Take Off The Mask

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Even with the 'I told you so,' she didn't get angry or upset. There was no scowl nor growl, nor any indication he would ruin her good mood. In fact, she was in a fantastic mood.

"Dive in, mmm?" there was no avoiding the press of her body, the way her curves would melt against his. Supple. Plaint. "Sounds just about right." she was high on the rush, nibbling at his lower lip with a forwardness rarely seen. Her giddiness was like a high, a spice so sweet and so heady that it showed.

"Guess I should do that more often, no?" her right hand ran down his shoulder towards his shirt. Her blood was racing, her heart hammering, there was a knowing in Danger's eyes that said she was going to show him all about jumping with both feet.

Perhaps a bit of a reward for the old Tetan to cash into.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric smiled.

He didn't know what to say for a moment, how to respond to her. She had been forward at times, but this, this was something entirely new. Perhaps she had been taught a lesson, one that Alric had been trying to instill for months on end. Maybe the Girls had been what she needed. Maybe the push that Lily and Rose had given her was enough to make her more brazen, less afraid, more wild. The Old man smiled, loving the soft caress of her touch.

"Mmm." Was the only response she received before his arms slipped around her and he lifted her from the ground. His back protested for half a moment, though luckily the numbness that he still felt there was enough for him to not care too much.

"Maybe you should." His lips pressed against her own. "I certainly wouldn't mind."

Was this the start of something new? For both of them?

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Maybe it was.

Her half shriek and subsequent laughter would echo by his ears, along with her protests that he would hurt his back. He swept her off her feet, one arm under her knees and the other at her back. Oh the devil was in his grin, mischief in his eyes. His lips captured her own and she laughed against them.

The protests didn't last long.

It was as if whatever had held back Danger merely faded away. Hands would cup his cheeks, feel the brush of his beard, and deepen the kiss. For anyone seeing the pair, it would be be a wonder. This wasn't the Danger Arceneau the 'Verse would see. She made an inarticulate sound, all she was capable of right now.

Maybe that was the beauty of the scene, the hunger. Nothing held back. Danger was riding on a high of joy and she wanted to show Alric exactly how she felt. Maybe it was a bit reckless. Maybe a bit bold. But her momma once told her that no man's got a brain to complain once hands drift south and a head dips low.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

So he was married again.

A year ago he would not have thought it possible, two decades ago he would have thought it entirely out of the question. It was odd how things changed, how they twisted and somehow became better than he could ever even imagine. He was happy. Truly well and happy. Alric wouldn't have guessed it, he wouldn't have expected it, but he found himself enjoying life. Every day that he woke up with her, every day that he stroked her hair, every day that he saw her smile.

It was like a dream.

A dream that would hopefully never end. He smiled slightly as he watched the flames within the fire pit, his eyes wandering as the smoke rose into the chimney and the heavy smell of burnt wood filled the apartment. The former Tetan took a deep breath, his eyes closing as his head tilted back against the sofa. There was a simple joy to this, to simply being at home, to the smell of the fire, to the taste of the drink in his hand. He was a married man.

A happy man.

What more could he ask of the galaxy?

His daughters were happy, both Lily and Rose having found their way. His wife was pleased, happy to be his and even happier to be with him, and he himself? He was in his own natural bliss.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

​

E l y s i u m​

Two hands would slide down from behind [member="Alric Kuhn"] 's shoulders, palms moving to slip over the Old Tetan's chest. The scent of her perfume would tickle the senses first, while the whisper of her breath and the nuzzle of her cheek against his caress the shell of his ear.

"Mistah Kuhn, now why are you all here by your lonesome?" her honeyed rasp would be followed by the light, affectionate trail of small kisses down his jawline. Danger cradled him from behind, leaning over the acceleration couch. Her hands would drift with luscious propriety, enjoying the sensation of feeling him against her. Feeling him in her arms.

Her smile would curve against his skin, the bristle of his beard tickling her slightly. It was still surreal, all the more as the firelight flickered against the twin glowing sunstones of her engagement ring and the matching wedding band. If someone had told her a year ago that she'd be married to Alric Kuhn, that she would be this happy, this fulfilled, she'd have stared at them as if they'd grown three heads.

The caress of her lips would lightly play against the lobe of his ear. "Perhaps you'd like some company?"

