Deep in Solomon’s Mine

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron had said that once he kissed her again he was not going to stop, and that was as true a statement as he could make save for when he picked Dianah up and carried her off to his room. The passion shared between them in the moments that followed was nothing like anything Jaron had known before. There was nothing for him to compare it too. Not even the sensation of the raw power of the dark side cake close to the power of the passion between them. The tension that had been threatening to break between them boiled over in its own symphony of retards and crescendos.

The proximity alarm was blaring, breaking the intimacy the two shared after the previous moments that had been fueled by passion and lust. Jaron clutched at the sheets which were a sporadic and tangled mess, simply strewn across the bed careslessly afterward. A loud sigh escaped his lips as the reason for this trip had decided it was time for them to come back out of the world his vision promised to the one the existed in now.

“We have to drop out of lightspeed...” he said before kissing her, a hand running along her bare arm. “I said you could fly it again before we land... you still want to?”

There it was, a simple reminder that while Jaron was not a good man, he was a man of his word. The fact they had just spent the remainder of their trip in his room wasn’t a factor, well it might have been part of it, but Jaron would not have forgotten. He rushed out of the bed to throw some pants on in order to drop the ship out of lightspeed. His steps spoke of the frustration he had at the interruption of just being with Dianah, but he wasn’t about ram the ship through the planet and kill them so...

Jaron sat in the pilot’s seat with a smirk on his face. He didn’t know it, but it was if one had fixed itself on his face for time being. For the few moments he was alone, before Dianah would pad her way to the cockpit, Jaron could only think about the future for a moment. A choice had been made, one he was still going to have to pursue and fight for. Whether it was Dianah behind that door or not they had both decided it should be. Jaron couldn’t be happier, and it only reassured him that he had made the right choice. The door staying shut was the right decision.

“C’mon, you’re gonna miss this... it’s the best part!”

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

The whole ordeal had been a slow painful process of building up such a ravenous lust that when it was finally released Dianah had never felt such ecstasy. It was beyond comparable to anything else she had ever known. Together they were two halves of one whole. It wasn't awkward or fumbling like it often was the first time new couples got together. It was euphoric and just a tiny bit aggressive. Dianah wondered why it had taken her so long. If she had known it would be this good she would have given up long ago. But maybe waiting was the whole reason it felt this way?

His touch sent a shudder through her whole body.

'Mmmmm...'

Her silky voice groaned and echoed out into the hot air of Jaron's room. It was sultry and filled with a pleasant satisfaction. She rolled over and shoved her face into the pillow in a desperate attempt to hold on to the past few hours. The crystal caves and even driving the ship sounded far less exciting compared to what just occurred.

Slowly but surely she lifted her head from the pillow to turn and watch him get dressed. A sweet smile spread over her lips and she mused about what made men so hyper after such a long, exhausting few hours. She settled on the fact that she would just have to try harder to tire him out next time. But, there was work to be done now. She couldn't lie in bed watching him forever. Begrudgingly, Dianah sat herself up and stretched to shake off the tremor in her muscles. She tried to run her hands through the mass of thick curls that had turned into one big knot, but it wasn't budging.

Dianah looked despairingly at the armour weave under-layer that was crumpled into a heap on the floor. She couldn't be bothered trying to squeeze herself into it so instead, once she had finally dragged herself from the bed, she used a spare shirt of Jarons. It was black. As everything he owned was. It was just big enough and ended halfway down her thigh. After grabbing them both a fresh cup of steaming caf, Dianah entered the cockpit with a smile on her face.

'I think I'll let you do it this time. I don't fancy breaking another mug. Considering what you took as payment last time I have a feeling I'd be completely spent.'

She settled into the co-pilots seat with her hot drink and turned to give him a wide grin. It was only natural that the banter returned. It was different now though. They both knew each others touch. If anything it made it even better. Jaron now knew if he chased hard enough he would catch up with her sooner or later. It meant the frustrating tension of their previous dalliances no longer existed. Instead it was replaced with the cool familiarity of two lovers.

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron was slightly disappointed she didn’t just sit on his lap and take the controls, but also released. She brought him caf, she was a keeper. There were other reasons that she was, how natural being with her had been was a massive one, but right now, the car was just a small detail that made it all one package.

He smiked at her as he took the mug.

“My mugs and need for caffeine thank you very much,” he teased right back. “However... if that’s what payment for broken mugs will
be... you should break them regularly.”

Jaron shrugged as he pulled the ship out of lightspeed. Dantooine was in view in front of them. The blues and golds of the many wheat fields glistened even to their vantage from space. It was truly remarkable.

