Beyond - Legends Simple Complications -- A Luke/Mara oneshot -- (replies up)

Title: Simple Complications
Timeframe: One year post-Union
Characters: Luke, Mara

Summary: Why is it that something so simple can be so trying? Especially for the galaxy?s two greatest heroes in love?

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Of all the locations on all the worlds in the entire galaxy, a small card store on Coruscant was not where Mara wanted to spend a brisk afternoon. There were hundreds, even thousands, of more intriguing tasks to fill her time other than this?browsing for a trivial anniversary card for Luke was not one of them.

She wasn?t bothered by the fact that she had gone out of her way to get something for Luke. In fact, she would have gladly produced a nicer token as a gesture of her affection for him, but he had said no. A dozen roses were too cliché, dinner out was a given, and as for a second honeymoon? she was convinced they were still in the honeymoon phase, a trip wasn?t necessary.

Mara grinned to herself, then grimaced as she turned back to the spectacle before her. Why was a card even necessary for such an occasion? A year of marriage was surely a notable achievement, but a card was nothing but folded flimsy with fancy printed lettering. She loved Luke, wasn?t that enough?

According to Leia?s less than subtle hinting nearly a week ago, no. Brought up in traditional, quaint Alderaanian society, Leia was a firm believer in the trivial frivolities of life. Lifeday cards, presents for Fete week, you name it and Leia enforced it like a typical mother. Mara suspected it was a way to keep her galaxy-wide celebrity family with a scrap of normality.

After several more inclinations and prodding from Leia and a bit of her own contemplating, Mara had came to the conclusion that buying Luke a simple card would be no great feat. And in the process she somehow ended up here, staring at seemingly endless rows and selections of holiday cards. She had never felt more out of place in her life.

A dozen or so other customers browsed the aisles without a care. Mara?s eyes narrowed as a female Bothan in the next row picked up approximately her fifteenth card of the afternoon. How was it physically possible to buy that many cards! Two standard hours passed and Mara hadn?t even selected one.

That?s it, she growled. Determined not to fail at any challenge that came her way, Mara Jade Skywalker reached out to the item nearest to her hand, and scanned the cover. A rather fake looking landscape accompanied the words ?[i]I love you more than all the sands on Chandrilla.[/i]?

Her nose wrinkled. From the looks of it, there was hardly any sand on Chandrilla. Has Luke even been to Chandrilla? What if he hasn?t? That would defeat the purpose. Dejected, she returned the card to its slot.

She briefly wondered how everyone else made it look so effortless, and picked up another one from the rack. This time, a rather sickeningly orange Twi?Lek adorned the cover. She opened it and snorted out loud. Were jokes this bad even allowed to be printed? She toyed with the idea of Luke opening this on the day of their anniversary, and tried to picture the look on his face upon reading such an off-color joke. The corners of her mouth curled into a smirk, but she put it back reluctantly.

?I?m 0 for 2,? she mumbled grimly, grabbing yet another. [i]To share my life, to give myself to you, has been the most breathtaking experience of my life. You are my love, and to separate us would?[/i]

Mara almost gagged. How disgustingly perfect. And yet another: [i]Love is a beautiful gift, the most treasured of my life. I have never felt so alive when I am with you. My heart skips a beat, my body? [/i]

A groan escaped her lips and she lifted a hand to her forehead. Luke was supposed to be the sap in this relationship, not her. What if he purchased her one of these romantic cards? The words were poetic for sure, but why print it on a piece of flimsy? Wouldn?t it be better to say it out loud?

Mara?s eyes drifted shut, and she pictured Luke?s farmboy smile and endless devotion to her. None of these cards seemed to fit how she felt about him

 

Loved it. So, so Luke and Mara. Well done, Myriad.

 

Ok, in the spirit of things, I'll make this review simple

Sweet!!!!! Perfection!!!! You still got it, like you could ever lose it!!!!

 

glad to see you back, Myriad. very sweet. Mara gave him a card from her heart, not from her pocketbook.

 

Thank you! For showing how hard card choosing is. And not just for an anniversary. Holidays and birthdays. It's just a piece of paper saying what you want to say. And saying it doesn't set you back a few dollars.

I was hoping they would find one of the new musical cards. When you open it, a love theme starts chiming.

To share my life, to give myself to you, has been the most breathtaking experience of my life. You are my love, and to separate us would?

Mara almost gagged.

I just about keeled over reading that.

Great simple story. Sometimes the most trivial of things can say a lot.

 

Woot!!! Love it Myriad! I soooooooooo needed some L/M right now!

Bravo!

 

What a wonderful viggie!!!
Funny, sweet, lovable, on the spot with the characters and life-wise too, in an almost Farmboyish way! I'm often a bit sceptic when L/M are portrayed in "earthly business" but this was perfect!

 

Luke was supposed to be the sap in this relationship, not her.

That sounds about right.

Such a sweet story, and the outcome was perfect!

 

LOL! I love that they got one another the same card. For all their differences, I think they are very much alike. My favorite part was Luke thinking how there is nothing at all romantic about sand. Great job--you've no idea how much I need L/M goodness right now!

 

Awwww!! I adored this!!
Loved it, Myriad! So funny, sweet and so perfectly them. Wonderful job!!

 

Wow myriad, that was beautiful!!!!!!!! I love love love it...as I love everything you write! Life is so crazy right now, I'm so glad that you found the muse! Or rather...that the muse found you!!!!

Love it, bigggggg huggle!!!!!!
Irish

 

Great little fic. They should save those cards and re-give them next year (I've done that with Valentine's cards. My hubby never remembers that he's already seen it).

 

I miss them too, Sinre.

Anyway... adorable! Awesome! You wrote that very realistically, too. Card-shopping is hard. And i love them getting each other the same simple one. *Applauds*

 

Hello, TF.N. Long time no see! These replies are so overdue it's shameful

DaenaBenJen42: Thank you so much!

Jade_eyes: Aw, why thank you

Jedi_Liz: I suppose I wasn't quite "back", but thank you anyway! Matters of the heart always top those involving money.

madman007: I thought of this while trying to find a birthday card for a friend, and it occurred to me just how difficult it can be!

Jade_Pilot: Glad I could help!

kataja: I'm often skeptical too, I'm glad you liked it!

path-seeker: Aw, thanks a bunch!

ginchy: Glad I could help, and the idea of the Skywalkers toiling over cards was a silly thought for me, too

dancing_star: Thank you thank you!

Irish_Jedi_Jade: Anytime girlie, anytime

Jedi-2B: That's a pretty good idea, one I could definitely see the Skywalkers doing, haha.

Sinre: I miss 'em too Thanks for stopping by!

RK_Striker_JK_5: Ah, don't we all miss them? Card shopping seems like a happier alternative (though not easier, lol!)


Thanks again, everyone

 

Liked how you placed them in similar places but we got completely different perspectives on the matter from two very different characters. The bit about traps wives set for their husbands kept me amused. Nice and mushy.

If I can make one tiny suggestion, you might swap out "isles" for "aisles". Otherwise, well done.