Infinite Possibilities (L/M romance, completed)

*gasp* Is it... could it be...


200!!!




*throws confetti*


EDIT: Sorry, that was melodramatic, wasn't it? Just can't believe I actually caught the 200th post. Jedi-2B, I read Red Flight. Let me go find the link for you.

 

*rummages through 'view latest posts' and emerges triumphantly* Found it!

I give you Red Flight, by RebelMom. Wonderful story, and Rima, I like your sig too. That's one of the best lines in it. See how popular you are, Mom?

 

Post today?

(Oh, no, I'm becoming one of those!)



Astro

 

* Delurks *

Yes, I have been hiding in the boards for several months now. However, good L/M fics just can't be allowed to go unnoticed, and this is an excellent one! I may not say much, but as a long time L/M fan, (Since we met Mara in Heir to the Empire I was rooting for them to get together!) if you write it, I will come!

* Semi re-lurks *

 

Ah, yes, underneath my roguish exterior, I'm just an ol' softie at heart. And an sucker for good L/M fic. Red Flight's a good one, and I love the line I put in the sig. I can just see the barely contained glee on Mara's face.

(oh, and I do realize that Karrde has no busines in this story. But I just happen to like him. Would some write a story or two and include him? please?)

 

Hi, Gabri_Jade!

I read your story, and I can tell you it's GREAT!

I love Luke, and I love mara, too. But I love even more when they're falling for each other. Makes life in the New Republic all the more interesting, if you ask me...

Keep UP!

Laure

 

*throws a little more confetti*
Happy 200!! Congratulations, and here's to many more!

~**Kimball**~

 

Astro: *laughs* Force preserve us from 'those'. Hang in there. It's almost Friday.

Rivad_Bacar: I hid in the boards for three weeks before I decided to register. Then I went and posted on the 'Hug a Newbie' thread on the Welcome New Users board first because it sounded friendly. I should go back and hug some newbies myself.

(Since we met Mara in Heir to the Empire I was rooting for them to get together!)

Me too. It annoys me greatly that it took them ten years to get together in the profic. Whose ridiculous decision was that? Anyway, thanks for delurking. I'm glad you like my little story!

Rima: Always good to find another L/M softie. Red Flight was great, wasn't it? I can see Mara's face too.

I like Karrde quite a lot myself. Have you seen Without Honor, There Is Nothing? I'm still catching up with that one, but it's very good and has some excellent Karrde scenes.

laurethiel1138: Hi! *waves* So glad to have you here! Yes, Luke and Mara are definitely the best SW couple. (Although out of respect to LadyPadme, I feel obligated to say that Han and Leia are a very close second. ) I'm very pleased you're enjoying the story.

Kimball: Thanks! I got a bit silly, but it was exciting. Besides -- *glances furtively around, then whispers* I have fun playing with the markup codes. I hadn't tried highlighting text before. *passes around cupcakes to celebrate 200 posts*

~Gabri

 

Oh yes, the profic...

Unfortunately much of the profic left me with the feeling of being quickly written with no focus or attempt to tie it to the greater framework of the Star Wars universe. As a result, I don't pay much attention to many of the events that take place in the profic that happen post-Endor. The exceptions are the works of the triumvirate of Zahn, Stackpole, and Alliston. They seemed to keep everything tied together, and plausible while still being exciting and possessed of the Star Wars spirit. (And they didn't interfere with the romance that was taking place between our two favorite characters!) As a result of not "canonizing" some of the profic in "my" Star Wars universe, I was able to get the romance between Luke and Mara down to four and a half/five years! Much better than ten!

Oh my, how I carry on...

On to important matters!
You've done a great job capturing the complexities of a budding relationship. I especially enjoyed your portrayal of Mara letting Luke comfort her. That is difficult for people who have lived alone, and it was a masterfully rendered scene!

Rivad looks at lurking device and contemplates turning it back on...

Nah!

Pulls out popcorn and eagerly awaits the next post!

 

* laughs *

Gabri_Jade - you don't have to love H/L (as long as you don't stray from my thread!) - although I must say you've made me so much more interested in L/M (I've even started reading the Hand of Thrawn books just to see how Luke proposed--but I must say, Zahn makes their romance as romantic as dry toast--your story is so much better!)

Anyway, don't pat yourself too much on the back. This is an endorsement from someone you think is crazy, remember?

