[Closed log]

[thrawnsaide]

WHO: Eli and Thrawn
WHERE: Various places on Risa
WHAT: Eli asks Thrawn out on a date.
WHEN: Current
WARNINGS: PG 13 will update if necessary.

Eli was thrilled that Thrawn was back. What better way to find his partner on a vacation planet. Now they could properly spend time together and go on a date. They didn't have to worry about military protocol or anyone discovering their fraternization. Nor did they have to worry about dealing with ancient supplies and methods as they had back in Agra 10. It was nice to be in a planet with stuff he was used to using.

He wrapped his hand around Thrawn's as they walked along the streets,every so often Eli would stop to look at a place that caught his attention or Thrawn's. They had some time before they were due to arrive at a restaurant, Eli had made reservations for. He had told it was one of the best places to eat and it seemed to have food that both him and Thrawn could eat.

Comments

[art_of_war]

To say he was uncomfortable was an understatement. Thrawn was unsure of what he was expected to do but Eli seemed so pleased just to hold onto his hand and it made heat radiate up his arm. Public displays of affection still felt strange, or perhaps 'dangerous' is the right word.

In Thrawn's (admittedly limited) experience it was not a safe idea to let someone get so close both literally and figuratively. That was how one ended up more emotionally invested in a single person rather than the whole battlefield.

But Thrawn did not pull his hand away.

[thrawnsaide]

Eli gave a small smile, pleased that Thrawn was making an effort. He gave the man's hand a squeeze thanking him for trying and not pulling away. This was new territory for the both of them.

"We're going to have to get you some regular clothes so that way your uniform don't get ruined." he idly commented as he stopped and looked at a clothing store. They had some various outfits on display in the window, but most were extremely bright and very touristy. He was looking for something more simple.

"Plus, with this warm climate I'm sure that uniform is making you more uncomfortable." He knew how Thrawn didn't fair to well in warm weather where Eli thrived on the warm weather. He kept an eye on him as they walked knowing that Thrawn had a tendency to not let him know if he wasn't doing great.

[art_of_war]

Thrawn gave the colorful outfits a dubious look. He had shed the distinctive white jacket to be left at home - well where they slept anyway. Thrawn hadn't stayed there long enough to think of it as anything but temporary shelter.

As far as the temperature went, Thrawn was attempting to become more desensitized to something a bit closer to human-comfortable. He was usually around them as the Empire consisted of mainly humans. The catch is that humans sweat to maintain their body temperatures and not having an evolutionary need, Chiss do not.

"I do hope you are not planning on something like...that."

Thrawn gestured at the neon colors of the clothes on display.

[thrawnsaide]

"Oh no....nothing like that. I still remember those sunglasses and the cloak you wore to disguise yourself. We'll find a more normal clothing store verses something touristy...." Eli stated with an amused expression.

"I know I'm glad to have regular clothing on for a change. I hated seeing my uniform getting so beaten up. There are some holes in it that need to be fixed to and a few stains."

[art_of_war]

"Yes. Attempting to locate food, water, and shelter while attempting to keep white fabric without wear is all but impossible."

Thrawn glanced at Eli.

"That disguise will not be possible on Agra-10. Pantorans are neither common nor even known."

[thrawnsaide]

Eli merely shook his head. Of course Thrawn would view the practicality of that outfit....and not understand how bad it looked on him. That had been his concern and the rest of the crew when they saw him wear the outfit.

"Well I'm glad I didn't have white....it would have been ruined quickly if I wore it. I'll take you to the shop where I got these set of clothes. They had more practical clothing there."

As they spoke Eli lead them into the shop he had mentioned. Everything was meant for every day wear and not set to the tourist theme as the other shops had been. But it was also meant for the warmer climate as well. No heavy jackets or anything meant for winter.

[art_of_war]

Thrawn heard what Eli had not said.

"So that means that you did have to wear your uniform at first."

Thrawn frowned at Eli.

"As a Grand Admiral's uniform is more distinctive it is less well known, therefore a standard Imperial uniform would be noteworthy."

Thrawn was aware that there were several factions of the rebellion in residence already.

"Did having to wear it cause you to be recognized?"

[thrawnsaide]

"Yes. I had a few of the newer people recognize the uniform with dismay. Another tried to force me to join his military group that eventually replaced the Empire, which I refused. Once most saw that I wasn't like what they thought I was....they accepted me better." Eli reluctantly explained.

"I got to meet Princess Leia briefly.... But much older from then what we knew of her and she went by General now instead of Princess. A lot had happened since you left. SO many people came and went."

