Populate A Winter's Blessing | THR Life and Name Day Thread [Resource Hex]

[Aurelian Veruna]

Tags: Adelle Bastiel | Corazona von Ascania | Makko Vyres

Aurelian's mouth curved into a wry smile at Adelle's jab. "No one died that you know of," he said mildly. "That's the important qualifier." His eyes flicked to the target just as her arrow landed cleanly in the inner red. Respectable. Solid. Better than respectable, really.

He hummed, impressed despite himself. "Interesting," he said. "Perhaps you simply perform better with an audience. Tragic for my ego, but excellent for the festivities."

Cora's next shot snapped forward, confident and precise. It struck true again. Aurelian clapped once before he could stop himself, sharp and sincere. "Shiraya," he said. "Remind me never to doubt a pregnant woman with a weapon. That was beautiful."

He tilted his head, amused. "Everyone here will absolutely keep their lives," he added lightly. "That said, Ukatis does have a long tradition of happy little accidents. Slips. Falls. Sudden relocations." His gaze slid back to Adelle, voice lowering just enough to carry privately. "Do not underestimate her. People have a habit of disappearing around Cora. Entirely coincidental, I'm sure."

Straightening, he turned his attention fully to the couple, hands folding loosely behind his back. "Now," he said, shifting gears with practiced ease, "have you enjoyed your own party? Or did it all blur together into bows, arrows, and aristocrats reconsidering their life choices?"

His eyes danced as he glanced between them. "And the gifts. Please tell me you've received enough to last a lifetime. Or at least enough duplicates to quietly rehome later."

He paused, thoughtful, then smiled with unmistakable mischief. "I am looking forward to the name, of course. Very exciting. And if it's a girl, well… Aurelia seems the obvious choice. A tribute to a great and important figure in your lives." He placed a hand over his heart. "Entirely unbiased, naturally."

Aurelian's gaze lingered on them both, warm and approving beneath the humor.

​

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell
​

Kiran didn't look away when she answered him. If anything, her dry delivery, eighty, maybe eighty-five percent, pulled a quiet breath of laughter from him, soft enough that it barely misted the air between them. The number shouldn't have meant anything, not really. But coming from Persephone, it did. It meant more than she'd probably ever admit aloud.

He shifted just slightly so he stood beside her rather than angled toward her, giving her the space to keep watching the sky while still staying close enough that the warmth between them lingered.

"Eighty-five percent," he repeated under his breath, amusement loosening his voice.

He wasn't sure if she meant liking him, trusting him, enjoying the moment together, or whether she was simply assigning an arbitrary percentage to keep him on his toes. With Persephone, it could be any of the above, or all of them at once.

He glanced up at the meteors again, silver arcs flaring and dissolving across the dark like shattering threads of light. Incredibly stunning and rare.

But he found himself tracking her silhouette more than the sky, the way she tilted her head back, the faint glow of the falling fire reflected in her eyes, the confidence threaded through her posture even when she pretended indifference. He wondered if she knew how naturally she drew attention, even when surrounded by the extraordinary.

Without turning fully toward her, he let his voice slip into a quieter register, meant only for her to hear.

"Eighty-five percent feels pretty high to me." There was a small pause, soft and sincere.

"Higher than I expected."

 

[Naniti]

Naniti watched Lysander quietly in the wake of the failed third throw. Her eyes shifted slightly in Acier's direction before she reached over and lay a hand on Lysander's shoulder with a small smile. It wasn't quite the 'affectionate' gesture she initial thought of, but out in public it probably wouldn't be... Would it? She stepped a little closer to him as well.

The Togruta blinked as Lysander's eyes turned upward. Naniti paused before she turned her head to look up at what had caught his attention.

Passing silently and brightly against the deep of the void, meteors streaked overhead. Naniti tilted her head slightly as they stood there and watched for a moment. Unlike Lysander, she didn't think of folktales or old time homey stories; but she'd seen scenes like this before as she sat atop a hill or stood in a training yard. A fleeting experience that came suddenly and left just as quickly. Even mired in anger, a younger Naniti had found the sight captivating.