“There is a natural beauty to this galaxy that you only see from the cockpit of a ship, Dian’ika. I’ve spent years of my life trying to preserve it, to keep it from being destroyed. All these pointless wars... if I could destroy these factions that destroy worlds in their conquest to show how right they are I would.”

Jaron sighed as he pushed the yoke of the ship forward to begin their descent through the atmosphere. The navicom already had the coordinates locked in. As with take off, the ship shook and rattled through the atmosphere, though not near as much as when he let Dianah take the yoke alone. She would get the hang of it with more time and practice. Jaron would ensure it.

He landed the ship with expert precision next to fhe mouth of the cave. There was no concern of being followed or finding their enemies. Jaron had none anymore. All he had was a dream and a desire to see the natural order of the galaxy and the force control everything. He would pay whatvwe price he had to in order to see it come about, even if it meant culling those who would seek to destroy it...

“The crystals... they should call to you if you’re meant to take one. If that happens... take it.”

Jaron headed back to his room to finish dressing before they left. Neither of them were going to explore that cave half dressed.

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah tucked her legs up into the co-pilots chair. It was plushy and coupled with the warm cup of caf, rather comforting. There was rarely a chance for Dianah to watch the decent from space into the atmosphere. Most of the time when she needed to land it was because there were things to do and people to see. That meant she was often getting ready in her rooms when her own ship dropped from lightspeed. She could see what she had been missing out on now. The vast expanse of Dantooine came into view and reflected back on itself through her wide brown eyes. Bright and shining in all it's glory. Her jaw hung open a little as she marvelled.

'It's beautiful...'

Her voice came with a tone of hazy disbelief. Dianah half listened to Jaron, sipping slowly at her caf and refusing to take her eyes from the giant orb hanging in space. She could hear the pain in his tone. Dianah turned her head to face him, leaning it against the back rest of the chair. Her eyes were filled with sorrow for his planet, for his people and for him. It cut twice as deep now they had labelled themselves as more than friends.

Back on Arbra he had given her a small flash of the horrors that had motivated him to turn half-dark. It was such a sensitive subject for him that Dianah had often been scared to approach it. In fact, she hadn't said a single word about it save for listening to him when he couldn't keep it inside anymore. Maybe now, with a few barriers broken between the two, she could broach the subject a little easier.

But now wasn't the time for it.

The shake of the ship brought her legs back down to the ground. It wasn't nearly as harsh as it had been coming up but it was still enough to make her feel unsteady in the chair. Her caf splashed over the edge of her cup. A dark stain, even darker than it's current colour, spread over her borrowed nightdress. Dianah doubted Jaron would mind. After all it was a black shirt. He owned at least fifty of the same kind in his wardrobe. As the ship landed gently on the lush landscape Dianah reminded herself to take Jaron on a shopping trip for something brighter. Maybe something blue, it would suit his eyes.

The sound of Jaron's voice broke her from her reverie. A wide smile appeared on her face and she nodded in confirmation.

'Right you are, al'verde.' She let out a high, sweet laugh.

She slipped from the co-pilots seat and skipped off after him to put her armour back on.

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron’s closet was certainly full of black. It was a great color for what he did. His alignment had little to do with the color choice, as much as the fact he had to use the shadows as cover. Jaron had learned ways to become one with it, and where there was shadow, Jaron felt at home. Perhaps it was why the darkness had drawn him in. It was rare that a Shadow among the Jedi did not face some pull toward darkness, but rather than draw a line, Jaron embraced it, and became one with the nature inside him.

The only other color was the red and gray of his armor, which he was dressed in now. Jaron felt no need to wear the helmet as this mission was not about stealth, or killing. Sure whatever pests had taken up residence in the cave would be dealt with, but Jaron was here for a crystal, a particular crystal.

His hand bashed on the button which lowered the loading ramp. His eyes would be greeted with high afternoon sun over the golden colored high grass of the plains just outside the cave. The blackness which centered the mouth of the cave was deep and intense in its color. It seemed to swallow whatever went inside it. Already Jaron could feel the pull to something which laid deep inside, deeper than he had ventured before.

Jaron smiled.

“It calls us deep... can you feel that, the raw power from the cave?”

His eyes shifted to the woman beside him. Her dark curls even looked lighter compared to the pitch black of the cave before them. There was a darkness which imbued the place, a force which pulled at something within Jaron. The crystal he sought was calling to him even now. With a determined look, set and stoic, Jaron stepped onto the soft and lush grass of the planet’s surface. Pacing near the cave, Jaron muttered something to himself about light and dark becoming one, and entered the dark void.

