Private A Flight to Remember

[Alicio Organa]

SPACEPORT, SANCTUARY CITY
AFTERNOON
​

Alicio had never been on a date before.

He'd read plenty of romance novels, of course. In each, the stunningly beautiful-and-or-handsome protagonist was swept off their feet by an equally beautiful-and-or-handsome love interest, taken to perfectly planned locations to have deep, meaningful conversations. Then, inevitably, there was a passionate kiss shared over a bridge, or something happened to heighten the drama, or in the case of the rom-coms, a jealous ex shows up and throws pie in the face of the hero.

Of course, the Count knew that real life was significantly different than the fantasies he read as a guilty pleasure. It was messier, darker, full of coincidence and happenstance. He couldn't expect everything to be perfect.

If nothing else, he hoped they would enjoy themselves.

The youngest Organa was wearing a stylish black and silver coat, long black pants, and a mildly nervous, yet excited expression. At this time of day, with the sun just past it's zenith, the spaceport was packed with folks headed to and fro. Alicio kept his hands in his pockets, attempting to relax his shoulders, and staring over the crowds, looking for the Shi'ido.

Alicio had warned Inanna to wear something moveable, but beyond that, he'd been vague in his instructions. He'd never been on a date, but he'd read enough about them to be a master.

Probably.

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

Wear something movable, he says to the shapeshifter. As if she could stand to be in anything restrictive. Hell, as if she could stand to wear clothes, period. Why bother when you can mold your flesh into “clothes” at will?

Because Alderaan is cold by Shi’ido standards, that’s why. Even at this time of year.

When Inanna left the anonymity of the crowds and walked toward Alicio, she was wearing a cloak. Woven from a silvery thread, it looked a little out of place, being of alien design rather than something she had picked up locally. The hood was down, allowing her white hair to hang loose about her shoulders. The change in style had a softening effect on her features—or perhaps she had softened them deliberately.

She was also carrying some sort of white furry thing in her arms.

“Ah, there you are,” she greeted Alicio with a smile. “Well, don’t you look dashing.” And very nervous, though she didn’t comment on that. “So where exactly are we going?”

The furry thing stirred, and a head with a little black nose and two big black eyes appeared from amongst all the fluff.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

As Alicio spied the cloaked form of Inanna, he immediately smiled, much of his tension banished, even as a bit of nervousness still lodged itself in the back of his mind. The waiting was the worst part. Now, he had an objective. Have fun.

"Inanna, hello!" Alicio brushed a hand through his unruly dark hair as Inanna complimented him. "As do you. Simply dashing," he said, jokingly. Then, with a bit more sincerity. "You look great."

When she asked about location, Alicio crossed his arms. "And ruin the surprise? Not a chance." The Alderaanian smiled warmly. "Well, after said surprise, I thought you might enjoy dinner downtown. There's a line of food stalls from across the galaxy. Lots of options."

It was then Alicio noticed Inanna's travelling companion. His eyes widened, as did his smile. "You brought a friend."

He reached out his hand to pet the creature, but quickly stopped himself, looking to Inanna for permission. "Um, may I?"

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

“I like surprises. And food.” Off to a great start already.

“This is Elfangor. He’s… well, I don’t really know what he is. I rescued him from a lab many years ago.” She nodded when Alicio asked if he could pet him. “If you don’t pet him, he’ll coil around you and squeeze until you do.”

Elfangor had already started to unspool, leaning forward to headbutt Alicio’s hand. He looked a little like a fennec fox, but with a long body reminiscent of a python.

Inanna had brought him along partly for the sheer fun of it, and partly to serve as an icebreaker. It seemed like no matter where in the galaxy you went, people warmed up to cute animals. Except on Lao-mon, where the Shi’ido kept terrifying monsters as pets… but that was a story for another time.

“You’ve appeased him. You’ll live another day,” Inanna joked. Elfangor coiled contentedly back into his pile of fur. “Now, about that surprise...”

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

"I suppose I have no choice," Alicio said, with a smile.

Elfangor seemed like the type to enjoy ear scritches.

After having been accepted by the creature, Alicio ran both of his hands along the backs of Elfangor's ears, teasing the fur at the base of the skull. Having hopefully appeased the beast, the Count turned back up to Inanna.

