Take Off The Mask

[Danger Arceneau]

Considering that Danger was already pushing an initiative to bring back extinct and grow endangered species of botanicals, this was right up her space ally. A smile of knowing would curve the corners of her lips.

"Well, reckon since PharmaTech is already venturing to botanicals..." she began, her voice a syrupy drawl. Her hand came up to gently rub and massage Alric's arm, drawing him close as they came to a halt over the bridge. From there they could overlook the lake, seeing the fish swim lazily along.

"Could be done." she told him, turning her bright green eyes to stare into the depths of oceanic blue. Truth be told, Danger had already been leaning towards preservation and methods of sustainable living. Building a nature preserve would be another aspect she would enjoy helping along.

"We could check with the Ralltier Museum." mentioning the one that Alric had helped restore a year back. "I believe that GUIDE might also benefit from the venture."

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric shrugged. "I'd rather keep my distance from GUIDE."

That was still something that Lily was heavily involved in.

"Besides, I think some of the smaller places around the galaxy would be nice to look at." The Tetan mentioned for a moment. "Maybe offer a few scholarships in the name of the preservation, smaller universities, things like that. Wouldn't be too hard and would at least get the name spread around to all over the galaxy."

Funding wouldn't be an issue, recognition either, it was more about getting the idea spread around the galaxy, acceptance. A space station wouldn't exactly be seen as the galaxies most suitable location for a nature preserve. He wondered for a moment, watching Mr. Tuggles explore his way through the wildlife. Alric thought for a moment that they were perhaps getting ahead of themselves. The station itself would take weeks to acquire, months to retrofit into anything close to what they wanted, not to mention the necessary gathering of species that it would all take.

He frowned for a moment then shook his head.

When Danger and He put their minds to something, they got it done.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"Why would you want to do that?" Danger gave a slight frown at the elder Tetan, an ebon brow arching.

"It isn't as if GUIDE ain't already waiting for Arceneau sponsorship." it was in fact that challenge that Danger had given to the young entrepreneur over a year ago when she first sought sponsorship. Danger wasn't the sort to hand out credits without seeing something as an initial product. Magdalena at the time had neither the presentation nor a prototype GUIDE.

Her challenge had been to show the gumption, ambition and drive it took to create and expand GUIDE into a profitable and viable venue.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric gave her an odd look.

"Because Lily is working with them." He found it odd that Danger didn't remember that. "We talked about this before."

The Tetan smiled at her then gently jabbed her with an elbow. "Forgetting things in your old age?"

It wasn't that he wanted GUIDE completely uninvolved, he'd just rather steer clear of any major involvement with them. Granted, this was entirely different aspects of working with the GUIDE, but it was still heavily involving his own company with them, or rather, his own personal involvement. He chuckled at that slightly, remembering that Vanir Technologies was not technically his own private play thing anymore. He still owned majority stock, but he had no direct control there anymore.

"Plus, this is preservation, not documentation." Alric said simply. "We don't want to create or find new species. Just ensure the survival of those that are struggling."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Now it was Danger’s turn to frown at [member="Alric Kuhn"].

She came to a stop, her green eyes searching his own. If it was one thing she held in high esteem, it was her memory. While she could understand the joke Alric intended, she didn’t appreciate the suggestion that she had forgotten something like the fact Lily was involved.

“Just because Lily is involved with them doesn’t mean I can’t submit locations for GUIDE to enter in its database.” Her brows drew closer. “There are more aspects to working with GUIDE than just merely investing in their expansion.”

Maybe he didn’t mean it as an insult to her way of business, or the potential insinuation that she would hinder Lily’s own progress with GUIDE, but if there was one thing Danger was good at, it was her business sense. Out of anyone, she was keen on making sure Lily made things on her own.

And just because she was involved with GUIDE didn’t mean that Danger had to exclude the singular potential guide to the galaxy for the largest conglomerate that literally held thousands of trade, fuel, and luxury stations across the verse.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric looked at her with a slight frown. "I didn't say that. I said this isn't something I wanted to involve the GUIDE in, the Nature Preserve. Which isn't something you would be doing on your own, but with me. I didn't say anything about any other sort of involvement with you and the GUIDE. Nor would I ever tell you how to run your business, you know that."

