But Wait, There's More!

[Makai Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]




Makai beamed at the compliment, standing a little straighter than before. In typical little boy fashion he was already trying to be taller. Delusions of being taller than his own father by the age of ten or so always danced in his head. Miss Ar-cen-now had pushed his curls back, leaving unruly hair quite wild now, sticking about in various directions.


Iced azure gaze broke from the redhead and back to his father.


"Dad. Dad! Hear what Miss Ar-cen-now said? Soon I'll be taller than you."


Soon, a little scale speckled boy bounded over to the elder Dashiell, pressing his back against his frame. Little hand kept coming up to that mop of curls, checking height against Judah's body, only to turn and check repeatedly at his crude measurements.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]



Ten centimeters? Judah chuckled a little, low enough so Makai wouldn't hear. The boy had just seen Miss Arceneau not too long ago during his outing to Sullust. A ball of energy, his son's back was soon pressed against his side, little hand checking and re-checking the height.


"I see that, soon you'll be able to pick me up with one hand too."


Judah looked around a moment and saw the stacks of dinnerware waiting to be put out for their meal. Hand came to clasp down on Makai's shoulder.


"Why don't you put all that extra height to work and get busy setting the table. Carefully...you break it and Miss Arceneau is going to make you work it off in the desert cliffs."


Makai bounded away once more, a few feet away to carefully take plates one at a time, leaving the adults to have an uninterrupted conversation for the moment.


"The journey was well....Can't complain besides your assistant, a Pepper Caas. Part of the reason why we look a little scruffy and...wilder, then normal. Thank you for meeting me about the platforms, you really didn't have to do this."


"You treat us far too well Danger."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Judah Dashiell"] [member="Makai Dashiell"]

Danger slowly straightened, moving from her slight kneeling position on the ground to her feet. A warm lingering smile would float over her lips, and her expression practically glowed. There was no denying the amount of affection the native of Tatooine held for Judah Dashiell's little boy; it was there in her eyes, in her stance, in the way she would smile.

Some women grew into the mothering sort. Others were abruptly shoved into it. Danger Arceneau was one of those women for whom mother-henning came naturally. Perhaps it was in her bustle. Or perhaps it was just show she took to younglings. Maybe it was just that backwater raising. Whatever it was, Makai Dashiell had firmly secured himself in her heart. Ain't nothin' this side of the 'Verse that would ever change that.

Turning her green eyes up towards the lanky frame and expressive bright blue eyes of the CEO of Salacia Consolidated, Danger heard him say what few rarely ever dared. Her name. Oh there were some who said it in sarcasm, Nox and Alric, A few who said it with bluntness, like Alisha. Even Ovmar had done so in concern a while back. But none had said it quite like he. With sincerity.

Danger didn't quite know how to take that.

"Ain't no trouble. It was my pleasure." a flush rose over her face. She'd been prone to more of that round the man, it was unsettling. She figured it had to do with her own emotional upheval. Be as it may, the pleasure would return to her face as Makai bounded right back to her again.

"You two hungry?" her hand would reach out again, instinctively, to ruffle with affection Makai's hair.

"Got some Rodian Spaghetti and Meatballs in the pot."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

It wasn't hard to catch the look of surprise that flitted over [member="Danger Arceneau"] 's face. He had done what many would never dream of doing. Not many would dare call the Trade Queen by her first name. Less would get away with the act. Yet his words had been genuine. Perhaps that was the only thing that had redeemed his misstep.


"Still, we're in your debt." There was a slight pause. "Go and sit down. I insist. Its the least I can do."


Hand fell to Makai's shoulder, ushering the boy to take a seat at the table as well. Boundless energy underneath a mop of wild hair zoomed away again, only to crawl up into a chair. A free hand would pull out Miss Arceneau's chair out of pure habit, collecting the plates of the two.


Disappearing for a moment, Judah returned with two plates of Rodian spaghetti and meatballs. One was already neatly cut up, placed in front of the eager half-Galan. Judah was sure to give the boy an extra linen napkin, otherwise Miss Arceneau was going to have a mess on her hands.


Presenting the Trade Queen with her plate, Judah suddenly found himself leaning in closer to the redhead. It was purely out of habit, the countless times he had shared a quiet moment before a meal. The shaggy CEO was close when he suddenly turned a bright beet red. Beard stubble had already brushed against her soft cheek before realizing this wasn't his normal routine.


Straightening quickly, Judah cleared his throat, face looking redder than a stove on a cold winter's night. Warm blue eyes diverted from the situation, suddenly finding the floors extremely interesting. Clumsily, he picked up the last plate, his own.


