Take Off The Mask

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Her cry of surprise would echo down the shuttle. She gave a yelp, half laughing and half beating at the old Tetan as he settled her onto his lap. His face was smug, his embrace drawing her closer, and by all accounts, Danger was trapped!

"You old fool!" she would chide him, wiggling in place and trying to fight his tight grip. It didn't work. Instead she felt the rasp of his beard by her cheek, a silly proud grin split his face in two, and the warmth of his breath by her throat.

"You'll hurt your back!" she'd add, a bit flustered but the slight smile that couldn't help but tug at the corners of her lips said otherwise.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"My back is doing just fine, thank you." The ship rumbled slightly as it pushed into the atmosphere, doing its grand loop halfway around the planet before it would drop back down in a few moments.

Briefly he recalled once reading that people hadn't always traveled like this, that it had taken hours and hours to get anywhere. His head shook slightly, trying to think of what that would be like. Travel was one of his favorite things, it was why he'd created so many luxury starships in his time. The thought of even short trips taking days...well, in his old age Alric actually rather like that thought. He mused for a moment more, then pressed his lips against Danger's neck.

The ship slowly began to drop back down, giving him that odd feeling in his stomach.

His arms clutched tighter around Danger, holding on to her like a seatbelt in case there were any bumps from turbulence.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

That freefall sensation came next.

Alric took hold of her attention, the soft scrape of his beard as he pressed his face against the curve of her neck. Her own arms found themselves sliding around his shoulders, the gentle press of her lips right along his temple.

She shut her eyes.

There was a faint rumble, a bit of turbulence and a mammaquatia as a result. Not as smooth of a ride as one of the more luxurious yachts, but it would do the job. Well, if she didn’t focus too much on how her stomach would flip flop.

“Never can get used to that feelin’” she’d say low, referencing the slight lurch as the shuttle descended through the atmosphere.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric smiled. The shuttle would slowly drop down to normal altitude, zooming along down the back of Empress Teta until eventually the botanical gardens came into sight. The building that contained the gardens was rather huge, taking up quite a bit of space and even cutting into the surrounding area. It was one of the few places on Empress Teta that still contained a mass of foliage, the outside of the gardens being decorated with native fauna to the planet.

The inside of course contained more exotic species, the greenhouse being filled with plants from all over the galaxy.

"Are there other feelings you're used to?" The childish question came with a slight grope of his fingers. "If not I can help with that."

He smirked, like a boy in high school as the shuttle quickly passed over the forest surrounding the Botanical Gardens and passed towards the landing pad. No other ship was there yet, but that was to be expected. The Girls would arrive a little bit after them, giving both Alric and Danger time to get ready.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

“Mmm… and how you reckon you’d help with that if you don’t know what kind of feelin’ I meant?” she’d banter right back, lips twisted into a crimson smirk. The shuttle eased into its flight, steadying as the turbulence would wane. The rest of the trip was smooth, so when the landing struts slid out, they barely felt the slight dip as the ship would land on the first pad.

Another kiss to his temple and a slight scratch of her nails at the nape of his neck. “I think you’ve done your duty as my chair now. Might be time to let me go.” she teased, only to add. “Unless you’ve a mind to explore more of those feelin’s?”

She was amused, but it was clear that it was edged with the growing nervousness again. Couldn’t help it, was just a part of her. Always was when it was a subject that mattered to her, and this being the girls.

Granted, they were older now, and it wasn’t as if they were younglings. Not like Makai.

The thought of the youngest Dashiell was enough to provoke a soft genuine smile. Now he was someone she could genuinely say had stolen her heart and loved him as much as she would her own.

Bittersweet, but Danger was a woman who was made to mother. In the absence of his own, Danger had no qualms on doing such for [member="Makai Dashiell"].

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"We'll have to do more exploring later." Alric said with a smile as his arms slowly slid away from her. "I'm afraid they'd kick us off the shuttle if we tried to do it now."

Slowly Danger stood from his lap, stretching herself slightly as she moved through the small transport shuttle.

Alric followed after her relatively quickly, though he lagged slightly, still musing on the past. As soon as they exited the shuttle they were hit with a blast of fresh air, the trees and the surrounding foliage swaying with the rock of a gentle gust. Alric breathed in deep, suddenly reminded of all the times he'd spent here was a child with Violet and Fiona. He smiled slightly, lacing his arm around the small of Dangers back as they stepped off of the ramp. His eyes closed for half a moment, the old man simply following Danger's steps as they moved forward.

