The odds of hitting your target go up when you aim at it.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

No matter how good you are at something, if you challenge yourself against enough people, you'll find someone who can best you. Even if you have all the talent in the galaxy, nobody is going to be successful one-hundred percent of the time. It's an unfortunate aspect of life that we fail.

You can label those thoughts as pessimism or realism if you like, but it doesn't change it's truth. And the good thing is that, in recognizing you can't be the best at everything all the time, you can come to realize that the whole rest of the human race is on that ship with you. What ends up making the difference is striving to be better and being well rounded in what you can do. There's no shortage of aspiration in Han. He's not the 'resting on his laurels' type.

Which brings us to the explanation of why he's been spending the last few nights in Nexus bars learning to play darts of all things. Boy meets girl. Boy likes girl. Boy mentions being interested in bar games. Girl says darts seem like fun. Boy spends all his spare time over the next few days learning how to play darts, naturally.

It could have been fun to learn how to play together and, no doubt, that's the route a lot of people would take. Not Han, though. It's so deeply ingrained into him that he needs to prove his worth, that he couldn't very well go into this occasion without some practice. Even though it's just for fun. Just an excuse to get closer to somebody. He has to be the best that he can be in the few short days he has to learn the skill. Besides, he rationalizes to himself, it will be good if someone knows the rules to the games before they try to play.

Thock. Thock. Thock.

The sound of the metal tipped darts pelting the sisal fibre board is the same every time. In some ways, the game likens itself to other kinds of marksmanship. A lot of the work is done in adopting a good stance each time and being consistent.

The hours melt away faster that he realizes.

Unlike playing cards, which requires observation and thinking to play well, he can mostly zone out here. For him, it's kind of relaxing. He's not a champion dart player after two days and he's pretty sure Barton would handily outclass him in a game, but he's gotten pretty good. He tends to hit in the wedge that he's aiming for more often than he misses.

Although they never specifically agreed upon a time or even a specific place to reunite, he trusts the May Queen to find him. The morning was clear and no doubt a goddess has a lot to accomplish in a day, so he waits until the sky begins to turn dark before he heads to an establishment called 'The Pitch and Roll'.

It starts to rain just before he gets there, but it's one of those warm refreshing ones that you tend not to mind getting caught in too much. For now. It looks to him like it's going to really start pouring soon. A good evening to spend inside somewhere. He's glad he brought a good jacket; it's light brown in color and leather. If it's still raining when it's time to walk to the Falcon, he'll be glad to have it. The rest of what he's put on in terms of his clothing is the standard for him - black pants with a yellow decoration along the side seam and a white long sleave shirt.

He doesn't see Frea when he arrives and so, he'll walk up to the bar and order an ale for himself while he waits.

Comments

He can be kinda cute sometimes.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

if there's an antidote for his attraction to Frea, he does not want to take it.

Since this is only one of a handful of times they've seen each other, it's been a while since he's been able to really take in the view of her. They've had regular meetings, but it's not as if they're attached at the hip.

"Taking on the task of motivating me, huh?" He says, catching the missle of spring affection into his chest. She seems so perfectly happy to celebrate on his behalf. The fact that it could be seen as a victory at her expense, doesn't bother her at all. Because she's a good person and ... different then most of the people he knows.

"I'll tell you right now, that's quite a job."

[maydayqueen]

This is the only anti-vax policy anyone should try to defend.

She'll make sure he gets a good chance to appreciate the view later. He's certainly earned it, and she rather likes having him look at her. Being looked at, admiringly or otherwise, isn't usually something she cares about or thinks about much. With him, it's different.

"Mm-hmm. I think I'm up for it." She wraps her arms around his shoulders and lifts herself up to give him a kiss. The first of many victory kisses, longer and sweeter than the public displays they've been making tonight.

If he's of any mind to think, while enjoying that kiss, or maybe later when he thinks back on this, he might wonder if she really lost anything. Sure, she lost the game of darts, but it sure seems like she's ended up exactly where she wants to be. That too is a kind of victory.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"I'm glad for that."

For the first time this evening, he doesn't bother to censor himself for the sake of civility. Han just enjoys the kiss that he's 'earned' in winning their game of darts and appreciates the comfort in being in her favor. The kiss goes for as long as it goes ...

"So what you think?" He murmurs, his calloused thumb drags lightly over her cheek. "Another game or should we go somewhere else for a while?"

