Even the Resistance needs an evening off (For alwaysaprincess)

[beeping_flyboi]

Most the alcohol on the base was homemade; fermented from dubious berries and ran through a still for several cycles. It could burn a layer off your eyeballs before you even attempted to sip it. The quest to find something bottled and drinkable proved quite a challenge and in the end Poe had to not only call in a favour with L'ulo, but he now owed Jess two favours as well.

The price was worth it though, as by some incredible luck he found himself in possession of a bottle of Toniray. The teal coloured sparkling Alderaan wine would surely be something the General would appreciate.

Poe waited in his quarters for Leia; an old beaten metal caravan once intended for travelling folk, to be pulled by bantha, but now wheel-less and half repainted in the colours Poe favoured for his X-Wing and droid. It was cramped but homely inside, a little space of his own to decompress when he needed.

Comments

[alwaysaprincess]

The impossible task of securing something that wasn't rotgut, moonshine, homebrew, or distilled from a rigged up still made of old engine parts and whatever passable ingredients could be found on whatever planets they happened to be on at the time had been what might have considered a challenge even Han would have trouble with.

Yet the younger man had pulled it off. Leia received the notification while in a briefing with other leaders and had to smirk down at the data pad for a moment. When questioned on her sudden change of demeanor she passed it off on an amusing and inspired act of creativity among the ranks and the less others knew of it the better, to which there was general agreement. People knew that Leia tended to know what was going on and if she didn't want to she there was a good reason for it, she'd been doing this a long while.

Leia excused herself from the rest of her commitments after that briefing and, as Poe had suggested, asked her assistants to take her place for her unless anything cataclysmic should happen. Then she did something she hadn't done in some time. Leia took the time for a full actual hot shower not just sonics, and combed the length of her hair, threaded now with silver, before she wound it into long lose waves with a single braid drawing the body together. It had been so long she wasn't sure she still remembered how to work that plait, or that her fingers would manage but the memory came back and delighted her as it did.

Feeling infinitely more relaxed than she had been earlier she dressed in a simple sheath dress in sky blue fading to white, and wrapped a shawl of thicker gray wool around her. A glance in her mirror made her pause, and then sit. She stared at her own reflection wondering when she'd both gotten older and how she looked younger now than she had that morning. Dark eyes bright and sparkling, skin still fine and clear, she added a touch of dark pink to her lips and then slipped on her shoes to make her way over to this mythical find of Poe's.

She paused politely after knocking, unwilling to barge into his space until invited in.

[beeping_flyboi]

Poe had shared drinks with the General on several occasions, in several locations, since she'd recruited him. He had no problem with connecting and talking with her, the conversation easily slipping between official business and more personal chat. When was the last time they'd actually done anything of the sort, though? There had never been a time that the First Order hadn't been a point of concern to them, not while Poe had been part of the Resistance, but there had been a time that it had been less urgent.

That was a laughable thought: Poe had always taken the threat seriously, as had General Leia, but it was another thing to know that your worries were right.

The argument he'd made earlier still stood, though. Even now, perhaps especially now, it was important to have downtime, or else you would run yourself ragged. Poe took the time to check in with his squadron, to join their fireside chats, to laugh with them. It was important that Leia did similar too.

He didn't know what he was expecting when he opened the door, but the vision that was waiting for him stole his breath for a moment. He was used to the blunt, clean cut soldier the General presented herself as. The woman at his door now had much softer edges to her. He couldn't hide his surprise, his eyes widening before he smiled and stepped aside to invite her in. BB8 leaned around his legs and let out a long low whistle.

"Ah, come in General. Please."

[alwaysaprincess]

"Thank you." Leia Organa was not, as it happened above vanity and seeing a reaction out of not just the young pilot but the droid as well added a curl to her lips as she stepped inside with all the regal grace and poise of her station. Raised a princess and even if the world that had given her that title had long since passed it still somehow remained befitting.

Once inside and away from the prying eyes and ears of the rest of the compound however she did allow something more. "I think, if you talked me into downtime that for this one time we can do without the titles. Just Poe and Leia, no General and no Commander, OK? I mean I went through the literal trouble of letting my hair down." Which was a joke, dry and wry as her humor tended to be but there was that sparkle in her dark eyes.

She considered herself too old to stand on ceremony so she let herself tour the small confines of his quarters, he'd made them very much his own. The colors and fixtures were expressive of him and while it wasn't filled with things what it held was rich with texture. Leia seated herself and let her fingers run over the weave of fabric over something. There was a tangibility to it, the rough hewn nature of it that made it solid and real.

She was always given fine things that were manufactured well and had no character. Her quarters were more spacious, more grand and well appointed than his been she found herself envious as hers lacked the soul his had. Something she'd allowed herself to overlook in devoting her time strictly to running a new alliance. It made her realize just how lonely moments could feel sometimes. "I think I'd like that drink now."

[beeping_flyboi]

"Just Poe and Leia," Poe echoed, nodding and smiling at her joke. The tip of his tongue poked out, wetting his lip thoughtfully. Was it appropriate to compliment his General on her appearance? No, of course not. But a compliment to Princess Leia? Or, just Leia... That couldn't be wrong. "Your hair looks lovely, I didn't realise it was so long."

Leaving her to explore his small living space, he stepped towards the table he'd set the ornate bottle on. Taking it up, he uncorked it with a gentle pop and hiss from the bubbles inside. He watched Leia for a moment noting how tactile she was, the way she touched different items of décor, clearly appreciating them for their texture. Woven tauntaun wool throw, next to cool smooth chrome, next to a small carved wood trinket that could fit in the palm. He enjoyed their variety, the way they could soothe him. And it made his chest feel warm to see Leia enjoying them too.