There was no fear in him, no nerves about how the day would go.

Why would there be? Everything would go well, he was sure of it.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

One of the first thing Danger always noticed about Empress Teta was the fresh air. Oh, Cinnagar spread across the bulk of the planet, but even despite the two invasions that scarred the landscape, it still maintained a level of elegance and beauty that Coruscant lacked.

One may say it was the real jewel of the Core Worlds, but each had their own preferences. Cinnagar lacked the perpetual layer of smog, and in that with all the reconstruction and historic preservation of the culture and architecture, would ensure that it would never be as industrialized as COruscant.

If anything, the Tetans enjoyed retaining their plots of green.

The clipping tattoo of Danger’s heels would echo as she ambled along with Alric. A gust of wind would ruffle her hair and the line of her beige dress. She had worn a boat neck wrap around for the occasion, with black heels and her hair flowing down in soft waves.

She’d have a bit more clean lines than Rose had seen her last, but it would be an image she likely would be more used to. Lily as well.

“It’s beautiful,” she would murmur to the man next to her, her green eyes taking in the sight of the enormous botanical garden greenhouse. The sun’s rays would glint off the glasteel, and bubbling fountains would be scattered among the polished carved statues of precious velmstone.

“How large is it?”
__

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"Pretty big." Alric said without the writer chuckling at all.

"There's the outside forest, it's protected by the government as a wildlife sanctuary." Animals that once roamed all of Empress Teta lived there now, making the forest several acres large. One could walk all around the place and even go camping there, though doing so was generally considered a bit dangerous due to the animals that roamed the area. "The inside is just as big. There's...thirteen separate greenhouses all filled with plants from different planets. Felucia, Kashyyyk, outer rim worlds, there's even one dedicated to fungi from cold worlds like Hoth."

That would be Danger's least favorite one, it was freezing in there.

He smiled though, leading Danger towards the entrance. The place was notably devoid of everyone and everything, no one behind the ticket counter and no one to come and greet them. Alric would be the tour guide today. Lily and Rose would be arriving within fifteen minutes, and then things would...well hopefully things would go well.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

He was right. Danger would give a grimace as soon as he mentioned Hoth. There was only one place she enjoyed that took a dip in the temperature. The Ice Manor Alric had built for her was one of her favorite locations. The sudden bit of remembrance would bring a rather amusing flush to her face at that considering that had been the start of… well.

How things managed to get to here.

“How do they deal with the potential cross pollination?” not to mention any unwanted pests that could come on over. A single organism could very well destroy the living flora from one world to the next. Pharma Tech was currently researching how to clone and bring back extinct and endangered botanical plants for this very purpose.

Perhaps they would build a system to ensure that those botanicals that were part of the program would never be lost again

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"They keep the more invasive species separate." Alric said simply. "And are very careful with everything else. Some plants are even kept ray shielded so that they don't spread too far. From what I understand though every greenhouse represents a different world, or fauna that are fine cohabitating in the same environment."

It made sense to him, though he was no scientist.

"I suppose we could ask someon-oh wait." He smiled at her, gently pulling her closer into an embrace.

Ten minutes now.

He wondered if Danger was trying to keep her mind occupied, if she was trying to think of anything but his daughters arriving. It would be just like her, though he doubted that she was as nervous as she had been before. The Titan liked to think that he had soothed her somewhat, had at least put in into a semblance of ease.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"Perhap---oh!" came Danger's abrupt cry of surprise, finding her swept up into Alric's arms. Laughter bubbled up again, and he swung her a bit in a half circle, a rakish grin across his face and a rather smug devilry in his eyes.

Oh, he was smooth. As smooth as the finest Whyren's Reserve. It was easy to get swept up off one's feet when it was done by Alric Kuhn. Age had certainly only enhanced those traits, molding him into a rather irresistible peppered haired male with a near endless well of charisma and charm to boot.

"Keep doing that and I'll just might get too used to it Kuhn," she'd tease him, aware that it was already a given and she'd sailed that ship long ago. Her arms snaked under his, over his ribcage and holding him close. She was trying to distract herself, but it wasn't plaguing her mind as it had in the past. That one with Rose had her working herself up to a certain fret, more so afterwards. It took Alric a good talking to and shaking some sense into her to see that.

