Snow Day

Snow Day

Chapter 1

AN: I don't own SW (Why do I have to keep saying that?). Anyway, this was written in response to a complex challenge at a messageboard that went like this.

"Write a story that revolves around weather of some kind - normal, extreme, natural, magical, non-terrestrial - anything from a rain-shower to solar wind - as long as the weather is central to the story, not merely its backdrop."

It also had these five rules.

1) A dialogue exchange that includes the following question and answer:
"Is everything a joke to you?"
"Only the important things."

2) Someone goes to sleep and they aren't happy about it.

3) At some point, a delivery of some kind must be made.

4) It takes place over the course of one morning.

5) There must be a cape.

So, I tried my hand at it, and this is the result, loosely inspired by a disastrous ski trip I once took where I learned the hard way that I can't ski. There may be a lot of these challenge fics coming up since I recently joined two creativity-centered SW messageboards. (But NO, I will not be abandoning "My Mother" at all.)

"Snow Day"

By EsmeAmelia

"SNOW!! SNOW!! SNOW!!!"

That was basically the only word Jaina, Jacen, and Anakin Solo had been shouting for the entire morning. Ever since they had woken up to the sight of thousands of snowflakes pouring over Coruscant and the announcement that school had been cancelled due to poor speeder visibility, the eight-year-old twins and their six-year-old brother had been jumping with excitement.

Neither Han nor Leia knew precisely who had first had the idea that they should go to the Coruscant Snow Haven, but given the choice between going there and dealing with the kids running around the apartment all day shouting to go there, it seemed pretty obvious which option was the most desirable.

"So the visibility's too low for school, but not too low to drive to some overpriced ski place?" Han muttered as he sat in the family speeder next to his wife, who was driving too slowly for his taste.

"It's called a family outing, Han," said Leia.

"Yeah Dad," said Jaina from the back seat. "Just cause you can't ski to save your life doesn't mean we can't have fun."

Han growled something in an inaudible voice, something that probably wasn't appropriate to say in front of the children.

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The Coruscant Snow Haven was located on the planet's only spot that contained mountains. Whether or not the mountains were natural, the Solos didn't know, but right now that didn't matter. What mattered now was that the kids would have a place to let out their snow-fueled energy, which would hopefully be worth the rather steep entry price.

"Two adults, three children," Leia said to the Twil'ik at the front desk.

"Hey Dad," said Jacen, pulling at Han's coat with one hand and pointing eagerly up at the stuffed Wampa head on the wall over the desk with the other. "Isn't that the kind of monster that almost killed Uncle Luke when you were on Hoth?"

Han raised his brows at the head, wondering what kind of jerk planned the decor here. "Yeah, that's a Wampa, all right."

"How do you think they killed it?" said Jaina. "Even Uncle Luke couldn't do that."

Han faced his daughter. "Well that's easy," he said in a smug voice. "It's probably a fake. Ya know, in order to get more customers they pretend that they killed themselves a Wampa."

"A-HEM." The Twil'ik cleared her throat loudly as she glared at the ex-smuggler. "For your information, it is real."

Anakin looked up at the head with complete awe. "Whooooaaaa."

Han stuck his lips out at the Twil-ik before turning back to the children. "Of course, you don't expect 'em to actually admit it's a fake."

The Twil'ik growled loudly at Han. "Sir, if you wish to insult our decor, you may keep it to yourself. If you are incapable of doing so, you may wait in your speeder while your wife and children enjoy our resort."

"Watch out, Dad," said Jaina, elbowing her father. "You don't want Mom to give you another lecture when we get home."

The Twil'ik turned to Leia. "Will you be renting skis?"

"Yes," said Leia. "Five pairs."

"What?" Han reacted. "Now wait a sec, who said I wanted to ski??"

"Think about that the next time you decide to make a fool out of yourself in public," Leia said simply.

Han growled something else that was probably inappropriate to say in front of the children.

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Whoever invented ski boots should be banished to Mustafar, Han thought as he waddled through the ski lounge in uncomfortable ski boots that clambered loudly on the floor. It felt like he was wearing a couple of metal foot braces that pinched his toes and heels no matter how he positioned his feet. He held a pair of heavy skis in one hand and a pair of poles in the other, which added annoying scraping to the already-annoying clambering. And worst of all, he had to pass through the bar in order to get outside, which reminded him that he had to wait until after skiing to warm himself up with drinks. He thought that the only thing that could make his situation worse would be if...