[maydayqueen]

Civility be damned. It's unlikely anyone in the room hasn't seen kissing before. So long as their hands remain (mostly) in polite places, the only reason Frea can think of that people would complain is jealousy. And she just can't be bothered with that right now. Not when there's such a kiss to enjoy.

"Mmm." Her head turns slightly so she can lean into the touch. "I don't think either of us has the patience for another game right now. Not darts, anyway."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

He's not being too handsy. Just a sort of ... assertive. The kind of affection that tells everyone in the bar as well as the recipient that 'this one is mine.' Is it a bit on the possessive side? Maybe. Would a more secure individual not need to assert himself to everyone? Possibly.

It's kind of nice to possessed once in a while, though. He's hoping Frea, at least, won't be bothered by it.

"If it's still raining, maybe my place?" It's a suggestion or, perhaps, an offer. He might be wrong, but he suspects that she might still sleep outside even in the rain. Which, if he had to, he could make the best of (and there'd be a certain novelty in huddling together for a while, till they were both cold), but he'd prefer to be inside.

He could huddle against her inside the ship, too, after all.

Regardless of her response, he's gonna take the last swig of that beer and reach for her hand. Wherever the next place happens to be, he wants to be heading for it.

[maydayqueen]

Not too handsy works for her. So does assertiveness. Truth be told, she kinda likes it. There's an ironic sense of freedom in giving up control. Letting him make the decisions without having to stop and consult her because they both know that's what she prefers might be a relief for them both. She's certainly game for giving it a try.

"That'd be nice." There's no hesitation. Her curiosity about his starship has been growing, and it'll be dry and hopefully warmer there. The rain never bothered her, but the cold sure does. Huddling together wherever they go is assuredly part of the plan, but there's no need to be uncomfortable while they do.

Her hand finds its way into his easily and she laces their fingers together with a smile. Wherever he's taking her, she'll follow. "You want your jacket back? I'm pretty waterproof."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

He's not got much in the way of experience in being a leader despite him being 'Captain' Han Solo for more than a year already. A little more experience giving someone other than Chewbacca directions is probably good for him. And her a more forgiving presence, perhaps.

"I don't think that makes a lot of sense to be honest." He says, as Han pushes the tavern door open with his free hand. "You should keep the jacket on. We're going somewhere that I'll have plenty of stuff to change into if I get wet."

That's the best reason he can come up with on the spot for justifying her keeping the jacket. To be fair, it's not a bad point to have made either. Mostly it's a sense of chivalry that's in him that wants to see her stay warm while he toughs it out. It must have been raining the whole hour or so they were in the bar because the temperature has noticeably dropped.

[maydayqueen]

More forgiving, or at least, less likely to go into a violent rage if he upsets her. She's more the 'sulk a little until he kisses it better' sort. And every great captain needs to know how to lead people; she's happy to volunteer for his practicing.

"Thank you." The change in temperature makes her shiver when they step outside and she's glad to have the jacket to snuggle into, but once they're out on the street she snuggles into his side as well. Chivalry is a fine thing and will be rewarded, but he doesn't need to suffer without any relief.

"I love listening to the rain," she remarks quietly. "Do you miss it, in space?"

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"No." He says with a shrug. "It's more because when I hear something pounding on the hull of my ship repeatedly and I know that it isn't something gentle like rain, I'm worried about what it could be damaging."

Hard to relax and enjoy it in those instances.

"I'd miss it when I was living on Corellia sometimes. Our world is mainly known for constructing starships these days, but it's still one of the biggest exporters of agricultural products and food where I come from." In that regard, he thinks she might actually enjoy seeing Corellia if ... it was somehow possible to get her there.

"They celebrate harvest for a whole week, you know."

[maydayqueen]

That does not sound relaxing even hearing about it second-hand. But it gives her ideas, too, so she bumps her hip against him as they go, hard enough to be on purpose but not trying to send him off-balance.

"A whole week? That sounds like a party." One she'd like to go to, if she could. Seems like it's awfully far away when you have to travel from planet to planet in a ship... and she doesn't know if it would even happen at a time when she'd be available.

Still, it's fun to daydream. "Is there lots of food? And music and dancing? What's your favorite part?"

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"Look at you trying to throw me off course." He murmurs with a smile that suggests he's not all that put off by the fact she's bumped him. "Here I was thinking you were my North Star, but maybe you're more like the interesting locale that I can't help to be drawn to."

His response isn't so much of a shove, it's more of a lean into her. A persistent and difficult to ignore pressure.

