Faction (DIA) Gilded Leaves

[mooney]

Moony glanced down as her friend suddenly appeared behind her, the unexpected voice making her flinch for a moment. She still wasn't used to someone calling out to her so warmly.

But the surprise quickly melted into delight — she was genuinely happy to see her friend again.

"I've been well, friend Ian," she said with a small nod, her tone soft but sincere. "I was told I should go out more and interact with others… so I did — and I gathered many sugary sweets for you."

Moony opened her hand, revealing a small pile of colorful candies, before gently taking Ian's hands and placing the treats into them.

"Enjoy," she added with a faint smile. "I was told it's nice to share things like this."

Iandre Athlea

 

[Aknoby]

He looks at Viari and smiles.

'It was a corn cob, I already ate it all,'

he says and throws it in the rubbish bin, then looks at the bird boy and remembers what it was like to learn certain things when his amnesia was all he had.

'They're selling it at that stall, but if you don't have any money, you can tell them to charge me later. They know who I am.'

He says with a smile, waiting to see his new friend's decision. When he walks away, he looks at the others.

'So, have you just arrived, or have you already found something fun to do?'

mooney mooney Lady Shadow Lady Shadow Jayna Ismet-Thio Jayna Ismet-Thio Iandre Athlea Viari Banu

 

[Jayna Ismet-Thio]

Objective: Attend the Harvest Festival
Location: Ravelin, Bastion
Outfit: Fall dress
Tags: Direct - Aknoby | Viari Banu | Lady Shadow Nearby - mooney | Iandre Athlea | Xian Xiao | Veyran Solis

As Jayna waited for more interaction with Viari and Aknoby, others members of the friend group started to arrive. Ian and Mooney were interacting nearby. Jayna liked Ian a lot. If she was truthful there was a lot in Ian that Jayna’s dad would be proud to have Jayna become. That made Jayna want to get learn more about and from the woman. Mooney was another member of the group like Aknoby. Jayna knew Mooney was friendly and they shared friends, but Jayna didn’t know much more than that.

Viari stated that he was here to explore, hunt and learn. Two of those things were high on Jayna’s list of interests as well. Hunting, well she just hadn’t gotten there yet. ”I think you’ll find plenty of friends and opportunities to explore here. Not so sure about hunting.”

Then she heard a familiar voice. Her first friend on Bastion, Shadow had shown up. Jayna moved to meet Shadow, who sounded really excited. Jayna was not very surprised that Shadow had to do training, given who her dad was. Jayna could only imagine the schedule she would keep if she lived with her dad. Mom was so much more willing to let Jayna move at her own pace. Though Jayna had to admit that half of the pressure when Dad was around come from Jayna herself, and what she thought her dad wanted.

”The festival just started. I’m so glad you made it,” Jayna stated after Shadow introduced herself to Viari and Aknoby, and vice versa. Jayna gave Shadow a friendly hug and gave a laugh. ”Aknoby and Mooney have found the food stands. What do you want to do? It sounds like Viari is interested in treats…”

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre's shoulders relaxed the moment Moony placed the candy into her palms. That simple act—thoughtful, quiet, full of care—said more about her friend than any introduction ever could.

"You always think of others first," she replied warmly, closing her fingers gently around the treats. "Thank you, Moony. I'll treasure these—and enjoy them, I promise."

She offered a smile just for Moony before looking up to the growing group, finding Shadow already being swept into a hug and Viari awkwardly but earnestly mimicking greetings. Aknoby—always dependable—was already offering help and food to the newcomer.

Festivals truly did bring people together.

Iandre stepped a little closer to Moony, as if anchoring herself by her friend's side, then addressed the others with calm friendliness.

"We just arrived," she answered Aknoby. "Though it seems Moony has already made excellent progress collecting sweets."

Her tone carried a soft laugh before she looked to Jayna and Shadow, their closeness impossible not to notice.

"Whatever you decide—treats, games, exploring—we're happy to join in."

But then she looked up again at Moony, her expression softer, more personal.

