For Old Time's Sake (Danger)

[Arage Bao]

Tatooine​

[member="Danger Arceneau"]​

It was once again the headquarters of Arceneau Trade where the former Sith Lord found himself. The relationship between Ovmar and Arceneau had always been an interesting one, equally teasing, friendly, competitive, all the above and perhaps more if Ovmar had ever tried to make it more. But he had enjoyed playing the games, dancing around the metaphorical bush and content himself, while building up his own business imperium.

There is only so much a man can do between corperating, warping the fabric of reality with your mind, finding artifacts of ancient power, seducing women all over the galaxy, conquesting knowledge and toppling empires. Jared had done all of the above and more.

These days he was content with what he had accomplished, he no longer thirsted for more and more… and more. And more. A- well you catch my drift, it ain’t about that anymore. It was about different things these days, more important things to a degree and now he simply had to tie up loose endings.

Laying on top of the couch in Arceneau’s office, the Sith Lord, not Sith Lord found himself immersed in the White Current and awaiting for the imminent moment where upon Danger would finally finish her business meeting and return to her office. Would be any moment now. Sometimes it was good to have good connections everywhere.

And so he waited to say goodbye.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

There would be no clipping of high heels to announce her arrival.

No instead it would be the steady tattoo of well worn boots, dusted in bleached sand and grit. There would be no tight form fitting dress. No perfectly applied lipstick. No coiffed upward sweep of her hair with nary a single lock out of place. In its stead would be a woman in lightly sand dusted desert gear fit for travel. Light tanned breeches, a beige leather jacket with a pale blue button up blouse under it. She wore a light desert scarf round her neck, and on top of her head were a pair of goggles perched at the ready.

She was dressed for travel. Exactly where... well, that was her own business.

The door would hiss open and the Trade Queen's tell tale familiar bright red hair would flash for attention. Her stride was steady, but her mind elsewhere.

Perhaps, in hindsight, she really should install Force detectors in her office and not just around the grounds.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Probably wouldn’t have done a lot, the Current is funny that way. Even now Ovmar was pondering how much difference perspectives can have on situational awareness, opinions and above all how the Force reacted to ya. Mind over matter, people would like to say, in the current situation it meant that almost nothing could detect this stuff.

Well, besides ‘nother White Current, but there ain’t all that much around. Not that it really mattered though, Ovmar wasn’t here to spy on her, that ain’t the ordeal, he just wanted… to share words with her.

It’s when ya grow older, had some time to think and ponder, that ya really got to understand that your priorities might have been skewed. He had been busy his entire life, playing the game, ya know; moving chess pieces on a galactic scale. Had it been necessary? Feth no, he had more money than he knew what to do with. Women? Never was a problem. What about power? It came to him easily.

Nah, those are all excuses. It had been simple addiction, pleasure in playing the game and influencing events. Simple as that, no other reasons necessary.

Things changed though, as they always do in the end.

He now saw things different, case in point- Arceneau. Hostess. Celeb grata. The woman of the hour that made everything shine just a little bit fresher, by simply… being there.

But there was more to her than that, Jared saw that now as age marred his features and the years added to his collective presence gave him more understanding. Bit too late, suppose, but what can ya do?

‘Hello Danger.’ his soft throaty voice would reach her ears, it was the same as it always was… but heavier, as if he had seen and done too much. No more light grins and suggestive glances, it was simply him.

A tired old man.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

She was quick.

The blaster would be drawn from her holster with a quickness akin to those with the force. Her arm snapped out.

The Lonesome gun. One shot, one kill. She had it pointed straight at [member="Jared Ovmar"], cocked back and finger on the trigger. All it took was an easy squeeze.

Her hand was steady. The fire in her eyes, transfixing. Yet in their emerald depths was a vulnerability that had not been there before.

Seconds would tick by.

It was the voice that kept her finger from pulling the trigger. Familiar. Deep. Throaty with that innate charm.

Ovmar.

A frow drew over her brow. Confusion would wash over her.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He did not speak, in such matters there were two types of people. Those who were inherently afraid to die and started talking, and those who had died so many times that the sight of a gun pointed no longer fazed them. Which wasn’t the same as knowing the risks, Ovmar could feel the alchemy churning outta the blaster.