"Good food, yeah, but since it's thrown by a coalition of grain farmers it's the beer that's particularly good." He pauses for a moment, before he adds, "I feel like you'd be the most popular person there."

[maydayqueen]

"Mm-hmm." She wasn't fooled, but the smile's a nice reassurance she's right. "That's me. A whole lotta trouble, but a whole lotta fun, too."

Persistent and difficult to ignore. Sounds like him. Frea beams up at him then and leans back comfortably. Somehow, despite the differences in height and stride and everything else, it works.

"Me? Oh, no, I'm sure the people who make the food and the beer are the popular ones." But she's just tickled he thinks that. "Is that your favorite part?"

[twelve_not_fourteen]

She is fun to him. He's trying to be concious of the fact that she's a woman of importance and keeping that in mind, he shouldn't smother her. One man shouldn't take up too much of spring's time. A part of him kinda wants to, though.

At this point, Han is also starting to get a little bit cold, but in a way that's not interrupting his fun. He's aware of it and if she wasn't making him so ... well, happy really ... he'd be a lot more perturbed by it. The Falcon's not too far from here, though. Just where he can begin to see it's distinctive curves in the distance.

"You haven't been in a huge gathering of Corellian men before." He says with a bit of a smirk. "I'm what passes for good behavior among my people. Trust me. You'd get attention."

He jests, sort of. Not every man where he's from is a scoundrel, but when an entire planet's gender has a kind of reputation, there's often something to it.

"My favorite part? The bonfires are nice. The food and drink is among the best you'll ever have. I dunno, it might sound kind of ... sentimental, but it's good the way it brings people together. Like for that week it doesn't matter what continent you came from or who your family is."

Seems appropriate: https://youtu.be/D1ZYhVpdXbQ

[maydayqueen]

It isn't really possible to take someone else's time. If she's giving it freely, he shouldn't feel guilty about it. Of course, 'should' is a dangerous word and a more dangerous concept.

"Yeah, but... I wouldn't want it." Her answer comes with her resting her head against his arm. Why would she want the attention of other men when he's around? It's a foolish concept. He may be a scoundrel, but for right now, he's her scoundrel. And she's his... something.

"Nothing wrong with sentimental," she points out quietly. "That does sound nice. I hope you get to go back for it soon. But, if you're still here, you might like our harvest celebrations too." Ours means hers, but he could be included in the group.

I saw Clockwork Orange so many times before I actually saw Singin ...

[twelve_not_fourteen]

He knows that he's pretty fond her. She's starting to make it very clear that she's pretty fond of him too. Happily he'd offer himself up for the job of being her scoundrel and Han wouldn't even ask for any additional perks among the ones he's already getting, either.

"Well, you already have the best of what that planet could offer anyway." He says with a look at her that, like his actions, straddles the line between handsome and foolish. Because his hair is damp from the rain, he reaches his hand to push it out of the way of his eyes. Frea will probably notice that his clothes are getting soaked. His shirt is aleady sticking to his chest and his back.

When it comes to the invite of her harvest, he assures her, "I wouldn't miss it." He's not sure what exactly to picture in terms of how her presense would be received and the Captain figures that a lot of people are going to want her attention on that day, but ... it's the culmination of her effort in some respects, right? If she wants him there he definitely wants to be there.

"I haven't been to the one at home in a couple of years, so, it be nice to see one again." He says, offering a little of himself in the details. "Have you uh ... kept count of how many seasons you've helped people here?"

I had to watch CO for a film class. Ugh.

[maydayqueen]

He'll be her scoundrel so long as she's his something? She can live with that arrangement. But it does leave her wondering what that 'something' is. Something next, she expects; she's enjoying it so far.

"Mm, obviously." Handsome and foolish makes her heart flutter, so he should be careful and keep it up. She turns her head to smile up at him, which makes her notice how wet and cold he's getting. And not that she doesn't appreciate the preview, but she likes him too much to keep him suffering. A little nudge of her hip is all the warning he's getting that she's picking up the pace.

"Good. There are so many things I want to show you before... before they're gone." There are times and places when Frea will be the popular one, the belle of the ball, surrounded by people who want to bask in her sunlight or beg her for favors. He's seen the type. Has he noticed the people they keep close, the trusted friends who guide and guard? There's a reason she lets Brienne get so bossy sometimes; she knows there are times she'll need someone else to step in and handle things for her. Han could be one of those people too, if he keeps feeling these protective urges toward her.

