Take Off The Mask

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"No. Ain't too bad." Danger had to give him that at least. It wasn't too bad. Right now, the night air was nice, despite the chill. She'd have to consider what her mind may decide come winter. Truth be told, Danger had never really stayed long enough on a world that progressed from fall to winter. That made her frown a bit.

"I reckon I ain't ever really gone through autumn and winter." she was used to heat. Summer long months. No true winter. No true spring. Oh she'd visited worlds that did have those seasons, but never stayed long. Elysium had been their compromise in starting a home together. A space station didn't compare to actually settling down roots planetside with a home.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"They're not so bad." Alric said with a smile. "We'll get you a fluffy coat for the Fall, you can watch the leaves change and take walks with Myra around the estate."

He would go on some too of course, though he had a rather limited range.

"As for Winter...well I expect Myra will want to learn to ice skate, build snowmen, all the usual things kids want to learn with winters arrival." He didn't mention that some of the mountains around them would make for excellent skiing. He had barely convinced Danger to stay here, he didn't want to scare her by introducing the idea of winter sports. Alric knew very well that his wife wasn't all that inclined to dancing around in the cold, and if he mentioned spending entire days outside in the snow...well she might just decide to relocate them to a tropical world.

"Plus." He said as he kissed her neck. "Then there's spring."

That had always been his favorite season, the coming of the warmth, the melting snow, the return of all the colors.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"A fluffy coat." that prompted a light chuckle. He was trying his best, Danger couldn't fault him for that. All of this was evidence that the Tetan was doing his best and going above and beyond in making sure that all her needs were met.

"Reckon we'll take things slowly," he was suggesting a plethora of things. Danger was just barely becoming accustomed to the idea of not having to go back to the station and instead remaining here. Which also brought up the question, what about the rest of their belongings?

"What of everything else back on Elysium?" she asked him, turning her head to meet his eyes. She continued the slight stroke of her fingers along his nape. There were items there that she didn't want to leave behind.

Her grandfather's dejarik table for example.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"We can go get them of course." That much was obvious. "No reason to leave anything behind. We have more then enough room for everything on Elysium, and then some in fact."

There were storage rooms, play rooms, offices, half a dozen empty chambers that just sat there right now. The Farm wasn't all built out with furniture either. There were things that still needed to be added, perhaps even some things that needed to be changed. While Alric prided himself on having thought of everything, even he wasn't completely infallible. There was bound to be something that he missed, and luckily they had enough free time, and money, to change whatever they wanted.

"Everything can be as you want." He really meant it too.

Alric had no preference about the space they lived in, he didn't care.

The Tetan already had the only two things that mattered to him, well, out of the four that he could have anyway. It would have been lovely to have Lily and Rose here too, but he knew that his twin daughters had long since outgrown living at home.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"I do believe, Mister Kuhn," Danger began, twisting her position on his lap to fully face him as much as she could. Both arms went looping around his shoulders, lightly crossed at the wrists by the nape of his neck.

"You are trying to butter me up." she would say in a teasing tone, reaching down to nudge his nose with hers. Just a playful bat, one that ended with her right hand coming up to lightly run against his jaw.

"Mmm... I'll want to go back myself to make sure a few things are packed the way they are supposed to." the majority of her possessions were heirlooms from her granddaddy and father. Others from her mother, Collette Arceneau.

"Although I am sure we can still keep our suite there if we need it."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He shrugged.

"Doubt anyone could afford it anyway." They owned the entire station. "Myra will probably want to get some of her things too."

They hadn't exactly spoiled the girl...okay Danger hadn't spoiled her, but they'd certainly made sure that she had more then she could ever have dreamed of back on Dromund Kaas. There was a fine line between giving a child everything they wanted, and everything they needed. With Myra, that line was slightly askew. The Girl really only needed Alric and Danger, at least to feel safe and secure, yet slowly her new parents had introduced her to other things, normal things that any child should have, and of course with that came...stuff.

Myra didn't need it to survive of course, but if Alric knew one thing, it was his daughters, even the new one. "Might as well make a trip of it."

He let out a yawn finally.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"Mhm," she murmured in agreement. The press of her lips against his temple. He'd feel her smile against his skin.