"From the way you spoke you made it sound like you wanted to contact both the Museum and The GUIDE to aid us with the collection and perhaps expansion of endangered species or documentation, or at least that's what I inferred." He spoke simply, plainly, and honestly. There was no belittlement in his tone or any sort of disapproval, simply his own thoughts. "If we involve The GUIDE in that it will inevitably lead to me being directly involved with them in such searches, how they're conducted, and most important with what they're conducted, since this will be my project as well as yours. I don't want that because I know myself and my tendency to...well...lead."

It was simple logic to him. "Submitting the location for their database is one thing, but heavy involvement is another. Something I'd rather not do, and If we begin this and push it forward, it's not something I would want to distance myself from."

He would never belittle Danger's business sense nor her intelligence, he knew very well that she was one of the best in the galaxy.

This was simply his own preference. The GUIDE would be fine to record this eventual preserve, to list it within their database and to fully show what it was, but further involvement risked Alric crossing paths with his daughter in what she was trying to do with them, not something that he wished to do. Alric knew himself well enough to guess at what might happen if he involved himself too heavily.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Mister Tuggles, as sensing something amiss, came padding over to the duo. He would slink his slender body between them, rubbing his soft fur along their legs, his triangular head bopping the Tetan along his calf. It was a good think Alric had his cane, for the pup did not quite understand his own strength.

Danger would give a small laugh, the frown that gas furrowed across her brow melting away. She knew that Alric had not meant it as a insult, but the woman was rather particular on certain areas. Both had their flaws and sore spots. A sigh expelled from her lips, her chest falling as she went reaching out for her husband's hand.

Fingers would interlock against his, and she gave them a light squeeze. "Alright." She told him, "Thank you for elaborating." The fiery haired woman would think back at what he had suggested.

"So work with smaller universities and offer scholarships?"

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"Yeah." Alric said simply, moving on quickly and steadying himself as Mr. Tuggles did his best to try and knock Alric off his feet. "It's all about preservation, making sure that the species survive and that it's seen as a place for animals to be safe. Going to some of the smaller universities will allow them to offer legitimacy to the whole project and will let us have a connection to academia."

It was important with these types of things.

They already had quite a bit of credibility just because...well it was them, but getting Universities from all over the galaxy involved would mean that the Nature Preserve would be seen as something more than just a pet project, but rather something that was good for the galaxy, something worth paying attention to. If there was one things that Alric and Danger were good at it was gaining attention, grabbing the galaxies collective wits and shaking them however the two of them wanted.

They were skilled that way.

"Obviously give it a viewing area, a small one, so people can visit." This wasn't a theme park, but it would be worth letting some people see the animals that were there.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

"Are we going for an open wildlife preserve... rather than mere sections for them to be contained in?" there was a difference in that. Personally, Danger would prefer the former than the latter. Alric would know this. Bending forward, she caught the leash of Mister Tuggles and encouraged him to come to heel.

A small gesture would motion for the Old Tetan to walk with her again.

"For the former, we would have to consider just how to make it all work with them tearing each other apart." she would state, her mind furrowing a bit. Perhaps some sort of light bridges? Something that would ensure that while it is an open plan, whatever is carnivorous doesn't result in chomping down much like in their natural environment.

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"Ten thousand meters." Alric said quietly.

That was a massive amount of space, so big that most wild life preserves on populated planets would have trouble competing with it, it was the size of a small city in fact. He frowned slightly, thinking about how to best answer Danger. There was of course the simple option, the idea of creating an actual open form plan like Danger would prefer, the idea that they could create an actual ecosystem. With different predators and...well prey...he frowned for a moment more.

"We use the universities." Alric began again, this time with the idea forming more solidly. "We create a solid ecosystem, one where animals can coexist and live together. Yes some will eat each other, but if they reproduce properly...well, we create a stable environment. One where creatures can live and thrive together. We use the Universities to study different species and interaction of them while the station undergoes construction, then once it's all built...we throw them in."