"You lead the way," she said quietly. "I came to see the festival with you."

Jayna Ismet-Thio Aknoby mooney Viari Banu Lady Shadow Xian Xiao Veyran Solis

 

[Xian Xiao]

She wanted to say something, anything to cut through the silence, but the words felt too small for what lingered between them. Her pulse still hadn't settled.

"You shouldn't look at me like that," she murmured finally, the faintest tremor in her voice betraying her calm. "I might start to believe this is real."

Her eyes lifted to his — searching, uncertain — and for a moment, all of the distance she kept between herself and the galaxy collapsed. Whatever he saw, there was no command or composure. It was her, unguarded.

When she exhaled, it came with a small, half-broken smile. "You're impossible," she said again, quieter now. "And somehow… that makes this harder to walk away from."

She didn't — not yet. But the thought of leaving felt heavier than it should.

The noise of the festival began to bleed back in — laughter, music, the soft rhythm of footsteps. Her gaze flicked toward the others: Iandre's gentle ease beside Moony's quiet kindness, Viari's nervous curiosity, Aknoby's grounding calm, Shadow's bright spark of energy. For all their differences, something was grounding about the way they fit.

She found her voice again, softer, touched by something almost wistful.
"You all make this place feel less… temporary."

Then, to Veyran again — a glance, almost hesitant. "Maybe that's what makes it dangerous."

She didn't mean danger in the way she used to. Not the kind born of blades and betrayal — but the kind that came from caring. From wanting.

And even as she turned slightly toward the others, giving herself space to breathe, her fingers still brushed his — a wordless promise that, impossible or not, she wasn't ready to let go.

mooney Aknoby Jayna Ismet-Thio Iandre Athlea Veyran Solis Viari Banu Lady Shadow

 

[Veyran Solis]

Xian Xiao​

Veyran didn't answer right away. He couldn't. The words caught somewhere in the space between his lungs and his heart that strange, aching place he'd only just realized still existed.

The festival's glow moved across her face, all lantern-fire and shadow, and for the first time he saw her not as someone trying to pull him toward the light, but as someone standing in it with him, uncertain, trembling, real. That realization struck deeper than he expected.

Her words 'You shouldn't look at me like that' echoed through him. He didn't know how he was looking at her, only that it felt like the first honest thing he'd done in years. No masks. No weapons. Just the quiet awe of a man who'd forgotten what it was to be seen without judgment.

When she spoke of danger, he almost laughed, a small, rough sound that held more wonder than mockery. "Danger." he said softly, the word tasting strange in his mouth. "That's one thing I've never known how to walk away from."

But this, her, was different. He wasn't sure if he was walking toward salvation or another kind of ruin. And the terrifying thing was that, for the first time, he didn't care which.

His eyes followed hers as she looked toward the others their laughter, their warmth, the way the night gathered around them like a constellation of fleeting peace. For a moment, he let himself take it in. He'd never believed he could belong in a space like this. Yet here he was, standing in the middle of it, the hum of life brushing against the edges of the darkness he'd carried for so long.

When his gaze returned to her, she was still close enough that he could see the faint tremor of her breath. "I don't know what this is." he admitted quietly, voice low enough that only she could hear. "But it's the first thing in a long time that doesn't feel like a lie."

He tilted his head slightly, the faintest smile ghosting across his mouth not the sharp, sardonic one she'd grown used to, but something softer, almost shy. "So if this is dangerous… maybe that's exactly where I'm supposed to be."

The festival lights swayed above them, painting the street in gold and amber as the night deepened. Around them, everyone full of motion and laughter and life but for Veyran, all of it faded into background hum.

Because for once, the danger he stood in didn't come from the dark. It came from the light. And he found himself stepping closer to it.

And his instincts where screaming at him to stay in the darkness.

 

[mooney]

Moony's gaze swept across the festival grounds the air was filled with the scent of roasted sweets and spiced drinks, lanterns flickering in warm amber light. Crimson and gold leaves drifted through the air like sparks, catching on strings of banners and paper charms. Some faces she recognized, others she didn't, but that hardly mattered. Meeting new people was part of her training… and perhaps, part of growing a bit whatever it took to not listen to another lecture.