"Maybe we can find someone to make something Corellian for you?" The little details are filed away; for all she appears flighty, she's good at remembering things that matter to her. He matters immensely. If he didn't, she might not share so much about herself with him to answer that question. Brushing off uncomfortable details is her usual m.o. "This is my first year as the May Queen. There were others before me."

So. That's a load of information for him.

Not a fan, eh?

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Something not defined. Which is alright for now. It's not as if he has what she is all that well defined in his mind either. He's been waffling back and forth between just like any other person he's ever known but with more powers and more responsibilities and ... not like anyone he could imagine. It hasn't occurred to him that she could be both things.

Moving faster is probably good. Using more muscle energy will help keep him warm, at any rate. Either way, the ship seems about 200 yards away now. Even in the rain and gray, that's probably enough for her to really take in the sight of his beloved Falcon.

He cares for her deeply and wants to look out for her. Han is a very different kind of protector and likely the kind who would notice different kinds of threats than Brienne would see. Together, she'll be well looked after. Though how much after she needs looking, he's not entirely sure.

"Maybe." He says with a nod. "Something that grows pretty quickly, probably?" He wouldn't call his agricultural knowledge top notch. Nor is he privy to how much longer the growing season is around here. If anyone could make something from his home take root here though ... he'd believe it would be her.

"First?"

He couldn't have guessed as much. For as much as she can be flighty, he's also seen her be very knowledgeable of her domain and wise. "Long may you reign, Queen Frea."

It's very triggering.

[maydayqueen]

She's a very busy goddess. Maybe he's trying to not over-schedule her by expecting her to be too many things at once. She'd be happy to try for him. It's pretty easy to try and be the thing you are, if you're lucky enough to like who you are.

The Falcon is not what she'd been expecting. She'd been expecting something sleek, aerodynamic... bird-like. Not that she dislikes it, she's just surprised. But it's too cold and wet to stay outside studying it. That'll keep for the morning. Keeping warm with a brisk pace is a good start. They'll warm each other up better soon enough.

"I'm sure it could be arranged. What would you like?" She's pretty sure she can find and grow whatever it is he misses most. If it's fruit from a tree they might be in trouble, but there are vast and plentiful markets in which to look for what she cannot make herself.

She might not technically need anyone protecting her, but that doesn't mean she doesn't want what she wants. The idea of being mobbed is... troubling, for her. Some people might thrive on that kind of attention, but she's not one of them. She loves attention--he's well aware of that--but of a different sort.

"Mm-hmm." She's watching him out of the corner of her eye, worried that he might find her... something. Too young? Too inexperienced? There might be an echo of cold words in her mind that makes her shiver. "Thank you. When's your birthday?"

Oh, yes. I can see that it would be. Sorry that you were made to watch it. :/

[twelve_not_fourteen]

It's not very sleek at all, his ship. Even to people familiar with the looks of all kinds of starships and knowing that the outside isn't always indicative of the inside ... it's still often accused of being a 'piece of junk'. Tonight, it's the shelter that's going to keep the two of them out of the rain. Which, they can board as soon as he gets the ramp down. That will only take a moment and the ship is providing a good deal of protection from the weather in just standing under it.

"You should grow Vweilu nuts." He murmurs, as he stabs the entry code into a panel built on one of the legs of the ship. "They're good. Used in a lot of dishes from my world and nice to snack on by themselves."

There's no perceptible reaction for her to pick up on, in terms of her status as a spring deity. He's not really the right man to say if she's doing a good or bad job. The question about his birthday, though? That does get a reaction. Surprise or possibly even stunned.

"I don't know exactly." Han says at last. "I have an idea of when my birth was submitted to the authorities. When it would be here? I'm not even sure because our galactic year is longer in days, but fewer in months than the ones I've seen people using here."

Once the ramp is lowered, Han will start heading up it. He figures Frea will get the hint right away, but in the off chance she doesn't, he'll pull gently on her hand.

Thanks. The philosophical questions are interesting to me, but I'd prefer them without the violence.

[maydayqueen]

Frea would never call it a piece of junk. It's important to him, and that means it's important, period. And who is she to judge? She knows nothing about traveling in space, and almost nothing about machinery. It might be the most perfectly perfect starship ever built. She'll never know. If nothing else, it's an excellent shelter from the rain.

"Vweilu nuts." Nuts usually come from trees, and trees take a while to mature... but she'll try to come up with something, for him. "That's a fun word. Vweilu." Saying it makes her lips move in ways that make her look especially kissable.

