Leia Organa rescues herself (rebelliousforce) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-02-14 10:02:00 |
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Poe wasn’t what some would peg as the reader type. The last major reading he could remember doing was an information guide on new technology for the air base, and, before that, engineering text books. But dreaming about space and everything that came with that had piqued his curiosity, so a trip to the bookstore was in order. He’d already found a couple books on his chosen topic, as well as one about organizing his life (for reasons). Now he was just roaming the aisles, because he was there, and … Hey, you never knew what might jump out at you.
It wasn’t uncommon for Leia to find herself in bookstores. Before it was a way to pass the time when she’d be travelling with her family, and a general like of it. Sadly, this was not a trip for pleasure reading. No. There was a book she needed for one of her classes that she couldn’t find anywhere else, well, beyond for an atrocious amount of money as she planned on keeping it instead of renting it. So here she was, in the general area she’d been told to go to and not finding what it was she needed.
Which meant one thing. It was undoubtedly above her. Arms crossed, the brunette sighed. A quick scan of the aisle gave her two important details in that moment. There wasn’t a footstool available for use, and she was alone. Which was good as she was about to start jumping to make sure it was actually there before she figured out her next plan of action. Oh sure, she could always wear heels or something like that to give the impression of being taller (and to be able to reach things when something like this happened) but Leia only wore those for official functions. Which meant…
Jumping for it. Adopted daughter of a UN ambassador, a PhD student and she was jumping for a book. All in a day’s work really.
In the days that had passed since the network conversation, Poe had tried not to think too much that Leia Organa was a living breathing person in Orange County. It was stupid, because he’d never heard of her at all in real life, and she was much younger than him, but it was like meeting his idol. Well, he supposed, in a way that was exactly what had happened. In any case, he didn’t expect to turn down an aisle and see the woman in question jumping at books.
Poe stopped and looked around, then cleared his throat. “Uh. Do you need a hand?”
And she was caught. Most people would be embarrassed by such a situation, but not Leia. She would own it. Just because she was expected to maintain a certain air of respectability didn’t mean she was frigid or an ice queen. And as she wasn’t exactly the type to ask for help if she felt she had something under control? Well. It happened. Still, she did stop and looked to see who had asked if she needed help.
Someone who had replied to her post on the network. Well… it was bound to happen she supposed. With how many people were on it and the fact it was centralised to the area.
“If you don’t mind.” Just because she wouldn’t ask for help if she felt she could handle it didn’t mean she would just turn it down. It was dependent upon the situation. This? Well. Trying to jump for a book wasn’t working. She had verified it was indeed there but the next phase would have probably been getting on a shelf. Might as well take the offered help.
“Not at all,” he replied. Poe set his books down on the edge of a shelf and looked up at the book in question. If he didn’t think too hard about what was happening, then it wasn’t so bad, but felt a weird sort of pride at this simple and mundane task. Who had two thumbs and was helping the future General Organa get a book? This guy.
However, Poe wasn’t exactly a tall guy, either. He reached for the book and, standing on the balls of his feet, he could almost grasp the spine with the tips of his fingers. After a moment he looked over. “Maybe I can give you a boost up there.”
Smiling in thanks, Leia stepped to the side ever so slightly as Poe went to reach for the book. Usually Anakin was around for these situations but he had class or something and it wasn’t his job anyway. His father was just ridiculous. She was more than capable of handling herself thank you very much. Until books decided to be on the top shelf where she couldn’t reach it normally. Then not so much. But as a general theory.
Though it seemed that it was just out of reach for Poe as well. Well, this was interesting but she didn’t seem to put much stock into it. She’d had her own set of dreams, images, childhood. Nothing to give her an inkling that at some point their paths might cross. “That should work.”
“All right then.” As if this was something that Poe just did on a daily basis. It wasn’t, obviously. But he was just the sort to do it if the need arose. Kneeling down, Poe linked his fingers together and held out his hands like a step for Leia. “I’m about ninety-nine percent sure I won’t drop you. Just to ease any worries.”
Leia smiled in appreciation though she was also amused as he mentioned the ninty-nine percent of being sure. “And who said I was worried at all?” She did tend to throw herself into things and see where she landed. And this really was not that big of a thing in the grand scheme of things. So instead she just grinned and once it seemed he was ready, used the linked hands so that she could reach the book.
“Just figured it was better to give a disclaimer. Safe before sorry.” Poe grinned up at her. When she stepped on his hands, he raised them, hoisting her up to reach the evasive book. “You’re gonna buy this, right? Because just thinking about having to reshelf it is a lot.”
“Well thank you for the disclaimer.” Leia was mostly just amused by this point. And there it was. The elusive book she needed, which she got in hand. “Yes, I’m going to buy it as I need it for one of my classes.” Oh the joys of being a student. Still she showed that the book was in hand and ready to be purchased so that he could now put her down.
“Good.” He lowered his hands so she could step down, then stood up, wiping off the knees of his jeans. “Well, I guess that’s my good deed for the day. It was a pleasure to help you,” Poe said. An amused smile quirked up the corners of his lips.
Once back on the ground, Leia nodded as she held her now procured book. Well, that was certainly an unexpected way to get it but she wasn’t going to put much thought into it. After all, goal was met and she didn’t end up twisting her ankle or anything from the jumping. “Thank you. If there’s ever a way I can repay the favour, feel free to let me know.”
“If I ever think of a time when I need a boost to get something, I’ll call you.” Poe smirked a bit. He gathered up his books and gave her a wave before wandering back around the shelves, getting lost in the bookstore.