Rave’s work. Soul anchor. Dangerous item, but who else was better to wield it besides Danger herself? For a while they sticked to this situation, seconds trickling by as emerald stared into the ocean, and a reflection of herself was made apparent.

‘I missed you too.’

Just that little bit of sass that always followed wherever he went, Jared could not escape it, not even in a hundred of years.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Power and control.

That was the name of the game. This game at least.

It was all about games with Danger; it is why she would play Dejarik. Why she played it for the past three years under the name of M'onnok Fork in correspondence Dejarik games.

The tactics. The ability to think ahead and make a move. Every one made for the end goal.

However, her game had recently been disturbed; in so much that it felt the board had been completely flipped over. A fine trembling came to her grip. Her lips would purse.

"The bloody hell happened to you?!" she would ask. But the blaster was not lowered; not yet. She was too tense. Too jumpy.

He'd be able to see it in the flare of her eyes, the flutter of her heart.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

A raised eyebrow. First note of something wrong, he hadn’t used his mentalism, his empathy to people for a long time. That’s what happens when ya go out and spend a few hundred years in solitude, shet changes and changes hard. Point was, he hadn’t been around many people for a while.

But now Jared saw it, flare in her eyes, hand slightly shaking. There was more, fringes of her mind, he could practically feel the tension coming outta her. Something had happened, something profane that had shaken her whole world.

Point was though, Ovmar hadn’t been amongst people for a while. Meant that while his sharpness had always been there… they were both a bit blunt now, so what happened next wasn’t really strange, it was natural that he took the wrong conclusion.

She had been a strong independant woman, it was her strength, her resoluteness and power in taking hold of her own destiny that had defined her for all those years. What could have made that twist a bit? What could a man do to do a woman that turns her world upside down.

His question could wait though, sharpness gone from his eyes as they softened and human intellect took over again. Can’t change the nature of the beast, years could blunt it, time could soften it. But it was always there, waiting to be set loose.

‘A magic trick went… right. But power demands sacrifice.’ the Sith Lord answered, concern touching his voice again. ‘Who happened to you?’

Wrong conclusion, but it might hit the note anyway.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Her lips would tighten.

He had a knack at doing that; likely it was do to that blasted good for nothing hoodoo that he would manipulate like a child's toy. Danger would attempt a recovery; she would plaster a smile to her face. It was different with how she was right now. No artifice in sight; not a smear of make up. Just sweat, dust, sand and that natural musk that was all Danger.

"Just peachy," she'd say with a small shrug. But she wasn't. The blaster was still held up. It wasn't that she didn't trust him, it was that she was running on taut nerves.

"Sacrifice eh?" she would let her gaze wander over him. Typical. Just typical.

"Just like a man... ages well."

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Heh. Man, she had her way around her. Can’t deny it, especially now. Jared didn’t know what it was, but for some awkward, strange reason he had always prefered the women to be more genuine. Emotions flaring up, smiles real, if less pretty on the eye. But that was just him, can’t really say anything ‘bout taste, no?

He hadn’t seen Anaya in a while, hundred years even. Would have to look her up again, find out what was what, if there was anything left burning. Perhaps. This wasn’t exactly going as planned.

‘Well?’ Jared finally snorted. ‘I look like shet.’

‘Look, I should probably have called. But ya know me. Ain’t all that well with propriety, I just wanted to see ya. Perhaps move that blaster away, before this turns ugly?’

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Danger would purse her lips further until they were nothing but a straight line. She appeared to be struggling within herself, mulling the suggestion, thinking of alternatives. Until finally... her arm fell to her side.

For feth's sake was she this obvious? Have some man say he wanted to see her to get her to draw her claws. It made her think of her most recent mistakes. Of him.

Tarnation!

"You can be such a karkin' bastard, Ovmar." she spat out, but there was no true venom in her voice. However, there would be key notes. She had not used her cordial voice nor the sultry drawl of propriety in calling him Lord Ovmar.

She was off her game and it showed. Not that the cursing didn't peg that right also.

"The hell do you want?" she would demand, turning towards her desk as she purposely strode over to it.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He’d lean against the sofa, pondering, there were flashes coming from her. Some kind of man, Jared didn’t have any context though and he knew better than to ask about it. If she wanted to share shet like that with him, she would in her own time, and if she decides not to do it?

