Private In the Storm's Wake

[Mathieu Brion]

Tag: Inara Basai​

A thousand memories filled his mind yet his thoughts only lingered on her, here and now. They had already grown close and now they were getting even closer and so much more intimate. In this moment, they seemed to be one.

When their lips parted, Mathieu immediately wanted to go back. He pushed forth a little but soon pulled pack - maybe it would be proportional with a moment of respite. The Morellian often carried himself in a rather cheerful manner but this was different. This was close to euphoric. Keeping close still, he kept his arms wrapped around her whilst once more letting their foreheads meet. His eyes darted around her face as an unhideable smile spread across his face. Eventually, his gaze settled on her eyes.

Peripherally, he noticed how her cheeks reddened, giving her the bright pink hue he had grown so accustomed to. "You're beautiful" he said - it was not planned. The words had just slipped out and for half a moment, he seemed concerned over what he had just said before finding his composure again. "You really are" she deserved to know it and they had long since past the point of doubt and hesitation.

Mathieu felt her arms drop as she spoke, enjoying their delicate touch as they went further down along his torso. His one hand went up her back as she leaned in "I want to say, 'you should've told me', but in truth, I don't regret a moment spent with you." For a few moments, they lingered there. He enjoyed all of it and would have been more than happy to stay there if the pot had not begun to boil over.

Letting out a chuckle while shaking his head, he said "Yeah, you're right" Inara had not yet let go, and neither had he - but as soon as she did, Mathieu would step to the side and offer her a hand for balance as she was about to hop down from the bench. And with that, he took hold of the bar upon which the small pot hung and brought it onto the bench where she had just stood. Removing the bar, he then proceeded to the MREs to finalise the preparations.

Just like last time, they once more had to interrupt a magical moment to secure their food for the night. But this time, it was complete. This time, he didn't leave feeling an endless sense of longing and emptiness. This time, he felt fulfilled and and genuinely happy. The large Morellian stood crouched in front of the pot as he worked with the food she had brought. Glancing up at her, he joked "You know, I never thought I'd even consider leaving the Silver Jedi Order, but here I am, wanting more time to spend in the forest with you. You are being a bad influence on me, Inara Basai." A smirk spread across his face as he thought of when they last met on Kashyyyk "But I still kinda like you"

 

[Inara Basai]

If anything, the flush across Inara's face only grew brighter as Mathieu called her beautiful. Her bashful smile remained, but she had no words to respond. Compliments had always been hard to take. Especially given that she'd been self-conscious about her appearance when she was young, there were always comments about her crazy hair. Now, had grown to like her wild curls, and she was learning to accept the positives about herself with as much grace as possible.

And his words, “you should have told me,” made her think. What if she had said something back then? Things would probably be pretty different now, but she had to agree – she didn't regret any time spent with Mathieu.

As Mathieu offered her his hand, he looked something like a prince standing there. Inara grinned and placed her hand in his momentarily as she hopped down from the bench. Her brows arched softly as Mathieu spoke, mentioning that he hadn't ever thought of leaving the Order – until now. It was, of course, a jest, and Inara could only chuckle in response.

“Me, a bad influence?” she asked innocently.

She gave him a playful nudge when he said that he still liked her. Good. But then, her expression grew serious as she thought about it some more. As Mathieu crouched to prepare their meal, she had a seat on the edge of the bench and looked at him as if she was studying him. In reality, she was imagining the way he looked in his brown robes. He was a shining example of a Jedi, even as a padawan, and Inara certainly didn't want to sully that image. Didn't the Jedi of old have rather strict opinions about relationships, or what was it called... attachments. The last thing she wanted was for him to be admonished by the Jedi elders or however that sort of thing worked.

“Are Jedi allowed to date?” she canted her head to the side curiously. “This isn't... forbidden or anything, right?”

Of course, she didn't want to rush ahead to declare that they were dating. Inara was fairly certain that they were now a couple, but she didn't want to speak for him. At any rate, she was interested to know the answer.

Mathieu Brion

 

[Mathieu Brion]

Tag: Inara Basai​

He had thought that he would continue the joke. "Yes Inara, your influence is sooooo bad" but he couldn't. Her innocent demeanour and cute pinkish cheeks made it an impossible task. His playful smile melted into a soft and gentle one. Mathieu shook his head "No, Inara. Never." He spoke with a stable and sincere voice as she sat down. The water was still boiling hot, but the MRE would be ready soon. Still, they had some time.

