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You’ve been out all day, shopping for Life Day gifts with your boyfriend, Captain Rex. Your last stop had been the winter market in the park near your home. You’d found some fun gifts for family and friends, and sampled a variety of foods from around the Galaxy.
You and Rex are making your way back to your aircar when he spots a building made of ice. Multicolored lights shining through the ice make it look like an ethereal wonderland. You can practically feel Rex start to vibrate next to you.
“Do you want to check it out,” you ask.
“It could be interesting,” Rex says, trying for casual.
You know your captain better than that. For all he comes across as stoic and by-the-book at times, there’s a streak of boyish chaos a mile wide in him. You link your arm through his and the two of you walk toward the ice structure labeled ‘The Deep Freeze’ in blazing neon letters.
Just inside the door is a Rodian in a thick parka. She offers you and Rex thermal capes, but you decline, figuring your own winter coat will be enough. With a smile, the Rodian waves you through a second set of doors, and into the main club.
It’s one large room with benches and chairs carved out of ice placed in groups around the space. The lighting is pastel blue, pink, and purple. Ice sculptures of famous statues and other works of art dot the area, lit from within by rich golds or reds.
You huddle into your coat as you settle onto an ice bench tucked into a corner. It’s covered with faux tauntaun fur to keep patrons from getting frostbite on their tushes. However, since the whole club has been made from ice, there’s not much chance of really warming up. You’re starting to wish you’d accepted the thermal cape.
The creators of this wintry attraction have added other accommodations for their guests not equipped with natural cold protection. A free-standing wrought iron fire pit sat close enough to cast its warmth on you as you settle in.
“Stay here and I’ll see if they offer something warm to drink,” Rex says, then presses a kiss to your cold cheek.
You watch him walk to the bar where a variety of drinks and foods are for sale. Then you face the fire pit and scoot a little closer.
“You look cold,” a voice says.
You turn to see a maroon skinned Nautolan standing next to you. Electric blue stripes run down his bare arms and what you can see of his chest under the low-cut tank top he’s wearing. You suppose if a being can survive the cold depths of an ocean planet, an ice cave wouldn’t faze them.
“I am a bit,” you admit.
The Nautolan grins at you, then waves a ginger-furred Wookiee over. The Wookiee drapes what looks like a wampa pelt around your shoulders, and you’re drowned in white fur.
“Better?” the Nautolan asks.
You run your fingers over the thermal lining of the ‘pelt’ and nod. “Much.”
“Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Actually, I’m waiting for my boyfriend,” you say, trying to let him down gently.
The Nautolan just chuckles and winks at you. “No worries. I’m one of the servers. Just wanted to make sure you were enjoying yourself.”
You let out a relieved laugh. “Thanks.”
Rex reappears at that moment, and nods to the Nautolan as he sits at your side.
“Let any of the servers know if you need anything,” the Nautolan says before leaving.
“I didn’t know you had Pantoran ancestry,” Rex said, handing you a large, steaming mug.
You held the mug close to your face and let the steam defrost your nose. “Ha, ha,” you mutter. “I’m as Human as they come.”
Rex looks at you with a grin and a twinkle in his eyes. “You’re turning blue.”
You roll your eyes and bump his shoulder as he moves to take a sip of his drink. Hot chocolate sloshes over the side of his mug, but he somehow manages not to get any on him.
You sip your own hot chocolate—spiced with cinnamon just like you like it—and hum contentedly. You lean into Rex’s side and he turns to kiss your temple.
“You warm enough?” he asks.
“I could be a little warmer.”
You sit up and hold out the wampa pelt in invitation. Rex moves closer and pulls the pelt around his shoulders.
“Mmm, this is much better,” you say, sliding an arm around his waist.
The two of you sit in comfortable silence for a while, sipping your drinks. There’s still more shopping to do before Life Day arrives, and present wrapping, and baking, and a million other things. But for now, you just enjoy this quiet moment with Rex.
The music changes from something with thumping bass to something softer, slower. Rex sets his empty mug aside and wraps his arms around you.
“Dance with me,” he says, standing.
“Okay,” you murmur into his shoulder.
Rex readjusts the wampa pelt so the two of you are draped in its warm folds. Then he pulls you against his chest and you both begin to sway to the music.
“I’m really glad we came in here,” you say.
Rex presses his forehead against yours. “I have all the good ideas.”