"What a lovely..." He examined the creature with a comically upturned brow, hiding his mischievous smile. "...dog?"

Alicio held out an arm for her to take. "Right, the surprise." He led Inanna out of the spaceport, seeming to know exactly where to step to escape as quickly as possible. Once outside, Alicio nodded to his speeder, sleek and eggshell blue, and offering a hand to help her step inside.

Not that she needed it, but the burdensome etiquette classes of his youth were hard to unlearn.

"Hop in. We're going to the city outskirts."

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

"What a lovely... dog?"

Inanna laughed. “He’s as loyal as one, that’s for sure.” Elfangor was beginning to snake his way across her shoulders like a boa. “Every living creature on Alderaan is perfectly safe from him, I promise. Except for mice and pigeons, and that’s only if he gets hungry.”

She hooked her arm through Alicio’s and let him lead the way to his speeder. “Swanky,” she commented, admiring the vehicle. “Now this is what my father would’ve called a ‘foolish carriage’. It looks too expensive and beautiful to ride in.”

Alicio offered her his hand, though he seemed about to retract it out of embarrassment. She seized it before he had a chance to.

“Do you always wear gloves?” she asked. For a moment she gently pinched the tip of his finger and seemed about to tug the glove off. But, realizing that he might not understand (or appreciate) the gesture, she decided to leave it alone and climbed into the speeder.

As for what was at the city outskirts, she had a few guesses, but was content to wait and see for now.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio shrugged his shoulders, obviously trying to hide his pride at Inanna's admiration of his speeder. "It's... well, I needed a ride around, and then when I purchased it, the old paint was chipping off..." He'd spent an evening after work spraying it with his bodyguard Ivarra, getting the tone just right. He was glad to see the effort was paying it's dividends already. "I'm certainly going to feel like a fool if I scratch it."

Inanna took his hand, commenting on his glove before entering. "Not always," he said, entering the driver's seat, and engaging the engine, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious. "They're just stylish, is all."

The airspeeder eased slowly into the sky, easily merging into the scant airways of Sanctuary City. It was quiet and peaceful over the soaring white buildings and swaths of green woodland that interspersed it. People could be seen, walking to and fro, a cosmopolitan mix of refugees from across the galaxy, living their lives beyond having them ruined, finding purpose after the tragedies that befell them.

Everytime Alicio saw it, he had to smile. It was... inspiring.

"So..." Alicio said, smirking. "Completely random, insignificant question; How do you feel about heights?"

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

“You hear that? Not a scratch.” Inanna’s warning to Elfangor was answered with a yawn. Even if he wanted to, the creature had no claws to scratch the paint with.

Was it just her, or did Alicio look a bit self-conscious after she asked about his gloves? Now she had no choice but to tease him about it. “Really? Are you sure you’re not subconsciously afraid of touching or being touched?” Snorting, she shook her head. “Maybe if you were a character in one of my novels. But no, you’re what they call a ‘real person’.”

While Elfangor slithered into the backseat, Inanna looked out the window at the city below. “Wait a minute—is that—?”

Sanctuary City. It had to be, but she couldn’t seem to get the words out. Her first sight of Alicio’s little project had silenced her.

She couldn’t decide whether it was exactly as she’d imagined it, or better than anything her mind could’ve conjured up. It was a rare combination among settlements—the aesthetically pleasing and the spiritually pure. This was not some dingy, overcrowded camp or dirty, crime-ridden ghetto on a planet that would rather not deal with aliens. The streets and buildings had been designed with care. Inanna gazed down at the tiny figures of people below, refugees who had found a new home, and almost wanted to cry.

"Completely random, insignificant question; How do you feel about heights?"

There was a few seconds’ delay before she answered, “I can grow wings if you want.” In that moment, with the stars of the Sanctuary City’s lights in her eyes, she’d have done just about anything for him.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

"Not that I'm aware of," the Count said, finding the need to hide his hands in his lap. "Although, I suppose I wouldn't know, if it was subconscious."

"But no, I just like them." Alicio had many problems. But touch-adversity, thankfully, was not one of them. At least, he didn't think it was.