 

Rivad_Bacar: I ignore most of the profic myself. I adore Zahn's writing, but I only read a couple of books between the Thrawn trilogy and the Hand of Thrawn duology. I wasn't much impressed with Truce at Bakura or The Courtship of Princess Leia (which desperately needed a more imaginative title). I really only skimmed the books between those and SotP. I wasn't happy at all with Mara's portrayal in the Jedi Academy trilogy, and when I discovered the whole Callista episode, that was it. Quoth the raven, Nevermore. Even just having skimmed the books, there was just too much I saw that was far beyond the realm of plausibility even for sci-fi. Superweapon after superweapon, each worse than the last. Determined Imperials coming out of nowhere. The Emperor reborn. Luke falling to the Dark Side. Luke falling in love with a Jedi Knight of the old order whose body was long gone, but whose spirit lived on in a ship's computer?! Nope. Sorry, just couldn't get into any of that. Thank goodness for Timothy Zahn. *marks off another day until the release of Zahn's new SW book* Thanks for the compliments! I appreciate them.

Rivad looks at lurking device and contemplates turning it back on...

Sorry to inform you of this, but you permanently disabled it when you first turned it off. Once you delurk, you're doomed. There is no going back.

LadyPadme: Oh, but I do like Han and Leia quite a lot, LP. I just like Luke and Mara better. I promise I shan't stray far from your thread, though. Couldn't even if I wanted to, O Queen of Evil Cliffhangers.

You've started reading the Hand of Thrawn books?! *claps hands for joy* I love both of them. Hope you enjoy them too.

Zahn makes their romance as romantic as dry toast

*sighs* Yes, 'tis true. A definite failing. On the other hand, he's nearly the only author who gets both their characters down accurately. I do love his work, but for romance I read fanfic.

*grins* I'll try not to break an arm patting myself on the back, LP, but I like your brand of crazy. It's not that far removed from my own.

~Gabri

 

Kind of strange being the subject of conversation in somebody's story thread. That's nice of you all to promote my short story (about 116 pages in Word). Of course, since it's completed, you don't get the full effect of all the cliffhangers. I do love writing cliffhangers.

*waiting patiently for next post.*

 

Talent like yours can be a heavy burden, Mom; but we love you for it. Red Flight is a wonderful story and deserves to be promoted, even if we don't get the full impact of the cliffhangers at this point.

Your patience is much appreciated. Next post will be up in less than 12 hours.

 

YaY post SOON!!!!!!!

 

No post yet!





Oh well, I'll Check back soon!

 

Thanks, Gabri, for the link to Red Flight. It kept me occupied while waiting for Friday to get here, which it now is. WHY do you have to be two hours behind me, instead of ahead? (Tho I guess 2 hrs. ahead would put you out somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.)

And thank you, RebelMom, for writing such a great story. I didn't spend much time perusing the boards last year, so missed a lot of good fics. Fortunately I had read enough of Shadows of a Past Long Forgotten to understand what was going on. Little Ben was darling.

 

*loitering*

 

The_Hooded_One: It's coming, I swear!

Jedi-2B: You're quite welcome. We'll have to compare favorite L/M fics sometime.

Inez: Eeks...more pressure! The post is on its way, really! Just give me a couple of minutes.

 

Chapter Ten


For the second time in as many days, Mara found herself spending more time than usual in front of the mirror for Skywalker's benefit. She shook her head over the strangeness of life. She had to admit, she did enjoy his company. It was very sweet of him to insist on coming to check on her this morning over some nightmares. Overprotective, yes, but sweet. She smiled grimly to herself. And since when had Mara Jade valued sweet? Oh, well, the only constant in life was change. You changed with it or you got left behind -- and she was nothing if not adaptable. Good thing, too, because this thing with Skywalker seemed to be changing hourly. Only a few days ago she'd finally admitted to herself that yes, she actually did like him and was willing to be friends with him. And now...

And now what? Mara dared herself. This morning she had told Skywalker to his face that he was her friend, probably her only friend. In fact, unsettled by her dreams, she'd said a good deal more than that. She should by all rights be terribly uncomfortable with him now. The Force knew, in her previous life she would have expended any and all effort to avoid someone to whom she had so exposed herself. Instead, in Luke's arms -- in his arms, for Sith's sake! -- she'd felt safe and accepted, no matter how she babbled. Even his comment just before she'd gone to change clothes hadn't marred their rapport. That sparkle in his eyes as he'd tossed in that last bit about 'Jedi honor'... He was the only person she could remember who dared to tease her.