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

His words made her laugh and smile over in his direction. She raised a slim brown eyebrow and shot him a subtle wink.

'Let's not keep all that raw power waiting then, hmm?'

The warm air hit her caramel coloured skin and caused a childlike smile to crease the corners of her mouth. She almost danced her way down the ship's ramp and onto the soft ground. Her lightsaber clinked gently against her thigh as she twirled in the bright rays of the midday sun. The pull of the crystal caves was known to her almost immediately. In some ways it was like seeing something you want so desperately you'll do everything you can to reach it. It was a powerful pulling force that dragged you into places unknown.

The cave entrance itself seemed to suck all the light into itself and turn it a deep, dark black. Dianah had never been afraid of the dark. Nobody truly is, because it's what's in the dark that's most frightening. There wasn't any need for that fear though. This was just a crystal cave and scary stories never bothered her. It was nice having Jaron here though. Even when there was no reason for it, he made her feel completely safe.

'What was that, cyar'ika?'

He plunged head first into the darkness muttering something that escaped her ears. Dianah was close on his heels. It took her eyes a few minutes to adjust to the dim black of the corridors but when they finally did she was able to see just exactly where they were. It was a twisting, winding hallway with thick rock walls that surrounded them from all angles. The further they went the deeper the pressure of the earth above them became. Coupled with the longing drag of the crystal caves it was an atmosphere unrivalled. Dianah mused on how often she found herself in the clutches of a stone prison like this one. Too often, it seemed.

'This is all rather familiar, you know.' A gentle laugh filled the silence of the corridors and echoed back and forth into the vast expanse in front of them. 'What exactly are we looking for?'

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

“Familiar,” he chuckled with a wink. “I don’t plan on almost dying this time because I’m trying to save your pretty shebs.”

Hmmm that had a different ring to it now that Jaron had seen it, but he still liked the banter. It was as if they could enjoy it more because they had tasted the promise of what it implied. He was pretty sure he would never tire of tossing it her way, especially since she dished it back as well as she took it.

Jaron’s mind was a bit occupied for anything more than that though. The pull of what had been calling to him was strong and required, no, demanded, his focus. Dianah was experiencing this pull for the first time perhaps, but for Jaron he had only felt it one other time. The crystal which was in the blade she had destroyed had been harvested by him. It was always the tug, a crystal that chose the owner, it was never the other way around.

“I can’t really explain it other than to say, I’ll know it when I find it. Something that speaks of who I am now, not what I was. Both light and dark, now one... it’s the thought I’ve had since you told me it was destroyed. I’m not the Jedi anymore, I’m... something more, something beyond that.”

A knowing smile crossed his features as he turned and looked at Dianah. It had been her spontaneous action to save him that had brought this revelation about. Perhaps it was the fact Jaron was holding on to the reminder of where he had come from that had held him back. The Sith said the force set you free, and if Dianah had been its way of doing that, then Jaron could of have been more welcoming to it.

“You made this possible. I won’t ever forget that. In a way, you could say that you gave me the nudge I needed to follow a different path.”

The deeper they moved the stronger the pull, until they were nearly on top of it. Jaron could feel it in his gut, he just knew. Surrounded by crystals of all shapes and colors, there was one, at his foot, that had drawn his gaze. Jaron knelt and pulled a knife from his belt. With a rough jab, he pried the crystal shard loose, and as he did two other crystals came with it.

“Hmmmm... odd... three...”

Jaron looked at Dianah.

“I think I know exactly what to do. You ever learned the ancient ways of crafting a lightsaber? Do you know the stories?”

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah couldn't help but laugh again. At the time she had been so worried about him, seeing him lying there on his own in the middle of the vast cavern they had fought in together. It was odd to think back then he was just a school girl crush. As the luring song of the crystals pulled them further, she threw her own quip back at him.

'My shebs would have been just fine, you're the crazy one who blasted two Jedi too dust. Besides, now you've seen just how pretty they are I'm sure you know it was worth it.'

She winced at the mention of his broken saber. There was nothing more devastating in the Galaxy than breaking something that isn't your own. Especially when it was something nearly irreplaceable. Dianah hoped that the crystals they would gather today might make it up to him. Even just a little bit. She also hoped that the thrill of having a new lightsaber might sweeten the deal.

'I am sorry about that...'

She turned to give him an apologetic look but instead was met with his charming smile. Even in the dark cave she could see the whites of his teeth. At least he was happy. As long as he was, she was too. His next sentence was littered with a gratefulness that caused her to glance away bashfully.

'I don't deserve that. We all follow our own path.' She reached out to give his hand a gentle squeeze. 'I'm just glad ours crossed.'

