Author's Note: So, I still haven't seen The Rise of Skywalker, but I know enough through a friend that this probably isn't totally off the wall.
A sequel of sorts to Chapter 35, references Chapter 16.
The spiced drink in this is spiced as in cinnamon and nutmeg, not Star Wars get you happy get you high spice.
And I loved you when our love was blessed
And I love you now there's nothing left
But sorrow and a sense of overtime….
- "Closing Time" by Leonard Cohen
Aside from Chewbacca, he had been the oldest of them, and Lando had outlived his dearest friends. On some level he had almost expected it. For all that he was a gambler, Lando had always known and respected the odds. He knew and saw when it was time to bow out, and to bow in.
As much as he was looking forward to helping Jannah, the granddaughter that he never had the chance to have, find her past, he needed some time and space.
The mess hall was nearly empty now, although Lando could still hear celebrations going on, the sound subdued by distance. There were a few people at scattered tables here, mostly just savoring that when they did go to bed, they wouldn't have to worry if the First Order had gained any ground while they had slept.
The plump bubbly young twi'lek still on duty was more than happy to make him some Chandrilan tea.
"Hey, would you mind taking this over to Lucky," the Twi'lek asked, as he nodded toward a man seemingly asleep at a table, "he's our crèche-master, he must be exhausted after getting all those kids to bed."
"Sure," Lando said, as he took his tea and a mug of a frothy concoction that smelt of richly spiced rum and chocolate.
Lando sat down at the table, and carefully but loudly set the mug down by the man resting his head in his arms on the table.
The man lifted his head.
Leia may not have known the man on sight, but Lando stopped as if he had hit a wall. Even with the weight of years and scars, he knew Boba Fett when he saw him. He couldn't help the alarm that raced across his face. Alarm that the man noticed.
"Kriff," the man swore and settled his head down again.
"Going by Lucky again, Boba?" Lando asked.
Lucky lifted his head once again and stared at Lando. Lando felt an unexpected drop in his stomach; there was simply no recognition.
"Who the hell are you?"
"I'm Lando Calrissian."
"I've…I've heard of you," Lucky said cautiously, "Did we ever meet before?"
Lando knew he was silent too long from the look of anxiety growing on Lucky's face.
"Look, if…"
"We knew each other," Lando interrupted, "when we were younger."
"Oh," Lucky chuckled miserably, "I'm sorry, I don't remember that. I had a lot of memories stolen from me. You must have been part of them."
"Stolen?" Lando was beginning to feel sick.
"If you know who I was, then you know Boba Fett got knocked into a Sarlacc," Lucky gave a grim laugh, "they like to play with their food. Torment you with your own memories and steal them away, then once you're a bit mindless meat they slowly absorb what's left. The few real memories I have left I fought for tooth and nail."
Fierfek was all Lando could think. At the time he had thought Boba had gotten what he deserved. Now? He wasn't certain anyone deserved that.
"Someone I made an enemy of?" Lucky asked drily, then he thought for a moment, "you were a friend of General Organa, yeah an enemy then."
"Leia knew who you are?"
"Who I was," Lucky corrected, "and the General," he paused again searching for the right words, "as long I took care of and protected the kids, stayed out from under her feet, she didn't really care who I use to be. I miss her."
Who I was. Who I used to be. Boba Fett got knocked into a Sarlacc, not I got knocked into a Sarlacc.
Lando closed his eyes. He had a lot of bad memories of Boba, but he had a lot of good ones too, and now he was the only one with any of those memories. Just like he was the only one left who had certain memories of Han, and Leia, and Luke. This seemed worse somehow, with the still living man there in front of him.
Everything hurt just a little bit more now.
He felt a warm and gentle hand alight on his shoulder.
Lando opened his eyes to Lucky leaning forward, concern in dark golden-brown eyes he had once know so very well. For a second, it could have been a lifetime ago. Lando wished it was a lifetime ago.
"Is there someone I should go get? You're looking a little unwell."
"No, no, I'll be fine. We were," Lando hesitated, "we knew each other. Good times, bad times. Enemies. Allies. Sometimes more."
"Ah," Lucky nodded thoughtfully, and sat back, his hand pulling away until Lando caught it in his own and held it.
"I never apologized for what I did," Lando found himself saying, all earnestness and regret, "I didn't understand and I was angry. My pride was hurt, and I thought, I thought you were losing interest in me; it didn't occur to me that, that... Well, I was an immature pile of bantha poodoo."
It was painfully fascinating to watch the utter bewilderment cross Lucky's face.
"Uh, you're forgiven?" he said slowly, "I'm sorry, just don't remember…"
Lando laughed forlornly.
"I'm the one who should be sorry; here I am dumping this on you when you haven't the slightest idea of what I'm talking about."
"Story of my life," Lucky shrugged, "you knew Boba Fett. Other than the memories of my Dad and a few other flickers, Fett's a stranger to me."
That wasn't something Lando had expected and didn't know how to come back to. Stalling, he took a sip his tea, then closing his eyes, took in a deep breathe savoring the malty, vanilla aroma. He smiled slowly; the Galaxy had moved on but Chandrilan tea, even a made mess hall, still tasted the best. The thump of Lucky's mug hitting the table wasn't expected.
Lando opened his eyes, and saw that Lucky had paled, but was staring at Lando intensely.
"Are…"
Lucky held up a hand to shush him. He leaned in again, studying Lando's face, biting his lip, and he slumped back, disappointed.
"Sorry, for a second I thought I remembered something about you," he barked a hoarse laugh, "but it was nothing but some sand snakes."
"You had two pet sand snakes," Lando said drily, "Bin-Ban and Tig. You'd let them slither into bed with us. You adored them."
"Ah," Lucky swallowed convulsively and smiled bitterly, "I don't I don't remember them."
That was all it took for Lando to make a decision.
Oh, he knew he had to be crazy to be considering this. It had to be a bad idea. But maybe it was time to take a gamble again and try to salvage what had been lost so long ago. After all, he might never get another chance.
"How about we take our drinks back to my quarters, and I tell you about them?"
Fear warred in Lucky's eyes, but so did hope.
"I'd like that."
End Note: They really do just go off to talk, for those wondering. Lando wants it to really work this time.
