Dark Dunes

[Seo Linn]

She didn't know what the poison was, but clearly relaxed when he answered her question. Shaking her head before speaking, she had the feeling she knew what it was. Without seeing the dart though she couldn't be positive.

"You'll be fine. Just lethargic and blinded when the sun rises. It won't pass to me, so just relax about that. Enjoy the silly dreams you're going to get and when you wake up, show me where it happened. Or I can try and get it out of your system now. Up to you."

If her theory was right​, there was only one person that would have wanted to do this to Mereel. Her son was going to answer for what he did when they got back to town. Keeping this to hersef though, Seo rested her forehead on his and smiled at him. She did well to hide what she thought happened and hoped Mereel wouldn't pick up on her thoughts.

"C'mon, let's get some shut eye before the sun comes up and it's too hot to get any."

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Comforted by what Seo said, Mereel breathed out a heavy sigh. No red flags were raised in his mind when she confidently told him that it wouldn't pass to her, and he was completely at ease when she rested her forehead on his. She knew more about the wildlife here than him after all, he fully trusted that she would know what creatures and stings could carry infectious illnesses and what didn't.

"What does getting it out of my system entail?"

The spark reignited in his eyes as he noticed that it looked like she had bags under her eyes. Either his dilated eyes and poisoned blood were deceiving him, or she had stayed up all night waiting for him. She had said that she would only be a telepathic call away, but what that had entailed hadn't really registered on his mind until now.

A sense of warmth ran through his veins from the revelation. Returning her smile, he deliberately raked his fingers far down her back one last time before pulling his hand back out of her shirt. He slowly got up from beside the campfire, and a spell of dizziness flooded his senses for a brief second. Even though he was 'sick', he didn't feel all that tired anymore, and besides his eyes feeling kind of dizzy and out of focus, the only side effect of the poison he felt right now was a burning headache. They were hardly the most noticeable things he felt at the moment.

"You know, you were right about the pants. These are way too tight.. help me out?"

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

"Well I focus on the poison with the Force and separate it from you blood. Your body will then take care of the rest. As it stands though, it'll be out of your system on its own in a few days. It takes a while to get fully processed and out. With the Force being employed though, it'll be out in just a few hours."

His hand had already warmed up on her back, but the rake was greeted with a shiver similar to what happened before. Offering to help him up and into the tent, she chuckled at his comment about the pants. When they got back to town, she hoped they could get him proper fitting ones.

Since she had attempted to remove the poison, its effects he would still feel. Right now, he would probably feel more like he had a hangover and wanted to sleep it off. When they woke up, she could attempt to help with the effects, but she wanted to see the darts to make sure her guess was accurate.

"You got it."

And with that, Seo pack​ed him off into the tent and they both fell asleep in each other's arms.

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

He nodded in response to her explanation of how she could process the poison out with the force. He had faith she could pull it off, but if he was poisoned for a few days it wouldn't be that bad. He didn't have any more plans to go hunting, and since this was still a vacation he could be bed-ridden for a few days if need be.

He gave her a small smile when he felt her shiver. Knowing that he could give her the same feeling that she was so adept at giving him was comforting.

Mereel gratefully accepted her offer to help him to the tent. He had felt her channeling the force to detoxify him, but he still had a splitting headache and his eyes still felt like they burned from the light. He had originally hoped to relieve his pants of their tightness when they had both finally settled in the camp the night before, but they were both far too tired, and he wad far too woozy to want to do anything of the sort now, and he was perfectly happy with falling asleep with her in his arms.

###​

Despite the fact that he was only wearing his underwear, the heat of the day stirred Mereel from his sleep. In the spirit of all good hangovers (that typically weren't poison related), when he woke up he still had a headache. Although it was far less fierce than the one he had fallen asleep with.

Trying his best not to wake Seo, he reached for his pants on the ground of the tent floor beside him. With a faint grin, he slowly searched around in the pockets until he felt a familiar scrap of flimsi. He pulled the memento out ever so slowly and unfolded it. His eyes sparkled bright as he began reread the note for the umpteenth time.

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

This being her home Seo was used to the weather here probably far more than Mereel was and peacefully slept. Her breathing soft and regular as he started moving around. Rolling over in her sleep though when she found nothing but the warm spot left by him moving around, she woke up.

Just cracking her eyes open enough to see Mereel, she stretched out and made a waking up noise to tell him she was aware.

"How are you feeling?"

Once she finished stretching, she sat up and looked at him with bright eyes. Her pack was next to her head and she reached into it to grab the quick breakfast she had packed the day before. They were actually quite similar to nutrition bars, but were of a local taste and made from local items. She would hand him his and started unwrapping hers.

