[Niall Organa]

"Shocking, isn't it?" Niall said. Smiling, he brushed a lock of her hair back from her forehead. "Do you suppose I can count on you to keep it secret? I do have a reputation to maintain."

With a sigh, he looked back up at the ceiling, watching the stars once more. "Maybe I should." He said softly. "It's hard sometimes, though. Both publicly and privately, for different reasons."

He reached down, taking her hand once more. "Maybe I should take lessons from you." He murmured, smiling.

[Lyseil Panteer]

"Hmmm..." she sighed pleasantly as Niall brushed away her hair, eyes looking back at him fondly. "Of course. Your secret is safe with me!" Lyseil was good at keeping secrets, after all.

Her fingers squeezed his hand gently as they connected again, and she shifted in her position to look up at the stars with him. "Life's too short to hold back laughter too much, I say. Enjoy life, especially when it's fun!"

[Niall Organa]

"I knew I could count on you." Niall said, with a fondness to match hers. And a bit of seriousness. It was true, after all.

"That... sounds like a good idea." Niall's tone was a little uncertain. "But it's something that doesn't come naturally to me, at least not with most people. Vera's commented on it before." He chuckled softly. "She said that I always have a back-up weapon because of the stick up... well, never mind what she said." Niall cleared his throat.

"There's just so much weight. Although I have difficulty deciding which is heavier, the past or the future." Lyseil having shared her secret fears, Niall seemed to be feeling it was his turn to share his. "What do you think?"

[Lyseil Panteer]

"Hmm... the past feels so much heavier, I'd say, because it's hard to let go of it. Even if it's a road already travelled, you carry it with you still." She was trying to recall some stuff from philosophy studies, but it was all a little fuzzy now.

"The future though, I don't think it's heavy. It's just a challenge because we have the power to decide what we want it to be." Lyseil was her usual confident self as she spoke with an encouraging tone to Niall. Sure, she had things she worried about too, but in the end, she pulled through because she knew that in the end she was the master of her own future.

[Niall Organa]

"Mmm..." Niall murmured. "A quick answer. I gather you've thought about this before." The alcohol, the stars, the enthusiastic make-out session, followed by tickling session, all made him feel relaxed. Pleasant. Open.

"I certainly agree on the past. You carry it with you. Sometimes that's a challenge. I certainly feel the weight of expectation from my Organa forebears, alive and dead. And my ghosts. But... sometimes it's a comfortable weight." He tilted the last remnants of the bottle into first her cup, then his, although he didn't drink any of it.

"But you don't think the future's heavy?" Niall turned his head to look at her. "I always worry that if I don't do enough now, the future won't be secure. That thought weighs on me more than most. The next generation..." He bit his lip as he trailed off.

[Lyseil Panteer]

Lyseil regarded the last of the alcohol. She was probably going to feel a little sick in the morning, she assumed by now. Still, no point in wasting it, so she took a small sip! "It might've been on my mind a few times. But I'm mostly trying to paraphrase philosophers."

She sighed. "Not heavy as such, no. More that it's uncertain, fleeting, maybe a little scary because you don't know what it's going to be? Sure, I think of what sort of world, or galaxy, I might leave behind, but... well, I don't think I think about it the same way you do?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall wasn't making the same calculation as Lyseil, but he also just took a small sip. "Oh." He said. "Well, I rather liked it. That's firmly in the category of things that I used to know back in school, but haven't thought about in years."

"It sounds as though you're right." Niall said, sighing. "I think of the future as a responsibility. A responsibility that comes from the past, but that I owe to the future." He pursed his lips a moment before taking another sip of the alcohol, making a face afterwards. "I think I'm going to miss this, when it's gone." That was certainly true. He fell silent again.

Suddenly, he smiled, turning back to look at Lyseil. "How do you think of the future? As an adventure, I'd wager. That seems very much like you." He entwined his fingers with hers once more.

[Lyseil Panteer]

"I enjoy reading philosophy occassionally, as it sometimes helps me put my own thoughts into words too... I'm not as good with words and talking like you are, Niall," she nudged his side gently to emphasize her words, and sipped the drink again. It was almost empty already!

At his words, she let out a drawn-out long sigh, but one of contentment. "I'll miss this too. Maybe we can do something similar on Alderaan sometime...? Just lie back on the grass with friends and wine, and look up at the stars, and speak heart to heart."

Niall's question gave her a brief pause. "Hmm..." another pause. "Adventure, yes-yes, but... a challenge, I think more! Or rather, a series of challenges - where the first one is that I need to decide what to do. I can be so terribly indecisive when it comes to choices."