It was also the first time he'd ever told her he loved her.

How strange that was, she mused. It was still a bit surreal. All of this was.

Her smile would wane, and her gaze softened.

"Then I'll never let you go."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"I'm alright with that." Alric said with a soft smile.

Their words seemed to echo throughout the empty building of the gardens, the halls and massive open room being completely empty of nearly everything. There was a serene silence to it, a lovely quiet that could only come from an empty building. Briefly Alric wondered what else would have happened here today, if it would have been busy, or abandoned. So often things like the Gardens were forgotten in place of new technology and things of that nature.

He frowned for a moment, wondering if he'd made the push for technology a tad too easy.

A rumble overhead caught his attention, the sound of a transport shuttle flying over the building, just a tad too close. Alric looked up, his eyes following the noise. Immediately he assumed that Rose was flying the ship and not the standard pilot, his daughter having a way with flying a bit too dangerously. "Well, it seems they're a tad early."

Only by a few minutes.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

“Already?” Her head would swivel slowly towards the hum of the transport shuttles engines. That nervousness suddenly kicked a good ten levels in the span of a heart beat. Danger felt her mouth go dry, and again, she recalled exactly how Rose had reacted just by her mere presence back at the Stronghold.

And that had been without her even knowing the full extent of Danger’s and Alric’s relationship.

Pearly white teeth would nibble on the fullness of her lower lip, and her fingers would curl against the fabric of his jacket.

Feth

What I’d do for a smoke..

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

The girls left the transport one at a time. Rose seemed to be wearing ordinary clothing, just a plain pair of jeans and a top that he recognized as something that the two of them had bought only a few days before. Lily on the other hand was wearing more formal attire, not a dress, but something very like it. Her hair was flat and it was clear that she had put quite a bit more consideration into her outfit, something that didn't surprise Alric in the least.

Of the two, Lily knew Danger's reputation far better.

Lily was looking to impress.

Alric smiled, then pulled away from Danger slightly so that he could face his daughters. He left an arm around her however, offering her support. He smiled at her, then waited for Rose and Lily to come through the door. The two of them slowly meandered their way up the ramp and towards the building, apprehension and a bit of fear on both of their faces. Alric watched both of them, his face never changing and his back never really stiffening. Alric was completely relaxed, unlike the woman beside him.

"Girls." Eventually they both made it up the ramp, both offering shy smiles. "This is Danger."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Well at least one of them was so relaxed.

Danger could read the apprehension in Lily and in Rose, and took it a bit more to heart that the uneasiness was so apparent on each of their faces. It was there within eyes the same hue as Alric's own. Her stomach twisted, and she again felt doubt.

Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe it was too soon. I really don't have to be here if they are bothered by it at all... So many thoughts raced through her mind, each one taking just a little bit more of her courage. Just a little bit more of her confidence. Just a little more of her pride.

Definitely needed a drag right about now.

So the Queen of Trade did what she did best. What she reverted to. She played a role. She couldn't help it. It was a defense mechanism as much as it was her intense need to make sure this went smoothly. Her expression warmed, a cordial smile on her face, and she was above all, pleasant.

"I hope the trip went well." her voice was rice as Alderaanian honey, and amicable at best. Congenial enough to be pleasantly neutral.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Lily looked at Rose, clearly expecting her sister to speak first. Alric smiled at them both, and waited for one of them to talk. The Twins had never been shy, really, at gatherings they had always made a point to ensure that their presence was known and their wants and needs were met. Usually Lily moved to be the center of attention, and Rose...well Rose was Rose. Now however it seemed that they both had trepidation within their hearts, though Alric could hardly blame them.

"It was nice."

Rose finally said.

"Goes a little bit slower than the Momentum, though."

Rose shot her father a smile.

The Momentum was the ship that Alric had given to Rose in order for her to explore the galaxy, the vessel was perhaps the fastest commercially available starship in existence, and it was clear that Rose had gotten used to flying fast. It didn't surprise him that she had been the one piloting, especially with how low and fast the ship had come over the botanical gardens themselves. The old Man stepped forward, pulling Danger with him. "Well, We'll be lucky if you didn't break any windows around here."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]


The seconds would tick past.

It was awkward. It was getting awkward by the second.

Neither of the girls seemed to know where to really set their gaze on, so they naturally went towards the one they were comfortable with; their father. Danger swore her heart was thumping so loudly that they'd all be able to hear. Swallowing, she kept her smile on her face. Just breathe, she told herself. Stop being such a fool! came the internal chide.