A soft squeak shot out when Lysander poked her side with her attention still above. Brows drew down in confusion as he frantically told her to hurry and make a wish. What in the Nine Fires of Torkanun was he...? What he said registered a second after he'd said it, and for some reason she found herself saying, "But I already have--!" Her mouth clicked shut and she turned her head to give him a side-eye.

"And what did you wish for? Is this a custom from home?" It must have been. Right? Or Lysander was surprisingly creative in the heat of the moment making something out of shooting stars.

Lysander von Ascania | Acier Moonbound | Varin Mortifer

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Ra'a'mah watched the brief exchange dissolve with quiet amusement, her expression composed even as the faintest warmth touched her eyes. The swirl of movement around the dais resumed its rhythm almost immediately, youth and celebration pulling attention away as effortlessly as it always did.

"At that age," she said softly, her tone reflective rather than indulgent, "everything feels immediate. Every choice is urgent. Every moment decisive." Her gaze followed the retreating figures for a heartbeat longer before returning to Vulpesen. "It is not foolishness. It is simply…untempered motion."

She accepted his offered arm without hesitation, her hand resting lightly against it as they turned away from the dais together. Snow continued to drift around them, catching briefly in her hair and along the edge of her cloak before melting away. "Perspective is one of the few things time grants freely," she continued, voice low and even. "Though it does have a way of replacing certainty with responsibility."

As they stepped back into the flow of the Ovli Market, lantern-light spilling across their path, Ra allowed herself a small, knowing smile. "You are correct," she said. "Appearances have been made. Threads acknowledged."

Her gaze shifted outward, already cataloguing the crowd's movement, the pockets of laughter, the quieter conversations unfolding at the edges of the celebration. "Let us see what else this evening chooses to reveal," she finished calmly. "Life Day has a habit of offering more than it promises—if one is willing to look beyond the surface."

With that, she walked on beside him, unhurried, her presence steady amid the warmth and motion of the festival night.

Vulpesen

 

[Adelle Bastiel]

Tags: Aurelian Veruna | Corazona von Ascania | Makko Vyres

Makko Vyres Aurelian Veruna Adelle Bastiel | Open to visitors!

A brow lifted. Friend was not a word she'd grown accustomed to hearing from Aurelian. She said nothing to her husband being addressed as Lord von Ascania, but the line of her lips did purse as though she were holding back laughter.

She nudged Makko gently with her elbow.

"Given how picky Aurelian is when it comes to enjoying the company of others, I'd take that as high praise. Welcome to Ukatis, Adelle. You can call me Cora," she gestured to herself, then to her consort, "and Makko."

Appraising eyes looked on as Adelle nocked her arrow to the tune of a disgruntled feline. Cora bent at the waist and lowered her knees - as much as her stomach would allow her to - and offered a hand to Phantom.

With a muted thuk, the arrow landed at the inner red ring of the target. Cora's other brow lifted, her gaze tilting toward Aurelian. "Are you certain that she didn't let you win?"

Perhaps it was the Force's will that guided her arrow true. Perhaps it was skill. Or maybe, a secret third thing.

"You've done this before, Lady Adelle?"

Straightening herself out, she nocked her final arrow.

MAKKO

Adelle Bastiel


"Hi," went Makko. His detractors silenced, he was back to his typically easy mannerisms.

"Lovely to meet you."

Being the unabashed attention-seeking diva she was, Phantom immediately stood to sniff the offered fingers, tail raised with curiosity and hope of pets. She rubbed her face against the knuckles, hoping to inspire the response she wanted. <<Pets.>>

Adelle would have rolled her eyes but she was preoccupied by the result of her first shot. In that it seemed to do well. Decently well. She frowned. That usually didn't happen. But they had both greeted her and she hadn't responded. Inwardly, she cursed but kept her face calm. Ish. She was still pretty baffled by how well her shot did.

