Han ate fast, he had in every instance she'd known of him and given his lifestyle she's not surprised. Not like he's ever had to endure seven course delegation banquets or the extended eating rites of some culture who felt each course was to be contemplated, given thanks for and then consumed in thoughtful silence. She never wanted another six hour silent meal as long as she lived.

His speed didn't bother her, it wasn't anything that affected her so why should it? But the fact that he was watching her, and her delicate bites, made her self conscious. She kept having to remind herself this was not the man that took every chance for a dig at her. So she tried to not let it bother her and simply enjoy what was actually a very tasty meal. She'd just taken a bite of pasta when he asked his question and she had to chew, a napkin helped cover her mouth and avoid showing the surprised smile that she made.

After she chewed and had a drink of water, she cleared her throat. "Like? I don't know that I've ever even considered that. What is to like a station you're born into?" She pushed more pasta around and then paused. "I liked what it meant I was able to do. My parents would have been wonderful if they hadn't been Queen and Prince consort. But with that position I was able to make a difference. I voted on many important bills in the senate, organized campaigns for nonhuman sentient rights recognition, tried to push more worlds to abandon slavery. So I was lucky to have that opportunity."

She inclined her head to his comment, of course there would be other points of view and they were no less valid than her own. "I thought that was what being a pilot with his own ship was. A freedom and land all your own." She would not include where no one could tell you want to do because she had done so with that older Han on multiple occasions.

Leia finished the last of her food and again cleaned her lips before folding her napkin and laying it to the table. "Do you think we dare take something sweet for the evening?" A dessert, some wine...sounded like it might make a nice addition to their outing. And she had no desire to rush things ending any too quickly.

"You might be surprised." She could be isolated in a room full of people by virtue of the fact that no one wanted to risk saying the wrong thing in front of a princess. He did have a point in his way though and she could understand what he meant with it. She had been rich, heiress to an entire planet actually, but that was before Alderaan had been lost. She was known far less wealthy and had no home to claim title from anymore. She was a princess without a land.

The little sound she makes at the mention of chocolate betrayed her particular love for that treat. Leia waved the server over and asked for a menu. "You can pick something if you like. I'll just use the refresher and be right back." She stood to leave the table and test just how much she'd had to drink so far, to her credit her steps were fluid but not sloppy.

Leia returned a few minutes later, just as the dessert and caff were being delivered. She was pleasantly surprised by that thoughtfulness, and it did sound perfect now that she thought about it.

"Excellent choice." She complimented the selection before she retook her seat. Caff had a touch of sugar and cream added and stirred, darkness just taking a slightly more caramel hue. She looked at the cake, simple but classic and it looked delicious. "You have more will power than I do, I don't think I could have waited to try it."

She took a fork and neatly scooped a bite of the cake, that cute noise he admired from before returned with a throatier finish as she tasted it. "That has to be illegal somewhere."

Bitter? Han? There's a joke in there somewhere but fortunately no one is making it at the moment. Leia had grown up in a civilized society with exposure to delicacies and treats, it isn't at all uncommon for her and she knew what to expect. But she smiled broadly at seeing his enjoyment.

"One of my many flaws, I assure you." But perhaps after tasting that cake he can understand just why that might be. She helped herself to a second bite and slowly savored it before setting her fork down to sip the caff. "I could probably eat that whole thing by myself. So please do help me with it."

The next time his foot goes to nudge her's, it wouldn't be where he thought. Rather a shoetip would slide along his ankle while she placidly sipped her caff.

"How gracious of you." A light chuckle and she helped herself to another bite followed by another sip of her drink. She was feeling well satisfied with the entire experience already and was giving thought to what they might want to do next time. As if they had finished their not-quite plans for this date. Was this a date? No, neither of them knew the other enough to call it that, more of an encounter really. One she was more pleased with than she would have guessed.

"You know one of mine, I think it's only fair I learn one of yours before you get another."She murmured back to him between sips of caff. Her foot was casually slipping down his calf and back up. Slippers allowed that a bit easier than the boots he wore and were generally practical for all but the worst of climates and conditions.

It sounded unpleasant, Leia made a face. She could empathize with him though, more than he probably thought possible. Tucked in that little confession was a bit more about him and how he grew up. Fish markets, shipyards, living on a bay. No wonder his first thought of swimming hadn't necessarily been as pleasant as her memories.

Leia took one of the rapidly dwindling bits of cake and slowly, thoughtfully savored it. She tapped the fork to her lips when she was done and then gestured to him with it. "I was once trapped in a trash compactor with a dianoga."