"Tired now?" She inquired quietly. Although now she could see the allure of the approaching night. Every minute brought out another star, illuminating the nights sky. They were too far south to see any auroras, but the view was enchanting none the less.

"Come on," her fingers gave a dribble over his cheek in encouragement. "Let's go to bed now," she told him. They had quite a busy day. Tomorrow would be another. If they were going to stay here, then plans had to be made then carried through.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

He nodded for a moment. There was a lot that they would have to do still if the move was going to be as smooth as one would hope.Alric didn’t really have any stuff that he wanted to move, but Danger did.

He didn’t have many possessions, at least not really.

Most of the things that he found precious were...well, people. Lily, Rose, Danger, Myra. They were what mattered to him. It might have been different twenty, perhaps even ten years ago, but now? Now he knew what mattered.

It was his kids.

His wife. That was all. “Alright. Let’s go.”

Slowly Alric rose, taking Danger with him. It was a bit of struggle with his knee the way he was, but Alric was still strong enough to pick himself and Danger up. With a small kiss, he began to carry her towards the bed.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Alric Kuhn!” Danger would hiss out at the Tetan in alarm when he picked her up in his arms. “What are you doing?!’

“You damn ol’ fool, put me down!” she cried, concern over his knee apparent when the Tetan slowly, but surely, made headway over towards their bedroom. It wasn’t far by any means. The balcony overlooked their suite, allowing them a measure of privacy. However, that didn’t mean that Danger was too keen on him carrying her weight on that knee of his. He had already done enough hours ago when they’d first explored the manor and the outlaying grounds.

“You are going to hurt yourself!” to be honest, Danger was caught at an impasse. If she struggled, Alric might hurt himself more. If she didn’t, Alric could still harm himself due to her weight -- she was no spring Nuna after all, and the years had seen her fill out here and there. Age had a tendency to do that.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

He wasn’t that old, and although his knee pained him on most days he wasn’t an invalid. Carrying Danger a few feet wouldn’t end with him dead on the floor...probably. So as Danger half struggled and yelled at him The Tetan simply ignored her. There wasn’t much she could really do about it, given that he was still stronger than her.

Besides, by the time she ceased her protests, they were already at the bed.

The Old Tetan smiled, and then very unceremoniously let his hands fall out from beneath Danger. She would plop down onto the bed with a slight fluff of blankets and pillows, several of the latter falling onto the floor as Danger bounced once or twice.

“What?” He said as he scratched his ear. “I didn’t quite hear you honey.”

Unlikely, the entire Valley had heard her.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"Oh you old fool!" she said with a chide, grabbing a pillow to smack him on the side of his hip.

"You will only hurt yourself doing such silly things!" she reiterated, shaking her head. Nevermind you that she was quite the sight half sprawled on the bed with her hair fluffed up around her shoulders. Not to mention the silk of her robe parting against the smooth tanned skin of her decollete.

While Alric didn't enjoy the insinuation that he might be an invalid, there was no denying that he still had to be careful. Brace or no, too much strain would be bad for him. Especially if he wanted to go wandering out and over the grounds the next day. That would be more exercise for the Tetan.

"Come you," Danger added with a sigh, straightening up on the bed. Tilting her head back, she gave him a small smile, shaking her head.

"You will be the death of me, Mistah Kuhn. "

 

[Alric Kuhn]

He has no illusions about his age. Alric knew that there were certain things that he simply couldn’t do anymore. Whereas once he’d been a champion underground fighter, a pretty decent long-distance runner, and a man capable of untold endurance, he was no getting up there in years.

Oh he could still perform, but there were other things that limited him more now. A part of his wanted to mourn his loss of stamina, but he knew that it was only natural as one got older. He could have abated it like Kiran had...but it seemed unnatural.

“Alright.” He said with a notably fake sigh.

Alric gave half a stretch, then slowly climbed into the bed, half stripping as he did so.

While it was cold out, and the windows were still open, Alric preferred to sleep half-nude rather than dressed. It was mostly because Danger was pretty much a furnace, having long since absorbed the warmth of Tatooines twin suns.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

The shuffle of getting into bed was a rather quick ritual. Her robe was discarded and left draped against the nearby chair. A scoot across the bed and the Old Tetan joined her shortly after. Then the return and slide of arms and legs as each would cuddle close. Danger would rest her cheek against his chest, breath fanning over the flat round disc and the whorls of dark hair.