The break in the black came suddenly. The cavern they entered lit up with a million dim colours shining from jagged crystals. She marvelled at it for a moment as Jaron sunk down low to prise a few from the floor. When he caught her eye she offered him a dazzling smile and then slipped off to wonder a little further into the open cave. The near silence in there meant Jaron's voice carried through them on the stale wind that blew softly. Her fingers ran idly over the tips of the sharp crystals. Each one hummed gently under her with a powerful force.

'You make it sound so fun and mysterious. Tell me.'

The powerful pulling feeling dragged her through the winding caverns, though never too far away that she couldn't hear Jaron's baritone voice. A glimmer in the soft light caught her eye. A shiny looking crystal protruded from the centre of a large amber coloured cluster. Dianah nibbled her lower lip and grinned with excitement. This was the force that had dragged her feet through the dark maze of tunnels. As she listened to Jaron, her nimble fingers set about trying to prise it up.

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron looked up from where he had pried up the crystal. Dianah was already moving on. A smirk pulled at the corner of his lips as it seemed she too felt the call of a crystal. His voice lowered until it was still. An explanation could come, but not until he saw what crystal was calling to her. He followed after her quietly. A smile stretched on his face as she tried to pry a crystal.

His knife handle rested on her shoulder after a couple taps. A smile would greet her when she looked up and his eyes would motion her toward his knife.

“Force users used to lock themselves away in a forge and focus their energy into the components they had with them. Through the force they would pour everything they were into the project until they had nothing left to give. The end result was a lightsaber unique to them, and imbued with who they were at the time they built it. It’s why a lightsaber was such a guarded possession. They say they are built now, well, some just don’t practice the old way anymore. It makes a blade more disposable.”

Jaron shrugged after his bit of history. He did not mean the new ways were not good. It was just that there was something about the old way which was appealing. His last saber hadn’t been made in such a personal way, but this time.

“I’m going to craft whatever comes of these crystals. The force will guide me. Whatever comes of this, it will be who I am now, and it will be imbued with me. There is just something about that that seems... fitting.

He motioned to the crystal she picked up.

“What of that one? What will you do with it?

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

It wasn't coming loose. Even with her long finger nails wedged in some promising looking cracks, it just wouldn't shift. She blew a fine strand of hair away from her vision. Jaron came up behind her moments later and the soft tap of the handle on her shoulder followed. A wide grin spread across her face and she shook her head gently to herself.

'Maybe I'm more Aliit Verd than I realise. Brute force before logical thinking.'

The grip of the blade slipped easily between her fingers. Before too long it's sharp, glinting tip was prising the crystal away. Jaron talked behind her of pouring one's soul into the very core of your weapon. It was an interesting notion and one that Dianah could get behind. Something distant connected with her waking mind, bringing to light a slow realisation. That night on Arbra when Dianah had used Jaron's saber to defend them the colour of the blade had been blue. Exactly the same colour as the Jedi apprentices she had faced.

'So, the saber I broke... It was blue. That was from when you were a Jedi?

It was the first time she had dared dive into his past of her own accord. Though it was said confidently, she had no idea if he would be willing to share. Finally the cluster released the crystal with a satisfying pop. It buzzed and hummed in her palm, making it tingle with an indescribable sensation. Her head turned up to Jaron as she lifted the crystal to her eyes. They flashed the bright amber of her chosen form, the two were nearly identical.

'I think I'll keep it, for now. As a memory.' She graced him with a smile sweetly and followed it with a question. 'Where to now?'

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

“That’s fine... I don’t bruise easy,” he joked as she commented about her brute force. Some of the formations were brittle and could be broken with strength, others required a bit of leverage. The ones that put up a fight were always worth it though, that was Jaron’s thought on the matter.

She finally asked. Jaron was wondering when Dianah was going to pry her questions into his past. He was surprised she hadn’t asked before they shared his bed, then again... did it matter? His head nodded without a verbal answer at first. He took his knife back and sheathed it before giving her the affirmative.

“I was yes. It was all kept within the family. My uncle was my master, a Jedi Shadow, and I was following after him. My cousin is a Jedi still... and... off somewhere helping his dad be a goodie two shoes. When Corellia was destroyed they just... carried on like they were okay with it. They weren’t I know it but... they should have been more upset.”

It was a bit more than what Jaron intended on sharing. The rift between him and his family was expansive because of that. They chose different path, and what Dianah didn’t realize was that his uncle was more a father to him than his own dad had been. Joti and Ka’ra knee little of the force, and sent Jaron to be with Judah as a teenager. He’d learned quickly, but also had not seen his family since, at least not until he got word that his mother had been sick.