"Forget to turn that in, Mister Anderson?"

​Giving him a smile, she shook her head and reached out to touch him slightly.

"You really are a romantic under all that armor. C'mon, show me where you got hit by those darts. I don't think it was any sort of bug bite."

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Mereel stopped reading the note as soon as he heard Seo waking up. Knowing full well that he'd been caught in the act before she had even said any thing of it, his cheeks turned crimson as he slowly turned and leaned up to look at her.

"Better. My arm and chest are more than a little bit sore still, but definitely better."

Lazily nestling himself back into the spot of heat he had left behind and up against Seo, Mereel accepted the local nutrition bar gratefully. He made no effort to hide the note. A small smile came over his face when she called him by that silly name, "Oh, I didn't forget, Mrs. Anderson."

He unwrapped hid nutrition bar and got in two quick bites before his heart skipped a beat. The warmth of her gentle touch made the tent feel far hotter than it already was to him. He was about to return her contact with his own, but she asked him to show her his sting marks, which were on the other side of his body.

Mereel slid the nutrition bar back down into its wrapper as far as he could and set it on the ground to his left. Feeling the lingering lethargy of the poison, he leaned back down as if he was about to go to sleep and rolled over on his side so that Seo could see the sting marks.

With a weak grin he casually draped his left arm over her lap and placed his right hand on her lower back for support in keeping his odd, halfway rolled over state.

"Side of the neck, upper shoulder."

He looked up at her from his odd angle with a knowing glint in his eyes, "You're something of a romantic yourself, aren't you? I can still fully recall your vow from last night."

That exchange between them had churned his heart heavily. It wasn't something that he wanted to be swept under the rug and left unadressed by either of them until their line of work made it too late.

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

"It'll take a little bit of time to heal fully, but you shouldn't bleed out any longer or be able to easily tear the wounds open. Probably will have some interesting scars though. Those I can't heal."

Chuckling when he returne​d the favor of calling her his wife, she shook her head. Lifting an eyebrow though, Seo wondered how he had been able to keep the note from that day. Not asking it though, that was something over and done with. It had lead to a great many things and more in the future.

Adjusting her position just slightly when he rolled so she could look where he had been hit, she set her breakfast down as well to take a look. Totally aware of where his hand was, she had enough sense to keep her mind on her task. Leaning over to take a look at his neck and then arm, she nodded and shrugged just slightly. Tapping his arm, when she pulled back, her face did not really indicate much.

"They look like it could be a sting or a dart. I'm still leaning to the second though. Just a hunch..."

Her tone grew a touch cold and a sense of anger was within her. However, he brought her out of that mood very quickly his comment. Looking at him, her eyes glittered and she smiled.

"I meant it too."

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Mereel exhaled a heavy sigh in relief when Seo said he wouldn't need to worry about re-tearing the wounds. Considering that he had left his backpack in the middle of the desert after throwing up on it, the fact that she was able to heal his wounds without any specialized medical equipment had been an incredible stroke of luck on his part. Although he felt completely at peace, and beyond overjoyed by her taking care of him, he feigned a frown and made his voice heavy with mock disapointment, "That's a shame. I was trying to keep my chest nice and pretty looking for you."

The sound of her laugh, assisted by their close proximity, breathed something of a small second wind into his tired mind. Knowing full well that his right hand was already in an optimal position, he slowly dragged his fingertips further down with a playful smile.

Having missed the first time Seo said she didn't think that he had been afflicted by bug bites, when she said she thought it was a dart, his eyes went wide in surprise. He was so shocked by her revelation that he didn't sense the brief flair of anger, but he detected it in her tone instead of feeling it in the force. His tone and expression lost any sense of playfulness, exchanging themself for concern over her change in demeanor.

But before he could immediately ask her what was wrong, her mood shifted back into one of joy, temporarily abating his own concern. Neither of them had been drunk the night before, so he wasn't fully sure why he had needed to hear her confirm it what she said, but his irrationality didn't stop his heart from feeling invigorated when she said she meant what she had said. Only slightly uncomfortable in his sideways position, Mereel fidgeted about until he was on his back.

With his head resting on her lap, he became lost in her glittering, golden eyes. It was the moment he knew that he would ask her to marry him - but since he had been a normal, materialistic man before becoming a Jedi, he didn't ask her right then and there. He wanted to find her the perfect ring first.

His racing heartbeat reminded him that he existed outside of her eyes, and he returned to the realm of reality with a beaming smile, "And I meant mine.

What had you down just a second ago? And what makes you think someone shot me with a dart?"