Inanna's wonder at the city below swelled Alicio's heart. He knew what she was feeling; it was what he felt, every day, looking down at what everyone had accomplished together. It was his city, at least for a while longer, not because he owned it, but because he helped prop it up. He, along with so many builders, patrons, and workers, had created a home on the Sanctuary Coast for any who might need it.

"No need," Alicio said, laughing to himself as Inanna offered to fly on her own. "I love the view of the city from above. It, ah... it puts everything into perspective. But, in my humble opinion, the best view of the city is in it."

Now away from any clean white skyscrapers, the airspeeder began it's descent, touching down next to a stadium-sized, dome shaped structure. What it could be was anyone's guess.

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

The moment they touched down, Inanna leaned over and hugged him.

What? She was having a moment. He said he didn’t mind being touched…

“Did you design it?” she asked, her voice a little muffled. “Like a city planner? Or did you just get all the right people to work together?” The latter was something she dreamed of doing, but often found difficult. Even her experience managing the camp on Erakhis had shown her just how unruly people could be.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

When Inanna leaned over for the hug, there was a moment of tension in Alicio's body, that first shock of surprise, and, perhaps, something subconscious he wasn't aware of, that kept him from immediately reciprocating. But after the first moment abated, and a nervous laugh was expelled from his chest, he gave into the touch, resting a casual arm around her shoulders.

"Well," he began, not used to talking to someone so close, "I decided how to situate everything, and then I had to get people to put them there. It was a lot of meetings, and squabbling between building companies, and... hassle." He was getting a headache just thinking about it. "But when the stars aligned, it was glorious."

He let them rest a moment there, before booping the top of Inanna's head playfully with a finger. "Now, we'd better head inside. I would hate to keep them waiting."

From inside the white dome, the barest hint of what sounded like ethereal whalesong could be just barely perceived through the walls.

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

“It is glorious,” she agreed.

And they were awfully close. The wheels could practically be seen turning in Inanna’s head as she considered leaning in just a little bit closer. But she remembered how he had stiffened when she first hugged him, and then the sudden sound coming from inside the building nearby pulled her attention away from Alicio entirely.

“Are those… whales?”

The look of confusion and surprise on her face, especially in such close proximity, was priceless. Her shock soon gave way to excitement, and she practically bolted out of the speeder. He might have to hurry to keep up with her.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

“Are those… whales?”

The pure, unadulterated excitement radiating off of Inanna was infectious, as he let her escape the speeder, and watched as she began at a quick pace towards the entrance to the building. He was about to leap out and join her, before remembering something about leaving small animals in locked vehicles.

Alicio turned his body towards the snake-fox in his back seat, and reached out a hand, allowing the Sithspawn to climb up his arm, were he able to convince the little creature.

Now, for the ultimate test of friendship.

"Elfangor," he said, his tone soft and inviting. "I know we just met, you and I, but... Uppies?"

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

Elfangor sniffed Alicio’s outstretched hand, then slithered up his arm and across his shoulders. The fur covering his long body made him soft as down, but he was a little heavy.

Realizing that she'd forgotten about her "dog", Inanna came running back to find Alicio with Elfangor wrapped around him. “I was going to suggest leaving the air conditioning on, but this works too.”

She grabbed Alicio’s free hand and tugged him along.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Like donning a fashionable feather boa, Alicio accepted Elfangor's coils, petting along his long body as it wrapped around him. His irrational happiness at being immediately trusted by such a cute animal was only tempered by the realization that Elfangor's cream-colored fur clashed with the silver in his coat.

As Inanna grabbed his hand, leading him to the large building, Alicio shot the shapeshifter a faux-annoyed expression. "And burn all my fuel? Besides, he might like it too."

The pair entered the building with quick steps, walking into what appeared to be an enormous indoor pool, without a swimmer in sight. The waters were crystal clear, lapping gently against duracrete walkways around it, and the taste of salt stung the tongue. It would have been an unimpressive sight, were it not for the creatures flying above it all.

Thrantas.

Winged whale-like creatures floated majestically aloft in the ample air space, tilting in a lazy dance around the room. Some were small, barely larger than a person, while one in particular had a wingspan best measured in speeder lengths. Some of them were equipped with leather harnesses and saddles, being guided by riders on their backs, others flying through clouds of airborne plankton, others sailing peacefully upon the artificial lake. A large panel in the ceiling opened up, letting thranta jockeys pilot their steeds out into the open air.