It took her... whatever it was.

Jaron pushed the thought out of his mind. He hated that his last memory of his mother was one of weakness when she had always been strong. She had looked so weak then, so frail.

“A memory. Yes, besides the others we already have on this trip? And honestly I don’t know where to next. This had been the only thing on my agenda, and while I won’t complain... the tryst was a welcome surprise addition.”

His steps pulled them back toward the mouth of the cave. That was when he heard the commotion. His eyes looked up and entire nest of kinrath were above them. Jaron had forgotten they were attracted to the crystals, and the disirbance the two had become were causing them to stir...

“Don’t look now, but we might have to run...”

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Her wide brown eyes watched him with caution as she waited for an answer. Granted it wasn't a very intrusive question, but it was a leading one. It opened up the flood gates to the story behind his hushed words. When Jaron did finally answer she kept her mouth firmly sealed and watched him closely as he spoke. He sheathed his knife with an air of passive indifference. But she could tell by the gleam in his eyes that it was a deep source of pain and confusion for him.

Dianah could think of nothing to say, so she wrapped her arms around his waist in a tight embrace. Her own mother had died when she was very young and as far as Metus was concerned she wasn't memorable enough to talk about. Even if he did speak of her it wasn't ever anything positive. So Dianah had no maternal love of her own to be able to fully comprehend his loss. But she could understand family. For a few moments longer words still escaped her, but a second later she spoke clearly through the silence of the cave.

'I'm sorry, cyar'ika. It must have been difficult. You made your own choice and it left you all alone. But you're not alone now. I'm here. Its all so awful and what I'm about to say sounds even worse, but I'm pleased it all happened... We wouldn't have met if it didn't. None of this would have happened.'

Dianah hoped Jaron could see the hidden meaning behind her words. She wasn't pleased that his Mother had died or pleased that his entire family, save for a few, had been killed in a horrific way. She certainly wasn't pleased that his uncle and cousins life choices were twisted to the point that they didn't seem to care. Not in the way that they should have anyway. In fact, that part brought a violent, bubbling anger to her surface and threatened to boil over. The more she heard about the Jedi the more it confused her that Sith were considered the evil ones. The Sith were outwardly dangerous, of course, but they loved, lost and grieved just like anyone else. The Jedi though? They were slyly evil. That was the worst kind of all. Dianah wondered why Jaron had ever even bothered going down that road.

At the end of it all what she meant was she was pleased that, through that one single event and the choices he made after, he had ended up here. In her arms. Where he should have been all along. The long silence returned to the caves for a few moments as she gave him a gentle squeeze. When she pulled away from him there was a smile on her face at his mention of the crystal. With a bashful laugh, she shrugged her shoulders toward him. After a soft kiss on the lips she replied.

'Well, you know. A girl has got to have a memento from her first ever time... Not that I'll be forgetting it in a hurry though.'

He began to make his way slowly from the cave and Dianah entwined their fingers together so she could keep up. Before too long a strange clicking noise seemed to be coming from directly above them. When someone says don't look now the first thing you want to do is look. So Dianah's eyes followed Jaron's upward to the stone roof overhead. The spindly yellow bodies of the Kinrath hung dangerously close, clicking and hissing as they attempted to detect their body heat. Her face drained of colour. She had only heard of the Kinrath before but she was aware they contained a dangerous poison that could kill you swiftly and silently. Without a word, and with her hand still firmly attached to Jaron's, she began to run back through the winding rock corridors.

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

“No, I know all that,” he said in regards to her words. There was no malice in his reply, only understanding. He was well aware that she meant to offer him some sense of purpose behind it all, and she was right. Events led to choices, and those choices had him standing where he was, with her, and Jaron was not wishing to be anywhere else in the moment. It was cliche, but Jaron felt as though wihbher, he was with his other half, a piece of him that had been missing for far too long. No one had made him feel this, none from his past.

He kissed her back, and then pressed his forehead to hers. There was significance to the touch to anyone from a Mandlorian culture, and he just let his head linger against hers for a moment. Something was stirring inside him, feelings that he knew developing rather quickly. Dianah was not some crush or a passing fancy and he knew that. They both wanted her to be his future, and he wanted to be hers. If it mean letting her help him shoulder his past, then so be it.

“Eveything in my life has led me here, including the fact I used to be a Jedi. I am who I am because of it, and I don’t regret anything. I’m not going to pretend that I didn’t like my life then, I did, but I know I can never go back to it. I am here, I have embraced everything the dark side has asked me to. All of it led me to this moment, where I have you, and I’m not letting that go. You’re stuck with me, like it or not.”