"The pleasure's mine," she said. When Cora called her 'Lady Adelle', she grimaced. "Oh please no, I'm not-- I'm no one important like that. Just Adelle is fine. And only twice. Had a clanmate insist it's the only way to get clean kills if you need a pelt."

He hummed, impressed despite himself. "Interesting," he said. "Perhaps you simply perform better with an audience. Tragic for my ego, but excellent for the festivities."

She scoffed. "What, the audience at Nessantico doesn't count now?"

"In the spirit of Life Day, I’d prefer if everyone here kept their lives intact.” Cora drew back on the bowstring, then released her third shot. “At least for the evening.”

"I make no such promises," Adelle said with a smirk. She picked up the next arrow.

He tilted his head, amused. "Everyone here will absolutely keep their lives," he added lightly. "That said, Ukatis does have a long tradition of happy little accidents. Slips. Falls. Sudden relocations." His gaze slid back to Adelle, voice lowering just enough to carry privately. "Do not underestimate her. People have a habit of disappearing around Cora. Entirely coincidental, I'm sure."

"And yet, you seem awfully willing to make yourself a target talking like that." Adelle nocked the arrow and drew the bow back. It was doubtful she could repeat her earlier success but she'd paid the fee. Might as well treat it like practice. She loosed the arrow.

When Aurelian mentioned the potential name for the unborn child, Adelle did roll her eyes.

"Fething Whills of the Force, subtlety thy name isn't Aurelian," she breathed.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Eighty-five percent feels pretty high to me." There was a small pause, soft and sincere.

"Higher than I expected."

"Most days its eighty percent. Don't inflate the numbers too much." Persephone paused, shifting her gaze from the sky back down to Kiran. "It is high. Don't mess it up."

Persephone didn't give her attention or time easily. Once someone took that for granted, she typically went back to ignoring their presence. While Kiran had a lot of work to do in her eyes, she could see he had a good foundation. Whatever happened between them, friendship or maybe more, Persephone could see he was striving to grow up and figure out his future. She appreciated that. Quite a few boys mixed in with crowds. Somehow they all were attracted to her. Or she them. Either way.

EXIT POST

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Naniti
​

A soft laugh brushed past his lips, sparked by the look she'd given him, the kind that came from being caught off guard. He didn’t regret it for a moment. Somewhere in the background he heard another thunk of an axe and ripples of laughter. It all slowly blurred into the background. What didn’t blur was her hand.

Once more he glanced upward as the streaks of light crossed the sky. “Mm,” he hummed at her question, glancing back at Naniti. “Yeah. It is.”

Saying it out loud felt a little stranger than expected. Not wrong.. just a little too visible.

His chest caught in a way he didn’t quite expect too; it had nothing to do with the cold. This place always did that to him. No matter how much distance he put between himself and home, it found ways to slip past his guard.. slowing time just enough for older versions of himself to surface.

"I guess you could say there's a rumor that Ukatis has a habit of turning nonsense into tradition.” His brow lifted just a smidge. “Maybe my sister was especially good at that. She'd always say the secret was not to overthink it." Shoulders lifted in a small shrug, a dimple flashing in his cheek. "But me? I'd just stand there forever, trying to make the perfect wish."

For a second, he could hear her voice as if she were standing beside him again.

Another huff of amusement escaped.

“So then she would say the stars didn’t have that kind of patience. Supposedly, if you hesitated too long, the wish wouldn’t know where to land.”

Today the answer wasn’t arguing back.. letting it be voiced was what made him hesitate.

Somewhere in his journey amid the Outer Rim, he’d learned what it cost to let something be seen. That was when he stopped trusting things that couldn’t be taken back. Even now, the instinct rose.. not to give it shape, nor to become vulnerable.

But whatever had been building slowly ebbed.

One by one, his fingers threaded around hers, warmth unfurling where palms met, their interlocked hands slowly guided back up between them.

“I decided to follow the rules for once.”

His eyes found hers and stayed there; emerald resting in blue; he didn’t try to outrun it this time.

“You.”

The silence softened him.

