gestured to it, then took the apple and shoved the stick from the bottom end until it was set enough for her to be able to move the stick without the apple falling off.

"And we put it in the apple like so. See how now I can carry it in my hand?"

 

[Makai Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]


Embarrassment flushed his cheeks red. Weren't apples for eating to begin with? Ruby-red lips touched his temple with an apology, leaving him more confused than before. Apple came to rest behind his back, as if trying to hide the fact that a few bites had already been taken out. That was, until Miss Ar-cen-now requested it back.


The apple was going on a stick....why bother even taking it off the tree?


"I could carry it before....now its just a stick apple."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Makai Dashiell"] was such an adorable young man that had she any way of doing it, she'd have claimed him right then as her own. Her smile did not fade, but instead nod towards the attendant.

"Can you get me a cup of the caramel? We can coat it there without using the main fountain." The fountain being the large caramel one off to the side of the apple stand.

A small cup filled with warm, gooey caramel was handed over to Danger. It wouldn't be as much fun as dunking it to the fountain, but Danger figured he could do that with her own apple when she got one for herself.

"Now what we do, is we take the caramel here." she gestured to the caramel. "And we are gonna coat the entire apple with the caramel, so it is completely covered with it."

"Then," she pointed over towards the various nuts, candies, and sprinkles one could add on top of the caramel. "we can coat the caramel with nuts or whatever you want."

Her smile grew wide. "The 'candied' apple part of it is that it is covered completely in caramel. You need the stick to hold it up because the caramel is so sticky, it would get on your fingers when you try to eat it out of your hand."

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Doing his best to help, the bitten into apple was soon coated in the caramel mixture. It was soon rolled in chopped ettel nuts, creating a spiky coating for the outside. The shoved in stick had become handy like [member="Danger Arceneau"] mentioned, with only a small amount dripping down towards his hand, probably because it was still warm.


"So its candy now?"


Makai was merely confirming. He had already made several missteps in the entire apple thing. Caramel was dripping down onto his hand and in typical boy fashion hand came to mouth to lick it off. Treat in hand, he would merely sit back and observe Miss Ar-cen-now make her own.


"Dad is going to be sorry he missed out on the candy....Even if there is an apple underneath."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

"Well.. not quite candy as much as a caramel coated apple." Danger would explain to him. He was just too adorable, especially when he went to pluck up the rest of the caramel that had fallen on his hand.

"It is only called a 'Candied Apple' because it has been dipped in caramel and 'candied' as a method." it was one way to describe it, but in the end, yes it was very much, still an apple underneath.

He was a precious child.

With a chuckle, Danger would coat and cover her own with chopped ettel nuts. She had to be extra careful that the caramel wouldn't spill. "You ready?" she would ask him, checking on him to see how he was doing with his caramel apple.