Contruum
It was tradition. And it was the only thing Adelle had left.
Life Day. Her parents traditionally made ryshcate to celebrate. Her old Order used to have exhibitions. Karre Noba's farm decorated a massive tree in its center.
Adelle set down the plate of ryshcate on the sofa and the glasses on the small table in front of it. One shot glass, one old-fashioned glass.
Na'an's tradition had been the best.
Phantom followed her as she walked back to the apartment's kitchen and pulled out a bottle of Whyren's Reserve and a smaller bottle of tihaar from a cabinet. The spukami tried to slip inside as she started closing the door. Adelle sighed through her teeth and tried to juggle the bottles and pull Phantom back out.
"Dumb cat, get out of there," she said, not unkindly. Phantom finally banished from inside the cabinet, Adelle walked back to the living room and poured the drinks. The tihaar in a shot glass, the whiskey in the old-fashioned. The whiskey she poured until there was very little space between the rim and the alcohol. She was going to need it.
The viewscreen and holovid were all set. Had been for some time. Adelle pushed Phantom away from the plate of ryshcate and sat on the sofa. She picked up the glass of Whyren's and tapped the bottom of the glass against the rim of the shot glass.
"Happy Life Day Na'an," she said softly. Adelle powered the viewscreen and set the holovid to play. A modified YT-1300 light freighter soared into space from a dusty orange planet for a second before the camera cut to the cockpit interior. General Han Solo flew the Millenium Falcon while his Wookiee copilot Chewbacca seemed anxious. The camera cut again to the exterior of the freighter for a brief second before cutting back to the cockpit interior. Adelle glanced down at the shot glass and then returned to watching the terrible Rebellion-era propaganda holovid, taking two sips.
"You'll forgive me for not taking a sip every time they cut," she said to no one. "I'd like to not be falling on my face at the end of this. Again."
Phantom stepped cautiously into her lap, circling a couple times before curling up and purring loudly. <<Not alone.>>
It helped, somewhat. Adelle picked up a ryshcate and settled back into the cushions.
No loud jokes or drunken laughter. No Leigh to incredulously ask them why they were watching it again if it was so bad. No arguments over which holovid actors they had gotten. It was just a very quiet night.