“That's my wish."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Makko Vyres Aurelian Veruna Adelle Bastiel | Open to visitors!​

"Shiraya," he said. "Remind me never to doubt a pregnant woman with a weapon. That was beautiful."

Cora laughed, her voice lacking the sharp edge she often maintained around the Chancellor. "If only I'd had a bow in my hands at the refugee camp." Her own surprise that she'd managed to maintain this particular skill surfaced in the glint of her eyes as she looked back to the target. Perhaps the celebration had gifted her with a stroke of fortune.

"I might like to try this again," he laughed. "Definitely need help."

Cora reached down to take Makko's hand, giving it a loving squeeze. "You did well for your first time," she murmured earnestly. "It's hard enough to hit the target when you're just learning. And," her voice lowered as she leaned in, breath drifting between just the two of them, "you gave our critics a good show."

She doubted that those scrutinizing noblemen on the periphery would forget the artful precision with which his knife struck the target's center.

"That said, Ukatis does have a long tradition of happy little accidents. Slips. Falls. Sudden relocations." His gaze slid back to Adelle, voice lowering just enough to carry privately. "Do not underestimate her. People have a habit of disappearing around Cora. Entirely coincidental, I'm sure."

Aurelian was given a look that wavered between harsh and incredulous. Was it really sensible to invoke the suspicious death of her first husband while insinuating, only moments ago, that it was unwise to antagonize a pregnant woman bearing a weapon?

"Tread carefully, lest you find yourself one of those coincidences," she muttered before arching a sly brow upward at Adelle. Cora found it unfortunate that she'd already loosed her last arrow, given that it would've nicely punctuated her warning.

When Aurelian guided the topic back to more cordial matters, the bite started to fade from her expression.

"Everyone has been generous – more than, even." As she looked to Makko, her face softened further, then lifted a little in quiet amusement. "One Lord even sought to gift our unborn child with a fully grown horse."

A horse that Roman had galavanted off with. Well, at least they knew who would be taking care of the mare until their little girl was old enough to learn to ride. "Everyone has been more than generous," Cora insisted as her gaze, now cooler, settled back onto Aurelian. "You did an excellent job working with Fabian to organize this event."

"I am looking forward to the name, of course. Very exciting. And if it's a girl, well… Aurelia seems the obvious choice. A tribute to a great and important figure in your lives." He placed a hand over his heart. "Entirely unbiased, naturally."

"Fething Whills of the Force, subtlety thy name isn't Aurelian," she breathed.

Cora's lips pursed first in a frown, then quirked upward in mirth. The Mandalorian's commentary was far sharper than her arrow's path.

"If you're so set on naming a child after yourself, why not have one?" she challenged. "It would be far easier than this fool's errand, I'd imagine."

 

[Naniti]

What would that have been like? To grow up with a family, or even just a sister, on a world full of whimsical, perhaps even frivolous cultural interactions with no utility except to be a communal identity? Probably all coming from some superstitious background in an effort to explain a complex system in a simplistic and even colorful manner. It sounded absurd. Nonsensical. But it was also kind of endearing... If you didn't overthink it. You didn't have to lie awake at night thinking of how to survive or who you could trust. Shooting stars carried wishes that could come true.

Naniti smiled, but her expression wavered at how incredulous the tradition evolved as Lysander spoke. The wish wouldn't know where to land if you took too long? Superstition! An explanation why time was a factor for a physical event of something literally burning up in the atmosphere. That was the rational take. Then again, it was a moment. If there wasn't some urgency then what made that wish different than any other? That moment wouldn't be special. It wouldn't be memorable and no one would bother.

Like everything else, there had to be rules or just anything was acceptable. Strange how there was a sort of logic to something so emotional.

The Togruta's eyes widened slightly as Lysander took her hand. She stared into his eyes as he said he had followed the rules this time. There wasn't time to wonder what he meant; he confessed what his wish had been and Naniti felt her face heat. "That was mine as well," she replied softly. Maybe admitting it out loud wasn't a problem if the wish was already coming true? But, she wanted to be clear. To make certain. Things might get lost in translation in the moment. You never knew. And-- Oh, sithspit, "I want to be with you, Lysander. Always."