[Niall Organa]

"Really?" Niall chuckled softly. "You always seem to know what to say to me. But I think that's because our minds run along similar tracks, so to speak." He chuckled again as Lyseil nudged his side, rocking briefly away, only to roll slightly closer.

He was silent for a few moments, his grey eyes thoughtful as he looked at her. Finally, he nodded, smiling. "I would like that very much, Lyseil. Let us plan for it. Perhaps... not right when this war is over." He closed his eyes for a moment before giving her another nod. "I almost feel that we should make it a tradition. Something where we try to make it back every year, and do exactly that." His lips quirked. "It might not be easy. But I should like to try."

That particular phrasing made Niall laugh, a deep chuckle. His laugh sounded a bit less dignified than usual, close to a snort. "Oh, is that so? I didn't realize that. And yet, you have a plan for after the war. One I think I'd like to take part in. Bankor does need our help. And after that's your degree. It seems to me that you're meeting this 'first challenge' of yours quite well."

[Lyseil Panteer]

"I think we have a lot of similar thoughts, yes," she said warmly. It was so nice to be able to speak with Niall like this - so few others seemed to be on the exact same wave-length as her, and maybe it was their common background that made it so much easier?

"Yeah? Then we can make it happen! As you say though, not right away, but in time." A part of her hoped it could be with Niall and Alysele both. Maybe even someone special for her...? She still had a lot to think about there, even if their common decision tonight had made some things a little easier for her. She would have to give it some thought before deciding on something.

The snort-laugh snapped her out of her thoughts though, and she giggled. "You think so? Hmm... I guess I just easily have a lot of thoughts of what I can do, but the real challenge is in actually deciding how to accomplish it. It's easy for me to say I want to help Bankor. Actually achieving it is another matter."

[Niall Organa]

"Very good. We'll see about it, then." He said, giving her a smile. "It might be a bit of a challenge. We're both so busy. That's why it's important to commit to something and make it happen. I think we can do that, can't we?" He wasn't considering who else might be there; the future was far too uncertain for that.

The giggle made Niall smile. He rolled onto his side, letting their bodies gently rest against each other. "As it happens, I feel that I'm rather good at figuring out how to accomplish things. Let's work together on it, shall we?"

He chuckled softly, leaning forward to brush his nose against hers. "But not tonight. Tonight, the only plan I can think of is to set up a trade route. Alderaanian supplies for this alcohol." He tapped his glass with one finger. "I suspect the plan could use a little revision."

[Lyseil Panteer]

"I look forward to working with you after this, Niall. But you're right. Not tonight," she chuckled, closing her eyes as their noses touched. "It might catch on somewhere, so it might be worth looking into? I don't think those nomads would be quite prepared for such a high demand for their spirits!"

[Niall Organa]

"I'll admit, the plan could use some revising." Niall said, his eyes glinting with humor.

His expression grew more serious. "Would you like to stay here tonight? I mean, right here?" He asked softly, his free hand patting the blanket. "I don't expect my roommate to return tonight. It's Doctor Ormont. He sleeps on his ship, I think." Niall sighed. "I worry about him sometimes.

The brief dark look faded as Niall smiled. "But I would like that. What would you say? One night under the Alderaanian stars?" He brushed his hand gently across her cheek, back through her hair. "I promise to be a gentleman."

[Lyseil Panteer]

"Oh..." the suggestion made her blush, but probably not because of the reasons Niall might think. I do wonder why he though the swimsuit felt too tight...

"As... tempting as that is, I should probably get back to my room. Sabine would probably get all sorts of curious if I didn't return, or woke her up in the morning." Lyseil smiled sheepishly. "... I worry about dr. Ormont too, but... I don't know, when I try to talk with him, I get the feeling he wants to shove me out of the airlock without a suit on." She sighed and sat up straight. "But... it's probably best not to spend the entire night here. Would be really awkward if people started gossiping about that, right?"

[Niall Organa]

As Lyseil sat up straight, so did Niall. His lips compressed, and he looked away. He'd decided this, knew it was for the best. But now, as the moment was approaching, it was growing harder and harder. Because he knew that once she stepped out that door, they would still be friends, but their relationship would be over.

"... you're probably right." He said, still looking away. After a moment, he turned back, smiling gently. "I would not wish to do harm to the reputation of a member of the royal family, after all. That would hardly be the act of a gentleman."

