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]

"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.

[solo_sword]

Her brain wouldn't even process that image. It simply rejected it.

"Noooo," she said. "He's the 'See my blaster? Zap, now you're dead' type. There may or may not be witty comments happening through it all, too."

[texted3times]

"As long as they're really witty and not along the lines of 'how do you like that,' which grows tiresome, I'll allow it," Eric decided. "Now explain the weapon that zaps you dead."

[solo_sword]

Oh wouldn't Han love to know he was allowed. "They're blasters. Think guns that shoot lasers instead of bullets," Jaina explained. "You can also set them to stun, if you want to stop someone or catch them without hurting them."

[texted3times]

Eric looked thoughtful. "I wonder if that would work on me since I no longer breathe or have a beating heart."

[solo_sword]

"It might," she said thoughtfully. "Though it might have to be a high setting. Which feels like getting hit by a speeder, but you don't feel it till you wake up. Concussiohs, stabbings, I find those more fun than stunning."

[texted3times]

"Not a big fan of stabbings," Eric said thoughtfully, "or being tied up with silver, or meeting the sun, or getting blown up..."

It had been a long few months.

[solo_sword]

"I'd take stunning over being blown up," she said, and tilted her head. "And that is not a fun list, Eric."

[texted3times]

"It's been an interesting few months," Eric replied.