milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Lando sits at the Bar, an invitation in front of him. An invitation to Jaina Solo's wedding. This week. Or 30 years in the future.

The temptation to see his future up close is great. Coruscant, in all its glory, free of the Empire. Imagine what he could learn about trends and markets in just an hour. And he could see himself as he will be.

But even Lando, no physicist or philosopher, doubts seeing the future that closely is a good thing. If nothing else, how would the two Landos explain their presence to old (indeed, much older) friends?

So instead, Lando will attend the reception here, and wait to attend the wedding. In the meantime, he hs figure out what cape to wear, and to see if Amanda can join him.

And all the while, he wouldn't mind some conversation.

[ooc: online till 3 pm Eastern time)

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Jack's at the bar, too, reading a newspaper.

He doesn't look entirely pleased.

"Good afternoon, Driscoll. Is that an actual newspaper?" Lando has seen them in long-since-misremembered classes in his youth. But never up close (tohugh Say True! would count had he read it).

Jack quickly folds the paper.

"It's one of the New York publications," he says tightly. It's not a pleasant experience, seeing one's exploits splattered across the society pages for everyone to read.

"I'd be interested in seeing it. Though I suspect I won't understand what it's talking about.

"We get all our information through datastreams and the occasional holovid. Paper is quite rare, though some people still like printed books." And once in a while, Lando does write things down, since you can't hack into a sheet of paper.

Very, very reluctantly, Jack slides the paper over.

Jack and Jennifer Spencer, writer of the society article "Mr. Driscoll's New Flame," were going to have words when he returned to the city.

Lando chuckles, a bit ironically. "Ah. It would seem that you and your lady-friend have made a splash.

"And that you enjoy seeing yourself in the public eye as much as I do. You have my sympathies.

{ooc: is there a photo?]

"One of the disadvantages of being a well-known, 'eligible bachelor,'" he says with a scowl, quite similar to his mother's. "I've often heard women complain that they have no choice in who they marry, in high society. It is also true for men, because when they do make a choice it becomes publicized, scrutinized, criticized, especially if the woman is not up to public standards."

[ ooc: no. ]

Lando nods. "I have heard the same thing on some worlds I have visited. Though I have the good fortune of not being part of high society. No one cares much about who a general dates.

"But then, I also have never let what other people think affect me in this regard."

"Only when they're retired," he notes. "I'm not concerned with the opinions of other people--" including his mother "--in reference to my love life, it's just a nuisance having to listen to them when I'd rather not."

A world where retired generals have social standing? Not what he's used to. But then Imperial generals rarely retire, and the Republic had no army before the Clone Wars. Is that something he can use to his advantage, if he plays it right? A thought for later...

"So it's really just a matter of privacy then. Which would tell me that you simply need to entertain in tavs and restaurants that are off the beaten path."

"I'd rather not."

"Even though, if my knowledge of your city is accurate, there are likely to be a number of establishments of all levels of cost and variety?" Lando is basing this on his one trip to Earth, to today's Paris.

"Yes. But some women...deserve more than taverns."

"Ahhhh." Lando smiles broadly. "Most women do.

"But you might be surprised to find that some women actually like them. I know a woman here who is refined, cultured, a true lady. And she loved the tavs on Tatooine."

"I'm not sure Satine would like it," he admits. "But next time I take her out, I'll consider it."

As long as his mother isn't tracking them down in the mean time.

"This Satine...it doesn't sound like she's famous in your world, from this newspaper. Is she from a more anonymous part of society?" Lando asks merely out of curiosity.

"She's actually from Paris. 1899."

"Then you have good taste, my friend. That woman I mentioned before is from Paris as well. Though a much later time, over a century.

"Perhaps, given how the Bar works, you could visit Paris instead. It's quite charming. All those incandescent lights. And you certainly wouldn't be famous unless you were a child prodigy and wrote in French."

"I wasn't even alive in 1899. And I can barely speak French."

"Then you'll learn. I never even heard of Earth, let alone English, when I arrived here. And now I can handle it with relative ease. I barely even speak Basic anymore, except to people from my world.

"And if Satine is truly that special, I think it might be worth the effort." There is a bit of cockiness in Lando's attitude. He honestly thinks that if he can do it, anyone can.

"She is."

Mun would know, as Jack inna head has been saying how much he's falling in love with her, which makes mun want to stab him with a nail file to make him shut up.

...obviously mun doesn't like unwarranted monologues inna head.

"She has been teaching me some words. I...tried to speak French to her one day and she just laughed."

Lando can tell that Jack is atleast somewhat smitten, even if he has no idea how much so. Though he really doesn't care that much about such things.

"It does seem like a somewhat subtle language to learn, especially since - at a glance, at any rate - it seems to be both the same as and very different from English.

"Perhaps you need a primer. A friend of mine made one for me to convert Basic to English. And you would have the advatage of knowing the letters already."

He nods.

"I learned French in school, but seeing as how my career would require me to use English I fell out of practice. Though I have been to Paris enough times to know enough French to ask how to get to the theater instead of the bathroom."

"Hmm. Perhpas I should do that, so that next time Amanda takes me to her club, I don't get unduly." He smirks.

"I would offer to loan you my translator, but it lacks a proper database. And it won't help you speak, only understand." Why be helpful? Because Lando is just enough of romantic to help any man have a night on the town with that sepcail lady.

He grins. "I'd rather learn French the hard way, but thanks." Pause. "How does the translator work, by the way?"