Her question was a curious one, but he couldn't help but to feel like there was a hint of concern in it too. Moving the pot to the side, he took up a seat close to her side. The large Morellian looked at her with fond eyes for a few moments before bringing her small frame in under his arm. With his gaze falling onto the fire, he took a deep breath. "Jedi are allowed. We should be fine." A pause ensued - the thought of how much should be said crossed his mind. In truth, he didn't even know how much she would understand, or how much he understood himself.

For a few moments, Mathieu just sat there in silence, enjoying the fire and the calm. "Inara, I would do anything to keep you safe" these were not words which could be said lightly. 'Anything' included a large span of actions, many of which were morally wrong. But still, he repeated it "Anything" He let out a sigh "But, you know, that could lead to the darkside, and if I fell, I wouldn't be able to protect you at all." He fell silent again has his gaze stayed on the fire. The Padawan was deep in thought but eventually, he continued "I need to find the right balance. But I don't know how"

 

[Inara Basai]

Inara looked at Mathieu as he had a seat next to her on the bench. As his arm wrapped around her, she shifted a little to rest her head against his broad shoulder. She felt him inhale, and she could also feel the vibration of his deep tone as he spoke. It was a relief to know that the Jedi codes allowed such relationships, he may have felt her release a breath that she'd been holding.

“Good, I'm glad.” Were her words in response, and Inara aimed a smile up at him before setting back in against his side. Darkness was falling all around them now, the sunset glow in the sky had dimmed, but their camp fire crackled and illuminated their surroundings with dancing light. Her hand came to rest comfortably against Mathieu's chest, and her eyes found the flames of the camp fire.

It felt good to just be.

There was no impending doom of battle or urgent sense of danger, just the two of them. When Mathieu spoke again, Inara listened. Shifting slightly, she looked up at him when he repeated the word: anything. These words had weight to them, they were substantial. Her dark eyes softened as she took in his features, lit warmly by the fire.

Balance. They would indeed need to find the right balance. Within the ranks of the rangers, there was an understanding that they'd leave none of their brothers or sisters in arms behind. Yet, there was also a solemn knowledge of sacrifice – giving oneself for the greater good. It was a tug-of-war between the two, and Inara had been fearful of being placed in the position where she'd need to make a choice. Looking at Mathieu, she already knew that she didn't want to lose him – and she didn't want to leave him.

“We'll work it out,” she said softly, reaching up to gently caress his jawline and turn his head towards her own. “I think it's safe to say – we're in this together now. We keep each other safe.”

Inara gazed at him affectionately. “And... I don't want you to fall to the darkside because of me. Don't change who you are,” she urged. “I... like you like this.” Her lips curled into a reassuring smile.

Mathieu Brion

 

[Mathieu Brion]

Tag: Inara Basai​

He nodded. They would make it work out. For a while, the Padawan seemed a little absent minded as his gaze shifted past the flames to look into the nothingness ahead. There were many factors which needed to be considered and many risks which needed to be taken into account. It felt a little empty when she removed her hand from his chest - but it soon came up to caress his jawline. With that, the spell was broken and he returned to her in the present.

Mathieu's head turned to Inara as her hand guided him to her. His eyes met hers and a subconscious smile grew on his lips. He enjoyed seeing her. He nodded once more. "We always have. Ever since Taris." he said, remembering how they had been watching each other's backs ever since first meeting. The nodding continued for a little bit "And we will continue looking after each other. For we are in this together."

A soft smile grew on his lips as he shook his head. It was truly amazing how lucky he had been in finding Inara - she really seemed to understand and for that, he was grateful. It was nothing which could be taken for granted. "I won't turn, Inara, not willingly." His arm was still draped around her and he brought up his free hand to brush away a strain of hair from her face. "I know that, if I turn, I won't be able to protect anyone in the long run. I just have to be mindful, sometimes, it comes creeping up on you if you're not careful." he said, remembering an instance where he had seen something similar happen.

It was time to eat, but before removing his arm from her, he reached over to grab the blanket and unfolded it to drape it over her shoulders instead. The Padawan slowly stood up and looked at her with a fondness in his eyes before turning his attention to the pot. It was an MRE - the preparation was easy and so was the serving. Soon, they both had a paper bowl each along with some plastic cutlery and a bag under the bench for trash. Once more sitting down next to her, he looked down to see her "Let's see if a Mercenary turned Padawan can prep your MREs as well as you rangers can" he said, preparing to dig in.

