Private A Flight to Remember

[Alicio Organa]

"I think it would be," the Count said, the side of his mouth quirking up. "But it isn't like House Organa hasn't done that before. How do you think I got this job?"

Alicio let Inanna speak, black boots hitting the cured stone sidewalk at an easy pace beside her. He looked pleasantly surprised when she said she was a novelist. He didn't get enough time to read these days, with everything else he heaped on his plate so liberally. Perhaps he'd have to check one of her books out.

When Inanna said she had been married, Alicio paused at the doorway alongside her, taking a moment to search her eyes. She moved on quickly from the subject, so the Organa didn't linger either. If she wasn't ready to talk about it, he didn't need to know.

“I’m sure something will come along.”

"Well, assuming all goes well, the Shi'ido at the new city will need a leader." Alicio leaned into the doorway, a twinkle in his eye. "Now, if only there were someone they trusted, someone with experience in a leadership position already. Someone who cares." He smiled, shrugging his shoulders. "Food for thought."

"Um... Do you want to come in, or wait outside while I get the ramen?" The concern in his voice was audible.

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

"But it isn't like House Organa hasn't done that before. How do you think I got this job?"

She smiled cheekily. “Merit?”

Part of her wished he would pry into her story, if only to get it over with. Another part was glad he left it alone, anticipating pain in the telling.

“Oh, Your Excellency, you flatter me. I suppose it would at least give me something to do.” She rested her hands against his chest, their faces close enough to feel each other’s breath. “You’ll not be too far away if I need you, will you?…”

He asked if she wanted to go in. For a moment she looked confused, then sighed in realization. He must’ve seen something in her face earlier, read something into her hesitation. “It’s all right. I’ll go in. I keep forgetting, I can’t get drunk anymore. That’s, heh, another long story…”

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Inanna came in close, and Alicio grinned, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Of course." The stray limb traveled up to her neck. "I would do anything for..."

Quickly, he scooped up the fox from around Inanna's neck, and held it close, giving Inanna a cheeky smile of his own. "...Elfangor."

Alicio wrapped the creature up in his arms, petting the soft fur as Inanna explained her aversion further. He looked at her curiously. "You are simply full of long stories, Inanna. I can't wait to hear them."

With the Shi'ido's permission, the two of them went inside. The bar was packed with folks of all kinds, enjoying dinner and drinks, laughing, and talking just a bit too loud. Alicio cast a wandering gaze around, nodding towards a Chiss woman behind the bar. She seemed older, with cracked blue skin, but her red eyes were strikingly clear.

Alicio approached, smiling. "Kil, hello! Two spicy ramen, please."

"Count Organa," the woman said warmly in return, before regarding Inanna. "Of course. Eating with a dignitary today?"

"Well, not... not really." Alicio seemed a bit sheepish.

"Oh, that kind of dignitary." Kil smiled at the Shi'ido, seeming to understand the situation entirely. "In that case, be careful with this one. He's a brooder." She left to prepare their food, leaving Alicio mostly confused.

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

Inanna pouted in feigned disappointment, then turned to Elfangor with a wink. “Fine, you can have the old tease.” As if she wasn’t just as much of a tease herself.

“Well, it’s a nicer story than the rest.” Heading inside, she raised her voice to be heard over the din. “I mentioned my master poisoned me, didn’t I? Sith poison doesn’t go away, and it can’t be removed easily even with the Force. My search for a cure eventually led me to a man on Atrisia…” She revealed the blue gemstone which hung around her neck, the one with the strange Force signature. “And he used this to cure me. I don’t think any poison has much of an effect on me anymore, including alcohol.”

Whether that was a blessing or a curse varied depending on the circumstances. The last time she had set foot in a bar was after she lost everything. She had chugged a bottle of the strongest stuff they had, figuring that if she could just outrun her altered metabolism she would at least gain a few minutes of blunted stupor. But it didn't work.

The owner of the bar, Kil, had been aged by experience far extending her years. Her red eyes had witnessed the apocalypse from the windows of an evac ship, and the explosion still seemed to burn in her gaze, brilliant and undimmed.