All good for him.

‘Aye, I have heard that before, lass.’

Silence reigned for a few moments, tick, tick, tick.

‘How long have we known each other now, Danger?’

It seemed to be time for reflection and history, perhaps.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

"Reminiscing now?" Danger would round her desk to sit on her chair. She would drap herself in it much in the manner of a woman well exhausted and with little patience. This wasn't the Trade Queen at all.

Her hands would go straight for the whiskey; as second nature, she would take two glasses and pour his first. Perhaps even when irked, Danger was still a measure of the perfect hostess.

Collette Arceneau would roll in her grave if Danger was anything but.

"Years." she finally answered him tersely. A weariness came to her.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

When Jared had been younger, more of an ass and less subtle in his machinations, he would have simply levitated the glass to himself through the Force. A sign of strength, power and the sharpness of the mind, but she wasn’t the only one weary and tired about life and everything that sat in between. Perhaps she was simply the one who wasn’t yet used to it all.

So he would walk, softly, slowly, taking his time to get from one point to the other, it seemed that through the years passed, Ovmar had finally lost the interest to hasten himself. Instead he developed… patience, the real kind.

Finally he got there, grace still marred his movements, old dignity now. Taking the glass, their skin touched and Ovmar winked. Before taking a good ol’ sip from the drink, ah… there it was.

‘We are both tired, I feel.’ he finally would say. ‘I probably ain’t gonna be around for a whole lotta longer. Feel like we can just… talk for a while, no?’

A shrug.

‘I could go, if ya want to be left alone.’

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

Her fingertips would lightly tap a beat against the side of her tumbler. There was a pause, a hesitation there at his proposal. Danger was fighting with herself; with internal demons that had been brought up in the wake of losing herself in Kuhn's arms.

That fine trembling came back, and she would curl her fingers around her glass in a knuckle white grip to hide it.

She was angry. At Kuhn. At the situation -- but most of all, at herself.

Did she want him to go? That question would writhe in her mind, wiggling and eating like a maggot. A conclusion came to her that frightened her. Alarmed her.

No.

She did not want him to go. She didn't want to be alone.

Feth, what the hell was wrong with her?

Pride and confidence were her right and left hands. Along with sheer drive and determination. Now what was going on?

"No." her voice would be soft, holding none of the bite from earlier. "Don't go."

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

That might have terrified him more than anything else, truth to be told the expectation to be thrown out had been big. So either his knowledge of people could really be thrown outta the window with all the time unspent, or she was really rattled.

Ovmar sighed softly, and picked up a chair; sitting himself into it. For a while they would just sit there, sip from their drinks and simply… enjoy not being alone for a while, the Sith Lord would never admit it - but all the time in the Monolith had left him craving for conversation, for that simple presence of others.

Even though he knew that where he would go next… he wouldn’t be talking anytime soon.

Finally then Jared broke the silence, before it would become palpable and awkward.

‘What happened?’

Easy question, but would she give an answer? Some men would have sweeted her in, lure her out with some praise, or kittish jokes. Ovmar had been one of them in the past, but he was no longer that man. He refused to be.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

What happened?

Boy that was easier said than done. That is, easier for him to ask than for her to admit.

Danger took a deep shuddering breath, shoulders rising as she brought the low ball glass of whiskey to her lips. It was rather peculiar that she was here sitting in her office with a man who was well into his years to be the Ovmar she'd remembered. But it was what it was.

Her momma done taught her to not fight the sandstorm that rages; best to let it go along.

The slightly slanted almond shape of her eyes would drop to her glass. She took a large gulp; that burn brought no comfort. In her mind, she recalled how she simply had submitted herself. How he'd quickly pressed buttons that had long since been touched, much the less pressed.

Few ever knew the real Danger; most were well used to the Trade Queen. Proud. Confidant. Powerful. With a keen sense of business that had paid off in the galactic enterprise she has. She had everything she could ever want.

Money. Power. Influence.

Yet at the end of the day; what she had wanted long years past was gone from her. While men would fight for her attention, none of them wanted her.

Danger herself.

Me.