Although they had moved on to eating, his mind still lingered on her words. A goofy smile suddenly appeared on his lips as he thought of what she said. She liked him like this. She didn't want him to change. She wanted to make sure that the Jedi would accept them. "Actually, you rangers don't have any non-fraternisation policies with Jedi, do you? If you do, I might have to go into politics" he joked, nor for a moment believing that he would be good at convincing people of things which they did not already believe in. Still, the question had to be asked - for he knew just about as little about the Rangers' internal policies as she did about the Jedi's.

It was getting dark and when he looked over at her, he could - albeit peripherally - see his large shadow sitting close to her small one. His eyes observed them for a few moments before turning back to Inara "You aren't too cold or anything, right? I imagine the food should be bringing some warmth"

 

[Inara Basai]

Inara smiled softly at the mention of Taris – this mission stuck out in her mind for many reasons. Despite the rather grisly task of dealing with the rakghouls, she'd always remember it quite fondly. Even back then, she'd been taken by Mathieu, the Jedi Padawan. She nodded a couple of times when he affirmed; they were in this together.

Her palm lingered there by his jawline as he spoke, and her fingers trailed down the side of his neck before coming to rest on his chest again. She drew in a gentle breath as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face. In truth, she did not fully understand the dark side and how its dark influence worked. She'd felt it in their Sith opponents, but what was it like for someone to fall? Inara wasn't certain that she'd even want to know the answer.

Inara brought a hand up to cover a chuckle as Mathieu handed her the bowl of MRE – and had, very sweetly, placed the blanket around her. “Ha! I'm sure it'll be great.” She lifted the bowl to up for a quick sniff, it had a sweet and savory scent. There was instant rice mixed in, too. After taking a quick bite, she looked to Mathieu and offered a nod as she chewed. It was decent. The chicken would have been better grilled, with a bit of the sauce on top – but the little bits cut up for the MRE would have to do for now.

As Mathieu asked about the ranger's fraternization policies, she arched an eyebrow. “No, we don't,” she said, glancing up towards the dark sky as she thought. “None really concerning Jedi, at least. As for the rangers, we're free to date within our ranks if we like, but even that is discouraged.” Inara said with a nod. There had been instances in the past with soldiers being involved with their CO's, and that presented problems. “Though, I'm not really sure what happens if you become a Jedi General.”

Inara shot Mathieu a small wink.

She could easily imagine him... his tall, strong form clad in his billowing robes, commanding troops. Inara felt that familiar flutter within, but turned her attention back to finishing up her meal. “I'm great,” she said, smiling. “Very toasty.”

Inara set her bowl and fork into the little garbage bag, and rose from the bench to put a log on the fire. Then, she searched about the ground for a few moments. Reaching down, she lifted a stick – tossed one away – and then picked up another. “This'll work.” She had a seat again and pulled out her pocket knife to begin cutting away some of the bark and make a pointed shape. “Ready for some dessert?”

Mathieu Brion

 

[Mathieu Brion]

Tag: Inara Basai​

Nobody would be able to say that she was not supportive. Mathieu looked at her, amused, as she said that she was sure that it would be great. It was hard to mess up an MRE, that much was true. But then, it was an MRE. In any case, he found it enjoyable enough - although it had more to do with her company than the quality of the food.

His lips curled into a smile when she told him about the lack of fraternization policies in regards to Jedi. "Good! I don't think I'd make for a very good politician" he let out a chuckle before adding "Nor will I become a ranger then" Both exclusions were done in a rather lighthearted manner, for he had no intentions or desires to become either a politician or a ranger.

What came next gave him a few things to think about, however. She was unsure of what the stance was in regards to Jedi Generals and in truth, he had peered at the possibility. Having lead others as a Mercenary and observed as others did it as a Jedi, Mathieu knew that it was an interesting prospect for him. Something that he might be good at beyond swinging the sabre or kicking down doors.

The large Morellian's eyes lingered on her with their gaze shifting between her features. "...and if it means trouble, I won't take the path of command either" He gave her a reassuring smile - there would be no doubts about his loyalty and commitment - or at least so he hoped. Mathieu though for a few more moments before adding "I will do just as good keeping the peace"

A laugh escaped him "That's how we like you! Great and very toasty" Silence was allowed to fall over them. The fire took the centre stage as a few leafs calmly fell from the treetops when a gentle breeze brushed through them.

