A/N: I discovered this idea a long time ago, wandering around the internet. I don't remember exactly where I saw it, but I'm pretty sure it was on one of those challenge communities on Live Journal. I know, I know, I'm a terrible person for stealing other people's challenges and not posting them in the right place. But a challenge is fair game, right?
Anyways, enough about my moral failings. The goal here is simple. Take an album. For each track, write a corresponding short story/ vignette. I chose 'III' by Joe Nichols, and I think you'll see why.
NOTE: These are NOT song fics. The lyrics are not actually used in the song. Unfortunately, I can't post a link here to get to the lyrics, so if you want to see them (and I recommend it) I suggest www dot sing365 dot com. Search for "joe nichols" or by song name. Sorry for any inconvenience!
Enjoy!
TSW
Inspired by:
Size Matters (Someday)
Written by Byron Hill and Mike Dekle, Performed by Joe Nichols.
Word got around fast that there was a big-shot visiting the base. Some prince, or something, from the other side of the galaxy. Talk was, he was looking to form an alliance with the Rebellion. A matrimonial kind of alliance. But then, there were also rumors that he was surrounded at all times by a harem of fan-carrying, bare-chested women, so Han wasn't too worried.
"Did you see him, kid?"
Luke didn't bother to look up from the wires he was patching. "Who?"
"Chief What's-He-Called."
"Oh. His name is High Lord Panisonicha, and yes, I met him."
"What's he like?"
Luke shrugged. "Nice enough, I guess. Why are you so interested?"
"Just curious, is all. After all, not much happening around here."
"Except for the war, and the almost getting blown up."
"Nothing out of the ordinary, I mean."
"Right." Luke went back to his repairs, but not before making it clear that he was unconvinced.
Han picked up his blowtorch. He's probably old, he thought. With wrinkles and a big mole on his face. He spent the next few minutes coming up with a variety of hideous deformities for the mystery leader. In fact, he was so wrapped up in making a monster that he didn't even notice when the real thing came through the door.
He saw Leia, though, and the arm she was holding.
"Han. Han!" Luke reached over and took the blowtorch before he managed to burn a hole through the ship.
"That him? Emperor Pansawhoosie?"
"Yes, that's him. Would you please pay attention-"
Han ignored him and stood up. The Princess was walking towards them, with the foreigner at her side. He wasn't quite as ugly as Han had pictured him. Truth be told, he was actually pretty good-looking. And young, Han noticed, suddenly feeling his age. The guy was loaded, by the look of him. Little bits of gold hanging all over the place, and diamonds the size of eyeballs on his hands. He said something, and Leia laughed.
That was what got him.
"Princess," he called.
She looked a little reluctant to acknowledge him, but he doubted the walking gold mine noticed the break in her diplomatic smile.
Han noticed, and was proud of himself for it.
"Hiya, Princess. You gonna introduce me to your new friend?"
Luke doubled his efforts with the soldering iron. He wanted to be fully repaired in case Han succeeded in starting a war.
"Lord Panisonicha," Leia said politely, with a warning look at Han, "This is Captain Solo. He's been aiding our operations as a freelance pilot." She emphasized the word "freelance". Not one of us, meaning We don't take responsibility for his stupidity. Han was more offended than usual.
"Nice to meet you, sir," he said, offering a greasy hand. The High Lord curled his lip.
"The pleasure is mine, really. Princess Organa, I was told you have a remarkable defense system…"He led her away. She laughed again at one of his jokes, (bad jokes, Han was sure) but it sounded too courteous to be real.
Han leaned back against the side of the sip. "Wonder what's got up his ass."
"Class?" Luke offered.
"I got class," Han said, a little defensively. "Just not as rich a class as he's got."
He saw her again in the hallway. (Looking back on it, he realized these things always happened in the hallway.) She was ahead of him, so he jogged to catch up.
"Hey, Worship. Did your date get sick of us lowlifes?"
"High Lord Panisonicha is in the guest quarters, resting." He waited. Go on, deny it. But she didn't. Han felt his feet turn to stone, and had to hurry to keep up. She walked fast for someone so short.
"What's Lord Creditfingers doing all the way out here, anyway?"
She stopped and whirled around. He was surprised by how angry she looked. He hadn't even really tried to upset her yet. "Don't waste my time wit questions you already know the answers to."
"What are you talking about?" He had to be careful now. This could get ugly real quick, and the best defense, he'd learned, was to play dumb.
"Are you trying to tell me that the rumors that have been the subject of conversation amongst every single person in this entire army just happened to pass you by?"
"Something like that."
She rolled her eyes and walked away.
He cut her off. "Look, Princess, I just want to know if it's true or not. Is he really here to-"
"Yes, Panisonicha is here as a suitor. For me. You can tell all your buddies that." Han started to laugh. She put her fists on her hips. "What's so funny?"
"Well, he can't think- I mean, you're not going to- Are you?"
She looked around cautiously, and lowered her voice. "A marriage like this could save the rebellion, Captain Solo. We'd get allies, and they'd get protection from the Empire. Everyone wins."
"Everyone except you, you mean."
"Panisonicha is a wealthy man. I'd have a very comfortable life."
"But do you love him?"
"There's a thing called self-sacrifice. I don't expect you to understand it."
"I bet he doesn't love you."
"You don't know that- when did this become your problem?"
"It's not. I'm just saying, you deserve a good man, someone who can make you smile and not have to pay you to do it."
"You mean, someone like you?"
"Yes- No, I'm not involved in this. You go ahead and marry Prince Charming. No skin off my back."
She stomped away. "Maybe I will."
"Do it," he called after her. "But you'll remember what I said, someday."
Luke rubbed his hands together. "It is really cold here."
"Don't blame me," Han said through the fur on his hood. He looked pointedly at Leia.
She tugged on a second pair of gloves. "Would you stop that? It's not like I knew he was an Imperial spy."
"I told you he was trouble. And you didn't listen."
"If I discharged someone every time you felt jealous, we'd have no army left."
"Jealous? That's wishful thinking, sweetheart. Sure sign of desire. I always knew you had your eye on me."
"I'm not going to grace that comment with a reply," she snapped.
"You'll come to your senses, eventually," he answered, unphased. "I have a felling someday will get here sooner than you think."
