Private Way That I'm Going

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Myra Arceneau Dashiell

"But only if you say please."

"Not to worry, I do have impeccable manners."

Ignoring the little flick of water - an attempt at escalation - Makai gently took the offending hand. They weren't sitting far apart but he used the opportunity to pull her closer on the smooth stone bench. Water rippled across the warm springs at the movement, gently lapping against the rock walls.

The half-Galan threaded his fingers with hers, hand still captured, lips meeting hers.

LATER

In continuation with his day of anniversary celebrations conveniently set inside caverns, Makai had booked dinner at a restaurant set inside a grotto. One of a kind, they would be dining at sunset with the much requested champagne. It would be amusing to see if Ellie had a reaction to yet more time spent surrounded by what appeared to be some type of porous limestone.

Buttoning up his black shirt, the half-Galan was channeling a bit of a 'uncle-on-vacation' look with his dinner attire. Makai didn't seen an opportunity to wear white often, choosing grays and blues, so it was odd to see the contrast. Business versus some well needed time off.

Catching his wife's eye in the mirror, he broke into a boyish grin as he mentally debated how many buttons to leave unbuttoned. Three? Four seemed to be bordering on highly inappropriate. Maybe if he was still single....

"You know." A small pause, a lift of his eyebrows. "I never said please."

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x | Tag: Makai Dashiell


In the mirror's reflection, Myra's gaze narrowed just a touch, those grey eyes reflecting calculating amusement. She gave a soft playful scoff as she applied a final swipe of gloss, she tilted her head, letting her earrings catch the low cavern light.

"Well," she purred out, standing with languid purpose as she approached him, her heels making just enough sound to echo against the stone, "you had your chance to beg, sweetheart."

She ran a finger along the edge of the black collar of his shirt; slow, deliberate, down towards where he was still vacillating how many buttons to leave scandalously open. As much as she enjoyed the view, she also didn't want too many other eyes ogling him as well.

"But since we're apparently skipping manners tonight…"

A beat passed, then her lips curved in amusement, a veritable minx dancing in her eyes.

"Challenge accepted."

She didn't say it sweetly. She said it like a promise. Like a warning. Like a contract had just been signed in champagne and bad decisions.

"You best be sure about this little game you started, Makai. Because by the end of it, you might just need to take a week off to remember how your knees work."

A wicked glint flashed in her eyes as she turned toward the grotto exit, calling over her shoulder, voice all honey and hellfire --

"Now c'mon, husband. Sunset waits for no man and your wife is hungry.... and you're already one 'please' behind."

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Myra Arceneau Dashiell

"You did enough begging for the both of us back in the hot springs, sweetheart."

The half-Galan was highly amused at this little exchange. What had gotten into his wife was beyond him but he wasn't going to complain. Perhaps it had been distance and time apart. Or, the more likely scenario, Ellie was finding great amusement in their exchange and wanted to keep enjoying the fun. With much of their lives either taken up by business or the girls, a different change of pace.

"I'm very confident in my game, don't worry about what I've got going on."

Settling at an appropriate number of buttons, Makai rolled his eyes at her 'warnings'. There was no need to respond beyond the action, it would already add fuel to the bonfire known as Myra Elspeth Arceneau. Part of her the over-the-top sassiness too might have stemmed from wanting dinner, perhaps bordering on the edge of hangry.

---

Seated on the edge of the grotto against the railing, the sun was setting in spectacular show of oranges, reds, and dusky purple. Mirroring over the ocean, the light cast a unique glow in the odd restaurant. Champagne was already flowing and he raised his glass in a toast. It wouldn't be him if he didn't get a little sappy.

"To us. We're only getting started on this adventure but there's no one else I'd want at my side. Each year has only gotten better and I can't wait to see what the future holds."

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x | Tag: Makai Dashiell

Myra clinked her glass to Makai's with a soft tink, lips already quirking into a knowing smirk before he'd even finished the toast. It was a very lovely and sweet one what softened her expression and prompted a quick kiss on the lips for him.

"You get one bottle of champagne in you and suddenly you're all poetry and romance," she teased, eyes glittering in the golden light. As if she wasn't the one who had a tendency of getting white girls drunk with one glass of chardonnay too many.