When she put away her plate and cutlery, he followed suit. But instead of standing up and searching for the sticks, he lingered by his spot for a bit before moving over to his bag where he took out a small but neat box to put in his pocket. He wanted to surprise her but Inara was quicker than expected and managed to catch him off guard as the box slipped into its new hiding place. For a moment, Mathieu thought that she had seen it, but she only asked if he was ready for dessert.

The Padawan let out a chuckle and a nervous "Yes, of course" before taking out the marshmallows she had suggested them using a bit earlier. For the time being, he was very far from reaching his limits on how much he could eat. Mathieu tended to eat a lot just to use the energy later during training - naturally, his expectations of what exercise he could get while hiking were lower but that did not affect how much he could comfortably have.

Walking back to the bench, he opened the pack of marshmallows and put it on his lap before looking up to Inara, seeing if she would give him one of the sticks she had worked on. He nodded to her knife "Carry any other weapons?" he asked - it was only natural to have a knife close at hand when camping, but he was curious about if she might also have brought more.

 

[Inara Basai]

Inara appreciated that Mathieu seemed to be willing to put their relationship first – before his position within the Silver Jedi, even. But, she didn't want to see him hold back because of her. She knew he'd make a fine commander.

Now that she was back in her spot by the fire, she eyed Mathieu sidelong. Did he seem a bit... nervous? The ranger shrugged it off and continued to cut away at her sticks. As she finished up, she arched a brow as he asked if she carried any more weapons. Inara pocketed the knife and handed Mathieu one of the two sticks.

“Yeah,” she said. “I usually keep a hold-out blaster, just in case."

Her dark eyes tracked towards her backpack. “But I don't need much else – especially when I have a Jedi.” Inara chuckled and looked warmly at Mathieu. Indeed there wasn't much to fear here in the woods, thank goodness. "And Jedi use... lightsabers, right?" She canted her head to the side. She didn't know much about these mystical weapons, but she'd seen them in action before, and they seemed pretty effective.

Reaching over, she opened the pack of marshmallows and stuck it onto the end of her stick. The fire was hot enough now that the embers glowed, and Inara lowered her marshmallow down towards the them. A wide smile remained on her lips as she made sure to turn her stick now and then to cook the marshmallow evenly. And when it was just starting to turn a lovely shade of brown – it caught!

“Ahhh!” Inara gasped, and immediately withdrew the stick from the flames and blew the fire atop her marshmallow out. “Oh goodness.”

Despite the charred appearance, she carefully removed the marshmallow and popped it into her mouth. It was a bit crispy, but gooey on the inside. The tips of her fingers were now a bit sticky, too.

Mathieu Brion

 

[Mathieu Brion]

Tag: Inara Basai​

Mathieu was not sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing that she tended to keep a hold-out blaster. On the one hand, he felt that it was a pity - he wanted her to feel safe and the fact that she carried it around indicated that she was not safe enough. On the other hand, it was good that she did keep it around. He was far from perfect and had suffered his fair share of defeats. The fact that she could defend herself, even when he was out was good. In a way, it made him feel a little more calm.

A fond smile grew on his lips once more. The Padawan was glad that she felt safe with him, and he nodded "You do have a Jedi" While she chuckled, he looked at her with a soft gaze, ready to meet hers. Another nod came as she asked if they used lightsabres. In fact, he had brought both of his with him. Not because he thought they were in danger, but rather because he had been taught to not leave his sabre behind. He remembered having used both of them when they were fighting together on Velmor. "That's mostly right. But some use other tools. I have seen Jedi wield blasters and I usually still carry my stun baton with me. Always good to have another option, right?"

It would not be long before the grilling of the marshmallows started. It brought him fond memories from when he used to camp with his mates. Whilst holding the marshmallow over the fire, quite a bit higher than Inara did, he reached for her bag. It was new, to just access her items like that so before his hand arrived by it, he looked to her "Can I grab the biscuits?" If allowed, he would open the pack and lay two out on his leg..

The drama that then occurred had him worried. As she let out her gasp, his head turned to scan for threats while his free hand reached for his weapon. A relieved laugh escaped him as he noticed that it was just the marshmallow. "Careful, it's hot!" he said as he watched her reach for it and he let out another "Careful" as she gobbled it. "You Chalactans don't care much for when it's hot, do you?" he chuckled, referring both to their spicy food and her capacity to eat the marshmallows without getting burned.

