[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

[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?"

[fighting_mad]

"Should I?"

[eiattu_pride]

"Of course not."

Srsly.

[fighting_mad]

"Well, that's perfectly irresponsible of them, isn't it?" It's an effort to replace 'kriffing' with 'perfectly,' but she does it.

[eiattu_pride]

"Oh, quite."

His looks rival a Jedi's for serenity.

[fighting_mad]

She frowns, turning into the palace's huge garage of vehicles. She produces a datacard from one of many pockets after a moment's search, flashing it in front of the reader. It beeps once and the doors to the royal family's private section roll open. "I'll have to speak to Captain Ranak," she says as the doors close behind them. She pulls the speeder into a parking space and turns off the engine.

[eiattu_pride]

"It's not his fault that the guards were instructed to wait for me in the gardens." Rial points out quickly.

"I wanted time alone with you."

[fighting_mad]

"Oh." Right. She knew that.

She opens the door and steps out of the vehicle, digging into the backseat for her bag and helmet. "Just-- be careful," she says, closing her hand around the bag's strap. "I've seen what happens when the palace guard doesn't do its job."

[eiattu_pride]

"Ah, yeah."

And now he's left with a distinct feeling of guilt.

[fighting_mad]

Which she notices. And scowls at as she lifts her bag out of the back and tucks her helmet under her arm, shutting the driver's side door with her foot. "It's hardly your fault that I worry, Rial."

[eiattu_pride]

"Bad genetics?"

It's a bad joke, he knows.

[fighting_mad]

She shoots him a blank look, heading for the nondescript door several meters away. "What?"