The two men she had opened her heart to ended up done breaking her heart. Leaving her for a Jedi echuta of a tart; the same one at that to rub all the more salt into the wound.

Her vision would blur.

Alric Kuhn had managed to break through her facade and pick on the fact that she desperately desired and wanted for herself. Could have been purely accidental, or maybe she made a mistake -- a flaw in her act.

But nonetheless, what ended was that she screwed up. She karked up in the bad way. Made herself vulnerable. Where she normally had all of her monstars on the Dejarik deck in play for a fork, nothing came to her then.

Her attention would drift over to the analog Dejarik board beside her desk. It was a stand alone; antique really. In it had the various positions of monsters from her long running game with Handsome K'lor'slug. It was his turn to move; hers to wait.

Why couldn't this be as easy at a game of Dejarik?

She didn't know how long she was quiet mulling over her thoughts, but she was glad that Ovmar didn't press.

Finally she spoke.

"I done karked up, Ovmar." she managed.

"Showed my hand." she shook her head slightly, blinking her eyes quickly as she took the rest of the whiskey in one burning shot.

It was clear that she hated every minute of it.

 

[Arage Bao]

Hadn't they all? Jared was not sure when exactly he had let it all slip, part of him wanted to say it had only started recently. But he couldn't fool himself, not anymore anyway, too much had happened, too much had changed and he had to start realizing what was what. It had all started with Sandra and Shorn, to be honest part of him was still amazed, surprised at how that turned out. Seemed a cheap drama flick to him, but from that point forward things had spiraled outta control.

He had started taking bigger risks, enough hadn't been enough and Ovmar had wanted more. Greed was good, his nommer was. Sex, alcohol, this drug or that, the endless chase, followed by the imminent fall. His fascination and fixation on claiming things. It had led him from bad to worse, until finally the end started with Annaj and ended with Rave's fethery with the spacetime continuum. Young Jared had had it all figured out at that point, when she had dropped him that one line he decided to do what nobody else was crazy enough to do. Follow her. Why? He hadn't even known why, but it had felt right.

A couple of centuries later and he was ready now, but everything kept him back. A niece craving his attention and teachings, a nation on the brink of civil war, chaos everywhere, broken hearts, friends. It all pulled on him and refused to let go. So here he was, an old tired man, sitting with an equally tired woman and he had no clue how to procede.

'You and me both, sister.' He finally managed to grumble, before following suit and taking the whole hit at once. Jared then put the glass on the table and asked the question.

'How bad?'

 

[Danger Arceneau]

"Bad." Danger would grace him with a twisted smile of mockery that was intended more for herself. She gave a short bark of sarcastic laughter.

Her emerald gaze was truly focused upon the now empty glass. In it she saw the shine of her reflection; the red hair, the lightly freckled face, the glittering eyes. A foggy picture.

In it, another's face would rear up. Her jaw clenched tightly. Her expression would tighten.

"I am well and truly forked, Ovmar."

 

[Arage Bao]

Forked? Now that was a complication, and yet it only piqued his interest. Ovmar had always been an avid player, though he had always preferred the real game above a board. Move people around, influence this or that, his best games had been accomplished through improvising though. Few if anything could compare to the rush one gets when the stakes are real, when it was either up or down and you didn't have a solid plan in place.

At least that was when he had been young, he was far too old and weary for such shenanigans, no? Ovmar crossed his legs and pondered for a while, gave her the space she needed, the time to think, before finally budging in again with his soft, yet enthralling voice. Always that voice, what a man.

'When I was younger... well you know.' the Sith Lord would shrug, Danger knew him to a degree. 'I liked my games, perhaps I could help you with this.'

'Sides, I am leaving soon. Any secrets you entrust will follow me to my... hmm.' grave? How morbid, but he had no illusions on how difficult this experiment might prove to be.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Another short bark of laughter. This time the self hate was evident.

Her hand would reach out to grab the decanter of whiskey, she would pour herself another generous drink. Far more than the usual three fingers she would often nurse.

"So ready to meet the maker, Ovmar?" she'd drawl out, a bitter twist across her mouth.

"Why is that?" her green eyes would lift to meet his. "Here I'd figure you'd have a universe Sabaac card up your sleeve."