The surprise is contagious--she doesn't understand why that's such a surprising question, so his reaction is mirrored in her expression. "Oh, that's tricky. Maybe just... pick a day in the same season? I think birthdays are more about celebrating a person than exact records anyway."

She doesn't need much coaxing to follow him inside. Once they're in and off the ramp she looks around, brushing some loose hair that's been plastered against her cheek behind her ear while she does. She shivers again before pressing up against him again. He might not be warm to the touch right now, but the contact's giving her some kind of comfort. "Maybe I just want an excuse to feed you cake. Do I need excuses for that?"

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Neither of them are very warm at the moment. The jacket might have made her a little bit drier, but the truth is both of them are cold. He might not have been noticeably trembling because of it, but as she presses close, she'll probably feel him shivering as well.

"No, I don't think you need a reason to feed me cake if you really want to." Speaking of sweets, he's going to lean in for a little bit of a kiss. "The date I have was sometime in midsummer. It wasn't something that got celebrated when I was growing up."

She might not realize how closed off he tends to be, but he knows the way he usually acts. It probably says something about the way he feels about her that he's willing to offer these details.

[maydayqueen]

Feeling him shiver makes her want to hold him more. Arms wrapped around him and hands rubbing his back might help warm him up, one way or another. Her kisses are more readily available and sweeter than cake.

"You deserve to be celebrated." She knows only the him he is with her. What it says that he tells her these things he won't tell others is, alas, lost on her; she'd love him better for knowing because she'd know him better. "I want to celebrate you."

And not just in the sexy ways he might think she means right now. But that's a good place to start. "But first, I think we should get out of these wet things and warm up."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

She doesn't really need to be saying alien words to make him want to kiss her. Her lips always look inviting to him and the fact that she's been a willing recipient every time, makes him that much more inclined to lean in and offer one.

When it comes to being celebrated, he's not sure how he feels about that. He spent a lot of years trying to raise himself up against people trying to hold him down that his ideas of celebrating are different than a lot of peoples. They'd ... have to be.

"I'm gonna take a wild guess and figure that we missed yours. Was it the first day of spring?"

She's right about clothes. It gets him thinking about what all of that should entail and it allows him to linger in her arms for a few moments. He'll get moving in just a second. He's just a little puzzled on one thing that may or may not be all that important to her.

"What do you think about the ramp? Keeping it down is gonna let some light and fresh air in, but the cabin is on the other side of the ship."

[maydayqueen]

She's pretty sure she can get him to kiss her without saying anything--a little gesture or the right look can be so telling, after all--but that doesn't change the fact that it's a fun word. Or that she likes kissing him. Every kiss offered will be happily accepted.

Her idea of celebrating involves food, music, and cake. (Cake is required. Any party without cake is just a meeting.) What kinds of food and music, and where they're found, isn't something she has strict rules about. However unusual his idea of celebrating may be, she'd like to think they could make it work. He's worth the effort.

"Mm-hmm. You only missed it this year," she points out. "There'll be a first day of spring next year, too."

Holding and being held is good. They can enjoy the togetherness for as long as he can stand. It gives her a chance to consider how best to word her answer. "Can we leave it down? I find enclosed places uncomfortable after a while."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Music, food and cake, huh? That's a lot of 'to do' made about something he's never really celebrated before. To tell the truth, in the last few years he'd sort of stopped paying attention to the day entirely. (It's in the sixth month, right? Or was it the fifth? He has it on a data pad somewhere ...) Occasions Han celebrated were more in the spirit of significant one time events such as paying off a loan or making a particularly fast run in his ship. And usually the extent of it was drink till you didn't want to anymore and sleep for a long time the next day

"That's true." A ray of sunshine, this one. "I think I'm free for that."

There was something nice about the idea they might be close on an annual basis, though. A couple of months with someone before separate ways were went, that's how it seemed to exclusively go when Han was with somebody. Maybe they could make it a whole year. Or several. Wouldn't that be something ...

With that detail, the decision is made very easy. The ramp stays down. It's an easy thing to accommodate and between the two of them, anyone crazy enough to try to entrude is going to have their hands full with them. "Okay." He murmurs, pressing a kiss into her cheek before he starts to nudge her in the direction the next logical destination; the area where getting out of wet clothes makes the most amount of sense, the cabin. "Will you promise me you'll let me know if you start feeling bad?"