Listening to the familiar exchange between Kil and Alicio with her cheek resting on her hand, Inanna turned to Alicio. “Not only is the Count building cities for refugees, it seems he’s now also offering to help them repopulate.”

She might have said something even worse, had not Elfangor suddenly dove head-first straight into a bowl of food that had recently been set on the bar. The patron sitting next to Alicio was the unfortunate customer whose dinner had just been hijacked. He jumped out of his seat in surprise, narrowly avoiding the splatter.

Startled, Inanna cringed and quickly produced a handful of credits. “I’m terribly sorry, he’s usually very…” Well, Elfangor wasn’t very docile. He knew not to bite people, but he also acted like the universe and everything in it belonged to him. “Er, this should cover it.” She slid the credits over, grabbed a napkin and started to clean up the mess.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Walking into the the Last Taste of Home, Alicio seemed intrigued by the talk of Sith poison, recognising the blue gem, and coiling Elfangor as best he could, even as the creature squirmed against him. "That's fine, I don't like alcohol anyways. I'm... shall we say, rather light."

After speaking with Kil, Alicio was glad she had stepped out of earshot for Inanna's last quip. His cheeks burned pink. "I... ah..."

Elfangor took the opportunity to leap from his hands, sloppily stealing food from a nearby worker, who jumped back. Alicio went to scoop up Elfangor, who fought against him as the little creature tried to steal some last morsels of food. "Stop. That was very rude, you know."

Alicio focused on the taste of the Force, spying a moment into the future. It was okay for the patron to be a little angry, but if things escalated, Alicio would be happy to step in and intervene.

Until then, he'd make sure Elfangor was wrangled.

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

The patron looked at Elfangor, then sighed and shook his head, evidently deciding it wasn’t worth it. “I’ll sit someplace else, if you don’t mind,” he told Kil, who had returned to see what was going on. He palmed the credits and moved away from the bar.

With the mess cleared up, Inanna looked sternly at Elfangor. “You know, I would’ve gotten you something too. But that guy’s dinner is all you’re getting.”

He whined and pushed his ears back submissively, endeavoring to look as cute and cuddly as possible. When Inanna continued to glare at him, he turned his big eyes upon Alicio, trying to drum up the Count’s sympathy.

Inanna snorted. “Behold, the last great war beast of the late Sith Empire. A marvel of Sith alchemy straight from the laboratories of the Primyn Group.” She was careful not to speak too loud, letting the background noise of the bar cover her words. It might not be a good idea to speak of such things in a city full of refugees, many of whom may have been victims of the Sith.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Elfangor had attacked a member of his city.

He would be receiving no sympathy from Alicio Organa.

Hearing Inanna describe what was basically the creature's pedigree, Alicio looked in disbelief at the adorable creature in his hands, which he kept a surer grip on this time, still careful not to squeeze too hard. "Really? Is there more to him than this, or was he created with the express purpose to be adorable and cause mischief?"

He didn't seem revolted by the idea of a Sith beast in his hands. More interested than anything.

Kil returned quickly with two to-go boxes of ramen. "I figured you'd want to take her to your spot," the Chiss said. She turned to Inanna conspiratorially. "Brooding spot," she whispered loudly. Alicio took the boxes, passing the woman credits for the both of them.

"How about today?" Kil crossed her arms, not accepting the payment immediately.

"No," Alicio returned, with some finality.

The Chiss finally took the credits, giving both Alicio and Inanna an appraising look. "Alright. Have fun, kids."

With that, Alicio gestured with his head to the doorway. "Well then, onward. To the brooding spot."

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

“He’s venomous,” Inanna admitted. “Although he’s never bitten anyone except in self-defense. He’s a lot stronger than he looks, and very cunning… but as you’ve no doubt noticed, he has poor impulse control.”

Elfangor licked his lips.

“I don’t know what he was created for, but he was made by some very nasty people, so probably not anything good.” She stroked his tail. “Still… just because his creators were bad, doesn’t mean he has to be bad.”

Kil returned with the food. There was an odd exchange between her and Alicio. Inanna raised an eyebrow at the mention of a brooding spot, but was content to wait and see what it was. Hopefully it was secluded and didn't involve heights.