"I was told that Toniray is supposed to be served chilled and in slim flutes," he started to pour the teal coloured drink into a pair of mismatched tumblers. "I'm afraid this is warm and, well..." He gestured at the vessels.

There was still a good half bottle left, so he put that down again and took up the tumblers. He joined Leia and offered her the drink.

[alwaysaprincess]

She smiled and fingers the ends that reached halfway down her arm. "Neither did I. It's been so long since I've let it down I'd almost forgotten."

Belatedly she grimaced, her eyes squeezing shut and she shook her head. "That, I am told is called deflection. It's learned over a lifetime of fighting with people. You gave me a compliment and I should have said thank you." She shrugged.

She smiled at the sound of the wine popping and the effervescence of it, even the heady herbal notes of it that took to the air so quickly as he poured it. Yes, there were traditions to be observed with a fine beverage, but Leia wasn't going to be going into that now. "I think the only people who might care about that went away the most of the rest of this vintage."

So much was lost with Alderaan, he knew that as well as she did. The galaxy had lost something precious. A hub of learning and art of peace and education where ideas and culture and philosophy were fostered. As well as a place where young minds could be reared to see how the universe could and should be and then shown how it was. And let those young minds take action. His parents had been strong people, good people, they were hard to lose but look at what they left behind. A far better child than...

Leia looked down into her cup and gave it a bit of a swirl to release some of the aromatics before she took a delicate sip. She let the juniper bite of it roll over her tongue and smooth over her palate and with it came memories of solstice festivals, and long evenings of music and deadly dull company. Even the worst of her adolescent recollection was a fondness now. "I think it's perfect, so perfect that it might call for a toast."

She raised her mismatched cup to his, her smile not quite fragile but laced with as much weariness as hope. "To....he'd never believe this, I'm never at a loss for words. To a night off." She finally finished and inclined her cup to his.

[beeping_flyboi]

He gave her a closed lip smile, short and accompanied by a short nod. Even in her apology, she still hadn't said 'thank you' and Poe didn't miss that fact, even if Leia did. A double deflection. It didn't matter, he wasn't going to let her not accept the compliment, so he said "You're welcome," anyway.

There had been a little anxiety about this Alderaan wine when he found it in his hands. As much as he thought it would be perfect to share with her, he was also aware that it could be a bitter-sweet experience. Poe hoped that it wasn't too bitter.

He bowed his head, putting his nose to the mouth of the cup before he drank. This wasn't an action based in culture, like Leia swirling the cup to release the aroma though, but the opposite. Nights sharing the moonshine that Leia had been keen to avoid around the fireplace had taught Poe to be cautious of alcohol. He was getting older and it was a long time since he was freshfaced from the academy. He neither had the stomach to fly with a hangover anymore, nor the sense of irresponsibility to risk being drunk when he might be needed on a mission at the drop of a hat. He stuck to sipping quarter measures and diluting his drinks normally.

As Leia toasted he raised his tumbler too, angled a little so the lip kissed the side of her cup. Who was 'he'? Poe wondered. Han? Her father? Luke? Someone else in her history that Poe wasn't privy to. Leia was his friend, but so much of what he thought he knew about her was still third hand stories, not from her.

"To a night off," he echoed again, before taking a sip for himself. It wasn't moonshine, but he still pulled a face at the sweet, strong taste.

"I didn't expect it to be this strong!" He commented before moving to sit down. He gestured to the seat next to him. "You're officially off duty now."

[alwaysaprincess]

He was more clever than some gave him credit for, and more forgiving which was in this case in her favor. "I suppose it's just been a very long time since that's been said when it wasn't a platitude or kindness, thank you." She could appreciate the sincerity and with that let the subject drop as there wasn't really more to say. She wasn't about to get into false modesty good genes and a lifetime of being seen as important enough for the best medical care tended to keep one in good condition.

His reaction to the drink made her laugh, a true and full laugh and that was... well it was something more rare than rainbow gems of Gallinore. The sounds was lilting and a touch husky and she almost immediately covered her mouth, shocked by her own outburst of mirth. She was still bubbling quietly with laughter when she gracefully took the seat beside him, angling to look at him with a smile that seemed fixed in place now. "I don't know which I needed more, that laugh or the drink." But she indulged in another sip of the latter anyway.

After the slow, leisurely drink she nodded, and sighed. "I'm not very good at the 'off duty' thing. I can never quite figure out what to do with myself. I'm so used to telling people what to do, making decisions, doing research, always having a buzz of activity around me. What do you do when it's so quiet?"

[beeping_flyboi]

Poe felt like he'd been around the General enough to have heard her laugh before, yet his sound was new to him, which told him that no, he hadn't. Or if he had, it can been something more controlled and restrained, something more suitable for someone in control and leading. That made this natural and genuine, and if nothing else came of the evening he could say that he had achieved his goal of getting her to relax for a while.

Fine beginnings of lines around the corners of his own eyes creased as he smiled and nodded, gesturing a little with his cup towards Leia. You're welcome. Again. He drank carefully, taking his time to enjoy the rich drink; something he probably would have never tasted in his life if he hadn't been looking for something special for her. It was an experience to be savoured.

"You mean when I'm not tinkering with my equipment," his face went blank then winced in quick succession. "Like-like checking my safety equipment in the X-Wing, I mean." Kriff. "I read sometimes, pull up an old holo to watch, talk to Beebee-ate. Sometimes I just sit outside somewhere and feel the wind in my hair."

And sometimes the quiet was overwhelming and he'd pace trails in the ground itching to get back out there doing something. Sometimes he thought too much and triggered emotional reactions that he struggled to pull back from. But that was why his squad were more than that, they were his friends too. When he had to be grounded, they kept him grounded. BB8, too.

"But I know what you mean. It's easier when you're so busy all you have time to do is react, instead of filling the time for yourself."