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.

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[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.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Oh, this man can certainly empathize with being nearly killed dozens of times over. Well before he started smuggling and pissing off crime lords, as a matter of fact, but it's not as if he wants to turn it into a competition.

Frankly, he wouldn't wish a near death experience on someone under the age of twenty no matter how badly they pissed him off.

"You know I don't really tell people this ..." Han glances around, in fact, to make sure nobody but Iphigenia is going to hear him. "I wasn't raised by my own parents. I was fortunate that someone who didn't have to, took it upon herself to watch over me. Whenever I think about how lucky I am to be somewhere ... I'm always thinking of her."

[bornstrong]

Iphigenia listens carefully to what he says, because she knows it's important for him to tell her.

"I'm glad you had somebody, though," she replies, nodding. "It's better than being alone. I think that must be the worst feeling in the world."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"Yeah." He says with a thoughtful frown. Han remembers how often he's felt that way in his own life, by himself, that is. Hell, even his name in more than a couple of languages where he's from means 'alone'.

"I hope that's not a feeling you're all too familiar with, princess."

[bornstrong]

"I have felt alone before," she admits. "But here, it's a little better. I can make friends more easily."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Ah. Making friends more easily kind of makes sense with the way he imagine's a princess' life to be, but really, he's only guessing at what that could be like.

"If you could get born again and choose rags or royalty ..." He murmurs thoughtfully. "What would you pick?"

[bornstrong]

"...Truthfully, I'd be a coward and go with what I knew--but with some exceptions," the princess replies. "I'd want more say in any decisions involving me, for one thing. But yes, I'd choose royalty."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"You want to be rich and free." He murmurs with a bit of a lopsided smile. "Can't blame you for that. I think that's what everyone wants."

[bornstrong]

She laughs lightly.

"You're probably right," Iphigenia replies. "Is that what you'd want, too?"

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"Free is the most important part." He says, still smiling but a little bit of the brightness has left his eyes.

"I've been getting by without being rich all my life, though I'd love to find out what that feels like, believe me ... I don't know if I could take someone else telling me what to do for very long."

[bornstrong]

"You do seem like a free spirit," she agrees. "And I've seen servants treated rudely at times, so I can understand your concern."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Oh, the Princess might have some idea that it's lousy to feel like your freedom is infringed upon. But that's one thing. Knowing what it's like to grow up as the human chattel of a bounty hunter turned captain of a ship full of criminals is something else entirely.

He keeps reminding himself that it's a very good thing that most people can't relate to his upbringing. And he can't be mad at people for not knowing all the things he's resolute not to talk about.

"Were you guilty of treating the help poorly?"

[bornstrong]

"No," she replies softly. "But my father was. He was not always kind."

Iphigenia frowns then, remembering.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"Sorry to hear that, sweetheart."

For a moment, Han considers his own father. There's not all that much to remember considering the last time he saw the man he was three. "I'm not even sure I could recognize mine anymore."

[bornstrong]

"That must be hard," she says, not knowing what that must be like. Iphigenia's father has always been a looming prescence in her life.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Different kind of bad as far as Han's concerned since the Princess seems to have something of a fractured relationship hers. In the subtle things he could pick up from what she's saying.

Han's parents died on him, which is in some ways easier and in some ways harder he'd have to imagine.

"Just wish I could have known him a little better sometimes." He says with a shrug. "I gotta think it would change a man to be a king. Can't see myself as the same kind of person I am now, if I was."

[bornstrong]

"I think it does change you, yes, but it's still--you should still treat people with respect. That's what being a good ruler is about, really."

APparently, the princess has strong opinions on leadership. Who knew?

[twelve_not_fourteen]

He wouldn't know. Unless you make it analogous to being a Captain of a ship and then suddenly he might have a lot of ideas one what it might be like.

"Can the women be rules where you're from?"

[bornstrong]

"Yes--to a point," she replies. "My mother was queen, but I don't know if she really had true power the way my father did. I suspect she wanted to, though."

Whoops. Should have said "rulers" in my last tag.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

He nods. His galaxy is pretty progressive in terms of matriarchal and patriarchal societies. There are some places ruled by men. Some places ruled by women. Some places where it doesn't matter. It still slants slightly toward men in power, though.

The far bigger problem in his galaxy tends to be Xenophobia.

"Would you have wanted to be a queen ruler?"

it's okay! :)

[bornstrong]

"Me? I never really gave it much thought," she admits, looking down briefly. "I think my mother assumed I would want what she wanted, but I never was quite certain I did."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"Seems like it would be a lot of responsibility." He says trying to picture what it would be like. "If you were trying to be a good monarch, I suppose."

[bornstrong]

"Of course it is! But if you're taught from a young age--taught properly, I mean--you should do all right," she replies. "I believe that people deserve a good ruler."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"I don't think I ..." Then he just stops mid-thought and shakes his head. "I guess it's just good that we're not all born kings and queens."

[bornstrong]

"Very true. I agree with that sentiment," she says, nodding. "That would be an absolute mess."