Lysander von Ascania

 

[Marlon Sularen]

A_W I N T E R S_B L E S S I N G
Objective I - Lights of the Ovli Market

IMPERIAL CONFEDERATION
UKATIS, INNER RIM

​

Sularen chuckled as Dominique corrected him, insisting that he address her as Director Vexx rather then Senator, for the sake of the politically neutral festivities that was. "My apologies, Director Vexx." the Supreme Commander said still keeping his smile as he correcting himself. He then shifted his focus on the other two individuals, the simultaneous holder of Voice and Queen of Naboo, Sibylla Abrantes and the Ambassador to Alderaan, Liana Organa.

Starting with the Queen, she welcomed the Supreme Commander to the festivities before stating that their group were currently on their way to offer their congratulations to Lady von Ascania and her consort which Sularen assumed was Corazona von Ascania. He had heard a lot from her from the days of the Dark Empire, both regarding her humanitarian work on her homeworld and her involvement with the New Jedi Order in participating in attacks against the Empire.

"Well i hope you don't mind me tagging along. I've heard a lot of good things about Lady von Ascania would love to get acquainted with her and her consort." he responded. It was funny, only months ago Sularen would have been a hostile enemy on this world yet now he walked through it's streets as if nothing happened, the by-product of an ever-changing galactic landscape. Hopefully von Ascania would have also moved on from her past within the Galactic Alliance just as Sularen did with the Dark Empire as it would be quite embarrassing if they clashed over their past affiliations in any way.

Finally Sularen turned to face the Ambassador of Alderaan who introduced herself before bluntly asking who Sularen was. It caught Sularen a bit off-guard since he had already built a considerable reputation for himself as one of the most notorious Imperials in the galaxy not to mention he served a regime that was based on New Alderaan which itself was a former colony world comprised of Alderaanian refugees so for an Alderaanian to ask him who he was it was a bit surprising. But then again they had their own problems with the Galactic Empire looming right next to them so he didn't blame them, they simply had greater priorities at the moment.

"Supreme Commander Marlon Sularen of the Imperial Confederation." he stated, responding to her inquiry about who he was. "It's a pleasure to meet you Ambassador Organa." Sularen said extending a simple handshake.

Tags | Dominique Vexx | Sibylla Abrantes | Liana Organa ​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Naniti
​

Rooted in place, palm pressed to hers, the festival carried on. Everything read as comfortably distant, noise he didn’t need to track. What mattered was right in front of him. To experience this type of internal silence was rare, rarer still for it to feel comfortable. There was no need to protect himself; no thought challenged.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

The memory surfaced anyway.. the Togruta's words on Ilum, that careful warning about promises, and he smiled at how this one felt no less true.

Fingers linked, they rose a notch higher, an affirmation held aloft before his grasp softened, content to just cradle the space. The distance between their gazes was left unbroken, enough to invite him out of his defenses.

“You know,” added gently, emerald eyes aglow with fondness, “for a while I found myself spending too much time making sure I understood everything correctly.” His focus dipped to where their hands met before returning to Naniti. “But this..” A breath eased out of him. “It doesn’t need interpretation. I never have to second guess what you mean, or what I feel about it.”

A small rise touched his cheeks; calm threaded through his voice. “I think what makes this easy is that we didn’t arrive here by accident. He felt the truth of it settle, aligning internally. "We’ve witnessed each other at breaking points. Placed our trust in each other’s timing, in judgment. And we’ve survived.. together, on a few occasions.”

There was a small adjustment that followed, weight transferring from one foot to the other. Not a step, but it drew him closer anyway. “I’m not worried about where it leads.. I’m comfortable being exactly where we are.”

Nothing rushed.

“With you.”

For once, staying wasn't inertia.. it was choice.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Objective II - Ukatis Warriors Challenge (Axe and Archery)​

Event: Axe Throwing & Archery Competition Participation: To participate in either the axe or archery event (or both!), a buy-in of 5,000 UCS is required per event.