Mara placed a final sparkling pin in her hair and glanced at the wall chronometer. Fifteen more minutes before Luke would arrive to escort her. She walked back to the common room of her suite, the heels of her dress shoes clicking rhythmically against the inlaid wood floor. Choosing a chair in front of the picture window, Mara sank down and gazed at the city lights, letting her thoughts drift to the man who would shortly arrive. Well, wasn't he the one who was always encouraging her to take time for meditation? Bet he hadn't thought she'd be meditating about him.

Luke. Not Skywalker anymore, not really. Luke. Until recently, she hadn't realized how much his companionship over the last three months meant to her. She was well established now as Liaison to the Smuggler's Alliance and for the most part was successful in her duties as such. However, Mara didn't bother trying to convince herself that she enjoyed the job. She didn't. It was boring and aggravating. And despite Luke's assurances that she was someone both sides were willing to trust, she had already discovered just how far that trust went. Her lightsaber blade had a farther reach.

Then there was the problem of living in the Imperial Palace once more. It wasn't that she still wanted the Empire back again; it was just that there were so many memories. How many times a day did she stop, midstep, as a disorienting flashback overtook her? This suite was where the ambassador she was assigned to spy on had stayed; that corridor, if followed to its end, led to the room where she'd practiced hand to hand combat. Vader had once escorted her to the meeting room just around the corner in order to deliver the Emperor's instructions for yet another mission; and that corner had once been inundated with decorative plants that she'd crouched behind once as a child, when she'd been annoyed with her languages tutor and had hidden. The list went on and on -- yet another thing she daren't tell anyone, for fear of her admittedly fledgling loyalty to the New Republic being questioned. The only person she had mentioned this to was Luke.

And there was the crux of the matter: it always came back to him. He'd been the one to encourage her to take the post of Liaison in the first place. It could have been someone else -- his sister, for one. She was the politician of the family, and had as much reason to be personally grateful to Mara as her brother had. But Organa Solo hadn't come; it had been Skywalker who had sought her o

 

didn't they skip breakfast?


hmmmmm, good post. I liked the way Mara was almost thinking she's falling in love and how she has developed a good relationship with Leia (hopefully).

The dance will be quite interesting I think.

 

WOOHOO!

That was great! I love how they are gradually falling in love and not slobbering all over each other within five minutes.

I can't wait to see them knock 'em dead.

inez

 

Delightful Post!!!!


I Love this fic soo much. You did a marvelous job of putting forth Mara's feelings on the matter.

LOL why did it feel like she was getting ready for prom??? And why do Luke and Mara in your fic remind me so much of my boyfriend and myself????

Can't wait to see her 'nock them dead' inside, lets just hope Luke can keep her from using the vibroblade

 

Oh Gabri this post was too funny!

"Artoo?" She raised an eyebrow at Luke. "Interesting choice of chaperone there, Skywalker."

Her 'date', as she was now thinking of him, to her mild discomfort, raised one right back. "He's easy to outrun; what more can you ask of a chaperone?"

And this one!

Mara couldn't help it; she laughed. "Reason number fifty-four for me not to complete Jedi training: it obviously gives you a warped sense of humor."



Even better was your interaction between Mara and Luke, as well as Mara and herself. I highly enjoy reading fics that show such well thought out introspection, as well as the complexities of a developing relationship. Well done!

 

Excellent post! Well worth the wait. It was just the thing to savor while eating dessert after lunch. Your story and 'Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookie-flavored ice cream' -- both were heavenly.

Some of my favorite quotes --

... she was nothing if not adaptable. Good thing, too, because this thing with Skywalker seemed to be changing hourly.

Well, wasn't he the one who was always encouraging her to take time for meditation? Bet he hadn't thought she'd be meditating about him.

In short, he was the one bright spot in her new life on Coruscant;

This last one reminded me of "If there's a bright center to the universe, you're on the planet it's farthest from." Wrong, Luke. YOU are the bright center to the universe; especially Mara's universe.

One last quote:
If they didn't think she belonged with him, they could think again.
For some insane reason, when I read this I thought of all the fanfic authors that insist on pairing Luke with someone other than Mara.

Mara's reflections at the beginning were wonderful. She is soooo falling in love with him. And I really liked her and Luke's comfortable teasing of each other, and how Luke can casually bring up subjects like Mara's mission on Tatooine without the least bit of bitterness. Now I just have to go back and refresh my memory as to what story about being late did Luke tell Mara.

I'm sure the jealous/contempuous feelings they encountered in the corridor are just the beginning. Fireworks are sure to erupt before the night is over. Already looking forward to Monday.

 

WOOHOOO A POST!!!!!!!! Very good stuff Gabri_Jade!