She reached out and gently patted Ian's head.

"I don't really understand all these… customs you want to try," she said softly, her voice calm amid the noise. "But I'll watch."

The sounds of laughter, games, filled the night far louder than she was used to. It was overwhelming, almost irritating, yet strangely alive. Is this normal? For someone who preferred quiet, Moony found herself unexpectedly finding some peace. The festival was noisy, dazzling, and beautiful even among the fleeting chaos she didn't mind enduring for a bit, just to share in the warmth of her friends smiles.

Iandre Athlea Aknoby Xian Xiao Veyran Solis Lady Shadow Jayna Ismet-Thio

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian didn't move at first. The space between them was alive — not with tension, but with that fragile stillness that happens when two things collide and somehow don't break. The lanternlight caught on his face, outlining the sharpness that life had carved into him, and she could see it then — the way instinct fought against feeling, the way darkness whispered even as the light drew him closer.

Her voice came soft, threaded with understanding. "I know," she said. "It's easier to stay in the dark. It's quieter there. Safe. You don't have to look too closely at what's been taken or what's left."

Her gaze lingered on him, steady, unflinching. "But that's not living, Veyran. That's waiting for something that's already over."

She stepped closer, enough that the glow from the lanterns brushed warmth across the distance between them. Her hand rose, fingertips barely grazing his forearm, grounding. "You think I don't see it? That pull — the one that tells you to turn back, to stay where it hurts less. But I also see the way you look when you forget to listen to it."

Her smile was small, but it held quiet conviction. "You're not lost in the light. You're just… unused to it."

For a moment, she tilted her face toward the night sky — the drifting lanterns, the shimmer of gold reflected in her dark eyes. "It's strange, isn't it? How the most dangerous thing can be the one that asks nothing of you. The one that wants you to stop running."

Her hand slipped entirely into his then, fingers threading through his. "You don't have to fight it," she said, voice barely above a whisper. "Not tonight."

The laughter and music of the festival carried around them, but it all blurred into the distance. There was only the pulse of their joined hands, the quiet rhythm of breath between them, and the faint glow that neither of them needed to fear.

Veyran Solis

 

[Viari Banu]

Gilded Leaves​

Viari's head tracked the corncob as it was thrown through the air, landing into the strange basket people discarded things into. It was all very strange, surely they could find another use for it? Instead of throwing it away. With a shrug, he looked back at Aknoby as they offered him a favour, "Thank you friend. Later?" He suggested looking towards the others.​

​

"Not food-hunt. Father-hunt." Viari said, in an attempt to explain his meaning. He understood the confusion, and wouldn't blame her for his own inadequacies. Suddenly, with a burst of energy and excitement Viari leapt off the fence and glided towards Mooney and Iandre. "Friend-Iandre! You well? Many friends here. Met friend-Aknoby; friend-Jayna?" He stopped himself, look up at the giant woman and chirped, "Hello, friend. Yes, customs are strange!" His tail sweeping across the dusty floor eagerly as he agreed.​

​

He paused to catch his breath and turned adruptly back to Jayna, "Treats? Yes, I would love treats!"​

Div created by Makeb​

Iandre Athlea Aknoby mooney Jayna Ismet-Thio Xian Xiao Lady Shadow

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre smiled softly at the familiar pressure of Moony's hand on her head—the simple, grounding gesture breaking through the chaos of the festival around them. Lantern light reflected off her hair as she looked up, warmth flickering in her grey eyes.

"That's perfectly fine, Moony," she said gently, her tone full of affection. "You don't have to understand all of it. Sometimes it's enough to experience it—to see what people find joy in. Even if it feels strange at first."

She glanced around the glowing festival square—the swirl of laughter, the scent of sugar and spice, the crowds weaving between stalls. For a woman who once preferred the order of training halls and the quiet rhythm of meditation, the noise should have been unbearable. Yet, standing there beside her friends, Iandre found herself smiling.

