What Have You Gotten Yourself into Now?

[Valgærd]

I’d finally found my way down to where they were keeping Kaine.

To say I was shocked to hear what had happened was an understatement. While I didn’t have all the details, I knew enough to be sufficiently shaken by the news that the general was in prison… and for… for something serious, I knew that much. There'd been whispers, but while I was used to keeping an ear to the ground during my time as a slave, I had also learned to take everything I heard with a grain of salt, several, in fact.

But as I walked, I couldn't help but wonder. Which of the rumours were true? Which did I want to be true? I was quick to dismiss any about such frivolous things as indecent exposure, although I couldn't help but wonder if any of those had been seeded by the general himself. But a knot had tightened in my stomach all the same. I'd already decided not to press him for answers, but if he decided to tell me... how would I react to whatever he'd done? Would I be okay with it?

Still, as I reached the general’s cell, I paused, burying the uncomfortable thoughts and taking a moment to regain the flirty, playful persona I’m sure he would prefer.

“Well,” I began in the sweetest, most playful tone I could muster, “what fine mess have you gotten yourself into now, hm? I don’t know how you’re going to punch your way out of this one.”


[member="Kaine Australis"]

 

[Valgærd]

"Kain'ika!"

I squealed in delight as he wrapped me up in a big, warm hug. Just like that, the knot in my stomach melted away. Of course I could accept whatever he'd done to get himself locked up in here. I put no stock in the force or its nonsense, but that didn't stop me from having a good feeling about him. I'd learned to trust my gut over the years, and right now it told me that this Mandalorian had a good heart.

I wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging him tightly, letting go only to look up and lift a hand to brush the hair across his forehead, even though I had to stand on my toes to do so. Then the Mandalorian would likely feel a jab in his ribs from my fingers as I narrowed my eyes into a playful, devious smirk.

"Me? I've been worried sick! How'd your shebs get tied up in here, anyway? I finally make it down to check on you and what... I find you lounging about in this place? Do they bring you your food as well? By the goddess, General, if I'd known you were fine I wouldn't have bothered."

My tone was playful, hopefully clearly in jest. While never having been locked up myself, I'd met enough prisoners to know that normalcy was the greatest thing you could bring them, and normalcy for me was plucky, sassy, and lovably arrogant (and modest, too).

Attempting to pull away from him, my intention was to make my way over to the bed and make a little show of collapsing onto it, putting my feet up, and locking my fingers behind my neck (lekku made putting them behind my head a little difficult).

"Well... I suppose it's my turn to rescue you, now, huh?"


[member="Kaine Australis"]

 

[Valgærd]

I smirked playfully at Kaine as I watched him from where I sat on his bed. It was surprisingly comfortable for a prison bed. In fact, this whole cell was a lot nicer than I’d been expecting. There was a pang of envy shooting briefly through my core, followed immediately by a blush and the feeling of relief. Sure, the few unsuccessful escape attempts I’d made had landed me in some pretty grimy places. But more than that I was relieved, glad, that the general had been given something much more comfortable.

I grinned as he came to sit on the edge of the bed, facing me. At his words I shrugged one shoulder, keeping my hands behind my neck,

“Oh sweetie, they’d have let me in… one way or another.”

A chuckle bubbled up from my chest as he theatrically pretended to faint, catching himself just inches from my face. My smirk returned, brighter than before, and I raised one eyebrow. Gazing up at the scruffbag of a general, I marvelled and cringed simultaneously at how he’d slipped under my defences. Not only that, but his beautiful wife had alleviated any fears I’d had when he did. It was as if the two of them were working together to get me to open up.

“Miss you? Me?” I replied playfully, “What… do you think I was moping around the Australis house like some mewling kitten, wringing my hands together? You think I’d fret over you like some helpless little housewife? You think I’d driven myself to the point of madness with worry and made the trip all the way here just to see your sorry shebs?”

I paused, a force not entirely in my control causing me to take a breath and lean up. I gently pressed my lips against his, closing my eyes and sighing contentedly as I leaned into the kiss.

“Of course I did, you silly old thing.”



[member="Kaine Australis"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Training was not only a gruelling daily chore for Mand’alor the Infernal, but a chance to both teach and be taught. In the public forum, at Sundari’s centre, the young Mand’alor sparred her fellows, working out the arts of war.