His eyes lingered on her fingers for a bit. They seemed sticky and he was getting an idea on how to clean them up - but he still worried that it might be a bit bold, a bit fast. His eyes went up to hers before then returning to her fingers.

Eventually, Mathieu's marshmallow looked good with a soft brown hue to it. With seemingly practiced technique, the Morellian brought down the stick with the marshmallow to one of the biscuits and put another on top of it and slowly started to pull it out like a sandwich. Looking at her with a sense of enthusiasm and happiness, he offered her the marshmallow sandwich with a low "For you" A smile spread across his lips as he leaned in toward her, letting his side brush against hers before putting a second marshmallow on his stick.

 

[Inara Basai]

Inara gave Mathieu a nod when he mentioned the biscuits, he was free to grab them out of her bag. She watched with a smile as he set two of them on his leg. And Inara laughed after chewing her charred marshmallow. “The hotter the better,” she replied with a grin.

With her fingers sticky, she reached for a napkin and wiped them with a bit of water from her canteen. Then, she turned her attention to Mathieu as he roasted his own marshmallow. His technique was careful, holding the marshmallow above the flames, rather than by the embers. And the result was perfect! “Wow,” she said, blinking. “That looks amazing. You definitely have some skills, Jedi Brion.” Jedi marshmallow roasting skills, and much, much more.

A smile grew on her lips when he held the newly made biscuit sandwich out to her. Inara accepted it with a nod, and a soft, affectionate gaze. “Aw, thanks,” she said, beaming. He was so kind and sweet – one of the many reasons Inara found herself so attracted to him. Lifting the biscuit and marshmallow sandwich up for a bite, she delighted in the roasted flavor and the melty texture mixed with the crumbly biscuit. She gave Mathieu a thumbs up while she chewed.

When she had finished off her dessert, she let out a content sigh.

Scooting closer, Inara made herself comfortable at Mathieu's side, cuddling against him. She let her head come to rest against his shoulder, and she closed her eyes to bask in the warmth – of him, of the fire, and of the blanket wrapped around her. "You aren't cold, are you?" she asked, glancing up. After all, she did have the blanket all to herself. No matter his response, Inara sat up on her knees for a moment in order to attempt wrapping some of the blanket around Mathieu's broad shoulders as well. If they sat close enough together, which wouldn't be a problem at all, they could probably make it work.

Mathieu Brion

 

[Mathieu Brion]

Tag: Inara Basai​

A confident yet playful glint appeared in his eyes as she praised him for his skills in marshmallow roasting. "Goes to show that we don't just sit around and meditate all day long, doesn't it?" Right after the joke, he handed the marshmallow sandwich to Inara. Her thanks came before his new one had been attached to the stick. Throwing her a glance with a friendly smile he let out a brief "Don't mention it" before returning his attention to the marshmallow.

It was comfortable, sitting there next to her. Much of the nervousness which he had first felt was gone and turning back to the fire and just being there with her didn't only feel unproblematic, it felt good. Letting the marshmallow grill away over the fire he glanced over at her once more "Want another?" He had a good guess that her appetite was sated, for she was not grilling a new one herself. Still, if she wanted it, he would be happy to give it to her once it was sandwiched between two biscuits, otherwise, he would have it himself.

Mathieu felt how she was scooting closer and while he let his gaze rest on the fire, a smile still grew on his lips. Reaching over with his hand, the Padawan searched for hers to hold. He looked down at her by his shoulder when she asked if he was cold - in truth, he was not. Mathieu rarely froze to begin with and with both the fire and his robes, the risks were minimal. But then, the question did make him wonder if she did "No" His answer was brief but he intended to ask if she did before she sat up on her knees.

Inara was sweet and he couldn't help but to think of how caring she was when he realised what she was trying to do. Taking hold of the blanket on the opposite side of her, he laid it over his shoulder. Once the girl sat back down he wrapped his other arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. The Padawan's warm robes brushed up against her back, giving her another layer whilst welcoming her into his embrace. It did not take long for them come closer and with his now free hand, Mathieu reached for hers to grasp it again.

Leaning over, he brushed his jaw against the top of her head whilst pulling the blanket closer around them. His gaze was fixed on a stray leaf laying near the fire that burned on in the background.

