SUBTLETY
with apologies to George Lucas
I.
is not, and has never been, one of his strong points. He is, in the words of his father/brother/very best friend, about as socially tactful as a large, slow animal whose primary concerns are food and the defenestration of flies everywhere. He does nothing by halves; when he shows emotion (which is most of the time), the displays are somewhat violent, and his plans are invariably both ludicrous and guaranteed to work. He seems impervious to nuance, not to mention the finer points of diplomatic conduct.
Aggressive negotiations are a very notable exception.
II.
is an integral part of her profession. She has trained since childhood to notice the small quiet cues people constantly give off, the hidden meaning in tilts of head, flares of nostril and turns of phrase. Her expertise is paralleled only by her colleagues, each and every one of whom owes his/her/its prestigious position to an ability to read both allies and opponents (for the two are not so different, in the game they play). Hers is a language of parties and ulterior motives, in a land where money speaks louder than anything else.
Politics are a part of her nature.
III.
has no place in their relationship. She requires a change of pace, in this silent illicit...thing...that isn't quite a marriage. He is just the thing to provide it. Whenever they are together, alone, the banter starts: an amicable conversation/argument/flirt session. Every word is egregiously gauche for her, but unusually sophisticated for him- they meet in the middle, savoring the touch of his hand on her waist, the weight of her head on his shoulder. The bedroom is not far away, as their bodies both know (the instinct is universal, after all). Tomorrow they must return to their separate worlds, but tonight...tonight is when the bindings are broken, when the masks and layers of deceit are removed with the rest of their clothing.
Tonight is only for wildly improbable love.
A/N: This is my first stab at romance, using a strong contender for my Star Wars OTP (the other two possibilities being Han/Leia and Kit Fisto/Aayla Secura). Let me know how you like it!