But after a sip, she turned to face him fully, resting her elbow on the railing, chin in hand as the breeze stirred her curls.

"Be honest with me," she said, voice softer now. Still coated with a quiet tease, but threaded with something warmer.

"Is this what you imagined life would be? Sitting in a grotto restaurant, toasting anniversaries with the so called Trade Princess. Years in kids, chaos, and still somehow managing to like each other?" Considering everything they had to go to to get to here, it was a bit crazy.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Myra Arceneau Dashiell

"We've barely drunk anything, so this is sober sappiness."

Taking a sip of the champagne, his eyebrow arced in surprised at the 'be honest with me'. Typically, in any relationship, this meant there was going to be a question where one hard to make hard decisions. Yet he was able to relax once it was a question he could easily answer. Nothing crazy or outlandish where he had to make a quick and flowery lie.

"No, I think I've told you before this is some crazy daydream. Sometimes I wonder if I'm having some fever dream after that accident."

Makai was certain he wasn't, but it was a thought that had crossed his mind before. One of those this seems to be going too well to be true situations. Not that it had been all sunshine and roses. The beginning of their relationship was rocky due to some miscommunication issues. Once they had figured out what worked it was mostly smooth sailing.

"We have managed to luck out and get the best of both worlds. Actually liking each other while being an appropriate match business and society wise...If we hadn't got our proverbial shit together....or my proverbial shit...you would be married to Casteel and no doubt Dad would have forced me to settle."

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x | Tag: Makai Dashiell

Myra let out a short laugh, low and amused, as she took another sip of champagne. Her gaze lingered on the horizon a moment longer before cutting sideways to him.

"Casteel?" she chuckled, one brow arched, amused he mentioned the former Companion turned banker that had been her escort for half a decade.

"Hmm…." She mused, pondering on that. Casteel had been her venting friend. The one who made sure she didn’t make a fool of herself.

“Well…if mama had set it up… probably. But I wouldn’t have loved him the same way.” She admitted.

She leaned in just enough to bump her shoulder against his.

"And you settling? You'd have made it two months before bolting out a window … likely dive head first into some new unexplored cavern system with high levels of some rare mineral ."

A smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth, but the gleam in her eyes softened.

"Still wild to think we almost missed this. All the chaos, the near-misses, the learning curves may have seem like hell… yet somehow we're here. Still us. Still choosing each other."

She raised her glass again, this time with a quieter kind of certainty.

"Fever dream or not, I'm not waking up."

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Myra Arceneau Dashiell

"Hmm, no but you would have settled in just fine. He doesn't know you as well though. As for bolting...probably. Your Ma was real surprised when I told her I still hadn't, uh....sealed the deal, so to speak...with anyone. I would most likely be out on my own still doing mining work, just living in the hyperlanes. Hermit mode."

Makai nudged her shoulder back, chuckling a little as he did so. As he took another sip of champagne he wondered where this was suddenly coming from. Perhaps a mild bit of reflection as they approached being together for a half-decade. Or maybe Ellie had ran into someone on her travels that had made her think.

"The chaos is the best part. There's nothing like getting the entire family together and just kind of reveling in it....Compared to how we grew up and now how Phoebe gets to grow up...I'm just happy I can make that happen for her."

Stability had always been an important quality he wanted in any relationship.

"I'm not waking up either. Perfect life." He paused a moment. "So what brought this on? Everything alright?"

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x | Tag: Makai Dashiell

Myra took a breath and then swirled the champagne in her glass gently, watching the bubbles catch the fading light before answering. Her voice was quieter now, but thoughtful.

"Everything's fine," she said, leaning into his side, shoulder to shoulder.

"Just… life's been loud lately. Between the convergence, shifting trade routes, Phoebe's questions getting bigger, Perse off chasing what she wants to be when she grows up...I think I've just been feeling the weight of how fast it all moves."

She gave a small shrug, lips tugging into a faint, crooked smile.

"I used to think stability was a myth. Or at least something other people got. But here we are. I've got a home, a family, and you still beside me, even when I'm not the easiest to stand next to."