Eventually, he removed his head from hers and leaned back. Once more, their hands separated as he reached for his pocket. From it, he brought out a hard box. It was not a large one, but not too small either it contained the watch that he had bought for her before coming. He smiled at her as he leaned in closer again and handed her the box. Then he repeated the same two words he first said when giving her the marshmallow "For you"

 

[Inara Basai]

Inara was very content, snuggled up next to Mathieu. When he asked if she wanted another marshmallow sandwich, she held up a palm and shook her head gently. “No thanks, I'm good now,” she said, smiling. Not so surprisingly, the MRE had done its job and filled her up quite well.

She drew in a deep breath and nestled her head against Mathieu's shoulder as he drew her close. A fond smile found her lips, his robes were quite soft, and the blanket wrapped around them created quite a cozy spot. Her hand was in his now, their palms pressed together – and she had to notice how well her hand fit inside his. Inara closed her eyes.

When she'd joined the rangers, she hadn't expected to form any bonds beyond friendship. The last thing she'd imagined was striking up a romance with a Jedi. But now, she didn't want for anything else. This bond, it was still very new, but it felt strong to Inara – a bond forged in battle, injuries, and time spent together. There was a definite feeling; something that happened when she was close to him.

Was this what the force truly felt like?

The ranger had only ever picked up on the force when Mathieu was near. With her eyes still closed, she silently reflected on this thought as she listened to the fire crackling in the background. She felt his hand withdraw from hers, but thought nothing of it. However, Mathieu's voice drew her back and she opened her eyes to see a small box in his hand. Her eyes widened with surprise, and she blinked at Mathieu before gently accepting the box.

“How sweet of you,” she said, still eyeing him. “You didn't have to get me anything.”

Smiling, she opened the box to find a rather stunning watch. “Oh, Matty,” she murmured as she lifted the watch out. She could see her reflection in the smooth watch face, and the firelight flickered there too. Inara slid the watch onto her wrist and fastened the clasp to keep it in place. “It's lovely,” she said, sitting up on her knees again and leaning close, her arms around his neck again.

“Thank you...”

Her words were punctuated by a kiss.

Mathieu Brion

 

[Mathieu Brion]

Tag: Inara Basai​

"I know" he said, his tone was warm and his eyes studied her appreciative smile with fondness. But then he closed them again and leaned in closer as she started to open the box. Brushing his jaw against the top of her head, Mathieu felt at peace as he gave her a squeeze with the arm that was still draped over her back and shoulders. He then removed his head from hers to create a little bit of distance so that they could see the watch together. But in truth, his gaze never really lingered by the watch. Instead, it fixated on her - she seemed so happy for the gift and that brought a smile to his lips.

She mentioned that the watch was lovely, but he kept quiet. For he was busy admiring her as she spoke of the watch. While his intentions were to answer as she thanked him, that opportunity never really came. Before long, she sat up on her knees with her arms around his neck. Mathieu's own arm that had just been draped over her slid down to hold her waist. She came closer and he drew a little nearer too, and then they kissed. It was truly wonderous how great it felt, just as the first time.

A satisfied grin spread across his lips but it soon turned into a happy smile. The large Morellian wanted to say something, but he couldn't find the words. Instead, his mouth soundlessly tried to form words as he tried to formulate a coherent sentence. His heart was beating faster and he felt the need to take a deep breath before letting out a "Wow" He paused for a few long moments, originally, he had wanted to explain the different functions, for there were a few extra ones, but now, he knew that it would have to wait. He was far to taken to go into detail on how the watch worked. "You are too beautiful" he said

If she eventually returned into her normal seating position by his side, he would once more drape his heavy arm over her to hold her tight. His free hand went to her lap and lingered for a few moments before searching for her hands. He wanted to hold them again. Once they were both set in a comfortable position, he would lean his head against the top of hers and simply watch the fire burn in front of them as the summer warmth started to be replaced by the cold of night.

 

[Inara Basai]

As their lips parted, Inara drew in a soft breath, still lingering close to Mathieu. When he complimented her, a small smile formed on her lips and that rosy blush burned her cheeks. There weren't that many occasions when 'beautiful' had been used to describe her. Her gaze didn't flicker away from his, like it would have for anyone else, and she placed a soft hand on the side of his face.

“You're not so bad yourself,” she said, grinning.