Mechanics:

• Each participant will make three (3) standard d20 dice rolls for their chosen event.
  
  • This can be done through the board dice mechanic or a screenshot discord roll.
• Your total score for the event will be the sum of these three rolls.
• Faction Sponsorship Option: For 10,000 UCS, a Faction may allow one (1) reroll for a chosen participant, to be used on one of their three dice rolls per event.

Winning:

• The individual with the highest cumulative score in the Axe Throwing event wins that event. The same applies to the Archery event, determining a separate winner. Prizes (Separate for each event winner):
• A split of the collective UCS buy-in pot for their respective event.
• A unique forum flair commemorating their victory.
• The esteemed privilege of submitting a name recommendation for the Dowager Princess Corazona's expectant child.

All credits pay to Aurelian Veruna


Axe Events:

Adelle Bastiel (5, 7, 2 = 14)

Aurelian Veruna (3, 4, 16 = 23)

Isla Reingard (13, 6, 3 = 22)

Phillip Slate (10, 1, 10 = 21)

Shade (7, 18, 12 = 27)

Lysander von Ascania (6, 5, 8 = 19)

Naniti (9, 15, 19 = 43)

Acier Moonbound (14, 17, 1 = 32)

Varin Mortifer (6, 18, 13 = 37)

Nir Si (18,16, X = X)

Archery Event:

Elian Abrantes (9, 1, 20 = 30)

Corazona von Ascania (12, 19, 15 = 46)

Makko Vyres (20, 5, X = X)

Adelle Bastiel (14, 3, X = X)



Let me know if i've missed any rolls.

​

 

[Cassian Abrantes]

Shade ​

He angled his steps without breaking stride, a subtle shift that guided them away from the densest flow of the crowd. The music softened as they moved, laughter fading into a low, ambient hum. Lanterns thinned, their glow stretched and gentler, the night beginning to show its depth above the city's edge.

At her mention of the meteor shower, his mouth curved, not a grin, but something warm and genuine. "Wouldn't dream of asking it to," he said lightly. "The stars are terrible at following schedules."

They reached the stone walkway overlooking the terraces, the city falling away in tiers below them. The air felt cooler here, cleaner. Cassian slowed, then stopped, resting his forearms against the low balustrade as he looked up, then out, then, briefly at her.

"Good call," he said quietly. "You were right."

A pause, comfortable and unforced, settled between them as the first faint streak cut across the sky, quick, silver, gone almost before it could be named. It was soon followed by many.

Cassian didn't move. He just stood there beside her, shoulders aligned, eyes lifted, voice low when he spoke again. His hand found hers, lacing their fingers together.

"Guess we made it just in time."

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Were they now? Dominique smiled as Sibylla confessed their intention. Well, the crowd had gotten a little thinner; perhaps now was the best opportunity they'd get before she retired from endless well-wishing and festive celebration.

As for the intrepid Ambassador of Alderaan, Dominique neither choked nor scowled at the youthful exuberance. Well, the title should blunt some of the potential for insult. Junior Ambassador. The powerful should give the young ones a free pass. Though that was usually one pass at best, and it wouldn't be forgotten. Hopefully Liana would take the opportunity to commit to memory the answer in case it become pertinent again in the future.

"Delightful. Why don't we go together? Lady von Ascania's hands must be absolutely frigid in this weather. I wouldn't blame her if she retired for the day." Though she might suffer on as the festivities were in their honor and that of the babe. Perhaps she had a few hand-warmers tucked away in a pocket she indulged in from time to time.

The Director of Denon gestured toward the center of attention and slowly started to lead the way once everyone's attention was confirmed. "As you may have witnessed, not all gifts are the same; even lavish ones can prove... challenging. Some of the more humble gifts can actually be all the more cherished. A kind word. A blessing." Had everyone brought a gift? She suggested it was fine if they hadn't. It was true, after all. Ironic as it might be for someone that pushed a world of endless manufacturing.