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric made a loud show of thought, letting a 'hmmmm' carry from his throat, as if the idea required serious consideration and thought. Of course, he would love to have Danger keep him company, but he needed to make a show of it, tease her a bit. It was their way. His fingers slowly came up and laced around her arms, his beard scritched against her lips, his eyes slowly began to wander as he turned her head towards her and slyly smiled, offering a bit of mischief in his yes.

"Well." He began, his tone of course humorous. "What are your qualifications in keeping someone company?"

Alric grinned slightly, though he mostly tried to keep it under control. "It's a very serious job and I have a lot of applicants."

There was a hint of laughter in his throat, though he managed to keep a deadpan tone to his voice. He liked teasing her like this. Liked getting one up on her. It made him smile, laugh. It was a reminder of the banter they had once held some two decades ago, save for now it was softer, more light of heart.

He liked that.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Oh is that how we are going to play it?

Amusement shone in the depths of her emerald eyes, and Danger gave Alric a distinct arch of her right brow. Oh he could be such a smartass, she mused. With a salacious grin, the woman sank her nails in a light scrape against his chest, drifting up and over his shoulders when the old Tetan turned slightly.

“Oh, is that so?” she dug her nails into little pinpoints through his shirt with her left, while her right came up to sink into the inky black and silver of his hair. There, they tightened their grip.

“I don’t think you are taking my offer with the proper amount of deference, Mistah Kuhn,” she joked, moving her lips against his cheek, sailing across until she came to just the corner of his mouth.

“I reckon the rest of your applicants don’t have what I can offer you.” in the firelight, it cast a distinct predatory glint in her green eyes. Were it not for the twitch at the corner of her mouth, one would wonder if what she said was more of a threat than a promise.

“... in terms of company and all.”

Oh there was more to it than that, but it was just as much fun teasing the former Titan for the Queen of Trade as it was for him.


[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric winced slightly, his teeth clacking down for half a second as a half bite of pain curled through his chest. It didn't really hurt that much, but the pinprick of her needle like nails did cause him a moment of slight discomfort. He supposed that was the point, of course, his teeth slowly parting and then singing into his lip as his mind rolled with possible responses to his lady love. Eventually his own fingers began to play across her skin, no scratch from his nails but instead a light tugging.

"You think so, Mrs. Arceneau?" She hadn't taken his name, but she was still married. There was no bitterness at the thought of that of course, that she hadn't take his name. By all accounts if they counted their fame and wealth Alric should have taken her name, but neither had thought the idea an issue to even be brought up. "What would your dear husband think?"

He mused out loud. "You offering yourself like this? I bet he would be appalled."

Alric grinned at her.

The Titan wondered if it would always be like this. If even a decade from now he and Danger would play around in his manner. It was something that he would not mind, something that he would truly enjoy even when he was old and falling apart...more so than he was now.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Her nails drew back, soothing over what she had intended to be a light draw of pressure with a rub of her hand. Cheek nuzzling his own, Danger gave a honeyed, “You reckon so? I’d imagine he enjoys my forward nature.” devilry ignited her eyes.

Being forward, showing him exactly what she wanted had been an issue of contention between them before. That Danger was now emboldened to show the Tetan what she wanted, when she wanted, and that she actively sought him out was a pleasure that knew no bounds.

“However, my offer was for something more.” this is when she chuckled, giving the Tetan a light kiss on his lips.

“A present.” she told him, a slight rush of mystery tanging her syrupy tone.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"Oh?" Alric said quietly. "I do so enjoy presents."

It was true.

Everyone enjoyed getting a gift now and again, though the trouble with buying presents for people like him, and Danger for that matter, was the fact that they already had pretty much everything. It was the advantage of being a rich man, the fact that you could have whatever you wanted whenever you wanted. Some people might have laughed at the thought, but it was true. Alric and Danger had so much wealth that hardly anything could stand in their way when they wanted something.

"Does it involve red lace? A bow perhaps?" Alric picked up his head slightly, his eye slowly wandering to peer down the front of her dress.

A tone of disappointment pulled on his face, though truthfully it was more in jest than in anything else. Alric could have that red lace present whenever he wanted, one of the perks of being married after all.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

"Depends..." Danger would say with a widening smile. One of the few things Danger had come to realize is that she greatly enjoyed in giving small gifts and showering attention to Alric. It actually all began years ago with Makai Dahiell. That little boy had stolen her heart and in the wake of the loss of their daughter, she'd taken to him as if he were her own.