Her reply about the crystal brought a small blush to his face. Jaron hadn’t wanted to ask, but now he knew. There may have been more to say but the clicking had alerted them and put them on the move. He agreed they didn’t need to fight. Jaron didn’t want to risk a bite, and the longer they stayed, the riskier it became.

With his hand in hers, Jaron raced through the dark cavern. The light at the end of the tunnel was the only thing they had to guide them aside from the force, which Jaron taped into to warn him about what he could not see. He laughed as they ran up the loading ramp of his ship, almost tearing up from the enjoyment of the moment. He pulled Dianah to him for a kiss when they were safe on the ship and smiled wide.

“Where am I taking you? Name the place, and we’re going...”

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

When his forehead touched hers the whole world seemed to disappear around her. For a moment everything else was just as dark as the crystal caves they were standing in. Dianah didn't know much of love or how it felt but if she had to take a wild stab at it, it would feel like this. The feeling that you'd go anywhere or do anything for someone without a hint of hesitation. When he continued to speak she lifted her hand to rest it on his cheek.

'Luckily enough, I like it.'

The rush of running madly through the pitch black caves was exhilarating, especially with the wind whipping her hair back with sharp satisfying cracks. She knew that Jaron knew what he was doing, but she still couldn't help the shrill childlike screams that escaped from her throat every time they nearly came crashing into solid stone wall. She also knew they were safe, they were both fast enough to outrun the dangerous creatures on their tail. But the feeling was akin to having an elder sibling chase you wildly around the house. You knew you weren't in any immediate danger but the rush of adrenaline still made your heart jump into your throat. Even with two dozen or more Kinrath close on their heels the whole experience was unrivalled.

On the ship she allowed herself to be swept up into his embrace again. She wondered if the heady feeling of passion would pass eventually or if it would continue every time he kissed her. She hoped the latter. Her chin rested on her chest and her big brown eyes looked up into his. Where would they go next? That was a dangerous question to ask someone with such a wild imagination. She gave a tinkling laugh that made her eyes flash bright for a moment. It didn't take her long to decide.

'Gallinore... There's something I've always wanted there.'

Interestingly enough, what she was after was a crystal. It was said that this crystal, aptly nicknamed the rainbow gem, could be made into a lightsaber that never settled on being just one colour. With that said, there wasn't any need to explain why she wanted it.

Dianah had a sudden thought and added it quickly onto the end of her sentence. It came with a wide, cheeky grin that spread from one corner of her lips to the other.

'Then after that maybe I ought to take you shopping for something that isn't black.'

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Gallinore... Jaron didn’t have to ask. The rumors of what could be found there were only as widely known as Metus himself was rich. It was said the Queen of Hapes had several rainbow gems in her crown, and Jaron’s curiosity was certainly piqued. A smile graced his face as he closed the loading ramp door, and turned toward the cockpit, his hand still in Dianah’s.

He did not want to let go of her, or stop touching her. Perhaps it wasn’t because their physical relationship was so new, but it felt right to him, something that could never get old.

“You would want one... it’s a fitting thing to want... a blade that never settles, and changes as many ways as you can.”

His fingers began to tap in the coordinates as soon as they reached to cockpit. The navicom was going to need the time run the calculations as it was a world Jaron had yet to see. Once they were set, Jaron put the straps on and started the engines. He wanted out of his armor, but it would wait until they hit lightspeed. With a tug of the yoke they were in the sky, and headed for Gallinore.

“What’s wrong with black,” he finally asked once the ship was in hyperspace. The straps came flying off as he started to walk back to his room. “It’s slimming, hides me in the shadows, and doesn’t show stains. Seriously why put me in any other color?”

His armor plates fell onto the floor as he took them off. One by one the clinked into a pile until all that he was in was the underweave which he unzipped and let the top half hang at his waist. It was going to be another long flight, but this time Jaron wasn’t as concerned about how he was going to keep his company entertained.

“So you hungry... more tea? We have another long flight ahead of us...”

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Before long the ship was back in the vast expanse of space. She still never tired of the rush that came hand in hand with the violent shake leaving the atmosphere created. Lightspeed was interesting to watch too. It felt like a million different bright white lasers being thrust into your vision with no sign of ending. Coupled with the softness of his hand in hers, the moment felt especially magical. There was a warming sensation of a pleasant realisation crept in the very core of her bones. The Galaxy didn't feel so lonely anymore, not with him by her side.

'Black is boring. You're not part of a stealth mission every single minute of your life, you know? It's okay to stand out sometimes. Beside... you'll have to get used to standing out now you're with me. You're silent in your very nature. I'm not silent unless I have to be.'