Sibylla Abrantes | Liana Organa | Marlon Sularen​

 

[Shade]

Shade did not pull her hand away when his fingers found hers. Instead, she let the contact settle, adjusted her grip just enough to lace more securely, and stood with him in the quiet alignment of shared space. The stone beneath her boots was cool now, the balustrade leeching away the last remnants of warmth from the day, and the city below felt distant in a way that did not demand vigilance or calculation.

Her gaze followed the arc of the first meteor, then the next, tracking their brief lives with the same attention she gave anything fleeting and precise. Something was reassuring in how quickly they vanished. No aftermath. No debris. Just light, then absence, clean and complete.

"Timing is rarely about control," she said softly, her voice measured but unguarded, as though the night itself had loosened something she usually kept carefully contained. "It's about recognizing the moment when moving becomes unnecessary."

Another streak burned across the sky, brighter than the last, scattering faint sparks before it disappeared. The cold settled more fully now that they had stopped walking, sharp against her cheeks, threading through the layers of her coat. She shifted a fraction closer, not pressing, simply closing the space so that their shoulders brushed as well as their hands.

"This didn't need to be chased," she continued, eyes still lifted. "It only needed space."

Her thumb brushed once against his knuckles, a small, grounding gesture that mirrored the calm settling between them.

"I'm glad we stopped," Shade added quietly, not reviewing a decision so much as acknowledging something that had already resolved itself. "There's no advantage to standing anywhere else right now."

Another meteor flared overhead, longer this time, its light lingering just enough to be noticed before fading. Shade watched it go, then tilted her head slightly, the faint silver-blue sheen of her hair catching the lantern glow as she spoke again.

"There's a superstition," she said, almost casually, as if offering a piece of information rather than something personal. "About making a wish when you see one."

She followed the fading line until it vanished altogether.

"I don't usually indulge in them," she admitted after a moment, her tone even, honest. "But tonight it feels permissible."

Her thumb moved once more against his hand, a quiet question rather than a request.

"If you have one," Shade said softly, finally turning her gaze just enough to meet his, open in a way she rarely allowed without intention, "now would be the time."

She stayed there with him, fingers entwined, the cold held at bay by shared warmth, content to let the sky finish what it had begun, no urgency, no demand, just the quiet certainty of being exactly where she chose to be.

Cassian Abrantes

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Objective I - Lights of the Ovli Market​

Interacting with: Dominique Vexx Liana Organa Marlon Sularen
Mood: Oh, do tell

Sibylla noted, with a quiet inward ease, that Liana's expression mirrored her own uncertainty. If the Junior Ambassador was unfamiliar with the Supreme Commander as well, then they were both hardly remiss. It was a vast galaxy after all, scattered with countless governments and titles, and the Convergence had only made the political landscape more tangled. No one could be expected to know every Supreme Commander by name.

Still, when the Imperial Confederation was mentioned, a faint note of recognition stirred. An Imperial government that was nearly half a galaxy away, if not more. Curious then that he would travel so far to offer congratulations to Lady von Ascania. And while Sibylla kept her composure cordial, her attention flicked briefly to Dominique, quietly seeking her read on the man.

"As Director Vexx said, gifts need not be extravagant," Sibylla added politely. "I brought something simple with hand-knit clothing. Naboo has always valued the care woven into such things."

As they neared the dais, she slowed, realizing the guest of honor was no longer there. Her brows lifted slightly.

"Oh… where did she go?" she murmured, before distant laughter and a familiar voice drew her gaze toward the archery range. A small, amused smile touched her lips.

"I believe they have wandered elsewhere."

She turned back to Liana with a reassuring smile as Dominique began to lead the way, ready to follow but still attentive, curious, and quietly observant of the company now walking beside them as she asked:

"This is my first time meeting anyone from the Imperial Confederation, Supreme Commander Suluren. While this is not an official delegation, I am curious to know more about them."

It wouldn't be long before the archery targets and their participants would come into view, highlighting Corazona von Ascania , Makko Vyres , Adelle Bastiel , and of course, the one theatrical, if secretly amusing, if maddening one with curls she could recognize anywhere, Aurelian Veruna .

