[OOM] Eiattu

[fighting_mad]

When the X-wing sets down in Eiattu's capital's spaceport this time, it's alone. There's no fanfare; just the lone snubfighter tearing into the atmosphere, slowing at the last moment and settling down softly on repulsorlifts and landing gear. The seal on the canopy pops and the canopy itself lifts, and the pilot takes a deep breath and starts running an efficient post-flight checklist.

It's not long after that there's a princess stepping down from the fighter, onto the ferrocrete. The changes are subtle; the snubfighter has more kill markings, more dings and scraped paint. The princess has longer hair that she's running a hand through, a walk that might just be a touch more graceful. Of course, she's wearing the traditional orange flightsuit and combat boots and carrying a duffle bag over her shoulder, so there's not too much grace.

Comments

[eiattu_pride]

There's a count waiting for her. Somewhat awkwardly, standing with all the grace of a little boy about to be scolded. Still, he's a good forty feet away, so it's possible that she doesn't notice.

He waves awkwardly.

[fighting_mad]

There's no retinue, Plourr is pleased to note, and she raises her helmet in an overly-casual greeting as she approaches.

[eiattu_pride]

He shuffles his feet very slightly.

"Um. Hi."

[fighting_mad]

"Hey," she says, not halting as she reaches him, headed toward the waiting landspeeder, though the implication is for him to walk with her. "How are the preparations coming?"

[eiattu_pride]

"Nobody's died yet."

Matches her pace easily.

"How're you?"

[fighting_mad]

"Well, thank you," she says with aplomb, setting the helmet and the bag in the backseat of the speeder. "The others are a few hours behind me; General Solo, Princess Leia, Tycho, and," and here, the perfect princess façade fails her, as her lip curls, "Fel."

[eiattu_pride]

He grins a bit.

"Ah, I see. We could arrange an assasination?"

[fighting_mad]

She smiles faintly, opening the driver's side door. "It would have to be fit into the schedule." She slides in behind the wheel.

[eiattu_pride]

He hops into the passenger's seat, "I'm sure the princess could arrange something."

[fighting_mad]

"Which one?" she asks wryly, turning the speeder on and pressing her foot lightly on the accelerator, setting it into motion. "There are a fair number descending on the palace within the next day."

[eiattu_pride]

He laughs.

"I was referring to you. Princess-you."

[fighting_mad]

"As long as I do the arranging myself," Plourr says, the guards at the spaceport gate waving them through. "And by arranging, I mean shooting." Once the landspeeder is through the gate and out into the stream of traffic, it picks up speed, easily weaving around other vehicles.

[eiattu_pride]

"Be my guest."

He leans back, relaxing.

"I've missed you."

[fighting_mad]

Her glance over at him is so quick that it could nearly be missed. There's a pause, her eyes shifting between only the road and the rearview mirror as she drives.

"I've missed you, too."

[eiattu_pride]

"You'll have been busy, "he says, changing the subject, "I would imagine. Has that been fun?"

[fighting_mad]

She smiles, checking the mirror before swinging into the next lane. "I'm flying." And that's answer enough.

[eiattu_pride]

"Lucky."

He's jealous, really.

[fighting_mad]

She quiet for a moment, weighing her thoughts.

"The only thing I'm lucky in is the man I married," she says, hand resting on the shift between them, and she glances over for a split second.

[eiattu_pride]

He blushes, and ducks his head, and mumbles something that she can't hear.

But his smile is so pleased.

[fighting_mad]

Her smile is faint, but it's there (the arguing is past and he's a good man; he really is). She reaches over and lays a hand on his shoulder, giving a light squeeze as she watches traffic, begins to turn into the long road leading to the palace gates.

[eiattu_pride]

He brushes her fingers with a light kiss, then pats her knee.

It's better.

[fighting_mad]

She settles her hand back on the wheel, finally slowing the speeder as it approaches the guardhouse. The person in it recognizes the vehicle (and probably the two heads in it) and raises the gate, allowing the landspeeder to zip through.

Plourr glances back at the receding guardhouse, swiftly being lost among the green and orange trees and foliage lining the private road. "So where are the guards, anyway?"

[eiattu_pride]

"I really have no idea."

He's gotten better at the innocent face since she last saw him.

[fighting_mad]

"Really?"

[eiattu_pride]

"You doubt me?"