She let out a sweet laugh, before turning her head to face him. He was already making his long strides toward the bedroom again. With sly smile on her face she quickly followed after him. By the time she reached the door he was already half done. Dianah lent her thin frame against the door to marvel at his bare chest. Her eyes looked him up and down hungrily, undressing the rest of him in her mind.

'Well, I'm not sure I'm hungry for food exactly.'

Dianah nibbled on her lower lip, giving him a rather sultry smile. His playful attempt at hiding what he really wanted was amusing. He might have been eerily stealthy during missions, but at this? He was as loud as a rancor storming through a china shop. Dianah loved him for it. Her boots clicked against the metal floor as she made her way over to Jaron. The wooshing sound of the door closing echoed out into the empty hallway she had left behind.

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Dianah got the last word. There was no argument to her logic at all, and the man wasn’t going to even try. Black was easy, and alone had only required easy. There was also something else she said that caught him a bit off guard. Jaron was silent in his very nature. He had never given it any thought, but she was right. It was why what he did came so natural to him. He smiled at the comment, but said nothing. It would be something to ponder, besides, he wasn’t about to say anything to divert things toward another long conversation. There were other things on his mind.

Perhaps he was a bit obvious in how he thought they should spend their time. He couldn’t have broadcast if any louder without coming right out and saying it. Dianah seemed to have the same thing in mind as she let the door close behind her with the familiar whoosh that Jaron was used to.

This time Jaron was left thoroughly spent. Somewhere between all the passion and pleasure, Jaron had let himself drift off to sleep. They had made quite the adventure out of collecting those crystals, and sometime in the very near future Jaron was going to put the lightsaber together. His mind wasn’t on that though. All he could think about was how good it was to have someone next to him.

He could hear her breathing as his eyes opened. The soft rhythmic cadence danced upon his ears and drew a smile to his face. Everything of what led to him falling asleep rushed back into his mind, and the smile shifted into a smirk. They had left each other well pleased, and Jaron couldn’t help but feel some sense of pride.

They were not far from Gallinore. Jaron regretted that he could not stay in the bed and wait for Dianah to wake up, but there was a ship to land. He quietly dressed, putting on the black she disliked so much, and made his way back to the cockpit. Hopefully he would land the ship without her even knowing it, and by the time she woke up, they would be on the ground, and ready to chase after and rainbow gem.

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Tenderness was the only thing the couple lacked. It was the wild and unruly result of their little game dragging on for so long. Eventually, as they got used to each other, it would be replaced with a different connection and feel good for different reasons. But for now, Dianah was thoroughly enjoying the roughness of it all. He never seemed to be close enough, even when it was hard to tell where his body stopped and hers began. She made it her mission to leave him both exhausted and wanting more. She completed her goal with deft competence. It was so easy with him. She didn't have to guess what he might have liked because he simply liked everything she did. The same could be said the other way around.

When he dozed off from exhaustion she slipped herself into his embrace and rested her head and hand against his chest. The crook of his arm felt comforting now. She traced gentle lines on the smooth skin underneath her fingertips. There had never been a place where she could honestly say she belonged, save for Sinner's well perhaps, but here, in his arms, she felt like she was home. The rapid thump of his heart was like music to her ears and strangely enough her own heart seemed to beat in near perfect time.

It was long after his shaking breaths of satisfaction turned into the steady, subtle rhythm of deep sleep that Dianah finally admitted something to herself. It wasn't just an infatuation anymore. Whether she wanted to be or not, she was well and truly in love with Jaron. He had swept her off her feet unknowingly and now the pull of that inexplicable emotion was shouting loudly from her bottom of her soul. With this notion in her head and the rise and fall of his chest to hypnotise her, she was sent slowly into the profound reverie of sleep.

It was the best sleep she had ever had in her entire life. There were no moments where she woke in a blind panic trying to figure out what was real and what wasn't. No fear for her family or herself or him. She had slept through a whole night without once tossing and turning against the plush mattress.

A soft bump as the ship landed, coupled with the bright rays of sun that shone down into Dianah's face, woke her gently. The bed under her fingers where Jaron had been was now disappointingly empty. For a few moments she grasped at what she could, which turned out to be nothing more than empty air and crumpled sheets. She lifted her hand to rub the sleep away from her eyes. Sometimes waking from a deep sleep felt like you had lost years. Her muscles were still stiff and jelly like from the previous nights dalliances. With the slow methodical movements of a content woman she dressed herself and worked her way through the ship to look for her stone faced cyar'ika.

