Chapter 36: Leia gets ready.
"Leia, I wouldn't worry about it, and I have something for
you." Luke said, going to the closet and pulling out the package he had
bought, "On Tatooine it was a tradition. The family of a girl going on her
first official date would buy her a whole lot of jewelry so she and the guy she
was dating would know she was loved at home, and so she could knock his socks
off."
Leia opened the package, it was
jewelry to go with her dress, and a red jewel hair thing. "Oh, Luke, it is
GORGEOUS, thank you."
Saty and Alizabeth looked at each
other, "I hope you don't have shoes to go with the dress, and that these
match the dress because Aunt's Ranier, Tia, Mother, the Uncles, and the other
cousins, ALL are passing down to you the family heirloom shoes with the
message: KICK HIS SOCKS OFF." Alizabeth said.
"And, they say they'd have come and helped you get ready, well the
Aunt's, some of the other cousins are coming, but they thought we'd like to do
it."
They spent until 1300 like that, just talking, laughing, and teasing. Then,
"Well, Leia, time for you to get ready so you can show that General Solo what a
Princess from Alderaan is made of." Saty said, "We will all help you get ready.
First, though, go into the shower, wash your hair thoroughly, and put soap on.
Wash it off, put a bathrobe on, and then just wait for us, relax and rest, you
can't be tired when you go for your date. In the meantime Alizabeth, Stephaine,
and I will iron your dress, where is it."
"With Luke, I didn't want Aunt Rogue, or Tia to see it." Leia said.
"The dress is in the closet, at the bottom, Leia, I am going to get the ship aired out, so if you hear the door opening, it's just me, okay."
"Okay, just do a triple knock before you enter. " Leia said, "Sorry we are taking over your apartment like this."
"Hey, Leia, remember what I said, everything that is mine is yours." He gave her a kiss on the forehead as he passed.
Leia got up and went into the shower. "Boy this dress will REALLY knock his socks off, who chose it." Saty said, whistling as she picked the dress up, "Leia looks AWESOME in red."
"Of course she does. Leia look awesome in anything." Luke said, "Listen, I am going now."
"Hold it, I didn't say it in front of Leia, but something more is happening on this date tonight, am I right." Saty asked, following Luke outside into the main room of the apartment.
"Forgive me if I decline to answer." Luke said.
"I would take that for a yes." Stephaine, who had also followed Saty, advised.
Luke winked at them, then he left, he wanted to buy some tableware, or more likely make some. He could definitely find enough glass for 2 wine goblets, plates, bowls, and the other stuff he needed. Luke indeed did find the glass he needed. Luke took out his tools and set to work. It had been to long, he decided. He also decided that he might build ships and sell them through the brotherhood to customers, especially since from Coruscant he could get prime building materials. Plus, Coruscant itself needed a bigger fighting fleet and Luke needed to prove he was still at the military's beck and call, to an extent. Luke made perfect plates, bowls, and crystalware (forks, knives, etc made out of glass that look like silver). No one could be able to tell that they weren't store bought, unless you examined them with the force, of course. Luke went inside and set them up on the shelves he had built. He made sure everything was working, as he didn't want systems breaking up on him. He then bought candles, matches, he went to a field and picked the best wild roses. All in all he had spent 10 credits. There was something to be said about making your own stuff, if you are good at it. To Luke's practiced hand all this took all in all 55 minutes, even though he was a little out of practice. (It would've taken the old Luke who was practiced 30 minutes maximum, as that was all he had had on Tatooine.)
Meanwhile back at his apartment- "So Jedi Skywalker as good as told us General Solo has planned an AWESOME date tonight for Leia."
"She deserves a great guy like him, but I heard he has a shady past."
"I hear you talking about Han." Leia called over com-link, "I was practicing my Jedi skills and heard you. Yes, Han has a shady past he is an ex-smuggler, yes he is a little rough around the edges, but inside he was one of the nicest people and truest friend in the galaxy."
"I guess I trust your judgment, Leilila, but how are the Alderaanian people going to react."
"They don't have to know, for now, I am pretty sure Han and Luke have come up with something for that. I mean, I know Han is pretty bad at planning, but Luke as much as told me he is helping Han, which means he will get Han to plan things." Leia said, "I am going to break the connection, because I'll get the 'exact recipe wrong'"
Saty grinned, the exact recipe was an inside joke referring to the exact amount of Soap vs. Lotion to get radiant, clean, yet soft skin without pimples, something that had been passed down in the House for years. "All right, Leia. By the way, Leia, your dress is ironed perfectly."
It took Leia 55 minutes. "All right, I am done." She said. She put on a bathrobe and came outside.
They applied another recipe, the exact amount of cream on the face. "Boy," Leia said, "I haven't done this much measurement to get ready in 6 years."
"That is why you are out of practice." Stephaine reproved.
Just then the triple knock signal came on the door. "We are decent in here, and in your room."
"Can I come in," Luke asked, from outside the door.
"Sure." Leia said, "and don't worry, we will clean up your room."
Luke came inside to see a room littered with face creams, and lotions, beauty creams, etc. He whistled, "Does it really take all this stuff."
"Yes, and more, we just only unpacked half the stuff, this is all we needed right now." Alizabeth said, seriously.
"All done."
"With what, no offense meant."
"With step one, of course, making the skin shine to the right degree." Saty said.
"Now, Leia go into the bathroom and get the dress on right, come outside and we will be the dressing committee, and telling you, and helping you get rid of, every wrinkle, etc."
They all looked at Luke, who cleared his throat and said. "I will be outside."
"No, wait. Luke stay. I will be decent when I come out of the bathroom, anyhow. You can be on the committee." Leia said, grabbing her brother's wrist.
"Okay." Luke shrugged.
Leia went into the bathroom.
It took 10 minutes. "What are you doing, "Luke asked, curious, Aunt Beru got ready in less then a minute with dresses.
"Oh, just making sure it falls right." The reply came.
Then Leia walked out, " How does this look."
"Leia, make sure it falls a little to the left." Saty said. P "No, the right." Alizabeth said.
"It depends." Stephaine said, diplomatically, "Are you trying to look regal, daring, or plain."
"I don't know." Leia said.
"Pull the dress on all three ways, and decide what you like best." Luke suggested.
"That is a great suggestion." Leia said.
With the left- "NO WAY. This is a salon dresser appeal." Was the group consensus.
The middle, "Too plain."
The right, "Exactly right." Luke said, "a combination of daring, regal, and plain. So now you can call the shots, how you carry yourself."
"Um," Saty said, scrutinizing her, "Yes, he is right, so if Media catch you, they can't really say anything, but you can still be slightly daring, and plain, or regal depending on how its going."
"Settled." Leia said.
"Step three, the most important part, the hair." Saty said, taking a seat behind Leia as she brushed her hair.
Luke didn't get it, so Alizabeth whispered why in his ear. "Hairstyles are one of the superficial things the House Organa is known for."
Before they could begin, Luke's com rang. "Hey, buddy." Han's voice came over it, "can you get over here. You always know EXACTLY how to make an outfit look good, and the trimmings and stuff. I called early because I know you'll want to be there with Leia as well."
"All right." Luke said.
"Since I can't be much of a help except to say which hairstyle looks best, I will come back later."
"Okay, I know this is selfish, but SOON, I know you'll want to put the jewelry on me. Plus, I need you to tell me whether the hairstyle ends up looking good in time so I can change it, if it needs to be. I WILL call if you are taking to long." Leia fretted.
"Okay." Luke smiled; he loved this feeling, this feeling of being wanted, needed, and bargained over.