She followed Alicio out, then asked, “What was all that about with the credits?”

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

“He’s venomous.”

Alicio held Elfangor a touch more cautiously after learning that.

Cute, but deadly. Noted.

As they left, prizes in hand, Alicio led Inanna down the quiet street, pondering her words about the Sithspawn. Alicio ran a hand down Elfangor's lengthly spine, before handing him back to his master. "Well said," he offered, looking at the creature in a new light. Good could come from anywhere. Not just the obvious places.

"Kil was the first refugee I met with, when I took on Sanctuary," Alicio said, perhaps a bit wistfully. "I got her situated in town, and helped her start her bar." The Count sighed.

"Whenever I go, she asks if I want my order on the house. I say no. She says 'really?' I say no. It's our thing, now." He looked down at the ramen boxes, contemplatively. "Kil lost everything when Csilla was destroyed, and all of her money goes into that bar. She needs it far more than I do."

Finally, they had managed to escape the crowds of hungry folks. And as the sun dipped lower in the sky, beginning to burn the slightest oranges, Thranta Park came into view.

It was only the size of a block, sparsely populated, with a few benches and streetlamps. The most prominent feature was a fountain, that depicted wild, playing thrantas. Besides that, it was plain. Small. Simple.

"Welcome to my favorite place in the city."

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

Inanna wasn’t sure why she had formed an image in her head of Alicio which didn’t include him actually knowing any of the refugees he helped personally. Maybe because he didn’t live in Sanctuary City the way Inanna had taken to living in Camp Spyridon? He remained apart from the people he uplifted, but wasn’t so lofty that he set himself above them.

“Not a bad spot for brooding,” Inanna said, appraising the little park. “Why’s it your favorite?” She was beginning to suspect he just had a thing for thrantas.

Elfangor began to squirm in her grip. She let him slither out of her arms and into the grass, then sat down on a bench and took one of the boxes of ramen. Eating tended to put her in a thoughtful mood, and there was one question in particular that had been bugging her all night.

“Why did you agree to go on a date with me?”

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

The Count found a bench next to the fountain, sitting down and laying out the boxes next to him. "It isn't the most impressive park in town, so not many people come here. It's quiet, overlooks the sea... And, um... thrantas are my favorite animal. Sometimes, you can hear them over the water."

Alicio opened his own box, and pondered the contents, swirling a utensil in the red noodles. But before he could eat, Inanna posed a question.

It caught Alicio off-guard. He glanced up to Inanna, searching for something in her form, about to respond. But he took a moment to think about it. Giving the question the time it deserved.

"Because you asked," he said, finally. "And I didn't want to disappoint you."

He frowned into his ramen. "That's not the only reason. If it were, I never would have said yes. From what I've seen of you, you are exceptional. You're leading your people through one of the toughest points in their history, but you took time to help the people of Tython. And you stood by me, when everything happened. You're complex, and full of life, and your stories make me want to learn more about you..."

"But, if I'm being honest..." He was very still. "Mostly, I wanted to make you happy."

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

As Alicio searched her face, she only wiggled her eyebrows at him expectantly.

His answer relaxed her expression into something more contemplative. Was it just warm outside, or was she blushing? “That’s… actually rather sweet.”

This still probably wasn’t the best conversation to be having over takeout ramen, but she never claimed to have good timing.

“I asked because I like you a lot. We work well together, I enjoy your company, and… you actually care about the work you’re doing. Just look at this place.” She gestured to the city around them. “You treated this like a work of art, didn’t you? You put your heart and soul into it. If this is a reflection of what’s inside of you, then it’s not every day you find someone who is this beautiful.” She looked at him and grinned. “Beautiful in every way a human can be beautiful.”

Her smile gradually faded. “I also asked because I'm lonely. But I didn’t want you to do this because you feel sorry for me. I mean, I guess it’s easy to pity someone who lost their family, but you see people with similar stories every day. Well, maybe not quite the same, but…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “I better stop talking before the food gets cold.”

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Inanna seemed pleased by his answer. But he wasn't.