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

"In our work, it is difficult to keep things perfect. Alive and healthy is what matters. At least it's only a scar and not a limb."

​Her own body while mostly unscarred wasn't perfect. From the tattoo from her childhood to the shot in her legs, most were little marks. For the most part she was unmarked since even as a child, her master here saw potential in her. He wanted her kept as perfect as possible for his own reasons.

These thoughts brought her back to her son and what he had done. Seo was totally positive on what happened. Only needed to see those darts, he had his own marks and she knew them well enough because she had taught them to him. This didn't totally bring her back into that foul mood because Mereel also said he had meant what he said.

Not even when he asked what had her down. A part of her remained mad, but she didn't allow it to cloud what was between them now.

"A few things, Mereel. First if you had stumbled into some sort of hive or burrow, you would have been stung for me. Another is location. They are only on one side of your body. Insects don't do that and would just sting. Too high on your body. Nests here are usually in the ground, so those stings would be lower. That's why I feel you were shot wit a dart and there is only one person I can think of with the motive to do it."

Her tone wasn't displaying what she felt, but was calm and set.

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

The back of his head still resting in her lap, a little red rushed into his cheeks when she made her 'at least it wasn't a limb' comment. He wasn't sure if she had even realized her own choice of words, but he certainly had. Raising an eyebrow at her, he flashed Seo a crooked grin and waved his metal hand at her, "Hey, losing a limb isn't all that bad. If I remember correctly, you said you 'quite liked' the feeling you got out of this one."

Mereel tried his best to make his voice sound seductive as he cited back what she had told him telepathically yesterday morning. Losing his hand had been a near-death experience, but in hindsight, it wasn't all that awful. He still felt phantom pains from time to time, and he couldn't feel anything through it, but the hand more than made up for itself as a weapon platform, and with the development in their relationship, another positive had been added to the metal hand's list of pros.

He started to become ensnared in her eyes again, but before he could totally lose himself he noticed that she looked distracted - and beyond that he could've swore that he sensed an inkling of anger in her through the force. Mereel didn't make any jerky movements or react in any significant way physically, but his mind snapped back into focus. Something was troubling her, which meant something was troubling him.

Since his mind had already been put into low alert by her saying she thought it was a dart, he had no doubt what had her down was the natural progression of her dart comment. If he'd been hit by a dart, someone had fired it at him, which in his experience meant someone was out to kill you. But he wasn't worried about it nearly as much as she was at the moment. He had survived what in his mind was an attempt on his life, which meant he could go out and kill whoever had done it later, when it wasn't just the two of them alone together getting through his poison bender.

He gave her a small smile as he listened to her explain why she thought it was a dart. She sounded calm, not 'distant' like he had seen her get while in public, just calm..his intuition told him she was worked up over this, and he understood why - he may have been poisoned, but he wasn't entirely dense. If her speculation was right, and there was only one possible candidate, he knew of only one person who even seemed to be pissed off at him since arriving on the planet.

Frowning slightly upon arriving at her conclusion, Mereel quickly pushed it out of his mind. His belief on resolving the issue later still stood, they would have plenty of time to think it over during the speeder ride back to her home. He temporarily forsook problem-solving-Mereel to fully embrace the inner sappy romantic she rightfully accused him of being. He nestled himself further into her lap so that he could reach her head easier with his right hand. Giving her a warm smile, he began slowly combing back her hair on the left side of her head with his fingers.

"I understand where you're going with this, I really do, but before you think any further, just let me tell you that the only person I want to think about right now is you."

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

She totally meant her comment because of his hand. If anybody understood what it was like he would. Not meaning it to offend him though, he may have taken it that way. Looking down at him, she listened to what he said and felt bad.

"I'm sorry, I did not mean to offend you or intend that in a bad way."

​When he waved it in her direction, Seo would grab a hold of it if he let her catch it and held the cool metal in her hands. Mereel may not actually feel it on a physical sense, but hopefully he would get the message she intended.

Not moving as he made himself more comfortable, she allowed liked it when he started playing with her hair. Listening to what he said, she did nod. There would be time enough to deal with Aodhan when they got back. Smiling down at him, that anger was there, but not directed at him and just rested there like a simmering pot. Not yet ready to overflow.

"You really are a romantic at heart and I love you for it. Finish eating and we'll see about getting your head clear again. You'll be able to focus more then."

Not explaining further her intention, if he thought back on any of her previous comments, she had yet to give up on finding those darts. Going about it in a round about manner, he may not notice. Besides it gave them longer to be just the two of them and not have much more to worry about.