She hadn't been a lone but that wasn't the point, it had been a slimy disgusting thing. Fortunately for her it seemed to favor the fairer haired to brunettes.

"Finish up and I'll tell you the whole story while we walk." And to do her part she does take that last bite of cake. Licked the fork clean and setting it aside. She tipped back the last of her caff and dabbed her lips one last time.

When he looked done she rose and smoothed her suit and readied to leave. The server returned to bring Leia a small slip of paper and wished them a good evening, the paper went into her pocket and she gestured to the direction of the door. "Shall we?"

"I asked you to join me for lunch, so naturally I paid." She shrugged and let it go at that.

When he returned she linked her arm through his on the way to the door. "Besides now you can cover next time and I've secured a second... outing." She still wasn't entirely sure this was a date, but whatever it was, it was nice.

The afternoon outside was fading quickly and the sunset was a pretty rosy hue just beginning to color the sky. Leia directed him from memory toward the park, she tired to quicken her steps to keep pace with him, short legs were really not going to keep up with longer ones very well.

"It was mostly a joke about ensuring I would see you again." She shrugged, she could make jokes, normally she was rather witty even, but that hadn't carried well. Possibly because she wasn't sure if it implied something or not.

The small kindness of his slowed stride was greatly appreciated and made it easier to keep pace with him. She directed him with gentle pulls to his arm to get him around this corner or up the next street and there was the park. A large, wide open expanse of flowers, grass and trees. They were arriving before dusk so everything was still well lighted.

"So why was a princess in a trash compactor. It was an escape gone a bit sideways." She was skirting details because she wasn't sure he needed to hear about them just now. "From a cell to a dead end corridor, I garbed one of my rescuers blasters and blew a hole in the bulkhead so we could escape from being pinned down. The wall panel covered a garbage shoot and we were all dumped into the compactor where the dianoga was. Things were tense for a bit." Compacting and what not.

Oh! The garbage chute was a really
wonderful idea. What an incredible
smell you've discovered! Let's get
out of here! Get away from there...

Vivid memories came back to her as she recalled the escape from the Death Star, she and Han had been at each other's throats from nearly the first moment they met. Seeing how the man she was walking with now had treated her she had to wonder if she'd misjudged his older self due to the circumstance. He was actually kind of sweet even, and this Han was not one she'd been prepared for, she knew he could be charming but she never thought it would be so appealing.

"I'll consider it a surprise then and not ask questions." He wouldn't have much to do after all to top lunch and a walk in the park, the bar was relatively low as far as activities went. And there was a bench they'd conveniently pivoted toward. The view was lovely, sun set in the distance, small bed of flowers ringing a great tree with huge branches off to the left and a rather nice view of the city proper off far to the right. It was mostly empty so they seemed to have the park almost to themselves.

"Maybe," She shrugged as she took at seat on the bench. "I think in my case I made more work for myself than was strictly necessary. I could have been a good little girl and gone to Courscant and been married off to some wealthy prince and one day rule somewhere. But I never had the disposition for that."

No reward is worth this.

Leia turned to regard him, always gifted with reading people she saw no deception in what he said, his faint brow crinkle of concern pass as she looked at him. "You really mean that." Not a question, but a statement, one which made her smile. And one which earned him a soft kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."

"A queen or king, this generation was Breha my mother. My father Bail was Prince consort and senator before I took his place at eighteen." Alderaan had a constitutional monarchy and the family to lead was voted in to office and could be replaced if they did not well serve the needs of the people. This was not a frequent event though as the Alderaani people tended to be of one mind on how their lives were to be left to learn and grow and only needing such guidance and interference as was necessary.

"The government was more caretaker and beholden to the people than it was a shepherd. I know of many governments that rule by military might but that was never our way. Little crime or violence, no military, no weapons. Peace and prosperity." It had been a jewel among the worlds of the old Republic. And she missed it so much her heart ached. Leia took a deep breath and shook her head. "Sorry, I'm sure you didn't want a lecture on galactic politics" Not even what the point of his comment was really,but it was so much a part of her early life that she fell into it naturally.

She did like the way he blushed though, and she was not at all uncomfortable with his arm across the back of the bench. "As for Princes, we were taken to be put on display. All young pretty eligible girls at around seventeen. We were supposed to dress up and parade around like some orobird mating display to find a husband." Her distaste of it was obvious from her sour expression. "Needless to say I didn't go, I didn't get married off and I don't regret that for a single moment."