"And maybe," she added, her voice dipping softer, "I needed the reminder that peace can sound like this. Messy. Loud. Alive."

Viari's energetic arrival made her chuckle. She stepped aside just in time to avoid his landing, scattering the small pile of paper charms at her feet. "I am well, Viari," she greeted warmly. "And yes—there are many friends here tonight. That's the whole point of these customs. To remind us that not all gatherings are for battles or councils."

She followed his gaze toward Jayna and Aknoby, nodding as if to encourage him toward them. "Go on, try the treats," she said, amusement glinting in her eyes. "I suspect you'll enjoy them more than the lectures."

Turning back to Moony, Iandre's smile lingered—quiet and knowing. "Come on, let's walk. I'll try not to drag you into too many customs at once," she teased lightly. "But there's a stand over there with the kind of sweets I think even you might like."

It wasn't combat, diplomacy, or duty. It was something rarer—a small, ordinary joy, shared under lanterns and starlight.

Viari Banu mooney Jayna Ismet-Thio Aknoby Veyran Solis Xian Xiao Lady Shadow

 

[Jayna Ismet-Thio]

Objective: Attend the Harvest Festival
Location: Ravelin, Bastion
Outfit: Fall dress
Tags: Direct - Aknoby | Viari Banu | Lady Shadow | mooney | Iandre Athlea Nearby - Xian Xiao | Veyran Solis

Mooney expressed a bit of concern for not knowing what should be done at the festival. It appeared for the moment that they would go off together, and Jayna wasn't sure that a big group would be good for Mooney's anxieties. Perhaps they could meet up later. Especially since Mooney had already managed to procure treats and share with Ian.

Viari explained that he was not on a hunt for food, but for his father. The possibility of what a hunt could have been were many in Jayna's estimation. Searching for a parent was not one of them. Monster hunt, bounty, treasure, food as mentioned. Jayna guessed that a bounty hunt and a parent hunt weren't much different. She them smirked, "In my case a 'father hunt' would be me trying to hide from my Dad and him coming after me. I hope your hunt goes well. My parents always manage to find me…I don't hide very well though."

When the young Rishi expressed interest in treats, Jayna smiled and nodded. There were many spots to find something to eat. She looked around quickly and made a decision to head off towards the corn stall that Aknoby had visited. "Come on Shadow. We're going to look for some treats. You coming Aknoby?"

 

[mooney]

Moony looked around, doing her best to h

Her attention shifted when a new figure approached. Viari was unlike anyone she had met before. Moony tilted her head at his cheerful chirp, studying him for a long moment before giving a small nod.

"Song-bird friend," she murmured.

She reached out to gently pat his head, then listened to Ian's words beside her.
"Find… joy?" she echoed softly. "I'll try. Maybe there's something here for that. A break between work is fine too."

Falling into step behind Ian, she lifted her hand in a small wave toward her tiny friend Jayne. They didn't speak often, but Moony still made the effort — a quiet gesture of connection in her o c n shy way.

Aknoby Viari Banu Lady Shadow Iandre Athlea Xian Xiao Veyra Kryze

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre fell easily into step beside Moony, her movements unhurried and grounded—like a quiet anchor amid all the noise of the festival. She glanced down just in time to see Moony pat Viari's head and the softening in the giant woman's expression that followed.

It made Iandre smile.

"You're doing fine," she assured her gently, voice low enough for Moony alone. "Festivals don't come with rules. You watch, you explore, you try something if it calls to you. That's all anyone expects."

She shifted just slightly, placing herself in the loose center of the group without making it obvious—close enough for Moony to feel supported, but not cornered.

When Viari bounded forward, full of joy and questions, Iandre gave him a warm nod—completely unfazed by his energy.

"I am well, Viari," she answered calmly. "And yes—many friends. Moony included."

Moony's soft "song-bird friend" drew another small smile from Iandre. She reached out and gave Moony's arm a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

"See?" she said softly. "You're already finding your people."