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

He saw the pang of guilt on her face a before she had to say anything. Whatever Seo thought he had felt, he certainly didn't feel mad at her for saying it. If anything he was a little upset with himself upon seeing her reaction - force knew that this was a consequence of him never learning to shut up and just allowing figures of speech to be figures of speech.

When her hand took his left and she beat him to an apology, he felt a combination of taken aback and butterflies in his stomach.

"It's okay ? No, it is okay. You didn't offend me, just made me feel a little.."

Ashamed? Embarassed? Humiliated that he wasn't more man and less robot arm? No, none of those felt like accurate descriptions in his mind.

"- funny is all."

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and flashed her a warm smile. He swore that he sensed a change of emotion in her, and the air in the tent suddenly felt electric to him - like at any second something could change and the air itself could combust. Mistaking her pent up anger that he had passively sensed in the force for sexual tension. The intention of the last part of what she had said had sailed completely over his head, and Mereel instead honed in on the middle pwrt of what she had said. He stared lustfully into her golden eyes and made his smile sly.

"You've got a caring heart, and I love you for that.. and your wish is my command."

It was a bit crass of an opener for him, but he wasn't one to mince words. The exhaustion ebbed out or his system and his blood started rushing as he flipped himself over.

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

Making a note not to make such a comment again, even in passing or jest, Seo still felt poorly for her choice of words. Shaking her head, even when he reassured her it was okay.

"There will be other ways to make you feel funny."

Winking at him, there was one very obvious way, but she did not touch his mind this time. Besides it was a totally different feeling. ​What she had done was hit something on an emotional level, telepathy wasn't the same.

Giving Mereel a truly happy look when he complimented her, what he did totally surprised her. Not that she had any issues with the action at all, far from it. Poisoned or not, he knew what to do with what energy was granted to him. However, she knew it would eventually catch up to him. When it finally did, she laid in the tent with him and just enjoyed the quiet time given to them.

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

After ending on a high note, Mereel allowed the lethargy of the poison to set in and he went still. His eyes closed, but he remained perfectly conscious for what felt like blissful eternity. The rhythm of their breaths served as the only indicator that time was still passing for him. Eventually, and thankfully slowly, his strength returned to him.

He opened his eyes and reluctantly took his head out of Seo's lap. Placing his hands on the ground to either side of her, he slowly pulled himself up to head level with a cocky grin. As soon as his head was level with hers, he put his right hand on the side of her head and closed his eyes to give her a deep kiss.

When he pulled away, there was a flicker of light in his eyes that made his brown irises match the gold of hers.

"You know, I've been thinking. I need another way to make you feel funny besides shoving my hand down the back of your shirt. It's not subtle enough to pull off in public.

He bit down gently on the corner of his lip as he considered telling her another one of his weaknesses, "That wink of yours made me melt though.. in case you were looking for an alternative to telepathy."

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

As the time ticked by, the heat grew in the tent. Not getting too hot though. The fabric was designed to be temperate in the desert and that is exactly where they were. Warm, but not stifling and uncomfortable.

Watching as Mereel slowly pulled himself up to be even with her face, Seo fully accepted the kiss and returned it. Not pushing what he could do or not, she did not react with anything more. She did smile at him though and listened to what he was saying. Lifting an eyebrow at him, she shook her head and smiled.

"Ah that would be telling my dear. You'll have to figure it out. When it happens, I'll tell you."

And that was that, she ​shut her mouth and would not elaborate on the point.

"I don't think a wink will happen in public though. So I will just stick with telepathy when needed. Having abused that...much."

Running one of her hands up his ribcage lightly, she leaned forward to lightly peck his forehead and sat back.
​
"Do you feel well enough to try and go out for a walk?"

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Mereel couldn't even feign disapointment when she refused to tell him a button of hers he could press. She had called him 'dear', and while it was a small and simple thing, it made him so much happier than he ever thought a single word could've made him. A sense of warmth independent of the planet's temperature washed over him.

Returning her smile with a daring and heated grin, his face made it clear before his words did that he was willing to accept her challenge, "You're really going to regret not even giving me a hint. I'm going to test absolutely everything until I get a reaction Seo Linn.. everything honey."

Following the example set by her, Mereel shut his trap and didn't elaborate further. Leaving her imagination alone to think about what he could possibly have in mind. Although she shot down his winking suggestion, he began grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh, I would hardly call it abuse. Real shame about the winking, but I understand. It's good enough for me behind closed doors anyhow."

Having kept their interaction to her end only due to the poison's effects, his body ached with longing as he felt the warmth of her fingers tickle and trail up his torso. When she pecked his forehead, it sent him into a daze, but he quickly snapped out of it to answer her question.