Ah, but she couldn't just turn it off.

The pressure at the low of her back would prompt her to move forward, and as they took a step closer, Danger had the pressing need to perhaps step away from the Old Tetan instead. Likely they wanted to at the very least hug, and she wasn't one to stand in the way of that.

So she tried to pull away. There was safety in distance.

Maybe I should go check on the seating arrangements. Make sure everything is set. Make sure... and endless stream of excuses on why she could step away ran through her mind. One wouldn't call Danger cowardly, but the longer they stood here, the more skittish she became.

"Well... I'm sure ya'll are probably famished..." enter exit strategy.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

The girls looked at one another for a moment, confused. They had obviously eaten just a bit ago, and it was clear to Alric that Danger was trying to pull away from him. He shifted slightly, and then hooked his arm around her so that there was no escaping.

"Nonsense." He said with a smirk. "I'm sure they're fine."

Truth be told, they probably were.

Rose and Lily both had a history of overeating at breakfast and then skipping lunch only to once again eat a massive amount at dinner. Both of them had done it since they were children, and he doubted that they had stopped now that they were a bit older. Lily especially looked like she was guilty of that crime, her eyes looking away for half a second when her father made the implication. He grinned at them, all three of them, then gently pressed his fingers into Danger's side to silently communicate that she was going nowhere. "Come on, lets go check out the gardens, I want to know what Felucia is like."

He'd never been to the planet, and he hardly remembered the last time he had been here. So he steered Danger in the direction, waving for his girls to follow and gently pressing Rose into action. The two girls moved evenly with them, Rose looking at her father and Lily slightly peering at Danger. For a moment, as they began their trek, silence reigned. Then Lily cleared her throat, working up the courage to speak.

"So....Miss Arceneau..."

Alric stifled a smile at Danger.

"When did you take over Arceneau Trade?"

Business talk. That was something that the two of them could get into, and by the looks of Rose she hardly minded filling the silence with such conversation.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Talk about ways of making one feel several different levels of a fool. Heat ran hot along her cheeks, and Danger was glad for the bright sun. She could blame it for the sudden wave of pink on her face. It made her spine stiffen, and it took all she could to continue to play her role much like she did with Gorda the Hutt decades past.

Alric had mentioned that they would go to eat, and to learn that it was only after strolling the botanical garden instead just had her clamping up. Why couldn't things be easier like with Makai? That very thought made her think back on the younger Dashiell, at how he would so freely interact with her. No agenda, no other thought other than a selfless affection. That little boy had stolen her heart long ago when she was feeling along in the 'Verse. He managed to save her from spiraling many a time.

It was so different with them.

The question from Lily would register, or more aptly, the use of 'Miss Arceneau.' Green eyes would shift towards the eldest Kuhn twin. Well, this was a topic she could fill the silence with. Just facts. Facts that anyone with a holonet could be able to pick up from a mere Nebula search.

"That 'pends." she began, her drawl thickening for a moment in her unsettled state. ".. If you mean officially or when I started takin' over the books?" The clip of her heels was a familiar drone.

She started young. Real young. But it wasn't in the form of taking over the day to day activities of Arceneau Trade. Her daddy had it in his mind that no child of his was gonna grow up with a platinum spoon. No, she started working the warehouses alongside Noxu when she was eight.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Lily looked nervous for a second, as though she were quickly trying to decide something. Of course she didn't want to offend Danger by giving the wrong answer, she didn't know if there was some secret behind it or something she should know. Alric only smiled at her, an encouraging smile. The old man knew that his daughter, in part at least, idolized Danger for what she was. A powerful woman that had made her way in the galaxy and had become something that even Sith and Jedi feared. It was an impressive feat, one that Lily hoped to replicate one day.

"Both...I suppose."

She finally managed to say, Rose giving a small giggle at her sisters trepidation.

Alric gently kicked the back of his daughters shoe, silencing her for the moment so that Danger and Alric could speak. Rose shot Alric a look of indignation, though it was clear that it wasn't anything really serious or even stern. The old man then turned slightly towards Danger, waiting for her answer just as they reached the entrance to the Felucia gardens. A thick glass wall was presented to them, massively displaying the huge jungle in front of them.

Rose was the first through the turnstiles, passing through the shield that kept the plants and heat within.