Jayna called out about treats, and Iandre gave a small nod of agreement.

"Treats sound like a good place to start," she said, her tone warm. "Come on, Moony. We'll walk together."

She glanced down at the towering woman beside her.

"If you feel overwhelmed at any point," she added quietly, "just stay close. We'll make it easy."

Her gaze moved over the group—Shadow energized, Viari eager, Aknoby cheerful, Jayna leading with excitement—and then back to Moony.

"You don't have to enjoy everything here," she murmured. "Just the parts that make you smile."

With that, Iandre fell into step beside her friend, letting Moony decide the pace—steady, warm, and ready to shield her from anything the festival threw their way.

mooney Jayna Ismet-Thio Viari Banu Aknoby Lady Shadow

 

[Veyran Solis]

Xian Xiao​

"It seems so simple yet, its not."

Veyran simply said as he looked over to her. He understood her words and what they meant and convey, and he wish to everything that they would just go away. But he was here and the force, whether by some malign design or perhays their fates were destined to intertwine at some point in their lives. And now was that particular moment.

He took a deep breat as he looked up to the sky, eye adjusting lightly, they carried the same hint of evil as they ever did. But if someone had looked into his eyes long enough, they would be able to see the slightest measure of change.

"What do you feel like doing?"

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian let out a slow breath, the kind that eased out of her chest rather than forced its way past tension. The festival lights caught the edge of Veyran's face, softening everything sharp about him for a heartbeat, and that alone almost undid the distance she was trying to maintain.

Almost.

She stepped closer—not touching, but close enough for the warmth of bodies in the evening air to blend. Her dark eyes lifted to his, studying the lines of tension around them, the way he seemed ready to run and stay in the exact moment.

"What do I feel like doing?" she echoed, her voice low enough to be swallowed by the hum of the festival around them.

Her gaze drifted past him to the lantern-lit street, to the crowds laughing and wandering between stalls, to the swirl of color and movement that made the whole square pulse with life. Then she looked back at him.

"You're overthinking it," she said gently. "Everything doesn't have to be heavy. Not right now."

A pause—steady, grounding.

"I feel like walking," she continued, a small smile tugging at her mouth. "Just… seeing what the night looks like with you in it."

Her fingers brushed his—light, deliberate—but didn't fully take his hand. That was a line she let him cross. Still, the warmth in her touch was unmistakable.

"And maybe," she added quietly, "I feel like letting myself enjoy this. Enjoy us. Even if I'm not supposed to."

Her composure held… mostly. A faint softness crept into her expression, a warmth she couldn't quite hide no matter how she tried to steady it. It showed in the way her eyes lingered a half-second longer than needed, in how her shoulders eased when she spoke to him.

She nudged him lightly with her elbow, bringing back a whisper of playful defiance. "Come on. Before Moony eats the whole table of sweets and Jayna gets dragged into another sparring match with Shadow."

Then—just a hint of shyness, rare and fleeting—
"And before I start thinking too much about… other things."

She tilted her head toward the lantern-lit path ahead.

"Walk with me, Veyran."

Veyran Solis

 

[Viari Banu]

Gilded Leaves​

Song-bird friend. Viari froze like a statue and stared back at Mooney's words, his feathers were warm and soft and bounced back into place as her hand left him. If not for the talons and vicious beak he might have made for an excellent pillow. The only real response she got was a vibration, a strange sort of purring. Friend-Jayna snapped him out of his stupour and Viari pivoted his head to answer eagerly, "Oh. I know game! Hunt Chief taught us, you think father playing game? You prey, Jayna-father hunter?"​

​

"Yes. Viari make lots of friends! Thank you, friend-Iandre." He said happily, he was much more comfortable with these customs than the fireworks a couple nights before!​

​

It seemed groups were beginning to form around him, their treat hunting party preparing to descend upon the unwitting festival goers. They were a colourful bunch which suited Viari just fine, it meant he'd look a little less out of place and perhaps escape the questions that hounded him until now. He glanced at Aknoby and with Iandre's encouragement decided to give pursuit hooting loudly, "Treats!"​

Div created by Makeb​

Lady Shadow mooney Jayna Ismet-Thio Viari Banu Aknoby

 

[Lady Shadow]

Location: Festival
Tags: Jayna Ismet-Thio Aknoby Iandre Athlea mooney Viari Banu
Color Code: #E0B65F

---

Shadow regained her composure quickly, she was the Diarch’s daughter after all. She returned Jayna’s hug with real warmth, she loved finally having a friend her age!