Her gaze drifted to the horizon again, a flicker of gratefulness softening her usual sharpness.

"I guess I'm just… glad I didn't bolt."

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Myra Arceneau Dashiell

"Life has definitely been a little hectic, you're right. Perhaps more than a little...yet, isn't half the fun of it? Things can get overwhelming, especially when you factor in everything plus trying to maintain a marriage plus free time plus family ties...you get the idea. If we didn't have all that, I think things would be a little boring. All the things we'd miss out on."

Shoulder gently pushed back against hers, watching the sun sink into the ocean. Champagne, sitting on the same side of the table staring at the ocean, a perfect evening. Another sip of champagne and he regarded her 'easiest' comment with a small snort of disagreement.

"You don't think your childhood was stable? Once you were adopted?" He let her mull on that for a moment. "I"m glad you didn't bolt either. I won't lie I was worried for just a moment. Figured you were just making me sweat a little. Everyone it seemed was grilling me, so what was one more chance to prove myself."

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x | Tag: Makai Dashiell

"Yes very chaotic and overwhelming, but honestly, I don't want it to be too chaotic and overwhelming. I could do less with this stellar convergence and the ramifications of it."

After a second, Myra let out a soft, amused hum, the kind that lingered behind her smirk as she took another sip of champagne.

"Honestly, the kind of chaos I like was our Judah conspiracy hour," she said, eyes twinkling. "For all our concern, I think the mystery mostly entertained us. Spinning theories like we were starring in some holodrama."

She leaned into his shoulder, a little lighter again, though her voice quieted when she answered his other question.

"Hmm...it was stable. In its own way," she said, fingers idly tracing the stem of her glass.

"They gave me everything I needed. Love. Safety. A future. But even in the beginning, things were hard. It still took a bit of getting used to. I was mute for years.... then all it took to finally diagnose the Drakñahr Syndrome. So maybe it was as stable as they could have made it."

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Myra Arceneau Dashiell

"The type of drama I prefer is more...hm, chaotic family dinner. Such as watching Dad trying to be nice around your Ma, now that is the type of drama that fuels our personal holodrama. Hyperlane crisis. Mining issues. Business disruptions...not so much. We're similar in that vein. I just want things to run smoothly, especially since we're trying to grow the family..."

Sipping his champagne, Makai looked amused despite the serious nature of the subject. Life had been hard in those early years - many wouldn't believe given the wealth between both families. Yet it was the way she was speaking that caused the amusement. As if he forgot she had been mute but then quickly made up for it by bossing him around.

"Wonder what happened to that handsome guy that was around your entire childhood. Mark, I think his name was? Your best friend in the entire galaxy? I think his name was your first real word? You two went everywhere together? Talk about an idiot letting you get away."

Makai elbowed her slightly, teasing.

"Let's make a resolution this year. More bathtime conspiracy hours. I miss having them."

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x | Tag: Makai Dashiell

Myra rolled her eyes so hard over the rim of her glass it was a miracle they didn't get stuck, though she couldnt stop the twitch at the corner of her mouth that betrayed her.

"Mark," she said flatly, "was an absolute delight but a bit clingy. Terrible with feelings. Had a habit of running off at the worst possible time."

She gave him a pointed look, then clinked her empty flute against his with a tink of mock despair.

"Clearly you're trying to get me tipsy again. Which, rude. But also....effective." She held out her glass expectantly, all raised brow and dry sass.
"Top me off, Mister Conspiracy Hour."

Settling back beside him, she let the air between them settle for a beat. Honestly, everything was perfect. The sunset, the soft echo of the water, the bubbly.

"So any good gossip then? We can just start now and hope that I don't drink too much to fall asleep on you."

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Myra Arceneau Dashiell

"Clingy?!" Voice rose a little, causing a fellow patron to look in their direction. Makai managed to blush a little before getting ahold of his tone. "I thought you liked Mark being clingy. Sounds like Mark needs to spend more time running off so Emily can appreciate what she has."

A small smirk as he reached for the champagne out of the ice bucket, moving to fill her flute first. He topped his own off before replacing the bottle. Quiet settled in now they were done teasing one another - at least for now. It was a good feeling, relaxing in a restaurant, overlooking the ocean as the sun sunk into the water. Even better company.