In fact, one item of jewelry that the Queen of Trade seemed to constantly wear around her wrist. It was a bracelet with green stones, hand picked by Makai Dashiell himself. It was one of her greatest treasures and she was proud to wear it as much as the ring that Alric had crafted for her.

Drawing one hand back, she reached over for the small scrap of fabric she'd brought along with her. "But first you'll need this." she grinned, intending to blindfold him. Reaching over, she moved to do exactly that.

"For the surprise and all."



[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

The blindfold slipped around his eyes.

"Oh?" He said as his head turned back towards the fire, his lips giving her a small parting kiss. "So the red lace is still an option then?"

He mused. "You better change quickly though. I can't stay blindfolded forever."

The Titan teased her, though truthfully he wasn't really expecting any red lace upon her skin. Danger had become far more forward as of late, something that he truly enjoyed, but it also meant that generally surprises tended to be something...more. He didn't that in the lead of course, it was just another small twist in their relationship, something that he looked forward to day in and day out, something that he could watch and wait for. There was a bit of mystery to her now, a good mystery to be sure.

His fingers slowly slipped from her skin, grazing slowly and lingering for a moment before slowly falling to his lap.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

The Old Tetan would only hear her light chuckle as a response. A press of her lips was place upon his temple, enjoying the ability to be able to spoil him so. She had actually given this particular gift some thought for the past few months. Well before they were engaged to be married actually. It was only after narrowing down the perfect selection for Alric that she was now able to present it to him.

“Might be.” her voice floated over behind him, hand skimming the back of the couch. She came to a stop right in front of him, her hands extending to take his own upon hers.

“Up you go Mistah Kuhn, we’ve a little walk.” her honeyed voice teased. With gentle pressure, she would aide the former Titan to his feet. Ever since the incident with the former Titan employees, the Tetan had a slight limp. He normally used a simple wooden cane to walk about, but within their home, he rarely utilized it.

However, seeing as how she’ll need to take him towards one of the downstairs rooms she’d prepared, it was best to guide him along so he didn’t hurt himself.

“Rose sent a message by the way,” Danger would inform him. “said she made it safely back to the Wild Regions. She also mentioned something about working with the new charity foundation…”



[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric walked as steadily as he possibly could.

His leg prevented him from running or even walking too fast, and most of the time it ached something fierce. The injury likely could have been fixed with a neat application of bacta, but Alric found that he neither wanted such a thing nor really needed it. There was something...something that made him feel whole about the injury. That was a strange thing to think, even stranger to actually tell someone, but it was humanizing. It reminded him that although he was rich, he was still vulnerable.

Vulnerability was good.

Or so he thought.

"Good." He said quietly. "Did she mention that boy again?"

Alric of course referred to the lad that Rose had taken a shining too, someone that she had met through her work with the GUIDE. Alric had yet to meet him, same with Danger, but apparently Lily had crossed his path once or twice. The Eldest twin had spoken well of him, so that was something at the very least, though as a father Alric still held his suspicions.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

“You mean Xan Drake?” it would not be surprising that Danger would have information about the ‘boy’. The two Noghri in charge of protecting and relaying back information to Danger were still with their charges. While they both exhibited loyalty to the twins, their primary task had been to report back to Danger with updates.

Ironically, the girls still believed it had been their father all along that had sent the Noghri companions to them. Neither had seen fit to correct the assumption.

“Mm, she did.” Danger would relay to her husband, walking alongside him as she held his arm. There was no rush, and the redhead enjoyed these little walks of trust with Alric. Excitement would start to flutter in her belly, and she could only hope that he would enjoy the surprise.

“He has been assigned as her escort and partner for charting a the Daragon Trail.” it was a small new potential hyperspace route. No more than about five planets worth, but required verification and details of the planets located therein.

“So I’m sure we’ll be hearing plenty more.” they reached the stairs, and Danger said in a slow murmur, “Down we go, Kuhn…Here’s the railing.” with her free hand she, set his hand upon it. It wasn’t a long staircase by any means, but it would take them a few minutes since he was blindfolded.

From there, they just had to go towards the right to the chamber across the den where his surprise lay in wait.


[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric made a 'pff' noise, as if completely unimpressed by the thoughts of any boy going after his daughter. Of course the fact that he was working "security' didn't exactly rub Alric the right way either. He frowned slightly, groping for the handrailing and grabbing onto it so that he could begin to wander down the stairs. That was hard enough under normal circumstances, his leg usually not liking it when he overextended himself, stepping down stairs was one of those times.