Turning at a voice she recognized, she saw Iandre. She hadn’t spent much time with Uncle Rellik’s girlfriend, but she knew her to be nice.

“Aunt Iandre! It’s awesome to see you here! I don’t spy a bald head anywhere so I can assume my uncle is stuck somewhere with my dad?”

She laughed as Jayna and the group began walking in another direction, with her friend calling her to join.

“Coming!”

She said as she jogged to catch up.
She eavesdropped on the young chiss talking before recognizing him.

“Wait I know you! My dad talked about a sparring match you had! Nice to meet you face to face!”

 

[Veyran Solis]

Xian Xiao​

Her nudge drew a small huff of a laugh out of him. "Moony definitely will eat the sweets," he agreed. "And if Jayna gets dragged into another fight, Shadow's the one who'll end up apologizing later."

The faint smile lingering on his lips deepened when he saw that rare flicker of shyness cross her features. It did something dangerous to him, softened everything he tried to keep steady.

"Xian," he said, barely above the hum of the crowd, "I think the night looks better with you in it too."

He didn't wait for courage to evaporate. Not this time.

With her hand in his, he turned gently toward the lantern-lit path, their steps falling into an easy rhythm. The festival sounds wrapped around them, laughter, soft music from a distant stall, the rich scent of sugar and warm pastry drifting on the breeze.

No urgency, no heavy truth hanging over them. Just the quiet gravity of two people choosing the same direction.

He glanced at her, that hint of vulnerability still playing at the corner of her mouth.

"I'll walk with you," he said softly. "As long as you want."

 

[Aknoby]

Aknoby nodded to his friends and stopped to look at the newcomer for a few seconds.

"You're Reign's daughter, right? I remember you when we welcomed the Jedi."

He smiled at her.

"Call me Aknoby. So, will you come with us?"

Jayna Ismet-Thio Jayna Ismet-Thio Iandre Athlea Iandre Athlea mooney mooney Viari Banu Viari Banu Lady Shadow

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian hadn't expected the warmth that bloomed in her chest at his words — not the sudden, breath-catching kind of warmth she felt in battle or danger, but something softer, something that spread slowly, like lantern light stretching across water.

It startled her.

And she didn't hide it.

Her hand tightened around his just a little, enough for him to feel it, enough to say I heard you even before she spoke.

"Veyran…" she murmured, her voice dipping into that quiet space that existed only between them, "you can't just say things like that."

But she wasn't scolding him. Not even close. The faint flush at the top of her cheeks betrayed her, and she ducked her head for a moment, letting the lantern glow swallow the edges of her smile before she met his eyes again.

"And the night looks better with you in it," she admitted softly. "I just… didn't want to be the first to say it."

The festival lights shimmered across her features as they walked — gold on her cheekbones, soft violet on her hair, warm red across their joined hands. Her heart beat a little too fast, a flutter of shyness and affection and something dangerously close to longing. But her steps stayed steady beside his.

He promised to walk with her as long as she wanted.

So she answered in the only way that mattered.

She leaned her shoulder gently into his as they walked, the touch light but deliberate, sending warmth through the space between them.

"Then stay," she said quietly, eyes forward, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Just… stay with me tonight. That's all I want."

No grand declarations.
No fear.
Just the simple truth — one she finally allowed herself to say.

Veyran Solis Aknoby mooney Jayna Ismet-Thio Iandre Athlea Viari Banu Lady Shadow