"Thank you," her voice would break the silence. It was in gratitude for all he had done, for putting her needs first. For doing his best to make this a home. It meant a lot to her. Terribly so. After decades to trying to prove herself to her dead father, to make a name for her family only to not have one of her own, this meant everything.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]


He pressed a gentle kiss against her nose.

“Nothing to thank me for.” Alric said simply. “I’m just being selfish old me.”

In a way, this was an incredibly selfish endeavor, and Alric made no real effort to hide that fact. Everything about The Farm was for Myra and Danger, yes, but The Farm itself, it’s location and the way it had been created? All of it had been in order to entice Danger and his daughter to come here.

To live here.

It was why he had built the place, so that they would agree to live here with him.

It had been Alric’s desire, and although it benefitted Danger greatly...the truth was that Alric was the one who won out over all. Selfish him.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

He might have thought that there was nothing to show him gratitude for, but for Danger it meant everything. Entangled in his arms, the woman gave a soft smile. Thinking back, she thought of everything that had led them to this point. Two decades worth, a medley of confusion, and so much that they both had to clear up.

A passing thought made the woman wonder where they would go from here? They were getting old, and with that acknowledgment, they were taking a few steps back from the 'verse in order to be able to do what they could to simply live in the now.

Myra was only six years old now. Where would they all be in ten years from now? Another twenty? Perhaps it was time to consider just what their legacy will be. What would happen when they were gone?

But you won't really be gone, will you? A voice would murmur in Danger's ear. The tattoo at her back gave an itch.

That's right... there was still her.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

His arms wrapped around Danger, eyes already lulling to a close. While her thoughts turned to the past, Alric’s turned to the future. There were half a dozen things that could happen now, more, and to his estimation the broadest range of them were good.

They had a home, they were together, and everything was the way it should have been. Perhaps in a few years they would find problems here at The Farm but for now?

For now everything was perfect.

“We’ll get you a coat that heats itself.” Alric said half asleep, pulling her closer and gently nuzzling his nose into her neck, a small smirk on his lips. He shifted one last time and then let out a yawn. “I’ll get the R&D department on it straight away.”

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"Now you are just gettin' fancy." Danger's light chuckle would fan her breath by his jaw. A content sigh filled her. Reaching up, the woman began to gently stroke her fingers through Alric's hair, content with the simple touch. Much of their relationship could be considered intense, but moments like this were the ones that Danger held at the highest regard.

"Go to sleep." the low hush of her voice would breathe over him. They had tomorrow after all to look forward to. There still was much to be done. Things to work out with Myra and updates to be made. Saffron and Aeri would have to be informed of her decision to move here, as would the outlining of how Arceneau Trade as a conglomerate would work.

Taking a few steps back after all. Just a few more.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

Alric went to sleep.

Snore snore snore.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Little nibbles would rouse Alric Kuhn from his slumber, tempting him to wake. They went sailing over warm skin, breath fanning as a rather diabolical grin crept over the face of the woman presently hovering over him.

"Wake up, Mistah Kuhn," she'd purr, smiling against his skin. Her hair went waterfalling over him, the tips of those auburn strands giving a slight tickle with the brush of her movement.

"We have lots to do this morning." indeed, they had plenty to do. Much to be done. It would be the responsible, adult thing to get an early start.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Waking up had never really been all that difficult for Alric, even when he’d been a kid. He was the type that was excited to get on with the day, to do things. It had been that way for as long as he could remember, and honestly, he didn’t mind.

It was unusual for Danger to wake up before him, noteworthy even.

He decided that perhaps later he would entice Myra to throw a small party to mark the occasion and create a small holiday for the family. Nodding to himself Alric began to slowly stretch, letting out a mighty yawn that might have come from a bear or a similarly large animal. He stretched, and then half wrapped an arm around a pillow.

“Okay.” He said with a much more subdued yawn. “You realize it’ll take us half a week to get back to Elysium, right?”

Alric asked quietly as he slowly got up. “Hyperspace doesn’t squish together because you will it to.”