Private Behind Each Star

[Alicio Organa]

SANCTUARY CITY, ALDERAAN
ENDLESS STARS FESTIVAL
​

The festival had been Alicio's idea.

As a steward of Sanctuary City, Count Organa spent hours of every day meeting with the populace, listening to their woes, and thinking about how to alleviate them. The people of his city were predominantly refugees, fleeing hardship and war, pushed to Alderaan with nowhere else to go. There were many things that Alicio could fix; laying the groundwork for another hospital, supplying government grants to schools, cultivating more businesses in the city.

But there were too many things he couldn't fix. He couldn't stand the withering stares when he said he couldn't procure funds for another non-essential project. Not to mention the terrors his people went through. Many families spoke of waking up to crying, traumatized children. Mothers, staring with empty eyes at the coast. Fathers, breaking into tears at the thought of the homes they lost.

But inspiration struck when the city's power grid failed for four minutes. Alicio had been in his apartment, had seen Sanctuary City go dark and cold. But after a minute, Alicio noticed a small, blinking light erupt from the middle of the city. Then another. Then another. One by one, lighting up the darkness, until the city looked like a starscape beneath him. And when the lights turned on again, Alicio heard the cheering from his perch.

In a way, Alicio hadn't come up with the festival at all. It had been the city itself that inspired him.

​

The streets of Sanctuary City were alight with color, despite the cold Alderaanian night.

Lanterns and torches, floodlights and colored strings of bulbs, decorated every city corner, each a different style. They were strung over the streets on string, hanging from the eaves of buildings, held in the gloves of excitable children as they dashed too and fro. The people of Sanctuary City were out and about, bundled in warm clothes for the Alderaanian winter, picking from food stall to food stall, or enjoying the bands on street corners.

Some particularly pioneering youngsters had begun putting colored powders into snowballs, and tossing them at each other. The trend was spreading like wildfire across the city, to the chagrin of those who would be forced to clean it up the next day.

Alicio stood just behind a raised dais in the city center, trying not to pass out from fear. He'd been roped into giving yet another speech to the people of Sanctuary City. He didn't know how it kept happening; maybe the city council thought his constant floundering in front of a crowd was funny.

Shaking the nervousness from his black-gloved hands, Alicio hoped everyone was enjoying the festivities more than he was.

- Lief - Iris Arani -

 

[Iris Arani]

A festival of light. Of color. It couldn't be anymore up Iris's alley. Bright eyed and smiling the Jedi, bundled in winter clothing, wandered through the streets, watching her own world of colors to see the joy and happiness this event seemed to bring everyone. The smell of food lured her here and there, trying various local cuisines. Then, the paint snowballs. One had hit her by accident, coating her fluffy hood in the pink colored snow.

But rather than get upset, she just smiled brighter. Within moments she had her own array of painted snow, and quickly started to join in the fun of a snowball fight. Without a care in the world Iris found her place in this festival, smiling and laughing all the while.

Lief Alicio Organa

 

[Lief]

Life had been hectic as of late. More than hectic, he'd argue. Ever since leaving Empress Teta alongside Valery Noble he'd been making constant adjustments to the life he'd known, and the life he'd expected he'd have with the Jedi. It had been easier to handle ever since Starlin Rand took him on as a student, if only because he was kept busy and provided with a real purpose, but their recent trip to Erakhis had left the boy more than a little drained.

Reuniting with Iris had only made him realize how much.

So he'd requested a little bit of downtime. Invited Iris along on a small adventure just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Coruscant, back to where he'd first met his Master. Long before he became such. Long before Eliphas even knew he was sensitive. Alderaan... Not up in the small mountain town this time, where witches lurked, but a real cityscape filled with festivities.

It was cold and wintery and arguably perfect. They'd bundled up, and now they were out in the streets among the citizens and refugees. Lights twinkled and danced everywhere he looked, food drew their attention from stall to stall, but mostly what he noticed was how happy Iris seemed to be. So much colour, so much life, she was truly in her element. For the most part, Eliphas was just along for the ride.

When she began to throw colour-laced snowballs he couldn't help but grin. He'd always loved it when winter came to the mountains back home on Teta, it was one of the few times he'd see his parents let their hair down. Snowmen, snowball fights, sledding, snow angels, it was a winter wonderland there.