And it was more than true. 'Not bad,' of course, was a huge understatement. Inara had found him handsome the first time they'd met on Taris. He had the kind of masculine features that she found attractive, the kind of looks that made her blush pretty much right away.

Inara settled back down at Mathieu's side, legs pulled up beneath her, and enjoyed firelight that would eventually fade to smoke and darkness.

***

After the fire had been extinguished safely, the two got ready for bed. Inara 'washed' her face with a cleansing wipe, brushed her teeth, and ducked into the tent to change into pajamas. Tonight, she wore a simple tee with a pair of comfortable cotton pants. Mathieu, too, would have the time he needed to change if he was uncomfortable dressing down in her presence.

But when it was finally time to settle in, Inara got into her sleeping bag by the light of a small lantern. She settled onto her side, her resting gently on her little pillow. “Mmm,” she'd murmur softly, it felt nice to stretch out and sink into the sleeping pad.

Gazing in Mathieu's direction, she had to smile.

When she'd first met him on Taris, she'd wouldn't have guessed that they'd be here in the tranquil wilderness, preparing to sleep side by side. Of course, she might have hoped something like this would happen – she had, in fact. She'd let her shy awkwardness get the best of her many times since she'd met Mathieu, and after Velmor... she'd come to realize that there was no time like the present.

Now, she'd allow herself to fall comfortably into his arms. Scooting closer in her sleeping bag, she wiggled over to his side and let her head rest upon his chest. After all, she'd never promised to stay on her side of the tent.

“I could get used to this,” she whispered, draping her arm over his middle and cuddling him close. “Nice and cozy.”

Mathieu Brion

 

[Mathieu Brion]

Tag: Inara Basai​

It was getting dark. So dark. But the moonlight still contributed to a little bit of light that shimmered down onto the water, creating small reflections that provided them with a bit of a light source after the fire had gone out. Mathieu wandered out to the water's edge as he brushed his teeth. It was a pleasant sight and a rather peaceful one. From time to time, a few sounds could be heard from fish playing near the surface, almost making him a little bit hesitant about fishing the day after. The little animals seemed to be having the time of their lives. A smile grew on his lips as he finished up and returned back to the tent just a few metres back.

Getting in and out of robes was easy, so while Inara was changing inside the tent, he quickly did the same outside of it, removing his robes and the tunic which laid underneath before taking on a t-shirt and shorts instead. He was not dressed to show of his impressive physique. The t-shirt was a loose fitting and comfortable one which did not show any strain as it hung over his shoulders and chest. Wrapping the outer robes around himself once more in order to protect against the cold, Mathieu waited until she peered out of the tent to offer him an opportunity to change in it. With a shake of his head, he signalled that it wasn't needed, and so, he entered.

The tent seemed to be of a good quality and had kept warm compared to the outside. Crawling over to his sleeping bag, Mathieu took the robes off for a final time and laid them to the side in the corner before starting to slip into the bag. There was a moment where he felt a little worried - usually, sleeping bags could be a little bit too small for him - but this time, his worries would fade fast. Before coming, he had bought an extra large one that provided more than enough room for him inside.

Without zipping it up past his waist, Mathieu laid on his side while letting his gaze fall over Inara. It brought a smile to his face to just be able to look at her and know that it was okay. He liked what he saw and it seemed as if she liked looking at him too. Soon, she started to scoot closer. The large Morellian laid out an arm between them for her to scoot in over and as she got in close, it starter to wrap around her back. With her head resting on his chest, Inara would be able to hear every heartbeat, feel every breath and feel whenever he moved his arm about. With one fluent motion, he brought his outer robes over from the opposite side of her to cover her arm and his upper body. He had completely discarded the idea of zipping up the sleeping bag completely now.

Although she probably wouldn't be able to see it, a smile grew on his lips as she spoke. He would like to get used to this too. Falling asleep with Inara in his arms, peaceful, safe and perfect. But he couldn't help but to feel a bit of fear too. They both lead dangerous lives and it was hard to predict what would happen the next day. The prospect of loosing her was terrifying. After holding in a deep breath, he finally let it out along with a "Me too" a few moments passed before another sentence was added "I'll enjoy every moment of it"

They had had a long day and had been through a lot before the camping trip. With Inara so close, it would not be long until he fell asleep once more, relying on either his body clock or Inara to wake him up once the time was right.