"I'm not trying to get you tipsy, that means I'll have to carry you back and you'll fall asleep and snore."

Pausing about any latest rumors, he was drawing a blank. Life had tended to be centered around Persephone and Phoebe while she was away. Dad was busy with the planetary shift. Danger was busy with the planetary shift. Bale was out playing hero quite often, so it meant he also got to watch his nephew more frequently.

"I've got nothing. This goes better when you're naked...I would have brought it up earlier in the salt caverns but I was quite distracted...I have plans to take your Ma to Empress Teta, maybe she will drop a hint for us to spin into a rumor..."

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x | Tag: Makai Dashiell

Myra gave him a wide devlish grin, the one that was equal parts trouble and charm, all teeth and sparkle -- okay that was a lie, maybe it was all teeth and a healthy dose of that bubbly.

"Oh, I love when Mark gets clingy," she drawled, leaning just close enough to nudge his arm with hers.

"Especially when he lets me bug his commlink and track his movements like a completely normal wife."

Was it a joke? Probably. Maybe. Definitely not.

She took her newly filled glass with a prim little "thank you" that didn't match the devilish glint in her eyes, sipping before setting it aside with purpose.

"And for the record," she sniffed, "I do not snore!"

The moment softened as she tilted her head at the mention of her mother.

"Teta, huh?" she mused quietly before taking another sip of her drink, "Are you going there for business or gonna visit daddy?"

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Myra Arceneau Dashiell

"You must be bored to track me. Find another hobby."

There was, at the core of it, some truth to Ellie's words about his comm. The device was tied with Thirty-Seven who was paired with El-Three. Their assistant droids maintained some sense of privacy and balance but any concerns about overstepping weren't on his mind. The benefits far outweighed any cost, especially in times of crisis or where there was little communication infrastructure on a planet.

Taking a sip of champagne, there was a snort of laughter.

"I've slept with you for ages. You snore when you're inebriated. I'll record it next time."

A gentle nudge of her side, teasing. As talked turned to Empress Teta he turned to face her a little better. Makai didn't want to leave so quickly with her returning from the hyperlanes but it was unavoidable. Their daughter would be thrilled with the one-on-one time for sure but he wouldn't be gone for too long.

"Both. Business for myself meeting with the Mining Guild and having our annual meeting. I'm sure your Ma will be fine for one day on her own...then I'm going to take her to visit your Pa, yes. I also want to check and see how the garden expansion is going at the site...plus I haven't spent any real time with Danger lately."

Another sip of champagne.

"It will be good to check on her. I still worry."

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x | Tag: Makai Dashiell

Myra gave Makai a silly dramatic smirk, scrunching her nose only to wiggle it at him in amusement over the rim of her bubbly.

"Bored? Please. I'm just thorough. If you vanish into some backwater crater mine with the next rare new mineral or ore, I'd like to at least know I can come storming in with dramatic flair."

To be fair she had already done that before....

She turned toward him with a sideways grin, toe nudging his ankle under the table.

"And I dare you to record me snoring. You'll never know peace again, Makai. I'll set it as your holo ringtone....play it at family dinners...."

But as their talk shifted back to Empress Teta, her teasing faded into something thoughtful.

"Yeah... mama's good at hiding it, but I worry too," she said, fingers tracing the rim of her glass.

"I'm glad you're going. I'm sure mama will be fine... Rue will keep her on her toes still i'm sure."

She gave another pause, then her grey eyes went darting to lock onto oceanic blue.

"I'll probablly try to head on over there as well. " a frown drew over her brows.

"YOu think there might be anything else going on with all the ruckus after the convergence?" she wasn't sure what he's heard while he was out conducting business.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Myra Arceneau Dashiell

"I don't know peace now, not sure recording you would make any difference? How would you know anyway? You'll be asleep..."

Spoken like a man who was confident his wife wouldn't find a recording. Beyond that, he smirked a little. Ellie had just admitted to snoring despite her previous denials. That little slip of her carefully constructed falsehood was all he needed in the moment. Still, he wasn't going to mention anything. As he had learned in marriage this called for playing the long game.

