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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"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.

He smiles more and more, and nods slowly to here as she finishes.

"You have a lovely voice. Thanks you for that alone, Claire.

"I think that the song might also be of some use, at least in terms of establishing the order of the letters.

"Who knows? I might actually get somewhere with this. My language skills are quite good with spoken language - though my personal translator device does allow me to cheat sometimes. Perhaps this once I can get it to carry over to written."

"Whatever you need me to do to help, just ask," she smiles. "Although do talk to Jaina. She picked it up pretty quickly and even translated a whole story for my son."

"I will most certianly ask, rest assured.

"Though as for Jaina..." He pauses. "I don't know how well oyu know her, but she's changed of late. And I'm not sure how helpful she'll be willing to be." His smile leaves for a moment.

"I. . .don't know her very well," she admits. "We're not very close, but. . ."

She frowns. "Is she alright? I haven't seen her in ages."

"Is she alright?" He pauses to come up with a good answser to that. "I can't really say.

"See, she went home - was actually back in my galaxy for five years - and then came back. But something odd happened to her. To her and another Jedi named Zekk.

"They became mind-linked, as part of a meeting with some kind of hivemind. She's physically okay. And to a alrge degree, she still seems like herself. Though I will admit that I only just got to know her.

"But the link with Zekk, it's strange. And I cna't see if it will be good or bad, or just another strange thing that happens to Jedis.

"When I talked to them today, they were a bit defensive, so I might not rush to talk to Jaina for a bit, till I can avoid putting them in such a posture again." Lando isn't sure why he's telling this to a near-stranger, but it does help to talk.

She listens, concerned, because for all that's happened between them, she does genuinely like Jaina.

"That's very odd," she agrees. "Is it. . . permanent?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, Claire. But if it is really something connected to the Force and to their Jedi abilities, it might be. The Jedi remain something of a mystery to me, given that Jaina is only the second one I ever met." He starts to flip through the primer again, trying not to show that he is really more worried than he wants to be.

"She's strong," she nods reassuringly. "And very independent. I wouldn't think she'd like being linked somone so. . .intimately for very long."

"Neither would I. Not, at any rate, if she takes after her parents." He now picks up the primer.

"I do believe I've taken up enough of your time for one day, Claire. But thank you so much for the help. Perhpas next time we met, I can read some of whatever it was you were working on." He gets up, letting a smile return, even though a small part of him didn't want to smile.

She smiles back. "I look forward to seeing you again, Lando."

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