"I've never felt more well in my entire life. Just say the word and I'll hoof it across all of the deserts on this planet twice."

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

"I look forward to finding out what you're planning to try on me. I will tell you when it happens though."

The telepathy and now wink had actually been learned by accident. One she would use, but never in a situation that could cause either of them to get hurt. Something done in fun and hopefully he would notice or remember that.

Resting her hand on his side, she noticed what her touch had done to him and smiled. That poison though should still keep him from accomplishing too much. She smiled when he called her honey and made a very believable buzzing noise a bee would make.

"And did this queen bee find a good pansy to...Ah never mind. If you're up to it, let's get moving. If the sun is still too bright, you'll know when you poke your head out the tent."

SHe waited on hearing an answer before making any other move to actually leave the tent.

"If it is, then you probably have another day before that will return to normal."

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

You won't have to fret about telling me. I've seen what you look like in ecstasy a few times now. You may be the investigator, but I'll be able to put the pieces together when I finally get an attempt right."

Perhaps Seo had undersold her own ability to detoxify him, or perhaps the power of love had decided to grant his mortal form a second wind, because he felt completely invigorated and not at all tired as he smiled along to the sound of her bee noises.

His cheeks turned a shade crimson as she called herself a queen bee and once again called him a pansy. But much to his dismay, she had decided to break off from her train of thought before she brought it through to its conclusion.

Fortunately, he was far too anticipating of the outcome of what she had started saying to just let it slip under the table. The lethargy seemingly gone, he wrapped both of his arms around her waist and held his hands in the small of her back as he pulled her in close. He closed his eyes to give her a quick smooch on the lips and when he reopened them a glowing, libidonious, and boisterous energy radiated out of his entire being.

She was already thinking ahead to some task, but Mereel's mind was still very much occupied on earlier in the morning and the right now. As a result, his voice easily became heavy when he spoke, "I had more poison than nectar this morning, but I don't feel a lick of it in me right now."

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

She lifted a single brow at what he said about seeing her in a certain state. What he said might be totally true, but giving voice to it was something Seo found quite odd. Not entirely opposed as it was just the two of them, she started to smile a little.

"Perhaps you will or I'll be able to keep it to myself and you'll never know. Have to find out."

With as close as they had become, she highly doubted she could keep many secrets from him any more and she didn't want to.

His sudden burst of energy really surprised him, but took it as good sign. Maybe he hadn't gotten hit with as much poison as she expected, the mix could have been off or even less likely, maybe he really had been bitten by something. The other thought crossed her mind that he was going to pass out on her midsentence or something. He pulled her in close and kissed her lightly. When their eyes met after, she could tell what was on his mind and smiled.

"I can certainly get used to this."

Wrapping her arm​s around him to pull him close in for another kiss. Suddenly the matter of solving what happened was not as large of a concern. She already knew the answer, but wanted the proof. It would still be there later...

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Knowing full well that his ecstasy comment was a rather direct and inelegantly worded boast, Seo raising her brow almost drew a chuckle out of him. Flashing her a toothy smile, Mereel narrowly managed to restrain his laughter before it started and simply breathed out two amused puffs of air from his nose instead.

Seo's continued persistence on getting him to work things out himself made his smile turn cocky. Unlike the argument that had lead to Seo joining him on the hunting trip, this was something he decided that he absolutely could not let her win under any circumstances.

"I'll find out, but if it starts taking me too long, you can fully expect my search to carry over into the bedroom.. ". He gave a little more meaning to that thought with his hands - his cold, cortosis fingers ran all the way down the small of her back, while his right hand gently made itself snug under the left side of her chin. Tenderly and slowly, he slid his right hand down along the side of her neck before moving it down the length of her body to rejoin the hand on her backside.

When their eyes locked and she said that she could get used to this, he grinned and responded by using the first thing that came to mind, "I certainly hope so, Mrs. Anderson."

As he said it, he couldn't help but think that they really needed to choose which one of their last names they wanted to use instead of that moniker - even though he had a strong feeling that it would continue to stick around to some extent.

With her arms wrapped around him, and his around her, his heart began pounding. Any thoughts of the silly name randomly drawn on Anaxes were swiftly forgotten as their lips locked, and his hands and arms returned her favor by pulling her in closer to him in her entirety.

The angle of the light breaching through the tent gradually shifted as the haven's occupants passed the time away in the throes of passion and love. It was a temporary respite from all of the risks and concerns of the world, but after what felt like a lifetime's worth of bliss (atleast for Mereel), even a break from the respite was needed.

[member="Seo Linn"]