Taking a practice swing to a Beskar’gam clad warrior, Yasha was abruptly interrupted wth a yellow caution signal on her buy’ce.

She stumbled to a stop, yanking back toward the Palace.

“Kaine.” Yasha sprinted off like a slug thrown from a repeater rifle, how could she be careless enough to throw down a training session and not protect [member="Kaine Australis"]?!

“Tuulu! Who the feth let a rando in to visit Australis?! Patch me to his sec feeds!” Yasha continued to run full tilt back to the Palace, she had to get to him. She had to make sure Kaine was alright.

“She slipped through security. Guards didn’t see her.” Tuulu growled and snapped. The images of Kaine’s cell shunted into the corner of Yasha’s HUD. She felt the burn in her right side from the distance of her run but kept running.

“She’s blue for Kad’s sake! Kark-fething BLUE!” Yasha thundered into the palace and up the lift, catching her breath with a hand on her side and one on her knees. It hasn’t been that long since recovering from Barataria... sprinting in full Beskar’kandar was taxing enough without the extenuating health scare.

In the image, Kaine doubled over, landed atop the woman. Yasha threw herself out of the lift and sprinted for the cell door...

...when she kissed him...​

​

... and it occurred to her he’d said a name. ​

​

Nibsani. ​

His Twi’lek fiancée. The woman she’d met at Cassi and Raiz’s wedding. Yasha’s momentum took her to the door of Kaine’s cell. She yanked her palms out on either side of the lintel, and stopped her forward velocity with a bang.

There was no stopping armour of that size before it hit with a colossal amount of sound.

“Disengage! Disengage it’s… it’s fine. She’s fine. Put her on the safe list.” Yasha’s voice slunk from her helmet, distorted by the audio-processors, and the sinking sensation in her gut. She pushed her back to the wall and slid down. [member="Nibsani"] found him… found a way into him.

If she could, someone else could too. Or maybe Nibsani was just that special.

“How long’s the karking architect going to take?” Yasha pressed her right hand to her side, shaken by, but glad of, the false alarm. Locked in her beskar'gam, Yasha laughed. "It's okay guys... he's okay."

 

[Valgærd]

I love you

I barely even heard the banging on the door, or if I had, it was swiftly forgotten. All that remained in my mind were those three words. Silence befell us for a single moment that seemed to stretch on forever. Staring back into his piercing blue eyes, I could hear the single beat my heart made in that moment. The realisation hit me all at once: no one had ever said that to me before.

Well, no one who hadn’t been compromised by alcohol or spice.

I stared back at him, barely daring to even take a breath lest I wake up and this glorious dream shatters around me. Finally, the moment fell into the next, and then that into the one after. I let out a soft sigh, tiny at first, but allowing it to uncoil fully from my chest as I realised that this wasn’t some dream and that I never had to wake up from it.

“I love you too.”

The words tumbled from my mouth with no resistance from my mind. I’d been genuine in the past, it wasn’t normal for me, as I usually hid behind a flirty and playful exterior. This, though… this was raw. I felt… safe. Kaine saw this genuine side of me because I could trust him to see it. Him, [member="Caz Australis"] because she would see it anyway, and no one else. Which drew my attention to the banging on the door.

I tilted my head towards the door, heart leaping into my throat. Were the guards outside? Were they here to try and remove me? I took in a deep breath, once again pulling down the playful, carefree mask,

“You can come in,” I purred coyly, “we’re decent!”

Was joking with potential guards outside the door smart? Probably not. But my head and heart were still all aflutter. At this point I didn’t care who stepped through the door, I was going to tell them I’d fallen in love. If I didn’t I’d surely explode.



[member="Kaine Australis"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Love. Beyond the whispered words, visible only as fluctuations in her HUD feed of the cell, the reconnection between [member="Kaine Australis"] and [member="Nibsani"] was dangerously close. It was too vulnerable to be witnessed by the others, and Yasha shut down all others’ view of the feeds but for hers. It was the best gift she could give the two lovers.

How had Nibsani come in, sultry hips and taught belly, past guard and Mandalorian alike? Yasha sat in stillness on the floor, elbows propped up on her knees. Kaine was happy. His Nibsani was happy, too.