That last part was a bit...untactful, but it was put succinctly.

It would be a way to ensure stability.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Danger slowed.

"Ten thousand meters?" that was quite a large wildlife preserve. Of the sort never seen before, at least in this era. Her eyes grew wide, the bright emerald of the depths surveying the old Tetan as he considered the preliminary details of their joint venture.

"Well... that's certainly ambitious," there was a wry twist to Danger's lips, giving his forearm a small brush in growing amusement. Mister Tuggles began to trot alongside them. Now that he had completed his business, he was ambling along to their pace. Every now and then he would give the grown a sniff, as if catching something of note. His large black nose would scour and nudge at the grass and then pass over the white velmstone pavement.

"Then what we would need to do first is conduct the research. Until we get all of that down, we can't build." otherwise it would be rather silly to build the station only to have it not be exactly what they require.

"Where would you want to hold a meeting for it?"

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric shrugged. "Anywhere?"

It didn't really matter to him where the meeting was held, it would make no difference. The Universities would likely send someone halfway across the galaxy just to get involved with a project that Alric and Danger had begun, not to mention the fact that in the end the two business tycoons would very likely end up sending a ship for everyone anyway. They were funny in that way, perfectly reflected in how they had treated the organization of their wedding.

Everyone had been invited, and it had been ensured that everyone who wanted to attend had been able to.

"Probably not in One Sith Space." Alric teased her as Mr. Tuggles began to sniff the grass besides them, forcing the couple to stop. "Unless you think they're particularly keen on the preservation of species."

A smirk pulled at his lips.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"No." came her firm answer. "Definatly, not in One Sith space." Things were getting rather tense there. Not to mention the recent incursions between the United Mandalorian Clans and the Republic. The redheaded woman gave a small shake of her head.

"Hmm..." she gently continued to rub Alric's forearm, using the motion to help her think as they began their walk anew. Mister Tuggles gave a slight pause, then trotted forward a few meters from them. He was such a curious little thing, sniffing the ground and making a small circle. A noise from one of the distant couples taking their own morning walk prompted the sudden perk of his head. Those large black eyes went sweeping around, investigating the origin.

Danger chuckled.

"How about going into Sanctum territory?" relatively neutral, and both hadn't actually taken the time to visit there personally beside the Going Green project and the botanical one with PharmaTech.

"We could plan it on one of their worlds. Perhaps visit it first before we do?"

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He had never been to the Sanctum, or rather, he had never been to the Sanctum in recent years. The government was a mostly peaceful one, and they had done their best to establish a region of the galaxy where there was no war. The idea was impressive, if a bit naive. Perhaps a journey to that territory would be good for them, a nice little visit to several of their worlds. He frowned slightly for a moment, trying to think of what planets they could actually go to.

"That sounds nice." Mr. Tuggles perked up slightly before sniffing Alric's leg and eyeing him.

"Maybe visit a few worlds, not just one. We can do a little tour and show our intentions, visit some zoos." He smiled at the thought, of doing things that were more...homely, less complex. "I'm sure Mr. Tuggles would enjoy seeing some of his cousins."

The Titan leaned down and patted the creature on the head.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Well there was a plan. Now the question is…

“Did you want to build the yacht first or do the preliminary research and meeting for the wildlife preserve?” It wasn’t like they couldn’t do both, but if he wanted to go traveling for a little bit, that was up for consideration. They had all the time in the ‘verse. Although once Alric had set something in his mind… Danger knew there was little that could be done to sway him otherwise.

“Either way…” she continued, her smile softening as she would lean against the Tetan, giving him a small kiss. “I reckon the company would be worthwhile.” As they were still on their honeymoon, Danger didn’t have to do much of anything with the company unless it was absolutely necessary. Which was nice when all she wanted to do right now was spend time with her husband.

She had already spent half a lifetime on her own. Right now, she was taking full advantage of it.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"We can do both." Alric said simply. "Not like it'll strain our attentions and we have half a dozen ships we can take to the Sanctum, we'll just book really nice hotels instead of staying on board. I imagine they have hotels in their space, they're not complete savages after all."