Just as it seemed to be here.

The boy was holding two take-out cups filled with hot cocoa, every now and then he'd sip from the one in his left hand. Without hands free he couldn't exactly play along with the snowball fight.

Had he perhaps been a little more gifted with telekinesis he might have found a way, alas... One small pillow fight with Miri did not make him at all competent. Still he was happy to watch. Much less chilly that way, regardless.

Iris Arani Alicio Organa

 

[Alicio Organa]

You can do this, Alicio. It isn't too many people.

What is it? Like, two hundred? Three hundred max?

The Count peeked out over the crowd, at the faces blanketing the open city square, and felt his own face blanch white. Closer to two thousand, then.

The noble was dressed warmly, with a black fur coat blanketing his slight form, and dark grey vestments underneath. He held onto the datapad at his side for dear life, feeling his fingers grow cold and clammy despite the gloves that protected them. Not for the first time, Alicio messed with his hair, trying to get the dark curled locks to do as he commanded, with limited success.

Before he could change his mind, Alicio forced himself to step onto the dais, and a microphone was passed to him. He placed his datapad on a lectern, and began to speak.

"I thank you all for coming out tonight to participate in the Endless Stars Festival." His tone was a bit dry, but at least he wasn't shaking.

Alicio let out a bit of tension from his shoulders, after having completed the introduction. "Csilla. Ossus. Nirauan. Charros IV. New Alderaan." He gave each planet's name weight. "And countless other worlds. The people of this great city come from a great many places, each one escaping their own demons. Wars, famine, death and destruction."

"It can be tempting to shut off from the rest of the world. Hide in the dark, so that it can't hurt you anymore. But here, you are among others who have struggled like you. Others, as endless as stars, who know the pain of losing where you come from. Losing those you love." Alicio's steely eyes softened.

"We are all siblings in strife. And we each bring our own cultures, perspectives, experiences..." Alicio paused, collecting his thoughts, with some finality. "Our own lights to share. So I encourage you to share your own light with the city today. Make Sanctuary City the brightest star there is."

Then, speaking quickly, some of his nervousness returning, "I would like to thank the City Council for their diligence in setting up this holiday, and to the private businesses that have opened their doors for this event."

Alicio quickly stepped off the dais, walking away from the crowd, who was cheering far louder than he thought they would.

- Iris Arani - Lief -

 

[Lief]

Eliphas took note as the crowd around them seemed to funnel toward the city center. As much as he was loathed to disrupt the fun Iris was having, he urged her along down the lane and listened to the general murmur of those around them. So lost in the crowd as they were it wasn't immediately easy to spot the stage with its lectern but once the voice began to speak more sense was made of why the festivities were momentarily paused.​

​

He stood on his tiptoes and craned his neck some, and spotted a man a little older than he addressing the populace. Refugees and wanderers, those whose homes had been lost, brought together alongside the planet's denizens. Hope and unity... It was certainly uplifting, even for one who had never lived through such hardships himself. A further reminder of how lucky he had been. Of his privilege.​

​

Of the decision he'd made to step away from Teta and lead a far humbler life with the Jedi.​

​

The man seemed nervous in the start, and toward the end, but when he got to the real meat of it Eliphas could tell he was passionate about what he was saying. That he meant it. Always good to see from a political figure.​

​

And then it was over, and the crowd began to disperse back into the rest of the city. For his part, the boy continued on toward the stage where he'd just seen the speaker retreat from, drawn on by an innate sense of curiosity. Would he be joining the festivities too? Or would he have to slink back home for his own protection?​

​

Truth be told, Eliphas had no idea about the political climate of this place.​

​

Alicio Organa ​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio attempted to evacuate the throng of people as quickly as possible.

Not out of fear, he was rather popular with the residents of Sanctuary City, per the numbers the council came up with. Alicio had no idea why, perhaps they all found his shaking voice entertaining, or looked favorably upon his House.

No, he was leaving because he hated the spotlight. He scuttled away from it, like a cockroach when the lights turn on, he took wide steps, but he wasn't fast enough to escape the mass.

