Disclaimer: Disney's playground, I just hang out here.
"I think I'm dying," Jaina whispered. "Here," she held out her wrist, "check my pulse."
Anakin set two fingers on her exposed wrist, careful not to take his eyes off the theater production in front of them. It was a useful tip he had learned from his dad. You can get away with a lot if you keep acting normal. "It's pretty faint. I don't think either of us has long to live," he whispered back.
"I hate Jacen."
"Me too."
"We still have to go to the after-gala."
"I don't think I'll make it. I'm fairly sure this is draining the will to live right outta me." Jaina leaned forward, feigning interest, and nodded her head once in agreement at her younger brother accurate assessment of their night. Jacen had been beyond clever with this one, she concluded. He had started 'feeling ill' days ago. Their mom hadn't made the connection and allowed him to stay home; avoiding this. Jaina sighed quietly, only an hour left to go. At least there would be food at the gala...
XxX
"This," Anakin said with disdain, holding the light grey appetizer between his fingers as if holding a shell-slug, "is not food."
"I found cheese and crackers over by the bar, but they're probably all gone by now. How long do we have left?" Jaina asked, scanning the room for her parents.
"Forever. We're going to die here. I'm sure of it."
"Yeah, either starvation or boredom."
"I'm going to do a loop. Be right back." Jaina nodded, turning back towards the buffet and spotted her mother coming towards her.
XxX
"Dad! Help me! Act like we're having a very important conversation. Oh! Or better yet - shout at me and send me home." Jaina came to a dead stop in front of Han, glancing behind him quickly.
"I'm not going to shout at you. What's going on?"
"Anakin won. He found a trifecta to trap me with."
"I'm almost afraid to ask," Han replied quietly, twirling his drink in his hand.
"Clingy, creepy, boring." Jaina counted on her fingers.
"Who's creepy?"
"It's his hair. It doesn't move, Dad! It just stays in one solid block. Major creepy."
"Where is this 'hair guy'?" Han asked, his face suddenly serious. Jaina grinned, as long as her dad had that look on his face, Ivoln wouldn't dare come near her.
"He was over by the buffet. I ducked out around the bar to hide. He's the lead actor, Ivoln Kyysaw, and he thinks I like him." Jaina scrunched up her nose for added effect.
"Why would he think that?"
"Because Anakin told him I did."
Han raised an eyebrow at her to continue.
"Anakiin went to find food that didn't look like mushed up slugs, and I was by the buffet. Mom came by and introduced me to the head writer for the script then dashed off, so I suggested he go ask the producer to go speak to Anakin about artist concept design. So after Ani escaped him, he send the costuming designer over to me, then I introduced him to the under study choreographer. But he won. He told Ivoln that I thought he was 'dreamy'," Jaina made exaggerated air quotes and rolled her eyes. "That was over half an hour ago. I can't shake him! Oh Gods, there he is!"
"I'll fix him," Han downed the last of his drink and set out towards the blonde-haired young man.