Jack Dust Rabbit Slims
By: Patrice

Disclaimer: Neither Pulp Fiction nor Star Wars belong to me.
Summary: This is in response to a challenge. Replace any scene from any movie with Luke and Mara. I chose the "date" scene in Pulp Fiction.

******

Karrde had asked Luke to take care of Mara while he was away on business. At first Luke didn't know what Talon had meant. Take care of her? Surely it didn't mean what he thought it meant. Turns out all Talon wanted was for him to take her out on a date. Taking Mara Jade on a date? He almost didn't believe it.

He arrived at her apartment early; he certainly didn't want to make her angry by being late. She wasn't there to greet him. Instead, her voice came over the intercom.

"Hello farmboy," a syrupy sweet voice greeted me. "Make yourself comfortable and I'll be down in two shakes of a womprat's tail."

Luke did just that. Her couch was conformed to his body as soon as he sat down. 'I might have to get one of these. It's really comfortable.' Her apartment was painted white with lots of artifacts from her galactic travels. Most of them were unidentifiable to the Jedi Master.

Some minutes later Mara appeared at the doorway wearing long black pants and a soft, white blouse. "Ready to go?"

"Sure Jade. I'm ready when you are."

****

The restaurant she wanted to go to was one Luke had never heard of. "What's Jack Dust Rabbit Slims?" he asked her.

She looked at him funny. "Have you never heard of this place, Skywalker?" When he shook his head 'no' she continued, "This is one of the best places in this part of Courscant." Luke looked dubious. Her tastes and his didn't exactly jive. "Oh, come on Farmboy. Don't be such a square." She emphasized this by drawing a little square in the air with her fingers.

Giving up, Luke sighed, "Do they serve Nerf here?"

"Sure jedi-boy. Best steak you can get."

He got out of the speeder and came around to let her out. "After you kitty-cat."

*****

The restaurant turned out to be a throwback to the Old Republic days, specifically it's music and holofilms. There were holograph ads all over the walls for cheesy films that seemed quaint now. A kid's speeder racetrack ran around the dining room. A band pretending to be the Starboys was playing on the small stage at the other end of the room. There was a dance floor right in front of the stage that looked like it came right out of a jizz club. They were greeted at the host stand by a look-alike of Eddie Gillian, the old holonet host. He asked for their names in a perfectly warbled accent. The atmosphere was unlike anything Luke had ever seen.

The pair was seated in a fake speeder. It was only the seats of a speeder, and there was a table in between them. Before Luke could ask Mara anything the waiter came up to get their orders.

"Hey, I'm Guddy Bolly and I'm your waiter. Whaddya want?" he asked in a tired voice.

They quickly got our menus out. Luke went first. "I'll have the Nerf steak with Nubian marinade and a cherry fizz."

"How do ya want that cooked? Burnt to a crisp or bloody as hell?"

"Bloody as hell," Luke answered.

It was Mara's turn to order. "Umm...I'll have a patty with cheese, bloody, and a five credit shake."

"What kind of shake? Garth and Garry or Marty and Smith?"

Mara replied matter of factly, "Marty and Smith."

Before the waiter left, Luke had to ask the question, "Is that really a five credit shake?" They both nodded. "That's just blue milk and ice cream, right?" Guddy Bolly nodded. "You don't put Corellian whiskey in it?" Guddy now shook his head. "Fine, bring out the five credit shake."
Luke had never heard of a shake being that expensive before. It should be one of the cheapest things in the galaxy to make.

It wasn't long before their drinks arrived. Luke had to taste the shake and see what all the fuss was about. He started to drink from the side of the glass but Mara stopped him. "You can use my straw, I don't have cooties."

"Yeah, but maybe I do."

"I can handle cooties. Go ahead."

Luke took a large sip. "Ahhh." He savored the flavor. "That's really good. I don't think it's five credits good, but it's good."

Silence began to creep into their conversation. Luke felt uncomfortable. Mara, being aware of this said, "You ever notice how uncomfortable people get when there are silences. I think that's how you know you've found someone special. When you can just shut up and comfortably share silence."

Luke smiled at this logic. Their dinner arrived soon after. Luke had to concede that the steak was delicious. Mara seemed to be enjoying her patty too. Throughout dinner, Luke would steal glances at her. Her delicate hands held her fork perfectly, and he became entranced by the way she ate the cherry that had come with the drink. Shaking his head from the spell, he decided to start the conversation again.

"I don't want to offend you, but I'd like to ask you something."

Mara looked up from her meal. "Fire away."

"Wait. First you have to promise not to get offended." He looked hopefully at her.

"No, no, no. You can ask me whatever you want to ask me, but I can't promise not to be offended. My natural reaction might be to get offended. And, through no fault of my own I will have broken my promise." She added under her breath, "Or you nose."

Luke gathered his courage. Here goes nothing. "Did you know that some people say we're a couple?" He waited with baited breath.

Mara showed no sign of being upset. She continued be very calm. "Who says so?"

"They."

She smirked slightly. "They talk a lot, don't they?"

Luke smirked too. "They certainly do. They certainly do."

"I bet it was that brother in law of yours and his scoundrel friend, Calrissian. You know, when those two get together and gossip it's worse than a sewing circle." More seriously she added, "You shouldn't listen to those nerf-herders. And neither should anyone else." She paused and looked him straight in the eyes. "We both know the truth right?"

He returned her somewhat intense gaze. "Of course we do."

Nothing more was said about that subject. The "Starboys" stopped playing, and Eddie Gillian came up to the microphone. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the twist competition. Grab your fellas and come on down if you want to compete. First prize is this lovely trophy."

Mara eyed the trophy greedily. She wanted it. "Come on farmboy, we're doing it."

"Mara!"

"I do believe that Talon asked you to take me out and do whatever I wanted. I want to dance, I want to win, I want that trophy."

What could Luke do but accept her challenge.

It wasn't that hard a dance, but Luke was a little embarrassed about being on stage in front all the other diners with only Mara for help. He was brave though and sucked it up for the good of the team. The song that was chosen for them was a fast one and he and Mara had to improvise a lot to keep up. He thought he was doing pretty well, and he even invented some special moves that Mara copied.
*******
As it turns out, they did better than 'pretty well.' They won the competition. Mara got her prized trophy.

She was in a good mood the whole way home. Luke was inspired and waltzed Mara thru the doorway. Surprisingly, she didn't resist. She did, however, ask him what had made him do it.

"I don't know. I just felt like it. Do you approve?" He dipped her down.

"Yes, I do. Now bring me back up!" They met face to face, their eyes only inches apart. Time seemed to stand still. Was Luke going to kiss her?

He did not kiss her. He pulled back and released her before things got more complicated than they already were. "I had a good time. I hope you did too." Mara nodded that she had, but she was a little disappointed that he had pulled away so quickly. "Good. It's late so I'd better be going." He got to the door and turned around. "How about I call you sometime. Is that ok?" Again she nodded. "Bye Mara. Goodnight."

He left the apartment behind. On his walk down the hallway he promised himself that he would take Mara to Jack Dust Rabbit Slims again.