His hand, holding hers, tightened, his smile slipping away. "Shall I escort you to the door, then?" He whispered.

[Lyseil Panteer]

Realising that the moment to leave was suddenly here already, Lyseil smoothed out her hair, hoping she wouldn't catch any weird looks at this hour as she returned to her room. And hopefully Sabine would be asleep too, because she'd doubtless start making all sorts of inquiries!

"I'd like that, Niall," she nodded, her hand tightening a little too and letting him play the part of a proper gentleman, as she took the part of a proper lady. "Always the gentleman. I can see why she likes you." It was probably a bit overstepping there, but the words just slipped out. And it was one of the reasons she liked him too.

[Niall Organa]

"It's..." Niall looked away with a sigh. "... complicated." Well, that was certainly true. He looked back to Lyseil, his lips quirking. "If you like, I can tell you all about it sometime. But not tonight." He owed her another message. Had she gotten the ones he'd already sent? Would she send him one back?

He rose to his feet, only somewhat unsteadily. "Oof." He murmured. "It rather does sneak up on one, doesn't it?" He murmured, passing one hand back through his hair. Smiling down at Lyseil, he offered her his hand. "Milady." He said, grinning and bowing, taking on the exaggerated accent they sometimes did when speaking with each other.

[Lyseil Panteer]

"Some other time? I think I'd like that," Lyseil's smile was understanding and friendly. Niall would talk with her about that when he was ready!

Taking his hand, she did the little act of lifting her chin slightly and putting on a more regal posture. "Thank you kindly, sir," she said, eyes glowing with amusement as Niall helped her to her feet. Even she had to take a moment to find her balance. "Goodness... I see, I mean, I feel what you mean. Woah... that stuff's a lot heavier than I thought it was going to be."

In a bout of giggling coming over her again, she leaned against her date for support.

[Niall Organa]

For a moment, it seemed as though they might topple over again. Niall was still unsteady, not quite prepared for Lyseil to lean against him so heavily, and they swayed dangerously to the side together. But then, laughing softly, Niall managed to keep them both upright. "Okay, you." He said, one arm around her to hold her up. "Let's go."

It really wasn't that far to the door. Only a few steps. But Niall took them slowly, both out of necessity, and for enjoying these last few moments like this with Lyseil.

They were at the door. Niall took a deep breath before turning to Lyseil, his eyes on hers and a smile on his lips. "Have a wonderful night, Lyseil Panteer." He said.

[Lyseil Panteer]

She took a deep breath as she steadied herself, both in terms of balance and not giving in to the laughter. "Right, right... lead on." Lyseil did hold onto Niall a bit more than she needed too, but it was nice to savor that last moment like this.

This is it.

She faced Niall with a friendly smile, and leaned in to give him one last kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for a wonderful evening, Niall Organa. May the night continue to be pleasant for you," the princess curtsied, which looked much better in her skirt than it did in uniform.

"And may the Force be with you."

[Niall Organa]

Niall's eyes closed as Lyseil pressed her lips to his cheek. When he felt her move away again, they flickered back open. For a moment, he just studied her features, as though committing them to memory. Silly, perhaps, when he'd likely see her again tomorrow. And yet...

The familiar phrase, something he so often said, made Niall smile again. "May the Force be with you, too."

His gaze still on her, he reached out, pressing the door controls. It slid open. It was late enough in the ship's cycle that the corridor was a bit dim, although there was still more than enough light to see by. It was definitely lighter than Niall's quarters, even with the stars of Alderaan still glinting from above.

[Lyseil Panteer]

Lyseil smiled still as her hand slowly let go of his, her fingertips tracing the palm of his hand and then along his fingers all the way to the tips before they finally parted.

It had really been a memorable night.

"See you tomorrow, captain," she said in a soft tone as she stepped outside, leaving behind the magic of that moment. Her dark hair was brushed over her shoulders as she turned away.


/exit

[Niall Organa]

As Lyseil's fingers traced along his hand, Niall extended his own as far as he could. Letting their hands remain in contact as long as he could. Stretching out the moment to an eternity.

It ended.

"Sergeant." He acknowledged softly. Niall's eyes followed her as she walked away. It wasn't until she'd rounded the corner that he let the door close.

Niall sighed. It had been quite an evening. He picked up the control for the holoprojector, aimed it at the device. And stopped. Set the device back down.

Instead, he moved back to the blanket, lying down on it once more. Niall smiled, looking up at the familiar stars, crossing his hands behind his head. Yes, it had been quite an evening indeed.

/scene