When she finally found him, settled into the pilot's seat, a wide smile spread over her face. Back in the room, while she was putting her armour on, Dianah had one thing on her mind. Food. From that came her brilliant idea, which sparkled in the depths of her eyes. In two short steps she had closed the distance between the chair and herself. Her arms went over the headrest to settle against his chest. She pressed a soft kiss onto the top of his head.

'I've heard Gallinore has some pretty nice places for a picnic.'

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

He heard her walk into the cockpit as he finished off his post flight checklist. When he didn't have to rush, Jaron took good care of his ship because it took care of him. There was no need for him to use the cloaking mechanism the ship had, but he was tempted to show it off anyway. He liked showing off for Dianah. Even though he had a stoic face most of the time, he felt deeply inside. She had stirred something deep within him that he had not felt in a long time, and Jaron knew what it was. He simply wasn't ready to put voice to it, not with his past and certainly not with all the loss he had experienced. Jaron was afraid to, and so it would remain in his mind for now, and even then he would be careful and cautious.

Jaron suddenly had a deep fear, and it was connected to what he knew was love. He feared losing Dianah, regardless of how it happened, he feared losing her.

The soft kiss on the top of his head drew a smile. Letting her sleep had been a good idea, he was certain of it, though he had hated leaving her alone in the bed all at once. Jaron knew that the next mission that pulled them apart would be difficult to get through. It had been so long since Jaron had anyone in his life to miss, that he knew he would miss her way more than he should, or maybe exactly as much as he should. These long forgotten feelings were odd to him anymore, and while they were something he wrestled with, he was glad for them, because not only did it mean he was no longer alone, but they meant he was connected to someone. Jaron knew what it was to have a family again even if it was just him and Dianah.

"SO... now you want food," he teased knowing full well when he had asked her hours before it had been a leading question. Jaron could not get enough of Dianah, and as she had seemed to just know how to leave him fully satisfied he found himself always wanting for more.

"A picnic, if you can find anything worth making a picnic with. This pantry is nowhere near as stocked as Sanctuary Rock. I have not had to leave Arbra for a while, save for the little excursion in that Jedi temple..."

Jaron spun the chair around and got up out of it before leaning to give Dianah her first kiss of the day. He licked his lips when they broke, and made his way to the pantry to see what they had.

"I've never been here before, so I was thinking we could explore a bit as we look for that gem you're after. New worlds excite me, and it is always an adventure when you are around. Though perhaps if we see a cave we should avoid it. I don't know if it is me... or if it's you, but there is always trouble when we go into caves..."

He chuckled as he began to grab a couple of ration bars and toss them into a day pack. Jaron needed better food on his ship.

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

'What can I say? You make me hungry.'

Dianah giggled as she jested back in turn. The answer to her statement didn't come as a surprise. She didn't know a single person in the Galaxy who didn't like a good picnic, and that included Metus. When he spun on the chair she met his lips with a smile. He had a way of looking incredibly handsome in the morning without even trying. Maybe it was the fact that he'd been up a while or maybe it was the light in the cockpit that morning but he was the most attractive man she'd ever set eyes on.

She followed him through to the pantry with a grin on her expression. It was true. They often found themselves buried deep in the core of some massive mountain. Either fighting for their lives or running for them. There was no indication of who mitigated all this trouble. It felt more like a team effort though.

'I can't argue there. We're magnets for chaos. I'm rather fond of it.'

She grinned at him again and watched as he started packing things into the day bag. Ration bars didn't sound or look very appealing.

'Jaron, really? Ration bars? They're almost as boring as your wardrobe. You've got to have something better in here...'

Without warning Dianah dived head first into the pantry. Her nimble fingers and quick eyes worked over the sparsely stocked cupboard. Every now and then she would throw something behind her without a thought to where it would land or what was in its path. There wasn't much to work with, but she was Metus' daughter. There was a stereotype out there that Mandalorians loved their food. It wasn't really a stereotype though and House Verd happened to be one of the most ravenous clans out there. She would, without a doubt, find something nicer for them to eat than ration bars.

A good portion of an hour later the kitchen was a bomb site. Dianah had mixed a strange combination of freeze dried food into two containers. The food itself looked rather grim and had the consistency of chunky soup. One was a strange brown colour and the other was brighter pink than her lightsaber. How she had managed either colour from the smattering of things he had in the pantry was beyond even her. But, they tasted pretty damn good.

'Done! Try it. This one is the main and this one is the pudding.' She pointed to each one in turn with a dramatic flourish. Her finger hovered over them for a moment and her brow furrowed in concentration. 'Or was it the other way around?'

[member=Jaron Lesan]