"Do you want to come with us? It will be good to take a family trip....Us, your Ma, Phoebe....anyone else who wants to tag along. I'm sure you and your Ma can find something to do for the day I'm with the mining guild..."

A family trip to the tomb? Makai wasn't sure they had all been together since the funeral. Naturally he and Ellie and Phoebe had gone. The half-Galan wanted his daughter to have some type of awareness of her deceased grandfather. Plus they had been overseeing careful restoration of the grounds since the Dark Empire left.

"Been caught up with stuff on the Five Veils. Space station blew with some of Aina's and Arceneau's property, along with a few others. Thats where Phoebe and I were before we came to see you...A big mess, I'm having to open a private investigation to the explosion and the company that held the station, the Cortessan Finance Group. Either way...a group of us go to contront him, he offers us a shitty deal...long story short he threatened to kill the girls."

Makai took a sip of his drink, pausing.

"Killed himself that night oddly."

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x | Tag: Makai Dashiell


"Actually, yeah I would," Myra replied, giving Makai a warm smile, this time, without the sassy flirtatiousness she had been casting his way. This was more of an appreciation that Makai was putting forward a very important aspect of her family.

"Let's make it a family trip. We can go to our favorite spots there. Maybe even catch up with Casteel. I hear he's been busy expanding his banking business." She hadn't been able to keep up with him in person but they'd traded comm messages now and then, along with some signature dry quips from the blonde.

However, at the mention of a space station blowing up near Aina and on Arceneau Trade property, Myra's grey eyes narrowed in concern. Only to flare in apparent anger at the audacity of what Makai told her regarding this group.

"They did what?!" her voice rang sharp at the end, lifting an octave and clearly turning some heads over their direction at the sudden increase in tone. Only for Myra to give a double-take.

"He killed himself after making that king of threat?" Odds were not likely that things were wrapped up so easily.

A pause.

Then she bluntly asked. "Did Mama find out?"

While she loved her mother, Myra knew her well. That was the sort of signature her mother would likely make when it came to anyone who threatened her family or who she considered close to.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Myra Arceneau Dashiell

A family trip to Empress Teta. They would have to call back Persephone from her summer travels, have her return to Joiol where they could easily pick up both of the girls. Makai liked the idea of everyone going, a chance to enjoy the company of the extended family and catch up a little. Maybe he should invite his father? Given the tension between himself and Danger though...

"Sounds perfect. I can't wait - even seeing Casteel again doesn't dampen my mood."

A small joke, nudging her side before their conversation turned to more serious matters.

"That evening. I don't believe it was suicide naturally. I've hired a team at Aina to start an investigation. I'm not so convinced the station blowing was an accident. Everything gives me the impression the Cortessan Group expected us to take a form of a hush-money bribe in order to be beholden to their organization. I'm currently ensuring we are actively devesting from any of their companies..."

Makai shook his head.

"Danger knows I'm sure one of her warehouse facilities is no more. I haven't spoken to your mother in a long time. Beyond Miss Locke and Miss Vexx, who were present, you are the only one to know. I wasn't going to worry her unnecessarily, especially when we've expanded the presence of the noghiri guards. I'm confident our girls are safe."

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x | Tag: Makai Dashiell

Myra's smile lingered as she leaned on Makai's side, swirling the last bit of champagne in her glass.

"Here I thought you two were bros now," Myra chuckled out, finishing off the last of the bubbly. But the teasing faded as Makai's tone shifted, and she grew quiet, listening. When he finished, she exhaled slowly, expression thoughtful.

"You're right not to believe it," she murmured. "None of it sits right with me either. The timing, the optics... it smells too much like one giant steaming pile of bantha fodder made to look like something else instead."

She set her glass aside, folding her arms as she gazed toward the ocean.

"Well... if Mama heard about it, odds are we'll hear about it sooner rather than later. And thank you...for handling it, for protecting our family." She looked back at him, voice softer now. "I hate that it's come to this. But I trust you and I trust your ability to keep our girls safe."

A pause, then another smile.

"Still… maybe let me slap a second tracker on you three...just for my peace of mind."