Alicio stayed pensive, only retreating from his shell when his date began talking about him in return. She had it exactly right. He'd poured his soul, his very life, into Sanctuary City, much like when he'd created his lightsaber crystal; he focused on it, exerting himself until it formed structure, meaning, beauty. A song of it's own.

"Thank you, Inanna," he returned, unable to keep the smile from his lips. "You aren't half bad either. Inside and out."

Her following statement brought the frown back to his face. When she suggested they start eating, Alicio considered the box in front of him, before speaking again. "I don't pity you, Inanna. I don't think I could. Pity reduces someone to a victim, and you're obviously a fighter."

"I know what you've been through is awful. You have a lot of bad memories. I just wanted to... give you some good ones." His eyes seemed guarded, not out of awkwardness as it was before, but out of deep thought. He wanted to give her what she wanted.

He took a slurp of his noodles.

Was it what he wanted?

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

It took her some time, but she did notice that something wasn’t quite right. There was a misunderstanding between them, something she wasn’t seeing. Or maybe something she hadn’t wanted to see.

"I know what you've been through is awful. You have a lot of bad memories. I just wanted to... give you some good ones."

That’s when it hit her. He wasn’t doing this for himself, he was doing it for her.

She couldn’t hide the fact that she wasn’t eating, but she kept her mouth shut for as long as she could manage. Before it became too hard to bear.

“That is pitying me, Alicio. It’s feeling an obligation to be nice to me, to cater to my desires regardless of what you want, because you feel sorry for me.” Her voice was soft, but there was a jagged edge to it, as if she was struggling to breathe. “I didn’t survive the deaths of my father, my brothers, my husband and my children so that I could be rewarded with an opportunity to use you.”

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio could hear the strain behind Inanna's voice. That tension he recognized, the kind that chilled the heart, that made it hard to take in air. The fact that it was happening because of him... hurt.

"I..." He felt his limbs numb. "It wasn't because I felt sorry for you."

He put down his ramen, forgetting the food entirely. "I got some advice, recently. To look beyond my work for happiness. So I did. And you asked me on a date, of course I want to give that to you. I... don't know if I like you in that way. I still don't know, it's confusing. But I wanted to give it a try." Despite emphasizing that point, he looked a bit guilty.

"But... I have been prioritizing your happiness over my own. I'm sorry if..." The Count seemed tongue-tied for a moment, before hiding his mouth with his hand. "I'm sorry."

She had asked for something, he had provided, without sparing a thought for his own feelings, or how they would make her feel. He was just now realizing how conceited that made him.

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

Inanna sighed. Despite his guilty look, she didn’t think he was lying about wanting to try. At least it was less painful than the idea of him sacrificing his ego for the sake of some altruistic idea of love.

“Confusing,” she echoed. “You kissed me twice, and you seem very dedicated to my personal happiness, but you say you still don’t know if you even like me?”

She wondered how far he would’ve gone on like this if she hadn’t said something. Or had he even thought that far ahead? She recalled, with some degree of morbid amusement, him saying he would submit to an arranged marriage if duty called for it.

"Don't apologize," she murmured. As she spoke, she subconsciously avoided looking at him, afraid he would see the selfish longing in her gaze. "Just... figure out what you really want."

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

“Confusing. You kissed me twice, and you seem very dedicated to my personal happiness, but you say you still don’t know if you even like me?”

Alicio furrowed his brow. In those brief, tender moments, he felt something strong. Something magical, and different, that made him feel like he was up in the clouds. But in other moments, he backed away, tensed up. At first, it was because he was so eager to please, he was afraid to do something wrong. Hoping that he could give Inanna everything she wanted.

After the kiss... It was more complicated. It was a euphoric high, that fell into a jumble of feelings that made him wonder if this was what he really desired. Feelings too odd and new to be parsed.

"Confusing," he repeated, helplessly. "And I... I never said I didn't..."

Alicio winced, stopping his train of thought before it could finish. He tried to catch Inanna's eyes, realizing that she was looking away. His heart dropped. "No, I will apologize. You apologize when you hurt people, and I've hurt you, Inanna."

"I was rude. I made you feel small. I've been playing with your emotions, while I'm still figuring out my own." He let himself be led on in return, which was perhaps worse.