[art_of_war]

Both of Thrawn's eyebrows raised. When he had known of Princess Leia Organa she was little more than a teenager. General?

"'Forced'? In what way?"

Notably, Thrawn did not comment on what the Empire seemed to be.

[thrawnsaide]

"This guy from the First Order was threatening to harm our supplies if we didn't bring him any Resistance members to him. He learned that I was from Empire prior to his time. My uniform had been enough to tell him that.

I was attempting to try and help defuse things. Instead he demanded that I bring my services to his military and help him bring the Resistance to him. I said I wouldn't. This military wasn't the military I was part of. Nor, was I impressed with how he operated things. I never did get a response back."

Eli quietly explained. He found himself clinching a fist at the member of it.

[art_of_war]

Thrawn frowned.

"A good commander never wastes resources. Even threatening them is a self-defeating idea as it will turn all against you rather than attract needed assistance."

While Thrawn noticed Eli's behavior (the quiet tone, the clenched fist) he practiced selective blindness and said nothing about it. Instead, he plucked at a nearby shirt's sleeve displayed on a sale's rack.

"It sounds like a foolish waste."

[thrawnsaide]

"It is. Everyone seemed to be against the idea and gave him a hard time about it. I would like to think we won't be hearing much from him now."

Eli studied the shirt that Thrawn was looking at and then pulled out the one beside it. "This one would work better. The dark colors look good on you."

[art_of_war]

Thrawn had no idea what colors might look better on him. He had only used the shirt displayed on the sales rack as a distraction.

There was something that made Thrawn feel odd when he thought of Eli watching him closely enough to know what colors would look nice on him. he felt...something. He had no name for it. But something so subtle made him feel flustered enough to accept Eli's choices without comment.

[thrawnsaide]

Eli smiled, pleased to see Thrawn accepted the choice. Seeing Thrawn's approval encouraged him to picked out a few other outfits. Most of them all simple and a few tailored. He liked the idea of how domestic this was for them. At home they would have never been allowed to do this. Well...to a degree they could, but not this intimate.

"Do you want a hat or sunglasses?" he questioned, unsure of how Thrawn felt around the accessories.

[art_of_war]

"I do need protection from sunlight."

Thrawn ran the risk of being covered from head to toe but he was not thinking of glasses and a hat as accessories. He was not looking for style either, so the first pair of glasses he picked up where novelty ones where is big sparkly stars over the lenses.

It goes without saying that that Thrawn has no fashion sense.

[thrawnsaide]

Eli made a face at the pair of sunglasses and tried hard to not laugh. "No, those are meant to be for fun....if we want something practical and not too outlandish...."

Eli moved to study the rack of sunglasses and picked out a simple pair that would do the job well for Thrawn. He held them out for Thrawn to try.

[art_of_war]

"I have seen something similar on others."

Thrawn was talking about the starfish-shaped lenses that were popular on Risa. Well, popular among those that are vacationing when tacky glasses are worn for fun. Thrawn lacked the fashion sense to know they were tacky to begin with, but he traded stars out for offered lenses.

[thrawnsaide]

"Well....I suppose we can do this." Eli thought with a grin on his face. As he moved to purchased the clothing and sunglasses he picked up two sets of the starfish shaped sunglasses.

"Nothing wrong with having some fun?"

[art_of_war]

Thrawn frowned in confusion as they were leaving the shop. Hadn't Eli said they were impractical?

"Why did you purchase two sets of them?"

[thrawnsaide]

"They might not be practical or fashionable...but they're fun. That's why a lot of the people here are wearing them. They're on vacation and want to have fun."

Eli explained as he handed Thrawn a pair to wear as he placed his on. "So why not have fun like the rest of them?"

[art_of_war]

Thrawn wasn't sure how something impractical was 'fun', but he dutifully put on his pair of starfish glasses to shield his eyes from the sun as they both emerged from the shop.

[thrawnsaide]

Eli's smile broadened as he saw Thrawn place his glasses on. The simple notion behind it meant a lot to him. It was rare to see his admiral make an attempt to relax and enjoy himself. He wanted to get a picture of the two of them together wearing the glasses later. Hopefully Thrawn would agree to it.

[art_of_war]

Thrawn wouldn't seem to make many attempts to relax was because he didn't see much difference between what was usually considered 'work' and what wasn't. On the other hand, he would often be working on several projects at once and there wasn't any free time to fill anyway.

It's after a few minutes of being in the sun that Thrawn's steps start to slow and his skin has warmed to something that's nearly human body temperature.