A little cafe talk (for Han).

[bornstrong]

 At 7 o'clock, Iphigenia is waiting in Sophia's Cafe, waiting for someone who may just turn out to be a new friend. She's glad to talk to him, even if he's maybe a bit reluctant.

She understands, and so she's sitting quietly at a table by the window, people-watching as she waits. She's got a small chamomile tea and a chocolate croissant in front of her, though she really hasn't eaten much of it yet.

Comments

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"I'm sorry in advance that it will take a while." He says, a little bit of good humor touching his eyes for a change. "Even for someone as good at fixing things as me."

Then again. She saw it. Iphigenia doesn't need to know how the thing works to tell it was clearly in need of some help.

"It's gonna shine again when I'm done with it."

[bornstrong]

"Please, take all the time you need," she replies. After all, she thinks, they have all the time in the world, here in the Nexus.

"I'm sure it'll look splendid."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Anything Han has a tendency to devote himself to and put in an honest effort tends to turn out well. In that regard, he doesn't realize how lucky it is.

"So do you have any hobbies or passion projects?"

He's got to imagine she has some. His royal company doesn't strike him as someone so new to the Nexus she hasn't found some kind of niche yet. And even if, she must have had some hobbies before she arrived ...

[bornstrong]

"Well, I like to sing," she admits, blushing a little. "I've been told I'm good at it. I've been thinking about putting on a concert."

She grins.

"I would hope people would come. I practice when I can, so."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"If there was some way to know less than nothing about music, that would be me."

Han's experience with music is limited to 'what's playing in the background of the smokey I'm in now' and that's about it. He's hardly even listened to enough to know what he generally likes and doesn't like.

And things are quiet on the Falcon, which is by design because he wants to hear the assortment of noises if something is going wrong. The otherwise quiet of space is ... something of a mixed blessing.

"I'd listen though." He says with a little smile. "I'd even try to absorb wisdom if you were trying to pass it on."

[bornstrong]

She laughs lightly.

"I hardly think I have much wisdom to impart," she replies. Iphigenia knows she is young, and merely mortal--not necessarily dumb, but she's aware that there are wiser people out in the universe.

"I used to sing at banquets, back home."

There is it again. Home.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"No? You don't think you could teach me anything about music, because I bet you could."

There are lots of ways that someone can be wise after all.

"Can you sing something right now?"

[bornstrong]

Now she blushes, because she knows she should have known better than to bring up her talent.

"If you'd like. I really only know songs from my homeland, though."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

This Corellian doesn't know the meaning of the word modest, it seems. When she brought up a skill she was fond of, you better believe he wanted to see it on display.

Plus he's kinda wondering how she'll react to being asked to perform on the spot.

"You don't have to." He points out. "You just so happen to have captured my attention and curiosity, that's all."

[bornstrong]

"If you want me to, I can," she says, still blushing. "I only really know songs from my home. They may seem strange to you."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"Sweetheart, my whole life revolves around running into beings and cultures all different than mine." He says with a shrug and a faint smile. "Whatever it seems like, I've probably seen stranger."

[bornstrong]

She laughs a little, half-nervously.

"Well, then I'll sing you something," she says, looking around. The cafe is almost empty.

A moment later, Iphigenia's humming, and then singing, a little lullaby her mother used to sing to her when she was small. The princess has a nice voice, a light, sweet soprano, and when she's done with her tune, she's grinning.

"There. Now you've heard me sing."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

There we go. He half thought this princess was going to shy away from it on him. Makes him smile to see her go for it and, hey, she's got a nice voice too.

"That's pretty good, sweetheart." He says with a slight nod. "Do you compose any of your music or are you strictly into the singing?'

[bornstrong]

"I don't write anything, no," she admits, blushing a little at his compliment. "Maybe I could try, though."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"I don't see why you shouldn't." He points out. "Worst case scenario; you figure out it's not for you and then you stop."

And in the best case, hey, maybe she discovers she has a talent she didn't realize she had.

"You look nice when you're smiling and the color hit's your cheeks, Princess. I know that's a little off-topic, but I couldn't help to notice."

[bornstrong]

And that's just going to make her blush even more, Han.

"Thank you for your compliment," she says, sounding a little flustered--but in a good way, of course. "I think I really ought to try new things here. After all, I have nothing to lose."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

To borrow a phrase from the young earthers he's met here in the Nexus, sorry not sorry. You got a fetching smile princess. He doesn't feel bad drawing them out of you.

"That's the spirit." He says with a smile of his own. "Life's too short. Even life in the Nexus."

[bornstrong]

She laughs lightly.

"I'm not opposed to living life to the fullest--especially now that I'm here."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Ah.

Now, that's an answer that makes Captain Solo curious. His head adopts a thoughtful tilt and he asks gently, "does that mean you didn't feel like you could where you came from?"

[bornstrong]

"Oh, I certainly couldn't, not at all," she admits, shaking her head. "I had to do what was proper."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"You'll have to forgive me." He says by way of a thoughtful murmur. "I have no idea what that means."

For a princess anyway. He supposes he has some idea of what's expected in everyday polite society in his galaxy, for the most part.

[bornstrong]

"Oh, you know," she says dismissively, as if it's obvious. "I had to behave. That's all it comes down to."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

It is so not obvious to Han. Not even a little bit. Perhaps this question would help him understand a bit better ...

"Well, what sorts of things have you wanted to do that you couldn't?"

[bornstrong]

She blushes. Iphigenia's almost a little embarrassed.

"I--I guess I just always wanted to be free, if that makes sense," the princess replies. "I wanted to be able to go where I wanted, when I wanted. I could never do that, back home."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Well, on some level he supposes he gets what she's saying. Only now he's tremendously curious as to what it is that she wanted to do that she felt like she couldn't. Sneaking out after dark? Meeting new people? Seeing new places?

Having conversations with scoundrels?

"I'm going to ask you a terribly impolite question that you can feel free to ignore." He says as a preface. "How old are you, Iphigenia?"