She'd offered the kiss, under the assumption that he wanted to take it. And he'd taken it, because she'd wanted to give it. "And for that, I am so sorry."

He wanted to say something. Anything to make it all better. The perfect solution. But there was none, because he was the problem. Real life was messier than the romance novels he read.

What did he want? Did it matter? Especially after today?

Alicio pondered that in the growing silence.

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

Between his awkward yet earnest attempts to explain himself and apologize, and her own overwhelming need to believe this situation was still salvageable, Inanna began to soften up. She met his gaze.

“I accept your apology,” she said. “You are forgiven.”

Silence followed. She was beginning to understand that silences were as much a part of Alicio’s language as words were. This seemed to be a contemplative silence, while he mulled over his thoughts and… brooded.

Damn, Kil was right.

“Alicio,” she spoke his name to regain his attention. An idiotic part of her wanted to kiss him for a third time, and see how he felt then, but she knew it was folly to give in to her emotions now. She didn’t want to influence him any more than she already had. It was why she had tried to hide her eyes from him, tried to avoid letting him see her desires. Because a people pleaser like him would take a lonely heart like hers and run with it.

“You have plenty of time to think things over. There’s still a lot left for us to do. A whole other refugee city needs to be designed and built.” She started to reach up to touch his cheek, but caught herself and quickly dropped her hand. “I think you may have set the bar too high for yourself. All these expectations of what love and romance is supposed to be like, trying to make it all perfect… As fun as it was, I would’ve been happy with just you.”

She took a heavy, shuddering breath, and by the light of the closest streetlamp tears could be seen glinting in her crystal blue eyes. But she was quick to blink them away, and it was easy to miss if you weren’t looking for it.

“So. Is there anything else you want to do tonight?”

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

“I accept your apology. You are forgiven.”

Alicio wondered, in that moment of silence, whether Inanna meant what she said, or if she were now trying to spare his feelings in return. He decided to take her at face value, because one thing that hadn't changed was his trust in her. Through those tumultuous feelings he had gained, he knew he still cared for her, deeply.

Which is why he didn't forgive himself, quite yet. That would take some more brooding.

"You're right," Alicio said, grey eyes shaded. "I, um... I read romance novels. I thought we would both have a good time if I captured that energy. But... I may have gone faster than I can handle."

Alicio noticed the glimmer in Inanna's eye. Of course he was watching. He looked down again. He couldn't comfort her, not without making things worse.

There was the last thing he'd wanted to do. A place he'd wanted to go, to be with her for. But in their current state, and knowing just how fresh the wounds were now, Alicio didn't want to remind Inanna any more of what she had lost.

So he didn't suggest they go to the Lao-mon holographic garden.

"I need to... think." The shame on his face was highlighted by the shadows of the lamps above, and the drizzle of the fountain ahead. "But I also don't want to leave us like this."

- Inanna Harth -

 

[Inanna Harth]

She meant what she’d said. She was too quick to forgive, perhaps, but she couldn’t fault his good intentions. Couldn’t find malice in his shame. He was just naïve.

His confession that he’d gotten his ideas from romance novels provoked a good-natured snort from her. “I wrote a few of those,” she said. “I hope you didn’t read them. They weren’t very good.” At least, in her opinion. Millions of readers didn’t necessarily agree.

He didn’t answer her question, which made her think that he did have one more thing planned, but now he was afraid to say it. Whatever it was, she hoped it wasn’t too significant.

"I need to... think. But I also don't want to leave us like this."

“I don’t want to leave like this either.” But what could she do? She touched his shoulder, prompting him to look at her, then embraced him fondly. And she would’ve left it at that, had their faces not passed so close together as she started to pull away. She lingered there just a little too long, like a pining fool, breathing his air and listening to her heart pound and wondering how it was that she could already be this far gone.

For her, it wasn’t just this one little date—it was the trust that had formed between them on Erakhis while they rooted out the impostor, and him pulling her from the brink of the abyss on Tython. There was far more romance in all of that than in a dozen moonlit thranta rides, and it stung to think he didn’t see any of it the same way she did.

“I’ll see you on Aldera,” she said. Her grip loosened as she started to stand up.

Alicio Organa​