"Excuse me...Please, go ahead....I,uh...need a moment to....I'll be right back."


Judah had disappeared faster than a nerf faced with a prod.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Makai was all too eager at the prospect of eating once again. First his favorite cereal this morning and now this? By now he had climbed into the chair across from [member="Danger Arceneau"] , trying not to let his little legs swing too much. An almost permanent grin was plastered on his features.


"Guess what Miss Ar-cen-now? We got to eat breakfast on the couch this morning. Then Dad was talking to some lady about a water park. I hope we get to go."


Confronted with a huge plate of food, Makai did his best to try to remember his manners. Soon he was too focused on his first couple bites to pay attention, lucky for the adults in the room. By the time he looked back up with a face already spotted with tomato sauce, his father had disappeared.


"Is Dad eating too?Right?"


Neck craned around too look for the elder Dashiell. Questioning eyes stopped on Miss Ar-cen-now before the boy spoke once more.


"I bet he hadda wash his scales first."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Makai Dashiell"] [member="Judah Dashiell"]


A woman don't forget the sensation of the bristle of a jaw. The heat of breath. The nearness of a man. Things like that blend into memory, laying within the silk and satin of remembrance. They come forth from the fore of the mind, and just like that, the tiny hairs at the nape of her neck rose. A rush of goosebumps, the clean scent of soap that matched that of Makai, but all too entirely different. That underlying scent of a man. A catch of a breath then the murmured apology.

The moment was brief, and to be frank, rather innocent when one would consider the context of it all. But it don't mean it don't unsettle a woman some.

Her smile froze but for a second, and before she knew it, Judah had gone. In his stead young Makai would shine his smile at her, sunny and open without any measure of guile. Had to wash his scales first. The corners of her mouth perked, and the awkwardness of the moment would pass.

Whatever just had happened would be best left to the side, she figured. A man like he likely had habits one was prone to. Ain't nothin of it when one considered the rather homey situation they'd be put it. Some things were best left be.

"Likely so," Danger grinned out at the youngling. "Just like you did right and proper right?" she'd ask, taking her own napkin down to lay it down her lap.

"Don't you worry none about your daddy.... he'll show back up once he's cooled his head." a fork sank into the spagehetti. "You lookin' forward to the waterpark?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Leaning over the sink and looking into the basin, Judah was reflecting on how much on an idiot he was. It had been raised to new heights on this day. Surely it wasn't everyday someone tried to kiss their business partner. The situation had seemed so normal. For a moment there was the feeling of family again, an intimacy between the three of them that had been lacking lately in his life.


Part of him didn't regret act that almost was. Truth be told he was feeling a little lonely of late, a little lost. Danger was warm and feminine. Caring and compassionate. Strong but gentle all at the same time. To say he wasn't at least intrigued by the enigma of the woman would be a lie. She wasn't ordinary or predictable, sometimes it threw him for a loop.


Apparently that loop lead him to rash actions.


Now,one couldn't hide in the kitchen forever. After all, [member="Danger Arceneau"] or [member="Makai Dashiell"] would come looking for him. Shaky hands picked up the plate again, silently hoping he wasn't going to make a mess of the gleaming white kitchen. Spaghetti on plate, Judah prayed his face had returned to its normal color as he walked back out to the table.


Makai was eating and chatting. It was best he sit next to his son. A safe spot. Warm eyes dared not to venture over the redhead. The meal was the most interesting thing in the room, that and his linen napkin. He couldn't sit in silence though, the boy would pick up on it.


"You've truly outdone yourself Miss Arceneau. Thank you."

 

[Makai Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]



An eager nod of his head was the answer on the washed scales part. He would have shown Miss Ar-cen-now his hands but was too busy eating. Makai was eating the equivalent of a young boy starved half to death. Not to say he didn't get in three square meals plus snacks. There was just something different. Maybe it reminded the boy of home a little.


"Yeah! I've never been to one. I wanna go down the slide and...." Makai cocked his head for a moment. All he really knew about water parks were slides. ".....and I dunno what else."


The young boy looked at his father as the other settled beside him, offering thanks. Probably should offer his own as well.


"Yeah, thanks Miss Ar-cen-now! Dad never cooks anymore. Well...sometimes...."


Little shoulders shrugged.


"Are you coming with us? Dad says we hafta look at some stations first..."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Makai Dashiell"] [member="Judah Dashiell"]

"My pleasure," Danger said with a small smile, noting that the elder Dashiell was moving things along. She could work with that, likely he was feeling a bit sheepish still. A nod and a pan of her head would shift her attention to Makai.