 

[Nir Si]

​

Tag: Varin Mortifer​

Nir took that as a challenge.

He lined up his last throw, and...

It was perfect. Just as he wanted it. Dead center, perfect arc, his mom would be damn proud.

He just looked to Varin and gave the sith a smug grin, before pulling out a cigar from a pocket, and lighting it up.

"I think that's a win for me, bud. How bout this, why don't we skip to the sparring ground and you try and get your win back the old fashioned way."

 

[Makko Vyres]

MAKKO

Adelle Bastiel Aurelian Veruna Corazona von Ascania

Cora reached down to take Makko's hand, giving it a loving squeeze. "You did well for your first time," she murmured earnestly. "It's hard enough to hit the target when you're just learning. And," her voice lowered as she leaned in, breath drifting between just the two of them, "you gave our critics a good show."

"I wasn't really thinking, but I'm quite happy about it now. Next time they ask what I do, just say it's classified."

"Fething Whills of the Force, subtlety thy name isn't Aurelian," she breathed.

"If you're so set on naming a child after yourself, why not have one?" she challenged. "It would be far easier than this fool's errand, I'd imagine."

"Well if he named them then..."

Makko bit his tongue. He had been going to say the bastards would know who dad is and come looking for money.

Even though he would have said it it jest, a joke suitable for a Denon bar was for a fine day out amongst the mobility of Ukatis.

"...his future wives would perhaps leave him for his taste in names."

He looked back to Cora and saw her score chalked up.

"Is it bad form for you to win this too?" he mused.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Tags: Adelle Bastiel | Corazona von Ascania | Makko Vyres | Sibylla Abrantes | Dominique Vexx | Liana Organa | Marlon Sularen

Aurelian lifted his chin at Adelle's remark, the corner of his mouth tugging upward. "I am always a target," he said easily. "For the well intentioned, the ambitious, and the deeply bored. I don't mind. I imagine most people appreciate honesty when it's offered plainly."

His attention shifted when Cora praised the event. He accepted it with visible satisfaction, a hand brushing his coat as if straightening something already perfect. "At last," he said, dryly pleased. "Recognition. I was beginning to think I'd orchestrated an entire Life Day celebration purely for my own enrichment."

He glanced back at her, eyes bright with challenge. "A fool's errand?" His brows rose. "Hardly. I am far too young for children of my own. Godfather suits me just fine. All the influence, none of the sleepless nights." He smiled, sharp and unapologetic. "And I would despise being godfather to a child named Boris. Truly. So if I can prevent that fate by offering a superior name, I consider it a public service."

He placed a hand to his chest again, mock solemn. "Aurelia is elegant. Historic. Powerful. You have my full blessing to use it." His gaze flicked to Makko, amused. "And my taste in names is impeccable. Any rumors to the contrary are slander."

Movement at the edge of his vision drew his focus outward. Sibylla was approaching, calm and observant, her attention already cataloging the scene. Aurelian's smile sharpened. If there was an audience, he would not disappoint.

"Well," he said, stepping toward the rack, "we can't let the Dowager Princess to walk away undefeated at her own celebration. That would be rude."

​

 

[Cassian Abrantes]

Shade ​

Cassian didn't answer immediately. He lifted his gaze instead, following the quiet arc of light as another meteor cut across the sky, then another, each one brief and brilliant against the dark.

Her words stayed with him, about wishes, and he felt his fingers tighten gently around hers, grounding more than anything.

"I don't usually make them either," he said at last, voice low and unhurried. "Feels like tempting fate to ask for more than what's already here." A longer streak flared overhead, scattering silver before fading. Cassian watched it go, a faint smile touching his mouth. "But if tonight allows it," he added softly, eyes still on the sky, "I'd wish for moments like this to last exactly as long as they're meant to."

He didn't look away as the meteors continued their quiet display, standing with Shade in shared stillness, content to let the stars speak for themselves.