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

[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?"

[bornstrong]

She doesn't think it's terribly impolite, Han. It just seems out of the blue for her.

"I'm twenty," she replies, looking at him quizzically. "Why do you ask?"

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Perhaps it's the kind of thing that becomes impolite when the lady in question gets a little older. He just knows he's been slapped for asking that, so, he figures there are some people where he comes from that find it rude ...

"I'm trying to imagine what someone your age would want to be free from royal decree to do." Partially. "Also interested to see how your age compared to mine."

[bornstrong]

"I see," she replies, smiling a little. "Do you think I'm young?"

Because, she wants to say, she's not. She's seen far too much for someone her age.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"A couple of years younger than I." He says with a shrug. "But I don't think that means all that much in the grand scheme of things."

Han himself had grown up in the kind of life that packed a lot of living into the first 20 of his years. He wouldn't necessarily expect the same in the life of a princess, but he wouldn't rule it out either.

"Do you think you're old, sweetheart?"

[bornstrong]

She purses her lips for a moment, considering the question.

"I think I have seen more than the average young woman has," she says quietly. "That's all."

She doesn't mean to get dark on you, Han--you just reminded her of something from her past.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Turn about is fair play. He doesn't think he's unleashed the moodier side of himself on her yet, but he does it often enough to other people that he's not in a position to complain. Not to mention there aren't a shortage of subjects than can make his disposition sour.

"Fair enough." He says, though he has no intention to pry further. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry that you did."

[bornstrong]

That apology makes her pause.

"Thank you," she replies. "I'm here now, and that's what matters to me."

She's happy she's alive, Han.