"To look at the stations?" She heartily dipped her fork into her spaghetti and began the twirl to gather the rich sauce covered noodles. "Reckon I could go along," she told him matter-of-factly. "Be tourguide for a bit." she added, a bit amused as Makai's expression would brighten, his little legs kicking happily under the table.

"Won't take long, but will give your daddy some idea on what he would want to do with them." green eyes would flick up to meet Judah's own.

"Wouldn't want to miss the waterpark," she'd tease, a crooked smile on the right side of her face curling upward.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]


"I do have plans in mind already. Its going to be turned into Salacia's research and development center. Its getting too dangerous to have everything located in one area. We've got the Black Rose-whatsits sitting on Ceto's doorstep. I don't trust any of them to be perfectly honest with you."


Just has he finished speaking, eyes locked with his son. Right, Makai didn't know about his concerns. About the concerns of a world that the boy had grown up on, it was all he really knew. Ceto was Judah's homeworld now too, one he planned on living on for years to come. However he normally didn't speak his mind in front of the boy about such politics.


"We'll be alright. Ceto has seen worse you know. Besides, we've got the second home on Tabaqui. I've also been drawing up plans for a island home for Mon Cal. Remember when we went there with Miss Arceneau? Its always good to have something to fall back on you know."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

The subject brought to mind crabbing on the beach, bonfires, and a rather humorous cry of alarm when said crab tried to make for her thumb. The experience had been rather embarrassing, but Makai had found it hilarious. But the matter-of-fact instruction from the youngling thereafter on how to properly handle crabs was well worth it.

He certainly had been the expert then.

The corners of her lips would quirk, and a nod came from her. "Mm... that I do." her smile would soften, however, as a more in depth introspection arose.

It is always good to have something to fall back on.

Did she have anything of the sort? That made her frown a bit. The tines of her fork would swirl anew, grabbing more of the noodles. "I take it the same island, right?" she would inquire, bringing the spaghetti to her mouth.

At least she figured the new island home would be on the chain he had named after his wife.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]


Iced blue eyes brightened.


"You're coming to the waterpark with us? For real?! I know you can't really swim but I won't letcha drown Miss Ar-cen-now."


Spaghetti was nearly gone from his plate. Garlic bread had long been devoured and only scraps remained. Slowing his pace from shoveling food in his mouth, the iced blue eyes darkened, looking concerned at the mention of leaving Ceto. Makai loved his home. Everything in his room was just the way he wanted and the beach was right out the back door. He knew where everything was in the kitchen.


'Sides, how was Mama supposed to find them if they moved?


"Oh...okay....Maybe on Mon Cal I can have a bigger shelf for my 'egos? The one at home is gettin' really full and some of 'em are going to have to live between both places."


Spaghetti finished, Makai wiped off his mouth with the napkin and placed his utensils on top of the dirty plate. Gently sliding off the chair, the curly haired boy collected his plate and disappeared back into the kitchen to place everything in the dishwasher. He would have to ask more about this Mon Cal house later on. After all their water park fun.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]


Toys 'living' between both places? Judah was amused.


"Of course. Tell you what....I'll make one wall just shelves for your toys. It can be our project. I'll teach you how to cut the shelves and put them up. Its about time you started to learn, my Pa starting teaching me when I was about your age. Just old enough not to be drilling your hands to any pieces of wood we scrounge up."


Frown graced Miss Arceneau's features on the mention of the island. Maybe it was something else he had said. Making the boy work? Danger Arceneau didn't seem the type to frown at the value of a hard days work. Perhaps it was the mention of his little island 'chain' that was really just two islands. Danger wasn't the water-loving type after all.


"Yes, the same ones we crabbed at. You'll have to come stay with us when everything is finished. Makai loved showing you his little aquatic world, couldn't stop talking about it for weeks."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Judah Dashiell"] [member="Makai Dashiell"]

Well that was true. Ain't one spot on Danger Arceneau that knew how to swim; float on the other hand, was another matter entirely, but not the subject for delicate ears.

"A little bit of sun never did any harm," then again this was a Tatooine native, so of course she'd say that. "Nor some water." she shone Makai a smile. "Reckon there is a place for me to settle upon."

Turning towards Judah, hearing his invitation. Her fork tines swirled and gathered up more spaghetti, "Will the Dashiell's play tour guide?" she would tease, taking another bite of her spaghetti.

Then came the wonder again.

Would his wife be there?