"Welcome to the Thranta Barn," Alicio said, checking Inanna's reaction, barely containing a grin. "Thranta riding is an ancient Alderaanian tradition. I thought you might enjoy giving it a go."

"Surprise."

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

Though she was ignorant of thrantas, Inanna seemed to automatically know to look up rather than down at the pool of water. “We have something like this back home,” she said. “There’s a species which changes color depending on the time of day in order to blend in with the sky. Blue during the daytime, orange at sunrise and sunset.”

The possibility that they may have gone extinct by the Maw’s hand crossed her mind. Do all my thoughts of home have to be poisonous? she wondered, bitterness creeping in and threatening to spoil a perfectly good time. Closing her eyes, she listened to the thrantas’ song and Alicio’s voice.

“You can ride on them?” So that was the surprise. Inanna opened her eyes and grinned back at Alicio. “I certainly would enjoy it. And I think Elfangor would too.”

This was certainly shaping up to be one of the more interesting dates she’d been on. “I’m curious. What would you have done if I’d said I was afraid of heights?” she asked. If Alicio could plan a city, surely he had a backup plan.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio cast concerned eyes over Inanna as he felt her mood darken. He hadn't seen it on her face, but tasted it in the air. "They sound lovely." He squeezed her hand with his own, trying to remind her that he was there for her.

It was the Count's turn to lead Inanna by the hand as she affirmed she was interested, projecting his excitement. "Good. Because I've been practicing a bit, and if you'd said no, I would have secretly been very sad."

He shot back a joking smile at her follow-up question. "Fly low," he said, laughing.

Truly, he did have something else planned. They'd likely still get to it, unless they fell off a thranta, in which case they would tour the local hospital instead.

Alicio led Inanna around to the sides of the barn, where small docks lay suspended in the air. Here, unoccupied thrantas floated serenely, tied by leads to small posts, occasionally releasing a high-pitched, mournful cry. An attendant dressed in traditional Alderaanian flying gear was waiting for them, to usher them onto their rides.

But before he got the chance, Alicio kneeled down next to one of the flying cetaceans, laying a gloved hand on the side of it's face. "If I had been raised on Alderaan, I likely would have grown up riding thrantas." He patted the creature, as if to say 'thank you'. "Oh well. Some callings, you only find later in life."

"One thranta, or two?" The attendant looked between the couple. Alicio turned to Inanna, eyebrow raised.

Her call.

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

Fly low. Of course. She rolled her eyes and smirked.

“You didn’t grow up here?” Inanna asked Alicio, only to be interrupted by the attendant’s question.

“One thranta, or two?”

Seeing that Alicio was leaving the decision up to her, she gave the matter a little thought, then held up one finger. “As an inexperienced first time rider of the mighty thranta, I probably shouldn’t go alone.”

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

“You didn’t grow up here?”

The darkly-dressed Count didn't look up from the thranta, intently patting it's side, and feeling the smooth, rubbery skin through his glove. His expression saddened just a little as he thought about his own past. "No, I did not," he said, flicking his eyes at the instructor warily. He would explain more when they were airborne.

As Inanna chose one, Alicio's face tightened nervously, but he smiled at her regardless. "In that case, as an experienced third-time flier, let me show you how it's done."

With little help from the thranta-rider, Alicio stepped out onto the creature's back, positioning himself forward in the seat, and taking the reigns in one hand. With his other, he patted the space behind him, attempting to hide the sudden outburst of unease.

"All aboard."

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

Inanna climbed up into the saddle behind Alicio—and almost immediately felt him stiffen. “Relax,” she said, soft enough that the attendant wouldn’t hear. “I promise I won’t bite.”

She wished she knew the cause of his unease. Was it just general nervousness? Did she come on too strong? Something else? She was nervous too, only she was better at hiding it behind a sense of humor and a carefree attitude. Outwardly, at least—her emotions, like her mind, were easy for any Force User to pick up on. Wait, what if he was nervous because she was nervous, and they were like, feeding off each other's anxiety?... Nah, that was too meta.

“Uh, where should I put my hands?” she asked awkwardly. A question like that probably wasn’t helping, but unless there was something for her to hold on to, she’d fly right off.

Alicio Organa​