milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Claire is in the bar today, a folder of her new history laid in front of her. She's filling out a form or two (or three or five), occasionally glancing back at the folder, turning a page here and there as she searches for information.

And every so often she drinks some mint-flavored tea. But you might have guessed that already.

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"Hello," she looks up with a smile and holds out her hand. "I'm Claire."

He takes her hand, and feeling just a bit courtly, kisses it softly. "Lando Calrissian at your service."

She does not giggle at the kiss but she nearly does. "It's very nice to meet you, Lando. Would you like to join me?"

"I think I shall, Claire." He sits, and gives his cape a bit of a flourish as he does.

"Can I ask you something? You're reading Earther, but your voice sounds a bit different. Is there a reason for that?"

"Er. . " she grins. "I'm from Australia, it's a country near the bottom of earth. There aren't many people here from there."

Hw smiles back,a s he tends to do. "Of course. That would go with everything else I've learned about your planet. Where I come from, most humans speak with little noticeable accent, unless they come from the outer regions of space. I guess being thousands of years from the days of countries and part of a far-reaching but closely linked economy can do that over time.

She nods. "Where are you from then?"

"Oh, here and there. I tend not to seetle down in one place. But I'm not from anywhere near Earth. Another galaxy, in fact." He looks again at the unreadable words.

"One where we don't have Earther written language. I was wondering if you could tell me a little about it."

"Sure," she shrugs. "I can certainly try. What would you like to know?"

"Ideally, I'd like to be able to read it. But unless by some luck I have chosen the finest reading teacher on your world, I doubt you can get me that far.

"So perhaos, as it's clear you can read, I would like to get some of the basics. The letters, and maybe some suggestions about how to learn this so I can order breakfast without asking Dinah for help."

Why ask Claire? Lando might admit that he'd rather learn from a pretty face than from anyone else, or he might not. But the fact is, he really does want to get started, and this seems as good a place to start as any.

"Oh," she blinks. "Well, no, I doubt that I'm even close to being the best teacher, but, er, sure I can help you try."

She pauses and looks over at the bar thoughtfully. "I know someone who managed to get a primer from her language to mine. Would you like to try that first?"

"Hmmm. That sounds likes an excellent idea, Claire. I should have thought of that myself, in fact. But I was never a great student." He smirks, even as he does wonder why he just didn't ask the Bar, for that matter.

"I bet we could ask a waitrat," she smiles kindly. "And we can get started as soon as one appears."

"Waitrat...ah. Those are the smaller furry waiters, I assume? Haven't used one yet, but they seem efficient." To Lando, there's nothing remarkable about small furry sentient waiters.

"Yes, those are the ones," she grins and waves one down. She looks expectantly at Lando. "Which language do you read?"

"It's sometimes called Aurebesh, but it's usually called Basic. I hope that helps."

"Oh!" she nods with some recognition. "Yes, that does help."

She asks the rat for an Aurebesh to English primer and the rat scurries away.

"Do you know Jaina?" she asks while they wait.

He smiles, though the smile is tempered a bit. "Of course. She's my best friend's daughter. Or she will be, once Han and Leia marry and settle down.

"I assume you know her, then, and she was the friend who made the primer? If so, it would seem I should have talked to her in the first place."

"I know her, and yes," she nods, grinning. "But at least you have someone you can ask when I completely confuse you and myself, trying to teach you."

The waitrat returns with a book and Claire thanks him. "Here, look through it and I can answer any questions you might have. This is only to teach you one of our languages. English."

Lando gives a good laugh. "Yes, there is always that."

He flips through the book, and sees the letters that had baffled him placed in a slightly less confusing context. "English, you say. I should have realized you would have as many languages as countries. But English is the primary language. at least around here, correct.

"Seems to have simliar letter ideas and combinations."

"It somehow became the dominating language on my planet," she agrees. "It's the only one I know well-enough to help you with, at any rate."

She takes a piece of paper and begins writing out the alphabet. "We have 26 letters in our alphabet.

"One new language at a time is enough," he says with an eager grin.

"26...that's pretty close to ours." ~~Mun can't find how many letters are in Basic on Theforce.net, alas.~~

~~Woe.~~

"Er. . .we have a song that can help you remember them. If you want to hear it."

She blushes. Forgive her. She hasn't been taught to be a teacher yet.

"A song. I think I've heard that on some worlds - Dantooine, maybe - there are such devices to reach kids.

"I think I'd like to hear it." He notices her blushing. It's been a long time since he meant anyone who blushed over something so simple.

She smiles and looks over his shoulder as she sings the Alphabet Song softly. Her voice is sweet and on key.