A wolf padded over to Yasha, sitting down beside her, his black snout in her lap. She tossed her arm around [member="Ambrose Mantis"]’ neck and scratched at the beast’s ears, audio processors making music out of his rustling constant growl.

“Not for you, pup. You know how he is, don’t go so far down that road I can’t follow and scoop you out of it.” Ambrose rumbled, nuzzling his nose in Yasha’s shoulder.

The Infernal grunted, curling up with Ambrose on the floor, as Nibsani’s voice peppered in, contented and bubbling.

“I could eat him... if you’d feel better.”

Yasha buried her helmet-clad face deeper in Ambrose’s fur with a chuckle. Bootsteps chased the lullaby rumble of the murderous beast, it was time for Kaine’s next meal. Kaine and Nibsani were contentedly together inside, an echo of familial beauty Yasha could only admire and love. Something she could see, but never experience on her own.

Nudging her up with his snout, Ambrose nodded to the door. “You going in, or is Sebi?”

“I’ll do it.” Yasha said, taking the tray as Sebi came up and nodding the woman on her way.

“Deep breaths. Set down the tray and get back to training.” Ambrose grumbled.

The door swished open to the side, and the sight which greeted Kaine and Nibsani was the perilously armoured eight foot tall body of Mand’alor the Infernal holding a meal tray, as the massive gurlanin form of Ambrose glared in, baring his teeth only once at the Bral’s destroyer.

Only once? Ambrose must have been feeling better, all things considered. The door shunted closed. She set the tray of stew, bread and ale down on Kaine’s only table. Her HUD displayed the temperature fluctuations in their unclad faces, the flush a radiant band of bright coloured light.

“The next time you desire a moment of Australis’ time, a security chit will be required.” The animated wolf’s head at the helmet’s top twitched and looked to Kaine.

:”Sec Team D is relocating to Concord Dawn. Better guards will cover your position. Pack your things once you’re done visiting, we’re moving you... I thought she was... it doesn’t matter. Congratulations, General Australis”: Yasha spoke in Mando’a, confident this cerulean beauty spoke none of the Mando’ad’s tongue.

This was not the relaxed and gentle woman Kain’ik knew in the quiet. Before them was the Infernal, a stern and unbowed protector of the Mandalorian way of life. In front of a new part of the equation, Yash’ika remained hidden.

“Your visitation chit will be ready by the time you leave, Ms. Nibsani… future Mrs. Australis? It will secure you passage to see Australis at all times... within reason, you understand. You three will be incredibly happy, I have no doubt.” Turning on her heels, Yasha began to walk out of the cell.

 

[Valgærd]

Will you marry me?

Everything else fell away. Whomever was at the door, the potential for guards to come rushing in at any moment, all my worries, fears, desires… everything fled from me in that moment. My heart stopped in my chest, my breath caught in my throat. Time itself seemed to stop. My mind echoed with that one question. Never had the prospect entered my head that anyone would ever ask me that. As a slave, I’d been a convenience, a fun little companion for a few hours here and there. I was there to serve and provide company or entertainment… but it always came to an end. Even when I had escaped, I made no secret of my past, who would want to tie themselves down to someone with such a past? Particularly since I didn’t even have the submissive nature that might have saved me. No… I had pegged myself to age alone.

Will you marry me?

I became aware that I had left the question hanging in the air, staring in utter shock at the general. Was… was this real? I opened my mouth to answer, but at first, no words came. It was as if my body refused to make a noise, in case any action might shatter this moment and send me crashing back to reality.

“I… yes!” I finally gasped, a grin breaking out onto my face.

I wrapped Kaine up into the tightest huge I could, hastily rubbing my eyes whilst my head was over his shoulder and out of sight. All at once everything seemed to explode. My heart raced, my breath escaped in an elated sigh. I pulled back a little, leaning in to kiss him excitedly.

I’m not exactly when it was that the door opened, but by the time I turned around, a massive eight-foot-tall suit of magnificent-looking armour stood before us, placing a tray on the table before addressing me. I blushed, but nothing in the galaxy could have smothered my grin.

As she turned to say something in Mando’a to Kaine, I swung my legs over the bed and leapt to my feet. So much excited energy was racing through me, I couldn’t stay still. By the time the armoured being turned back to me, I’d crossed the room towards her. She said… something, I caught a ‘future Mrs. Australis’ which just doubled the fireworks going off in my head already. She turned to leave but I swung around in front of her, wrapping my arms around the cold armored plates.