Alicio was surrounded by a crowd of well-wishers, shouting 'well done' and 'come celebrate with us'. Cheering and clapping, laughing and low mutters of 'good speech'. For anyone else, it would be heaven. For Alicio, he just wanted out of the public eye as soon as he possibly could.

Not all the eyes were kind. But they were keeping their distance for now.

Alicio was stuck, pressed against on all sides by holiday cheer and merriment. It was his own personal hell. He smiled and waved as best he could, but anyone could see he was tense and uncomfortable.

- Lief -

 

[Lief]

The crowds seemed to engulf the boy as he stepped down from the stage, and through the Force Eliphas tracked him with unbridled curiosity. He didn't know why he felt drawn to him, it wasn't a sensation he was used to in fact much of the Force was foreign and new to him, but all the same he found himself acting upon it. Pressing on through the crowd, the closer he got to the Count the more his discomfort could be felt by the Tetan.​

​

Eliphas ducked and weaved until he found a solid opening to slip through, and therein he found himself alongside Alicio. "I can help you out of here" he offered, speaking low enough that only the Count would hear him. Not that such was difficult, given the noise of the crowd. "I know it's a lot to ask of a stranger, but... Trust me?"​

​

A lot indeed. Still, the Padawan set his gaze upon the other's and tried to at least seem more confident than he felt.​

​

Alicio Organa ​

 

[Iris Arani]

People were really happy with what Alicio Organa had said. Was that a normal thing? People being this happy? Iris was lost in the colors, a smile forming wide as she let herself feel the joy around her as her own. Too lost to realize Lief had wandered off. After a couple minutes of just basking in the joy the Padawan blinked. And realized just how alone she was here. She tilted her head, her oddly colored eyes scanning around. Looking through the shades to find her friend.

Only to see something of.. Anxiety? Yeah. She tilted her head as she approached where it was. Oh, and Eli was there! Seemed he must have noticed it too then. She approached, idly walking through the crowd to see what exactly was going on. And maybe offer her own help, if the chance came.

 

[Alicio Organa]

Amidst the tightly-packed bodies and smiling faces, Alicio was a dark-mannered sore thumb. His forced grin wavered, and his hands were clammy under black gloves, holding his cape close to his body. He wished he were somewhere else. Anywhere else.

Hell, he'd take giving a speech in the Senate over this.

Well, let's not go that far.

Suddenly there was a calm voice to his side. Alicio turned, his thin-lipped smile breaking a moment. He considered the man, likely no older than himself. Something on the wind whispered to him. He tasted sea breeze on his tongue.

Alicio nodded to the stranger. "Please?"

Meanwhile, despite the general air of happiness, near the back of the crowd, people were muttering to themselves.

"...some noble priss dares to compare..." "...born with everything he could ever ask for, and he thinks..." "...My family needs a loan. If Alderaan really cared, they would help us..."

- Lief - Iris Arani -

 

[Lief]

Finding the noble and offering his assistance was the easy part.​

​

What came next? Well... This was pure improvisation. He'd learned from Starlin Rand that the spells could be altered slightly in verbiage to change who it would be affecting, him to me and the like. Well, it was time to see if it would work in the case of the disappearing trick.​

​

Nevermind the fact that Eliphas had only ever done this correctly once before for himself.​

​

Breathing in a shaky breath, he offered the man a smile. He drew upon the Force, focused on what it was he was hoping to achieve, and then began to speak softly yet with conviction.​

​

"So that this problem I might rectify" he said, swirling the Force around the noble, "Ashla, hide him from the Outer Eye!"​

​

There, before his very eyes, he watched as Alicio Organa faded from view until he was but a very slight shimmer caught in the twinkling lights of the festival. He wouldn't feel any different, in fact for all intents and purposes it might seem as though nothing had happened at all, but to those around them it would seem as though the Count had slithered away through the crowd, sneaking from view.​

​

"They can't see you right now" he whispered, keeping tabs on the noble through the Force, "Come, follow me and we'll get out of the crowd."​

​

He began to move, spotting Iris' bright presence as he did so and venturing toward her specifically. Hopefully she'd understand why it was he'd wandered off.​

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Iris Arani ​