Ye Olde Saloon [19th Century Colorado, after sunset]

[texted3times]

"Well, this is certainly...different," Eric observed as he and Jaina stepped between tied up horses in order to enter the saloon. From the way those inside stared, it wasn't that usual for women to be there who weren't, erm, working. "We can find somewhere else," Eric murmured. "Your call."

Comments

[texted3times]

"If you're dead, then I've lost your company forever," he said. "And you're interesting, which is not something I find in many humans."

[solo_sword]

Jaina was so glad she didn't have to tell him she wasn't leverage or something. "Why am I interesting?" she asked, genuinely curious rather than fishing for anything.

[texted3times]

"You chase after smugglers," Eric said. "You hold your own in conversation with me without either the fawning or the, well, shrieking in terror, that most humans do. You're different, and after a thousand years, I didn't think there was much different left to discover."

[solo_sword]

"I don't think I've ever shrieked in terror in my life," she said, thinking back. "It's hard not to be flattered by that. Especially since there aren't that many guys I find interesting, either."

[texted3times]

"Do they do a lot of shrieking in terror around you too?" he teased.

[solo_sword]

"Of course," she said. "Just look at me, I'm terrifying."

[texted3times]

"In a short kind of way," Eric said. "Drink your beer. Bugs are good for you."

[solo_sword]

"You had to bring bugs into it. And I am not that short," she said to the eleven-foot tall Viking.

[texted3times]

"So you're sitting in a hole, then?" Eric teased.

[solo_sword]

"You," she said, feigning offense, "just lost all the points you got for being flattering."

[texted3times]

"But I'm still ridiculously attractive, so I think I'm ahead."

[solo_sword]

"You know that's one of the things I like about you," she said conversationally. "Your modesty."

[texted3times]

He grinned at her. "I hear that a lot."

[solo_sword]

With a hint of a smile back at him, she asked, "So how far ahead do you think this ridiculous attractiveness of yours puts you?"

[texted3times]

"Probably one more short joke," Eric said, "and then I'll have to start a bar fight defending your honor in order to be even again."

[solo_sword]

"There are several flaws there," she told hhm. "First, no one's insulted my honor. Then you'd have to beat me to defending myself and do it in such a way that I can't get mad about it. Also I'd know it's a cover for you just wanting a fight."

[texted3times]

"In a bar like this, it's only a matter of time before someone does," Eric said. "Though I'll find it dead sexy to watch you crack a barstool over someone's head."

[solo_sword]

"That's the first time I've ever heard that be a turn-on," Jaina laughed.

[texted3times]

"I think you're hanging out with the wrong men, in that case," Eric declared.

[solo_sword]

"It's entirely possible," she said. "As far as I know, none of them have ever removed someone's head."

Then she paused. It was entirely possible Zekk had, actually.

"At least without a weapon, anyway."

[texted3times]

"Clearly they aren't worthy of your attention," Eric decided.

[solo_sword]

"And if I run into someone else who's all about ripping off body parts and wants to see me break chairs over people's heads?" she asked.

[texted3times]

"Then you marry that man," Eric said. "Or woman. Whichever."

[solo_sword]

She had a feeling if she ever did run into Jag again, there'd be a very strange conversation in store.

"Wouldn't Mom and Dad be so proud," she laughed.

[texted3times]

Maybe the Moffs would like him better if he ripped off a few heads! Just a thought.

"Your father isn't the head-ripping type?"

There, Jaina. Have that mental image.