“I’M ENGAAAAAGED!” I cried happily, neither knowing, nor yet caring who she was.

She was here, she wasn’t pointing a gun at me, and I was dying to celebrate.

"Me! Nibsani! I'm going to get MARRIED! He wants to MARRY me! Isn't he wonderful?! I'm ENGAGED!"

The thoughts just continued to tumble out of my mouth barely stopping to bypass my brain. Maybe when I had more sense I'd look back on this and cringe, but for now, the joy had simply taken over.


[member="Yasha Mantis"] | [member="Kaine Australis"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Only [member="Kaine Australis"] would understand the unique impression that [member="Nibsani"] skirted her lithe body being thrown into a wall the moment she touched Mand’alor the Infernal. Guard up, armour on, Yasha Mantis was a being of instinct, and that instinct was screaming in her ears like a Panathan Punk band.

She didn’t know Nibsani. Close proximity was something given to vode, comrades. It was something she gave to Kain’ik, in the moments where he helped her with the baby and soothed the pain of Kaden Mantis’ disappearance. This moment between Kaine and Nibsani belonged to them alone, and the great voyeur craved the ability to run back to the violent predilections of Ambrose and her warriors. She craved anything but the pressure of Nibsani’s touch, of the IR fluctuations of heat coming off Kaine and Nibsani’s bodies.

“Congratulations.” Yasha struggled to spit out the word, her voice a heavily accented Panathan dialect of Basic.

“The Riduurok is only a few muttered phrases. It can be spoken, or written, whether witnessed in person or across a comm. It is simple, but binding. If you want to be married, say it and be done.” Little more would the Infernal give them, as the snapping growl of [member="Ambrose Mantis"] filled the air, punctuating the basso line below Kaine Australis’ pristine military bearing.

The baffles on either side of Yasha’s helm spread and condensed in a slow tandem to the thudding of her hidden heart. She couldn’t stay. No… not another second.

Kaine’s use of military formality anchored the Infernal to the spot on the floor where her boots stood firm.

:”Your fiancee is… effervescent. Best keep her close to your own chest, General… and away from mine.”: A push away. Crushgaunts against the twi’lek’s shoulders. Yasha nodded the guards off, giving Ambrose a series of hand signals that had the massive gurlanin snap and growl at Kaine, “I can still eat him, Pup.”

“Go.” Yasha’s whisper was all which the guards required, before the small cell-room was abandoned by all but the three present. The two lovers and the wolf’s infernal child.

“Urgent, Australis? Then you must speak it quickly. What is so urgent you would prevent the Infernal from returning to her work?”

 

[Valgærd]

What had I expected?

I didn’t know, my head as all abuzz from the excitement, but it certainly wasn’t what happened. The armoured being before me stiffened, clearly uncomfortable. Instantly shame crept up onto my face. I’d been so foolish and childish.

By the time the armoured woman muttered an insincere ‘congratulations’, I had managed to pull myself away from her just a step and was standing with burning cheeks. I’m better than this, my excitement had gotten the better of me. As my cheeks grew dark, I heard a rumbling growl.

Instinctively I took a step away from the large black wolf that appeared, glaring at Kaine. The woman spoke, saying that we could be married right here and now. At first my heart leapt with joy, it could be that easy? We could just… be married? But no, the moment I had that thought, it was overtaken by another. Caz; Kaine’s lovely wife. She should be here too. It was just as much her family I was entering as his. I was pulled from my thoughts as the being before me placed her gauntlets on my shoulders and pushed me away.

Suddenly there was a flash of rage. It was instant, white-hot, and took me completely by surprise. No one had physically manhandled me since my escape. I should have been used to it, having spent most of my life being controlled. But something about being shoved away now, after having snatched my freedom from under my own Master’s nose… it unsettled me.

I swallowed, turning my face away as I took a moment to swallow back the fury. Thankfully, all I had to do was look upon the man the armoured woman addressed. He was so wonderful. Whatever happened, I had him, I knew him. Taking a step closer, I sought to tuck myself in against his side, and listen as the two conversed. This did not seem like a conversation I needed to partake in.


[member="Yasha Mantis"] | [member="Kaine Australis"]