He grinned at her. "Probably."

Of course Alric had no idea what the Sanctum was actually like, though he knew that their government was a composition of a former Jedi Order and some military figures from the Levantines. He wasn't really sure what that all meant, but he knew that Danger had done business in that area. The former Titan knew of that of course, and as such teased her about it, his tone remaining more than light of heart. He wondered briefly though if his assumptions weren't at least somewhat true.

He knew that several of the worlds under Sanctum control were...damaged.

Dromund Kaas was one of these worlds, broken and slightly hampered, Alric wondered if they had yet been able to fix that world.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Danger gave [member="Alric Kuhn"] a mock glare of affront, "I own quite a few luxury stations there Mister Kuhn," then she gave him a playful nudge as she continued on with a chuckle.

"I am sure there are places we can settle down that won't be quite as savage as you fear." she perked a brow at him then, shaking her head. The artifical wind picked up again, sending tendrils of her auburn silver streaked hair rustling about her shoulders. Wisps would tickle her cheeks, and her vibrant green eyes panning along the treeline.

Their home was quiet beautiful. A thought in the back of her mind would note that it wasn't Tatooine. It wasn't the Twin Suns she saw rising every morning. She felt the slight squeeze of Alric's hand upon her own, and she couldn't help but smile.

But Alric was home.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"Are you sure?" Alric said with an edge of false affront in his tone. There was of course the classical training that he still had, the fact that he was in fact, a noble. It wasn't something that often came up, and truthfully he ignored the greater part of what he was, but his father had been a Duke, his mother a Duchess That title, or rather, that status had fallen to him when both of his parents had passed away along with his sisters. It didn't really mean much in the way of Empress Teta, not really, but it meant you were taken a little bit more seriously.

He of course had also been the Consort of the Empress, but that was something largely forgotten by most.

"I am a Duke after all." The Tetan reminded her. "My wife, the Duchess, can be very particular about how her bed is."

That wasn't something he had ever really brought up before, but it was now also technically true. When they had married Danger had in fact become the Duchess of the lands that were owned by his family. If he were to die the titles would fall to her, and then eventually to Lily, the older of the two twins. It wasn't something that Alric had ever really been concerned about, but it did yield the opportunity to poke more fun at Danger about the outer rim and life within it.

Mr. Tuggles of course was greatly amused, easily seen through his vigorous exploration of the nearby grass.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

He had to remind me of that…

A subtle grimace revealed itself as a purse of her lips. While she knew that the lordships and titles were a part of Alric’s past, the reminder that she too now held one due to their marriage was rather… peculiar to her. If anything, the one thing she had prided herself is that Arceneau Trade built itself from nothing and that through hard work, managed to make itself the number one company in the ‘verse. It was a household name.

Duchess. Duchess of Kuhn. That just sounded so foreign.

“Well, I reckon your Ladyship would have to make due with a pea in her bed.” She quipped with a wry twist of her lips. A pause and a lift of her brow, “I’m sure she can keep things in line to suit her preferences.”

“Perhaps a nice cave shall do?” She teased, watching Mister Tuggles start another trot. “I hear they have plenty of bats that may come in handy.”

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"I dunno about that." Alric said as he watched Mr. Tuggles for a moment. "She ordinarily prefers beds stuffed with the feathers of the grand Titavians of Naboo, soft and plush as they are. I can try to convince her to accept this bat cave of yours, but I think I'll be sleeping outside if I do."

That was of course, utterly ridiculous.

Danger hardly cared about what kind of bed she slept on, in fact, of the two of them Alric was far more likely to complain about the particulars of their abode. It wasn't that he minded sleeping on the floor now and again, but he was getting old, and his leg was actually injured. Where and how he lay actually did matter if he was going to be up and about the next days, especially if they were going to be doing anything the next day. It was an unfortunate, but true fact.

All of that, however, didn't really matter when he was teasing her. "That'll be a shame, really."

He smiled at her.