"Better be the only thing they're charting." Alric commented, a bit of grump entering his voice.

The Titan was well aware that both of his daughters were practically grown women now, Rose having a full time job as an explorer of the galaxy and Lily owning a company that was seeing a steady amount of growth and market share. Despite that though neither of the girls had ever been romantically involved with anyone, at least not until Rose met this Xan fellow, someone that Alric wasn't too keen on at all.

"What is this surprise anyway?" Alric asked. "Making me walk all this way."

His thigh began to ache, though as he made it to the last step he tried not to show it.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Regardless at how old Rose and Lily were, for Alric, they were still his little girls. With that came specific protective tendencies of a father looking after his daughters and Alric was no different. Things were still pretty early in this development with Xan, but time would tell.

"We'll see, reckon Rose will be sure to keep us up to date." her holo comms came at a more frequent rate, much to the Old Tetan's pleasure. Every time he would delight upon it much like a child, and they would sit together while they watched the recording. It felt good to be able to do that. To do that now and not have that nagging doubt of fear at the back of her mind.

It felt good to simply live.

At his query, the Queen of Trade gave a slight smile. "A fun surprise." she told him, feeling him slightly tense as they took that last step. In turn, she wrapped his arm around her own to give him better leverage and a sturdier brace to lean upon. "Not too far now, just across the den." she assured him.

"I'll have you know Mistah Kuhn I've been plannin' this for a while now." came the slight tease, walking past the scattered holo portraits of the wedding and of the girls. Funny, she'd never thought that family portraits would decorate a home she lived in. At least, of family yet living.

"Alright... here we are." carefully, she lead him inside. "Gonna have you sit here."



[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric plopped himself down onto the sofa.

There was a slight thud as he sat himself down, the comfortable leather almost immediately folding in around him. He wondered briefly if they should get new furniture in the apartment, mostly because he felt that there was a need for something less...eccentric. Perhaps he would bring it up to Danger later, or perhaps it was just a floating fancy that struck him. One got bored in retirement, and they had enough money that they could redecorate the entire station and still not go over their monthly budget.

"Okay." He said as he stretched out his arms over the back of the Sofa.

"I can't wait much longer." He moved as though he were gonna pull off the blindfold. "This thing is itchy..."

Of course the cool satin wasn't at all itchy, but the Old man had always been impatient.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

A kiss would be pressed gently upon Alric's forehead, her smile growing against his skin.

"Always so impatient..." her fingers ran through the crown of his head, fingers threading through his hair in a gentle cafune. In the background there was a faint light thumping sound, almost as if muffled by some sort of fabric. Bending low, his wife gave his cheek an affectionate nuzzle.

"Just a few more seconds," those slender digits sailed down to cup his cheeks, her thumb caressing the bristles of his beard. Warm lips then latched against his own, pressing onto his in a slow, passionate kiss. She drank him in, his taste as ever intoxicating. Just as she felt herself losing focus, she would pull herself away. Licking her lips, her thumb went brushing over his own.

"Okay... before we both get distracted..." her hands fell from him, and she took a step back before he could grab at her to draw her in again. Stepping lightly, her footsteps seemed to take her away. That slight thump grew a bit louder, excited. Yet it wouldn't be until the faint little clicks of nails scurrying across the floor that would confuse the senses.

At least until a very excited body reached up and a wet nose poked at Alric's right hand.


[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

The wet nose against his palm caused a question mark to form on his face, his eyes immediately popping open as his other palm swept up and hooked it's thumb beneath the blindfold. In one quick sweeping motion he pulled the blindfold off, his eyes instantly darting towards the thing that had nuzzled his palm.

What he saw took him by surprise.

Alric had never been one for pets, though in recent weeks he had thought it a good idea. In his mind he had been mulling the idea of a dog, or perhaps a vornskr of some sort. There were a dozen and a half species in the galaxy that made fine pets, beautiful creatures that sought nothing but companionship and friendship. This thing? He had absolutely no clue what this thing was, but it was adorable as all hell. The creature had four legs, resembled a Selonian of sorts, a large fuzzy tail, and a bright black nose.

"What..." Alric asked as he slowly stroked the creature that had now crawled into his lap. "Is this?"

The old Tetan let out a laugh as the creature flopped, revealing it's belly and growling slightly.